By the Numbers Edition
1
I need some ONE-liners. I don’t need them often, but when I do, I’m unprepared. I need one liners so that I can better respond to my Protestant brothers and sisters. Thursday the “termite guy” came. Steve is the one who came out 2 years ago when we actually had termites and he took care of the problem for us. He is a real pleasure to be around. He asked me if I still went to church. I told him, “yes, of course.” He asked where and I told him our parish name and the location. He then said, (probably because he noticed the crucifix, statue of Mary, print of the Sacred Heart, the candles and all the rest of the “Catholic Stuff” in my room) “Well, you KNOW we’re not saved by works, right? We’re saved by grace” (at least he didn’t say we’re saved by faith!) My first thought was, “Ugh. Here’s another one who totally misunderstands Catholics.” The next was, “What do I say?” Finally, I just said, “Yes, all is grace.” He then went on to tell me that he only goes to church about once a month…. oooookay. Whatever you say, buddy. I guess he thinks that corporate worship is a “work”… and should be avoided since it “doesn’t matter.” <shrug>
I really need some short “ONE-liners” to respond to these things with the truth. Preferably with quotes from scripture.
2
In the past week, we’ve made TWO service changes. We changed from DirectTV to TimeWarner cable and we changed our electric company. We are now getting better internet, mostly the same tv, for less than we paid for those two services separately (our internet was already RoadRunner) and cheaper electricity rates.
3
As of this writing, I have had THREE sick kids this week. The Mad Hatter, The Queen of Hearts and TheBoy (in that order). Just a virus. Basically bad cold symptoms with a fever.
4
FOUR of the past 5 nights I have cooked from the menu and it’s gone swimmingly! (it’s not night yet, so it may end up 5/6!) Yay for actually handling meals in advance! I know. Such a simple and obvious thing, but after bumbling around for a few years, it’s a simple and obvious thing I really appreciate! (as does the family, I think.) Thursday night I went off-menu because the cable guy and the termite guy were here quite a while Thursday afternoon and I was busy in the morning getting ready for them.
5
I am happy to report that I am consistently getting up at FIVE in the morning. No more 4am deals. The extra hour of sleep (well, if I don’t stay up an hour later the night before) has made a big difference!
6
One morning, I slept until SIX!!! But I had stayed up until midnight, so there’s not much benefit there. Still, it was cool to see the SIX on my watch when I woke up.
7
Hopefully soon, I will have SEVEN bodies around my table for a few days. CarKiller may get to come home over Labor Day weekend. There are a few variables to be accounted for, but I am hopeful he will be able to make it. The only thing better, of course, would be if I couldn’t use this for my SEVENth “by the numbers” because SoldierBoy was coming, too. Then it would be 8 of us and it just wouldn’t work.
Head over to Jen’s for more Quick Takes!
Become What You Are 
I totally feel ya on #1. I wish I could be so snappy (and helpful) with my Catholic comebacks. I came over here from Conversion Diary. I love how you have named your family with code names. I should try that on our family blog. Good luck!
Veronica
Nice to meet you, Veronica! Thanks for stopping by.
Ooooooh, I have one!!! Although I have never had the nerve (or bad taste?!) to use it. It’s not really a one-liner, but it is Scripture. Here it is:
James 2:20
“Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?”
21 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?”
22 “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.”
26 “For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
James has a lot to say about faith and works–see James 2:14 -26. You will probably find a good one-liner in there.
But my personal favorite is James 2:20. Hee, hee,hee. I really feel like saying that sometimes, but so far, I have refrained. Gotta love James, that Son of Thunder!
Have a great weekend!!!
James immediately came to mind….. but it’s the “one-liner” thing that got me. It’s those, “you’ve got 22 seconds to make the point or at least get their attention” moments.
And yes, “you ignoramus” would be fun to say… just once. 😛
I love #4. It’s always my goal to plan menus for the week, but somehow I never quite do. Thanks for the re-inspiration!