the side of love // my Lenten companion

The darkness of the night slowly departs. Another day, another hour, and another moment to intentionally live. 

Morning light, heavy eyes and tired arms with a soul not yet awake. 

Every morning, my little heart is met with light. The same light He created ages, and what can seem like, worlds ago. Yes, my little heart is greeted each morning with the chance and opportunity to say Here I am Lord, I am listening, but instead it's usually met with grumble, grumble, sigh, toss and a just five more minutes, please.

Thomas A. Kempis and I have become friends this Lenten season. A friendship my heart and soul are pretty thankful for! After reading this bit of his wisdom, I was sure that my new friend, Mr. Kempis, was looking me straight in the face with one of those faces.

Me, with my negligence and constant wasting of time, often forgetting that all these little daily fiats are the very building blocks of the same virtues my soul so desperately desires.

Morning light? Grumble. Daily dishes? sooo tired... Breaking up an argument here and cleaning up an accident there?...Bah! Again? Laundry? All the Grumble. Grumble. Grumble.

I'm good at grumbling my way through a day. Good at being tired with life before the sun hits my sleepy eyes. Ha! And if we're being honest, I'm so good at it that my grumbling for the next day of life often can start the moment I lay my head down on my pillow the night before! I'm that good, people!

And yet, as much as my failings are true, His goodness is even truer!

Phew!!

There's no pausing life. It continues with oodles upon oodles of similar moments and choices and opportunities to say YES, Lord, show me! I am ready to do Your Will! Form me! Change me! Let your light shine through me so that others may know your goodness!

But then there's me and my grumbles. Again. 

One of the reasons I love the saints and holy men and women - past and present - is because when I'm at my worst, grumbling my way through life, there they are saying, been there, done that, let me pray for you as only someone who understands can! or Hey, let me show you what I thought and did that changed my every little breath into love of Him!

It's a beautiful thing to not have to go it alone. It's an incredible thing to not have to figure it all out by ourselves. He knew. He knew we would need help and so He sent us these holy men and women to share their hearts with us. To teach us. To show us the rugged paths that their feet have touched. The same path that led them straight back into His arms.

It's such a good thing!

Little by little, Lent is honing my heart into something more. I fail, I grumble, but I keep on keeping on in my own personal little dessert. Just as He did. One step at a time. One temptation at a time. Taking my friends with me and a whole lot of JESUS.

"Adversity is the best test of virtue. The occasions of sin do not weaken anyone; on the contrary, they show that person's true worth."

- Thomas A. Kempis

So let's Lent on, my friends, one trial at a time! Let's continue upward and onward in the face of adversity, offering our little fiats when we can, seeking wisdom from those who have walked before us and those around us that are so good at sharing His Goodness already! But mostly, let's allow Our Almighty to wrap us in His Morning Light again and again and again and Again, because that's how virtues for love of Him are formed!

Mr. Kempis has been my companion throughout this Lenten season thus far, who has been yours? Share who and how and let's encourage each other in the combox!

embrace the ordinary // like a child

Mama, let's read this book again.

Our friends! Can they come over? Are they coming over? Today? Tomorrow? the Next day? Again, please? 

Can we go to this place? Or that one? Again?

Drawwwww!....Mama, I wan drwaaaw, again!

This show, mama! I love this one! Can I watch it again? or this one? Again?

Let's play catch this morning! This afternoon? Tonight? Everyday, and all day!?

Let's go outside! Can we go? Again? Pleasssssseeeee????

The list goes on and on. The requests seem to never stop coming from their innocent and easily delighted minds.

Again. Again. Again! 

And then there's me. I grow tired of the constant requests. I say No more than I care for to some of the little things and to some of the big ones too. Again and again and again, and I'm always left wondering how they never grow tired of doing the same thing. Wanting the same thing. Loving the same thing. Delighting in the same thing.

Again.

Which makes me wonder what it is they are asking of me. You know? Underneath it all. When the outward appearance of the inward need gets pulled forth. That little big thing. What is that?

I could name it oodles of different things but what I always come back to, and feel it always comes down to, is will you love me in this way.

Again.

Will you love me with your time? Sitting here with me? Holding me and reading to me? The same book, the same way, you did it that one time that made my eyes light up? That way that delighted my senses and imagination?!

Will you love me with your effort? Sharing with me, getting down on the floor with me for this game, or feeding me? Not just physically but spiritually too? In ways that delight my soul? Showing me what service looks like? Again?

So I, too, can learn how to be love.

Will you love me through teaching me? Show me the world? Show me His Goodness? Again and again and again?! Expose me to beauty, to truth, and to all the things that make your heart make sense of the world around us? Show me all the ways that you delight in the world so I can have all the fun delighting in it too?

Will you love me in this way? Unconditionally?...Every time?...

I've been gifted these sweet little ones. These beautiful and good hearts. They love me. So much. They love me. Unconditionally. Good days, bad days, in between days, again and again, they love me.

And as much as I love them as unconditionally as my little mama heart can, my tainted soul that has lived this life does so imperfectly.

I imagine that's where the again and again and agains come from...maybe?

Either way, all of this just takes me aback. To be like a child really isn't so far from being an adult child of God. We are His Sons and Daughters. Always. He never stops. Never tires. He shows us. Patiently and sweetly. He meets us. Promptly and boldly. He hears our requests over and over and over again.

Because He who is Love, Loves us more than we'll ever fully know here in this world. He delights in us in all the little and big ways that a child so easily delights in all of the little and big things of their encounters.

And my boys. They come to me, my husband, and to our family and friends, with joy in their hearts with all of their requests bursting from their lips. As it should be.

As we were created to be. Will you love me like He loves you? Like He loves me?

I am not perfect. I don't meet their every need and never will. I don't always delight in the ways they delight or love them as well as I'd always prayed I would.

But then there's our Perfect Father. The One who loved us all before we were made known to our mother's womb. He is the One, the Perfect One that will meet my little ones where I lack. And He is the One who meets me, His daughter, any and every time I come to Him. Sharing my heart. Sharing the little whispers of my soul, again and again and again. He is the One who sees me, knows me, loves me and will be with me all the days of my life. Him.

He is the one that shares all the beauties and all the goodness of this world with my little heart, just the same way I pray I can share all of these bits of His Glory with my little ones, husband, family, and friends.

But these little ones - they teach me. Encourage me to get outside of myself - a place I can be found often. They encourage me to humble myself again and again and again. To become more like the sinner who is grateful for her beautiful Savior rather than just a sinner with no hope of truth, goodness, beauty, or delight. 

Embracing the little ordinaries of these little gifts in my life has done more good for my soul than I ever could have imagined. This road to sanctification is mine and it makes more and more sense to my soul, no matter how hard it can be for my flesh. This road to sanctification has taught me more about my good and loving Savior than I ever anticipated. How He loves me unconditionally. How He loves me like a child.

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” 

― G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Again and again, they teach me. Again and again, He teaches me. Again and again, I'm thankful. And, again and again, I am shared another opportunity to know, love, and serve the One who delights in me most through the ones He has shared with me.

the present moment // picnics, bowling, and some funk

lately // I lay in bed, take in some snuggles, and slowly mosey my way to the kitchen to feed my little guys. Windows get opened on my way to the kitchen. There's a path. I take it daily. Sometimes my oldest helps with the let's-let-some-light-in path and sometimes I get the pleasure. Both make me happy.

One foot in front of the other.

Toaster waffles. Juice. Eggs with some Louisiana hot sauce and avocado for mama. Bacon on days where time is our friend. We sit. We eat. They're silly and I soak it up.

There's grace in each step.

I know there is. Because even though I feel a slowness in my soul, there is a Presence that briskly helps us find our rhythm. We fall into it. As often as we can because there's a good peace there. The one you want to swim in. 

We leave the breakfast nook. They turn to play (on good days this involves minimal fighting and lots of cooperative togetherness). I heart the latter but see the fruit in the former.

I call them to the table. We do school. Slowly and sweetly. Often with little resistance. They're at that age. Everything new is exciting and time together is good time.

One foot in front of the other.

Play clothes and toys for outdoor time follow quickly and naturally. 

These days have been cool. They've been filled with sunshine and sweet temperatures. Breezes and falling leaves. A welcome change here in Texas. We each soak it up as much as possible because it truly helps us experience Him. Whether we are cognizant of it all or not. 

They play. I watch. I read. I check my Insta-feed or read an article. Off they go, running and exploring. Off they go, bickering and fussing. It just depends on the day.

One foot in front of the other.

Hands are washed. Lunch is served. Prayers are said and tummies are filled. Onto reading time before naps.

Favorites are read. Eyes are heavy. They make their last scramble and off they go. 

One foot in front of the other.

Any given day that we are home, this little rhythm of ours can be found. Sometimes in this exact order and sometimes not. Some days there is just a need to mix it up. But lately there's been a heaviness in me that I've felt before.

But on I go - one foot in front of the other.

This mama has been feeling pretty weary. Life is catching up. I'm trying to stand still but it just keeps on spinning on. All day. Every day. Spinning. Spinning. Spinning. 

I try to quiet my little soul and more often than not fail miserably. It's a sweet place that I stay away from longer than I care for. The little place where I know I can find Him. In that stillness of mind, heart, and soul. In His Words or in His Presence. That little place. 

I know in time, things will calm. I know they will because they always do. Maybe not entirely, which is okay. But calm always comes. 

Till that time, I'll try to be present to my place of weariness. Of struggle. Because it's always in this place, as time keeps spinning on, that I can look back and see how far I've come. See how much I've grown. See how much I've learned. It's always in these times that He somehow meets me, whether I know it or not. Whether I actively seek Him or not. It's always here.

One foot in front of the other.

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” 

― Francis of Assisi

today // We threw in a picnic to change things up a bit. We've stayed indoors today to make sure our youngest is feeling better after having some tummy troubles last night.

Also, since this is taken from different angles, I'll share it with Micaela over at California to Korea. She's hosting Theme Thursday's now and this week's theme is same photo, different angle.

in the kitchen // A super amazing neighbor shared a meal with us yesterday. I couldn't be more thankful! I ended up adding some crockpot shredded chicken to her Curry Chili and we all agreed it was absolutely delicious!

Today, we'll be eating turkey burgers with some fixings (avocado, pickles, tomatoes, etc), sweet potato fries, a salad, and maybe the little chili we have leftover will get poured onto our burgers for fun.

looking forward to // All Saint's day! I know the boys are so excited about it this year. They both want to be St. George and we found some fun stuff for them to enjoy. 

At first all my heart wanted to do was sew all the things, but time and energy just have not been on my side! I still have yet to make these boys their much wanted blankets! Si Dios quiere, with time and energy, the fun will happen.

precious p update // this sweet little one is becoming quite the little soccer player. I mean...Ow! But, I'll take it. I love the reminder of the sweet little life within. 

Also, what's made my heart absolutely swell today is Precious P had his/her first round of hiccups. There's something about the hiccups that I just adore. I've felt hiccups twice today and made sure to stop everything and just enjoy my little one developing his/her lungs.

For the most part, all complications have passed. New little things have popped up here or there, but all seem manageable come our cesarean, which is better than anything being immediate or urgent. We'll be meeting with the fetal specialist on Friday and I suspect the follow-up will be good. 

praying // Feels like not enough but there are certain intentions that are always on my heart. I see so much going on in the world  and around me that I'm always quick to say a Hail Mary or Glory be, depending on what I see.

Little aspirations escape my breath all throughout the day. 

Family often comes to my heart - near and far. Friends and their intentions. The bigger and littler things that happen on the daily. 

And for grace. Always grace. For His Peace. For His Strength. For His Good and Holy Will.

Last, the Litany of Humility just isn't said in full enough. I really want it to become part of my daily morning routine. I know my days would look differently. So we'll chalk this one up to my I'm-working-on-it department.

captured // My little guys having their first bowl! A dear friend had us join their family to celebrate their son's birthday. The boys were absolutely thrilled even if they sported their deer-in-headlight faces for the first 15 minutes.

favorite scripture from today's readings //

"Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

Ephesians 2: 19-22

thankful for //  All who have been journeying along this little life of mine, with me. Thankful for this very beautiful Mystical Body of Christ that is always reminding me of His good and perfect Love and showing me His lovely and kind Face.

all in all // We're good. Moving forward and onward, slowly but surely. Life has caught up to me, but I know there is some goodness amidst this funk. Especially on days like today. On days like today, there really is such evidence of His Grace and Goodness sharing with us a little light that gives such a warmth, I know all will be well.

mama moments // finding joy in the unexpected

Life keeps going. It keeps moving. Whether we want it to or not, onward the moments go. So much so it can feel like we are always seeking and yearning for a happiness and joy that just always seems to be two-steps too far ahead of us.

Still we stand trying and striving to embrace our present, all the while moving - always moving - to the rhythm that does not stop.

Did I laugh today? Did I smile? Was I happy? Did I have moments? 

Joy. Sorrow. Happiness. Suffering. They all are going to come. They always will come. How or when, we never know, but one thing we can trust is that these experiences will come.

--

This past Pentacost Sunday our priest shared a beautiful homily that awakened my little heart in a good way. A truth was shared and a goodness was revealed that had me smiling. 

Our priest talked of so many things but what stood out to me was when he described joy. When he described and defined something I know I struggle to exude only because I struggle to truly comprehend all that it is, my heart sighed joyfully.

When you don't fully understand something, how can you own it? Exude it? Experience it? Truly? I've known that I am happy and content. And, I've known that I've experienced joy in my life. But this, this brought joy to the forefront in a way it had never been before.

"What is happiness? Happiness is when what you want or expect to happen, happens.

You apply for a job you want and get it, you're happy. You ask a girl out and she says yes, you're happy. You have a job and are able to provide for your family, you're happy.

Joy. Joy is unexpected.

You forgive someone who has hurt you and experience an overwhelming peace - joy. You embrace and endure a suffering only to be relieved of it in time - joy. You struggle through the young years of parenthood but are smothered in hugs and kisses throughout the day, unprompted - joy."

-Fr. Alphonse

I had never taken the time to understand Joy other than when I would experience it in other holy men and women. They've got it! They have a joy that is so infectious I pray that I will someday be able to share that goodness with others too! Now, after listening to Father and letting his words sink in, I know I've had my fair share of good ol' joy in my life.

"The Apostles were filled with happiness and joy the moment the Lord appeared to them in their midst and through locked doors. Now they were ready to walk out and begin the greatest adventure of their lives." 

-Fr. Alphonse

In fact, this past weekend, my boys were gifted two guitars from their grandparents. My oldest loves all things music related and I love this about him. His excitement had been through the roof from the moment my parents told him they bought a guitar for him and his brother. He would ask daily, "Grandpa and nana here yet? Did they get me a guitar? They have a guitar for me, mama!"

We have music in our home everyday. We love Matt Maher, Audrey Assad, and now this new little band we stumbled upon through a playlist. This group has brought a lot of smiles and good feels around here. It's the Rend Collective band, not Catholic, but sharing beauty that is filled to the brim with goodness. There are two songs in particular that are my boys' current favorites - Second Chance and My Lighthouse.

After opening their gifts, the boys wanted me to play these two songs for them so that they could play along with their new guitars.

What I witnessed brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. My oldest sat nearby the video and with the most sincere of efforts played this song as well as his little three year-old, untrained-self, could.

My youngest lit up when My Lighthouse came on and he strummed and sang as loud as his little voice could sing.

I was caught off guard by their sincere efforts. They surprised me with their delight. By their love and goodness. Unexpectedly, joy made it's way into my heart and it was good. So so good.

"For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."

-St. Therese of Lisieux

The thing is, had I not been able to embrace the birth of both of these boys - the trial of it, the suffering of it - I would never have known how good the joy in all the little moments to follow would feel. How they would pop up unexpectedly, every. single. day. Had I not experienced severe back pain last year, I wouldn't have been able to know the joy that it is to be able to get up and out of bed without pain.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

-John 15:11-12

There's joy to be found in trial and in all good present moments as well. It's not either, or. It's both! All have their worth because He came. Because He died. And, because He rose.

What has brought you joy recently? How has He surprised you today?

bissisterhood // He is Risen, Indeed!

Lent came and went this year and that's okay. It was all okay. In fact, is was better than okay. It was good. All of it was good. Even the not so good was good because we were together, trying, and putting one foot in front of the other.

What was so amazing is, even though I started feeling a little down towards the end, He met us where we were anyways. And it was good.

We were getting hit time after time with one virus or another, I had a feeling we were going to miss the Triduum Masses and my heart was sinking as each day passed us by.

The Wednesday before Holy Thursday arrived and my oldest was getting over the stomach bug while my youngest got hives after eating asparagus. Since that time, his hives have not gone away. They've come and gone for almost a full week now, which is just crazy-town. Needless to say, we did not go and spread our tummy bug germs. We also did not bring the itchy and irritable two year old to Easter Vigil. 

But. Yes, there is a but. We did make it to Easter Sunday Mass. We managed to all stay mostly healthy (the youngest was still sporting the magical hives that made it their business to disappear only to reappear in all the places). But, come Sunday, off to Mass we went and I was excited!

Only, we didn't get there in time to find a seat in the sanctuary. Again, my heart sank. I wanted all the beauty that was to be had in every corner of church through word, song, and view that day. I wanted it all. Then something in me resigned and encouraged our little family to make our way to the gym for the overflow Mass. In my head, all I heard was *womp womp* but in my heart there was a little voice saying Trust.

Oh friends, how Jesus met me in my prideful resignation! It was as if He was saying, Come little heart. Have you so little trust?

I walked into the mostly empty gym, where each basketball hoop was turned into a white pot filled with sweet white flowers. The alter was at the center towards the back dressed beautifully. The choir was set and ready to go and brought me to tears from all the beauty coming from their hearts. The pulpit was dressed and surrounded by more beautiful white lilies. The aisles, the colors, the resounding voices that made me feel like I was listening to all the angels in heaven, and just all the effort towards beauty and goodness were there. It was the most beautiful thing ever! It really was!

See, I walked in sure that I was going to see a random screen on display with a ton of chairs split by an aisle on a basketball court. What I came into was a small sanctuary ready to celebrate His Resurrection. And while Mass on a screen is still Mass and still wonderful, this preparation was a gift my heart didn't know it needed.

It reminded me of a priest when I was on a day retreat looking for a garden to sit, pray, and reflect in. I was determined on finding a beautiful garden. I knew they had many on the grounds. I asked a passing priest to point me in the right direction.

He smiled the biggest smile, looked straight into my soul and said, Look around us. There are flowers everywhere!

Yes, Lord. There are flowers everywhere. Today and on that Easter Sunday. Thank you for every last one of them.

Now, onto our day and all. the. memories!

Family photo after Mass. The bow ties weren't easy to get on, but stayed on with mostly no problemos after. Mama-win!

 My in-laws were in town and we had such a blessed time with them. It felt so good.

My brother and his girlfriend spent the morning to afternoon with us too. So nice when we all get to go to Mass together. I know the boys love having them around. 

Easter baskets from the grandparents!

It rained a lot on Sunday and was pretty muggy but we were able to still grill and have some fun outside.

Cascarones make me all kinds of happy. Christ is Risen!

Look at that little one preparing to get his daddy. Him and my father-in-law were the main targets. My mother-in-law and I were just fine with that.

The boys absolutely loved the cascarones!

My youngest was the sweetest when it came to cracking eggs on others. He would poke a whole and then just gently shake out the confetti.

My oldest was all about the cracking!

Grilling is our favorite. All the yum was had that day!

Roasted veggies, chips and guac, beverages...all the yum!

Then after our bellies were full, my amazing husband brought out the guitar and we continued our new little to-do of singing worship together. It was beautiful.

Every moment.

Even the silly ones.

Good Triduum, good weekend, good family time, and great Easter Sunday.

After Holy Spirit and His Goodness helped me out of myself, this whole season proved to be so very fruitful. I'm thankful, humbled, and so very grateful for His Perfect Love, for all He has done for us and continues to do for us, and for the seasons that come and go, giving us all the opportunities to grow in love and wisdom.

the present moment // i shall not want

Currently: The boys are napping and there is snow melting outside. I'm sitting at our dining table happily rambling away my time.

My brain has been a scatter these past few days. A little foggy and I'm feeling in a rut. It just is. It happens sometimes.

At the start of the weekend, Linus started limping. I have a mystery limp on my hands and it's making me anxious. We have a doctor appointment scheduled for tomorrow, but there's just something about the unknown that just unnerves me. Almost paralyzes me.

We had mystery fever a few weeks back, and that unnerved me towards the later part of the week. And then as if it was always meant to be, his fever lifted and we moved forward.

Sometimes things like this happen and it's so easy to spiral into the realm of what if's or the surely there is something I'm missing or the did I do something to let this happen, etc. So easy to just rest in the insecurity of maybe I'm just not doing enough. So easy.

But then there's this...

Pondering:

"The present moment is always the ambassador who declares the order of God. The heart always pronounces it's fiat. The soul pours itself forth by all these means into its centre and goal; it never stops, it travels by all winds; all routes and methods advance it equally on its journey to the high sea of the Infinite. Everything is a means and an instrument of holiness; everything without any exception. The "one thing necessary" is always to be found by the soul in the present moment. There is no need to choose between prayer and silence, privacy or conversation, reading or writing, reflection or the abandonment of the thought, the frequentation or avoidance of spiritual people, abundance or famine, illness or health, life or death; the "one thing necessary" is what each moment produces by God's design. In this consists the stripping, the self-abnegation, the renunciation of the creature in order to be nothing by or for one-self, in order to remain as regards everything in God's order at his pleasure, finding one's only contentment in bearing the present moment, as if there were nothing else in the world to expect." 

-Fr. J.P. de Caussade, S.J.

His wisdom always makes the pathway to goodness and holiness seem so simple! Like, all I have to do is just be and my soul and heart will move me towards Him. Like I just have to be present and let my soul journey forth towards the high sea of the Infinite!

Maybe if I keep on reading all this amazingness I will fall into order of all the good even in my doubt and anxiety?

So much to think about every time I read any. little. thing. from this wonderful priest.

Doing: I'm putting one foot in front of the other. I'm moving forward, making the phone calls, and keeping the littles fed and tended to. I'm trying to do the same for myself and my husband. I'm trying. I'm moving. I'm taking steps. Little steps that feel big.

Right now, it's the little things. I'm doing them out of love. I know this because my heart is hurting a little for both my boys. I know this because I'm their mama and there's a piece of me that they will always carry. The one that wakes me up in the middle of the night at the slightest of slight sounds. The part of me that cringes with them when they take a fall and the same piece that gets pierced every time they cry.

I have one who has this mystery limp that doesn't impede any of his actions whatsoever (He's been climbing, running, skipping, and jumping with the best of them despite his random limp.) and I have another who's allergies have him and me chasing boogers that just do not seem to stop; in turn, bringing on the not-so-fun junky cough.

But I'm doing. I'm wiping. I'm watching. I'm calling. I'm reading and researching. I'm trying to stay settled and to sit in this place that I am.

Finding: I'm finding peace and comfort in Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade's book, Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence and music.

Yesterday the first song that came on while I took a little get-away shower was Audrey Assad's, I Shall Not Want. The whole time I was listening, my heart was saying, Yes. This.

Listening to:

Praying: Praying that our time at the doctor's office tomorrow is fruitful. Praying that the weather allows us to make it to said appointment!

**Apparently we are supposed to get near 4 inches of snow tomorrow. Now I know my Northern friends are probably laughing at this, but the thing is our roads and cars are not made for this weather. We had an inch of ice on our roads yesterday and we have no regular salt trucks or the chain thingies that would help us maneuver these conditions. So silly as we Texans may be, we really just don't have all the winter things in place to help us get around these random ice-magedons and bouts of snow fall. It was 80 degrees just last week!??**

Praying that Bigfoot's junky cough and runny nose let him sleep tonight. Praying for safe travels for everyone in these wintery conditions. 

Praying for all my pregnant and post-partum friends. My heart is with y'all in a special way. 

Praying in thanksgiving for family, friends, and community.

Praying for grace. Praying for love. Praying for peace.

And praying:

Suscipe (St. Ignatius of Loyola)
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own. 

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it. 

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.

Captured: I haven't captured anything with the fancier camera but I have a few phone camera/Instagram captures to share.

Thanks for stopping by and reading along this little bit of a slow time we have going around here. 

How are things with y'all? Slow? Fast? Crazy? Normal?

What words of wisdom from the Saints or Scriptures nudge you along the slower times? I'm all ears!

Linking-up with Jenny for Daybook.