Small Successes

Laughing in the Face of Smallness

February 25, 2010 By Sarah Reinhard 6 Comments

1. I returned home. In one piece. After flying alone with a five-year-old and a two-year-old. (They’re intact too.)

2. Given the to-do list in front of me, I’m not freaking out. I don’t know how this is, but I attribute it to a committed morning prayer routine. And a big miracle.

3. I started reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church (also available online) this morning as part of my Lenten resolutions, and, to my credit, I started small. I am also reading the US Catholic Catechism for Adults in conjunction, which I’m enjoying so far. Instead of reading all morning (this is the success part), I stopped at one chapter in the US Catholic Catechism and the accompanying articles in the Catechism. (Small, right? That’s our goal.)

Share in the laughter and celebration of successes small and large at Faith & Family Live.

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WHO DAT Successes

February 18, 2010 By Sarah Reinhard 3 Comments

It’s Thursday and I’m still reeling from Mardi Gras fun. I’ve also been reveling in a far different way, enjoying my nieces and the company of my husband’s sister, who has become a good friend of mine over the years (though with 1000 miles between us).

But…I do have some successes. They’re small, as you would expect.

1. In the face of a looming deadline and a few days when I was just simply “off the books,” I took a kind offer of a pass. In other words, I swallowed my pride and tried, as gracefully as I could, to say, “Sorry, but no.” (And the world did not explode. Funny how that works.)

2. I have helped my sister-in-law clear her table. In a rather habit-forming way. It’s been staying cleared off and we’ve been eating at it. I think she’s happy about it. (I overheard her use the phrase “lifelong dream” relating to it, and felt myself flush. Hope it wasn’t with pride.)

3. I had big plans to wake early during our visit. I was going to maintain my rigorous prayer and writing schedule. Then my little one and I bunked together, and I found myself tired. So I opted to snuggle with her the last few days, instead of working. And I’m better for it.

What have you done right this week? Share your small successes at Faith & Family and give yourself a well-deserved dose of encouragement!

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Tiny Triumphs

February 4, 2010 By Sarah Reinhard 4 Comments

–1–

Last weekend, I attacked my office area and specifically the mess formerly known as my desk. It’s been cleaned and organized AND I’ve kept it that way all week.

–2–

I’m back at the parish office this week, after nearly five weeks of not really going in. Next week, things go back into “remote mode” for three weeks or so. I’m remarkably calm about this (even excited, given the reason).

–3–

I have been up early all week. No snoozin.

What are your successes this week? Share them at Faith & Family Live!

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Better Small than Nothing

January 28, 2010 By Sarah Reinhard 12 Comments

1. It’s been an out-of-normal struggle for the last few weeks. The good that’s come out of it, though, can be found in the freshly-washed kitchen floor! (Might be a while before THAT’s done again!)

2. I made lasagna last night. At my husband’s request. And according to him and my father-in-law, it was good. Go me!

3. I asked my husband for something frivolous. Something seemingly silly. Something I dreamed about as a girl. Something, to me, that is outrageously expensive. (No, not an iPad!) He said yes. I’m elated. (And keeping the doubting “should we spend that money?” voices at bay, thank you very much.)

Share your Small Successes over at Faith & Family Live!

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Not So Small After All

January 21, 2010 By Sarah Reinhard 3 Comments

I was going to do a “real” post, and then I realized that, at least for me, these Thursday Small Successes are real, in every sense of the word. So here goes…

1. I was given a small, gentle nudge about some neglected housework. Rather than pout (too much), I attacked the living room and instituted a new “no eating in the living room” (which is where the only TV is) rule.

2. I’ve been enforcing said “no eating in the living room” rule all week. Despite protests. Despite yelling. Despite threats of starvation for a certain dramatic five-year-old.

3.Though my life has been upside down and not-so-normal for a few weeks, and though it’s looking like it’s going to stay that way for at least another week or two (or three), I’m not freaking out. I haven’t cried. In fact, I have laughed every day this week.

4. (bonus!) Though I’ve seen the list of women I really admire who are attending the retreat I’m leading on Saturday, I haven’t had a panic attack or even freaked out. I credit those prayers of late (mine and others’) and St. Michael, St. Joseph, and Mother Mary. (Left to my own devices, freaking out would be inevitable. Just thinking about trying to teach those wise women anything should have me curled in a ball sucking my thumb. Despite that, I feel peace. And that’s good this year.)

There are many more Small Successes (and plenty of great encouragement) at Faith & Family Live.

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Significantly Small

January 14, 2010 By Sarah Reinhard 3 Comments

I don’t feel like I have much to report in the way of successes, but here goes…

1. Laundry – done. Despite its attempts to take over the house, it’s done. For about five more minutes.

2. To-do list – tossed. Despite the fact that it’s a to-do notebook now, I’ve let go. What needs done will get done, by the grace of God (and the miracle of friends).

3. My new favorite Mary book, Mary and the Christian Life, by Amy Welborn – read in the midst of a really rough week. More to come on it (I have a whole stack of books to share…someday….)

What were your successes this week? Share them at Faith & Family Live!

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Being Awesome

December 17, 2009 By Sarah Reinhard 7 Comments

Well, I’m not, though the title would suggest otherwise, wouldn’t it?

small_successes_badge

I’ve been racking my brain for small successes, and I’ve been coming up, instead, with the piles of small failures. So this week’s might be smaller than normal…and that’s OK. Because this weekend is family Christmas on two sides and I have two more parish bulletins to get done and a pile of writing and…and…and…well, you know how it is.

Success #1

This is me, spruced up with a handsome man on my arm. Not only did I not have to go shopping (thanks, Kelly!), but I didn’t have to do my hair either, thanks to a luckily timed hair appointment already on the books when I heard about the company Christmas party. I’d like to note that I wore heels all night long. I looked great. And I still can’t quite walk right.

Bob Sarah christmas party

(Photo by Heather) (of course)

Success #2

I’m facing a big conundrum with homeschooling. I’ve turned it over to God, though, and I’m not worrying about it. Really. I’m not. (And that shocks me.)

Success #3

I have given myself permission to tread water this week and even into next week. By “treading water,” I mean that I’ll be drinking an extra pot of coffee, getting up at a time some mornings that would be considered sinful by some and crazy-early by others, and perhaps wrapping the kids’ presents on Christmas Eve. In all of that, I’m clinging to my rosary as a lifeline and my image of Mary by the manger as an inspiration. It was messy there in the stable. She meets me in my own messiness, and Advent is a messy time of year. I can find the peace in that messiness, but I need to trust her to lead me to Him, the Baby who is my peace.

Share your successes, big and small, at Faith & Family Live!