Raise your hand if you’ve had a harrowing week so far. Yeah? In the words of Steely Dan,
“Everywhere around me, / I see jealousy and mayhem, / Because no man have their peace of mind / To carry them.” And then further on: “When the dawn patrol got to tell you twice, / They gonna do it with a shotgun.” I know! It’s like they’re inside my head, all. The. Time. So how about some just plain good news, some things we can all be happy about? I’ll start:
1. Jen Fulwiler’s having a baby tomorrow! If babies are God’s way of saying that the world should go on, then a Fulwiler baby is God’s way of saying, “See? I told you the world should go on!”
2. More young priests. “The average age of men ordained to the priesthood in 2011 is trending younger with the average age for the 2011 class at 34, with more than half between the ages of 25 and 34. This is slightly younger than in 2010, and follows the trend over the past five years of ordinands becoming younger.”
3. I haven’t heard a single thing about Donald Trump for almost a week. Nice.
4. Hallie Lord has a book contract! Why? Because she had some time and energy left over from blogging about “Marriage, Moxie, and Modesty with a Vintage Twist,” running a personal shopping service, writing for various publications, raising five young children, and leaping tall buildings without mussing her long, glossy, superhero hair or showing an unseemly amount of leg. She is collaborating with a superb group of Catholic women writers for this book. It’s all very hush-hush at the moment, but stay tuned to Betty Beguiles for more details.
5. When I asked my five-year-old daughter what people could be happy about, she said, “Did ya write down EASTER???” Good one, kiddo (Hopkins agrees.)
Last Sunday we did a practice run of the more accurate translation of the Nicene Creed, and I really enjoyed saying, “and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” Less standing around calmly surveying our faith, and more looking forward with joy!
Also, as someone who knows just the bitsiest little bit of Latin, it always drove me crazy to say “We believe” when any third grader can see that “credo” is in the first person singular. Whew! Finally saying, “I believe” is like taking a pebble out of my shoe.
6. My left and right hands: Magic Eraser and Febreze. Call me shallow, but they make me happy.
7. A little perspective:
Which makes me think of this:
Youth must with time decay
Eileen aroon!
Beauty must fade away,
Eileen aroon!
Castles are sacked in war,
Chieftains are scattered far,
Truth is a fixèd star,
Eileen aroon!
8. And back to earth: I’m happy about wildflowers. Since regular mowing is a low priority this year, we have approximately a quarter of an acre of at least a dozen varieties of wildflowers clamoring for the sun right outside the kitchen window. Now, I know that the bright colors, the open, inviting design, the ravishing fragrance, and the graceful waving dance of a field of wildflowers in the breeze are all designed to encourage pollination for the continued healthy propagation of various species of insects, birds, and so on. But God didn’t have to make them so pretty. He didn’t have to give us eyes to see, or noses to smell, or tender hearts to swoon over the glossy petals of a buttercup. And yet, for no particular evolutionary practical reason ... here we are.
9. It will be another couple of years before the new live action Star Wars TV series will be coming out. It’s kind of like when your doctor says, “Yes, you do have a tumor. But it’s growing really, really slowly.”
10. Okay, that’s nine from me. What’s your good news? What makes you happy today?
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Visiting a friend’s new baby, bringing freshly baked banana bread, and the happy feeling that my daily workout is already checked off the list!
A swimming pool in my backyard full of my kids during the day getting just brown enough (thanks to sunscreen) and available for my dh and I in the in evenings for an adult swim - add the beverage of your choice and it is almost heaven…..
That Jesus loves me despite how wretched I am. I was making Jesus into an abstraction or idea, but today I had an epiphany that He is a person and He loves me.
That’s all I need to make me smile. I get tears of gratitude now that I know that Your there. Makes my world brighter now.
I’m getting MARRIED this weekend!
Your blog.
10. The link you provided to the article that describes the future Star Wars TV series. I’m a big Star Wars fan, and I even enjoyed the prequels, and this show looks like it will be “so bad it’s good”. The Godfather meets Star Wars ?!? Come on, this is going to be hilarious.
Your South Texas correspondent says: air conditioning.
Iced coffee. Hello, summertime.
-The sound of the kids laughing in the backyard even though it’s because they just made a mud puddle and are covering themselves, clothes and all, with the -mud.
-A washing machine, to make above mud not a big deal.
-The thought of our 1st alone weekend for my husband and me since our 1st child arrived almost 5 years ago.
Your column (ditto on the “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come”), kiddie pools on the first day of summer, and most especially, carrying a new life within me, even though just the size of a sesame seed—-precious.
Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/ten-things-we-can-all-be-happy-about/#ixzz1PuveyPWe
Re: #4: I can’t imagine how anyone can squeeze time in for writing or their own business when they are a mom of a big family! I’m guessing super moms either have lots of babysitters, a husband who is home a lot, older children who help out or they wait til the wee hours of morning (or night) when all the kids are sleeping to get their work done. Please tell me.. how do they find the time?
Hi Kaylan!
I don’t have a babysitter and all my kids are young but I am a night-owl and my husband works from home. I couldn’t do any of this if he didn’t. :)
Take care,
Hallie
1. the peas are finally ready for harvesting
2. there was enough dinner left over from last night to serve as my husband’s lunch today
3. two eggs from the chickens already this morning
4. four mile run before it got too hot
5. no children slept in our room last night, so I had time for Bible study and prayer
6. I think we’ve tracked down all the wayward library books
7. knowing that the beach is within the reasonable bounds of a day trip
8. having an amazing, humble spiritual adviser
9. spell check
10. intercession of the angels
I like #5- Easter and the more accurate translation of the Creed.
I’m also happy that it is really summer now.
@Kaylan: I don’t know how the others do it, but I do most of my writing in the morning between breakfast and lunch while the little ones amuse each other, and then the afternoon is a mad rush of activity until bedtime—but it changes year to year, depending on who’s home, who needs what, etc.
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We do have older kids who help out a lot when they are home, and when a family gets big enough, a lot of the daily work is just kind of on autopilot. My husband gets home late (anywhere from 7 to 11), but likes the fact that I write, and is always willing to pitch in with whatever didn’t get done during the day (and is remarkably understanding about messes and haphazard meals). Also, I have a high tolerance for chaos, and expect to get interrupted ten thousand times while writing.
Now, I love Star Wars but when I read the theme for the new tv series I was really disappointed. Drugs and prostitution? The original Star Wars was NOT about that. Granted, they had the dancing, half-naked, alien ladies with Jabba the Hut and skimpy bikini outfit for poor Leia but the theme of the show was about the good overcoming the darkness. This new tv series appears to be focusing on the dark characters of the adult fandom series. That is just depressing. Shoot, even Darth Vader who was evil incarnate in the original movies, never did drugs or use prostitutes. In fact, he became “evil” in order to save the love of his life (aka Padme) and that was what was rather ironically so interesting. What are these producers thinking?!
Went to one of my community members’ parents’ house for a pool party and dinner. Her siblings and I quoted movies all night and N64 video game voices. I was the only one to swim in the pool, but happy to do so. :D
Thanks so much for the super mommy tips! I know for myself, that staying up late can really be draining (for the next day) and it seems most of the day I can barely find any private minutes for myself. But it is hopeful that if other moms can do it, I can figure out a way too. Love the articles and encouragement!
1.00 kids movie today at the fancy shmancie theater. And a 17 year old who is happy to take the little kids.(I’m worried I will squander the two hours - but either way, we will all be happy to see each other when it’s over. That counts for something!).
Chocolate and coffee.
Oh Kelly, you said that right! How can we all forget chocolate and coffee! Best treats in the entire day! LOL
As I retiree…I am done with daily family “chores” and the grands ( so sad about this ) live over 13 hours away!)my schedule is mine to make..both a blessing and a curse! Each day I awake and thank God for another night of peaceful rest and pray for his blessings on the coming day for me…and family and friends. Today is weekly Adoration Day at our parish church…I have the 3 oclock slot and am looking toward that hour when I can just sit..and ponder all that the Lord has blessed me with..including those long ago hectic years when the house was filled with kids and chaos. Treasure the memories you are all making now..and
don’t fret if time does not permit you the hours to write, etc. That time will come soon enough! Today my blessings are all rolled into one..I am alive! and all is well…and good!! whatever may come! God bless you all and your families!
10) I’m getting married in 4 days! well, 3 days and 21.83 hours…
11.) I’ve finally discovered an alcoholic drink that I love: chocolatinis :)
Watching my boys play baseball on a warm summer night! Two games tonight.
We’re picking up our new dog at the pound in 2 hours!!! And chocolate. And your awesome blog. I almost choked at the “without so much Corapi in it” line. Thanks for that. I’ve been so depressed about him that it’s been hard to be all happy and cheerful, even though I have SO MUCH that is awesome in my life!!!
Free chair and bed massages at work today because of our difficult, lengthy week last week. Ahhhhh….
www.kissingtheleper.com
I Have to Sit Down in the inbox; and yes, coffee, chocolate, Magic Eraser and Febreze, and having finally shampoo’d the two-year-old.
Feeling my new wee lad squirming around inside of me, having all my children home for a few more weeks, relatively cool summer so far, grilling dinner, fresh fruit and veggies in abundance, receiving an anointing from our priest last week after having missed it on Pentecost, my two year old’s chubby legs that get to show off with all the cute summer dresses, my 11 and 9 year olds putting their Halloween costumes together already, and having a blast doing it, spending last evening with good friends, and finally, my husband is working, loving it, and making (almost) enough money.
Having my friends text and amuse me while I wait with my mother at the doctor’s office. Oh, and that my mother doesn’t have a massive blood clot!
1. new niece.
2. friend coming over
3. tomato garden
4. fresh picked berries
5. stack of good books
6. holding my daughter as she drinks her bottle
7. an organized drawer just one, but it’s there.
8. warm summer day
9. walked this morning with my husband
Eileen Aroon~(Eibhlín a Rún)
First day of summer.
15 year old son totally psyched to have his first job.
5 kids helping out around the house without a peep of complaint (enjoying it while it lasts!)
The quiet enjoyment of a wonderful family life.
My own web site and 162 day till I retire.
I am making the world’s best lasagna and taking it to a friend’s house for a lovely dinner. Yes it takes a while to make, but you will thank me for it if you ever make it (just read the comments and be sure not to put in the “one tablespoon” of salt the recipe wrongly calls for).
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/worlds-best-lasagna/detail.aspx
Delish!
@RMV- Seriously? With the “Adult-Swim” comment? Kind of Inappropriate…
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@Sara- Congrats on the wedding, I’m praying for you and your future husband
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@Maureen- When you’re alone with your husband, just remember how you got the children you have in the first place…...
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@Kayla- Congrats on the wedding also, may God bless you and your union! And also, I’ve been looking for a Alcoholic Drink to enjoy, what’s in a Chocolatini?
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@Kaylan-Ok, here’s my Star Wars rant considering I have probably watched it waaaaaaay more than any of you, I have written College term papers on it, I have written amateur reviews on it, discussed it in youth group meetings (only with the boys though) collected most of the toys and read 4 accompaning novels: George Lucas is not directly involved with the show. And When he is not directly involved, the movie flops. peroid. It’s like someone else besides Francis Ford Copolla making “Godfather”, It just doesnt work! I will watch at least the pilot just because I love Star Wars so incredibally much b ut I dont have high hopes for it…...
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The only positive right now for me is that I am a chaperone for the largest group of teens ever going to Steubenville East from my parish!! 35 teens will experience the awesaome power and glory of God this summer. In 2005, I was only teen within 60 miles of my parish to go and 6 years later, the Holy Spirit has built himself an army of faithful youths to do his work. Now THAT’S worth being thankful for!!!
@CatholicwithJoy: Eh? What the heck is inappropriate about what she said?
wow CatholicwithJoy - How very odd and inappropriate that you read something “inapproporiate” into the phrase “adult swim”. I took it as a completely innocent term that is used at public swimming pools to indicate that kids aren’t allowed during a couple of hours so adults can swim. I don’t even know what you thought it meant, but I imagine it’s something dirty. Let’s try to think the best of people instead of assuming the worst - that would make me happy.
@Catholicwithjoy:
A Chocolatini has a chocolate mixture that can be found in the mixers section of your grocery store, and vodka. The chocolate mix is so strong, is knocks out almost all alcohol taste, but leaves just enough so that you remember what you are drinking :) When I get home, I’ll check out what name/brand my mix is and leave it here.
Fetal movement.
Also, 1 year of maternity leave starts tomorrow at 4:15 pm.
Also, brownies.
Simcha, Your #8 made me think of my #10:
One Sunday evening in October a couple of years ago, my brother & I were wandering around a piazza in the Trastevere section of Rome, with a bit of vino, watching kids chase pidgeons while their folks chatted etc. We both spontaneously thanked God because he could’ve made this world look just like the moon but he blessed it with amazing beatitude instead!
I usually don’t comment this much on articles but the feedback has been great. Thanks for the reminder ThirstforTruth! And I had to laugh at Devra’s comment about “shampoo’d the two-year-old”... I’ve been there too!
@sally r- What’s the point of not letting adults and children swim together? Why must there be separate times? And why must the adult swim be at night? It’s summer, the kids are out of school. They have no reason not to stay up and swim. Look if you dont find anything wrong with the comment fine, so be it. But I did and I have the freedom and right to state it here. You immediatly thought the worst of me when you read my comment that i’m inappropriate and thinking “dirty”. So what’s the difference? And I dont immediatly think the worst of people, thank you very much
children can sometimes be loud and disruptive in a pool and adults like to have a chance for a peaceful swim. That’s the point of allowing a couple of hours for adults to swim without bumping into kids jumping into the pool. Glad to hear you don’t think the worse of people, that’s nice.
@Catholicwithjoy: I’m a big fan of Star Wars too and despite all the negative reviews on the last three movies, I really enjoyed them, especially Anakin’s character. You might enjoy this article I read awhile back. I don’t normally post links but I thought you would enjoy it:
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/07/what-is-darth-vaders-diagnosis/
And on the “adult swim” comment, I’m guessing Catholicwithjoy thought she meant a swim in the nude. As that is what “adult swim” can mean and I guess from a moral standpoint, if it’s just you and your spouse in a private pool, I can’t see anything wrong with that. If it was public, well that would be another matter! :)
Can I just throw it out there that sex within a loving marriage isn’t dirty at all, no matter what either of you were thiking or not thinking…
Also we can see your banter on a public blog.
We’re having our bathroom remodeled to better accomodate my seriously disabled husband—massive stroke at age 51, no warning, boom down on the floor will never walk or talk normallly again ...
... well anyway, it’s a big project and a source of anxiety to me. Today my fixit man is installing the shower door and I Measured Correctly and The Door Fits !!!!!!
You have no idea what a joy this is for me in my weakened emotional and spiritual condition.
@CatholicwithJoy: It’s admirable (and not easy!) when you’re young and single to make sure that your speech and behavior is chaste and appropriate for your station in life. But married adults have a different station in life, and shouldn’t be expected to speak as if they’re non-drinking virgins. There’s a difference between being gross and inappropriate, and merely acknowledging that there are certain God-given joys that married adults are grateful for. No one crossed the line from the latter to the former here.
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Also, when you have children of your own, you will love and cherish them dearly . . . and dance with joy when they finally go to bed. Nothing wrong with that, either.
Love your columns, Simcha. I appreciate the references to Magic Eraser and Fabreze! Ha ;) I was so happy and grateful for my crock pot one day not too long ago that I dedicated a blog post to it:
http://juliefilby.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/love-is-in-the-air/
(not to mention the Roomba and DVR!)
Often it’s those little things that make us happy each day (and get us through a “harrowing week”). Thank you for sharing your insight and humor!
@nitwit, God bless you. Your in our prayers too.
Yes, ditto, nitwit.
It’s our anniversary!
A new baby on the way, and my older children’s joyful expressions at the news!
And pico de gallo with extra habaneros. mmmm.
I PRAISE GOD for my guardian angel who told me to check my summer school class roster last Sunday night. I thought I started teaching next week. NOPE- it was YESTERDAY!!! I am only 1 of 3 instructors that got a class this summer out of 20+ people (budget cutbacks)(because I am ‘preferred’). Little does my boss know- I ALMOST blew off the class. But I was there. That was a close one.
10. My daughter was baptized this weekend!!! :D :D :D
Oh my GOSH, Simcha. I love your list and the fact that you made one. Also, your comboxes never cease to amaze, astound, and amuse.
My husband took the child this morning so I could sleep until nine. NINE! And then he made me coffee. And then he braved Walmart. And, we have a nice supply of gin and tonic water.
Being within two weeks of having this baby!
Two boys after basketball camp having cherry-lime aids at Steak n Shake and getting them during “happy hour” when they were half price.
I had a wisdom tooth extracted this morning, so right now it’s the Vicodin keeping me happy.
@catholicwithjoy - our kids are bio and adopted - we will certainly remember and work fervently to try for a repeat - we’ll just have submitted paperwork in case God decides to send another via adoption. With bio, well- it will be a weekend alone ;-)
Bach, Brahms, Haydn, Mozart, Dvorak, and Charles Burchfield. I’ve been saying “I believe” for years, as well as “consubstantial” instead of “one in being”—St. Athanasius told me to. Well, sort of.
@Abba: I thought you said “homoousion!” And I thought it was because Ima told you to.
You not blogging about “Fr” Corapi.
Beer!
In 353 days, the love of my life and I will enter into the holy Sacrament of Matrimony. Praise be to the good Lord Jesus!
Nitwit - hang in there! Said a little prayer for you and for all the expecting moms, I pray for a short enough labor and easy enough delivery for you all!
Oh, and fresh chocolate chip cookies!
“Marriage, Moxie, and Modesty with a Vintage Twist,” I didn’t know about this blog, but I’m loving it now (bookmarked).
I belong to a Men’s Choir at my parish. It is great fun, and enriches me spiritually.
Half a dozen strong guys, a digger and 3 big trucks arrived at 7:30 am this morning to dig me a driveway! So excited. Of course, now we might actually have to buy bicycles for the children because they will have a place to ride them! Helps to make up for the bed bug infestation we’re fighting in my daughter’s room.
I am grateful your blog always comes back to SEX!
so many things to be happy and thankful for!
1-spent the day in a Lebanese Saint’s monastery…had Mass there, and the priest/monk spoke of 55 AMAZING miracles done this year attributed to Saint Charbel.
2-I watched my best friend go through hell all of last year, still up till now, because of sin, and him wanting to go to confession (he is Orthodox)... and I was wishing I could have felt all that, instead of merely walking in, listing my sins, and walking out…. and as painful as it is, I am actually going through my own “hell fire”... a purification process that will hopefully lead me to a holier state.
3-C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity
4-I picked up praying again, after months of nothingness.
5-Immigration!!!!
6-My friends and family, music, beauty around me, etc…
7-things have NEVER been so good with my father, I am enjoying every moment of it!!!
My parish is having a big dessert party tonight. :) Nothing builds community like a whole lot of sugar.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 ....120 wonderful joy-filled children raising their voices in song at one action-packed Vacation Bible School program. I’ll have just as many reasons to celebrate when it’s over and I get a nap. :)
Taking the first step in a journey of a thousand miles heading toward joining The Little Sisters of the Poor. :-D And reading your blog, I thank God for calling me to religious life, but I thank Him equally for allowing true Catholic families like yours to be around!
All this is so much more important than world peace, ending starvation and poverty, access to health care for everyone, making the economy work, ending the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. reducing global warming, finding vaccines/cures for diseases, becoming less dependent on foreign oil, and saving Christmas from the evil atheist conspiracy. You sure have your priorities in order!
Oh, it gets worse, Adrienne. I had a cup of coffee this morning, even though it didn’t save any lives! Are there any depths of inanity to which Christians will not sink?
You don’t have to save any lives every day. It’s just when you do choose a “cause,” leave Planned Parenthood out of your cross hairs. They are saving lives of women who would otherwise not get health care.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLL-v0JpY0&feature=player_embedded
Are you suggesting that only Planned Parenthood does abortions, or that abortions will disappear when Planned Parenthood is eradicated? They are only cutting health clinics that provide care they can get elsewhere? Did you know that abortions are also for ectopic and molar pregnancies? You just don’t like Planned Parenthood because they are a secular organization and not a christian charity. Just wait 5 years and see how many more hospitals will perform legal abortions and how many babies get dumped in a garbage can when abortion becomes illegal.
I’m not suggesting anything, I’m openly stating that Planned Parenthood is not, as you said, “saving lives of women who would otherwise not get health care.” And now, since you have persisted in twisting this otherwise pleasant thread into yet another vehicle for your propaganda, I’m going to close comments. Censorship: it makes life bearable!
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