Last week a cable rep showed up at our door "selling" a free package which included a free DVR. The package included EWTN, free for 18 months, and since Doug knew I wanted EWTN, he signed up. Getting the DVR didn't hurt.
The DVR arrived, he hooked it up, and started a recording line up. I could count on one hand the number of programs I want to watch, but one I have wanted to see but can never sit down at the right time is "Jon and Kate Plus Eight." Maybe you've seen it -- it's a TLC show about a couple who had twins and then sextuplets. A friend has been telling me how much she enjoys it, so I wanted to see for myself. Doug set it for "record" on Monday night, and yesterday afternoon Peach and I sat down to watch.
One of the first things I noticed in this particular episode is that smack in the middle of this family's kitchen table is a sign that says "Plan Ahead." I'm sure that's fairly important when you have eight children, especially when six of them are under the age of about four. But, I don't have eight children and I can honestly say I need to have that sign in the middle of my kitchen table, or maybe tattooed on a conspicuous part of my body. I need to plan ahead.
This week has caught me off guard. I feel like my head's screwed on wrong and no matter which way I turn it, it's still wrong.
I tried really focusing on Lent this year, but I'm dry. I tried really helping the children focus on Lent this year; nothing changed. I put off decorating for Easter -- I still don't have one thing out. That didn't help. I didn't buy one piece of bunny candy until last night, and the only thing that happened was that the shelves at Target were empty.
I think what's missing is that I didn't plan ahead. Until this week, I didn't even think about reserving any books from the library (and of course they're already reserved). I didn't get any craft supplies. I didn't look up any new prayers. I don't even know if every one's Easter clothes fit. I'm way behind the 8 ball.
What happened to Lent? What was I doing? I thought I was in the moment, but maybe I was too much in the moment. Clearly I was not planning ahead. I think I was so busy existing in Lent, that I forgot what Lent is all about. Lent is preparing for Easter.
I know that the bunny candy doesn't matter, and the children know what Easter is all about without a stack of books from the library. But, I think I better spend the rest of this week making up for lost time and start preparing to celebrate Our Lord.
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Mk 1:1
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I think all things go in cycles....sometimes Lent is really meaningful and filled with purpose and other years it seems to fly by without much "work" on the soul seeming to be done. In the end, though, I believe we can learn from all of our experiences...as much from the desert times as the times of abundant harvest.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us in good times and bad---I always feel like I learn so much here!
This sounds like my plans for Holy Week! I do think that I always feel much worse than my children about those best-laid plans that go astray!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is another day, Barbara, and you still have all of the Easter season to read those books! Meanwhile, sufficient THIS day is the sanctity thereof.
Have a blessed, sacred Triduum, my friend.
I'm late to this...I feel this way too, I'm always a day behind. Especially with this blogging thing now. It seems everyone has their plans done ahead of time and has blogged about what they are going to do. I blog what we've already done.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better, we don't put any Easter things out until Holy Saturday! When the Easter season actually begins, so you are not too late!