Sabbath Moments

It is time for Sabbath Moments over at Colleen's blog.  Just click on the link to participate.

1)  Last night was a Sabbath Moment when my husband and I enjoyed happy hour together on the back deck.  We were listening to the sounds of nature together and looking at the sunset and beautiful sky.  Our sons were coming out to join us periodically.  We noticed that the lightning bugs were not out as much.  We thought it may have been because the temperature was a bit cooler here in Maryland...rather than very hot the last few days.  You could really hear the crickets and cicadas (or whatever it was) in the tree line of our back yard.  My hubby wanted to get his sleeping bag a sleep outside.  I said, "I'm sorry I need my bed."

2)  I really enjoyed the forty minute drive to bring my daughter to her pool party.  We had a nice conversation in the car.  Oftentimes here in Maryland, we drive our daughters to Virginia as many of their friends live there.  We go on the famous beltway circling DC to get to their houses.  I really can't say it's that famous but you get the idea.  It is just the way life is here in the MD/VA/DC corridor.

3)  It was wonderful the other day to be able to sit outside and get some ideas for the class I'm teaching next year.  I brought all my books out and sat at the table on the back deck because it was not so hot.  I really accomplished much.  Oftentimes it is hard for me to concentrate in the house.  It was a benefit to be able to escape the chores of the house and sit outside in peace and quiet.  Sometimes I go to the library or a nearby coffee shop when I can't go on the back deck because of the weather.

Sabbath Moments

It is time for Sabbath Moments.  Please click on the link if you want to share some times when you've found God in your week.

1)  I found God in the swim team's pancake breakfast as I was able to get to know some of the parents more.  I've always been interested in the quiet-behind-the-scenes people who get things done.  Therefore, I snuck around and took a picture of the parents sitting on the picnic table holding it steady when the team was lining up to get their picture ready.  I found God in these willing parents helping their kids stay safe for their pictures.

2)  Today my husband and I took a long walk and it was beautiful when we stopped to watch a mother deer and her three babies walk across the path right in front of us.  I wish I had my camera because they were so close.  It is a nice path through the woods...cool on a hot day here in Maryland.

3)  I found God when we arrived home and I saw my oldest sons taking my youngest son on his bike without his training wheels on.  They were going around the court.  What a joy to see them reaching out to their younger brother.

Sabbath Moments

I'm hooking up with Colleen's blog for Sabbath Moments when we cease from the 'busyness' of our lives and bask in God's presence.  To participate...just click on this link.

1.)  I was able to spend time conversing with one of my best buddies this past Thursday.  We caught up on so much in our family lives.  I also gave her a book to read by Zan Tyler:  The Seven Tools of Learning that is helping her remember the reasons she chose to homeschool her young children.  If is such a joy to see how our conversations and this book are helping her.  She is a beautiful person and so intelligent.

2.)  I was able to take a nice warm bath yesterday and escape all the carpooling the kids around.  It was so relaxing just to be able to soak in the tub and say a few prayers and get squeaky clean.

3.)  My six year old watches a lot of nature or history channels now rather than all those noisy cartoons.  I'm so grateful that I was able to snuggle with him last night under a blanket and enjoy the shows with the screen door open so a light breeze came through it.

Sabbath Moments

I'd like to record my Sabbath Moments today.

1)  I really enjoyed talking with the other moms from my daughters eighth grade class when I picked her up from a sleepover with 17 girls.  I enjoyed a cup of coffee and thanked them for hosting this fun gathering for the girls.  They live much closer to the school than we do and our house is too far away from everyone to host something like this right now.  It was so good to see the girls bonding with each other and having fun.  Fellowship with the students parents is always a Sabbath Moment for me.

2)  Finally, here in Maryland we have a beautiful day and it is warmer.  It is so nice to have the heat off and some screens and windows open to enjoy God's Creation.

3)  I am so grateful for God's Word that I read today in preparing for my sons religious education class.  His word gives me so much peace.  The kids will love hearing about this bible passage.

Sabbath Moments

I am participating in Sabbath Moments today.  Here are some of my Sabbath Moments:

1)  Attending Mass and a talk on the power of God's Word with my hubby on a Saturday morning with Fr. Francis Martin.  He also has a website and has been on EWTN.  A great theologian and intellectual.

2)  Cuddling with my son and puppy last night while watching the movie "Ice Age."  (We fell asleep on the couch afterwards.)

3)  Saying the rosary today with my family...always a Sabbath moment.

Sabbath Moments

I'm joining Colleen's meme at Sabbath Moments today where we just list peaceful moments we've had where we cease from the craziness of the world.  I have a bad head cold today so understand that my sabbath moments are meant to help me feel physically better.  You will see that I feel quite miserable today.  Here are my sabbath moments:

1)  I took a hot bath because my body had all these aches and pains.  The heat in the bathroom cleared my sinuses up for a little while.

2)  I sat on the back deck with hubby and watched the sunset.  There were many pink clouds and it was good for my cold to get some fresh air.

3)  I planned my lesson for my son's class I will be teaching on Monday.  Hubby was raking the leaves outside with my son and it was nice and peaceful to think about a plan for the class.  My daughter was in her room studying.

Sabbath Moments

Colleen hosts a wonderful blog where you can list three Sabbath moments (cease from 'busy-ness') you've experienced during your week.

1)  I had a wonderful time visiting with my two oldest sons that go to University of Maryland, my family, and friends at our great tailgate before the game today.  It was so beautiful here in Maryland today and was such a joy to be outside with everyone eating, talking, laughing, and relaxing.

2)  It brings me such peace to be able to sit quietly and come up with an idea for my class I'm teaching while my two daughters are doing their homework.  I love to think of fun things for the kids in my class to work on together.

3)  I so enjoy mornings when my six year old son and I say the five mysteries and a decade of the rosary together.  We light candles and are at peace and praise the Lord together.  We pray for our family and our country every day.

Sabbath Moments

I'm participating in Sabbath Moments this Saturday - September 8th - The Blessed Mother's birthday.

1)  My hubby and I took a walk and talked to some neighbors along the way.  Afterwards, we had a big discussion on our back deck.  I think I was falling in love with him again as I witnessed how he was caring for our family by choosing wise financial decisions.  There was a cool breeze coming through so there were no mosquitoes and it was such an enjoyable and peaceful evening together.  We were sipping our adult drinks while we were discussing our plans together.

2)  My two daughters played so well with my six year old son today.  The house was filled with giggling and laughter.  It was so heart warming to hear and see.

3)  It was a Sabbath Moment bringing my son to a local playground earlier today.  We played hide and seek together.  It was a shame when we had to put up with a crowd of people coming to rope off the parking lot for their sporting event and play loud rap music.  We still had fun though but the duration was cut shorter than it would have been.  I'm going to call the recreation center on Monday to see why they allow this.  It is a public playground for young children.

Sabbath Moments

Over at Colleen's blog, we can partake and share some Sabbath moments with each other.  Sabbath moments are quiet and reflective moments we build into our week for prayer or admiring God's Creation.  Here are some of my Sabbath moments this week:

1)  Each morning we say a short devotion, morning offering, and decade of the rosary together.  These prayer times are always so peaceful and joyful.  As we pray, I hear my five year old learn to say the new prayers he is learning while viewing the Autumn leaves against the sky outside my kitchen window.  We have a sitting area in our kitchen.  I'm looking forward to the time I can turn the fireplace on while we pray come winter.

2)  Every Wednesday, we get together for a class I teach to Kindergarten age students for our co-op.  I am teaching them the mysteries of the rosary and praying a decade together.  I always love this time of the week to see them growing and bonding in their Faith.  I envision Mary coming to put her arms around them with each prayer they say together.

3)  This morning at Mass, before my son got too wiggly, I was totally immersed in the song being sung about 'loving the Lord with our whole heart, mind, and soul and loving our neighbor as ourselves.'  I love this Bible verse as it always brings me such joy to realize that the most important point in our Faith is achievable through loving relationships.  Rules are important but when relationships are involved our giving is enhanced and comes more naturally through the love that grows among and between us.

Sabbath Moments

Colleen's blog has a wonderful meme where we 'cease' and let God be to experience sabbath moments. There were a few times this week where I was able to just 'cease' and take in the moments the Holy Spirit was pouring forth in my life. They are as follows:

1)  There were a few times where I was able to just read, grade and plan for next year's curriculum.  Just being able to bask in the quietness and have time for reading and grading is a blessing to me.

2)  Spending time with my four year old reading about baby animals.  There is a delightful collection of children's books we have on baby animals.

3)  The daily moments when my children and I read a passage from the Bible and discuss it.  In one of the devotions it said, "The time we spend with God is far more precious to him than the things we do for him."  Any thoughts on this statement?  I thought it was interesting but do not know if it is so true - especially for busy mothers!  I guess it can depend on what 'season of life' we are currently living in.

Sabbath Moments

Colleen's blog has a wonderful meme where we 'cease' and let God be to experience sabbath moments.  There were a few times this weekend where I was able to just 'cease' and take in the moments the Holy Spirit was pouring forth in my life. They are as follows:

1)  Our good friends from New Orleans visited us this past weekend and on Saturday night we were able to sit out on our back deck and reminisce.  It was wonderful to catch up and see our good friends.  We haven't seen them in years.  They are actually two of our children's God parents.  There are so many wonderful families we know from New Orleans through our relationship with these people.  We've been to weddings and parties and prayer groups with our good friends from New Orleans.  It was so good to hear about everyone and know all is good.  The kids were all inside playing games and watching t.v. while the adults did their 'adult thing.'  We had barbeque shrimp and jambalaya for dinner.  It was a wonderful evening to remember good friends and good times.  I am grateful for the Holy Spirit to provide us with this time to 'cease' and let God be.

2)  Another sabbath moment occurred when my son's girlfriend offered to play with my four year old at the pool.  When I went up to pick him up, they were having so much fun throwing a ball around in the two feet.  I was able to talk with her while they played ball.  It was great to be able to spend time with them while they frolicked in the pool.  She is really a very sweet girl and I hope the future holds something special for her and my son.  My four year old had so much fun with her.  It was really an awesome gesture for her to offer to watch my four year old for a couple of hours.  It gave me a nice break on the weekend.

3)  My four year old and I were catching 'liteling' (lightening) bugs in the back yard after dinner tonight.  He said, "they are the friendliest bugs in the world."  Our New Orleans friends do not get lightening bugs.  We do here in Maryland.  It was a joy to see my son try to catch them and then carry them to me.  His boyhood play brings me so much joy and comfort.

Sabbath Moments

Colleen's blog has a wonderful place where we can share sabbath moments together.  Just click on her name to go to her wonderful meme.

1)  My daughter had two dance recitals on Saturday at a local high school auditorium. I was a chaperon for one of the recitals and therefore, stayed in one of the classes while they waited to perform.  It was a joy to see the girls practicing in the hallway in their beautiful ballet costumes.  There dance was to the song 'White Horse.'  During the morning show, I had the opportunity to walk around the track in the back of the school while I waited to be a chaperon.  It was a very peaceful moment while I exercised with the morning sun beating down on me.  I could remember back in my high school days when I ran track.  There was another person who was sprinting around the track.  I knew I couldn't run like that anymore as I felt the mild arthritis in my hips acting up at the end of my walk.  Nevertheless, it was a very peaceful moment for me because I was taking the time to gently exercise and be outdoors on this beautiful morning.

2)  It was also such a joy to be able to play badminton in our back yard with my husband and children.  My four year old kept running around the yard with the volleyball while we were playing.  He was playing with my older son.  My daughters would laugh often when they had difficulty hitting the birdie.  It was great to be able to just relax and play as a family.

3)  I had a very special moment talking to my mother on the phone while my husband took my two youngest children to the pool.  The sun was out and I was drinking iced tea while watching a monarch butterfly flutter around all the branches of our tulip poplar tree.  It was heart warming to hear her voice as she has had many aches and pains lately.  She was feeling good today.  After my husband came home, we all said the family rosary together.

Sabbath Moments

This is a great meme on Colleen's blog to share one's sabbath moments with each other.

1)  My preschooler and I observed a bright red cardinal chirping away in our neighbors tree the other day.  It was a quiet time so one could really focus in on how clear and loudly the cardinal sounded.  I love birds as they bring so much peace and happiness.  Moments like these with little ones instill in them an appreciation of God's creation.  We get so busy sometimes that we need to step away from the work for moments of peace like this. 

2)  Reading part of the Gospel of John where Jesus goes to the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles).  This is one time Jesus actually told others one thing and he did another.  He told others that he was not going to the feast and later he went alone in secret.  Jesus, I believe, was feeling alot of stress at this point.  Oh, how it must have been agonizing mingling in this crowd which had so many opinions about Jesus' character.  Oh, it must of been getting harder and harder to teach the crowds.  I love you sweet Jesus.  Thank you for teaching us about the Kingdom of God!

3) We were able to say the family rosary together on Sunday together.  This is always a sabbath moment for me.  The rosary is the most powerful prayer there is!  Even though my four year old was rolling around with a beach ball on the rug and laughing, we were able to ignore him most of the time and focus on the prayers.  What is it about little boys and energy?  He kicked the leg of a chair once and almost started to cry.  My husband started mimicking him and his tears quickly turned into laughter.  We all started to laugh and found our prayer places immediately afterwards.  Even though he did not appear to be praying, each beginning of a decade we would quiz him on which mystery it was for the new decade.  He was learning even though he appeared to be 'in another world' at times.