Category Archives: Catholicism

Friday Quickie x 7

Get your mind out of the gutter would you? I’m just linking up to Jennifer Fulwiler and her amazing round-up of people sharing their top 7 thoughts/ideas/highlights of the week and since I’ve got time this week, I’ll share again.

Home for the 4th day in a row status post tonsillectomy. Oh, but it’s summer. And there are children home. All. Day. Long. Not really, but sort of. Enough that I wouldn’t call it a week of “quiet time”. Not so much time to really get a lot “done”. And yet…..it’s better than being at work! So I’ll zip it.
Sometimes you fall asleep with popsicle in hand after surgery
I did get a few things done this week. My desk area is cleared off, bills are paid, laundry is done, sheets are changed and dinners have been cooked AND eaten prior to 7 p.m. more than a few times this week.
The girls and I took my new-to-me sewing machine to my grandmother’s for a refresher lesson (it’s been at least 12 years since I last set that bobbin and thread and needle). The girls enjoyed a ride in the neighbor’s golf car/cart thing and my grandmother and I figured that baby out. It is now getting a good maintenance and I am armed, ARMED, I tell you with knowledge. Pillows and curtains certain to be forthcoming….
My grandmother is the BEST! A true blessing in our family.
My camera is back. I haven’t used it yet. I HAVE found some useful websites to explore and experiment with. And I still have 2 days left of this medi-cation….(haha, I crack myself up!)
Paid Sonic a visit. Milkshakes and a sore tonsil area? Yes, please. ‘Twas a hot one and tasty they were. On a sad note, I now have confirmation that milk is no longer my friend. <sigh> at least my hips will be thankful.
Finished Hubby’s Father’s Day project, cards bought AND mailed and plans to visit with my step-dad and siblings on Sunday are cemented. Days ahead of time. Do you SEE how much my job gets in my way of getting stuff done????
Made it to Daily Mass on Thursday at the church we first attended when we moved here. It’s a Basilica now and it is just a stunning church. My crappy iPhone pics do not do it justice, but I will try to doctor them up and present them in a separate post….it’s worthy. Here’s a little sneaky peak ‘tho.
A lovely church.

**as a bonus, I’ve talked to my BFF every day this week, had a text fest daily with several people without the threat of being fired and I’ve caught up with a few other friends by PHONE this week. It’s a big week to connect, folks! Big week!

While I choose my next book, y’all go visit Jen et al!

Blessings!

Could YOU befriend Paul?

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My sweet friend sent me a small booklet to read a little bit ago and for a gagillion reasons I’ve not been able to get into it. Until this morning. You see, I had a wedding to go to last night in St. Augustine for two former co-workers (just seriously the sweetest couple) and this morning I awoke before my friends did and had 2 HOURS OF TOTAL QUIET. Unheard of, people. Unheard. Of. Just me and my coffee and after working on my 1000 Gifts book I dove into the booklet: Uniformity with God’s Will by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori.

I can see why I couldn’t get into it initially. God wanted my full and undivided attention. Focused. Small bits. It is powerful. I’ll share with you my insight this morning…all 2 pages in.

Some back story: in talking about Saul, who persecuted Christians for their faith. Not only persecuted, but hunted down and killed Christians, routinely. Until…….God got his attention with a little episode of blindness. Enlightening Saul and converting him to Paul. (God often likes to change your name when He drafts you to His team).

Paul asks God, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6

The Lord calls him a vessel of election and apostle to the Gentiles: “This man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles.” Acts 9:15

So, Paul, previously Saul, is a huge player in the Bible and on Team God. He’s a huge instrument of God in spreading the Word, instructing Christians in how to live and love according to God’s will. And….Paul has a past. A really bad past. Yet, God USES him. Mightily. Over and over again. Amongst the very people he previously persecuted.

Think about it. We ALL know a modern-day Paul. People who have failed us, who have fallen, who have a past. Shoot, realistically we ALL have our Saul-seasons. With God’s grace we can ALL enjoy our Paul-seasons as well. The best thing is, God can and does use Paul. Mightily. Over and over again. Among the very people they have wronged. However, how many of us fail to see the Paul and only see the Saul? How many of us fail to see the blessings and instructions of the Paul because we can’t move beyond the Saul?

God forgives. God moves on. Beyond the “Sauls”. God uses ALL things. May we be more like God and focused on the “Pauls” in the world, God’s new creations and let us let go of the “Sauls”.

Fasty Friday and Favorites…

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not fasty as in fasting, but more like quick..you know? Fasty. Or you can just say Quick Takes and 5 Favorites combo’d. QTs is over @ CampPatton again this week because new Mama Jen FINALLY GOT TO TAKE THE BABY HOME FROM THE NICU!!! Awesome news in this week of ickiness. Superb, in fact. AND……in a bid to bring joyful and useful news among the rough news week, I am ALSO joining in with Hallie and her 5 Favorite Things link up….but mine will have 7-ish. A two-fer if you will. It’s always fun to see what people are up to during the week and I’ve been enjoying the 5 faves and seeing what folks around the internets consider their favorite products and such. Go check ’em ALL out!!

It’s a clean eating theme.

This week marks the end of my 2nd week of eating clean. It’s not a hard and fast “Clean” and/or Paleo, but a bit of a combined, best-of-both worlds and guess what??? It’s totally working. Of course, the fact that I have planned out our meals and have made sure to have adequate food for my eating purposes has certainly helped….but, I think this is something that I could totes live with. Now, that said, I’m heading into week 3 which is where I have generally sputtered and run out of motivation in the past, so pray for me and feel free to send on some encouragement, etc, etc! Ok, ok, here’s my 7:

Adoration. I’ve been TWICE this week. I love Adoration. Peace. Quiet. Prayers. In light of all the tragedy this week in Boston and Texas amongst other family and friend urgent prayer needs, it was a welcome respite in which I highly recommend.
Pat Gohn. Love her podcast. And she has a new book out, “Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious!” which is on my night stand in the next-to-read position. This week she interviewed Mary Wallace and they talked of working moms OUTSIDE the home and incorporating your faith life in your work life. It was a stellar podcast and has encouraged me to begin a “Positivity Project” . Without going into detail, I’ll just say office morale is totally in the toilet…BUT Mary and Pat encouraged me to “be the change”. Every person can make small efforts to turn the tide even if those who should be setting the example don’t. I started yesterday with Gandhi’s quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. I’d like to see a lot less whining, griping and people just doing their job and helping others…..
Pre-cooked food. Eating Clean-eo has been much easier with cooking up some roasted veggies and hard-boiled eggs on the weekend for some ease in putting together lunches and snacks for me for the week. However, I’ll just say that I’ve now given brussel sprouts THREE separate tries and they really are not good. I ate them. They weren’t horrible. However, I won’t be eating them again.
Pre-planned meals. Meal planning for the week just helps me stay focused. No guess-work in the morning on what to take out, no fumbling after work for what we’ll eat. It’s just working for me. Winning.
Almond milk. Since I’ve cut out dairy, this is my substitute for my coffee additive in the a.m. and my smoothie base after workout. No dairy. No gluten. Tasty.
Spin bike and burpees. Actually, I hate them both. However, to get my cardio in on non-workout days the spin bike fits the bill and when I break it up into 5-8 minute sessions with a set of 10 Burpees in between it goes much quicker. Not to mention I am sweating like a sweaty person when I’m done.
Choco-cado smoothie. Before you get all EWWWW, sounds gross on me….let me just say….it is so delicious I thought I was cheating. The fact I’ve had no sugar and/or processed stuff for twoweeks probably increased the yum factor, but seriously…..DELISH!!!! I’m including the link on the pic credit, but here’s MY version: 8 oz Almond Milk, 1 frozen banana (go ahead and peel that BEFORE you freeze it so you don’t have to nuke it to get the peel off…ask me how I know this.) 1 giant handful of spinach. 1/4 of a avocado. 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder. Blend and enjoy. You are welcome.
Image Credit and Recipe

Now go check out all the other people and their QTs and Faves…Happy Weekend!!

#Gosnell. MSM roundup, the day after the #Twitterfest

EASTER…taking it outside to celebrate!

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The whole-ish outfit. My missed the shot. Apparently. the skirt is swingy and goes just below/to the knee.

The whole-ish outfit. My legs missed the shot. Apparently. The skirt is swingy and goes just below/to the knee.

Joining in with Camp Patton, Freckles in April, and North Meets South, in a nod to Fine Linen and Purple‘s wildly fun WIWS….EASTER STYLE!! I’ve been COMPLETELY MIA for the last few months on the WIWS circuit, mostly because I was in repeat mode. buuuuuuut, now I have the spring clothes out so you might see me more frequently the next couple of weeks.

Hoping you all had a blessed Lent and a are enjoying a fabulous Easter celebration today. I have a whopping T-20 minutes, so let’s see what I can throw together here what with cropping and editing and such with the photos!