Category Archives: Cats

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 24, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 24, 2014

Outside my window… sunflowers. It’s nice right now but should get to 88F today.

I am thinking… about the errands my mother-in-law and I will be doing with Daniel this afternoon.

I am thankful… that the move is over and we’re settling into things here.

In the kitchen… my mother-in-law is making salmon packets for my father-in-law.

I am wearing… black polo shirt, jeans, and flip-flops from Old Navy.

I am praying for… Daniel’s school situation to resolve, for some special intentions, for grace and guidance as I process the last month or so.

I am going… to drop off my little black dress to be mended on my way to pick Daniel up from summer school.

I am wondering… what our status will be at the end of the summer.

I am reading… These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon. I also read A Common Life last week.

I am hoping… Daniel goes down peacefully tonight and that we can get a new routine in place here for bedtime.

I am hearing my mother-in-law’s Roombas.

Around the house… Roombas are running, laundry is cycling, and I’m sitting in my room with my needy black cat.

I am pondering… too much mentally. Will have to journal some things out tonight.

A favorite quote for today… “What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… a place and time where my mind can be quiet.

A few plans for the rest of the week: errands on various days, sorting through boxes, shredding old papers and bills, and living where my feet are at the moment.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: What Has Happened Here

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7 Quick Takes

So I’ve been hard to find for about a week or so. Here’s what is up:

— 1 —

We packed up our parsonage. I am eternally grateful that my mommy is a project manager. It meant that my living room bookshelves, Daniel’s cave, and Jon’s mancave were packed a week ago Monday and my kitchen was packed last Friday.

— 2 —

We loaded up a 20-foot U-Haul truck. Can I just say that last Saturday morning was a bit tense for me and leave it at that? I wasn’t totally ready when the moving crew showed up and I’m grateful to the council president at Metanoia and at the other church helping us who were calming me down and telling me to stop apologizing.

— 3 —

We deep-cleaned our parsonage. By “we”, I mean Jon. Serious deep-cleaning to remove any trace of us there. A parishioner also came to us on Sunday, handed us a $100 bill, and told us to hire someone to come in and do the rest.

— 4 —

We had our last Sunday at Metanoia. It went well and they had a catered farewell luncheon for us after worship. We left with lots of hugs, a good way to go. One of Jon’s colleagues also came when he was done with his worship duties for the morning and that was really wonderful.

— 5 —

We headed south to LA. After discovering that our motel in Tulare didn’t accept cats, we had to do some searching before we landed at the Motel 6 in town which was more than happy to host our kitties. It was not the best evening but such was life. We had an easy time driving the rest of the way on Monday.

— 6 —

We moved in with my in-laws. We’ve taken over two of their bedrooms with our essential stuff and put the rest in storage. We’ve been unpacking and purging extraneous stuff for the last few days.

And before anyone asks, I get along well enough with my in-laws that people are shocked that my mother-in-law isn’t actually my mother.

— 7 —

We found a really good home for my boys. Integrating 4 cats into the clowder at my in-laws’ house was going to be dicey so we had been trying to find homes for the boys and Freya. Last Saturday, my mother-in-law got a call from someone who had heard about this and who wanted to adopt my boys. My mother-in-law talked to her and liked her immediately and called me to let me know. We had just started loading the truck so the timing of the phone call wasn’t great but I did have a talk with the woman and liked her. On Tuesday, I crated my boys and took them over. She was so perfect that I honestly feel no guilt in leaving them with her. She wanted older cats and she wanted brothers so they wouldn’t be split and she fell in love with my babies upon seeing them. It’s a win-win for them because they get a quieter house with no screaming 5 year olds.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kathryn (our host this week) at Team Whitaker.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: What I Wore on Sunday Edition

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 1, 2014

Outside my window… warmish. Probably in the 80’s today.

I am thinking… about everything that has to get done in the next two weeks.

I am thankful… for the two men who stopped and helped me change a flat tire yesterday even though I totally had it under control on my own.

In the kitchen… grilled cheese sandwich made with pesto gouda and sourdough bread from Trader Joe’s.

I am wearing… navy blue shirt from Old Navy and black capri sweats from Target.

I am praying for… someone to be able to adopt 3 of my 4 kitties.

I am going… to be spending tomorrow morning at Les Schwab getting my tire replaced. Thank God for the spare in my trunk.

I am wondering… about a lot of the things in my life right now.

I am reading… At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon. I need some light reading and her books do the deal.

I am hoping… I can get boxes sourced this week.

I am looking forward to… Daniel going to sleep. He’s been in rare form today.

I am hearing Leverage on TV.

Around the house… things to pack.

A favorite quote for today… “The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of. Our attention would have been on God.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… iced chai tea latté from $tarbux.

A few plans for the rest of the week: packing, ABA therapy for Daniel in the afternoons, packing, Daniel’s preschool graduation, packing, Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday, packing, a meeting on Friday, packing, and possibly a funeral on Saturday.

A peek into my day… Edda and I before church. Everything I was wearing (black polo shirt and denim skirt) was inherited from my sister-in-law except for my flip-flops (Old Navy ), my Celtic cross (Fellowship Foundry, procured at Tapestry and Talent 19 years ago), and my house panther.

Edda and I before church.

What I Wore on Sunday

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook and Fine Linen and Purple. Go see the lovely ladies at Fine Linen and Purple when you’re done here.

7 Quick Takes: Only 5 Takes This Week

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

My crisis of the week. I’m having to get rid of 3 of my 4 cats (I can’t go into the reasons on this blog at this point) and I’m in agony over this. I’ve had the boys and Freya since they were 8 weeks old and it’s killing me to have to give them up. (We’re keeping Edda, partially because her beautiful black fur makes her hard to re-home.) In the case of the boys, they really do deserve a quieter home than we have at the moment where there isn’t a screaming child and moves every 2-4 years. Still, I’m pretty sad.

— 2 —

Awesomely bad worship. One of my Confirmation kids from Minnesota posted this link which has 6 horrific worship song videos. Here are a few other ones that are beyond awful and make me thankful to be part of a church that worships with traditional hymns.

— 3 —

Baseball. My boys (the Giants) just beat my other NL boys (the Cardinals) 6-5. I’m glad Sergio Romo got the save though I would have been just as happy if Jason Motte (closer for the Cards) had gotten it.

— 4 —

Auction for Brett. Do you see the precious child on my sidebar? Someone loves him enough to auction off some Frozen dolls to raise money for his adoption grant. Click on over to check it out!

— 5 —

Stopping here. It’s been that kind of week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

Five Favorites: Miscellanea (XX)

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Five Favorites

One

For the cellists among us… I think the best line from this is “Can all the white male dancers return to their piano benches please? … That was like Vanilla Ice meets Richard Simmons.” I heart The Piano Guys.

(I can’t get the video to embed so you’ll unfortunately have to click on the link.)

Two

Clarity. I’m praying for this right now regarding some decision-making so I’m definitely wanting it badly.

Three

Tabbies. There’s a big orange one who is wanting to climb on my lap and be a mama’s cat as I type this. He’s a love… when he’s not being a gigantic sissy.

Four

More from The Piano Guys. This particular arrangement of music from “The Mission” paired with “How Great Thou Art” is tear-inducing in its beauty.

Five

Amanda. This girl is AWESOME. She is one of my prayer warriors, has an amazing sense of humor, and knows her Catholic doctrine like nobody else. I am blessed to call her a friend and wish her and her beloved Anthony nothing but joy this weekend as they celebrate their nuptials.

Go love up Hallie and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 12, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 12, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It has gotten warm lately and it’s supposed to be 95F tomorrow. I am not amused.

I am thinking… that my Netflix membership is paying for itself in the seasons of Leverage that I’m going through right now.

I am thankful… that Daniel hasn’t come out to curl up with me — I might get some quiet prayer time tonight without having to think about getting the bear child back to bed.

In the kitchen… dishes to do. Wheeeeeeee!!!

I am wearing… purple Old Navy shirt and black sweats from Target.

I am praying for… a special intention, for Daniel to keep developing speech, for peace in my life, and for Mairama Y., one of the young women in Nigeria who was kidnapped by Boko Haram.

I am going… to enjoy my mani/pedi tomorrow.

I am wondering… what Ann Coulter was thinking this weekend. I think the best one was “I am a miserable person who peddles hate to make money off of dumb Republicans.” Just sayin’.

I am reading… Girl At the End of the World by Elizabeth Esther. I finished Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler yesterday and it was AWESOME.

I am hoping… getting my calluses removed with a Dremel tool tomorrow isn’t too painful. They’re pretty bad.

I am looking forward to… seeing my evil twin and his wife this weekend for the communal birthday celebration. I haven’t seen my sister-in-law since Thanksgiving and I haven’t seen the evil twin since March.

I am hearing the clock belonging to Jon’s great-grandfather.

Around the house… quiet right now. I’m thankful for it.

I am pondering… so many things internally. Introvert, yo!

A favorite quote for today… “Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith. I don’t agree at all. They are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the Passion of Christ.” — C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcom, Chiefly on Prayer

One of my favorite things… silly house panthers who are claiming abuse and neglect. (Can you tell Edda is being a pest?)

A few plans for the rest of the week: mani/pedi tomorrow morning, ABA therapy for Daniel every afternoon this week, hair cut on Thursday, meeting and errands in Elk Grove on Friday, and spending Saturday with my parents.

A peek into my day… “Come and I Will Sing You” by Great Big Sea. Lyrics and meanings are here. It’s one that gets stuck in my head.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: Only Six This Week

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Posting later than usual. I usually have these written on Thursday night to post as soon as the link-up page goes up. (I’m on the West Coast so it’s 10 p.m. PDT for me.) Last night, however, my mind was a little too scattered so I decided to just skip this week. Then, I was awoken this morning by my clowder (the word for a collective of cats) who apparently can see the bottom of their food dish and felt that 5 a.m. was an appropriate time to tell me. (Cats, you are SOL. Go wake up the other adult human.) So… here we go!

— 2 —

Orphans. Do you see this handsome boy?

Brett

Brett needs a mama. Are you his mama? Click on his picture for more information.

— 3 —

Prayer request #1. I’ve been chosen to speak at the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia in San Jose this year. (My fundraising page will be public soon.) They’d like to use my 5-7 minute spiel as a fundraising piece so I’m having to get it written by this weekend. Could y’all pray that I can do this? I have no fear of public speaking but I do need to get this written. Please and thank-you.

— 4 —

Prayer request #2. I know I’ve been really vague about my special intention for the last two weeks and I appreciate everyone who has been praying for it. Could you please continue praying for discernment for those involved, that I would be able to forgive, and that I would have consolation and peace in the midst of the waiting game that is going on? Thanks!

— 5 —

A good definition of ABA. For those who read my Simple Woman’s Daybook posts, you probably see me mention ABA therapy every week. This is a good explanation of what it is. For those who don’t have time to read the article, it’s a methodology for working with autistic kids where you achieve the behavior desired through reinforcing it and you modify the behavior by modifying the antecedent (what comes before the behavior).

— 6 —

Stopping here. I honestly don’t have anything else this week so I’m stopping here. Have a lovely weekend!

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.