10 things...

Stole/borrowed this from Living Proof Ministries Blog... Kinda fun!

What are 10 things -right off the top of your head- that we would know about you only if we knew you really well? 10 random things ranging anywhere on your personal map that make you a tad distinctive? Or just plain weird? Think quick! Don't go for deep. Go for quirky. Don't try to put them in any kind of order and don't make them long. Just type.

1. Foam gives me the heeby jeebies.
2. I can't drink Coke with ice without a straw. The ice hurts my teeth.
3. I have four major scars on my body and they all have stories that go with them (some are related)
4. There is a "right" way to load the dishwasher in my house.
5. I HATE to clean!
6. I LOVE clean bedsheets that have a hint of bleach smell.
7. I have 5 false teeth.
8. I have a desire to be a published writer someday.
9. My dream job would be working at The Container Store M-F from 9-2.
10. I believe that less is more in MANY aspects of my life.

Not too quirky and perhaps a little deeper than I thought. I am listening to the washing machine work as I type this and I found myself wandering to "cleaning" quirks. Funny how life leads me.

Happy Sunday!

Do I miss my religion?

So I wake up this Sunday morning and do not even consider taking my family to Mass. I hop on Face Book and realize that it is indeed Palm Sunday, next week being Easter and all, and I think about it for just a second. I dismiss it nearly as quickly. I wonder.... what would be the point.

Obviously an hour later the thoughts have not been completely dismissed because I am not blogging on the topic. So here are my random thoughts... try to stay with me. I am all over the place!

I have been Catholic since before I was born. I had some good Catholic years and most recently some bad Catholic years. Despite the good and the bad I think that I am still perceived as a Catholic because I have not committed otherwise. The height of my Catholic years were in HS and college and the lowest are my current state and a short period when we lived in MI when I was not connecting with my parish. As I type that I figure that is really the crux of my dilemma. So much of being Catholic is community and without a community to feel welcomed in and to invest my time, energy and talents in I am lost.

My Word of the Year is Stewardship and I admittedly am being a poor steward to my church these days. I will not say that I am being a poor steward to GOD because I think overall I serve him well. I pray, I do acts of service, I try to set a good example for my children. What I lack however is bringing them up fully in the church. Maybe I should be fired from my Godmother positions, not sure how others feel about that?

In addition to not connecting with my parish I have also been struggling with some Catholic catechism that I just can't swallow whole. I don't want to be an ala carte Catholic but I can not take the whole menu. In typing that I then should consider, is there a better church home for me. I have considered this before and in my own little mind I think there is no place that I will find complete peace with my personal goals and expectations of religion and the reality of any group.

Is there a church out there who is OK with birth control as a form of family planning? Is there a church out there that welcomes gay people who have faith in God? Is there a church out there that will enlighten my kids outside of services? Is there a church without scandal? Is there a church who holds to the belief that we are all going to heaven? I have lots of friends from Eastern and Western religions who have their own thoughts on heaven. I just want to see everyone there or to know that they are in their own heaven. I can't fathom that God will judge my friends based on their Sunday worship locations or if they worship at all. I believe that God will judge the person for their right acts Monday-Sunday and their personal beliefs in Him. Am I so far off?

As I type this I have more questions and so many fewer answers. I am struggling. I don't know how to celebrate Christ's Resurrection next Sunday with my family. Going to church seems like a stretch. We haven't been in a couple of months. Maybe I have turned into a ChrEaster Catholic. Do we still get into heaven? Will I see you there?