Striving for Abundant Survival

I love being contrary. I mean, how can I put “survival” and “abundant” in the same sentence, right? And yet, I mean just that.

I am a survivor…and perhaps you are too. We survive many things in life: Childhood abuse at the hands of other children. Losing loved ones…some of them tragically. Watching our children suffer. Financial concerns. Maybe what you’re surviving is different from what I’m surviving. Maybe for you it was the premature death of a loved one, or a serious illness of you or a family member. But whatever the differences, we are probably both survivors.

I see that Merriam-Webster says of the word survive: “to continue to function or prosper”…so perhaps my putting the terms “abundant” and “survival” together into one sentence is not contrary, after all, if it means to prosper. We don’t have to “just barely” survive! We can survive fully – fully in love with life! As we “continue to function”, we can also “prosper”.

There are many ways to prosper. Even if we’ve had financial losses, we might prosper financially at some time in the future, if we practice delayed gratification today, and if certain things go our way. But there are other ways to prosper as well.

Abundance is defined as “marked by great plenty (as of resources)”. Our greatest resource, of course, is prayer. We also have love at our disposal, as well as laughter. We can find joy in a rose or a sunny, blue sky (or a rainy day if you happen to be from Washington State like I am). We can find joy in a hobby. Yes, some hobbies take resources that we don’t have, but any passionate interest can be a hobby of sorts, and some are free. Seeing a classical car cruising down the road still takes my breath away…and it doesn’t cost me anything. What do you enjoy seeing or hearing? We can grasp the little moments and enjoy them in the midst of difficulties.

We can also share our resources. I remember a tough time several years ago when I felt that I had absolutely nothing to give to anyone…except a smile. I didn’t smile because I was happy. I smiled because I wanted to give something. But while I was smiling in friendliness, I was feeling happier, if only for a moment at a time.

And so, I have at last found a theme for my blog: “Striving for Abundant Survival.” Come, strive with me. Smile with me. Laugh with me. And as David said in the 33rd Psalm, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name together.”

Checking In With You

I really have not disappeared from the face of the earth! I am not on the internet much these days but I still think of all you good readers and keep you in my prayers.

Everything is good with us; we're just very, very busy! We got our fifth child through high school, and all his paperwork in order to get into college in the fall. I've ordered books for the coming year for our sixth and last child (who is going into his sophomore year). We've made plans for our homeschool enrichment co-op for next year, where I am now on the three member council (since I didn't already have enough to do). We are looking forward to a great year, so if you happen to live in Baltimore, look us up.

We will be moving in mid-July, not cross-country, not even cross-city, only six or eight miles. However, it's just about as big an undertaking...maybe bigger since it's not a corporate move - so we have to pack our own stuff (oh, poor lil' things). I seem to have amnesia about the last move we made when we had to pack our own stuff. It would surely have been with babies in tow, so this one should be a piece of cake in comparison. But working around a job (even a part-time job) throws a different kind of angle into the equation.

Some of you may remember when I first moved to this city and basically knew no one. Since then we have made many friends. But this year we got to know a family so well that they have become dear family friends. We talk by email and phone, we get together on holidays, we camp together. In the midst of everything else that's going on right now, they are doing what we always knew (yet I always dreaded) that they would probably be doing soon: Moving again. Not moving like us, six or eight miles away, but closer to a thousand miles away. I am happy for them (through my own tears) and grateful. Even though they (and we) knew they probably wouldn't be here permanently, they were willing to open their hearts to us.

When I think of our kids living in various states, our relatives who are spread out in the West, our friends going back to Florida, I think maybe an RV would be the way for us to retire some day. Great thing to be thinking about in the midst of a gas crisis, isn't it? But hey, there's nothing like having dreams. And there's nothing like dreaming of being able to be with all our people, even in this life.

Please keep us in your prayers as we make our little move, and our friends as they make their big one, and all our kids as they move through their transitions in life. Those I will save for another post, so that I won't let so much time go between posting. You all are in my prayers and thoughts.

Good Morning

The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. The sky is blue.

Why are the shrubs in the parking lot covered in red when it's not fall but spring? Ahh, I really should learn more about different plant types. Maybe some day...although I have my doubts. I like to just enjoy the beauty without understanding the visual detail.

This morning I've been commenting at a couple blogs as I visit them, and I decided I really ought to say hello to my own blog readers -- if I still have any.

One blogger was wondering why she blogs and whether it's worth it. I told her - basically - that it's just good to know her. I guess I guilt-tripped myself into blogging this morning.

Why did I start my blog? At the time I started it, I was working part time in retail sales at a department store. I wanted to share with people how it felt to be a retail clerk, how we can lift their day for love of God with just a smile or a good word. As time went on, I also wanted to help others who were struggling financially to know they were not alone and offer a few tidbits of advice now and then.

When my second son began losing his vision, I threw myself into blogging daily. It gave me something to do, not that I didn't have enough to do, but something positive and uplifting to do.

As time went on, I continued, hopeful that maybe I could start a part-time writing "career", and blogging would be a good networking opportunity for that. I got some kicks out of watching my site meter, but my greatest joy has been getting to know some really wonderful people...not for anything they can do for me, but just for who they are.

Eventually, I realized I was not launching a writing career - at least at this time. And I did need to make that little bit of extra money. So I got a part-time job. I will probably always write in some way. I have books on back burners. I have to keep buying more stoves to have enough back burners to put them on. You should see my kitchen. Ha. Just kidding. As you may know, I live in an apartment with a little kitchen, but yeah, I have a lot of ideas for books that I never quite get around to writing. Sometimes I think them, and later on someone else writes them. And that's okay, too.

So for now my life has taken a different turn. I'm working part-time in an interesting job. Interesting to me, but probably sounds boring to some. I try to describe my job and people yawn and their eyes glaze over. Let's just say I work in a billing department of a medical office but I don't get on the computer. Suits me fine because my responsibility is simply to be accurate. When I go home, the work doesn't go with me.

I've gotten more involved in our homeschool co-op, where as some of you know, I have been teaching preschool this past year. I will be more involved next year than this year. This blog used to be my apostolate. Having relocated, it was also where I had most of my friends. Now that I've entered the...I won't say the "real world" because this virtual world is very real...but now that I've submerged myself into a different world of apostolate and friends whom I can see and touch, I don't have as much time for this one. But I have so many wonderful friends from this blogging experience, this whole online experience.

Hey, I am not saying good-bye, but only good morning!

God bless you all! (If there is any "you all" still reading).

Sabbatical

I feel a bit badly that I haven't been posting very often. Not guilty, just a little badly. My reason for being here (here at my blog, not here on earth) is to share with you: resources, inspiration, and just plain ol' stuff from my life.

At the moment, I just don't have the time and focus to do a whole lot of that. But I'm not quitting, just resting a bit, and re-evaluating my schedule. I may post daily again, or I may not. But I do have things I want to share with you, so please bear with me.

God bless you.

Site Meter and Search Engines

As a blogger, I've just discovered a new way to go crazy. (Like I needed new ways.) Although I have a site meter, I don't check it often...I especially don't look often to see how someone came to my site. But doing so can be an interesting pastime.

I found someone was looking for a split pea soup recipe (hope you liked it), a prayer to St. Helena (you're welcome), and Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (I hope you found what you were looking for).

But some of the referrals were a little harder to comprehend, like the one coming from a blog, where there didn't seem to be any link or mention of me. How'd the person get here? And a search for Valentine's Day for a certain age of child. I explored several Google pages to see how they got to me before giving up.

Now I know why I don't visit my Site Meter too often. I have a bit too much to do right now to run off down winding trails. But whatever you've come for, you are welcome and thanks for stopping by!

Wait! You're in the Right Place

I just got tired of pink, that's all, so I changed to a blue template. Oh, I'm still gonna' love my pink leather jacket that the boys gave me a couple years ago (see profile picture). And I still enjoy my pink umbrella and pink water bottle. Living with a bunch of guys, you can imagine that having pink means that the items don't get borrowed and lost. Not selfish, am I? (You don't have to answer that one.)

So. Tell me. Do you like the blue or should I put it back to pink? I did save the code for the pink signature in case I want to go back. Maybe I could switch back and forth seasonally. Pink for spring/summer, blue for fall/winter?

And yes, I know this is not a significant post. And no, I'm not bored. I got a lot of lesson planning done today, and so I felt I earned the right to "play" a little.

Enjoy your week. God bless.

Rebuilding the Blog

This morning I've been recluttering - I mean rebuilding - the links in the right hand column. What you see today, you might not see tomorrow. And what you don't see today, might be there tomorrow.

I changed the Library Thing listing to just be book covers. It's dawning on me that this is probably not user-friendly for those who are visually impaired, so I may switch back to the covers and titles both. (By the way, did you know that if you click on a book, it takes you to that book at Amazon.)

Some of the little lists just appeared when I made the switch to the new template. I think they moved over from my very first days with this blog - about a year and a half ago. I'm still thinking about how and what I want to add.

I hesitate to add Labels, simply because I have SO many - though I'm not sure I want to drop them altogether, either. In the meantime, if you want to find any past posts, you can always use the search box at the top left, where it says "Search blog".

If there's anything you'd like to see me add (or subtract), please leave me a note in the comments, and I'll consider it. Thanks!

Blog Rating

However, when I write, I generally assume that you who are reading are adults...although I don't say anything that I wouldn't want my teenage children to read.



Hat tip to Minnesota Mom.

Test Post

Testing Signature Color



Signature was computer-generated by My Live Signature. This signature signifies my style but is not my real, legal signature.

Hat tip to the lovely ladies at Moms Who Blog for telling us about the website for signatures.

Warm gratitude to my son Rob for adjusting my signature code, so that I could have the right red to go with my blog colors. Okay, you can have the computer back now, son.

How to Navigate a Blog

Have you ever felt a bit overwhelmed when you visit a blog? I sometimes do (and I visit a lot of blogs. I have about forty blog feeds in my Bloglines account.).

Previous Posts:
What if you read on down the page and want to know what was written just before that last post at the bottom? With some blogs, there is something at the bottom to click on to get to previous posts. With this one, I'm sorry to say, there is not; and to be perfectly frank, I have not yet figured out how to add that...without a total revamp of the blog which would cost me many hours and too much risk of lost content. I'm not big on gambling...

So...if you ever want to know what came before the posts on the current page, here's what you can do:
Scroll down, skimming the sidebar for "Archives". In this case, it's the last list just above the pictures of "Random Books from my Library". Click on the current month and you can see all the posts from this month. In this way, you can be sure you don't miss any content. (Should you have so much time on your hands. )

Contact Blog Owner:
Now, what if you want to contact a blog owner? Been there, done that. Some are easy; some not so easy. First thing you can do is look for a profile. Where there is a profile, there is often (though not always) an email address. In my blog, if you look under Contact Me in the list of Labels (Alphabetical), you can find my email address.

If you can't find someone's email address, on most blogs you can leave a comment. I once needed to talk to someone whose email address I couldn't find anywhere, so I left her a comment giving her my email address and asking her to email me - and she did. (I have a friend who I know reads my blogs but doesn't have email. Could I leave her messages in my posts? Don't worry, _________, I'm just joking...and hope you all are doing well!).

Search:
You are researching turtles and you remember this blogger who wrote about turtles (not me). Or you want to see what someone looks like. Go to "Search" and type "turtles" or "pictures" and voila! you get everything on that topic. Yes, that search field at the top left isn't for the web, nor even for all the blogs in the blogosphere. It's for the very blog you are visiting. This is not available on all blogs, but it is on most blogs whose addresses have "blogspot.com" in them.

So, have fun. But, oh yes, there's the schoolwork and the housework and spending time with the family. I'm outta' here!

Another Blog Roll

If you scroll down my sidebar, you will see a new addition: a beautiful picture of Jesus and Mary, with the words "Catholic Mothers Online". It includes a scrolling list of many blogs. Again, as with any blog roll, it is not "all inclusive" or anything like that. But it's another neat way to find new blogs! These blogs are not necessarily about homeschooling; they're a varied collection of blogs by Catholic mothers, including those who would like to be mothers, are godmothers, or have a mother's heart.

If you have a blog that you would like to add to this service, you can go check it out by going here, or you can check it out any time from the Catholic Mothers Online scrolling list in my sidebar itself, where it says "Click here to join".

Thank you, Angie, for this service.

My Three Blogs

Yes, you read that right. I'm now up to three blogs...and holding. I hope. I think three is a good number, don't you?

Actually, this third one was borne of a Yahoo group that I started several years ago. It's called Catholic BVI Readers. It is an effort to share Catholic materials that are available in Braille, large print or audio format.

This third blog may have posts that are only occasional. Over the past years, with the Yahoo group by the same name, there has been very little activity. On my part, some of that was due to the fact that I didn't have the money to buy anything. Now I do need to buy some things for my son who is entering high school this coming fall. As I do, I will want to share those ideas with others.

I've also expanded the format of Catholic BVI Readers to include some special internet resources, such as those with human voice, and I might also post book reviews in the future about books that are available in alternate formats.

If you know anyone who might be interested in this type of blog, please send them along to check it out.

Sidebar Changes

I hope you'll like the changes to my sidebar. Yesterday I looked at the long list of "Labels" and counted 25 of them! Who would want to wade through that? ...unless you're looking for something in particular.

So, today I added a list of seven labels and called it: "Labels-Topical"; and I re-labeled the old list: "Labels-Alphetical".

This is why my posts now have seemingly repetitious labels, such as this one being labeled "About this Blog" and "My Blog and Me".

I may not get posts from the past re-labeled all at once; it will be a work in progress.

Ultimately, even though this sounds more complicated (for me), I hope it will make the blog less complicated and more user friendly, for you, my dear reader.

Blogging "Plan"

I had forgotten my list. Some weeks ago I had come up with a plan for this blog, much like my menu plan for our family meals. Monday I would write this kind of thing, Tuesday that kind of thing, Wednesday something else. I didn't want to share the plan with you for the same reason that I didn't use to share my menu plan with the family:

"Hey, I thought we were supposed to have spaghetti tonight!"

Or, "Hey, I was expecting a book review."

But the past week I've been sitting down to a blank screen, wondering why I "got myself into this". To quit (or to write less often) was unthinkable. But I didn't know where to go with it each day. It had been a bit like coming home from a busy day of errands at 4:30 or 5:00 and trying to figure out what to have for dinner. And then you waste all kinds of time running to the store. Know the feeling? You might actually come up with something tasty now and then, but it takes some of the joy out of the cooking.

And then I remembered my list! A plan for what type of thing to write each day. So here I am. Saturday is: "About this blog" or "Family life". Sunday is: "Potluck" -- not as in recipes, but as in, whatever; anything or nothing. But that's all I'll tell you of my blog "menu plan" for now!

Mission Statement for My Blog

So, why, then do I write this blog? The following is what I've been working on for a week or so. The items are not necessarily in order of priority. As a matter of fact, if you would like to know, I put them in the order I thought would look best visually.

To promote joy in everyday living;
To promote healthy, happy relationships;
To share resources for innocent online recreation;
To share ideas for economical and healthful eating;
To share resources for the education of our children and ourselves;
To share the beauty and joy of the Catholic faith with people of any creed;
To promote respect for the individual, regardless of race, creed, ability, etc.

My Little "Secrets" about My Blog

1) How did I keep up the blog with our daughter here from out of town? Well, yes, I did get on the computer some while she was here...but I also had most of the blog posts sitting in Microsoft Word, ready to go. (Smile).

2) I have secret fears about my blog. (I guess they're not going to be secret anymore.) What if I run out of things to say? Or what if no one is really interested? Should I be spending my time some other way?

3) I began posting on a daily basis rather than an occasional basis when my second son became visually impaired (this past January). There wasn't anything I could do for him, and I had to "do something". Now I realize I was probably doing what Elwood N. Chapman suggests in his book, Attitude, Your Most Priceless Possession. He says that all of us deal with both positive factors and negative factors in our lives. He says that in order to keep our attitude postive, it helps to "play our winners"...whether it's taking a walk in nature or listening to classical music, or a hobby or sport. Whatever we do well, or whatever is a happy influence for us, can help to keep the positives stronger than the negatives in our lives. Neat, huh?

New Blog Established

My new blog, "VIP Homeschooler", is now up and running. VIP (in this case) stands for Visually Impaired Persons.

I will keep this current blog as it is, including the label for visually impaired articles in the right hand column. But future articles about visual impairment will appear on the other blog.

Do You Hear the Music?

If you have sound on your computer and have your speakers turned on, you might hear "Fur Elise" playing right now. You can turn it off or on without touching your speakers or going into your computer controls. Just scroll down to the bottom of the stuff in the right hand margin to find a control panel right here on the blog.

My son Robert asked me yesterday, "Would you like to have music on your blog?" This morning when I got up, there it was! Thanks, Rob!

Do Try This at Home - Just for Fun

Have you ever Googled yourself? (Isn't it funny the verbs that we have fabricated, using proper nouns such as Google and FedEx?). Just for fun, put your name in quotation marks in a Google search and see what comes up. Maybe nothing, maybe something. It depends on where and what you write. For example, if you write on a restricted e-group, what you've written there shouldn't come up on a search. If you write on a public e-group, it might. There was a time a few years ago when I put my name in a search, and up popped a message to an e-group of a sensitive nature...not exactly private, not something I was ashamed of personally, but...well, something I would rather not have had popping up with my name. Couldn't the search have picked something more impressive? Makes me think of how everything we say will be seen one day. Yikes. Maybe I should be quiet more. Ha.

So...just to warn you, my blog IS PUBLIC. I would absolutely LOVE for you to make comments on my blog, but please be aware that they are not private. Sometimes I even forget that myself…well, not really when I’m writing in my own blog, but when I’m commenting on someone else’s. Of course, you can post anonymously, OR if you don't use your whole name as I always do, then I guess your name won't come up in a search. Makes me think of that verse, "Fools' names like fools' faces often appear in public places." Hmm, now that makes two times I've called myself a fool on here ("Fools rush in where angels dare not tread. ")Wonder what would come up if I did a search for "fools"...

Sidebar Updates

A list of labels has been added to the sidebar to direct you to some of the previous posts, according to type, such as "articles", "homeschooling", etc. (check it out).

There is also a "Blog Roll" (previously entitled "A Few Favorite Links"). This list of blogs may grow over time, so check it out as often as you'd like, and feel free to come to my blog in order to visit other blogs.

I also added a copyright notice at the bottom for any original material (which is just about anything here, except for the occasional quote and such as that). Please do NOT copy and send any of my posts around in an email (I should be flattered if you thought of doing it, though!). But you're most welcome to link in an email to any that you want to share or, if you have a blog, you're welcome to link through your own blog! (smile). If in doubt about use, you can email me any time at margmary53@yahoo.com Or you can email me there just to say hello! (smile)

Making these changes to the blog was my "Super Bowl" project, since I'm not a football fan. I could sit in the same room, and enjoy the guys' enthusiasm (and snacks!), while doing what I love.