So, you know I like to write. And I love to read thoughtful blogs. And encyclopedias. And Catholic information. Ok, I like to read. What you may not know, is that once upon a time I really adored computers. Back in the dark ages (over a DECADE ago) I had a job where people actually came to me as someone who "probably knew how to do whatever on the computer". In fact, I met my husband on the internet and all my friends were, like, "Ohmygosh you can actually send emails outside our office?!?".
Anyway. Something happened after I became a mom. My brain got mushy. I became easily frustrated with the computer. My husband threw me a curve ball and bought a Mac shortly after the birth of our first child. And, I pretty much threw up my hands at trying to "keep up".
I only *just* got a smart phone. Before that I used a prepaid. And, to be honest, I still forget to charge and/or turn on my cell phone about 50% of the time.
Yes, I email. And I have facebook. Just last week I actually joined twitter again after a gigantic failure at understanding it the first time (why? why did I need Twitter AND Facebook?). I didn't understand that facebook was super useful for keeping in touch with my IRL friends scattered throughout the world (You've caught on that I'm a military wife, right?) and that Twitter is really useful for tracking information and networking with people with similar interests. I don't need to worry about privacy settings on twitter. I don't consider it a very private place. Neither is facebook, so we are finding out, but that is another story for a more hip and technical blogger.
This is a very long introduction to two very cool tools I've just uncovered on the web. Now, you probably already knew about these. But, as far as I've been able to keep up, no one has told me about them yet. And, just in case you are as technically unsavvy as me these day,s I thought you might like to hear about them!
The first is called feedly. The first time I read the name my mind immediately jumped to Seymour and the giant carnivorous plant. I realized quickly that it wasn't a bad metaphor for how insatiable my hunger for reading good blogs can be. Still, I don't think the site developers had that in mind. Here is a picture of my main Diget Feedly Page
Dear Reader, I'm a Catholic Convert in love with my faith, working every day to connect my heart and actions. I look forward to meeting you and sharing in the twists and turns of this journey called life!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Christ the King Sunday
Warning: some of inner geekness may shine through this post.
My first year back in public school (after 5 years of being homeschooled) was Seventh grade. Seriously, I can't think of a more difficult time for anyone in school than "middle school" or what we called "junior high". Imagine what it must have been like for someone as "other" as me--a Christian Scientist who had never been to the doctor and a "Homeschooler" (a word most people hadn't heard of yet in the 1980's). Actually, don't imagine it. The memory is unpleasant.
I will tell you, however, there was one part about seventh grade that has forever made my temporary return to traditional schooling worth it. Mrs. Schroeder. Ellie Schroeder was the gifted and talented teacher for English, Reading and History. I had her for three periods in a row and oh how I loved those classes. We read Shakespeare. We wrote daily responses to quotes such as "I think therefore I am" on the board. We learned History alongside the literature of the period and through first hand sources. We had not a single textbook in her classes. What on earth could my parents have been so worried about? School, it would seem, was my own personal slice of heaven.
*study of middle ages up through renaissance
* Earning Royalty status
* Demedicci family
* Rome, Italy
*Renaissance feast
My first year back in public school (after 5 years of being homeschooled) was Seventh grade. Seriously, I can't think of a more difficult time for anyone in school than "middle school" or what we called "junior high". Imagine what it must have been like for someone as "other" as me--a Christian Scientist who had never been to the doctor and a "Homeschooler" (a word most people hadn't heard of yet in the 1980's). Actually, don't imagine it. The memory is unpleasant.
I will tell you, however, there was one part about seventh grade that has forever made my temporary return to traditional schooling worth it. Mrs. Schroeder. Ellie Schroeder was the gifted and talented teacher for English, Reading and History. I had her for three periods in a row and oh how I loved those classes. We read Shakespeare. We wrote daily responses to quotes such as "I think therefore I am" on the board. We learned History alongside the literature of the period and through first hand sources. We had not a single textbook in her classes. What on earth could my parents have been so worried about? School, it would seem, was my own personal slice of heaven.
*study of middle ages up through renaissance
* Earning Royalty status
* Demedicci family
* Rome, Italy
*Renaissance feast
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Blessed Chiara Luce Badano
**Update: Apparently both of my links are no longer working! I'm still looking for new ones...but, in the mean time this has some good info about Blessed Chiara here.
And also here.
Ever since reading about her, I can't get her out of my mind. Maybe it is because I've known young people face battles like this and with grace like this. Or maybe, I'm meant to know her for some reason. I certainly feel like hers is a friendship I'd like to cultivate. There isn't much I can say because her life really speaks for itself. She calls us to so much humility and obedience and love. I know I have so much to learn from her. Read her story (click her picture for one site and the link for another). I think you will be blessed, too.
WYD 2011 Madrid - Official Site - Beatified at 19 Years Old:
And also here.
Ever since reading about her, I can't get her out of my mind. Maybe it is because I've known young people face battles like this and with grace like this. Or maybe, I'm meant to know her for some reason. I certainly feel like hers is a friendship I'd like to cultivate. There isn't much I can say because her life really speaks for itself. She calls us to so much humility and obedience and love. I know I have so much to learn from her. Read her story (click her picture for one site and the link for another). I think you will be blessed, too.
WYD 2011 Madrid - Official Site - Beatified at 19 Years Old:
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Talking Story in The Big Bold Blogosphere
Long before I started writing this blog I've been reading other people's blogs. Truly, some blogs have deepened my faith, lifted me from the depths of depression and despair, inspired me to change the way I think and even kicked my tush to confession and back to the heart of my faith--the Holy Mass. In the spirit of full disclosure, I first met my husband on the internet (before you all probably even knew it existed!) I guess I just want to say that just because someone is on the internet it doesn't scare me away from wanting to really get to know them.
I'm the sort of person who's skin crawls at the thought of prolonged superficiality. I like to sit and talk and listen and ask and strive to understand. I find people's stories fascinating. I always want to know more about the person with whom I'm interacting and I've been told (accused?) that I have a gift for getting people to open up to me. I don't set out for it to happen. But, I do love it when someone shares their story with me.
In Hawaii, I've learned, this kind of discourse is called "talking story". I love that. It goes so much deeper than plain old "talking". I mean, I can "talk" to the bagger at the grocery store by saying "Thanks" and "Have a good day". Talking is good. But, talking story is so much more. It is in this kind of sharing that we connect on the soul level--where we begin to let someone see who we really are.
As a (reluctant-at-times) military wife, I often find myself in the position of having to build new friendships. And this takes time. And energy. And trial and error. For, our stories rarely come spilling out in our first encounters with someone (though I've been known to try to fit my whole story in by rarely taking a breath and talking faster than the majority of people can listen!) Usually, we learn bits and pieces about new people with old stories being fleshed out more and more each time we meet. Sometimes we find people we really "get" and they get us and this is truly a gift. But, it is all too rare, in my opinion. Sometimes I find myself trying to pretzel myself into someone I am not just for the brief illusion that I've found such a friendship.
I am not suggesting that "kindred spirits" are the only friendships we should form. But, I'm starting to understand that friendships which require me to strip away core qualities in myself are not worth the shallow return they ultimately give. A true friendship allows me to be who I am with dignity and allows me to respect the differences in others even if I respectfully disagree with some of my friend's beliefs or values. If someone respectfully disagrees with me then they can love me even in the places that I am polar opposite to them and vice versa.
Reading the blogs of others, which are sometimes poignant slices of the writer's lives, has allowed me space to contemplate ideas without having to immediately respond. It has given me context into differing beliefs and values. It has also helped me better define what I believe and who I am working to become.
As I venture out into my "public debut" (just had a vision of a sparkly debutante ball) in this bloggy-world I'm realizing that a big reason I am doing this is I want to connect. It is true that online friends are not the same as IRL friends (and if you have to go look that up I feel soooo much better because it wasn't too long ago that I did too!). Still, the blogosphere allows us a very unique opportunity to connect with like-minded people, opposing-minded people, and people trying to figure out just where they stand--all in the space of a few clicks and shares. If we are willing, we have opportunities to engage in conversations that seek to find and share truth. If we are brave, we may even take the step to email someone personally and try to dig deeper on a particular idea or issue. In some cases, we may even be surprised to find a true and lasting friendship.
So, I'm Here. And I think I'll stay a while. I mean it when I say, I hope that you'll come by often and talk story with me. It would be my absolute delight to meet you. Who knows, I may actually come to know you. And you me.
I'm the sort of person who's skin crawls at the thought of prolonged superficiality. I like to sit and talk and listen and ask and strive to understand. I find people's stories fascinating. I always want to know more about the person with whom I'm interacting and I've been told (accused?) that I have a gift for getting people to open up to me. I don't set out for it to happen. But, I do love it when someone shares their story with me.
In Hawaii, I've learned, this kind of discourse is called "talking story". I love that. It goes so much deeper than plain old "talking". I mean, I can "talk" to the bagger at the grocery store by saying "Thanks" and "Have a good day". Talking is good. But, talking story is so much more. It is in this kind of sharing that we connect on the soul level--where we begin to let someone see who we really are.
As a (reluctant-at-times) military wife, I often find myself in the position of having to build new friendships. And this takes time. And energy. And trial and error. For, our stories rarely come spilling out in our first encounters with someone (though I've been known to try to fit my whole story in by rarely taking a breath and talking faster than the majority of people can listen!) Usually, we learn bits and pieces about new people with old stories being fleshed out more and more each time we meet. Sometimes we find people we really "get" and they get us and this is truly a gift. But, it is all too rare, in my opinion. Sometimes I find myself trying to pretzel myself into someone I am not just for the brief illusion that I've found such a friendship.
I am not suggesting that "kindred spirits" are the only friendships we should form. But, I'm starting to understand that friendships which require me to strip away core qualities in myself are not worth the shallow return they ultimately give. A true friendship allows me to be who I am with dignity and allows me to respect the differences in others even if I respectfully disagree with some of my friend's beliefs or values. If someone respectfully disagrees with me then they can love me even in the places that I am polar opposite to them and vice versa.
Reading the blogs of others, which are sometimes poignant slices of the writer's lives, has allowed me space to contemplate ideas without having to immediately respond. It has given me context into differing beliefs and values. It has also helped me better define what I believe and who I am working to become.
As I venture out into my "public debut" (just had a vision of a sparkly debutante ball) in this bloggy-world I'm realizing that a big reason I am doing this is I want to connect. It is true that online friends are not the same as IRL friends (and if you have to go look that up I feel soooo much better because it wasn't too long ago that I did too!). Still, the blogosphere allows us a very unique opportunity to connect with like-minded people, opposing-minded people, and people trying to figure out just where they stand--all in the space of a few clicks and shares. If we are willing, we have opportunities to engage in conversations that seek to find and share truth. If we are brave, we may even take the step to email someone personally and try to dig deeper on a particular idea or issue. In some cases, we may even be surprised to find a true and lasting friendship.
So, I'm Here. And I think I'll stay a while. I mean it when I say, I hope that you'll come by often and talk story with me. It would be my absolute delight to meet you. Who knows, I may actually come to know you. And you me.
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