Today was one of those days that seems very busy and full, yet I don’t get anywhere near checking off everything on my to-do list. On the whole, I like those days better than the ones where I haven’t planned enough and find myself drifting through the day spinning my wheels — and yes, that is a mixed metaphor because it encapsulates the mixed-up, confused way I feel on those days!
The trap for me is obsessing about what I didn’t get done, rather than being grateful that God gave me a day with more life than could comfortably fit in 24 hours. That much abundance is a gift!
Before I was even awake, Paddy was pushing books at me asking me to read them. So we read together in bed for about half an hour. As I walked out of the room Sean asked me to do math with him. So I guess I was right in my guess that he would attack the goal of getting done for Christmas vacation. We crunched factors for about another half hour while the little ones begged for breakfast.
I had laid out the makings for banana muffins the night before, so I wouldn’t forget. Meanwhile, I got the little ones a “first breakfast” (in hobbit-language).
I got into some conversation with Clare — oh yeah, the fact that every time we have a communion service up here instead of a mass, and the person in charge reads one of those little pre-packaged liturgical meditations, it always seems to be about Princess Di. What’s with that? We talked about why that might be and then I started making the fire and getting the kids going on their chores. Clare wanted us to hear a funny song. Oh yes, and she talked about how she would run our youth group if she had a say in it, particularly with liturgical things like the Living Stations.
Then Clare and I started talking about Life of Fred after this blogpost. Somehow she and Sean started making up parodies on the idea — Life of Morgan Hastings (endingwith the advice to make use of your mother’s answer key whenever you’re stuck on the problem), Life of Terrell Owens, etc. \
I read to Paddy a little more. By that time Brendan was up so we did his overview, including reading a bit of a little book by Francis de Sales who is his confirmation saint. (By the way I like that idea — I think encouraging a devotion to their confirmation saints in the younger boys might be a good thought).
Then I took the little boys outside for a ramble in the woods. I’m trying to make a habit of going outside daily with them. Now it is 3 pm — I haven’t done ANYTHING with Kieron yet. He has spent the day reading, outside or playing with the little ones so it’s probably OK, but we should at least do our reading together.
Now Paddy is asking me to read again. We are going to Mass tonight for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Clare has been providing background music by playing Marian hymns on the piano and singing along. She is now the unofficial cantor at our small station church.
OH yes, and I have almost finished my online shopping — which is the bulk of ALL my shopping. What a relief! And I talked to a friend about plans for our weekly homeschool group. So I guess things are moving forward in spite of that not-quite-caught-up feeling.
