The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 6, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 6, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It cooled down today and was actually long-sleeves weather when I was at the park with Daniel. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow and I’m getting positively giddy.

I am thinking… about the phone calls I have to make tomorrow to the IRS (I want my tax refund) and to insurance companies/Medi-Cal.

I am thankful… for a wonderful Palm Sunday with my church in San Jose and a wonderful Triduum with my church in southern California. Easter morning was wonderful as well with music at both services and a professional tenor singing with the choir. (We were supposed to have a couple other pros but they got sick.) I’m so incredibly grateful to be part of a church where I’m excited about going on Sunday morning instead of feeling like I want to be anywhere else but there.

In the kitchen… lots and lots of leftovers. We’re eating well this week!

I am wearing… one of my Run for the Little Flowers shirts and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, comfort and solace for Dayna, and many other things.

I am going… for a walk tomorrow morning.

I am wondering… about a couple things related to the Divine Mercy novena that a few friends are doing. They sound a little weird so I’ll be consulting the hive mind on this.

I am reading… Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I finished Six Geese A-Slaying and a couple others by Donna Andrews in the last few weeks as well.

I am hoping… to get everything done this week that needs doing.

I am looking forward to… my Wednesday time to myself.

I am hearing… Jon’s CPAP machine as I’m lying in bed doing this.

Crocheting… a baby gift for a friend and also Daniel’s big boy blankie.

Around the house… silence as I am the only one awake.

A favorite quote for today… “Solid-rock faith allows me to believe that despite the chaos of the present moment, God does reign. Regardless of how worthless I may feel, I truly matter to a God of love. No pain lasts forever, and no evil triumphs in the end.” — today’s devotion in Our Daily Bread.

One of my favorite things… Coke — I can have it again now that Lent is over! (I did falter and have some during Lent, a couple of those times on purpose because I needed the caffeine and sugar while I was driving and/or chasing Daniel.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: phone calls tomorrow, meeting with Daniel’s teacher on Wednesday, and other things as they come up.

A peek into my day… I seriously love being part of a church where worship selfies are an expected part of Easter worship. I’m the short chick with glasses and the hymnal.

My choir and clergy.

Post Script…

It has been an interesting time with the Lutherans, especially in churcbes where they only sing songs they know or try to attract young people by doing “contemporary” music. (Not helping, y’all.) I love this hymn which I learned during my first Easter with the Episcopalians about 20 years ago and it brings me happy memories.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

A Fitting Poem for Today

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Let mans Soule be a Spheare, and then, in this,
The intelligence that moves, devotion is,
And as the other Spheares, by being growne
Subject to forraigne motion, lose their owne,
And being by others hurried every day,
Scarce in a yeare their naturall forme obey:
Pleasure or businesse, so, our Soules admit
For their first mover, and are whirld by it.
Hence is’t, that I am carryed towards the West
This day, when my Soules forme bends toward the East.
There I should see a Sunne, by rising set,
And by that setting endlesse day beget;
But that Christ on this Crosse, did rise and fall,
Sinne had eternally benighted all.
Yet dare I’almost be glad, I do not see
That spectacle of too much weight for mee.
Who sees Gods face, that is selfe life, must dye;
What a death were it then to see God dye?
It made his owne Lieutenant Nature shrinke,
It made his footstoole crack, and the Sunne winke.
Could I behold those hands which span the Poles,
And tune all spheares at once peirc’d with those holes?
Could I behold that endlesse height which is
Zenith to us, and our Antipodes,
Humbled below us? or that blood which is
The seat of all our Soules, if not of his,
Made durt of dust, or that flesh which was worne
By God, for his apparell, rag’d, and torne?
If on these things I durst not looke, durst I
Upon his miserable mother cast mine eye,
Who was Gods partner here, and furnish’d thus
Halfe of that Sacrifice, which ransom’d us?
Though these things, as I ride, be from mine eye,
They’are present yet unto my memory,
For that looks towards them; and thou look’st towards mee,
O Saviour, as thou hang’st upon the tree;
I turne my backe to thee, but to receive
Corrections, till thy mercies bid thee leave.
O thinke mee worth thine anger, punish mee,
Burne off my rusts, and my deformity,
Restore thine Image, so much, by thy grace,
That thou may’st know mee, and I’ll turne my face.
— “Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward” by John Donne

7 Quick Takes: Musings on Maundy Thursday

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Tetelestai. Elizabeth Dehority of Keep on Spinning passed away early on Thursday morning. Please keep her family in prayer.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Elizabeth. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

— 2 —

Palm Sunday. This is the anthem we sang on Palm Sunday. It is currently stuck in my head.

— 3 —

Fannie Flagg captures it. I was listening to her book, Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, for part of the drive home on Wednesday and everyone is talking or musing in their heads about how one woman impacts them positively. It’s kind of made me think about my legacy and what I’ll be remembered for doing.

— 4 —

Books on CD. I picked up two at the library, hoping that they would make the drive less montonous. They definitely helped — I was sorry when we were going to our destinations on Saturday and Wednesday and we arrived because I wanted to listen to more of the book.

— 5 —

Geeking out on church music. We get at professional trumpeter for Easter and three opera singers coming in to lend their voices. The anthem we’re singing isn’t tricky but it will be nice to have a “full” choir, even if some of the volume is coming from 3 people.

— 6 —

Sidney Lanier poetry. I sang a similar anthem to this when I was in high school and it seems like an appropriate one, given the season.

— 7 —

Eyes crossing. I am ending here because it’s after 1 a.m. and I’m exhausted. Have a fabulous day.

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

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 31, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 31, 2015

Outside my window… warm. I think it’s supposed to be 70ish today in San Jose? (I’m visiting my parents.)

I am thinking… about the devotional project I’ve had on my plate for 3 years and I’m praying that my part of it is done.

I am thankful… for my mom who is taking Daniel for a walk so that I can get breakfast and deal with the devotional issues.

In the kitchen… just finished off the shrimp pasta that Dad made last night. It was so good that I had leftovers for breakfast.

I am wearing… my black Reclaim Hope shirt and jeans.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, the right job for me, and for a number of special intentions.

I am going… to the salon this afternoon to get my hair cut.

I am wondering… how my drive home will be tomorrow and what route I should take.

I am reading… Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews. I finished Owls Well That Ends Well and read/finished No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews, Murder of a Needled Knitter by Denise Swanson, and Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews.

I am hoping… for a good day with Daniel.

I am looking forward to… Easter Sunday.

I am hearing… my mother-in-law’s voice as she is talking to me on my cell phone.

Around the house… my parents watching TV and Daniel playing,

A favorite quote for today… “It is customary to blame secular science and anti-religious philosophy for the eclipse of religion in modern society. It would be more honest to blame religion for its own defeats. Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion – its message becomes meaningless.” — Abraham Joshua Heschel

One of my favorite things… the scent of mom’s garden in the early morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting my hair cut today, driving home tomorrow, church on Thursday and Friday, and whatever else comes up.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: All Over the Map

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

I’m really wanting to smack some people. Rebecca of The Road Home posted something on her blog for the first time in months yesterday and it was a bombshell to say the least. (The tl;dr version is that she and her husband civilly divorced at the beginning of the month, part of it was due to infidelity on her part, and she is now pregnant as a result.) She turned on anonymous comments and some of the anonymous commenters have raked her across the coals, telling her in no uncertain terms of their disappointment with her and how she should stop blogging as a result.

…

Their words are making me quite livid. Rebecca has said in no uncertain terms that her actions were wrong and is taking responsibility for them… and yet, people still feel that they need to tell her about how she is a horrid example. To those anonymous commenters, I have this to say: it’s easy to make comments like that when you’re anonymous so why don’t you OWN YOUR WORDS AND SIGN YOUR NAME! Rebecca owes you no explanations and you have no obligation to read her blog. Seriously y’all, there’s a lovely saying we learned in preschool: if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

— 2 —

Trader Joe’s love. For those who have never experienced the awesomeness that is TJ’s, I pity you. Here are some things that the rest of us probably didn’t know about them.

— 3 —

Must take up cross stitch again. It is quite NSFW and not safe for me to show parishioners but Subversive Cross Stitch is a guilty pleasure. I particularly love this one and this one.

— 4 —

Yay Simcha! The amazing Simcha Fisher had a lovely piece in the National Catholic Register on Tuesday about what Catholic parents can learn from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

— 5 —

More Simcha. Girlfriend posted some amazing recipes for Passover. Well… the actual recipes are here but her commentary on the food was awesome including the stuff on gefilte fish.

— 6 —

Like I need more crochet projects! Anyone want to order this for me? 🙂

— 7 —

Disney Princess rap battle. This has been around for a while but it still cracks me up.

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

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 22, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 22, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was cloudy this morning and got nice again in the afternoon. I think it was in the 70’s? I missed church this morning because of the weather change. (I freaking love being migraine-prone.)

I am thinking… about the photo book I’m working on for Daniel.

I am thankful… that Daniel is finally asleep. I thought I had gotten him down earlier but I hadn’t and he wandered into the kitchen where I was emptying the dishwasher. When I told him to go back to bed, he went down the hall but kept returning and finally started crying because I wasn’t coming and sitting with him. (I had selfishly decided to make my dinner before heading back to his room because it was 8:40 p.m. and I hadn’t gotten dinner yet.) My mother-in-law gave him some milk (which he shotgunned) and I gave him some cheese. Once he was finished eating, he got up, pushed in his chair, and went back down the hall to his bedroom where he was waiting on his bed in sleep position with the lights on. I forgot to turn off the hall light when I went into his room so he looked at me with a “what-is-wrong-with-these-stupid-people?!?!?!?!?” expression, got up, turned off the hall light, and climbed back into bed.

In the kitchen… dark. I baked cookies for Easter earlier. (We’re having 18 people for Easter so we’re making as much ahead as we can and freezing it.)

I am wearing… green shirt and black sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for my tax return to come soon, and for a number of special intentions.

I am going… back to Target for my prescriptions tomorrow. We’re apparently eligible for Medicaid based on Jon’s income last year and the insurance they have on file should not have been effective for the last three months so… I get to sort out the mess tomorrow with Blue Shield of California and Covered California. (Oh freaking joy.) At least my meds are cheaper (if not completely free) on Medicaid.

I am wondering… where Jon and I will go for our anniversary tomorrow.

I am reading… Owls Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews. I finished We’ll Always Have Parrots last Wednesday.

I am hoping… to have the energy to work out and go for walks this week.

I am looking forward to… Thursday when I can hopefully get this editing project behind me.

I am hearing… this song that Jennifer Fulwiler of Conversion Diary recorded with Marie Miller that is based on stories from her readers on their worst experiences with their kids in church.

Around the house… silence. Everyone is sleeping except for Jon and I.

A favorite quote for today… “Some of my students have been shocked to learn that material aid to the poor and disadvantaged is biblically not a matter of sentimental and paternalistic good will but of strict duty and justice. Before the call of God, there is no such thing as a right to a certain standard of living.” — James P. Hanigan

One of my favorite things… mint chip ice cream.

A few plans for the rest of the week: dinner out with Jon tomorrow night, various errands, audiology appointment for Daniel on Wednesday afternoon, working/finishing projects on Thursday, and heading up to San Jose on Saturday.

A peek into my day… Me on my wedding day 13 years ago with some of my mom’s best friends from college whom my father christened “The Broad Squad”. (I also have a picture where they are posing with him and two of them are kissing him on the cheek.)

Me and The Broad Squad

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Things You Don’t Pick Up About Me Online

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

I am incredibly shy. I come across as much more outgoing online than I am in person. I’m polite and usually pretty warm when I meet people but I’m less likely to go up and strike up a conversation with a stranger than most people are.

— 2 —

I talk a lot with my eyes. Unless you’ve seen a video of me posted on Facebook, you probably wouldn’t know that my eyes show a lot more of my mood and how I’m really feeling than my tone of voice does.

— 3 —

My guiltiest pleasure is singing along with the radio when I drive. It’s actually pretty common for me to sing along with CD’s or whatever I’m listening to on the radio when I’m in traffic, given that I have absolutely nobody around here who I feel like I have to impress. It’s how I learn music for church if we’re singing something interesting.

— 4 —

My son Daniel is just slightly over a foot shorter than I am. Daniel will be six in April and he is almost 4 feet tall. I’m 5’1″ so the odds are pretty good that he’ll eclipse me height-wise in the next 2 years. It also really surprises people that I’m so short because I guess I come across as taller online?

— 5 —

When I read, I can usually block out the world around me. One of my favorite things to do is to go curl up at a coffee shop or restaurant and get lost in a book. The only problem: I get so caught up in my reading that I will actually block out people and sound if I’m not careful. We had some parishioners in Montana who got really pissy with me over this so I have to tell people that if they want my attention and I’m not responding, they need to gently touch my hand or my shoulder.

— 6 —

I’m allergic to cats. Yep… I am actually allergic to cats. We found it out right after we adopted Freya and Edda and moved to Minnesota. It’s a mild allergy but Edda sleeping on my chest (her favorite spot) used to make me sniffly and my eyes feel itchy. I’m far more allergic to grass and various pollens (which is why I’m in purgatory at the moment — spring has busted out all over southern California) than I am cats though.

— 7 —

I am addicted to hand sanitizer. I had a preemie so I spent lots of time in the NICU after he was born and in the peds ER and PICU when he got older. When you’re around hospitals that much, you have to wash your hands and put hand sanitizer on every time you leave a room and I got into kind of an OCD habit.

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