Augustine

Augustinian spirituality has always been what formed my religious understanding. A child of an Augustinian parish, a student at an Augustinian University and a parent in an Augustinian elementary school, it seemed only fitting that I understand the man a bit more. This summer, I am moving through Saint Augustine of Hippo - Selections from Confessions and other essential writings. It is excellent. The historical context courtesy of the translator, Joseph T. Kelley, PhD really helps frame the pieces. The annotations help me when something is harder to understand. However, a surprise, to me, is that its quite digestable AND relevent. The relevance between today and writing from the 300's - early 400's, tells us what we need to know. How little people actually change! Here are a few lines I highlighted: "What, at the present moment, are the evils of humanity? Error and weakness. Either you don't know what to do and you go wrong, you fall into error, or else you know what should be done, and you are overpowered by weakness. So every human evil is error and weakness." Sermon 182:6 As innotated: Ignorance (we do not know what is the right and good thing to do); and weakness (we find no joy or delight in doing what is right and good). As Augustine explains, God's grace operates in us in two ways: enlightening our minds in knowing the good, and delighting our hearts in doing it.

Andrea Bocelli

 "There are not four but five mathematical operations.  The fifth is not studied in school; it is learned by living and growing alongside others, the people we meet.  It is called cooperation, but also trust, care and friendship, and it always arises from an act of love.  Care generates; it does not impoverish.  And it often changes everything.  Bringing this testimony among you is a privilege for me and a gesture of gratitude to those who believed, like my mother, that one plus one never just makes two" - Andrea Bocelli 

Link to Story about his marriage   and beautiful duet

7th grade exchange

Bookmarking this here.  7th grade has been filled with some ups and downs but J, I hope you keep approaching life exactly like this.   If/when you fall, you get back up.  Every single time.  We all fall what's important is what we do next.  

Mary Cassidy <email@gmail.com>	Fri, May 15, 12:21 PM (17 hours ago)
to Joseph

That's great news - thank you for sharing!   Keep working hard, Joe.  You are very smart and Mom and Dad and all your teachers are here to support you.    It feels great to do your best. 

I love you! 

Mom 

On Fri, May 15, 2026 at 12:19 PM Joseph Campos <email> wrote:

Dear, mom, I hope you are having a good day so far, I am emailing to inform you that I have brought up my Latin grade from a 62 to an 86, I checked with Mr. Hartel during advisory and we brought up the grade! I am very happy about this! Thank you,

Sincerely,
Joe
Sent from my iPad

Daragh Fleming

Two Poems by Daragh Fleming that have stopped me in my tracks this week.  They are better listened to than read, so reminder to myself - find the clip online.  

If I ever have boys 

If I ever have boys they’ll be dangerous men

They’ll smile at dogs and children and be a tonic to friends

They’ll send flowers to their mother just because and they’ll be a shoulder for many when the world is too much

My boys will know that vulnerability is strength

They won’t bottle anger, they’ll learn how to express

They won’t let pride be the reason they hide, wearing masks while they’re hurting inside

My boys will be dangerous men

They won’t stay silent even when it’s uncomfortable for them

They’ll learn that their actions are more effective than words but they’ll use their voices to amplify the unheard

They’ll know that love isn’t something to perform

They’ll see beauty in all of its forms

My boys won’t grow learning to emotionally hide

They’ll reshape masculinity into something they like, make it softer to touch

They’ll know that who they are is more than enough

They’ll know that being a man doesn’t mean carrying the burden alone

They’ll learn that an emotional man is a man fully grown

They won’t settle everything with violent swings

They’ll live in truth even when that truth stings

So yeah, if I ever have boys they’ll be dangerous men

but the danger they’ll be won’t be the one society meant

--

If I Ever Have Girls

If I ever have girls, they’ll be feared by weak men.
But to everyone else, they’ll be a consistent friend.
They’ll never lack meaning,
They’ll be gentle and kind,
While breaking every glass ceiling.
They’ll take up space, 
And they’ll like what they like.
They won’t be taught to reduce themselves or hide.
My girls will be feared by weak men.
They’ll demand respect because they deserve it.
They will always know love.
They’ll never feel they have to earn it.
They’ll know their value is inherent
And has nothing to do with their looks.
They’ll be leaders.
They’ll be healers.
Right wrongs, write books.
They’ll be mothers one day if they so choose.
But their value won’t be defined the the use of their wombs.
They’ll be whatever lives in their hearts,
And they’ll know dreams were there to be chased from the start.
My girls will know poetry and song.
They’ll know I will listen when something feels wrong.
They’ll learn that “women are too emotional” is an original lie,
And they’ll not grow up with a father who refuses to cry.
So yeah, my girls will make some weak men shake in their knees.
They won’t be the women that society expects.
They’ll be the women society needs. - Daragh Fleming

I've been playing around with watercolor, just for fun.  

Art

Cheerful, inspiring art as seen on this weekend's beautiful trip with two long time girlfriends at the Mayflower Inn. 

Communication

 Lately, I've been reading a bit about communication styles.  I saved this - pinning it here for future reference: 

10 Phrases the are actually gaslighting but don't sound like it: 

1. I'm sorry you feel that way.  // Better: I'm sorry I contributed to how you're feeling. 

2. That's not what happened. //   Better: That's not how I remember what happened, but I'm open to hearing your side. 

3. It was just a joke // Better: I meant it lightly but it landed badly.  I'm sorry. 

4. You're overreacting.  // Better: This clearly matters to you.  I want to understand why. 

5. You're too sensitive.  // Better: I didn't realize this would hurt you. 

6. You're reading into it.   // Better: I may have missed something important. 

7. Why are we still talking about this.  // Better: I'm feeling uncomfortable.  Can we take a break and come back to this?

8. If you hadn't done this, I wouldn't have reacted that way.  // Better: I felt triggered but my reaction is my responsibility. 

9. You always twist my words.  // Better: That's not what I meant.  Thank you for telling me how it landed. 

10. I guess I'm just a bad partner, friend, family member, etc.   // Better:  What I did was wrong, I'm sorry. 

Accountability builds safety and trust.  Defensiveness destroys it.  

How we spent the snow day (J, 13)

Journaling a bit here because I know one day it will seem like a distant memory, the same way looking at the toddler pictures does!   J and I hunkered down for a cold, snowy weekend and it was perfect.   We started with a trip to Barnes and Noble.  Saturday included some reading and we made sauce, meatballs and fresh pasta.   On Sunday, we spent more than 2 hours making clay projects with Cat Stevens playing in the background, the snow falling hard, and just being together.   We ended the night with Episode 1 of Game of Thrones.  J loves the series so I'm going to dig in a bit with him.  Nothing fancy.  Just a lovely weekend home together.  

" Hygge is about being cozy, comfortable, safe and surrounded by people we love."  Pia Edberg notes, "Hygge was never meant to be translated—it was meant to be felt"

“Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down.” -  Meik Wiking