Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

What I’m Reading – August/September

September 27, 2019

Okay, so two months behind but better late…blah, blah, blah. You know the drill. That said, I decided to go back to my regular way of logging what I read – the piece of paper with not a lot of room. It’s actually easier to remember and a line or two of info isn’t all that bad. If a book is good I’ll remember it. I thought I hadn’t read much so far this year, but I’ve reading about a book a week. Also – I’ve read a lot of books on housekeeping and cleaning house this year so I guess that’s the annual topic. :-P Let’s dive in with a cuppa tea or coffee and a biscuit or two.

I only read one book in August and my spiritual reading. The one book I read was “How to make a difference when you can’t find your keys” by Marilyn Paul (no taking off points for improper capitalization please – it’s a long title). It was really, really good and it had a lot of areas for thought beyond a cluttered home. I could actually use some of the questions in relation to my weight loss goals. It’s really a workbook in a book so you can go through it at your own pace and jot down thoughts and ideas as you go. Decluttering and doing things differently to get to a better place take time and this is the book to help you with that.

For spiritual reading I read the Book of Revelation and Scott Hahn’s “The Lamb’s Supper” which is about the meaning of Revelation and how a lot of it relates to the Catholic Mass. It was a really good read and an easy one as well so anyone can pick this up and get a lot out of it. I also finished Part 3 of the Catechism – Life in Christ – along with Oscar Lukefahr’s “We Live: To Know, Love, and Serve God”. All of these books went together so well and I learned a lot. I really enjoyed it.

Now for September. I decided to read ALL of Pam Young and Peggy Jones’ books and I’m so glad I did! These books are all super easy, but also super fun. They tell you how to get your home (and life) together one index card at a time. And you can trust them because they’ve ordered their own lives so they KNOW the pain a disorganized life can be. I’m getting back into the box (index box that is) and their kick butt advice is sticking with me. Thank you ladies!

I also read “The Ultimate Peter Rabbit: a visual guide to the world of Beatrix Potter” on a Sunday afternoon that was as beautiful a day as you’d see in the Lake District. The oversized book is put out by DK so there are lots of beautiful pictures of Beatrix and her work. Learned a lot about Ms. Potter and how her books came to be. A great read for adults and kids alike.

Like I mentioned last time, I did start Part 4 of the Catechism which is Prayer and I’m also reading the Psalms in the Bible to partner with it. They just seem to go together. I also picked up “Prayer for Beginners” by Peter Kreeft – a small book with good information on beginning your prayer life. Some of it is over my head, but the majority is fairly easy for the average person. After that I’m not sure what I’ll read for the topic of prayer. I have some books on prayer at home and there are a couple I’d like to get, but I’ll have to think about it. Book titles seem to jump out at me and they end up being exactly right at the time. Holy inspiration? You bet! BTW – this is a yearly reading track so I’ll be continuing on this trajectory for awhile.

As far as reading in general I’ve no idea what to start. I still need to do some personal help books so I my start in on that. I just don’t know yet. Right now I’m reading “A Monk’s Guide to A Clean Heart and Mind” by Japanese Buddhist monk Shoukei Matsumoto – a very interesting read. Again, a lot of food for thought. I like books like that – the ones that make me pause and re-evaluate things in my life. It helps fill in gaps that need filling. It’s a small book so it’ll go fast, but it’s good to read slowly to let the words take root. However, it’s time to pick up a novel again. I don’t like modern ones much, so I may read some of the classics I always say I want to read but never do. Hmmm….I’ll get back to you on that.

Okay – I think that sums things up. Hope you are reading something you enjoy. :-)

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The Clean Up Game

September 12, 2019

As I’m reading yet another blog post to inspire me to get going in the get-your-house-together direction, I remembered a game that my brother (or maybe just me) played that was actually kind of fun. Fade back in time to the 1970’s when we lived in London. England.

Every once in awhile my younger brother and I would be playing pretty intensely and to end the game I decided to just toss everything into the middle of the room since the room was already a big mess anyway. Then, I’d clean it all up (I don’t think he helped). I enjoyed the process of putting everything back into order and have a clean room. I felt such a sense of accomplishment.

So, I was thinking about this “game” today and wondering – maybe I should do that again. Throw everything in the middle of the room and then sort through it and put it all back. Oh wait – isn’t that the Konmari method? Hehe – maybe younger me was just ahead of my time. :-)

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Not My Thought

September 9, 2019

I wrote this on August 21, 2019 – It’s now September and time to put self-care front and center.

As I was washing dishes this morning I was listening to some 90’s tunes that I love and one was “Until I Fall Away” by Gin Blossoms. Immediately tears started in. It’s been like that lately – a lot of tears. So I thought hmm, time to have a monthly focus again. How about – Self Care September? Then I Googled it – oh yeah, it’s already a thing. And I thanked God for letting it enter my consciousness – maybe He is telling me something.

I know what some of you are thinking – that I probably already saw that somewhere. Well, maybe I did, but I am a believer and I can believe this was from God, the Holy Spirit, or the myriad of saints I pray to on a daily basis if I want. After all – that is faith. Faith as I know it anyway.

So, I think I may use this as a starting point for some major, overdue, self-care. I’ve tried and tried but life keeps handing crises my way and it’s just getting harder and harder to cope with everyday living. So, it’s time to put myself first for awhile until I can get a grip. If I ever can.

I know there are worse problems in the world other than a broken water heater, or even a husband’s broken collar bone. And I do offer up as much as I can for the bigger issues. But I keep coming back to a line from “The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio” and it is this: “So far three of my chicks have found their own nests. I am so very proud of them. That’s where my prayers went. That’s where they all went.” I’m thinking it’s time to do that again – pray for my family and myself too. I did that once and it helped. So, maybe Evelyn Ryan is telling me that it’s okay for me to just pray for myself and my family. After all she is one of the saints I pray to for help. :-)

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» 2019 » September » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

What I’m Reading – August/September

September 27, 2019

The Clean Up Game

September 12, 2019

Not My Thought

September 9, 2019

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