Thinking about
How we are continually called to be not afraid and to live in freedom! I’m finding that true freedom comes only when we can receive everything that happens in our lives as a gift. This takes lots of trust that we are truly and irrevocably loved. Then we can be open to receiving reality, knowing that living in the truth sets us free.
Observing
the effects of a summer breeze. Invisibly, it sweeps through the house and brings with it the warm freshness of growing things. The wind twirls sparkling leaves, dances down to full-skirted peonies, and ripples through tall grasses as it tumbles down lakes country hillsides. On days of oppressive heat, a light breeze cuts the humidity and brings welcome coolness. Clouds are blown into fluffy wisps in the wide open sky above, until the wind turns tumultuous and lashes rain against the windows. And after a storm, stillness. The winds are known only by their effects, and the wind blows where it will.
Singing
Ave Maria by Andrew Glotzbach for both a wedding and a priest’s first Mass, honoring the Blessed Virgin at different occasions of people saying ‘yes’ to God’s mysterious and marvelous call.
Growing
a delightful garden! For vegetables, we have three kinds of tomatoes, Hungarian wax peppers, Shishito peppers, snack peppers, bell peppers, (can you tell we like peppers?) zucchini, cucumbers, and beets. We’ve got cantaloupe and watermelon as well. In the herb garden we’re growing edible lavender for the first time, lemon verbena, chocolate mint and Swiss mint, and as always, lots and lots of basil. Chives and parsley were put in last week, and cilantro is in its own pot since it’s very bossy and tends to take over the garden if it isn’t contained. I’m excited to see what kinds of tisane we can make with our herbs!
One weekend I cleaned out my brother’s old planter, dragged it up from the back yard, filled it with good soil, and planted some old flower seeds that I got several years ago and forgot about. In the next week or so, marigolds and gypsophila should be popping up. There’s something so life-giving about pottering with seed and soil and sun, watching rainfall nourish the little unfurling leaves, and breathing in the fresh sweetness of a new-grown plant.
Reading
Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I finished it on the ides of June, and WOW, what a novel. I’m going to have to read that one several times. Just before the end of school I finished Story of a Soul, written by my confirmation saint, St. Thérèse of Lisieux. I love her and her Little Way. I’m also working my way through 100 Great Catholic Poems, which was edited by Sally Read. It’s very inspiring to explore the poetic heritage of the Church. I also just picked up Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen which has been wonderful so far. Next is Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell, at my sister-in-law’s recommendation!
I hope you all have a lovely summer!
