I made pot roast, homemade mashed potatoes and steamed corn for dinner tonight, and everything was absolutely delicious!
The pot roast fell apart on the fork and then melted in your mouth, and the gravy was rich and absolutely fantastic. The mashed potatoes were so good that I wanted to finish off the pot for dessert (I restrained myself). The corn was delicious too, although I have to admit I used one of those steam-in-the-bag brands, so I didn't do anything fancy there.
For the sake of my (previously sagging) New Cook Confidence Level, it was really time for a dinner "home run." I should mention that, this week, I made the fire alarm go off for 15 minutes at my boss's house when I accidently burned my lunch in the oven.
* * * * *
Pot Roast Nirvana
Ingredients:
~3lb beef pot roast
salt and pepper
3/4oz package brown gravy mix
1/4cup ketchup
2tsp dijon mustard
1tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/8tsp garlic powder
1 cup water
Instructions:
Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper, then place in crock pot. Combine remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth. Cook on Low 8-10 hours or High 4-5 hours.
* * * * *
Betsy's Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
5-6 golden potatoes
1/2 stick unsalted butter
3/4cup whipping cream
salt and pepper
Instructions:
Peel the potatoes and then cut them into small pieces. Boil potatoes for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain the water, then put potatoes back into pot. Add 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces, and about 1/2cup of the whipping cream. Use a hand mixer to cream the potatoes.* Add whipping cream until you achieve the desired consistency. Salt and pepper to taste.
*You might need to hold a cloth over the bowl while you use the hand mixer, unless you want tiny globs of potato all over the vicinity when you're done.
Thank you, Betsy, for sharing these simple and delicious recipes with me!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
What I'm Looking Forward to in the Third Trimester
I just wanted to let you know all of the things I have to look forward to in the next few months :).
Not only are you lugging around an extra 20 to 30 pounds (or more), your expanding uterus rearranges other organs in your body, adding extra strain. You'll likely have to slow down a little.
SWOLLEN FEET, LEGS AND VARICOSE VEINS
Edema, the technical name for swollen feet, ankles, and legs, is caused by fluid retention in the lower half of the body. Varicose veins, those blue lines running up and down your legs, are caused by blood valves that soften, causing the blood to pool and form painful bulges. Though the swelling will subside, some of the varicose veins are there to stay (surgery is one way to remove them, but it's costly).
PRECONTRACTIONS
By month eight or nine, you'll probably feel Braxton-Hicks "practice" contractions. They prep your body for labor and can startle you into thinking birth is imminent.
INTENSE DREAMS
Many moms-to-be report bizarre nighttime dreams, from giving birth to frogs or puppies to losing their baby in childbirth. You remember dreams better during your third trimester because you're waking up frequently at night (to use the bathroom or because the baby's kicking).
Now--here's the kicker (pun intended). I don't really care about all of the discomfort associated with these less-than-glamorous parts of the next couple of months.
Every time I feel the little ninja kicks and rolls in my tummy, I am happy! Even when Baby F. wakes me up in the morning with all of the kicking (as he/she loves to do these days), I don't mind.
I wonder if God made pregnancy to be such an uncomfortable physical condition so that we moms and moms-to-be would could get a head start on learning unconditional love...
* * * * *
GROWING FATIGUE
BACK PAIN
An expanding belly can throw off your posture, and the hormone relaxin, which loosens your joints in anticipation of delivery, exacerbates the stress on your body. FREQUENT URINATION
Since your uterus puts pressure on your bladder most heavily in the third trimester, this means you'll probably have to go to the bathroom more than you ever did before. What's even more annoying is that you might have sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate, called urge incontinence (over 40 percent of first-time moms experience it). HEARTBURN
Nearly half of all moms-to-be will be plagued by heartburn. Thanks to all the hormones circulating through your body during pregnancy, the muscle at the top of your stomach -- the one that usually prevents digestive acids from splashing into the esophagus -- relaxes, allowing those harsh juices to go back up. What's more, by now your uterus has taken up most of your abdominal cavity, pushing your stomach up toward your throat, which makes the burn more noticeable.SWOLLEN FEET, LEGS AND VARICOSE VEINS
Edema, the technical name for swollen feet, ankles, and legs, is caused by fluid retention in the lower half of the body. Varicose veins, those blue lines running up and down your legs, are caused by blood valves that soften, causing the blood to pool and form painful bulges. Though the swelling will subside, some of the varicose veins are there to stay (surgery is one way to remove them, but it's costly). PRECONTRACTIONS
By month eight or nine, you'll probably feel Braxton-Hicks "practice" contractions. They prep your body for labor and can startle you into thinking birth is imminent. INTENSE DREAMS
Many moms-to-be report bizarre nighttime dreams, from giving birth to frogs or puppies to losing their baby in childbirth. You remember dreams better during your third trimester because you're waking up frequently at night (to use the bathroom or because the baby's kicking). * * * * *
Doesn't everything sound like fun?Now--here's the kicker (pun intended). I don't really care about all of the discomfort associated with these less-than-glamorous parts of the next couple of months.
Every time I feel the little ninja kicks and rolls in my tummy, I am happy! Even when Baby F. wakes me up in the morning with all of the kicking (as he/she loves to do these days), I don't mind.
I wonder if God made pregnancy to be such an uncomfortable physical condition so that we moms and moms-to-be would could get a head start on learning unconditional love...
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Complaining
When a woman has her body go through all kinds of changes like this, I think she should have some leeway as she figures out how to deal gracefully with her changing body and often-raging emotions. However, there are enough people dealing with more incredibly difficult things than pregnancy in the world that I don't give--at least I don't give myself--leeway to be an irritable, complaining grouch.
We're in New Orleans this weekend for a wedding and I should admit that today has been the first day of the pregnancy when I have wanted to do some seriously irritable, grouchy complaining!
Almost from the moment we arrived in Louisiana for the wedding on Friday afternoon, I started feeling irritated at many things. Then this morning, I found myself complaining constantly into my husband's ear.
At some point this morning, however (and I hope before I did too much "Debbie Downer" damage to my husband and in-laws) I just decided to make myself "get a grip." I let myself fall behind the group at that point and I literally put my hand to my mouth and "zipped it."
I believe there is power and meaning in physical actions we do in prayer, such as kneeling, the sign of the cross, raising our hands, etc.
For my "Jesus, please help me to get a grip on my emotions, be like your Mother, and not put a damper on anyone's day" prayer, doing the little movement to figuratively "zip" up the complaining on my lips was just something I knew I had to do.
I am still feeling a little irritable this evening, but I am thankful that Jesus has given me more than enough grace to help me be pleasant and kind today. I don't think that Jesus takes away our painful or negative emotions all of the time when we ask Him; sometimes He asks us to work through them.
We're in New Orleans this weekend for a wedding and I should admit that today has been the first day of the pregnancy when I have wanted to do some seriously irritable, grouchy complaining!
Almost from the moment we arrived in Louisiana for the wedding on Friday afternoon, I started feeling irritated at many things. Then this morning, I found myself complaining constantly into my husband's ear.
At some point this morning, however (and I hope before I did too much "Debbie Downer" damage to my husband and in-laws) I just decided to make myself "get a grip." I let myself fall behind the group at that point and I literally put my hand to my mouth and "zipped it."
I believe there is power and meaning in physical actions we do in prayer, such as kneeling, the sign of the cross, raising our hands, etc.
For my "Jesus, please help me to get a grip on my emotions, be like your Mother, and not put a damper on anyone's day" prayer, doing the little movement to figuratively "zip" up the complaining on my lips was just something I knew I had to do.
I am still feeling a little irritable this evening, but I am thankful that Jesus has given me more than enough grace to help me be pleasant and kind today. I don't think that Jesus takes away our painful or negative emotions all of the time when we ask Him; sometimes He asks us to work through them.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Pregnancy Pics!
Between Michael and my parents (who are visiting tonight), I didn't have a good enough excuse to get out of having some "pregnancy pictures" taken tonight...so here you go :)
Wearing Our "Sunday Best"
Michael and I just had a conversation about this last Sunday: the fact that, over the years, people have begun to dress much, much more casually for church than they used to.
Check out this article:
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=34476
As a little girl, we always "dressed up" for mass, especially on holidays. My grandmother and mother made sure that we all had new Christmas and Easter dresses to wear to masses on those days. Those dresses made those special days of the year just a little more special and memorable. (One creamy yellow Easter dress with white lace and a "poufy" skirt still stands out in my mind!)
Michael always wears dress pants, dress shoes, and a polo or dress shirt to mass, and we both try to steer clear of jeans. I try to throw on some jewelry, makeup and maybe a spray of perfume. We are somewhat in the minority at our parish, especially at the 5:30pm Lifeteen mass we usually attend.
Most people, especially teens and children, wear jeans and t-shirts, flip flops, and generally pretty casual attire to mass. I definitely don't think that dressing casually for church is necessarily a bad thing; it's that I think "dressing up" for church is a wonderful thing.
I feel like "dressing up" for mass is a part of keeping Sunday the holy day that God intended it to be. It makes mass--or church if you are not Catholic--a more formally-recognized and special event of the day and week.
After all, does a priest celebrate any mass in jeans and a t-shirt? Heaven and earth come together during every single mass in the Eucharist, and perhaps dressing a little too casually shows that we don't always remember that we're participating in something that is a privilege and a special gift from God.
I wasn't a child all that long ago--I remember the chaos of getting ready a family ready for church on Sunday morning. And I do agree that, sometimes, being at mass at all could be considered an accomplishment in itself for a family with children! In the end, however, Michael and I both agree that we want to always try our best to dress ourselves and our family nicely for mass as a special way to honor God, teach our children to love and respect their faith and their religion, and "to keep holy the Sabbath day."
Check out this article:
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=34476
As a little girl, we always "dressed up" for mass, especially on holidays. My grandmother and mother made sure that we all had new Christmas and Easter dresses to wear to masses on those days. Those dresses made those special days of the year just a little more special and memorable. (One creamy yellow Easter dress with white lace and a "poufy" skirt still stands out in my mind!)
Michael always wears dress pants, dress shoes, and a polo or dress shirt to mass, and we both try to steer clear of jeans. I try to throw on some jewelry, makeup and maybe a spray of perfume. We are somewhat in the minority at our parish, especially at the 5:30pm Lifeteen mass we usually attend.
Most people, especially teens and children, wear jeans and t-shirts, flip flops, and generally pretty casual attire to mass. I definitely don't think that dressing casually for church is necessarily a bad thing; it's that I think "dressing up" for church is a wonderful thing.
I feel like "dressing up" for mass is a part of keeping Sunday the holy day that God intended it to be. It makes mass--or church if you are not Catholic--a more formally-recognized and special event of the day and week.
After all, does a priest celebrate any mass in jeans and a t-shirt? Heaven and earth come together during every single mass in the Eucharist, and perhaps dressing a little too casually shows that we don't always remember that we're participating in something that is a privilege and a special gift from God.
I wasn't a child all that long ago--I remember the chaos of getting ready a family ready for church on Sunday morning. And I do agree that, sometimes, being at mass at all could be considered an accomplishment in itself for a family with children! In the end, however, Michael and I both agree that we want to always try our best to dress ourselves and our family nicely for mass as a special way to honor God, teach our children to love and respect their faith and their religion, and "to keep holy the Sabbath day."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A Sexual Counter-Revolution Needs a Dose of Theology of the Body
This is a great, down-to-earth article from Jennifer Hartline, a contributing writer for Catholic Online: "It is Time for a Real Sexual 'Counter-Revolution.' This real-life Catholic mom and Army wife writes with her head on straight.
If I may critique a little, however, I think that Hartline may be missing something in her argument.
Hartline calls for a counter-revolution that liberates men and women, honors marriage and reaffirms the dignity of human love, and she stresses that there needs to be a radical shift in how our culture views sex. However, she doesn't mention anything relating back to John Paul II's Theology of the Body, which is the most radical and revolutionary material and tool we have to stand up in dignity to what sex and male/female relationships have come to in our culture.
If you haven't heard or read anything about JPII's Theology of the Body, you need to!
The reason that the TOB is such a powerful tool is that it gives us an entirely new perspective on what being human is all about, starting with the way we were created male and female.
On the cross, Christ asked his Father to "forgive them, for they know not what they do." In the same way, so very many people just don't understand what they are doing to their hearts, souls and bodies when they engage in premarital or extramarital sex, pornography, abortion, masturbation, birth control, and other behaviors and activities that use, abuse, or take away the dignity of themselves and others.
JPII showed us how the way God created our bodies gives us the answers to some of the most fundamental questions of life, such as what it means to be a true man or woman, why we were created male and female, what it means to love fully, and what God's ultimate plan is for our lives.
Fantastic writers and speakers like Christopher West and Jason and Crystalina Evert have unpacked much of JPII's writings for adults and even teenagers. This stuff is so, so very important for people of all ages.
Michael and I taught a class this summer for teenagers on the Theology of the Body, using materials from Jason and Crystalina Evert and Brian Butler. At the last session, it was absolutely incredible to hear from the teens what God had shown them about themselves, their relationships, and His plan for them over the course of the summer.
Michael and I both feel strongly that God has called us (above and beyond how He calls us all to do this) to promote and defend the dignity of human life through educating people of all ages--but especially young adults--on the Theology of the Body and the true meaning and purpose of love, sex and relationships.
I have all kinds of resources and links on the Theology of the Body that I am happy to send to you if you want--just let me know.
If I may critique a little, however, I think that Hartline may be missing something in her argument.
Hartline calls for a counter-revolution that liberates men and women, honors marriage and reaffirms the dignity of human love, and she stresses that there needs to be a radical shift in how our culture views sex. However, she doesn't mention anything relating back to John Paul II's Theology of the Body, which is the most radical and revolutionary material and tool we have to stand up in dignity to what sex and male/female relationships have come to in our culture.
If you haven't heard or read anything about JPII's Theology of the Body, you need to!
The reason that the TOB is such a powerful tool is that it gives us an entirely new perspective on what being human is all about, starting with the way we were created male and female.
On the cross, Christ asked his Father to "forgive them, for they know not what they do." In the same way, so very many people just don't understand what they are doing to their hearts, souls and bodies when they engage in premarital or extramarital sex, pornography, abortion, masturbation, birth control, and other behaviors and activities that use, abuse, or take away the dignity of themselves and others.
JPII showed us how the way God created our bodies gives us the answers to some of the most fundamental questions of life, such as what it means to be a true man or woman, why we were created male and female, what it means to love fully, and what God's ultimate plan is for our lives.
Fantastic writers and speakers like Christopher West and Jason and Crystalina Evert have unpacked much of JPII's writings for adults and even teenagers. This stuff is so, so very important for people of all ages.
Michael and I taught a class this summer for teenagers on the Theology of the Body, using materials from Jason and Crystalina Evert and Brian Butler. At the last session, it was absolutely incredible to hear from the teens what God had shown them about themselves, their relationships, and His plan for them over the course of the summer.
Michael and I both feel strongly that God has called us (above and beyond how He calls us all to do this) to promote and defend the dignity of human life through educating people of all ages--but especially young adults--on the Theology of the Body and the true meaning and purpose of love, sex and relationships.
I have all kinds of resources and links on the Theology of the Body that I am happy to send to you if you want--just let me know.
Monday, September 21, 2009
"Franco's Song"
Just wanted to upload this beautiful song to my blog.
http://www.brotherbrotheronline.com/player.html
Our dear friend Adam wrote Michael and I this song for our wedding, although we only first heard the song this August. It's called (appropriately) "Franco's Song," and it's actually on the first album by Brother Brother, Alive.
Definitely check out Brother Brother's Website--they are an absolute blast to listen to and have joyful, upbeat music. Right now, they play shows mainly in North Carolina and Virginia, but they are playing in New Orleans at the end of November.
We need to find Brother Brother some more Houston fans so we can beg them to visit the Lone Star State for a show!
http://www.brotherbrotheronline.com/player.html
Our dear friend Adam wrote Michael and I this song for our wedding, although we only first heard the song this August. It's called (appropriately) "Franco's Song," and it's actually on the first album by Brother Brother, Alive.
Definitely check out Brother Brother's Website--they are an absolute blast to listen to and have joyful, upbeat music. Right now, they play shows mainly in North Carolina and Virginia, but they are playing in New Orleans at the end of November.
We need to find Brother Brother some more Houston fans so we can beg them to visit the Lone Star State for a show!
Happy Birthday Mom!
Happy Birthday to my beautiful Mother!
Some people search for God's love their entire lives; I was blessed to feel it from my wonderful mom every day. May I be a mother in her footsteps :)
Some people search for God's love their entire lives; I was blessed to feel it from my wonderful mom every day. May I be a mother in her footsteps :)
Some Verses on Tough Times and God's Plans for Us
Some dear friends of mine are going through some rough times in their lives right now, and I wanted to share this group of bible verses I read over my retreat a few weekends ago. I think the main idea of these verses is that we will go through painful things in our lives, but that God will never leave us alone or ignore our prayers. He will give us every grace that we need to get through those times. And the virtue of hope is so important: choosing to hope is choosing to believe that God really does have for us "plans for good and not for woe, plans for a future full of hope." Choosing to hope means trusting that "all things work for the good of those who love God."
* * * * *
Out of the depths I call to you, Lord; Lord hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
--Psalm 130:1-2
Hasten to answer me, O Lord, for my spirit fails me. Hide not your face from me lest I become like those who go down into the pit.
--Psalm 143:7
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn. You will have pain, but your pain will turn to joy.
--John 16:20
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
--Romans 12:12
...all things work for the good of those who love God.
--Romans 8:28
But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient unto you, my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, that Christ's power may rest in me.
--2 Corinthians 12:9
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
--Romans 8:24-25
Know that the Lord works wonders for the faithful. The Lord hears when I call out.
--Psalm 4:4
...the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
--2 Timothy 2:7
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
--Philippians 4:13
For I know well the plans I have for you, says the Lord...plans for good and not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.
--Jeremiah 29:11
--Psalm 130:1-2
Hasten to answer me, O Lord, for my spirit fails me. Hide not your face from me lest I become like those who go down into the pit.
--Psalm 143:7
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn. You will have pain, but your pain will turn to joy.
--John 16:20
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
--Romans 12:12
...all things work for the good of those who love God.
--Romans 8:28
But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient unto you, my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, that Christ's power may rest in me.
--2 Corinthians 12:9
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
--Romans 8:24-25
Know that the Lord works wonders for the faithful. The Lord hears when I call out.
--Psalm 4:4
...the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
--2 Timothy 2:7
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
--Philippians 4:13
For I know well the plans I have for you, says the Lord...plans for good and not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.
--Jeremiah 29:11
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Joining the Ranks of the Craig's List Savvy?
Michael and I spent the morning working on our baby registry.
At some point, we started discussing baby furniture (we have none at all). We realized that, besides a crib, we would probably want some kind of changing table, dresser, and set of drawers. The only bedroom furniture we own (and we are technically borrowing it!) is my cousin's old white children's dresser and bookcase, and Michael and I have that in our room.
Well, our discussion led me to suggest that we "give" the white children's furniture we use to Baby F's future room. The white dresser could double as a storage dresser and a changing table, and then Michael and I could just find a large dresser somewhere for us.
It was around this time that we agreed we should browse through Craig's List.
Some friends of ours have made some absolutely miraculous finds on Craig's List, including a car, a huge mahogany bookcase for their living room, and their big, nearly-brand-new refrigerator. I decided to take a look at dressers on Craig's List.
What ended up happening was that, in a matter of four hours, Michael and I found an incredible deal on an entire set of quality, used cherry-stain bedroom furniture, talked them down to 75% of their asking price, went and checked out the furniture in Baytown, bought it, brought it home, and set it up in our room! (Yes, I dusted, wiped down, and sprayed everything with Lysol first)
For the first time in our marriage, Michael and I have a headboard for our bed and enough drawer space to put our clothes in! We having been using a beer bucket and the floor to stack about 1/3 of Michael's clothes that don't fit into the tiny drawers in my cousin's old dresser.
Michael says he "feels like an adult now." :) I guess that putting your wallet and man-gear on a white dresser with purple sponge-painted hearts and old, glittery sticker residue can keep you feeling pretty juvenile.
Considering that I am married, pregnant, have a job and pay taxes, I definitely already felt like an adult. Having the new furniture is pretty exciting, though, and I definitely feel a little more "nested"--and maybe just a little more grown up if I'm being honest--in our little apartment.
At some point, we started discussing baby furniture (we have none at all). We realized that, besides a crib, we would probably want some kind of changing table, dresser, and set of drawers. The only bedroom furniture we own (and we are technically borrowing it!) is my cousin's old white children's dresser and bookcase, and Michael and I have that in our room.
Well, our discussion led me to suggest that we "give" the white children's furniture we use to Baby F's future room. The white dresser could double as a storage dresser and a changing table, and then Michael and I could just find a large dresser somewhere for us.
It was around this time that we agreed we should browse through Craig's List.
Some friends of ours have made some absolutely miraculous finds on Craig's List, including a car, a huge mahogany bookcase for their living room, and their big, nearly-brand-new refrigerator. I decided to take a look at dressers on Craig's List.
What ended up happening was that, in a matter of four hours, Michael and I found an incredible deal on an entire set of quality, used cherry-stain bedroom furniture, talked them down to 75% of their asking price, went and checked out the furniture in Baytown, bought it, brought it home, and set it up in our room! (Yes, I dusted, wiped down, and sprayed everything with Lysol first)
For the first time in our marriage, Michael and I have a headboard for our bed and enough drawer space to put our clothes in! We having been using a beer bucket and the floor to stack about 1/3 of Michael's clothes that don't fit into the tiny drawers in my cousin's old dresser.
Michael says he "feels like an adult now." :) I guess that putting your wallet and man-gear on a white dresser with purple sponge-painted hearts and old, glittery sticker residue can keep you feeling pretty juvenile.
Considering that I am married, pregnant, have a job and pay taxes, I definitely already felt like an adult. Having the new furniture is pretty exciting, though, and I definitely feel a little more "nested"--and maybe just a little more grown up if I'm being honest--in our little apartment.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Dancing Queen--or King?
Last night, Baby Franco attended his or her first concert. I don't know if the baby enjoyed the concert or not, but he or she certainly did a lot of moving around! I probably felt the baby move 100 times over the course of the evening!
I feel a little guilty that Baby F's first concert was Britney Spears, but at least he or she couldn't technically see any of it. You couldn't understand most of the words, either, except for one unfortunate song whose chorus was a writhing, gutteral chant of "get naked, get naked, get naked! Take your clothes off, take your clothes off, take your clothes off!"Yikes. I actually found myself trying to hold my hands over where Baby F's ears might be for that song!
Overall, it was a fun evening and a big treat. A nice (and free!) dinner, and comfortable, great-view seats for the show above all of the pre-teen hysteria. It also helped that my boss and our client and his wife are all lots of fun and very down-to-earth.
I feel a little guilty that Baby F's first concert was Britney Spears, but at least he or she couldn't technically see any of it. You couldn't understand most of the words, either, except for one unfortunate song whose chorus was a writhing, gutteral chant of "get naked, get naked, get naked! Take your clothes off, take your clothes off, take your clothes off!"Yikes. I actually found myself trying to hold my hands over where Baby F's ears might be for that song!
Overall, it was a fun evening and a big treat. A nice (and free!) dinner, and comfortable, great-view seats for the show above all of the pre-teen hysteria. It also helped that my boss and our client and his wife are all lots of fun and very down-to-earth.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Job Perks
One of the things I like about public relations is that you get to do a little something different every day.
Something else I like is that, every once in a while, you get to enjoy some job perks. For example, I got to attend (and bring my husband and parents) my first horse race when a client gave me some unused tickets.
Here is the latest "job perk": During a conference call with a client this morning, the client invited my boss and me to dinner and then the company's VIP suite at the Toyota Center tonight to see the Britney Spears concert. There were two extra tickets available, and he thought that, as their PR firm, seeing the VIP suite first-hand would give us some good promotion ideas for the future.
I didn't argue.
Not that I am a Britney Spears fan in the least, but I have never been a big concert, and as long as I'm sitting down on a comfortable couch and chatting it up with my boss and unusually friendly and down-to-earth clients, I think I'll make it through the evening :)
Something else I like is that, every once in a while, you get to enjoy some job perks. For example, I got to attend (and bring my husband and parents) my first horse race when a client gave me some unused tickets.
Here is the latest "job perk": During a conference call with a client this morning, the client invited my boss and me to dinner and then the company's VIP suite at the Toyota Center tonight to see the Britney Spears concert. There were two extra tickets available, and he thought that, as their PR firm, seeing the VIP suite first-hand would give us some good promotion ideas for the future.
I didn't argue.
Not that I am a Britney Spears fan in the least, but I have never been a big concert, and as long as I'm sitting down on a comfortable couch and chatting it up with my boss and unusually friendly and down-to-earth clients, I think I'll make it through the evening :)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Not my first Classic New Cook Mistake...
I keep trudging through the list of Classic New Cook Mistakes.
Last week, I decided to expand my repertoire of ways to cook tilapia (I know how to do it well one way at the moment). I found a "recipe" for pan-fried fish in a cookbook I am borrowing from my friend Betsy, and decided to be adventurous.
Anyone who has spent more than a little time in the kitchen could have told me that trying to fry anything in my tiny kitchen was not a great idea. Anyone with half a brain could have told me that not following the directions completely was not a great idea either.
To make a long story short, I succeeded in being assaulted by both the smoke alarm and a large splattering of piping hot oil. I now have a nickel-sized, blistered and bloody burn on my right forearm and a smaller burn on the middle of my right hand.
One of these days, I'm sure I will learn how to stay away from fried food and how to follow directions completely.
Last week, I decided to expand my repertoire of ways to cook tilapia (I know how to do it well one way at the moment). I found a "recipe" for pan-fried fish in a cookbook I am borrowing from my friend Betsy, and decided to be adventurous.
Anyone who has spent more than a little time in the kitchen could have told me that trying to fry anything in my tiny kitchen was not a great idea. Anyone with half a brain could have told me that not following the directions completely was not a great idea either.
To make a long story short, I succeeded in being assaulted by both the smoke alarm and a large splattering of piping hot oil. I now have a nickel-sized, blistered and bloody burn on my right forearm and a smaller burn on the middle of my right hand.
One of these days, I'm sure I will learn how to stay away from fried food and how to follow directions completely.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Women's ACTS this weekend
I'm headed out in about an hour or so for my first retreat in a very long time. My last retreat was--I think--my sophomore year of college. "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been a very, very long time since my last retreat..."
Yes, I know that's a bit melodramatic, but if you think about it, I think retreats are something of a necessary part of a person's spiritual growth.
I've worked many retreats since the last time I took the time to do one myself, so I think being back on the other side of things will help a lot in maturing my spirituality and nurturing my walk with Christ.
When have I taken an entire weekend to open my heart to Jesus and my eyes to what He is calling me to be? I think that retreats give us time to take a good, hard look in the mirror at the stains on our hearts, and then give us new tools and free time to decide what we're going to do with ourselves, for Jesus.
Thanks so much for your prayers this weekend :)
Yes, I know that's a bit melodramatic, but if you think about it, I think retreats are something of a necessary part of a person's spiritual growth.
I've worked many retreats since the last time I took the time to do one myself, so I think being back on the other side of things will help a lot in maturing my spirituality and nurturing my walk with Christ.
When have I taken an entire weekend to open my heart to Jesus and my eyes to what He is calling me to be? I think that retreats give us time to take a good, hard look in the mirror at the stains on our hearts, and then give us new tools and free time to decide what we're going to do with ourselves, for Jesus.
Thanks so much for your prayers this weekend :)
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wonderful article on humility
I led a weekly "Girls Group" at my apartment during my junior and senior years at LSU. Each week, a different girl would present a topic and then lead a discussion on it. One of my favorite Girls' Group nights was after I read St. Therese's Story of a Soul and presented on the book, and particularly on the whole idea that God does not call us all to do "great things," but He calls all of us to do small things with great love. This article is a down-to-earth, honest, and ultimately inspiring discussion of humility.
* * * * *
Learning Humility: Not Every Flower can be a Rose
By Jennifer Hartline
As St. Therese put it, not every flower can be a rose. Some are wildflowers or daisies or violets.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2
It’s been brought to my attention lately that I have a great deal to learn where humility is concerned. As painful as it is, the joyful irony is that only a God of infinite love and mercy would bother to teach this lesson.
Here’s what I suspect: much of what I think are the evidences of humility in my life are really something else entirely. There’s an ongoing skirmish between a desire for holiness (tainted with pride), discouragement over failings (tainted with pride) and goals of using my talents in the best way possible ~ for God’s glory of course. (Also tainted with pride.) Ugh.
The discouragement part is quite seductive actually, because it can give the appearance of sorrowful humility when it is often wounded pride. Humility does not mean I must dislike myself. To speak ill of myself, to mentally berate myself over my flaws and mistakes is not evidence of humility. It is evidence of pride. It just means I’ve not lived up to my expectation of myself, or worse, my delusion of grandeur. If I fail to live up to my standard of perfection I fear that I will be less esteemed by others. So I scold myself, feel sorry for myself, and cover my pride by declaring what a weak sinner I am, wailing “dear Jesus, please forgive me!”
In this way, I can feel superior to those wretched souls that don’t even have the decency to say they’ve done wrong and ask for pardon. You see, I’m less sorry for the particular sin, less sorry that I have offended my Lord than I am for having revealed the humiliating truth that I am not nearly as grand as I’d like to think I am.
Hiding within this discouragement is the unspoken craving for distinction ~ I must conquer my failings and defects in order to achieve the reputation I seek. This is what tarnishes the desire for holiness and turns the focus on me rather than on Jesus. In my secret heart – in hidden thoughts I never utter out loud – I fear that what Almighty God has ordained for me and my life is too modest, too common, too bland for my taste, and I try to persuade Him for more glory for myself while claiming to seek only His. I want what I want, and I beg Him to want it as well.
I must ask myself if I truly am willing to take the place God has ordained for me today without yearning for something “better” or more. As St. Therese put it, not every flower can be a rose. Some are wildflowers or daisies or violets. I realize how much of my heart wants to be a rose and nothing else, because I fear that otherwise, I will not be special to Him at all. I fear He will not even see me as He walks past and will instead reach only for the stunning red rose, smile approvingly at it, and step on my tiny plain petals as He goes away. I fear being forgotten, dismissed and rejected.
Why is it not enough that He made me in His image, shed His blood for my salvation, and loves me just as I am? It’s not enough because I don’t actually believe Him; not entirely. There remains a troubled place in my heart where I don’t believe Him when He says, “Child, you are Mine,” for I think to myself, “Why? I’m not a rose. I’m just a wildflower. I can’t believe you even notice me at all.” My longing to be loved is mixed with fear and ego until it becomes a strange form of arrogance. I don’t take God at His word; I call Him a liar. And I push Him away in anger, and then run after Him to plead with Him to see my virtues, begging Him to love me. This interior storm develops over and over again in my heart, and it will never be quieted without humility.
To be humble is to be emptied ~ emptied of myself. It isn’t wallowing in my wretchedness; it is bathing in His mercy. Pride dwells on all my offenses and festers like an infected sore. Humility wastes no time in carrying all offenses to Jesus with confidence to receive forgiveness and start again.
Humility is being content to be who, where and what God asks of me today, and nothing more. I make my whole self – body, mind and heart – an empty vessel to be filled by Him as He sees fit. Whether rose or wildflower, noticed or unseen, praised or ignored, it must make no difference. Nothing I could ever do or be can compare to who He is. The glory is all His. “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6
I am small, ordinary, and quite sinful, yes. All that is true. But I am also His! He has said so and it is true. Everything He has is mine. It’s outrageous but it’s true! He loves me forever, and for me just to turn my eyes toward His face brings Him delight. “For the Lord takes delight in His people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4 I am His child and He will not reject me. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1John 3:1
It’s actually a relief to know that I am not fooling God. He knows this fearful, perverted “humility” lives in my heart, preventing me from realizing the peace of true humility. He will take care of it if I let Him; even in this I have to let go, trust Him to keep His word and wait. My progress toward holiness follows my cooperation, not my command. It will not be accomplished on my schedule; I cannot rush or cajole Him into action. Learning to wait is part of learning humility. I have no one to impress – I only have One to love.
St. Therese helps me understand, “the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy…if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers. And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.” (Story of a Soul)
A heart that is humble rests confidently in His mercy and love, and has no fear of being little or unnoticed, nor any need for adulation. He may be walking with the red rose in His hand, smelling its sweet fragrance, but He will also lie down on the grass that is covered in a bed of small wildflowers, and He will rest His head on their simple beauty, enjoying their soft comfort. I can think of nothing sweeter than to be that wild flower that’s pressed close to His heart as He lies down to rest. That is all my soul really longs for.
-----
Jennifer Hartline is a Catholic Army wife and stay-at-home mother of three precious kids who writes frequently on topics of Catholic faith and daily living. She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online.
* * * * *
Learning Humility: Not Every Flower can be a Rose
By Jennifer Hartline
9/8/2009
Catholic OnlineAs St. Therese put it, not every flower can be a rose. Some are wildflowers or daisies or violets.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2
It’s been brought to my attention lately that I have a great deal to learn where humility is concerned. As painful as it is, the joyful irony is that only a God of infinite love and mercy would bother to teach this lesson.
Here’s what I suspect: much of what I think are the evidences of humility in my life are really something else entirely. There’s an ongoing skirmish between a desire for holiness (tainted with pride), discouragement over failings (tainted with pride) and goals of using my talents in the best way possible ~ for God’s glory of course. (Also tainted with pride.) Ugh.
The discouragement part is quite seductive actually, because it can give the appearance of sorrowful humility when it is often wounded pride. Humility does not mean I must dislike myself. To speak ill of myself, to mentally berate myself over my flaws and mistakes is not evidence of humility. It is evidence of pride. It just means I’ve not lived up to my expectation of myself, or worse, my delusion of grandeur. If I fail to live up to my standard of perfection I fear that I will be less esteemed by others. So I scold myself, feel sorry for myself, and cover my pride by declaring what a weak sinner I am, wailing “dear Jesus, please forgive me!”
In this way, I can feel superior to those wretched souls that don’t even have the decency to say they’ve done wrong and ask for pardon. You see, I’m less sorry for the particular sin, less sorry that I have offended my Lord than I am for having revealed the humiliating truth that I am not nearly as grand as I’d like to think I am.
Hiding within this discouragement is the unspoken craving for distinction ~ I must conquer my failings and defects in order to achieve the reputation I seek. This is what tarnishes the desire for holiness and turns the focus on me rather than on Jesus. In my secret heart – in hidden thoughts I never utter out loud – I fear that what Almighty God has ordained for me and my life is too modest, too common, too bland for my taste, and I try to persuade Him for more glory for myself while claiming to seek only His. I want what I want, and I beg Him to want it as well.
I must ask myself if I truly am willing to take the place God has ordained for me today without yearning for something “better” or more. As St. Therese put it, not every flower can be a rose. Some are wildflowers or daisies or violets. I realize how much of my heart wants to be a rose and nothing else, because I fear that otherwise, I will not be special to Him at all. I fear He will not even see me as He walks past and will instead reach only for the stunning red rose, smile approvingly at it, and step on my tiny plain petals as He goes away. I fear being forgotten, dismissed and rejected.
Why is it not enough that He made me in His image, shed His blood for my salvation, and loves me just as I am? It’s not enough because I don’t actually believe Him; not entirely. There remains a troubled place in my heart where I don’t believe Him when He says, “Child, you are Mine,” for I think to myself, “Why? I’m not a rose. I’m just a wildflower. I can’t believe you even notice me at all.” My longing to be loved is mixed with fear and ego until it becomes a strange form of arrogance. I don’t take God at His word; I call Him a liar. And I push Him away in anger, and then run after Him to plead with Him to see my virtues, begging Him to love me. This interior storm develops over and over again in my heart, and it will never be quieted without humility.
To be humble is to be emptied ~ emptied of myself. It isn’t wallowing in my wretchedness; it is bathing in His mercy. Pride dwells on all my offenses and festers like an infected sore. Humility wastes no time in carrying all offenses to Jesus with confidence to receive forgiveness and start again.
Humility is being content to be who, where and what God asks of me today, and nothing more. I make my whole self – body, mind and heart – an empty vessel to be filled by Him as He sees fit. Whether rose or wildflower, noticed or unseen, praised or ignored, it must make no difference. Nothing I could ever do or be can compare to who He is. The glory is all His. “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6
I am small, ordinary, and quite sinful, yes. All that is true. But I am also His! He has said so and it is true. Everything He has is mine. It’s outrageous but it’s true! He loves me forever, and for me just to turn my eyes toward His face brings Him delight. “For the Lord takes delight in His people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4 I am His child and He will not reject me. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1John 3:1
It’s actually a relief to know that I am not fooling God. He knows this fearful, perverted “humility” lives in my heart, preventing me from realizing the peace of true humility. He will take care of it if I let Him; even in this I have to let go, trust Him to keep His word and wait. My progress toward holiness follows my cooperation, not my command. It will not be accomplished on my schedule; I cannot rush or cajole Him into action. Learning to wait is part of learning humility. I have no one to impress – I only have One to love.
St. Therese helps me understand, “the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy…if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers. And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.” (Story of a Soul)
A heart that is humble rests confidently in His mercy and love, and has no fear of being little or unnoticed, nor any need for adulation. He may be walking with the red rose in His hand, smelling its sweet fragrance, but He will also lie down on the grass that is covered in a bed of small wildflowers, and He will rest His head on their simple beauty, enjoying their soft comfort. I can think of nothing sweeter than to be that wild flower that’s pressed close to His heart as He lies down to rest. That is all my soul really longs for.
-----
Jennifer Hartline is a Catholic Army wife and stay-at-home mother of three precious kids who writes frequently on topics of Catholic faith and daily living. She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online.
Fall Reading List!
Here's the ambitious list of books we're planning to read this fall to help prepare us for Baby Franco:
- The Happiest Baby on the Block
- Baby Bargains (8th Ed.)
- On Becoming Babywise
- The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know from Birth to Age Two
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Ahhh...curtains :)
Michael surprised me on Sunday morning by putting up the curtains I bought for the living room. They look beautiful and make such a difference--even Michael loves them!
I know I shouldn't have a hang up about decorating and having material things, yet it has really helped these past few weeks to have our drab little apartment get things hung up and organized. I do believe this little place looks pretty nice now. :)
My small joy at creating a homey atmosphere out of this apartment must be part of my mommy-to-be "nesting" instinct.
I know I shouldn't have a hang up about decorating and having material things, yet it has really helped these past few weeks to have our drab little apartment get things hung up and organized. I do believe this little place looks pretty nice now. :)
My small joy at creating a homey atmosphere out of this apartment must be part of my mommy-to-be "nesting" instinct.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Family Dinner
I'm off to the weekly Family Dinner at the Coles' house in a little while, and I'm pretty excited about the new potato-corn chowder recipe and brownie-and-cookie bars I whipped up for tonight! The Coles are out of town and asked Michael and I to "guest host" for them.
I haven't had much luck lately with trying out new recipes (or cooking in general!), but I am feeling good about this potato-corn chowder concoction. I got up early to cook it, and then had some for lunch. I think it might be slightly more than edible, but of course I'll have lots of critics tonight to contend with. As for the brownie-and-cookie bars, I do have high hopes for accolades (unless people find out that I ate probably 1/4 of them before they arrived on the table).
What is Family Dinner? It is basically a gathering friends, and friends-of-friends, that meets every Thursday night at the Cole family home. Michael and I look forward to seeing our friends and meeting new ones at Family Dinner all week long. Singles, couples, small children, coworkers and family are all invited. In fact, anyone and everyone is invited. There is no guest list, just an open door and a potluck request. We usually have at least two or three children and infants in attendance.
I have only been in Houston full time for nine months now, but I am finally starting to feel able to call this place a home. Especially since we have been pregnant, our friends have been a new kind of "family" for us here. Maybe that's part of the reason why Michael and I are both loathe these days to ever miss "Family Dinner."
I haven't had much luck lately with trying out new recipes (or cooking in general!), but I am feeling good about this potato-corn chowder concoction. I got up early to cook it, and then had some for lunch. I think it might be slightly more than edible, but of course I'll have lots of critics tonight to contend with. As for the brownie-and-cookie bars, I do have high hopes for accolades (unless people find out that I ate probably 1/4 of them before they arrived on the table).
What is Family Dinner? It is basically a gathering friends, and friends-of-friends, that meets every Thursday night at the Cole family home. Michael and I look forward to seeing our friends and meeting new ones at Family Dinner all week long. Singles, couples, small children, coworkers and family are all invited. In fact, anyone and everyone is invited. There is no guest list, just an open door and a potluck request. We usually have at least two or three children and infants in attendance.
I have only been in Houston full time for nine months now, but I am finally starting to feel able to call this place a home. Especially since we have been pregnant, our friends have been a new kind of "family" for us here. Maybe that's part of the reason why Michael and I are both loathe these days to ever miss "Family Dinner."
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
While I'm Waiting
I have several dear friends who are waiting for God to open doors in their lives--or to close them. I will also confide that I absolutely include myself as a participant in the waiting game.
John Waller's "While I'm Waiting" has been an incredibly powerful song for me this summer. How much do we all need to remember that God has nothing for us but "plans for good, and not for woe, plans for a hope and a future" (Jer 29:11)?
How will we ever learn what it means to trust God with our lives and our happiness if we never have to trust Him when there's no end in sight?
The first step to getting through a difficult time in our lives is to recognize that God has placed where we are for a reason, and that every hour we are there, He's got a perfect plan for us to live that only we can act out.
The second step to getting through a difficult time, I think, is choosing how we are going to deal with things. There are only two choices: Our way, or God's way. And God's way is "the way, the truth, and the life." God's way includes choosing to wait on our wise Heavenly Father while doing all of the things that Waller talks about in this song.
Waller completely gets something important about trusting God and His plan for us: he understands that waiting on God--God's way--is really an active, engaged state of being. "While I'm waiting," Waller says, he chooses to be hopeful, patient, and "bold and confident." He chooses to keep "moving forward," to keeping "running the race," to serve and worship God "even while I wait." God is not calling us to "stick it out" complaining, whining and letting ourselves drown in misery, impatience, frustration and anger.
Part of growing into the man or woman God created us to be is passing through the "Refiner's fire." Fire does burn things, but it can also purify things and make things stronger. We have to choose whether we will let something burn us or purify and refine our hearts to be closer to God and thereby closer to the man or woman we were specially created to be.
I once had a dear friend refer me to the Blessed Mother with a special prayer intention during a difficult time. I asked her why having Mary intercede with her Son on my behalf would help matters. "Well," she said, "Think about the image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary's heart is pictured as being on fire. Yes, she is on fire with love for her Son, but her heart is also absolutely pure. When she takes our special intentions into her heart and to her Son for us, she purifies those intentions a thousand times over, bringing to Jesus what the deepest and purest desires of our hearts behind what those intentions are, and pointing us closer to Jesus."
When we pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for help in time of need, she in turn points to the Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life," and has a way of conveying to us what she said at the wedding at Cana: "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn.2:5).
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
John Waller's "While I'm Waiting" has been an incredibly powerful song for me this summer. How much do we all need to remember that God has nothing for us but "plans for good, and not for woe, plans for a hope and a future" (Jer 29:11)?
How will we ever learn what it means to trust God with our lives and our happiness if we never have to trust Him when there's no end in sight?
The first step to getting through a difficult time in our lives is to recognize that God has placed where we are for a reason, and that every hour we are there, He's got a perfect plan for us to live that only we can act out.
The second step to getting through a difficult time, I think, is choosing how we are going to deal with things. There are only two choices: Our way, or God's way. And God's way is "the way, the truth, and the life." God's way includes choosing to wait on our wise Heavenly Father while doing all of the things that Waller talks about in this song.
Waller completely gets something important about trusting God and His plan for us: he understands that waiting on God--God's way--is really an active, engaged state of being. "While I'm waiting," Waller says, he chooses to be hopeful, patient, and "bold and confident." He chooses to keep "moving forward," to keeping "running the race," to serve and worship God "even while I wait." God is not calling us to "stick it out" complaining, whining and letting ourselves drown in misery, impatience, frustration and anger.
Part of growing into the man or woman God created us to be is passing through the "Refiner's fire." Fire does burn things, but it can also purify things and make things stronger. We have to choose whether we will let something burn us or purify and refine our hearts to be closer to God and thereby closer to the man or woman we were specially created to be.
I once had a dear friend refer me to the Blessed Mother with a special prayer intention during a difficult time. I asked her why having Mary intercede with her Son on my behalf would help matters. "Well," she said, "Think about the image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary's heart is pictured as being on fire. Yes, she is on fire with love for her Son, but her heart is also absolutely pure. When she takes our special intentions into her heart and to her Son for us, she purifies those intentions a thousand times over, bringing to Jesus what the deepest and purest desires of our hearts behind what those intentions are, and pointing us closer to Jesus."
When we pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for help in time of need, she in turn points to the Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life," and has a way of conveying to us what she said at the wedding at Cana: "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn.2:5).
* * * * *
"While I'm Waiting"
by: John Waller
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Registering Woes...Again
It still seems like yesterday that I was registering for wedding gifts; now, I've moved from Bed, Bath & Beyond to Babies R' Us. I wonder these days what my mother did when she had Baby Berryhill #1 (me). I turned out just fine, it seems, despite any "must have" baby items she may have lacked. I don't remember suffering from a lack of a $100 Soft Sleep Baby Sound System (wouldn't my iPod or my own voice work for that?) or a $70 Super Deluxe Infant Fleece-lined Snuggle Nest (I am pretty sure that Mom's bosom is a good substitute).
At least I had some semblance of an idea of what I would need as a married woman. Some sturdy pots, spatulas, sheets, a blender, a vacuum.
I have almost no idea what I will need as a New Mom.
Babies R' Us is kind enough to have lots of "help" for the new mom creating her first baby registry. There are "quick start" and "shop by your mom personality" options, as well as an overwhelming 5 page print-out list of "Must Haves."
Being an ex-advertising major doesn't help when I'm trying to decide what Michael and I will really need for Baby Franco. First of all, I know that every product on this "Must Have" list paid a lot of money to be there. Secondly, I do have a few friends with (happy and healthy) babies, and if those families had half of what Babies R' Us says are "must haves," their houses would be overflowing with baby gear--which they are not.
In the end, I have somewhat grudgingly allowed the Babies R' Us Quick Start application help me begin my baby registry journey. After all, I had completely forgotten that I needed baby shampoo, and the Johnson Baby Gift Set looked like it had exactly what I'd need.
* * *
You can check out my (probably comical) start at registering for baby gear by looking our registry up on Babies R' Us Website. Constructive, good-humored advice appreciated!
At least I had some semblance of an idea of what I would need as a married woman. Some sturdy pots, spatulas, sheets, a blender, a vacuum.
I have almost no idea what I will need as a New Mom.
Babies R' Us is kind enough to have lots of "help" for the new mom creating her first baby registry. There are "quick start" and "shop by your mom personality" options, as well as an overwhelming 5 page print-out list of "Must Haves."
Being an ex-advertising major doesn't help when I'm trying to decide what Michael and I will really need for Baby Franco. First of all, I know that every product on this "Must Have" list paid a lot of money to be there. Secondly, I do have a few friends with (happy and healthy) babies, and if those families had half of what Babies R' Us says are "must haves," their houses would be overflowing with baby gear--which they are not.
In the end, I have somewhat grudgingly allowed the Babies R' Us Quick Start application help me begin my baby registry journey. After all, I had completely forgotten that I needed baby shampoo, and the Johnson Baby Gift Set looked like it had exactly what I'd need.
* * *
You can check out my (probably comical) start at registering for baby gear by looking our registry up on Babies R' Us Website. Constructive, good-humored advice appreciated!
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