10) I stink at Dulingo, so don’t ask me anything in spanish.
9) I am reading a book, it’s slow going.
8) I did submit a piece to two places this week.
7) Exercised several days.
6) Studied some for National Board.
5) went to adoration.
4) Wrote several personal essays, of which two I submitted.
3) Sent a letter, reached out to a friend.
2) Visited with my brothers and sister.
1) I am studying for the Praxis on ESL, test on January 25th.
So progress, not perfection. I am easily overwhelmed by feeling these days, and needed the three days of snow this week as part of my recovery from our trip to Texas and back. By writing about my resolutions over and over again, I will stay focused on making them happen.
So what strategies am I using?
Apps have been my friend, lazyfit, kindle, and duolingo. My notebook keeps me focused. Making a list each day, makes more of it happened. This week we shoveled the walk (4 times). I filled out the FASFA for two children, and financial aid for a third, we started taking down the tree and tomorrow I will plan my daughter’s party. (She’s given me my marching orders). So life is busy, full, good.
Prayer is helping. The other day, I understood, I needed to sit with all the prayers God answers in my life. I haven’t. So I stopped writing this essay to consider the reality. A fellow writer talked about the shattering truth, “God loves me. full stop.” I need to hold onto that truth when the haunting pain of grief threatens to take over.
My husband reminded me that my mother died in Advent, on her birthday, and my father on Ash Wednesday, at the start of Lent. Holy days, intentional days, sacred days we will not forget. I feel surrounded by both love and wisdom, I just need to allow myself to be wrapped in it, and listen.

What are you reading? Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life –thank you Jen.
What are you teaching? –getting ready to work on helping students write an argument based on a speculative fiction book and a non-fiction article addressing the same question.
How are you helping?
Remember when Hurricane Sandy hit, there were streaming phone numbers and directives to everyone every day at every hour how to donate, give blood, or help the victims? Where is that today for the victims of all these fires or any of the other natural disasters we’ve weathered this past year? I did some digging. If you can help, here you go:
Here’s a on the boots article with links that helps.
Catholic Charities to address individuals and family needs.
And prayer, prayer helps. Remember, God is with us in the storm, even if we think He’s sleeping. God is with us, and He hears and answers all our prayers. He longs to be with us, to partake of all we experience, and to bring us to happiness. So pray, pray for those families, hug your own, and consider what you can do to help whosoever you discover in your life who needs help. We must remember, at the end of all things, Jesus will say, “Come and be welcome, for I was thirsty and you gave me to drink,” if we gave to even one of these little ones. We should use this time of struggle, as a call to our own hearts to be generous.
–Have a great week.