Embrace the Ordinary – Holy Week

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Amy

Holy week is anything but ordinary. It is the most beautiful and powerful week of the year.

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

I found myself trying to explain its magnitude to my children so many times, hoping that they are understanding at least a little bit of it. I think they do. We went to the Good Friday Mass last night for the first time, which was haunting and lovely. At the point of the Mass when we kneel and stand repeatedly during prayers for various people and groups, the deacon chanted “Let us kneel” for the third or fourth time, and Sis loudly said, “He keeps doing that!” I quickly shushed her while trying not to chuckle, and found myself smiling at this shot of ordinary mothering in the midst of an extraordinary ritual.

Then my girls all took off their shoes as we went up together to reverence the cross. Touching that cross and seeing their little hands on it. . . It was impossible to hold back all of the tears in those short moments and after we returned to our seats to wait and watch the rest of the parishioners do the same.

As we waited solemnly, my girls saw some of their friends coming up to reverence the cross themselves, and they started jumping up and down and waving and trying to update them on the news that Miss’s first tooth is loose (my husband told me later that Miss was attempting to solicit a dental consult from our oral surgeon friend). Again we shushed them, but I was reminded that they are small and they cannot possibly fully comprehend the significance of the service and the day.

They get it, but they are little. Loose teeth and fairy houses are important too. Those are the things that make up the ordinary amidst the extraordinary in these mothering days.

Ordinary moments in the middle of this amazing week.

Today is Holy Saturday, the day of the Easter Vigil Mass. Naturally I am thinking back to last year, when I was baptized and confirmed, and received Holy Communion for the first time.

I’m sponsoring another woman who is entering the Church tonight. I’m so excited for her and for all those who will do the same this evening.

Today I’m focusing on waiting and on praying for all the new members of our Church.

And on enjoying all the little moments with my family.

I hope you all have a happy and blessed Easter.

Thanks to Gina for the opportunity to host this link up during Lent. This will be my last time hosting, and next week you can find the link up back on her blog.

Share your ordinary moments below!

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Embrace the Ordinary – Three

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Amy

Today we celebrate a birthday. What a perfect reminder of God’s miracle of life.

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

At this time three years ago, I was on my way to the hospital to be induced, so that our sweet little Sis could be brought into the world (the story of her birth here).

I’m reflecting on the beautiful joy of that day. It’s making me kind of weepy, because that was the last time I held my own newborn.

And look at her now!

She is such an amazing, sweet, and funny little girl. She’s getting so big and so independent. It breaks my heart, and it makes me incredibly proud and happy.

Today I will be embracing the extraordinariness of this precious little girl. I’m sure I will look at baby pictures. I’ll probably cry a little bit. But most of all, I will celebrate all that she is and all that she has brought to our family.

Happy birthday, sweet girl.

Next week will be my last time hosting Embrace the Ordinary. Then, EASTER! and the link up will be found back at Gina’s blog.

What have you embraced this week?

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Embrace the Ordinary – Feast Days

Posted on March 21, 2015March 21, 2015 by Amy

We had a late night of fun with friends last night. So I’m, um, getting a slow start this morning on posting this link up for Gina.

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

I have always loved St. Patrick’s Day, and now that we’re Catholic and I understand it as the Feast of St. Patrick, I love it even more.

This week in March is especially fun, because we get to do neat things for the Feast of St. Patrick on the 17th (we actually did St. Patrick’s Day stuff all week), and also for the Feast of St. Joseph on the 19th.

I have learned that it is traditional to eat cream puffs on the feast of St. Joseph, so I ~~whipped some up from scratch~~ bought some at the grocery store for the girls to have a special treat Thursday. St. Joseph’s intercession is often invoked to help people who are trying to sell their houses, so we used this printable from Catholic Icing and did an hourly novena for the intention of our friends who are selling.

I set the alarm on my phone every hour, and each time it went off, the girls ran screaming into the kitchen, “MOM! Our novena!!!” It was fantastic.

I love how the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church helps me to celebrate something every day with my girls.

Some days, like St. Patrick’s Day and the Solemnity of St. Joseph and the Solemnity of the Annunciation (this coming Wednesday), are bigger than others.

But there’s always something to talk about and embrace. There are saints’ feast days, days that commemorate special events or devotions, Baptism anniversaries, and so on. Every day can be a little celebration of faith.

What are you embracing from this week? Link it up!

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Embrace the Ordinary – One Half Hour

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Amy

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

One half hour in our yard last night.

After our parish’s fish fry. Before bedtime.

It kind of didn’t feel very ordinary, since one week before, our temperatures were still below freezing, and it was dark at this time of the evening. But playing in the yard with the girls really is quite an ordinary thing, of course.

And last night it was ordinary, and funny, and beautiful, and holy.

She brought me three rocks and some sticks. Then she drew me a picture.

The big girls couldn’t resist the last bit of snow,

But they were pretty quick to move on to other things. I think they’re more than ready to be done with winter too.

I could have watched them playing all day.

Miss found a ball in the yard that lit up when she threw it. She called it her “Sensor Ball” and insisted that when she threw it, it always sensed and then led her to find things in the yard that were “odd.” Like sticks. And acorns. And rocks. Odd.

She was so excited about it.

It was the same thing over and over.

The wind up and throw.

The chase.

And the excited announcement of what the “Sensor Ball” led her to.

In this case, “A bee wing!” AKA a small leaf.

It was the most lovely, magical, ordinary evening. The kind of evening where you can really sense the presence of God if you’re open to it. I did my very best to embrace it thoroughly.

We’re about halfway through Lent, so I still have a few more weeks of hosting this link up for Gina. I’d love to hear what ordinary situations you have been embracing this week. Add your post or Instagram link below!

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Embrace the Ordinary – Live from South Bend

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Amy

I’m going to the Catholic Women Bloggers Network Conference (Midwest edition) in South Bend today. I’m super excited and kind of nervous. I met a few of the ladies (Annie, and Sarah, and Mary, and Elizabeth) who will be attending today with me last night at dinner, and it was quite enjoyable. I’m going to embrace all sorts of ordinary today and try hard not to be socially awkward in my introvertedness.

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

The past week I really worked on slowing down and appreciating little things. I find that if I can just stop and look around and savor a moment it makes my days so much brighter. Here’s a peek:

^^ We have recently discovered the song “Shake It Off” ^^

Last night I had a bit of a trial trying to make it to dinner on time. First of all, I forgot about the time change between Wisconsin and Indiana, so even though the drive should have only taken about 5 hours, I lost an hour to the time difference. Then I underestimated the time I would sit in traffic in Chicago at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon. Then, I sent a voice text to Annie to let her know I was going to be late for dinner (as my GPS was telling me while still sitting in Chicago traffic), and while I was doing this I missed an exit and then got lost in a not-so-nice part of Chicago.

I just kept telling myself to enjoy the time in the car. I prayed and listened to several lectures and really did have a peaceful drive, in spite of the stress of being lost in a big and unfamiliar city.

^^ Don’t worry, I was at a dead stop in traffic when I took this picture ^^

For part of the time I was stuck in Chicago, I was listening to a Lighthouse Catholic Media CD that Super Friend loaned me for the drive about a former Vietnam War POW on the power of prayer. It’s called Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It was humbling.

It’s amazing what prayer and perspective can do for me when I’m in a tough spot.

Wish me luck today!

What are you embracing from your week? Link up your post or Instagram photos below. Happy Weekend!

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Embrace the Ordinary – A Cure for Righteous Indignation

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Amy

I tried to do a lot of embracing of ordinary things this week. I love finding the specialness in small moments, and I’m still hosting this link up for Gina all during Lent.

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

I ended up being filled with righteous indignation yesterday after a phone call with the not-helpful people at Sirius XM. Without my authorization, they reactivated the radio on the car I used to own, but because I was still using their service on my current car until this past summer, I didn’t notice it on my credit card statement. My husband caught it on our January statement, and it turns out they’ve been charging me for radio service on a car I don’t even own for three years. I thought I had the refund all taken care of when I called a few weeks ago, but it never happened, so I followed up yesterday. The supervisor I spoke to was rude and condescending and flat out refused to give me a refund of the money they charged me without my consent, which basically means they just stole several hundred dollars from me. So I was aaaaall fired up yesterday afternoon.

I have no intention of backing down from the jerks who stole from me and am determined to get my money back. But in the meantime, it helps keep my frustration at bay to focus on the little happy moments of life in our little world. So, here you go:

Here’s to a lovely weekend with family. Link up your Embrace the Ordinary posts below (you can also add an Instagram link, as my friend Erika demonstrated last week)!

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Embrace the Ordinary – Link Up Here During Lent!

Posted on February 21, 2015February 21, 2015 by Amy

This week, and for the rest of Lent, I will be hosting the link up for Gina’s Embrace the Ordinary series.

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.” St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

I love the idea of trying to really embrace the ordinary moments and the holiness within them, so I’m so excited to be temporarily hosting this series.

This week actually hasn’t been all that ordinary. We had Mardi Gras, and a birthday, and Ash Wednesday, and a road trip, and we’ve been visiting my husband’s family, watching the Iowa high school state wrestling championships. It’s been quite full of things that aren’t part of our ordinary lives. However, there have been plenty of lovely, ordinary moments in there too.

^^ Birthday feast on Fat Tuesday

^^ No-meat road trip meal of pierogis (one of Miss’s favorites, since it was her birthday) and cheese quesadillas, for our travels on Ash Wednesday.

Wrestling:

^^ A cousin reunion

More cousin time:

After a busy day of watching wrestling yesterday:

We have one more day of wrestling, and then we’re heading home. I have happy girls enjoying big family time.

This is my first ever attempt at a link up. Share one (or more than one!) way you embraced the ordinary this week.

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Embracing the Ordinary – Including Some Fun News

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Amy

I’m linking up with Gina again and embracing the ordinary today.

The past week was lovely, but nothing exciting (except for a little birthday excitement yesterday).

I made one of my favorite sandwiches from childhood for my girls to try.

That’s a pickle in there with the peanut butter, in case you can’t tell. They all thought it was okay, but the only one of them who actually liked it was my anti-sandwich girl:

We did lots of Valentine stuff in school this week.

Lass was having some trouble with her reading lessons, so I took her to have her eyes checked. It turns out she needs glasses.

She’s pretty excited about getting them and I can’t wait to see how she responds when she can actually see well.

The girls played in their future backyard for the first time.

We helped the Super Friends move a few things to their new house and then had a house-leaving party with pizza and Star Wars and Euchre. Super Friend and I smoked the husbands in cards, in case you were wondering. What a great way to spend Valentine’s Day.

Yesterday, we had a birthday party for my big girl, who is turning six on Wednesday.

What a grace-filled, ordinary week.

And here’s some fun news: Gina, who hosts this lovely link-up, isn’t going to be doing it during Lent. But she’s letting me take over until Easter! I’ll be doing my Embrace the Ordinary post every Saturday, starting this coming weekend, and the link thing will stay open for a week. Check out Gina’s post and link up this week here (it’s still open until Saturday!) and like her Facebook page here, as she’ll be the one sharing these posts during my Lenten Facebook break.