Well it has taken us a while to get back into our routine after the holidays.  It’s been a particularly slow go due to illness.  But inspired by Mary Ellen’s posts (here and here) that I had saved in Bloglines, we are back into our “morning basket routine”.  This routine includes reading aloud [...]]]>

Well it has taken us a while to get back into our routine after the holidays.  It’s been a particularly slow go due to illness.  But inspired by Mary Ellen’s posts (here and here) that I had saved in Bloglines, we are back into our “morning basket routine”.  This routine includes reading aloud to the three younger children while they draw, hand sew, etc.  I’ve added a sidebar with our current reading selections which include poetry, religion (basic cathecism), saints, and literature.  It is a great way to start our homeschooling day after breakfast, chores, and daily mass.  If you have any book suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

I usually start with the Lord’s Prayer, 3 [...]]]> In a previous post, I talked about my new schedule.  As part of that schedule, I talked about “Sitting at Jesus’ Feet”.  A dear friend emailed me and asked me what I did during that time.  So this post is an explanation for any who might be interested. 

I usually start with the Lord’s Prayer, 3 hail Marys and some other similar prayers.

Next I read a chapter of the Bible.  I am currently in Philippians.

Then as suggested by the Shopping for Time book that I read recently, I write a statement in my journal that starts with “God….” This statement answers the question: “What do theses verses reveal about God?” 
Then I write at least one statement that begins with “I…”
This statement answers one of these questions: “What do I learn about myself in relation to God from these verses?” OR “What do I resolve to do in response to God’s revelation of himself in these verses?”

After this I read the daily entry from Divine Intimacy by O.C.D. Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen.  This book is EXCELLENT and so worth the price tag!!!  It is deep and I have to read it slowly but I am getting a lot out of it.

This all takes about 30 minutes or so. 

Well that is it!!! Nothing fancy but it has been rewarding.  Hope this makes sense.  If you have any questions, just ask!!!

OK, I admit it.  The last couple of months have been a wonderfully crazy blur, full of many blessed events (hence the reason that I have been blogging so infrequently and also the reason that I encouraged you to add me to your Blogreader —Bloglines is my personal favorite).  While wonderful, these last few [...]]]>

OK, I admit it.  The last couple of months have been a wonderfully crazy blur, full of many blessed events (hence the reason that I have been blogging so infrequently and also the reason that I encouraged you to add me to your Blogreader —Bloglines is my personal favorite).  While wonderful, these last few months have left me feeling a bit out of sorts with our lack of a real daily schedule and our overstuffed house, which never seems to stay picked up for more than 5 minutes!!!  In fact I feel as if my head has been spinning and in danger of falling off altogether!!!

Needless to say, I really needed this vacation!!!  Vermont is always a place where I find inspiration and peace.  Being here in God’s beautiful nature show always makes me long for simplicity and order in my life and the life of my family.  Being among the trees and on the lake seem to give me clarity of vision that I can lose at home, if I’m not careful.

Having just recently finished Shopping for Time, I have been enjoying “sitting at Jesus’ feet” these last three or four mornings before my family has arisen from their blessed slumber.  This has meant getting up at 6 a.m. while on vacation (I know, I know, I can hear you groaning!!!).  I consider this preparation for when I get home and push up my wake up time to 5 a.m. (Now I hear you really moaning!!!).  This time away and my early mornings spent at Jesus’ feet have made my path clear to me.

Like it or not, 5 a.m. is a necessary evil.  It is the only way that I can have my quiet time, get my housework back on track, and still find time for exercise which is a must for getting off / reducing my blood pressure medication.  These are all things that I used to do thanks to Flylady but have lost sight of in the recent past.  I am grateful for the Control Journal that I put together a while back which makes it easier to get back on the straight and narrow. 

I have spent a couple of hours over the last few days working on a schedule to fulfill all my goals.  I know it will need some tweaking and I will need some patience as I put the plan into action.  Something that I have been learning over these last several months is that when I stumble, I need to just brush myself off and begin again.  Sometimes this means asking the Lord’s forgiveness and forgiving myself.  But when all is said and done, I need to get up and try again (preferably without beating myself up too severely).  So in this spirit I continue this blessed journey.  Now without further adieu, here it is:

Morning Routine 

5 am     Get up

            Make bed

            Go to bathroom

            Vitamins/Medication

            SITTING AT JESUS’ FEET

5:45     Brush teeth

            Apply moisturizer

            Dress

            Hair

            Make-up

6:00     Empty dishwasher, if necessary

            Breakfast, newspaper

            Diet Center food planning

            Daily planning, check calendar, update “to do” list, plan day/errands/goals

            Menu planning, grocery shopping planning

            Puzzles, clip for later

7:00     Defrost meat for dinner, dinner prep

            Breakfast prep for children (CHILDREN”S BREAKFAST at 7:30)

            Put out hotspots

            Wash breakfast dishes

            Shine sink

            27 Fling Boogie, time permitting

7:30     Walk, while children have Breakfast

8:00     Heather & children: Daily jobs

Monday: Change sheets, vacuum and dust bedrooms

Tuesday:  Dust downstairs, vacuum upstairs hallway, vacuum thoroughly downstairs

Wednesday:  Blue bathroom

Thursday:  Upstairs bathroom

Friday:  Kitchen

Daily: 27 Fling Boogie and Zone work, time permitting

8:30     Children’s Individual Chores while I check email, read, blog, correspondence

9:30     Rosary & Beginner’s Bible

10:00   Basic School plan with children

12 pm  Lunch prep

12:30   Lunch

I ask for your prayers as I put this into action next week.