My Internet History, move over Al Gore!

My old blog had 726 entries dating back from 2006.  So far only 24 has made it to this new blog. I haven't finished publishing the rest of them and I'm thinking I might not bother.  Those files are safely tucked away so there's no fear of losing them.  Truth be told, some of those entries no longer apply to my state of life and maturity (or the absence of!)

My first foray on the internet goes as far back as 1996.  It seems back then there were only two important websites, AOL and MSN.  One of which was responsible for my marriage (of course, most of you know that already)

I have been blogging since 2001, prior to the birth of my first-born when blogging wasn't even a word! Back then we scanned paper photos into a file to upload it to the website.  It was more work than it is now as you also need to have a bit of HTML knowledge to format your site. My information technology credential was certainly helpful. 

The first time somebody called my website a blog made me feel weird.  Back then there were "legitimate" blogs and I never thought or wrote mine to be one.  It was more like a web photo album with a dose of pontificating (which I still do! ha!)  In my mind to become a legitimate blogger you had to have a compelling opinion or a unique idea.  With the proliferation of blogs nowadays, that "romantic" idea certainly no longer applies.  And I don't say that in disdain, I'm just reminiscing.

I've always been a voracious consumer of technology.  Back in the day, I would be labeled as a power-user.  Today, that no longer applies to me in a strict sense since the fanciest piece of technology I own is a faux-smart phone that is, at least, 3 years behind the current standards.  Faux-smart because it is a touch-screen but still works on Java technology. Yay me!  

My technical skills are rusty at best but I'm still able to troubleshoot most computer problems in our house.  And if I can't?  Well, there's Google or YouTube for that!  

I feel so old as I reminisce about the "old days".  The new crop of gadgets that are coming up every year is dizzying.  As much as I covet so many of  these things, the reality of a household budget with no room for frills brings me back down to earth. 

I wonder what the world of technology has in store for the future, my children's future.  I can only hope that whatever it is they will be found with virtues (of detachment and temperance) in its midst.

A New Home

Hurray! I did it!  I finally figured out how to move my blog posts from the old web host to Blogger.  For those of you who have followed my old blog for years, you will wonder why the name change.  Well, if you look carefully, the name of this blog is a play on my last name.  Believe you me, it took a long time for me to come up with a blog name that's not already being used. 

I need to work on some of the kinks with this transfer (like old albums not posting properly!) so bear with me.  In the meantime, I'm excited to be on Blogger and hang out with my real and on-line blogging friends.

A New Beginning Almanac

Outside my window...the sun is refusing to come out.  The maple tree on my neighbor's yard is beginning to turn colors.  Autumn is in the air.

I am thinking...about how much I miss my mom.  It's her birthday today and I can't stop crying. 
I am thankful for...each day, grace-filled in the midst of life's chaotic pace.  Faith-filled women in my life.  I am very privileged to have these influences, models of wisdom and virtue to draw strength from.  

I am excited about...going back to school!  We thrive on routine over here and with four children to be schooled it will be a fun  (ahem, crazy!) year.
I am wearing...a black skirt and my papist shirt.  It has the Vatican crest with the four marks (one, holy, catholic, apostolic) written on the bottom. 

I am creating...well, I am almost finished creating lesson plans. My Fall to-do list is also finished and in fact some of it has check marks beside it already.  Yippee!!!

I am going...to hopefully spend some fun time with hubby and kids this afternoon when they get back from helping our church festival's tear-down.

I am reading... just finished O Pioneers by Willa Cather.  I have yet to recover from that book.  I loved it but it's very emotionally draining.  Cookbooks might be the antidote to that draining feeling hahaha
 On my mind... a fear of getting old.  Don't laugh!  As someone who brags about not fearing old age, I actually woke up yesterday dreading it.  Thank you Willa Cather! I need to stop reading these pioneer-era books.  I dread getting old alone and lonely in a withering body. Yes, this feeling will probably go away in a couple of days.

From the learning rooms...after days of laboring on lesson plans, let's not talk about learning until next week.
From the kitchen...tidy, which means nothing's been cooked and nothing's been planned. Hey, it's the holiday weekend, I am entitled to give my kitchen a holiday!

Around the house...the usual (dis) order.  We've pretty much mastered our routine of messing up and picking up so it no longer drives me insane. I'm no longer a slave to the chores, my children are!

One of my favorite things...prayer, especially form-prayer (Lectio Divina or the Office). The absence of ego in form-prayer is freeing. 

A few plans for the rest of the week... a 5th birthday tomorrow as we go back to school, a playdate at the end of the week and then a visit from niece who is flying in from Texas.

Ready for my close-up....too lazy to look for my cellphone with tons of pictures in it.  Maybe next week.

for more daybooks/almanacs go visit http://www.suscipio4women.com/

Praise To Foil The Enemy

As I was sleepily praying today's Little Office, this particular line from Psalm 8 struck at my heart like a flaming arrow: " Your majesty is praised above the heavens; on the lips of children and of babes you have found praise to foil your enemy, to silence the foe and the rebel." 
I wanted to move on and keep praying but my heart and mind was stuck in that glorious veil of understanding.  Why this passage spoke clearly to me today and not before is a story for another time.

It has been such a rough year for so many of us.  I have heard your stories, I have cried with you on the phone, I have cried after we've talked on the phone.  All the prayer requests laden with fear, anxiety, doubts about the future or doubt about the presence (or goodness) of God Himself.  So many who carry a yoke that chafes and crushes what mustard-sized faith there is left.

I have been there, many times, more than I would care to discuss.  And this passage, praise to foil the enemy, it resonates with me, now more than at anytime. Not too long ago, I have lamented the ability to praise when times are rough.  It's hard to count your blessings when it seems you have given all. The widow's mite is your story, your woes make Job's life seem like a cake walk.

And yet time and time again Scripture reminds - "rejoice always, pray unceasingly.  In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."  It cannot be more plain (and more ambitious!) than that.  The balm of praise, thanksgiving and praying seems simple but there is a sting to the application.  Our will protests until protesting in itself becomes tiresome.

Even in the simplest of things the foe and the rebel (Satan and his minions) gets us.  He wears down our resolve in front of the mounting laundry, the never-ending to-do lists,  the misbehaving children, the Joneses next door who seem to have it all together. 

This life is hard. The older I get the more I understand that truth.  It is hard but not completely void of goodness. There is promise in those words...PRAISE to foil the enemy. 

Praise focuses our minds away from the self-loathing and pity.  With heaven in sight, the theological virtue of hope waters that mustard seed of faith.  And with faith, the ability to love once again, to recognize the face of God in the midst of the storms of life.  Praise also refreshes our memories of those who have gone this way before us.  Paul and Silas in jail, Daniel in the lion's den, the many martyrs and saints who have died singing and praising.  Our white martyrdom should be no different, it should also be soaked in praise.

My prayer is to always be found with virtue no matter what challenges this life may bring.  Today I am adding praise to help boost virtue in silencing the enemy.