That Extra Hour

I am going through 31-days of blogging withdrawal! Each day I find myself wondering what I should blog about only to remember that the challenge is over now that November is here.

November. How do I love thee?  Only when it's this beautiful outside ;-) The clocks fell back an hour over the weekend.  Unlike in years past, I would have squandered that hour staying up late only to regret it the following morning.  No such frivolity this year.  Instead, my life went on as usual which meant I woke up an hour earlier (as if the clock did not change) moving my exercise time from evening to morning. I am happy to say I love this change in rhythm.  I used to be a lover of slow mornings, savoring the quiet before the rest of the household rises.  But this new rhythm is equally satisfying. Our schoolwork is getting done faster, our chores are up to speed and I can even sneak in a nap here and there. There was no impetus nor forethought over this change. As much as I would have loved to sleep in an extra hour I knew my body will not let me anyway so I figured it couldn't hurt to re-do certain things.  Maybe I'm just getting old ;-) 

Another thing that my body won't let me do anymore is drinking copious amounts of caffeine.  It seems that aversion sets in around Fall which is when I usually switch to tea (darjeeling and rooibos being my two favorites).  For this indulgence (yes I think tea is more indulgent) I asked the Baking Girl to knit me a tea pot cozy to keep my brew hotter, longer.  With this request comes a realization that I have entered a stage in life where I do not have to do everything for everybody anymore.  The kids are taking in more responsibilities in running the household and doing things that are normally on my list or my husband's. This allows me more time for personal pursuits like reading, watching movies (Return to Cranford is on the queue), and praying.  

the kids took over the yard work

There is so much to pray for these days.  The Memorare, being my usual intercessory prayer, seems to be on constant loop in my brain.  My Laudate bookmark is beginning to fill with different prayers for different people and intentions.  There's the novena for three friends whose husbands are suffering the ravages of brain cancer, a private beatification novena (Ven. Solanus Casey) for various healing needs among my friends, a couple of perpetual novenas for general intentions, we also picked up praying the St. Gertrude prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory this month. Chances are if you are related to me or you are my friend I am praying for you, if you belong to a forum (homeschool and otherwise) I am a part of, I am praying for you, if no one is praying for you I am praying for you ;-) Please pray for me.

my Fall altar where many petitions are being raised up

For that extra hour, a gift of time I hope not fritter away, I am truly thankful.  I hope you got to sleep in on Sunday morning.