Author Archives: Jen

About Jen

Jen isn't quite sure when she lost her mind, but it is probably documented here on Meditatio. She blogs because the world needs her snark at all hours of the night... and she probably can't sleep anyway.

#FiveFaves: Vacation Bible School Edition

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#5Faves

One

Getting to help with VBS. I seriously love Vacation Bible School and am super excited that I get to help with it this week! We have a Lego theme this year and are creating the whole curriculum from scratch. I’m a music person and have enjoyed being silly with my kids. The first two songs they asked for today (the Hippo Song and the Penguin Song) are the two most likely to cause me vertigo. Oh well!

Two

Robitussin. I’m dealing with serious allergy issues and have been taking shots of Robitussin to deal with the crud in my throat and chest. Today I was contending with my voice being almost gone from all the junk dripping out of my sinuses.

Three

My parish. They found someone to go one-on-one with Daniel for VBS and they’ve been telling me how happy they are to finally meet him. *melts* They also *REALLY* love their kids, so much so that they put youth ministry as a priority and fundraise for their young adults to make voyages to the Holy Land.

Four

Our VBS chef. She had no idea that she was signing up for dinner + snack every night and she has managed to make some of the most interesting and creative things for us. We’ve had taco bags (I know them as “walking tacos”), build-your-own salads (there were kids actually eating their vegetables!), jello lego bricks, and build-your-own trail mix. I’ve heard about kids asking their parents to make them the food that she’s putting together for VBS and I think that’s definitely a good sign.

Five

My music team. I’m working with three other people on music (I’m not the lead person) and it has been absolutely wonderful to get to collaborate with all of them. All of them are creative people, which is good considering that we’ve had to improvise on a lot this week as two of us (the two who are doing most of the teaching) have less of our normal voices than we’d like. The kiddos are responding well and we’re all playing off each other in good ways.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 29, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 29, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was hot and humid today, humid enough that we were getting drops of water from condensation. I haven’t been in humidity like this since I lived in Ohio!

I am thinking… about plans for tomorrow and everything going on, especially getting my rental car if I can.

I am thankful… that we had a good first night of VBS and that Daniel gets to come with me tomorrow.

In the kitchen… we had pizza and build-your-own salad tonight at VBS. Tomorrow will be walking tacos and fruit kebabs.

I am wearing… my Momcat shirt and capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for my friend Krystin’s baby to be released from the NICU, for Krystin’s healing after emergency surgery, and for a bunch of special intentions. Oh yes… also for VBS to go well for Daniel.

I am going… to physical therapy tomorrow.

I am wondering… if I’ll have my rental car by tomorrow. (I kind of need it PDQ for VBS.)

I am reading… Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs. I just finished up the Classic Diner Mystery Series by Jessica Beck.

I am hoping… I sleep OK tonight with all the congestion in my face!

I am looking forward to… singing with the kiddos at VBS.

I am hearing… various silly songs I’m checking out for VBS tomorrow.

Crocheting… Daniel’s big boy blankie and the amigurumi stuffed animal for my friend.

Around the house… silence. I’m loving it.

A favorite quote for today… “”When I pray for another person, I am praying for God to open my eyes so that I can see that person as God does, and then enter into the stream of love that God already directs toward that person.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… my kids laughing and getting silly.

A few plans for the rest of the week: VBS every night, PT tomorrow morning, and a special lunch on Saturday.

A peek into my day… One of the songs we did with the kids!

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

Answer Me This: Home Sweet Home Edition

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Answer Me This at CatholicAllYear.Com

When you are done reading my answers, go read what other people have to say on Kendra’s blog.

1. How long have you lived in your current home?

We’re living with in-laws and what we thought was going to be two months with them has stretched into a year while we’re in between pastoral calls.

2. How do you find out about news and current events?

Usually via Facebook and Twitter. 🙂 If I see or hear something that piques my curiousity, I’ll sometimes go to other news sites. We don’t have TV so that’s not usually an option and I don’t listen to any local radio stations.

3. Would you be able to make change for a twenty right now? For a dollar?

Nope. I keep very little cash on me out of habit more than anything else.

4. What’s the craziest food you’ve ever eaten?

Probably sea cucumber at a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. The weirdest to a lot of people would be bison (it tastes like gamey beef) or sushi (I grew up in California so it’s a taste I acquired 25 years ago).

5. Which of the commonly removed parts have you had removed? (tonsils, wisdom teeth, appendix, etc.)

I’ve had my adnoids (1986), wisdom teeth (1998), and gallbladder removed (2005).

6. What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV?

Definitely baseball. Go Giants!

7 Quick Takes: Seriously Wanting Friday to Come Soon!

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Sadness. We had to put my in-laws’ cat Nicholas to sleep today. We brought him into the vet for what we thought would be an antibiotic shot and they found a tumor in his abdomen. Given that he had lost something like 2 lbs in the last month and was very noticably in pain, it was actually not a hard decision. I am sad for my in-laws though and we seem to lose at least 1 cat per year and the rest of the cats in the house are relatively young — I think the oldest one now is maybe 13 years old and the second oldest is 12 with the rest being between the ages of 6-8. (Nick was 15.5 years old.)

— 2 —

Seriously?!?!?!?!? We were leaving the $tarbux parking lot today when my battery light flashed on and I couldn’t restart the car. Daniel commenced having a meltdown as I tried to find a tow truck company that we could afford. (Thankfully, my auto insurance comes with Roadside Assistance so we didn’t have to mortgage anything to get towed to my mechanic.) Jon came and got Daniel and I settled in to wait for the towing company. Apparently, I was blocking the way for a delivery driver because he told me he was going to give me a push aside. Well, I was suddenly in the bushes in the parking lot of the Chevron station next door. The delivery driver didn’t speak much English and I had to tell him to leave me alone to keep him from pushing me out and messing my bumper up more. Thankfully, I managed to get the information off of his truck while he was making deliveries so my insurance company is pursuing the claim and I will have a rental car while they fix mine. (I’m pretty sure the underside of my car has some damage as a result of the push and my bumper has a new dent.) Not the best day by far!

— 3 —

A good reason for the rules prohibiting the marriage of two people if one (or both) are intoxicated. A few people here know that my husband is a pastor who performs weddings as a way of paying the bills. When I saw this article, I had to send it to him. I don’t think either the bride or groom was intoxicated while the wedding was performed but they sure were after! It’s probably not a good thing to leave your wedding in police-issued handcuffs or in an ambulance to the hospital with alcohol poisoning.

— 4 —

Joy joy joy! My in-laws have been singing “I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy” to Daniel every day to teach him about God (because his mother totally doesn’t listen to *ANY* Christian music in the car EVER) and a few days ago, he said “joy joy joy!” so they sang to him. He now requests the song every day and I told him that we would sing it at VBS next week… which led to him starting to sing it (or at least try). It was seriously cute but that’s normal for my seriously cute boy.

— 5 —

Daniel and VBS. At the VBS meeting on Monday, I asked my priest if there was any way that Daniel could attend because we’d need someone to shadow him and I didn’t know if we had enough people. It turns out that one of the dads can do it… and the woman running VBS is also willing to have him be her “helper” if need be. (Daniel likes to help.) I also have some church members who are former special ed teachers who will be there and others who are totally excited about finally meeting Daniel. (He goes to a church closer to the house for Sunday school because my mother-in-law is the one who takes him most of the time.) I am so thankful to be part of a church which really wants to make it so that EVERYONE can participate and has clergy who absolutely love my kiddo.

— 6 —

We are family. Some of Jon’s relatives on his dad’s side are in town for a wedding this weekend (including his aunt who reads my blog — HI AUNT JANICE!!!!! *waves*) so we all had lunch on Wednesday. It was the first time meeting a couple of them for Daniel and the first time seeing others in a few years. He came home to a house with 10 people when he got off the bus and he did extremely well at eating at the table (better than many adults) and he was pretty calm the whole time. He did love it when we sang “I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy” to him and started banging the table in rhythm.

— 7 —

Prayer request. If you could pray for a special intention for Jon and me, I would greatly appreciate it. Please and thank you!

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

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 22, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 22, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It’s after midnight but I’m finally getting around to blogging. It was in the 90’s today and I’m guessing it will be similar tomorrow.

I am thinking… about new songs for VBS because we just changed the Bible stories that we’re using.

I am thankful… for my church which is committed to making Daniel welcome and who has found a way for him to attend VBS with me this year. One of the dads is going to be doing one-on-one with him and we’ll find more things with which he can help.

In the kitchen… eating leftovers from the barbecue on Sunday.

I am wearing… green shirt and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon and a bunch of special intentions.

I am going… to be practicing all of my hand motions for VBS during my mornings without Daniel this week.

I am wondering… about the timing of some financial things. It’s unnerving me to say the least.

I am reading… A Bad Egg by Jessica Beck. I’m working through her Diner series.

I am hoping… I can go grocery shopping at some point.

I am looking forward to… Bible study on Wednesday.

I am hearing… silly songs that I’m trying to collect for VBS.

Crocheting… same stuff as last week — Daniel’s big boy blankie and the amigurumi stuffed animal.

Around the house… silence.

A favorite quote for today… “I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” — Phillip Yancey

One of my favorite things… sleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s rescheduled dentist appointment on Thursday and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… The Hippo Song which I am learning.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

Answer Me This: Father’s Day Edition

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I’ve got a bunch of blogger friends who participate in this so I decided to give it a try!

Answer Me This from CatholicAllYear.Com

1. What’s the best thing about your dad?

My dad can figure out how to make things from scratch. It might be his engineering mind but he can seriously build whatever is needed.

2. If you’ve got kids, what’s the best thing about THEIR dad? (If you don’t, feel free to substitute your grandfather or another father figure.)

Jon is a little more adventurous than I am which is why he does things like take hikes to the park with Daniel instead of my sissy self who drives to the park. He is also able to have a good rapport with all the high school he has had in 12 years of ministry (internship and parish).

3. What’s the best advice your dad ever gave you?

Choose the battles that make your heart sing.

4. What’s something you have in common with your dad?

We have the same build. (Thank you, PCOS, for making me built like a linebacker intead of a woman.) We somehow become interested in the same things though approaching them from different angles and it makes for interesting dinner conversation when I visit them and vice versa. I also have his temper and I’m slightly better at controlling mine than he is (but only slightly).

5. What’s the manliest thing you know how to do?

I know how to change a tire and assemble just about anything that doesn’t require a blow torch.

6. Who is your favorite fictional dad?

This is a really hard one because most of the TV I watch is forensics dramas on CBS(not a lot of family interaction) and I read a lot of murder mysteries which involve females as the protagonist. I think I’m going to echo Mary on this and go with Frank Reagan of Blue Bloods as one of my favorites. I’m also a fan of Tim Taylor of Home Improvement, Gibbs from NCIS (he is paternal to Abby and some of the people involved in a case), and Dwayne Pride from NCIS: New Orleans.

This is all I’ve got. Go see Kendra for more people’s answers!

7 Quick Takes: More on Water Restrictions, House Fires, and Hobbes’ Adventures in Tampa

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a7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Apparently, the rich are different. For those who came back this week after my snarky post on the drought and water restrictions, I have a somewhat funny story for you: after Gov. Jerry Brown (all hail!) called for serious water restrictions, usage in the rich enclave of Rancho Santa Fe actually went *UP*. The reason: residents are of the opinion that “we’re not all equal when it comes to water.” I find it funny in a “you can’t make this up” way, not in a humorous way. The joke is on them, however, because serious water restrictions will be enforced on them starting on July 1st. I think I’ll have to grab a cooler, some snacks from Trader Joe’s, an iced vanilla latté, and go watch peoples’ heads explode when they realize how much water they have to cut that day. And because I’m going to have to turn in my liberal ID card if I don’t post this [/sarcasm], here’s an opinion on this from the Daily Kos.

— 2 —

Excuse me while I puke. Rick Santorum used the shooting in Charleston to try and score some political points. I’ve heard a few people excuse it saying that he was speaking broadly about assaults on religious liberty in this country but I’m not buying it unless he wants to add on shootings at a Sikh temple and a mosque onto it. Besides, the gunman very clearly made statements to the people in the church about how it was aimed toward them as African-Americans.

Seriously, co-opting this to score “religious liberty” points sickens me. It’s highly inappropriate and it devalues the deaths to the family members.

— 3 —

Hot weather food. As I’m sitting here eating my sushi from Trader Joe’s because it’s too hot to cook, I’m wondering what y’all do for “hot weather food”. Mind sharing in the comments? Please and thank you. 🙂

— 4 —

Hobbes tours Tampa’s airport without Calvin. A boy accidentally left his stuffed tiger at the Tampa airport and the airport staff took it on an adventure.

— 5 —

I swear that I am not making this up. Last Monday, a house around the corner from my parents caught on fire and when I was googling the link to send to my in-laws, I found this story. The title (“No Joke: Doctors, Realtor, Pastor Go For a Run, Extinguish House Fire”) sounds like the opening to a joke but it’s legit.

— 6 —

Because I am a COPS junkie! During that house fire in my parents’ neighborhood, various streets were blocked off (including the entrance to ours) due to the fire trucks present and this meant that people couldn’t get between two major streets. (The street with the fire goes between them and a lot of people take it at warp speed to shave off a few minutes. It’s why there are a ton of traffic cameras and speed traps on it, considering that it’s a pretty quiet residential street otherwise.) Anyway, a woman tried to shoot between two fire trucks and got pulled over. She then decided to argue with the cop. My mom was standing on the corner with some neighbors watching the fire and happened to catch this exchange and she told me that said cop took his sweet time running all of her information and getting back to her. I’m kind of bummed to have missed it because I would probably have been sitting there with some granola (it apparently took place around 8 a.m.) and watched the drama unfold. Then again, it’s probably better that I wasn’t there because Daniel would have been with me and both of our lungs would have been pretty irritated by the smoke. (We took a walk after the fire was out and I realized halfway through that I needed my inhaler pretty badly… because I have absolutely no common sense. Mr. Preemie Reactive Airway, thankfully, was fine)

— 7 —

Prayer request. Could you please pray for a special intention? Please and thank you!

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