31 days | Revolution of Love

The 31 Day of Writing Challenge continues. It’s Day 4 of my 31 Days of Gratitude.

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It’s Taco Tuesday…only on a Saturday. You can’t have tacos without salsa so my little kitchen helper is ready to squeeze some limes.

I have to admit, I start cooking in the kitchen very quietly to get as much done before Matthew asks, “Can I helpchu?” (Don’t ask me why his “help you” comes out “helpchu.”) Part of me wants to shoo him away so I can get things done quickly but I have to remember that these our our special moments together. Ten years from now I am going to wish he longed to help me in the kitchen.

So today I am grateful for B52’s on the radio, dancing in the kitchen, my little guy bonding with me over making salsa and his smile that is just begging for sweet kisses. 🙂

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By the way, want to try out the recipe for our quick salsa?

Find it here. Ole!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd or Instagram. (It’s set to private but I’ll approve you.) 😉

The 31 Day of Writing Challenge continues. It’s Day 3 of my 31 Days of Gratitude.

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Today has been “catch up on computer stuff” day – finish spread sheets, answer emails, respond to comments, work on school fundraisers, pay bills, browse Facebook when I should be washing the breakfast dishes, look up a recipe on Pinterest… and the list goes on. When it was time to take John-Paul to speech therapy, instead of sitting in the car for 1/2 an hour and playing on my iPhone, I grabbed my camera and strolled the therapist’s gardens. I caught this little guy in a flower.

I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to turn off the electronics, even for just a half hour, and take a moment to quiet my racing mind, feel the warmth of the sun (although it’s unusually blazing) and enjoy the handiwork of our Creator. 🙂

What do you like to do to quiet your soul?

It’s Day 1 in the 31 Day of Writing Challenge. St. Therese has been on my mind lately and since it is her feast day today, I thought this quote would be a good start to my 31 Days of Gratitude.

Growing up, many Catholics I knew had a great devotion to St. Therese. Me? Not so much. I had nothing against her, I just preferred the less popular saints who wouldn’t be so busy praying for everyone else. 😉 However, in the last couple years, I have read more about St. Therese and her “little way” and have grown to love it and her.

When I redesigned the blog two years ago, her motto is what motivated me. I suppose for a mom busy in the trenches of raising kids and maintaining a home, it can be a little daunting with all the menial tasks that must be performed throughout the day… over and over again. Intellectually, I know it is important work, but psychologically, it can weigh on a mom’s hear when she is up to her neck in dishes, diapers, dirty laundry, spilled milk and toys all over the place. It’s hardly glamorous. Yet, God has a deep love for the humble… for those who follow the “little way.”

It’s easy to say, “Do the little things with great love,” but, at least for me, it is much harder to actually do. More often than not I’m uttering a groan and an “Oh, come on!” at a little cross than kissing it and saying, “For love of you, my Lord.” Thankfully, God is patient and merciful. He knows that I am trying to surrender to Him and trying to live in a spirit of gratitude.

Instead of complaining about all the dishes and laundry, I should be thankful that we have warm clothes to wear and plenty of food on the table. Not everyone is so blessed. I ask for the grace to keep turning my eyes to God throughout the day. To accept whatever cross I have at that moment in time – whether it is scrubbing a toilet or bathing a stinky munchkin or working on a school fundraiser – this is where God calls me. This is where God teaches me sanctity. This is my opportunity to be a witness of love to my little ones, to my husband, to my neighbor and to those in my community. This is my mission field. I am grateful for the grace to understand that. Now I pray for the grace to live it.

Photo credit & host of 31 Days is Nester at write31days.com

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This year I will be participating in Nester’s 31 Days Writing Challenge. If it is new to you, here are the details from write31days.com.

31 Days is an online writing challenge started by home blogger, Myquillyn Smith (The Nester) where bloggers pick one topic and write a post on that topic every day in October.

I just heard about it the other day and I thought it would be a fun challenge, although I wasn’t sure I could handle doing a post every day for a month. I decided to make it easier on myself by combining elements I am already working on right now – being more grateful for the blessings in my every day life, particularly on stressful days, and spending time each day being creative, particularly by taking photos.

So my challenge in October 2014 will be…

I’ll be posting each day on the blog but I also made a landing page with a link on the main menu above and a button in the side bar. I’ll post the links to each day for easy reference.

There are hundreds of blogs participating in the challenge. There are various topics including house & home, family life, simplicity & organizing, faith & inspiration, fashion & beauty, food/health & wellness, writing/blogging and more! Be sure to hop over to write31days.com and browse the other participants. 🙂 It should be fun!

See you back here tomorrow for the first photo and reflection. 🙂

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Tag Archives: 31 days

31 Days of Gratitude (Day 4): Dancing and Cooking in the Kitchen

31 Days of Gratitude (Day 3): My Soul, Be at Rest in God Alone

31 Days of Gratitude (Day 1): Feast of St. Therese

31 Days of Writing Challenge: Intro