Where I Officially Revise My Lenten Sacrifice

Oh yeah -- this is me.  I'm on the computer and this was going to be my day to shun the computer from when I woke up this morning until I wake up tomorrow morning.  But, still, here I am -- on the computer.

Did I give up and already break what I thought was going to be a really difficult Lenten sacrifice?

Surprisingly, no, I didn't give up.  It was actually shockingly much easier to skip out on the computer today than I thought.  (Although, it was softened a little bit by a few back and forth texts with Brenda.)  The only difficult moment was when I actually had a reason that I had to open my email account today and then saw emails from friends that I really wanted to read.  But, knowing the sacrifice I made, I didn't open them but just looked for the thing I had been on for.  That was my only computer today.

So, if it was so darn easy -- why am I sitting here now, you might ask.

I realized that I had to revise my plan.  I realized that one of the biggest benefits to my sacrifice was that I would be more present to my family and to the tasks I need to do around the house.  And, it was hugely successful for that today.  I didn't feel the urge to pop over to the computer to check "for just a second" that would turn into much more than just a second.  I was present today.

But, if I would suddenly be able to use the computer tomorrow morning, I knew what would happen.  School would start late.  I would be distracted trying to catch up on what I missed from a day away from the online world.  So, after talking to Eric tonight, we decided that it would be better for everyone if I turned off my computer from waking until after everyone except for myself went to bed (that includes after Eric goes to bed, not just the kids) on two days a week throughout Lent.  But, after everyone went to sleep, then I would be able to check up on the day's happenings in my email and online.

While I initially felt like this would be cheating, Eric pointed out that the revised sacrifice was really going to be much better for everyone, and would actually involve more time away from the computer.  And, when he put it that way, it was hard to argue.







Photo by daviddumas

Is The World Changing or Are We Raising Nerds?

My boys were pacing the house as they were busy pretending.  This is a favorite past time of theirs.  They walk around and come up with elaborate scenarios.

On one recent walkabout the house, I overheard Jack coming up with an idea.   

Noah then said, "Can we do some beta testing on that?"

Beta testing?  

Where do these kids get this stuff?  Either the world is changing or we're raising nerds.  Then again, it could be a little bit of both.

Many Little Links: February 20, 2010

Catching Velcro Balls with our Heads and Edible Playdough You Will Want to Eat - Make and Takes

Two fabulous and fun links that I think most kids would just love!

Drink More Water - Organizing Your Way

Great tips for getting some more water in your day.

Under the Microscope - Curriculum Choice

I enjoyed reading this review about a handheld microscope that is really reasonably priced!

 

 Play Make Up Kit - Chasing Cheerios

I have got to make a set like this for Molly!  Too bad I don't wear make up so I don't have old compacts to use.  

Blogging Related Deductions - Ask the Taxgirl

Great resource for bloggers here at tax time!

33 Essential Items for Your Bug Out Bag - Frugal Dad

Starting an emergency kit? Here is a very big list of what you might need.

Make Your Own Colored Sugar - Catholic Icing

Am I clueless that I didn't know you could make your own colored sugars?

7 Quick Takes: February 19, 2010 (Vol. 30)

~ 1 ~

The biggest event of the week around our house has been sickness.  Lots and lots of coughing and stuff noses.  Quite frankly, with three of the five of us on antibiotics, I'm getting really tired of it.  

As I mused on Facebook the other night, "I think my lungs are trying to stage a mutiny.  Don't they know they need me to survive?"  I'm just praying that we'll be a lot healthier by next week's Quick Takes.

~ 2 ~

So now, with being sick, I have found that I am considerably less enamored with the snow.  Eric and I talked about how at the beginning of the winter, we loved the big snows that were coming in.  But, now we're cringing as they talk about things like "significant snow" next week.  I told him that it reminded me of the first two verses of the song "In Like a Lion (Always Winter)" by Relient K.

It's always nice to look out the window

And see those very first few flakes of snow

And later on we can go outside

And create the impression of an angel

That just fell from the sky

When February rolls around I'll roll my eyes

Turn a cold shoulder to these even colder skies

And by the fire, my heart, it heaves a sigh

For the green grass waitin' on the other side

~ 3 ~

I have decided on something to give up for Lent that already makes me nervous to think about.  That must mean it's a big sacrifice if it makes me nervous when I haven't even done it yet, huh?

I decided that starting with the first full week of Lent, I will be giving up the computer for one day each week.  It won't always be the same day each week (not always Mondays, for instance), but it will definitely be one full day each week.  Although I would have loved to have counted from midnight to 11:59 pm as a day, I know that for me (and my crazy sleep habits), I had to say that a "day" will be from when I wake up until I go to sleep for the night.  

I'm hoping that this will allow me at least one day a week to really focus on non-computer things.  Who knows -- maybe I'll keep it up past Easter.  (Somehow, I doubt that.)

~ 4 ~

I was struck by two things this week while at Ash Wednesday Mass.  They are the same two things that strike me each year.

The first is one that I can't even seem to put into words.  There's just something about seeing the parade of people walking by after having been freshly marked with ashes (and told "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return").  There are babies and there are elderly people.  Rich people and poor.  Our mortality is something that nobody can hide from.  But, there is also a sense of unity in seeing it too.  

The second, on a lighter side, is that at some point while waiting for our turn to go up front, I always have to turn to Eric and say something along the lines of, "Is this church a clown car?  Seriously -- where does this endless line of people keep coming from?"

~ 5 ~

Speaking of faith related items, it's coming up on First Communion time soon.  If you're working on First Communion banners this year, you might want to check out some of my popular past posts about this topic:

How To Make a First Communion Banner

More Than 40 First Communion Banner Examples

First Communion Banner Examples

I can't quite believe it, but it's the first time in three years that we don't have a First Communion in our family.  Granted, it was very different for us, but Eric and I both had our First Communion in 2007, then Noah in 2008, and then Jack in 2009.  It seems a little odd to us that we aren't busy with it this year. 

~ 6 ~

I can't believe that I almost forgot one cool thing from this week -- Brenda and I launched a free toolbar for Catholic families/homeschoolers.  I'm really excited at the kind words that people have been saying about the toolbar.  I can't wait to watch as the resource grows.  (If you know of great sites that should be added, please pass them along.  We already have a list of more sites to add, but the Internet is so big that it's impossible to be aware of all the gems out there.)

~ 7 ~

Do you ever feel like you just can't keep up?  I would love to say that it's the illness talking, but I know that's not it.  (The strong cough medicine probably doesn't help either.  So, if this has all rambled, please blame that, as I took it right before writing this post.)  

Every so often I just feel like the things that I think are my priorities are a little out of whack, and like I need to do some things to bring things back to how they should be.  I know where some of the issues are, but I guess I just need to figure out what to do about it.

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday.

photos by:  snowflake - circulating  /  keyboard - julian-