7 Quick Takes Friday – Soak Up the Sun

1. No updates on Larisa yet!  Please keep praying for her.

2. Soaking up the sun is what I’ve been doing a lot of lately!  After last week’s snow (first time I can ever recall snow in May), we’ve had gorgeous weather where I live and I’ve been enjoying the heck out of it.  (And as a result, not blogging.  Sorry, folks!)  Luckily, I saved my tomatoes from the snow.  The night before it snowed, DH and I went to the hardware store and picked up a few glass quart jars and used them to cover the tomatoes.  It looked goofy, but it worked like a charm!

3. I got nothin’ else, so let’s talk orphans for awhile.  First up is Shaina, an adorable little girl who needs to be adopted by JUNE 2013 or she will age out!

Shaina already has over $5000 raised for her adoption – wow!  Won’t somebody please take her home?

4. This one is a three-fer: Trudy, Tristan, and Tatiana!  These three are siblings who live in the same region but in different orphanages.  All three have HIV.  Tatiana has FAS, and Tristan has unspecified mental delays.  Reece’s Rainbow is hoping to find a way for them to be adopted together.  Do you know their family?  Maybe you do and you don’t know it!

Trudy, age 15

 

Tristan, age 10

 

Tatiana, age 7

 

5.  Next up is Cate!  Cate is ten years old and has the following heart issues:  discordant atrioventricular junction, corrigent transposition of magistral vessels, coronary-left ventricle fistula, complete atrioventricular heart block.  If she had the proper medical care, she could probably thrive.  She may also have FAS – the records aren’t clear.

6.  Finally, we have Matthew John, who needs a family by September 2013!  He has an absence of skull and congenital dyskinesia of his limbs.  However, he’s described as an extroverted boy who gets along with the other kids in his institution and likes to play football.  (I’m guessing they mean soccer.)  And he has zero dollars in his account – what a travesty!

 

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song!  As you might have guessed, this week’s song is “Soak Up the Sun” by Sheryl Crow.

For more Quick Takes from Jen and others, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for orphans!

7 Quick Takes Friday – Spring At Last!

1. Spring has finally sprung, but first an update on Larisa!  Kate commented on my Larisa page that she and her husband had tried to claim Larisa, but the paper trail on her had been lost!  Please storm heaven for her!

2. As the title of this posts suggests, danger of frost has FINALLY passed where I live!  I spent my day off this week getting my tomatoes, peppers, and herbs planted.  Salsa will be a little late this year, but better late than never, right?

3.  Aside from eating whatever I grew, my favorite part of gardening season is going to the garden center and buying new plants.  I love looking at all the little tags and learning about new varieties.  I also love finding the stuff I intended to plant – when I see Jet Star tomatoes or Blushing Beauty peppers, it’s like running into an old friend.

4.  I’m not quite organized enough to have a garden plan.  Scratch that.  I am organized enough to have a garden plan… but I always throw it out once I get to the garden center.  ”Plans?  Where we’re going we don’t need plans!”

5.  I’ve been very active in a statewide professional organization for the last few years.  A few months ago, I became a committee chair for the organization.  I haven’t talked about this on the blog because, well, this blog isn’t about my professional life.  I haven’t talked about it at work either, partly because it never seemed like the right time, and partly because I didn’t think anybody actually cared.  I was proven wrong on that score at staff meeting, when Boss Man gave me a shout-out at staff meeting.

6.  I guess the moral of take #5 is: quietly doing the right thing is more persuasive than you realize.

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song!  This Friday’s song is “Pon de Replay” by Rihanna.

For more Quick Takes from Jen and others, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for Larisa!

7 Quick Takes Friday – New Year!

1. It’s the first Quick Takes of 2013, so of course I have to feature Larisa!  I’m her guardian angel, so she has to come first.  Miss Larisa has over $1200 available for her adoption – that’s a head start for any prospective family!

2. One of the books I got for Christmas was “How to Die in the Outdoors” by Buck Tilton.  As the title suggests, it has all kinds of stupid things NOT to do if you want to survive in the wilderness.  And from this book I learned the following fact which I couldn’t resist sharing with all of you:

In Southeast Asia, there are foot-long centipedes that eat mice and birds.

AAAAUUGHHH!!!

3. So, the next time you have a bad day, just remember – at least I didn’t see any foot-long centipedes!

4.  It’s January, which means it’s time to start planning the garden!  I don’t start seeds indoors (cats would eat them) but this is usually when I start planning ahead to determine whether or not to expand the garden, what I’m going to plant, etc.  So that brings me to my question: fellow gardeners, any recommendations on tomato varieties?  (I’m in Zone 5.)

5.  On January 1, I mentioned to DH it was the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God, and he asked if that meant we could have pizza every time there was a saint’s feast day.  I replied that while I could think of worse reasons to eat pizza, if we did that we’d get sick of pizza pretty quickly, since there’s a saint’s feast day almost every day.

6. New Year’s Resolutions: Making them: Did you?  I didn’t.  I’m signed up for 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days, so those are my resolutions.

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song!  This Friday’s song is “Ordinary World” by Duran Duran.

For more Quick Takes from Jen and others, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!

7 Quick Takes Friday – August and Everything After

1. It’s been 6 days since I decided to stop wishing I drank less and start actually drinking less. The two nights when I didn’t drink at all, the thought “I’d really like a glass of wine” was somewhat overwhelming.  One of those nights, I distracted myself by watching the US women’s gymnastics team win gold.  I watched the Magnificent 7 win gold in 1996, and I distracted myself by comparing my life then to my life now.  I was in high school back then, which leads me to my next take…

2.  Don’t let ANYBODY tell you that high school is the best time in your life!  It’s a lowdown dirty lie!  Don’t get me wrong, high school wasn’t all sturm und drang, but neither is it a time I want to repeat.  I’m much happier now, thank you.  (Undergrad, on the other hand… that I might actually repeat. )

3. Back in January, I talked about my sponsored friends.  Unfortunately, I have some bad news about them.  Darweshi, my sponsored teenager in Kenya, has dropped out of school and thus is no longer eligible for sponsorship benefits.  Margaret, my sponsored college student in the Philippines, recently had a baby and is trying to stay in school but it’s a huge struggle for her.  (Rajesh, my sponsored elderly, is doing just fine, thank God.)  Please pray for them and their futures.

4. Also, I’d like you all once again to pray for my pal Father B.  He’s having another surgery this week and hopefully this is the last one he’ll need.  Father B was a big help to me when I reverted.  I owe him so much and I only hope that one day I can repay him.

5.  On a happier note, I’ve always liked August.   When I was a child, I saw August as the light at the end of the tunnel; while it’s still blazing hot, there are more hot days behind than there are ahead.  Now, I live in a college town, and August is when all the students return.  Townies such as myself are often relieved to see the students depart in May, but after a few quiet months without them, we remember that they are what makes this town special.

6. I got nothin’ else, so here’s a quote from C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters: “[God] wants men to be concerned with what they do; our business is to keep them thinking about what will happen to them.”   [Hat tip to Steve Gershom for that one.]

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song! This week’s song is “Let it Go” by Tim McGraw.

For more Quick Takes from Jen and others, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!

7 Quick Takes Friday – Orphans, Orphans, Orphans!

Yes, it’s another all-orphan Quick Takes!  It’s been so hot where I live that I’ve not done much worth blogging about; until that changes, my Quick Takes will be about orphans and people trying to adopt them.

1. RED ALERT!  The McCaslins are trying to adopt two teenage girls from China and they need your help! They have until August 31st to raise $34,000!  If you’re able to chip in, please, please do!

2. Number two is, of course, sweet Larisa!  I’m her guardian angel, so she has to be near the top.  Miss Larisa has over $1200 available for her adoption – that’s a head start for any prospective family!

 

3. Next up is Daniel! (He’s the blonde one.)  He’s 11 years old and described as the “darling of the orphanage.”  He’s affectionate and loves attention – imagine how much he’d love parents and siblings to fuss over him!

4. Sweet Dawn is 11 years old and has been living in an institution since she was three! She recently learned to walk and while she doesn’t speak, she understands what is said to her.  She responds well to attention, and it sounds like a lot of her problems stem from having been institutionalized so long.

5. Estelle is 14 years old and has HIV. Like Larisa, she’s in danger of aging out of the system.  Maybe you know a family who could adopt her and you don’t realize it yet! 

6.  Last but not least, we have Alyssa and Yates!  These two are siblings, and man, are they adorable!  Alyssa is 9 and Yates will turn 8 in September.  Wouldn’t it be great if they could be adopted by the same family?

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song!  This week’s song is “P.S. I Love You” by Bette Midler.

For more Quick Takes from Jen and others, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!

7 Quick Takes Friday – OrphanStock!

1. Yet another all-orphan Quick Takes!  Leading off is, of course, sweet Larisa!  I’m her guardian angel, so she has to come first.  Miss Larisa has over $1200 available for her adoption – that’s a head start for any prospective family!

2. Next up is sweet Frankie!  Frankie has Down Syndrome and is described as being self-sufficient, independent and having initiative.  She’s also a bit stubborn and impulsive.  (Um… yeah, she’s a kid.)  She’s “approximately” 12 years old… I wonder if she even knows when her birthday is?  Maybe if she gets a family they can make a huge deal out of her adoption day.

3.  Dylan turns 11 next month!  Wouldn’t it be great if he got a family for his birthday?  He has Down Syndrome, FAS and some significant delays – big families, older parents and single moms welcome.

4. RED ALERT!  Dawn is 13, which means she ages out of the program on her next birthday!  (February 2013)  She has spina bifida and is in a wheelchair but she can get in and out of the wheelchair and go up and down stairs by herself.  She’s described as a “confident, articulate, and happy” girl who does well in school.  She’d thrive in a family!

5. Justine turned 10 last month.  She’s described as having congenital microcephaly, autism, and possibly FAS. A girl with a sweet smile like this needs a  daddy!   

6. Finally, we have Nadine, Kane, and Mitch!  These three are siblings – Nadine is 10, Kane is 9, and Mitch is 8.  They lived with their birth parents until 2005 and have been in a group home style orphanage since then.  They all attend school and have no behavior problems, but they do have mild delays that one would expect from kids in an orphanage.

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song!  This Friday’s song is “A Little Bit of Riddim” by Michael Franti & Spearhead, featuring Cherine Anderson.

For more Quick Takes from Jen and others, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!

7 Quick Takes Friday – Orphan-A-Palooza!

1.Yet another all-orphan Quick Takes!  Leading off is, of course, sweet Larisa!  I’m her guardian angel, so she has to come first.  Miss Larisa has over $1200 available for her adoption – that’s a head start for any prospective family!

2. Next up is Gerard!  Like Larisa, he’s HIV+, and he’s the same age as she is – Larisa was born in December 1998, Gerard in August 1998.  This handsome little gentleman needs a family so that he can flourish.

3.  Here is lovely Francesca!  She’s 13 and ages out of the system at 16.  She has hip dysplasia, mental delays, and myopia (nearsightedness).  Sounds like a lot… but with God all things are possible.

4. Sweet Alexander is 10 years old and already living on borrowed time! This brave little man has a brain tumor and treatment options are limited in his country – but he has much better odds if he can get to the US!  Can somebody come for him?

5. Joel is a good looking little fellow!  According to his Reece’s Rainbow bio, he has minor delays due to what sounds like ADHD.  He likes to play sports and he craves praise and attention from adults.  (Sounds like a regular kid to me, but what do I know?)   His bio also said that he “likes to dress stylishly” – how many mothers of boys would love that?

6. Finally, we have Samantha and Kristina!  These sweethearts are sisters, and they’ve already been transferred to the mental institution!  :(  Samantha (1st picture) has microcephaly and mental retardation but is “friendly and affectionate and would do well in a family.”  Kristina (2nd picture) is cognitively delayed but physically fine, and friendly like her sister.

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song! This Friday’s song is  “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman.

For more Quick Takes from Jen and others, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!

7 Quick Takes Friday – Orphan-O-Rama!

1. Once again, I’m doing an all-orphan Quick Takes!  Leading off is, of course, sweet Larisa!  I’m her guardian angel, so she has to come first.  Miss Larisa has over $1200 available for her adoption – that’s a head start for any prospective family!

2. Next up is cutie pie Lance, who, like Larisa, is HIV+.   Lance is a sweet little man with a big smile.  I bet he’d smile a lot bigger if he had a mom and dad to take him home…

3.  From the same orphanage, we have Violetta!  Violetta is four years old, which means she will be transferred to the adult mental institution soon.  (At four years of age… dear Lord!)  Positively adorable, and she has a pretty big grant too – over $2000 is a available for her adoption.

4. Next is Tim, another precious soul who is more than 10 years old and has HIV.  According to Reece’s Rainbow, he’s “communicative, inquisitive, sociable and kind” and good about taking his medicine.  (Maybe he could teach my DH a thing or two about taking medicine when you’re sick…)  Like Violetta, he has a large grant – almost $5000 – so the family who adopts him has a lot of help already!

5. Ana lives in the same orphanage as Tim, and they are both the orphanage favorites.  What I don’t get is why Ana’s grant is so much smaller than Tim’s!   Let’s show Ana some love!  She’s described as “calm, obedient, and likes to learn” – sounds like a great kid who’d do well with a family!

6. Finally, Lorenzo and Salvador.  Oh my word.  These poor little guys are twins and they’ve been separated!  Lorenzo has developmental delays and can walk but doesn’t speak (yet). According to Reece’s Rainbow, he’s a happy child who likes to play hide and seek.  Salvador is also delayed but has improved a lot with therapy and is trying to learn to speak.  Like his twin, he’s a happy child and interacts well with adults he knows.

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song! This Friday’s song is “Wish You Were Here” by Wyclef Jean.  (Yes, it’s a cover of the Pink Floyd song, and while the original is one of my all-time favorites, I really like Wyclef’s version too.)

For more Quick Takes from Jen and others, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!

Matching Fund Drive Results!

May is over, which means it’s time to post the results of Larisa’s matching fund drive! On May 1st, Larisa had $200 in her fund.  Today she has….

[drumroll please]

$719!

After I send the check, she’ll be up over $1200, which will make it that much easier for a family to take her home!

“The mountains melt like wax before the Lord.” – Psalm 97:5

7 Quick Takes Friday – TGIF

1. Today is June 1st, which is technically the end of Larisa’s matching fund drive.   However, I wrote these takes a few days in advance, so I don’t have the results yet.  I’ll post them this weekend, and if you donate between now and the time I post the results I’ll go ahead and count it in with the total.  Let’s show this girl that the Body of Christ has not forgotten her.

2.  I started a new book this week: Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait by Fr. Leo Maasburg.  Fr. Maasburg worked closely with Mother Teresa from 1982 until her death, and accompanied her on many of her overseas trips.  There are a lot of funny behind-the-scenes stories, such as why “MC” not only stands for “Missionaries of Charity” but “Much Confusion” and the only time Mother Teresa was left speechless.  And there are some stories that left me speechless, such as the time the flour ran out and the Sisters didn’t have money to buy more.  Mother Teresa told the Sister who delivered the bad news,  “You are responsible for the kitchen? Go to the chapel and pray!”

While the Sister was praying, a stranger arrived with a huge sack of flour.

3.  This book is a pretty quick read.  Any recommendations for my next book? I’m specifically looking for lives of the saints and theology, but anything else you care to recommend is good too.

4.  I would say this time of year makes me restless, but the truth is I’m always restless.  It’s not officially summer but it’s a little late to be spring.  The tomato plants have all set fruit but nothing is ripe yet.  The most recent graduates have departed and the new students have not yet arrived.  In terms of waiting, June in a college town can test one’s patience just as badly as Advent.  (It doesn’t help if you’re preternaturally impatient and fidgety like I am.)

5.  Can I just say that I don’t like political candidate bumper stickers?  I’m specifically referring to the ones that endorse a specific candidate.  It seems like you have to scrape them off your car the day after the election.  If you still have the sticker on your car a month later and your candidate won, you’re gloating.  But if your candidate lost… well, that’s just kinda sad.

6.  I guess Jen isn’t the only one whose Quick Takes are all over the map.  :)  Thank you Jen, for providing us with an outlet for all our random thoughts.

7. It’s Friday, so it’s time for a song! This Friday’s song is “Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills, & Nash.

For more Quick Takes, go here!