Welcome to How to Live the Little Way. A weekly post here at The Littlest Way where I gather all the ordinary things that happen or are happening in my day to day. Things like what I’m reading or listening to, eating, cleaning, and learning. These are the small moments that make up my blessed daily life and I want to remember them. My prompts may change depending on season and circumstance.
Thanking God for…
::a warm house
::a prudent husband
::playing Apples to Apples on my warm bed with almost all my children
::Veronica home for Spring Break
::Luke’s soccer coach and assistant coach
::visiting with my niece in my sister’s kitchen
::working on painting our bathroom
::clove essential oil
Praying…
::Anna leaves in 12 days for her first mission trip to Costa Rica so I’m praying all the things, not the least of which is gratitude for everyone who donated money or purchased bracelets from her as she was fundraising.
::I’m praying all the momma prayers.
::A little late to the game (as usual) but I need to start asking God to show me how He wants this Lent to go.
::The intentions left in our Online Bible Study Community private Facebook group.
It’s not oo late to join our Online Bible Study Community for Lent! We’re reading, writing, praying, and studying the 7 Penitential Psalms. There’s a daily Scripture writing plan, daily worksheet prompts for further reflection and meditation, and a weekly live chat on Facebook in our private group.
Pondering…
I’m pondering (more than praying about) my plan for Lent. I need to spend some quiet time in the next two days and get my heart and mind straight about Lent. I feel like each year lately I’m slipping further and further away from where I want to be spiritually. That’s funny because when I had a house full of babies and I was physically exhausted from pregnancies and nursings and toddlers, I felt more on my spiritual game. Now I can feel the shift from the physical fatigue to the emotional fatigue that comes with older children and my spiritual life is suffering as a result.
Listening to…
Chris, always Chris. He is such a wonderful guide for my over-anxious heart. Sunday we listened to an incredible talk by Sr. Bethany Madonna. I’ll share below.
Reading…
Bible in a Year: Your Daily Encounter with God
This is my “quantity” Bible to make sure I get the Word inside me each and every day.
Catholic Journaling Bible and the Inspire Catholic Bible NLT: The Bible for Coloring & Creative Journaling
These are my study and journaling Bibles.
I haven’t decided on my Lent book yet. Maybe Consoling the Heart of Jesus?
* I’ve written an ebook to guide you through the whys and hows to get started with Bible Journaling, Bible Journaling Tips, Inspiration and Permission, and to encourage and inspire you in your Bible journaling!
Around the House…
I was going to paint our bathroom walls and cabinets, but Veronica said she would do it while home for Spring Break! Yay!! She’s a much more patient and thorough painter than I am and she could use the money. I can’t remember the paint color names but the walls will be a very light khaki and the cabinets a greyish blue. I cannot wait to see the finished product!!! The last time we painted the bathroom I was pregnant with Bridget and she’s 13 now.
In the Kitchen…
I mentioned how we used to host a large Shrove Tuesday party every year and each year it’s gotten smaller and smaller. Tomorrow we’ll have a Shrove Tuesday for our family right before we run kids to a soccer game and practices. I put my Walmart order in this morning for all the pancake fixins–whipped cream, fruit, and syrup. We’ll have bacon and sausage patties and orange juice to go with it all.
If you haven’t used Walmart’s Online Grocery Pickup, do it! I placed my order this morning. I’ll pick it up this evening after dropping Luke off at soccer practice. I save myself at least $50 by not going int he store–yes, I am apparently that big of an impulse shopper.
Use this link to receive $10 off your first Walmart Online Grocery order.
Self Care
Oils, oils, oils! I am amazed at all the ways we now use these oils! Chris now asks for them when he has indigestion or can’t sleep and the kids will apply oils known to boost concentration and memory while studying for tests or just doing school. And of course, we’re wearing, diffusing, and cleaning with Thieves all the time.
(I used to purchase my essential oils from Amazon or Edens Garden instead of a distributor. You can read my thoughts on why here, “Where I’m From…” I’ve since decided I don’t have the time or resources to properly educate myself on using the oils to their fullest potential. That’s why I signed up with Young Living under a former Family Practice Physician.)
The Littlest Way
If you haven’t joined our Online Bible Study Community for Lent you really should. It’s such a beautiful group of women to read, write, pray, and study the Scriptures with. Click the tab above for the Online Bible Study Community.
Our Domestic Church…
Get your Lent plan in place now. Seriously. I also think I have enough time. The Lent starts and I have no plan and I just coast through. Yuck! I hate it and regret it every year I do it.
Captured…
emotional fatigue that comes with older children
Amen, sister!!!!!
It is so dang hard!!! And extremely isolating.