Contemplating Liberty on Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend I've seen many political cartoons and emails about the price of liberty - lest we forget on this Memorial Day weekend.  All important things to remember...memorial and all that.  But these have brought to mind the question...what is the price of lost liberty?  Are we willing to pay that price to gain certain "perks" in our daily lives? 

When we buy and buy and buy and max out our credit cards, we've lost liberty...and we pay a price.   When we fill our days with busy-ness leaving no time for relaxation and true rejeuvenation, we've lost liberty and we will pay a price.  When we rely on the government to do what the Church should be doing (taking care of the poor, for example), we've lost liberty and we will pay a price.

Just some thoughts running through my head this Memorial Day weekend.  Another thought is how much I'd love to be attending this year's CiRCE conference:   A Contemplation of Liberty.  Many people said last year's (Contemplation of Nature) was one of the best, but I suspect this year's just might top that one.   Are you attending?   I'll just have to settle for some conference CDs this year - but the good thing is I can listen to them over and over!

The reading list for the conference has been posted!  I can't wait to start reading!

And subscribe to the blog - Andrew always has some great posts.  Here is a small sampling:

The Art of Freedom
Freedom and Planning
Freedom begins at Home
Freedom: Aesthetic and Ethical

Have a wonderful weekend...I'm off to shop for a new refrigerator.

Not dead, I swear!

Hi all - anyone left reading this blog?  Whew, what a month.  I am still living, and quite happily, too...but life is keeping me quite away from much access to my computer. 

Quick run down: 

• busy with end of school for eldest son including a wonderful Mock Trial opportunity
• became sick with a sinus infection
• became even more "sick"
• received a preliminary diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia - either caused by inflammation associated with the sinus infection or just coincidental that symptoms began at the same time. 
• went on vacation loaded with meds, felt better and had a wonderful time
• we vacationed at Rosemary Beach, FL (near Panama City Beach).  While there made two trips to the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola.  Saw the Blue Angels and got some autographs!  Watched my boys have the time of their lives in a  flight simulator (blew up stuff, flew under a bridge, landed on an aircraft carrer).   Enjoyed relaxing by the pool with my mom and kids.  Helped my sons improve their swim stroke...and tried to get my eldest daughter (8) to put her face in the water.
• then my computer crashed.  Hubby is my tech support, but he hasn't had time to deal with it, yet.  So I'm stuck sneaking a few minutes on his computer here and there.
• Dealing with a advertising issue for my church and trying to help get our website launched
• Praying that at the end of my month's supply of TN meds, my symptoms will have resolved. 

I do hope to be blogging again soon, but the break is good, too. 

How are you?  Any great blogging going on that I'm missing?  Planning for next year's school?  Vacations?

Daybook - Monday, May 10th

You know when your blogging becomes sparse and only consists of daybook posts for a few weeks that you are busy or sick or both, as I am now. Vacation is coming and with it some time to rest and be rejuvenated.  I hope to be back to more regular blogging soon. Lots of things to talk about with school wrapping up and summer on its way!  Thanks for sticking with me!   ~Kerry


~~~ My home ~~~

outside my window . . . after a few 90+ days, we have had two wonderfully cool, breezy days.

in the kitchen . . . Angel Food cake with strawberries tonight for dessert.  I'm saving up my carbs for that!

around the house . . . Dining room and Library have been finally cleaned out for our move.  They both look so good with less furniture.  There is definitely a lesson in that.

from our studies . . . I'm working on our summer plan.  It will include a unit on house-building - appropriate, no?

listening to . . . my kids fixing their own lunch (small celebration!), the dog chasing something in her sleep, the breeze whistling in through the small crack I've left in the window.

in the garden . . . azaleas are blooming - warm, soft pink.

living the liturgy . . . Ascension Day coming up on Thursday.  May is always so busy for us that this day often goes overlooked.  This May is no different in terms of busyness, but I'm looking at some very simple plans to celebrate this day.


~~~ Myself ~~~

what I'm wearing . . . grey lightweight pants, rose tunic top

thankful for. . . a VERY clean van (my Mother's Day gift from my family)

reading . . .  The Mysterious Benedict Society before passing it along to my kids.  I'm enjoying it so far!

on my iPod . . .  finally got my new earbuds!  I'm trying to catch up on some of my favorite podcasts before I download new ones.

creating . . . considering crocheting a lightweight summer blanket for Baby L.   I'm thinking a pale yellow cotton or maybe pink.

thinking about . . . how good it will feel not to have a head/earache.

noticing . . . that I just love the new placement of my "chair".  We rearranged the library (removed almost all of our books and one of our "big comfy chairs" and moved sofa and remaining chair to new positions) and my chair is now nestled into a private corner with a view out the front window.  It is very restful.


~~~ My Family ~~~

milestones in the past week . . .  Baby L moved from a booster with a tray to a booster at the table!  For a long time, she was too short to eat from the table in her booster.  Now (with the booster raised to its highest position) she can reach the table!  She seemed to really relish being up so high at dinner last night.

a few plans for the upcoming week . . .
- doctor today for a nasty sinus and ear infection (done - omnicef is my new friend)
- Wednesday my first meeting with the Daughters of the Holy Cross as an official "Daughter"!
- Ascension Day on Thursday with an "all Anglican" service.  (A group of the small local Anglican churches pools resources for special services like this - always fun to see our Anglican brothers and sisters from other churches.)
- Friday my Mom arrives for a visit.