I thought that with the end of school, would come the opening of my schedule. The availability to do what I wanted, relatively, and when I wanted. Ha. I think I got addicted to this ultra-busy schedule of mine and thought I would be bored having nothing precise to do, so hey, why not plan a wedding on my own? It is absolutely ridiculous the amount of preparation, organization, and ultimately stress this has brought. And for what? For me to be able to prove that yes, I can do this! Yes, I can have a wonderful wedding ceremony and reception on a low low budget by planning to do many little things by hand and burying myself in research on how to get that thing without paying that price. Once again, ha.
How many times did I listen to married women saying how if they could go back and change things, they would do things simpler, easier, and draw support from family and friends, they absolutely would. Because those tiny little details you spent 5 hours on? Noone notices or remembers. And why would they? Most of them are there to witness the union of two people for a lifetime commitment, celebrate and feast afterwards. Our society has added on useless things like programs, useless and expensive guest favors, table centerpieces that serves only to bring unhappiness and envy through comparison, and enormous wedding cakes that for some reason have to match the wedding bouquet (??????). I had always said to myself that I would never crumble under the pressure of giving in to consumerism and waste. Did I already say HA?
I vented to Amy through a letter a couple of weeks ago about all this craziness in my head that resulted from stupid wedding things. And her reply really made me pause to reflect (especially the fuck 'em part LOL). I was self-inflicting this stress, and really, I have all the power in the world to make it stop. And I will. There are two aspects of the reception that I always dreamed about, that have completely been put aside through devoting myself to dumb stuff.
One, is the guest book. That silly book that costs a forune because it must be in a pretty case and then gets stowed away in the attic type thing. I dont want that. Or rather, I do but I want to do something with my hands. I was thinking of making a painting with a tree and having each leaf be a signature, or something of the kind. The second thing, is I have always dreamed of having a dessert buffet where everyone (that wants to) would make their special dessert and have a potluck of homemade sweets if you may. I had tentatively broached the subject to my mother and mother-in-law and met such backlash that I immediately dropped the subject. But I realized how much I wanted that, and that if I couldn't have that, then I could myself make some desserts. So I have made a list of easy desserts that I can freeze and thaw the day prior, and this is one thing I am really looking forward to making.
Throughout all of this, I have to remember that I can lay all my problems at the feet of God, and He will take care of me. And if I can remember to praise Him in everything I do, and to lean on Him in times of stress and difficulty, then everything will fall into place and things will happen as they are meant to happen.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
I dont do that anymore
I have a friend of mine who has thrown herself at cooking/baking in the hopes of getting a man to notice (her words, not mine) and has other outwardly shocking tactics, which she frequently posts on Facebook. I look at her posts and think, was I ever like that? Did I ever post long, boastful, and precises details on what I made just to get comments or attention?
The answer is, shamefully, yes. From a to z, anything that might have cause food envy to others, I posted. I feel so ashamed to have taken such pleasure from being validated, why did I need that? Because I wanted to prove to myself and to others that I was good at something?
And more importantly what changed for me to barely post anything food related? I don't need to prove to anyone that I can cook, or boast that I haven't bought store made bread in almost a year, or say this and that just to get attention to what Im doing. I get all the attention I need when Jeff asks me if I can make that sort of pie again, or if I can bake that special cinnamon bread I made last month. And instead of fighting to be the best and most knowledgeable baker out there, Im happy to share my recipes and tips with anyone who bothers to ask.
I feel so much better than I did, so much lighter, and so much more content. Life is good, and I dont need to broadcast it across a social network.
The answer is, shamefully, yes. From a to z, anything that might have cause food envy to others, I posted. I feel so ashamed to have taken such pleasure from being validated, why did I need that? Because I wanted to prove to myself and to others that I was good at something?
And more importantly what changed for me to barely post anything food related? I don't need to prove to anyone that I can cook, or boast that I haven't bought store made bread in almost a year, or say this and that just to get attention to what Im doing. I get all the attention I need when Jeff asks me if I can make that sort of pie again, or if I can bake that special cinnamon bread I made last month. And instead of fighting to be the best and most knowledgeable baker out there, Im happy to share my recipes and tips with anyone who bothers to ask.
I feel so much better than I did, so much lighter, and so much more content. Life is good, and I dont need to broadcast it across a social network.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Silly Love
Here we are
On earth togetherIt's you and I
God has made us fall in love
It's true
I've really found
Someone like you
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Holy Mother
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.
Sancta Maria mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Of Stepford Wives
I found this book in the used book store up my street, here is an excerpt:
''In the 1970s, the pro-feminist bestseller Stepford Wives turned the traditional housewife into a mindless, husband-pleasing, yes-woman who was literally heartless—because, come to find out, she was actually a robot. The message was clear: a woman who faithfully serves her family, loves pleasing her husband, and joyfully takes care of her home (from home) is not a “real person,” but a contrived fantasy of her overbearing and selfish husband. Instead of treasuring women and properly utilizing their gifts, our culture has attempted to discard the beauty and uniqueness of biblical womanhood and create an emotionally androgynous power-woman whose worth is measured only by the degree of her ambition, the shape of her body, and her money-making potential. Rather than women renouncing this affront to their dignity, amazingly, the slaves are demanding their slavery!
In place of the glorious picture painted for us in Scripture of the passionate keeper at home, a hollow counterfeit has emerged—a desperate image concocted and promoted by Hollywood stereotypes, magazine models, and women’s selfhelp books. The rise of the Internet has only added to the confusion. As women have gravitated to the web en masse, they have met a flood of men and women of all backgrounds and persuasions propounding conflicting notions of what it means to be a woman.
The cacophony of ideas and teachings that today’s Christian women must wade through as they contemplate their rightful place in God’s created order can be simply overwhelming. (...) While today’s women may be bombarded with more media streams than their counterparts of previous generations, biblical femininity has always been an unusual quality. This is what led King Lemuel’s
mother to observe, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). Virtuous women have always been rare, and oh, how precious they are!''
Oh yes she did! I think I'm going to enjoy this book (which is by the way called Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Stacy MacDonald).
''In the 1970s, the pro-feminist bestseller Stepford Wives turned the traditional housewife into a mindless, husband-pleasing, yes-woman who was literally heartless—because, come to find out, she was actually a robot. The message was clear: a woman who faithfully serves her family, loves pleasing her husband, and joyfully takes care of her home (from home) is not a “real person,” but a contrived fantasy of her overbearing and selfish husband. Instead of treasuring women and properly utilizing their gifts, our culture has attempted to discard the beauty and uniqueness of biblical womanhood and create an emotionally androgynous power-woman whose worth is measured only by the degree of her ambition, the shape of her body, and her money-making potential. Rather than women renouncing this affront to their dignity, amazingly, the slaves are demanding their slavery!
In place of the glorious picture painted for us in Scripture of the passionate keeper at home, a hollow counterfeit has emerged—a desperate image concocted and promoted by Hollywood stereotypes, magazine models, and women’s selfhelp books. The rise of the Internet has only added to the confusion. As women have gravitated to the web en masse, they have met a flood of men and women of all backgrounds and persuasions propounding conflicting notions of what it means to be a woman.
The cacophony of ideas and teachings that today’s Christian women must wade through as they contemplate their rightful place in God’s created order can be simply overwhelming. (...) While today’s women may be bombarded with more media streams than their counterparts of previous generations, biblical femininity has always been an unusual quality. This is what led King Lemuel’s
mother to observe, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). Virtuous women have always been rare, and oh, how precious they are!''
Oh yes she did! I think I'm going to enjoy this book (which is by the way called Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Stacy MacDonald).
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Good or Bad?
Is this a good or a bad thing?? I love and hate it at the same time and I can't find any references anywhere as to the protocol for rosaries. Help!!!
 |
| I can's help but like the whole funky Catholic thing, however I don't think I would ever bring this into Church. |
vs
 |
| Much more traditionally feminine, beautiful and simple in its own right. And, I think, much more appropriate for Church. |
Monday, September 5, 2011
To be carried
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, You said that once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
- Author Unknown
“Lord, You said that once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
- Author Unknown
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