tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38379030173307909172012-02-16T21:36:21.561-06:00An outlet for my thoughts. It was either start a blog or get a goldfish.Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.comBlogger5221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-14658969354030807222012-02-15T22:32:00.000-06:002012-02-15T22:32:46.928-06:00

Way back, two whole weeks ago, I went to an art museum.  I don't do places like that.  I don't really do art or wine tastings or other classy things. My living room is currently strewn with trekking poles, various layers of winter clothing, my harness and rock shoes, etc. The finer things in life? Not so much. Nonetheless, I figured it wouldn't hurt the horizons to have them stretched a bit, and

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-66160125963916832822012-02-08T08:59:00.000-06:002012-02-08T08:59:04.097-06:00

You and I? We have a problem.  You see, I pay you to let me have internet, only you are not providing said service.  You say there has been a problem for a couple of months.  You tell me that you have been trying to contact me for months to let me know that it needs to be taken care of.  You say that the dog was in the yard when you needed to hook up the internet, and because of that,

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-45764654142580335252012-02-03T06:00:00.000-06:002012-02-03T07:03:49.750-06:00

--1-- Oh, dang.  I am one of those bloggers now.  Those bloggers for whom an experience is not complete unless it's been blogged about. Yes, friends, I am the one that gives a bad name to bloggers.  The one that makes non-bloggers wonder why we just can't live life without hitting the publish button every so often. Yep. I am that person.  But, seriously! My trip to the art museum won't be

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-60239312740057658152012-02-01T23:11:00.000-06:002012-02-02T10:02:50.078-06:00

Crazy much? In my case, the answer is yes. Yes, I am.  I realized the truth of this when my alarm went off "this morning." It wasn't really morning so much as it was the middle of the night*, yet I was surprisingly wide awake when I retrieved my clothes from the waiting pile. I even stayed awake as I grabbed my backpack and drove through the dark to the trailhead, where I would meet up with the

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-71411965076842284622012-01-28T20:00:00.000-06:002012-01-28T21:39:28.585-06:00

I don't remember how old I was, nor do I remember who all was there besides my family.  I think I was in middle school or late elementary school.  It was a pancake feed.  Small Town, Midwest, USA all the way. Omelet feeds, pancake feeds, potlucks, the church dinner, fish fries.  It was one of those kind of events. Anyway, this particular pancake feed was in our church hall, and whoever was

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-31491192208921388792012-01-27T05:00:00.000-06:002012-01-27T07:01:07.009-06:00

1) My next talk for RCIA was supposed to be confession in two weeks. But it got moved up to next week. Next Tuesday. Yeah, I haven't started preparing yet.  I'm thinking I should get on that.  2) I decided to try Quaker's Weight Control Oatmeal.  I'm really trying to make more of my food and not get so much processed stuff, but this is just one of those weeks that I'm trying to survive.  

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-76049600128033785502012-01-20T22:51:00.000-06:002012-01-20T22:54:33.083-06:00

This is a rerun from a couple of years ago. (A couple years?! Have I really been blogging that long??) It speaks to what I am thinking and feeling tonight, so I thought I would repost with a few minor updates. Dear Husband, Are you out there?  Do you exist?  I am trying to be patient (I am!), but it's not easy for me. What are you doing tonight? Busy night with friends? Work?  Do

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-85410163880371783462012-01-19T10:52:00.000-06:002012-01-19T12:46:33.944-06:00

I stood on the smallish ledge, looking over the wide canyon.  I was anchored in, so I could enjoy the crazy blue sky that can only be found in the mountains and the action on the trails below. It was fun to look at the people below, and some were looking back.  I saw one lady taking pictures of us.  Due to a trick of acoustics in the canyon, I could hear conversations and amused myself trying to

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-23542313350797657902012-01-16T22:50:00.001-06:002012-01-16T22:50:06.409-06:00

I finally met the person that I want to be when I grow up. I met someone today whose goal is to get better partly so that she can keep going to her work outs with her trainer and her work out partner. She's 88. Her work out partner is 93. Love it! In other news, Baylor is no longer unbeaten!  Way to go Jayhawks!

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-76171677788604736562012-01-15T00:24:00.003-06:002012-01-15T00:24:52.453-06:00

I was that kid, the kid everyone hated.  I was the tattletale.  In my defense, I'd like to think that it wasn't from an inherent need to be right, or at least not only because of that.  It really has more to do with the fact that there are rules!  That are being broken!  GAH! This rule following thing is something that I blame on my German heritage.  When I do, people usually nod and act like my

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-66734575285403307262012-01-08T13:30:00.000-06:002012-01-08T13:30:02.508-06:00

I have believed for a long time that atheists' concept of God is too small.  I watched a video the other day that added more fuel to that particular fire.  This atheist told us that just as he had outgrown Santa Claus, he also outgrew the fairy tale that God exists.  I'm sure he had a number of reasons for that, but what he described was a last prayer that he threw out to God, asking God to

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-91344575149358032352012-01-06T04:30:00.000-06:002012-01-06T07:04:17.265-06:00

1) Over the New Year's, I had plenty of time to watch movies.  And watch movies I did. "The Adjustment Bureau" was fine.  I liked it.  There was another movie, suggested to me because of the rock climbing and the scenery, that I watched.  Those two parts were okay (although, even then, the scenery didn't match with where they claimed to be), but it's not even worth mentioning it by name,

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-38166496115785687162012-01-03T23:49:00.001-06:002012-01-03T23:49:12.136-06:00

Okay, most of the time if I post thoughts about Bible reading, I'll do it here.  However, some thoughts I had about today seemed to fit this blog a little better.  In the first 5 chapters of Job, we meet an upright man named Job who is married with lots of kids, servants and animals.  He serves God with all that he is. Then the devil says that, of course he's good.  He's got it all, why wouldn't

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-79481903275349144482012-01-01T17:25:00.002-06:002012-01-01T17:25:31.934-06:00

I wasn't going to do any resolutions this year.  I have some goals, like hiking a couple of 14'ers, but I'm just not in the resolution mood right now. Like Rebecca, I'm neither particularly happy about 2011 being done, nor particularly excited about 2012. I don't mean that in a bad way.  I really like that 2011 gave me snowshoeing and rock climbing, but it also gave me a lot of struggles in the

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-82074295982251960642011-12-30T05:38:00.000-06:002011-12-30T05:38:00.271-06:00

1) Okay, my apologies!  It's taken me way too long to get to my Prayer Buddy reveal, but it has been busy.  I got the pleasure of praying for J. at Silliest Bunny Eats More Carrots. She was a new blogger to me, but it's always a pleasure to get to "know" more people.  J, I prayed for you with Morning and Evening prayer, and with every Mass I went to.  I also tried to offer up frustrations

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-4726860707719543922011-12-28T23:11:00.001-06:002011-12-28T23:11:51.823-06:00

I had one goal for Advent (other than praying for my prayer buddy), and that was to make it to confession.  I think confession is amazing, but I've been so bad about going since I've been out here.  I have gotten used to some really good confessors, and I haven't found that yet.  Though, I need to be honest and admit I haven't tried very hard. Unfortunately, I didn't work too hard at actually

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-4482700679670821562011-12-19T05:52:00.000-06:002011-12-19T05:52:00.492-06:00

I didn't do Christmas cards or letters this year.  I rarely do.  I like to receive them, especially when there is a letter included.  I assume that people would like to hear from me, too, but I  get bored of the idea about writing about me.  (Okay, I guess that's a little ridiculous since I write a whole blog that's all about me, but Christmas letters are different.  Don't argue. Just go with it.

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-88008349742694083922011-12-17T18:22:00.000-06:002011-12-17T18:22:19.558-06:00

I always start these posts before I actually pick the winner.  I want everyone to win, so I like to pretend for a minute longer that I can give it to everyone but, since there's only one calendar, let me pull up a random number generator and pick the winner. And the winner is... #1, who happens to be Perfect Power in Weakness! I'm excited to be able to share this with a fellow transplanted

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-31151978326985355322011-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-16T07:18:14.608-06:00

--1-- I'm not sure if Blogger and I are in a fight, or if it's me and the computer.  I love the computer a lot so it's hard for me to blame it but I cannot get it to upload a video that I wanted it to, even after some advice from a lovely friend.  It will keep working on uploading for hours and never stop, or if I change formats, it rejects it outright.  Annoying! --2-- We had another

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-59788689429802037932011-12-15T08:18:00.000-06:002011-12-15T08:19:31.408-06:00

I've been enjoying Rebecca's Thankful Thursdays for several months now, but this is my first time participating. Today I am thankful for: 1) Pumpkin bread! I am currently obsessed with it, it just tastes so good. 2) To live in a place where I can go to a grocery store and immediately have hundreds of different food items to choose from. 3) That in one week the days start to get longer

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-44620556083628770992011-12-13T22:37:00.000-06:002011-12-14T22:38:52.555-06:00

The season of Advent.  The season of waiting and expectation. Ouch. That's all I have to say about that. I am really, really, really, really tired of waiting and expectation. I am tired of carrying the weight of emptiness. I am tired of watching everyone else move down paths I cannot follow. I am tired of having so much to offer and no one to offer it to. The fire of this desire for the

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-58702502553846106922011-12-12T08:21:00.000-06:002011-12-12T08:39:05.152-06:00

Gaudete Sunday is an interesting thing, stuck in the middle of Advent.  Suddenly there is this reminder to rejoice.  For some, it comes as a reminder in the midst of a crazy busy schedule.  As for me, my schedule is pretty laid back this time of year, and getting lighter as Christmas approaches.  For others, it reinforces the joy of their current circumstances.  For many, hearing the call to

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-53696206093412540372011-12-10T08:58:00.001-06:002011-12-10T09:11:55.351-06:00

I think you all know that I have a love/hate relationship with giveaways.  I love to give stuff to someone, but I hate not giving it to everyone!  Anyway, since I wish I could give all of you a Christmas present, I'll settle for a token of giving one of you a Christmas present. The present is a wall calendar, mostly with landscapes, of course. Most of the pictures have been on the blog before,

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-41116715784669534382011-12-09T06:03:00.000-06:002011-12-09T07:05:31.976-06:00

1) Okay, I don't normally do it, but I deleted a comment the other day on this post.  It was an anonymous commenter, and while they didn't say anything bad, I also got the feeling that they didn't really read the post.  It is also probably my fault for not making it more clear that I was not being serious. My first hint was that they questioned the "reasoning" and "analysis" that led to my "

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-70716284715440897362011-12-07T22:44:00.001-06:002011-12-12T07:58:42.973-06:00

The idea of starting this portion of the Mass is a little daunting to say the least.  There are no words to explain it all.  You could talk forever and never stop.  You could be intimately familiar with the entire Bible and still have more to learn about the liturgy of the Eucharist. On the other hand, I guess it takes the pressure off.  There is no possible way that I could explain it

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-45850722593785412582011-12-06T07:40:00.000-06:002011-12-06T08:00:40.746-06:00

It is the season for soup!  We've had some cold and snow in the last few days, so I pulled out some soup recipes.  One of my favorites is not the most healthy soup ever, but it is fantastic.  If you don't like spicy, leave the peppers out. I always take a recipe and substitute for my own taste, but I'll give it to you as I got it: 1-1/2 cups water 2 cups cubed peeled potatoes (I actually like it

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-32287764146223152702011-12-04T11:04:00.000-06:002011-12-04T11:04:41.233-06:00

We have come again to my least favorite verses in the Bible.  If you were paying attention at Mass, you heard them several times today.  If you were not paying attention, or don't go to Mass, then you can read them here (you may have to change the date if you're not reading this right away). Now, I've written about this before, and reasonable people everywhere gave wonderful, reasonable

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-49984679779984456902011-12-02T00:10:00.003-06:002011-12-02T00:15:08.573-06:00

I have been in my new place for nearly a month now, and I absolutely love it.  I have had a request or two for pictures, and since I have Christmas decorations up now, today seemed like a good time.  I knew my little cottage was small, but I realized how small when I was trying to get a few of these shots and couldn't fit everything in because I couldn't get far enough away. First up is my

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-23327407736838931832011-11-27T12:13:00.000-06:002011-11-27T12:13:25.116-06:00

We finally made it to the first Sunday of the new liturgical year, the first Sunday using the new translation of the missal.  My impression? It doesn't really seem to me that anything has particularly changed.  Yes, the wording is a little different, but the Mass is the same. I happened to go to the cathedral for Mass this morning.  I was taken by surprise when the bishop was the celebrant.  I

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-7352300099199628452011-11-26T23:21:00.000-06:002011-11-26T23:21:42.053-06:00

Oh, man.  What to say about the holidays. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us." It has already started, these schizo, crazy holidays.  It is not because I am busy.  As I have mentioned before, the busier everyone else is, the less busy I am through the holidays.  

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-4135048587094148632011-11-24T22:21:00.001-06:002011-11-24T22:58:36.125-06:00

I hope you've had a wonderful holiday!  I was so ready for the day off; I had a class over the weekend, so this is my first real day off since a week ago Sunday.  The day started a little too early, but other than that, it's been about all you could want in a Thanksgiving. The reason for the early start? My smoke detector decided to spaz out.  Not the annoying "I need a new battery" chirp, but

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-8295054307634678722011-11-15T22:54:00.001-06:002011-11-15T22:56:19.693-06:00

I don't have time right now to finish my series on the Mass, which I was hoping to finish before Advent, but I will finish it whenever I get a chance.  In the meantime, I've been thinking some about the names of Jesus.  It is the topic that I have to present for RCIA next week.  I am so prepared, that I haven't even gotten to the point of looking up the actual names.  Other than it will obviously

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-37026907463005777922011-11-11T05:46:00.041-06:002011-11-11T05:46:01.105-06:00

--- 1 ---Sorry to open this up with a whine, but I'm not a fan of the time change! I hate that when it feels like I should be home putting my feet up, I still have more patients to see. I hate that it's pitch black so early in the day. Forty-one days until December 21st, and then it will start to get better.--- 2 ---I still hate moving, and I still did my own packing, but I hired a moving

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-16960272436924625562011-11-08T22:42:00.000-06:002011-11-08T22:42:30.111-06:00

For almost one week, I was without internet at home.  You would think that I should have been too busy to notice, but I was not.  The funny thing is, all week I had stuff that I wanted to post on my blog, but now that I have access again, I cannot figure out what to say.  I haven't even been offline long enough for anyone to notice, but I've been off long enough for me to have a nice little block

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-56194438419132159322011-10-28T05:14:00.001-05:002011-10-28T05:14:00.488-05:00

--- 1 ---I walked into my apartment tonight and got knocked over by the stale smoke smell. I don't know which is worse; my previous neighbor, when you could smell cigarette smoke all the time so I always knew to expect it, or these neighbors, where the majority of the time it's not bad, but then the surprise of it almost makes it worse. Okay, this is definitely better, but the best will be

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-32039608877092589292011-10-26T08:47:00.004-05:002011-10-26T17:43:16.517-05:00

Once the homily is over, it's time to finish up just a few things to prepare for the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We begin by standing and professing our faith. Yes, this will also have some wording changes.  Our faith and the substance of what we are professing is the same, but some of the wording is different. It's long, but I'll write it out here: I believe in one God, the

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-39332937448658776462011-10-24T22:28:00.001-05:002011-10-24T22:28:00.170-05:00

You know, that word looks really weird after you write it over and over again several times. Food. Food. Food. Food. Food. Food. Yeah. You get the point (or you would if there was a point).  That's not what I intended to write about. I just noticed it as I started typing, and I get easily distracted by things.  They don't even have to be shiny! The point is that almost two months ago, I read

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-49875363194528843512011-10-20T17:45:00.000-05:002011-10-20T17:45:00.742-05:00

I lean back and look at the wall, examining my route. About 15 feet to the top of the alcove, then some overhead holds before reaching around the corner to climb out from under the roof.  Then another 25 feet or so to the top.  The wall under the alcove is a slight overhang, and I seriously doubt my ability to climb this route today.  My forearms are already protesting from the previous route,

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-80279297674365048602011-10-17T06:59:00.001-05:002011-10-17T06:59:00.979-05:00

I have come to the point that I really like novenas.*  I didn't like them for a while, because it felt like so many of them were "say this prayer, say that prayer, do it just so at this time, and turn around in 3 circles just to be sure."  (Okay, I never saw any with that last one.) Seemed superstitious almost, the way some of them were so particular about all the little details. However, over

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-45366644080387721022011-10-15T08:12:00.000-05:002011-10-15T08:12:00.187-05:00

Okay, so we made it into church, and it's time for Mass to begin.  For people that are used to casual worship with coffee and worship songs and fellowship, the contrast of the Mass can make it seem formal and stiff. I submit to you that that is one of the things that I love the most about the Mass.  Not that it is "stiff", because I don't see it that way.  But because it is reverent, and the more

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-62044137778533131522011-10-13T10:16:00.000-05:002011-10-13T10:16:00.455-05:00

We haven't met, and I admit I'm avoiding you.  The zombie bumper stickers and grenade decals on your car are just not my thing.  Which is not to say that you're not nice people, I just don't know what to say to you.  Not to mention that you're still young enough to be into the the really tight pants thing (at least you're at the age where that would be okay- if it were ever okay to wear painted

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-67310234104428029902011-10-11T22:11:00.004-05:002011-10-12T08:10:17.033-05:00

Okay, at least in my head, they're lovely little posts, some fun, some informative and some thoughtful.  However, you're just going to have to imagine how wonderful they are, because I don't have time to write them all.  Unlike some who are organized and keep lists of ideas, I just sit down and write when I get a chance, so I'm sure I'll forget half of them.  Actually, now that I think about it,

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-74751317258857129052011-10-10T07:43:00.002-05:002011-10-10T07:43:00.064-05:00

I'm still waiting. The thing is, the last couple of weeks of waiting have been really nice.  There are still those occasional rough spots (someone my age celebrating 8-10 years of marriage makes me stop cold for a few moments!), but overall it's been nice. Did you know that hope is a virtue?  You probably did, because you're way smarter than me.  I guess I knew that it was a virtue, but I

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-77475615840497320742011-10-08T10:14:00.001-05:002011-10-08T10:52:33.745-05:00

I can't tell you how tempted I am to start into more introductory material.  Why? I'm scared to go into the Mass itself.  It's so big, so deep, so wonderful, that how can I hope to do it any justice at all? Not only that, but these are just my own personal thoughts on the Mass, and I don't want to take anyone down some strange path. However, in this post, I'm going to at least try to get you into

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-23108559316433821542011-10-07T05:59:00.013-05:002011-10-07T05:59:00.597-05:00

--- 1 --- Thought I'd try the template today.  That was easy! --- 2 --- I don't know about where you are, but it's definitely chilly here today!  It was gorgeous earlier, but then the wind picked up, and now it's kind of cold.  I was supposed to help out with a conservation project this weekend, but THANKFULLY it got postponed.  Hiking in 4 miles to pick up trash in the cold was not sounding

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-74458606452949328102011-10-04T05:26:00.080-05:002011-10-04T05:26:00.618-05:00

You thought the last post was an introduction, didn't you? No, silly.  That was the introduction to the introduction. I have known a lot of people that don't get the Mass.  Some are Catholics that are going to Mass, but just aren't really sure why we do what we do.  Some are non-Catholics that have been to a Mass or two and either wonder how we can put up with the same dusty ritual over and over

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-55374903754536545762011-10-02T22:23:00.006-05:002011-10-26T17:45:21.752-05:00

I get tend to repeat myself.  That is true in real life, and it's true on this blog.  At least on the blog, I could go back to look and see if I had already said some of this stuff before, but I'm way too lazy for that.  The alternative will be that if you've already read something that sounds very similar, just stop reading!  Perfect solution. Today in Mass, we began an overview of what some of

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-32284042751216662282011-09-30T06:27:00.001-05:002011-09-30T07:25:26.346-05:00

1) I was just watching a show in which a character injured her ankle.  One of the characters looks it over and pronounces, "Well, it's red, so that's good."  The first character asks why that's good, and she elaborates. "If it's blue that means you tore a ligament, but if it's red, it's just sprained."  Aarggh! The nonsense!  First of all, you don't usually see any color in the ankle in the

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-62138070229260029252011-09-29T20:53:00.020-05:002011-09-29T21:14:48.655-05:00

First of all, can I just say again how much I LOVE prayer buddies? Thanks again to these lovely ladies for organizing! It was my privilege to pray for Meghan and her beautiful family.  It was so great to "meet" a new blogger, but so hard not to comment on the posts... Especially this one!!! I prayed for them every night and at any of the Masses that I went to. You'd better believe that I will

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-54573694295538800102011-09-24T00:00:00.003-05:002011-09-24T06:23:29.951-05:00

There is no particular reason for this hope.  It is the same hope that I have had over and over, but that never comes to fruition.  The hope that maybe today will be different and I will meet Someone Special. There are no "signs" that make me hope any differently today versus the other days.  It's just that I thought about it and I choose hope.  You see, a lot of times I choose realism.  I

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-10245146753935223092011-09-23T10:22:00.002-05:002011-09-23T10:24:33.439-05:00

1) My sisters are not impressed with my trials in life.  I had to work 4 whole days in a row this week.  Now, don't get me wrong, I know that most people work 5 days in a row or more.  I know that I really can't complain.  I simply told them that it was absurd that it was so draining to work 4 days in a row when you usually only work 3 in a row (I do four 10 hour days).  They agreed that I was

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-754026098597878522011-09-21T08:54:00.028-05:002011-09-21T10:03:56.040-05:00

God's plan, eh?  So you're telling me God has a plan.  Is it part of His plan that a six year old dies?  Because that seems like a great way to comfort that child's mother.  Tell her it's all part of His plan. Is it part of His plan when tornadoes tear apart towns and families? Is it His plan for earthquakes and tsunamis to kill thousands? Is it His plan for some nations to die of starvation,

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-48779926267197379232011-09-19T11:15:00.002-05:002011-09-20T06:42:56.579-05:00

Last month I mentioned that I was trying to eat vegetarian for the month. It was an interesting experiment, and the part that surprised me the most was that I really didn't miss the meat. Now there are certain things that I don't want to try meatless, like lasagna (don't worry, Elizabeth, I won't mention any names), but unless you're craving a dish that actually needs meat, the meatless meals are

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-69406329908501422702011-09-15T06:09:00.001-05:002011-09-15T13:09:57.441-05:00

Okay, I know that it's wrong, but I admit that I've done it before and will most likely do it again.  Most women I know are amazing people, and it gives me joy to see them with their spouses and children.  But every once in a while I see that woman, the one that is severely lacking maturity, or is a horrible nag, or something, and I see them with a really nice guy, and I think, "Really?! How did

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-22337263760686116772011-09-13T17:37:00.001-05:002011-09-13T17:37:00.303-05:00

I've been thinking some about surrender recently.  I went on a hike a few weeks ago, and I was trying to make it to a lake, but I never made it.  I have never been to this lake, and no one has told me that I must see this lake.  It was just a hike that seemed doable and I wanted to do it.  The one picture that I saw led me to believe that it might be a pretty lake, so it all sounded good. It was

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-33258723028328588122011-09-12T12:42:00.008-05:002011-09-12T12:42:00.565-05:00

I sit amidst beautiful chaos, surrounded by people I love and their wonderful kids that I also love; the smile is ever present, mostly real, but sometimes pasted on.  I never imagined that it could be so easy to smile on the outside while dying on the inside.  How can it be that there is no place I'd rather be, and I would rather be anywhere else? The joy of seeing everyone is real, but the pain

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-17767387603488993512011-09-09T23:32:00.001-05:002011-09-09T23:35:35.243-05:00

I just had to share this.  Sometimes kids see the truth so much more clearly than we do.  Fair warning, it makes me cry every time (the part after the funny/cute stuff).

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-29867509458607081002011-09-08T21:54:00.006-05:002011-09-08T21:54:00.538-05:00

About the middle of the summer hit and I realized that I needed to see my friends in the Midwest.  I am addicted to them, you see, and I needed a hit. Badly.  I love it out here in the West, but I sometimes wonder what I am doing here, because they are there.  On the other hand, as much as I creepily* attached to them, I have to remember that we do in fact have to each live our own lives. Anyway

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-85710976644321464212011-09-07T19:48:00.000-05:002011-09-07T19:48:24.339-05:00

Next week I'm supposed to help teach RCIA about common Catholic practices in church, particularly at Mass.  The only problem is, going to Mass is a little like breathing, and so you just do it.  It's hard to remember the specific things that you might be doing.  I want to look at the sign of the cross (including with holy water), genuflection, and... What else should I remember to talk about??  

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-11858225157322712722011-09-03T22:03:00.000-05:002011-09-03T22:03:00.217-05:00

I was thinking about waiting, and I thought that even if that wasn't what I wanted to hear, at least I had it made in the shade, right? If I'm waiting, I don't have to actually do anything, do I? Don't get me wrong, I'm all about being active during the wait.  Believe me, for the last 10 years, I may have been waiting to find a spouse, but I have not been waiting for life to begin. I've gone to

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-77104012637623702182011-08-29T23:44:00.000-05:002011-08-29T23:44:01.319-05:00

If someone figures out why we have such a desperate need to compare ourselves all the time, please let me know.  Then maybe I can figure out how to stop doing it. I have to really be careful how often I get on facebook, because facebook is a great place to get a comparison blow to the gut (especially depending on how my emotional outlook is at that moment). "Look, here I am single, and there's

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-60114020714185684412011-08-24T06:35:00.000-05:002011-08-24T06:35:00.479-05:00

It was one of those weekends.  Nothing happened.  Therein lies the problem. Every day that passes, I am absolutely sure that I cannot last one more day without something changing.  I don't know what, but I as I've complained off and on the last several months, my life has never felt more devoid of meaning or purpose than in this last year.  No matter what, I can't quite seem to connect with God.

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-3404557723509405322011-08-19T07:13:00.000-05:002011-08-19T08:01:58.250-05:00

1) I've posted almost every day this week... So why not one more, eh?  Here are some random things for the end of the week. Friday's such a perfect day for Quick Takes in my book.  Easy to write and easy to read at the end of a week. 2) I've been reading some fb statuses of friends at a state fair.  It's all about food on a stick and fried food.  I don't know who first deep fat fried a

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-75718569862369666472011-08-18T09:31:00.000-05:002011-08-18T09:31:09.373-05:00

Okay, I don't have a winner yet, but I will before this post is over.  Can I just say that I realized that I kind of hate giveaways?  I'm excited about this one, and I can't wait to send a picture to the winner... But then I realized that I can only do one winner and I'll be disappointed that everyone else didn't win. On to business.  Excuse me while I go generate a random number... And the

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-77590948867364652022011-08-16T21:49:00.024-05:002011-08-16T22:56:55.584-05:00

If you are not a morning person, or you have never been to the mountains, or you have never experienced the mountains in the morning, then I am sorry. On mornings when I have to get up for work, sometimes I have to drag myself out of bed.  There's the alarm, then the snooze for a few rounds.  But on mornings that I'm going to be in the mountains, I can get up at ridiculous times of the morning

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-78653926858139492542011-08-15T21:48:00.000-05:002011-08-15T21:48:36.402-05:00

I don't know what the deal is with the neighbors here.  First there was my friend the smoker.  Thankfully, he moved out a couple of weeks ago and my place no longer reeks.  The last couple of days, someone's been banging around until the whole place shakes.  I hope this isn't the new neighbor, but I don't think so.  This seems to be coming from upstairs rather than downstairs.  There has also

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-59338060223470851182011-08-14T19:27:00.000-05:002011-08-14T19:27:46.061-05:00

Just a quick reminder that the photo giveaway is still going on for anyone that's interested. Last month I had a goal of an average of three posts a week on the blog, and I exceeded that. This month I had a little different goal, and I kind of don't want to admit what it is.  Of course I will, because I wouldn't tease you like that and then leave it.  I just have to work up the nerve first.

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-59756116380457507002011-08-12T05:46:00.003-05:002011-08-12T07:56:25.002-05:00

It's Friday!  That's means it's time for Quick Takes, so head on over to Jen's for more fun. 1) Speaking of heading over to Jen's, many of you follow her, so you've probably seen this, but I really liked a recent post of hers over at the NCR.  She's talking about how the sins of Catholics, and in particular some of the scandals of the hierarchy (both recent and past) actually helped to

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-23679150351997739112011-08-11T17:00:00.001-05:002011-08-18T09:18:01.066-05:00

Something happened today.  Something, well, inconsequential to tell you the truth.  I was getting some enlargements of photos for my parents, and they're cheaper than I thought they'd be.  It made me decide that I'd like to do a giveaway.  I searched for a good reason for a giveaway, but couldn't come up with one, so... In honor of the mundane... In order to break up the day to day a little bit.

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-26567561355790165322011-08-07T10:38:00.000-05:002011-08-11T17:46:46.725-05:00

My blogging lately has seemed to follow a very distinct pattern. Write. Delete. Write. Delete. Rinse and repeat. Nothing in life feels quite right, and consequently nothing I write seems quite right.  I schedule something to publish, but then I go back and delete it before publishes. I miss that feeling where things just feel right.  The feeling of being where you should be, doing what you

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-57045283211958108482011-08-04T13:22:00.000-05:002011-08-04T13:22:00.526-05:00

Is there really much difference between these two words?  I'm thinking there's not.  I won't bore you with the definitions, but when I looked them up (in a dictionary, of all things) they were used to define each other.  Therefore, it doesn't do us much good to try to separate them too much because they are very much alike. Then why bring it up in the first place?  I'm glad you asked.  There is

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-71447270947291178912011-08-01T23:46:00.000-05:002011-08-01T23:46:45.422-05:00

I should get the t-shirt that says that.  Is there such a t-shirt?  There should be.  Yellowstone is awesome, by the way.  It's just that when you do it in just a few days, it's also exhausting.  But that's how my sisters and I roll.  Go on a trip, jam pack everything in.  Is there another way? This time we even dragged along my parents and youngest two siblings.  The trip was full, and so this

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-24565045540875157862011-07-31T20:49:00.000-05:002011-07-31T20:49:14.646-05:00

It's been an interesting weekend.  Very good in a lot of ways.  A few things that I would far rather ignore than deal with.  But beyond those things a lot of fun.  Well, beyond those things and the MOSQUITOS AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD!!  Have I mentioned that I hate mosquitos? Because I do.  Anyone that protests the death of any living thing needs to understand that any mosquito who lands near or on me

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-23335270140278293542011-07-27T06:31:00.000-05:002011-07-27T06:43:18.420-05:00

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-24751695421054209222011-07-23T22:17:00.001-05:002011-07-23T22:27:56.961-05:00

I've been thinking recently that I need to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables.  I just don't get enough.  Then, over the last several days, I've watched a couple of documentaries revolving around fruits and vegetables.  One was talking about being vegan. Now, please. I'm from the Midwest.  I don't see me going vegan any time soon.  However, I don't mind taking some of the recipes and using

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-39122411392427424782011-07-18T05:23:00.070-05:002011-07-18T05:23:00.774-05:00

I've told you how I've felt about Mary at various times.  I suppose it's not that hard to guess that I have also had a hard time with the rosary as well.  To be honest, it was partly because it either bored me, or I didn't feel like I paid enough attention to make it worthwhile to pray it.  Still, it's growing on me a little.  For example, I loved the way one priest explained it.  He said that

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-72601465410923200602011-07-17T14:12:00.001-05:002011-07-17T14:16:28.696-05:00

Oh, c'mon.  This is me we're talking about.  I didn't mean it that way.  I'm talking about taking pictures.  You can go to a beautiful place, and you may get some great pictures, or you may not.  You may get perfect lighting, or the lighting might completely blow out your shot.  Or you have a great set up, but not such great knowledge of how to use the camera to the best advantage, and you might

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-76398971171904772952011-07-15T05:10:00.001-05:002011-07-15T05:10:00.793-05:00

I wanted to do Quick Takes today, but I couldn't come up with 7 good ones.  So instead, I will put up a poem.  I have not written a poem since elementary school, and I would be hard pressed to explain how this came about, except that inspiration struck after a conversation in the break room at work.  Be forewarned that authors that haven't practiced their poetry since second grade turn out second

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-80089484794948154772011-07-14T05:57:00.001-05:002011-07-14T05:57:00.314-05:00

I am thankful that in being single: 1) I needed roommates in grad school, and ended up with a couple of wonderful ones.  G, who is the sweetest person you could ever meet, and S, who is possibly the most laid back.  Both were wonderful to live with (and both could use prayers; one has had 2 miscarriages in the last year and the other is struggling with sub-fertility and is ready to turn to IVF).

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-64374145319872128532011-07-13T05:21:00.069-05:002011-07-13T05:21:00.467-05:00

Give thanks in all things. I have to be honest, I can't give you the full context of that quote.  Not because I don't know where to find it or what comes after, but because I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with it just yet.  It is a wrestling match that is beyond my strength at the moment, but I'm sure that will come later.  For now, I am thinking about this: Give thanks in all things. You know,

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-46380730721893981802011-07-11T05:52:00.002-05:002011-07-11T05:52:00.418-05:00

Welcome to my latest installment about why I love religion.  Maybe it's because religion gets a bad name a lot of times, so I feel the need to defend it.  Or I feel the need to be contrary.  It's one or the other. (Note: If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, this is probably just a rehash of what I've already written, so you can move on if you'd like.  I say it's "probably" a

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-34083603357516751802011-07-08T05:48:00.005-05:002011-07-08T20:36:53.701-05:00

Okay, as I don't really have 7 Quick Takes today, I'm going to do 7 quick pictures.  They're all of the same thing, starting just before the sun was up and the progression of the sun coming up and the wind picking up.  (It sounded like a really good idea at the time, but I didn't realize how little the differences showed on the blog.  Oh, well.  I'm posting it anyway.)  Head over to Jen's to see

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-67165290518592976462011-07-07T21:36:00.001-05:002011-07-07T21:38:01.549-05:00

I am sorry if I offended anyone with my bitterness the other week.  The stinky thing about being bitter is that it's hard to look outside yourself.  As I reread my post, it reminded me that someone told me that I had all of the subtlety of a bulldozer.  So true.  I knew it was the kind of post that could (and did) cost me readers, but I made the decision to post it anyway.  The reason that I did

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-19130353710225145122011-07-07T05:19:00.002-05:002011-07-07T12:08:39.330-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, it was the feast of Corpus Christi.  The body of Christ. Normally this feast makes me think a lot about the Eucharist, and those thoughts were certainly there (especially since the priest at the parish I was visiting was on fire for the Eucharist!)  However, the phrase "the body of Christ" stuck with me and took my thoughts down a little different tangent at this Mass. You

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-66445649140335054252011-07-05T05:18:00.011-05:002011-07-07T12:07:32.998-05:00

Perhaps you are way cooler than I and don't need such a guide.  And by cooler, I mean "richer".  When I was growing up, we often stayed in a tent because hotels were too expensive. And if we did get lucky enough to stay in a hotel, it was a Super 8, and half of us were sleeping on the floor. In fact, a couple of years ago, my sisters and I took a trip and stayed in this: Look at that lopsided

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-59076261467039292011-07-03T17:15:00.001-05:002011-07-07T12:06:49.056-05:00

One of the things that has been happening when I try to go hiking is that I get slowed down by the flowers.  I love all the wildflowers.  They are so pretty, and I don't think of myself as a flowery person, but I can't help it with these.  Now that I have a good camera, I can actually take close ups of them, even of the little tiny ones on the alpine tundra.  Those are the ones that fascinate me

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-5284375729007282072011-07-01T06:45:00.002-05:002011-07-07T12:06:28.421-05:00

1) Thanks so much for your support on the last couple of posts. It really helps.  Y'all are awesome.  To be honest, not too much has changed, but there are glimmers here and there. 2) As a little update to this post, I should tell you that I'm still fighting the smell of stale cigarette smoke in my apartment.  Sometimes, it's even the fresh smell of cigarette smoke.  Love it.  Not! Okay, now

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-47839892660103896722011-06-20T11:20:00.002-05:002011-07-07T12:05:28.731-05:00

Having never felt so completely abandoned by God before, I didn't quite know what to do.  I don't quite know how to describe the feeling.  It wasn't so much pain, it was more confusion.  I was seeking, but I could not find Him.  I was asking, but no answer was to be had.  Have you ever read the book, "Ten Prayers God Always Answers"? I thought that I was praying those kinds of prayers, but no

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-53686235070459368972011-06-18T12:16:00.002-05:002011-07-07T14:47:20.830-05:00

I give up, trying to figure Him out.  It always was an impossible task anyway.  His ways are bigger than ours, His thoughts above ours, all of that. I'm done with all the cliches. God's timing is perfect. He has a plan for your life. Or, my personal favorite: God will never give you more than you can handle. I'm not sure that I can put much stock in those first sayings, and the last one is

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-72364767750679263752011-06-04T15:17:00.000-05:002011-06-04T15:17:45.104-05:00

...but instead I'll post some pictures from one of my favorite hikes out here.  I've dragged a number of people up that hike, and it's one of the few short hikes that I will gladly do over and over. Hanging Lake Spouting Rock  Behind the falls From the other side

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-73197426919582899922011-06-03T22:51:00.001-05:002011-06-04T01:05:58.596-05:00

Tonight my feet are propped on the wall and my back is wedged against my mattress and box springs.  The mattress is naked, stripped of bedding, and the box springs are on the floor.  There is not much else in the room besides the lonely internet modem.  And that's okay, because tonight that's about all I need. I had a melt down earlier this evening.  It's been a crazy week, and it finally all

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-78474010716686022142011-05-20T05:03:00.002-05:002011-05-20T20:59:49.829-05:00

1) The weather was being singularly uncooperative the other day, so instead of hiking in the rain and hail, I decided to see about getting some more memory for my computer.  Turns out that they don't do that for ancient computers as old as mine (just over 2 years old).  So I wandered the shopping center and browsed furniture (I might actually get furniture!), and then I found myself in some

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-44592257961163294832011-05-08T22:35:00.000-05:002011-05-08T22:35:26.637-05:00

***Just so you know, I have not really hurt myself today except a couple of scratches and bruises. Therefore, this cracks me up.   So today I managed to scrape my hands and knuckles a little bit.  That might be acceptable if I'd done it hiking or climbing or something like that (little scratches from bushwhacking are perfectly okay).  But, no.  I managed to biff it on my way out of church this

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-92205542601008339942011-05-06T06:45:00.000-05:002011-05-06T07:42:18.344-05:00

1) Today (Thursday), I went to the climbing gym.  I have a rock climbing class next week, and an acquaintance very kindly offered to teach me some things.  I took her up on it.  It's true that I'll learn it all next week, but I have a feeling that all at once will be overwhelming, and I thought it might be easier to take her up on her offer. 2)  So, this is my first time ever climbing with

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-5908850796048435582011-04-30T21:31:00.002-05:002011-04-30T21:31:45.305-05:00

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-51062418540328091172011-04-27T20:35:00.000-05:002011-04-27T20:35:20.758-05:00

I love prayer buddies, and I really needed it this Lent.  I needed the discipline of praying for someone else, and it was an honor to pray for Holly at Falling Upward.  I was not familiar with Holly's blog before Lent, but it has been a pleasure praying for her and her family, and especially today praying for a smooth delivery!  What a great Easter blessing!!  Holly, I tried to remember your

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-68519399694589092132011-04-20T19:07:00.000-05:002011-04-20T19:07:32.321-05:00

I listened to someone today who adamantly declared that "God didn't help So and So quit smoking, she did it herself!  I know the Holy Spirit didn't pull the cigarettes out of her hand."  But not an hour later, the same person vehemently declare belief in Fate.  This time telling a story about a "coincidence" that was just too much to believe. How much money do you think we've spent on birth

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-45781881284205472011-04-18T21:50:00.000-05:002011-04-18T21:50:35.134-05:00

Listening to the Gospel this weekend was interesting.  I felt that I could identify in some way with most of the people in it.  In a small way, I know a little of some of the suffering (I can't handle when He's alone in the garden); but I have also been the one that falls asleep in the garden when I have been needed.  I have been Simon offering a helping hand, and I have been the one that wants

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-33532258447900348922011-04-15T21:49:00.000-05:002011-04-15T21:49:52.663-05:00

1) It's awfully late on Friday, but it is still Friday, so I thought I'd try to pound out some Quick Takes, since that seems to be the only kind of blogging I do anymore!  Not sure what that's about, but I guess I just don't have much to say right now. 2) I got to meet my friend's little guy this week, and when I say little, I mean little, and sweet and perfect.  I think holding a bundle of

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3837903017330790917.post-27080489988947405732011-04-08T06:03:00.001-05:002011-04-08T06:03:00.641-05:00

1) I am so excited to get to meet a friend's new little guy hopefully in a few days.  I have to give big props my friend.  On pitocin, confined to lying on one side, and she did it all without an epidural!  She's amazing!! 2) I haven't known quite what to do this Lent.  I mean, I had some things picked out to do, but I have been tending to fudge on them at the slightest excuse.  I guess this

Catholic Mutthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10254315970336710941noreply@blogger.com6