Skip to main content

Seven Quick Takes--volume 3

--1--
I got up early this morning, tip-toed down the stairs so as not to wake any little people, and sat in my comfy chair in front of our home altar with my Magnificat in hand. What a lovely way to start this chilly day!
--2--
Tony and the two older girls have gotten up even earlier than me and left in the dark to exercise. This was my husband's idea and I think it is a great one. Before the move, we were members of the local rec department and would swim on a regular basis. We have not been very physically active these last months and it shows on all of us.
--3--
One of the "perks" of being a military family is the Commissary. The prices are generally lower than in the local grocery stores. There is one rule of thumb however. Avoid shopping on a pay day at all costs. Since I go once a week, I don't always notice the date. Recently, as I scoured the picked over shelves, I had to buy orange juice with "some pulp" and bring it to a decidedly pulp-free family. Every morning since, Jack's request is the same..."May I please have the orange juice with the not pulp?"
--4--
Returning from his trip to the store yesterday, Tony came in with a surprise for us. We have not yet seen the movie "Up", and he rented a copy. Movie night came a day early. My sister had warned me that I would cry. I did.
--5--
We are studying 20th century literature with the high school kids. I'll admit it. I am not enjoying "A Tale of Two Cities" at all.
--6--
Overall, I am glad to be a home owner once again. This week, I stocked up on baking supplies for the holidays. As I placed the last bag of flour in the pantry, the shelf collapsed. With all the other activity going on, I would have loved to call "maintenance" to handle the problem, like I did frequently when we lived on post. I called my own maintenance man, who is learning on the job, and he fixed the cabinet quite nicely.
--7--
I actually cried twice yesterday. First during the movie, and then at bedtime. I was sitting in my rocking chair with Jack cradled in my arms, snuggling and listening to him as he rambled on. All of sudden, he said "I'll be glad when Ben comes home to us." Then he wiped the tear that rolled down my cheek.

Thanks, Jen, for hosting.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Door Table

Once there was a store in Georgia. It is no more, but how I wish it was. I likened going in there to treasure hunting. One never knew what was going to be in there, and you had to dig through and wade through all the "other people's treasures" to find your own. I once found a set of blue and white teacups and saucers from England. I found lace handkerchiefs, a rocking chair, and an end table. But by far the best find was my kitchen table. I had stopped by one day while the kids were taking horseback lessons and the then little ones were asleep. The store was not open, but I went up to the window to see if anything new was there. And it was there. The table. And six chairs too! We were in need of a bigger table with Jack on the way. My mom had offered to give us her old one, which I was going to accept if I didn't find something I liked better. I didn't want anyone else to even see the table because I knew it was supposed to be ours, but one can never tell abo...
9 comments
Read more

Walking a New Path

 Well now. It has been quite a while, hasn't it?  I have kept silent about my struggles for the past four years, mainly because I was in the midst of something that I never imagined could happen to our family. And it wasn't just my story. It still is not.  A friend once told me I am an external processor, and I suppose she is right. I find that saying things out loud help me find the answer, if there is one. There was no good answer, as it turns out. And so, I am sad to say, that I am now divorced. A single mother, navigating a life I never imagined.  But there are some things that haven't changed. My faith, for one. I know that God is with me on this journey and that He is way smarter and wiser than I could ever be. He has held me close as I wept and grieved the end of my marriage. He held my hand as I packed up what would fit in a moving truck and drove our belongings to a new home. He has led me to new jobs and I can only trust that all will be well if only I cont...
4 comments
Read more

Fog and faith

 I stepped out into the coolness of the November morning to start the car and defog the windows, preparing to take Jack to school. Daylight had yet to appear. As we drove the many miles, the sky lightened, and we could see the mist hanging out just above the grass. We usually listen to a story together on our drive, adding commentary, exchanging a knowing glance or a shocked expression as the twists and turns unfold. I relish this time with Jack. I know that all too soon he will be preparing to leave the nest, like his sisters before him.  On the drive back, I pull my rosary from my purse and pray. By this time, the sun is just about to appear, making the sky a beautiful orange-pink on the horizon. I am pondering much as I pray, for the path I am on is once again rocky and uncertain. Such is life, whether we have faith or not. Faith makes it bearable. For the most part, the road home is a straight shot and I can see the ribbon of road laid out before me, narrowing in the dista...
3 comments
Read more