99 Things on My Mind, and I’d Rather Read Great Blogs
I keep having bursts of inspiration to let my fingers run across the keyboard and post something amazing…but the bursts fade as soon as the toddler yelps. Instead of telling you about the books I’m reading, or musing about Lent, or sharing pictures, or chatting homeschooling, I’m running away from the computer to rescue pinched fingers and break up squabbles about whose car is whose. Then of course I’m making lunches and dinner and nursing the baby…
On weekends, we’ve been spending time with friends. Last weekend, we cooked and quilted together. It was amazing.
With all that, it ends up taking a solid week to finish a single blog post. Don’t even mention all the bright and shiny things on the internet which distract.
Speaking of which, the internet has had some lovely bright and shiny distractions this week. From free workouts to printable works of mercy lists for kids to brilliant posts about saints and marriage, I have some gems to share.
Colleen wrote about how St. Clare of Assisi stole her heart and has some marriage lessons. This is a post I’m going to read and re-read. She writes, “I feel her invitation to learn to find joy in the daily sacrifices of love, in the tenderness of the ways I get to serve this man I love, and the unity of spirit and purpose we can achieve when I see his needs as my own and meeting them as a good I do for both of us.” Love it.
SoulCore has a free download of a workout and meditation on the Stations of the Cross. Since I downloaded it only this morning, I can’t tell you yet how the workout was, but I have heard many great things about SoulCore. Check it out! A little prayer and physical movement is good for the soul.
Katie from the blog Look to Him and Be Radiant is offering printable lists of specific works of mercy anyone can do, even kids. I printed mine and intend to mention them as ideas frequently this year and beyond. Not only do my kids need the inspiration, I do also. I haven’t really ever know how to “counsel the doubtful”, but one idea on her list helps me out: “willingly explain things”. Even as a homeschooling mama, there are times that I’m sick of explaining that math problem, or why it is important to go to Mass, or why we should wash our hands even if we can’t see the dirt. To be more willing to explain, for the 87th time this hour…that is something to work on.
Nancy from Do Small Things With Love has a wonderful list of Lenten ideas. Please, do not overwhelm yourself and try to do all of them. Let’s not be crazy. See which speak to your heart, and then do them. With love. I’m aiming for refraining from saying “in a minute” so often, making it to Reconciliation, and getting chores done cheerfully (not on her list, but my own idea inspired by her list).
On the homeschool side of life, I read about “The One Thing Principle”, just at the right time. This week, I chatted with our Mother of Divine Grace homeschool consultant, feeling “ok” about where we are, but not great. She had good ideas for us, but reading this post, about focusing on doing one thing, and doing it well, gives me peace and inspiration. Now I’m going to focus more on quality completion of at least one thing each day, and the rest is gravy. After all, as I was discussing with my son’s Godmother yesterday, isn’t it more important to instill a love of learning (and well, the knowledge of how to learn), than to memorize a bunch of things and then dump the info when it’s not needed? Isn’t it better for our children to learn to learn, learn to think critically, learn to do well and pursue knowledge, than to merely absorb meaningless information? As I sat grading yesterday afternoon, chatting about this, it made more and more sense. So, now I need to remind myself to worry less about how much we’re getting done, and focus on how well we’re learning together, without rushing and scrambling to check off all the boxes.
As for clicking around on random links, I found this list of novels Catholics should read. I’ve read “Father Elijah” (and want to read it again! I really enjoyed it back in high school/college, and those were my years of strongly not enjoying reading. It is that good a book.), and now I’ve add the rest to my to-read one day list.
And then, there’s this spectacular music video. Feast your eyes. It is a color-treat.
