c l i m b i n g i v o r y
A little blog of Catholic wifehood, motherhood & dreams
Today . . . September 17, 2023
Under the sky . . . Warm but not too hot or humid, sunny and breezy and blue Under our roof . . . That period of 3pm-6pm that is known as Sunday Recovery (and we had potluck today too, so we got home right before 3) . . . Adrian fast asleep in his sweaty church clothes on our couch, Rose in a diaper crawling and making a semi-cheerful nuisance of herself on our bed, Sunday football on the TV. The house is half-tidy, half-not, and our suitcases from Wednesday still need to be unpacked, so . . . Monday problems. I'm wearing . . . My new dress that is basically a perfect autumn floral dress - warm blue background, small white and orange floral print, long sleeved and cinched at the wrist, a flowy fit with a waistline sash and a wrap bodice for nursing. Dinner starring as . . . We are going out!! A double date with our old friends and mentors! Mediterranean food, and I'm eyeing a lamb burger with feta that's on the menu . . . A mood in three words . . . Uplifted, grounded, thankful A favorite . . . Staying in a new dress all day . . . knowing fall is just around the corner . . . baking bread . . . having the children peacefully riveted by VeggieTales for a moment after a tiring but worthwhile day. Hidden thoughts . . . Oh my. Too many to number! It was a very effort-ful Mass, so to speak, for JA and I, as the kids are still definitely in the thick of recovering from travel. Whining, clinging and crying abounded and I barely had a moment of recollection during the liturgy. Hours later, as we left potluck and I ran back into church to grab a sippy cup, missal and food we'd left inside, I went into the sanctuary alone and looked at the tabernacle and tears sprang into my eyes. He was there, and He knew all things. The wife in me . . . JA and I fell into talking last night about what we'd advise our younger selves to do before getting married if we could. I instantly knew mine: "Don't get social media! Be disciplined in daily prayer, the Sacraments and go to Mass more!" I wish I could go back and spend those early days better! But thankful I can take the knowledge forward. This year has been one of much grace, mercy and renewal and I pray it will be the first of many. And just a friendly reminder to myself to not hold on to silly things like if my bread was crusty enough to his liking or how much or little he talked during dinner. The mother in me . . . is ready for the kids to get back to normal behavior and sleep and is imploring Heaven for patience and wisdom in the meantime! The child in me . . . wants to go someplace cold and twirl around under falling leaves. Gratitude . . . for grace and Divine love . . . and a new staple oatmeal raisin cookie recipe I found yesterday. xo, Mary
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Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains. (J. R. R. Tolkien) We did it! We packed up and flew our young brood for a week to Wyoming to stay with my beloved sister. Chilly mornings, the sun pressing intensely hot yet light on your skin at noon, breathless vastness at sunset, glory, farmers' fields, homemade donuts, a slow and tactile life. And the mountains. Heart-changing, healing. I saw myself and my true tiny size - all my life, the pains and glories and ordinaries wrapped up in it, the shocks and deep desires and plans, all a speck under the shadow of these mighty creations of God. And I was at peace. I drank in the majesty and stamped it in my memory and wrapped up the peace to carry home with me.
The children drank it in too, playing with their adorable cousin all day, their fingernails dirt-stained and skin beautifully browned by the sun. Of course there were the occasional fatigues and irks of human nature, but they did so well. My sister's home felt like my grandmothers' homes, one of the coziest places I've ever been. It was such a gift to spend quality time with my sister in a way we'd never done since the both of us had gotten married! And . . . "Well, I'm back." Once again hoping to return to a season of more regular blogging! My veins are afire with making autumn come a wee bit early to my home, revving up fall menus and baking breads and all that. It's late and my husband is almost home so I'll keep this initial post short, a bookmark to return to with more of my unimportant but good-humored ramblings soon. xo, Mary |
MaryWife to my best friend. Mama to a gregarious 3yo boy, a determined 18mo daughter, a darling baby boy due in late July, and a miscarried child we gave back to God. (photos are from Unsplash unless I note they're mine :)
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