Tuesday, May 31

Long Weekend

This was a beautiful long holiday weekend. 

Now I need to get back to my regularly scheduled activities and responsibilities.  As if they ever stop anyway.  :-)

Did anyone catch the Glenn Beck show yesterday with the Nielson family of NieNieDialogues blog?  They are just the cutest couple ever.

Wednesday, May 25

This Week

This has been a crazy week and it is only Wednesday. 

First the world was going to end but thankfully didn't. 

Then I heard another story about praying the g-y away which was using references from Exodus. 

So many bible references that seem so misguided.  I guess you can read anything and put your own spin on it.  But I don't think these stories are helping us catholics in any way.

Then I look and sound a bit like an idiot for a few minutes Monday evening at the rectory.  I should have known better than to rush to get there and expect my thoughts to make any sense before I take a moment to breath.  And then the more I couldn't think the more my nerves got the better of me.  Plus it was very humid out which is never good for my psyche or my curly hair.  All in all it was ugly for about 10 minutes before I gave up and went to my official meeting.  There I relaxed and sounded more intelligent anyway.

There have been big attitudes at my house.  I am tired of someone being mad at me for volunteering.  For me not being there at his beck and call for a few hours a week.  What makes it really ridiculous is when I get home it isn't like they really needed anything.  They should be able to handle a few hours on their own.  I don't care too much that he doesn't like me spending time on other things because he is gone just about every Saturday 9 months out of the year.  I just needed to get this out so I can let it go this week.

I am stressing a bit about the summer.  And child care.  It is set up with my sister-in-law and nieces but it is never easy.

I am also sad about Sister and the other woman leaving our church this week.

I am frustrated with the situation my sister finds herself in and the fact that I can't really fix it.  No one can but her and her husband.  If he would ever grow up.

I didn't mean for this to turn into such a venting post but I guess I am kind of crabby and I don't like when I am like that.  So hopefully after putting this all out there I can move on.  I just hope we don't have a guest priest this Sunday.  I need our Father's mass to put me right back in the correct frame of mind.

Friday, May 20

Quick Funny

Last Sunday's mass had the following line within the gospel reading.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.


So what does my husband do?  He leans over to me and says, "I am the gatekeeper."
 
To which I responded (at the end of the reading), " I am the keymaster."
 
Do you know what that is from?

Office Politics

At work I stay out of the office politics as much as I possibly can.  I stay at my desk and mind my own business.  For the most part this has served me well. 

I just don't like all the drama and backstabbing that can sometimes occur or just miscommunications and misunderstandings in the office environment.

I guess this is true even of the church "office".  So far it has been fine.  But there was something that happened yesterday that makes me feel the need to clear the air with my policy of not getting involved in their politics. 

I have specific projects I am working on.  A couple require me to work with the staff because I need either info for the website or work for the volunteers.  I think some people may have mistook my helping them think of ideas/solutions for their process (they asked me about it) as me willing to take it over.  I had to reassure Father via voicemail that I am still focused only on the items he and I discussed.  That I was simply trying to give them ideas they can use.  I am glad he isn't going to allow them to dump too much on me.  Previously I told him that I would always be honest with him regarding what I can and can't do due to knowledge or time constraints.  So I also stated that again and told him that I honestly couldn't take on another large project at this point even if I wanted to so rest assured.  I just hope he is reassured of my focus.  He already knows I need to meet with him again soon so hopefully we can get together next week so I can move forward on our projects.

Wednesday, May 18

Personal Motto(s)

I have tried to have a different personal motto(s) through the years.  Recently I would always say this year will be health and wealth.  In my mind it translated into be healthier, lose weight, exercise, save more money, spend less, etc.

I guess while in little ways those things happened, I never felt satisfied in any results.  I still need to do all of those things.

So after my confirmation I started to rethink this approach. 

I now have a new motto.

Do More - Be More

Or in other words Do Better - Be Better.

What it means to me is I am volunteering, trying to lose weight and generally be healthier, trying to mainly purchase things we need, spend more time with family, stressing less, being more joyful, and so much more.

And you know what?  It seems to be working. 

I love my new motto.

Tuesday, May 17

Allergist

This has nothing to do with church but I did say I would throw in other "stuff" every now and again. 

I am taking my daughter to an allergist today.  For the past 2 weeks she has broken out in a red splotchy spotted looking rash mainly on any areas of her skin that were exposed.  I believe at this point the main reason is due to a company treating grass in our area including the kids soccer field.  The timing of all of this is too coincidental to the treatments.  Plus we heard of another kid who broke out after soccer.

Of course with all of the rain we have been having she hasn't been outside so it is gone now. 

We need to get to the bottom of what is going on.  She will feel better too.  She was so self conscious she was wearing long sleeves or jackets even on the couple days it was actually warm.

She is nervous about the appointment, though, which breaks my heart.

***Update***
Allergist really thinks at this point it was due to a virus based on what we told him and the questions he asked us.  He said it would have seemed to get worse because she was exerting herself.  It just so happened that she was exercising (through soccer or running around at recess) outside.  When you have any sort of rash and increase your core temperature it will make the rash worse.  It all made sense.  But based on history of kidney issues from strep he tested her for strep just to make sure that isn't the culprit.   A lot of times she does not show any symptoms of an illness.  All in all a good appointment.  No testing other than the throat culture were needed at this point so that was good.  I have to call and talk to him in a week so he can make sure she is still ok.  Plus if it becomes a recurring issue (which he doesn't think it will but you never know) he will re-evaluate.

***Updated Update***
Guess who tested positive for strep?!  This child of mine is going to make me crazy.  How am I supposed to know when she gets it?  I don't like this waiting until some random side effect of having strep for too long shows up.  She is now on antibiotics and hopefully we caught it before it affected her kidneys again.  She probably has had it for over a month with not one little symptom.  No runny nose, stuffiness, fever, sore throat, fatigue, anything.

Sunday, May 15

Kind of Funny

This proved to be another church filled weekend. 

We had 2 1st Communion masses yesterday.  One of which was at our church.  Then we went to our regular mass this morning.

One of the songs played is Table of Plenty.  One of my daughter's favorite church songs.  I actually like it also.

Then sometime this afternoon she starts singing part of it to me and asks me if it is stuck in my head too.  It wasn't at that point but it has been ever since then.

But the funny thing is I friended a different local church to see how they handle their facebook account and their post is a line from the song. 

"This day is made by the Lord, let us rejoice let us be glad....."

Saturday, May 14

Busy Week

Meeting updates:

I had a second meeting with Father and the woman who is leaving that currently maintains the church website.  It was great to get started and can't wait to really get my hands on the system and learn the ropes.
I hope I won't make Fr. crazy but I then did follow up emails to him and then to this woman the next day.  I just wanted to make sure I was on the same page as they were after the meeting plus Fr. and I have a lot of other items we are going to be working on. 

It was funny, though, at this meeting he was sitting somewhat next to me but over and behind a bit while we were both facing this woman's desk.  I kept seeing him watching me out of the corner of my eye.  I think he kept waiting for me to say this was all too much, never mind, or something to that effect.  Needless to say it didn't happen.  :-)

Bible update:

I am still reading the Bible but it is a bit tedious right now.  I am in Leviticus and so much of Exodus and so far Leviticus is the procedures for what to do with each part of the animal offerings.

So I am still hanging in there but this part is dragging.  I can't wait to be on to the next stories.

Friday, May 13

This Week

This has been one of those weeks you feel like you can do it all and actually do everything you set your mind to.

We volunteered to help serve breakfast and lunch for the children's retreat for those making their 1st communions this coming weekend.  I also made sugar cookies in the shape of crosses which I covered in white royal icing and white sparkly sanding sugar.  It was really sweet how Sister made a big deal out of them and of course I was a bit shy standing in front of everyone while she did.   But the fun part is one of the moms asked me to make her 50 for her child's communion party this weekend.  Of course I said yes.  She came and picked them up yesterday and was so happy she said she would order more next year for her next child.  That is really cool.

One of our friend's daughter is also making her 1st communion Saturday and they asked me to make her cake.  And again I of course said yes.  I only need to frost it and apply the decorations that I pre-made.

I have been doing a lot of research and reading for the church projects I will be working on.  Plus all of my normal family items.

Tomorrow will be a communion and mass infused day.  And then mass again on Sunday.

What a great week!

Friday, May 6

Meeting Update

As I was driving to the meeting I was getting more and more nervous.  It was almost comical. 

I kept thinking "Don't be a dork.  You are not interviewing for a job.  You are simply trying to volunteer."

My chant worked.  Mostly. 

I was awkward the first 5 minutes but then I relaxed and went through the outline I put together along with prints of samples for reference.  I was well prepared and my thoughts were well organized. 

It went really well. 

He was excited to have these offers coming and the timing probably couldn't have been better.  In fact he told me I was a blessing.  Thank goodness because I would much rather be a blessing than a pesky fly.  lol

Anyway, one of my main points was the website and he was very receptive to my ideas.  The person who currently updates the website is one of the people leaving so that duty was going to fall to the secretary if need be.  We are going to meet again next week with the woman who is leaving to get more details on what is currently in place and then we will go from there as far as redesigning it and maintaining it.  And that most likely will include helping him start a blog and updating Facebook.  So that is all exciting.

In addition to that I said I would volunteer at the rectory office when needed and solicit and organize all those volunteers. 

Did I say I am really excited to be doing something helpful for the church?

I did?

Oh.  Sorry.  But I am really excited.  :-)

Thursday, May 5

Meeting Day

I have been trying to get more involved at our church over the past couple of months and not much has happened.

I have reached out to several people on the staff to no avail.

In one of my emails to Father about another subject I made the comment that if they need help to please let me know.  And that I have so many ideas rattling around in my head.  Why I never see these things coming I don't know but he said we should sit down and talk about these ideas.  He said I should make an appointment with him through his secretary.  That was a few weeks ago.

I figured with Easter coming up and all that goes with it I would meet with him in May.  Fast forward to today and we are meeting this afternoon. 

I took all of my jumbled thoughts and typed them up in an outline format.  It is 4 pages long.  But 2 of those pages is about the website and using facebook.  Our current website is very boring and difficult to maneuver.  Some of the items should be more detailed.  While other things are non-existent.  I printed samples of other local church websites for reference.  If nothing else he will know I was well prepared.

I hope it goes well. 

If Sister wasn't leaving I would have brought all of this up with her since she runs a lot of the educational programs I have observations on.  But she is leaving so I need to pass on to those that will be there.  I briefly mentioned some things to her because I didn't want her to think I was going behind her back.  Have I said how much I am going to miss her.  :-(

Anyway, I am starting to get a little nervous.  That is the shyness in me coming out because I know what I have to say is valid and from the heart.

Wish me luck....