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 :)

Monday ~ Loving a Young Munchkin

My brother-in-law and Mr. Husband got the

futon couch up!

The seat of the couch is 55" in depth so it

is big enough for a smaller child to sleep on for a bed!

We put down soft flannel sheets for bed, lots of pillows

and Bears, Rabbits and an Eeyore! 

The paper, crayons and water colours that I ordered

have been used this afternoon!

Some nice cards have been made!

Cleo is still not sure what to think of new people

but she is doing well.

*

This morning we went to the pool!

*

It's a good time for me... still getting our 

rhythm down for these days but

this morning we did some small prayers and

I am finding this book to be invaluable

in suggestions on how to talk about the God,

including the mystery of the Holy Trinity,

to young children. 

*

I am a bit tired with so much going on,

but the main rhythm of pool in the morning and 

afternoon at home is working well for me.

*

The munchkin I and Mr. Husband are watching

loves St. John like we do!

We are going to bake a cake for St. John's day tomorrow

or the day after, on his day!

We are hoping to find our vegan chocolate chips 

for the cake tonight but we will see!

Either way, it's going to be fun to bake

a cake for St. John with my young 6 year old munchkin

that we are caring for this week and next!

*

Saint John loved children

and I am so glad we have such loving Saint to celebrate! 

And on to the next week...

I am still knitting squares for this blanket.

My next young one I am caring for 

comes tomorrow night - Thursday.

A beloved 6 year old boy!

It will be a good but busy time.

If I don't comment on blogs that you,

the reader, write and I usually do,

then know it is not anything but me being busy.

*

We ordered a new dishwasher today.

Got more things for the house.

Said goodbye to my cute niece and her Dad.

Went to vespers.

*

We are happy for our new home and our life together.

*

Asking prayers for strength and of course God's mercy! 

At home in the city... with our niece!

Niece's very cute puppet theater! 

Mr. Husband's idea to save cardboard for 

this and she has been working on a script :)

Also playing with k'nex. :)

Books I gave the Mother to be at the baby shower.

I am going to be selling them at our church bookstore

and have been reading them here and there for that;

they are great!

And no, I am not expecting for those don't

know me in person but were wondering.

The craft re-shipment finally came today.

They left out one nightlight though,

so I have to call them again....

Part of my secret knitting project.

Another Elizabeth-original simple style. :)

This is my Mexican blanket that I got in 

Mexico when I was 17, so 20 years ago.

It will be a month tomorrow that we moved in.

My brother-in-law did not realize it was so recent

and said that it looked like we'd lived here 6 months already!

I was I admit gratified to hear this,

as I had been working so hard to get the place

ready for him and his lovely daughter to visit! 

So the Mexican blanket is my picnic blanket.

I used to bring it to cemetery day in Ottawa

and have been using it to sit on our front stoop

with L. our 7 year old niece. 

We've had snacks, Popsicles and such things there.

*

She's a happy kid, very smart of course, and sings

songs about things she loves, like I did when I was a kid.

My Mother called my singing 'chanting' and I did it often

when I was a kid...

*

The song today was about our local corner store

which are called bodegas here. 

Our Bodega has bubble gum in the machine,

freezie pops in the freezer,

and things like paper bags for puppets, 

packing tape for theater construction and ketchup :) 

Our days have gone like this:

Out of bed and breakfast about 8 AM.

Prayers.  

Outdoor time (kiddie pool today!)

Snack time

lunch prep and lunch

rest time for 1 hour (my survival hour for things like

a nap (whew kids have a lot of energy!), computer time,

cleaning, etc.

Afternoon activities or cleaning up things

and then activity or reading

snack on stoop

fun

dinner prep

dinner

outside for scooter time 

wash up, prepare bed, read

Bible stories from this Children's Bible

prayers, talking about theological questions

such as the mystery of the Holy Trinity and finally 

bed!

We've used our bar stools a lot already

and we've been having a great time!

*

Please pray for me as we have our next 

wonderful munchkin visiting as of 

this Sunday-Thursday and I want his

visit to also be a wonderful time for him!

We will be enjoying this book and colouring book

together!