Category Archives: Catholicism

Lent. What are YOU giving up?

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Perhaps you know (maybe you don’t), today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent.  40 days (not counting Sundays–also known as Little Easters–thanks, A!), before Easter.   A time to reflect, repent, fast, be charitable and grow in our relationship with Christ.  My very good friend, (whom I am trying to get going on a blog of her own, she’s an amazing Apologetics teacher–really You Tube would be awesome because she is ANIMATED and PASSIONATE, a Catholic Beth Moore) said to me yesterday, tomorrow we enter the desert.  Ouch.  I just never thought of Lent that way for some reason.  What a spin it put on Lent for me.  And to know that in putting Christ first these 40 days, I also add the bullseye for all that is NOT Christ to tempt and challenge me, which always a little disconcerting.  And then I remember from yesterday’s Readings this little encouragement from……

James 4: 7-10

So submit yourselves to God.
Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you of two minds.
Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep.
Let your laughter be turned into mourning
and your joy into dejection.
Humble yourselves before the Lord
and he will exalt you.

I fully expect as I detox from my Facebook fast these next 40 days that He has something amazing waiting for me as I am able to slow down and engage and truly listen for Him.

May you wait in joyful anticipation these days for the coming of the Risen Lord and be blessed as you grow closer to Him.

My laptop died…..ARGHHHHH!!!

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It happened one morning.  I got my coffee and settled in with my “precious” for my morning ritual (Daily Readings, News sites, emails and blog catch ups) and……… it  never got past the white screen, merely the bitten apple and a circle of so-called-loading mocking me.  I tried all the usual, shut down again, bring up and repeat about 40 times before I realized it just wasn’t going to happen.  Paralysis set in and then Hubby reminded me I have an ACTUAL Bible for my Readings AND  a book I’ve been reading by Scott Hahn, “The Lamb’s Supper” and plenty of people to pray for to fill my morning quiet time with.    At least I think that’s what he said.  It’s a little fuzzy.

Day 2.  No progress, even after our son tried all the tricks he could YouTube and Google.  Hubby consoled me as I pitifully admitted, “I am SO lost without my laptop.  It’s ridiculous, really.  I know.”  He hugged me through his chuckling and patted my head and promised to take it to the apple store to get looked at by the Genius bar peeps.  (since it’s right by his office)  Heyyyyy, things were looking a little brighter, I mean they don’t call them “Genius” for nothing!!!

One week, one new hard drive , a trip to the Geek Squad @ Best Buy and we are still “in the process” of reformatting and getting everything back up and running.  Time will tell.  In the meantime….Flippin’ computers….who needs ’em?  I DO!!!!!!    That’s who…

In all actuality, my computer time isn’t THAT much in my eyes (although, Hubby would likely disagree);  30 -45  minutes in the morning and a total of 15-30 minutes at night.  It’s MY downtime, though.  MY quiet time.  Maybe MY stronghold…one of many…trust me.  Either way,  it’s bizarro to come to this realization.   It’ s my crutch.  And it’s not even warm and fuzzy.

So, my blog is neglected because it’s just SO inconvenient to sit in the desk chair AT the computer hutch on the PC (gasp..yes we have a PC and a mac) which is also in declining  health these days…but as a result, I have been reading more, walking more, TALKING with the family more.  Because I’m not the ONLY one on my mac and it’s an interesting glimpse into life with WAY limited computer time and I am pleased to announce, that I truly do LOVE my family!  Especially when I can focus on them with limited distractions. 

How about you?  How much time do you spend on your computer and what would you fill your time with if you lost  your computer?

**This blog was printed with no pictures because my favorite photo program is on my laptop and I refuse to reacclimate to a NEW program on another computer unless I absolutely. have. to.  So….use your imagination! 

12.5 hours to Mommy’s weekend away…

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— 1 —

My annual “Girl’s Weekend in St. Augustine” is upon us.  Generally taken in November (to do some Christmas shopping at the outlet malls), this year we moved it to January for some post holiday relaxation time.  Always a restful and fun time and this year is dad’s solo weekend with the kiddos.  Though I like to think MY way is BEST, I know he will do great and the kids will have way more fun with him than they do with me.  And after last night’s dinner debacle, he certainly can’t do any worse than me on the food end of things…

— 2 —

Speaking of dinner last night……I was inspired by my girlfriend’s crock pot dinner of ham, rice, cheese soup, broccoli.  It sounded so good, and we’ve really been using the crock pot like crazy these past few months, so I made my own version with chicken and brown rice, added in the broccoli and cauliflower and let it go.  Well.  At lunch I came home and OH.  MY.  GOODNESS.  The smell in the house was horrible.  I took the broccoli and most of the cauliflower out and covered it and returned to work.  Sadly, the fatal mistake was made.  Do NOT.  I repeat.  Do NOT cook broccoli and cauliflower in a crock pot ALL DAY.  Apparently they are a quick cook veggie and putting them in the crock pot not only forces you to open windows and light candles, it also brings you to Plan B:  pancakes and eggs.   I guess we all have a cooking faux pas from time to time, right?  RIGHT?

— 3 —

Exercising is going well this week.  Have gotten in a few walks. A few times at the gym followed by soreness in all the right places.  Week 3.  I can’t begin to tell you how impressed I am with myself.  I usually lose steam by Week 2.

— 4 —

Writing down my food this week is my newest addition to a healthier lifestyle change.  Something about putting it on paper.  In blue and white to see just what went in my mouth.  It becomes obvious.  The exercise thing I got (mostly).  It’s the mouth that needs attention.  Darn you cookies and cake and  your deliciousness.  It’s good to see where my challenges are and WHEN my challenges are and being prepared for them, adding more protein, fruits and veggies is really helping.  Still plenty of work to be done, but having it right in front of me, WOW!  (I won’t be logging this weekend……..but I will be walking!)

— 5 —

Adding in a great new blog for some quiet time reflections HERE and re-attempting Scott Hahn’s book, “The Lamb’s Supper” are great additions to my quiet time and breaking my spiritual rut.  I feel like I’m in a better place to read his book, hopefully less distracted and ready to focus.

— 6 —

Caramel the sweet little girl kitty who adopted us was spayed this week and lo and behold…..she…is a he.  Who has already been neutered.  Much to the vet’s surprise who had to OPEN HIM UP before they figured it out.  I’m still hot about that one.  OK, he’s a furry cat, but UM…isn’t that your JOB to make sure BEFORE you open up?!?!  Anyway….little boy has his shots and seems a little less PO’d at us.  Unless his purring at my head @ 1:30 in the morning is really a passive-aggressive cat move..I don’t know.  Still figuring out this whole “Cat thing”….he sure is a cutey-pie though!

— 7 —

Have been totally and utterly sucked into Downtown Abbey.  For someone who really doesn’t watch TV..(well nothing I would qualify as quality TV anyway…).  I was wondering WHERE I’ve been to have missed this gem and now I am THRILLED that I have an entire Series ahead of me with a new one just starting.  Even my youngest will watch it with me AND so will hubby…and that says a lot when you have something for everyone!  This whole kicking the cable habit is working out quite nicely, I must admit….

 For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

GOALS: Week Two and counting

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Second week of January.  Typically “resolutions” wax and wane about 3-4 wks in and by mid-February the gym is back to its regular clientele.  Since adopting the “GOAL” method rather than resolutions, my mental outlook is far less stressed and overwhelmed.  I don’t feel the need to do it all at once, but rather slowly and methodically approach my goals in a fashion that I can reasonably and realistically weave into my life routine.

And thus far, here’s the update:

  • Finances.  Moving along nicely.  Paid bills the other day without all the general anxiety that accompanies that task.  Hubby and I are going to look into Yodlee or Mint to have everything in one place and have a snapshot “real-time” look-at-a-glance rather than update the Excel sheet monthly.
  • Quiet time in prayer.  Continuing with my Daily Readings, however, that’s a several-years-old habit; more attention to working toward picking which spiritual book I’d like to work on in addition to my Reading time in the morning.  This week I have an interview with Pat Gohn on Among Women and have some retrospective digging to do prior to the interview; THAT will be some intense mediation time!!   So this week is covered.  Moving on.  One day at a time.
  • Healthy eating/exercise.  I’ve hit the gym twice this week.  Hard.  So sore.  Walked twice.  Pilates video for an hour with sore core following.  Incorporating oatmeal and fruit (working on protein) for breakfast, and additional fruit/vegs during the day.  (Taking this Clean Eating slowly…)  Not rocket science and I’m not dropping lbs like crazy, however, these are good solid habits that I can live with and that’s really the important thing.  If I can see some progress over the next few weeks and definitely by my annual check-up in February that will be motivating.  Baby steps.  One day at a time.

Last night we went to 6 p.m. Mass followed by a concert by Steve Angrisano with the kids.  What a tremendous family time.  Even our “very-14”, 14 year old was enjoying himself within 15 minutes much to his surprise.  (The only downside was, in hindsight, perhaps we should have either left the girls home or saved Mass for this morning…they were absolutely melting down by the end…WAY too tired.  Wish I could say I was gracious about it, but not so much……) Either way.  Great show and bed time was a breeze!

Off to take the girls to church and their Faith Formation class and I’ll be walking, catching up on podcasts, and praying.

***images from the web

The advent of Advent….

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‘Twas a busy weekend with our little family and with today following a 5 day Thanksgiving break for the kiddos the morning is set to be a lovely cacophony of tired wails, whines and sluggish morning movement…

But it’s all good.  We put up the outside Christmas lights (after hubby finished painting the FRONT of the house), brought all the decorations down from the attic, washed and put up all the Christmas dishes, 2 children finished up school projects (a weekend long affair fraught with anxiety, stress and whining….oh, wait that was me….), picked up a kayak to borrow for a while from a friend AND…….took the family Christmas Card picture AND….ordered it.

Perhaps I will look at the kiddos’ Christmas lists now….I’m starting to feel Advent-Y!