Chores are done, at least mine are... except for my load of clothes that are drying. Hubby has had a hair cut and is changing a lock for us. I'm sitting, in the shade looking out over water, blue, rippling, the green grass and tree leaves rustling in a gentle breeze. Birds are calling, a plane is high overhead droning carrying people to their lives and destinies and in the neighborhood a child yells, hammers tap...it's a quiet Saturday.

In two different continents two of our children sleep, they're adults now, living out their lives. One teaching children in Korea, the other learning how to be a manager. Another son is getting set to drive for a day in the far north to his next work site.

Strange how life scatters us. It is pleasant though how they love to be back together... I think we are all longing for Christmas, hopefully this year we might make it work. I got a love letter from one of them yesterday. She wrote:

"Sitting here in the office on Friday night thinking about life and stuff. Going to go and play some badminton with some friends after work. Just want to say that I miss you both and hope things are well. The past month has been a little difficult, just feeling a little bit homesick. Not for places or food but for people that I really care about and miss. The more time I spend with some people over here just makes me realize that true meaningful relationships are very few and far between in this world. It makes me so thankful for the beautiful family that I have had the blessing to be a part of and share my life with. I love you both so much and all the crazy and awesome brothers and sisters you both decided to bring into this world and share your lives with. I know it might be corny or sappy to say it. The past times of sitting around the dinner table all together and sharing silly stories from the past laughing and talking together, it is so special and i hope that it never ends and that i can one day try to recreate even just a small part of that with a family of my own, God willing. " 

....How that warms the heart to hear appreciation, gratitude and love from one who we have tried to lay down our lives for. It makes it all worthwhile.

Children, I think, should have some basic manners by the age of eight. 

Is this starting to sound like a lecture? Probably, but lets call it advise. It stems from the myriad scores of children that have roamed in and out of our home over the years. Here are some of the fundamental things children and in turn adults should do. When they enter a home, they should make eye contact and greet the host or hostess; an informal, "Hi Mrs. L. How are you today?" does the trick. They should be able to mount a staircase serenely, that means without charging, whooping or touching the walls....I have purchased a bannister rail from the builder for the purpose of holding onto. When they are fed a snack or a meal, they should thank the person feeding them. They should not ask for food or drink, except for water. By eight years of age, one should know how to use a knife and fork properly...in I guess, the European style. Fork in the left hand always, to bring food in bite-size proportions to the lips and knife in the right to cut food and guide it onto the fork. Someone may consider this snobbish,  I believe it is in fact a great equalizer. With this easy skill one can eat with kings or paupers and feel comfortable. Rows of cutlery should invoke delight, not dismay. I've taught all of my children and even my husband who asked me to when we were dating. Etiquette is a loss art, but it only enhances our ease and confidence when we seek to learn to improve ourselves. 

staying still in the swirl

One son is showering, one has gone with his sister for groceries, a daughter is away at work, another son and daughter are camping, and yet another playing at a friend's house and the husband is at work, saving the world. And I sit here quiet, still, peaceful, alone at the dinner table. The day is winding down, coming to close. God, you are here too. This morning you were so present to me at the altar also. How you permeate my life and thoughts, my heart fills with love and wonder. You are beauty itself. All praise and all thanksgiving belong to you. Your word is everlasting.
Answer the prayers of all those who seek you, show us your mercy.

Life is so fragile.

It was an accident. He was driving too fast, flipped the car off the road into a pond and drowned. He was 19. Another story in a newspaper. A sentence quickly read, a page turned, forgotten.
But the pain, the grief of the real people involved. He was a close friend of my daughter. She was talking with him just the other day. She promised him she'd come and visit him and their mutual gang of friends soon. Maybe if she'd called him that night, she had considered it and then being tired, didn't, maybe he would be alive now.... maybe....maybe..... and the tears, the heart breaking grief ..... it can't be possible..... the tears..... "Mommy, pray for him, pray for him..." weeping myself, I whisper, "I am, I will."
Even as an old ICU nurse, one never gets used to death. How is it possible that the body, this wonderful temple of the Holy Spirit, one moment animated and the next, gone. Gone home to the Lord.
He was the oldest of seven children, loved by his Mom and Dad, just thinking of their pain fills my heart with sadness.... Oh Jesus, I could never understand any of it.... it is almost too much to dwell on, come to their aid. Help all who are grieving... and welcome him home.

It's been too long....

Well, I'm back.... kind of, sort of.... I just don't know if I'll bother to write anymore. I wonder is it just narcissistic, or am I looking for recognition and validation (when I write). Interesting questions, maybe I'll answer them slowly, someday. For now, it has been so long since I have written that no one follows the blog or will probably read it. So in the end, it will be a thinking out loud type of exercise.

I got inspired

I got inspired ... it has been years since I've done it so don't groan too loud.


Words

Beauty in the words
Written by a stranger
Across the world
His world is far
Is he old?
Young?
Ugly?
It does not matter
It touched my soul
I like the words we can read
Not judged by sight,
One can see the beauty of the soul
It stirred my heart
And made me want to write



Enough?

You are always on mind
Continually in my thoughts
I just wish I could hear your voice
Do I do enough for you?
Do I love you enough?
I don’t want to come to you empty handed
I hear you all around
In the wind
The sun
The trees
I wish I could know you more
Love you more
Feel you more
Is it enough to love him and the children?
To think of you always?
To give you everything?
Is this the little way?
For it seems so small
And insignificant
That I am
Invisible.



Bien-aimé

In the dark
We lie
Silky skin to skin
Soft bed and warm sheets caress us
Friends, lovers
We are timeless
We cannot see the wrinkles
Or time worn grey
We see and touch
The heart
The peace
The acceptance of who we really are
We glimpse at heaven
And rest
Knowing all is the grace of God

The most AMAZING book!!

This is exciting! I bought this book and have fallen in love with it. I devoured it 2 Saturdays ago and am using it daily with the kids in their school work. In one afternoon I was able to memorize forwards and backwards in the proper order the 10 commandments, 7 sacraments, 7 capital sins,7 virtues, 9 beatitudes, 20 mysteries of the Rosary, 4 marks of the church, 4 last things, 5 precepts of the church, 6 sins against the Holy Spirit, 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, the 12 fruits,7 corporal and 7 spiritual works of mercy, names of the 12 apostle, 46 books of the old testament and the 27 books of the new testament, 21 centuries of church history (1 significant person from each century)....whew, it sounds unbelievable but it is true and I am teaching this to the kids and use it for other things too, ie I taught my 10 year old the 3 territories and 10 provinces of Canada in about 10 minutes!! Everyone needs to have and use this book, it is incredible.... did you get that I am excited about this?? Ha ha... if you knew me and my struggle with remembering everything you'd understand!