Gladys is six today. She seems far too complicated a person to be only six. There will be a little surprise Tea for her today to which her “best” friend (this friend is significantly older than her, a person who would likely by you be identified as a Young Lady and who, possibly, has other closer friends nearer her age although Gladys will not countenance this possibility) and other very favorite friend and, sob, all her sisters, have been invited.... Read more
This autumn is all about the light. I was driving along on Saturday, back and forth across town, back and forth, back and forth, relentlessly evaluating the relative intensity and beauty of this season’s Fall Foliage, as is my want, and fretting in my regular way. Every year it seems to me that the year before must have been more glorious. Every year I cast my eye back and try to precisely remember the shade of each tree, as if... Read more
I’ve just come to the end of David’s life in my ordinary way of morning bible reading, which is to listen to it as I wrestle back sleep and try to cope with the reality that morning is truly upon me. This usually occurs with Fatty Lumpkin present, shouting and writhing around. Last week she was lying on top of me and she sat up and then flung her full weight back and landed on my lip causing me to... Read more
I always love a birthday where the presents, no matter who is receiving them, are things I really need. Why do things have to break so quickly in this modern and disposable age. We have to buy a new non stick egg frying pan every eighteen months because the handles always fall off them. Always. And of course, we break wine glasses as though we are drunken college fraternity children. Except, I don’t remember drinking wine out of nice glasses... Read more
Our big tree out front is not as glorious as it was last year. It seems to be settling in for yellows and browns with only hints of orange and red. When I sit at my desk in the sun school room I can look through the open front door at the light filtering through and feel like maybe there is a god (just kidding, I know there’s a god. Sorry God.) But I couldn’t get a picture that really... Read more
Here’s me enjoying a little early morning Government Shutdown. Ah, the sweet smell of the fall air, the quiet of children clattering in the kitchen, the comforting knowledge that for a few sweet bright minutes our wretched government isn’t making our lives any more of a difficult mess. That mess I can provide for myself, beating back the incompetent barbarian children at my gate. And on that note, I’m going to go provide these same children with a nice morning... Read more
Because my parents have been safely in Croatia wandering around Diocletian’s palace: For Split is Diocletian’s palace: the palace he built himself in 305, when, after twenty years of imperial office, he abdicated. The town has spread beyond the palace walls, but the core of it still lies within the palace gates. Diocletian built it to be within suburban reach of the Roman town of Salonae, which lies near by on the gentle slopes between the mountains and the costal... Read more
Too bad it’s not Friday because I could really use a quick take right about now. Shockingly, I’m at the end of my first school quarter and about to do up my reports and send them in. You know that daily oscillation between ‘I think we’re doing fine! Look how on track we are and how much progress everyone has made!’ and ‘Oh sweet Mother of Jesus we are all going to die! Aghhh!’–that oscillation becomes even more pronounced in... Read more
one The last many weeks I’ve been spending every available ‘extra’, as if there are any if those, minute at church trying to chip away at the big Catechesis of the Good Shepherd pile. I’ve already posted pictures of the new rooms which continue to be so lovely, but I’ve also been rewriting lessons and remaking materials that weren’t working. Communal Prayer, for example, needed a serious overhaul. I did up new little ‘order of services’ or whatever you call... Read more
We get all kinds of church supply catalogues in the mail nearly every day. Indeed, it’s practically the only kind of mail we get aside from bills–just piles and piles of catalogues full of church stuff. I always page through them with the utmost attention and care and sometimes I am wonderfully rewarded. Look at this clever and fabulous invention. And look! It is available is three convenient pack sizes. Just think, all the fun with none of the hassle!... Read more
Preventing Grace
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