Spiritual Petsitting

This week we are visiting two darling dogs, Elvis and Sophie. This is new client, referred by one of our long time clients, and we thank her again for the trust!

As I sat in the cool morning with Sophie the itty bitty poodle on my lap and Elvis the schnauzer guarding the property from evil squirrels, I thought about why I love our petsitting business so much.

Sons and I have been doing this for over 6 years. They grew up with it, first accompanying me on sits, now they do the bulk of the sits on their own. Lots of great memories together and car time to talk.

But, I love it because I feel like I am a caretaker. Caring for these pets who are special in the clients' lives. Allowing them to travel (for vacations, family events, some happy some sad) and knowing their beloved animals are in good hands. Also their house is safe and looks lived in.

But as I sit in a home, am there multiple times a day, I feel I get to know the people. No, I don't snoop, but I see. See photos on the fridge, the coats on the rack, the running shoes by the back door, the dad's shirts pressed in the laundry room ready for work the next Monday, the dishes in the sink or cheerios on the floor.

I spend my lap time with the dogs (or cats) doing my spiritual reading or meditations. It allows me to pray for them as well. There is something intimate about being in someone's home when they are not there. I am so thankful for the trust.

Today as I sat with Sophie in the pool lounge, and Elvis was doing Squirrel Sentry Duty, I felt so thankful and also in awe at the responsibility I had. I also read today's liturgy scripture about the greatest commandment- to love God with all our heart, mind and strength and one another as our self.

I feel I fail so often. What should I be doing? Big things, little things? Well, this is a little thing I can do. Love their pets. Love them.

Transformation of the Heart

Tonight at Mass, the scriptures were about the Transfiguration of Christ.

"His face shone like the sun."

I love that image.

Our Deacon talked about transformations. He used the analogy of the caterpillar and butterfly.

ASIDE: (This reminded me of all the fun we had years ago of planting butterfly weed or milkweed, the monarch butterflies flocking (do butterflies 'flock'?) and watching the whole process as they lay eggs, the chrysalis forms, the butterfly appears.
Lots of great learning memories...

Strewing Hint for those who have not done this yet! What is Strewing? Look Here )

This reality really resonated as we spent the evening watching the golden sunset after a beautiful day. The words were real, our God loves us.
Change our hearts, Lord, transform us!

Buddy

We have dog-sat Buddy since his puppyhood. When his family needed to find him a new place to live, we stepped right up.

He goes back to his 'first family' when we travel. One dog- two loving homes. Lucky dog!

His favorite hang out is in our 'window room'. At the front of our 70's two story house we have this odd little room that is actually a hallway between two bedrooms, but has floor to ceiling windows.

There Buddy does sentry duty. He watches the front yard and neighborhood most day and night. We feel safe.

He is a great dog, very sweet. Only dog I ever had who asks permission before coming in a room, jumping on a bed or taking a treat out of my hand. Love you, Buddy!

A Little Way of Homeschooling

I think a big part of my spiritual journey, and the ongoing journey of raising children has been beautifully summarized in , St. Therese' Liseiux- "Little Way"

Now it has come back to me, gently, with love and friendships in a new book, just published

A Little Way of Homeschooling:
Thirteen Families Discover Catholic Unschooling

I wish you could see what went on the the background of the creation of this book. I only have a small glimpse of it, the glimpse of being one of the homeschool moms Suzie Andres approached to see if we could 'write a chapter'. I have known Suzie through email lists and forums for years and we *almost* met a few times, :)

The other 11 moms and I have known each other for years and years as well. Some I know just as fellow posters on various lists, others I have become very dear friends with and met in person. We all have one thing in common. We are in love with our faith, in love with our vocation and struggling mightily each day to raise our children, understand them and help them be who the are called to be.

Well, in addition to that, in one way or another we were drawn to unschooling. My chapter ended up being an autobiography of sorts. I had all these great ideas to really make this incredible insightful, power-packed chapter. But, St. Terese stepped in. Little. Be little. That is what homeschooling for 15 years has finally impressed upon me... I am so little. Life is little. Little is sweet and where the most humongous sweetness is. Bigger love than mighty things can ever bring.

This was hard for me because I was raised in the ME generation of the 70s and 80s and went to business school to learn how to be a VP of something one day.

Big big big.

I am continuing to learn that God does expect big things of us, but we have to be little to let him determine how we are to be big.

Big-little-big-little.. this explains a recurring dream since childhood I have had- almost like an Alice in Wonderland thing.. feeling very tiny, then growing big, then feeling tiny.

Back to the book- Suzie asked, we each wrote a chapter, some of us with more trepidation than others. I had grand ideas, ended up with a rather simple account then I wondered 'who would buy this book'? But, when I read the whole thing, I saw the stories, some simple as mine, were powerful in their simplicity and honesty.

Then, we have the beautiful insights from Suzie and her husband Tony who is a professor at St. Thomas Aquinas Academy in California. I wish he had explained unschooling to me, as he has done in the chapter he contributed, years ago as I struggled with the entire concept, wondering if I was truly loving my kids or ruining them... but then, I think it is all about the journey.

Oh.. good blog title!

I have loved this journey.

I invite you all to read our little book. I will post more about the behind the scenes of how it came together in another post.

But for now, please read, enjoy, share. Your stories are part of this, too.

Lent, Again...

Yes, I have been remiss in blogging.

I blame lots of things: Lack of time, new job, Facebook...

I love my homeschool community dearly and have kept up on the UC list, and many of them are now chatting on Facebook. However I do miss blogging. So now I hope I am 'back'.

Funny as I had to guess at my blogspot password, and finally got back in, my son looked over my shoulder and said, "You haven't blogged in a while. That was back when we had Sprite" - referring to the doggy picture post.

Yes, and also I see I had a picture up for Lent.. as that was Lent 2011.

Well, I am back and look forward to reconnecting and sharing our lives.

Blessings,
Cindy

Reflecting on Palm Sunday

 
"Dear Lord, today we remember Your triumphant journey into Jerusalem, but let us not turn our backs on you in the coming days, weeks, months and years as the rejoicing crowd did after that day! Help us to stay on our journey with You day by day. Keep us ever faithful to our commitment to spend more time with you. 

To give just an hour a day in Your company through prayer and the scriptures, and perhaps even an hour a week keeping You company in front of Your Divine Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Help us to forgo the temptation to return to our lazy ways when this Lenten Period is over. Into Your Hands Dear Lord I commend my spirit!."

A Strong Woman...

Well- here I find myself often trying to be the former in these lists... and really need God's grace to strive for the latter.

A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape… But a woman of strength builds relationships to keep her soul in shape A strong woman isn't afraid of anything… But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of fear. A strong woman won't let anyone get the better of her… But a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone. A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future… A woman of strength realises life's mistakes can also be unexpected blessings, and capitalises on them A strong woman wears a look of confidence on her face… But a woman of strength wears grace. A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey… But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong. --- Copyright © 2005 Dee Cheeks

Date with my 16yo son to Casting Crowns Concerts

I was in San Antonio all week with the absolutely wonderful people at College Plus!, but bee-lined it home Friday afternoon to catch the Casting Crowns concert with my son.

What mom could resist an invitation from their teen son to attend a concert?  Plus I am a huge fan of Casting Crowns.   Awesome music, enough edge and some 80s rock feel to me, plus the message is awesome. Mark Hall the lead singer and songwriter knows about the cross.. and how we have to embrace it every day to find the pure joy.

He cracked me up when he said he not only had ADHD but dyslexia... how school was so hard for him but God can do anything with any of us.... all us imperfect people running around here.  He said his double-whammy LD was so cruel.. even if he could read (dyslexia), it would not matter because he could not pay attention! (ADHD)

If they come to town go see them (Cay, this means you!)---  humble, funny, great music.

Oh and Bryan and I laughed that this crowd was the nicest group of people you would ever want to see.  Polite, happy and just really kewl!