Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take the time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  

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Thanks to one of Ish's sisters, I have had this song stuck in my head since 

Super-Thanksgiving. It is a great children's song.

Impending neglect a possibility

I have just started a long-term sub position in math.  While I get myself settled, I may be neglecting the blogosphere for a bit.  We shall see.

Daily, Daily Sing to Mary

Daily Daily Sing to Mary

Sing my soul her praises due

All her feasts her actions worship

With the heart's  devotion true

Lost in wond'ring contemplation

Be her Majesty confess'd

Call her Mother, call her Virgin

Happy Mother Virgin Blest

She is mighty to deliver

Call her trust her lovingly

When the tempest rages round thee

She will calm the troubled sea

Gifts of heaven she has given

Noble Lady to our race

She the Queen who decks her subject

With the light of God's own grace. 

I thought that in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, I would share with you the lyrics of one of my favorite Marian hymns.  I hope you all had a blessed feast day.

Mary Brigit Poppleton is Writing a Memoir

Last night I had the opportunity to see CCRI's production of Madeline Walter's Mary Brigit Poppleton is Writing a Memoir.  I went to see my cousin Elle perform in the role of Mary Brigit, and was simply excited to get a chance to see her perform.  It was a real bonus that the show was written in a way that it was both raw and polished at the same time.  The show follows the misadventures of 17 year old Mary Brigit who is both writing a memoir and struggling to get her family to pay even an inkling of attention to her.  In a moment of dinner table insanity, Mary Brigit both gets the attention of her family and finds a way to "fictionalize" her life in order to have fodder for her memoir--she tells her family she is pregnant.  The turmoil and hilarity that ensues is both side-splitting and gut-wrenching.  The cast did a phenomenal job at sucking me into the story in a very real way.  The talk-back session after the play was wonderful.  We, the audience, got to hear from the actors, the director, and even the playwright.  I honestly wish I had seen it earlier this week so that I would have had the chance to see it a few times.  

Messiah

On Friday night, Ishmael and I went to see Handel's Messiah.  I had never heard much less seen the entirety of this famous work.  I was pleasantly surprised to find just how much I enjoyed it.   I was pleased to find that the words were printed out in the program, and the scripture passages they came from were noted at the end of each section.  I can only hope that the Word of God transmitted to the audience through music was transformative to all of us watching and listening.  Handel's Messiah is unique in that it is a piece of music based in scripture  and its lyrics are in English; not only that, but it brings in many  non-believing audience members each Advent--I pray it has helped in turning at least one person to God this Advent.

Think about it...

America is at war overseas, but many Americans still live their day to day lives with no appreciation for what this means.  Many men and women from all over the US are serving in the armed forces in order to protect us.  Whether you think the war in the Middle-East is right or wrong, truth remains--these men and women are putting their lives on the line for us.  How do we choose to thank them? Honestly, most of us don't.   Next time you see a marine, a soldier, a sailor or an airman, please thank him or her.  Support our troops.

Anyone have any miracle cures for the common cold?  I have been fighting a cold for almost 2 weeks and the symptoms are lingering much stronger and far longer than they usually do (minus that time I had a cold for an entire semester).  Blech!

The Wedding Box

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have created what I have dubbed the wedding box. The wedding box is simply something I have been working on to eliminate some of the craziness that will surround settling into married life.  Since Ish and I will be moving to Delaware immediately following our Honeymoon, things are going to be a little bit crazy come early August.  One of the things that I tend to hate doing when things are nuts is taking care of necessities.  Since clearly I can't avoid grocery shopping, the possibility of knocking that off of the to-do list is out of the question.  I can, however, avoid having to purchase a good deal of necessities--with the proper preparations of course!  I have been purchasing different necessities (toilet paper, laundry detergent, medications, toothpaste etc.) when they are on sale and putting them in a box.  Ideally what ends up in this box will last for the first 1-3 months of marriage helping to eliminate some of the stress that will come with moving, starting new jobs, and of course entering into our new vocation as a married couple.  Although having things doesn't equate to any sort of happiness, I am also aware that having certain necessities taken care of can alleviate many everyday burdens.  Doing things this way will also save a lot of money as I can stock items when they are on sale as opposed to when I need them right away.

CVS savings

I like to save money; who doesn't?  Lately I have been planning my shopping excursions for necessities or gifts so that sales work for me.  CVS has been a great aid in this.  I am starting to learn to use Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) to my advantage.  I had some major purchases to make this week as I had run out of a lot of hygiene and medical products that I normally use and need.  I really hate when I run out of everything at once.  I managed to get $120 worth of merchandise for $63.  Almost everything I bought was on sale minus more cough drops, but they were a necessity.  I am always amazed how much one can save if they try.  I was able to stock up on a few things that are too much when not on sale (I refuse to buy body wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion not on sale).  I also was able add to what I am dubbing the "wedding box" (more about that in a future post).  

Quick note: Pursuing rain-checks  is so totally worth the time.