the present moment // brother sun

Currently: The boys are having some snack time while I clickity clack away. They rested well, Thanks be to God, and are enjoying snacking with a side of Leapfrog drawing time.

Reading: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein, Courageous Women: A Study on  the Heroines of Biblical History by Stacy Mitch, The Snakebite Letters: Devishly Devious Secrets for Subverting Society as Taught in Tempter's Training School by Peter Kreeft, Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence by Father J.P. de Caussade, and all the books the boys bring me. Probably more of their books than mine, really.

Praying: 

Praying for all intentions that have recently been shared with me.

Praying for my husband's Aunt who went into surgery just a little bit ago. If you could please join me in praying for her too. She went into the hospital earlier this week for severe abdominal pain only to find a cancerous mass on her colon. Surgery was supposed to begin somewhere between 2 and 3 PM today. Please pray for her, all doctors and staff that will be participating in her surgery and aftercare, and all her loved ones.

Joining Mary for the St. Joseph Novena that starts today for my husband, sons, and other men in my life, as well as priests and other women's intentions for this novena.

Praying in Thanksgiving that our boys are on the mend. There's a little cough that is lingering and some snot but other than that they are healthy! Thanks be to God.

Praying for some dear friends of mine that have either entered a very trying season recently are have been enduring a trying season for awhile. Praying for all transitions and praying for healing and strength and peace.

Praying for all pregnant mamas and mamas suffering with infertility and/or miscarriages.

Lots of praying over here lately.

Thankful: I'm sooooo thankful we should be getting sunshine more consistently starting tomorrow! Oh, how I've missed consistently warmer days.

Thankful that my husband watches the boys so I can attend a woman's bible study at my parish. It really has been a gift to be able to anticipate meeting with these lovely women over scripture every week.

Also thankful my husband encouraged me to meet up with a friend I haven't seen since before she had her baby. Some friends just feel like home and she is definitely one of those friends. We've been in each others' lives for over 13 years. It's beautiful the love we have for each other and I'm forever grateful.

Thankful for all the women in my life that help and encourage me in my vocation. They are all such good examples and beautiful souls that nourish me and encourage me in so many ways!

Thankful for our little family. These boys of ours are growing so quickly! I love them so and am grateful for their goodness.

Lent: This Lenten season is going. I feel with sick kids time has flown and my offerings have skidded a little here and there as well. Trying to buckle down though. Now is the time. It's always now. I keep reminding myself that time has not been lost because it is always time to begin again.

"Prayer, mercy and fasting: These three are one, and they give life to each other. Fasting is the soul of prayer; mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. 

So if you pray, fast; if fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give."

-St. Peter Chrysologus

Scripture Art: When I find myself in need of peace or calm this has been my new go-to. This is probably the reason I haven't been here on the blog as much lately. At the end of our days, I've just been feeling so tired.

Our boys haven't been sleeping well since they have all the snot and a tricky cough at night and my sinuses have been getting the best of me as well. All of it combined has left me exhausted at the end of day, both mentally, physically, and emotionally.

These times of emptiness have led me to these little drawings of prayer and quiet.

Capturing: Our Kiwi Crate came in! And it was sports-themed to-boot! Seeing the boys love all things sports, this crate has really come with hours of entertainment.

Things are starting to fall into rhythm again. I think once we consistently get more sunshine, our days will take a turn for all the fun outside. As much as I love the slower pace of winter and cold weather, I adore days of sunshine, running, and just being outside.

After all this talk of sunshine, both on my blog and in my home throughout the day, I imagine St. Francis of Assisi and I would have been good friends.

Canticle of Brother Sun by St. Francis of Assisi

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, 

Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, 

and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, 

and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, 

especially through my lord Brother Sun, 

who brings the day; and you give light through him. 

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! 

Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praise be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon 

and the stars, in heaven you formed them 

clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, 

and through the air, cloudy and serene, 

and every kind of weather through which 

You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, 

which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, 

through whom you light the night and he is beautiful 

and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, 

who sustains us and governs us and who produces 

varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord, 

through those who give pardon for Your love, 

and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace 

for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord, 

through our Sister Bodily Death, 

from whom no living man can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin. 

Blessed are those whom death will 

find in Your most holy willl, 

for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord, 

and give Him thanks 

and serve Him with great humility.

AMEN

Linking-up with Jenny for a Daybook Aimee for Finding Beauty.