What I Wore on Sunday: Crazy Cat Lady Edition

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What I Wore on Sunday

This is how I’m dressed most Sunday mornings because church with Daniel is really difficult:

My normal Sunday attire.
Shirt: Old Navy
Pants: Target
Demonic Cat: All Creatures Animal Hospital (Granville, OH)

When I say that church with Daniel is really difficult, I’m not kidding. Like most 4.5 year olds, he can’t sit still. Unfortunately, I can’t placate him with picture books or crayons — his autistic stimming behavior is opening/closing doors and flicking light switches which, as you can imagine, does not go over well. I usually station us in the back where I can drag a chair to the middle of the doorway and catch the sanctuary doors as he opens/closes them. It’s not the least bit worshipful for me and while almost everyone says they are OK with it, there are people who give me the stink eye. So.. I usually do the lectionary readings and watch Mass on TV.

This morning, my precious sweetling was up at 6:45 (!!!!) and I couldn’t get back to sleep so there was no compelling reason for me not to try to take him. He had done fine the last time I did (January) so I thought it would be OK. Let’s just say that by the end of Jon’s sermon, one of the ushers had taken him for a walk so I could retreat to the bathroom and cry because IT WAS THAT BAD. I pushed through and made it to the end (props to the other usher for taking him for a walk during Communion so I could go up and receive without having to carry my squirrely boy); but after this morning’s debacle, I think I’m off the hook for attending worship until at least… Easter?

So… photographic proof that I do clean up well:

Me and my panther.
Shirt/tank top: Kohl’s
Pants: Kohl’s
Sandals: some discount shoe place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Beautiful House Panther: All Creatures Animal Hospital (Granville, OH)

As for the boy child (who was laughing uproariously as this picture was taken):

Resetting the boy child.
Shirt: Circo (Target)
Pants: Circo (Target)

Go see the other pretty ladies at Fine Linen and Purple.

7 Quick Takes: Dumping Out My Laptop Bag

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7 Quick Takes

I took part in the Purse Dump link-up a few weeks ago and had fun. When one of my cats got sick and nailed my laptop bag, I had to empty it so I could run it through the washer. As I was looking at the laundry basket full of stuff, it occurred to me that I could document this for my Quick Takes.

So..

— 1 —

The bag and pile of stuff. I kept thinking that it was a Swiss gear bag but it turns out that it’s from HP. Huh.

The exterior.
(The orange kitty is Cullen. He is incredibly helpful.)

I emptied everything into a laundry basket and when Daniel was in bed, I emptied the laundry basket onto the coffee table.

A laundry basket full of stuff.
The pile o' stuff on the coffee table.

— 2 —

Papers. We have postcards from Postcrossing, letters, cards for birthdays, and other random pieces of paper.

Mail and things of that nature.

Because I usually bring my laptop with me anytime we head to UCD Medical Center, I also have a boatload of encounter forms, discharge papers, and copies of medical releases that I’ve signed.

My pile o' paperwork.

— 3 —

Computer stuff. Here’s a pile of CD’s and a couple thumb drives that were loose in the second pocket.

CD's and thumb drives.

In the main pocket where my laptop goes, I have assorted cables and cords. In this particular pile are the charging cable for my ancient iPod nano (which is lost somewhere in my closet), an A/C adapter from Rocketfish for my last laptop, chargers for my cell phone, my headphones, and my optical mouse. There’s usually a charger for my NOOK as well.

My mess o' cords.

— 4 —

Office supplies. This would be pens, mechanical pencils, clickable erasers, a notebook, and thank-you notes left over from Christmas. I usually have a bigger spiral notebook as well which is my journal.

Office supplies.

— 5 —

Daniel memorabilia. When Daniel was in the NICU in 2009, I lived out of my laptop bag. The bag I used at that time was a different one but I just transferred items over because I wasn’t home when I got the new one. Here we have cards written to me by all the women on Jon’s side of the family after the birth of Daniel which my mother-in-law sent to me along with the prayer shawl she made me, a card with the 1-800 number for the NICU (so I could call in the middle of the night and get updates), two of Daniel’s preemie diapers, pictures from the first days in the NICU, and the rolled up pictures from my first ultrasound. Oh yes… also locks of hair from Daniel’s first haircut 3 years ago.

Daniel memorabilia.

I should also give you a reference as to the size of those preemie diapers. These would fit on a small baby doll. Here is a diaper with my hand as a reference (and I have tiny hands). These actually had to be folded down because they were too big for Daniel even at that size!

Daniel's preemie diapers.

— 6 —

Personal care items. I get these in my stocking at Christmas and after having spent 3 weeks living at UCD Medical Center in 2011, I started keeping travel-sized shampoo, body wash, and deodorant in my laptop bag. I also have pads, assorted rubber bands, a scrunchie (which needs washing), and two pill boxes (which I usually fill before heading to the ER) as well.

My personal care items.

— 7 —

Books, miscellanea, and trash. I also have assorted books, lens cleaner for my glasses/computer screen, a Target gift card (which is now in my wallet), and a stuffed lion (probably a “good behavior” present for Daniel after an appointment).

Miscellanea.
Books.

I also put together 2 bags of trash which consisted of assorted receipts, scrap paper, and wrappers for things. one bag is paper to shred and the other bag is stuff to actually throw away.

Trash bags.

— Bonus —

Annexation. It’s probably good that I got the laundry basket cleaned out because it was soon occupied.

Freya occupying the laundry basket.

Apparently, Freya needed yet another lair. (This cat has more lairs than Saddam Hussein had palaces.)

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

Five Favorites: Miscellanea (XVII)

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Five Favorites

One

This Guinness commercial. My godmother and her husband have had border collies for about 20 years and said dogs are big on herding people. This totally made me laugh so I had to send it to them.

Two

Fr. James Martin, S.J. His new book, Jesus: A Pilgrimage came out yesterday and there have been some videos put out by his publisher with him talking about it. This is one of them:

Three

Playlist 4 Pontifex The mildly irreverent men at The Jesuit Post created a Spotify playlist in honor of the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ election. It’s 45 songs suggested by their Facebook and Twitter followers. You can find it here.

Four

Lent Madness Think of it as March Madness but between saints and other revered people in the Episcopal Church. The website is incredibly fun and it’s an interesting way to learn about new saints. The website for it is here.

Five

Yoplait Greek yogurt I’ve been living on it for the last few weeks because my stomach has been clenched from stress. I’m a fan of the vanilla-flavored nonfat yogurt.

Go love up Hallie and the others.

Where I Am From

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Shamelessly borrowed from priest’s wife and The Reluctant Widow. 🙂 The template for writing it is here.

I am from orange trees, from Tide detergent, and croissants bought at Our Daily Bread.

I am from small creeks, rolling foothills with mercury mines, and suburbia.

I am from the hyacinth flowers, the mulberry tree, snapdragons, the succulents.

I am from drives up I-5 and reciting poetry while sitting out on the water, from Lloyd and Jerry and James.

I am from roadside geology lessons and the welcoming of new people.

From “into every life a little rain must fall” and “use your imagination”.

I am from agnostic and lapsed Episcopalian. From deism to finding where I fit in the Christian spectrum with aspects of Anglicanism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, and Evangelicalism.

I’m from California, from County Mayo and New Zealand, From Wales and Germany. From Hungarian goulash, homemade pickles, and Guinness stew.

From the Grandfather who put himself through college only to miss graduating because WWII started, the German speakers, and the computer geeks.

I am from gardens that supply vegetables for the year, weeks in the wilds of British Columbia, and summers spent running around the Sierras while learning how to lead. I am from Boy Scout ski trips, TEQUE competitions, and journeys into the redwoods to find peace. From fragrant stalks of basil being made into pesto, bumper crops of tomatoes, and oranges right off the tree.

I am from a distant country and am on my way home.

Lenten Music Monday: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

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Daniel is refusing to sleep so I’m up past my bedtime blogging.

I thought I’d post some good music for Lent every Monday this year and in trying not to repeat what I’ve posted in past years, I’m picking “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” as it’s not one I’m familiar with off the top of my head. I found it listed on Oremus while searching by the Lectionary readings. It was written by John Newton, the former slave trader and Anglican priest who wrote “Amazing Grace”.

Here are the words:

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
and calms the troubled breast;
’tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary, rest.

Dear Name, the rock on which I build,
my shield and hiding-place,
my never-failing treasury, filled
with boundless stores of grace!

Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
my Prophet, Priest and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.

Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy Name
refresh my soul in death!

I couldn’t find a good recording of it sung in worship on YouTube so I chose this one.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 9, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 9, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It was a mix of sun and clouds today. We’re supposed to be getting rain tonight which will be good for our drought in California.

I am thinking… that I shouldn’t have allowed Daniel to take that nap today even if it meant that I got to take it with him. I have a feeling that getting him to sleep tonight will be interesting.

I am thankful… for a peaceful afternoon with Daniel.

In the kitchen… dishes to do tomorrow. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!

I am wearing… charcoal v-neck shirt from Old Navy and black capri sweats from Lands’ End.

I am praying for… discernment, the ability to forgive, sleep tonight, everything going on this week, and for my toes to heal.

I am going… to try and get a bunch of errands done tomorrow.

I am wondering… what the exact purpose of Daylight Savings Time is other than to torment me.

I am reading… Between Heaven and Mirth by James Martin, S.J. — it’s a re-read before I tackle his book on Jesus that comes out this week.

I am hoping… to get to sleep before 3 a.m. tonight. Stupid fibro flare-up!

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

I am hearing the 10:00 news.

Around the house… lots to clean tomorrow.

I am pondering… various things related to the special intention for which I have been asking prayer.

A favorite quote for today… “Those who reject Christianity will not be moved by Christ’s statement that poverty is blessed. But here a rather remarkable fact comes to my aid. Those who would most scornfully repudiate Christianity as a mere ‘opiate of the people’ have a contempt for the rich, that is, for all mankind except the poor. They regard the poor as the only people worth preserving from ‘liquidation’, and place in them the only hope for the human race. But this is not compatible with a belief that the effects of poverty on those who suffer it are wholly evil; it even implies that they are good. The Marxist thus finds himself in real agreement with the Christian in those two beliefs which Christianity paradoxically demands – that poverty is blessed and yet ought to be removed.” — C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

One of my favorite things… big orange scaredy cats.

A few plans for the rest of the week: errands tomorrow, meeting on Tuesday morning, haircut on Thursday, massage and rheumy appointment on Friday. Also ABA therapy for Daniel every afternoon from Monday to Friday as usual.

A peek into my day… Pharrell’s song “Happy” done at Boston College.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: Best Week Ever

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Orphans. Do you see these sweet children?

L-R: Brett and Iris
BrettIris

Brett still needs a mama. Iris finally has a family who have adopted her (I think they passed court this past week!) and they will hopefully be on their way home with her and her new little brother in a week or so.

— 2 —

Special intention. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us for the last month. Please continue to pray for discernment for all who are involved and for me to be able to forgive people for the ways that they have wronged me.

— 3 —

Lent. For those who missed it, Beth Anne won my “Pick Jen’s Lenten Discipline” contest. I’m glad it was her because Kelly of This Ain’t The Lyceum had threatened promised to buy me a hair shirt if she won. Beth Anne assigned me the disciplines of finding a church to pray in 1-2 times a week and getting a devotional to do daily reading during the next 40ish days.

— 4 —

#AshTag Here’s my #ashtag from Wednesday. It’s the only selfie I take pretty much ever unless it’s to stick my tongue out at certain people.

Daniel and me.

— 5 —

Raindrops falling on my head. I think we’ve had storms every couple days for the last week or so. It’s not enough to get California out of the severe drought we’re in but it sure helps. We even had thunder and lightning up in my neck of the woods last night! That was pretty exciting. (It’s not as common here as it is in the Midwest.)

— 6 —

The title of this post. It wasn’t my best week ever — I’m a VH1 addict… or at least I was back when I had cable or satellite and I used to watch the show “Best Week Ever” all the time. I used to watch stuff like “I Love the 90’s” and “Celebrity Fit Club” all the time which I cannot imagine watching now! I kind of wonder if it and MTV even show music anymore.

— 7 —

“Son of God” People are astonished that I have no desire to see the “Son of God” movie. I keep telling them… the book is better! *rimshot* In all seriousness, I’m not a film person — I’d rather read a book than watch someone’s attempt at recreating it.

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