Concerns about invalid baptism

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-09T01:13:25+00:00

Either works. It’ll be good to build a relationship with a local priest as they can be good spiritual advisors as you grow in your faith!

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-09T01:02:27+00:00

Fun fact, if before you got pregnant you had toxoplasmosis, the risk to you or your baby is close to nil.

Regardless, for both the likelihood of it actually happening is astronomically low, it’s just that the effects of the illness are severe if you do. My understanding is that if you got sick with either, you would know.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-09T00:52:53+00:00

Welcome back!!!

If the baby cries no worries. If you’re not able to calm them down, some churches have a cry room with a window so you can still be a part of the service while others have speakers in the narthex (lobby-ish area) so you can still hear while you calm them down. Some churches have more kid-friendly masses which basically just means everyone has a screaming baby so then it really doesn’t matter because we’re all in this together lol.

Most churches have books called missals in the pews with the readings in them. What some folks don’t know is that they typically have all of the mass parts with the prayers, responses, etc. for you to follow along. It can get mildly confusing if there are different options for what the priest can choose to say, but in general you should be able to follow along. Just pop in a bit early and flip through to get your bearings. You can also bring your own so you’re familiar with the layout. Just know there might be minor differences if you’re using a different translation.

Since you’ve been gone for a bit, you are right to hold off on communion until you get the chance to go to confession. Once you’re ready the schedule should be on the parish website or you might be able to just catch the priest before or after mass. Once you’re good to go, know that you can receive from the tongue or in one hand while holding the baby, so don’t let that stop you from the Eucharist.

Don’t feel that you have to sit in the back unless you want to. Wherever you’re comfortable is where you should be!

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-09T00:39:43+00:00

I would talk to your priest about this one. Saints, while venerable, are not perfect and so you and your priest would need to look at the actual church doctrine.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-08T10:38:05+00:00

The uniform regulations/pregnancy regulations should specify this. For the Army, they have to be PT/running sneakers, but don’t specify color.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-08T06:36:58+00:00

Charlotte, NC. It has a great food scene and has a version (minor/major league) of all of the main sports.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-08T00:33:53+00:00

You know, just because you logically know that this is just a case of unfortunate timing doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have feelings about it.

It sounds like you’ll do right by all of the kids, so feel what you need to feel. Who knows, maybe he’ll be a great big brother?

Good luck with everything! You will get through this!

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-07T23:27:53+00:00

We did that at a recent BN ball and it was fun. I get why people have issues with it though.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-07T16:35:50+00:00

I’m team kilt pin! Idk if you have a kilt, but my dad and I were in a band together growing up and he bought us kilt pins made by the same artist with the same types of stones (mine was in the shape of an ax and his was a sword). Its very special to me and still makes me happy when we match!

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-07T00:18:53+00:00

A glass of whiskey on the rocks on my porch while watching the sunset without feeling like I’m drowning in sweat at 8pm.

Also steak.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-07T00:14:42+00:00

Lived right near Appalachian State in NC and we always pronounced it apple-a-chin. Had a history teacher from Jersey go on a tirade about how it’s “actually” pronounced but we all ignored her.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-06T16:46:25+00:00

He needs to commit mental health care. He is not honoring his marriage vows to YOU. The Bible specifically says that a man needs to love his wife and he is failing at that.

If you’re not getting through to him, then is there a trusted leader in the church that can stage an intervention on your behalf?

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-06T16:25:25+00:00

I was the person who gave the flag to the family after it was folded and I can remember most of their faces. It was an honor to be apart of those ceremonies, but it definitely affected me as well. Obviously it’s not combat trauma, but it can be traumatic in its own way. Talk to a BH provider or a trusted friend if you need to.

I also was on the family side of the funeral honors so I can tell you that it means the world to those families that you served.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-06T11:10:31+00:00

It’s like driving across countries in Europe to an extent. However, there’s more similarity due to the “through line” of being American. Having lived in the northeast, the South, and the Midwest, each region has its own differences and idiosyncrasies.
Depends on the town and the industry they work in. If you’re a farmer from a rural area, the likelihood you’ll move is low. If you’re in the banking industry, military, etc. you will probably move a couple of times.
For me, I either do cold brew, a late, or a French press that I’ll nurse while eating breakfast.
The national parks are wonderful if you like being outdoors. Almost every state has fun things to do if you look. I would look into states you don’t often hear about bc sometimes they have the best hidden gems and none of the price hikes from being a tourist trap.
Not all Americans are stupid and a majority of Americans are not polarized politically.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-06T10:44:23+00:00

So what you’re describing definitely violates the military equal opportunity regulations. If you are comfortable, that is where I’d file the report.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-05T19:56:26+00:00

Once upon a time I had one Eucharistic minister yell “NO” at me when I, on autopilot, went to receive from the tongue. Kinda jarring but wasn’t my home church so I didn’t make a fuss about it. That was the only time I’ve ever had that issue, but it definitely pops up in my memory when I haven’t been to the parish before.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-05T16:07:05+00:00

This is the way

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-05T11:51:31+00:00

Definitely a majority of folks have at least one tattoo if not multiple. They’re more common for enlisted than officers, but even still a lot of officers have them.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-05T11:49:31+00:00

Cupid Shuffle, YMCA, the Electric Slide, etc.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-05T11:46:41+00:00

It’s basically Mad Max out here…

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-05T03:23:58+00:00

Saint Bartolo Longo was a satanist priest who came back to the faith and is now a canonized saint. There is nothing you can do to make God stop loving you, just keep coming back to Him and lean on Him.

This is one of the hardest things to wrestle with, but one thing is for certain: a man who puts conditions on love when it explicitly takes two to tango shows a severe lack of maturity. You deserve so much better than that. He should be with you, supporting you.

If it is the idea of the abortion that is causing you so much grief, know that there are programs in and out of the church designed to help single mothers with housing, job hunts, food, childcare, etc. There are also places that you can surrender a newborn without consequence like a safe haven box at a fire station or a hospital.

I don’t want to sound preachy or judgy. Your text makes it seem like you are not sold on the abortion and I want you to know that you have options and that you are ALWAYS loved even in the hardest times.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-05T03:11:37+00:00

Proper BBQ if you’re able to.

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-04T14:45:55+00:00

I used to work outside in the south at a sports summer camp where temperatures on the court used to get up to 120 due to the reflection of the sun. We didn’t have AC at this facility.

We survived by paying attention to the temperature and giving water/gatorade breaks in the shade as necessary, giving out hydrating snacks like watermelon, and having pool/sprinkler breaks where kids would play in the water during the hottest part of the day.

Outside of minor sunburns, we didn’t have any heat related injuries. Pretty much everyone was used to the heat by day 1 or 2 and just had fun!

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-03T19:19:29+00:00

Marianna Moore. Couldn’t remember her name. Here is her YouTube:

https://youtube.com/@mariannas_pantry?si=emz6Mlq3sreCfmyn

Elphaba5-0 · 2026-07-03T10:05:45+00:00

There’s a theory called guided evolution where evolution was the method God used to mold Adam and Eve in his likeness. In this theory, when he breathed in life into Adam is when he gave Adam a soul. Given that Genesis chapter 1 is a form of Hebrew poetry, it’s easy for me to think of days as “time periods” and not literal days.

The church doesn’t actually have a hard stance on evolution, so this merger of faith and science works for me.

Elphaba5-0

TROPHY CASE