Successful job hunt!

A couple months ago, my cousin landed a new job after several months of turmoil. I was very thankful, because it truly was good for his health (his old job was eating him alive).

Today, I’m happy to report that one of my lab mates just got the job offer of his dreams! He earned his PhD in August but it’s been hard for him to find work. Job hunting for nearly a year is demoralizing, and stressful when you’ve got a family to provide for, so my heart really went out to him.

I know God doesn’t answer “yes” in the way we expect sometimes, but He always provides for us. He answered “no” to all those other job applications just to say “yes” to this one. It’s all part of His plan.

I’m thankful for my lab mate’s blessings and for eyes to see God’s providence in this way.

It was a cross in the morning, but morphed into a blob by evening.

At work, a few people immediately knew that it was Ash Wednesday. Several other people kindly let me know I had something on my face. Working in a lab, I think more people were worried that spilled a chemical on myself and/or started a fire. When I said that it was Ash Wednesday, some people had never heard of it and so I had to further explain the meaning. For some unknown reason, I was NOT prepared to answer what Ash Wednesday was all about! I said it was like, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” and tried (clumsily) to compare it to Yom Kippur to the Jewish members of the lab.

Our whole lab (all sixteen of us!) had a group meeting in the afternoon, so everyone saw it. All my labmates were very understanding and supportive, which I entirely expected but it was nice anyways. If you are nervous about it, don’t be. Proclaiming my faith in such a public way was a little jarring (when I looked in the mirror!) and quite liberating.

In these times when religion is being explicitly and implicitly forced out of the public square, boldly living our faith is more important than ever.

Head over to Kayla's Alluring World to see what others are up to this Lent!

Humility is a hard thing to master for me–I vacillate between self-abuse and vanity–so I’ll be focusing on that for Lent. Acknowledging my sins without hating myself is a tricky balance, but I’m confident that Lent is the appropriate time to examine my conscience.

As a penance I’m giving up sweets for Lent. Lately, I’ve been using ice cream and little treats as “pick-me-ups” too often. I tell myself I “deserve” a treat, but I really don’t deserve so much sugar (and my body doesn’t appreciate it!).

I also will get back in the habit of either going to Mass or praying a Rosary every day. I was doing that pretty faithfully before the holidays, but fell out of routine. I enjoy the time spent praying and when I do it every day I don’t worry so much about “forgetting” someone or something. Also, when I pray more I definitely see God’s answers more clearly.

John Janaro’s suggestion for praying for continued conversion is a good one, but I’m still not quite sure what to pray for. I don’t want to convert without my husband so right now I’m just taking it slow. I pray for both of us to come closer to God and trust that He’s got it under control. (Reason #85 why I like Catholicism: no more anxiety about “being saved” like I experienced in Baptist school.)

I’m happy to be on this journey and know that this Lent will be a good exercise in patience and humility. I hope you all have a fruitful, introspective, and prayerful Lent.

Covering contraception is cost neutral since it saves money by keeping women healthy and preventing spending on other health services.

White House Fact Sheet on Contraception Coverage

“Other health services” is the creepiest euphemism for pregnancy and childbirth I’ve ever heard. Couched in the sober notion of cost-savings, it made me sick, and not just because this comes from the most spendthrift White House in history.

At American Thinker, Keith Riler has an eye-opening article about the positive relationship between contraceptive use and abortion that exists across the world. At the New York Times, Ross Douthat calls it “The ‘Safe, Legal, Rare’ Illusion:”

“Safe, legal and rare” is a nice slogan, but liberal policies don’t always seem to deliver the “rare” part.

Indeed.

Does this mean I should read Slaughterhouse-Five, now?

2. I had a dream nightmare last night that we celebrated our anniversary by HAVING ANOTHER WEDDING. Oh man, I was so glad to wake up! I’m pretty sure it was triggered by perusing wedding photos for my love story post. Our wedding was perfect but I’m very glad it was a one time deal. I don’t envy any engaged ladies: Stacy and Emily, my heart goes out to you!

3. Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite days. One of the things I really appreciate about the Church is that it gives you license to be morbid. Really, it’s lovely to come to terms with mortality rather than futilely denying it. In college, I realized that Lutherans also participate and trudged through snow to receive ashes for the first time. A brief glance at Catholic Answers informed me that I can still receive ashes in a Catholic church without being Catholic. Is that correct? If I can’t, please let me know before Wednesday!

Not dirt

4. Writing that, I realized I should probably start talking to the RCIA lady someday. I can’t be a church lurker forever, eh?

5. Last year, I gave up Facebook for Lent. I’m not quite sure what I’ll give up this year. Blogging? I’ve been severely slacking here lately so that my be a relief rather than a penance. Sweets would probably be a better choice, as I’ve been eating embarrassing amounts of ice cream and candy lately.

When the church updated their hymnals, they generously gave us an old one

6. Earlier, I asked The Fisherman why there are Christmas carols but not Easter carols. He grabbed an old hymnal and sang “Christ is Risen! Alleluia!” I have the best husband in the world.

7. Seriously, though, why is Easter such a relatively minor holiday compared to Christmas? It seems like they’re equally important for Christianity. This thought deserves its own post…

…In the meantime, head over to Hallie Lord’s Betty Beguiles for more Quick Takes!

Surprisingly not sarcastic today!

Most people are not thankful for their bosses. Honestly, most days I’m not very thankful for my boss. Today she was amazing, though. This is a lesson to keep your boss in your prayers, especially when you’d rather not! God is good and loves to surprise us. I can’t go into the details but let’s just say she proved to be 1000x more understanding and supportive than I ever expected.

I am truly blessed beyond all deserving.

(I never ever thought I’d say that about my boss. What’d I say about surprises?)

Stacy at Catholic and Crunchy is running a terrific series called “Day in the Life.” It’s a great way to get to know each other outside of the ‘theme’ of our blogs. My post is up today, go check it out!

And don’t forget to read Days in the Lives of Betsy and Stacy, too!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Nearly seven years.

2. How did you meet? {What’s your “love” story?}

The Fisherman pretending to eat (the truly terrible) pizza at the Dining Center.

My freshman year in college, we both worked at the Stephenson Dining Center at Washington State University. One day, we were cashiering together and he offered me some chips. Two days later, he asked me out. We went to Denny’s–no complaints! From then on, we were inseparable.

3. If married, how long have you been married?

We’ll celebrate our third anniversary this May.

Woo hoo!

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?

We had an absolutely perfect wedding! We fell in love in Pullman, WA and decided that’s where we wanted to have this happy memory. It was a lovely, traditional wedding at a local Lutheran church. Even though we had a small wedding of 75 guests (Pullman is out in the boondocks), nearly every important person in our lives attended. I was happy we chose to include Communion in the service–it meant a lot to have God to be part of our wedding.

We got to serve Communion to our guests and share the love.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?

Usually it’s just some variation of moose, as in “stinky moose,” “moose butt,” or “moose face.” Mostly it’s just me who says it, and I call the dogs that, too.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

He is the most generous, thoughtful person I’ve ever met.  He’s always optimistic and content with his life, which is exactly what I need to balance my anxious, over-thinking temperament. Oh, and he grates cheese and unloads the dishwasher because he knows I hate those chores!

7. Tell us how he proposed?

We went to the Zoo Lights exhibit in Tacoma, where the zoo gets decorated with Christmas lights in the wintertime. Near the aquarium, there’s a small fake beach. He pointed to the water and said, “Look at those fish!” and when I turned to look, he got down on one knee, tapped my shoulder and proposed. He had asked my dad beforehand and everyone knew but me.

So romantic!

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Not just flowers, but fill up the car with gas kind of guy!

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I’d love a sunset dinner on the beach, but in reality we are a movie-at-home couple.

10. Tell us one thing you’d like to do with your husband one day, if you could do anything or go anywhere.

I want to go to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks with him, because he’s never been there and they are amazing places.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine’s Day.

We’ve got gift cards to a McCormick & Schmick’s that we’ve saved up. I’m looking forward to dressing up and going out, without having to pay for dinner!

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine’s day?

I don’t think of Valentine’s day as a gift-giving holiday, other than maybe flowers and a card. It’s just nice to spend time together and remember that we love each other.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Swallow your pride! Act lovingly even when you would rather sulk. It’s contagious in a good way.

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Our first dance, blissfully happy. And it's only gotten better since then.

Not a pleasant view of America.

For the government to force a Catholic hospital to provide employees with something that goes against their core principles is an extreme breach of religious freedom. Although I am too unqualified and inarticulate to talk about this outrage, here are five great articles (and one whole blog) to bring you up to speed.

2. It’s not just Catholics who should be concerned. From today’s Wall Street Journal:

Stories involving a Catholic, a Protestant and a Jew typically end with a punch line. We wish that were the case here, but what brings us together is no laughing matter: the threat now posed by government policy to that basic human freedom, religious liberty.

3. Doug Bandow at Forbes.com asks “Why Does President Obama Dislike Freedom Of Conscience?“ Answer:

Authoritarian liberalism is the new governing philosophy in Washington.

Not Catholic? No problem. Support First Amendment rights!

4.  In ObamaCare and Religious Freedom, Archbishop (soon-to-be Cardinal) Timothy Dolan, “shudders to think what lies ahead,” if the government succeeds in this atrocious intrusion.

The Catholic Church defends religious liberty, including freedom of conscience, for everyone. The Amish do not carry health insurance. The government respects their principles. … By its decision, the Obama administration has failed to show the same respect for the consciences of Catholics and others who object to treating pregnancy as a disease.

5.  Pregnancy is not a disease! God has given women the unspeakably marvelous gift of fertility, and I hope to one day share in the miracle of motherhood. Hiding from biology isn’t empowering, as First Things author Ashley Crouch discusses in The Feminist Shaming of Fertility.

6. Maybe you just don’t get what the fuss is about. Isn’t everyone on birth control? And how are birth control pills abortifacient? Here’s Marc Barnes at Bad Catholic with 10 Reasons The Pill Sucks.

7. Want to learn more? JC at Equus Nom Veritas also ran a great 7 Quick Takes about this important issue.

Whew, what a downer.

Head over to Hallie Lord’s Betty Beguiles for more Quick Takes!

I want to say I’m very thankful for our wonderful weather, before I start taking it for granted.

So pretty!