Standing!

Almost overnight, little Button is standing!
It is bittersweet, this parenting thing.

Yarn Along...

There is not much to report on the knitting front. I was able to watch a few videos online for casting off (thanks to those of you who recommended some to me!) and finished my first washcloth! It was promptly tested out that night in the bathtub and all the little ones approved! Since I'd like a huge stack of washcloths for the bathroom, I immediately tried to cast on to my second one... remember, my sister cast onto the one I finished for me. I have been watching casting on videos all week and ripping out my work over and over again and I am still having a hard time! Hopefully one of these days it will click and I can make some progress. I was expecting to be humbled by learning a new craft and skill, but not this quickly!

I just picked up a very old copy (there is even an ancient wallpaper cover!) of Mrs. Miniver at the library this afternoon and was able to read a few pages while the baby nursed. It is my type of book... very domestic and very feminine.

Join in the Yarn Along at Ginny's Blog, Small Things!

Life is Just a Bowlful of Cherries...

Tiny Milkshakes...

One of Father John's specialties is milkshakes. Occasionally, he'll make them in the afternoon during naptime. Today he waited for the children to wake up and made each child a tiny milkshake. They were thrilled! What a treat on such a hot day!

July's Nature Table...

Naughty, Naughty...

The first of many naughty moments for little Button!

Yarn Along...

I have attempted knitting twice in the past. The first time was a few years ago when I received a knitting dvd for Christmas. I completed a hideous scarf and put knitting aside when I lost patience with my mistakes. Last summer, I discovered that a few ladies in our neighborhood hold a knitting club once a month at different members houses. Perfect! Except for the fact that I had a premature newborn and a fuzzy brain (oh, and two other little ones!). My sister came down for the family reunion this past week and we took a trip to the yarn store. She cast on for me and knit a few rows while I drove us home. Later, I picked up the yarn and knit (messily) without help! I've completed my washcloth, but don't know how to cast off. I plan to take a walk to one of the knitting ladies to see if she can help me cast off and then cast on for my next one. I'd like a pile of knitted washcloths to wash my little ones with.

On to what we are reading: The favorite book in our home is currently Jenny and the Cat Club. We borrowed it from the library initially, but when the children begged to keep it, I gave in and ordered it from Amazon as a gift for Sugar Plum's namesday. It is a wonderful! And so captivating to my children! I have the others on my wishlist. For my personal reading, I plan on starting Our Church and Our Children, which I found on our recent trip to Saint Vladimir's Bookstore.

Join in the Yarn Along at Ginny's Blog, Small Things!

The Blessing of Automobiles and Bicycles...

Prayer for the Blessing of Automobiles

O Lord our God, Who makes the clouds Thy chariot and Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who has sent to Thy servant, the Prophet Elias, a chariot of fire, Who has guided man to invent this (car, truck, motorcycle, etc.) which is as fast as the wind. We thank Thee for Thou hast provided Thy servants with this vehicle to serve their various needs.

Therefore, O Master, pour out now upon it Thy heavenly blessings; assign to it a guardian angel to preserve it from all evil. And as Thou didst grant faith and grace by Thy deacon Philip to the man from Ethiopia who was sitting in his chariot and reading holy Scripture, show the way of salvation to Thy servants. So that helped by Thy grace and always intent on doing good works, they may after all the trials of their pilgrimage on earth, attain to everlasting joys, through the intercessions of our Most-pure Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the prayers of the holy Angels; of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and of all the Saints:

For Thou art the Provider and Sanctifier of all things and to Thee do we ascribe glory, and to Thy Only-begotten Son, and Thy All-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Homing...

After two and a half weeks of running around, we finally had our first day home alone. We did a little bit around the house... sheet washing, grocery shopping, bathroom cleaning, and a little gardening. In the afternoon, a big storm rolled through. We watched the rain on the porch and spent the rest of the day just being home. Truly the best remedy!

Boardwalk Rides...

Visiting the Flower Farm...

Feeding the Goats...

Picking Peaches...

One of our first activities for our family reunion was to go to pick peaches at the orchard! What fun! We were able to share the experience with two aunties and one uncle. The fruit basket on our counter has been overflowing with juicy peaches... I am surprised that they have lasted this long!

Family Reunion!

What a week! I was not expecting to take a blog break, but we were too busy with hosting a family reunion this past week for my father's side of the family to spend time on the computer. We had so much fun spending time with our relatives!

Women with Icons...

photo by Jocelyn Mathewes

A few years ago, I posted a link to Jocelyn Mathewes Flickr page entitled, Women with Icons. It is worth revisiting these beautiful photographs!

Also, don't forget to join my Flickr Group, Orthodox Home, to add your own photographs. Orthodox Home is a place to share photos and videos of your home that reflect your Orthodox Christian Faith. I hope that it will be a place where we can inspire one another!

I Have No Hands But Yours...

From Parish Publishing, LLC

A soldier in World War II was given the task of gathering up the pieces and fragments of a statue of Christ that was destroyed when the cathedral that housed it was destroyed by bombs. He found every piece and fragment, and they were turned over to an artist, whose labor of love it was to reconstruct the statue. Even though it took him months, he accomplished the work, and the statue was returned to its pedestal.

One part of the Christ was missing, however. The soldier could not find the hands of Christ. Both the soldier and the artisan considered their work incomplete without the hands. However, one day as the craftsman was viewing the statue with the missing hands, he got a wonderful idea. Instead of Christ’s hands being raised in blessing, as they originally were, the craftsman placed an ornate, but simple, sign at the base of the handless replica. These were the words of the sign: “I have no hands, but yours.” Will you give your hands – your time and abilities – to your church?

Learning Basket: Blueberries...

Books
Blueberries for Sal
Jamberry
Peter in Blueberry Land
A Fair Bear Share

Activities
Pick Blueberries
Make Blueberry Treats: Jam, Pancakes, Buckle, Crisp, Sauce for Ice Cream, etc.
Freeze Fresh Blueberries for the Cold Months Ahead
Go on a Color Hunt to Find Things that are Blue
Do a Few Counting and Sorting Activities with Fresh Blueberries

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Tea Party...

After having attended two teas these past few months, I knew that a tea set would be something enjoyed by our little ones. Unfortunately, the set that arrived on Sugar Plum's namesday had a broken piece, so trying everything out had to wait until a replacement set could arrive. Today was the day! We set out my great-grandmother's embroidered breakfast cloth, a tiny vase of flowers and pitcher of apple tea to refill the pot and the children were ready. Papa was invited for a cuppa and even the little one wanted in on the action. What fun!

Painted Steps...

Recently, Father John dressed up our back steps with a coat of white paint. How do you like our funny little potted garden? Flowers and lone tomato, basil, and parsley plants... we won't be winning any survival contests, that is for sure!

Happy Namesday, Sugar Plum!

Causing meekness, humility and love to dwell in thy soul,
Thou didst earnestly serve the suffering,
O holy passion-bearer Princess Elisabeth;
Wherefore, with faith thou didst endure sufferings and death for Christ, with the martyr Barbara.

With her pray for all who honor you with love.

Happy Independace Day!

Newly Illumined!

A wonderful family of four was Baptized and Chrismated at Liturgy today! We are so happy for them and are thrilled that they are part of our parish family! God Grant Them Many Blessed Years!

Ordination Anniversary...

Five years ago yesterday, Father John was ordained. I remember standing in the church a day or two shy of my forty days, in a bit of a postpartum stupor with tiny Sugar Plum in my arms. She was dressed in a little pink dress and bonnet that we had brought her home from the hospital in. We had no idea what we were in for... mainly because our priest fathers and our matushka mothers did such a good job of protecting us from the difficulties of the priesthood. Now, five years in, things are easier... and happier! We celebrated with blueberry peach crisp, twice! We each had a small scoop with the children and then once they were in bed we celebrated again with a little bit more! It's fun to be the parents!

One Year Ago Today...

We brought Button home from the hospital after nearly a month in he NICU. He was discharged at just under 5 pounds and is now a whopping (to me, anyway!) 16! It was nice to look back on the pictures from homecoming day and remember how excited we were to have him home with us.

Beauty on the Porch...

Busy Days...

Not much is happening here and yet, too much is! We took a trip to New York and New Jersey this past weekend, enjoyed the services of Saints Peter and Paul on Tuesday and Wednesday, spent a few hours at the beach, had a dentist appointment, and took the children out to see their first movie in the theater. Next up is Father John's 5th anniversary to the priesthood, my mother's birthday and a tag sale at the church, the entrance of a family of four into the Church on Sunday, the Fourth of July, and Sugar Plum's Namesday on the 5th! I am tired just thinking about it all...

What is happening in your neck of the woods?

Learning Basket: Independance Day...

Books

The Fourth of July Story
George Washington
The Story of America's Birthday
McDuff Saves the Day
The Very Lonely Firefly
(See Also The American Flag Learning Basket)

Activities
Go to see Fireworks
Host a Picnic or BBQ
Wear Red, White, and Blue
Listen to Patriotic Songs (We Like Wee Sing America!)
Light Sparklers (with Adult Supervision!)

Festal Learning Basket: Saints Peter and Paul...

Commemorated June 29th

Books

Christina's Favorite Saints - St. Peter and St. Paul, page 16 and 17

Activities
Wear your best to liturgy today
Display an icon of Saints Peter and Paul. If you don't have one, print a coloring page and color it in!
Sing the troparion of the feast before meals
Serve special foods for lunch and dinner
Add a vase of flowers to your icon corner
Make little boats to float
Take a boat ride

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O Leaders of the Apostles and teachers of the universe,
Entreat the Master of All,
Grant peace to the world and to our souls, great mercy.

Learning Basket: Boats...

"Driving" a Friend's Boat Last Summer

Books
Curious George Rides a Bike
My Blue Boat
Little Toot
Boat Book
Lightship

Activities
Go for a Boat Ride
Make a Newspaper Boat
Float Sticks in Puddles (or a larger body of water!)
Play with Boats in the Bathtub
Sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat (sing in rounds with older children)

Re-Affirming the Sancity of Marriage...

Archpastoral Letter of His Grace, Bishop Michael
RE-AFFIRMING THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

June 24, 2011 Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Beloved Fathers and Mothers, Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:

Christ is in our midst! – He is and ever shall be!

On this very day, we have witnessed the successful efforts of public officials in the State of New York to legally re-define the meaning of marriage to include unions between two persons of the same gender. It is important for us, as Christians of the Orthodox Church, preserving the Tradition of teaching the truth handed down by the Lord Himself, “the faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints” (Jude 3), to re-affirm the meaning of marriage given to us in His Sacred Scripture.

In the document, Affirmations on Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life, written and adopted by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America in 1992, we read (in part) the following summary of the teaching of our Faith on this matter:

1) God wills that men and women marry, becoming husbands and wives. He commands them to increase and multiply in the procreation of children, being joined into “one flesh” by His divine grace and love. He wills that human beings live within families (Genesis 1:27; 2:21-24; Orthodox Marriage Service).

2) The Lord went even further to declare that people who look at others to lust after them in their hearts have “committed adultery” (cf. Matthew 5:27-30).

3) Christ’s apostles repeat the teachings of their Master, likening the unique marriage between one man and one woman to the union between Christ and His Church which they experience as the Lord’s very body and His bride (Ephesians 5:21-33; 2 Corinthians 11:2).

4) Marriage and family life are to be defended and protected against every open and subtle attack and ridicule.

5) Sexual intercourse is to be protected as a sacred expression of love within the community of heterosexual monogamous marriage in which alone it can be that for which God has given it to human beings for their sanctification.

As children of God, we are called to conform our sexual behavior to the commandments of Christ. As Christians, whether single or married, we are called to a life of chastity, pleasing to the Lord. This means struggling against those passions that incline us to “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) – fornication, homosexual activity, or adultery. One person may have to overcome his or her inclination toward partners of the opposite sex outside of the blessed union of marriage; another person may have to overcome his or her inclination toward others of the same sex. We are all called to live our lives according to the will of God and thereby partake of the way of salvation.

No matter what the prevailing pressure of the culture or the legislation of the state may proclaim, the timeless teaching of the Church echoes the rule of marriage revealed to us by the Lord, written in the Scripture, and re-affirmed by the wisdom and examples of the Saints. Gay marriage or any other unblessed sexual activity is not the love that the Lord extols. Because “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), no matter what the government or society may say, like St. Peter and the Apostles, “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We need not be afraid to stand in opposition to prevailing trends, as the earliest followers of Our Lord stood bravely and boldly, upholding the ideal of Christian marriage in the non-Christian empire of their time.

Having said this, we must never forget the Lord’s greatest commandment of love, which includes, after loving God above all else, the imperative, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). This means we must never condemn anyone, but reach out to everyone with the living, healing, saving love of God in Christ Jesus. It means to walk in truth toward all, to do what is right for all, and to affirm what is good and holy on behalf of all.

Let us bear witness to the truth taught by Our Lord, and lived by His Saints, in our daily conversations with our families, our fellow Christians, our neighbors and co-workers. Let us teach the Orthodox Christian vision of marriage, as a path to salvation shared by husband and wife, to our children, godchildren, and all those who come under our care as parents, godparents, pastors, and Christian educators.

Let us join in prayer that the people of faith across the states of New York and New Jersey will continue to stand fast in the divinely revealed truth of what marriage means. And let us by our example witness to the life of chastity to which every human person, made in the image and likeness of God, is called.

With my humble prayers and love in Christ, I remain
Devotedly yours in His service,

+ M I C H A E L Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey

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Though we are not in Bishop MICHAEL's diocese, we were visiting New York City when officials were successful in legally re-defining the meaning of marriage to include unions between two persons of the same gender. I was so happy that Bishop MICHAEL quickly released a statement Re-Affirming the Sanctity of Marriage... especially since a similar law was just passed in our own state and no such statement was made by the Orthodox Church in America at that time.

Feminine Friday: Spreading Good Cheer...

I think that there is always someone (often someones!) in our lives that need a bit of love or a little visit. Personally, I often get caught up in my day to day life and think: "They don't want to see me " or "I can't possibly fit anything more in today" or "We'll just disrupt them." What I forget is that it often doesn't take more than jotting a note or wrapping a ribbon around a box of raspberries or visiting for fifteen minutes to make someone feel loved and special. It is the small things that count. Find someone to cheer up today.