What I'm Reading Friday~ St. Teresa of Avila

I haven't done a What I'm Reading Friday post in a while, so I decided this was the week for a book review! Join the club- if you've read it, or decide to read it, let me know and we'll call it a club.

What I've been reading this week....

The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, vol. 1

Bernini's The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, 

sculpture in Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Rome

photo source

Here is my review of the book:

St. Teresa of Avila compares being close to God to holding up a glass of dirty water up to the light. As the light penetrates, the water that may have looked clear is seen for what it is- full of specks of dust. She was a serious woman with a passion for God.  Her prayer life will blow you away.  Her love for growth in faith will inspire your knowledge of God in a way that really knocks some good sense into you. If you want to work on your humility, I recommend this book highly.

She was firmly convinced that the good she was able to attain was not of herself, but God in her. A quote early in the book humbles, but also encourages:

"So I return to the advice- and even if I repeat it many times this doesn't matter- that it is very important that no one be distressed or afflicted over dryness or noisy and distracting thoughts. If people wish to gain freedom of spirit and not be always troubled, let them begin by not being frightened by the cross,  and they will see how the Lord also helps them carry it and they will gain satisfaction and profit from everything. For clearly, if the well is dry, we cannot put water into it. True, we must not become neglectful; when there is water we should draw it out because then the Lord desires to multiply the virtues by this means."

I found this comforting. At times I don't feel like praying. At times the cross seems disheartening, and I run from it. But like Teresa, I have to remember that God is at work no matter what.  When I experience dryness, dissatisfaction in my work, or affliction of any kind, I must keep working, and being faithful, without the worry- God will bring back the water, and he might surprise us with a flood of grace.

She begins her memoirs at the urging of her superiors in the convent.  She has experienced what she calls "favors" from God- special experiences of prayer and union with Christ.  She seeks to explain how it all adds up.... what were the events leading up to her closeness with God? She warns against the many paradoxes of a life of prayer and virtue.  Namely, pride and a desire for esteem from her peers.  This can be a trick of Satan, and is something to be very careful to protect against.

First off, I must say I knew very little about St. Teresa before reading this work. I was surprised to learn that she experienced severe illnesses throughout her life. Most life-threatening (she was thought dead) was her experience right before entering the convent: severe paralysis. For many years afterward, she experienced symptoms of this first illness and never quite recovered fully. It seems that many saints- St. Catherine of Siena comes to mind- struggled with severe pain or illness in their lifetime. No doubt God uses this to make his children more devout and dependent on him. She expresses a peace in being close to God, despite her many struggles and hardships. Her trust inspires trust in me.

One of the themes of the book, besides prayer, and physical suffering, is the need for learned superiors or educated spiritual directors.  If you are offended by elitists, watch out- she is an elitist in a sense!  The concept of getting advice from uneducated superiors bothered her conscience deeply, because she herself fell into sin and illness because of some bad advice from a superior with bad credentials.  I think delving into her reasons for this conviction in itself makes the book worth reading. She gives many important warnings in shielding ourselves from the Devil's tactics. She also makes an obvious point- if our superiors have gone to the trouble and pain of spending years in prayer and study- why in the world would we neglect to take few minutes to hear their wisdom, and learn from them? Good point, and very true.

Since she is famous for her experiences with "ecstasy" in prayer, I was very curious to understand more about what was meant by this.  It is difficult to put into words what she experienced, and I think you must read her own words to understand more.  I personally found it encouraging, but also a bit too spiritual/confusing to understand at parts.  I have to focus on my task at hand: raising children, being a good Mom, and having peace that I'm not a saint, not even close! I think it was Henri Nouwen who said: read the saints that encourage you and give you peace. I'm going to follow his advice. I think reading more of St. Teresa's work has been enlightening, all in all and I'm very thankful for my time with her book.

7 Quick Takes- vol. 6

~1~

I lost my new aquamarine necklace on our vacation to the Smoky Mountains. I'm ashamed and sad to say that I also can't find the new umbrella I got for my birthday. It makes me want to say- don't give me anything valuable- I have a horrible losing streak. SAD. I'm pathetic!

~2~

Our back garden is doing OK but it has much to be desired. We put in the violas, basil and begonias, and some bonus marigolds and blue flowers that my Mom gave me (name?). The previous owners planted some pretty hosta, and a pink azalea- cruelly clashing with my pretty RED begonia, and something like miniature- like short and really tiny- iris (Mom?). I was hoping to add more to my "shade garden" ~ strawberries, and mint for two. It's kind of a happy surprise every time a new plant grows in our yard since it's our first year living here.   We have been getting a lot of rain here in the dusty South, so that's very good (for Molly's allergies, too).

~3~

Molly graduated from Pre-School ... Ok, she actually has one week left. :)  It's funny, because I undertook to homeschool her until a semester ago. Some of the kids have been there much longer. But we're still proud and excited that Kindergarten is on the Near horizon for her!

~4~

Frances is finally almost all the way potty-trained! (Praise God!) I think I figured out this time around... it just. takes. time. Like any developmental milestone- it takes lots of practice, lots of mistakes, lots of rewards, and patience. The biggest reward? She can attend Storytime with her older sister (kids have to be 3 or potty trained) at 2 1/2! P.S. I love our Baby Bjorn potty so much better than the singing potty. It's easier to clean. And easier for little ones to empty. If you need one, get it!

~5~

Our sweet baby Madeleine turned one this week. I blogged about it here, and there will be more pictures to come from our Birthday Party tomorrow! (Fingers crossed for good weather, right now the forecast says rain.)

~6~

I wrote an article for Catholic Mom this week, elucidating the top 6 tips I would give a new Mama!

~7~

I checked the weather earlier in the week, and it made me so happy for Southern living!  I do actually like all the rain we've been getting. Shout out to Colleen Duggan, whose blog I was reading at the time (not sure if you can see that in the tabs. :)

BONUS: I wrote the post "The Story of a Nest" about the bird's nest on our front porch. We had four baby robins who made our house their home until just a few days ago.....
And, ahem...I did my first attempt at a link-up this past Sunday. If you're interested, check back this week for Menu Planning. I'm going to keep doing it until I have traffic! Even if it takes forrr.... five years. ;) If nothing else, check it out- it might inspire you to cook/plan/all of the above.  If I don't get any visitors I will just toss it in line after my sewing-a-dress fail this week (it didn't fit over Madeleine's head). Try, try again.

Linking up with Jennifer F. @ Conversion Diary.

insta-friday may 10

Our walk downtown before going to the Art Museum.

What? This is my Mom's azalea bush? No joke.

Painting and cleaning a toy resulted in painting with soapy water. (1977 did me right here).

Mmmmm. coffee.......is that .... soapy coffee? *Yes it was- She did in fact accidentally put the paintbrush in my coffee*

This lil cutie turned one this week!

So I put up the sides of my hair (semi-damp) into braids- just one on each side connected in the back with a hairband- slept on it- and this is how it looked the next day.

My daughter Molly's hair does this even though we don't use curlers or braids.

Reading The Mitten by Jan Brett... So good.

Sweet girl needed blue paint so that she could paint her doll.

It has been a rainy week!

Rainy sidewalk.

Frances giving a show-stopping performance of The Wheels on the Bus with the Cuddly Caterpillars.

Linking up with Jeannett @ LifeRearranged!

~phfr~may 9

capturing the context of contentment every Thursday

~pretty~

the sky was awesome, and the girls settled in for some coloring at the free art museum day.

the roses and sculptures outside the art museum. go!

art museum time.

My Mom has the most gorgeous azalea bush this side of the Mason Dixon. Seriously.

~happy~

She got a baby Stella doll for her first birthday, and she did the wrinkly nose of excitement!

Molly's serious/I'm-on-a-scooter face.

~funny~

This is awkward.

... your lunch looks really good.

~real~

My poor marigolds.

paint. everywhere.

Linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter

5 Favorites~Vol. 2 Ideas for kids

Five Favorites for Kids

OR

A Day At Home with Kids Without the Car 
(no you can't waste time by going on a trip to Walmart/Target/anywhere) 
edition

~1~

Playdoh- this stuff is brilliant I tell you. It needs to be bought new on occasion. Sometimes we make our own. The store-bought kind is fun for the bright colors. We made bird nests, fruit bowls, you name it.

~2~

Beauty Shop (make a homemade detangler). The girls like getting their nails and hair done. A lot.


~3~

Scooters- our five-year-old can't ride a bike yet, so this scooter is the perfect way to get around, out, and about.

~4~

V8 Splash Smoothies

I made something similar to this recipe and the girls (including my one-year-old) drank it right up. Make it last longer!

~5~

Homemade Mother's Day Cards for Grandma- using free printables or simple construction paper- or make one that doubles as a frame of your kids.

linking up with MoxieWife- ok, CampPatton

Madeleine is One!

Sweet Madeleine turns one today!

MADELEINE!
I am such a proud and happy Mama. This year has flown by. It seems like only yesterday I was sick with a sinus infection, but thrilled that my Mom was coming to help with her homebirth. The day after my Mom arrived, she came!

I'm glad she is one. She is changing and growing up, and it is fun to see.  I enjoyed the infant/baby stage, but this little one can't wait to be independent. She has a feisty spirit (much like Molly), and I think she'll be much happier when she is walking and talking easily. (OK, potty trained would be nice, too- j/k).

WORDS
She is SO SMART. Especially for a one year old. Seriously.  She can say, "Bye-bye," today she said, "Uh-oh, Daddy." She says Mama (Sometimes it comes out Mmmm-Dada), ta-ta for Thank you, "aaaah dun" for All Done.  She also shakes her head No and says, "Yah" and "Yeah" or "yeah-yeah" a lot for yes.  Daddy has been practicing vowels with her, and she says, "A- E- I" and then clicks her tongue for O and U! It is so so cute and funny. She can say "Hiiii!" usually when daddy gets home, and "Ni-Ni" for Night-Night. Today Stephen was convinced she said "birthday" and I'm pretty sure she said, "endurance. " :) She imitates all the time. Molly said, "I think she's saying , 'I'm a superhero.' ha, ha. ;)

DEVELOPMENT
She started standing all by herself a little after 11 months. She has taken up to three steps on her own. (Big girl- yay!!!! That was on Sunday).  So walking is JUST around the corner, I'm sure.  We're trying out the big girl tennies now!

MEMORIES
We moved to Tennessee when she was six months old. It was quite an adjustment for all of us, not least for her. She quickly made friends with the workers in the nursery, and they have commented about how much she has changed and how smart she is to "answer back" when you ask her a question. :) Since moving she has also received lots of love and attention from grandparents on both sides!

FUN+GOOD BABY
She is a hilarious and good baby.  She loves squinching up her nose when she smiles (much like her Mama as a toddler), and she does a funny blinking thing for Daddy. She's very content for the most part.  She is a super-fun baby to have around!  She loves her big sisters, and they have both been helping her to learn how to walk! Which is very fun to see.  We're so glad to have you around, Madeleine!

She got a babydoll for her birthday! 

See past updates on Madeleine: 9 months, 10 months, 11 months

My Advice for First-Time Moms

Today I'm over at Catholic Mom, sharing some words of wisdom from Mother Theresa~

 "My Advice for First-Time Moms."

Click on over to read the article, here.