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Not Alone Series: What I Love About Being Single

Joining up on the dear Jen's blog for this week's topic of "What I Love About Being Single".  Something meant to be a little bit more light and fun compared to the heavier, yet important, topics of discernment, prayer and the like.

Now understand that being married and being a mother go hand in hand for me.  I hear my Christian Marriage professor cheering as I type this.  All those lectures that included phrases such as "marriage is unitive AND procreative" are shining through.

My first thought that comes to my mind when considering this topic is sleeping in.  Everytime I sleep in (for a nursing student, 8) or lay in my bed just a little while longer reading a book I soak it all in for all my mommy friends out there who have to get up with the first cries, sludge downstairs and produce some sort of breakfast and then settle in with their coffee while young-ins run wild.

Next, is my body being completely and totally mine.  No husband, pregnancies, or nurslings.  Nothing more needs to be said. 

Thirdly, my favorite thing about being single is quiet time.  I have many hours a day, with it being summer, where I don't have to feel guilty sitting on my butt watching another episode of Grey's Anatomy.  In fact, that is what summer is all about, you know the lazy hazy days of summer.

Lastly, and probably most closely correlated with the original intention of this topic, my favorite thing about being single is not having to consult anyone with my decisions and how I spend my time.  Where do I want to move after I graduate?  My decision.  What do I want to do this weekend?  My decision.  I don't have to consider a boyfriend or husband.

Now don't get me wrong, when a man comes trotting into my life I will happily give all this up (ok maybe begrudginly the sleeping in) but for now I enjoy these simple joys that come with being single.  I trust in the Lord that these days will not last forever but until then let's sleep in, laz around, and make a few decisions all on our own.

WIWS (Vol. 23)

So happy to be back again with the FLAP ladies for What I Wore Sunday.

For the rest of the summer, posts will be later in the day or not at all due to my commitment of speaking at a different parish each weekend in the Diocese of Cleveland promoting the FEST-a totally free Catholic music festival.

Today I was close to home at the parish my mom works at and I received my baptism and First Holy Communion.  It is a hot day so I didn't want any extra layers or sweaters to slow me down.

I love this skirt but cannot figure out a good way to wear it in the warmer months.  I have visions of sweaters and boots for the fall but for the summer I am out on what I should wear on top. Any suggestions?

The details:

Skirt: T.J. Maxx

Top:  Brown, cotton, blaba blahba

Shoes:  Payless, 19.99, all the rage

Bracelet:  made by yours truly in fashion class in high school, yeap I was that cool

I have put up some book reviews this week and most exciting is that I am getting a new blog design (sound the applause) that should be appearing soon, so get excited with me. (Any suggestions for the design are appreciated in addition to the skirt-top fiasco suggestions.)

Labor of Love

Wait have I mentioned lately that it is summer and I nanny a infant who sleeps half the day so I have lots of time to sink deep into books?  Yeah sorry you might have heard that before.

Anyway, periodically I search my county's library for books related to midwifery, I have loved a few memoir's written by midwife's telling their stories of catching babies and guiding woman through a very special time in their life.  During one of these searches I stumbled upon Labor of Love by Cara Muhlhahn.

For any of you who has seen the documentary The Business of Being Born you will quickly learn that Cara is the New York City midwife that is featured in the movie.  After reading the book I want to watch the movie again.

So my thoughts on the book, mixed.  My major red flags that put a sour taste in my mouth is that she considered getting an abortion and she promotes the use of contraceptives.  I am in no way making this book the end all but it kind-of deterred me from becoming a midwife.  I am realizing that I don't think I can be the midwife I would want to be and have the family life that is even more important to me.  I am currently leaning more towards crieghton practicionar/doula/lactation consultant route but time will tell.

Besides that, the book was enjoyable.  She talks about how her mindset has changed over the years, the time she spent pushing against protocol, and tells tales of pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum.

Not Alone Series: Prayer

Back again for another installment in the Not Alone Series.  This week the link-up is about prayer.  There is so much I could say about this but I am going to keep with what I wish to share with the whole world.

When I first heard the theme prayer my first thought was the Nativity Mystery of the joyful mysteries said on Mondays and Saturdays.  I try to pray for my future husband as often as I remember but I nearly always offer up the third joyful mystery for my future husband.  That he is serving and loving the Lord.  For our family-that we can live in imitation of the Holy Family.  That we can be a faithful couple and love each other more each day than we did the day before.  That he can be a God fearing father when God willing we are blessed with children.  Each time my hands slip over those ten beads I pray for future husband, all of his needs and an increase in virtues.

The Language of Flowers

I actually finished this book a week or two ago but I have been reading so much that I can't keep up with the reviews.  I first saw this book on this beautiful woman's blog (who is currently growing TWO babies).  The title didn't catch me but once I read about 50 pages I couldn't stop.

Quick synopsis---The story is about a girl, Victoria, who grew up in the foster care system and has a love for flowers and the things they say- love, patience, devotion.  As the story flows it switches back and forth between her adult life and her life as child in the system.   This being unwanted as a child, of course overflows into her self-worth, or lack there of, in her life as a young woman.  The tale includes twists of love, friendship and even motherhood.

One of the things that most amazed me about this book, besides the ability for the author to seamlessly flow the story from an adult to a child, I still am not sure the time that this story is set in. The book neither talks about modern technology nor about old time things. Instead it was a timeless story that kept me captivated.

Out of all the books I have reviewed here on the bloggity, this is probably the one that I would most recommend to any of my readerrs who care.  I can see why it is a New York Time's best seller.

As always I would love to hear if you have read this book and what you think about it.  And come back there will be more book reviews soon.