Daily Archives: February 14, 2013

7 Quick Takes: Great Big Sea, Ashes, and Baseball

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Another former WBC member. I have so much hope for my generation now that another former Westboro Baptist person is speaking out. Lauren Drain posed for the NOH8 campaign, had an AMA on Reddit, and has a book out next month on her experiences. I’m hoping it will be available for NOOK.

— 2 —

Great Big Sea. I can’t remember if I saw this on Facebook or on someone’s blog or what. It’s a version of “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” called “Come and I Will Sing You”. My husband Jon remembers singing it at Boy Scout camp. I love this YouTube video because it’s the guys of Great Big Sea doing it acoustically with just a bodhran and shakers for instruments… outside in the middle of a snow storm. You can tell they’re having fun and getting into the jamming session.

— 3 —

Ash Wednesday worship. I had to deal with the Social Security Administration down in Lodi so I snuck into a noon Eucharist for ashes because I didn’t know how much of the evening service at Metanoia that I’d get to attend. It turns out I got to attend all of it. Boo yah! We celebrated with a couple other ministries and churches in town and had a blast. I think our Pentecostal lector needs to give the Lutheran lectors some tips because he was quite… passionate about his reading. My ash cross from Metanoia was also pretty decent even after bathing Daniel and taking care of basic stuff before Jon got home.

ashtag

— 4 —

An update on Yong. Do you remember the Chinese orphan I mentioned last week for whom we were hoping to raise $100,000 so he could get to the States and have his massive facial tumor removed. ALL THE MONEY GOT RAISED. I think it only took a week too. God is awesome!

— 5 —

Speaking of orphans… We now know who is adopting Kaia: the Heaton Family! Her adoption will not be cheap so if you can, please go to their site and throw a few bucks their direction.

And then there’s Brett.

Brett

He really needs a mama. Go show him some love.

— 6 —

Baseball. Spring Training is beginning!!! I’m looking forward to the season this year. Obviously, I’m rooting for the Giants (I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area) but I’m also following Jason Motte on the Cardinals. (He’s a great pitcher and a great sport.) Apparently, there was a fan that got all hot and bothered because he (Motte) didn’t stop to sign an autograph for him. Motte’s reply (via Twitter):

Dear fan at gate that boo’ed me for not stopping to sign, My wife has a 103 temp & a screaming 5 wk old n the car. Thanks for understanding.

(I’m sitting here at $tarbux on Thursday morning trying to get these done early because I have a crazy night for the third day in a row and I happened to see the tweet.) Because, you know, all athletes exist to do is sign autographs, right?

— 7 —

Forty to Forever. The Forty Days to Forever fundraiser is underway and they still need people to be sponsoring blogs. The amazing and awesome Elizabeth of Tales from Astoria signed up and I’d like to encourage any/all of you to do the same. You can also follow on Twitter — we’re @fortytoforever.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

Lent 2013: “Canticle of the Turning”

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I sang this song for the first time in 2007 at Synod Assembly in Great Falls, Montana. It’s in the new hymnal (which our parish in Montana did not own) and it would have been unfamiliar to people. I love it for several reasons:

1.) Its tune comes from one of my favorite Irish folk songs — “The Star of the County Down”. I actually ended up singing the chorus for one of Jon’s parishioners tonight.

2.) The words seemed so awesome and it wasn’t until I was doing a YouTube search for it that I discovered why: it’s a setting of the Magnificat, one of my favorite pieces of Scripture as well as my favorite canticles during Morning Prayer.

Here are the words which were penned by Rory Cooney:

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!

2. Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.

Refrain
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
There are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.

Refrain
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!

4. Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
‘Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.

Refrain
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
(HT: SpiritandSong.Com)

The Proverbs 31 Project: She makes coverings for her bed…

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Proverbs 31 Project

Today’s guest poster is Kendra. She is my late night chat buddy and go-to person on most things when it comes to natural parenting. She also co-owns Fine Linen and Purple with her soon-to-be sister-in-law Emily (who will be featured here in a few days).

She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. — Proverbs 31:22

I love this verse for many reasons.

First, it portrays a strong woman, one who is gifted and skilled to provide for herself and her family, and (inferred from Proverbs 31 as a whole) she is happy to do this. Second, this verse shows a woman who is dressed in her very best. She works hard to put her best self forward and to do the best for her home and family.

God wants us to care: both about ourselves and for others entrusted to our care. We are called to put effort into managing our home, being there for our family, and taking care of our own needs each day. I know that there are days when it??s better, even necessary, to stay in pajamas or skip the chores, to manage stress or stay sane. However, I try my best, when possible, to not let that become the norm or default.

I notice that when I have time and take the time to put on a nicer outfit or do my hair, my attitude is better that day. When I accomplish a set of chores, or even set the table nicely before dinner, things just feel different. Taking care of yourself and working hard can both be contagious, and your positive attitude can work wonders: within your home and to others you meet.

So yes, I think this verse is telling us that it??s good to care, and to put extra effort into cultivating an attitude of joy in our lives. Put the nice ??coverings?? on the bed. Go in your closet and put on your own version of ??fine linen and purple.?? Take the time to do something a little extra for your spouse, children, friend, sibling, or co-worker. It may be the little spark you need to smile, and to spread joy to those who need it the most.

Kendra is a Catholic wife and mama of one little boy. She blogs about being a Catholic, a gamer and nerd, a real food advocate, and an attachment family at The Nerdy Wife. She also blogs about faith, fashion, beauty, and new feminism at Fine Linen and Purple.