the domestic monastery

I am so very grateful to Jen for posting the link to http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/ron/ron_14domesticmonastery.htmltoday.

The reason I have not been blogging recently are just as this author states,

For example, the mother who stays home with small children experiences a very real withdrawal from the world. Her existence is definitely monastic. Her tasks and preoccupations remove her from the centres of power and social importance.

Sometimes it even removes you from the edges of power and social importance - sometimes it even removes you from so small a social connection as the blogging world. I have missed blogging. But the (eight!) small hands tugging at my sleeves have been insistant during the past two weeks, moreso even than usual. I have wondered and wondered what it is the Lord was doing with me. I knew he was doing something, because he always is working for our good, and I trust him.

This article explains what it is. I am very grateful to have the words now to describe my daily experience: he is teaching me that my time is his time. I am glad to know - not just in my head, but in my hands - that that is so.

Again, Jen, much thanks.

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

not for the squeamish, but . . .

this is one of the most amazing medical stories I've read recently. And one of the most amazing pictures.

Though, I have to admit, news stories about odd things having to do with twinning hit me a little differently these days.

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

housekeeping, a bit at a time

In this season of not enough sleep, and very little time when I have one, let alone two, hands free, I am learning to do my housekeeping a bit at a time.

I'll keep this short because, well, I ought to sleep while I can. The babies will be wanting me soon.

But in case it helps anyone else . . . cleaning can be done here and there. I used to think that in order to keep my bathrooms clean, I needed to have a whole hour, in which I could roll up my sleeves and really clean both bathrooms, from top to bottom. Now I know I can wipe down the sink on Monday, before I wash my hands. I can sweep the floors on Tuesday while the kids are playing happily in the bedroom next door. I can scrub out the toliet after I put the babies down for their nap and before I head back downstairs. Etc.

Our fridge is getting cleaned a shelf at a time; I just do one a day after I wash the nightly dishes, and have soapy water and a wet dishcloth out anyway.

Bits at a time, but all the time, instead of getting clean, our house is staying clean.

And, the very most important part, we're doing a nightly pick-up-and-dishes fest. (Picking up being different than cleaning.) Part one is with the kids - they help clear the table and pick up their toys after dinner. Part two is after the kids are in bed - Adam and I do the rest of the downstairs - clutter and basic kitchen cleaning - so that we're not behind when we get up in the morning. We take turns reading to each other while we do this, which makes it a much easier chore.

Between cleaning in pieces, and picking up all at once every night, it still gets down.

I like cleaning house all at once, taking it within a few hours from dirty to clean. But right now that's a luxury. However, having a clean house isn't a luxury. It's just a necessity I have to take care of in a new way.

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Advent continues

but blogging aparently does not. :)

Bless all of you still faithfully writing on your blogs during this season. I greatly enjoy reading your entries. Sadly, I haven't been able to keep up with blogging, as every spare minute is going towards crafting. I love, love, love this handmade holidays idea. But next year, I want to start in JANUARY.

peace of christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Advent: December 4 & 5

The chai tea in the sugar cookie mix was delicious - though you have to like biting into small chunks of cardamom. Also, my husband thinks the cookies were responsible for a bit of insomnia on his part; I guess that's what happens when you actually drink tea.

Yesterday was taken up with some birthday activities - there are a couple December birthdays in my family, including mine - and tonight the kids are leaving out their shoes for St. Nicholas.

In other very, very, very exciting news, the GAFCON bishops whole-heartedly welcome the new North American Anglican province. God bless it and them.

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Advent: December 2 & 3

Yesterday, the eldest and I gathered together all our Christmas books into one place. Today, we found a box to put them in. (I know, I know, today's activity was so ambitious!)

But I just finished mixing up some chai sugar cookie dough, and it's now in the fridge, ready to be rolled out tomorrow with the kids, so that they can put their cookie cutters to some good use. Well, good, yummy use, because their cookie cutters already get lots of good use . . . on their playdough.

I made the chai sugar cookie dough by mixing in the contents of a couple of chai spice tea bags in with the sugar cookie dough. I'll find out how that works in about, oh, three minutes, because there's a small batch of it cooking in the toaster oven right now for my husband and I to enjoy tonight.

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Advent: December 1st

Today our Advent activity was simple: put up the Advent calendars.

Also, if you're looking for a way to solve that "do we put up the Christmas tree before Christmas?" dilemma, check this out.

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell