a chatty, rambling blogging letter

We're all up.  It's 7:30am. We're still in the pre-daylight savings dark and one child woke up at 5:30am finding that he needed company. 


So, baby is safely contained in the high chair and it seems that I have hands "free" to chat. 


This summer I took a few months to get a certain amount of "control" (what a tenuous word, as soon as you think you have it, the sooner it disappears,) in different areas of my life. 

First was my home, sadly neglected after Xavier was born.  I spent six weeks spending every available moment inching closer towards home organisation.  I read about it, watched shows and surfing blogs to inspire, chatted with my friends about it and found neighborhood Mother's Helpers who were out of school for the summer in order to find moments to accomplish it.

Sandra Felton is my favorite "organization lady."  Her books on cleaning and house organization draw me in.  She not only understands the struggle, she has been studying the psychology behind the struggle.  I always need to know the why behind the problem...though right now I'm pretty sure I found it!  He is sitting in the high chair covered with oatmeal. Hmmmm.  She glossed over that one.  I find that moms have a selective memory when it comes to the "adventure" of young children.  It is the great sucking time warp and once you move out of it, only the nostaligic pieces stick!  Have any of you found the same thing?


The next six weeks I rebuilt my home cafe, (We don't get to eat out often, but that doesn't mean I don't crave great food!)getting creative again, trying new recipes and focusing on nutrition.  Way fun.  Barefoot Contessa's recipes are all over the internet and her Cheese blintzes with blueberry sauce were simply divine.  Everyone agreed, even baby, who happily gazed up in a dreamy marscopone haze.  Yup, honey.  God has given us cheese and it is good. 
Then, in August, we delved right into the world of homeschooling...while Andrew started a side business in web design, (along with mobile webdesign, e-stores and social marketing) and honestly, I have taken on more administration and teaching than I should have at church.  Then, with baby waking up as soon as he hears me and going to sleep close to 9:30 each night, I fell into bed exhausted and uninspired to blog.  Hmmm.  Now I sound like I'm complaining and making excuses...

But, I miss you all as well as blogging so  that on my day off I have been writing post drafts and have lots to share.  You have been on my mind even while absent! 

I'm thinking through a change in blog title like Anglicanpriestmom...or something like that.  And, in the future, I plan on doing some book reviews and bringing more strong women mentors to the table.  Look for the first in the next few days.

Meantime, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." 

His peace be on your home and all who dwell in it,
Summer Joy

Homeschooling...and shocking, I know... it's fun!

The summer is nearly over and I can definitely say that I am back...in more ways than one. 

We're homeschooling...a decision that I agonized over for the last few years.  My mothering stress level was crazy high and neither Andrew or I could have anticipated what has just occurred. 

I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING!  Who knew?  We've been "practicing" for the last month so that I could make an informed decision and have settled into a blend of Charlotte Mason and Classical for now.  Caedmon is an older Kindergartener and loves learning and Madeline has a mind that memorizes everything around her.  She soaks up knowledge without trying.  Caedmon and I were doing a few flashcards on question  sight words and Madeline was barely paying attention though every once in a while she would look up, barely emotionally engaged and in a monotone, say the right word (which had been shuffled, I promise.)

Right now our curriculum is using Living Books Charlotte Mason style and doing our other learning activities surrounding them.  Caedmon told his friend yesterday that he wasn't interested in going to school where you had to sit behind a desk and do worksheets all day.  "Yup," his friend said, "that's pretty much what we do."  You should see the tee pee in our backyard. 

I love my job.  No longer do I watch Andrew go out the door and secretly wish I had a "day off" to be a priest.  Passionate mothering is no longer a catch word to aspire to, but  (major prayer answered!) a reality.  I have always adored my children, but for the first time, I have major amounts of joy surrounding the work God has called me to.  I even started getting all domestic, baking and stuff.  No more Little Ceasar's crappy pizza.  Hello Barefoot Contessa's honey and kosher salt infused pizza dough. 

Homeschooling seems to order our day and builds quality time right into our schedule.  The bonding the kids and I are doing is deeper (Madeline even started wanting cuddle time in the morning) and even Andrew is getting involved reading "The Sign of the Beaver," before bed.  (We're doing all things American Indians from the late 1800's right now because that's where Caed's interest was already.) 

Personally, I love the creativity involved.  I've always been a learner and a researcher and spending time figuring out how to form feast-laying curriculum is fascinating.  The other night, I spent an hour of my after-bedtime free time figuring out how to make Madeline Sacajawea paper dolls!  Mothering has become my new guilty pleasure.  

I am rejoicing right now as this all has been extremely surprising and frankly, I am drinking insane amounts of orange green tea which steeps in the fridge at all times and is probably adding to the happy buzz.   Thank you, God and thank you, Lipton.