Homemade Perpetual Calendar

I totally stole this idea from Paula.  Well, I guess I didn't steal it, because I told her I was probably going to adopt it, and she didn't say, "NO!  That's my idea and you can't use it."  Whew!   

So anyway, here is my adaptation of Paula's fabulous idea:

 I had this nice file box sitting around that our oldest daughter bought for rsvp cards for her wedding, and have found no use for it since.  Then I saw on Paula's post, "Today's item is something I made with finds from around the house,"  and the wheels started turning!  Hmmmmm.  Would it be possible?  But the handy-dandy index cards Paula used would not work with the configuration of this box, so....

See Paula's post I printed out for reference?

I just printed out on card stock each day's date, and placed lines.  I had to play with the margins a bit to enable me to just cut down and across in the middles.  All in all, I used 101 pieces of card stock and an entire black ink cartridge, but I really like how this turned out!  I got 4 days to a page... counted 366 days for a year (including leap-day), plus I made one day that says the name of the month with no date on it, so that I can record each and every special occasion on it: birthdays, anniversary dates, baptism dates, feast days, deaths, etc.  Then, while I am planning the upcoming month's holidays, celebrations, special meals, et all - I just grab the first card of the month and I'm all set to plan! 

Each evening I move each day's card to the back, so then come morning, I am all set for the day.  Each day's card has more specific information on it than that monthly summary, to remind us of exactly how long it's been since that beautiful wedding, or since Great Grammy died, when to begin that novena, etc.

Then on the monthly divider card, I printed an image I'd chosen off of Google image search that pertains to that month's devotion.  Here we have April's card, and we know that April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist... 

 Now we have February and March's cards being sized for the file box.

February is dedicated to the Passion of the Lord, and March is to St. Joseph

 So with everything all settled into the file box, it looks like this:

So far, I am actually using my new perpetual calendar!   I do not make time to journal, nor do I remember every last detail as well as I used to.  So this is my adaptation of Paula's perpetual liturgical calendar.  Thanks Paula.  I'm glad you generously shared your great idea.

Thoughts during Easter Week

Isn't this the most beautiful image?

I came across this image while doing a Google image search for Regina Caeli.  I just love that transcending chant, and am printing the words in Latin on card stock so we can read it while we sing.  Of course, the hope is that this will be permanently embedded into our brains, so that we (meaning the children) will be able to sing it any time we want for the rest of our lives!   So I printed the words out in Latin on card stock, added the above image, and viola!  Instant learning tool.  

The fact that we get the privilege to sing the Regina Caeli during the Easter Season is one of my favorite things about Easter...  I love that chant.  Do you need a little something to help jog your memory?  Try this. It's almost angelic in its simplicity. 

Now while I was searching that for you, I came across Sandi Patti singing Via Dolorosa.  Wow.  I may have heard it before, many years ago, because there was something familiar about it.  Chills, I tell you.  I got chills, and goosebumps, and teary-eyed, too. 

Then I began thinking.  Do we live our lives according to the purpose of His calling?  I mean, thinking again about what the Lord has done for each of us,don't we just spend each day of our lives doing what we want to do, without regard to what He wants of each of us? Considering all the blessings God has poured into our lives/my life, I really need to try to serve and glorify Him more.   

The world must know that I love the Father and do everything as the Father has commanded me.  John 14:31

Wishing you a very blessed Easter Season, friends.

Hopeful...

Out my window at lunchtime, after yesterday's snowfall:

Thank you Lord!  I remain hopeful that spring will actually come... (dare I say) soon.

Wordless Wednesday

Out the window this morning.

 It's April 27th?

 Trying to see God's beauty in this...

but Seriously!

Tuesday Tea Talk

My friend Jamie Jo is hosting Tea Talk, a fun way to get to know each other. She asks 4 or 5 random questions and we then answer them. So here we go....

1. What is something you wish you were better at?

Housekeeping.  I just don't put housekeeping high enough on my priority list to make time to keep it really neat and clean.  The house isn't filthy... just in a constant state of a sprinkling of dust, and cluttered.  (Does the home renovation/addition have anything to do with this?)

But I think some of that has to do with upbringing, don't you?  I've never experienced "spring cleaning" or anything of the like.  I remember being in my early to mid- twenties, and hearing that term 'spring cleaning' for the first time and was actually kinda of perplexed, thinking 'what was that?'  It couldn't literally mean cleaning because it was Spring?? 

       

2. Why do you like the music you do?

I really don't know.  Craig only listened to rock when we were dating, and I can still sing most of the lyrics to all the classical rock songs on Craig's ipod or the radio.  

I liked a lot of styles, including classical, but now my go-to favorite is piano instrumentals.  It is so calming in a busy house.  

I used to listen to country about 20 years ago, but realized that it is usually so depressing!  And I still like praise songs on the Christian stations.  I listened to that a lot when we lived in Ohio, right about the time of my reversion. 

But my hands-down favorite group tho, is Bon Jovi.  Love, love, LOVE that voice.  (sigh.)  Isn't it about time for another tour to MN, Jon?

3. New York or California?

Hmmm.  That one is hard.  If New York means New York City , I'd choose California.  But if it also means New York state, I'd choose NY state.  I'd love to see that part of the country. 

4. Ocean or Pool?

I like the ocean, and I like to look for seashells....  and I like the pool...   

Really tho, hands down, I could pass both of them for the North Shore of Lake Superior.  It really is my top choice.  I LOVE going to the 'Shore.  We spend lots of time there doing various things: picnics, hiking, looking for rocks, even schooling!  Just LOVE the North Shore. 

5. Favorite Year so far?  

This one is tough too, but I think I'd have to say 1982.  The year Craig and I were married.  The best time of my life was our honeymoon --- finally being with him 24/7.....  falling asleep in his arms and waking in his arms.  sigh.   Just being with him all. the. time.  We went to the Black Hills of South Dakota.   Saw funnel clouds, and I feared we'd die after being married for one day!   We had fun hiking, and going on picnics, and just the road trip together was perfect.  Hmmm.  Sure do wish we could go on a "just the two of us" vacation one of these days... 

       

Oh, it's time to go already?!  The time sure passed quickly.  Thank you so much for the tea Jamie Jo, I really enjoyed our visit!  Sure hope I can make it again next time... until then, Blessings to you!

 

The Things They Say...

In the kitchen this morning, as the girls were straightening up their bedroom...

Crash:  Mom, what do you want for your birthday?

Mom:  Oh I don't know, Hon.  My birthday isn't for a really long time yet.

Crash:  I know.  What do you really want for your birthday?

Mom:  Well, maybe I'd really like a vacation.     :-D

Crash:  Hmmmm.   How about a bullsdover (aka bulldozer)?!