—1—
First, you know I have to have a baby picture. Or two.
I’ve found this to be the best position for burping for all three kids. Or maybe its really just what I feel most comfortable with. In any case Bene is the only one to regularly fall asleep in this position. And by that I mean it seems to be rapidly becoming his favored go to sleep position.
And very happy he is too. Look at that smile!
—2—
Ring shoes have reappeared! Bella showed Sophie the trick of putting the plastic rings on her feet and shuffling around in them as if they are high heels. When Sophie couldn’t get them on her feet right away, she went to Auntie Tree for assistance. After a quick tutorial, she was up and running.
—3—
The girls went to Target with Grandma yesterday to buy diapers and toilet paper and other necessities and because Bella was getting cabin fever. They got the necessities and also new froggy bath towels and a big blue ball. Oh what delight!
—4—
Sophie has taken to carrying about a blankie, especially when she first wakes up and when she is ready to go to sleep. She generally favors the quilt I made her; but will grab whatever is handy. She wads it up into a ball against her chest. Bella never really did this. I find it adorable.
Incidentally, check out these photos of Bella at the same age. They really do look so very much alike.
—5—
I grew these nasturtiums from seeds. All by myself.
Those of you with green thumbs might not be impressed; but believe me that’s a feat!
—6—
Just because it’s a fun action shot. And because poor Bella seems to be getting short shrift in the pictures these days.
—7—
And, well, you knew I couldn’t leave without another cute baby pic:
Two weeks old!
Have a happy Friday, y’all.
And check out Conversion Diary for more quick takes.
Praying the Hours is the structure of Orthodox worship. In fact, the Hours are still part of the service schedule in the parish (at least Matins and Vespers). When I began praying the Hours at home as part of my personal prayer rule I would often get overwhelmed. Then my spiritual father told me that the purpose of praying the Hours is to keep our hearts warm. Just about the time we begin to loose our focus and begin relying on our own strength, we are approaching another Hour and have an opportunity to turn our thoughts and heart toward God. Thinking of it in that way, keeping our hearts warm, has helped me greatly.
By the way, do you have the book “The Monk Who Grew Prayer” for your little ones? It’s an Orthodox children’s book, but Cay has it on the Catholic Mosaic list. It’s about a monk, living in quiet, who seemingly goes through his day doing the most menial of tasks and chores, but actually is doing something very great…praying. It is an intro to praying the Hours for children. It inspired me just as much as the children. Good read. Lovely illustrations.
http://www.amazon.com/Monk-Who-Grew-Prayer/dp/1888212667/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248621028&sr=8-1
Thank you! What a treasure of information you have provided here!
You’re welcome, ladies. I’ve often been inspired by another blogger’s posts on prayer when I’ve hit a spiritual dry spell, so I guess I’m just paying it forward. And I had a few nudges about writing this piece, if you know what I mean. Some blog posts I write for myself, some I write because I feel prompted.
Katherine,
I love that idea of keeping the heart warm. Beautiful.
I do so wish that our parishes were stronger in scheduling the hours as part of our regular prayer life. (Another thing the Orthodox Church has maintained better than we have.) Perhaps one day I’ll be able to take some sort of leadership role with that… though obviously not now with all the little ones.
I’ve had The Monk Who Grew Prayer on my wishlist after seeing in mentioned by Cay and others. Sounds like I should bump it to the top of the list.
I used to pray the Liturgy of the Hours (morning and evening prayer), but got out of the habit some years ago. Thank you for the encouragement to start again.
It was The Divine Office For Dodos which started me on being able to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. I highly recommend it for those who have no idea how to pray it or where to start.
After I became comfortable with praying the LOTH – I love the idea of keeping the heart warm – I sought out books which would help me to understand the psalms. I read one reflection on one of the psalms I have prayed each day. I use Psalms and Canticles for Morning Prayer by JPII and Psalms and Canticles for Evening Prayer by JPII and Benedict XVI, Christ in the Psalms by Patrick Henry Reardon. I love the Navarre Bible Study books and I plan to get the one which discussed the psalms.
I meant to leave a note yesterday: Thank you so so much for these resources! I’ve been wanting to get beyond Magnificat for some time, but haven’t had the wherewithal to do it on my own! Thanks.
Sharon,
I think it was you who mentioned Divine Office for Dodos before. I’m glad to have a recommendation for it.
Also, thanks for the reminder on the JPII books. I think the Evening Prayer is not yet available in the US. But I’ll add them both to my resources list.
The complete 4 volume version is, I think, well worth the price (146 leather):
http://www.amazon.com/Liturgy-Hours-Complete-Set/dp/0899424112/ref=ed_oe_o
The per volume price is very reasonable and it is more convenient, in my experience, as well being more extensive.
Thomas,
It is worth the price and I love my four volume set. But I’m not so sure about it being more convenient.
I started with Christian Prayer and moved to the four volume set once I was comfortable with that and when I found I wanted more and maybe that had colored my perspective. My blog post is aimed mainly at those who have no experience at all in praying the Liturgy of the Hours and when I was a novice both that price tag and learning to navigate the four volume set would have been overwhelming.
My goal is to help people get their feet in the door. Once there, I think many people will begin to invest in the four volume set.
Hey! I just got my Divine Office for Dodos book and wanted to tell you that on the title page it says that “dodos” stands for “Devout, Obedient Disciples of Our Savior”. Isn’t that cute?
This is so very helpful. THANK YOU for posting it!
Melanie,
well, as to convenience, perhaps personalites are relevant – a conscientious person may find the 4 volume intimidating. However, others may find it just as easy.
If someone got their 4volume copy today, I’d say:
ok, what week is it? Let’s see, here in our parish’s bulletin from last Sunday it says next Sunday is week 18. Se we’re in week 17 now and thus I go to volume 3 (maybe an interlude here to explain church year).
I take the first ribbon marker and put it at Friday of week 17 (p. 562). Then I glance back at the beginning of the week (p 541) to see which week of the psalter: Week 1.
So I take another ribbon marker and mark Friday of the week 1 Psalter (p 786) and with another ribbon marker back in the proper of saints section mark July 31st (p 1565 – St Ignatius).
Now we’re set to read & pray..going back to the Psalter, we read/pray through as suits our time and inclination. Right near the first, we use another ribbon and mark the invitatory psalm (p 649).
Since each of the volumes comes with a 5 ribbon marker thingy, I use the remaining ribbon for the Appendix IV, Poetry section.
Simple enough for personal devotion..of course, when praying with others (which is wonderful but often not possible), more formality is needed.
It’s convenient to have, for any given season of the year, everything I need in one handy volume. Well, not everything of course; the Bible comes first and I need the Gregorian missal also.
The one volume Divine Hours is great too but given my unscrupulous inclination, I find the 4 volume version more convenient.
Unless I missed it you overlooked eBreviary.com. This requires a paid subscription but I find it’s worth it. Layout and color is identical to the books. They use the same, more modern translation as the published books which is especially helpful with readings from the Fathers of the Church. Older translations used by free sites can be very obscure. All hours are available in PDF format. I especially like the booklet format. I can print out a few booklets for praying with a group. When I travel I print the booklets and toss them as I use them. It’s much easier than taking the big volumes. In fact I pray hours from the computer screen or the booklets and rarely open the volumes anymore. Can also be downloaded to PDA or smartphone.
There is a list of the 227 hymns in the Liturgy of the Hours, together with volume number(s) at: [url=http://thomasgwyndunbar.wordpress.com/2009/08/01/liturgy-of-the-hours-hymns/]http://thomasgwyndunbar.wordpress.com/2009/08/01/liturgy-of-the-hours-hymns/[/url][/url]
Melanie, fantastic post. My experience has been similar to yours, with picking it up and putting it down and always going back to it (both in the mommy sense and in the prayer habit sense.)
When I’d been Catholic a couple of years, Atticus gave me the entire set and I fell in love with it—there’s really nothing like praying in rhythm with the Church.