"If I were an angel...

+ J. M. J.

Grease is one of the most ridiculous movies ever made! Ever!

+ J. M. J.

I love my job. Being able to see and help people all day brings joy. Fiddling with numbers and solving a wide array of problems brings a more than welcome challenge to my menial life. Being able to go home at the early hour of 4 o'clock can be gratifying. The freedom and trust to stay until 5 o'clock if I wish makes it worthwhile. The steady flow of work (most of the time), knowing the tasks my bosses and myself expect of me, not knowing what new problem will need to be solved every day--it's bliss. Having the office to myself for at least two hours a day is FANTASTIC. Having bosses that leave me alone to do my job instead of scolding or patronizing (as much as they used to) and who are easy going people are the best kind of bosses anyone could ask for. As long as I do my job and stay busy they keep their mouth shut and I keep mine shut, too, about things getting done. In fact, I'm usually the one reminding them. So I get to be the helpful personal assistant, too. It's a good system we have going here! It's delightful to be able to run around the office without shoes. It's also delightful to know that, while I dress up for work at least three days a week, I can show up in old jeans and a plain old t-shirt and break no policy.

The last thirty minutes of every day are my favorite. I compartmentalize all the things I need to do the next day. (This usually means putting something off I could have done that day so that I have something to do the next day. It's just good time management! :p ) I organize the papers, paper clip them, label them with a sticky note, put them in the order I'll want to do them and write out a to do list for the next day in order of priority (labeled "AA" being URGENT, "A" being priority, "B" being important and so on). I write down any messages I need to let my boss know in the morning, make a list of people I need to call and put that on top of the nice and neat pile of mini-piles of things to do. All of this goes in a manila folder labeled "To Do Today" and the folder sits in my inbox awaiting the next day's arrival.

This system works wonderfully for me. Every morning when I get to work I know what I am going to do. I know how long I am going to spend on each task. There is no fear of being overwhelmed by a mass of completed and kind-of completed and "gee I need to do that" and "oh my gosh! I forgot to do that!" tasks. It is immensely satisfying and it gives the greatest sense of accomplishment.

It gives a sense of worth, too. That is to say, I know my job doesn't keep the world running. It doesn't keep anything running but the business. Even if it didn't, my job keeps others comfortable (namely the tenants, other employees, my bosses). My job is worth something. And it means a whole lot to me because I know I work hard at what I do for the wage that is given me. And even if it were a crap job with crap wages, while I wouldn't want to settle for that and would strive for something better, I'd do it with pride and to the best of my ability with love. "Little things with great love." - Bl Teresa of Calcutta. Therese always said that it seemed she failed at everything she tried. (Sound familiar?) But she did all things, as little as they may be, with great love for God and her neighbor. That's why I realize that it's perfectly okay that everything I do goes completely unnoticed. :-) I give everything to everything I do at work because it is living out the vocation in my current state of life to do so. At least I try, even if I sometimes fail miserably. And that is a beautiful thing.

Now, when it comes to putting the work and sacrifice needed to run my house I fail miserably. I am working on learning how to do that. Baby steps! A year ago I wouldn't have imagined I'd get this job down the way I have (thank God and His grace). So instead of both my home and work being in shambles, at least only my home is disordered right now. :-) That must stand for something, right? Time to myself is greatly needed these days. I am never alone unless it is before work, during lunch, right before bed and during those glorious hours of the day I have the office to myself. Otherwise I am always with someone. It's really taking a toll on me and my home. Housework is even fun for me but getting motivated to do it since this summer has been...well...it hasn't really happened. :-(

So...those are my somewhat organized thoughts on the matter. I'm going to get to the next item on today's work list. If I pace it right I should be finishing up around noon. Perfect. God love and bless you! Pax Christi vobiscum!

+ J. M. J.

Love and War by Dawn Eden

Exerpt:

“Authentic love is a balance between what Pope Benedict has described as eros and agape, or possessive love and oblative love,” he says. “Both Christ and Mary at Calvary exemplify that balance. Our Lord defends the honor of his Bride, and Our Lady suffers with her son in solidarity of love and compassion. They both expose themselves to suffering in the face of conflict, but their mutual self-forgetfulness is formed and consolidated by their union of love. “It is the man’s fundamental role to protect and defend, to put himself between his bride and the serpent. Adam, the first man, failed in this regard. Christ, the New Man, succeeded. A man’s love for God and neighbor will always be defined in this way.
“Christ, the Real Man, chose to become the Child of Mary and showed us the way of humility and submission. Men learn from Mary’s ‘yes’ the ‘yes’ of Christ, by which ‘He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.’ But the fruit of His humility and obedience was a warrior’s sacrifice, a defense of His Bride unto death.”

Marian chivalry, then, is “this Christian balance between love and war, or, in the terms of historical chivalry, between courtesy and prowess.” It is, Father Geiger concludes, “the acknowledgement of Mary as Queen and Mother, and the willingness to fight for Her honor.”

Read full article here.

+ J. M. J.


God let me wake up this morning :) and He said, "Good morning, Beautiful."







^_^

+ J. M. J.


Yesterday was very much a grr day. I spent it beating myself up and thinking, "ugh to you" in the general direction of The Other Party. When Etermil said she would literally have jumped him/hit-him-with-a-book if she had seen him I felt very much loved. ^_^ I was very grr. Grrrrr.

But before I went to bed at midnight there was much sorted out. And I apologized. And The Other Party apologized for stupidity. ...as it was stupid. Very stupid. It was "Ack! My bubble! My bubble!" *flailing of arms* type of stupid. But then there were hugs. :-) Hugs are nice.

And then I went out to my car and found my favorite chocolate that someone left. ^_^ Very nice.

Life is good. :-) And no more drama. Life can go back to being non-dramatic again. Yay!




mkay...those are my deep thoughts at this time.

+ J. M. J.

Last night Ty told me what it is that makes me so attractive. Now don't take this the wrong way. I'm not blowing my own horn here. It was just kind of...I don't know...nice to hear that there are some things about me which might actually be found amiable.

Ty spent the weekend here. He gave me a lot of crap. And he gave someone else a lot of crap, too, so it's okay. We had a great time. And I got to talk to Ty about a lot of the things that are going on in my head and in my heart. They are really the things I want to say to someone else and can't but, being the very vocal person I am, I have to say them. To someone. So it might as well be to the person in the world who best knows me. Even though...you know what? Nevermind. I'm not going to let my mind go there. ( ;-) ) It definitely helps to have someone who can say, "Brandi, you're full of crap," when I need to hear it, you know?

I'm at work. Will blog later.

+ J. M. J.

I found this in an old journal of mine. Maybe it was taken from something else. If it is, I haven't a clue who to credit or if I myself wrote it.



"I want to be delighted to take the last place.

I want to recoil from flattery.

I want to rejoice at my neighbor's success.

I don't want to make excuses for my sins.

I want to be quick to admit my weaknesses.

I want to prefer hiddenness to acclaim.

I want to be grateful when others criticize me.

I want others to point out my shortcomings.

I do not want to be undone by injury and injustice I am blessed with receiving.

I want to be without, or otherwise unmoved by worldly status, fame, prestige and repute.

I want to have peace in the midst of the world's conflict, turmoil and strife."

+ J. M. J.

There is nothing of particular importance to say right now. The saying goes that if you don't have anything good to say you probably shouldn't say anything at all. This is true, especially as no one cares about other people's BS. Most of the time. So here is a bunch of Barbara Streisand that's been tossing around my head as of late. I'm warning you it's pretty ridiculous.

First of all, old geezer hats are awesome. I have wanted one for years but the right one hasn't popped out at me. Maybe one day I will find the perfect gieser hat. Thrift stores are the best place to search for such things.

Second, I got some pretty strange advice concerning frying pans last night. Don't ask me what for. I don't...really...know? All that I was told was that I needed lots of frying pans. Well, first I was asked where I was. I said, "Ferrell stairwell." He said (as we were on the phone), "Good. You'll need lots of frying pans." What?? I have no clue. But apparently I need frying pans. *shrug*

Third, Hulu doesn't get House episodes on fast enough. *sigh* Okay, that's my complaint for today...

Fourth, since it just came to me, why is "fourth" spelled as "fourth" but "forty" is not "fourty?" Silly English language.

Fifth, THE NEW POPPLE ALBUM IS OUT!!!!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!! :D :D :D Go buy it today! Go listen to the entire album on their website and then buy it!! It's a good deal! And they are amazing!!

Sixth, no one but the electrician and the maintenance guy and the mailman have come in the office today. I have all my work done and I am utterly bored. I don't have my novel here, either, so I can't work on that. I don't know. It's just...ugh.

Seventh, I don't like the number seven.

Eighth, my car is two days away from being done! w00t! There's just all the red tape to go through now with the loan and getting the car up here from Arkansas. Apparently it has a sparkly new silver paint job. I can't wait!!! I don't know where to store her, though. :(

Ninth, every single time I see The Holiday (six times now) I refuse to let myself enjoy it on the grounds that I am convinced it is a bad movie and then by the end of the film I love it. I don't even know why. There are so many cringe moments. It is so disgustingly sentimental that it doesn't make you think and yet...I absolutely love the film. Man, I love Mr. Napkin Head. Truly I do. Mr. Napkin Head rocks my socks.

Tenth, the phone is ringing. Hooray! There IS civilization outside of the office! w00t!

Do You Have What it Takes to Be a Good Parent?



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Through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, God has given you the power to labor with Him in the procreation and formation of souls for heaven. He has entrusted to you this privilege and duty -- to instruct, correct, guide, encourage and console them in His name. God has given you the power to command and to teach. Be vigilant in warding off the evils which may prove injurious to any individual in the family or to the family as a whole. You must provide with tender solicitude for the spiritual and corporal needs of those whom God has entrusted to your care, securing the rights of each, and protecting the weak from the strong. You are to correct and punish leniently and charitably their faults and defects. What glory and honor for a man to be thus made God's helper and co-operate with Him in the salvation and sanctification of souls!

You are the parents of these souls, not the master of them. You must act as a kind physician, not as a tyrant. Treat them not as slaves, but as children. Be meek, affable, and condescending. Paternally reach out to each one with a loving heart. Your constant preoccupation must be to maintain within your family a spirit of unity, that sweet charity which causes the members to be of one heart and soul.

The government of souls is the art of arts, the science of sciences!
God has entrusted the care of the weak to you who also are weak. If you humbly ask for His guidance, He will bless and sanctify your labors. You must absolutely put all your trust in Him. The imperfections in your children serve to train you in the art of governing. As you correct, form, and bear with them, it is you who will grow in prudence, zeal, mild firmness and discretion, and the ways of God. Be full of charity and indulgence for your children and your neighbors, bearing with them in all kindness.

Noble, generous and solidly virtuous parents are rarely disheartened. Never make any correction in haste or in anger, but always with prudence and with patience. Weak persons tend to be naturally more domineering, more cruel and more severe than those who are strong. You cannot fail to notice that often the aged, the sickly, the sad, and the melancholy, the ill-humored, the full-blooded youth, and those having poor talents are prone to be more domineering in disposition.

A broad mind is indulgent in excusing, while overlooking and easily forgiving the faults of others. Be not narrow-minded; be not over-just; be not severe, or rigid, or hard toward others. Rather, be willing to excuse and forgive. Never measure the favors which you do for others, or keep count of the number of faults which you must daily pardon.

Prudence must be your compass. A lack of prudence will render you useless, and what is more, will be a positive evil to your family. A prudent parent is careful only to command what is just and easy to perform. He who wishes to secure perfect obedience should give but few orders. A wise guardian realizes that authority is conferred to edify and save, not to crush and destroy. Wisdom will inspire you to speak little and listen much.

The government of souls is a gift the Holy Ghost imparts to those parents who are most intimately united with Him in love and in constant prayer. Successful parenting is a mission beyond the power of even the holiest man, unless he is assisted by God!

Pray Always!
The foundation of your office of parenting is piety and the spirit of prayer. Without God's help, you labor in vain. Your most important duties lie in giving instruction, giving good example, and praying. Such a parent wins the hearts of his children, and subjects their wills to his. It is charity and tenderness which make him singularly persuasive over his children, inducing them to love him, and increasing his love for them.

The office of a parent is not a rest, but a labor; not only an honor, but a burden; not a pledge of security, but a forecast of dangers. A parent will not be saved or lost alone. To fail to correct abuses of obedience and respect in the home is to authorize evil and open the door to every disorder. It is the ultimate ruin of peace. Good example is the shortest and most effective means of leading your children to God. A holy parent turns his home into a nursery of saints. A soul filled with divine love enkindles those souls among which it is placed.

A parent who is lacking piety and virtue is the scourge of his family. Parents, you must be holy in order to sanctify your children. You cannot impart to them what you yourself do not possess. You must hate and detest evil, inspiring your family with an aversion to sin, to vanity, and to all impurity. You must be detached from the goods and vanities of this world and filled with divine love. Holiness alone is able to captivate minds, move hearts, instill confidence, subject wills, and compel children to sweetness and to virtue.

You cannot rule the will of another unless you hold his heart in your hand.
But how are you to capture the hearts of your children? You must live as a saint. Be meek, kind and amiable, affable and obliging to all. Your charity must always be generous, essentially active, and manifest itself by works. If you must correct, it should be done with kindness, frankness and patience. The title of parent is in reality only a slavery. You must serve your spouse and your children with respect, with meekness and kindness, quickly forgiving and forgetting every fault committed against self.

Harshness, by embittering the heart, ruins everything and begets hatred. It is meekness which renders obedience easy, for we obey with pleasure the man who is meek and reasonable. A spirit of meekness is particularly divine. If God Who is infinitely wise and powerful, governs us with consideration and with respect, what parent dare to govern with haughtiness and severity! Entreat rather than command. The gentle dove coos sweetly, caressing with its wing him who strikes it, for it has no gall. Let us be as doves, yielding to the will of others in all that is lawful.

A vigilant parent is ever on guard against the ambushes of the enemy. He has been given the sacred duty of protecting the souls entrusted to him. Constant vigilance is essential to protect your family from evil. Watchfulness has two objects: to anticipate and prevent evil, and to do good.

Worry is weakness.
A good parent is attentive and watchful. He is not timid, easily alarmed, mistrustful, or suspicious. You must imitate God's large heart which bears without worry all idolaters, unbelievers, schismatics, and heretics -- all the sinners of the world, patiently awaiting their conversion. Perfection bears with imperfection. You cannot correct those at fault by repelling them. Receive them in a friendly manner, bear with them in patience, with gentleness and kindness. Be firm and clear in your correction. Bide your time till all are calm. Begin always with a prayer to God the Holy Ghost and to the Blessed Mother. The most profitable correction requires a calm heart and a tranquil mind, both by the one who receives it, and by the one who administers it. Do not reprove your child for every fault. Often repeated reproofs are worrisome. He who is too often reproved may become easily discouraged or grow reckless. Those who commit grievous faults should be treated with kindness.

The imperfections which may be found in every member of the family allow you to practice heroic virtue. Order and holiness are preserved only by continual combat. True virtue is deepened and strengthened by what is difficult. To be genuine, virtue must pass through the crucible of contradiction. Pray unceasingly and in a special manner for those children who are your incorrigible ones. Prayer is often the only means by which their souls can be won over to Jesus Christ.

Take up your cross!
Yes, the life of every good parent is a martyrdom! It is to drink daily from the chalice of Jesus Christ Crucified. To be good parents, you must have a deep and true love of the Cross. It is by changing serpents into doves and tigers into lambs that you will be representative of Christ the Good Shepherd, and prove yourself a worthy parent, a man fit to beget and save souls.
Fr. Gerreol Girardey Qualities of A Good Superior 1920

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Found on The Cukierski Family Apostolate site. Used with permission.

+ J. M. J.

Last night I was on the phone with my best friend back home. I was babbling on and on about all this confusing stuff in my head (a lot of it has lodged itself up there the past couple days) when I said something along the lines of: "I don't even know which way's up anymore so I can't even know if I have my head up my ass." He laughed so hard that I had to ask if he was okay. When he got his wind back he said, "Brandi, I've known you a long time. I never thought I'd hear you say anything like that. And no, your head's not up your ass." Good to know.