Mood:  a-ok

Wow...  It's been awhile since I posted here.  Currently working a job in retail and just living a day at a time.  In the process of switching medications, so I'm med free for now.  Hope it doesn't cause any major problems for me.  Will be using my crock pot to cook better.  Have given up cow's milk for my morning cereal/oatmeal.  I am trying out coconut milk at the moment.  I also have some almond milk to try as well.  We'll see how that goes.

 I am now an associate of Notre Dame de Namur.  I really enjoy the time I get to spend with the other associates that I see each month.  Last few meetings we finished up a book on Saint Julie Billiart, and now we're doing some other things.

Well, it's getting late, so I'm going to close and bid you farewell.  Hopefully I won't wait another lifetime to get back to this blog. 

Mood:  chillin'

I am now living on my own again and getting used to that.  I'm in a really neat place.  I'm trying to get all my pictures up on the wall.  Word of advice, if you really want to be cheap and reuse old Command adhesive tabs, be sure they're stuck to the wall REALLY WELL before hanging anything on them.  LOL, too many crashes of things falling off the walls at night got me a little paranoid.

Ita, my cat, is getting use to this new place.  She likes being able to roam into any room that she wants when she wants to.  I'm glad for her.  She runs around all crazy at night and I wonder if some of the crashes in the night are caused by her or not.  Can't seem to be able to keep her off the counters and the kitchen table yet.  LOL, beem splashed a couple of times by a wagging tail in my cereal bowl.  Yikes.

 I'm currently looking into the associate program with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.  I've attended a few meetings of a few of their groups.  It's interesting.  Right now one of them is reading the Story of Ruth by Joan Chittister.  It's a really cool book and I can really relate to it thus far.  Check it out if you've not read it.  If you have, I'd love your opinion.  The other group is reading something that talks about some of the writings of Thomas Merton.  It's ok.  Not finding myself connecting with it as much as I am with the other book.

Mood:  d'oh

The economy sucks...

Finally get myself settled into a job that I really enjoy and start thinking about getting my own place again when I am informed at my workplace that I am being cut down to 4 hours a day.  4 Hours?  That's not enough to pay my bills.  Argh!

 I got a cat as an early birthday present.  She's a one year old calico named Ita.  She's pretty and playful.  She loves to wake me up at 3 or 6 am.  She's my new alarm clock.  I certainally need to get used to her claws and teeth.  She's already clawed me a few times and destroyed a few things.  But she is the cutest little kitty EVER.  I really love her.  She likes to jump on me when I'm sleeping and play in my hair...which I am trying to get used to.

 I named her after Sister Ita Ford, one of the 4 martyred churchwomen in El Salvador.  I remember learning about those women when I was in school and the memory stuck with me somehow.  I came across a prayer card that had these 4 women on it as well.  I now own two DVD movies that follow these women, one being a documentary and the other being a made for TV movie that I'd been hunting for, for awhile.

I guess I'll be staying with my parents a little longer.  I have to get this job thing ironed out.  Seems like childcare is not a stable job.  I've been working in childcare for as long as I can remember though.   

Mood:  a-ok

Hello everyone.  I know it's been awhile since I've updated my blog.  There's been a lot that has happened since I last posted.  I am currently living back up in Ohio with my parents.  My brother has also moved back in too.

I am hoping to get back on my feet, and I am currently working at a place that is pretty nice.  It's just up and around the corner from my parents' house.  I am hoping to get my own place up here somewhere close, but it's really super expensive.  I think I'd do better with moving a little further south or north of where I am currently.

I can't believe that in May, it will be 2 years since I left the convent.  I still think about the sisters constantly and am also still thinking about religious life.  It's something that I'm trying to let go of, but it just keeps haunting me.  Perhaps I'm meant to found my own order.  I find it interesting that many of the women who started their own religious communities were either married, had kids, where older, had a disability, or a combination of all of those.   My favorite saint was paralysed and had sight and speach problems and she still started a religious community.  If she can do it, then maybe I can...  Just a thought.  So far down the line...

I've still been working on my artwork.  Perhaps one day, I'll find a way to post some of it here for you all to see.  I'm currently working on a picture of Saint Julie Billiart with some sunflowers.  I think I'll also add one of her quotes to the top of the page.  I've noticed that I paint the same things over and over, so I need to vary my work.  I just don't know what to draw/paint that would be interesting to do.  I do lots of sunflowers.  But I've also done people (I like drawing the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus), a birdhouse, and some trees.  Anyone have any suggestions they'd like to see?

I have a couple of friends who are Sisters of Precious Blood.  I'd LOVE to make them a piece of art, but I'm not sure what I'd draw/paint for them. I want to make it something that would be significant to them.  Would love ideas on this too.

I am really thinking about joining the Associate program with the Sisters of Notre Dame.

PEACE OUT! 

Mood:  a-ok

Wow, these past few months have been a whirlwind.  I moved back to Ohio from Kentucky where I had been living and found a new job.  It's a minimum wage job and has no benefits at all so I'm going to keep looking for something better.  Please pray for me with this.  I REALLY need to find a job that has health insurance because I need to get out of paying more than half a month's pay just for COBRA insurance. The economy really sucks, pardon my language.  I really hope I can find something before my insurance expires. 

Yesterday I went to Macy's to use up my exchange card and got a really nice tank top.  When I got home, I realized that there was a hole in it that I hadn't seen when I had tried it on in the store.  ARGH!  So I took it back today and got the next size up as they didn't have but only that one in that size.  I looked this one over with an eagle eye.  Hopefully I didn't miss any holes.  I REALLY don't feel like going back to that place again.  I see most department stores as been ridiculously over priced.  I saw a simple shirt that looked nice but it was like almost 40 bucks.  You've got to be kidding me?!?!?!  I'm sorry, but I can dress nicely on a budget and will not be at Macy's...  I have 5 more bucks on that card.  Not sure there is anything in that shop for 5 bucks.  Maybe a single sock?  I don't know.

This new job that I have is interesting.  I have a room full of 2 year olds.  Not my favorite age group, but I've got to earn a wage.  I prefer to work with the younger ones.  They aren't so verbal.  A two year old's favorite word is "NO" and their favorite exercise is hitting...  LOL, oh well.  As long as they're not killing each other, all is well.

Mood:  cool

Today started as any normal day (except that I'm off work for Christmas break).  I had a doctor's appointment later in the day, so I decided I was going to take my Christmas presents back down to the apartment.  I received a sunflower dish set from my sister and brother-in-law, so I took them all out of the boxes and ran them through the dishwasher.

I went to the doctor's appointment and had to get a flu shot and a TB test. When I get home, I get a phone call that says I left my purse (well, it's really a fanny pack) at the doctor's office....  Aye de mi!  I can't believe my bad luck...  I'll have to wait until I go back on Friday to get it because I have to get the TB test read then.    UGH!!!

I'm currently sitting in the snuggie that I got for Christmas.  

Mood:  a-ok

It snowed alot today and work was cancelled, so far I've gotten alot accomplished.  This morning, I got up at my usual time and shoveled the driveway until my toes got cold.  Then I came back inside and fixed myself some pancakes and eggs for breakfast.

Then I went outside to shovel snow again and was met by my upstairs neighbor.  We shoveled for a couple of hours and I came back inside and cleaned the bathtub and sink in my bathroom (with Comet--gotta love that stuff--though I now have it all over my shirt).

I have been thinking about drawing a picture of Our Lady with many children under her mantle.  I know I've seen a picture like this before, but I'm not sure what this image of Mary is called.  Anyone out there know?  Will you enlighten me?  Thanks!

I only have two more days of work until my two week vacation.  I'm sooo excited, but I really need the time off.

I've gotten back into an old hobby that I used to do...mainly purchase old Cabbage Patch dolls and fix them up to give them away.  I picked up a red-haired cutie a week ago, who I've christened "Evelyn Renee".  Evelyn after the lady who was my landlord before I moved into a convent, and Renee after a friend of mine.  I bought a cute sunflower dress for her, and painted a sunflower over a paint rub that she had on her face.  I know that the sunflower on her face might rub off eventually, but I wonder if there is something I could spray on it to make it stay longer...  I even bought my first pack of diapers to put on the doll...  I used to buy those baby doll diapers, that they sold at the toy store, but a coworker told me that it would be cheaper to just buy a pack of real baby diapers, I checked at the store and she was correct!  Anyways, a diaper on the doll makes it even more special to the person who will receive the doll (I'm also a collector-so, I know).

There is still not a day that goes by that I don't think of the Sisters.  I am sure that I want to join their associate program.  I know that I belong with them somehow.  I took the step to contact one of their associate directors and she said that she'll contact me in May when their program starts up.  I know that's still months away, but I'm really looking forward to it! 

Mood:  quizzical

I'm humming the theme for the Twilight Zone...

Ok, I was in the bathroom EARLY this morning (before dawn) at my mom and dad's house.  I switched the toilet paper from underwrapping to overwrapping.  I don't know about you all, but it really annoys me to have to reach that extra bit just to get the toilet paper.  So anyways, I switched it and the spring for the pole went one direction and the toilet paper roll went the other direction and unrolled a fair amount...  E gad!

So I picked it back up, rolled the toilet paper back up and re-installed it the way I wanted it.

Woke up again after dawn went into the bathroom and there the toilet paper was again UNDERWRAPPED...

Asked my mom if she had touched it and she denies it.  My dad cannot get upstairs, so I know he didn't touch it.

Do we have a ghost or was I dreaming???  That would be a strange dream... 

Mood:  a-ok

I just drove by my favorite Catholic bookstore only to see that it has closed forever...wahhh!!!  When did this happen?  So many things have been changing lately.

 I went out to shop at the new Target store close to me only to find that they advertise it with a sign, but it has not been completed yet.  It's still under construction.  Gee whiz, why do they advertise it if it's not there yet???  To trick unsuspecting potential customers like me.  Ugh.

I am awaiting the completion of the Kroger store that I like to buy my groceries at.  They started remodeling it when I was still living with the Sisters...  It's been almost a half a year now.  Saw signs that they're hiring people, so it must be close to being finished.

I still can't believe that it's been almost a half a year since I lived with the nuns.  Time's flying by so quickly.  It'll officially be half a year at the end of next month.

I miss the Sisters a lot.  I have a feeling of being far from home right now.  I don't know why this feeling won't pass.

I got my oil changed in my car today.  Went straight from work, thought I wouldn't make it.  It took less time than I thought.  I walked across the street to the local dollar store and bought some glow-in-the-dark stars.  I've been using them to decorate my bedroom.  Ok, perhaps you think this might be childish, but I don't really think so.  I wake up often in the middle of the night and this gives me something to focus my attention on until I fall back asleep.  It's like sleeping under a night sky.  I even put some around my crucifix so that I can see where it is when I wake up at night.  That way I can also keep my eyes on my beloved even when it's dark. :-)  

Mood:  don't ask

Community prayer is hard without a community.  I am currently trying to have friends join me in evening prayer.  Ever try saying evening prayer out of the office book alone?  Yeah... it's better said in sides, but that could be hard to do when you're living alone.

If any of you would ever be interested in praying evening prayer out of the Office book, let me know!  I'd love to have prayer partners!

I am currently saying prayer with my friend Kelly on Skype!  It's an awesome experience.  You're welcome to join us, the more the merrier!