Sitting here drinking some decaf and munching on a Coach Button cookie

It's a Wednesday. If you know me and what I do on Wednesdays and Sundays nough said. My personal favorite for today was a discussion with two of older boys at the 7:30 pm session slot. They had decided they were thirsty so instead of using the water fountains, they proceeded to try to climb the doors to the kitchen in the Admin Hall. I hold my brains in my head.

Had the last class of 2007 today. Enjoyed the Christmas ham Family Dinner and collected the end of the year Christmas Catechetical leader booty - cookies, cupcakes, ornaments, religious art etc. Was able to take pictures of the classes in their revelries. I was heartened to see how each class shares it's bounty with the others and enjoys spending time together. And I thought how did the year pass so quickly? My grandmother used to say that it felt to her that a year passed when she was in her 40's she took a step, in her 60's when she turned her head, when she came to 80 when she blinked her eye. As I have watched "my SPX babies" grow up, oh man, I didn't even have time to blink!

Oh the Weather Outside

YES! The morning after Thanksgiving Day, I jumped out of bed because... Flurries in "the Burgh"!!! Love it, Love it, Love it!

Jungian Personality Quiz

Thanks to Laura for her time waster.
I love a good psychological quiz. And an update on a personality test is always fun. I know Geek city! I am what I am...and I still am an ENFJ was there any doubt? I think not.

Also thanks to the Binks for a great in advent of Turkey day feast ala la Madeline's. I'll have to do a 6 mile walk today, but it was worth it.

Night!

Jeff is snoozing contentedly in his new deluxe sleeping bag - thank you Michael for the technical assistance! While I work on my Longaberger business and download photos, write letters and sip tea ahhhhh. Chole is sleeping at the "mama's side. What a peaceful night.

You'll have to view the photos I intended for tonight's blog here . Blogger is not exactly cooperating with them tonight.

Selections at the linked site are from the last month including the sets : My attempt at Art; SPX events; and the Rite of Acceptance.

Good Night, Sleep Tight and Pleasant Dreams....

Waiting endless mind numbing waiting

We spend a lot of time waiting. I've been having to set up medical tests...all is fine no worries. And since I haven't had a stint with the hospital branch of the medical profession for a while, I forget it's all hurry up and wait - to schedule the procedure, to get the clearance from your insurance, to get a person on the phone to answer your questions yada yada yada. They've even made rooms for what has a become a fixture of the process! Some even come with beds and televisions ,they know we're going to be waiting so long. All the waiting... and it made me think of other things I 'm waiting for. So I'm waiting to loose the next 10 lbs. and the next and the next, for the batteries for my camera to charge, for my feet to thaw, for my "nieces" to come home for Thanksgiving break or for Christmas or Spring or Summer break as the case my be, for the water to heat for the shower, for the traffic light to turn green, in line at the supermarket... endless waiting.
I got annoyed, but then I thought that how I spend my time waiting should be my focus more than than the having to wait. It just occurred to me I should PRAY. Not like I don't when it occurs to me from time to time. But instead of praying only from time to time if it hits me as I find myself waiting, I need to consciously practice ACTS - Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication. As the season of advent approaches, literally the time of watching and waiting, I think that's how I'll try to prepare my heart, so I can be eager instead of annoyed with...Waiting.

(This epiphany provided by the Holy Spirit! Thank you.)

Truth of the Knights Templar Unveiled

Go to Zenit news from Rome Vatican Publishes Acts of 14th-Century Trials VATICAN CITY, OCT. 25, 2007 to find out more about a 400+ year condemnation being lifted...Or rather a clerical error being revealed. (Pun intended)

3 minute retreats

Greetings my fellow catechists - "echoers" of the Good News!

Go to www.FingGod.org/retreat they have short 3-minute prayer breaks you can take at your computer.

*If you enjoy the retreat and would like a new one e-mailed to you every morning, register as a member of Finding God.org by clicking on join at the top of the screen. Select the Daily 3-Minute Retreat as a free subscription service at the time of registration. Each day a link to the a new retreat will be emailed to you and each day you’ll have a chance to spend three quit, meaningful minutes in focused reflection.

I hope you find these few minutes to be meaningful and rejuvenating.

P.S. How is reading the Bible and Catechism going for you? For me it's slow. but I'm creating another blog with helps and ideas hopefully later tonight. We haven't had a forum to share or discuss and I think it's been harder at least for me, to stay on task with it.

A pirates life for me.

Did you know that Ocracoke Island was a favorite haunt of Edward Teach, the feared "Blackbeard" the Pirate?

Not hard to see why.

Today, the beaches are protected, all National Seashore, unspoiled beauty.

The sunsets and the stars are amazing.

Course so are the marsh mosquitoes.

If you bring or rent a 4x4 you can
get to some good shelling areas.




You don't need your car to get around. It's bicycle or the old "shoe leather express".







There are shops, nough said. and there are cats, cats and more cats...

Anywhere you have to take a ferry to get to somewhere else is cool, just say'n.

Everybody's Talkn' bout the New Kid in Town

"Everyone who is Anyone, Darling" was at SPX Wednesday night to welcome our new YM. It was a lovely meet and greet - thanks Miss Barb!

Member Mondays!

I love Member Monday's first I up-sized, then I downed! New fav drink, at the moment, at my fav hang out- Cappuccino.

Kaiteur Coffeehouse

Introducing our newest discovery

We did recently find a baby turtle in our back yard. Check her out.


I call her Myrtle.

Cuz she's a turtle : )

Everything

Everything Received this video clip on God Tube and give it a moment when you click on it, a little possibly hokey at first, but then - oh not so!

Red book magazine find

Give a look to the following link. marriage psycho 101

Its an article on the MSN front page, and I'd classify it as basic marriage psych 101, to which normally I'd say "yawn city" but I like that it was positive, real and gives practical advice.

The only part of course that is not included and is vital, is the concept of basic being married in the Church - through the readiness, openness and choice of the bride and groom - they participate in a sacrament and therein lies the true secret to success in a marriage...a taste of the divine love...of God himself.

Inviting God's continued presence into a marriage through taking time to include God in prayer together at home and Mass; praying for each other, thanking God for each other; and asking God to direct our marriages can transform what the article describes as potentially every day dull into the every day wonderful.

The Dalai Lama Quiz

I regrettably had an issue with the quiz post from the other evening so here it is again. It is interesting. Don't try to figure it out and don't look ahead, you'll spoil the ..."very interesting" response you can get.


Dalai Lama Personality Quiz

I noted that I struggled with the placement of the last three animals...very telling to where my struggle is between head and heart lately. God truly is everywhere isn't He?

Super fan goes to NC

That's what my husband calls me around this time of year. Yes that's right football season! I just love it. I can't tell you why, but I do. And having one of the best husband's, yes I acknowledge he is in the creme de la creme grouping of men, he purchased for my birthday Steeler, Panther exhibition tickets.

The stadium is very well kept and has a convenient lay out , if you visit a lot of stadiums that is, and being married to a Sports writer I do. It's coridoors are large and it's easy to find your way around. It's biggest plus - the bathrooms are plentiful and clean. I didn't even have to stand in line at half time, now that's well planned. The whole stadium looks new and it's been around since the late 90's.

We were evacuated to wait in the open air concourse area because of a rapidly approaching thunder storm, I took stock of the opportunities around me, Twittered...and had my face painted.

and made a friend.

As we scanned the growing mass of fans, we noted that there was at least a 40 - 60% ratio of Steeler to Carolina fans. Black and Gold was every where you looked.

Game play was rather "vanilla" to quote the Sports writer.

So I amused myself in other ways between the potentially exciting plays. The people watching at this game was fabulous!

(Our new coach)

There were these two very genteel southern ladies or as mi quierda amiga would say colorful old broads. They were a hoot between harassing the stadium employee assigned to our section with questions like "Are you here to take role?" and shout things to their team like "Keep on him dingle" or my favorite " Pass the ball dipstick" I lost track of the number of times I saw one or the other of them come up and down from the concession stand with their glasses of beer. I have two visuals for you, gold lame strap heels and fun foam flower visor - priceless.

The city of Charlotte isn't bad for a view either, especially when it gets dark and it's all lit up.

A very large THANK YOU to Andrew G who lent me his camera to photo essay our trip.

Ours has bit the dust so we're to buy a new one soon. Have pity on my husband, it's like buying a new car for me

On the way home we had a great breakfast, and saw a "cow bus" and the Big Peach in Gaffney.

Next time we're over that way, we'll be doing a little shopping at the outlets too.

And so it begins

Tonight we have Opening Mass for new year of Faith Formation classes. 6:30pm and feeling blessed to have a mostly teen crew.

FJ has returned and it looks like Life Teen Mass at 5:30pm is safe for the moment. No definite word about it starting on the 9th though.

I hear my self saying moments a lot lately, that's either wisdom of learning to make the most of each moment or finding myself behind the 8 ball. I'll go with wisdom....makes me feel more secure : )

The Jeff Report lives again!

Ladies and Gentlemen announcing the much anticipated - Jeff Report! Yes in an unprecidented manuver today, Jeff has started blogging on his blog. Tune in to find out what's on our favorite Sport's Editors mind and plate. http://www.thejeffreport.blogspot.com/

Traveling Phone

Walking around with the camera phone feels very different than having the actual camera, but it works...mostly.

The "G girls" and myself at the Goo Goo Dolls concert.

Kennedy Space Center & Cape Canaveral

Annual B-day lunch with los J's menos una.

Capt Bab's and the A-Boy!
The Good
The Bad

The Blurry : )