Coffee Shop, Dinner Thoughts

 The hum of the espresso machine strummed out its sharp soothing lullaby. People gathered in front of this machine daily almost like a golden cow, a different concept I guess, but still. The soft drone of quiet voices echo their replies as the soft drone of background music fills the empty cracks of the shop. My favorites at coffee shops are Cortados but in a pinch, an Au Lait will suit. It's a nice refresher after teaching at the preschool.

Teaching is certainly not for the faint of heart! I love the little ones though, they're so sweet. Today's play agenda at recess largely consisted of making me very very tired. 

I was scrambling from swing to swing. My arms are so worn out! 

Hee hee, they also love climbing to the top of the jungle gym then crying for help because like a cat in a tree they've gotten stuck! 

Oh, Lawd let me tell you, I have figured out the heavier ones ;). But they all certainly fly high!... And I got in an extra arm workout :)

Center time today consisted of playdough and little rubber slippery gravel rocks. Quite a mess! They both wanted to be construction workers. Great boys!

When I got home I arrived at the dank smell of the canned salmon I thought I could remedy something eatable. OMG never again!! I did not buy the salmon, but improviser that I am, decided to take a crack at the canned salmon. TERRIBLE IDEA!!!!!

To make things worse, as I tried to throw it in my trash can, the mass dropped on my floor! Splashing salmon grease over my rug! Uggh Uggh. To make things worse the smell is haunting my house. 

On the bright side, I have kale! I know random, but quite delicious. I think it will go into a salad tonight for dinner. The day is rather grey though, so perhaps a kale soup might be more appropriate. 

Overheated Coffee and Books

This morning began with the urgent moans of the alarm clock at 5:00, which I was not very happy to hear. Last night I was a night nurse so I had a very late night! I did a brisk walk after silencing the alarm, I may or may not have thrown it at the wall...


Pour-over coffee is a hot thing in my house nowadays, which my family turns their nose up at which is fine by me, as I guzzle the pot dry :). Realistically speaking I only fill it half full, three or four cups is enough to make a girl sick!


Putting spices in your coffee is the best for pour over I think. Cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg are favorites of mine.
Note to reader: all spices should be very gingerly added (pun intended).



The pot that I use is a BODUM 4 cup pour over coffee maker. Which is fabulous!



Anyway, it is definitely flannel weather here on the farm. December in November. Cold weather is such a nice thing to have after the blazing hot Kansas summers. Winter on the farm is a wonderful time to read. Reading is such a wonderful way to expand your mind and experience vicariously what others write about. To write a book is a painting of the soul, that I endeavor to accomplish someday. Some books that are on my shelf this winter are "Two Years Before the Mast" by R. H. Dana JR., "Summa Theologica", Thomas Aquinas, "Three Methods of Prayer That Will Change Your Life", by Philip Kosloski- this is really good this is my second time reading.



I think I've got my work cut out for me!

To Love and Be Loved

"Just to Love and Be Loved", which is quoted in the popular movie Moulin Rouge, was first written by St. Augustine in Book 3 of his Confessions. During this time his studies led him to Carthage. In his youth he regrets his lustful thoughts and preoccupations. He wrote The Confessions when meditating on God and how he could be if he could not see or touch God.
He was looking for a woman to provide some distraction for his true need for God. Lacking God to love, he tried filling the void with other things: women, food, wealth etc. Augustine felt as if he needed someone to love so deeply to escape the surface of his lonely life. He felt "left out" from the society of love that seemed so normal and ritual in his town. Subsequently he was not in love but in love with the thought of being in love.

My Two-Week Prayer Journey

Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? A pilgrimage is a journey that impacts your life. I am going on a journey of 14 days of intensive prayer. These prayer journeys are also called novenas which are nine days. My intention is to build my life vocation and strengthen my journey and direction that God has instilled in my heart. This journey is to build confidence and assurance that God is leading me in the direction that he feels best.
Often times it is easy to lose hope in Gods' plan and feel that we are lost or we've been forgotten.  But God is always listening and always watching over us. It is important for us not to lose hope when we feel forgotten but to strive for a closer relationship through prayer. That is why I would strongly recommend a prayer journey. This journey's intention can be anything: marriage, good grades, moving success, a successful exam or first day back at work. Whatever your intention this journey can be a life-changing experience.

I Write to Discover What I Know

This quote, came from one the better known female Catholic writers of the 20th century, Flannery O'Connor. Some of her more prominent works are, A Good Man is Hard to Find, Revelation and Good Country People. These books reflect the fallen goodness of human nature and reflect on the choices we're given in this life. How Flannery shows the good through an overwhelming amount of bad is amazing. Her work is chalk full of satire and underlying meanings that are both witty and all-knowing. She has been compared to William Blake in her prestige and delivery.

A woman who taught a chicken to walk backwards and later developed her mascot as a peacock. Mary Flannery O'Connor was born in 1925 in Savannah, Georgia. Growing up as an only child she quickly developed a creative mind. When she was six, living at home she experienced her first brush with celebrity status. Her trained chicken broke headlines and she was featured on Pathetic News as "Little Mary O'Connor" with her trained chicken. She later claimed that that was the climax of her life and everything thereafter was anti-climatic. She attended the Women's College of Georgia before going on to receive her master's in fine arts from the Georgia State University. In 1946, after her graduation she was accepted into the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. Their she developed several of her short stories including Wise Blood. This workshop also helped her develop a Southern Gothic style for her writing. As later mentioned her work has a somewhat brutal unrefined finish that relates to Christian realism. She felt moved by the Thomist notion that the world is created by God and her sacramental upbringings. With her morally flawed characters in a Southern grotesque setting she portrayed them as touched by divine grace. She later wrote, "Grace changes us and the change is painful." 
Flannery has been an inspiration to many of my fictional works and the simplicity of her life has contributed to my writing schema. I hope this has been an informative little ditty for you to learn a little about the fantastic Southern author, Flannery O'Connor.

There's a Bat in my House- Carrying the Cross Through Darkness

There's a bat in my house
I'm in the pitch dark.
I can't see
I'm blinded by the sound.
Of to much noise.
Where's my resound?

Baptized in the faith
But found in the dark.
the cross is heavy
Heal me through the mark.
You placed on me
When I was fresh from the womb.
The mark
You rose from the dead
No longer in the tomb.

There's a bat in my house
I'm in the pitch dark.
I can't see
I'm blinded by the sound.
Of to much noise.
Where's my resound?

I'm in the pitch black
lost from you Lord.
Show me your light.
Open the shudders over my eyes.
Remove those bats,
sin I hold.
Curse those demons
I'm already sold.

There's a bat in my house
I'm in the pitch dark.
I can't see
I'm blinded by the sound.
Of to much noise.
Where's my resound?

Sold out to you my virgin
My mother
My queen.
Throne in glory
Beside my Christ the King.

Tempus Fugit

Whether you've read this term as a brand on one of your purses or you've been talking to someone who's versed in Latin or speak it yourself. Today, I will giving a overview of the Latin term "Tempus Fugit."

"Tempus Fugit" is a Latin term meaning time flies. In this world of hustle and bustle it is so important for us to remember, we are only here for so long.

Matthew 6:19
"Do not store up treasures for yourself on earth, where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal."

In this passage of Matthew, we are told to leave the comfortableness of this world and point ourselves towards heaven. It takes courage and responsibility to live for something greater and not be so caught up in today's pop culture. That something greater translates into simplicity and love for our families and others.

Spread your Faith

Catholic Tradition & the Sign of the Cross - Crossroads Initiative

Catholic Tradition & the Sign of the Cross - Crossroads Initiative: The profound meaning of the sign of the cross is an example of the depth & richness of the Catholic Tradition. Let's rediscover our heritage.

You Are Special - Max Lucado

March For Life 2016

Battle for life #Prolifemovement

Who wins?.. Love obviously.

A game always has a winner. The pride of the game, the one who scores the greatest amount of points. I have heard many people say that life is like a game. And in some respect they're right, however, I somewhat beg to differ.
Mother Teresa says, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." 
This has been such a revelation in my life. Life is what you make it. Everything has a reaction. If you feed yourself junk food you're going to get fat, likewise, if you don't attend church your faith life will be lacking. If you persist day in and day out in love then you will find happiness. Not greatness but happiness. Love conquers all.

You Don't Have to be Ordinary

                   You don't have to be ordinary but you have to be something. Everyone has their own calling card or something that differentiates them from the crowd. Growing up each one of us should strive to become a better person through our vocation, faith, and relationships. Religion is itself an intelligible and rational thing and is a key prospect in your identity. If you are diligent in your religion then you are capable of being. Have faith be strong and perservere!

Isaiah Saying Mass - 3 Years Old- Truly amazing!

Do Small Things With Great Love

 This word art quote speaks for itself and is a great quote to live by.  Thanks Rebecca for another beautiful and inspirational word art! Related posts:Letting Go!She Adjusted Her SailsWords To Live By: Go Your Own Way and Explore Dream Discover

Have Hope Through Deep Waters