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We’ll start with a quickie. I’m working on a reflection piece on generosity as it ties to the Advent/Christmas season, and I want to share two really great links: This reflection on generosity vs. fairness, and this oration by St. Gregory of Nazianzen. Out of all the pages I read preparing to put this together, these are the two that spoke to me.
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I also found a couple of interesting links on distribution of wealth. We frequently hear that wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few. Here’s how that looks in America….and globally. It’s definitely giving me food for thought.
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If you didn’t read “A Post For All Those Who Call Themselves Prolife,” check it out. I had a good discussion (in the comments section) with a friend on the issue of consistency in respecting life.
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And as long as I’m updating on the topic of earlier posts, here’s an update on the “I’m tired” post: My doctor’s office called and told me my bloodwork shows that I’m anemic. Anemia=tired and trouble sleeping. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. I’ve been having low blood pressure spells quite frequently the last few weeks. Duh. So now I have to bulk up on iron for the duration of my pregnancy.
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Speech update: Julianna is trying really hard to say lots of different sounds. She does and will continue to struggle for months (perhaps years) to come, but she is making forward progress. School is a wonder. I am totally convinced. It’s partly that she has an hour of concentrated speech therapy a week with a really good SLP, but it’s also the routines and expectations of a classroom.
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Speaking of which…the school year ends a week from today, and I am in mourning. (Julianna has extended school year through June, but Alex is coming home.) Many of my FB friends are expressing excitement about the end of school; I am trying not to think about it. Moms: I need suggestions for how to structure the summer! The pool is a very iffy proposition for us because two thirds of my children are not at all safe around the water, and I just don’t feel comfortable there without another adult. How do you handle summers when you have both big kids, accustomed to routine and constant stimulation, and a little kid, who still needs a nap in the afternoon?
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So I hear that the world is ending tomorrow. Fortunately, we have too many pleasant things to think about to spend half a second worrying about Rapture or lack thereof. Tomorrow is our studio recital, and Alex is playing! As if that wasn’t enough, tomorrow is my dad’s birthday, and we’re going up to make dinner for him. Happy birthday, Dad!
Have a great weekend, everyone! Go see what’s up with everyone else over at Jen’s place!
Kathleen M. Basi 
I was anemic when pregnant with my first. I remember the fatigue and it was horrendous. I also remember the miracle of the iron supplement. I hope it gets better soon!!!
As for summer…we are always doing something different. This year we will have swim lessons and softball through June but then a baby in July, so that throws a whole huge wrench into anything we might plan. 🙂
it is hard to keep kids busy during the summer when they are different ages … but here’s what i did: the mornings were all about togetherness; that is, we’d go to the park, a museum, the library, or wash the cars and do other outside chores, or simply hang out in the backyard. then, after lunch was quiet time in which the older boys read, played on computer, or did legos while the younger one took his nap.
that’s it … just basically thinking of my days as two parts: morning (more structured) and afternoon (individual quiet time).
have a blessed weekend.
That’s a good idea, and it has the added advantage of mirroring what I’ve been doing with Nicholas during the school year…I was wondering about setting up a schedule of household duties, too. You know, start to teach the kids that they have a role to play too.