Praying

Please pray with me.

Dear Lord of Mercy and Father of Comfort,

You are the One I turn to for help in moments of weakness and times of need. I ask you to be with two men very close to my heart (my father and my son) in their illnesses. Psalm 107:20 says that You send out Your Word and heal. So then, please send Your healing Word to Your servants. In the name of Jesus, drive out all infirmity and sickness from their bodies.

Dear Lord, I ask You to turn their weaknesses into strength, their suffering into compassion, their sorrow into joy, and their pain into comfort for others. May Your servants trust in Your goodness and hope in Your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suffering. Let them be filled with patience and joy in Your presence as they wait for Your healing touch.

Please restore Your servants to full health, dear Father. Remove all fear and doubt from their hearts by the power of Your Holy Spirit, and may You, Lord, be glorified through their lives.

As You heal and renew Your servants, Lord, may they bless and praise You.

All of this I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Psalm 131

[the psalm from mass this weekend]

In You, Lord, I have found my peace.

PTO

Today I got an email from HR. They want me to project how much PTO (personal time off) I will use in November and December. Things have been pretty (FREAKIN') busy this entire calendar year. And I know that isn't expected to change in the next couple/few months. So, my first thought was, PTO?! Are you kidding me?!

I ran a report of all of my time cards since the beginning of the calendar year. I've taken PTO five times for a total of 47 hours since January 1st. I earn 120 hours a year and I only took 47 of them in the last ten months. And most of those were for medical reasons.

Apparently there were three days in March where I was sick. So, that was 27 hours (because of my 9 hour day). I charged 3.5 hours to PTO for my colonoscopy late in March. I know I had the whole day off, but apparently I had already worked enough hours that I only needed 3.5 hours in order to hit 80 for that pay period. I charged 5 hours to PTO on a Monday in April. My calendar shows 'out tired'. I charged 2.5 hours to PTO in June for Relay for life. And I charged 9 hours to PTO in August...depressed.

I even took a whole day off earlier this month for my dad's surgery. But I'd put in so many hours already, I didn't need to charge any PTO.

So I'm thinking, the chances of me actually taking a whole week off is somewhere between unlikely and 'what the heck are you thinking?'

I projected 40 hours...just in case. Then I checked out my calendar.

I normally work a 9 hour day and get every other Friday off. So I could potentially be off every other Friday for that. Plus, Veterans' Day is a Friday. I'll have Thanksgiving and the Friday after that off. Short weeks throughout November!  I love the thought of that!

So, if I take a vacation, it'll be in December. Again, I should have every other Friday off. Christmas is on a Sunday, so it'll be observed on a Monday. I'm thinking about taking off the week between Christmas and New Years. Then I'll be off work from Saturday the 24th until Tuesday the 3rd!
Now, let's see if I can get that approved.

Work of Art

"Joy Vibrations" by Rassouli

Matthew 22:34-40

[from the Gospel reading at mass this weekend]

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"
He said to him, "...

...The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Seven Word Status

Two miles.  Two wins.  Still too blue.






(I chose that over "This damn depression is killing my diet.")

24 weeks...

...and I'm back to 15% of the way to my goal!  I had a 1.8 lb loss this week.  I'd love to average that every week for the next year.  But hey, one week at a time.

Seven Word Status

I prayed the rosary on the square.

__________________________________________

The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer.

It begins with the Apostles' Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel's words announcing Christ's birth and Elizabeth's greeting to Mary. St. Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary.

The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ's life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and–added by Pope John II in 2002–the Luminous.

The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells.

The five Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on the Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays of Advent:

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation in the Temple
5. The Finding in the Temple

The five Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on the Tuesday, Friday, and Sundays of Lent:

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death

The five Glorious Mysteries are traditionally prayed on the Wednesday and Sundays outside of Lent and Advent:

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of Mary

The five Luminous Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Thursdays:

1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
3. Jesus' Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

Homemade Vegetable Soup

I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to start trying out some of the soup recipes on the Weight Watchers site. Since I only cook for one, I figured I could make a soup on Sunday, have it for dinner, and then have lunch already made up for every day of the week.

Well, I finally put my plan into action. This past weekend, I made homemade vegetable soup in my crock pot. I don't know why I made it in the crock pot. But it worked for me. And I didn't actually follow a recipe. I got a good start there, but I added my favorite veggies.

I've never actually made vegetable soup that didn't come out of a can. That sounds pretty ridiculous, doesn't it? But I'm pretty sure it's true. So, I was a little worried that I'd be all excited to try my soup and then I wouldn't like it. But it was wonderful! I already can't wait to make the next one.

This week's homemade soup ingredients:
Canned mushrooms
Canned green beans
Canned white corn
Canned diced tomatoes with garlic
Frozen spinach
Fresh broccoli
Fresh onion
Fresh red bell pepper
Fresh cabbage
Emeril's Organic Vegetable Stock
V8 tomato juice

23 weeks...

Okay, I don't know how I lost track of the number of weeks.  But I started Weight Watchers the first week of May.  That was 23 weeks ago.

This week I had a gain.  A good one...good, meaning BIG.  I knew I hadn't had a good couple of weeks.  I've been eating worse and working out less.

When I first started WW, I was doing really well eating right and counting my points, writing down everything I ate.  After a couple of months, I started slacking at that.  But since I increased my workouts (specifically, I started running), I was still doing pretty well at least maintaining my weight loss.

But I need to do them both...consistently...and together.  If I want to see results, I need to do better.  And I want to see results.  So, here I go, being better.

Just to keep it real, I'm only 13% of the way to my goal.  Yeah, a gain from two weeks ago.  But I'm working on it.  Seriously!  We'll see how things look next week.

Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

[from the second reading at mass this week]

Brothers and sisters:
I know how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things,
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.

 

 

Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

Seven Word Status

Peace and joy characterize the Christian life.

There's never been a better time...

...to try some of my favorite Mary Kay products!

I am looking for 30 adventurous women who want to try EIGHT of the most effective age-fighting facial skin care products on the market today.  And get them all for just $54!

First, try our TimeWise Trial Miracle Set, which includes the TimeWise Cleanser and TimeWise Moisturizer in either Normal-to-Dry or Combination-to-Oily formulas.  It also includes the TimeWise Day and Night solutions.  These four dermatologist-tested products have been clinically tested for skin allergy and irritancy, and are all non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic.  They work together morning and night to deliver 11 age-fighting benefits that turn back the hands of time.  Benefits include:  cleanse, exfoliate, freshen, moisturize, protect, smooth, help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, firm, soften, energize, and rebuild.  These products run $44 and should last you a whole month.  (If you prefer the regular size products, they cost $90 and will last you 2-3 months.)

While supplies last, I'm offering THREE travel-size products as your gift with purchase for any $40 order.  You'll receive our Microdermabrasion set along with our brand new TimeWise Night Restore and Recover Complex in either Normal-to-Dry or Combination-to-Oily formulas, all in our travel size.  This is a FREE gift with any $40 purchase.  These three products fight fine lines, refine pores, achieve beautifully smooth skin, as well as take advantage of your skin's ability to heal itself by activating collagen production and helping skin recover from daily damage.

And for your eighth product, I strongly suggest a foundation.  The first seven products will do everything they can to fight the aging process.  A quality foundation will protect your skin from additional damage.  And our TimeWise Matte Wear (for combination-to-oily) and Luminous Wear (for normal-to-dry) foundations also make your skin instantly look firmer, younger, and healtheir.  And it comes in 23 shades, so I'm confident we can find the perfect shade for you.  Normally this foundation is $20.  But this month only, I'm offering it for $10...but only if you take advantage of this deal.  This product is our regular size foundation and should last you 2-4 months.



That's EIGHT amazing, age-fighting products for only $54 (plus 7%  tax)!

What do you have to lose? 

If you have questions, contact me via email (lesliemdoyle@hotmail.com) or Facebook.  Or you can check out my Mary Kay website at www.marykay.com/lesliemdoyle.  I look forward to working with you!  And I can't wait to see your new face!

Philippians 4:6-9

[the second reading from mass this morning]

Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.

Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

Seven Word Status

...butter, sour cream, green onions, and broccoli...