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!

lent // ash wednesday

Over the last week, I've paused here and there to really try and think about what I'd be doing for Lent this year. But, let's be honest, few pauses really isn't much when you're trying to sincerely discern your Lenten offering! And now here we are - Ash Wednesday.

Here I am, just six weeks out from my, what feels like, forever healing cesarean. That, my friends, in and of itself is penance enough for me! 

With my first two cesareans I was feeling pretty well after about a month. This healing though just keeps lingering which has really been trying for me! I want to be all the things my kiddos and my husband want and need from me and I really just can't.

Of course God would have it this way! Turns out, He has plans for me this Lent that are not my own.

I find myself having to sit down more or rest more just so that I can ultimately do more for all the sweet hearts that are under our roof. I miss cooking and baking and celebrating the liturgical year with foods and crafts. I miss sitting comfy with the boys to read books from any given location of our home. I miss taking the boys outside. I miss faster movements and more strength. Gosh, I love being outside so very much and am going nuts not being able to enjoy the sunshine!

Do you see what I'm doing? Just like the good sinner that I am? I am just whining! I've been resisting every bit of this little path that God has sent me down with frowns, tears, and adult tantrums.

Which leads me to the word that I've been ruminating over lately:

Surrender

OYE! That one knocks me right between the eyes! Gosh! It is hard to surrender to the physical limits that your own body puts on you, much less the good and Holy Will that ultimately is also right. in. front. of. you!

Thankfully, we have this season. Thankfully, we're called to be faithful in the little and the big things and that we have a merciful Father that wants to walk with us and teach us and love us through it all!

Thank goodness because I've already been stinking at it!

But then I come across words like this from the saints and my little heart just flutters with all the good feels:

"God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, he will accommodate his steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you. Why do you worry?"

-St. Francis de Sales

Little steps will continue to be taken because that's all I can manage right now. Meanwhile, I'll be really trying to hone in on my craziness because this sleepy mama has been getting all kinds of crazy lately. Sleep deprivation does not look pretty on me, but that is never an excuse to lose my cookies at my boys or my husband no matter how bad poopalooza was yesterday.

But then enter St. Francis de Sales again with his awesomeness:

"Never be hurried in anything. Do all things calmly and in a spirit of repose. Do not lose your inward peace, even if everything seems to be going wrong. What is anything in life compared to peace of soul?"

Never be hurried. Doing things calmly. Not losing my inward peace! All things that would help me love our little family and myself so much better from this place of healing, sleepiness, and just general sinfulness!

These two quotes will be on my heart, mind, and soul [on repeat] this Lenten season as well as the word, Surrender. Right now this simplicity is what I need, so says my Lord, and so I'm excited for the journey because he's never lead me astray so far!

Haha!

See what happened there? I surrendered to the little and slow path God has prepared for me and I actually just typed that I was e x c i t e d about the journey!

As I should be! As much as this Lent is about me learning to better know, love, and serve God, it's also about surrendering to the good and amazing truth that He already knows, loves, and serves me through all my ups and all my downs. This truth easily gets forgotten in my haziness. This truth is also just hard to wrap my heart around because it's just that good.

Now, since St. Francis de Sales crossed paths with me todayI have to mention how St. Therese crossed paths with me too. I got an email this morning about a book that the Little Flower carried with her everywhere. So, for Lent, I also decided to pick up The Imitation of Christ. I'm a fan of the Little Way and apparently this was her favorite spiritual read! Given that fun-fact, I'm excited to learn more about what made this sweet little saint, who has always been such a dear in my life, spiritually nourished!

So, slow and gentle healing, self-care, surrender, inner peace, intentional morning prayer, more surrender, daily readings, journaling/blogging for my me/downtime, some more surrender, and daily snippet from Imitation of Christ.

There you have it, loves, my little Lenten goals. And, because of time and life, and going to Mass as soon as we scarf our fish burgers, I'm not proof-reading this post! Eep! Instead, I'm pressing publish, and getting on with the beginning of my little journey. 

Know you all will be in my prayers this season! and Do let me know if there's anything specific I can pray for!

Also, read this. It's where I crossed paths with St. Francis de Sales. God Bless!

lent // asleep in gethsemane

40 days and 40 nights. Almost come and gone. Already! 

Every year I find myself whispering that at some point. This year my whispers that turned into exclamations started last week.

Easter is near. Palm Sunday is when? A few days? Tomorrow? Nooo. Then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. The Holy Triduum!!

I whispered and exclaimed all of this and more with excitement, exhaustion, joy, sadness, discouragement, and gratitude.

What have I done all season? Did I grow? Did I learn? Did I meet Him? Did I see Him when He met me as He always does? Did I say thank you?

Every year, we're called to move deeper into a season that leads us straight to His Cross only to celebrate with joy and gladness over His Resurrection.

His Cross. His Cross is everything! Do I know this? Do I really know this?

Every year on Palm Sunday we read all the ways He loved us through this Cup that He had to endure. His confidence, His obedience, His desire to keep us from harm and how obviously it hurt Him anytime any of the disciples were en route to trial, His breaking of bread and giving us the Eucharist, and so many other moments of kind love and gentle preparation twined with a pain that only His knowing heart could suffer.

Every year something different strikes me. This year, it's all that takes place in Gethsemane. 

Matthew 26: 36-46

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,
and he said to his disciples,
“Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
and began to feel sorrow and distress.
Then he said to them,
“My soul is sorrowful even to death.
Remain here and keep watch with me.”
He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying,
“My Father, if it is possible,
let this cup pass from me;
yet, not as I will, but as you will.”
When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep.
He said to Peter,
“So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?
Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again,
“My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass
without my drinking it, your will be done!”
Then he returned once more and found them asleep,
for they could not keep their eyes open.
He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time,
saying the same thing again.
Then he returned to his disciples and said to them,
“Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
Behold, the hour is at hand
when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.
Get up, let us go.
Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

I'm surprised this portion hasn't struck me before. Or maybe I'm not surprised? Either way, as many times I've read it, as many times I've thought of His kindness and gentleness, I've never seen myself there as Peter or the two sons of Zebedee. But the truth is, I am them and I am them often. 

My lackadaisical approach to life often has me feeling as if I'm sleeping my moments away. Not seizing all the moments that I could love and serve Him through my family, friends, loved ones, and strangers alike. On and on I go, erring on the side of love but never seizing nor preparing.

In that I go on in my little ways, there are often times I easily find myself in a rut that is covered and obstructed with all the things that my easy-going self has left to the side. Those times can be paralyzing. Those times make me feel like I've been asleep through it all. And I'm sure, on some very teeny-tiny level, comparable to what Peter and the sons of Zebedee felt when they saw Judas and the large crowd nearing them after being awakened by Christ for the third time

The panic. The fear. The anxiety.

What have I been doing? Why have I not been preparing myself, praying more, or being present to all He has for me?

After spending some time on this portion of the gospel, I started to wonder if Peter and the sons of Zebedee knew what was to come. Maybe the seeds He planted in their hearts were starting to stir? Starting to make more sense?

Maybe, because they knew, sleeping the moments away seemed like an easier thing to do? Right? I'm going to go with probably not. Even still, maybe because they knew the One that they loved so deeply was about to endure an unimaginable suffering, they let their minds hide away in rest only to be awakened by Love Himself each time. Maybe?

And as Love awakened them each time with a gentle call to begin again, to stand watch, prepare, and pray, Love has met me in my 40 days. Stirring. Awakening me to prayer and fasting. Quiet and obedience. His Cross and His Resurrection. He has met me in my weakness just as He always met those who loved Him in scripture.

Get up, let us go.
Look, my betrayer is at hand.

He beckons us to enter into this week, gently and lovingly. All the while teaching us how to live through suffering and through joy in a way only He can. Helping us prepare ourselves one day at a time to know more deeply His ultimate expression of Love. Meeting us where we are and revealing to us His Truths so that we may come to more deeply understand what happened that day so long ago. 

“My soul is sorrowful even to death.
Remain here and keep watch with me.”

Lenten Crafts for Littles: Candlelit Prayer Card

I'm back for another little craft for your little ones on up to your big ones!

Rosie from A Blog for my Mom came up with the wonderful idea of hosting a Lenten Craft Series and I'm so excited to be a apart of it!

Lent is such a beautiful time to slow down, be more intentional, fast so that you can be emptied and then filled back up again with more of Him, and to pray more. Our liturgical rhythm is such a good one and I know I am forever thankful for the way it draws me in, every. single. year!

For this craft, I was thinking about prayer meanwhile mentally sifting through all the leftover random craft supplies we had at home. When we craft around here it's usually with what we already have. It's just kind of how we do.

While I was doing my mental sift, I remembered these little cards for Priesthood Sunday that the boys had such a fun time making. I got to thinking more about prayer and cards and glue sticks and torn paper and easy and...Voila! I present to you Candlelit Prayer Cards for friends and family.

Continue reading this little piece over at Rosie's and make sure to check out the other fun and wonderful crafts in this series!

My Little Fiats

Y'all.

This Lenten season is rocking me. It's emptying me. It's challenging me and stretching me.

Naturally, one week (and some) into this journey and I'm struggling.

On the one hand, all things fasting related, I'm coping well enough. I feel my little sacrifices here and there slowly but surely emptying me from the inside out. Literally. I can sense that each time I say no to something I am saying yes to something greater. Someone greater. 

With each stand I grow stronger and it is so very encouraging.

With every small offering another little fiat is said.

All encouraging. All hard.

And yet, all that can be scrambled into a hazy fog of crazy real quick for this little soldier trying to carry on.

Tack on two doctors appointments in one week (...and that's not counting the other two doctors visits we had just two weeks ago.) and you can see just how disfigured my face can get real quick.

I mean. These boys.

I love them. I do. So very very very very very very much.

But whyyyyyy do they have to touch every. single. little. inch. of the waiting room only to enter the actual visit room to proceed to again touch every. single. little. infected. area that could possibly be touched.

Then. With these same hands they wipe their faces and their runny noses before I can get out my tissue for them. Then they proceed to touch me and all other things possible with all the germs they managed to acquire in .2 seconds FLAT.

And that's not even including the germs and random mystery limp we came in with. The very things that have my mama-heart in knots.

So, yes. Hazy fog of crazy.

Like I said, I love these boys. And it pains me that we have had to make these two visits. I hurt when they are sick. My heart struggles to balance loving compassion and charity along side the inevitable emotional and physical fatigue that my tired self meets every time some sort of illness makes its way into our home.

I struggle.

But as a mother, I carry on. One foot in front of the other. Wiping the noses, taking the temperatures, keeping them hydrated, snuggling, reading, holding, feeding, caring, worrying, on and on and on. I carry on. One little way at a time.

I wish I didn't meet this bit of motherhood with all the grumbles you can imagine. I really do. 

I wish I didn't make it all about me. But, there's sin. And there's me. And where sin and I meet. It's all about me. 

I...I...I...I...

...you get the picture.

I have to remind myself that it is not I that I draw my strength from, but Him. It is not my will I should desire, but His. I have to remind myself that He sanctifies my little efforts. That He, and He alone can help me carry my little crosses.

And even though it is sooooooo hard to do it while in the moment, I really am trying.

Trying not to worry. Trying not to stress. Trying not to be prideful. Trying not to make everything about me. Trying to think outside of myself and turn towards Him and my family. Trying to embrace my vocation. The very same vocation that will bring me back to Him whom my soul longs for.

I'm trying.

At the end of this crazy week filled with a mystery limp, fevers, and doctors appointments, I am so glad I took these pictures!

There are lots of bright sides to celebrate here!

First bright side, they did have a blast playing with their dinosaurs, looking out the windows, and playing lunchtime while we waited an entire hour.

Second and most important bright side, the doctor believes that Linus' fever is unrelated to his mystery limp (Thank you, Lord!) and that we should just keep monitoring him. She felt his limp had lessened from one day to the next (And still is, thankfully!) and that he probably caught a new virus that was just starting to show itself (No, thank you. But I'll take it!).

After all this, another lesson learned. Again. Trust in Him.

My mom told me to stop worrying and to trust. My husband encouraged me not to worry. To be present. I could hear Sister Kathleen in the back of my mind saying that His plans are such a gift to us if we just let Him love us!

It is so hard for me to remember to seek Him in my times of troubles. It's hard to remember His 40 days spent in a dessert. His Cross. His Wounds. His Death. It's hard to remember that He knows this struggle. So much so He died on a Cross so that someday we would never have to know these pains again. All for love us.

My beloved Jesus, Your face was beautiful before You began this journey; but, now, it no longer appears beautiful and is disfigured with wounds and blood. Alas, my soul also was once beautiful when it received Your grace in Baptism; but I have since disfigured it with my sins. You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by the merits of Your passion; and then do with me as You will."

~St Alphonsus Liguori

It's hard to remember, but I'm thankful for moments of grace and late night ramblings to help me see that He alone can restore me. 

If you stuck around for all the ramblings, you're amazing!

How has He been meeting you while on your Lenten journey? I'd love to know. Has it been obvious? Gentle? Hard? Walking along side you? Ahead of you encouraging you on? or Behind you nudging you along?

No matter how He has been meeting you during this season, I pray we all take heart and remember that He is with us.

Linking-up with Kelly for some quick-takes and Amy for Embrace the Ordinary and Dearest Love for Coffee Date for some highs and lows chat.

Meatless Friday: Curry Chickpeas over Rice with Fresh Baked Bread

I'm joining Gina from Someday Saints for her Meatless Friday series! We've been enjoying some yummy meatless meals over here so I'm excited to share! 

This meal I'm sharing is pretty easy to whip up. It's one of those dinners that happened after being low on all. the. groceries. We hadn't been grocery shopping in awhile which made life tricky last week. Thankfully I can report it turned out to be pretty yummy!

Curry Chickpeas over Rice with Fresh Baked Bread

Head over to Gina's from Someday Saints to get the full post with recipes!

Hope y'all get a chance to enjoy this meatless meal. If you do, please come by and let me know what you thought! I know curry isn't for everyone, so for those who give it a go, pray you enjoy it!

Gina, thanks so much for having me again! And thank you for this series that is helping me keep our Lenten Meatless Fridays exciting in little ways!

Cheers to New Beginnings!

Okay.

Silly me. Of course if I write and share that our week has been going fairly smoothly I would meet a Friday that could rival any Monday.

Stopping in for some quick-takes and beauty finds because this mama could do with some re-focusing.

Earlier this week, we fell into our rhythm. It was great. Good days. Lots of reading, smiles, fun, and chill. Then I went to bed late, twice, only to wake up to two grouchy-pants. I tried to rival this by meeting up with some awesome mamas at a fun little indoor play place, but Mr. Bigfoot decided to keep his grouchy-pants on. Such is the life of the little ones I suppose. Trying to navigate emotions and fun all at the same time. But on a day of fasting, I admit that my temper got the best of me when they decided to cry all the way home. All. The. Way...Oy!

Twas a long car ride.

But life took a turn when my husband came home for lunch with... Wait for it! ...a free iced-coffee from Chick-fil-a! Oh MY HEART! I can't even tell you the flood of love I had for him when he stepped in. I mean, I'm pretty sure I almost cried. True story.

Especially since, on my way to meet my friends I punched in Chick-fil-a in my Google Maps only to be taken to the middle-of-neighborhood-no-where. No, thank you Google. No, thank you. Ever.

I hadn't had coffee because I was wanting this tidbit of delicious mixed with caffeine but Google had other, more unpleasant plans for me.

See, the thing is, Lent is here. I have set my mind and heart on my offerings and sacrifices. This is definitely going to be one of the more trying Lenten seasons I've had in recent years and I'm thankful and excited for that. However, as many things as I am saying no to right now, coffee and creamer are just not one of those. I know myself and I know where we are in life right now and that would do more harm than good. And that's not what Lent is about. I will not be learning Love with an empty coffee mug this season. Perhaps another one in the future, but not this one. And that's okay.

But given the trials from today, small may they have been, I'm telling myself to begin again.

"Jesus offers you the cross, a very heavy cross, and you are afraid of not being able to carry it without giving way. Why? Our Beloved Himself fell three times on the way to Calvary, and why should we not imitate Him?" 

~St. Therese of Lisieux

I found these words from St. Therese last year. They mean something to me again this year. And probably will for the rest of my life. A reminder that has helped me transition today. Encouragement that made me stop earlier. Encouraging words and some jokes from my husband also helped me settle a ton too (THANK YOU, Love!).

Today I fell. I fell on the drive home from such a fun time and I fell while at home during lunch. But I'm determined to get back up again. To begin again. It's just what I need to do. It's just what needs to happen. And, with His Grace and Strength, it's going to happen!

On that note, the boys napped. I rested. I typed. I read. And now I'm sharing. We were invited to a Children's Stations of the Cross and a Lenten dinner. This will be good (fingers-crossed). Either way, I've had an attitude adjustment and will be determined to find the good and beauty in it. In our time with friends and our time sharing God with our little family. Time sharing in fellowship. It will be good.

And on another good note, I grabbed my camera the other day when we had some sunshine. These were my beauty finds. Finding beauty in our time together and throughout our week really helps me to slow down and have that peace that helps me get through my days.

Cheers to new beginnings and finding beauty. On the daily.

How is your Friday going? What encouragement have you found during your harder days that makes all the difference?

Thanks for stopping by! Linking-up with Kelly for some quick-takes and Aimee for Finding Beauty Friday! I've missed linking-up with you both! And linking-up with Amy for Embrace the Ordinary. Thanks for hosting during Lent, Amy! :)

7/52 Come and Gone

Ash Wednesday has come and gone. We went to Mass yesterday and the boys did surprisingly well. Aside from Linus squeaking often and Bigfoot trying to wipe my ashes off because he wasn't a fan, they were both really great and we were thankful!

Our week has been pretty slow filled with little steps that could lead to bigger exciting steps in our future. All good. All things to be thankful for.

Our mornings have been filled with playdoh, painting, cutting paper, lots of puzzles, lots of books and reading, and a good pace. After our week of sick, I think we're getting back to our little rhythm which is so nice.

Our afternoons have been filled with snacks, books, chasing Lily, dinosaurs, chat on football and all things sports, naps (most days), and getting outside any chance we get.

Bigfoot. 3. Loves sunshine, conquering new physical feats, and "playing football with daddy".

Linus. 2. Loves 50 Nifty States song, giraffes, and his golf club and ball.

It's been a good week. Day 2 of Lent has been good too.

I've been able to carve out some space for my little self to retreat into my heart. But I say that after only two days which have been filled with an ease and rhythm that we don't always have. I know harder and more trying days are just ahead. I know this because I know myself and my offerings are ones that can easily bring me into grouchy-pants land.

Per usual, He draws me in, more and more, through His wiser servants. Praying for an open heart that seeks strength from His Word and Presence.

“Each year, Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian lives, and it stimulates us to rediscover the mercy of God so that we, in turn, become more merciful toward our brothers and sisters. In the Lenten period, the Church makes it her duty to propose some specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal: these are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.” 

-Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

But since we are two days in (Haha! Almost two full days in!) I will say thank you for the sunshine that lights up my little people. It's the little things.

How has your week been?

the side of love // let lent draw you in

Tuesday.

Mardi Gras Tuesday.

You are here. You crept up. Or rather, I buried my head in my days and am just now peeking out. Peeking out to see you. To see that you are here to meet me before Lent. Here to encourage celebration and transition into this season that happens every year. To encourage intentional living, loving, praying, serving, and more.

He knew we would need time set apart to slow down. To be more present. To seek and be still. To spend time knowing, loving, and serving Him more fully. To embrace suffering and struggle in a different way. To enter into His Wounds more so we can know His Glory more.

Fat Tuesday. You are here.

The last three years of motherhood have influenced my Lenten offerings. Between nursing and being pregnant I've not had to put too much thought into my Lenten sacrifices. The physical and emotional state that came with constant nursing, sleep deprivation, and being pregnant took care of that part. Sure, I did little things that focused more on my behavior, presence, and attitude, but this year is different. I'm not pregnant and I'm almost completely done nursing.

Since being married and becoming a mother, I'm learning that stretching yourself in a way that helps you see differently - that helps you re-frame your present moment.  Just a little - goes a long way! Or at least for me this has been true. So when I stumbled upon this wisdom from dear Papa Emeritus, my heart leaped a little and my brain started working away on how to frame this beautiful season that is nigh.

"Lent is like a long 'retreat' during which we can turn back into ourselves and listen to the voice of God, in order to defeat the temptations of the Evil One. It is a period of spiritual 'combat' which we must experience alongside Jesus, not with pride and presumption, but using the arms of faith: prayer, listening to the word of God and penance. In this way we will be able to celebrate Easter in truth, ready to renew the promises of our Baptism." 

- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

My last retreat was the one my husband and I went on just before marriage. Retreats, ever since I was young, move me and rejuvenate me. They stir my soul and give me energy and fervor that I may or may not have had before. Getting to retreats hasn't come easy these past three years, but framing my Lenten season as a long 'retreat' is something I can do.

This wisdom from Papa soothes my yearning heart. It pulls me into this season with a peace and calm that I'm so grateful for. This Lenten retreat I'll be taking will include sacrifices in the form of giving up certain foods, increased daily prayer time for myself, my family, and my marriage, more quiet, more reading, and a women's bible study my parish will be hosting. I'm excited for all of it. I'm excited for this season of pruning. It's always needed but I appreciate how the Church ever so gently draws us in.

"Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life..."  

- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

My little Lenten 'retreat' starts tomorrow. Today I will celebrate in my own little way.

Tomorrow I will start my journey for 40 days. Into the dessert. With Him. One step at a time. One day at a time. All in hopes to more fully celebrate the Truth and Goodness of Our Risen Lord come Easter.

How will you let this season draw you in?

Linking up with Blessed is She for #BISsisterhood: Lent.

A cross, some dust, and some sweetness

"Jesus offers you the cross, a very heavy cross, and you are afraid of not being able to carry it without giving way. Why? Our Beloved Himself fell three times on the way to Calvary, and why should we not imitate Him?"

~St. Therese of Lisieux

Oh, sweet, sweet St. Therese! How sweet you always are! Thank you for reminding me of how He loves even our littlest attempts at carrying our crosses.

There a few things circling my little brain but for now I'm leaving you with the goodness of St. Therese and a picture of a prayer pillow cross that we got for Linus on his first birthday. Linus will play with it some, while Bigfoot loves to play Mass here and there with it. Look forward to see how they use it in the years to come!

This is my Holy Lens project insta-photo for today. Cross is the word and since there is some good ole dust (you know, the indoor dirt that flies and settles on everything and anything under your roof?) all over the coffee table, I'm also linking up with Cari for Theme Thursday. It's been awhile since I've joined Theme Thursday. Good to be back!

The Light of Lent

"Once again, Lent is not just a time for squaring conscious accounts: but for realizing what we had perhaps not seen before. The light of Lent is given us to help us with this realization. 

Nevertheless, the liturgy of Ash Wednesday is not focused on the sinfulness of the penitent but on the mercy of God. The question of sinfulness is raised precisely because this is a day of mercy, and the just do not need a savior.” 

– Thomas Merton

The light of Lent. I love that! It truly is a time when light shines. His light shines on us revealing ways that we can grow closer to Him so that we can grow closer to others in love - His love! 

Such a good Lord we have. So gentle. Not only does he invite us to come closer, but He gives us time. 40 days. Or, I guess He technically does give us everyday, but in a special way we are invited to be intentional during the season.

Today, I was intentional about some of my time. I was intentional about capturing, loving, and being still. And, with His Grace, there will be more to come the rest of the day.

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As a side note, I am joining Abbey at Surviving our Blessings for her Holy Lens Lent-stagram project. Everyday they have a word posted for us to capture. The idea is to capture the sacred found in our everyday. I love that too! Capturing the sacred. My hope is to share my Lent-stagram sacred finds on the blog as much as I find time to.

Today's word is fast.

I captured my small Lenten attempt at fasting for my Instagram post (as a nursing mama, my meal fasts won't be too demanding); but, in the end, I spent more time on the word itself. 

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Fast. My boys are growing up so quickly! Time is not slowing down. Everyday there is something new. New skills. New words. New everything! And it is all happening fast. Fast! FAST!

Haha. And, not only are they growing fast, but they are lightning speed fast! I don't know what age it was that I lost speed, but I have never been more aware of it since my little toddler man has taken to the joy of running. The boy runs all. the. time! He loves it. The laughter and smiles that come from him when he's running are incredibly beautiful.

Meanwhile, little brother is too quick to follow in big brother's footsteps. He is a little speedy himself! He crawls and has taken steps. He will be walking any day now! The process that it took for him to get to where he is now shows such determination and patience. Perseverance and intention - from both of them! Fast is something that occurs daily.

Pray that I be able to follow in their footsteps during my Lenten journey. That I will be fast to meet them. Lightning fast to my duties of love and home. Quick to laugh and smile just like they are, so that my little Lenten light will grow a bit more bright with each day that passes. The little light that will help me be more like Him whom my soul was made for.

Prayers for a beautiful Ash Wednesday and start to your Lenten journey!

Lent: My Little Fat Tuesday

"Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life..." 

- Pope Benedict XVI

The Lenten season has arrived. I have intentions. I have offerings. I have desires for this season. I want to be blessed and to bless. Fat Tuesday crept up on me (per usual) but my sweet husband came home with this little treat to let me have a little bit of an indulgence. My sweet tooth thanks him.

This season I'm going to do things a little different. Words are going to be me my focus and I pray that they encourage in me all that my soul is thirsting for.

Joy. Somewhere between marriage and having babies I feel that I've lost the sense of joy in my little day-to-day happenings. Or, if I am in a joyful spirit it can go from laughs and fun to a lost temper real quick. I really want to work on that. I want to keep joy in our home not only for myself but also for my boys and husband.

Diligence. I know I desire it, but I struggle with it. It's very easy for me to get caught up in my tendency to feel frazzled if things don't go according to the little plans I have in my head. I want to try to overcome that and be more diligent in my daily duties as a wife, mother, and CEO of our little home. I want to be diligent in not only making our home a home, but also in readings and meeting with my Lord. I want to be diligent in making time for him daily. Even if it's reading just one verse from scripture so that I can grow to know Him more. And, I pray that I am able to share this daily with my husband and the boys.

Reflection. I want to reflect. I want to reflect more, not only on the Cross and His Word, but also on myself in relation to both. I want to spend more time seeking out the areas that I need to prune, and prayerfully be able to prune from the root. I also want to spend more time reflecting on all the things that are present in my life that are cause for Joy and Thanksgiving to help prepare myself for His Resurrection.

Capture. I have a camera. I have a beautiful family that constantly provides for beautiful moments. I have a blog and am part of an amazing blogging community of women who strive to live a life for Him. I want to capture the beauty of my day-to-day more intentionally and I'd like to try and share that here on the blog.

So, there you have it. I'm off to enjoy my sweet wine and cupcake.

Thanks for stopping by!

{7in7} Weekends with Chesterton: Fear

I read this earlier and really appreciated the truth of it. I haven't organized my thoughts on it, but wanted to share it still.

And later today, I stumbled across this next quote from Chesterton. Such bold words. And, such an interesting conversation on how modernists tend to look towards the future and the reason he finds it to be so. The few paragraphs where he talks about our fear for the greatness that have gone before us really struck me. I've never given much thought to our tendency to the future. Futuristic movies. What it will be like in X years. Novels written with future ideals and so on.

But, what a gift all who have gone before us have given! Their boldness. Courage. Love of beauty and pursuits of virtue. The bars have been set. All the way back to Christ himself. 

Prayers for all of you while we humbly enter into this season of Lent. A season that invites us to walk alongside our Lord. Prayers that we all are able to boldly look back and endure the great responsibilities of love that our Lord has shared with us.

Linking up with Sarah at Amongst Lovely Things.

Also, I've been linking up with Jen for 7 posts in 7 days Challenge all week. I was able to make 6, which works for me. Thanks, Jen for encouraging us all to share more!

Seph's First Lenten Season