One of Spring's Inevitable Highlights

Cute little shoes.

From Target. I had to snap a photo of these before they went out to play in the dirt!

Present and Lingering Lenten Focus

I need to pray more. We naturally become like those we spend the most time with, so the more time I spend with Him, the more I will become like Him.

I verbalized something recently that I shouldn't have, that called attention toward myself. Modesty is not only about dress. It is about not standing out. Not calling attention toward oneself. What I said wasn't offensive. It was immodest. For dress, modesty is the same - it can mean wearing something pretty and stylish so as to fit in, but neither overly beautiful nor so plain that it's dowdy. Either extreme calls unnecessary attention.

Yesterday's Feast

Any excuse to make cupcakes during lent is a grand one. :)



Yesterday's feast reminded me of this crazy clip of the girls taken a few years back (Don't worry, it rotates.):

Hope you enjoyed a lovely Annunciation, everyone!

Abby

We don't have a pet in our home, but one day we're going to bring home one of these (though not anytime soon - maybe a few years.) Just thought you should know.

Way Too Young For This

Gianna's working on a myriad of artsy-crafty type endeavors, and when I told her she needed to come downstairs for breakfast this morning she lamented, "I can't eat, Mother. There's not enough time in the day to do everything I want to do!"

Just wait till you're my age, sweetheart.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry Today!!

It's a Solemnity!

~

Light of patriarchs,

Spouse of the Mother of God,

Chaste guardian of the Virgin,

Foster father of the Son of God,

Watchful defender of Christ,

Head of the Holy Family....

Mirror of patience,

Lover of poverty,

Model of workmen,

Glory of home life,

Guardian of virgins,

Pillar of families,

Solace of the afflicted,

Hope of the sick,

Patron of the dying,

Terror of demons,

Protector of Holy Church....

Pray for us.

(from the Litany of St. Joseph)
~

~
Happy Feast of Saint Joseph, everyone!!

~

What is this?

Do tell, because I think it may tie with my favorite of all spring blooms. We saw this flower on a family walk a couple weeks ago and I still haven't found it in any field guides.

Easter Dress Sketches

(And I say "sketches" loosely - I never claimed to possess any drawing skills!) So, this is what I did after the girls went to bed last night. I have the fabric in my stash and the designs on paper, now I just need to figure out how to sew them. I've never done a wrap-style bodice or cap sleeves (though I did find a neat tutorial here), so we'll see how this goes.

TAC Chapel

This past weekend we attended the long-awaited Chapel dedication at our alma mater. There are few words to describe the beauty of this place - the campus, the students and faculty, the books, and now the new Chapel - all ordered so fittingly to the glory of God. I really am nearly speechless in attempting to describe the love I have for this place, which inflamed the spark in me for learning and seeking truth, which firmly strengthened my moral life, and gave me my husband and vocation to marriage. I so hope my daughters will find it in their hearts to love it too, and make the same choice I did when I was eighteen.

The new Chapel, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, is truly "A Church that Teaches", as the full-color dedication guide declares. Every detail, both inside and out, was given a tremendous amount of thought and prayer, so that the edifice would in every part as well as in it's whole, lift minds and hearts to Him who created all.

Please pardon the length and the detail of this post (it was much too hard to decide what to leave out), and forgive the way I go back and forth quoting and writing. Also if you have a few minutes, the text here is more important than the pictures, beautiful as they are, for getting a sense of the role this Chapel holds in the life of the college.

from the campus driveway (taken while driving)

behind the great oak, under whose branches

for four years we spent many hours studying, contemplating.

here you see alumni children (incl. Gianna) playing in the courtyard

the sun's light, shining it's resplendent beauty,

seems to bless Our Lady's church

The bell tower, it's three tiers symbolizing the Triune God.
"As Providence would have it, the top-most tier and the cross
above it were hoisted into place on September 14, 2007 -
the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross."

My favorite element of the entire chapel.
The "woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Rev. 12:1)

Below Our Lady is seen a triangular pediment, suggestive again
of the Holy Trinity. Inside the pediment, a relief of the college's
crest with angels on either side; and below, St. John's description
of the Woman of the Apocalypse inscribed in Latin.

I couldn't get enough pictures of Her.

The front facade is seen "as a porta coeli, or gate of heaven,
with a triumphal archway through which the faithful enter."

On either side are statues of the Church's two greatest theologians,
St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, calling to mind the college's
classical curriculum. If you look closely you'll see each statue's pose
represents the two sides of the spiritual life-the active and the contemplative. "Taken together, they speak to the need for both good works and contemplation in the life of the Christian."


The chapel's bronze entrance doors feature "six panels that will one day depict scenes from the life of the Blessed Mother, just as the golden door of the Chapel's tabernacle depicts six scenes from the life of Christ." Above the doors is a bas relief of Our Lady at her Coronation, surrounded by the three Persons of the Holy Trinity.

The nave of the Chapel is relatively narrow yet dramatically high...
emphasizing "the prominence of the altar and tabernacle and the
transcendence of God. On either side are seven archways,
signifying the seven sacraments, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit,
the seven dolors and seven joys of the Blessed Mother,
and the three theological and four natural virtues."

The Chapel's vaulted ceiling represents the vault of heaven.
It's "translucent windows allow the building to be filled with
the sun's radiance, reminding us of the light of heaven. A wide blue,
marbleized band, honoring the Blessed Mother, lines the clerestory."
Beautiful!

If you zoom in you'll have a clearer picture of the Chapel's bronze
baldacchino, "reminiscent of Bernini's Baroque masterpiece
in St. Peter's Basilica, testifying to the college's fidelity to Rome.
Like the Ark of the Covenant, the balducchino is surmounted
by golden cherubim (Ex. 25: 18-21), who are depicted bearing
grapes and wheat, symbols of the Holy Eucharist."

"The tabernacle is the heart and soul of a Catholic church. It is
the dwelling place of [Our Lord], Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
In light of the tabernacle's extraordinary purpose, it shares with the altar the most honored location in [the Chapel]." It stands high on a marble pedestal so as to be visible behind the altar. The tabernacle's gold arched door depicts six scenes from the life of Christ, and below the door is inscribed Our Lord's words of consecration:
HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM, "This is My Body" (Matt. 26)

With gold walls and mirrors for a floor and celing, "the inside
of the tabernacle creates the impression of an eternal gold shaft
uniting heaven and earth, just as the Eucharistic Lord bridges
the eternal gap between God and man."

The 12 windows in the Chapel's dome (partly seen below)

represent the twelve apostles.

~

"Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind: the first like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with a face like a human face, and the fourth like a flying eagle...Day and night without ceasing they sing, 'Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.'" (Rev. 4:6-8)

~

Christian tradition has long associated the four evangelists with the four "living creatures" that surround God's throne in the Book of Revelation. In the new TAC Chapel, "each of the four Gospel writers is depicted with his traditional symbol on the pendentives that sustain the dome, just as the four Gospels sustain the Church." (In this picture you see two of the four pendentives - the lion and the eagle, St. Mark and St. John respectively.)

A few more exterior campus photos. I love how peaceful

this spot is, fitting for the contemplation of ideas.

campus view looking toward a dormitory

A picture most of us older alumni can appreciate -

the last of the old temporary buildings, wherein classes

were taught, students resided, and faculty had their offices.

I don't imagine this one will exist much longer.

~

During our visit to the college over the weekend my husband remarked, "There are few places I can be and find myself completely happy, at peace. This is one of them." I feel the same way.

~

Other notes of interest: the Chapel's architectural plans were blessed in Rome by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 2003 and by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. Each of their coats of arms is inlaid into the central aisle of the floor. The chapel also houses relics of the twelve apostles. Amazing! And though the new Chapel is quite grand, know that, when there, it is very clearly a fitting dwelling for a humble God, and the humble faithful who enter it's doors.

~

Saint Joseph Novena

The solemnity of Saint Joseph is celebrated on March 19th. If you are planning to pray a novena to our beloved Patron of the Universal Church, of Fathers, of Families, of Labor, of a Happy Death, etc. - today or tomorrow would be the day to begin (depending on whether you like your novenas to end on the feast day or the day before).

In the words of Saint Teresa of Avila in her plea for the faithful to pray to our Holy Patriarch:

"Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this glorious Saint, for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for us from God. I have never known anyone who was truly devoted to him and honored him by particular services who did not advance greatly in virtue: for he helps in a special way those souls who commend themselves to him. It is now very many years since I began asking him for something on his feast, and I have always received it. If the petition was in any way amiss, he rectified it for my greater good....I ask for the love of God that he who does not believe me will make the trial for himself - then he will find out by experience the great good that results form commending oneself to this glorious Patriarch and in being devoted to him..." --Autobiography, VI, 11-12

This beloved saint has aided our family in too many instances to count. He is a powerful intercessor indeed. (I have a new story to share, which I hinted at last year but never explained. I'll do my best to post it today or tomorrow.) I encourage anyone who visits here today to begin a special novena to the foster father of Our Lord. Then spread the word. Share with others, either on your blog, with friends and family, or in the comments section here, how St. Joseph has interceded for you. The only way I can think to repay (however inadequately) such a saint is to spread devotion to him.

You can find a variety of beautiful novenas to our beloved patron here. I will have a short novena prayer to St. Joseph on my sidebar beginning today until his Solemnity on March 19th.

Saint Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus, pray for us!

God's Will or Mine?

A beautiful, sincere post, and a question we all must step back and prayerfully consider. Often.

"Chicken in a Basket"

Actually a nest, but not according to the artist.

(Prismacolor pastels)

Let's Discuss Education

Michele over at The Family-Centered Life is starting a series of discussions on the ideas behind education - the influences, the philosophies, the goals. I think this is fabulous. Ideas are the beginning and first cause of so much of what we actually execute in a learning environment. It's crucial to go back over them, to remind ourselves why we teach our children, what motivates us to choose some materias over others, and how we hope our children will benefit and thrive from a solid foundation.

So go on over and join in the first discussion of the series. I look forward to reading what everyone has to contribute. It will be a rich and meaty exchange for sure, and lots of fun!

Six

Dear Gianna,

When you were three, everyone around you thought you were five. When you were five, people mistook you for six. Today you turned six, and from the comments we've heard so far, it seems you finally look your age.

Six. Sigh. Where did it go? And how did you get so tall?

You are one of those daughters a mother knows she doesn't deserve. You remind me to be grateful for the gift of motherhood every day, and not take a minute with you for granted.

Your light-hearted, pleasant demeanor is contagious. It is rare not to see a smile on your face. And in this short six years you've become an incredibly lovely girl. You're kind and sweet, generous and thoughtful, grateful and sincere. You help without being asked. If asked your response is "Yes, mother." You want others to be happier than you are, and you often sacrifice to make that happen. It takes an adult most of her lifetime to grow into who you are today.

Quotes of the day:

When you learned this morning that you'd have rain on your birthday you smiled, "That's okay, mama. It's Lent. I'll offer it up." And you meant it.

Tucking you into bed tonight, "I wish everyone could have a birthday every day." When I inquired further, "because then everyone would be as happy as me!".

That would be wonderful, Gianna. I love you, sweetheart. Happy Birthday!

I sympathize.

I'm only amazed she could come to terms with it so quickly. I couldn't think or speak about it, or clean it off the floor for days. This was only a small portion of what was lost.


If you think I'm crazy, just know Madeleine's hair took three-and-a-half years to get to this short length. The day before it happened I had put her hair in pig tails for the very first time.

Don't worry. I'm over it now. :)

Memories Made

A visit by my mother-in-law and the weekend's surprise of long-overdue warm weather had us spontaneously packing a picnic lunch and taking a Duffy out on the harbour. It was lovely!

Not the one we rented, but here's a Duffy boat

if you've never seen one before. Electric-powered,

you feel like you're riding a golf cart on water.

Happy girls....

...enjoyed time with their grandma.

Each got a turn at the wheel.

We watched sailboats sail by....

....admired the pretty waterfront homes, modest...

....and grand...

....said "hi" to the neighbors....

...and even took a family photo, which for some reason

is rare for us....

....but, grateful for the memory this captures

I resolve to do it more often.

Make memories with your children. Make a happy childhood for them - it can go a long way. Pack a picnic lunch and take it anywhere - the park, the hills, even your own backyard! Go hiking and bike-riding. Light fires in your fireplaces and roast marshmallows in your living room. And there's no need to skip your prayer stops while you enjoy the gift of family life and your children while they're young - as my good and faithful mother-in-law has taught me, stop and pray the Angelus at noon and the Divine Mercy chaplet at three, wherever you are and whatever you're doing.

~

Life is good. It is much too short. There are times for suffering and we can even pause to take small joys then, too. So long as we lift all of it up with love and thanksgiving we can give our children the tools to do the same.

~