7 Posts in 7 Days: Baby Names

Posted on by

Many of the people doing 7 Posts in 7 Days are taking part in Kathryn’s baby name link-up so I thought I’d share.

My son Daniel James is named after Jon’s great-uncle Daniel (a WWII hero) and my father James. If Daniel had been a girl, he would have been Kathleen Moira after my mom (Kathleen) and Mary, the Mother of God. We made this decision on the second day of Jon’s trip to visit me for the first time in college and I know part of it was inspired by my aunt’s practice of giving her daughters the names of their great-grandmothers as their middle name.

I can’t remember what our second boy would be named but if we have another child and it’s a girl, she’ll be Hannah Grace. Hannah comes from Samuel’s mother Hannah who was strong in her faith. Grace is from one of my great-grandmothers. The other option for a girl would be Annika Leah with Annika being a name we like and Leah being another of my great-grandmothers.

7 Posts in 7 Days: Pick Jen’s Lenten Discipline!

Posted on by

So Lent starts next week and I’m trying to come up with ideas for my Lenten discipline this year. In the past, I have…

-given up meat (and ended up vegetarian for 5 years after)
-given up chocolate
-given up soda
-given up swearing (which lasted all of one day though to be fair, I was pregnant)
-taken on the making of afghan squares
-taken on blogging about faith daily (2012)
-taken on blogging about religious music daily (2013)

I know! I’ll take a page from Fr. James Martin, S.J. and let someone else determine my Lenten discipline this year! Rafflecopter for the opportunity is below. Winner will be chosen next Tuesday at 12:00 PST and notified by email. You need to give me my discipline by 11:59 PST that evening.

I should probably clarify that there are a couple limits:

1.) I’m pre-diabetic so I *have* to eat — no surviving on bread and water.
2.) Assume that whatever I do needs to be Daniel-friendly.
3.) It cannot break any commandments or rules of the church.

Lenten Discipline Giveaway

7 Posts in 7 Days: The Big Purse Dump!

Posted on by

Kendra at Catholic All Year had the idea of doing a purse dump. So…

My black purse.
My lovely purse from Thirty One.

The contents.
The contents

Let’s see…

[+] Wallet. This would be my driver’s license, credit cards, store discount cards, some stamps, and a couple gift cards.

[+] My WIC paperwork. My WIC checks, booklet, some necessary paperwork like my husband’s paystubs, and proof of Daniel’s tests for lead and iron are in this packet.

[+]Cosmetic case. This would be my Lactaid pills, Immodium AD, nail clippers, emery board, some chapstick from Burt’s Bees, lotion, my inhaler, a comb, and a mirror.

[+] Religious paraphernalia. This would be my Rosary (made by Sara of A Shower of Roses) and a chaplet (made by Rebecca of Literary Spring Designs). Can you tell that I (the Lutheran pastor’s wife) hang with Catholics?

[+] Contents of the front zippered pocket. This would be my checkbook and passport. I have my passport in there because my driver’s license is a royal pain to get out of my wallet when I’m buying wine at Trader Joe’s. (Not that they card me anymore…)

[+] Contents of the front pocket. This is where my sunglasses, cell phone, alcohol gel, keys, and day planner live. There were also a few assorted receipts but nothing half as bad as my old purse. (I switched in November.) Oh yes… the “pocket ruby” (to remind me that my worth is far above rubies) from the Bible study I attended last week is in here as well.

[+] Main zippered pocket. I keep my wallet, WIC stuff, cosmetic case, and the spacer for my inhaler in here.

[+] Back pocket. In this pocket, I have some maxi pads, Kleenex (I switched purses the night before a funeral), a picture of Daniel on Santa’s lap looking like “WTF???” (we don’t do Santa with him), a blank thank-you card, two Salvation Army suckers, and a menu for my favorite gyro place in Elk Grove.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: February 23, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 23, 2014

Outside my window… dark. As usual, I’m blogging after everyone has gone to bed.

I am thinking… about the wife and kids of a family member who passed away this weekend.

I am thankful… for a good weekend with my parents.

In the kitchen… lots of dishes.

I am wearing… Online Debate Team shirt and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… family members, the ability to forgive.

I am going… to start campaigning for the Promise Walk this week.

I am wondering… what is possessing me to do the 7 posts in 7 days challenge from Jen @ Conversion Diary.

I am reading… The Sinner’s Guide to Natural Family Planning by Simcha Fisher. It’s pretty good.

I am hoping… my counseling appointment goes well tomorrow.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

I am hearing the space heater in the bedroom.

Around the house… lots to pick up.

A favorite quote for today… “Reality, in fact, is always something you couldn’t have guessed. That’s one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It’s a religion you couldn’t have guessed.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… purry black cats, even when they are sitting in front of the keyboard being a pest. (Can you tell that Edda is helping me write?)

A few plans for the rest of the week: counseling appointment tomorrow, ABA for Daniel in the afternoons, Morning Prayer on Tuesday, trying to get devotions compiled, and I have a massage appointment scheduled for Friday. (Lest it sound like I live a spa life, the massage is to help treat my fibromyalgia.)

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: A John 17 Moment, Birth Announcement, and a Fundraiser

Posted on by

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Calling all NFP people! My friend Kate is trying to raise the funds for her tuition to become a Creighton practitioner. For those who aren’t NFP people, the Creighton model is one of the methods of Natural Family Planning (NFP). I know a number of people who have used it to successfully avoid pregnancy as well as some who have used it to achieve pregnancy. There’s a need for practitioners in the Portland area and Kate would fill that need perfectly. I know the $4000 she has to raise seems like a lot but that’s 400 people giving $10 or 40 people giving $100 or some kind of combination like that.

**UPDATE** She has a giveaway to help raise the funds.

— 2 —

That Lenten discipline that I should probably be choosing. Lent is coming up during the first full week of March and there are starting to be posts about what to choose for your discipline. Two good ones are here and here.

— 3 —

Penny is here!!!! I am so happy to announce the birth of “Penny”, the daughter of Stacy of Catholic and Crunchy. She is absolutely precious and her safe birth is the answer to 9 months of prayer.

— 4 —

Argh. Daniel decided to poke the lenses out of his glasses and I can’t find them. Could you pray that we find them? I’m also open to people talking to St. Anthony of Padua about this one. 😉

— 5 —

A John 17 moment. Bishop Tony Palmer of the CEEC has connections to both Kenneth Copeland and the Roman Catholic Church. This video explains the convergence of those ties as Pope Francis recorded a video and it was shown at the KCM Winter Revival. This is a long video but it’s worth it to see how Catholicism and Pentecostalism converge.

If you can’t wait to see the video from Pope Francis, it can be found below but I really think you need to watch the whole 45 minutes above because the back story is fifteen times better than the video of Francis himself.

— 6 —

Orphans. Do you see these beautiful children?

L-R: Brett and Iris
BrettIris

Brett still needs a mama. Iris finally has a family committed to her and they were supposed to have met her on the 29th.

— 7 —

Special intention. For those who are praying for us, please pray for me to forgive those who I perceive as having wronged me and for discernment for all parties in how to proceed. Thanks!

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

The Immediate Book Meme (vol. 1)

Posted on by

Simcha Fisher did this so I thought I’d give it a try! Props to the folks at Darwin Catholic for coming up with it.

1. What book are you reading now?

Mercy in the City by Kerry Weber.

2. What book did you just finish?

In Good Company by James Martin, S.J.

3. What do you plan to read next?

Not sure. I need to go through my NOOK and figure that out.

4. What book do you keep meaning to finish?

Fearless by Max Lucado.

5. What book do you keep meaning to start?

There are a few books coming out this spring from Fr. Jim Martin, Elizabeth Esther, and Jen Fulwiler that I’m looking forward to reading.

6. What is your current reading trend?

Spiritual autobiography featuring Catholics, specifically Jesuits, with a few murder mysteries thrown in for good measure.

Five Favorites: Camp Songs

Posted on by

Five Favorites

Why yes, it is past my bedtime. I think I’ll troll YouTube for videos of my favorite camp songs! And no, none of these videos feature me — I pay good money to suppress the ones involving me leading songs. 🙂

One

The Penguin Song. I have memories of standing outside Marianne’s in college singing this with my Bible study.

Two

The Banana Slug Song. I’m a proud UCSC alum (our mascot is the fighting banana slug) and I’ve actually kissed one. (I was a Girl Scout camp counselor, OK?)

Three

Every Move I Make. I originally learned this in Intervarsity and sang it a bunch while helping with VBS and at church camp.

Four

Pharaoh, Pharaoh. Best camp song ever! I sang this almost 25 years ago at church camp and have taught it at various camps, VBS, and in First Communion instruction. (Our First Communion classes love it.)

Five

Baby Shark. I sang a slightly different version of this one but I love watching these boys making fools of themselves. 😉

Go love up Christy (who is guest-hosting this week) and the others.