Advent: Moments of Peace & Joy

 A few moments from my weekend, which was very nice ... I hope yours was too.

*PEACE*

An overnight snowfall made for a lovely surprise Saturday morning. I took this picture as I peeked out our front door ... the sun had barely woken up. As much as I'd love a little more sleep, I do relish this time of day.

Here's Archie basking in the kitchen sunlight. Cats know where all the warm spots are in the house. :) I love how wherever I am, he's there too. He just follows me (and Little Bear) around the house throughout the day. And not just when he's hungry. Oliver enjoys his solitude, but Archie's a real people person ... erm, cat.

Crackerjack took this sunrise shot on our way home from Mass this morning. We were marveling over the moody, milky sky ... we were also having a very nice conversation about faith. CJ was asking me a lot of questions about why different Christians believe different things and practice the Faith in different ways. Some things I had an answer for ... some I did not, and I told him we'd look into those questions together.

Now for a few moments of ...

*JOY*

Somebody had his first meal served in his big-boy high chair Saturday night! He was quite amenable to the new "protocol" as you can see ... note the little foot propped up on the tray!

As expected, we had a little "help" with the Christmas tree lights today ...

Meanwhile Oliver kept a safe distance.

It's the 2nd Sunday in Advent ... the candles on our mantel tell us so. :) I had such fun making these tissue paper votives with the boys years ago - our rather humble take on the Advent candle tradition.

*❤*

Blessings on your Monday, my friends ... keep your eyes (and heart) open for those little moments of peace ... and joy. I hope they help you balance any struggles you are handling right now.

I'll see you here again very soon ...

 

Advent: Moments of Peace & Joy

Happy Weekend, my friends!

Well, it was a quiet day for us yesterday ... I was feeling most grateful for the acceptance and peace in my heart. So much of our reality is shaped by our perception and how we feel about things. What's that old saying? If you can't change the way things are, change the way you think about them? Something like that. I find when I pray these days, I am asking God - not so much to change things (though that would be fantastic) - but for Him to grant me the strength to handle the things that do happen. And He's been so good to help me with that.

I am also deeply thankful for all your messages of support. What an outpouring we have received from you all, I can hardly express my gratitude. The prayers that are being said for my son, for my family ... I am truly overwhelmed by your kindness, and how you've taken us under your wings ...

My heartfelt thanks to you all.

❤

Also, a few of you who have gone through similar issues have reached out with offers to connect, and I will be following up on those connections, most certainly. I am eager for advice and insight ... Thus far Earlybird is doing ok - he is tolerating the meds well. He is not at all pleased about getting them (he begins the day with "No medicine, all right?") but I think he's becoming more accepting of it, and Bill and I are getting better at it. (There's that old saying at work!)

(Some of you have asked about his tests - his EEG is next Wednesday, but more on that in a future post.)

Well it's time to get on with my post - the peace and the joy I found in my day yesterday. A day which, in light of all the recent turmoil, was wonderfully relaxed, and though I hate to use this word - I think you know what I mean when I say - normal.  Little Bear took a super long nap, so I was able to spend some much needed one-on-one time with EB ...

First, here's my moment of peace ...

Honestly, is there anything more peaceful than a sleeping baby?

:)

And now for a look at our simple joy ...

Glue! What could be better?

Well, maybe paint. 

Earlybird asked for paints, and I did have some set aside. (I have to use natural art materials with EB.) I also had the boys work on an oldie but goodie - the "reindeer hands-and-feet" project. My 14 year-old Crackerjack is such a good sport. I asked him to join us in our craft-making and he happily did so.

I called this "Advent painting" because the blended paints became mostly purple and pink. :)

 The tiny one in the middle is Little Bear's.

:)

A bit later in the day, Earlylbird helped me make some brownies, a special St. Nicholas Day treat. Bookworm was on his way home from college, and we were eager to make a fun family supper. 

They were later topped with peppermint frosting - and as you can imagine, they were a hit!

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Well my posts have been rather long-winded lately - not quite the quck and simple things I had envisioned when I started my Advent Peace & Joy series! But I've had a lot to say, and you've all been kind enough to listen ...

I say this a lot, but truly, thank you for taking the time to stop by and spend a bit of your precious time here with me. I'm happy when my words resonate with someone and/or bring something forward that is is happy or helpful in some way. I'd like to ask that you leave me comments with your own prayer intentions - I am in prayer an awful lot these days and I would be honored to remember your intentions alongside mine. 

For now though, I will sign off ... we have a tree to decorate today! I will surely be sharing some of that joy here later on ...

Blessings and love to you all ... see you here again very soon!

Advent: Moments of Peace & Joy

*Family note at bottom of post*

My friends, I find such peace in candlelight at all times of the year, but especially during the season of Advent, as the days grow short and dark ...

 (My kitchen sink window, looking out at the sun setting behind the woods.)

(Colonial style candles, one for each front window in our new home.)

And now, for a moment of joy ...

Now, I'm not a "city girl" by any means, but I just LOVE the way the city looks at Christmas! City sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style ... 

Seriously, those huge sparkling trees on the town common, and the line of merry wreaths that hang from street lights (as above) ... they bring such a smile to my face during the holidays. I saw these on my way home from Crackerjack's CCD class last night - we pulled over so I could get a quick pic. :)

*❤*

* Note: Before I go, may I press upon you all again for more prayers for Earlybird? He had another seizure at four this morning ... another very scary ordeal for our son (and his parents). Thankfully, this seizure was shorter than the last, and because we were told how to handle it, there was a bit less panic on our parts. Still doesn't take away the worry, or the distress of our son who just has no idea why this is happening. God bless him, he asked if he could go back to "the hotel" this morning once things had calmed down (and he was back to himself). I asked him if he meant "the hospital" and he did. He remembered the kind care he received and that he felt better once he was done.

But here's a happy moment just to set you all at ease ...

This is EB and his Polar Express train set. He's been watching the movie recently and asking (somewhat incessantly) for his "wooden Polar Express train set." Now, the problem is (was), the set was kind of lost in the move, but Bill took it upon himself to find the pieces this morning and he was able to cobble most of the set together. Well, you would have thought we delivered Santa himself - Earlybird was thrilled. :)

*❤*

* Next day update (because it's taking me that long to get this post up!): After a call from the neurologist last night, we brought EB into Children's Hospital to start meds. Bill and my folks drove him in around 6 p.m (so I could stay home with the baby and Crackerjack); they were finally back home around midnight. So today starts a new reality of twice-daily medication, and watching to see how he reacts to it. They warned us it could cause some physical and behavioral issues, but we'll just have to wait and watch and hope (pray) for the best.

***

You know ... I guess sometimes we have to "take" joy and peace when and where we can find it, even when there's all this other stuff going on and life is far from quiet or easy or perfect. When we do find it - the joy and/or the peace - we have to enjoy it in that moment, and tuck it away to remember later. We never know how much we might need it.

I really don't mean to sound preachy, because this is something I am working on very much for myself. Keeping my eyes and heart open to the goodness in life around me and remembering that our blessings outweigh our challenges.

Some days this is easier to remember than others, but it's something I try to return to as I can. Life never stays the same, we can only try to roll with the changes and keep ourselves and our spirit intact ...

*❤*

Ok, I'm going to wrap up because I've kept you all long enough. My friends, thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. I will update as I can ... and I will post here as often as I can. It might not be every day as I planned, but I will as I find the time and opportunity.

Hope you all have a nice day ... see you here again very soon.

Advent: Moments of Peace & Joy

A moment of peace ...

Every time I drive out of our neighborhood, I drive by this little creek. It's a pretty sight at any time, but especially so with ice forming along its edges. Yesterday I took a few moments to stop my van, get out and take a picture. The wind was quiet in the trees and there was a critter rustling aruond in the branches. The air smelled faintly of woodsmoke. It was a lovely  moment with nature, reminding me how quiet and still the world becomes at this time of year ... a wonderful example for us all.

An this was my moment of joy  ...

Tucking my little trooper, Little Bear, into his car seat, as we headed out and about with his brothers. I was reminded how blessed we are to have Little Bear in our life, and how fortunate I am to spend my days with these children. I love his knit wear, don't you?

My friends, I absolutely adore the season of Advent, but for a whole host of reasons, I'm feeling overwhelmed this year. I've decided to counteract that anxiety as best as possible by focusing each day on finding a moment of peace and a moment of joy. Little things, simple things ... easy to spot if I look for them. And as I find them, I'll share them here ...

:)

Blessings on your Tuesday, everyone!

 

Just a thought ...

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

~ J.M. Barrie

Anger only fuels more anger - while Kindness breeds tolerance and respect. Everyone is so quick to judge and feel slighted these days, but maybe if we all showed a little more compassion - even in the smallest, most (seemingly) insignificant moments - there would eventually be less conflict in the world.

When tragedy rocks us, we look for the big answers, but maybe we need to start small?

World peace is a noble ambition, but the power of peace is within each of us. If we can find it within ourselves, why not share it and spread it around?

❤

Peace be with You!

September 21st is International Peace Day, so I thought I'd share one of my favorite sayings today. It's actually a magnet on my fridge:

I know this holiday is about world peace in particular, but I truly believe peace begins in the home, and that a peaceful future rests in the hands of our children. Because if we don't show them how to be peaceful people, who will? Certainly not the media, and probably not their peers ...

I'm actually using a "peace-curriculum" with Earlybird because this is a real issue for my autistic son - handling chaos and keeping in control. My goal is to help EB find and maintain his own peace, even when his mind and body are telling him otherwise. We're also exploring what it means to be part of a peaceful community - whether that be a family, a group of friends or the outside world at large.

These are big concepts - and the steps are small - but every little bit helps.

:)

So each morning when I reach in my fridge for my half-and-half, I take a moment to look at that magnet. Some days this concept is easier live by than others - and some days it feels near impossible! But I honestly feel if I can keep some peace within myself, I can (hopefully) share it with others as I go through my day. Most importantly, my own dear sons.

So on this beautiful Friday in September, I wish all of you peace in your hearts and your homes ...

Have a great weekend, my friends!

❤

A (Mostly) Quiet Sunrise with Earlybird

One of our "spring learning" activities this week was to spend a quiet morning outside, watching the woods and waiting for the sun to rise. We did this on Tuesday morning, and it was just magical ...

We crept out to the deck just before six (the sun was set to rise at 6:09).

Earlybird brought his binoculars so he wouldn't miss a thing ...

As we waited, we saw (and heard) ducks flying overhead, a lone crow passing over as well as a flock of squeaky blackbirds.

There was a single chickadee serenading us from the maple tree - we tried to answer him in kind, but he fell silent once we did.

We could hear morning traffic passing by on a neighboring street, and the coffeemaker beeped at 6:07.

The woods crackled in anticipation as a stiff wind (and a few squirrels) moved through ... 

 And then suddenly, there was a faint light ...

EB spotted it first!

A vivid orange glow at 6:09 - like a burst of flame in the trees:

Sunrise. 

We gathered our blankets and headed back inside - a little hungry, a bit chilled, but quite refreshed and invigorated. It was such a nice way to start the day ...

Hope your day unfolds just as nicely. Have a good one, my friends!

:)

Evening Moment

Sunset, 1/4/11, 4:25 p.m.

Walking through the house, picking up this, putting away that. Listening to the sounds of day's end ... dishwasher's running, heater's humming, a timer's ringing: somebody's "game time" is up. Pulling the blinds in the dining room windows, I'm struck by the scent of paperwhites, and stilled by a soft glow through the trees. This moment I keep to myself.

A pleasant thought before bed ...

"If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God." ~ G. K. Chesterton

What made you smile today?

:)