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.

7 Quick Takes: Pretend This Has A Cool Title, OK?

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Customer service shalom. This is a fabulous article on receiving customer service with grace. (HT:Thomas) I’m wishing that it had been around when I was a barista during the summer of 2000 as there were some pretty nasty customers that came into my Barnes and Noble.

— 2 —

Prayer request. Please keep the family of baby Aiden Hall in prayer. Aiden was the nephew of one of my church kids from Minnesota and was born last month at 29 weeks because of his mom’s preeclampsia and weighed in at 1 lb 14.2 oz. (Does this sound somewhat familiar?) Anyway, baby Aiden started having seizures this morning and passed away this afternoon. Please keep parents DJ and Lisa and big brother Liam in prayer as they deal with this heartbreak.

— 3 —

Celebrating life as well. In better news than the last take, Agnes had her baby!!!!! She is a serious cutie pie too. 🙂

— 4 —

For Ash Wednesday This Week. Rachel Held Evans posted a chapter from Searching for Sunday on ashes. I recommend reading it even though Ash Wednesday was yesterday.

— 5 —

*facepalm* In the “Trending” column on Facebook are articles on how state Medicaids are having to ration Hepatitis C medications because of the cost. Huh. Other first world countries don’t have this problem. Guess why? BECAUSE THEY REGULATE THEIR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES!!!! Tell me again how deregulation is a good thing. I dare you.

— 6 —

Lent update. We were talking about Jesus being tempted in the desert today at the lectionary Bible study and we got into a big discussion on food. It was a good reminder that my hunger pangs last night were something that Jesus went through when Satan was tempting Him. It also brought to mind Laura’s post on how to fast like a grown up. (A reminder: Laura won the right to pick my Lenten discipline so I’m keeping a cheater version of her fast.)

— 7 —

Valentines for Daniel’s class. As soon as I get these posted, I’m off to create some Valentines for Daniel’s class at school. If I was actually being a cool mom this year, I’d do something from Living Locurto like last year. Instead, I’m putting address labels with hearts onto bags of Mott’s® Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks and calling it good. #slackermom

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

And So It Begins

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Laura of Coptic Dad and Mom won the raffle to pick my Lenten discipline and after some email conversation, it was decided that I would take on the Coptic fast (vegan) with some modifications: I am allowed food and drink before noon due to blood sugar issues and my fast will be suspended on Sundays because those are “mini-Easters” in the Episcopal church. (We’re kind of pansies when it comes to fasting and Lent so we give ourselves a day off.) I also can suspend the fast on St. Patrick’s Day because it’s the feast day of my people. She’ll get a guest post (or two or ten) from me on all of this. 🙂

So… I’m sitting here drinking coffee with coconut milk in it and my breakfast consisted of a banana and some peanut butter. In a few minutes, I’ll be getting dressed (well… at least dressed in my “pretty” clothes) and picking up Rebecca to head to church for Ash Wednesday worship. I’ll probably post a selfie with ashes when I get home.

Tomorrow also begins one of my favorite parts of Lent… LENT MADNESS!!!! Which saint will win the Golden Halo?!?!?!? Surf on over to the Lent Madness site tomorrow to find out!

**UPDATE** I’m back from worship and this is my #ashtag.

My #ashtag

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: Superbowl 2016 Edition

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 7, 2016

Outside my window… dark. It was in the 80’s today which is crazy for February in northern California. The Super Bowl was being played in my area so I have a feeling there were A LOT of prayers being lifted for good weather. The Blue Angels even decided to come party in my neighborhood… TWICE! #flyover #NorthernCaliforniaFTW

I am thinking… about how my week is looking and what I need to add to my planner.

I am thankful… for a relatively chill weekend.

In the kitchen… steak, baked potatoes, and caesar salad for dinner with spumoni and Lofthouse cookies for dessert. I think my parents have caught wind of my Lenten plans this year and are trying to make sure that the lead up to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday is fabulous.

I am wearing… navy shirt and black capri sweats.

I am going… for a walk tomorrow morning if I’m not in too much pain. *shakes fist at fibromyalgia*

I am wondering… about how to best blog on this. I wrote about it in 2012 when the lawsuit was cleared to go to trial. I feel horrible for the woman’s daughter — how awful must it be to know (if nobody has told her yet) that her mother views her as an inconvenience and sued because she didn’t get to abort her? It’s not like the daughter isn’t going to discover all of this later on if she ever googles herself.

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. I had to put A Lesson in Hope by Phillip Gulley down because it was due at the library and I also wasn’t in a good place mentally to read it. Lenten reading is shaping up to be Calmness by H.H. Pope Shenouda III and Seven Last Words: An Invitation to a Deeper Friendship with Jesus by James Martin, S.J. which just came out in February.

I am hoping… for some direction as to how my life should go.

I am looking forward to… Lent Madness! It is, like, SOOOOOOOOO much cooler than the Super Bowl.

I am hearing… the TV on in my mom’s office.

A Daniel story for today… when the little monster wakes up in the middle of the night (usually when I’m trying to fall asleep), he turns to me and says “hi” before demanding milk/cheese/my credit card.

Around the house… the hall got painted on Friday and I think my parents are painting the hall ceiling on Tuesday.

A favorite quote for today… “But it was true. I was constantly surprised how the storied names of biblical locales popped up in the most familiar of circumstances: on a simple map, on a graffitied street sign, or in everyday conversations. ‘The traffic to Bethlehem was terrible last night!’ said a Jesuit over dinner one night. Which still didn’t beat ‘Gehenna is lovely.'” — James Martin, S.J. in Jesus: A Pilgrimage (which I *HIGHLY* recommend if you need Lenten reading this year)

One of my favorite things… people-watching during worship. Anyone who has ever sat with me in church should not be remotely surprised.

A few plans for the rest of the week: crocheting while watching Super Bowl commercials, making phone calls on Daniel’s behalf, ashes on Wednesday, Bible study/choir on Thursday, and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… This is just funny. #HoneyBadgersFTW

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now

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Colleen of Martin Family Moments posted her list of things that are saving her sanity so I’ve decided to join her and the others who are doing the link-up with Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy.

[+] My temperature afghan. I’m still behind but it has given me something to do with my hands while I process other things happening in my life. It also helps me to focus at Bible study.

[+] Lent Madness. I am seriously looking forward to Lent Madness and the silliness that usually ensues as saints and holy people are pitted against each other to determine who wins the Golden Halo.

[+] Emergency Kittens. I’m not sure that people who hate this Twitter account actually have souls. Watching cute kitten videos and seeing wonderful cat pictures is the whole point of the Internet, right? It certainly cheers ME up! #crazycatlady

[+] Walks. When it isn’t raining and I’m not spending mornings at the federal courthouse curating Daniel’s SSI file, I love being able to go for walks and have some quiet prayer time. It also keeps the fibromyalgia at bay.

[+] Iced vanilla lattés. Because coffee needs to taste like ice cream.

[+] My NOOK. I love that I now have a portable library that fits in my purse. Currently on my NOOK: Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber.

[+] Cross-Stitch World. Cross-Stitch World is the weirdest idea for a game/app ever but it works for me. It does for me what coloring does for other people apparently.

7 Quick Takes: Please Iz Can It Be Caturday?!?!?!?!?

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

A quickie explanation of the Protestant Reformation. This is seriously cracking me up but it is historically accurate.

— 2 —

Interesting pastor bios. I’m greatly amused at what came about from the #realclergybios hashtag on Twitter. Some were funny, some were serious, and all were pretty realistic.

— 3 —

An oldie but goodie. This piece has been around for a year but is timeless. You should share it with all the medical professionals you know.

— 4 —

Predictions about the faith in the future. My former bishop shared this on Facebook yesterday, It’s 10 predictions about the future Church and shifting attendance patterns. I think it’s probably applicable across the board.

— 5 —

An interesting link-up. Anne of Modern Mrs. Darcy is doing a link-up of the things that are saving my life right now. As soon as I’m done with this, I’ll go make and add my list.

— 6 —

Disputing the reigning theory about cat-calling. Christen Brandt of NYC manages to nail why cat-calling is not dependent on one’s outfit. Apparently, a guy on a subway started saying things like “damn, nice legs” to her… when she was wearing a heavy parka and boots because apparently the 5 inches of legs that were showing were there just for him. I’ve gotten cat-called while wearing clothes that don’t even show the shape of my body before and I am a bit aggravated that some men’s lack of boundaries are being blamed on us women.

— 7 —

Picking my Lenten discipline. Y’all have 9 hours to go before the raffle ends to pick my Lenten discipline. There have been some pretty good suggestions thus far.

**UPDATE** The winner is Laura of Coptic Dad and Mom!!!

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

{five favorites}: Lenten Disciplines

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#5Faves

Unless you live under a rock or don’t attend a liturgical church, you probably know that Lent starts next week for the Western Church. (Those in the East have another month to go.) As I’ve now been at this for 20 years, I thought I’d share some of my favorite Lenten disciplines. Also… if you want a shot at picking mine for me, go here before Friday and enter by leaving me a comment.

One

Spiritual reading. For the last few years, I’ve had some kind of spiritual reading component as part of Lent. I’ve done Igniting Our Values, Bread and Wine, and A Season for the Spirit before.

My recommendations if you want some Lenten reading this year: any of the above as well as Jesus: A Pilgimage by James Martin, S.J., Seven Last Words by James Martin, S.J. (I haven’t read this yet but am looking forward to doing so based on his other works), A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans, and Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans.

Two

Crocheting a square every day. For fiber junkies like me, crocheting or knitting a square a day toward a blanket to be put together after Easter is a good way to be mindful of the season and also get some creativity in. Bonus points if you can pray while doing it.

Three

Dietary changes. I’ve given up meat, chocolate, and Coke before. It sounds really pathetic in comparison to the fasting guidelines that Eastern Christians have but it’s been an exercise in mindfulness to me as I’m forced to think about Jesus every time I get a craving for whatever it is.

Four

Blogging. I’ve done faith-blogging every day, blogging about Christian music daily, and blogging about music every Monday in the past. It was a good exercise in journalling and got me thinking about my faith and how I live it.

Five

Prayer. Two years ago, Beth Anne challenged me to find a church to pray in twice a week and Kelly challenged me last year to pick someone to pray for daily including 5 “enemies”. Both stretched me and improved my prayer life.

Go love up Ashley and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 31, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 31, 2016

Outside my window… sunny. The sun came out while I was at church this morning and it’s warm enough for shirt sleeves outside. Weather Underground says it’s in the low 50’s.

I am thinking… about the data I’m putting into spreadsheets for tax purposes. I’m trying to get them done super early in case we owe so that we have time to come up with the money.

I am thankful… for the lady in my Bible study who rang my doorbell on Thursday night and handed me $tarbux cards that she had gotten for being a science fair judge. She’s not a coffee drinker so she passed them on to me. I appreciate that she thought of me.

In the kitchen… nothing from scratch tonight. I’ll probably heat up something frozen.

I am wearing… a blue-green shirt and jeans.

I am going… to take Daniel for a haircut in a little bit. The local barber does well with him.

I am wondering… about a lot of things right now.

I am reading… A Lesson in Hope by Phillip Gulley. I’m hoping to pick Accidental Saints back up before too long.

I am hoping… my week goes well and I can get done what I need to get done.

I am looking forward to… the knitting/crocheting group that meets at my church this coming Tuesday night.

I am hearing… Daniel chattering.

A Daniel story for today… he will point to the CD player and say an approximation of “music”. There is one specific CD by Altan that he loves and that CD needs to be the first in the rotation. (He is *TOTALLY* my kid.)

Around the house… mom is painting, Dad is puttering, Daniel is playing, and I am doing taxes.

A favorite quote for today… “You know you’re an adult when you can be right without proving the other person wrong.” — #1 on this list.

One of my favorite things… club soda. It’s standing in for Coca-Cola right now.

A few plans for the rest of the week: haircut for the kid, intake interview for the group managing Daniel’s meds tomorrow, mental health screening for me on Tuesday (my doctor up here doesn’t prescribe psychiatric meds so I’m having to get a psychiatrist referral through the county), follow-up doctor’s appointment for my lab work on Wednesday, Bible study on Thursday, and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… Someone in the Temperature Blanket Group on Facebook was sharing about a woman whose kids took a crochet hook and a chain she had made and framed it for her. I thought it was a fabulous way of remembering her and remembering her crocheting.

A crochet hook and chain framed.

Post Script…

You have four days left to pick my Lenten discipline. As much as it seems like I’m making a game out of this, I have honestly been stretched and have grown because of the disciplines people have assigned me so go pick one for me! It’s also open to everyone regardless of religious tradition.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.