Cat in the Bag

It rained and rained today;

I called a dear friend last minute and went to her house

read books to her oldest son (3 yrs old)

played with her 1 year old,

talked with her, drank tea...

I wrapped up books in this bag

books that

I bring for my bed time reading time with the

3 year old.

Today's picks were

Jesse bear what will you wear

and

The Story of Babar the little Elephant.

Cleo was looking in the books which I quickly rescued

thus rescuing Cleo

as the books were going to fall off with the bag handle around her neck

yikes.

Gotta watch that Cleo Cat!

I let her play with the now empty bag,

which she is now content to sit on top of...

which means no more clean cat-hair-free bag.

But it is too cute to watch her play with it,

so cat in the bag it is...

:)

*

I must say I most love reading to my friend's 3 year old boy.

I brought books that were mine when I was a kid

and have slowly been finding other books

used

for 2.00 each

which is a great deal for a classic kids book, like Babar!

*

The pile of papers in the corner of the Cleo in bag picture

are my future reading material

I will be glad when my interview prep is over!

*

So will Cleo I think...

Links, my Cat and Various Points of Hope

My printer has been on my table for a few weeks

(other than when I have an impromptu dinner party)

since I am printing not only Akathists

but lots of job related interview prep.

*

The interview prep is going well,

as in I am learning tons about the field and thus

the position.

I will have the interview in exactly one week.

*

Meanwhile Cleo is as we speak in her new 'spot' on

the bookshelf.

She is a comfort to me as she is great to give hugs to.

*

Really liked this post by Fr. Stephen;

neurotic Christians;

Yeah.

Sometimes it is just a good reminder to pull back a bit and breathe.

St. Phanourios;

A lovely Greek lady gave us some

St. Phanourios bread.

*

It filled me with a sense of joy, of hope.

This Saint, as you may know,

prays for us to find those things we need...

for me this is the need for a job

and for whatever my heart needs

(I need something, just not sure what!!)

*

It was the best St. Phanourious bread I have ever had;

incredibly light;

the prayer and skill for making this small bread

was not small!

I recently prayed part of the Canon to St. Nina and was hearted

to realize how she prays for those who need

salvation, who need baptism.

On my heart are some deeply loved ones

in my life

who are not yet baptized Christians

and who I deeply wish would come to church and

deepen in their journey towards God in the church

and walk the road of healing towards Christ

that we all pray we are on...

*

Some incredible links I need to share with you,

in case you have not found them yet:

Deb introduced us to these lectures by

Archimandrite Meletios Webber ;

I find listening to him a comfort

partly because I have always found listening to things

relating to Christ and psychology comforting;

I cannot say I was a fully 'normal' child,

as by my teen years I listened to Focus on the Family

(Protestant Christian psychology based discussions

revolving around supporting the family)

and I was still pretty much a kid myself.

Anyway, Fr. Meletios' podcasts and voice I find to be

a comfort.

Another worthy few links:

Another on Fr. Meletios actually - short and worth reading.

I sent this podcast by Fr. Thomas Hopko to a friend

after listening to it myself -

thoughts, feelings, memories -

it encouraged both of us.

Thank God the church has given us practical ways to deal

with ourselves and the struggles we face.

Last link of the day (or at least of this blog post!)

This post by Fr. Stephen about how our life can be with Christ

has been coming back to me in these last days -

how we need to be aware of our real state

and being with God in our helplessness.

*

With the change in weather to grey

the heaviness of various people's suffering

my own uncertain job situation

and intense interview preparations

it has been a huge struggle for me

as of late.

But yet with God it is not impossible.

Read this saying in a email signature,

which sums it up for me:

with faith in Christ all things are possible... but not easy.

When the waves overwhelm us, hear our cry O God

Wow.

Well.

So my Mom talked with my Aunt whose house burnt down;

lots of shock and exhaustion still;

the piano is still intact

as in standing

but with 5 fire trucks the possibility of it actually working again

(i.e. water damage)

is really questionable.

Their friends are bringing them coffee and lots of Tim Horton's food;

I told my Mom how I remembered

a woman, who has also since died,

bringing coffee to a house where there was an unexpected death;

this is what we do,

we bring coffee, food, timbits

we call the prayer chains,

we listen...

*

My Mom talked with someone today who

we know whose wife has

stage 4 brain cancer,

listening to him for a good while

as he described how he has done research to find the

best surgeons for his wife,

just to have her around a little longer;

she has been on my prayer list for some time now...

*

Heard about the tragedy in BC about a young teen's death -

will be bringing these names to church...

I felt overcome by this one

and I have not even lived in BC for some time...

Lord have mercy.

*

Two people I know this week have been

unexpectedly laid-off from their jobs.

*

And on and on it goes;

so much tragedy

so much suffering.

*

Yesterday was

(old calendar)

the feast of the Elevation of the Cross;

I was at liturgy and heard a beautiful homily

that referenced the Romanian Priest

Dumitru Staniloae

who was imprisoned in Romania under communism,

going through horrific tortures

and that he wrote that all

is explained in the Cross;

all the suffering, sadness, loss, senseless tragedies,

all are taken into

are given meaning by

the moment of the Crucifixion of our Lord Christ.

That Fr. Dumitru was imprisoned for so long,

my spiritual father assured us,

means that he too was intimately acquainted with the Cross.

*

May the Holy Cross be our hope and strength

when the waters seem to high,

when the waves overwhelm,

when we are stunned, shocked and in grief,

may the Cross be that which supports,

that which saves us.

Job Interview in October

Okay.

It is official - I have a job interview

(from the phone interview)

on October 7th

in the late hours of the morning.

*

The job is in Ottawa.

*

I will be studying lots for this position.

*

Prayer requested!

*

Thank you also for your love and prayers for my

Aunt and Uncle.

I am hoping to hear more of how they are doing soon...

Losing a house

Thinking of my Aunt and Uncle still today.

Above is my Dad's old chair,

blanket and ladybug pillow done by my Oma.

My Opa (Dutch for Grandpa) made intricate finely done

cross stitch pictures

and wood carvings;

One of the cross stitches that

he made is of the martinitoren in Holland.

He made 9 of them,

one for his wife, my Oma,

and then 8 more

one for each of his children.

Now one of my Opa's martinitoren's is gone.

*

My Mother and I talked about it today,

and how loss is always a call to pray and seek God;

and that all is dust to dust

that we cannot take anything with us.

*

But still,

it is a loss.

My Uncle built that house over many years;

the builder of the house has lost his house.

Beautiful wood floors, wood paneling,

old dishes

long wood dining table,

cabinets

wooden wardrobes

things of beauty...

*

Beauty is in ashes

and the day of the fire

the fire being at night

another one of my Uncles

who lives out West,

was just visiting his sister and brother-in-law,

took detailed pictures of

every room of the house

to show to Oma, his and my Aunt's Mother.

So on my Uncle's camera are the only

pictures they have of the house

and taken the day it burnt.

The house was beautifully made up for

the pictures.

What a blessing to have

and, pragmatic that I am,

I thought of how good it is to have for insurance purposes.

Now of course my Uncle needs to get those pictures downloaded and printed.

*

So a small mercy already.

*

I have been so encouraged by the blog comments and emails

assuring of further prayer for them.

(Thank you!)

*

Winter will be coming soon where they live

so they have a lot of figuring out to do.

My Uncle especially is struggling with the loss of their house;

their barn and vehicles were spared

which is another blessing.

*

I am blessed to have them in my life;

I have pictures of them on my bookshelf

that I see everyday.

Pictures that now I need to see about getting reprinted

so that they will have a small record left of past days.

*

I can't imagine losing the pictures

or the computer,

the list goes on...

*

Yet,

the Lord is good to us

and I pray that this event will only further salvation

of all involved.

*

With Job, who lost all but his wife, and all the Saints,

we can praise God saying,

Glory to God for all things!

Glory to Him in the Highest!

Glory to Him in the Heavens

who has come down

in great humility to save us,

Glory to You O God, Glory to You.

Prayer Request

I post this picture as the icons here are

some of my treasured ones.

The Virgin of Pochaiv

blessed last year on the Holy Icon of Pochaiv,

the Blessed Lady Theotokos;

a small icon of St. George which is the first icon I had of St. George

that is from a lovely person in my church

who got the paper print while at Mt. Athos;

the icon of Christ that is a small replica of the one in

my spiritual father's church office;

the big one of my Patron St. Irene, that was in our church basement

at one time;

the one of Dormition that is from Dormition monastery

that I got last Christmas.

*

I show these as an example of what treasures I would lose

if I lost all my possessions.

*

My Mother called tonight

which is means something has happened

(I call them daily as I have the good phone plan;

thank God I have parents to call who love me).

My Mom is one of 8 children;

her older sister, my Aunt, who lives in Ontario

in the country a bit in the North,

with her husband, my Uncle,

they lost everything last night

in a fire.

*

Apparently they were upstairs

smelled smoke

came to the main floor of the house and it was all aflame.

They escaped with a few clothes, my Aunt's purse and Uncle's wallet.

*

I can't imagine being in the home of your retirement years

(they are upper 60s in age)

all the dishes, all the books, furniture, pictures,

everything is gone.

*

Please pray for them.

The winter is long in their part of Ontario

and I fear that due to some other circumstances that

they will not be able to have a lot

by way of insurance money.

*

I know we one day die and part with our belongings

and that detachment is a good thing,

spiritually speaking,

but it is hard to lose all in one night.

And so many things that were made by my Oma,

so many things that made up the memories of their past

and a house that spoke of an assurance for their future.

*

I am very much like my Aunt,

with many special dishes for teas and dinners.

So if you've known me a while then you understand

a little of what they have lost

(and they had a house, I a small apartment).

*

Please pray for my Aunt and Uncle;

I pray that as a house once covered them

that now prayer will cover them...

*

Lord have mercy...

Looking for the next crumb on the path

Whew.

Interview over.

It was super basic,

just two questions really.

*

I will find out within a week or so if I will have a second interview.

(This one would be in person).

*

Meanwhile,

I am going to prepare for the potentiality of a second interview

so I can do my best at it.

*

Please pray if it is the Lord's will that I will get

a second interview!

I know already that they have several candidates

in mind...

*

Lord have mercy...

In-between

I finally got a picture

that somewhat dramatically shows the light

of my lampada

at night.

*

I am waiting to hear about the interview I flew out for;

waiting to have my other interview tomorrow;

waiting to hear if I get interviews from other applications;

waiting to have time to do more job applications.

This is the in-between time.

*

In general, as of late, it has been very good time.

*

I only lose my sense of peace if I start thinking

that I must do one or the other

(i.e. job / city).

*

God has His timing and His work and His will.

Not to mention a lot of patience

and the gift of time so that I could get to this point of job interviews,

this in-between time.

*

I have been re-reading parts of the book on

Vladika John;

Reading the stories about

St. John of Shanghai and Sans Fransisco

is a great comfort.

*

I have been realizing in the last while that the reading of books,

such as that of St. John,

is not only of greater value

that reading of others books that I currently own,

but that my anxiety levels are down;

a lot has happened for the good

in my life

since I officially declared war on anxiety

this past April.

*

I still have more to grow and learn,

but so far what has helped me the most are these things:

a) trips to monasteries for advice, prayer and to be where prayer is happening

b) continued liturgical life and confession as per my spiritual father

c) a really good naturopath who was recommended to me by trustworthy sources

d) making different reading and listening choices.

f) being home in August helped too.

*

At the same time,

I am still waging war on it.

*

In the next weeks and months the hope is that I will be

employed again.

This may or may not involve moving.

Either way my routine and life will change

and I know I will feel overwhelmed.

*

It seems, however, that I have been given some tools

that will help me with what will come.

*

As Mary said in her most current blog post,

the point of all decisions is based on seeking Christ

and our salvation.

My choices are made in order to gain peace

and, I pray, to one day be more fully rooted in Christ.

*

Meanwhile,

I must say I still feel a bit of apprehension about the interview tomorrow.

No pretending that I do not.

But at the same time

the quietness of today and the memory of the Saints

is a comfort....

Another interview!

I have a phone interview for an Ottawa position

Tuesday afternoon!

*

I feel like I am on some sort of tilt-a-whirl -

moving or not moving?

which job?

Lord have mercy.

May the Lord's will be done.

*

Prayers requested!!

On and on it goes

Life sure can be full of a lot of the same;

looking and waiting...

*

I have at least 2.5 more weeks of waiting to hear about the job

from what I was told.

*

It is hard to keep applying to more jobs;

it is inwardly tiring.

*

One of those days where it feels like everything was begun

but nothing finished.

Making meatloaf

but also Dutch meatball soup

and found out belatedly that I am out of carrots and celery.

Not much to do with soup without these!

Almost done with edit three of a cover letter;

I need to kick it back into gear

as they say.

*

I have enjoyed all the comments about my Akathist post.

I sent some to a friend who read my post

I LOVE information and resource sharing

and who would not love sharing prayers!!

*

One of the hardest things about being in the

in-between jobs situation

is that one cannot just go buy whatever they see or want

even when it comes to Orthodox books, Akathists or Icons;

though perhaps for me I should write Especially when

it has to do with these things!

I haven't shown you all the Icon of St. Katherine that I go while

at the monastery yet, have I?!

:)

If you recall I sold some books for cash and the icon was one of the

things I got in return...

Note to self: photograph icon and blog picture.

*

I hope you are all having a most wonderful end to a day

where you know that God is with you,

no matter what is going on

for you

right now.

*

Again, if anyone wants an Akathist, please let me know

in the comment box or email me

your request

(see email in last comment tread).

I'm a librarian and I am happy to share.

:)

*

God is good to us and He is with us.

The Collecting of Akathists

I am slowly working on more

job applications.

However most of today was spent getting my house in order again.

Wow.

When one comes back from vacation and lunges immediately

into huge interview preparations,

the house gets a bit neglected!

*

I am working on compiling, printing and putting into a binder

all of the Akathists that I have.

I have scoured the Internet for Akathists,

finding a good many here, and here, and here

not to mention the wonderful Akathists

that Fr. Lawrence Farley has written,

who is the priest who introduced me to Akathists through

preaching on one

while I was worshipping at St. Herman's

in the early days of my journey into the Orthodox Church.

*

So I have over 60 Akathists so far!

I know, that is a lot.

But I am still missing ones to:

St. Irene of Chrystovolantou

St. Katherine the Great Martyr

St. Barbara the Great Martyr

*

In time I hope to go to

St. Nectarios Press and get printed copies of prayers that

they have available for purchase;

as well as to St. John of Kronstadt Press,

for the Akathists that they have published;

and this book,

Volume Two of the Book of Akathists

*

But I cannot spend a lot of money on this right now!

*

If anyone knows where to find the Akathists I am missing

(esp. if they are freely available)

Please let me know!

*

I am going to list what I have so far below;

it's a long list so I understand if you don't read it,

but if you are looking for one that I do have

then leave me a comment and we can arrange

for you to have a copy, either a PDF or MS Word document.

*

FYI,

I do have in printed form but not in a computer file,

Akathists to:

St. Nicholas and St. George

and the so far 6 Akathists that are in pamplet form

that include

Akathist to Jesus Conqueror of Death by St. Nikolai Velimirovich,

Akathist to the Mother of God Quick to Hear

Akathist to St. Spyridon.

Also I have some canons as well,

but perhaps that is for another post!

*

Here is what I have as of today:

*

Elizabeth's List of Akathists:

1. An Akathist Hymn to Almighty God in Times of Sorrow and Depression
2. Akathist to Jesus Light to those in Darkness
3. An Akathist in Praise of God
4. The Akathist Hymn Glory to God for All Things
5. Akathist "Glory to the God who Works Wonders"
6. Akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ
7. Akathist to our Sweetest Jesus Christ
8. Paraklesis to our Lord Jesus Christ
9. Akathist to the Life-bearing Tomb and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
10. Akathist to the Spiritual Ladder, the Precious Cross

11. Akathist to our Most Holy Lady, Mother of God
12. Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, Daughter of Zion
13. Akathist to the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “The Virgin of Pochaiv”
14. Akathist to the Protection of the Theotokos
15. Akathist to the Theotokos Joy of All Who Sorrow
16. Akathist Service to Our Lady of Stika
17. Akathist hymn to the Theotokos during Great Lent
18. The Service of the Great Paraklesis of the Most Holy Theotokos
19. The Service of the Small Paraklesis to the Most Holy Theotokos
20. The Veil of Our Lady Akathistos Hymn
21. Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of children
22. Akathist to the Theotokos, Queen of All
23. Akathist to our Most Holy Lady before Her Icon, The Felixstowe Mother of God.
24. Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos of the Portal of Iviron, The Portaitissa

25. Akathist to Saints Joachim and Anna
26. Akathist Hymn to the Holy Prophet David King of Israel
27. Akathist Hymn to the Juliana of Lazarevo
28. Akathist BY St. Romanos the Melodist
(2015 edit to #28 as it is one not to him but by him to the Mother of God,
I have had requests over the years for an
 Akathist TO St. Romanos the Melodist, but have not found it).
29. Akathist to St. Tikhon of Moscow
30. Akathist to All Saints of Western Europe
31. Akathist to Holy Father Paisius the Athonite
32. Akathist to our Father among the Saints Chad the Wonderworker
33. Akathist to our father among the Saints Raphael
34. Akathist to our Holy Father Guthlac of Crowland
35. Akathist to St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
36. Akathist to St. Juliana of Lazarevo
37. Akathist to St. Philaret the Merciful
38. Akathist to St. Xenia of Petersberg
39. Akathist to St. Xenia of Petersburg, Interceder for families and those needing employment
40. Akathist to St. Brenden the Voyager
41. Akathist to St. Nectarios
42. Akathist to St. Luke the Surgeon
43. Akathist to the Chinese Martyrs (1900)
44. Canon to Protomartyr Thekla
45. Akathist to St. Panteleimon
46. Akathist to St. Innocent of Moscow, Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of North America
47. Akathist Hymn to St. Yakov
48. Akathist to St. Michael the Archangel
49. The Service of the Supplicatory Canon to St. Silouan the Athonite
50. The Akathist to St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco
51. Akathist to the Tsar Great Martyr Nicholas Emperor of All Russia
52. Akathist to St. Arseny of Winnipeg
53. Akathist to St. Herman
54. Akathist to St. Herman (by Fr. Lawrence Farely)
55. Akathist for the Repose of Those Who Have Fallen Asleep
56. Akathist to Saint Elizabeth, Grand Dutchess and Passionbearer
57. Akathist to the Martyr Saints of the Boxer Rebellion
58. Akathist to Saint Nilus, Wonderworker of Sora
59. Akathist to our Holy Father Guthlac of Crowland
60. Akathist to the Holy Confessor Alexis of Carpatho-Russia
61. Akathist to St. Nicholas of Myra
62. Akathist to Saints Peter and Paul

*

Again, if there are others you have that you can share,

please let me know.

The librarian in me is loving this project!

It's called "collection development" in the library world.

*

Thank God for His mercy in giving us such beautiful prayers.

Glory to God for all things!

Trusting God At Every Step

Found out today that

I did not get the Ottawa job I applied for.

It was library-related

but not as good as the job I just flew out to interview for.

*

Still, it is not easy as I really love it in Ottawa.

Just being here is a delight to me.

But if God wants me to move away,

I must go.

*

Tomorrow I will continue job searching

in and outside of Ottawa.

*

God is good

and I know that He does nothing

that is not for our good and salvation.

*

This does not mean I am emotionally numb to this process.

I have been waking around 5 AM a lot lately

which I am sure is in part because I may

be moving

and my life is in transition.

This however does not negate God's goodness

and kindhearted mercy.

Thoughts about home

This picture, and the one below it,

are at a relatives house in Michigan.

*

They have lived on the property and fixed it up over the years.

Someday they will have to leave it, as aging is inevitable.

I am in an unknown yet known place.

*

I do not yet know what my job future is.

*

Am I moving? If so, where to?

I still have other applications out there

and will be looking for more,

until God opens the door for a position that seems right to take,

whether it is the one I just interviewed for

or another.

*

Most who read this blog know that

I love icons.

Almost all of my icons I have gotten over the years

that I have lived in Ottawa.

If I move, God willing all my icons will come safely as well.

Ultimately I will be separated from all things,

as either Christ will return or I will die.

*

But the idea of having my icons with me if I do have to move,

is a comfort.

*

It is challenging at times emotionally right now

(though overall I am doing alright)

as I do not know what I am preparing for

(to stay, to leave).

*

I do know that I am to seek to preserve the peace that

God can give us

in the midst of uncertainty.

Interview Over!

Whew.

Well it went well!

Yay!!!

There are 3 candidates they interviewed.

I will know in 3 or 4 weeks,

hopefully not longer.

*

My presentation went well;

I felt comfortable;

it is strangely something I don't mind doing, presenting.

*

My interview went as well as possible,

given my experience, etc.

*

I can honestly say all the people I met today

(and there were many)

I really liked.

*

I am very pleased.

Also quite exhausted, though surprisingly not feeling

as traumatized as I thought I would.

:)

*

THANK YOU ALL SO SO VERY MUCH

for your prayers.

I felt so encouraged by you all,

as well as by other family and friends.

*

Meanwhile I will have to continue job searching

as nothing is known yet.

*

Tonight though I get to relax.

Tomorrow I will tour the city and fly back at night.

*

Now that the interview is over,

I feel eager to get back home,

I think because it was so much effort to stay on top

of everything all day...

*

I am trying to just live in the present and not

worry about relocating until it

if the Lord wills

happens.

*

May the Lord be praised and may His will be done.

*

Thanks again everyone, your support really means a lot to me!

Flying out for Interview tomorrow

Well.

My big day is almost here!

My interview day begins at 8 AM and ends at 4:15 PM

(EST 9 AM to 5:15 PM).

*

Please pray that I will have the strength to concentrate

and be professionally cheerful throughout,

etc.

*

I thank God for His care

and that there are so many praying for me.

I am so blessed...

*

May God be praised.

Sunday

I have been feeling the pressure of my up and coming interview.

To read all the research,

work on my presentation

and do other things

to prepare

is exhausting.

Don't get me wrong - I am really excited for the opportunity.

I just need to do enough research

to really understand what I am presenting.

The day of interview (I have the schedule now)

is from 8 am until 4:15 pm

this Friday.

I have been worried that I am getting a head cold,

esp. as the weather is changing.

But God is so good.

I am so supported by my family, friends, church family;

I could not ask for more

(well other than perhaps not coming down with any sort of illness

this week!).

I have been enjoying Sunday to catch up on some blog reading

of dear blog friends,

but if I am not commenting it is merely due to my

current situation.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and blessed beginning of this week

and a nice Labour day to any who are in countries

that celebrate it.

God is good to us.

I think the interview went well.

*

Thank you everyone for your prayers

and comments.

I felt supported; thank you.

*

Now to prepare for the next interview!

*

I got the interview schedule for next week...

it is intense.

*
I will be meeting the head of all the libraries by 8:30 in the morning

and presenting to the library staff by 9 am ...

and that is only the beginning --

the day does not end until 4:15 in the afternoon!

*

Any advice on how to stay 'cool' for a day of meet and greets

a lunch, interviews and presentation

are welcomed.

*

In someways the day is so intense that I just laugh and want to

go forward and do it well!

*

Meanwhile, I will be off to the library to research for my presentation.

Prayers of course welcomed,

including that I will have the physical strength to make it through this week

of preparation

(and a possible second interview in Ottawa

for the job I interviewed for today).

*

God is our hope and strength...

to Him we must look...

Tomorrow

I have my Ottawa interview tomorrow.

*

I got a lot of good advice today about it.

*

I am praying that I will be able to communicate confidently

about my skills and experience.

*

By Saturday I will be preparing for my day-long interview*.

*

I am looking forward to this weekend and the support that God

provides in the church.

*

Prayers requested.

*the day long interview is next week Friday