Friday, March 22, 2013

7 Quick Takes

-1-

Appropriate for March Madness

-2-
My high school band director went to U of I and therefore our pep band played songs just like U of I's pep band.  During today's Illinois game I heard their pep band and was carried back.  Every time I hear the Rocky theme I imagine high school boys running out of the locker room doing their warm up routine, not a boxer.  It was some of the most fun I had in high school.  We even got to play at the state finals for pep band even though our team wasn't in the tourney.  I felt pretty B.A. when I filled the arena with my sweet trumpet solo at the opening of "I Will Survive."
Seniors Rule! Backstage at Peoria Civic Center


-3-
Yes it's almost 9 pm and I am just getting to quick takes because...

this doll won't stop crying when put down.  I usually only babywear when out and about but at this moment I have a sweet baby snuggled up and asleep on my chest hands free to type.  

-4-
Did you know that it's said the least productive work day in America is the first day of the NCAA tourney?  I filled out my bracket did you?  Go Kansas!

-5-
In 2008 my band director invited band alumni to come play the school song at homecoming as it was his 30th year of teaching.  He's already put out the invite for this September since it will be his last year.  I had so much fun last time even though it wasn't easy with an infant.  I hope to go again and see some more friends.  
The Fossils as Mr. Brooks calls us.

-6-
I walk this line of going crazy that the house is a mess and not caring.  Yesterday I was going through closets to purge stuff.  Today my clean laundry is thrown all over the family room.  I really have no in between.

-7-
Speaking of going through closet, you should see some of these '80's board games.  We have such gems as Murder She Wrote, Muscle Men Mega Match, and Tuba Ruba.  

Have a great week everyone and thanks to Jen for the link up at www.conversiondiary.com.





Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Solemnity of St. Joseph

   Exactly 10 years ago today I was in St. Peter's square in the very front row listening to Pope John Paul II talk to the crowd about St. Joseph.  So naturally I'm ecstatic that today is the inaugural mass of Pope Francis! 
 
  I love this litany prayer because it reminds me of all the titles St. Joseph has and offers me the chance to reflect on his life.  He's so great!  I hope you let God spoil you today!!
 
Litany of St. Joseph
 
V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.  
V/ Christ, have mercy.
R/ Christ, have mercy.  
V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.  
V/ Jesus, hear us.
R/ Jesus, graciously hear us.  
V/ God, the Father of Heaven,
R/ have mercy on us.  
V/ God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.  
V/ God, the Holy Spirit,
R/ have mercy on us.  
V/ Holy Trinity, One God,
R/ have mercy on us.  
 
R/for ff: pray for us.
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,   PRAY FOR US!

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ have mercy on us.
He made him the lord of his household.
R/ And prince over all his possessions.   
 
Let us pray. O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever. R/ Amen.


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Follow the Leader

  On my Facebook news feed our local news channel announced upcoming dates for the conclave.  The first responder posted, "Who cares?"  I stopped reading the others below it.  I try to avoid the comments section of religious news published by secular sources.  People can be so nasty.  It seems a glowing screen and qwerty pad give people an audacity they would be ashamed of in actual human interaction.

  People do care and at the least are certainly interested.  Every major news channel broke into regular programming just to air the cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel, having not yet voted at that time.  What is it that interests non believers?  The history? The misguided thinking the next pope will "get with the times?"

  Media commentators say the next pope will be an important one because he's going to need to bring back followers to a dying religion.  They say these are some of the toughest times for the Catholic church...

St. Peter is not Impressed
Caravaggio: The martyrdom of St. Peter, Crucified upside down
  Does the "success" of the Catholic faith rest in the hands of the pope though?  No because the election of a pope is not about a man.  It's about the Office, the Chair of Peter.

I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18)

  From here the new pope will lead the faithful so that we can exemplify Christ like qualities and attract others.  He will guide us in ways to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit which gives us the ability to love and moves us to share God's love with others.  He will teach us and give us intellectual positions to meditate and act on. The pope's human qualities and personality will play into this leadership, but it's up to me to respond to that lead.   It's up to me to respond to Christ.  And, it's up to me to prove to harden hearts that the universal church is not dying.







Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Five Favorites

Thanks to Hallie at Moxie Wife for hosting.

My faves this week:

1.  Pope Francis  Obviously

2.  Keurig  I love the mommy solidarity in these "Five Favorites" posts.  Pretty much everyone lists coffee and I love my single cup maker.

3.  Del's Popcorn  This local shop recently opened a store with a drive thru.  My family just discovered this and have enjoyed ourselves some popcorn this past week.

4.  Drive Thru's  I would not be able to enjoy previously mentioned popcorn store if it were not for the almighty drive thru.  Mommas I know you hear me!


5.  My New Raincoat  Courtesy of Target which I've had ample opportunities to sport this week with the nasty weather.
Only Red!!



Sunday, March 10, 2013

5 Things You didn't know

My friend Lisa at Gesterlingpalooza  tagged me to list 5 things you may not know about me.  So I'll play along.

1.  Junior year of high school I was cut from varsity volleyball.  Our rural school had a boys soccer team (not enough interest for a girls) but with Title IX girls were allowed to play too.  I grew up playing with those boys on travel teams but with the seasons at the same time chose volleyball as a freshman.  So the opportunity opened to play soccer starting Junior year.  I was comparably SLOW and hardly got game time.  At one practice the coach chewed out the boys for complaining about conditioning and told them to act more like me.  At the end of the season at sports awards night they presented me each with a single rose (way to make a girl feel feminine) and voted me for the sportsmanship award.

2. I have a big dark birthmark on my upper thigh.  When I wear shorts or go swimming strangers ask me if I burned my leg.  I don't know about you but I've never seen a burn, even a scabbed over one, brown like this.  "Uhhh, no.  That's a birthmark"  I'm not embarrassed by it though.  I mostly forget it's even there.

3. In college I visited my cousin at Truman State in Missouri.  We went to a football game.  Years later I found out I was watching my future brother-in-law play.


4.  I wouldn't call myself adventurous but I really want to go zip lining.  Rock climbing, skydiving, para-sailing  No, No, and No.  But this...Yes!!

5.  I can play the trumpet.  Freshman year of college I wasn't ready to give it up so I did "University Band" which is like a low tier concert band for music majors trying to master other instruments or people like me.  I was first chair.  We had a concert but I didn't sign up for another semester because it wasn't really challenging enough, I wasn't making any friends, and I wanted to apply all my non study time to being with people in my building or at the catholic newman center.

So there they are.  Hoped you enjoyed.  I now tag you, Jen S at In Holy Company.




Friday, March 8, 2013

7 Quick Takes

-1-
This song completely changed my mood last Tuesday morning.

-2-
Our friends who moved out of town came for a visit last weekend.  I decided to invite everyone over.  I mostly regretted it before hand because I could not move myself to clean.  In the 11th hour I finally got there and it was such an enjoyable time.  There were 10 adults and 11 kids.  The kids were getting along great and it was refreshing to see some of our more neglected toys get played with.  The adults naturally separated women in one room men in the other.  It was just so so so great. 

-3-
At the party we made plans to make plans to do a real grown up college reunion.  The risk is if anyone's willing to upfront the costs are we going to get people willing to pay to come to the event when they'll have to  travel and get babysitters?  Perhaps we could do my simpler idea of a family picnic.  But the real question is what park can we go to that will let us have BOOZE!!?

-4-
I linked up with others for a 5 favorites list and THE Hallie Lord responded and wanted to see my blue eyeliner.  So yesterday I took the time to put on make-up in a way that I haven't done in a long time.  Instead of being yelled at by my son this time around my daughter thought the blush applicator was for her paint. 




-5-
The assistant pastor at our parish is awesome.  You can just tell he has a deep interior life.  This is his first year as a priest and he took over the youth group for me.  Two weeks ago after Sunday mass he offered to stay and hear confessions.  That was totally Jesus loving on me as it is very hard to go another day of the week for obvious reasons.

-6-
My cousin is awesome.  Watch him make this shot.


-7-
I am ashamed that my son can recite the pledge of allegiance but not Hail Mary yet.  My husband pointed out though, should we really put our allegiances with the government? Our trust is in the Lord.  I know if we are put in the position my family and others like me would be civilly disobedient.  

Acts 5:27-29  When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them,

“We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.

On a related note; I stand with Rand.

Thanks to Jen at Conversion Diary for hosting this link-up.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Five Favorites


 -1-
Twitter:  I created an account a long time ago but I just started getting acquainted.  It seems to be Vatican news central, but I guess that's the point, to see what the buzz is out there.

-2-
Etsy carseat cover by Sew Cute in AZ:  My perfectly good but banged up infant seat gets a whole new look with baby number three and I can support a mom working from home.  This is the exact one I ordered but there are many choices or you can customize

-3-
Electric Blue eyeliner:  I went for it and I'm not looking back.  Adore.

-4-

The Band Perry:  I needed a country group to fill the Nickel Creek sized hole in my heart.  Can't wait for their new album "Pioneer" to be released April 2

-5-
Kindle Fire:  With my tablet I can nurse and read a book or nurse and peruse the internet or nurse and play Angry Birds.  I'm getting a lot of use out of my Christmas present.

Check out others favorites at Hallie's blog, Moxie Wife

Monday, March 4, 2013

What I Wore Sunday (Night)

I like this link-up at Fine Linen and Purple It's time to return to dressing my best for Church.  This week I went to the area Young Adult Mass which is at 8pm.  Here's my look:




Shirt Kohl's, pants Old Navy, shoes Target

No accessories because I was also sporting this sling

only with my 7 week old.

I have since decided to get rid of those pants as they have always been too big.  I've also decided it's time to be a grown up and get some of my other pants altered because yes, I am short and we all know clothes that are tailored look better.  Poor choice in shoes (Tom's look alikes) but I was settling for more casual because of the time of day.  Better luck next time.  


Friday, March 1, 2013

7 Quick Takes

  -1-

I like this song for a laid back afternoon.  It seems to have a theme of some sort of conversion and the tone of the music feels vulnerable to me.  

-2-
In the video above you see Johnny driving around Idaho.  My husband loves to travel to the West.  He went to Utah with his dad this past October.  The extended Osborn family is going to Charleston, SC this summer but we're already making plans for another trip...we're thinking South Dakota in September.  I use to think people with money were the people who got to travel and take vacations, but I'm thankful my husband feels differently. He has a real talent for making itineraries and researching affordable restaurants, hotels/motels, and attractions.  Traveling is like having your first kid; there's never going to be the perfect time when everything is in order the way you think it should be.  You just have to go for it and you won't regret it.

-3-
This is how often I wear make-up.  My son walked in on me applying eye shadow and horrifically shouted, "Mom, what are you DOING?!"

-4-
A while ago Jimmy got a monster truck that included a DVD of a monster jam show.  He cannot get enough.  On netflix there's a show from 1995 "All about monster trucks."  He's seen it so many times he recites the lines (it's super mega cheesey).  Well, Monster Jam is going to be in the area this spring and I just have to let him go.  It's only $10 for the cheap seats so if he is bothered by the noise then they can just leave.  It'll be a men only thing.  I hope he really loves it.  

-5-
I'm thankful for my husband's job.  It may not be anything anyone aspires to be but he was able to have a paid month leave after Rita was born to help me.  He gets all the state holidays off.  I can expect when he'll be home to the exact minute.  His compensation time is generous.  I can go to any Dr. appointment whenever I need to without taking all the kids.  We can go on a weeks vacation and he has enough time to take a week off at Christmas too.  Right now they are offering overtime and he is opting to earn compensation time instead of money so that we can go on our other trip in September.  Today I picked him up for lunch so that he could sit in the car with the kids.  I was getting a birth certificate to add Rita to his insurance which is yet another reason I'm grateful for his job.  (When he was single he used to tell ladies, "I've got great insurance.")  Most people think of what they want to be and they go for that.  He just wanted to be a provider (even before we were dating)  and endures a unremarkable boring job for us.  

-6-
I picked up a fast food lenten lunch for us.  LJS's shrimp was excellent today!

-7-
A friend sent some memorial money a few months after my father passed away.  My mom's taken care of distributing it so I thought I'd just turn it over to her like I did with others before.  That weekend my parish wrote that a wind storm knocked over their 100 year old flag poles.  One flew the American flag, the other Vatican.  They were accepting donations.  My dad had a flag pole.  He took pride in displaying the American flag along with the Air Force flag or Illinois State's.  He teased me he was going to get a Vatican flag and fly it when I was "in residence." How could you ignore a perfect sign like that?  The money will therefore go to my parish in honor of dad.  Thanks "R"