Paczkis and Lent

Brent and Anna went to our favorite bakery this morning and brought home Fat Tuesday paczkis. It's become our tradition on Fat Tuesday. Happily eating too many paczkis in anticipation of the Lenten season. I highly recommend the cannoli filled paczki, by the way.

Paczkis gone, now Lent. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Brent and I have had the conversation of what we are "giving up" this year. For me, it's ice cream. What is it about ice cream, but boy it calls my name from it's freezer box. I love the stuff. Every year I always think about the whole "giving up" thing. I guess it's practicing self restrain in light of Christ's sacrifice he made for us. Ice cream versus dying on the cross. Okay. He wins. It always seems silly when I think about it - mine so trivial really and I really can handle 40 days without ice cream.

Father talked about getting back to basics during Lent. Especially spiritually. Finding time for quiet prayer with Jesus and thanking Him for our blessings and graces. Taking time to listen to Jesus and allow Him to forgive and uplift us. This is what I need. More than giving up ice cream.

I have a Lenten prayer and reflection book. I have had this for a few years and sadly I don't think I've made it all the way through it. It's really quite simple, spend a little time each day in thought and prayer to better focus and experience the Lenten season. So again, this year I am dedicating myself to this little book. I am hopeful that I will do it, really do it. And learn from it and become, if even for a moment, closer to Christ.

I have family members and some friends who are so faithful. Some of my friends write their own blogs and they are inspiring and I think, wow. They are so....holy! They are so in tune with their faith and they really live it. One of those friends just recently told me that we are all a work in progress and wanting to be more faithful is a determination of faith. I guess that's me. I want it. I want a deeper, closer relationship with Jesus. I am every day, whole heartedly, first to shout from a mountain, thankful for the blessings God bestows upon me. My loving husband, our gorgeous children. My parents, Brent's parents, all of our family and friends. The roof over our heads, the food on our table. The safety of that day, for keeping us well and together and here. In the same breath I often ask for forgiveness for my short comings and moments of lost faith in some aspects of life I do not understand. Like loss and sadness and sickness. I have this battle going, a back and forth between humble thankfulness and questions of why.

Maybe this Lent, with the help of my prayer book, I can gain a little clarity. Learn a little, think a bit, and do it all with a sincere heart (and sans ice cream).

Park swings

Check out this video of Emily and Anna. Giggling sisters enjoying Emily's first time in a park swing. They both loved it! Thank you, weird winter weather for allowing us a mild, sunny day to enjoy the outdoors.




This is fun, too ....

Anna's first time in a park swing, 4/25/09.
Eight months old.

Emily's first time in a park swing, 2/1/11.
Eight months old.

Makes me look very forward to spring.
Sunshine and sister smiles.

Little Valentines

It was a happy Hartsell Valentine's Day this year. Children bring joy to holidays and make even the some-say Hallmark holidays fun again. Our kids certainly do this for Brent and me. I had more fun planning Valentine's Day and felt like Santa Claus hanging decorations and getting goodies ready on Valentine's eve. I have always liked Valentine's Day just fine, never hating the holiday like some. First it was fun parties in elementary school, then gifts from a certain high school boyfriend (hint: starts with a B and ends with a Rent), and then nice dinners out with my dear husband. Any day that we tell the people in our lives that we love them can't be so bad. Now, Valentine's Day has morphed into heart decorations on high chairs, red glitter, heart shaped pancakes and PB&Js, and cupcakes with heart sprinkles. All to make it special for our girls. So they know we love them, that Brent and I love each other, that we love others and they love us, and that we are lucky to love and be loved.

Good morning, Valentines!

Valentine's Day lunch.

Hey, cool hat!

A rose from Daddy.

And roses for me, too!

Much love to all of my readers. I mean it, we are lucky to love and be loved. Love multiplies when we make it happen. xoxo