Category Archives: Faith

{five favourites}: Miscellanea (LXXVI)

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#5Faves

One

Seeing my community come together following the local shooting on Friday. (For those who don’t read my blog normally, the Cascade Mall shooting was local for me.) The small shrine at the mall sign is growing still, the vigil held on Monday night was very well-attended, and there’s even a prayer wall composed of two pieces of butcher paper at the college.

Sarai Lara, the 15 year old killed in the shooting, was a student at my town’s high school and the principal created a GofundMe account for memorial t-shirts for all the students. After only two days, it’s been fully funded and I feel really blessed to have gotten to be one of the donors.

Two

This fact-check of Monday’s debate from NPR. I like that they included a transcript of the debate and nested the fact-check blurbs into it so that you can read the transcript and see the various blurbs in context. (Props to Laura of Coptic Dad and Mom for bringing it to my attention.)

Three

This piece on Philip Yancey from HuffPo Religion. Apparently, I’m in good company in being baffled by evangelical support of Donald Trump. Yancey comes from a fundamentalist background and went more mainstream evangelical so I’m not surprised that he is not a fan of Trump. For an understanding of why I’m saying this, read What’s So Amazing About Grace? and Vanishing Grace.

Four

This piece on the value of being alone. Who knew that my need for “mama time” was such a good thing? 🙂

Five

Singing in my church choir. Getting to go sing for 60-90 minutes on Wednesday nights and on Sunday mornings is divine. (No pun intended.) Tonight involved some Mendelssohn, Holst, and gospel.

Go love up Bonnie, DeBalino, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 25, 2016

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For Today… September 25, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was in the low 60’s today and very nice.

I am thinking… about how to structure my study time this week.

I am thankful… that they arrested a suspect in the Cascade Mall shooting.

One of my favorite things… Homer being a snuggly kitteh.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes today were a black cardigan and jeans from Kohl’s, a black t-shirt from Old Navy, and my black flats. I ditched the flats and cardigan after church. I was also wearing my 49’ers necklace that Rebecca made for me so I could rep my boys at church.

I am creating… plans for Write 31 Days.

I am watching… “Lock-Up: San Antonio — Extended Stay”. I’m kind of addicted to police/jail/forensic shows.

I am hoping… the Giants make it to the wild card game!

I am learning… how to write and solve problems with T accounts in my Practical Accounting I class.

In my kitchen… Mom made Guinness stew tonight.

In the school room… Daniel continues to do well in his autism program.

Post Script… I love this piece on how to live through anything.

Shared Quote… I seriously feel like this is a fitting quote that refers to everyone who tells me that Daniel’s autism is due to us vaccinating him. (For the 1500th time, vaccines do not cause autism.) Let’s also not even get into the political applications of it…

A fitting quote for these days.

A moment from my day… I’m enjoying the various videos on bullet journals out there. I would love to have one but I am too much of a perfectionist and I lack the ability to draw a straight line.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: First Week of School Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

My Practical Accounting class. I love the class so much that I made myself late for choir practice last night so I could get the worksheet of class examples to balance. (The fact that Mount Vernon has the crappiest way of doing street repairs and closures also made me late because a large chunk of Division was closed and I had to take Fir to Riverside to Fulton to some other street to Kincaid to get to my church on 18th.) I also worked through some things in my workbook that aren’t required just to give myself some extra practice.

— 2 —

My Excel class. The book and workbook are still MIA so we have some temporary online codes for the e-book and SNAP. I’m really wanting my print book because it’s kind of annoying to have to jump between the window with the e-book and Excel while working on projects and exercises.

— 3 —

Fitting in. I thought I’d be the oldest in a class of 18-20 year olds. I was wrong. My Practical Accounting class is a good mix of ages and I’m liking this mixture a lot. We do have some youngsters but also people my age and some who are older.

— 4 —

CCF. When I walked into the student center on Tuesday at noon, the Campus Christian Fellowship was tabling. (“Tabling” means that they had a table with information and a sign-up sheet for emails about activities.) I signed up to get emails on events and I’ll be heading to hang out with them for dinner and Bible study tonight. They also have a chapel service on Tuesday during the noon hour and I will definitely attend those as they seem like a nice break in my day.

Honestly, I’m looking forward to religious activities like this where I’m just going as “Jen” and not “Pastor Jon’s wife Jen who we expect to know everything about all that is happening despite the fact that we did not call HER as the pastor and she has her hands full with a full-time job or a kiddo with special needs”.

— 5 —

Prayer request. Please keep my dear friend Eileen and her family in prayer as she deals with the passing of her father. She is one of the deepest and wisest people and I hate that she is having to grieve, though she would be one of the first to tell me that it is a part of life.

— 6 —

The Skittles meme from Donald Trump Jr. In case you didn’t read my post from Tuesday, let me explain why Donald Trump Jr.’s Skittles meme is so horrific.

1.) Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. Wrigley, the maker of Skittles, responded as such to Trump Jr.

2.) Trump Jr. used the picture from a refugee photographer without said photographer’s permission. The photographer is horrified by how his picture was used and has emphatically said that Trump Jr. did not have permission to use it. Seriously, Junior. Didn’t your dad teach you not to take things without permission??? Oh wait…

3.) The idea behind the Skittles example originated with a children’s book by Nazi propagandist Julius Streicher. Lest you think I am making this up, the link to my source is here and Snopes.Com backs me up.

And for the record, I would totally eat a handful of Skittles and I would joyfully accept every refugee. SKITTLES ARE CANDY AND REFUGEES ARE PEOPLE, CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD WHO DESERVE BETTER THAN TO BE TREATED LIKE A DISPOSABLE COMMODITY.

— 7 —

Srsly?!?!? My backpack with my accounting book and working papers fell off the chair next to me at Starbux and the two people in my part of the restaurant gave me nasty looks even after I said, “Sorry.” Y’all, I’m sorry that my accounting book weighs more than Daniel does and that the sound disturbed you sitting there and drinking coffee. To be fair, the two of you are now having incredibly loud conversations with other people and I’m not giving you snotty looks. Try to show a modicum of compassion, m’kay?

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

{five favourites}: Miscellanea (LXXV)

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#5Faves

One

Tim Hawkins’ “Hedge of Protection” bit. I have spit coffee out of my nose before when people have prayed for a “hedge of protection” for me because of this video.

Two

My boys winning tonight. It’s always wonderful when my boys (the San Francisco Giants) annihilate the Dodgers. #BeatLA

Three

My accounting class. I hated math. Let me make that more emphatic — HATED math. I got through Calculus by the skin of my teeth and swore I would never do anything else involving it once I ran screaming from Organic Chemistry. My Macroeconomics class in college had a little bit but it was just computation and a little bit of basic algebra.

Well… I discovered that I loved the accounting work I had to do at UPS-SCS when I worked for them and all the tax/records/reimbursement stuff I did as a pastor’s wife. I think it says something that I’m going to campus on my day off from class to curl up in the library and start my Practical Accounting homework early!

Four

My friend Gina. Girlfriend wrote an amazing piece on autism and suicide.

Five

Wrigley (maker of Skittles). Wrigley, maker of Skittles, weighed in today on Donald Trump Jr.’s odious Skittles analogy (which I am not sharing here because I don’t believe in posting hate on this blog):

Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don’t feel it’s an appropriate analogy. We will respectfully refrain from further commentary as anything we say could be misinterpreted as marketing.

By the way, the photographer who took the picture says that he is horrified that Trump Jr. is using the picture for his malevolent purposes because he (the photographer) is a refugee and Trump Jr. used it without his permission.

And for those who are ignorant as to why I’m making a big to-do over this, the origin of the Skittles analogy was a picture book in Germany called Der Giftpilz (The Toadstool) which was used to explain to children why it would only take one Jew to ruin the German people. The author, Julius Streicher, was hanged at Nuremburg for crimes against humanity.

Go love up Bonnie, DeBalino, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 19, 2016

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For Today… September 19, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. We had a wonderful rainy weekend, some sun yesterday, more rain today, and I think we’re clearing up again.

I am thinking… about my Excel/Access class and how I’m going to structure my week to get in the work I need to get done.

I am thankful… that my first Practical Accounting class went well today. It seems like it will be a fun class.

One of my favorite things… Daniel not being wired and going to sleep without a fight. That isn’t going to happen tonight. 🙁 On the other hand, he had a good day of school today.

I am wearing… jammies. My outfit today was my charcoal shirt from Old Navy, jeans from Kohl’s, running shoes from (now defunct) Sport Authority, and my blue hoodie from Costco.

I am creating… this entry. 🙂

I am watching… COPS. It’s an addiction.

I am hoping… the Giants make it into the wild card game.

I am learning… about accounting basics and balance sheets.

In my kitchen… Dad made a fabulous tri-tip yesterday for Sunday dinner.

In the school room… Daniel continues to have a fabulous time in his class.

Post Script…

Shared Quote… I saw this on Facebook and it seemed appropriate. (Artwork done by Lori Hetteen.)

This seems to apply to my life.

A moment from my day… One of my favorite songs to use when working with Confirmation kids.

Closing Notes: I am honestly disgusted that Ashley Madison (the dating site for lechers has a commercial on DISH Network’s non-local channels. Its existence is horrible in the first place but encouraging people to step out on their significant others is evil.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

{five favorites}: Miscellanea (LXXIV)

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#5Faves

One

Willamette Valley Fruit Company. Their “Berry Bananza” blend is my go-to for smoothies. I add some cranberry juice, Greek yogurt, the frozen fruit, and a handful or two of spinach and blend it all. It’s a lovely meal and a lovely way to use up overripened bananas and wilted spinach.

Two

Being the only one awake in the house right now. It’s peaceful and really what I need right now as I try to wind down before bed.

Three

“A Whisper and a Clamor” by Anberlin. I heard it on the the radio 6 years ago and fell in love with it. It usually has a place on mixed CD’s that I take on car trips.

Four

“Painting Pictures of Egypt” by Sara Groves. I heard this on my drive to San Jose in early October 2015 and it spoke to my heart and how I was feeling at that moment. It has been only recently that I’ve stopped feeling like I’m in such a liminal space.

Five

“It Is Well” by Bethel Music. It fits where I am emotionally and spiritually at the moment. One of the songs I used to sing to Daniel during his hospital stays was It Is Well With My Soul which seems to be the hymn that inspired this song.

Bonus

“Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective. The song just totally makes me smile and it’s a fun song to rock out to in the car… though other drivers probably think I’m having a seizure.

Go love up Bonnie, DeBalino, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 12, 2016

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For Today… September 12, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny and in the 70’s. It was cold enough in the house this morning that I had a hoodie on over my jammies while getting Daniel ready for school and on the bus!

I am thinking… about the classes I’m going to try and take this fall.

I am thankful… for a wonderful alto part in the anthem we sang for the offertory yesterday. It is so rare to find one this good in regular choral music.

One of my favorite things… my iced grande vanilla latté from $tarbux.

I am wearing… a green striped shirt and jeans. I’m barefoot as usual.

I am creating… various things with yarn.

I am listening to… one of the classical channels on Dish Network. (I think it’s Ensemble?)

I am hoping… to get all the application and registration stuff done in time for Fall Quarter.

I am learning… what my stomach will and will not allow me to eat. IBS stinks!

In my kitchen… my mom made beef burgundy yesterday and we ate it over some squash that my aunt brought. Dessert was plum clafouti and ice cream.

In the school room… Daniel continues to enjoy school.

Post Script… I am totally *NOT* surprised that vaccine critic Dr. Robert Sears is being charged with gross negligence and about to lose his license to practice medicine. Seriously, why would you trust a doctor that does not do his due diligence and do something as simple as REQUEST THE FREAKING RECORDS for a kid he is about to exempt from vaccines, endangering the life of this kid (for whom there is no proof that he actually had the problematic reaction in question) and the rest of us?

Seriously, I cannot understand the complete stupidity of some people.

Shared Quote… This isn’t a quote but an observation. My parish has two congregations sharing a building and we’ve been worshiping together for most of the summer, which means that worship is in both English and Spanish. Yesterday, our first hymn was “Amazing Grace” which is “Sublime Gracia” in Spanish. I find the idea of grace being “sublime” to be an interesting thought. 🙂

A moment from my day… One of my favorite classical pieces — the Bach: Concerto for Two Pianos in C major BWV 1061 (Vivace). I will never have advanced enough piano skills to play even one of the parts but I love the piece. It showcases the intricacy of Bach’s music and why he is the composer whose music I go to mentally when I need a happy place.

Closing Notes: I came across this on Facebook and I recommend checking it out as the pictures of the athletes in their native dress are stunning.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.