Simply Perfect

I've been reading them. The posts that exhort us to keep it simple. To breathe and enjoy the season. To really focus on the Christ-child and His coming.

To prepare our hearts.

And I've listened. I've watched my children and seen their hearts, their boundless joy at the coming season. Their hopes and struggles.

I've seen too, the lack.

The lack of projects and planning. The missing out of feast days and special rituals. I have been so focused on keeping it simple... taking it to an extreme that was not the intention behind the beautiful women who wrote those wise words.... for the sake of my own sanity, that my children have missed out.

I have nothing pressing. No newborns, no morning sickness, no impending trips out of town.

In my quest for simplicity, I have unintentionally abandoned the joy.

My problem is perfectionism.

Huh?

Yes.

My inner Martha Stewart cannot let go of the immaculately clean house surrounding the children who calmly decorate cookies, sharing the sprinkles and icing, never even thinking of flinging frosting across the table... (ahem) and so, I don't bother.

No St. Lucy crown = no celebration.
No Jesse tree = no tradition
No holy cards of St. Juan Diego = no Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration.

And my children miss out on the inspiring stories of how God can work amazing wonders through the smallest, most humbled of humanity.

Sure, we read all the stories, but it has not come alive for them. I realize that it is imperative that they do come alive.

So, starting now, amidst the crazy-insanity that is our weekend, amid the hustle and bustle of parties and baking and gift wrapping, I will slowly uncurl my fingers, take a deep breath, and plan. Paper crowns for St. Lucy. Coloring pages for Our Lady of Guadalupe. Stories taken from beautiful online resources and shared. Home made cinnamon rolls for Sunday, while we decorate our tree and light the pink candle.

It's not perfect. My house will probably be messy. But our life is messy. It always will be. That is something we will always be battling this side of heaven, but it cannot inhibit our joy.

It must not.

Gaudete Hymn

Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!

The time of grace has come
That we have desired;
Let us devoutly return
Joyful verses.

God has become man,
And nature marvels;
The world has been renewed
By Christ who is King.

The closed gate of Ezechiel
Has been passed through;
Whence the light is born,
Salvation is found.

Therefore let our gathering
Now sing in brightness
Let it give praise to the Lord:
Greeting to our King.

A Blessed Gaudete Sunday to you all!

:)

Picture Post

Because I know y'all are dying to see our costumes....

:)
















From left to right:
Queen Susan/St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Pocohontas/ Kateri Tekawitha
Reepicheep/ St. Francis' mouse
Davy Crockett/ St. George (minus hat, add cape and sword)
Obi-Wan/St. Francis

Not bad in the two-in-one department, eh?

We were invited to two Halloween parties, and an All Saints party. We opted to stay home for Halloween and just Trick-or-Treat throughout our neighborhood, and then attend the All Saints' party the next evening. It made for a crazy weekend with soccer and fixing meals for our friends... but it was definitely fun.

Let's get a close-up on my first attempt at "homemade"....




















I'm not completely sold on this whole sewing adventure, but the fact that she actually looks like an Indian makes it a success!

:)

Fall in Texas...

... is not very colorful.




















So we make our own color.

(I especially like the striped ones on the bottom there.)


:)

Who Can Blame Me?

If I, in buying a zillion crafts to keep little fingers occupied today, pick up an extra package of severely over-priced glittered stickers, just to be assured that I get to hear Little Love say many times over:

Look, Mama! These are soooo Spah-kah-lee!

:)

The Uncraftiness of Nutmeg

This post over at Waltzing Matilda's had me thinking.

Go, read it. I'll wait. And while you're there, notice her right-hand side bar with the different topics she has written about. Notice the word "crafts".

Now, type the word "craft" into the search window at the top of my blog.

I bet only this post comes up.

And so now you have realized my own dirty little secret.

My children are Mama-craft deprived. I can't say they are craft-deprived period. Just Mama-craft deprived.

I don't do crafts.

The main reason is because I never really think about it. I love to buy craft-y things for my kids to use on their own: paints, stickers, wood, glue, paper, markers, crayons, ribbons, etc. But as far as any adult-led crafting? Uh uh. That's not me.

Am I proud of this? No. Absolutely not. I'm a bit ashamed to admit it. I read everyone else's crafty creations and click on by, not daring to comment, to admit my own uncrafty nature.

Here's what I do love to do:

Painting
Drawing
Cooking
Baking
Listening to Music (all kinds)
Being Outdoors
Playing and Watching Sports
Exercising (with kids)
Taking Trips

I hope that's enough for my kids. I hope they see the value in those things, not the hole left by the lack of handmade what-nots around the house. I hope I can have the patience to impart these joys to them... especially the cooking and baking.

Mostly, I'm okay with my aversion to crafts. Much like my aversion to ironing,(scroll down to "I") I accept it and am only embarrassed when it is revealed in public.

Which is what this blog is about.

Me...

Warts and all.

:)