Mary this week: I have been reflecting on spending my Lent with Mary, but I’m also up to something new this week. Unfortunately, it’s Tuesday afternoon and I have nothing to share just yet…but I soon will. 🙂

Outside my window: It’s not my window and it’s not early morning as I look out, but there is sunshine and piles of snow waiting to finish melting. Glorious!

Rambling thoughts: Spring is springing and this Sunday is the time change. Usually I complain…but I’m not this year. I’m holding my arms open and welcoming spring (and ignoring the wasps).

In thanksgiving: For family. For hugs around my legs. For baskets of clothes to fold and a prayer to say as I fold them.

Folded hands, bowed head: For a special, special intention that I’ve been holding close for many months.

Kitchen meanderings: I have a kitchen? No, seriously, I am so out-of-tune with my kitchen…and that’s OK.  I signed up for the free Rouxbe trial through Catholic Foodie and…(plug your ears, I’m going to start yelling in my excitement)…WOW!  It’s just what I’ve been complaining about for years.  So.  My menu is suffering a bit for lack of planning, and there’s no hope for it anytime soon, but as long as I keep making corn bread (I almost have Danielle’s recipe memorized), I think I’ll be forgiven.  And hey, doesn’t spring = grill?  (It does this year!)

Nose inserted: I’m working on slowly reading the Catechism and companion books.  For my fun reading, I just started In-Sight, by Gerard Webster, which I received from the author.  I think it’s going to be one of those novels that I’m not going to be sorry to tell you about…but I need to stay awake during my reading time first (the book is not putting me to sleep…I’m just getting started too late!).

Recent reads: Oh, I can’t wait to tell you about Lost Mission, by Athol Dickson, and there’s at least one post brewing in me about Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, by Meg Meeker.

In my ears: I’m catching up on podcasts, but I’m also really enjoying the Gerard Faucheux album I downloaded a few weeks ago.  If you haven’t checked it out, you should.

Around the house: Toddler sleeping, preschooler watching a movie, mother-in-law talking on the phone.

A favorite thing: The weekly novel installments at CatholicMom.com. Right now, they’re featuring Through the Open Window, a book I read recently and found very entertaining.

Food for thought: From my Mary Vitamin this morning:

I beg you, my Divine Jesus, to send me a humiliation whenever I try to set myself above others. But, you know my weakness, Lord. Every morning I make a resolution to practice humility and in the evening I recognize that I have committed again many faults of pride. At this I am tempted to become discouraged but I know that discouragement is also pride. Therefore O my God, I want to base my hope in You alone.

The Prayers of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, (ICS Publications: 1997)

Worth a thousand words: