Something Awesome!

Sense and Sensibility Patterns (remember that great apron and those little girl's dresses I posted?) now has ePatterns!

It's extremely cool, because not only are they more affordable to the cash-strapped among us (me!), but they're an immediate download. No waiting for your pattern to come in the mail!

Now, admittedly, I'll probably own every single pattern in physical form eventually. But if you hate waiting, or are pressed for time on a sewing project you want to undertake, this is an awesome solution.

You can find the newest ePattern offerings right here: http://www.sensibility.com/pattern/main/?page_id=50

I Hate to Give off the Impression

That the past few months have been nothing but agony. I've actually had some wonderful moments. Between a family reunion we hosted, a family vacation (which involved a bird's eye view of the Grand Canyon), concerts and performances, and the acquisition of, among other things, a lace parasol and a corset, I've certainly had quite a time.

But I've begun to notice a pattern. When in the grip of Darkness, I grow further and further from God and religion. I sink into a pit of petulant self-indulgence. But when things even out, I feel fantastic, and am much more able to focus on my duties as a daughter.

In any case, now that I'm outside my own mind, I can ease back into the joy I felt this past spring...and I look forward to sharing it with you all.

May-October, on Fast Forward

Shortly after I took a posting hiatus...

Conflict with my best friend resulted in us not talking.

Around this same time I became extremely suicidal, to the point that I had to be hospitalized for seven days. During this time I relied very, very heavily on music to help get me through. After I got out, I felt closer to those songs I mentioned back then than ever. As a result, I began to have a serious crisis of faith, not at all helped by a pagan stepfather and a Mom who attends a Unity Church. Not to mention I didn't have any Christian friends in my immediate circle.

I spent the summer being less productive than I should have been and trying to mull over what everything meant. During this time I almost made a few decisions I know I would have sincerely regretted. August rolled around, I went to a concert that completely blew my mind and I thought I had made my decision.

But now I'm not so sure. I'm starting college in January and I have no idea what I want to major in or what I want to do with my life, again. I have absolutely no clue who Lydia is anymore, or what the future holds for her. Pray for me, please.

Election Day Novena

Borrowed from Priests for Life via The Catholic Knight.

O God, we acknowledge you today as Lord,
Not only of individuals, but of nations and governments.
We thank you for the privilege
Of being able to organize ourselves politically
And of knowing that political loyalty
Does not have to mean disloyalty to you.
We thank you for your law,
Which our Founding Fathers acknowledged
And recognized as higher than any human law.
We thank you for the opportunity that this election year puts before us,
To exercise our solemn duty not only to vote,
But to influence countless others to vote,
And to vote correctly.
Lord, we pray that your people may be awakened.
Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation,
Their response to you requires that they be politically active.
Awaken your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world
But rather a community of faith renewing the world.
Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to you in prayer
Are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth;
That the same eyes that read your Word
Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot,
And that they do not cease to be Christians
When they enter the voting booth.
Awaken your people to a commitment to justice
To the sanctity of marriage and the family,
To the dignity of each individual human life,
And to the truth that human rights begin when human lives begin,
And not one moment later.
Lord, we rejoice today
That we are citizens of your kingdom.
May that make us all the more committed
To being faithful citizens on earth.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Poking My Head Up

Perhaps someday I will be able to tell you all about everything that has gone on since I last posted.

For now, however, I would just like to sigh and lament that once again, we have been given a "historical" film. And once again it is frought with post-feminist thinking.

I am not a proponent of women bending to the will of abusive husbands; any such man who feels it justified to treat a woman so cannot make the claim of godliness. That being said...

The Duchess staring Kiera Knightley is like The Vagina Monologues in Georgian gowns. The entire message is fiercely anti-male.

We come away with the correct message indoctrinated; men are not to be trusted. Particularly older men. Particularly the ones we marry. Men are vile, lust-driven creatures who are cold, selfish, distant and cruel. Marriage is an institution of control, and any woman who engages in it invites oppression. Our only hope for happiness in such a wretched situation is the taking of lovers. No matter their gender. I even get the vibe, at several points, that our children hold us back from the true fulfillment we could achieve in their abscence.

Hopefully I can spare at least one misguided fellow lady from viewing this gilded travesty by placing this out in cyberspace.