I'm In . . . Oh Dear!

My interview went even better than I could have expected. It was Spirit led and Spirit filled and we talked about a lot of topics; some personal, some professional. I laughed, I cried, and I must have said the right things because rather than follow the usual procedure of meeting together after my interview to determine if they thought I would fit into the program and then sending me a letter of acceptance or rejection, they offered me a spot in the program right there at the interview! I was so humbled by that, but also filled with joy, because now I know and can get on with planning my fall around the trips to Indianapolis.

So it is back into the classroom for me for another two years. Oh well, it isn't as if I ever thought I was at the end of my ability to learn new things, and I am really interested in learning about and becoming a Spiritual Director, so I am actually really excited about the thought of going back to class again.

I promised to leave it up to God, so I suppose that I have to assume that God has opened this door for a reason. I need to have the courage now to walk through the door and see where it leads.

Pax

Bigger than a part time job

I was notified by the Principal of the Middle School that they had offered the position to a graduate of the IU Library Science Department. So I suppose I wasn't meant to be a part time Media Assistant next year.

I am a bit shocked that someone with a degree in Library Science would want a part time job. Is the market that saturated, or is this person a woman with children who really doesn't want to work full time-- who knows.

I know that, as nice as this little job might have seemed, God has grander plans for me and if I wait long enough they will be revealed to me.

On another note I was notified in an email yesterday that I probably won't find out till after Christmas what my grades will be on my finals. They were handed in to the registrar today (or was it yesterday-- this week anyway) but probably won't be processed and mailed out until the week between Christmas and the New Year.

The person who wrote the email said he was sure that I had passed, I would love to take his word for it, but I will be able to sleep a lot more peacefully when I have the paper in my hand that says I have actually passed and will be able to graduate in May. Then I will really feel done.

Until then, I will just sit and wait and pray and watch. God has something planned for me, I just wish he was a bit more forthcoming with the details.

Pax

Stick a Fork in My Philosophy Studies . . .

I AM DONE!

Just a few minutes ago I completed the last assignments for both classes and am leaving this afternoon to sit through my last two days of lecture in Medieval Philosophy. The lectures this weekend are really superfluous because our professor sent us the final about a week ago, so we can turn that in on Saturday and just coast the weekend.

I will probably continue to take notes on anything I find intriguing, but I am so glad that I never have to suffer through take another philosophy class as long as I have a rational psyche and a rational appetite to avoid that which is not good.

You see I did learn a thing or two over the summer, despite my lack of enthusiasm.

Now, on toward fall when I will have to write my final.

*Gulp*

It can't be any worse than the summer I just completed, or can it?

Pax

I Was A Real Writer For A Day

Last Thursday I spent the day at the Midwest Writers Workshop . There were over 170 actual writers gathered there to network and learn and share and commiserate. While the workshop went on for four days, sadly I was only able to attend one of them because of my philosifrication requirement at Gradual School, but oh that one day!

I spent the first part of the morning getting some great tips on resources that a good writer might like to have on her bookshelf. And my very dear friend who convinced me to come to this workshop and is herself an accomplished writer purchased two of these resources for me as a belated birthday present.

I then spent the rest of the day in an intensive workshop on writing and reading narrative fiction. It was like getting a college level course on narrative fiction in one day. During lunch, and at other times I got to talk about "being a writer". I was encouraged by others who are, like I am trying to find ways to have their voice heard in a market that is saturated with so much stuff. One of my favorite comments the entire day was from one of the speakers who said that we (writers) come to these conferences because here it doesn't matter that we aren't paid for what we write, or that we have been paid pennies.

There, people were very excited for me that I have actually made almost $2.00 since February for the essays I have on Helium.com . I was encouraged by more than one person there to return next year for the entire four days, and submit manuscripts or book proposals, meet with agents, network and possibly really move my writing career to the next level. When Pat and I were talking about it at dinner last night, Pat's husband and mrangelmeg were both encouraging me to do just that.

I really do believe when I look back at how God has been ordering my steps ever since I started working for the church in 2000, that each act of writing even the simple ones like bulletin announcements and leaflets for upcoming events were leading me. Then when I took a class as professional development and had to write essays and regained my love for the process of writing which enlivened my spiritual journal writing and eventually led me to begin writing this blog. All of those things have led me to this realization; that God wants me to use my love of writing somehow.

I can't imagine a day will go by without my writing something. I may as well find a way to share what I write with others.

Warning: Mark your Calendar Now Do Not Disturb Angelmeg on These Dates and Times

Colts 2007 schedule

• Sept. 6, New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. (NBC)

• Sept. 16, at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 23, at Houston, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 30, Denver, 4:15 p.m.
• Oct. 7, Tampa Bay, 4:05 p.m.
• Oct. 14, Bye
• Oct. 22, at Jacksonville, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
• Oct. 28, at Carolina, 1 p.m
• Nov. 4, New England, 4:15 p.m.
• Nov. 11, at San Diego, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
• Nov. 18*, Kansas City, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 22, at Atlanta, 8:15 p.m. (NFL Network)
• Dec. 2*, Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 9*, at Baltimore, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
• Dec. 16*, at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.
• Dec. 23*, Houston, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 30*, Tennessee, 1 p.m.

* Subject to time change.

And Then for the Playoffs, and of course the Superbowl

Go Colts

Pax

A Dark Way to Spend a Rainy Afternoon

Mrangelmeg and I went to see Children of Men yesterday. and while it was dark and disturbing it was not a disappointing visit to the theater. It left us spent and questioning a lot of the assumptions we have about the future we assume is awaiting us.

It really wasn't that hard to imagine a world that had lost all hope and was descending into the final throes of destruction because of loss of fertility. Everything from that point on was amazing and shocking and disturbing and ultimately left you wondering.

We talked about nothing else all through dinner. I had read the book, and even having done that I was mesmerized by the pacing and plot twists that the movie makers chose to add for the adaptation.

I highly recommend that everyone go to see this movie. You will not be disappointed.

Pax

Resolutions I Plan to Keep

1) I plan to wake up each and every day this year, and eventually to actually get out of bed.

2) I plan to talk to each of my children as often as I can, even if they don't talk to me first, AND even if I have to chase them down and make them talk to me. (teenagers what can I say)

3) I plan to laugh.

4) I plan to breathe as deeply as I can as often as I can (hey, you get asthma and then you will understand how important this one is)

5) I plan to have completed all of the requirements for my Masters program by the end of this calendar year (if the good Lord is willing and the creak don't rise as they say around these parts.)


6) I plan to make sure that mrangelmeg knows how much I love him every day.

7) I plan to write more intentionally than I have done in the past.

8) I plan to keep learning about God through study and spiritual direction.

Pax

2006, Now That Was a Year

Okay, so even though I blog, and I keep a journal I am really not one who likes to dwell too much on retrospective moods. I have been reading a few blogs today that have spent time going back over the last year and giving an accounting of "the year that was" with all of its ups and downs.

Personally, I think considering all of the things I had to endure and live through this past year (Modern Philosophy finals being only one major annoyance) I think I will keep the past in the past and look toward a brighter (please God let the future be brighter) future.

Actually though, no one was convicted, (whew), and most of the illnesses that were contracted last year weren't life threatening, so all in all, as a family I would say that we came out way ahead of most people. But who wants to tempt fate by looking back at this late date?

I plan to keep writing on my blog as I have this past year, because as I have said before I can't afford therapy, so you all are stuck with me.

Happy New Year.

Pax

God's Personal Comedy Central

I am sure you have heard the old addage:

If you want to make God laugh, make plans.

That is exactly how I feel at this moment. I had my entire semester planned out, I was going to be taking a weekday course with the seminarians at Saint Meinrad on Mondays and Thursdays and still be able to visit my mom on Tuesdays as I have been. Things were looking pretty good in that direction. This was going to keep me from taking two Philosophy courses, which you all know that I love so completely, at the same time next summer.

Well, as things turn out, what a difference a week makes. I got a call from my sister yesterday and it seems as though my presence will be more necessary than ever at my mom's house next semester. My sister and I will have to trade off spending a week at a time up there to take care of mom so that mom can stay in her house instead of going to a nursing home. My other sister who is doing this care now has decided that she no longer wants to be there and until we can get better arrangements in place this will have to be how we work this out.

We have talked about this all along, I was just hoping that we could put this off till next summer or fall.

So, I will be spending every other week with my mother instead of two days a week with seminarians. To be honest I will prefer her company to theirs, but don't tell them that. There must be some reason that God wants me to take the two classes at the same time, and I am sure that it will become apparent to me when I am in the thick of them this summer.

And just so I don't get buried in reading this summer I can get a jump start by getting the reading lists for the two classes early and get started reading Aristotle and Plato and Augustine and Aquinas while I am at my mom's house.

Hey, stop laughing, it could happen!

Pax

Milestones Reached

I met with my advisor this morning and I am set to register for my penultimate class in my Masters Degree program.

I am going to take a class this Spring Semester at Saint Meinrad on Monday and Thursday mornings. Which will mean a commute, but it is the only way to get the class I need and not have to take two philosophy classes at the same time (every other weekend) next summer. It will mean taking a class which will be mostly seminarians except me. and having to trust that the weather will cooperate, but I am praying that I have a good experience.


After that I will have a class in the summer in Indianapolis, and then a final in the fall and I will be done.

Who would have thought that I would be so close to this goal? I am sure that when I began this journey way back in the fall of 2003 graduation was very far from my mind and here it is right around the corner!

Who knows what I will be doing with my degree, but from where I sit now the future looks filled with promise, and I am very excited about the opportunities I have to explore.

Keep me in your prayers, after all these last two classes are both Philosophy classes. I may just die before I get through them.

Pax

Children of Men

WARNING: This Trailer made me cry,

I hope the movie lives up to the preview . . .






h/t to Mike at The Propaganda Machine for the link