Life Snapshot on September 20, 2013

By Dr. Taylor Marshall

Here’s a snapshot of my life. I got this idea from Amongst Things Lovely. It’s a peek into my every day life:

Outside my window…

Rain and 75 degrees.
I just took the children to school. It was an epic struggle. Here’s why…
Today is a “free dress day,” which means the children don’t have to wear their uniforms to school at Faustina Academy. Instead, they can wear what they want. For the Marshalls, “free dress day”  = “stressful morning.”

Marshall’s in uniform, my preference for ease

“Free dress day” always entails one of our five school-going children to breakdown over not knowing what to wear. Psyschologically, they are programmed to “wake up and put on uniform.” Free dress day causes brain freeze and panic. So many colors. So many styles.
Today it was Becket in Kindergarten who froze on the threshold of fashion. He wanted Joy to dress him (I let her sleep in). That really upset him. Second, he didn’t want to wear the awesome looking Rugby shirt that I picked out for him. He finally chilled out when I took him into school and checked out his classroom bunny.

I am thankful…

For my woman, my children, my home, , my faith in Christ, and my exciting life.
Whenever I stop being grateful, I become discouraged. Gratitude reorients your sight to God. All good things come from Him and good things are always coming from Him. If you don’t recognize that, the devil has you in his hands.

I am thinking about…

Cameras and HD video. We just finished filming this month’s New Saint Thomas Institute. For the first time in my life I’m aware of lenses, SLR, HD, and camera angles.
I also think about the Troops of Saint George a lot. This movement for men and boys has taken over a large part of my brain, for better or worse.

Our altar (ad orientem) from our Saint George campout, note crucifix on tree and statue

I’ve got a men’s conference coming up, so I’m thinking about marriage (hence the blog posts and recent podcast).
Also, I’m interested in the future of Catholic radio.

On the blog…

I’m trying to be creative by incorporating Scripture, Scholasticism, and philosophy with every day life. I’m also trying to be a “real person” and not merely an academic blogger.

I am creating…

The New Saint Thomas Institute. I can’t wait for y’all to be a part of our new Institute.
For me, the New Saint Thomas Institute is more important than everything that I’ve done online for the last 9 years – more than the blogs, books, speaking, curriculum, teaching, mp3s, podcasts, etc.
This Institute takes it to a new level and makes it more personal and intimate. It’s like a think-tank for those on the same journey. Since it’s a video medium, I can have a little more fun with it. If you want to learn philosophy and theology, become a better Christian, and have a positive, upbeat, supernatural outlook – then New Saint Thomas is for you.
We’ll open up 499 spots for students at the beginning of October. If you want to be part of early registration and reserve your spot, check the box “I’m interested in Catholic videos and online courses” in your online email profile by updating your free subscription preferences.

I am reading…

The Romance of Religion by Fr Dwight Longenecker (review copy). This book comes out in Spring of 2014. It’s fantastic. A fun read. It’s very CS Lewis-ish.
The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
The Pocket Guide to the Outdoors by Jean Craighead George
Summa theologie qq. 22-89

I am praying…

For my woman and my children. The culture is trying to steal their souls.
I’m also praying for the Troops of Saint George – we’re having legal trouble with the Boy Scouts of America who sent me a “cease and desist” letter. The world needs real men of freedom, fortitude, and faith.

I am listening to…

Spotify. My friend Ben Olsson recently told me about Rhapsody. And then another friend James Hahn told me about Spotify at lunch on Wednesday. After doing some research, I went with Spotify. You pay a fee per month and get access to almost all music every recorded.
I just created a list of Baroque music (as challenged by my friends James and Doug): Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven.
As I type, I’m listening to Bach’s Cello Number 5 in C Minor.
I am also enjoying the Vitamin String Quartet. Is it okay to listen to Radiohead reworked via a string quartet?

Clicking around…

Wikipedia :: Yeah, I like to read random articles. I just read a few articles on music. The biography of Rivers Cuomo. The biography of Bach and Mozart.
Strange Notions :: Brandon Vogt’s brainchild for atheists and Catholics coming together
Seth Godin :: I can’t stop reading him.

Around the house…

I need to fix the switch plates in the kitchen. I need to clean out the garage.
We did get the backyard cleaned up for Fall – our favorite outdoor time of the year. Oct 31 = backyard fire pit.

One of my favorite things…

Green tea. I’m sipping on it now. I gave up coffee back on November 1 of 2011. I’m a new man. I was a two-pot-a-day coffee drinker. Now I’m clean. I sleep much better. I highly recommend it.

A few plans for the next week…

I’m going hog hunting with the family this weekend at a friend’s ranch. Should be lots of fun.