I am Listening to: The hum of the baby monitor as David sleeps and the rest is quiet.

I am Grateful for: Sisters...the differences, the struggles, the bonds. For a husband with grand plans that make me laugh but fill me with joy.

I am Pondering: "What hope can we have of being able to rest in other people's homes if we cannot rest in our own?" -St. Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle

I am Thinking: About relationships, planning days, the people of Japan, spring. And this blog...what I want it to be, what is prudent to share, how to write again!

I am Creating: I'm working on knitting the last winter hat for the boys...for John Paul who asked for one that matches Michael's and Papa's. What? There's still snow on the ground outside :) I'm not sure I have enough yard on the skein to finish it, though! This knitting thing is brand new and quite fun, though I have yet to knit anything beyond a hat. I think I've made six so far. Next step may be attempting a sweater.

I am Teaching: I am working on doing better with focusing real time on history. It's not one of my favorite subjects, not due to lack of interest, but more because I feel so inadequate to teach it. I try to comfort myself for my own lack of historical knowledge by declaring that we shall all learn these things together and enjoy that discovery and learning as a family. It's still a struggle, though!

Our other studies are coming along. John Paul with his Latin, math, spelling...Michael with his beginning phonics and figuring out how to write letters and his very own math book that he received for his birthday.

Towards Truth, Beauty, and Goodness: Working on finishing with the last details of painting the living room and dining room. And devoting myself to the Liturgy of the Hours, at least, Morning and Evening Prayers.

Living the Liturgical Year: It was neat to discover that we have exactly 14 steps to our upstairs. I acquired a cardstock set of the Stations of the Cross at a school closing sale a few years ago. Each step now has one station hung next to it and we have been praying them as a family each Friday as we make our way upstairs to bring the boys to bed. Pretty neat.

Around the House: The living area is almost finished with its new coat of "Irish Mist". It's supposed to be a very very light shade of gray. It looks creamier than I had hoped but a thousand times better than the peachy-beige that we inherited when we moved here! So much brighter and cleaner! In yard news, we soon need to begin getting serious with planting our first indoor seeds for the vegetable garden. We're also trying to figure out a way to fence in the majority of our backyard so we can safely let the chickens roam...and keep our yard a bit more private :)

One of my Favorite Things: The fact that my boys have had an awful hard time not using the "A" word during Lent...they love to hum, especially hymns, and one of their favorites is a special one for Easter time that has a lot of that word in it!