Daybook, February 27

The Daybook is a networking linkup hosted by Jenny at Plain Grace. It is a way of sharing the small, simple things of our lives. If you would like to participate or see what others are saying, click here.

PRAYING FOR..Christie at Everything to Someone who is moving to Wales next week to join her husband there; Jen at ::Meditatio:: who is going through a difficult time of testing; Maia at From Little Hands who is starting a new business to help her family save money for their own place to live (right now the family is living with her parents-in-law); Laura at Laura Elizabeth's Corner that God would work a miracle in her family.


PONDERING..the many things I have been learning about myself as a result of praying that God would let me see myself as I really am.


READING.. An Unexciting Life by Michael Casey, a trappist monk and scholar. I've done a couple of posts based on passages from this book, which is an amazingly rich read.

LISTENING TO..nothing right now, but the last thing I listened to was Ofra Harnoy playing Vivaldi cello concertos.


PREPARING FOR..our trip to the U.S. in two weeks. We're going to see the family and prepare our cabin for our son and his wife to move into while they remodel their house.

FROM THE KITCHEN..it's nightime so nothing's happening right now, but for dinner we had polenta with chicharrones in a tomato-tequila sauce, and green beans with garlic. The beans were fresh picked from our vegetable garden.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND..an excellent commentary on the what's ailing American culture by Monsignor Charles Pope, who always has something thoughtful to share on his blog.

And to give your eyes something to feast on, here's a photo of some passion fruit from our passion fruit arbor. We have 2 vines which cover an arbor that is 20 feet long and 5 feet wide, and they give us passion fruits all year long.

A Simple woman's daybook for December 2013

Here is my offering for the linkup to The Simple Woman's Daybook.


Outside my window…is a line of tall redwoods blocking the view to to the mountain on the other side of the river canyon.

I am hearing…the fire crackling in the wood stove and Noah Wotila on the roof, installing 2 solar tubes.

I am thinking…about today's saint, John Damascene, and the comment in the "Saint of the Day" book that "his holiness expressed itself in putting his literary talents at the service of the Lord". I'm wondering about the time I spend blogging - it's not an activity that I am eager to engage in, but if what I say encourages others, it's worth it. Unless this activity is "put at the service of the Lord" there's not really any point in spending time on it, so I pray that God will use this offering for the benefit of His beloved people (i.e. anyone who reads this).

I am thankful…for the surprise breakfast that Julie and the girls brought over this morning. They said that it was too cold in their house (when the Pirate built it, insulation was a luxury we couldn't afford), even with the fire going full blast, so we all had breakfast in the cottage, which IS fully insulated and warms up fast when a fire is started (only wood heat when you live in the forest, don't y'know).

In the kitchen…I have started a pot of beans in the slow cooker: black, red and white beans with a ham hock and sausage, diced tomatoes, onions (of course!) and garlic, cooked in beer and broth. I may throw in some other things at the end.

I am wearing…brown corduroy boot-cut jeans, a long-sleeved knit shirt and a favorite hand-knit mohair sweater from Ireland (brrrrr! It's cold here on the north coast!)

I am creating…an afghan for our outdoor daybed in Todos Santos. The wind is sometimes strong enough, and the weather cool enough in the winter, to warrant a light cover-up when I snuggle in for a nice read.

I am going…to town to put my property tax payment in the mail, and to do a small amount of grocery shopping at my favorite grocery store in the whole world, Mendosa's.

I am learning…how to be more deliberate in offering my (VERY small) sufferings and sacrifices to God. I continually remember quite late into it that even the smallest "suffering" (e.g. stinging eyes) or the least sacrifice (e.g. skipping lunch) can be used by God to strengthen me spiritually [1 Cor.9:27] or to direct additional spiritual strength to someone else who needs it [Col. 1:24]. I got a picture the other day that helps me to "get" what offering my suffering for someone else's benefit accomplishes. Imagine someone buried under a building in an earthquake, where the opening to rescue them is too small. Now imagine the extraordinary effort to the point of exhaustion or suffering that the rescuers would use to increase the size of the opening so the trapped person could escape. That's what offering our sufferings does, but in the spiritual realm rather than the physical.

I am reading…"The Sanctified Body" by Patricia Treece. After having read her "Nothing Short of a Miracle" (PLEASE read it - it's a GREAT faith builder!), I ordered two more of her books which weren't available electronically. Whenever we come up to the States, I order books which I can't get electronically and have them delivered to our cottage in Mendocino. "The Sanctified Body", which I just started, is fascinating. It deals with the various physical expressions that occasionally mark an exceptionally holy person: luminosity, bilocation, incorruptible bodies, etc. Sounds pretty woo-woo, but she's approaching it in a very non-sensationalistic, scholarly way, relying on well-documented instances and (the real point of the book) tying these physical manifestations to God's intent to unify all things in Christ, both physical and spiritual, both visible and invisible.

I am hoping…in and relying on God's great grace to make all things work together for good and to use our pitifully weak offerings to Him to accomplish His astounding purpose for us.

I am looking forward to…my granddaughter Ayla's party for her 16th birthday, which will be on Sunday after her youth group meeting. It will be an "ugly sweater" party so the Pirate and I have to go find a couple of ugly sweaters to wear!

Around the house…we are making headway in burning all the boxes that the many books and other things we ordered arrived in. When we arrived, we couldn't even see the desk for all the boxes piled on top! As usual, it's mostly books that we'll be taking back to Mexico with us, mixed in with a few tools (the Pirate buys tools like I buy cooking spices!)

A favorite quote for today…[spoken by Father Solanus Casey as he was in the hospital dying, in response to the question, 'where do you hurt?'] "My whole body hurts. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God. I'm offering my sufferings that all might be one. Oh, if I could only live to see the conversion of the whole world!"

And another great quote…"True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less." - C.S. Lewis

I am pondering…how to hide the C.S. Lewis quote in my heart and learn to live it.

One of my favorite things…learning what the saints have to teach me. They are such amazing role models!

A few plans for the rest of the week: just hanging out with my family!

A peek into my day…

A simple woman's daybook for November

I know, I'm a bit late on this linkup but I got mixed up on what day the linkup starts every month. Ah well, there's always next month to get my act together! Please check out the rest of the linkers at A Simple Woman's Daybook as well.


FOR TODAY:

Outside my window…I am sitting on our terrazzo (covered patio) looking out at the Pacific Ocean, which is about a mile away. Our house is on a hill, so we have a perfect view for watching pangas (small fishing boats) and whales go by. The warm breeze which is so common to our hill is blowing gently, causing the leaves of the palm leaves to dance.

I am hearing…the sound of the breeze in the leaves of our palapa (palm leaf roof) and in the ferns that surround me on our terrazzo.

I am thinking…about how satisfying it is to encourage others. It makes my day when an opportunity arises to do that.

I am thankful…for being retired…for the gift of living in small-town Mexico with its family- and God-friendly culture…for a faith community that has accepted us as family, even though we're extranjeros.

In the kitchen…my husband is doing something on the computer. We'll be getting something from a taqueria to eat in mid-afternoon for the main meal of the day today, since I leave at 4:00 to go with a ministry team to one of the small farming communities nearby and do the mass there. Then it's back to our town just in time to make it to mass at the main church, and after that the asamblea de Renovacion (prayer and praise meeting). my husband is on the music team that plays both for mass and for the praise meeting afterward, and we don't generally get home until 9:30 or so, which is why we eat early on Fridays!

I am wearing…a light green cami, light cotton loose-fittin pants (dark green and dark blue pattern), and a dark blue cotton jacketish thing - short sleeved - which I call a modesty top.

I am creating…a "modesty top" in fuchsia colored fingering weight yarn (crocheted). Almost done, thank goodness! I wear a lot of modesty tops because I don't want to simply wear cami's and we're still having "cami weather" here.

I am going…to every group in the church this coming week to get signups for the 27 hour prayer vigil we're having on November 22nd and 23rd, to mark the end of the Year of Faith that started October 12, 2012. Catholic churches throughout the world have been focusing for the past year on understanding what it means to live out our faith in Jesus and His sacrifice for us.

I am wondering…how to deepen my ties with my grandchildren, all of whom live over 1000 miles from me. I'm moving forward on this, and expecting more insight from God as I go along.

I am reading…"The Cloud of Unknowing", a christian classic by an unknown author written several hundred years ago. It's about the ultimate mystery of God that we must face - the reality that rightly causes us to fall on our faces before Him in awe. This is a path that few christians are willing to go down; it's too terrifying, really. But it is a true aspect of Almighty God, who though for our sakes He has clothed Himself in the aspect of a lamb, yet is still a lion - and not a tame one at that.

I am hoping…that I'll be able to have the prayer vigil sign-ups completed by the time our priest gets back from taking the catechists on a pilgrimage to mainland Mexico, a week from now.

I am looking forward to…being with our whole family for Thanksgiving in lovely Santa Barbara, California.

I am learning…(WAYYY too slowly) how to keep from automatically thinking that my opinions are the TRUTH.

Around the house…are the plants I love, each one lovingly planted by me since we built our house 4 years ago. I just picked some figs yesterday from our single fig plant - I need to plant more, because I want more figs!

I am pondering…why our culture elevates "multitasking" to a virtue. It robs us of peace and clarity and all it provides in return is (presumably) productivity. But what benefit does more productivity offer? It's a hamster wheel, my friends!

A favorite quote for today…"For you were called to freedom, brethren" (Gal. 5:13). So says St. Paul in the letter to the Galatians. God calls us to freedom. But instead of being given to us instantaneously and in full measure, this freedom is built up progressively and patiently day by day, by being faithful to God's calls. - Father Jacques Philippe, "Called to Life"

One of my favorite things…is our Pope:


A few plans for the rest of the week: Since it's Friday, my plans are focused on the weekend. Doing laundry, watering the plants, working on my crocheting project, extended time for prayer, and whatever surprises present themselves.

A peek into my day…here's where I'm sitting:

A Simple Woman's Daybook for October First

Joining up with The Simple Woman's Daybook.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...I see the gentle breeze blowing the palm fronds on our palapa roof.

I am hearing...my husband working in his wood shop (really a palm roof without walls). He is making a gate for the newest section of fence we just had installed to keep our dogs from digging in good dirt so I can plant flowers.

I am thinking...about how happy I am that I retired sooner than I had been planning to. I LOVE having no claims on my time except those that I impose on myself.

I am thankful...that God brought us to Mexico; for the Catholic Church; for being embraced as part of the family in this small community.

In the kitchen...(my outdoor kitchen) I will be making another one of my famous one-pot meals, this time with bulk sausage, rice, onions, and corn, topped with guacamole. We'll be eating early (about 4pm) since our parish has a special assembly scheduled for 6pm to go over the latest encyclical, Lumen Fidei.

I am wearing...a bright green t-shirt and tan capri's

I am creating...notebooks in Evernote, which I learned about from Jen at Conversion Diary. I spent a whole day getting all my favorite recipes in there; now I have to learn what else it can do for me!

I am going...to be very busy for the next week or so, since our parish's patron saint's day is on October 12th and we have 2 weeks of activities planned to celebrate Nuestra Senora del Pilar!

I am wondering...if I'll be able to finish my current knitting project before Thanksgiving and start on a baby blanket for a friend of mine whose baby was born in August.

I am reading..."Knitting Through It, Inspiring Stories for Times of Trouble" by Lela Nargi. Since I am currently unable to knit due to a rotator cuff injury, it is comforting to read how others have found knitting to be so helpful in difficult times.

I am hoping...that I can contact everyone who has volunteered for 24-hour adoration at the church on Thursday and Friday to confirm the times they have volunteered for.

I am looking forward to...the hours that I will be able to be at adoration.

I am learning... how deeply nourishing it is to the spirit to read encyclicals. Our whole church will be going through Lumen Fidei over the next 3 days, so we read the official summary of it this morning to make sure we don't miss the point when we're hearing about it in spanish.

Around the house...is a blanket of peace.

I am pondering...how the physical, visible reality that we live in and the invisible (to us), spiritual reality that surrounds us and upholds us are woven together into one fabric through Jesus' incarnation and through our actions as members of His body as we continue to make known His presence here.

A favorite quote for today..."It is impossible to believe on our own. Faith is not simply an individual decision which takes place in the depths of the believer’s heart, nor a completely private relationship between the "I" of the believer and the divine "Thou", between an autonomous subject and God. By its very nature, faith is open to the "We" of the Church; it always takes place within her communion." - Lumen Fidei

One of my favorite things...is silence. I love music - both listening to it and singing it, but silence embraces a deep peace that I treasure even more.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Besides the teaching on Lumen Fidei and the 24-hour adoration, there will be a Mass for the anointing of the sick on Saturday and the first of 4 peregrinaciones ("pilgrimages" from the main parish church to each of the neighborhood chapels), and, if nothing gets in the way, Padre and our new seminarian helper, Martin, will come for dinner on Sunday.

A peek into my day...I spent the morning doing my monthly financial updating and bill paying. I had an important phone conversation with a spiritual directee. The Pirate brought home a big bag of hand-made fries from our neighborhood cafe, which just re-opened after the normal closure during September (when there aren't enough gringos around to justify staying open). Soon I will start dinner and then we're off to the teaching on Lumen Fidei and mass afterward.

Daybook for September 10th

I know that the blog The Simple Woman's Daybook only does linkups once a month, but I so love the structure that calls us to awareness and gratitude that I'm going to use it for my post today.

Outside my window...since I am lying on the banco (built-in sofa) of my "outdoor house", I am "outside my window", but what I am looking at is a sky that is a perfect shade of blue with small fluffy white clouds scattered along the edges. This view is framed by the palm branches of our palapa roof.

I am hearing...the phone ring in the house, which I am not going to answer.

I am thinking...about how blessed I am, even when I have to set aside things I love to do because my shoulder hurts so much.

I am thankful...that our house is situated to catch every breeze that comes off the ocean. It's always pleasant here, even when it's hot in the rest of town.

In the kitchen...I had planned to make stuffed squash for dinner with a couple of globe squash from our garden, but that would be difficult with an arm sling on, and besides we just had a late lunch of beef tacos from a favorite taqueria in town so we're not likely to be hungry enough to eat a real dinner tonight before David goes to mass and music practice.

I am creating...thoughts in my head since I can't work with my hands until my shoulder heals. I'm hoping this will season of "thought creativity" will help me to clarify my hopes and direction for this blog (yep, I'm still trying to figure that one out).

I am going...to enjoy this time of relaxation rather than grumping over the time that I'm "wasting".

I am wondering...why people are so often afraid of God (and therefore studiously ignore Him) - life is so much more full on every level when you turn your heart toward Him.

I am reading...Spanish Recognitions by Mary Lee Settle. Her book Turkish Reflections is one of my all-time favorite books, and Spanish Recognitions is similar. Both describe the spirit of a place, woven in with its story and its current social landscape.

I am hoping...that we'll have more rain before the rainy season is over. Our plants are SOOO happy right now - new leaves and flowers everywhere!

I am learning...the joy that comes from simply accepting life as it comes. No more arguing with the husband to prove I know what I'm talking about; no more frustration when situations don't progress the way I think they should; no more feeling sorry for myself when I can't do what I want. Life is so precious, regardless of the details.

I am pondering...the mystery of how so often we can be completely surrounded by grace and be unaware of it.

A favorite quote for today..."We must have definite lines; but not because definite lines are the things which restrain humanity. It is because definite lines are the things which distinguish humanity." - G.K. Chesterton

One of my favorite things...is contemplating the great tenderness that the Creator of the universe has for us.

A peek into my day...So far today I've had 3 significant phone conversations in which I was able to give encouragement and rejoice with those who have reason to rejoice. We went to town to see the advisor who processes our residency paperwork, but she didn't show up, so we did some errands, got some tacos and came back to our welcoming home.


Here are 2 native plants that are considered weeds. The one with the silver leaves is called "incienso" because in times past it was used as incense, and the pink one is "san miguelito" or coral vine. I have a native plant garden below our patio that I planted them in. They're too beautiful to be mere "weeds"....grace everywhere you look....

My first daybook

I found out about the Simple Woman's Daybook awhile ago on the Priest's Wife's blog, Fear Not Little Flock, and loved the concept. But for some reason I kept putting off joining this linkup. However, I decided that this day would be more satisfying if I took time for reflection, so here you are:
FOR TODAY

Outside my window...I am looking at our blue concrete wall and the neighbor's bamboo peeking over it.

I am thinking...about how tender and generous God is to us.

I am thankful...for having a breeze every day. The area we live in is known for its regular breeze, which comes from the ocean a mile away. It makes summer in the Mexican desert pleasant!

In the kitchen...I am planning to heat up some tamale casserole for dinner; it was excellent the first time around, and am expecting it to be so again.

I am wearing...a blue t-shirt and tan capris.

I am creating...a modesty top (crocheted) to wear over camisoles.

I am going...to go shopping tomorrow for odds and ends - canning jars, cotton tank tops, elastic to re-do a skirt. I'm not sure if I'll find any of these things in the small shops in our small town, but I'm hoping!

I am wondering...what my "real" voice might be for my blog - where is my blog taking me? What is its purpose?

I am reading...The Fathers Know Best, by Jimmy Aiken. This is a very handy short version of some of the key writings of the early church fathers, in order by topic.

I am hoping...to be able to finish my crocheting project soon without my sore arm getting worse.

I am looking forward to...the next time our priest can come by and give me a cooking lesson!

I am learning...not to push back when my husband's opinions and mine differ - it only took 45 years, and the secret to this transformation is a relationship with Mother Mary (relatively new for me, since we only entered the Catholic Church in 2010).

Around the house...I am enjoying the tidiness and cleanliness - the after-effects of it being house cleaning day!

I am pondering...how to use my blog to bless and encourage, rather than simply recording interesting bits of my life.

A favorite quote for today...from St. Gregory the Great, "Who am I — what kind of watchman am I? I do not stand on the pinnacle of achievement, I languish rather in the depths of my weakness. And yet the creator and redeemer of mankind can give me, unworthy though I be, the grace to see life whole and power to speak effectively of it."

One of my favorite things...is seeing my plants flourishing.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
> making mole enchiladas on Wednesday
> going to confession and adoration on Thursday
> serving at the small chapel in the ranching community that our parish supports

A peek into my day...

This is a local herd of horses that occasionally comes by our house. The photo shows our new fence, which we just had to put in because the dogs pushed over the old (only 3 years!) one.