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.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 17, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 17, 2016

Outside my window… dark. It was 90F today. So *NOT* a fan!

I am thinking… about what the week of April 24-30 holds for us.

I am thankful… that Jon’s visit last week went so well.

In the kitchen… steak, fries, and caesar salad. Yum.

I am wearing… jammies (my Run for the Little Flowers shirt and black capri sweats) but I wore a dress from Kohl’s for church today and then a fitted tee from Old Navy and running shorts from Target afterwards.

I am going… to have to drive Daniel to school all this week. Mother-son bonding time!

I am wondering… what the next couple months hold for me. (Yes, I’m vague-blogging. Once I’m allowed to talk about the details, I’ll make all of this clear.)

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. I have a bunch of books from the library as well.

I am hearing… Long Lost Family, a show on TLC. I may or not be getting really teary.

A Daniel story for today… Kiddo was so adorable when meeting people at church today when Mom met me there with him.

A favorite quote for today…

I didn't know I was drowning...

One of my favorite things… Chunky Monkey almond milk ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s.

A few plans for the rest of the week: collateral services meeting with Clementine, psych appointment for Daniel on Thursday, morning prayer and Bible study on Thursday morning after the psych appointment, and whatever else comes up.

Post Script…

My college classmate Ian passed away this morning from acute myeloid leukemia.

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

Please pray for his widow Christy and their daughters Asha and Fiona as they adjust to the new normal in their life without Ian.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: I Can Haz Quick Takes???

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Planner nerd. I finally got my planner filled out with numbered days and stuff today. (I was up to August and somehow got waylaid from finishing for 3 months. A small child might have something to do with it.) Of course, because it’s me, it’s also color-coded. 🙂

Then today, I started drooling over the planner section while at Staples giving the kid a pre-dinner run to work off energy until he could have his ADHD meds. None of the ones being sold there really work for what I need but visions of rulers and colored pens and schedules were dancing in my head.

— 2 —

Ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh!!! Bunmi Laditan has a YouTube channel now!!!! (I may or may not be dancing around the room at this discovery.)

— 3 —

*sighs* The #DemDebate hashtag is trending on Twitter. While the Democratic field doesn’t entice me to take a screwdriver to my temple as much as the Republican field does, I would REALLYREALLYREALLY like the various political conventions to please take place so there can be only TWO candidates to block out instead of eleventy billion of them.

— 4 —

Clickbait fun. I love this list of 16 times Dad won at life. #4 and #10 are the best ones.

— 5 —

How did I not know about this?!?!?!?!? I just discovered the 50 Days of Fabulous page on Rev. Tim Schenck’s Twitter. (Fr. Tim is the founder of Lent Madness, for those who are unaware of his awesomeness.) I really need to pay better attention to Forward Movement. #badepiscopalian

— 6 —

Because Ben and Jerry’s. It’s been a stressy week so I picked up some ice cream at Target and was encouraged to see some non-dairy Chunky Monkey. I just had a little bit and it is AWESOME!!!! I highly recommend it to my vegan and non-dairy people.

— 7 —

So much grace. It was revealed in the last week that the father of Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury (head of the Church of England and Anglican Communion), is not the person he thought he was and is instead the late Sir Anthony Montague Browne, secretary to Winston Churchill. Archbishop Welby released this beautiful and grace-filled statement that I think needs to be read by everyone. He makes me proud to be Anglican.

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

{five favorites}: Miscellanea (LXII)

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#5Faves

One

Caramel frappucinos. It’s been a bit of a crazy week and this was breakfast for me this morning as I fought traffic on my way to my psychiatrist appointment. It made a hectic morning a bit better.

Two

The $tarbux mobile app. It lets me put my order in at the nearest $tarbux and pay on my phone so that all I have to do is walk in and pick it up without having to wait in the drive-thru or stand in any line. This is a godsend when I am in a hurry as I have been the last few mornings.

Three

My psychiatrist. She found a justification for prescribing me my migraine preventative. It’s actually a psychiatric medication used off-label for migraines so she’s claiming it as something to help with my depression. Given that I’ve been on it for 6.5 years without a problem with it interacting with my normal anti-depressant, I’ll take it.

Four

World’s Largest Virtual Hallelujah Chorus. Michelle of Scenes from the Wild shared this and I am so jealous of everyone who got to participate! My mom and I used to do the You-Sing-It Messiah sponsored by the San Jose Symphonic Choir when I was in high school and college. Since then, I’ve performed the Christmas section a few times or have been a rent-a-soprano or rent-an-alto when choir directors I know have done choruses from Handel’s Messiah.

Five

Simcha’s article on daily prayer. The only thing I would add to Simcha’s article on daily prayer is saying Compline while putting your kiddos to bed.

Go love up Ashley and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 10, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 10, 2016

Outside my window… dark. It was grey with intermittent rain showers today. Despite being out of my migraine preventative (and having a doctor who refuses to prescribe it), I’m loving the weather.

I am thinking… about this week and the chaos it will bring.

I am thankful… that Daniel was in a cuddly mood today and decided to take a nap so I could have one as well.

In the kitchen… leftovers tomorrow.

I am wearing… my Run for the Little Flowers shirt and black capri sweats.

I am going… to pray for a somewhat quiet week for Daniel’s Spring Break even though I know I’m totally out of luck on that one!

I am wondering… how Tuesday will go.

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. I also have a ton of books checked out of the library as well.

I am hoping… for calmness in my day tomorrow… even though I know that it’s NOT going to happen.

I am looking forward to… all the home repairs and improvements being done!

I am hearing… “Annua Gaudia” by The Rose Ensemble.

A Daniel story for today… he kept asking for “shower” and we kept telling him that it was too early for his shower. When he took his nap this afternoon, Mom and I finally figured out why he was asking — his shower always comes before he goes to sleep at night so he thought he ought to have one before his nap!

Around the house… repairs/renovations/ordered chaos.

A favorite quote for today… “I need a God who is bigger and more nimble and mysterious than what I could understand and contrive. Otherwise it can feel like I am worshipping nothing more than my own ability to understand the divine.” — Nadia Bolz-Weber in Pastorix

One of my favorite things… music. It enriches my life.

A few plans for the rest of the week: collateral services meeting with Clementine tomorrow, blood work for the kid on Tuesday morning (it has to be fasting blood work too which will be a new level of hell for all of us), psych appointment on Wednesday, Jon visiting from Wednesday to Friday, morning prayer/Bible study on Thursday, and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… This song seems to describe my mindset at the moment.

Post Script… If y’all can pray for a special intention for me this month, I would greatly appreciate it.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: From My Bookmarks This Week…

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Someone cute turned 7 today. I can’t believe that 7 years ago today, Mr. Cutie Pie was born by emergency c-section.

His baptism on April 10, 2009.

He is, in the words of my mother-in-law, such a big galoot now!

Daniel.

— 2 —

Breathtaking. Someone in one of my Facebook groups shared this video of Armenian liturgical chant from this CD. It’s beautiful enough that I would listen to it while working or if I couldn’t fall asleep at night to help me relax.

— 3 —

Addressing a problem with our young men in America. This is a really good piece by Rod Dreher on the problems caused by young men being exposed to pr0n at an early age. Here’s a pertinent quote from the end:

There you see the attack on the family, down to the neuroscientific level. Brilliantly evil. Think about what you might be setting your son up for by giving him a smartphone. A junior high school principal said to me recently that she invited a specialist in porn addiction to give a talk at her school about this, but parents balked, saying their kids didn’t even know what that was.

Fools.

This is not simply a matter of getting a smartphone out of your kid’s hands. Remember my telling you about the family I know who removed their kids from a school because fifth grade boys in her son’s class were watching hardcore porn on smartphones their parents gave them? The boys were building a pornified culture of boyhood. Fifth graders.

— 4 —

Mom text fails. This is probably NSFW but a woman in Ohio did a screenshot of her mom’s texts and has been sharing them on Facebook. I read them a couple nights ago and was dying of laughter at some of the pranks she has played on them and on the mother/daughter relationship.

— 5 —

Scruples and mercy. Simcha Fisher had a couple really good posts this week, one on scruples and the other on mercy. I also recommend her field guide to Dominicans and other terrors.

— 6 —

Scripture cake. For those who have read Christy by Catherine Marshall, you might recall mention of Little Burl telling Miss Christy that his mama was going to bake her a “Scripture cake”. This is a recipe for it. (HT: Goodnight Gram)

— 7 —

Special intention. If y’all could be praying for a special intention of mine this month, I’d greatly appreciate it. Please and thank you!

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

{five favorites}: Miscellanea (LXI)

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#5Faves

One

Orthodox Celts. This is another installment of “Jen is a music snob” but I love the vocal harmonies that are reminiscent of what I hear when I’m listening to Eastern Orthodox liturgical music to fall asleep at night. And seriously, what is with the step-dancing on the cliffs in “Rocky Road to Dublin”?!?!?!?

Two

The High Kings. They are probably my favorite for “Rocky Road of Dublin” and “The Little Beggarman”. I like their version of “Màiri’s Wedding” but not as much as the version by Van Morrison and the Chieftains.

Three

Austism-friendly activity bags. Two ELCA congregations in Pennsylvania made autism-friendly activity bags. I’m seriously wanting one for my kiddo!

Four

Office supplies. Staples is my idea of nirvana. 🙂 I got a back-up set of pens for my planner (because it’s color-coded) and I almost started drooling in the three aisles of Tar-zhay that had binders and notebooks and pens.

Five

My friend John. I did something somewhat stupid and got into a fight with someone on his Facebook wall over an asinine statement that Muslims have to stop using the name Allah because it’s the Arabic word for “God” and they should have to use a different word. (Trust me… it was pretty bad.) I had history and linguistics on my side but the guy was seriously nasty to me. John not only backed me up but unfriended the guy for his treatment of me. John is the guy I trusted to be Daniel’s buddy last summer during VBS — he is a stand-up guy and the person I go to if I have *ANY* weaponry questions because he knows his stuff. 🙂 I know he’ll catch flak from some of his Facebook groups for backing me up and I appreciate it especially because of that.

Go love up Ashley and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 4, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 4, 2016

Outside my window… sunny. It was in the 70’s today and apparently is supposed to hit 90F on Wednesday.

I am thinking… about all I have to get done tomorrow housework-wise.

I am thankful… my friend Liz who entered the Carmelites today.

In the kitchen… I’m smelling my mom’s salmon and broccoli.

I am wearing… charcoal shirt from Old Navy and jeans from Kohl’s.

I am going… down to Gilroy tomorrow for a doctor’s appointment. I’m hoping my bloodwork isn’t too bad…

I am wondering… how the my parents’ meeting on Wednesday will go.

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber if I remember to put my e-reader back in my purse.

I am hoping… some of the books I requested come into the library soon…

I am looking forward to… Morning Prayer and Bible study starting back up this week.

I am hearing… a fan. It’s kind of hot in here. We’re trying to figure out how to break it to Daniel that “warm spot” is not an option tonight.

A Daniel story for today… little boy was having lower G-I issues yesterday so we kept him home today. When the alarm went off for us to get up to go to my meeting this morning, kiddo was fast asleep and was very drowsy until we left! He was so adorable.

Around the house… oiling the wood on the doors and cleaning before the meeting on Wednesday. Fun fun fun.

One of my favorite things… air-conditioning. I’m wishing we had it.

A few plans for the rest of the week: cleaning, my doctor’s appointment tomorrow, knitting/crocheting group tomorrow, Morning Prayer/Bible study/choir on Thursday, and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… flowers in the garden.

Flowers from my mother's garden.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.