The First Almost-Fire

I'm staring at the coffee that sits at the bottom of my mug, and the half-burnt rice that sits at the bottom of my bowl all while wondering why I haven't written something in a long time. What helps this pondering is my new author-roommate who takes time to sit down and write.

This life is objectively hard. Every step I take in the right direction towards embracing the objectively hard concepts seems to bring me around a corner that knocks me out with the reality that

an objectively hard reality does not become easier just because I come to terms with it.

I was told that I may get used to the things in this phase of my life that are difficult. However, this does not imply that the problems will simply go away.

Unpreparedness
Lonliness
Confusion
Relationships
Feeling Stifled
Overwhelmed
Mistakes
Words that could have been left unsaid
Not meeting standards
Teaching
Losing sleep
Time management

All of these things, and probably more, add up to be a heavy burden. The real only solution I have found as I carry the weight is to relate every heavy thought and feeling to the Good Lord Who cares for me.


Jesus, this hurts. 

He's There

Last night, I took a peaceful bike ride around town. I've been doing this often throughout the summer, usually when I need it most. Every time I do, it's fascinating to me how early the town goes to sleep. Sure, there's the flow of traffic going by, but once I turn into the residential areas, there usually isn't a soul in sight.
I took a different turn yesterday, something new, because I wanted to chase the sunset. And there He was, my Father, reminding me of His love. I looked up into the sky and it was one of those sunsets that make for the perfect life analogy. You know the type, I'm sure. When the sun sinks behind a cloud, but it's rays are shining bright as ever above? It's like that in our lives...we can't see Him directly - most times we can't see Him at all - but He is ever-Present. And His love shines in between.



Thank you, Jesus.

A Summer of the Smalls

This summer has been a whirlwind of little things.

Coffee and Perkins with friends.
Fishing.
Camping.
Sheephead.*
Biking. Lots of biking.
Applications, resume's, interviews, accepting a job!
Dancing.
Painting Nails.
Crazy cousins.
Inspecting sump pumps for the City.
Celebrating the Holy Sacrament of Marriage.
Fellowship with friends.
Unpacking, re-packing, shifting, loading and unloading.
Young adult group-ing.
Driving. Everywere...in the Midwest anyway.

And I've kept myself the Lord keeps me sane, in the way that only He knows how. But what has helped is this wonderful life planner. For Catholic women out there, it has everything you want in a planner, and more! I'm not a mother, so about 20% of the tools that Nancy has included are not useful to me, but that other 80% sure helps! I keep a planner because it helps me to remember the things that I often forget. And if you talk to my friends or family, they could testify that I tend to forget a lot.

Now that I've put that little plug in, I wanted to share with you some of what I call "the Smalls". Smalls are the little phrases or quotes that have stuck out to me throughout these past months. Lately as I come across something that resonates with my heart, I write it down somewhere and stick it in my planner. Here are the Smalls of my summer:
-- any emphasis made are my own :) --
-- I'll accurately quote the original author where it applies, and if I can remember ;) --

I'd take being single for the rest of my life KNOWING that I can depend on the One true God to love me to the fullest. - from a post on theyoungcatholicwoman.com (follow link to the article...it's a good'un!)

"A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament" - St. Padre Pio

PETER SAID, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I FORGIVE him? as many as seven times? JESUS SAID TO HIM, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. - Matthew 18: 21 & 22

...in the streets & the crossings I will seek Him whom my heat loves. - Song of Songs: 3:2

Do whatever He tells you. - John 2:5

I am the living bread which came down from Heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. - John 6:51

"If you know your enemy & you know yourself, you need not fear the results of 100 battles [because you know how he works; how & when the Devil attacks]. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gain there will be defeat. If you know neither the enemy or yourself, you will succumb at every battle." - Fr. Mike Schmitz

Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do; or Do without. - from one of my new fave websites, theartofsimple.net (follow link to the article...and then go to the "start here" tab at the top!)


Thanks for reading! Maybe you'll start writing down some Smalls, too!

Thank you Jesus, for the Bigs and the Smalls!



*Sheephead is a marvelously complicated card game that reigns in my German family. I have the privilege of joining my parents on their Friday Night Appointment at Grandma and Grandpa's every other week or so. :)

The Beginning

"Whether they realize it or not, many people approach computers and tablets with a state of mind less conducive to learning than the one they bring to paper."
The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: the Science of Paper vs. Screens from Scientific American

I stumbled upon this wonder of a quote as I frolicked through the wild flowers of Bullet Journaling tips and techniques.

How enlightening it is when we as tangible creatures can create tangible works of art (in any and all forms)!

Herein lies the beginning of my adventure in Bullet Journaling, and I hope to be able to share in the excitement and add to the plethora of helpful information once mine is completed...and USED!

Thank you Lord for the sense of touch.

"L'chaim!" - To Life!

Life, as I know it to be, is far too exciting and exhilarating to be paused only to write about the exciting and exhilarating moments it holds. That being said, I sit here in my 3rd-year-running-summer-job office with 90% of my work done, awaiting the next caller who's less-than-interested to set up the 3-minute inspection of the sewer drain in their basement (or, in the most recent case, a caller with the wrong number). And this exciting and exhilarating life is unintentionally paused for commentary, as I look back at my online journal and realize I haven't written a thing at all since my 2-year old nephew was born.

Well, good gravy!

I could sit here all day and recount the wonders of the last two years,
I wish I had taken the time to sit down and write the wonders and glories and blessings during these last two years
People say it all the time: A lot has happened in these last two years.
I learned a lot. I lived a lot. I learned and lived a LOT.

And now, I'm graduated!

I can answer the all-too-popular question of: "What's next, Liz?" because I've got a teaching job lined up for the Fall. My new mission? St. Catholic School in LittleTown, Minnesota.
I'm excited and exhilarated to share about the ups and downs, the successes and mistakes, the love and the life that unfolds in the next year.

So here's to life! Growing up and moving on.

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of LIFE and the heart to share it.

The Adventures of Auntie Liz and LittleMan: How it Began

On the 20th day of June in the year 2015, my life changed.

My sister-in-law gave birth to my nephew.

And I fell in love.

The day I met the little boy who stole my heart in the only way a nephew can.

And then, on the 16th day of August in the year 2015, my life changed - yet again.

I became a mother.

Okay, a Godmother. But still. It's a big deal in my world.

And now...it's almost a year after his birth and we're getting ready for another delivery in November. I'm finding that I am that aunt:

 

Time-giving, single, capable, available.

Education-minded, Godly, opinionated and vocal. 

Honest, critical, observant, risky.

Dedicated, late, ridiculous, spontaneous.

Gift-giving, sharing, willing, working.

And don't forget those adjectives I want to say about myself, but I'm not sure if it holds true:

Fun, loving, forgiving, trusting, understanding, perfect...ha!


But really, our adventures today are just a mini-episode of our typical expeditions. Here's LittleMan's rendition of a typical day with Auntie...be surprised by his vocabulary:


     Auntie Liz says she'll be at Momma & Daddy's by 11ish in the morning. Momma & Daddy are getting nervous because it's already 11 and she isn't here yet. They're especially nervous today because when she drove the 1.7 hours yesterday, she wound up with a flat tire, delaying her arrival 30 minutes.

    So, Daddy calls grandma at 11:10am. Turns out Auntie had woken up at 9:30, took her time getting ready, forgot about updating Momma & Daddy.

     She makes her way to our house. We play. There's this running joke on Daddy's side about this thing that Auntie likes to do. Daddy refers to it with an extra syllable, I think, "sens-or-ar-y play"...I think it's real fun - I get to splash around with water, play with yogurt at lunchtime - maybe put some in my hair, play with rocks (sometimes she even lets me chew on them!), squish flowers, play (and sometimes chew on) leaves...we have a great time!  

    Every time Auntie comes to our house, I smile huge to show that I love her. She finds the craziest ways to make me laugh...my favorite is hide-and-seek with everything that I own: Duckie from bathtime, Firefighter dog, stuffed Lamby, her hand-turned-duckbeak...you name it, she'll do it! Of course, I'm not old enough to name anything, but she seems to be doing well with what she's got.

   I also know that she loves me because she agreed to come and babysit me for two hours while I sleep at night. See, Daddy works night shift during the week and Momma chose these real weird hours as a nurse...probably one of the most inconsistent of its kind (she usually works 7am-7pm Friday-Sunday). Long story short, they needed a babysitter from 10pm-12am the night of the 4th. Naturally, Auntie Liz was glad to jump on that opportunity! Such love, such love.


And that's how it goes! I've had many opportunities to reflect on my auntie-ness. I love it, I embrace it, I brag about it in conversations to the voices in my head (because it's rude to brag about such things to relatives). Look forward to my upcoming webjournal of these reflections!

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of Life!
 

Some of the best decisions I've made...(not in chronological or preferential order)

1. Joining the youth of the area to the cities for a NET Lifeline Mass...therefore kickstarting my zeal for the faith.
2. To love the color purple.
3. Making a homemade cape.
4. Going to college.
5. Being a middle child. (We get to choose these things, right?)
6. Quitting Facebook, Twitter.
7. Purchasing a coffee bean grinder.
8. Joining a convent.
9. Leaving a convent.
10. Taking up knitting.
11. Adding an Early Childhood Education Major to my plate.
12. Giving my heart to God...dedicating my life to Him...
13.