Mother culture moments.....

"Mother Culture Moments"

Taking a few moments to browse my new arrivals

An unexpected knock came upon my door in the early hours of yesterday morning. A parcel in her hand, she asked for my signature. I love it when this happens, a surprise from the delivery truck shipping showing up in my driveway to thrill us all.

I was expecting this parcel until next week, and yet, one of my favorite curriculum catalog suppliers honored my request for expediting this package so it would arrive before our moving date. I am just so thrilled with the Johnson family, owners of Catholic Heritage Curriculum this day, not to mention the relief to obtain this package in a super timely manner without the delay at the US border custom's office.

Each day when I rise, it seems my "to-do" list has grown from the evening before! As I note the priorities for the day before me on a fresh list written the evening before on a crisp new piece of paper; all of the many things to tend to, the calls to make concerning our move, keeping our schooling schedules in focus, I can feel a wee bit anxious at times when a little anxiety creeps in before the noon hour.

Along the way the past few weeks, I've literally had to remember to take a few moments from the crazy and hectic pace before me to "be still" and "relax" a few moments, grasping a deep breath of air and/or keeping up with my workouts to fend off any negative stressors. I have to admit the arrival of this box was indeed perfect timing for me, just perfect timing!

After opening my box, no hesitation was required to carve out a few stolen moments this day to drool over my two new wonderful additions to our family library. Both of the authors of these delightful finds are wonderful ladies whom I admire and respect, not to mention read their personal blogs regularly.

A few more moments with offered items by my children for an even longer escape to browse

My Mother Culture books this day are;

Tea and Cake with the Saints by; Alice Cantrell (homeschooling mother and artist extraordinaire) Subtitled; A Catholic Young Lady's Introduction to Hospitality and the Home Arts. It is such a lovely book filled with Alice's quaint and special artistry. Wow Alice, this is such a treasured gem! Thank you for yet another special find! Keep them coming okay?

Haystacks full of needles by; Alice Gunther (homeschooling mother and lawyer) Forward written by Laura Berquist, this book is explosive and filled with the love and charity Alice is known for. She is such a lovely woman. Alice, thank you for bringing this great book to fruition. I love the photos you included, all are really special.

Filled with promise!

Filled with promise
and the hope of bright happy days

Paradise found

I thought I'd better post these photos taken only two weeks ago while Autumn was still in the air (wink). With wintry weather upon us now, these seem rather old in nature. Hard to believe they were just snapped.

The scene in the photo above sent joy through my senses when observing the children running and squealing into the treed/forest area. This will be our new backyard and where the trees begin, there are two acres of forest to explore and create great adventures within. In the Spring, we hope to carve out a grassy area and enter the forest to create trails, build forts and experience terrific imaginary play.

• Sure we have work ahead of us.
• Sure we promised another sports court and have plans to build one on the side of the house near the garage doors (tennis court sized this time).
• Sure we have many hopes and dreams for our new life here. It's good to dream. It's good to have goals and it's great to be thinking happy thoughts! Only happy thoughts at that!
  

The photo below was taken on our new front porch, a perfect photo to send to the others back home. It was this day the children all began to warm up to the idea of our current moving necessity. A few smiles actually broke out while we visited the house this day. Bedrooms were selected (fought over), and all began to envision life on this new foreign frontier.

In just three weeks we will move here, a four hour trek from our current residence, in the hope of building a new life there. We will move to this area and once again have zero support system, enabling us to wear a paper bag over our heads again because no one will know who we are. Strangers once again.

The magnitude of this move is huge for there are many assorted reasons why we are moving again, not just for work purposes of course alone.

Smiles at last

Many of my close friends have me all figured out. They are praying for a support system to already be in progress for us before even moving there, great new medical care for my husband as promised, a church parish where we will feel an immediate sense of belonging, and of course, a great coffee shop! HA! Do they know me or what?

The coffee shop isn't just for my love of simple things, like hot steamy lattes and all, rather that's where the teens and I will sit several times each week for awhile. We found out we have no internet abilities in our new area, a rural area without system supports from local establishments.

However there is an Internet Satellite system available, but not until January. It is a steep commitment having to purchase the satellite for a mere 800.00 plus a monthly fee for the service. Has anyone out there used this type of system? I'd love to know how you like it and if it serves your needs or not. For the time being the teens will upload their school work for their online courses and download their subsequent lessons, and I will blog and return emails. We will sit with our laptops, sip our hot cuppas and giggle together over our new lifestyle, but the main thing is; "We'll be together to experience the wonder of it all."

Snowflakes

Snowflakes


Snowflakes spill from heaven's hand
Lovely and chaste like smooth white sand
A veil of wonder laced in light
Falling gently on a winter's night.
Graceful beauty raining down
Giving magic to the lifeless ground
Each snowflake like a falling star
Smiling beauty that's spun afar
Till earth is dressed in a robe of white
Unspoken poem the hush of night.

~ Linda Copp

One more snow squall is still to come tonight
with one MORE foot of snow expected to land
on us during the night.

Woohoo!

Snow, snow, snow, but be gone when we have to move in just a few weeks from now.

Be still my beating heart

Be still my beating heart

Yesterday it became an official thing, once we found out exactly how much snow dropped on us. Using our triangular ruler, we almost lost it in the depth of the snow but realized over one foot had accumulated by dinner time.

Passing the 12 inch mark

by dinner last night

If you've been following my blog, you know HOW MUCH I love the snow, especially over here in the easterly parts of our country, rather than over on the west coast.

The snow here is so bright and cheery, white and fluffy and just so lovely to me. The sun usually accompanies our wintry days as something normal here, and believe me, I would much rather have a sunny snowy day than the rainy gray days in the west this time of year!

The sun always shines after a snowfall here...

In my humble opinion, once the snow begins to descend downward and starts to settle around us, it soon results in a delightful and lovely sugar coated dusting all over our general landscape. I can't help but feel a "deep peace" and "nesting moment" watching it drift about. Its simple beauty becomes so captivating, and it fast becomes acknowledged we have a great front row seating to a perfect real time movie.

The feeling of a winter wonderland surrounding me is something almost magical. In a true sense of the word, I truly believe God sends us a message when we become so busy, so harried and so concerned with life's pressing concerns.

Having a quiet day forced upon us with Environment Canada's continued warnings of two more snow squalls heading our way, and the possibility of up to 35-50 cm of additional snow expected and mounting by tonight, it was a great temptation to meander over towards the winged back chair near the fireplace throughout the morning, just to stare out the window in awe.

When it came time for the children to proceed with their assigned reading for the day, instead of taking their usual reserved and favorite chairs, they wandered over to the fireplace and curled up with their books there, lifting their eyes to glance out the window upon occasion, as the blizzard winds began to blow.

Dreamy thoughts have escaped me throughout this day so far while watching the snow blow and drift into new shapes, mostly though I find myself spontaneously lifting up prayers for all those special intentions finding me this day. These days seem to be exceptionally difficult making my heart grow so very weary. Thankful to spend the better part of this day in a peaceful and tranquil mode, I am forever grateful and content to just "be still" and offer up my burdens back to God.

Just as the snow has fallen upon me and mounted up deeply on the ground, when the toughest of times visit uninvited, threatening to smother me to the point of tears, pain and frustration, the very best prayer for me to utter these days is; "Lord, SCAN me!" for he knows;

• everything I feel

• everything I hope for

• everything I hold dear

• and every little thing I need right at this very moment

"Be still my beating heart" is the message I hear on days like today. This peaceful time is all good for me to cherish and hold dear because during times when I feel my heart will surely drop out of my body from sheer demand from becoming overloaded and weighed down, he also declares; "my beloved daughter I will never forsake you. Trust me".

Jesus I trust in Thee!

"Come to me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light."

~ Matthew 11:28

So you say you wanna learn to skate better, huh?

So you say you wanna
learn to skate better, huh?

Well it takes lots of practice and alot of discipline to learn skills and drills resulting in stronger stance and movement. Power skating for all these homeschooling children was right up our alley for the younger two children. A bonus for the older two to join in for a bit of ice time. All get regular weekly lesson sessions together, and what fun it becomes when the coach challenges and pushes the teens HARD!

All age ranges begin warming up.
Little ones remain at the end for their safety...wink.

Learning to swing their arms to gain momentum
(hint; light blue coat, far right arm swinger are ours)

Stop and spray! It's a "guy thing".

Drills and more drills

Daddy was able to watch for the first time

A favorite - watching the zamboni

The End

Great work everyone!
Now for a cup of steamy hot chocolate!

Oh, and....By request, I've once again opened up the comment area for those who plead with me about preferring to send me a quick note, faster than email they shout (wink). Just for you then sweet ones, it's working again but just be sure to let me know if you don't want it to be made public. Hugs!