Category Archives: Faith

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 6, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY July 6, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was a warm day today but I was in jeans because it was gray in the morning when I was having to go to the vet with my mother-in-law to get her Birman’s abcess drained.

I am thinking… about the various articles I’ve read on St. Maria Goretti today (her feast day) and how divergent Simcha Fisher’s article is from the others which totally stress how she died to protect her purity and OMG-teens-today-need-serious-help-keeping-their-virginity. Simcha’s point is that she was concerned about *HER ATTACKER* and his eternal salvation more than she was concerned about staying pure. I tend to agree as one hallmark of a saint is their selflessness

I am thankful… for my naps the last few days. VBS was awesome but it drained me as did the festivities of Saturday. Add in not sleeping well for whatever reason and I ended up with a pretty bad headache on Sunday morning that meant me skipping church because I was feeling so wretched.

In the kitchen… my mother-in-law just made a batch of peach jam.

I am wearing… black v-neck shirt and blue/white striped pajama bottoms.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, good MRI results for a friend’s baby, and a number of special intentions.

I am going… to try and get a walk in tomorrow, hopefully a long one.

I am wondering… why I watch Viperkeeper videos before going to sleep as I’m so incredibly terrified of snakes.

I am reading… The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows. It was on a site of 25 recommended reads for the summer. I also finished Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs today.

I am hoping… they finish the body repairs on my car this week. As much as I like my rental (which is now a Ford Fusion as the Jetta had an oil leak), I really need my car bad as I’m heading up to San Jose this weekend and don’t want to have to pay extra to extend the rental when my insurance is footing the bill.

I am looking forward to… my physical therapist massaging out my neck tomorrow.

I am hearing… silence. It is lovely.

Crocheting… same old, same old — Daniel blankie and amigurumi stuffie.

Around the house… silence.

A favorite quote for today… “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” — Douglas Adams

One of my favorite things… being able to get the #1 spot on a waiting list for a book at a library.

A few plans for the rest of the week: PT tomorrow morning, various errands and things throughbout the week, meeting with the Social Security Administration on Friday afternoon (please pray for my ability to control my temper and not use words that will make baby Jesus cry because I am seriously aggravated with them for losing paperwork and being generally incomptetent), and heading to San Jose on Saturday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The VBS version of “Earth and All Stars”

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Here is the version of “Earth and All Stars” that Margaret put together from the list of things that the kids gave us that can praise God. This is the tune.

1. Rainbows and dirt,
Girl scouts and campers,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
Dinosaurs and sheep,
polar bears and penguins,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things;
I too shall praise him with a new song.

2. Tacos and fries
and people who love Jesus,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
Cupcakes and trains,
trucks and school buses,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things;
I too shall praise him with a new song.

3. Sunsets and space,
drums and princess Leia,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
Electric guitars,
trombones and clarinets,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things;
I too shall praise him with a new song.

7 Quick Takes: VBS Week

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Most *interesting* thing I heard at VBS tonight. I had to run Daniel home during my free period (he was in a mood and starting to melt down) so I was a couple minutes late getting back to start music with my oldest group. When I walked in, one of the boys said, “Oh good, you’re here. The Hippo Song isn’t the same without you… not that you’re fat or anything.” Ummm… thanks?

— 2 —

Best mommy line. From one of the teachers of the youngest group (preschoolers and kindergarten): “Hey! Arms and mouths to yourselves!” (I find it actually kind of funny that all three of the teachers for that group are moms with all boys.)

— 3 —

Speaking of that youngest group… I can’t remember which song precipitated it but they started all linking hands and dancing in a circle. (I think it was “Earth and All Stars”?) Margaret (the other young woman doing music with me and the lead on our team) and I were busting up laughing.

— 4 —

All the things that can praise God… We were trying to teach the kids some “adult music” this week and one of the things we did with each group was to get a list of things that could praise God so we could improvise some verses based on the suggestions. Some of the answers: tacos & fries, Dr. Who & Tardis, space, trombones, Princess Leia, jingle bells (one of our preschoolers wanted sing the song every day), dinosaurs, sheep, cupcakes, dirt, mac n’cheese, dirt, trains, and school buses. If I can get Margaret’s permission, I’ll post the verses that resulted.

**UPDATE** Margaret was chill with it so this is the link.

— 5 —

Mission accomplished! The two most popular songs this week were the two that I taught the kids: the Hippo Song and the Penguin Song. Apparently, my kids are going home and singing those songs every night… as are some of the VBS staff people because they have them stuck in their heads. In other words, I’ve managed to teach them that God made hippos and that penguins drink tea. My work here is done!

— 6 —

We need to invest in a church-owned selfie stick. Mother Kelli Grace (our vicar) had all the kiddos and staff crowd into two rows in the church so she could do a VBS selfie. Someone commented that we need a church selfie stick and I guess one of the men offered to bring his tomorrow. I remarked that one of our bishops has one and we should just borrow hers! Still, this is a church where worship selfies are normal so maybe we need acquire one for church purposes. (I’d pot the one from today but it would involve getting permission from all the parents of the kiddos.)

— 7 —

Totally over this freaking cough! Apparently, I’m coughing so loudly that I’m waking my mother-in-law up and likely to wake up my father-in-law down the hall. Oops! I’m thinking the M&M’s in the trail mix tonight were a bad idea? At least I didn’t try doing the popcorn!

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

#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.

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.