7 Quick Takes!

Hosted this week over at Camp Patton!

-1- 

My bff Colleen and I were laughing about how teachers tend to use the word "bully" to describe rude people - it's the buzz word in education right now! As a rule, I'm not a fan of the word and think it's not often applicable. However, bullies do exist. Like the people at the parish who try to get you involved in their ministries and do not take no for an answer. A person of this persuasion was trying to convince a friend of mine to attend a retreat; my friend declined, citing that since I was expecting a baby at that time and she had committed to help me, she couldn't attend. The bully then said "what's more important - your friend's baby or your eternal soul?" 

THAT is a bully. And a theologically incorrect one too. 

Sorry friends, but I had to do it. Jen, Colleen, and Shaelena all being awesome at the fotobooth during our wedding reception! (this was after Jen's bridesmaid dress fell apart in the bathroom...hilarious)

-2- 

In the news of the crunchy, I MADE MY OWN LAUNDRY DETERGENT. Are you impressed? Don't be, it was totally easy and super cheap (and as I happily found out, very effective). Mix together equal parts Borax, washing soda, and a grated bar of soap (I found all of this in the laundry detergent aisle at Walmart, right next to each other and boldly labeled) and voila, laundry detergent. Seriously. That's it. The most time consuming part is grating the bar of soap. Then, it just takes 1 tablespoon per load, or more if it's a real big one (I used 1.5 tbspn on my towels). I also add 4-5 drops of grapefruit essential oil for a fresh scent (got it at Whole Foods but I'm sure you can get it other places), plain white vinegar for fabric softener on the rinse cycle (does not make your clothes smell), and a rag with some essential oil for a dryer sheet (adds more scent; I really like scents). Search pinterest for "homemade laundry detergent" if you want more details. 

Apparently you can make this as a liquid if you throw all this stuff together with 8 cups of water and boil on your stove? But I can't vouch for that and since I add my detergent as the water is running, it's all dissolved before I put the laundry in anyway. Now if only I can convince my dad to build me a clothesline...hint hint...if you're reading, Dad...

-3-

I also made delicious soup last night. In a thrifty challenge, I decided to try to cook using only what we had in the house, even though we just got back from vacation and I consider what we have to be "nothing." (similar to looking in your closet and having "nothing" to wear, despite the racks of clean clothes) So, I made what Mr. O and I dubbed Vacation Soup. Ingredients? Whatever is in your kitchen that isn't nailed down. I used: ground turkey, onion, celery, juice of limes and clementines, roasted peppers, wild red rice, jasmine rice, some chicken broth, ranch dressing mix, enchilada sauce mix, olive oil, cajun seasoning, water. I know that probably sounds totally gross, but it was SO SO good - I just kept sniffing it to see if it smelled like things went together, and they did.  Then I made some french bread and called it a night. 

-4-

My other bff is coming to visit in about a month!! Jen of Honduran fame is coming before the baby arrives to help us get ready and she'll stay after the baby comes to help us, since Mr. O does need to work still. We are so grateful and excited to have her, especially since she's a pediatric nurse and I have a fear of somehow killing my newborn with my ineptitude. Oh, and because she's loads of fun! 

The lovely Jen, on my wedding day, re-writing her speech 

-5-

We had our first childbirth class on Thursday night. Ah, it was so great and so hippie. We are doing the Mongan method of Hypnobirthing, so it's a lot of meditation and deep breathing. I like this method a lot because it focuses on confronting mental blocks before you get to labor, and like my mom says, "birth is just like a marathon - it's mind over body." Since I'm a person that likes to live in my head, I think this will be a good technique for us to learn. And if I do am not able to self-hypnotise or meditate during my birth, at least my mom will be there so I can scream at her! (kidding! hopefully!) 

-6-

Getting dressed now officially makes me tired. 35 weeks today! It's the home stretch for Sweet Baby O and I. I can't believe we get to meet her soon. What will she look like, what is her temperament, whose hair will she get, how big will she be? I just keep laughing - here comes this big change in this little package, and the only thing I can do is wait for it! I have no control over who she is, or when she'll come, or what life will be like afterwards. To think I've traveled the world in search of excitement and waiting for me back home was the biggest damn adventure I could have ever dreamed of. 

-7-

I also observed to Mr. O that these past nine months have been very demanding spiritually. I have a deep respect for all women who have children, who willingly endure pregnancy because of the call to motherhood. Pregnancy has been facing an entire selfish side of myself that I have never looked at this bluntly before. For me, it has been a 35-week long pitched battle between me and my own weakness, and most of the time, I've been losing. This is definitely my vocation, because nothing has so brought me to my knees and made me realize my need for God's grace. Praise Him that I am given it so freely and abundantly! 

Gratuitous photo of my vocation - at the very beginning of our courtship, during a visit to the Indiana Dunes. Isn't he adorable?