Charleston on my mind

I'd love to live in a house like this one on the Battery!

I'm headed down to Chuck-town tomorrow afternoon with the family for a quick trip to see Patrick. We'll be back Sunday night, but I'm excited. I love that city and could very easily see myself living there. If all goes as I have planned, I'll be down there in the fall studying English at CofC, but we'll see. I still have to apply and be accepted.

Love and judgement

I've noticed lately that people seem to think they need to explain themselves to me. I wonder if I come off as a terribly judgmental person? I really try not to be (even though it would be so easy sometimes); I try to keep the following verses in mind when I'm confronted with someone who does things differently than I do:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing (1 Cor. 13: 1-3)

I chose a non-Catholic college and I knew that here I would find people that do things very differently than I do. My friends have diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and practices, but I can't bring myself to judge them for what they do. I don't feel that I have room to until the day that I do things perfectly. Which, as we all know, isn't going to happen this side of heaven. I am a fallen human being and I struggle with my tendency to sin, although most of the time my pride hides it from the people around me. I'm sure I'm as difficult to live with as the next person, though I don't often see it. I get frustrated with people in my classes, but I have to remind myself that to them, I might be "that girl" that irritates them to no end and about whom they talk to their friends: "You'll never believe what SHE did/said in class today!" I realize that that makes me sound paranoid, but I'm not, I promise. I just have to have something to keep my own vanity in check.

The bottom line? Credo in unum Deum, patrem omnipotentem... ("I believe in God, the Father Almighty...) and all that reciting that statement of faith means. But I also know that Jesus preached love, even for tax collectors and prostitutes. And for me, the best way to evangelize is quietly, loving those who are different, because that's what is difficult. Because I think that the best thing I can do is to try to demonstrate that Catholicism is not all about the rules and regulations; those are important, but Jesus' example of love is most important of all. If He had enough love to become man, then be put to death on a cross for His creature, most of whom don't care, then I should have enough love to look past differences (not condone sin, which is totally different) and love people where they are. Because sometimes, I think people do things they ought not because they don't see themselves as worthy of love, which we all are.

I'll close with a quote from St. Anthony Mary Claret: "Love is the most necessary of all virtues. Love in the person who preaches the word of God is like fire in a musket. If a person were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a dent in anything; but if the person takes the same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it, it can kill. It is much the same with the word of God. If it is spoken by someone who is filled with the fire of charity- the fire of love of God and neighbor- it will work wonders."

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord

I went to Mass tonight; I really needed it, though I don't think I knew how much at the time. Just spending time in quiet prayer and adoration is so refreshing, especially after a long day. Today was good, just long, and I was really in need of some quiet time with Jesus.

Anyway, there's a girl (or woman, I don't really know; I don't even know her name) who comes to our church sometimes; she is severely mentally retarded and the woman who cares for her brings her on a pretty regular basis. They were there tonight, sitting behind us, and I noticed that the further we got into Mass, the more excited the girl got, clapping her hands and laughing. It made me think about childlike faith; ought I not get so excited about receiving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? Perhaps her response is not what is conventionally acceptable; perhaps others might say that she doesn't understand, that she's responding to the music and the incense and the colors, the so-called "smells and bells," but I don't believe that.

I think that perhaps she, even more than me at times, understands what's really happening on the altar and is celebrating it the best way she knows how.

Happy Candlemas

Here in NC, we've got frozen rain and it's shaping up to be an utterly disgusting day. To prevent myself from whining all over a post (which I really should be more regular about), here's a thoughtless little question-and-answer session, because I'm too tired to really write.

60 Things You Can’t Possibly Know About Me

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
My hat... which I want, but it's at home

2. When was the last time you threw up?
Eww... um, it's been a while

3. What’s your favorite word or phrase?
Seriously?

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
The 3 girls I rode the elevator with

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Drinking coffee and talking to my mommy

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Packing my bookbag

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
No and I don't plan to (what happened to 7, by the way?)

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Seriously?

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Ben and Jerry's Dublin Mudslide

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Coffee

12. What are you wearing right now?
Sweatpants, t-shirt, sweatshirt and waterproof shoes

13. What was the last thing you ate?
Toast

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
No, I am broke :(

15. When was the last time you ran?
I don't run. I walk.

16. What’s the last sporting event you watched?
I walked in on my dad watching the pro bowl game the other night (I'm not even sure what that phrase means, though)

17. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Ireland. Even though it's probably wet there too.

19. Ever go camping?
I have, but I do not like it

20. Have you ever lost anything down a toilet?
No, I have not

22. What is your guilty pleasure?
I like trashy magazines (Star, In Touch, etc) and Moe's queso

23. Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot?
Yes :)

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
If I can get my hands on one, I will

25. What did your last text message say?
"No, I'm home. What do you need?" in response to one of my coworkers asking if I was at school

26. Are you someone’s best friend?
Yes, since kindergarten :)

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Class, lunch with my best friend, class, teaching grammar review, then church maybe (if the weather holds)

28. Where is your mom right now?
At home, since SHE has a day off from school

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
Cubicles (I'm sitting at work)

30. What color is your watch?
Silver

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
Kangaroos

32. Ever ridden on a roller coaster?
Sort of, at the state fair one year

33. Birthstone?
Aquamarine :)

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive through?
Drive through-I don't usually eat fast food, but when I do, it's because I'm really in a hurry

35. Do you have any friends on Facebook that you actually hate?
No.

36. Do you have a dog?
At home, but not at school

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
My mama :)

38. Have you met anyone famous?
no

39. Any plans today?
Work tonight, then hopefully a netflix movie

40. From whom did you get this?
I found it

41. Are you happy?

Overall, yes. Right now, not particularly, but only because I'm whiny

42. Where are you right now?
At the Learning Center

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
The weather

44. Last song listened to?
"To Be a Man" from Mulan-it was on my Glee Cast Pandora station-for some reason, that station plays a lot of Disney music

45. Last movie you saw?
Bella. Amazing, everyone should see it

46. Are you allergic to anything?
Some medicines and dust/trees

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
My $20 Target boots. I wear them just about every day

48. Are you jealous of anyone?
Not really

49. Are you married?
No

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
Not that I know of

51. What time is it?
9:55 EST

52. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes

53. Do you eat healthy?
For the most part. I have my days, though

54. What do you usually do during the day?
Class, work, homework--occasionally a nap if I'm very lucky!

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
No.

56. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily?

Yes, or some variation of that

57. How many kids do you want when you’re older?
As many as I’m meant to have.

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
22

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
No

60. How did you get one of your scars?
A bad Sky Dancer accident when I was 9

Julian of Norwich

"All shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."

Every time I think about (read: worry about) graduate school, these words run through my head. Then today, Fr. Ned mentioned this quote from St. John Vianney: "God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry."

Definite food for thought.

Oh my

Almost 2 whole months since I have updated. Well, suffice it to say that the end of the semester came with a vengeance after Cornhuskin', but I now have time to breathe again! Here's all I have to offer now, from the Simple Woman's Daybook (http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com)

FOR TODAY
December 12th, 2009
Outside my window...well, I'm at work, so I don't have a window. But I know that it's dark outside
I am thinking... about what to watch on Netflix when I get off duty
I am thankful for... my adventure with Grandma today!
From the kitchen... cookie dough in my fridge
I am wearing... my favorite turquoise skirt, a black shirt with a white sweater over top and my new black boots with tights underneath :)
I am creating... a scarf when I get home and get my yarn
I am going... to late Mass in the morning
I am reading... Alice in Wonderland for the first time, unabridged
I am hoping... that this will be a stress-free break
I am hearing... the sound of the heat and the click of the keys on the keyboard
Around the house... it's looking a little sparse-2 of my roommates are gone already and the last is heading to Indiana on Monday morning
One of my favorite things... is singing, which is why I am so glad I made it into Encore! for next semester :)
A few plans for the rest of the week: finishing apartment inspections on Monday, then baby Jack's 5th (!!) birthday, then just being home/helping with school/getting ready for Christmas!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing:

Soup

I have hit the crazy days. The days where I begin at 7 and do not end until 12:30 or 1 am. The days where I run from thing to thing, class to meeting to class to work to work to home to homework/dinner to Corn practice to bed. I want to say that I hate these days, that I wish for a quiet, peaceful, relaxing with with NOTHING to do, but really, I don't. Yes, I am tired a lot and yes I am busy all the time, but I'm excited to be doing Cornhuskin' and I like my classes.

Today is one of those crazier than usual days, so in preparation, I made potato soup last night. Lovely thick, creamy, cheese, vegetable-y soup. I used the recipe that my grandfather gave my mother; I don't know where he got it, but it is the best potato soup I have ever had. And right now, there is a big pot sitting on my stove, warming to room temperature so that in 5 hours when I have time for dinner, it will heat quickly.

Forethought is good. Groceries are good. Life is good