March Celebrations

I like March for a lot of reasons, winter is ending, we can take (almost) daily walks and of course the celebrations of the month, including my birthday. With Easter being in March this year the days ahead look to be full of fun planning.

Before those of course is St. Patricks Day.

Roman and I are both fascinated by the stories of this early church missionary, so much so that we named a son for him. The writings of St. Patrick are truly beautiful and Ethan is thrilled to hear any stories about his namesake. We also enjoy a good pot of corned beef!

This year the Spring Equinox and Palm Sunday fall on the same day. I usually use that time to dye eggs, and since every time I make hard-boiled eggs the kids want colored ones, I am going to be putting that on my calendar. Last year I did these Cabbage Dyed Eggs.

One week after St. Patricks Day and falling smack in between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is my birthday. I have no particular plans this year, but I will find something to mark my 27th year.

Finally we have Good Friday thru Easter Sunday, this year falling on the 25th through the 27th. It is right before the Creston Auction for us, so we will be mentally gearing up for that big event, and probably stay a bit low key. 

As I slowly teach my children about the life of Christ and it's significance, I am made more aware of how beautiful each season of celebration is. It brings me such joy that my children see Bible time as a normal part of their day. They renditions of the Biblical tales certainly have some wild variations, but it is filling their minds, and as we approach the season of Easter I look forward to hearing them retell whatever details stands out in their little minds.

A Week of Thanksgiving

Have I ever mentioned my life is crazy? Because it is and who has time to post on a blog?! However, my heart has been full in the past days as I reflect on all the amazing gifts God did for us this past year. So I think I will spend this week leading up to Thanksgiving do a little pubic expressions of praise. The work of God is meant to be on display in the lives of His people after all. And though our society may choose to use this holiday as a football and shopping occasion, it is truly so much more. And if you need a little help getting in the mood for Thanksgiving, here is playlist I am listening to:
Spotify Thanksgiving Music

These three crazy happy little ones have filled my days with work, tears, and smiles. Their presence in my life is undoubtedly a work of grace and I am grateful that God allows me to be their mother!

Be It Ever So Humble

In the last two and a half months the children and I have traveled over 6000 miles, been in three major cities, visited historic sites, modern attractions, and natures beauteous offerings. Our many vehicles started with trains and ended with planes. In between we rode in taxis, on buses, and let's not forget the tow truck segment of our journey. We have been on Army forts, Naval stations, and seen Air Force bases.

I have dealt with all kinds of tedious adult tasks: paying TWO rents, buying and selling a van, insuring and licensing said van, having the van in and out of the mechanics shop, phone/medical/electric bills, GPS systems, etc. I baked bread, made oatmeal, and cooked a Thanksgiving dinner in crockpots. I spent a holiday season away from my parents and my in-laws.

Someone asked me if I feel like an experienced traveler now.

I don't.

I do feel less naïve, more confident, and have a greater faith in God.

At so many points on this adventure (in particular with the van) I was internally begging God to get me through some unforeseen crisis. Completely unfamiliar with my surroundings, I was praying for His grace to see me to the end. I can say that He always gave me the tools I needed: the GPS lady on my phone guiding me through frenzied roads and traffic, Roman's uncle working for a mechanic and helping with all my car distresses, sympathetic strangers carrying bags up/down escalators for the crazy lady with three kids in tow, sunshine and rain.

The past two months have been the most insane and courageous adventure of my life.
For this moment I am glad to be home.

To all of you who prayed for me, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The Path of the Stars

Down through spheres that chant the Name of One

Who is the Law of Beauty and of Light

He came, and as He came the waiting Night

Shook with gladness of a Day begun;

And as He came, He said: Thy Will be Done

On Earth; and all His vibrant Words were white

And glistering with silver, and their might

Was of the glory of a rising sun.

Unto the Stars sang out His living Words

White and with silver, and their rhythmic sound

Was a might symphony unfurled;

And back from out the Stars like homing birds

They fell in love upon the sleeping ground.

And were forever in a wakened world.

 

~Thomas S. Jones Jr.

"Mary Pondered All These Things"

Mother Mary's mind-
A repository-
Cherished every kind
Of event and story.
She remembered what
Joseph soon forgot.

Quite incredible
How she could recall
Word and miracle,
Pain and passion! All
Through the days she pondered
In her heart, and wondered.

Mother's still, it seems
Keep their hearts like Mary-
Full of words and dreams-
Like a reliquary.
Men like Joseph yet
Easily forget.

~Edwin McNeill Poteat

The Legend of the Shamrock

Long ago, when Ireland was the land of Druids, there was a great bishop, Patrick by name, who came to teach the word of God throughout the country...This saint, for he was indeed a saint, was well loved everywhere he went. One day, however, a group of his followers cam to him and admitted that it was difficult for them to believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

Saint Patrick reflected a moment and then, stooping down, he plucked a leaf from the shamrock and held it before them, bidding them to behold the living example of the "Three-in-One." The simple beauty of this explanation convinced these skeptics, and from that day the shamrock has been revered throughout Ireland.

~source, Irish Blessings

 

My Valentine's Day

Today my children said thank you.

Ethan said thank you Mommy, after I told him he could play with the water in the kitchen sink. (A big deal for me because the plumbing is still not working.)

Saoirse said thank you Mommy because I held her while she drank her milk, instead of sitting on the couch by herself.

I lost my cool more than once today. We did manage to make cookies without spreading flour across the house. There is popcorn on my carpet and standing water in my sink. My husband had to work all day and is still working tonight. But I want to remember that my children said thank you because they felt loved. These two little ones have no idea just how much I felt loved when they said, "Thank you Mommy!"

Now I will spend time with the chocolate my husband brought home between jobs! Happy Valentine's Day!

Sometimes they get along great at the grocery story.





 

Hightlights from Family Photo Shoot

Sending out pictures of our growing family is something that gives me great pleasure ( I love receiving family photos from others as well). But when narrowing down the options it can be so hard to choose just one. Sometimes the shoot brings rewards of the unexpected. Since I am so proud of my family I just have to share them.

Flathead Lake

Hurray!

Peekaboo

Almost perfect. I'm trying to find one with both kids behaving.

One of my favorites

Rock skipping break

Noses, noses

Kiss your sister, please!

Like Daddy and Mummy

No, don't kiss me!

Babbling away

Studying surrounding's

Adventure time

My dearest and best love on earth

A Challenge I Was Given and How I Have Acheived It

This weekend marks the fourth Thanksgiving of my marriage to Roman Mallery. Each year we have had the over-indulgent, and highly enjoyable experience of a table-loaded meal with our respective parents and siblings (on separate days, thankfully). This year is no different, all the usual hallmarks of the holiday, traditional dishes, family games, the round-the-table-expressions-of-particular-thanks. Every year the table is a little more crowded as many babies rapidly swell our ranks (my in-laws have twelve grandkids and counting). A crazy weekend to kick of the round of holidays.

In this big picture story, there are always details that form us. Details like dessert. Every year I have contributed to the dessert table. While my dear husband has raved about my cooking skills from day 1, there is one area where I never quite measured up to his expectations.
 Pies.
And a Thanksgiving without pie would be drastic.
It seems I had rather a lot to live up to in the pie department. Roman's dear Grandma Mallery is a pie maker whose fame has spread across the northwest. All who know her rave about her pies. Roman's mother is not bad herself, and one of my sister-in-laws has a knack for the flakiest piecrusts you will find anywhere. So with each November I find myself scouring my cookbooks and the internet to make a pie that my husband truly enjoys. Last year I pulled off a Sweet Potato Meringue Pie that knocked his socks off and this year I think I may be able to join the ranks of Mallery women and their pies. The lard piecrusts have been far more successful than butter. Lard rendered from the pig we helped raise and now stocks our freezer. Yesterday's Apple-Sour-Cream-Crumb Pie achieved the highest praise from my husband yet. Last weekend I made a test pumpkin pie that was rapidly consumed by my son, daughter, and husband. Today I made three more Pumpkin Pies for our Mallery gathering tomorrow and if my son's longing gaze is any indicator, they should be alright.

In conclusion,

I may not ever achieve the level of recognition that Grandma Mallery has in her 80+ years,

and I don't think pie will ever be my specialty.

However, I think have given my husband a satisfactory improvement in the last four years

and I can safely say that I have accomplished a great personal challenge.

And buying a pastry mat, the kind that marks each size circle, has been the smartest purchase this baking season.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

All-Hollows-Eve

I quite enjoyed this thought provoking video:
Halloween: A Poem
Whatever side you may take on how to celebrate this rather major autumnal holiday, take some time to listen and reflect on this most ghastly of holidays as it fills the stores and homes around us. And perhaps, Christians should take some time to consider good ways of celebrating All-Saints-Day, a day to honor that the lives of men and women who have faced the darkness of the world and proven conquerors in the name of Christ.