Healthy Habits - My Experiment

A week ago I began the Les Mills 21 Day Nutrition Challenge.  It's a painfully simple regime.  It is all explained in a ten minute video.  It's a low carb diet.  Only meat, low-starch vegetables and good fats are allowed.  No dairy either. 

I thought it would be difficult to follow this diet because it eliminates a lot of the foods I eat regularly.  But, I have found it easy to follow because of the simple method used to explain portion size and because I get to eat more regularly.  It also requires a lot of protein.   I have long complained of high protein diets, because of the expense.  However, I have relied a lot on egg whites during this diet and that has helped the expense a great deal.  I consume egg whites for 50% of my daily protein intake.  I thought egg whites would not be nice to eat without the yolk, but I have enjoyed them. 

I have been surprised that after the first couple days I stopped craving sweets after meals.  I have not longed for dairy or bread either.  I used to live on cheese.  I still crave cheese, but I can give it up for a little while.  

I had a snafu at the beginning.  The diet requires one meal to be a protein shake immediately after working out.  I have long been against protein powders because I believe one should get nutrition from food not from something engineered, i.e., supplements.  I discovered that my gut feeling about this was correct.  After my first protein shake (ever) I had a violent reaction.  I had a severe headache and nausea.  I could not do anything.  It turns out protein powders are loaded with MSG from the processing.  I have always had violent reactions to MSG.  I am surprised other people do not have the same problem I did.

I was a little disheartened about this development, because the protein shake is an essential element to the diet.  But, I got back on the horse and decided to use raw 3 egg whites 1/4 cup yogurt and 1/2 a banana in a smoothie as my recovery shake.  This has worked out beautifully.

Last year, I joined a gym that uses the Les Mills program classes.  After Lucy was born, I decided to try the classes.  I discovered that Les Mills Pump helped me to lose weight faster.  There is an at home version available for purchase, which I may save for, because my children are sometimes sick and I cannot make it to the gym.  If you click the picture below, it will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

For the last couple months I had plateaued in weight loss.  Even though I weigh less than I weighed in high school I longed to be leaner.  I am still one of the heavier gals at the gym.   When one of the instructors offered this challenge diet, I decided to try it.  When I began the diet one week ago, my waist was 80 cm and now it is 75 cm and I have lost 6 pounds.  I am starting to see a little more definition in my muscles.  So far, so good.  At the end of the 21 days, maybe I will post a before and after picture.  

I am sharing this little story with you, because I am sure most people desire improved health and this is a program that might help you too.  

Home School Journal - The Rear View Mirror

Well, we are almost looking at home school in the rear view mirror.  Alex has two subjects to complete and he will be done with first grade.  Ever since I made home school the first activity of our day and started paying the neighbor to watch Annie three days a week, school has been great.  There are still moments of defiance or struggle and when I say moments, I mean really small ones.  

In the last month, I have begun to think about next year.  Every so often, I look into other programs and so forth just to see if there were perhaps a better program.  Every time I do, I find myself coming back to Seton Home Study School with confidence.  No program is perfect and not all aspects fit every child. But, I have found that with a little supplementation to fit my child, Seton is very well-rounded.  

Next year, we will be adding Classically Catholic Memory to our work.  I was interested in doing it and then it turned out many of the other Catholic home schoolers in our area were also interested.  So we are getting together and doing it in a co-op setting.  I am very excited about this.  We will have a much better home schooling community and our children will benefit from the classical education.  I did not think about it before this moment, but I guess I need to start praying about our new endeavor.  

Kristiana has only been working on preschool material two days a week.  I think she is a little intimidated.  In the beginning learning seems hard, but with a few small successes she will be on her way.  Now that Alex is done for the school year, I am going to enlist him to help teach Kristiana over the summer, which has been my plan all year.  He will like this because he will finally get to do all the easy stuff that looks like fun to him, but is learning for Kristiana.

Here are Alex and Kristiana working away at school.  Kristiana needs the tactile preschool activities, which makes Alex jealous.  Here she has her number puzzle, alphabet puzzle and her pattern block set.  She did great work. 

Here are my little troublemakers.  Annie is laying in the chill-out spot.  Whenever she starts to get into too much stuff, I ask her to lay down and get cozy.  She likes this activity.  I took this picture, because little Lucy crawled up onto her motorbike, sat down and was reaching down and teasing Annie.  It was pretty clever.

This week we focused on systems in the human body.  I made up experiments to help Alex and Kristiana discover how the systems work. Here we are checking out the nervous system with pin pricks.  We did double pin pricks and single pin pricks to see how the nerves send messages to the brain.  In this picture I am being pricked, but the kids had to be blindfolded and pricked as well.

Despite some of our struggles during the year I have remained confident in this choice to teach our kids ourselves.  I am hopeful for the future.  What a life.

Helper

Kristiana has been a bit defiant lately.  But she is so funny and loving.  While defiant, I think it stems from her need to define herself and independence…

The other day I let the kids outside to play.  The baby crawled on out with all the other kids.  She likes being outside in the sun.  Baby Lucy was happily playing and I had to run back in to change a load of laundry.  After a few minutes, I heard the baby crying.  Annie had upset her.  Annie bopped her.  So I quickly finished what I was doing.  As I crossed the room she fell silent abruptly.  Sometimes she gets over whatever is bothering her.  But, this silence was a little unnerving.  When I peered out the back door, I found Kristiana had picked up Lucy and brought her to the chair and was talking to her and patting her.  Lucy was sitting there happy and comfortable.  It was a sweet moment.  I ran to get my camera and Lucy began to cry again, because I had walked away.  

What a sweet sister moment.  Thank you, Kristiana. 

Pentecost Activity

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2:1-4).

I know what you're thinking, "You are a bit early for the celebration of Pentecost."  The pentecost readings coincide with our home school lessons on Confirmation and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  I thought this was a good opportunity to make some Pentecost related crafts.

Here I drew a dove, a tongue of fire and beams of light from Heaven to show Alex symbols of the Holy Spirit.  Alex then colored the picture.  Of course, an image of the Holy Spirit needs to be made special by glitter glue decorations.

Annie painted this very fiery painting the next day.  So we hung it alongside our Holy Spirit image.

Then we made tongues of fire hats.  I drew the flame pieces and the kids cut them out and glued them onto the headbands.  Alex traded me hats.  He thought mine looked nicer.

Here is Kristiana working very hard on cutting out her flame pieces.  It was a challenge for her, especially since she is left-handed.  She very much wanted to succeed.

Pentecost Troparion

 Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, /
Who hast shown forth the fishermen as supremely wise, /
by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, /
and through them didst draw the world into Thy net. /
O Lover of mankind, glory be to Thee.

Check out this beautifully sung Troparion. It's too lovely not to click.

Break

Here we are taking a break from home school.

 "Quick! Everyone hide! Then maybe we won't have to finish school."

Hobbits Hiding in the Play Kitchen

Sainthood By Two Year Old

My husband and I wanted to be saints, we just didn't know it would be sainthood via two year old.  We have dealt with our share of the terrible two's in the last 6 years.  For our family, we are convinced the terrible two's begin at 18 months old and lifts it's grips on our children around three and a half.  Therefore, we have had relentless time with two year olds since 2008.  Let me describe a little bit about what it's like in my home right now.  

I am not nearly as cunning, clever and curious as my two year old.  Annie keeps me running after her all day.  When I do not run after her, I pay for it.  The other day, I put on a movie for the children and slinked away to have a post-workout shower.  A few minutes after I had begun my shower, I heard a crash and tiny clinks and clangs.  "Oh for Pete's sake, what now."  I peered out from behind the shower curtain.  My two year old was sitting on my vanity and she had dumped all of my hair clips and hair ties out of it's canister onto the floor.  "Oh well, I will rinse the soap off me before I get to that."

I step out of the shower and tie on my robe.  I begin to pick up clips.  I get most of the clips picked up and I turn my back on the two year old, who is still sitting on the vanity, to pick up the clips that are the farthest away on the floor.  When I turn around she has dumped about 50 flossers onto the floor and into the dog water bowl.  So I pick up the water bowl and take it to the kitchen to dump out the water and throw away flossers.  Why did I leave the two year old behind?!  Why in the world would I think she could be left alone.  I guess I was so furious about the flossers, I forgot to bring her along.  I just wanted to get away from her.  When I returned to the bathroom, she had dumped out a big tub of dog food all over the bathroom floor.  I left again and called; nay, yelled for Alex and Kristiana to come into the bathroom.  I pause their movie.  I announce that we are all a family and we are going to clean up Annie's mess as a family.  So we did.  After the big clean up, Annie scuttled away.  

A few minutes later I emerged now fully dressed into the living room.  I was about to get to other household work, when I discovered Annie was playing in the playroom with her play kitchen and dishes.  She was filling play tea cups with toothpaste.  I seriously start questioning if I am that slow that I cannot anticipate her moves.  It is so logical that she would take off with the toothpaste after playing in the bathroom.  I swear I was watching this child.  How could so much go wrong when she is around?  

Now, that she has made a minty mess with the toothpaste, cue nasty poop in underwear.  I clean that up and go to the pantry to get a grocery sack to discard wipes.  The two year old, sneakily follows behind and dashes into the pantry in between legs and behind my back.  She handily scales the pantry shelves and as she stands hanging there talking about,"Can-nee" (candy), she pees onto everything below.  Thanks, Miss Annie.  

I think I've done all my penance for that day and everyday.  God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Little Church on the Prairie

I have been reading Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls to the children this week.  Alex has been pretty captivated.  Alex and I got teary-eyed together when Jack, the dog, was swept away in the river.  We admired Ma and Pa as they built their home on the prairie.  We were horrified by the wolves.  That's about as far as we have read...

The other day I was finishing up Alex's religion lesson.  He answered every question right, with authority and understanding.  I gave him a big high five for his astute knowledge.  I told him that religion was his best subject.  He gave a big smile. "Uh huh, Mommy, and you know what? I am going to be a priest when I grow up."  

"Oh, are you?"  I don't take this too seriously, because whatever Alex is really interested in at the moment he tells us that is what he will do when he grows up.  To this date he will be a doctor, an astronaut, a lego designer, a daddy, a computer game engineer, and an animator.  He has lots of ambition.  So it does not really surprise me that he said he wanted to be a priest immediately after hearing his best subject is religion.  But wait a second, yes it is a significant moment.  This is what I have been striving for all year in home school--an inkling of faith.  

I remember in first grade,  after I had been formally introduced to the faith and to holy orders, doing as my teacher had told me--to pray to God and ask Him if He was calling me to religious life.  I remember telling God that if He wanted me to be a nun, I would.  I wanted this for Alex.  I wanted him to make a real connection with the faith.  It is clear he has.

He followed his declaration by telling me all about his life as a priest.  He said he would be a priest here.  He would be my priest.  He would build a church in the way that Pa built the little house on the prairie.  Then he would build a church hall, because every church needs a place to gather and socialize.  Then he would build a playground where all the children could play while their parents visit, and it would be where the parents could see it from the church hall.  Then he would build a convent and a school.  The nuns would teach at the school.  In his spare time, he would design computer games.  Fr. Alex we are praying for you!  I would love for my son to be a priest.

Nature Walk

I can only smile about this trip from ear to ear.  After home school this morning, the children and I drove forty minutes to the regional Catholic retreat center.  My moms' group is meeting there this weekend for our annual retreat.  I wanted to scout out a walking path as one of the retreat activities.  I think our nature walk will be a real delight for the ladies attending.  There are signs along the paths that have lines from Psalms.  There is an outdoor Way of the Cross and Way of Light.

The children were not sure about this trip at first.  Alex became very concerned when the car ride lasted longer than fifteen minutes.  Once he became bored with the drive he started saying, "Mom, I changed my mind I want to go home now."  But, then we arrived and the kids looked around at all the beauty and they became very excited.  Immediately, we noticed it was so peaceful.  The grounds are completely covered with trees and brush which block out all the technological chaos of our world.  We took off a long the path and Alex began to read the signs,  "We belong to Him, because He created us." 

"When you enter the gates, you will sing for joy." and so forth.  

We detoured on a path called Psalm XXIII and the words to the psalm were on signs along the path and at the center there was a swing. 

I pointed out interesting things about the nature around us.  And the kids saw a beautiful butterfly up close for the the first time. 

It was a fun little outing.  I think I will have to either go here more often or just go on walks more often.

Lucy's view from the mai tai carrier.

Pascha 2013

Well, here are the things that I was able to pause and chronicle during this blessed holiday.

Good Friday - Here is how I kept the girls from putting their fingers in the Pascha Bread dough.  I gave them each a little bowl of flour to play with on the kitchen floor. 

Easter Eve - I remembered to take a picture of our Easter basket after I assembled it this year.  Unfortunately, we were not able to have it blessed this year because we were invited to a Baptism Easter morning at a church that was not our own…Each year I assemble a mini- Easter basket for our priest.  This year, our priest actually called me to thank me.  I just thought it was special, because after years of making Easter baskets for priests, this was the first time I had been formally thanked.  I never needed gratitude, but it was truly nice to know it was appreciated.

The girls loved the Easter candy.  They set to it with haste.  They were thrilled by the colors.  I managed to find some dye-free candy.  The colors were made with herbs and vegetables.  But, the faux m&m's bore the flavor of herbs as well.  I was a bit put off by it. 

Here the girls are feeding the baby candy on Bright Monday.  "Please.  Please stop feeding the baby candy!"

Here is what happens when you give a two year old a chocolate bunny.

Where is Alex in all these pictures? He's playing computer games…Perhaps we need to re-assess his gaming time. ;-)

Bittersweet Life

Said the Robber to Christ, "Remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom."

"While the sinful woman brought oil myth, the disciple came to an agreement with transgressors.
She rejoiced to pour out what was very precious;
he made haste to sell the One who is above all price.
She acknowledged Christ  as Lord;
he severed himself from the Master.
She was set free;
but Judas became the slave of the enemy.
Grievous was his lack of love!
Great was her repentance!
Grant such repentance also to me, O Savior, who has suffered for our sake, and save us."
(Orthos - Holy Wednesday)

This reminded me to not be proud and humble myself in repentance even for the small transgressions.

Easter Basket

The bittersweet beet relish is made.  The pickled eggs representing new life are made.  

 

 

Ta Da Part II

Lamb of God

Have mercy on us sinners!

Ten wise and holy virgins are awaiting Christ the Bridegroom, number us among them.

"Why are you slothful, O my wretched soul? Why do you waste your days in thinking of unprofitable cares? Why are you busy with the things that pass away? THE LAST HOUR is at hand and we shall soon be parted from all that is here.  While there is still time return to soberness and cry: I have sinned against You, O my Saviour, do not cut me down like the unfruitful fig tree, but O, Christ, in Your compassion, take pity on me as I call on You in fear; May we not be left outside the bridal chamber of Christ!" (Orthos - Holy Tuesday)

My first, hasty attempt at pysanky.  It's a wooden egg I purchased at Michael's

The butter lambs have been molded and await Easter blessing.  I have one more in the freezer. Three Lambs all together.  I explained to Alex this year why we use a lamb at a symbol of Christ.  He was shocked at the history…I love these awe struck moments in educating my children.

I'm Going to Paint You a Rainbow

"Mommy, I want to paint a rainbow. I'm going to paint you a rainbow."  And she did.  She was so proud of it. 

Ta Da

Lucy likes to say, "Ga, ga, ga," a lot.  It is so cute because it's funny that we have a baby that actually says ga, ga,ga.  When our son Alex was a baby and he cried he actually said, "Waaa, wa, wa, wa, wa."  Babies are so cute and funny.

I have noticed that Lucy is able to mimic sounds pretty well.  Tonight after her diaper change I said to her, "Ta daaa!"  She repeated back to me like this, "Da Daaaa!"  She did it with the same inflection and every thing.  I took her to the next room to Daddy and I said, "Watch this. Lucy can say Ta Da. Lucy, Ta Daaa!"  She said, "Daaaa!"  I guess we can tell her someday her first real word was Ta da. 

Lucy's making mischief during home school.  She crawls around the table pulls up on the sides and steals papers, crayons and pencils.  When she's bored with us, she proceeds to cry, nay wail.  When we have had enough with her waling, I put her in her crib with toys.  She cries for another ten minutes then either plays or cat naps.  Usually I go get her after a little while and she is much more willing to be quiet once she knows she could have to sit alone.

My Sweet Pickle

I have been trying to keep food dyes out of my kids' diets.  I didn't think about the markers.  Annie eats the tip of a marker every time we get them out. What is it about them?  Yes, and obviously this was after she painted her own face yellow.  Love this kid.  She keeps us on our toes.  We think she's going to be just fine in life.  She really takes care of herself.  Last night, at 3:00 a.m. I found her in the fridge trying to get herself some milk.  I used to get myself middle of the night snacks when I was her age.  This is payback.

Do You Love Me?

It's funny.  I went to the doctor with my husband today.  He is very sick with tonsillitis.  He needed someone to drive him and remember all the facts of his sickness.  The doctor was surprised my husband had a tube in his ear.  They discussed it and my husband said the date when it was put in.  I interjected that was impossible because I already knew him then and he had it done before then in high school.  He said that it had been replaced that year.  I was shocked.  There was something about my husband I didn't know.  We had been practically attached at the hip from the time we started dating.  How did it get by me that he had his tube replaced?  You would think he would have at least mentioned it when seeing me or talking to me on the phone.  

It just goes to show you learn new things about your spouse every year.  It never gets old, or it at least, it never has to get old.  Your spouse will grow and change over time, so there is always more to know.  Or there are stories from the past you never heard before.  Year after year, we find something new to love about each other.  

Another funny thing, since Andrew has been sick I have been pulling a lot of extra weight around here; and of course my heart is heavy in his suffering; and hoping he will get better.  Last night as his fever climbed he said deleriously, "Well as a Byzantine I guess you never took vows to stay with me in sickness and health.  So I guess you can just walk out now. "  Of course, his comment was in jest.  But, I pointed out in our betrothal it was much greater than mere vows.  It was not some sort of strange modern contract in which if the terms were violated we could walk away.  We were told that we had entered into a bond that could not be undone and in a way that is greater than any vow we could utter to each other.  So, "Do you love me?"  I do not think there is any other choice.  Love is in all that we are and do. ;-)

SPAGHETTI Reel

YES! A baby eating spaghetti is so entertaining!

There wasn't too much damage.  She kept it all in her seat.  She was aiming it all in the direction of her mouth.  Then we just dunked her in the bath afterward.

Nom, nom, fingers are tasty too.

The Money Shot

Oh, you think this is funny? Me too!

Clean me up now.  I'm all done.  And I saved some for the dog under my right thigh.

This, That and Great Lent

1. The Journey - I like to reflect upon how I am living out this penitential season.  But, I am always cautious to do so on the internet, because we are called to do so in privacy.  We are to "wash our face, anoint our heads" and partake of our Fast with joy and love of the Lord.  Lent is a great gift to us.  It is an opportunity to turn ourselves back to the way things ought to be.  It is a time to be less self-absorbed with the physical and balance the physical with the metaphysical.  Ah, Lent! It is a rich season of our faith.  It is the story of the creatures' life with the Creator.  Liturgically we journey from creation, fall, exile and to the Apex of our exile--Christ and our Salvation.  It's an amazing journey.  I have been partaking in Lent since I was a little girl and each year Lent grows into something bigger and more beautiful.  I learn new things about the tradition each year.  I wonder if there will ever be a year where I say, I think I have completed the full journey of Great Lent.  

2. Prayer - I have been reading Alexander Schmemman, Great Lent, again this year.  This is the third year I am reading Great Lent.  Each year I begin it and become overwhelmed by it.  I read a little each night and then half way I usually think it's too much.   This year, I am not reading it slowly.  I hope to finish it up quickly.  I think by doing this I will at least complete it and then perhaps begin again. This year we are gifting ourselves the Triodian (Triodian Info), which was one of the prayer books Fr. Schmemman speaks about in the book.  We'll let you know how it goes for us.  We've been at this Byzantine thing 8 years and we're still learning year after year.

3. Fasting - In addition to the usual Great Fast abstentions I am trying to give up coffee creamer again, but so far I have only started today, Friday.  I know it sounds like a small thing, but I put a fancy creamer in my coffee and a lot of it.  So it's not a small thing.  Some abstentions take longer to build up to.  I mean if it is our appetites we want to quiet, sometimes appetites are addictions.  Addictions/habits take time to change.  Giving up coffee creamer is a big deal for me.  After giving up creamer, I am going to cut my luxury drink (coffee) down to one per day.  I am not writing about this to put my "piety" on display.  I think writing it down helps me to process it and helps me be stronger.  It's a catharsis for me.  The moment I write it down here I can let it go.  I can give up my obsessions and focus on what is important. 

4. Disaster in the Ashes - Even though we are Byzantine and the beginning of Lent is earlier than the Romans, I like to go to Ash Wednesday service.  I told my husband that I really wanted to take the kids this year to help them have a visual for the season of Lent.  However, we went and they still did not get it.  What's worse is that we showed up a little late.  I took the kids to the cry room, because I knew Annie would be crabby and not behave.  Who should be in the cry room, but the strictest mother I have ever met.  She has ten children.  I do not even know what she was doing there.  Her children are always perfectly behaved at church.  She has a new baby and maybe she was concerned he would make noise during church.  But, she told me once that she makes one year olds sit still and quiet for an hour a day, so that they will learn to be quiet and still in other situations she needs them to be quiet in.  I do not know how she does that.  Don't one year olds just scream when you make them sit still?  Anyhow, my kids were off the hook naughty.  No one would sit.  No one would be quiet.  I haven't seen them that naughty in a while.  Annie was particularly grumpy and tired.  She would not stop throwing all the contents of my diaper bag all over the cry room.  I should have left.  But, I held hope things would get better.  Knowing the "Strict Momma" was in the room made me extra anxious and unable to deal with the situation.  Finally, I slapped Annie's hand and told her, "No!" after making a big mess.  I know you must think I am a terrible mother for not controlling the Annie/bag situation, but the child works fast.  She's an intelligent, little con-artist.  She could fool anyone.  She got so mad at me she looked me in the eye, cried out, gritted her fists and peed all over the floor--Pièce de résistance.  It was really embarrassing.  I cut out their afternoon luxuries after that.  They did not get to watch T.V. or play games.  They understood me and still misbehaved.

5. Humility in Home School - We had a rough month in January doing home school.  Alex had a bad attitude toward doing his work.  It was taking all afternoon to complete small tasks.  Finally, I thought for a second, perhaps he was having trouble switching gears from our morning outings to doing school work in the afternoon.  Plus, our neighbor had been sick and she could not watch Annie to prevent Annie distractions.  As much as I lamented it, I knew what had to be done.  We needed to start home school earlier in the day.  This would mean I would not get to go to the gym in the morning.  I have enjoyed the morning crowd socialization.  I wondered how I could have my cake and eat it too.  I thought that maybe we would get up earlier and do school and still be out the door before 9:00 a.m. to go to the gym.  But in the end, I had to give up some morning workouts.  Now I try to do a mix of some afternoon workouts and some later mornings.  So Alex has been working  on school first thing and the neighbor was able to take Annie earlier.  He has been completing all the work and extra work with very little complaint.  So now I have the whole afternoon free to have a little down time and catch up on house work.  It has been hard for ME to make this change.  But, it is obviously working out better.  We are all less stressed.  Today, I am able to sit and blog, because my afternoon is free.  So I am humbled, once again by my children.  

6. Curious Annie - every time I look away she is into something and then when I go to clean up the mess she made, she sneaks away and gets into something else.  At first I thought I was a bad mom, because how could one little kid get into so much if I were watching her.   But then I realized any moment I am not with her preventing her getting into stuff, she is into something.  She gets into stuff right in front of me, but at least I am there to stop it.  It's no better when my husband is around.  It's just two parents chasing after her messes.  I cannot run after her every second.  Why can't she just stay put and play with toys or look at books.  She always has to climb to the top shelf everywhere and unlock locked doors.  That's all she wants to do is get into things that are forbidden.  When she walks into the pantry, she wants to open every package, inspect the contents and then dump it on the floor.  If it's glass she tries to break it by smashing it on the floor.  Yes, we are very cautious.  We have locked cabinets where needed, because she does it over and over.  I think she must be incredibly curious and head strong.  I wonder what Annie will be like as an adult.

7. Alone - My husband was out of town for six days.  I was bummed about being alone.  I tried to not throw myself a pity party and that helped.  But I realized why it was so tough mentally.  Life without Andrew has a little less meaning.  There was no one to share our days with.  The main person I created this life with was absent and it just felt empty.  

Love Ever After

⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female, ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

Well, I guess today is the day.  It's the day we celebrate LOVE. It's so important--LOVE is.  I am not so sure all the crazy gift buying and so forth is what is important.  But, love is what is important and we can show it all year, every day and in many ways (that are not cliche).  For instance, I love it when my man shows his love for me by taking out the trash without being asked. ;-)

Kristiana had a little dress with a tulle-like overlay.  The overlay was ripped and I cut it off so the dress could still be worn without it.  The material has been sitting in my closet for 6 months waiting for the day that it would become this:

A veil.  My sweet Kristiana became a bride today.  She was more than happy to play wedding.  I even made her a little silver twist tie ring.  Valentine's Day was a perfect day to play bride.

 

I cannot tell you how many times as a little girl I put my Dad's white undershirt over my head like a veil and looked in the mirror and pretended I was a bride.  It's a sweet thing for a little girl to imagine that day she becomes a man's wife…That's not to say I was "wedding crazy."  It's just something a little girl imagines.

Lucy's Joy Ride

Lucy had a nine month check-up last week.  She is a smallish baby.  She was 10% on the growth chart, which is the same as Kristiana.  Despite eating as much food as a grown adult at meals, she is still not so big.  Where does she put it all?  I would say she burns it all off with her youthful energy.  But, that is not a true statement.  She sleeps like a champion.  She sleeps twelve hours at night and often takes a three hour nap in the afternoon. With all that sleeping, she can't be burning it off.  At the doctor's appointment, the doctor discovered both her ears were on the border of being infected.  This did not surprise me.  Her nose has been running green for a week.  But, the infection was caught in the nick of time, because it was the next morning that she really started fussing and tugging on her ears.  Since she began taking antibiotics her health and disposition have improved quite a bit and her nose stopped running green.  Good for Lucy. 

She has finally taken an interest in crawling more and pulling-up. It's still timid and slow, but she's doing it.  She has been the slowest of our children to meet this developmental mark, but she also had the benefit of siblings catering to her.  She had no need to go explore. 

Bundle of Joy - And now, Lucy is enjoying her one and only Christmas toy.  I called the toy maker and told them how I misassembled it.  They had me send it back, on their dime, and sent us a new one.  Without further adieu --Lucy's innocent joy for your viewing pleasure. 

Heart Art

I am pretty tickled with myself over this Valentine's Day related art.  I had the kids create pictures of animals using only hearts.  We discussed the animals they wanted to draw and brainstormed how to create the animal using hearts.  Then the kids colored in the pictures.

Alex's picture is a lion. I guess he is lion-hearted. Lol.

 

Kristiana's is supposed to be two hippopotamus.  One in the water and one on the shore of a heart shaped pond, but it is hard to tell by how she colored it.  What can I say.  She is a true artist.  She always has to be on the edge of creativity.

I have plans for more art like this, but it involves paint and there has not been a day yet where I have felt we have time and patience to execute.  Perhaps one day this week we will get to it.

Business

I have really wanted to blog lately, but have not found the time and then the blogs escape me.  Here are a few blogs rolled into one.

A couple of weeks ago, we were very excited to welcome our regional Byzantine priest from 110 miles away to come to our neighborhood and celebrate Liturgy with us for the first All Souls Saturday of the season.  We had about 30 souls in attendance.  It was a great triumph for us.  Hopefully there will be many future Liturgies and many more in communion. 

(My picture is blurry, because I did not want to take away from the moment with flash photography.)

Ever they comedian, Kristiana.  What's in those pants?

Here is Kristiana's Micro-mini train yard.  Have I mentioned how much I love four year olds!  They are so creative, yet have some sense of reality.  It's super fun.  Kristiana has taken to telling me an imaginary story off the top of her head each night as we lay in her bed before she goes to sleep.  Sweet and tender merely touch upon the feelings I have for these moments.

Smushy! She'll eat anything!

We went to the store to buy Alex some new undergarments, when I saw some shirts that would be suitable for church.  I asked Alex what he thought.  Then he turned around and saw a shirt and tie set, chuckled and said, "That looks like, Daddy's." [Pause. A moment of inspiration comes across his face.] "Mommy, I want that shirt, because then I would look just like Daddy. "  When we arrived home he changed into his new clothes and wanted to go to work with Daddy.  Alas, he could not, but he wanted to do home school in his "business clothes."  He told me he was, "Business Alex."  Later he said he was, "Business Boy!"  almost as though he were announcing a super-hero.  It was pretty cute.  I wonder how far I could ride this one out and get him dressing a little more civil and a little less like he is always ready to play in the dirt. ;-)

Finally, I went to the post office the other day and an elderly woman stopped me to tell me that she had five children, and so she knew what it was like.  Older people who raised more than a few children, always stop to tell me they had been there and then they pat me on the back and hold the door open for me.  I gripe about people making comments all the time about how my "hands are full."  But, I always forget to tell folks about all the nice people who are kind.  I have had a lot of compliments about me and my kids lately. I digress, after the lady told me about her kids, she opened all the doors for me and then as I was loading the kids in the car she said her mother-in-law told her, "I know it doesn't seem like it now, but this really is the happiest time of your life.  And I didn't believe her then, but I see now it really was."  Which gave me a big grin and I replied, "I try to remember every day how precious this time is."