(2/27)...streaming

I just returned from the dentist. I had three fillings replaced today. That's a special kind of torture in my opinion, "You have already had these three teeth drilled and filled, but we'll do it again just for fun."

And because the first shot didn't numb, I got two. Oh joy.

I am sipping a gin and tonic and sucking Cheez-its. Join me?

~~~~~~

My second baby turned twenty yesterday. How does that happen?

The funny thing is, his personality is very much likes it has been since he was a baby. One hundred percent of the time he's a bear. He's a contented teddy bear 98% of the time, but in that leftover 2% of the time, he's a grizzly.

~~~~~~~~

I caught up with last Sunday's Downton Abbey last night. I was very disappointed week before last that they took Lord Grantham in the direction they did. I felt it was completely unnecessary. Last week's installment improved, I felt. I am glad Mary's secret is out and she and Matthew have finally found each other. It only took a war and death from Spanish flu for that to happen. Just a little drama. Thomas ticks me off and I wish someone would out him. Of course, if he becomes the valet, something will happen, for sure.

I enjoyed immensely the "behind the scenes" last week. It was odd to see the characters with more makeup and hairdos off screen than on.

~~~~~~~

In between episodes of Downton, I have been getting more fill of British aristocracy. I watched The Bleak House based on Charles Dickens's short stories of the same name. It was a little dark, a la Dickens, but good characters, and if you, like me, liked Jillian Anderson from X-Files, you'll certainly enjoy it.

I also watched the first season of Cranford, with Judi Dench, and Jim Carter (Carson) from Downton.  I am anxiously awaiting the second season, and I must say I enjoyed Cranford just as much as Downton, though in a different way. Less costume and scenery and more simple, real relationships. I really like Judi Dench and Simon Woods (Pride and Prejudice). I find it rather amusing that many of these British actors are seen repeatedly in British films. I guess it's no different than American films in which one sees Matt Damon and Tom Cruise repeatedly, but because they are playing characters in the same era, it seems funny.

~~~~~~

I suppose I have to go feed my family now, even though my mouth is still numb and I won't be able to eat for hours. Oh the injustice.

~~~~~~~

My quote for the day from Lessons Along the Journey:

 "You will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John." ~~ C.S. Lewis

4/40

Not the date...I know. Fourth day of Lent. Just for the record.

It's a rather quiet weekend here. Faith's fever is gone. Thank you for your prayers. Just a lingering cough now. I am hopeful she will be healthy to travel next weekend.

I was looking around Amazon this week for some Lenten reading. Nothing looked good -- all same-old-same- old. I finally came across Richard Maffeo's Lessons Along the Journey and it's good Lenten reading. Not too deep but real. Good real life situations in which the author shows how God works through us and with us. For some reason I am attracted to Jewish turned Catholic stories, like St. Teresea Benedicta, and Sister Rosalind Moss. It's not a long book, but something good to pick up every day, at least for a week or so. I got it for .99 on my Kindle -- certainly well worth the money.

Reading yesterday, I came across this story about one of my favorite spiritual songs, and I wanted to share. The author shared it himself on his blog, so I am not giving anything away for free. ;-) It's a very moving story of incredible faith in God.

~~~~~~

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6).

Smoke swirled through the streets of Jerusalem. A woman shrieked as the Babylonian soldier pulled the blood-soaked sword from a man’s belly, and then thrust it into hers. Soldiers ripped babies from their mothers’ arms and flung them against stone walls. Devastation swallowed Jerusalem as Nebuchadnezzar’s army ravaged the city.

With grief clutching his throat, Jeremiah wrote what some might call lunacy: “The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, His mercies are not spent; they are renewed each morning, so great is His faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Anyone looking over Jeremiah's shoulder as he wrote would have screamed, “Are you mad? Look around you, Jeremiah! Blood covers our streets. Children lie dead with their parents, and you talk about God’s mercies?”

It would have been a reasonable accusation.

But was the Jeremiah mad, or did he have something that I – and perhaps you – need?

Horatio Spafford could answer that question. His faith in God persevered despite the tragedies that ripped into his soul. Early in 1871, he lost his only son to illness. Four months later, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed his business. Two years later, his wife, and daughters booked passage on a ship bound for England. During the voyage, the vessel collided with another ship and sank. Spafford’s daughters were among those drowned.

Spafford immediately booked passage for England to join his grieving wife. When the ship reached the vicinity of the accident, he stood on the deck and wrote a hymn Christians around the world still sing. You might recognize some of the lyrics: When peace, like a river, attendeth my way/when sorrows like sea billows roll/ whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say/‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’

Perseverance. Confidence in God. Devotion to our King despite tragedy. Mature men and women of God understand there are no shortcuts to the kind of spiritual strength that keep us faithful despite personal heartache. For that reason the Church teaches us such perseverance blossoms only through the grace of God as we seek Christ each day in the pages of Holy Scripture, listening for His voice in attentive prayer, worship, and -- if you are a Catholic -- regularly meeting Him at Mass and in the Sacraments. It is not an either-or thing. It is a combination of each, a combination which gave spiritual strength, for example, to St. Terese of Lisieux who wrote just before she died at the young age of 24: “Everything is a grace. Everything is the direct effect of our Father's love - difficulties, contradictions, humiliations, all the soul's miseries, her burdens, her needs - everything. Because through them she learns humility, realizes her weakness. Everything is a grace because everything is God's gift. Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events, to the heart that loves, all is well.”


That’s the kind of relationship we all need with God. And that’s the relationship God wants with us.

Isn't it only prudent that we learn to seek God now, and not when life is crumbling?"

~~~~~~

This song always makes me cry, but in a really good way.

Journey or destination?

Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. Is 43:19

I often hear people use the word "journey" to describe life. Frankly, I dislike that word a lot because I think it is highly over-used. If life is a journey, then we are constantly seeking something, going somewhere. Or are we? Is a journey the trip or seeking the destination? Glass half full or half empty? I suppose it's all in how you look at it. Frankly, thinking of life as a journey makes me tired -- I want to rest a bit, if you don't mind.

But, if you think of Lent as a journey, it means we start at one place and end at another. I hope that I am not in the same place at the end of Lent, which means I guess I am on a journey.

As Sara said today, yesterday was rough, but not in the ways I thought it would be. Isn't that the way it always is? In a comment here recently, Jennie said she didn't have any plans for sacrificing in Lent because God always finds the "best" way for her to sacrifice (and when I say "best" I really mean His best not her best). He does that, doesn't he?

Yesterday I had a rather quiet day, which means I really wasn't all that hungry. I am prone to feeling rather yucky on Ash Wednesday because of low blood sugar, but because I didn't really do anything, I didn't really feel hungry. In fact, I haven't eaten yet today. 

I sacrificed in other ways. Faith is sick, really sick. She's had fever for three days and an awful cough. It makes my head hurt when she coughs, so I can't imagine how she feels. She saw the doctor last week when she had croup, so he called in a fast-acting antibiotic yesterday. I imagine she has sinus infection, bronchitis or, possibly, pneumonia. She happens to have an appointment tomorrow for a well visit, which is why he called in the prescription instead of asking to see her. Today is the second dose, and I am hopeful that coughing will subside some. She (and I) slept some last night, but not a lot.

But because Faith is sick, we didn't get ashes, and I missed that. It hardly seemed like Ash Wednesday without them.

Doug came home from work and he had really dark ashes. He said he stopped for a hair cut after work and the barber said "What the heck is that on your forehead?" Doug replied, "It's Ash Wednesday. Are you going to say something smart (meaning stupid)?" And the barber muttered, "Um, no." Normally Doug wouldn't say anything in case he would hurt someone's feelings, so I'm glad he said something. People think they can say anything to poke at your beliefs.

I was proud of the boys yesterday. No one complained about fasting, or scrambled eggs for dinner. I even heard Noah up at about 11:45 having a glass of milk. He certainly could have waited 15 minutes and had a snack, but he didn't. That may seem like nothing, but this is Noah -- he's 6'1" and 200 pounds and he doesn't like being hungry. Joshua volunteered that he gave up eating after midnight, which is something for him, considering the late night snacking that's been going on here. And Noah gave up, um, using bad words. Ahem. I don't know what to say about that. I mean that's good, right? But he should never be using  bad words, and that's what I told him.

I bought a 50 pound bag of sand to create a candle centerpiece for Lent (because apparently play sand doesn't come in lesser quantities). Besides wanting to avoid another table fire, I like the symbolism of the sand during Lent -- 40 days in the desert? I had a large, round, shallow glass bowl I wanted to fill and so I took it out to the garage and filled it. But apparently the sand was too heavy for the bowl because when I picked up it cracked apart and I cut my hand in a couple places, one of which is right in the center of my palm. I ended up with the two square containers in the photo above, and a little cut to remember the first day of Lent by.

"The observance of Lent is the very badge of Christian warfare. By it we prove ourselves not to be enemies of the cross of Christ. By it we avert the scourges of divine justice. By it we gain strength against the princes of darkness, for it shields us with heavenly help. Should mankind grow remiss in their observance of Lent, it would be a detriment to God’s glory, a disgrace to the Catholic religion, and a danger to Christian souls. Neither can it be doubted that such negligence would become the source of misery to the world, of public calamity, and of private woe.” – Pope Benedict XIV

Lenten Chain

I used this exercise at Domestic Church to make a Jesse Tree of sorts (without the tree) into a Lenten paper chain. (download). The paper chain is made from strips of paper with each Day of Lent printed on it (at the bottom of the document -- just print the entire document and cut those days at the bottom into strips and create a paper chain).

Each day a child opens the day's link and reads the corresponding scripture verse which will take them from creation to crucifixion (I used the RSV bible). If you want to have the children draw the image that goes with the verse, go to the Domestic Church page and see each day's image. I had to make a few modifications because there were a couple of days missing the scripture verse, but all the images are there (I think).

 I printed mine on plain old white paper because I didn't want to use costly paper to rip up every day. But if you have colored copy paper, go for it. Purple would be nice. I hung mine in the front hall with some fancy-pants-sticky-gunk. 

If you have any questions, just leave me a comment.

drat! drat! double drat! triple drat!

I have left comments at more than half a dozen blogs today and they have just disappeared, leaving me with the distinct feeling that I am talking to myself.

I don't even know what to say. Humph.

Daybook...looking toward Ash Wednesday

Outside my window...

...a cool, clear day. Not exactly cold, certainly not as cold as it could be in Ohio in February. Not so cold as to keep Faith indoors, she's been out skating all morning. Nine years ago, her first birthday fell on President's Day and we had about a foot of snow.

I am thinking...

...about Lent and some big changes for me. I am not going to go dark, but I have decided to drastically decrease my internet usage and blogging in general. I will attempt to keep blogging limited to Lenten posts (of course, that means I will think of 60 great posts to write during Lent, you know), and cut back on reading as well. My plan is to do something practical -- knitting, rosary making, laundry -- when I have the desire to blog. Of course, I often plop down with my Kindle to read blogs when I am tired, so I am not sure how practical that is. But I can always plop down with some inspirational reading, or knit while I pray the rosary, the Seven Sorrows chaplet, or listen to the audio bible.

I am thankful for....

...friends, in real life and online, especially this past weekend

...my husband's job and insurance

...happy family

...good priests

...hot, black coffee (always)

From the lesson plans...

...off school today because the school kid is home

...more of the timer, it seems to be the only motivator for my procrastinator -- still -- always?

... Jennie's Young Writing Club
though she says this week's prompt is too hard ;-)

From the kitchen...

...leftover frozen pork and gravy for dinner -- not exciting -- but Lincoln Log for dessert

I am wearing...

...Khaki trousers, a French blue turtleneck, brown clogs and "chains"

I am creating...

...a blue, green and brown quilt -- cute colors (almost finished!)

casting on some leg warmers for Faith's birthday (ripping out one leg warmer because my daughter's leg is way skinnier than I thought and they were supposed to be a surprise so I never checked)

...a pretty opal and aqua green, and bronze Seven Sorrows chaplet for my Etsy shop

I am planning...

...to post printable bible verses for children to create a paper chain of sorts for Lent, based on this activity at Domestic-Church.com; hoping to get it finished today, but there are a lot of bible verses there. I plan to make a paper chain for Faith to read and study one verse each day.

I am reading...

...What Would Jesus Eat? Interesting pre-Lent reading which I hope to use as a guide of sorts for Lenten eating

I am hoping...

...to get all the laundry carried downstairs, washed, dried, folded, carried upstairs and put away. It's a Monday sort of thing.

I am hearing...

...the space heater behind me. I can't get warm even though it's not very cold out. I go from cold to super hot, and I think it might be all hormonal.

Around the house...

...just staying on top of clutter and dust

...gearing up for some major Lent cleaning and organizing (and removing)

I am going...

...nowhere today, but I am still planning a trip for a couple weeks from now

I am praying for...

...my children, and my husband.

...two soldiers just deployed, both to Afghanistan

...our priests and all religious

...all of the babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion this week

For the rest of the week...

...school and home -- my vocation

...planning for Joshua's birthday on Sunday

Thought for the day...

St. John Chrystostom (the rest of the article is here) -- Fasting is the change of every part of our life, because the sacrifice of the fast is not the abstinence but the distancing from sins. Therefore, whoever limits the fast to the deprivation of food, he is the one who, in reality, abhors and ridicules the fast. Are you fasting? Show me your fast with your works. Which works? If you see someone who is poor, show him mercy. If you see an enemy, reconcile with him. If you see a friend who is becoming successful, do not be jealous of him! If you see a beautiful woman on the street, pass her by.
In other words, not only should the mouth fast, but the eyes and the legs and the arms and all the other parts of the body should fast as well. Let the hands fast, remaining clean from stealing and greediness. Let the legs fast, avoiding roads which lead to sinful sights. Let the eyes fast by not fixing themselves on beautiful faces and by not observing the beauty of others. You are not eating meat, are you? You should not eat debauchery with your eyes as well. Let your hearing also fast. The fast of hearing is not to accept bad talk against others and sly defamations.
Let the mouth fast from disgraceful and abusive words, because, what gain is there when, on the one hand we avoid eating chicken and fish and, on the other, we chew-up and consume our brothers? He who condemns and blasphemes is as if he has eaten brotherly meat, as if he has bitten into the flesh of his fellow man. It is because of this that Paul frightened us, saying: "If you chew up and consume one another be careful that you do not annihilate yourselves."
You did not thrust your teeth into the flesh (of your neighbor) but you thrusted bad talk in his soul; you wounded it by spreading disfame, causing unestimatable damage both to yourself, to him, and to many others.

Faith's Day...part III

Parts I and II are below this post.

The birthday girl is in bed. She had a magical day and went to bed a happy, happy girl. Thank you again for all your birthday wishes. She loved and appreciated every single one. Our extended family is not so great at making birthdays special, so I am very grateful for friends who make the effort. I grew up celebrating my birthday with my younger brother, my father, and both grandmas. There were five birthdays in three days, and I have wonderful birthday memories because my extended family made us each feel special. Birthdays are the only day all year that belong to only you. They should be special.

After I frosted the cake, I made an "edible arrangement." My mom ordered one last year for Easter and it made a big impression on Faith. She requested one for her birthday dinner, along with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. At least she picked some fruit and veggies!

After dinner, Faith followed a series of hidden clues to find out what her gift was. I had told her a few weeks ago, when she asked about a birthday party, that she could choose between a party and a surprise gift. She is such a nosey girl, it just about killed her to not know, but I think she suspected the surprise was going to be pretty good.

It was Noah's idea to follow the clues and he helped me hide them. Each clue had a picture on it, some of the Chicago Hilton, Gino's pizza, Holy Name Cathedral, and pictures of inside the American Girl Place in Chicago. Of course she had no idea what any of them were until the last. Even then it took her a few minutes to understand her gift was a trip.

The last clue was under the cake plate.

In a couple weeks, weather permitting, my mom and Faith and I will drive six hours to Chicago, stay in a tall skyscraper hotel, walk the city streets, and visit the Anerican Girl Place. Faith has been very few places in her life, but she is very excited. It's the closest we can get to a Disney-esque experience, and I hope it comes close to a dream-come-true trip. We're only young once.

Faith's Day, part II

Part I started here.


Thank you so very much for your kind birthday wishes. Each time I get a new comment, I share it with her and she says, "Awwww, that's soooo niiiice." She's such a girl. She's in heaven.

This morning we baked birthday cake. It's vanilla-flavored but it's colored pink. Of course it is.

Then we got dressed and she accessorized freely. I kept my mouth shut. There is a bow in the front and the back.

 Faith asked me if we could go out to lunch and I said "yes." It's not a frequent occurrence and so when she asked to go to Red Robin I agreed.

After she finished her salad (after she ate five bites and then declared herself full) I let her play Angry Birds, or something, on my phone.

And just a few moments later the whole wait staff showed up with a sundae and sang Happy Birthday. Before we went in, she told me it was ok to tell them. She wasn't quite prepared for all the attention.

We came home and I decorated the cake and she rode her scooter around the cul de sac. She declared the cake to be perfect.

And now, it's time to fry chicken. See ya later.

Faith's Day

Today my youngest child is 10. Big sigh.

That means that it has been 10 years since we had a newborn in the house. I know we all say this, but it really does seem like yesterday. How can 10 years fly like that?

I hadn't planned a post today, but as I was mixing up pancake batter I thought maybe I would share with you "Faith's Day."

For those of you, like me, who are older children among your siblings, I will tell you Faith is the epitome of the "spoiled" youngest child. My youngest child before Faith is 15. He goes to high school and Faith is at home all day. He's the third boy and she is the only girl. You get the picture. I would love to have spent the kind of today Faith will have with all of my children, but it just couldn't happen just exactly like this. C'est la vie.


Wakey wakey eggs and bakey, here she is all blurry eyed but happy that today is her birthday.

Buttermilk pancakes in the works.

 

Meanwhile, she opened a gift from her Godfather that came in the mail a couple days ago. 

Breakfast served, and she is listening to When Will My Life Begin? on her iPod lamp/speaker.

More later, hopefully with clothes on and hair brushed. Now we're doing math.

(2/14)...streaming

Happy Feast of St. Valentine! Love, love, love...

Last night I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast (though my leg with the nerve problem was burning like mad -- I wore my martyr's crown -- wink, wink) because nothing says love in my house like cinnamon rolls. Each child had a giant heart-shaped envelope filled with goodies and a "prize" this morning, and my beloved has some shoes (odd I know, but he loves shoes) and candy to open later. I have a dinner of steak and potatoes planned, and dessert. I'm all ready for the "love day."

And still I had that dream that I left for class (still in college in my dreams) and didn't know what room I was going to, and thought it possible it was a day of a test and I had not studied. What is it that I am unprepared for?

~~~~~

Maybe the inches of snow falling this morning? The view from my chair in the living room as I write:

~~~~~

We are in the midst of a busy, busy time here. I told you that we had two black-tie events last weekend (black ties/long dresses). The hospital foundation (my husband's employer) held their gala event (the doctor's prom we jokingly call it) on Saturday. It was fun despite my attitude (wink). We met Jim Tressel and his wife, Ellen, and talked for a while. For those of you who don't know that name, he is the former sweater vest-wearing head coach for the Ohio State football Buckeyes (who was thrown under the bus by his athletic director when the NCAA starting investigating some players' bad behavior.) Such a humble man. Yes, we only spoke for 10 or 15 minutes, but you know how there are people you can tell you can trust right off the bat? I know he was accused of being dishonest, and playing ineligible players, but I believe in getting both sides of the story before I judge a person and I don't know the story. Besides, I don't think football coaches should also be babysitters, and sadly, grown men of privilege often need babysitters to prevent them from misbehaving. Ok, that's a story for another day. Or not.

I like Jim Tressel. The end.

~~~~~

This Friday Faith turns 10 and next Saturday Joshua turns 20. How did that happen? I just closed my eyes for a minute, I promise.

~~~~~

Next week is Lent. Sigh.

I am looking forward to Lent this year. I feel like we need Lent more this year. It's a really good time for fasting and penance. I am trying to identify a good fasting diet. If you use one you can point me to, please do. I have to take care to avoid high acid foods, but I think I can probably modify any diet. I thought about trying the Trappist monks' Lenten diet but decided it might not be conducive to a good prayer life as well (or housekeeping, laundry and homeschooling).

Something like bread, nuts, honey and tea, with some fruit and vegetables thrown in for vitamins.

I don't intend to subject my family to the same fast, but Friday dinner will not be wild Alaskan salmon, if you know what I mean, unless we are talking salmon-from-a-can-patties, which my children hate.

~~~~~

And to end my post (this has been quite a negative post hasn't it, on this love, love, love day?) I will share with you that I have an awful case (case?) of arthritis in my tailbone. Isn't that an odd place to get arthritis? Oddly enough I had it in college (all that sitting and studying) and it stems, I believe, from a bad fall on the ice in high school, right on my you-know-what. After college and until now I have not experienced this unique kind of pain which prevents me from sitting for any period of time especially on a hard chair. So I apologize to the lovely lady with the little baby for whom I am making a quilt. I am hoping it will be finished before he is, say, three months old. I'm hoping.

~~~~~

Have a wonderful love-filled day my friends. Just kiss everyone you see to make sure you get enough love in. That old man in the pharmacy? Just walk right up and kiss him. I dare you.

I didn't forget...a winner

The Aves on this chaplet are 6mm round rhodondite. If you believe in the power of stones (I don't but I do find the meaning some people find in stones to be interesting) you would know that the rhodondite is used to heal heartache and loss, help ease stress and for reflection. Our Blessed Mother would tell us that following her Holy Son is what heals heartache and loss and eases stress, and I would certainly agree. Praying this chaplet is a beautiful way to follow Jesus, by reflecting on the Seven Sorrows of Mary as they all pertain to the life of Christ Jesus.

The Paters are 8mm round light rose Swarovski crystals, capped with antique bronze caps. The beads are wire-wrapped in 22 gauge vintage bronze wire. The center is the Sorrowful heart of Mary and the medal is the Blessed Mother with the crucifixion depicted on the reverse side. The center and medal are set apart with 4 mm light rose Swarovski crystals.


I asked Our Blessed Mother to help me pick the person who needed this chaplet the most. And the winner is:

Happytalk

Congratulations and email me your address.

Everyone else stay tuned because I might spring another one on you during Lent.

The separation of Church and Catholics

I know I said I would see you on the other side of the weekend, but the announcement made by you-know-who yesterday just needs to be written about, or my head shall explode.

The Obama Administration (Health and Human Services) announced yesterday that America's consciences are safe. If we don't want contraceptive, sterlization and abortafacient insurance coverage, we don't have to have it, and Catholic insurers won't have to pay for it. Funny thing is, if an employee wants the coverage, he or she can have it and it's free. It's free -- doesn't cost a thing to be manufactured or distributed. That president really is a magician after all -- he just made the cost disappear.

I'm not certain how any adult with half a brain can believe him. Let me get this right: it's free to me as the employee and my employer didn't pay for it? So when I go pick up by birth control pills/IUD/condoms/morning-after pill, or check into the hospital for my sterilization procedure there is no cost to any one or any corporation?

My family's insurance is provided through premiums we pay, and my husband's employer (a Catholic hospital) pays to an insurance company. Are we to believe that the insurance company is just going to foot the bill for all that "preventative care" out of the generosity of their hearts? That bill has to be paid by someone. It doesn't get "absorbed" or spread around. It is paid by a corporation, and all of their employees, Catholic or otherwise, and the bottom line is, Catholic institutions are going to have to pay, unless they keep fighting.

You-know-who has done nothing except convince us that we can be intellectually dishonest and no one will know about it. Go ahead -- violate your conscience, but we won't know and then you can save face.

I read this morning that Sister Carol Keehan, president of the Catholic Health Association is very pleased with the resolution. She actually believes that Catholics hospitals, schools, universities and charities can get away with not being responsible for any part of this mandate? She really believes it? I think she probably has more than half a brain, so my guess is Sister Carol is being intellectually dishonest with herself, and she thinks I should, too.

I heard on Fox news this afternoon that the only Catholics buying this resolution are those who have their doubts about the pope but have complete confidence in the infallibility of the federal government.

Sadly, that may be a good portion of the Catholics out there. They think as long as they pretend it isn't happening then it really isn't happening. Another example of you-know-who saying "I'm not really doing what you think I'm doing."

He has effectively split the Church right down the middle. There will be those who say "I'm not really doing it" and those who say "I know exactly what I'm doing." Being intellectually dishonest about it does nothing except bury one deeper in sin. The final judgement will separate the goats from the sheep, but those who are forced against their will to do something unjust, will also pay, unless they fight.

If Catholic institutions cave now, the fight for freedom in every respect is gone. Soon Catholic churches will have to perform gay marriage ceremonies, Catholic charities that assist in adoption will be forced to give children to gay couples, and Catholic hospitals will be openly performing abortions. It's not far ahead on the horizon.

So, my friend, don't be fooled by those who would fool you. Use your conscience, and it will tell you this is wrong.

The Young Writer's Club {week 1}

Joining in with The Young Writer's Club at Far Beyond Pearls





Writer's prompt: Where would you most like to live and why?



by Faith

I would love to live by the ocean. You can always make sand castles and play in the water. And every morning you can look outside and the sunrise makes a reflection on the beautiful misty ocean water.

Editor's note: Faith was very excited at the prospect of this writer's club. I am hopeful that each week I might get a few more sentences out of her.

(2/10)...streaming

I wanted to write yesterday for LMLD's {p,h,f,r} but I was fairly well trapped for most if the day without Internet capabilities. You know you are desperate if you find yourself sitting in the CVS drive-thru hoping like mad that they have free wifi (they didn't).

Then I thought I would do Seven Quick Takes but I am not feeling newsy enough for seven bits. So, here we are.

~~~~~

First off I want to remind you that tomorrow is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and thus the last day of the Seven Sorrow's chaplet giveaway. Here's a peek.

It's rose-colored, which is lovely for Our Blessed Mother.

~~~~~

My husband and I have two black tie events to attend this weekend. Can I just tell you that I would rather: a) take a beating, b) eat dirt, c) have surgery, than go to two formal events in one weekend. Actually for "c" I guess it would depend on the kind of surgery, but really, I hate, hate putting on uncomfortable shoes, and uncomfortable underclothes, and uncomfortable outer clothes, in addition to standing around being nice. Are you shocked? Sorry, but that's me. I hate to be uncomfortable, and though I don't hate to be "nice" (do you know the origin of the word "nice"? The Latin root word is nescius, which means 'ignorant', coming from nescire, 'not know') I'm not very good at chitchat with strangers. So.... if you happen to be attending either of the two events I have to attend, please come and snatch me away to the bar.

Here's a peek at tomorrow's shoes:

Don't let the flat heel fool you. They are still uncomfortable. My feet are two different sizes, so in order to keep one on, the other has to be uncomfortable. I currently have a wooden spoon jammed in the left shoe, but I'm not thinking sequins stretch much. 

Of course, I'll wear pantyhose.

~~~~~

anglophile: : a person who greatly admires or favors England and things English 

My son called me an anglophile the other day and I denied it. And then I realized that 98 percent of the movies/television programs I have watched in the last month have been about the English.  I just finished the Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet Sense and Sensibility, and before that was Catherine's Cookson's The Rag Nymph, and before that  The Way We Live Now, and before that Catherine Cookson's Colour Blind. In between has, of course, been Downton Abbey on DVR. 

SO maybe I am an anglophile. Oh my. I may need an intervention.

~~~~~

Faith has reminded me that I did not yet post her contribution to this week's The Young Writer's Club. And so, I must go and do that little thing.

Ta ta for now. I'll see you on the other side of the weekend.

not funny, mom

My Joshua is taking a criminal justice sociology class this quarter and this morning they were required to visit the county jail (fortunately in a neighboring rural county and not the county in which our big city sits). I just texted him and asked, "Are you out of jail yet?"

Oh man, I fervently pray I never say that for real.

daybook

Outside my window...

...a cold, sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky. It's one of those days that deceives you into thinking it's springy. But I can still see the frost on the grass (I started this early and finished mid-afternoon).

I am thinking...

...about living one day at a time. I borrow trouble all the time, to use a phrase my mom used to use about worrying ahead of time -- about things that haven't happened yet. I am trying to worry less, which means not thinking ahead so much.

"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

I am thankful for....

...friends, in real life and online

...time to enjoy life

...happyfamily

...good priests

...hot, black coffee (always)

From the lesson plans...

...buckling down, though,so far, not a good start to the week

...more of the timer, it seems to be the only motivator for my procrastinator

...renewed interest in science and nature due to this fun "toy" (H/T/ to Jen at Wilflowers and Marbles) we got out a basket and Faith has filled it with leaves and pinecones and other fun things to examine

...possibly Jennie's Young Writing Club (I have to speak to my student)

From the kitchen...

...egg salad on rye for lunch, leftovers from last night's feast for dinner. We had enough food for 20 more people. Where were you? I made a chocolate cheesecake cheeseball I think we'll enjoy at tea time.

I am wearing...

...Khaki trousers, a brown turtleneck, brown clogs and "chains"

I am creating...

...a blue, green and brown quilt -- cute colors

casting on some leg warmers for Faith's birthday

I am reading...

...I haven't picked up a book in five days; there are too many busy things to do.

I am hoping...

...to get all the laundry carried downstairs, washed, dried, folded, carried upstairs and put away. It's a big job. Monday is always a bog laundry day, and I am glad I don't have to cook dinner.

...clean off the dining room table and the living room table. The dining room has been taken over by Noah's school books, and the living room table by rosary supplies. I need clean surfaces.

I am hearing...

...Faith drumming on the table while she reads science. She has a sitting still problem, as did all the boys. Sigh. Not a sitting-still-kinda-girl.

(and smelling Joshua's just-popped-popcorn)

Around the house...

...just staying on top of clutter and dust

...laundry catchup

I am going...

...to a knitting date with a girlfriend this evening

I am praying for...

...my children, and my husband.

...two soldiers just deployed, both to Afghanistan

...our priests and all religious

...all of the babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion this week

Plans for the rest of the week...

...school and home -- my vocation

...planning some Valentine's Day treats and surprises

...a birthday trip for my girl

A picture thought...

Swinging and swaying during English. She rarely sits. How can one child make such a mess?

Tummy virus survival kit

For the last couple of winters (primary stomach bug season) it has been my intent to create one of these. Of course, intent doesn't get er done, and last weekend when my husband fell to a virus or food poisoning, I really felt the need for some of these supplies. Luckily he was the only one who fell and I had a chance this week to make up for my inadequacy. There is nothing like the whole family falling to a 24- or 48-hour bout of stomach virus to show you how poorly prepared you are for such an event, and hopefully just by putting together my survival kit, I'll have acquired a bit of insurance.

Unfortunately, Faith already used the kit last night and today, but I'm not sure if it was an authentic bug or her first migraine headache -- she had a really bad headache and then threw up a couple times. She was really ok today, I was just very cautious and made her eat blandly.

Your kit would be specific to your family's tastes, but a few suggestions are:



soda pop, especially coke (started out as a aid for stomach upset though I'm pretty sure is nothing like the original any more), sprite (which has sodium citrate -- an acid reducer), and ginger ale (with real ginger)

Gatorade or Pedialyte for young children

saltine crackers

canned peaches (maybe an old wive's tale that peach juice helps sick tummies -- one tablespoon at a time)

chicken bouillon

chicken noodle soup -- for when food stays down

cheese and peanut butter sandwich crackers, also for when food stays down as a transition to real food

anti-diarrhea medicine

I would also put tea bags in here, but we always have those in the pantry

I would also put lysol wipes and spray in here, but those are always under the sink

Misunderstood

Come to find out that post yesterday sounded a bit whiny.

I only whine to my very closest friends and family so I guess you can consider yourself my nearest and dearest.

Just kidding. If I was truly offended you would never hear it here. Never. I was just poking you yesterday, but my tone was lost on the interwebs.

(It's been known to happen.)

I just thought I'd make that very clear. And I also wanted to ask you for prayers for a dear reader, "E", who lost her little boy in her 15th week of pregnancy just this week. And still, she was thoughtful enough to reach out to me in all my whininess. Don't I feel really awful? I do. But, mostly I want all my dear friends to pray for her because she has had a rough year, having lost her dad over the summer.

well...

(That's a deep subject, I know. Ha ha ha)



...I don't know whether to be more offended that you didn't read yesterday's blog post or that you don't want Our Sorrowful Mother's chaplet. I would be more offended at the latter if I didn't actually believe it was the former. I usually get a good response when I post a giveaway, but I didn't title it as such, so I suppose that was a bit of a test.

{Not that I was testing you. Really}

Anyway...if you would like to enter the drawing for an Our Lady of Sorrows chaplet, leave your contact info in the comm box of the post below this one (not this one because I might forget it's here.)

~~~~~


On a completely unrelated note, did you see the most recent episode of Downton Abbey? (yes, I know it airs on Sunday, but I never see it "live.") Did your heart break when Matthew saw his mother? Oh my goodness, I tear up just thinking about it. It's a mother /son thing. What a beautiful moment that was. They did a good job with it. Do leave comments on this topic on this post. I'd love to know what you thought of it.

Candlemas

CHAMPAIGNE, Philippe de
The Presentation of the Temple
1648

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:25-35

Today is the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, also called Candlemas for it is the day we traditionally have the year's candles blessed, for the significance that Christ is the Light of the world.

"a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel"

On this day, when Jesus was presented at the temple for the first time, the Blessed Mother, according to Jewish law, presented herself for purification. Of course, Our Blessed Mother didn't need purification, neither on earth or for heaven. As in all things, she was obedient.

As Catholics, we believe we need purification to be united with God in heaven. The catechism states, "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven." CCC 1030

Many saints believe that pain on earth purifies us. St. John of the Cross said pain is in direct proportion to our need for purification. Whether that pain is on earth or in purgatory, is physical or mental, is as unique as is each soul. How divine that Our Blessed Mother, upon her purification at the temple, was told that her greatest joy, her son, would also be the cause of her greatest pain.

"you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed"

If you are a mother, a parent, you know the pain you experience when your child is hurt, physically or emotionally. How many parents have said, "I would rather take this pain than watch my child suffer"? Our Blessed Mother knew that she would suffer, yet she was obedient to God in all things. She saw the pain that her son experienced and experienced it tenfold in her own heart.

We must mediate on the pain Our Blessed Mother experienced, the seven sorrows of Mary, and learn from them, learn obedience in all things, because through pain we are purified. By uniting our own pain and sorrow with the Blessed Mother, we unite ourselves more closely with Our Lord, and through the pain we become closer to attaining heaven. When we unite ourselves with Mary, we unite ourselves with Jesus because she leads us to Him.

In anticipation of Lent beginning in a few short weeks (February 22), I will give away a Seven Sorrows of Mary chaplet, on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is not yet made, so I can't give you a peek, but it will be a keeper, I promise. And if used to pray and meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary, will have value beyond this world.

Leave a comment on this post, with a way to contact you, between now and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11), to enter your name in the drawing.

Yarning along...

...with Ginny at Small Things.

I am still working on the same grey wimple I was working on last week. You may be saying to yourself, "Hmmm, it doesn't look like she made any progress on her knitting. In fact, it actually looks a bit smaller." And if you did say that you would be so right. I have taken this wimple off the needles twice and started over (do you do that too? It often takes me three tries to get going the way I like.)

I officially have three books going, something I almost never do. Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is fun and I am picking through it here and there, but I also started Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider, when Ginny tipped me off to its free status for Kindle a few weeks ago. I like reading it, but since I haven't actually started organizing anything yet, I need to read small bits at a time. Today I started Pray, Hope and Don't Worry by Diane Allen, because I felt the need to add some real meat to my reading diet. I don't know anyone who doesn't love Saint Padre Pio, so it should be a good one.

That's all for today. I am off to iron. Isn't that exciting?  Maybe I'll knit a few rows later and I'll be oh-so-much farther along on my wimple. I think I am about one percent complete. Haha!