It was a cool, beautiful early fall evening and so after dinner, Brad, Elijah, Sammy, and Blaise and I headed out for a walk. Elijah (4 1/2) kicked the soccer ball down the sidewalk and through the park, always running ahead of us. It's fun to see how much more coordinated he's become and also his heightened interest in soccer. Sammy ran through the park to keep up (calling "E-yi-jah! 'ait 'or ME!") and Blaise smiled out at us from beneath her little pink and green Notre Dame stocking cap with the little crocheted shamrock up top. The marching band was practicing so we followed the music and ended up at the parking lot where they were rehearsing. The boys ran around, half dancing, half kicking the soccer ball, I bounced with little sweet Blaise and Brad chatted up some folks in a car with Nebraska plates. We ended up running into a family - the mom who I know from the park. An idyllic evening and then we returned home for the bedtime routine - brush teeth, say prayers, and read a book. Tonight I started reading a Carlos Castenada book to Elijah - not sure if he was really interested or too tired to protest, but it was fun for me! And Brad got to read Purplelicious to Sammy (he - Sammy - loves those books! So funny.) I nursed Blaise to sleep and now she's swinging while I make this inaugural post.
The morning was quite wonderful, too. After dropping Elijah off at ECDC, I took Blaise and Sammy for a walk on campus. They soon fell asleep and so I enjoyed the great weather and walked to the Grotto. I've been praying a lot more to Mary and the Holy Spirit, asking for help as a woman, mother, and to help surrender my life to be a vessel for God.
I also had a chance to talk to my poetry teacher this afternoon. Trying to write again still makes my head and heart hurt, but something in me wants to keep trying (even though just writing about it just now, just here, makes tears come to my eyes).
The way we live our days is the way we live our lives. - Annie Dillard
Dear God, please help me live my days aligned with the sacred calling for my life. I am open. Let me listen, receive, follow, give thanks and praise.
With love,
Leah
