stuck in a moment

We are on the Gulf of Mexico! We've been here for a week + 1 day and I can already feel the pace slowing and life becoming more simple. Partly because I have no friends here ;). HAHA! But partly because this move is so different from the last one. I don't know what it was about Key Biscayne, but it shored me up and got me fit for.. anything.

Do I recommend moving? If you don't have to, there is no need. But if you have to, welcome it. God has a plan and reason for moving us here. I don't know what it is entirely, but the smooth gulf and white sands stretching for miles tell me its alright.

Have a great weekend, friends!

brighter than the sun

We are all prone to certain things. It's just how we are made. And it's not bad.

I'm prone to reflection. I remember being a child and young adult with a certain restlessness. Not the type that appears externally, but entirely in my own inner world. There was a seeking, but toward what? I wanted to be enveloped in the security of a world where the whole and all of its parts were understood and supporting me in my journey.

I thank God that I have that now. What an incredible gift we are given to discover Truth. It's a life's work and the best one we will ever have,  ending in the basking of His light, warm, sure, and full.

Happy new year.

this mom is moving... again!

Merry Christmas! It's the 3rd day of Christmas, and I hope you are still basking in the glow. We are in Maryland visiting family and getting ready to celebrate my brother's wedding! It has been a wonderful and busy week visiting family mostly and a few friends.

And when we return to Miami, we will be preparing for our next part of our journey, moving to the West coast of Florida. I am too tired at the moment to sound excited, even though I am. This will be a slower city, and we will have a different life. But I carry each place and the people I love there with me. Each move has molded us in different ways. My kids swing their hips latin-style when they dance, they understand Spanish pretty well, I've formed friendships with people all over the world that I admire. I look forward to seeing what this next move will bring.

squeeze them closed!

Hi friends! I hope those of you in the states had a marvelous Thanksgiving Feast yesterday. We were welcomed to share it with a friend's family since we couldn't make it back to DC. :)

All week long, I've been getting emails about sales SALES SALES!! It's in my face everywhere and disturbs my peace momentarily until I close out of my account. Instead, my husband and I have been fielding all sorts of mini fires with the kids pulling beds apart and the puppy AND deciding what traditions we want to really start living as a family, starting with this weekend.

What do we want our Christmas to be like? How do we begin the season of Advent ( a season of penance and waiting symbolized by the color purple on the Advent wreath with a little rose candle thrown in on the 15th to celebrate that Jesus is really coming soon, both at Christmas and at the end times.. a cause of joy. Sorry for the details, but it is a big part of my life that some of you may not celebrate so I can't throw the word out there without explaining it a little!)? With a big bang jumping right into decorating everything? Or quietly with no decorations at all until we get a little closer?

We've tried various approaches in the past. And with the firm belief that what we are surrounded by affects our internalization of life's events, we have come up with a bit of a mixed bag. We are going shopping for the kids whose parents' are in prison that our parish supports today. Our tree is up and lit, but not decorated. We'll have the nativity up without baby Jesus so the kids can "play/pray," a very montessori approach. I need to get a new Advent wreath so that we count down to Christmas each Sunday. And of course we have our Calendar count down made by Grandma. :) We'll do our full-fledged decorating on the 15th (rose candle Sunday).

Enjoy the season and I hope it gets you ready for the coming of Jesus- in our world, homes, and most especially, in our hearts.
image:allposters.com

welcome

I don't like to pick up around the house. It shows. Don't judge ;). And I've given myself plenty of reasons not to lately! But as I look at my kids' rooms, I see that they are indeed learning from me. It's just not what I want them to be learning. :) As I think about my weekend and wanting friends to stop by, I cringe looking around the house after a week of projects coming and going and a very full life and schedule. So I set to work.

And I was inspired to write.

One of the things I want is for people to walk into my house and know they are welcome in tangible and intangible ways. Some people have that way about them and you can just feel it. It takes a good measure of work to keep things up, graciousness in serving, and ease about the things you own (which can be hard when we have little kids who can break anything at any minute). It's not probable to have all of these talents naturally combined into one person unless one grows up in this kind of culture. But it can be done as I've been so fortunate to have experienced. So as I thought again about my home, I thought about my kids and husband who will come home and who might come over. This (above) tells anyone walking in that I'm ready for you. I can't think of a better thing to have on my table on a daily basis. If that alone inspires me to pick up, it is enough!

Have a wonderful weekend!

babyface

How is the mission seeking, my friends? I have gone missing! Not really, but we are expecting #4 sometime next summer! And I haven't been feeling good.

But how do I feel about it? GREAT, of course. Because we all know that in this age and culture, you don't go for four unless you want to. I see this child as nothing less than a blessing, making our home even more full of life, love and laughter. With the characters we have around here, this picture I found seemed appropriate!
(image: baby-connect.com)

So more to add to my blog topics: baby fun! Have a wonderful Sunday.