u/kelmeloo

Hello ladies!

I'm a catechumen and as of right now, my son and I are expected to be baptized on Holy Saturday of 2027. Praise be to God!

My question is just basically, where did you get your cross necklaces? I am looking for one that is very budget friendly (like under $80 preferably, but really can't go above $100) but is silver in color and will actually last a long time. I know Etsy has many options but would love to hear opinions and other sources too (if there are any within that budget).

I thank you all in advance for your replies!

Hey y'all! So I've been taking concerta for like 4 years now, give or take a year. I've been up and down doses. I've just started 36 mg again from 27. I'd like to track how the concerta is helping (or not).

BUT my problem is...I don't really remember what I was like before I started taking it, and the things I do remember were affected by different life circumstances than I'm in now. I also don't really know what I'm even expecting the concerta to do, aside better focus and higher productivity, so I'm not even sure what to track. Do I track executive functioning skills? ADHD common traits? I really don't know. When looking at trackers, it also usually says something along the lines of, "how do you know it's taking effect/kicked in?" Like...I don't. I don't feel ANY different than I do when I wake up, except that I'm just naturally more awake. Like I literally take it as soon as I get out of bed. Then I get ready, then I leave, and I'm tired, but I'm awake. I'm not energized, I'm not focused, I'm not productive....I'm just awake and doing what I have to. Even an hour or two later, I don't really feel like there's been a "flip" to the meds magically working. So how does it make me feel when it kicks in??? Absolutely the same as my "off days" when I don't take it.

I also take Wellbutrin 150mg, if that factors in. I'm a homeschooling mother, and my son is autistic. I have emotional regulation for the most part except frustration. I tend to get frustrated very easily, but I regulate other emotions fairly well. And that frustration settles within minutes as long as something else doesn't add to it.

My point is, I hear people with success stories, even if it's not this grand switch. While I genuinely don't know if it's helping me (at any dose) or not, because I've been on it for years and don't even remember what my aim for taking it was.

I can hyper focus extremely easily, but have a hard time breaking from it, I have TERRIBLE task initiation and follow-through, time blindness (though I know meds don't help with that one), the frustration dysregulation, but I'm extremely organized....but there's still clutter everywhere. Like organized chaos. And probably many more things that I can't think of. (Ah yes, terrible working memory also)

Also, I have also tried Adderall in the past, it was not for me...so much anxiety and heart rate/blood pressure issues.

But anyways, TLDR: I need help tracking but don't know exactly what I need to track specifically for me. (Also preferably a notebook style and not digital) And tracking charts tend to be too vague or weird wording (like "rate your impulsivity"...um okay I didn't blow all my money today but I yelled at my son and coped by eating 3 chocolate bars, or okay I had better frustration regulation but kept accidentally interrupting people..like I need a better way to gauge a rating than just "impulsivity...distracted....focused" like yeah I can focus on my phone...and teaching my son his lessons, but can't for the life of me focus on reading the Bible when I want to, but also not distracted during that time either.

Do y'all get what I'm saying or am I just rambling? 😅

There are 2 sets of curriculum that I'd like to purchase from them but since taking note a few months ago of the price, every item has gone up in price, every single time I've checked. Does anyone know if I can expect to buy it cheaper? Or should I just go ahead and get them now?

Probably going with ACE PACES social studies, and Language Lessons for a Living Education (Masterbooks), if those brands make any difference to the question...because I know they recently had sales on just a select few brands like Apologia and Abeka I think.

Edit: I am desperate for help on this, as we don't have the means to purchase willy-nilly. I have asked this before in multiple Facebook groups and have even tried asking the chat bot on their site and have never gotten a single answer. So literally any information on this would be extremely insightful and helpful.

I have this one soup mug that I use often and the handle gets so hot when I heat it back up in the microwave, even if the food is still cold. There are tons of patterns out there for mug cozies but they all have the handle exposed. I literally just need a way to get the mug out of the microwave without burning my hand. Finger pinchers are too small for the way you grab a mug handle, and pot holders are too big and bulky.

Edit: it doesn't get scorching, just hot enough to be uncomfortable after a few seconds. And it hasn't always done that, just a recent thing.

So I just became a catechumen but have been praying the morning prayers for over a year. It didn't dawn on me until recently that I've been sort of blindly praying Psalm 50.

1. transgressions vs sins vs iniquities? OSB doesn't seem to use iniquity at all but my prayer book (New Rome Press) does. Basically anywhere iniquity is used in the prayer book, the OSB has as transgression or lawlessness.

2. what does verse 7 mean? "For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." Is this a specific reference to David's mother (I am very behind in the OT history) or does this have meaning to all of us? If so, what does it mean for us all? I always assumed it just mean we were born into a sinful world and that includes our parents. But that doesn't really make sense on why he'd use iniquity/lawlessness and then sin separately. I guess this would be better understood after answer question 1.

3. vs 16 - blood guiltiness. Is this not just murder? If so, why is it included in our prayers for us that have not murdered? If beyond murder, could you explain please?

Thanks in advance!