Many beautiful and happy things ~ Feast day, Mr. Husband's ordination and Time with Family

We got word this week that

Mr. Husband would be ordained as a 

subdeacon on Friday,

our Churches' Feast day!

*

St. Elizabeth the New Martyr

Mr. Husband was ordained from being a 

Reader to a Subdeacon! 

It was so deeply beautiful!

Three years ago I found out that 

the then unknown Reader who I married 

a year-plus-1.5 months later,

was willing to email me and our new 

life had it's beginning through emailed letters...

now we are married and he became a subdeacon 

on this wonderful feast day to St. Elizabeth!

It was so wonderful that it happened that Mr. Husband's 

parents were already planning on coming!

After the Feast Day we all went to Princeton to enjoy

a nice afternoon and early evening together.

Mr. Husband and I's first real date day in New Jersey was

at Princeton and it was really special to go back

with Mr. Husband's parents.

The above picture Mr. Husband when we were dating

said would be perfect for knights jousting

and I said would be prefect for a formal beautiful ball. :)

*

We then went to the chapel...

We saw the beautiful large chapel at Princeton again;

this chapel was one of the last beautiful things my

Oma ever saw in pictures as we were visiting her

and I told her about the future Mr. Husband and I's

time in New Jersey and showed her the pictures of Princeton

and esp. the chapel. She just loved all that stain glass.

She fell that night, breaking her hip and passed away 

Sunday morning, on the Feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God

into the temple.

*

It was so very special to be in this chapel those years later,

with Mr. Husband made a subdeacon that morning

and showing the chapel to his parents, the chapel that Mr. Husband and I looked at together when we were dating and loved so much.

The chapel that my Oma loved and she told me that

everyone wants a little happiness and that she was so glad 

that I was dating the not-yet-Mr. Husband.

We knew that my Oma knew we would marry and it was 

a comfort that I got to see her and show her pictures of 

my then beloved boyfriend.

That Mr. Husband as Mr. boyfriend/Orthoman as I called him 

on my blog went to her funeral with me and my family

was a deeply meaningful act of love 

that he showed to me and 

my family.

*

And so here we are, with family... :)... 

I am now, as a woman who is now a Deacon's wife,

which in the Russian tradition makes her a Matuska,

when her husband became a subdeacon, (the level before Deacon) 

she called herself a subtuska, 

and so I am now (this is a joke of course)

Subtuska Elizabeth ;)

*

So tomorrow DV is church and our house is being

blessed while my parents-in-law are still here.

My father-in law is making us a beautiful pantry.

More on that DV next week.

We are preparing the house and the food

for the dinner we will make after

the house blessing.

*

It's a special time for us and one 

that we are most grateful for! 

Busy with many beautiful and good things

Seems like a long time ago,

July 4th.

We saw fireworks from our large 

living room windows... 

I had such a hard time keeping my lampadas

lit when the Munchkin was here.

It was often impossible; 

between the busy schedule,

that our routines here in general are different

and with a beloved Munchkin very different...

We did light lots of candles though... 

We still need a plumber to come.

No cold water in bathtub.

I use the bucket for cold water.

Not a big deal.

We have hooks in our bathroom for things now.

IKEA.

I hung some pictures today in our hallway.

My Dad made this frame

and I just love it.

Picture is by Whistler of a time

that was more beautiful, esp. in dress.

Cleo totally got sick on these in the night.

Right before my in-laws were coming.

*

So Google to the rescue.

I found this post

and this video from it:

and it worked! 

The chair covers, as you can see above, are as good as new.

I am still trying to clean my old chair covers

that have years of stains.

They are much better but the deep stains are still there.

Am open to suggestions... 

Our new as of yesterday dishwasher.

The installer took the old one out as if it were a small box!

Just carried it down the stairs like it was nothing!

So... it did not clean perfectly (some muddy water)

 but I am wondering if I stopped it

before it was done.

Have to read that manual.

Mostly it cleaned first rate...

I told my Mom I declared war on my dining room table.

She had me clarify:

it was war on all the CLUTTER on the table.

I can't wait till we have a proper office and place to put papers.

This is a continual source of frustration for me:

papers, clutter everywhere.

I can understand why Aunt E. at my Bible camp years ago 

when I worked there and pre-Orthodox years,

said that she threatened to make each table surface diagonal in her home

so that no one could put things on it!

She also had a sign on her desk:

a clean desk is a sign of a sick mind ;)

*

At least we are sane around here...

*

So it was storming like crazy earlier - 

emailed Mr. Husband this picture in the early afternoon... 

flash flooding happens quickly here and the rain

was so heavy it was like hail in appearance...

Thankfully the roads are dry now...

I do hope my in-laws come safely here...

*

DV we have both our church feast towards the weekend

and on Sunday our house blessing...

so it's going to be a super busy rest of the week,

with my in-laws here helping us with the house

and preparing food for both events.

Prayers of course welcomed!

*

Don't worry if I don't post much in the next days,

it's just going to be a busy but good time!

God bless and keep us all!

Lord have mercy on us!

Pondering many things...

No picture to show,

it is late, insomnia won a small round.

*

I have many thoughts about my three weeks of 

Intense-Aunting as a dear friend 

called it.

*

Tomorrow is the Munchkin's last day

for now at least and

I am going to miss him!

*

He has grown so much in these two weeks...

He's not afraid of the pool, 

wants to do more everyday of new things

in the pool and wants more swimming lessons.

*

He understands more about the Saints and

reminds me so much of myself as a child;

happy, singing songs throughout the day;

many of his songs have been filled with

the Bible stories I have been reading him

or the Saints.

He is very moved by icons that are in his room

and I just pray that this love can grow

and take a deep root in him...

*

I have so many thoughts about all my dear

friends who are mothers and how their lives are.

I am continually amazed at this book.

*

I am so glad that DV my parent-in-laws are coming;

I have plans to rest but also to do many projects

that need doing...

some of which can be done at the computer,

which is restful... it's been a busy time

but a really joyful time;

I have always loved taking care of kids about age

6-12 or so...the age I did best at the camp

I worked at for 6 years in my late teens and early 20's.

*

I know that this time, this summer, is special.

I am old enough to know that sometimes God gives us a time,

whether a day, a week, a month or sometimes a summer,

where things are peaceful; my time since

the closing on the condo has been really lovely;

exhausting in ways of course, unpacking is that,

but I know this time to be a gift.

*

I also know that sometimes we are given such gifts

before sadness or a time of trial. 

I don't know the future and don't need to worry,

i.e. I need to just try to focus on Christ...

and accept that it will not always be so 'easy' as it were.

*

For now, 

I am just grateful for what I have been given.

I know I am going to miss my Munchkin

around these parts!

On onto a peaceful Tuesday

Yesterday's cake for St. Elizabeth!

The Munchkin beat me at the game Trouble!

*

Last night we ate the cake for my name's day!

Munchkin before bed had a 

plastic packing material in his hand 

and he was 'blessing' the icons and his 'Saint Book'...

It was so cute! 

*

Today after breakfast and morning prayers

(He says Lord have mercy and the Our Father after me;

I do not worry about him moving about during prayers

as I can tell he is listening and he shows me often

by his talk that he is taking it in)

we were tired so we took naps;

he's all tuckered out so our pool time is a bit delayed

but I am sure he needs the sleep!

*

Uncle Mr. Husband is Mr.-Husband-a-soras and now

the Munchkin says he is Munchkin-a-soras

and can eat the Mr.-Husband-a-soras :)

*

D.V. my parents-in-law come next week to visit

and help us with more of the house.
We are really excited about their visit! 

A Sunny Monday ~ Splash Pad Fun!

The Munchkin and I had such a fun morning!

Pool and then splash pad!

*

I was not able to go to liturgy for St. John,

St. Elizabeth and St. Zachariah;

I have the Munchkin, Mr. Husband could not get the

day off and there is not an old calendar church near by;

I have not driven since 2004 so we are just having a nice day at home...

*

Today is when I always celebrated my name's day...

so we will make a cake!

*

I am a bit weary and do ask your prayers.

*

God is so good to us!

Week in Recap, Many Blessings!

We had our beloved munchkin 

4 days this week.

*

It was really fun!

Sometimes, since he is only a newly 6 year old,

he got a bit homesick but overall he was very

happy and had tons of fun!

*

On St. John's day 

the Munchkin and I made a cake

for this special day!

Munchkin poured in all the

dry ingredients :)

Aunt Elizabeth poured the

chocolate chips on top;

these made the Munchkin very

excited indeed :)

We had a really lovely dinner

with Munchkin and gave him

a little book on St. John as well...

*

Our days ended up being like this:

7 AM up for breakfast ~ first thing we had

was a little Holy Water and Prosphora! 

Munchkin had two crepes

with strawberry jam (that my Mom made and

brought with her when they were here).

We would pray and light a candle before eating.

He always got to choose who we would ask prayers for;

sometimes St. Nicholas or the Mother of God or 

our Lord Jesus Christ who all the prayers are

ultimately going to of course

and later in the week, St. George and then St. John :)

Then we would kiss the icon of the Lord or of the Saint 

and eat.

Then play time.

NAP for Aunt Elizabeth and then 

prayers together and getting ready for swimming.

10-12 SWIM!

He did so well! He ended up going in the 'big pool' as well

as the fun kiddie pool and is more

confident in his life jacket in water where he can't touch.

I am so proud of him!

He says that swimming is one of his new sports now :)

HOME again at Noon and then a snack.

Fun bath time while I made lunch.

Then quiet time from 1-2 or so.

Then play, math games, listening to stories,

doing crafts, playing with legos, and on

St. John's day we read this book on St. John 

while sitting on my bed.

I had some sweet tasting vigil bread that we had

special on St. John's day together

before we read about him.

(btw, these books, the St. John book being one of them,

are absolutely wonderful for kids and great

read alouds! I am so impressed with the content in

words and drawings!)

More playing.

When Uncle Mr. Husband was at work

he would call when he was near home

and we would race out to 

blow bubbles at Uncle Mr. Husband

as he came up the stoop stairs!

Then dinner.

Talking with Mom on gmail-skype...

Play, clean up, read Bible stories

and Uncle Mr. Husband would read the 

Gospel reading of the day and I the Epistle. 

Then some more stories or theological talks

and then prayers before bed and bed.

We would start again about 7 AM the next day!

*

Before bed I would read a few more pages of 

Conversations with Children

and was really encouraged and gently instructed by

this book.

I really can't recommend it enough!

*

God-willing the Munchkin comes again this coming week 

and we will have a lot more fun!

*

I do not have as much time for blogging or

blog reading as I want to make this Munchkin's time

with us as special as possible;

I am really happy to see that at this age

children are so incredibly open to God, the Saints, to miracles.

I am trying to do one new Saint a day

(I have been collecting Orthodox children's books 

since I got married with the hope of one day kids

visiting us like we have now)

and we do prayers throughout the day when we 

also light a new candle. 

*

I love being a 'Church and Family Auntie' 

and having kids over, where they can

have fun with games, the pool and also have

times where we do small prayers or read about a new Saint.

*

I am slowly doing more orders for our church bookstore also

and this book, a simple one on the Holy Liturgy,

has proved very popular. 

*

The pool down the street has been wonderful!

I am at the pool every morning during the week now,

with the kids or if no kids at home, by myself or Mr. Husband

or neighbours who are dear friends! 

*

I thank God for this special time.

Monday and Tuesday

Yesterday I realized that a calendar

would help my young munchkin understand

how many days he would be with us this week.

I made a box for each day and fill in 

what we did each day towards the end of the day.

You can see that Monday was full of fun! :)

I read my munchkin this wonderful book

on St. Herman...  

He loved it... I explained that St. Herman is 

a "Daddy-Saint" and now an icon of St. Herman 

is in 'his bedroom' :)

By God's mercy I emptied all the boxes 

from the pantry onto this plastic 

temporary-will-go-in-the-garage-later shelf.

*

Mr. Husband and the munchkin are

bringing boxes down to the garage

as I type!

When Mr. Husband comes home

we sit on the stoop on a picnic blanket

and blow bubbles at him!

By lunch the Munchkin is asking

"When is Uncle Mr. Husband coming home?" :)

*

Today we read about St. George from this book

and colouring book. 

*

We also listened to stories from the pond

and from Readings from Under the Grapevine while

I did dishes and Munchkin made cards :)