Outside My Window...the world is at a state of heightened alertness. I feel both the tension of the headlines and the lack of energy from others post-holiday, post-stress, pre-sickness of overdoing and overindulging. I feel the winter doldrums and the lack of love and the time being spent by others in all the wrong places. Not me! I'm of the opinion that me and mine celebrated the Advent, Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany in just the right measure and in all the life-affirming, life-refreshing, life-enhancing ways. I hope that in the future, I look back with fondness and gratitude and when I am experiencing loss, pain, injustice or ingratitude, I will remember that even if it is 'done to me' I have the 'free will choice' to put the focus right.
I am Thinking....about the Global and World implications for the Paris Terrorist Attacks. I'm thinking about GirlPower (4-Star U.S. Naval Commander is First female, first black-female); always thinking about the next presidential election (US); what the future holds for our daughters (career-wise, heart-wise, mate-wise); the world moves so much faster than I want it to move. There is so much that I want to do and experience. I'm thinking that a human being leaves too much of a carbon footprint.
I am Thankful....Advent Season this year; Hanukkah (particularly, The Hanukkah Project, Christmas Eve (set the tone perfectly); Christmas Day; Feast of the Holy Family; Twelve Days of Christmas; Epiphany;
From the Kitchen.....enjoyed the Christmastide festivities. Learned that our youngest daughters LOVE ham for Christmas. We made homemade pizza a couple of times. Yule Log and Kings Cake to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus and the Three King! But, I need to get some great Winter Menus together. Breakfast casserole was a hit this year. I took a few years off. Still favor natural, healthy food.
Learning at Home....we are starting on another language journey...Monday with French! Musically we are learning lots of things. Owning our responsibilities.
Living the Liturgical Year At Home.....St. Andrew, I learned is the Feast Day that starts off Advent. The closest Sunday to the Feast of St. Stephen is the First Sunday in Advent. We celebrated Gaudette Sunday in a fun, learning way. I implemented the Jesse Tree and O Antiphons Tree. The Hanukkah Project and friends of ours reciprecated with The Twelve Days of Christmas Project. We celebrated taking up the Gifts for the Feast of the Holy Family (10th year for Harvey family) and I have become Vocations Cross Minister for St. Michael's the Archangel 2015. Epiphany Open House for St. Elizabeth's. We celebrated with our Catholic Home Schoolers at Cathedral Christmas and Dinner and St. Ambrose (Beeswax/Beehives/Candles) I also learned this year that the Nine Day Novena originated for one day representing one month for each of the nine months of Mary's Virgin Preganancy. Ordinary Time is well...ordinary! I'll prepare for Lent soon...
Noticing That...I'm calmer, more self-assured and refreshed. Most other people are not. They are stressed and sick from the Holidays and Ramping Up Post-Holidays.
Towards My Personal Self-Care...I've called a trusted friend, of long standing, who used to take H2O Aerobics from me and now is a personal trainer herself. We are going to map out a plan to get fit(ter) in 2015 and shed some of these unwanted pounds. Since I'm over 50 it will be tough; the tough part is that I am comfortable in my own skin now. I don't want to shed these pounds. But, I do like fashion and my old clothes still don't fit (I mentioned this before; if anything it's gotten worse....). I've also mapped out some areas where I squander time and will try to use those minutes for positive exercise. It's also too cold. (I know its an excuse). But, I still don't want to go to my gym and work out with people who overwork out; work out for the wrong reasons; use workouts as an excuse to do more or improve other areas of their lives...etc. I shouldn't let "other people drive me away" but there it 'tis. I'm on it. At least working on it and identifying it and calling it out for what it is. My mental health is great though. Particularly for a woman over -50+ who usually is in mid-life crisis. I have so many, many great, good powerful things working in my life, especially Our Lord, Blessed Mother, Jesus Christ, my husband, our three daughters and lots of really virtuous, character-driven non-strategic, superficial friends!
I am Creating.....my book and now, a screenplay. The book has been renamed, No Algorithm on the Human Heart; screenplay of the same title. And, even better this time, the screenplay at least is...wait for it...Optioned. I just need to get it, "Operational" It is a multilayered account of our modern-day culture with the global themes of a middle-aged, fifty-something (read: baby boomer born in the middle of the last century) career woman, business-woman who worked on Wall Street, Passionately Artistic (theatre, films, art, books, music, symphony) and creative; a world-traveler who has moved to Suburbia in Virginia, married a Filipino and raises up three daughters in our technology-driven, fast-paced, retail, institutionalized GLOBAL culture and what happens to the feelings experienced of herself, her daughters (each one different), her husband, their marriage, and the swirl of their society (and in many ways, the society's "Death" when she elects to simplify and home school her family and continue with the Back-to-Basics philosophy of life) when she is the last surviving female family member of breast cancer in 2009 to present day. More a reflection of our modern times and not just the woman or the family itself.
I am Watching.....Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom; Into The Woods: Downtown Abbey: Season Five;
I am Praying.....for our world, in light of the Paris Terrorist attacks that could have been avoided (see previous post on Jews in Paris, July, 2013); the tenth anniversary of the Bryan, Kathryn, Stella and Ruby Harvey Family (RVA's first well-known home invasion that ended in the death of an average family); Governor & Maureen McDonnell and family; my 'church' friend, Kathleen, who was a juror. Special Prayers for the health, prosperity and safety of our family and that of my in-laws, my husband's parents, Leonardo San Miguel & Marietta Quesea Dulog who will celebrate 50 years of marriage on June 26, 2015 and 80 years of birthdays on July 3 (Leo), 2015. We pray we are delightfully together to celebrate and beyond.
I am Wearing.....my new black boots that my husband bought me for Christmas! They go with everything I wear (right now...) and they are warm and comfortable this winter. What more could a girl want in a wardrobe.
I am Reading....The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullogh (reread) and Falling Up by Richard Rohr. Hope to reread, A Woman Of Substance by Barbara a true favorite.
I am Listening....to The Thirsty Catholic. A new-to-me rock group from the Pacific Northwest. The Lead Singer and Guitarist, Dave Ortleander, stopped by our Parish to have a concert on his way home. Our girls love to hum one of his Title Tracks: "Come Hold My Son!". Not Your Typical Catholic Music or Rock Group, for that matter. I love The Thirsty Catholic's take on "Hail Holy Queen" (Salve Regina!). It makes my parochial Catholic School Girl Days very, very tame, even for Billy Joel, I imagine!
Around the House....is a mess and I'm grateful to Father Dan for both saying and printing in our bulletin, The Defender, that a happy family is a holy mess after Christmas Season. Find Joy in that!
My Plans for 2015 January
My Plans for the Rest of the Week.....enjoy my children and spouse. Enjoy Forbidden: The Emperor & Empress of China. Enjoy Legend of the Poinsettia. Love the Message and the Eucharist from our Catholic church. Enjoy Luci's Violin Recital. Enjoy The Golden Globes with popcorn, Sangria and my family.
My Plans for Next Week....my sister turns fifty on Sunday, 11 January 2015. It's also my granmother's celebration of life birthday. Work on my house. Work on my workout. Workout on my menus. Teach French. Teach well. Find Joy. Have my students (3 daughters) love French and love me teaching them. Work on Share-the-Fun and my Celtic Project for 4-H in March. Sing.
Headlines this Week...Governor McDonnell is sentenced by Judge Spencer for two years of jail; two years of Probation and is required to start to serve his sentence on February 9, 2015 at a Petersburg prison (Haiti Mission was denied). His legal team will appeal. Paris, France in lockdown after an 8 am shooting at Charlie Hebdo Headquarters (satirical magazine that abuses everyone business) kills 12 people by Muslim extremists. Michael & Shannon Pirron and I have been discussing the anti-Semitic behaviors all summer. This is no surprise to us. The surprise is that others are shocked (and numbed) and that they had no idea this all could have been, should have been avoided. Golden Globes come up this Sunday, 11 January 2015 and I expect Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to 'bring it' in a fair, just way on the Freedom of Speech (because of Paris). Mitt Romney may run for President; Boston, MA is in the running for the 2024 Summer Olympics. North Korea still on the 'list' for The Interview.
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