The Final Final is OVER!!!

WOW!!! It hasn't really even sunk in yet that I'm finished!!! I've completed (at least) the first two years of college and will get my A.A. on Saturday!!! I don't know for sure yet whether or not I will be going back to school after this (although I'd like to if it's possible and I have the time and money for it), so today may have been my LAST time to take exams!!! Wow.
They went decently (especially considering how little I was able to study for them)... although I'm a little scared to know how I did on today's tests. However, I'm confident that I did pass all of them (passing wasn't the goal, though... doing WELL was). ;)

I'm making progress regarding the plans for nannying in Paris next year. Things are coming along very satisfactorily as that goes. I'm actually getting excited about it!! I talked to the lady (my "employer") yesterday for the first time - for about 15 minutes. It was a very constructive and positive phone call. So that's a morale booster!

Tonight, Michelle and I are going to Topeka to enjoy ourselves and celebrate the end of finals, of the school year, and of our stint at SMC! Sounds like it'll be fun, even if it IS warm and sticky outside. ;)

~TTFN~

May 21

Andy and Caitlin got married yesterday. Lovely wedding and lovely reception. If we can pull Lindsey's off as nicely, I'll be happy! :D (Oh yeah, I guess I forgot to post that Lindsey and Joe got engaged a little bit ago! They got engaged in Lake Tahoe on May 11!!!! :D The wedding is set for October 7 - along with everyone else in the world, but that's another story. ;))
Joegi graduated Pharmacy school at KU this weekend. So he's officially a "doctor" now. :)
It's been an absolutely crazy weekend, with friends (future family) visiting from out of town, a funeral, a wedding, and exams starting tomorrow. I've given up on being ready for finals. I'm just gonna do the best I can and leave it at that.
I have SOOOO much I need to do (think - Taming of the Shrew editing, finalization of plans for France, bridal shower planning, CLEANING MY ROOM, etc!)... and sooo little time. :( Maybe early June... maybe...

Anyway, I just thought I'd refresh my blog for my faithful readers. I must get back to outlining my last Metaphysics chapter now. Sara, I look forward to seeing you soon! God bless you all~

Finding of the True Cross

Today is the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross... and our 16th anniversary of moving to St. Mary's! Hard to believe it's been 16 years... I remember when being here for ten years seemed like it was long time. :)

We're on the third day in this month of Our Lady and on the third day of a Rosary novena at Riverside Park, for the intention of putting our town in the hands of Our Lady and for the sanctification of St. Mary's. The turnout has been very good, including a number of parishioners from Immaculate Conception Church. It's a wonderful, beautiful idea and will undoubtedly reap great benefits for St. Mary's.

Three weeks of school remain!! To be specific, there are 12 more days of regular classes and 3 days of exams... graduation is 3 weeks from this Saturday. I'll actually have finished at least two years of college! :) It's maybe not such a great achievement by today's standards, but I'm proud of myself. I know that these two years of college have profited me a great deal, both in lessons learned in the classroom and lessons learned outside of it.

But speaking of lessons learned, I'm supposed to be learning my history for the quiz day after tomorrow! ;) So it's adieu for now... God bless!

April's Almost Over!!

Yikes - it's been over three weeks since I updated!!

My life is absolutely crazy. I'm tellin' ya! I'm not just making up excuses this time. :P
Just for example, this evening alone I was asked to go to four different occasions/events. I had to pick ONE since their times concurred... so I went to Larry's birthday outing (you'd better be grateful for my presence, Larry, if you're reading this!!! ;) ...hehe... j/k). On top of my social life, I've got school to attend, work to squeeze in between classes and homework to complete... those are not in order of priority. In the long term, I'm looking at a wedding in the family in six months' time!!! I'm honored to be asked to be the maid of honor, but boy! it's a lot of work!! Well... not quite yet. But it's a lot to do. But, fortunately, so far, a lot of fun! :) I really like it. Plus, I'm planning/looking at going to Paris this next year. Scary but exciting!! :D Add to that the froo-frah of my graduation and Rose's. And friends' upcoming weddings - one the weekend before Grad and one the weekend after. Bizzy! :D

Anyhow, Holy Week was really good. I was able to get to to all three Tenebraes and Joe and I knelt together at the Good Friday ceremonies (with Mom, Rose and Joey). Went to the Easter Vigil (Lindsey and Joe were in from Kansas City for that). Easter Sunday was a BEE-YOO-TI-FUL day. Sunny and in the high 70's. Soooo nice. We spent a deal of time outside loving it. (Btw, Happy Easter, everyone!!)
Britt is in town for the time being (until Saturday), so I saw her briefly on Holy Saturday and this past Wednesday and we had some good conversation, catch-up time and all that good stuff... watched a movie too.
My History paper was originally due this past Friday but it was bumped to yesterday, because there was a conflicting quiz scheduled.
Linds and Joegi were in again this weekend, which is always so enjoyable! I went with them to the square dance Friday night for a couple of hours. Fun stuff!! :D Saturday night, we watched National Treasure. And Sunday, we hung out for awhile and then some of us went to Rose's Spring Recital while Joe and Linds visited friends ...Unfortunately, on their way back to KC, they got caught in a BAD hail storm in Lawrence. Sounded pretty scary for awhile. 1.5 to 2 inch hail stones and some fierce weather. Meanwhile, Mom and I were able to get some decent lightning pictures. :D ...and the tent in our backyard was getting mutilated! :(

Okay, so there's a very brief synopsis of the whirlwind that's my life! ;) I'm supposed to be getting sleep at the moment, because I'm very deprived of that precious comodity... so I'd best be off. Hope to check back in again soon. :) Adios!

Welcome, April!

"In like a lion; out like a lamb." So runs the typical saying about March, but I think this year it was more like, "In like a lamb; out like a lion" as the month finished off with terrific thunderstorms and nearby tornadoes...

It's after midnight, so although it still feels like March 31 to me, I'm here to welcome in the new month... why, I don't know... I ought to be getting what sleep I can since tomorrow night I'll lose an hour! :) Therefore, I'll try to keep this brief. ;)

Today was a very busy day! I awoke at 6:30 and began anew to cram history notes into my poor little noggin. Our mid-term was today... study as one might, the amount of material on History mid-terms and exams is nearly impossible to learn thoroughly!! The school day began at 9 with Physical Science class... in which we had a "pop" quiz on radioactivity and the like. Immediately thereafter, I went to work. The baby of the family (about 4 months old) is sick... sick enough to be admitted to a hospital in Topeka last/Thursday night. So the older children were home with Dad today. I picked up as much as I could in 30 minutes and headed back to Theology. We continued the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist in that class... talking about multilocation, transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and the Real Presence. Thereupon followed Spiritual Conference, in which I snatched a few moments to study History. I had to go home for lunch, as there hadn't been time to pack lunches this morning. The next hour, I frantically studied (and panicked) with Megan right up until the bell rang. "Don't ask for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." :P Indeed it did... my History mid-term went pretty badly. :/ I won't know the results for a few days though... Last class of the day was Metaphysics - a lovely subject to have last hour on a Friday! ;) (<-- That would be sarcastic. ;)) At 4 o'clock, the Reading Room was locked (and will be for a week) because of a broken table and knotted curtains. *sigh* Oh well... I have no clue where we're going to put our books since the locker room is also off limits, but... c'est la vie!
Right after school, I went back to work. No one was home, since they were all out picking up the first-grader. After stopping by the house briefly, they went to Topeka to see their mom/wife and sister/daughter... I folded piles of laundry and then cleaned the kitchen. It took 2 1/2 hours but at least there wouldn't be a mess awaiting them when they arrived home again. :)
I got home about 6:45 and ate dinner. Mom and I went by the liquor store and got a couple bottles of wine for a friend whose birthday it was. We went by her house and enjoyed chocolate cake and red wine with her. When we got home, it was nearly 9 pm... Mom and I watched a movie (while Joey got ready for tomorrow's away-baseball-game, while Rose recorded for the CD she and some friends are making and while Dad got home from delivering a baby).
That about sums it up!! Haven't had much spare time today! Hopefully, tomorrow (which is already here) will be productive as well. :)

..........I can't believe college graduation is less than two months away for me! :O

Welp! (To quote my best friend. ;)) That's all for now. :)
I wish you all the best of this brand new month! God bless~

4th Week of Lent!! :O

Can you believe we're more than halfway through Lent?! It seems like it JUST started... like this past weekend! :O
Where does the time go??? I'd like some of it back. ;)

Retreat went very well - I'm sure I got lots of graces. :) But it was a very tiring week nonetheless... not much of a relaxation. I had a pretty good weekend following it - Lindsey and her boyfriend (whom we call "Beppo") came in from Kansas City to visit and we had friends over for dinner on Sunday. Quite enjoyable. :)
But now it's back to the daily grind. *sigh* Less than two months 'til Grad!!!! I can't believe I'll be graduating college (yeah, I know - it's only two years, but still... :)) ... it seems like just last year I graduated high school. But it's actually been three years! (Oh yeah, I also went to a class get-together on Sunday... it was really weird feeling because one of the girls that was there, from my high school class, is married and expecting. Two others are engaged and their weddings are fairly proximate. Sure made us feel those three years. ;))
Anyway... so yeah... it's back to the daily grind. The daily ups and downs. I like school, but I'll be glad when it's over. It has gotten really stressful for me. In the meantime, I need to decide what to do next year. I've been weighing the pro's and con's of the options I've got and will hopefully have a decision before too much longer. At which time I will let you know what the verdict is. :D

Right now, though, I'm supposed to be typing out History notes for the mid-term that's this Friday (scary!)... so tata for now!
~ADIOS~

Long time...

Oof! It's been too long since I've updated!

I'm doing well (minus a nasty cold I can't seem to shake) and staying PLENTY busy!! (Many apologies to those of you I haven't been able to keep well in touch with!! I'm sorry!!) In 5 hours I will be starting my annual retreat - this time an Ignatian one, preached by Frs. Griego and Goettler. It should be excellent! I would very much appreciate it if you would all keep me in your prayers most especially this week. Thank you so much~

This past week did feel like forever with the guys gone on their retreat... but I was still very occupied with work, school, play practice, and "to do" lists. :)
As it is, I probably ought to finish this up here... I have yet to pack for retreat, need to finish some correspondence and call a couple of people before this afternoon. So a very happy St. Joseph's Day to you all (and a belated Happy St. Patrick's Day)!! Prayers, PLEASE!!! God bless~
I'll be back in a week or so. :)

Miscellaneous and Femininity

Ash Wednesday today... the marathon of Lent begins!

My blog had its first birthday yesterday! :D It was 'born' on February 28, 2005. (Birthday checks may be made payable to "Monica Carroll".... ;) ;))

Last night, as I was browsing around a little bit, I came across an article on feminism and femininity. Those of you who know me will recall that this is one of my favorite topics -- the restoration of true women as the catalyst to a counter-reformation in society. One paragraph struck me in particular because it was so well put. So complete yet concise. (It's a bit Christian - rather than Catholic - but the essence is there.) Here is the exerpt:

Pick up any woman's magazine, particularly a certain one which was once run by men who promoted good articles and fiction, and which are read by as many men as women. Read there the articles by shrewd sly gentlemen who proclaim a woman "has as much 'right' to do any of the world's work as men, as much 'right' to a job or a career, as much 'right' to be head of the household." Those boys know what they're up to: The real enslavement of women. Tragically, such near-men and the Liberation Ladies can never crush the longing of a woman's heart to be cherished, to be protected, to be guarded, to be honored and deferred to, to be loved dearly and devotedly, to be a true helper, to be a complement, in her femininity, to the masculine nature; her longings to be the patroness of beauty and tranquility, to be the dear mother of respectful children, to be, as the Holy Bible says, "a good woman, whose price is far above rubies," the adorner of life, the civilizer, Godly, with beauty of spirit long after her youthful beauty has gone.

It really is a dream of mine to live the role of a feminine woman, most effective because she develops her God-given gifts and talents... The poem "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron has always meant a lot to me too:

She walks in Beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Once more into the breach, my friends! Once more!! Step by step we CAN restore society!

February Winds Down

The second month of 2006 is almost gone already!!! It seems like Christmas was just last week.

This month sure has been eventful. Ice-skating, dancing lessons, Rose's 18th birthday, the acquisition of my new job, Fr. Harber being gone for a week... to name the more major happenings.
As for this past week... it's been up to par with the month. Eventful and very busy. On Monday, I started work... spent an hour and a half picking up toys, folding blankets, feeding the baby and doing laundry. Tuesday, we had two fewer classes thanks to Fr. Harber's absence and I worked again, this time doing dishes and feeding the baby. Tuesday evening was my fourth in a series of ten ballroom dancing lessons. We learned the "basket" or "cuddle" step in the swing, reviewed our waltz steps and learned the basic cha cha step. It's getting to be a lot of fun! ...It always is more fun to do something when you're good at it...
Wednesday, I had no classes at all!! :D That was nice! I still went up to the college though, and read the Ottaviani Intervention (part of my Liturgy assignment). When Joe got out of classes, we went to Topeka to see a traveling art show (called South Winds, I believe)... out of 2400 entries, the 100 best paintings in the country had been chosen and were on display. We weren't sure what to expect but they were actually really good!! This was one of my favorites:

I got back from Topeka in time for 3 pm play practice, only to find that, our directress being sick, there was no practice!! So I made the best of it and went to Sarah's house to raid her closet for the square dance. ;) I had a little bit of time at home before I went to work at 6... work that night was absolutely crazy! The kids were possessed by some fiendish spirit and simply would not calm down. One crisis after another. ;) However, we got them put to bed in time to clean up the kitchen and get the house under control before I left at 9:20...
Thursday was a pretty easy day as classes go. :) With Fr. Harber's continued absence, I had only Physical Science and Latin and was finished by lunch time. That afternoon I started my Liturgy paper... which is still coming along, slowly but surely. That evening, I worked from 5 to 8:30. The kids were pretty good until bedtime and then things once again got maniacal. One's jumping on the bed, another's tripping over the 18-month-old causing her (the six-year-old's) tooth to bleed, a third is getting into trouble in the kitchen, yet another is busy letting the cat in the house (one MORE thing to step on and trip over! ;))... and so on like that! The peace that falls once the kids are in bed is an amazing silence indeed. :P
Friday.... I had Physical Science, Spiritual Conference and History. I worked in the afternoon, just doing dishes and kitchen work. It was a beautiful day so we shoo'ed the kids outside. :) Friday evening was the square dance! I was fortunate enough to, once again, dance every dance. (I think that adds up to ten or so.) Actually, there were more guys than girls (a rare occurrence!!) so that was really fortunate. ;) I had a very good time.
Saturday, I slept in. :D Joe came over and made bread (really good bread!) and I made butterscotch brownies (for Caity's shower). In the afternoon, Rose got home from fundraising, Dad got home from Colorado, and Lindsey came in from Kansas City! :) The Children of Mary concert was at 7 pm. Rose "directed" the C.O.M. in singing three songs (but you couldn't actually see Rose as she was standing behind them). And Joey performed "Classical Gas" on his guitar - his first concert performance. They both did a good job... and you couldn't even tell that Joey had skipped a whole section. ;) Afterwards, we ran over to Gambino's and got pizza. Back at home, we ate a late dinner... pizza, ice cream and brownies. (Sound fattening??! :P) Then we watched an episode of Jeeves and Wooster. *lol* Those are great!
....This morning, I went to the 7:30 Mass with Dad and Joey. It's shaping up to be another beautiful day for February! This afternoon, I'll probably try to get homework done and some Jog-a-thon letters written (not fun, but necessary :/).

On the horizon... Mardi Gras this Tuesday and Ash Wednesday immediately following. And next week, St. Thomas Aquinas Day. (Yay! A day off of classes!! :P) The college men's retreat starts March 12 and ends March 17... my retreat begins the 19th.

And that concludes the report from "My Little World!" More to follow, all things being equal... God bless!

I's a Workin' Gal ;)

Well, folks, it looks like I just landed myself a job. :) What's really awesome is that it has flexible hours.

I'll be helping a mom of six (the oldest is six) with housework, childcare and just things. Mostly, it'll be during the day... so I'll be spending my free hours between classes over there. And some evenings. The kids are cute and seem pretty good. I'm looking forward to it - it'll be a rather refreshing change from my student life. :) (We'll see how long I think that! :P) Plus, I can probably use the practice with little kids. :)

So... after 19 hours of school a week, 10 or 15 hours of work, dancing lessons, play practices, papers and other homework... well, I'll resurface in early June! :P

God is good.

In other realms...
Mom and Dad went to Denver this weekend for the first perpetual vows ceremony in the traditional Benedictine order. Pretty fantastic, eh? Mom's flight gets in about 9 tonight and I'll be picking her up in Kansas City. Dad will be staying in the Rockies for a medical conference this week... at a ski lodge! ... Life's rough. (I'm just kidding - he more than earns the breaks he gets!!)
Fr. Harber, Fr. Gallagher and Fr. Asher will be out of town this week for the priests' meeting in Winona... which is cool because it means seven fewer classes this week!! :D And maybe we'll get Fr. Griego for Spiritual Conference Friday. That'd be fun. ;)

Have you ever heard the song "I Just Want to Dance with You"? It's a really cute song. I like it. :)
"I wanna dance with you,
Hold you in my arms once more -
That's what they invented dancin' for...
I just wanna dance with you.
............
I wanna dance with you,
Twirl you all around the floor -
That's what they intended dancin' for...
I just wanna dance with you."

Awww. :P

Okey doke... well, I've gotta get my Theology notes finished and study for a Latin test, so I'll be headin' out now. Take care, all, and let me know what you're up to too! :) (It's not fair for all this keeping-in-touch business to be one-sided. ;)) Adios~