Spring Touches...

March 29th...

It's time for another Commitment to Loveliness! This is a fun way to increase femininity and beauty in our lives each week without even trying! All you have to do is choose five things that you would like to work on or do during the week that will increase the loveliness in your life!

Here is my list for this week:

1. Finish up all of the Lenten Cleaning Plans I have for March - I am behind by about eight tasks! Yikes!
2. Put out the spring decorations. I normally put them up around the start of the season, but things were so busy I had no time.
3. Go through the clothes that we have in our dressers, closets and storage and mark off the things that we have and the things that we need for the warmer weather.
4. Catch up on correspondence.
5. Plant some wheat grass in a pot for Pascha!

Once you have chosen five simple things, post them on your blog and let us know in the comments section. If you do not have a blog, but have a commitment to share, please post them in the comments section.

What a Difference a Week Makes...

I'm pretty happy with the Oriental Lilies we got for Fr John's birthday last Saturday! The were $6, have lasted for a week and are still going strong, perfume the whole downstairs with their scent, and every bud bloomed! They were a gift for Fr John, but in truth, the whole family is really enjoying them!

The Romanov Bride...

I finished reading this book earlier this week and I can honestly say that I can highly recommend it! I have wanted to read it for awhile now, but had yet to get a copy through Paperback Swap when I came across it at BJ's. I bought it with a little trepidation because I wasn't sure how a secular writer could pen a novel about a Orthodox Saint and have it be done reverently. While this book is clearly a novel, I loved how the author used Saint Elisabeth's own writings and interviews to weave a story about the saint's life during the Revolution. I also liked the addition of the fictional character Pavel into the story and felt that it added something to my knowledge of this horrifying time in history. I hope that you have the chance to pick this book up. It is a quick and very interesting read!

Wild Horses...

We went to a nearby beach with wild horse inhabitants and were treated to quite a show! We found a Papa, Mama and Baby that were willing to pose for pictures and even came right up to the car window!

Mama Horse having a bite to eat.

Papa Horse eating while Baby sleeps.

Mama coming closer.

And closer.

Mama kissing Papa.

A romantic meal for two.

Feeling brave.

My, what big eyes you have!

Surrounding a warm minivan.

We braved the bitter cold wind for a quick walk in the sand, too!

Annunciation...

Lenten Cleaning Update...

How is your Lenten Cleaning coming? As of Friday, I was four days behind (I've yet to get any of the cleaning on schedule!) and I am sure that I'll get further behind this week with all of the guests we're expecting, Annunciation, and Carole's funeral. I'll work on what I can (I'm hoping to at least get back on track before April 1st) and not worry about it because I'll be cleaning again once we move.

Prayer Request...

Please pray for the handmaiden of the Lord, Carole. She is a lady in our church suffering through the last stages of cancer. She fell into a coma when she went to sleep on Friday night and the hospice nurses say that she could pass away at any time. Her family is all with her, but understandably they are having a hard time watching her suffer. Please keep them in your prayers as well.

Sunday Afternoon Update: Carole has been in and out of consciousness today and was able to receive Holy Communion! I think that her situation is still the same medically, but spiritually, things are wonderful for her! Please continue to keep her uplifted in prayer!

Monday Morning Update: Carole passed away at about 5:15 am. May Her memory Be Eternal!

Guess What I Found, Pip-squeak Lovers...

Check out Target for a huge box of Pip-squeaks in every color imaginable! As soon as we came home, I opened our box and arranged them by warm and cool colors (that would be the art major in me!). These are our special homeschooling art supplies, so they won't get lost or dried out as quickly and I can enjoy the gorgeous colors a lot longer!

Happy Birthday, Papa!!

As true Orthodox Christians, we celebrated Fr. John's birthday on March 20th (the pre-feast), March 21st (the feast) and we will be celebrating some more with dinner out today (the post-feast)! 31 looks good on him!

Happy Spring!

Housekeeping Questions...

1. How often do you vacuum your carpets? Do you do it because they need it or because it is the time to do it on your homemaking schedule?

2. Do you allow your children to eat snacks or drink wherever they want or do they have to be sitting down at the table or at least in the kitchen?

I am trying to rethink some things around here and am just wondering what you do:)

Phew...

We bought a bunch of Fuzzi Bunz diapers about two and half years ago but had to stop using them about six months in because they began to stink like ammonia. I tried everything I could think of to strip the stink away. I would put them away for a month or two hoping that the smell would go away, but no such luck. As a last ditch effort to save these diapers, I asked what to do on a forum I frequent and someone suggested washing them with vinegar. I tried it and we are back in business!! I am so happy that we didn't have to toss these diapers! It is also nice to be using them on my two little ones again... I like seeing them waddling around with their fat little bottoms!

Lenten Reading...

I finished:

I'm reading:

Next is:

What are you reading?

Corners of Our Home...

Happy 30th Anniversary...

... to my parents!!

Imaginitive Play: Farm Set - All Finished!

Michael's was out of the baskets that I chose originally, so I just took the baskets that held Little Man's clothes and moved them to the children's dresser (I had been planning to do that anyway). I turned the baskets back to front because each one has a bow on it and I thought that it was a bit too fussy for this project. I bought the fairytale postcards in the picture frames from Nova Natural with my birthday money and framed them in these Better Homes and Gardens frames from Walmart.

Here are close ups of the pictures and the basket facing the right way: