Your Wheel

Well, after listening to Fr. Flynn talk about the vacation we all need (and I just returned from one) I loved the homily this weekend. I am a big believer in vacation and taking time to rejuvenate.
OK, done...now on to the discipline of getting better...
The wheel---
Career, always thinking about how to make things better, how do they do it, how can we get better, etc.
Financial, see above (not that they are always the same, but many times they are)
Spiritual, well Mass this weekend and the time spent thinking about what impact I have and can have--this needs the most growth, but I think this takes the most time as well.
Physical, I rode my bike for 30 minutes last night and plan for that again tonight...
Social, this is a tough one...
Intellectual, I need a new book, or a class or something to help here...
Family, well after a day at the hospital for tonsils and adenoids removed from BOTH girls...we are all having a fun week with the family.

By the way---BIG thanks to Steff and the rest of the Ps for taking care of the girls while Becky and I were on that vacation---we really appreciate the time and effort you put in!!! I know it was not easy!!

I guess it is our turn to take yours for a while...let's see you took 2 girls for 4 days that is 8 total...I guess we can take your 4 for 2 days...that is even right? Anyway, we are up for it, but you will have to thrown in some gas money if we are expected to go to all those athletic events...holy cow.

Good luck to Erik and KK this weekend. WIN STATE!!!

Defining Moments

So-thanks Earl for loaning me the book-Defining Moments. It is a great read and is very good for ANYONE that makes decisions. Yep-I thought that might get your attention. I loved some of the parallels between biblical stories and my life. Not to mention the down to earth advice on chararcter and defining moment--no it's not just a clever name.
I probably need to re-read it as you can see from the break in blogs-it has taken me a while. I just finished it on the way home from Denver last week.
I now start Luke, and am looking forward to the next gospel. I don't know about you, but when I go to church and here the Gospel according to Mark-I know I just read it, so it seems to be a little more real. I recognize the gospels all the time now. Still helps to have a priest give a good homily in a voice that does not put you to sleep.
Wheel update---after listening to Wayne and Stephanie brag about their physical workouts-I decided it was time to actually be disciplined and get to work on my entire wheel. So, this morning I jogged and walked for about 30 minutes...I felt good and will workout some this evening as well. Nothing to intense, but something is really better than nothing.
Looking forward to my trip with Becky next week--thanks to Steph and Dad for taking care of the girls...thanks also to Wayne and Dana for coming up for the 4th we had a great time hanging with good peeps! Hudson is adorable!

Attitude

No, this is not some leadership driven-wonderful cliche about how your attitude helps in all situations.
This is about the attitude that my oldest seems to think is OK to give her mama...yep. Attitude. So, McNugget and I had to have a talk about rudeness and nice, and how she was rude to give mama attitude. (She reported to me that mama was mean to her--little did she know that she was the mean one.)
So I had to be the calm one and not spank her- and explain that she is the one that was mean and that she is the one that will get in trouble for attitude and lying.
Good thing there is not a DVR of my life to play for McNugget to show her examples of attitude...just a thought.
So-to change gears a little bit-the homily last night was about the Holy Spirit-or the trinity and how we seem to ignore the Holy Spirit. How often do we pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit? I know I don't. McNugget needs some grace from the Holy Spirit--she went to Mass yesterday and was pretty good. Needless to say-a big work in progress there.

So I have finished the first 2 gospels. I think my favorite quote is "Amen I say to you"...translated to this century--"listen this is important." Or- "I am only going to say this one more time-and this time NO parable."
I have enjoyed the Matthew and Mark, and begin Luke next. If anyone has anything I should ponder or any verses they would like to discuss-let me know.

How is your wheel? Flat anywhere?
I am physically flat(metaphorically). Need lots of work there. Anyone else?

Branching Out

So, Did you go to Mass? might be a little limiting for this post...
I want to apologize for those of you that felt the earth changing directions this morning while I wogged...yep jog for a while walk for a while. I am such a strong runner-I am afraid I might have changed the earth's rotations there for a little while. Sorry.
This is my attempt at working on my "wheel" all the parts of your life that when put together form a wheel. Career, Financial, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Family, and Social (in no particular order).
Physical --So I actually broke a sweat this morning jogging.
Social -- Party tonight
Spiritual--Mass tomorrow and the blog
Career--all week
Financial--all week
Intellectual--just finished Good to Great
Family--fun stuff today (gymboree, and we are all going to the party).

Is your wheel flat somewhere?

Keep Going

So, here we are after the KK first communion Mass yesterday and boy was I interested in the homily. Food and parties-what every good catholic needs to hear. Jesus was all about food and parties. Of course, I think the part we were supposed to get from that was not the blessing of our habits to celebrate (although teens everywhere will) but the sharing of your souls during the meals and parties. I really enjoyed getting to see my family and, as always, we have a good time sharing laughter, food, and drinks ( in no particular order).
As we look forward to the next party (this weekend in Corpus for Beach to Bay---oh yeah, and Mackey turning 400) sorry typo, I am excited that we will all be together again. This time hopefully Macmac and Pounder will both be healthy (not in the Stephanie form of the word) but without fever-etc- so we can all participate fully.
I am still on a quest to get some advice on how to read the bible and where to start, etc, but have been unable to find any good resources on line. The Christian bookstores seem to have the King James version and how to read it-but I was looking for a more Catholic version.

Steph, you responded about reading the bible last week and I think you are right about finding time and all the stuff you (and your family are into). So how about the adoration that Peggy suggested (she was the stealthy anonymous last post {which makes sense after all 635 pictures from her camera are now on Steff's computer} ). An hour of adoration-used either reading the bible or at the church-or both...sounds like a good idea to me.

So I am going to find/make that hour as well as the 30 minutes a day I need to get dad off my back, or should I say off my belly accusing me of getting close to "Husky boy" status. Sha as if...

With the lack of any real direction on how to read the bible---I started with Matthew...I think the gospels make the most sense or are at least a good starting point. Who else?

LATER!

Bible Study

Ok...who's in?
I am going to read the ENTIRE bible...not sure how long it is going to take-but I am going to do it.
Anyone want to read it with me and discuss as we go...(we could use the blog).
I am also looking for pointers as it seems a little bit daunting to turn to page 1 and just start.
I have heard there are other orders recommended to read the bible-so if you have a suggestion-I am listening.
Any takers?
I will be reading the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible from my Kindle ($5 for the bible)...

Shepherds

This picture is of AD-in her now typical motion when she remembers that we are supposed to pray when we are eating...she stops-puts both hands out and says "AMEN"...nice to have a living reminder-not that we should need to be reminded...but she does it at restaurants-anywhere-It is great!

Sunday AM...Fr. Flynn at SJTA interestingly spoke about the shepherds and sheep and how they KNOW the voice of their shepherd. Anyone can call the sheep, but the sheep only respond to their shepherd. I find that interesting. VERY interesting. With all the distractions and with all the voices in the world, how do we know which voice is God's? How do we know what our calling is? Of course, Fr. Flynn-wisely said in order for us to know God's voice we have to try to become familiar with it. We have to pray, read scriptures, go to Mass, etc in order to recognize the true voice we should respond to.
I agree and want to get some practical advice on that...
Any ideas?
What do you do?
How do you do it?