Showing posts with label gratitude. Lent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Lent. Show all posts

Friday, February 15, 2013

Insta-Friday: A week in photos

life rearranged 
 

Linking up again with The Pleated Poppy and Life Rearranged...If you want to see some talented bloggers, check out those ladies and their followers! Or better yet, link up yourself!


Friday, Friday....FRIDAY!

The week has flown by! 
It's amazing how fast days go when you are busy.

My oldest has had quite the week for sure. 
Friday, she went to the Mardi Gras dance at school. Adorable group of super smarties. 
 These are your future senators, scientists and Academy Award winning actors and playwrights. 



The rest of her week consisted of getting ready for and going on her 8th grade trip. That is a shock to the system, for sure. Your baby that only a few short years ago you were still tying her shoes going off on a bus and staying in a hotel without you. For posterity, I took a photo of her still looking like the middle schooler she still is.
While one girl was dancing, the other was partying at a friends house and Steve and I got to double date with my parents. We went to a funky-cool brewery (Shout out to Moccasin Brewing Company) for drinks and then to dinner at Chatto Brasserie  which has become one of mine and Steve's favorite restaurants. We usually sit at the bar and act like we don't  have kids. 


Saturday was a whirlwind of picking  up kids and dropping them somewhere else, only to pick them up again. I got a lot accomplished as I hit the ground running with a delivery at 8 a.m., then groceries, Target, and the first pick up all before 11.  I don't know about you, but grocery shopping makes me feel like my life is one groundhog day after the other. 
 The plan was to drop one kid off at lacrosse practice and then workout myself. Did not happen. Instead, to celebrate Mardi Gras, I made my yearly King Cake from scratch. I left it to rise while I went to Mass, thinking I would be gone an hour tops. Nope! The Bishops Appeal made my cake rise for almost two hours It was a beast! I am only sorry I didn't think to take a picture.Still tasted delicious, just was enormous.



Steve and I got the tour of Ellie's classes on Wednesday morning, meeting all her teachers and seeing her day through her eyes. She loved showing us around, and impressed us with a very straight locker. 



Valentine's Day was the day after Ash Wednesday, which I think is totally unfair. I gave up sweets as a last minute addition to my Lenten sacrifice. My sweet husband bought me a sack full of deliciousness that I cannot eat. However, I did get to share the morning with my baby girl, who  is indeed the most stylish in our house. I wish I had gotten a picture of her cool shoes as well. she was styling for Valentine's day.

Once again we were without kids, so last minute tacos and live music was our Valentine's day. We are not really high pressure Valentine people, choosing instead to celebrate each other every day. You don't get through 18 years of a relationship putting lots of pressure on "special days".  We were lucky enough to hear one of the coolest local musicians (she is one of the only people who makes me miss my twenties)  at one of the most beautiful venues in town, Lindsay Street Hall.  Check her out,  Tiffany Taylor is literally the coolest chick around.



The pets took advantage of the sun the last two days to max and relax, but nothing beats this dog mad skills for getting sunshine and seeing the world. Something about this just cracked me up.






Speaking of mad skills or at least mad...
This weekend is going to be dedicated to projects. Today I am painting Delaney's room and then tomorrow I will paint the baseboards in hers and Ellie's rooms. The daunting task has been psyched up in my mind. I keep telling myself " It will only hurt for a moment, it will only hurt for a moment". I hate painting. 

Hope  your weekend is awesome.


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Dirt: Lent

A Lenten Prayer
Fast from judging others; feast on Christ in them.
Fast from wanting more; feast on being thankful.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on enjoyment.
Fast from negatives; feast on positives.
Fast from stress; feast on prayer.
Fast from anger; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from fear; feast on truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from gossip; feast on silence.
Fast from fighting; feast on peace.

Gentle God, during this season of fasting and feasting, gift us with your presence
so we can be a gift to others in carrying out your work.

Amen.
--Adapted from A Lenten Prayer by William Arthur Ward
 
 
As I begin Lent, I am hopeful for a rejuvenation of my spirit, similar to what happens when you fast. Calmness of spirit, focus on faith and God, realignment of the balance in my life of peace and patience versus turmoil and frustration.
 
Best wishes to you on your Lenten journey.
 
  

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Gratituesday: Fat Tuesday

I am sure everyone is sick of hearing about Mardi Gras and how much I love it.
Well...today is the last day.

Tomorrow starts Lent and a season of reflection, moderation  and sacrifice. 

TODAY is Fat Tuesday.


I love the name. Shrove Tuesday just doesn't sound the same. Fat Tuesday is the last day of whatever you are giving up for Lent.  The day you wear  your beads and mask.  The day you get serious about Lent and what will be your Lenten promise.


I used to give up french fries as I love them so much



My mom and I were talking about what we were going to do/ give up for Lent. She likes to give things up as that prompts her reflection of Lent and it's meaning. I haven't given anything up for years, but have chosen to do something instead. 


This year, my Lenten promise is to pray the rosary with my kids on the way to school once a week.  This is not a huge thing, but I feel that it will benefit my kids as much as it benefits me. Praying together is a way to share our faith and make them comfortable, hopefully sharing with others.


So, today I am grateful for Mardi Gras day 2013. 
Now to go find some fries....