The Pain of Childbirth

As I think back sixteen years, I remember the anxiety of knowing that our first child was to be born in a few hours. Two weeks past my due date, there was no hope of this baby introducing herself to the world on her own. The fear left me breathless...how much is this going to hurt??? I know it will be worth it but what if I can't handle the pain??? As I think back now, I realize how foolish I was...

The physical pain was barely a blip on the radar of the pain I feel each year as the 14th of September approaches. My heart breaks, my eyes water, and my mind drifts back to that beginning. Each year her wings become stronger and I realize that each year, I am one year closer to watching her begin her flight away from the home she has known. She grows, she stretches and soon she will build her own nest. Each year, the pain of childbirth becomes stronger and more intense as I see her becoming the woman God has planned for her to be. No longer the child of my heart but now a being with a life of her own.

As the pain of birthing this young woman year after year overwhelms me, I now turn to the Theotokos. "Help me through this... Show me how you could bear this!" And she whispers to me... "Treasure these things in your heart!" And so along with all of the joy (watching her dance, hearing her laugh, seeing her smile, feeling her hug), I will also treasure the pain of watching her grow, knowing that it is through the pain that great things will come.

A very Joyous Feast to you all and a very Blessed Birthday to our sweet princess!!! Many years!!!

Blessings!!!

theresesophia

Daybook 8-2-10

Outside my window...

beautiful green grass even though the temperatures are over 100...my husband is doing a great job on the yard :-)

I am listening to...

the TV in the other room...hmmm...this seems to becoming the norm...maybe we should be doing school instead (or maybe the only time I can post on this blog is when they are watching TV...hmmm)

I am wearing...

summer pajamas...okay, it's after 2 in the afternoon but sometimes you just have to take a day off, right???

I am pondering...

when I should go to the grocery store. I'm out of diet dr. p*pper and that just should NOT happen at this house!

I am reading...

Divine Justice I haven't read anything by this author before so we'll see, not really getting into yet.

From the kitchen...

I actually have some menus for this week. Now I just need to make a trip to the store and actually COOK...lol.

I am thinking...

that a diet dr. p*pper would be really good right now!!!

I am creating...

a clean house, twenty years of photo albums, lesson plans, and menus...now you know why I needed a day off...lol!

Towards a living education....

the 2010-2011 lesson plan forms have been made. I need to complete the information on the forms and then all lesson plans for the year should be complete...WOOHOO!!!

Beauty in the home...

LOTS accomplished last week. The rooms for Stinkbug and Sugarcake are done. Master bedroom and master bathroom are done. This week will focus on the living areas.

The domestic church...

lots more praying this week.

I am hoping and praying...

for a very dear friend who came down with pneumonia while on a Boy Scouts camp out with his son. Hopefully he will continue to heal and will be able to go home soon.

In the garden...

the flowers keep blooming thanks to my husband (and my dad...wink, wink).

One of my favorite things...

an ice cold diet dr. p*pper... can you tell I'm a little obsessed right now???

A few plans for the rest of the week...

complete lesson plans for the new school year, clean and decorate family areas,

get old photos organized and in albums and the cd's uploaded to the computer, and of course, buy a case of diet dr. p*pper to get me through the rest of the day...lol. Oh, and did I mention hockey lessons and a hockey tournament this weekend???

A picture thought to share...

Ahhh!!!

Blessings,

theresesophia

Daybook 7-19-10

Outside my window...

another scorcher...yuck...I am so NOT a hot weather gal. Thank goodness for the trees and awning that make this yard almost tolerable.

I am listening to...

a children's show on the television and our dog chewing on one of HER toys :-)

I am wearing...

my "clown" outfit as my family so lovingly calls it... to me, they are called "work" clothes

I am pondering...

"Don't take it personally, even if they mean it that way." So sorry I can't give credit because I don't know who said. I read it in an email and have really been looking at how that applies to some hurtful things that someone told me. I'm not there yet so if anyone has words of wisdom, I'd love to hear them.

I am reading...

Facebook...lol...books have been set aside for the moment. I am really enjoying catching up with friends.

From the kitchen...

not much although I am looking at some recipes that don't require a lot of heat in the kitchen.

I am thinking...

this is going to be a tough week. Yesterday marked 9 months since my dad passed and this Friday would have been his birthday.

I am creating...

photo albums of all our old photos. 20 years worth is not an easy task. Luckily a local photo shop is having a sale on converting photos to cds. Going year by year, I'm getting them on cd then getting them stored on the computer. Photos go in an album and when all our done then I will make photo books online for each year.

Towards a living education...

my oldest has found a math curriculum...monumental!!! We've been doing a little science, math, and reading, and hope to add a little history this week.

Beauty in the home...

I am pleased with the master bathroom and hoping to do a little decorating in the master bedroom this week.

The domestic church...

will be pretty quiet this week...just lots of praying.

I am hoping and praying...

that my dad is enjoying eternity

In the garden...

luckily my husband has been tending and caring to the flowers otherwise everything would be straw.

One of my favorite things...

learning that my daughter will not just be on the girls practice team but will get to play at least 15 games with the girls AA team. I am so excited for her and so very thankful for her coach...who is the absolute best!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week...

dance camp for my oldest, hockey for the other 3, lots of cleaning and decorating, some painting and cleaning at the old house, lots of praying for my dad.

A picture thought to share...

My dad and I in 1992

Blessings!

theresesophia

Daybook 6-28-10

Outside my window...

It is dark, the day is almost over and it is wet after much needed rain

I am listening to...

My girls talk on the phone and my husband playing the guitar

I am wearing...

a necklace that my daughter received for playing hockey (she wanted me to have it).

I am pondering...

why my mother wants me to call her everyday

I am reading...

Coal Run...just started it so I'm not too sure about it yet but I'm trying to read some books I have around the house before I get any more

From the kitchen...

Absolutely nothing!!!

I am thinking...

that my lists from last week have really been helping me focus. I feel like I've been much more productive.

I am creating...

a clean garage at the house we need to sell. It's hot but in small doses, I've been able to clear some space. I hope to finish that this coming weekend.

Towards a living education...

Just a few items to order but most curriculum is in place. This week I'll be working on assignment sheets for the year and a weekly schedule.

Beauty in the home...

Won't be much this week as I try to focus on getting the other house cleaned out to sell.

The domestic church...

will be quiet this week as we spend some time with family.

I am hoping and praying...

For all who will be traveling over the next few weeks with vacations.

In the garden...

Rain, sweet beautiful rain.

One of my favorite things...

celebrating another year of marriage (20 years on Wednesday) to the best goofball this side of heaven

A few plans for the rest of the week,

some alone time with my husband, time with family, and lots of cleaning on that other house

A picture thought to share...

20 years!!!

Blessings!

theresesophia

Daybook 6-21-10

Outside my window...

it's hot. Period.

I am listening to...

my daughter practice the violin

my younger two watching tv

the dog's collar jingling

I am wearing...

clothes to work and sweat in (been working at the old house)...blue jean shorts, an old sleeveless shirt (that my family hates) and my stars clogs

I am pondering...

where I got off track with so many things. During the first part of our move I felt overwhelmed but somewhat organized and able to keep going. Now I find myself with many partially done things and not even sure what's been done.

I am reading...

well, I just finished The Lovely Bones and need some time to digest it before I move on to another book.

From the kitchen...

not much since that is one of the things that is partially NOT done. Meal plans have gone out the window as well as recipes. Definitely need to make this a priority over this next week.

I am thinking...

that I need to go back to basics...make my lists and tackle one thing at a time.

I am creating...

well, I guess I'm going to be creating lots of lists...lol.

Towards a living education...

goals for summer and next year are in place. I have a few items to purchase for next school year but most things are already here. I need to plug in lessons for this week and get the kids going.

Beauty in the home...

uuummmhhh, where do I begin???

The domestic church...

looking forward to attending liturgy this Thursday

I am hoping and praying...

I will be feeling better soon

In the garden...

it's just way too hot. Period.

One of my favorite things...

watching my youngest daughter smile with her whole body

A few plans for the rest of the week...

violin lessons, hockey lessons, hockey games, apparel day for my daughter (its a hockey thing), working on the old house to prepare it for selling, working on our new house for living, working on our menus and actually making a trip to the grocery store

A picture thought to share...

I hope ALL fathers had a wonderful day yesterday. To the best two DADs I know.

Blessings,

theresesophia

You See???

You see this girl???

She made the ballet junior company!!!

You see this girl???

She made the training team for the girls' travel hockey team!!!

You see this boy???

He made the AA travel hockey team!!!

You see this girl???

SHE'S SEVEN!!!

So now YOU SEE why I haven't been posting much!!!

Blessings,

theresesophia

Daybook 6/7/2010

Outside my window...

are many beautiful roses to remind me of my daddy and my husband

I am listening to...

the washing machine and my youngest daughter laughing

I am wearing...

pajama pants and a tank top

I am thankful for...

my children loving ice hockey - it's such a great place to be when the temperatures are already over 100!!!

I am pondering...

when I'll be able to do a post that is NOT a daybook...lol

I am reading...

the same stuff I was reading last week...haven't really had an opportunity to read at all last week

From the kitchen...

fasting dishes this week, using lots of recipes from evlogia. Definitely need to get the grocery list in order and make a trip there today.

I am thinking...

that I really need to send my mom some flowers this week...my parent's wedding anniversary is midweek and I would imagine she will be pretty sad

I am creating...

new schedules for schooling and cleaning

Towards a living education...

we will be schooling this summer to make up for time off during my dad's illness and death and also during our move. This week we return to math, reading, science and history.

Beauty in the home...

the master bathroom and bedroom are complete, both are really simple and relaxing. I've been working on the extra bedroom and the school room. This week I will continue to work on those as well as help the children finish their rooms.

The domestic church...

plans to attend liturgy this Thursday and youth group on Friday

I am hoping and praying...

that I will be able to be abstinent from overeating this week for more than 3 days

for friends and family with health issues

for friends and family with job issues

In the garden...

we've been able to enjoy the beautiful flowers my husband planted

One of my favorite things...

a daughter who didn't give up this weekend when things felt hopeless - she tried out for an all girls hockey team and although she didn't make the team, by not giving up, she impressed the coaches so much they want her to practice with the team so she will be ready next year

A few plans for the rest of the week...

hockey, hockey, hockey, violin, time with friends, lots of cleaning, lots of schooling, hockey tryouts for stinkbug

A picture thought I'm sharing...

A view of our entry towards the front door...I love our icon wall and the table was my mother's day/birthday gift this year.