Not much to say...

I've been enjoying reading this week and haven't had much of interest to write about. I'm doing lots of preparations for our homeschool group's preschool First Friday classes which will start this coming week. We've been enjoying our latest library check-out of the original movie "Cheaper By the Dozen". Mary Clare wants to watch it every day! And this morning the Texas weather was actually "cool" enough to make for a trip to our parish playground. The girls were thrilled! We've been missing the park this summer.

We are really looking forward to this first week of September which will include Labor Day festivities at my in-laws' to celebrate my dear husband's birthday, Mary Clare's 2nd dance class of the year, Steven's birthday, a visit to our city from the General Director of Regnum Christi and the Legionaries of Christ, Fr. Alvaro Corcuera, and then our First Friday activities followed by a birthday party for Our Lady at a local park with the homeschool group! It should be a joyous week filled with many graces as we begin this new "semester".

We started today off with a trip to our favorite Shipley's Donuts and then to the great sacrament of Confession. The priest left me with some good thoughts to ponder...particularly about the rich man who had followed the commandments but was asked to give everything and follow Christ. Father described that second request as the "post-graduate" work of self-donation. I know I still have some elementary work to do on the commandments and other habitual sins, but thinking of that need of total self-surrender is really a challenge for me right now. I seem to have no willpower at times, but am reminded that I do have willpower to do things that I want to do. I could read blogs until the wee hours of the night, but why does less than 5 minutes of nighttime prayer feel like an impossible goal? I can wake up easily for an exciting morning activity, but on most days I feel like getting out of bed is such a difficult feat. I can clean every room of my house when guests are coming, but tonight the dishes are not unloaded and the laundry needs to be washed.

I must get to the point where I realize that every little act is for love of Christ. He has given himself for me, and there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to give him 10 minutes of prayer, offer him a clean sink, or quickly fulfill my child's request for love of him. This spiritual life is hard work!

And so I need to recognize that yes it is hard work, but no it does not all depend on me. Christ lends me all I need to fulfill what he asks. When I am weak, he is strong. I must just take his lead, follow his path, love him, trust in him...