(Picture c/o Catholic.Org)
Lutherans view saints as people who we should emulate as examples in the faith and for this reason, I have a number of saints I love. My most recent favorite has been St. Gianna Beretta Molla because she gave her life for her daughter, something I don’t think I could do. If I were to get pregnant again, I would be a really high-risk mama and I think I’d be asking my Catholic friends to pray to her on my behalf.
The USCCB is pondering re-instituting the Friday abstinence of meat and my friend Thomas decided to organize a number of people to do meatless Fridays this Advent. He is hosting a “What I Ate on Friday” link-up and as today is a free day for the #AdventPhotoADay peeps, I decided to use this post for both.
I ended up sleeping all morning so my first meal was lunch. Wanting a chance to go someplace and read, I headed to Panera because I needed to head to Elk Grove for errands and I figured they’d have something in a bread bowl that I’d love.
I opted for the clam chowder in a sourdough boule (I am from the San Francisco Bay Area after all) and it was lovely. The penitential part came when I remembered midway through the meal that I hadn’t taken any Bentyl or Lactaid. Yeah… I ended up pretty sick from it as a result. (Thank you IBS!)
My second meal was apples and cheese, figuring that it would probably sit well on my incredibly irritated stomach.
The string cheese doesn’t bug my stomach for some reason and provides some protein.
Brett now OFFICIALLY has a mama and papa. You know my Reece’s Rainbow kid Brett? Court was held on Monday in his region and his parents’ adoption request was granted. There’s a 10-day waiting period so the verdict can be recorded (this is Eastern Europe — things move slowly) and then they can spring him. Meanwhile, they’re preparing to go to court for his adopted sister Delilah. So… prayers answered!!!
As Brett is now taken care of and will be in the States in a few weeks, I asked to be allowed to have another child for whom I could advocate as a Guardian Angel. I had seen Kaia mentioned in the Reece’s Rainbow group on Facebook and her picture stuck with me as did the words in her profile:
Kaia has pretty green eyes, what a little dolly! She should be heading to kindergarten next year, not the institution.
She is the beautiful little china doll on my sidebar. Her adoption grant is currently only $5.00 — can we increase it this week? Please and thank you. (As of midnight on 12/8, her grant is now at $15. My deepest thanks to whoever donated to do that.)
My snowflakes were a hit last night. I starched them on Tuesday using this method and as they weren’t completely dry by Wednesday afternoon, I spent some time with a blowdryer on them while exhorting them to stiffen. The blowdrying worked and the person who received them in the ornament/decoration exchange loved them. She’s a fellow crocheter so I’ll be sticking the pattern and starching instructions in her box on Sunday.
At the same ornament/decoration exchange during Ladies’ Night Out, I got a beautiful ceramic angel. It was wrapped beautifully and had a long green ribbon which immediately went into my purse. All my crazy cat ladies can probably guess the rest of the story: Edda and her siblings got extra playtime last night. It was comical to see Freya (our little butterball gremlin) going absolutely crazy and Finian (my fluffybutt) was also pretty funny.
I’m “occupying Advent”. I decided to take on blogging as an Advent discipline and am following Beth Anne’s tasks as my subjects. You can find other people’s efforts using the hashtag #AdventPhotoADay.
This is disturbing. My mom sent me a video from the Today Show about a trick thieves are using to get into hotel rooms. It disturbs me that the makers of the locks used by most hotel rooms has known since July and is suggesting band-aid solutions and not upgrading the locks free of charge. Hotels are also feigning ignorance which irritates me.
Who’s up for meatless Fridays? Thomas of Identified Catholic is hosting a link-up of what people are eating on Fridays as an effort to do communal penance during Advent. The USCCB is pondering a return to the practice and I’m participating during Advent in solidarity with my Catholic friends who are taking it on.
For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.
I decided to use a picture of Metanoia Lutheran Church for today because there are a number of people I could use as an example of generosity.
– M has done everything she can to give me fun breaks from Daniel from taking me to the lobster feed at the Chamber of Commerce to inviting me to a Cookie Lee party she was holding. She also picks up my tab at Ladies’ Night Out if she’s there which is sweet of her and totally unnecessary.
– Our resident winemaker donates some of his wine to the church and he also gives us some when we head to visit family. (From what my relatives tell me, it’s quite good.) He and his wife also call me “Jennah” which is special.
– They designated their offering from midweek Lenten services to go to Easter Seals this year and raised $500… because they knew Daniel was receiving therapy through them.
– They support me every year in the Promise Walk and have raised a couple hundred dollars every year.
The challenge today was a picture of someone sharing their faith. The obvious choice: my extroverted husband the pastor. This picture is Jon at the local library helping with the town’s community service day with a couple of his Confirmation kids.
My task today was to show my favorite Cross. The obvious answer is “the one Jesus died on” but I don’t happen to have any relics of the True Cross on hand, so we’ll go with this one. 🙂
The Irish-American in me is partial to Celtic crosses and this is one that I picked up at the Tapestry and Talent street fair in 1996. My mom gave me the chain and I think it’s been one of the few of mine that hasn’t broken. (I’m vicious on chains.) I love it because of the intricate knotwork on it that includes flowers.
FOR TODAY December 4th, 2012
Outside my window… dark. It’s just past midnight here.
I am thinking… about what I need to get done tomorrow. It totally makes sense that I’m up crocheting and blogging, right?
I am thankful… that I finished ornaments yesterday. I just need to starch them tomorrow. Also, I’m immensely thankful that Brett’s parents prevailed when court was held yesterday and he is now officially theirs.
In the kitchen… dishes to do.
I am wearing… Old Navy shirt and fleece pajama bottoms.
I am creating… stockings for two adorable kids.
I am going… nowhere if I can help it.
I am wondering… which kid to take on as a Guardian Angel once Brett is home. Possibly Kaia?
I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband “Master” by Rachel Held Evans. I’ve gotten through the introduction and first chapter and I’m loving it.
I am hoping… tomorrow goes well.
I am learning how to starch my snowflakes.
Around the house… *places fingers in ears* I can’t hear you!!!!
I am pondering… too many things to list.
A favorite quote for today… ??The first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb, when it comes, find us doing sensible and human things — praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts — not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs.?? ? C.S. Lewis
One of my favorite things… simple double crochet.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday.
Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook
