Lest I Forget

From my Magnificat this morning... "Wickedness is not always overt: the neglect of simple kindness, great or small, kills as surely as open violence." Neglect. Finding time. Making time. Pray for me.

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...

Knitting: I wish the camera could capture the true colors in the yarn. Reading: A friend loaned me "Mary Jane's Farm". I think I will be getting my own subscription. The same friend told me about the Lehman's catalog. If only the Army paid us more! The others are read in snippets throughout the day. Peter picks his favorite! Now go visit Ginny !

I have a reputation as a killer of houseplants. Ask my neighbor who once (and only once) asked me to water hers. Ask my mother who regularly rescues mine from the brink each time she visits. I can grow a garden that yields a harvest, yet bring a plant indoors and it doesn't stand a chance. There is one exception. A peace lily. A gift from a dear friend who, though the miles and years have separated us, has never felt any less a friend of the heart. On the occasion of Ben's birth, she brought me this plant. I can remember her on the front porch, handing me this plant, and thinking to myself that this plant was not long for this world once it was under my care. But I was wrong. It has traveled with us through many a move. Every now and then, it even blooms. It hasn't for the longest time though. On Friday, we will celebrate Ben's birthday. He would have officially been a teenager. I try and imagine him that old but I can't. He will forever be my little Ben. I miss...

I knew it was going to be a weird day when I awoke to the news of the Pope's resignation. That surreal feeling came over me, the one where you are reading the truth, but it seems so false. As I sat there letting this information sink in, the phone rang. Mind you, it was not even 8 o'clock in the morning. It was the hospital calling with the results of my blood work I had done on Friday. With a sinking even further feeling, I answered it, knowing that they wouldn't call just to tell me everything was good. My hunches were right and my old friend hyperthyroid has returned. The doctor prescribed a beta blocker to help bring down my heart rate and wanted me to come in for a few more tests. I hung up and then immediately thought of the question I should have asked, namely, is it safe to take this medication while breastfeeding. Over the next couple hours, I looked up information and put a message in to the doctor. Then I fed the kids some lunch, who up to this point had had a fr...

I left the fabric unattended for only a few minutes. I promise. Therese is very quick. Why would she cut your fabric? Why? I am shocked! She does not like the shirt I picked out, so she is searching for her favorite. Her pajama shirt is purr-fect, don't you think?  While I was taking this picture they were begging to watch Netflix. Can you see how hopeful they are that I will say 'yes'? I didn't. I am mean like that. Plus I had to write this blog post. Gratuitous baby shot. I found a new blog the other day and on it she had made a wish list for February. Since I can't wish away this silly month and skip right to spring, I decided it might be good to make a list of things I would like to accomplish to make this month go faster. use my sewing machine to make some easy projects I have had bookmarked for months finish knitting my sweater make breakfast for my husband every day make bread at least once a week ...

All day long I hear it. It was funny the first time, after I figured out what she meant. Now, not so much. "Mama! Jack no me!" Of course he knows you, I thought at first. But that wasn't it. Somebody told her no, she could not have/do what she wanted. I hope this is a phase that is quickly outgrown!