Ten Facts Most Catholics Don’t Know (But Should!)

Ten Facts Most Catholics Don’t Know (But Should!)

Some of these may upset, surprise or shock. But do read and think about it.

Things I Prayed for Eli -Lyrics In Description-

Too bad he no longer is active in Christian music. I play him when I am home alone, since no else in my family likes him!

7 Quick Takes

1.  Our house is a lovely new color.  We choose a light sage green with white trim.  Our front door is still red, not sure what my plan is at this time.  I really like red front doors!

2.  I used my extra day off this week to make 3 new skirts for myself.  They match the ridiculously low priced tee shirts I bought at Walmart.  This morning my husband asked if I was going to wear them to the office every day.  I probably will, it's easy and looks fine.

3.  I bought my husband new sandals yesterday.  Yes, the same husband who asked about my wardrobe was walking around in something not fit for public viewing.  I have tried to explain to him this simple truth, when a married man dresses poorly it is the wife's fault.  At least he wore the new ones and I even (gasp) convinced him to throw away the old ones!

4.  Our new carpeting is coming Tuesday.  Three bedrooms and the hallway will be done.  In an unusual turn of events, my husband is getting more bothered by the furniture having to be all around the house than I am.  It is temporary and really can't be helped.  I am thankful that one bedroom was relatively empty, as in no bed or big dresser, since it went with our son to his apartment.  However, one room has three bookcases, a huge desk, sewing machine and couch, so it really is lots to move.  We'll just have to live with the disarray until the carpet is installed. And, I guess my husband was right about not doing our bedroom as well!

5.  I am trying to get a jump on work projects so they all don't crash together around my head.  People are not cooperating!  I do have a good schedule of due dates though, so that's good.  Now I have to start working on filling in deadlines for the various parts of each project.

6.  I am going to be changing this blog a bit to include more recipes.  Stay tuned.

7.  From today's Psalm 51:  A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.  Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me."

For more Quick Takes, go over to Conversion Diary!

Pro-choice Catholic - Not Possible

Archbishop Carlson Affirms 'Good Catholics Cannot be Pro-Choice' - U.s. - Catholic Online

Quinoa with Vegetables

2 cups quinoa, rinsed and cooked in 4 cups of water


assorted veggies, I used mushrooms, green beans, yellow pepper, spinach cooked in olive oil, onion and garlic

Mix togther while warm, add some olice oil, salt, pepper and parm

Eat hot, warm or cold. Serve with tomato flatbread.

Baked Eggs with Prosciutto

Easy and delicious, I've made this a few times and everyone loves it.  Well, except my daughter who does not eat eggs unless scrambled or tomatoes unless made into ketchup or sauce. 

Mindful Monday: The Old Man and His Horse--A Matter of Perspective

Mindful Monday: The Old Man and His Horse--A Matter of Perspective

This is a great parable.

Faith & Family Live! : On Eclipse and Choosing Chastity

Faith & Family Live! : On Eclipse and Choosing Chastity

Rocks or Why We Need Community

When I was younger, one of the toys I really liked was a rock tumbler. I can’t remember if it was mine or my siblings', but it was great fun. We would go to the park or just to the corner and collect rocks which we believed had great potential to become beautiful. After we gathered them all together we put them into the rock tumbler, turned it on and listened to the rocks banging against each other. I think we may have put water in there with the rocks too. Then when it stopped we saw all these pretty, shiny clean rocks come out of the tumbler.

We are like rocks in a tumbler, in that we have potential to change. We change by being in community with others. The community is our own personal rock tumbler. The community is our family, our work or school environment, our friends, and of course our faith community.

When we live and grow in community our rough edges are smoothed out by our interaction with others. Each person is needed in the community and the community needs each person. Your church is your faith community and when you participate all have the chance to become better for it.

Now, I’ve no idea what happened with all those pretty, shiny clean rocks from when I was a kid. I do know what happens to the people; they live and serve with joy because of love for and from the community.

John Michael Talbot "I Am The Bread Of Life"

Rejoice

"Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  Luke 10:20
This was the last line of Sunday's Gospel and when I read it I was again struck that in the end, what we do or have done, is not the point. Jesus has sent his disciples out by twos to do his work and they come back proud and slightly surprised.  Which is often my feeling when things go the 'right' way.  But then Jesus reminds them that though the work is all well and good and necessary, it is not the end.  The end is that we belong to him.  And that all we do is about him, not ourselves. 
When I surrender, God achieves greatness.  The act of surrendering means I let go and allow God in and and get out of the way. 
There are many days when I pray that I am getting out of the way and surrendering.  The verse reminds me to rejoice because I am a child of God, nothing less, and therefore, nothing more is necessary.

Exchange Student

In about a month we have an exchange student coming to stay with us for a semester.  It has been interesting to hear people's responses when I tell them this news.  Some think it is great and want to know boy or girl, from where, how old, basic information.  But a few others have left me a bit put off:  "Will you get paid?"  "Is she Catholic?""Are you going to have to drive her places?!"

Her name is Ellen and she is from the Netherlands.  She's 17 and think she'll be enrolled as a junior in the same school as my  husband teaches.  I am excited to have a teenager in the house again and think it will be an interesting experience for all of us.  She is not Catholic, but she is Christian and knows we are involved in our church.  She actually went to our parish website and was very pleasantly surprised. 

We are working on fixing up a bedroom for her.  So far my husband painted it and I am nagging gently reminding our son he needs to come and see if he wants what he has left in his closet and drawers.  The weight bench is now in our bedroom.  It'll be useful for clothes!  We need a bed, curtain and blinds.  My plan is to make a quilt for the bed and then she can take it home with her. 

Hopefully all will be done by the time she arrives.