Miss Me?

My computer was infected with a nasty virus, and K’s husband came to the rescue but it took several days to get the old Thinkpad back in order.  I have had email access through my iPhone and (slow) web browsing, so I have been keeping up, but I have been unable to blog or comment much for a few weeks.  The good news is, I’m back, but I have so many wannabe posts stored up in my mind that you will have to bear with me for a list, I will try hard to be brief.

1.  Be prepared.  I realized that I am super dependent on my computer and that I do not back up my files often.  This includes lots of family photos and all of my writing, my kids school work, etc.  I need to stop slacking and just do this every week or so.  Also, the power went out at our mountain house and one of our cars was low on gas.  My brother needed to go back to the city (where there was power, so he could work), but he wasn’t sure if his car could make it to a working gas station.  An old adage warns to never have less than a quarter of a tank, I am going to try to live by that one.

2.  Thank God for friends.  Several times in the past few weeks my friends have swooped in to pick up the pieces, especially with this computer thing.  God is good to me in my talented and generous friends!

3.  Christmas is over.  Please, people, take down your wreaths.  I say this in humility, as I took in my wreaths on February 2nd along with the PUMPKINS that sat on our porch, celebrating fall throughout the Holiday season.  There are still way too many wreaths up in my neighborhood, so please look around your house — is there some forgotten Christmas that needs putting away?

4.  The “Wednesday presents” plan worked like a charm.  We had lots of fun opening one new toy/game/book a week, and we have done almost everything in the pile.  This is going to be how I deal with all gifts in the future.

5.  Even so, there is an awful lot of junk floating around my house.  I don’t think I quite have it in me to do 40 bags in 40 days for Lent, but a big spring clean is coming, so watch out old sand art bottles and cheap circus stuffed animals!

6.  Speaking of Lent, are you speaking of Lent in your house yet?  It is time to start praying and talking about what you might do, individually and as a family, for Lent this year, because Ash Wednesday will sneak up on you, even though it comes so late this year.  They say that Christ was 33 when He gave His all on Good Friday.  How old are you?  How much of your life have you given over to the Father?  I am 32, so this is going to be my meditation this Lent.

7. Speaking of giving your life, let’s take a moment to thank God for our Priests, and pray for them!  Last Saturday night the pastor of our mountain parish fell ill.  A deacon was present and there were consecrated hosts in the tabernacle, so we were able to have a priestless communion service, but all I could think was no priests, no mass.  This is serious stuff.  Please pray particularly for the speedy recovery of this dear, humble servant of God.

8. Wrapping up, I just also need to give a huge praise for the END OF FEBRUARY!  I do think that this is a hard month in the life of a family, short as it is, dreary and lonely, often exhausting.  Here comes the sun!