Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy Sunday
Today we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany. Yeah, two days too early. Burns me up a bit. Christmas officially ends on January 6. Why end it early just to celebrate on a Sunday? Christmas is too good to end two days too early! I refuse to end it! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
On a more somber note, will my friends please pray for Deacon Ken? He is a Deacon (hence the name Deacon Ken) at my parish, and he is currently in the hospital. Pneumonia and congestive heart failure. He has been in for about a week, but I first found out today at Mass. He is no longer in ICU, but please pray for him anyway. He is elderly, and had difficulty walking even before his hospitalization. When someone in his condition is laid up in the hospital for awhile, it is really hard for them to get back on their feet. Please pray for his full recovery. Thank you very much.
Friday, January 2, 2009
SCL Book Club Pick
Apparently, SCL is going to have an on-line book discussion in January. Click here to find out about SCL Book Club. The title of the book is Crazy Love, and the author is Franscis Chan. I usually don't read something just because others are, but c'mon, this is SCL, and I can use some extra points. Click here to see what I am talking about. Actually, I think it will be fun to have something in common to discuss with some of my blogger friends. The best thing about books is sharing them. Anyway....
I took my uncle to Borders today so he could look into getting a DVD of Boris Gudinoff (if it is gudinoff for him, it should be gudinoff for us), and while I was there, I looked for a copy of Crazy Love. It was all the way on a shelf so high, I had to ask for help to get it. Still, they did better than Barnes and Noble. They were out of it on Saturday, and offered to order it for me. I said no thanks.
I tried checking it out of the library first, but our entire system (not my library, the whole library system for my region) had two copies. I won't be prepared to be part of the discussion if I wait. See, I try to take books out of the library instead of buying them if I can. Since I don't hold a paying job, a book a week (at least) really adds up. So anyway, a nice young man brought the book down for me without his even having to climb a ladder, or a shelf or something. He just plucked it down like a tomato off of a plant. Okay, he didn't have to bend down, but he barely had to reach.
I have since read the dedication, preface, introduction, and the questions at the end. Actually, I read the questions at the end first. I am glad I did, because the introduction didn't really do much for me. The introduction contains the premise that the Church in America is lukewarm. I don't think I agree with that. There are individuals in my parish who are lukewarm, and their are individuals who are on fire for the Lord. Sometimes I am the lukewarm one, and one of my on fire brothers or sisters encourages me. Sometimes it is the other way around. But saying the Church in America is lukewarm is overgeneralizing, I think. However, the interview in the back seems to be done with someone I can learn from, so I am going to give the book a chance.
*****Update one of mom's nephews called. Maybe if the other one calls over the weekend, I can get rid of this twitch. Click here to see what I am talking about now.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
From Sherri's Blog to Mine
My friend Sherri left these questions about 2008 on her blog today. It is all about new things tried in 2008. The name of her site is "Matter of Fact", and she is on my blogroll. You can go check her out from there.
1.Food?-I am always trying new recipes. Can you sing "Chicken Pot Pie"
2.Visited a new place(town, restaurant, country, neighborhood,church etc.)?
No. I don't re
3.Met a new friend(s)? MANY of my blogger gal pals. (Just like Sherri). This is my second year teaching CCD at my new parish, and I have begun making friends with my fellow teachers.
4. Learned a new word? Mostly playing with word verifications (wv for short) with my blogger pals.
5. Started a new hobby? Blogging.
6. Started a new job?No. My job will be taking care of my mom for a long time to come. What is new there though is that she has hired someone to take care of her on Saturdays, so I have a day I can do other things. Mom is so sweet and thoughtful.
7. Got a new hairdo? Not yet. A couple of years ago, a former student died of cancer. Since then I grow my hair long enough to cut and donate to "Locks of Love" in her memory. I can't afford to give scholarships in her name or anything, but I can afford to grow my hair long enough and then cut it short enough to donate to a child who lost his or her hair due to cancer. Anyways, 2009 will bring a new hairdo. Not a resolution, just a fact.
8.Redecorated a room? No, I am not into decorating the way a good wife should be. Luckily, my husband likes my blog. ;-)
9. Bought a new/different vehicle? No. Bob's car and mine are fine, with a little maintenance of course.
10.Got a makeover? I don't really like make up. I did buy myself an electric tweezer for my face though. Good times....good times.....
11.Read a new book? I read a lot. This year I have been actually trying to read less, and get audio books that mom and I can enjoy together.
12. Learned a new skill? Is blogging a skill?
13. Moved to a different home? No. I did that a few years ago. We really are happy here.
14.Moved to a different town? No. But my Church is in a different town from mine. ;-)
15. Joined a group, committee, club or church? I started hanging out with the Italian Catholic Federation. This year I decided to join. There are three reasons a good Hungarian can join an Italian federation. 1) Italians make good wine. 2) We have the same colors on our flag. 3) The wine is a good enough reason to count as two reasons.
16.Stood up for an issue?Yeah. I am very opinionated. Especially about pro-life issues. And when I think someone is being treated unfairly. And when the sun shines in the day and sets at night ;-)
17.\ Fixed something that was broken? I don't think so
18. Got married, engaged, gave birth? No, I am keeping Bob. He will not be lucky enough to be rid of me until I am buried at Maryhill Cemetary.
19.Listened to a sermon, type of music or saw a movie or read a book/ magazine that was out of your "regular" type?- Yes. I went to see Mamma Mia! In spite of the bad reviews, and the fact that I had prejudged the mother for being unsure of three men as her daughter's father. By the end of the movie, I saw how she could be in such a predicament, even if I couldn't approve of it. I cried for her and her daughter. And I laughed at the silliness of people dropping what they are doing to follow her singing and dancing. How come they never do that for me at the supermarket?
20. Invented anything? Not yet.
*****Update Please, please, please call your aunt! Please call her now, I don't care how late it is!.
1.Food?-I am always trying new recipes. Can you sing "Chicken Pot Pie"
2.Visited a new place(town, restaurant, country, neighborhood,church etc.)?
No. I don't re
3.Met a new friend(s)? MANY of my blogger gal pals. (Just like Sherri). This is my second year teaching CCD at my new parish, and I have begun making friends with my fellow teachers.
4. Learned a new word? Mostly playing with word verifications (wv for short) with my blogger pals.
5. Started a new hobby? Blogging.
6. Started a new job?No. My job will be taking care of my mom for a long time to come. What is new there though is that she has hired someone to take care of her on Saturdays, so I have a day I can do other things. Mom is so sweet and thoughtful.
7. Got a new hairdo? Not yet. A couple of years ago, a former student died of cancer. Since then I grow my hair long enough to cut and donate to "Locks of Love" in her memory. I can't afford to give scholarships in her name or anything, but I can afford to grow my hair long enough and then cut it short enough to donate to a child who lost his or her hair due to cancer. Anyways, 2009 will bring a new hairdo. Not a resolution, just a fact.
8.Redecorated a room? No, I am not into decorating the way a good wife should be. Luckily, my husband likes my blog. ;-)
9. Bought a new/different vehicle? No. Bob's car and mine are fine, with a little maintenance of course.
10.Got a makeover? I don't really like make up. I did buy myself an electric tweezer for my face though. Good times....good times.....
11.Read a new book? I read a lot. This year I have been actually trying to read less, and get audio books that mom and I can enjoy together.
12. Learned a new skill? Is blogging a skill?
13. Moved to a different home? No. I did that a few years ago. We really are happy here.
14.Moved to a different town? No. But my Church is in a different town from mine. ;-)
15. Joined a group, committee, club or church? I started hanging out with the Italian Catholic Federation. This year I decided to join. There are three reasons a good Hungarian can join an Italian federation. 1) Italians make good wine. 2) We have the same colors on our flag. 3) The wine is a good enough reason to count as two reasons.
16.Stood up for an issue?Yeah. I am very opinionated. Especially about pro-life issues. And when I think someone is being treated unfairly. And when the sun shines in the day and sets at night ;-)
17.\ Fixed something that was broken? I don't think so
18. Got married, engaged, gave birth? No, I am keeping Bob. He will not be lucky enough to be rid of me until I am buried at Maryhill Cemetary.
19.Listened to a sermon, type of music or saw a movie or read a book/ magazine that was out of your "regular" type?- Yes. I went to see Mamma Mia! In spite of the bad reviews, and the fact that I had prejudged the mother for being unsure of three men as her daughter's father. By the end of the movie, I saw how she could be in such a predicament, even if I couldn't approve of it. I cried for her and her daughter. And I laughed at the silliness of people dropping what they are doing to follow her singing and dancing. How come they never do that for me at the supermarket?
20. Invented anything? Not yet.
*****Update Please, please, please call your aunt! Please call her now, I don't care how late it is!.
My New Year's Resolutions
Today we Catholics celebrate the solemnity of Mary. So we go to Mass either on December 31st evening in anticipation of the day, or on January 1st itself. That is why I was at Mass yesterday, and at Mass, my pastor's homily encouraged us to make three types of New Years resolutions. My pastor is a wise man, so I am going to follow his suggestions.
Suggestion #1 Read the Bible for at least 15 minutes every day. Definitely a good resolution. I do include reading the Bible during my prayers, but expanding that time is a good idea. He made no suggestion as to whether that should have me reading the whole Bible within a year, or only get me to Exodus. The point is making the time to read and absorb, not how much I read. I resolve to read the Bible these 15 minutes.
Suggestion #2 Do something to better my own health. I was actually thinking along these lines myself. I resolve to dance (for exercise) every day. That should improve both my mental and physical health. This was going to be my only resolution, but Father Ted has shown me that this would be too self absorbed. I need to include God (#1) and others (3#) in my resolutions. My life should not just be all about me.
Suggestion #3 Do something charitable for others. My friends know that I am often writing about how 30% (and climbing) more people in my county are requesting help from food banks than were last year. Due to the poor economy, donations are going down. I have tried to be diligent about donating food and money during the holidays. I resolve to give food and/or money monthly for my parish's food drive. Just because "the holidays" end, their nutrition needs don't.
Suggestion #1 Read the Bible for at least 15 minutes every day. Definitely a good resolution. I do include reading the Bible during my prayers, but expanding that time is a good idea. He made no suggestion as to whether that should have me reading the whole Bible within a year, or only get me to Exodus. The point is making the time to read and absorb, not how much I read. I resolve to read the Bible these 15 minutes.
Suggestion #2 Do something to better my own health. I was actually thinking along these lines myself. I resolve to dance (for exercise) every day. That should improve both my mental and physical health. This was going to be my only resolution, but Father Ted has shown me that this would be too self absorbed. I need to include God (#1) and others (3#) in my resolutions. My life should not just be all about me.
Suggestion #3 Do something charitable for others. My friends know that I am often writing about how 30% (and climbing) more people in my county are requesting help from food banks than were last year. Due to the poor economy, donations are going down. I have tried to be diligent about donating food and money during the holidays. I resolve to give food and/or money monthly for my parish's food drive. Just because "the holidays" end, their nutrition needs don't.
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