Fickle

That's the weather around here. Just like a teenage girl.

Fickle.

Not that I'd know anything about that, of course.

;)

We went from this less than a week ago...

To this:
















No need to feel sorry for me... even though we woke up this morning to a *frigid* 20 degrees!

It will be 45 and sunny by noon.

:)

Worth Reading

Since I have become "The Blog That Sends You Elsewhere"...

Go visit my younger sister where she shares the story of a faith-filled couple, fellow alumni of our alma mater, whose youngest daughter (#11) has been diagnosed with Trisomy 18.

The mother has written a beautiful piece for us to contemplate...

Mariposa, California is our home, but it also means little butterfly and that is what she is. A sweet butterfly that is in her cocoon, will come forth in brilliant color, bestow a butterfly kiss and then fly away as the Spring time air calls her forth.

Go. read.

Too Many? Well, Ask the Children....

From my local news stop about a couple who adopted 9 children:

Marie said that before the last three were adopted, the kids had asked her during a car ride whether they'd have a party once Michelle, Gregory and Jacob legally became part of the family.

"We're going to have a 'We're-not-adopting-any-more adoption party,' " Marie joked.

"The car was silent, which made me start looking in the rearview mirror because they're never silent," Marie said.

"The older one said, 'You can't do that, Mom.' I said, 'Do what? Aren't you guys tired of being crowded and sharing and everything?' "

Marie's voice cracked as she recalled Makayla's reply: " 'You don't know what it's like. You can't say no. If somebody needs us, we need to be there.' "

The rest is here.

:)

Aging Gracefully

Sports Fan (reading his science): You know that time when all the continents were stuck together? When it was called Pangea?

Me: Yes.

Sports Fan: You were alive, right?



:)

Homeschooling in the South

Looks a lot like this:






















I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the 70 degree weather we've had yesterday and again today.

If I did, it would surely be bragging.

:)

Sending a wish for warm breezes your way,

Pure Sweetness

“Ask Mommy if we need anything,” Mike said.

Without hesitation, Karoline replied, “The moon. I want the moon.”

“OK. One moon. I’ll bring it home.”

Read the rest here.


:)

Tote Talk

Nicole has done a few fun memes lately, and while I haven't been tagged for any of them, I'm snitching the ideas and running gleefully away.

In other words, we need a little frivolity around here.

:)

First, an impromptu photo of me. In the interest of full disclosure, I had to take Action Man to a pre-coffee orthodontist app't this morning. So, rest assured that this home schooling Mama rarely, if ever, looks this put together in the morning, and that glaze in my eyes is just me letting the recently consumed caffeine work it's magic:
























Nicole also asked for a post of our handbag. I have two. One for summer, and one for winter. They are fully machine-washable, super easy to throw over my shoulder leaving me hands-free, and really... quite cute.





















My Vera Bradley purse. (warning: clicking on that link will make you rationalize the purchase of a new handbag, no matter how many you already own. resist. temptation.) Also? I never buy full price. Ebay is my friend.

I tag.... Margaret, Elizabeth, Mrs. Bear, Barbara, and Elaine.... actually, anyone who is brave enough wants to to do this!

:)

A Historic Day

Imagine the Potential....



h/t: my inbox....

:)

Turning the Tables

Sunday evening, Lil Sis had to borrow the car to take her boyfriend to the airport. (more on him later... he's an awesome guy, we all love him)

Upon hearing that Lil Sis and Saintly Man (what we call him) were going somewhere, Little Dear asked if she could come.

Lil Sis snorted and replied in the negative.

Which jogged my memory and I immediately shared with Lil Sis.

I told her that I distinctly remember that when leaving the reception of my own wedding, there was a certain 7 year old who happily bounced into our car announcing:

"I'm riding with Nutmeg and DH!"

Lil Sis' mouth dropped open and she covered her eyes. "I didn't know!" she wailed.

I just smiled.

:)

Inspiration

From Mark Shea on his beloved parish priest, Fr. Tom Kraft, who is dying of cancer:

This supremely loving man who could barely sit up through the Mass actually stood and assisted at the consecration. You could barely hear his voice, a thin, papery whisper that demanded everything of him (the cancer has metastasized to his lungs). But he did it, gripping a chair to keep his balance and then leaning on the altar itself.
"Through him, with him, in him".
I've never seen the meaning of the priesthood so clearly incarnated before my eyes before. Alter Christus. Priest. Victim. Sacrifice. This man and his Lord were standing so close together it was hard to tell them apart, especially from my seat up in the Nosebleed Section of the Human Race, so very far from that kind of sanctity.

Read the rest here. And grab some tissues.

h/t Danielle