Tea Talk

Ruth's blog has a wonderful meme where one can share a cup of tea and experience quiet times together.

I am having my morning hazelnut coffee.  My whole family is asleep and it is nice and quiet.  It looks like it is going to be a sunny day in Maryland.

My mug is my sweet father's Holy Name Society mug with the words of the Holy Name Pledge on one side and the picture of an angel on the other side.

I am feeling relieved that I took a break from researching the Civil War.  The fact that our country was not fully developed yet with all fifty states, and we were still expanding westward in a growth stage made the concept of sucession more attractive.  It gets to be a very politically heated war and can be confusing.  Almost like a soap opera, one person does something and it causes a ripple effect as politicians raced to claim states for their cause.  Anyway, I can't stand soap operas. I needed to take a break.

My prayer is for my meeting tonight with another co-op mom to go well.

I will leave you with "We are the hero of our own story."

Tea Talk

Ruth's blog has a wonderful meme where one can share a cup of tea and experience quiet times together.

I am having Crystal Lite Rasberry Ice as I already had my coffee this morning.

My glass is beige with an elegant design on it.

I am feeling suddenly chilled this morning and I feel like going back to bed to snuggle under the covers.  I won't do that though - too much to do.  I'm trying to choose some novels for historical relevance for my daughters history class next year.  I also have to start early to take on some of the duties to be on the board of our homeschooling co-op next year if I want to be able to manage everything effectively.  It's nice and quiet here right now before the kids wake up.  I'm not used to it at this time in the morning because we usually do our homeschooling at this time.  I'm letting the kids sleep in today.

My prayer "Lord help me to put on a big smile today and greet my children with a warm hello when they wake up."

I will leave you with "An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather." Washington Irving

Tea Talk

It's time to post to Ruth's blog which has a wonderful meme where one can share a cup of tea and experience quiet times together.

I am having Irish Cream Coffee.

My mug is a free mug from the Rush Limbaugh show (don't worry, I won't talk politics today).

I'm am feeling like I really need this coffee. I usually carpool with another family to drive my daughter to school but today I have to do all the driving.  I also had to go to the library to get books for my homeschooler to do a report and a doctors appointment.  It is a busy 'driving day' for me.  I usually do not need to go many places.  Nevertheless, it comes at just the right time because my two sons are now home from college and the younger ones will have some help today.  Before long, my older sons will begin their summer jobs as lifeguards and my three youngest will be participating on swim team.  Our summers can be quite busy at times.  We only have two cars and four drivers.  I can't even imagine how young people afford anything today let alone a car.  We'll need to keep praying for guidance from the Almighty so that our growing children can soon attain necessities!

I will leave you with a saying from our 'Quotable Quotes from a Jar.'

"When nothing is sure, everything is possible."

Tea Talk

Ruth's blog has a wonderful meme where one can share a cup of tea and experience quiet times together.

I am having Raspberry Vanilla Caffeine Free Tea.

My mug is the same white with blue and orange flowers.

I'm am feeling a little achy because my arthritis is acting up again.  I also have a slight headache and just took two Tylenol PM's.  The tea is really soothing my aches and pains.  I am wondering why we have such a cool day today in Maryland for May 5th.  I am also releaved that we had a semi-productive day homeschooling today even though my four year old is going through a tough stage right now.  I think he is a perfectionist.  If the smallest thing is not right to him - he lets you know.  We get into some interesting conversations but sometimes it is sooo tiring.  Well, I'm glad he is talking and expressing his feelings.  He had a priviledge taken away from him today because he had a melt down yesterday when we had to leave our co-op.  He knows better even though part of the issue was that he was tired.  He fell asleep on the coach now.  I will have to carry him into bed.  All that talking wore him out too.  I think I will sleep good tonight. 

I'm also hoping that I have enough time tomorrow morning to check my daughter's math.  We are expecting a new novel to come in the mail for her to read.  I wish it would get here.  I may start her on another book my high school daughter read in the past.  I am also excited because my two college sons will be home for the summer soon.  I am so proud of them.

I will leave you with another saying from our 'Attitudes in a Jar.'

"Sharing part of yourself with others is love."

Tea Talk

It is a joy to be able to post to Ruth's blog today to share part of our days together.

I am having Raspberry Zinger Celestial Herbal Caffeine Free Tea.

My mug is white with blue and orange flowers.

I'm am feeling glad to be home from a fun time with our homeschool co-op's field trip to Ft. Frederick.  There is a fort used in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War still standing there.  It was wonderful to walk around with the other moms while our kids explored and played together.  Unfortunately, my four year old wouldn't let me put him down because he got a large scratch on his leg.  He wouldn't forget about it.  Therefore, I left my daughter with another family and we had to leave a bit early.  My arms are aching!

On my mind is whether or not my four year old will be fussy this evening because of his 'big booboo.'  He is relaxing on the coach right now and let me apply some neosporine to his cut. I hope he forgets about it.  


I'm also wondering if my daughter had to use the note I gave her to excuse her absence from school yesterday.  We had tornado warnings and watches most of the morning.  Therefore, we stayed home and stayed safe.

I will leave you with another saying from our 'Attitudes in a Jar.'

"To look at setbacks with serenity takes courage."
(Serene - marked by or suggestive of utter calm and unruffled repose or quietude.)

Tea Talk

I am posting to Ruth's blog today to share part of my day with you and to remind mothers with small children to try and take things a step at a time.

I am was having my usual morning coffee with a hint of hazelnut creamer.

My mug was a University of Maryland mug.  Go Terps!

I'm was feeling relieved because I just calmed my four year old's tantrum of getting too upset over little things from escalating.  My little son had a very good early morning routine of doing some fine homeschooling.  Suddenly, the late morning brought a fussy attitude on when I had to complete some work with my sixth grader.  Initially, I wanted to punish him with a time out.  Instead, I got down to his eye level and spoke calmly to him.  I had a big conversation about his attitude with him while he was eating his lunch.  Afterwards, I found a short little story about not getting angry and choosing to control yourself.  He was much happier and calmer afterwards.  I am grateful for the Lord for leading me in this direction while teaching my son.

On my mind was our conversation at dinner time last night about an article which said "The Antichrist will come as one helping the poor, but ignoring moral principles and God himself."  My husband also pointed out that Pope Benedict brought this same subject up in his book.  How many leaders do we have today that use helping the poor as a means to get personal attention?  The article also says:  "Jesus said, 'The poor you will always have with you.'  In saying this he is quoting Deut. 15:11 where we read...'the poor will never cease out of the land...'  But Jesus counters with '...but you will not always have me.'  This is why it is appropriate to build magnificent churches to give glory to God, even when there are the poor to feed."

I will leave you with another saying my daughter picked out from her 'Attitudes in a Jar.'

"Contentment is hoping for the best and making the best of what you get."
(Let's hope for good virtuous leaders and smarter knowledgeable voters.)

Tea Talk

I am going to post to Ruth's blog again to share my quiet moment with friends.

I am having Crystal Light Iced Tea with natural lemon flavor.

My glass is a see-through thick plastic beige color with an elegant white swirl-type design on it.

I'm feeling a bit stressed from this day as I made a new recipe in the crock pot and my two daughters didn't like it.  My four year old did like it and I thought it was good.  I'm wondering if dh will like it as he is getting home late from work.  I hope all goes well.  The chicken may have cooked a little longer than I had intended it to.  My day actually went well today, this nervousness just snuck up on me.

On my mind I am wondering if the other moms in our co-op will like my idea for a class to teach next year.  We are meeting at someones house soon to discuss ideas for next year.  I am also wondering if my sixth grader will make enough time to study for a Science and History test next week.

I would like to leave you with this bumper sticker I saw and a bible verse to follow it:

Bumper Sticker said - "The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth."

Apparantely, this person may not be aware of this bible verse or the meaning of subdue:

"And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Subdue - 1)  To conquer and to bring into subjection:  vanquish  2)  To bring under control esp. by an exertion of the will:  curb  3)  To bring under cultivation  4)  To reduce the intensity or degree of

Tea Talk

I am posting to Ruth's blog today for Tea Talk.  It is a wonderful way to share things with friends that experience life in similar ways yet are so different at the same time.  Different in the way God is using us, yet similar in the end goal of eternal salvation with loving our neighbors as a means to carrying out one of the greatest commandments.  It is a great pleasure to share these moments with you.

I just finished having a skinny caramel maccioto (spelling?) and free petite cake at Starbucks with a good friend.

My mug was the usual Starbucks cup (not much of a nice mug, but it will do).

I was feeling very good to get out of the house for a few minutes on this rainy day.  It just gave me a change of pace for an hour or so.  I had been inside with the kids homeschooling most of the day.  We had a productive and fun day, but it was sure nice to get out and talk to another grown up.  My four year old is reading, writing, and learning mathematical patterns wonderfully.  My sixth grade daughter devotes Thursdays to History, Science, English, and Math and likes to do her work as independantly as possible.  My friend is an amazing person and brought a ray of sunshine into my rainy day.  She is the type that is always encouraging and lifting up others.  I try to do the same for her.

On my mind was trying to find out what good excercise classes were going on in our town.  The Curves in our town had to close.  I'm interested in Zumba.  The only way I can excercise now is with music because it gets me moving.  Otherwise, I am not very motivated.  We also caught up on some items of interest with the parish we belong too.  For example, I'm trying to declutter by getting rid of 40 bags for 40 days during lent.  My friend gave me some names of some people that might be interested in some toys we need to give away.  Therefore, excercising, decluttering, and friendship were on my mind.

I will leave you with this poem by Helen Steiner Rice for God to bless your home:

The Magic of Love

LOVE is like MAGIC
And it always will be,
For love still remains
LIFE'S SWEET MYSTERY!
LOVE works in ways
That are wondrous and strange
And there's NOTHING IN LIFE
That LOVE CANNOT CHANGE!
LOVE can transform
The most commonplace
Into beauty and splendor
And sweetness and grace!
LOVE is unselfish,
Understanding and kind,
For it sees with its HEART
And not with its mind!
LOVE is the answer
That everyone seeks --
LOVE is the language
That every heart speaks --
LOVE can't be bought,
It is priceless and free,
LOVE like pure MAGIC
Is a SWEET MYSTERY!

Tea Talk

I am posting to Ruth's blog today for my Tea Talk.  I really enjoy hearing about everyone's day on this meme.

I am having my usual coffee with a hint of hazelnut creamer.

My mug is my sweet father's (passed away in 2007) Holy Name Society mug with his prayer on it which reads:

Holy Name Pledge
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ true God & true man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
I believe, O Jesus - that Thou art the Christ - the Son of the Living God.
I proclaim my love - for the Vicar of Christ on earth.
I believe all the sacred truths - which the Holy Catholic Church believes & teaches.
I promise to give good example by the regular practice of my faith in honor of His Divine Name.
I pledge myself against perjury, blasphemy, profanity, & obscene speech.
I pledge my loyalty to the flag of my country & to the God-given principles of freedom, justice, and happiness for which it stands.
I pledge my support to all lawful authority - both civil and religious.
I dedicate my manhood (myself) to the honor of the sacred Name of Jesus Christ and beg that he will keep me faithful to these pledges until death.

I was feeling wide awake for 3:00 am in the morning.  This insomnia happens to me occasionally.  Sometimes it is hard to bare.  Tonight though I feel as though I've had enough sleep which was only 5 hours.

I am a morning person.  Therefore, when I rise early - my day seems to be much more productive.  Plus - it is quite time for me.  I believe I will say the rosary after I post this.

On my mind I am hoping that the resources I lent to my friends will be returned today.  I lent a Saint story to a friend over a year ago.  It had my own notes in it.  My daughter may choose this Saint for her confirmation name.  Anyway, I had to remind my friend to return it finally.  I don't like doing this, but it needed to be done.  I hope she knows it is just a friendly reminder!

I am also being pulled away from homeschooling my younger children to driving my college sons to a job interview.  I hope I do not get lost on my way from University of Maryland to the job site.  It will be a joy to see my two sons!

Tea Talk

It's time for tea talk on Ruth's blog.  Today:

I was having my usual coffee with a hint of hazelnut creamer.  I stepped outside onto the front porch while I was drinking it for a few minutes to see a foot of snow all around our suburban neighborhood.  I noticed how quite it was and how the red, white, and blue American flag on our house really stood out against the snow.  I thought of all those who have defended our country in this peaceful quite bliss as the flag blew gently in the soft breeze.  I offered up a prayer in thanksgiving and mourning.

My mug was a tall, skinny, white mug with a picture of a snowman on the front.  Above the snowman it says, "LET IT SNOW" with little blue snowflakes all around the rest of the mug.

I was feeling relaxed with a bit of nervousness mixed in with the relaxation because my husband was home from work today and was not feeling well.  This meant that I was not going to get much homeschooling done today.

On my mind was my sixth grader's Science project and my high schooler's English research and rhetoric paper.  I was preparing to tackle the research involved with these two projects to get them started on a decision for an experiment to record and an author to write about.  Upon entering the house, I was wishing that both of our computers worked instead of only one working.  At twelve o'clock I watched the Mass on EWTN and my children and I said Divine Mercy afterwards.  This helped ease my anxieties today as my four year old seemed to need attention quite often today.  Of course, it just seemed like this because the desire for attention from him came while I was busy (on phone, helping daughters, doing laundry or dishes, fixing meals, etc.).

FOR THE SAKE OF HIS SORROWFUL PASSION, HAVE MERCY ON US!  Thank you Dear Lord for your loving care!  Let me never take what I have for granted!