The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 6, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 6, 2015

Outside my window… dark and probably 75F. We’re getting to 100F or higher toward the end of this week. My mother-in-law refers to it as “county fair weather”. I refer to it as “Purgatory”.

I am thinking… about the blood draws I had on Friday and the tests coming up on the 15th and 16th.

I am thankful… that I’m not Kim Davis. She is sitting in jail AND the misguided souls at Westboro Baptist Church are coming to protest HER for causing gay marriage. (I couldn’t make this up if I tried!)

In the kitchen… sitting here eating a Cup of Noodles and drinking a Coke.

I am wearing… aqua shirt and capri sweats.

I am going… to IKEA tomorrow, I think, to keep Daniel entertained as it’s a day off of school. (I’m seriously hating three-day weekends right now.)

I am wondering… about if I have to do both of the colon prep things I got from the G-I specialist. They gave me a kit in the office and then I discovered a prescription for GoLYTELY when I was picking up another prescription at Target today. Given that I was puking the GoLYTELY up pretty violently before my last colonoscopy (14 years ago), I’m hoping that I don’t have to do that one!

I am reading… The Alpine Winter by Mary Daheim. I finished Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews and read/finished The Alpine Vengeance by Mary Daheim.

I am hoping… for a good sedated appointment for Daniel on Thursday and that we don’t have to postpone again.

I am looking forward to… Bible study with my church ladies on Wednesday. I’ve missed them for the last two months!

I am hearing… the sound of the grandfather clock in the living room.

A Daniel story for today… Mr. Boy went to my room where I was unplugging the power cable for my laptop and climbed on the bed. I told him to go get his blankie and turn off his light if he wanted to come have cuddles… and he did! He fell asleep not long after.

Around the house… cats and humans going to bed.

A favorite quote for today… “It’s no use crying over spilt milk — it only makes it salty for the cat.” — Random Quote Generator

One of my favorite things… iced vanilla lattés made with whole milk.

A few plans for the rest of the week: PT on Tuesday, Bible study and my FIL’s birthday on Wednesday, Daniel’s sedated dental appointment on Thursday, and two gatherings on Saturday.

A peek into my day… I missed church this morning so I’ll probably be watching this later…

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

Some Wisdom from My Bible Reading Today

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“No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay.” — Psalm 49:7-9

It brings to mind Christ’s death on the Cross and how I doubt I will ever fully understand the gravity and cost of it.

7 Quick Takes: André Rieu, Doctor’s Appointments, and the Kim Davis Debacle

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

My newest addiction. I have become addicted to the music and performance videos of violinist André Rieu. He was the one who recorded Sir Anthony Hopkins’ waltz with his orchestra, the Johann Strauss Orchestra. He has such a joy and passion when he plays and conducts as well as the ability to have fun (conducting “I Will Follow Him” from Sister Act, for example). His YouTube channel is here. I also recommend anything involving him and South African musicians or the Harlem Gospel Choir as they get him dancing and jumping.

— 2 —

Because I apparently hate myself. I’m doing another plank challenge like I did in January. I hate doing planks but it is so incredibly good for my core. I’m also back to beating myself to a pulp on my core ball 2-3x a week to atone for my iced vanilla latté habit and my Coca-Cola addiction.

— 3 —

The week of epic medical appointments: Jen-style. PT went fine on Tuesday and my G-I appointment was yesterday. He recommended a probiotic called Align which has been shown to help IBS patients and ordered some bloodwork to test for various things like celiac disease (gotta love being Irish!). The BIG thing is that he ordered an endoscopy/colonoscopy for me and I consented to both. (I have PTSD from the prep for my last colonoscopy 14 years ago and refused one two years ago which, in hindsight, was stupid and could have illuminated some of the digestive issues I have.) The reason for both (and the abdominal ultrasound that I was supposed to have last month and got rescheduled to the 16th): I have IBS and a history of ulcers.

— 4 —

The week of epic medical appointments: Daniel-style. Daniel was supposed to have a sedated dentist appointment today but we had to reschedule it to next week due to some respiratory issues (coughing and needing breathing treatments). Instead, he and I went to a radiology place in Rancho Cucamonga to get some x-rays done on his legs for his orthopedist appointment tomorrow. (He wasn’t happy at having to wait but he was relatively cooperative when he was on the table.) I’m thankful that his teacher was chill with this and is fine with me picking him up tomorrow so that we can get to his appointment in Rancho on time.

— 5 —

Totally a good product for California. I’m wondering if people will start buying this in droves due to the drought.

— 6 —

The Kim Davis debacle. For those living under a rock, the Rowan County clerk in Kentucky has been ordered to jail. Kim Davis, the clerk, has refused to issue any marriage licenses to same-sex couples (and I think to any couples in general) and three courts have told her that she is required to do it based on what she was elected to do. Davis has refused based on her religious principles which are that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Here’s the problem: it’s an elected position so they can’t fire her. However, she is refusing to do the job that she was elected to do and the judges ruled on that basis. I understand her religious principles but I disagree with how she is going about this. If performing these duties is such an abhorrent thing to her, she needs to say, “I cannot uphold the civil law in these matters and for this reason, I am resigning my job.” That would be a statement that I think both sides would recognize and respect. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has even told her to do her job or resign which I think is interesting, given that Graham is against same-sex marriage.

— 7 —

Coming soon. I want to write something on my habit of prayer-walking in the morning but haven’t had the time to do it. (Silly kiddo wanting Mommy to pay attention to him!) I’m hoping to have it up in the next couple days.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

#5Faves: Miscellanea (XLV)

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#5Faves

One

Ramen. I’ve been having a lot of ramen/Cup-of-Noodles stuff for lunch or dinner lately because it’s quick and it doesn’t irritate my stomach. It’s not ideal and not particularly healthy but it works.

Two

“The Echo Song” from Sesame Street. My favorite version is Madeline Kahn and Grover. The version with Ernie and Elmo is blasphemy.

Three

“Boldly I Approach” from Rend Collective This song takes its name from one of my favorite passages of Scripture (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Four

Taebo I have to actually enjoy something to make myself do it regularly and this is pretty fun. The kicking and punching is also quite therapeutic.

Five

Cool mornings. It’s been beachy and cool in the mornings lately. Given that I was soaked when I’d get home from my walks last week, I’m quite a happy camper

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 30, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 30, 2015

Outside my window… 88F. It’s vastly better than the high 90’s and triple digits we’ve been having!

I am thinking… about some financial things.

I am thankful… for the wonderful sermon this morning on Mark 7 that referenced parts of the Collect for Purity that we say every Sunday morning.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the kitchen… I haven’t decided on dinner yet but I think my MIL is making liver and onions for my FIL.

I am wearing… my Run for the Little Flowers shirt and black shorts.

I am going… to Pep Boys tomorrow for new tires. I had a blowout on Friday and Jon had one today. Thank God for AAA! (I could have changed mine by myself but it was over 100F and I had Daniel with me.)

I am wondering… if Daniel will sleep through the night and not come into my room at 1 a.m. to start bouncing on the bed. (Not that this has happened the last two nights or anything…)

I am reading… Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews. I finished Friendship Cake by Lynne Hinton last week and made it through Long Upon the Land by Margaret Maron as well.

I am hoping… my G-I appointment bears fruit this week even though I haven’t gotten to have the abdominal ultrasound appointment yet.

I am looking forward to… to having all the medical appointments for Daniel over this week.

I am hearing… Daniel on his toy laptop.

A Daniel story for today… when he was quite a bit younger (2 or 3), he wanted to go for a walk at my parents’ house. When I wasn’t responding quickly enough, he started bringing me every shoe he could find.

Around the house… air-conditioning. Yay!

A favorite quote for today… “Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .'” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… cool air.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting tires tomorrow, PT on Tuesday, G-I specialist on Wednesday, Daniel’s sedated dentist appointment and probably orthopedics x-rays on Thursday, and his orthopedist appointment on Friday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Cleaning Out My Bookmarks from the Last Week

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Worship Music Link #1. I’ve been a worship musician (not a choir member) for almost 16 years and while I like doing “contemporary music” every so often, I really prefer the older hymns. It’s an issue of musicality for me and also that many praise songs are theologically-shallow or inaccurate. Here are a few examples and why we need to stop singing them.

— 2 —

Worship Music Link #2. Here is a fabulous piece addressing why we need to stop singing praise songs. Be sure to click on all the links to understand why it is so wonderful.

— 3 —

Worship Music Link #3. I found this in the “I’m fed up with bad church music” group on Facebook and I know there are some praise songs I would pay serious money to not have to sing. What hymn/praise song/service music would you pay good money to block?

Block a hymn

— 4 —

Worship Music Link #4. One of the rants I see online frequently has to do with how the Catholic church has a beautiful tradition of choral music going back 1500 years and yet we have to settle for Marty Haugen, David Haas, and so on. Someone posted the “Glory Pony” mass on there and it’s facepalm-ingly bad how similar the mass setting is to the “My Little Pony” theme.

— 5 —

Twitter does it again. One of the best things I’ve seen online in the last few weeks is the #ThingsJesusNeverSaid hashtag on Twitter.

— 6 —

For those who love people with anxiety. Those who have anxiety or who love people with anxiety need to read this piece.

— 7 —

It makes a difference. While I was up in San Jose this month, I was worshipping with my friend Rebecca at my home congregation and I was in the pews this last week at my church here with my VBS music partner-in-crime Margaret. It was a content feeling each Sunday and upon reflection, I think the reason is that I didn’t have to explain what I was doing (standing, kneeling, sitting, singing, genuflecting) or *why* I was doing it as I frequently have to do when I’m at church in Jon’s Lutheran parishes given that my practice of the faith is more toward the Catholic and Anglican part of the spectrum. I’m liking the opportunity to worship with like-minded people and to not be on display all the time.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.