Recap of an usual week...

I knew this week I would need a lot of quiet.

I don't know how Moms do it, but I can see why this

article would apply.

After two months in Lent of buying our new home,

in which my husband refers to a few people involved as crazy...

(I still remember the night hours after the close when I realized

how very stressful it had all been)

and then the packing of our old home, 

at least 2/3 done by myself and then unpacking, again at least 2/3 by myself,

with the very real, true and stalworth help of my parents in the move

and preparing the house to be move-in ready,

then 3 weeks about of 24x7 kid-loving (and I did love it)

and then almost 2 weeks of again most needed, good and heartening help

from my parents-in-laws, a time that I treasure,

{esp. remembering my Dad in law's reading of the Book of Acts

that they were reading out loud after a somewhat late breakfast,

how alive it was and how well he understood the story and how to read it};

after all that socialization, plus dinner parties, house blessing

and all the whirl of blessings of the last months,

I would need at least two days of solitude, which thankfully 

Mr. Husband can be with me in without taking away deeply of the solitude.

*

Well, I got it.

The solitude.

Mr. Husband had a crazy 12 hour or so day on Monday,

a later but not as late day on Tuesday

and a quiet but intense work day Wednesday.

And by Monday night I was feeling ill

and by Wednesday feeling mostly better.

So my solitude was inwardly and outwardly imposed

and through it all I've had church hymns mainly playing in my mind

and the silence has been delightful.
And in the midst of it all,
I was able to go out with Mr. Husband on a daily walk or two... 

*

Kathleen Norris wrote of a child saying to effect of

silence is what allows one's soul to catch up with oneself.

*

I am still missing Kathleen Norris, as in a new book by her.

I do wonder if she will write another....

*

This link took me to two new blogs of artists

and I am feeling more and more the need for quiet

and some reading time.

*

Meanwhile our futon apparently is not hinged properly in assembly

and as of Wednesday does not want to stay upright.

My lovely peaceful quiet chapel. Sigh.
I blame myself, as I had wanted Mr. Husband to move it
according to my sense of space for the room...

*

That chapel I can say is the quiet centre of this home.

I am re-reading Gentian Hill as I mentioned earlier in this blog

and Elizabeth Goudge is good at naming homes
and what is in them.

The chapel-library, when it is not as a guestroom,
is my space of quiet,

the circle of quiet that so beautiful titles
Madeleine L'Engle's book.

*

We are working slowly on getting some new icons for the chapel;

will take most possibly a year or so as they 

are not yet made and are being made overseas.

*

I am endeavouring to start a new thing:

Sunday School at my church.

I love the children there.

We are a small parish and there is currently no Sunday School.

So I volunteered.

This means I need two things from any of you who want to offer them:

1. PRAYER. Please. You can't imagine. I do have a partial

personal awareness of my inward poverty and yet have

the idea of volunteering to teaching children in church.

It's a very serious thing and while on one hand I can be very well with children

and children tend to love me and know that I love them

but to teach.

Anyway, prayer please anyone and everyone.

2. Experiences in this nature.Please share. 
Comment, email, FB snail mail if you have it

whatever and what-have-you.

I hesitate to ask for ideas rather than experiences just as
my sense is that there is a lot of choice in how to do things
and I know I have to teach what I am able to
and in a way/manner/format that will work for me.
But your stories and what worked for you are very welcome.
I am going to a half day conference on this,
am reaching out to the people in my life who I know best
who have done Sunday School and am reading as I am able...

*

Sister Magdalen's book continues to be of help;

I hope to order her other book soon...

One of the helps of this book is also 

that she admits that she, to which I take to mean, 

all of us, do not do everything perfectly as we wish or mean to...

*

One thing I know:

I wish for a lot of time to prepare but August is looking like a lot of

family and friend visits and not as much time

as I would like.

Perhaps this is good as it is true of real life.
But I also trust that God will give me the time, information, people,
and things needed for this task.
And I must trust Him for mercy as I think
of the Bible verse about those who teach others
are more heavily judged.
*
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me!

going back to Ottawa

 

Flying back tomorrow early morning.
So many special things done -
times with my Mom, family bridal shower for me,
time with Orthoman's family,
time with Orthoman
and now I go back to Ottawa...
*
I have to be packed up by Thursday morning.
Have a professional helping me
with the breakables on Tuesday;
Wednesday is the last day to be packed;
would appreciate prayer that I have the
strength and the clarity of mind needed.
*
Packing and moving is never easy.
I thank God for His mercy in giving me
a special time at home right before this.

A Beautiful Sunday in late October

We celebrated my dear friend's birthday

again today after the liturgy

at our church potluck meal.

We sang Happy Birthday in both

English and Romanian!

(My Birthday friend being Romanian).

Such a joy to see her be so loved.

After the meal we all walked to her place

and continued our conversations over

tea and snacks.

We saw this bike on our way.

After a week of grey rain,

it ended up being a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

*

I have had a great weekend,

full of friends, prayer, lovely meals and laughter.

It could not of been better.

*

Tomorrow starts the next small chapter in my life.

Reorienting myself to the job search

and making a schedule for myself.

*

Losing a job is like a small death.

And I have been busy with many supportive loving people

just like people have after a death, or that they should have at

any rate, when faced with great loss.

Now I have to begin reorienting myself to my

new after 2 months at the job

life of now looking for a job again.

*

I am so blessed by the people in my life

including all of you

and the prayers of many are holding me up.

*

I thank God for every one of you!

God is so merciful to me.

Whirlwind of a Weekend

One of my best friends came to town to visit

me and another friend;

we're all Orthodox and met in University

a good 8 years or more ago

and it was so good to be with both of them

together...

Had dinner for my friend and some other friends

from church

for the Feast of the Transfiguration

this past Friday.

Fresh Salmon with lemon and onion

a Basmati and a black mahogany rice in separate bowls

grapes from the feast

salad

pickled red peppers

an amazing vegan chocolate truffle like dessert

with cherries

and some Turkish Delight.

A nice white wine

and lemon water...

It was a lovely time.

*

This week will be very full

with finishing up my contract

and doing errands.

*

Am hoping to go to the Greek monastery this Saturday

if it works out with my friend.

*

Dormition on Sunday

and I start my new job next Monday,

right after Dormition...

*

So that's what's new with me,

what's new with you?