Waiting for Patience

--- 1 --- The first week of work in 2015 has been long ... very long.  All of the problems we had before I left with the facilities are all still happening.  We cannot seem to solve our HVAC problems and intellectually I know that it's not my fault.  However, it feels like I just cannot get this problem solved and it's my failure.  So hopefully tomorrow when I get it it's nice and warm in our office and only one building is a problem child . --- 2 --- This Sunday (and Tuesday for that matter) we celebrated the Three Kings and the Epiphany!  It's such a fun day - usually I move my wise men closer and closer as this day comes closer, but this year I had all of my nativities around the house and since I was only home for a few days before the celebration, they all stayed put.  But having three sets of wise men is very exciting! And yes, one of my wise men is missing his head, has been for years! --- 3 --- I started my first Whole30 on M...

The 'story of my life' this past year has been pretty crazy.  Stepping foot on four continents: Rio de Janiero, Brazil, South America: World Youth Day with our Diocese and the Holy Father last July. Mukumary, DR Congo, Africa: 3 weeks in Africa with my friend, Father Emmanuel, and so many new friends that I made in the journey. Rome, Italy, Europe: On my way home from Africa I made a quick 72 hour trip to Rome to see the Eternal City. Finally - the United States, North America:  So many cities, but the notables are Denver, New York City, Atlanta, Savannah (see below), Latrobe (yeah for friends being ordained), and, of course, Charlotte (where I am most of the time). There are so many adventures I could recap from all of these trips (seriously, I cannot believe how the Lord has blessed me with these trips this year) but this post is dedicated to the NASavannah trip I went on two weekends ago. About a year ago I found Jen and Morgan and their fantastic Not Alone...

As I was listening to the first Gospel at Mass this evening (yes, this the one time during the year we hear two Gospel readings), all I could think about what my experience as I entered Mukumary on Monday, March 10th. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,  while others cut branches from the trees  and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:1-11 We had to drive there from Lodja (small city in the middle of the DRC we flew into) which is 145km south of Mukumary. Lodja is on the bottom right, Mukumary is the top of the map The car stopped in sort of the middle of nowhere (but seriously, it was the middle of nowhere)!  Father Emmanuel said, "It's time to get out, they want to welcome you." Some of the people gathered to walk me to the Church. They e...

For More Quick Takes, visit  Conversion Diary ! 1. These past few weeks, besides crafts, I've been pretty quiet on the blog.  There have been a few reasons, but most of them don't matter.  A few highlights from the past month - after getting home from World Youth Day.  One has been I am finally using my Living Social  deal I purchased for Okra Yoga Tea and Massage back in June - and it has been so relaxing.  I have enjoyed going to the class so much (well, it's only been two weeks).  I will be making it part of my weekly Monday routine! 2.  I am home at my parents for the weekend and even though they all left me this morning!  I did see that I'm taking over their refrigerator with all of my photo postcards! 3.  A few weeks ago the girls and I went to Atlanta and then came back to take Devon out for her bday!  We had tons of fun, and the mango shrimp was de-lish! 4.  The other night MG and I went to a paint and ...

...seems to take a while.  Figuring out if I'm called to marriage, who I'm called to marry, looking to find him in this crazy mixed up world.  It all seems to take awhile.  I know as you read it you're probably shaking your head saying, "It took you 28 years to figure that out, things do seem to take you a while."  Well, I'm smart, but a little slow on the uptake at times. So while I'm discerning, looking, and trying to figure it all out, I see character flaws and weaknesses that need to be worked out before I can ever think about being the other half of a couple.  One of them has always been comparing myself, life, weaknesses, strengths, and more to other people.  Not that I've really been working on it.  I think the turning point was this past lent in confession.  I had gone to my Spiritual Director during a Penance Service at my parish (he's the pastor somewhere else).  So there wasn't an hour to work on things before confession...

Some Favorites: 1. The Pope - I read this post before work today and got a chuckle, thought you'd like it too! The year was 1770, and in a small Italian church, two altar boys prepared for Benediction. Annibale Della Genga and Francesco Castiglioni entered the sacristy, put on their albs, and grabbed the heavy brass candlesticks. And then they began to bicker. Arguing over who would stand on the priest’s right for the procession, their quibble escalated into a shouting match. Alarmed parishioners turned their heads to the back of the church to see the commotion, and that’s when it happened: Castiglioni cracked Della Genga over the head with his candlestick. Blood dripped out of Della Genga’s head, and both boys began shoving each other. Shocked parishioners screamed, “Throw them out! Throw them out!” So the embarrassed priest grabbed the boys, led them to the door, and tossed them out of the church. Now fast-forward several decades to 1825. Half a mil...

For More Quick Takes, visit  Conversion Diary ! - 1 - This is a great post from Jon Acuff this week about satan's favorite word...I agree! And there’s one word I keep seeing over and over. I think it’s satan’s favorite word. What is it? “Enough.” This is such a 'hot button' for me that each morning I wake up to this song each morning to remind me that I am enough for Him - enough for the Lord and Savior of my life, the only one that matters. take a listen - know that you are enough ... whatever you don't think is 'enough' about you, it is! - 2 - I was listening to The Catholic Guy  tonight and it touched on a hot button issue with Mark Hart when he was on regarding Ordinary Time  and the lack of GREATNESS in the Church.  Now, I know what you're saying, "Katie, what authority do you have to talk about Liturgy?"  Well, none really ... just that we need to be more excited, more focused on what we're really about, who we are, and w...

Remember Pope Francis' words from last week ? The church doesn't need couch-potato Catholics, it needs believers with "apostolic zeal," willing to preach the uncomfortable words of Christ, Pope Francis said. "And if we annoy people" with this zeal for Christ, then "blessed be the Lord," he said in his daily morning Mass homily May 16. Well, I saw this post today and he tells us all about how to be annoying without actually being annoying...weird, slightly annoyed by that explanation, but anyway ... I'm just going to quote from the post - and enough to get you weirdly hooked so you'll have to click over to catholicvote.org to finish the rest of the story or you won't be able to sleep! HOW TO BECOME AN ANNOYING CATHOLIC (IN EIGHT EASY STEPS) BY  EMILY STIMPSON If you were paying attention last week, you’ll recall from  my  newsy little post  on Friday, that Pope Francis has charged Catholics with asking the Holy Spirit for “t...

Ever have one of those days when life is just a mess? My bedroom is a mess of clothes left over from an amazing weekend away at the beach... My living room is a mess with laundry that needs doing from the sheets and towels from the trip... My kitchen is a mess from the dishes I just despise doing... My sunroom is a mess from the air mattress and blankets that are still there (and even messier because the Time Warner Cable guy was here) from when my parents stayed this weekend... My car is a mess with glitter from some fairy wings that got dumped on my from the youth conference I chaperoned a few week's ago... My office is a mess from, well, just me being me and the fact that I'm moving offices later this week or early next... My eating habits are a mess because I was away all weekend and ate out at every meal and now I have no source of protein in my fridge or freezer to cook with because I just went to the Farmer's Market instead of the actual store... This...

For More Quick Takes, visit  Conversion Diary ! - 1 - My life has become full and blogging has apparently taken a back seat.  Not a bad thing, except that the things that have been filling my life up include cleaning the bathroom and assuring the kitchen is looking good!  I really dislike the big cleaning jobs, I should really be better at the regular cleaning up.  I purchased a swiffer wet for this purpose, but am terrible at following up!  So, this week cleaning the apartment had to literally be put on the calendar and one major clean down: bathroom (and subsequently the bedroom was vacuumed)! - 2 - How Cindy knows exactly what to write, I will never know.  But this week's post about Fantasy Relationships really hit home.  Last weekend I was with the teens on retreat and we were just having this conversation late Saturday night when we should have been sleeping.  They think they are in these amazing relationships with boys that have nev...

For More Quick Takes, visit  Conversion Diary ! A few of my favorite moments from the week are to follow! - 1 - Watching this video produced by Dove  brought tears to my eyes. There have been so many articles and posts bashing Dove  and this video and I'm floored by any negative response.  I realize they are doing this to sell dove  beauty products - hello!  But a company who produces something that helps how women see themselves, is doing some great work in my mind.  One comment from this blog really struck me, no bothered me: What you look like should not affect the choices that you make. It should certainly not affect the friends you make—the friends that wouldn’t want to be in relationship with you if you did not meet a certain physical standard are not the friends that you want to have. Go out for jobs that you want, that you’re passionate about. Don’t let how good looking you feel like you are affect the way way that you treat your...

An interesting project from Jon Acuff...consolation that others have similar fears. No More Voices something to pray about...

HABEMUS PAPAM! We Have A Pope! 1 - Quick Takes a little late this week!  Was away last weekend and SO busy celebrating my birthday this week things got a little delayed, but I'm back to blogging - I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seats waiting, waiting, waiting for me...well, probably not!  This week, 7 AWESOME things about our new pope! I'm sure there are better and more exciting things else where, but this is my take on my birthday present! 2 - That's right, people!  I got a POPE for my birthday!  That doesn't happen every year or to every one!  Only one other time in this century!  I join a small group of people who were born on April 19th!  It was so funny because when we had pizza and cake at work, we were singing then doing the obligatory blowing out of the candles  when I said, I wish for a Pope today!  I'd been following closely of course - listening to my celebrity crush, Lino Rulli, along with Father Dave on th...

I saw on Ironic Catholic 's page this morning that she was putting up her favorite Benedict XVI quote so I decided to follow suit. Dear young people, you are a precious gift for society. Do not yield to discouragement in the face of difficulties and do not abandon yourselves to false solutions which often seem the easiest way to overcome problems. Do not be afraid to make a commitment, to face hard work and sacrifice, to choose the paths that demand fidelity and constancy, humility and dedication. Be confident in your youth and its profound desires for happiness, truth, beauty and genuine love! Live fully this time in your life so rich and so full of enthusiasm. Realize that you yourselves are an example and an inspiration to adults, even more so to the extent that you seek to overcome injustice and corruption and strive to build a better future. Be aware of your potential; never become self- centered but work for a brighter future for all. You are never alone. The Church has co...

I think this question to myself a lot.  I've been trying to grow in this area of virtue, but it's really difficult - as you can probably guess since the name of this blog is about patience!  It doesn't take a genius to figure out that I have some trouble with this area of my Spiritual Life. Throughout my short life I've had the blessing of avoiding major tragedies, extreme suffering, and many heart aches that my peers have experienced.  I feel truly blessed that this is the case - and yet, why can't I get it through my head that being blessed is enough? So often I forget, like at lunch today with two amazing ladies.  They are wonderful women, but some of the things they struggle with are the same that I struggle with - being patient with people at work, trying to have their personal lives on track, working on their own weight issues.  I only get frustrated with patience in these areas because I see these beautiful women who, in my mind, have everything put t...

Sometimes it feels like evil is taking over the world.  Although, I know for certain that is a false statement, there are times when I can become downtrodden.  For instance two events of this weekend come to mind.   First, a young man who worked in my little brother's office committed suicide.  The specific reasons are unknown, but the family can conjecture pretty accurately as he was facing a trial in 3 months that was probably going to put him away for 35 years and fine him over $1 Million.  The charges? Downloading free articles with the intent to place them on the public domain.  Now, that is a very simplified version of Aaron Swartz' case and his life.  I know what I read off a quick  Google  search this afternoon.  This was a young man who felt a need to protect our right to privacy and many are saddened and confused by the ending of his life. Second, our Church was broken into a few nights ago.  Drunk kids either enter...

This morning I was listening to The Catholic Guy  with Lino Rulli on my way to drive Ash to school and back.  It was the episode from January 2nd, their first one back on the air in 2013 after the Christmas Holiday.  He speaks many times about people who have claimed to come back to the Catholic Church after listening to the show, but never claims all of the credit on him.  In his words, yes - takes the compliment, but really recognizes that Jesus Christ is the real reason they are coming back, not his silly antics about the Church. The reason - because we are all really just a mess.  We are trying to live the Spiritual Life, trying to be humble, meek, patient - but really, we are just fighting our own ego, selfish-desires, pride, etc...  Although it's hard to admit we are just a mess - honestly, we've got a long, long way to go! Like this kid, just trying to get back to the farm.  Yes, I can see it in the distance, but there's no way to tell if th...

Merry Christmas to All! A few memories from the beginning of the week! Midnight Mass last evening!  It was very eventful - first the book of the Gospels fell off the Altar then the Fire Alarm went off from the Incense!  A beautiful Mass!  I even got to see Deacon Bill, Fr. Eric, & Fr. Thomas More afterward - three fine men of the clergy! A beautiful visit with my Great Aunt Hy last night as well.  Nate and I went to visit her and she was so awake, willing to talk, and interested in us!  It was a beautiful Christmas gift.  I will really miss this woman when the time comes.  She once told me that she was only going to be 97 years old, and in October she turned 96. Now we're just waiting for these crazy kids so we can visit! Merry Christmas!

For More Quick Takes, visit  Conversion Diary ! - 1 -  Well, almost two full weeks in the new job.  And I've met with a new company for our HVAC unit, a cleaning company, an alarm company, decided on procedures for Purchase Orders & Vacation Slips, rigged up a way to make US measured candles stay straight in metric candle-holders, etc, etc, etc...  It's always an adventure, quite literally!  Last night it even bled into my sleeping life when the Church alarm went off at 2:23am.  If that culprit is a blog reader, take note - don't come to my Church in the middle of the night! I don't appreciate a mid-sleep phone call that leads to some panic!  Other than that, it's really been a great move for me.  MG said tonight that this is right up my alley - and I'm inclined to believe. - 2 -   Over the last 6 or 8 weeks I've been watching Bones .  I think I might be a tad bit addicted, but I really want to see what's going to happe...