march forward...

did you ever hear the old wives' tale about the month of march..."in like a lion, out like a lamb...in like a lamb, out like a lion?" i'm not sure about how much truth it contains, but i'm hoping it's correct this year. we are awaiting plummeting temperatures & *another* forecast of snow. but unfortunately our "weatherman" is out for the count. Little Man is in a feverish state. His big sister, home from college, has taken up a place on the other couch, also ill. (how grateful she is to be home rather than in a cold dorm room!) i'd say this qualifies for "in like a lion" at casa piacere!

one more thought, or two...

if you observe lent, this post is most helpful. (thank you, minor friar!)

& please hold this dear blogger in your heart in her time of sorrow...

Requiem Æternam
Réquiem ætérnam dona eis,
Dómine,et lux perpétua lúceat eis.
Requiéscant in pace.
Amen

will i ever blog again??

i am beginning to wonder...i am swimming in a sea of technology & reading & writing & keeping boyworld in line. in the middle of it all, i think about my blog but never at a moment when i might actually attend to it. i have spent countless hours spring cleaning over the last few weeks (even the attic!) & occasionally my thoughts have swirled with prayers (especially for philip, fr. reggie & our friend D.) & also with words to blog.the prayers continue heavenward, but the blog words are swept away in the dustpan. i've actually been feeling more word-quiet lately. less of my own thoughts...more paying attention to life without a need to dialogue with it. really, just many moments of simply being in the moment. last night i woke before the 4th watch with a poem dangling at the edge of my sleep, words that were accessible to me & so i wrote them down. (my poetry is here.) i fell immediately back to sleep...a deep, intensely satisfying sleep that is a joy from which to wake.my other focus in recent days is the beginning of lent this wednesday. in last year's post i noted the sacrifice of going without & the sacrifice of doing. i need both. in reflecting upon what keeps me from a life of holiness, i am being led to my "going without"...in those things that lead me to a life of holiness, i find my sacrifice of doing. my biggest temptation right now is the internet~blogging, facebook, reading a myriad others' writings. (believe me, that was brought to the surface during last weekend's retreat!) the "going without" part of my sacrifice is screamingly apparent!...& for that prompting i will take last year's Holy Week break plus no internet activity until after 5pm each day for the duration of lent. as for the "sacrifice of doing"...the boys & i are pooling our efforts (& those of our generous parish) to help melissa's efforts in romania. i am also reading this. & praying for the grace to continually ask myself: "is this what love looks like?"

because my mind is working in short bursts...

~~why so quiet here? one word: facebook. for those who don't know, think 25 years of catching up with 30 or so people. 'nuff said.


~~also spent last weekend on retreat at mepkin abbey. no phones, TV's, computers...not a great cell signal. pure bliss for my over-active mind.


~~thanks for the language advice regarding last week's post. this week boyworld has adopted a new technique for dodging italian responses to my italian questions...responding in english that is heavily encased in a scottish brogue! (maybe the possum *should* be in control!)~~speaking of small animals...that prognosticator known as punxsutawny phil was wrong! spring is on its way. my daffodils said so! (all you yanks up north, take heart...it's coming!)~~prayers answered (thank you so much!)...fr. reggie is slowly healing. he has a long road to travel but he has also come a very long way!!

swimming...

...in a sea of busy-ness, riding the wave on my crazy board!!& hoping to wash up on the shore of the blogworld next week with some words & photos & visits to y'all...

it's hard to keep a straight face when...

...a certain student (i'm not naming names) translates this~~

"Si, posso incontarLa oggi."

to this~~

"Yes, the possum is in control today."

(for those nodding in confused agreement, the less interesting yet correct translation is "Yes, I am able to meet you today." looks like we need a bit of a vocabulary review tomorrow!)

the details...

...are what make the day. i've been swimming in them, organizing life for 2009 throughout january. i must admit it felt good to turn the calendar page to a new month. now i feel firmly entrenched in the new year with some solid footing of details that have been cared for. yesterday was the feast of candlemas~ 40 days after christmas, the traditional conclusion of the feast of epiphany, & the midpoint of winter in the northern hemisphere. we pack away our nativity on that day & begin to look forward to spring's approach (honestly, i'm always looking for spring's approach, but knowing we are at winter's midpoint makes that thought a little more real :-) another tradition on this feast is the blessing of candles. sadly that is not something we find in this area, but i do remember to light candles on this feast.speaking of candles, if you are so inclined...i am begging some prayers (maybe a candle or two also!) for some friends in need.a very good friend of ours just had exploratory surgery & they found her very rare type of cancer has recurred. they immediately began her treatment. she is a wonderful wife & mom to 3, a loving daughter & friend to all. her heart is huge...please keep this special lady, her husband & her 3 children in your prayers! across the blogosphere there are several others who need prayers too...jp wrote about father reggie here.

philip also requests prayers...for his healing & for his pilgrimage.

& finally...a local musician whom we adore is in treatment for cancer too. (i will keep the links for all these wonderful folks in my sidebar under "light a candle.")after all these requests & the accompanying thoughts about the burdens these wonderful folks bear, it is with great joy i also share some good news...last fall renae posted this & over last weekend, she shared this heartwarming update! renae, i am pulling for your daddy everyday oh, yes, & a very happy birthday to you!!

shakespeare made interesting...

boyworld is up to its neck in thee's & thou's, currently reading Richard III & Antony & Cleopatra. they tell me they've had it with all the saucy prating & so i have found something to spice up the literature lessons a bit...mr. coffee klatch (aka scott) offers a plethora of shakespearan insults guaranteed to keep boyworld light of heart in trying literary times. get thee to scott's site for some fresh humor...