Owner: everyday life as lyric poetry URL:catherinemcniel.blogspot.com Join Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:29:45 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: I'm a mama, a wife, a friend, a believer, a reader, a writer, a thinker, a seeker, sometimes a professor, always learning. Site statistics:Click here
Say Cheese! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Before Christmas, we had some pictures taken professionally. Now that all the gifts are unwrapped, we can make them public domain. Read more:Cheese
, Say Cheese
Catherine the Cult Classic 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Hey, I've reached "cult status" over in Australia! Click here to read more, but here's the quote:(from dunstanbaby.com) "It was also great to catch up with Catherine
- our first Dunstan Mom blogger - who had taken on a bit of cult status amongst us here at Dunstan." Read more:Classic
January 22nd - Asher's Six Month Birthday! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today is Asher
's 6 month birthday. Half a year has passed since the pregnancy countdown ended and wonderful, amazing, crazy life with him began. And what a difference 6 months make! Here are some "then and now" pictures...July 22nd, and January
22nd... (and can I just say...what a beautiful baby!) :) Happy Birthday
, Asher. I love every minute with you. Read more:Month
January 22nd - One Year of Blogging 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today this blog turns One Year Old.Yes, one year ago today I published my first post. And the world has never been the same.At that time, a grand total of two (2) people I knew had blogs, and they were putting a substantial amount of pressure on me to start one myself. Then, Matthew went to California and I had to pick him up at the airport at 1am. Since keeping my pregnant self awake past 8pm was a substantial feat, I knew I needed a project that would capture my attention. I didn't really think I'd spend the time to keep it up.But now here we are. To celebrate, let's take a turn down memory lane.To see the first three posts I published head over here.The category closest to my heart is, of course, this one.Believe it or not, the category that was posted in most frequently was (no, not Asher pictures!) "deep thoughts."My favorite series was one I did on my church. You can read them by scrolling to the bottom of this page, then reading from the bottom up.Not surprisingly, this post Read more:January
, Blogging
Nightime musings 1970-01-01 00:59:59 As I was lying in bed last night, a friend going through hard times came to my mind and I began to pray. My thoughts went next to Asher...Matthew...other friends...other family. I pondered the fact (as I do often) that each person is as valuable to someone (or should/could be) as Asher is to me, and that somehow life is both unfathomably precious and utterly fragile. Soon, my prayer was more on the level of "world peace" than "help a friend."World peace. With even a basic understanding of systems theory, human nature, culture, or perspective formation, this dream becomes hopeless for this world. But what about in a world made new?Most people who believe in prayer for a sick or dying friend would also believe in some form of other world, Heaven, "better place." And if the end of suffering can come only there, and never here, then (irony of ironies) isn't the suffering we observe not the problem, but the solution? Death becomes not the culmination of pain but the transition to painlessn
Asher's First Christmas (delayed reaction) 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Without futher ado, here are some pictures from Asher
's first Christmas
(a few weeks after the fact). Yes, that whole pile to the left is for Asher... I'm all dressed for my white Christmas....oh wait...back at the beach. No snow here! Read more:First
, delayed
, reaction
A blog by any other name... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've been playing around with a few changes on my blog...most notibly, the name. I never intended to keep Just Catherine - it was meant to be a temporary solution so I could get things up and running.So, almost a year later, a new name and new descriptive quotes have appeared. I'm still playing with the name - since this was such a great forum for naming my baby, any ideas for naming my blog? In the meantime...same blog, same Catherine.
Pre-marital counseling with Tolstoy 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I'm currently reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, and found this incredibly accurate description of marriage: "Levin had been married for three months. He was happy, but not at all in the way he had expected. At every step he found discenchantment with his old dream and a new, unexpected enchantment. He was happy, but having entered upon family life, he saw at every step that it was not what he had imagined. At every step he felt like a man who, after having admired a little boat going smoothly and happily on a lake, then got into this boat. He saw that it was not enough to sit straight without rocking; he also had to keep in mind, not forgetting for a minute, where he was going, that there was water underneath, that he had to row and his unaccustomed hands hurt, that it was easy only to look at, but doing it, while very joyful, was also very difficult." (pg 479)Thoughts?(By the by, this book is amazing...Tolstoy is a genius)
Grown-up baby 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Asher grew up while he was in California. I was aware of this at the time (he outgrew all the clothes we brought for him - thank goodness for Christmas presents!) but I didn't realize how dramatic the change was until we came home and I found he had also outgrown our old routines. I can't entirely discern what it is that's so different - it is part of everything he does - every move, sound, gesture - but here are a few tangibles:He's started eating solid foods. Yup! His first spoonfuls of rice cereal went in his mouth (and bib...and face...and clothes) this morningHe has completed outgrown his bouncy seat. The first time I put him in it after we got back, he arched his back, pushed with his feet, and jumped out. I literally dropped a handful of dishes on the floor in my effort to catch him. Bouncy seat is now on its way to the secondhand store.Instead, he is now big enough and strong enough to play in his exersaucer (thanks, Lautens!). Watching him interact with the world from an Read more:Grown
Scary, but true? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." -- George Bernard Shaw Read more:Scary
January 22nd - Professor Catherine 1970-01-01 00:59:59 In case I don't have enough to keep me busy with a baby, a part time job, and a blog...today I became a Professor. Yes, I'm putting that Master's Degree to good use and have joined Judson College faculty as an Adjunct Professor. Tonight was my first class, teaching Workforce Diversity which is somewhat up my Intercultural alley.I was excited and nervous going in, but I think it went ok and I enjoyed it. Afterwards I thought to myself "I wonder how I did" and then it hit me - this isn't a training I'm facilitating. These students are paying lots of money to hear what I have to say, and at the end it will be the grade I give them that counts, not the grade I give myself. Woah. Scary. Read more:Catherine
, January
A Few Words about January 22nd 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Yesterday, January
22nd, was a very momentous day, with numerous milestones to herald. I felt that this called for not one, not two, but three individual posts. So...scroll down and read about the big day we had yesterday. Read more:Words
$1.18 worth of speechless 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Matthew and I were shopping today, and realized that neither of us had brought our wallets. We dug through our pockets and found an impressive $21.00 between us. So, we prioritized our purchases, did some math in our heads, and headed to the check-out line confident that we were right on target. Except that it rang up to $22.18. Not a problem, I simply stated my predicament and asked that the last purchase be removed. The cashier didn't even flinch. As she continued to put my purchases in a bag she said "don't worry about it, I've got a dollar." I was like "um,...what?....um...you don't have to...what?...um,...but...I'm...um...what?" She just smiled. "Consider it my good deed for the day" and handed me my receipt and my bag. Its not like $1.18 is so generous that I'm astonded by her gift to me. Its just that...I don't know. That doesn't happen everyday.
Now that I've found you... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today, my life changed. I found LibraryThing, and I will never be the same. I dropped everything I was supposed to be doing, (lesson plans, housework, parenting) and immediately added all my favorite books to "my library" and, of course, added that nice "random books from my library" element to the sidebar.Could there be a website more up my alley???For those of you that actually like keeping up with my booklist, I'll keep my current versions going for awhile, but I'll be transitioning over to "my library" once I get it established. And as always please submit a comment or email me with must-reads.Oooh oooh oooh!
Is there a Nobel Prize for "Cutest Baby?" 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Ladies and Gentleman, it is official. The world record for "Cutest Baby Ever" has been broken, and the new record holder is here in our midst... The babies recieving honorable mention are pictured below. Read more:Nobel
, Nobel Prize
Musings on (Puppy) Love 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Most people know about infatuation - that exciting, consuming "falling in love" feeling. Some people know that being "in love" is not the same as Love. Unfortunately for infatuation seekers, Real Love is found beyond the exciting stage. Looking back over years of serving and being served, surrender and being surrendered to, understanding and being understood, you realize that something very real and beautiful and strong has grown, and that you have tended to it with your sweat and tears.I knew this was true with romantic love, and probably love in general. But how surprised was I to find it true about parent love, of all things.If you read this blog, you know that my pregnancy struck me dumb with awe and worship with each step. But this is not to say that I was excited to have a baby. I was excited, in a general sense, to have a family, but I was terrified of the prospects of an actual baby. When asked "you must be so excited!" I would guiltily say "...um...not really." The response wa Read more:Musings
, Puppy
How's the view from up there? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Asher has managed to grow up again. For his latest trick, he can sit unsupported!Now that he can interact with the whole world, on his own terms (and not just the ceiling, at my mercy) he's all about playing with toys and loves being in control of his play time a bit. He celebrated by sitting up in a grocery store cart for the first time (this was at Costco, of course). Asher has also become a connoisseur of many fine foods, including rice cereal, oatmeal, peas, carrots, banana, and applesauce. He's stolen a few gulps of water from a glass, and a whole chunk of apple, which I quickly recovered from the back of his mouth. We are now on 24/7 chocking hazard alert! He has two and a half teeth so far, with more on the way!In this picture you can see him learning the joy of cookbook perusal with daddy.My sweet little pea is starting to give hugs and kisses and will lift up his arms if he wants to be picked up. He cries sometimes when I leave the room, or if I stop playing a game he was e
Marriage Counseling with Over the Rhine 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Sparkby Over the Rhine It's not the spark that caused the fireIt was the air you breathed that fanned the flameWhat you think you'll solve with violenceWill only spread like a diseaseUntil it all comes 'round againWas John the only dreamer?Sleep with one ear close to the groundAnd wake up screamingWhen we lay our cold weapons downWe'll wake up dreamingObsessions with self-preservationFaded when I threw my fear awayIt's not a thing you can imagineYou either lose your fearOr spend your life with one foot in the graveIs God the last romantic?Sleep with one ear close to the groundAnd wake up screamingWhen we lay our cold weapons downWe'll wake up dreamingOnly love can turn this aroundI wake up dreamingEverything we've lost can be foundWe'll wake up dreamingIf you're not a fan of Over the Rhine, you should be. Here's a review of this album. Read more:Counseling
Salt 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Something tells me that when Jesus told his followers they would be the salt of the earth, he didn't mean the kind of salt that's all over my car...I live in ChicagoLand, where it has been very, very, very cold for a very, very long time. Its discouraging to check the 10 day forcast and see high temps of -2 as far as the eye can see. One of the worst parts of cold and snow is the layer of salt that accumulates on everything. Creation turns from living, vibrant color to cold, dull gray. And my car is not exempt. It doesn't matter if my car is blue, yellow, or neon pink in the summer time; in the winter time it is so colorless its almost invisible. Faith feels like this sometimes. Or faith traditions. Vibrant and alive during some seasons, dull and chalky and gray during others. Its tempting to give up, or trade in what I have for a more exciting version. It helps me to remember, as I look at my frozen, salty car, that underneath the real thing is still there, still beautiful, still
Train of Thought 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I had a meeting in Chicago this morning. So, at 7am, I joined the commuting masses with their black boots, black coats, and black coffee on the train ride into the city. I do this, for one reason or another, about once a year. And I love it. Its such an adventure for me - precisely, of course, because I don't have to do it at all. Joining such a dressed up, busy crowd makes me feel like I'm going somewhere. Spending an hour watching the suburbs speed by and the city come into view gives me time to slow down and reflect. And, the whole adventure reminds me a little bit of my European days. One thing is certain, though. This commuting-to-the-city world is a different culture from my work-at-home-suburban world. And as a student and enthusiast of culture, I like to observe the people around me. And the element of this culture that strikes me most is this:Although we are a great mass of people, in a small space, for a long time, everyday, doing the same thing, for nearly the same reason, Read more:Train
Oh, how we love Harry... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My stomach literally flipped when I read this, and I still get butterflies when I think of it. Release date is July 21st, 2007...which is the day before Asher's 1st birthday. I think we all know what present he's getting... Read more:Harry
Time to Vote! - **Updated 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Hey everyone, click here to nominate your favorite mommy-blog. Its a "treasure hunt" for off the beaten path mommy blogs. You can nominate between Feb 1-7, which is now!
Devotion 1970-01-01 00:59:59 One thing I desire in life is devotion to God. When I say this, I really don't mean adhering to strict religious principles or morality, though these things may play a part. What I mean is earnestly seeking with my soul after wisdom and love and He-Who-Is-Everything.I wax and wane in my ability to even try to do this. America is not the best context for wisdom-seeking. Other cultures have placed a premium on developing spirituality and the soul, but we have historically emphasized much different things; even our religious forms reflect these other values. America values knowledge and data, deceptively similar to but very different from wisdom. Knowledge and data lead us to value talking and noise and gadgets and cell phones and radios and Ipods and Internet and TiVo. Wisdom is found in silence, reflection, and meditation. America values efficiency and achievement and industry. Wisdom is found in beauty and poetry and sacrifice and patience.My waxing and waning happen on a several year Read more:Devotion
Stop now, please 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I feel busy.Am I busy? I am the mother of a six month old, with whom I am absolutely in love. I work about 17 hours a week, mostly from home, at my HR job. I'm teaching a class at a nearby college. I'm committed to my church, my small group, my friends, my husband, my email, my blog, my parents, my love of reading, eating, sleeping, paying bills, and my sanity (not in that order, hopefully).Is that too much?When I was in college, I was too busy. Like most Wheaton students, I was striving for perfection, and the formula for perfection was something like "Perfection = full load of classes x highest grade in each class + involvement in at least one extra-curricular activity each day / leading at least half of those activities + having lots of friend x never sleeping."I've never really figured out what drove us all towards this life-destroying idea of perfection. Maybe its just what you do in college - at some schools you ruin your life by drinking and partying too much; at others, by s
The Cute Story Trilogy (1 of 3) 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Asher mean joyful or happy or blessed. We named him this, among other reasons, because we want him to be a happy, joyful person. And so far, is he ever! A month or so ago, if Asher was lying on the ground he would frequently start screaming for joy. Literally. Ear-shattering screams of joy. Over, and over, and over again. Now that he can sit up, he's too busy for such exuberance. But whenever I'm in the shower, I lay him down on our bathmat. And, enjoying the tiled acoustics, he yelps and screams and shrieks with joy. I've decided to join him. So I sing (from Psalty's Kids' Praise) "make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth! Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Make a LOUD noise, and rejoice, sing praises. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord." (remember that, anyone?) We've got a pretty good duet going. I sing, while he makes loud, joyful noises, right on cue. So special. Read more:Trilogy
The Cute Story Trilogy (2 of 3) 1970-01-01 00:59:59 As I've mentioned, Asher is beginning to eat solid foods. He loves fruit, and can't get enough of it. Before I can bring the spoon back to the bowl, he has his mouth open, his neck straining, and his arms flapping like a baby bird. Veggies are a different matter. Desire doesn't kick in as strongly, and he's able to take a more objective stance. He's laid down a few ground rules:I must be able to see what's in the bowlI must be holding the bowlWith my other hand, I must be holding the spoon, and will bring the spoon to my own mouth (or, the general vicinity).When, and only when, I am in compliance with all three conditions will he open his mouth and allow the vegetables inside. Or, outside. Or, all over his bid and chin and cheeks, overturning the bowl and spilling food everywhere. Its fun for me to see how curious his face is as he peers into the bowl, how determined he is to be the one holding both bowl and spoon, how unwavering he is in not opening his mouth until his terms hav Read more:Trilogy
The Cute Story Trilogy (3 of 3) 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Yesterday I was putting Asher down for a nap. We had just finished reading stories and were settling down in the rocking chair for some singing and snuggling. He was so sweet and cute, looking up at me. I broke the cardinal rule of sleep training - nap time is not play time. I leaned down to his face, grabbed his nose, and laughed affectionately. In response, he giggled. Then, reached his hand up to my face, grabbed my nose, and laughed affectionately. Wow. Be still my beating heart. Read more:Trilogy
Ash Wednesday, again 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Today is Ash Wednesday
.As difficult as it is to assume a posture of solemnity with a screaming-for-joy baby around all the time, Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent it begins is a very special time for me.I feel that adding words to what has already been said would be superfluous. Instead, I will direct you first to the description of Lent found in the Anglican liturgy, and then to what I wrote last year for Ash Wednesday. You can find that post here, or read about Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Holy Week here. Invocation for Holy Lent(Taken from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer)Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of th
Stranded, without even a shot at a million dollars 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My car has been in the shop for three weeks. Three Weeks! Which means that Asher and I have been pretty much entirely stuck at home. And since the average temperature has been something like zero, we haven't wandered out on foot either. Three weeks is a long time to be standed at home.Yesterday, bliss of bliss, my car came home. I was so excited to Go Somewhere today. Go Anywhere!Guess what I found this morning? A flat tire. Now my car is being attached to a tow truck, going back to the shop. Sigh. Read more:million
, dollars
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