A Youtube Education

When you are sick and stuck at home for a week, you get creative in what entertains you. Today, I learned a few things on Youtube:

How to cut an onion without crying

How to cut an avocado

How to cut a mango

How to peel an egg

How to peel garlic in 2 seconds

How to cut a kiwi

A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

I may have mentioned this before, but Fr. Lefor always talks about how we are made to give a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord. I forgot what verse it is in, but I know Paul speaks about this. This may seem silly, because we don't think of thanksgiving as a sacrifice... but it really can be. In the last two days, still filled with much joy but dying of the flu, I have felt this sacrifice!

Ok, so I am not really dying, but it feels like it. Anyway, here is how this week's sacrifice of thanksgiving goes in my life:

Thank you Jesus for the fact that I cannot control this substance coming out of my nose.

Thank you Lord for the pain of feeling like my face is going to fall off.

Jesus, you are so wonderful to make me so weak and needed. Thank you for reminding me of my smallness and calling me to rely on you

God, if I end this flu with both of my lungs, I will be so thankful. Even if I don't, I am sure you are bigger than any problems I may face.

Those things are really hard to be thankful for, but what joy it brings when you can offer it as a sacrifice for God!

The Feast of Peace

Today is the feast of Christ the King and what a joyful feast it is! I have really been struggling the past few months, but just in time for the feast, I have really felt the great grace of Christ's peace!

Ahhhhhh..... It is like a weight off of my shoulders :) and I am thankful!

Anyway, today's feast solidifies this peace for me because nothing is more comforting or reassuring than to be under the reign of Christ the King! I realized this weekend that I often see my plans as more rational than God's, so I fight Him instead of resting under His Kingship. As you can imagine, this is very draining, because when you are in control, you have to plan out everything and worry and toil to make things come about! In contrast, when you let Christ reign, you just trust Him and open yourself to His will, which allows you to be joyful no matter the outcome.

Christ the King, reign over us!

Wondering Why

Do you ever find yourself wondering why? I don't mean this in a negative way, although I am sure we all feel that as well. I guess I get in these moods where I just wonder why I am where I am or doing what I am doing or feeling what I am feeling.

Recently I had a discussion with a former teammate of mine who is struggling with what we call the "I don't knows." It looks something like this:

A friend asks, "How are you?"

Your respond, "Fine."

"Ok, really, how are you?"
"Honestly, I don't know."

It's when nothing is wrong, but everything is. Or, when nothing is right but nothing is wrong. Or, when you feel blank... or maybe you don't feel anything at all. Or, when you are asking why. You just don't know and that bothers you.

The last one is where I am right now. Nothing is wrong, but I just don't understand life right now. I know God works in mysterious ways, but it seems overwhelmingly true right now. I guess that is the battle of faith right? Knowing that God's ways are beyond ours and trusting Him to pull out all the stops for our happiness. But how do we know when it's God's way versus our own? It is so easy in these moments to doubt ourselves, because nothing seems to make sense, and shouldn't it? But is that what Noah's response was as he was building an ark in the dry weather? Or, Abraham's response as he raised his arm to slay his only son?

Faith is crazy. Our God is crazy. I guess that's where child-like faith helps... Kids believe the weirdest things, so it is much easier for them to trust God when He is being weird. Kids ask the question why all the time, but if the answer doesn't make sense, it doesn't phase them. They just trust that you know better than they do... maybe that's where I should start with my response to God... "Ok, Lord, you know better than I. (But, I still think you're crazy)."

Why I love Sam's Club and Other Ramblings

It's be a rough year for me here in North Dakota, but through it all, my weekly trip to Sam's Club shines small rays of sunlight.

Every Sunday I head to Sam's for my weekly Newman House grocery run. I go through the store perusing for breakfast foods, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc for the women and the food for our Sunday Catholic Culture Nights. Needless to say, I fill the cart! This may seem overwhelming to some, with its 7 gallons of milk and toilet paper in packs bigger than me, but it is really a highlight in my week.

I have noticed that everyone at Sam's is friendly, on Sundays especially, because it is sample day! Maybe there is something joyful about buying in bulk, but the normal hustle and bustle of stores doesn't happen at Sam's and I love that. I have small conversations with people- about the meat they are buying or the best brand of laundry soap or why it would be cheaper for me to buy a cow rather than all this milk. We compare samples of snacks and give tips on when to buy the best fruits. It's really a glorious time.

I think I love Sam's because I am unknown. I can just exist and people treat me like a human person rather than a machine to get things done. I think I love Sam's because when you hand out free samples, everyone is a little happier and less in a hurry to get out.

Isn't it funny that something so silly could bring me joy? I guess that is how God works though- he says, Kristie, you're slaving away and people complain to you all the time, people need you all the time, people forget that you don't exist for them alone and that is hard, but here, have a sample and a smile.... Find joy in the little things.

Learning Things the Hard Way

Do you ever feel like most of your lessons are learned the hard way? In big or small areas, I feel this way often.

Like today, for example, I learned that when you are cutting jalepeno peppers, you are supposed to wear gloves. I couldn't have learned this by example or by looking it up... oh no, that's too easy!

It wasn't until after I cut them that the burning started. I thought, maybe I am allergic to peppers- who knows? I don't eat them and I have never chopped them, so it could be. When the burning didn't go away, I googled it and found out the many people have learned this the hard way! So, my advice: wear gloves when cutting spicy peppers. And if you don't, washing your hands in dish soap followed by milk helped me!

North Dakota Winter

Well, folks, I hate to admit it, but it's here. Winter has blown in for us and I am not excited at all. Of course, it won't get really cold until December and it won't get really, really cold until February, but still, I shiver at the thought. It has already snow-flurried twice.

This has inspired me though :) I thought I should tell you a little bit about our North Dakota winters! It's what were most know for and probably most proud of surviving! So here is a little list to help you visualize why I am starting to shiver...

Only in North Dakota:

Do people leave their cars on while they are grocery shopping (if you don't, it will never get warm and heck, it may not even start again)

Do you here 5-10 automatic car starters during your Post-Communion prayer at Mass.

Do people where masks and goggles to walk to class. (Some days, exposed skin is not so good)

Do snow piles last until May.

Will people miss church, but not a hockey game because of a blizzard. (In fact, people will miss church for a hockey game, not just a blizzard)

Does business casual include snow boots. And winter scarves. And winter hats.

Do couples hold mittens, instead of hands, when they walk down the street.

Can you throw a cup of hot water into the air and have it vaporize- it won't even hit the ground.

Can you blow bubbles and watch them shatter when they hit something.

Do you really learn to layer your clothing. (Under armor, pants, sweats, socks, leg warmers, boots, long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt, sweater, scarf- add a skirt if it's time for Mass.)

Do pumpkins from Halloween stay on the doorstep and NOT rot until May. (They can't rot if they are frozen!)

Are the people so positive. (It's supposed to warm up tomorrow, only -20!)

Can a sun-dog bring you a little hope throughout the winter! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog

Can a buffalo hang in a garage for a month without going bad. (Only in ND would a buffalo hang in a garage period)

(This one isn't weather related- I just saw it today though) Can you drive down an alley and have to swerve to miss two men gutting fish next to a dumpster.

Well, I think that covers enough for now! I am sure I will have pictures and many stories to share as we go through the up-coming months. I will assure you, despite all the above comments, North Dakota is totally worth it!