tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44275847559577088262024-03-04T21:30:19.381-08:00The Theology of Laundry Posts by M.NicholsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-70577969193531523692015-09-28T23:29:00.001-07:002015-09-28T23:56:24.245-07:00How Strong and Sinewy Her Suffering Hath Made This MotherSince having my fourth child, the ante has been raised.<br />
<br />
It's not that the demands have changed, it's just that there are more of them. More needs to tend, more bellies to fill, minds to educate, souls to form, bodies to clean and keep track of. <br />
<br />
It's exhausting even when it's fulfilling. It's impossibly difficult when it's overwhelming.<br />
<br />
But tonight, rather than dwell on my usual pain and exhaustion, I contemplated the simultaneous and parallel reality that I rarely remember to think of, especially in the difficult moments.<br />
<br />
After almost a decade of mothering, always with "a babe in arms" as my relative remarked this weekend, even in my the most painful moments of motherhood, I have practiced loving, and giving, and sacrificing, and offering, and forgiving, and getting up again and again, to my absolute limit. Even beyond that.<br />
<br />
All this suffering has not simply wrought a tired casualty of motherhood. Far from it. <br />
<br />
The consequence of my heart's "love membranes" being constantly expanded in directions and ways I never knew they could be has wrought a human being in me whom I actually can say I like. I am not perfect by any means. Far from it.<br />
<br />
But I have loved stronger, for longer, through harrowingly lonely days, and sleepless, energy sapping nights. I have given more to my family in the way of patience, repetitious correction, physical presence that I have ever given to anything else.<br />
<br />
I am more sympathetic to suffering, particularly of parents. I am more sensitive to attacks upon the souls of children. I am more aware than ever how everything I say or do, or how I express my body language, is always under the observation of little eyes and being absorbed by little hearts.<br />
<br />
I know what it means to be driven to your ultimate limit of love and patience and kindness and yet find it in myself to give more love and patience and kindness than I thought possible. And to do it all again the next day.<br />
<br />
I know what it means to be constantly open to life, and to have to mourn two unborn children miscarried. I've tasted the sweetness of complete union and the bitterness of abstinence and can tell you that you do survive the latter and that each of these intense feelings instructs your ability to love on almost a divine level. To put it simply: with your whole being.<br />
<br />
I've also learned my limits. And oh, how I've learned them.. how to let go of a dirty house, look beyond the immediate when my spouse has gone temporarily insane, accept that there will be imperfection in almost everything I do. I'm still learning how to shrug and how to laugh about it.<br />
<br />
My suffering, in other words, whether I want to admit it or not, hath wrought a rather sinewy edge to me that I might not have otherwise.<br />
<br />
As someone who is almost a complete stranger now to a full night's sleep, leisure time, the ability to eat without making sure a child eats, and to eat something other than children's food, I can honestly say I still have never been more free in all of my life than in the rigor (some might say cloister) of child rearing.<br />
<br />
I am not free from sinning and making mistakes, but I am free from making the mistake of thinking that anything else in life is more important than my children, than forming them in Faith, than trying to become properly formed myself.<br />
<br />
"Be a saint, what else is there?" asks Catholic Answers Live radio host Patrick Coffin. I am blessed. There is nothing else. Nothing to stop me or my family or anyone from being a saint. Would that we all realized how our sufferings are the golden rungs on the ladder to sainthood, and that by them we are made free.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-31093412347325336312015-07-31T23:22:00.000-07:002015-07-31T23:22:15.885-07:00Lawns and Liberty are Dying in California (But there is hope!)You've probably heard of California's current drought. The worst one in more than a <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2014/dec/08/california-just-had-its-worst-drought-in-over-1200-years" target="_blank">millenium</a>?<br />
<br />
Well there's more than just a dusty Central Valley and trendy "<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/xeriscape" target="_blank">dryscaping</a>" happening in the West. Liberty, like our lawns, is dying slowly. What do I mean?<br />
<br />
<b>Our pro-life pregnancy centers are under attack.</b> <br />
<br />
Kindly remember this on your Rosary beads: in June the state's House passed legislation to force pro-life centers to refer clients for abortion (read more about it <a href="http://www.stopab775now.com/" target="_blank">here</a>). Right now our Senate is at recess but when they reconvene in August, they will vote on what pro-lifers have coined the "Bully Bill" or <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB775" target="_blank">Action Bill 775</a>. If it passes, and becomes law, and if centers refuse to comply, that is if they refuse to refer women for abortions (which they will), good-bye medical license.<br />
<br />
I can't stress enough that this could spell the closing of all pro-life medical crisis pregnancy centers in the state, maybe even the country. For on the horizon, I'm sure, lies a Supreme Court case on the issue - and we all know how well those have gone for Christians lately.<br />
<br />
<b>Starting this fall, the state has prohibited teachers from giving any instruction that "reflects adversely" on the homosexual community (and school districts cannot sponsor any activity or group that promotes "discrimination," murkily defined, against homosexuals).</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>A law that basically kills speech and debate class is a bad law. </i>California's new <a href="http://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen/11b/CA_bill_SB48/" target="_blank">FAIR education act</a>, or Senate Bill 48, goes beyond anti-bullying: it requires school materials to showcase homosexuality as <i>always a good all of the time. </i>It's unclear what will happen if you're a religious organization.<br />
<br />
I'm all for inclusive academics but a law dictating that students MUST be taught to think about homosexuality <i>only </i>positively, like rainbow flag touting drones, is unprecedented. What this new social science curriculum means for Catholic and private schools is yet unknown. What is known is that our local media isn't reporting on this monumental change to the textbooks and school starts soon. We shall see what happens.<br />
<br />
<b>Brendan Eich happened.</b><br />
When Brendan Eich was forced to "step down" from Mozilla <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/tonybradley/2014/04/05/backlash-against-brendan-eich-crossed-a-line/" target="_blank">for a private donation to the Proposition 8 campaign</a>, a chasm of despair ripped open in the Silicon Valley political universe. If a founder of Mozilla can lose his livelihood for <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/rakeshsharma/2014/04/03/brendan-eich-and-the-rapidly-blurring-boundaries-of-personal-and-professional-lives/" target="_blank">privately opposing gay 'marriage</a>' what chance do the rest of us have? <br />
<br />
The message from the technology elites to their cogs was clear: no one is safe. Do something distasteful to us and risk your career. Mozilla and companies like them are trying to excise freewill in an area where they know people claw desperately for the scraps from their billion dollar tables. <br />
<br />
<b>But there is hope!</b><br />
I don't want to leave you with an image of lady liberty submerged in the sand of our sunny beaches - or our Death Valley for that matter. We may be California but hey, we're still the Catholic Church. Surviving adversity and persecution is kind of what we do. <br />
<br />
<b>With all the dire out here, many of us did a long, overdue happy dance with the announcement that Fr. Robert Barron is happening!</b><br />
<br />
Let me just repeat that: FR. ROBERT BARRON is coming to LOS ANGELES <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/kateohare/2015/07/surprised-by-l-a-bishop-elect-robert-barron-speaks/" target="_blank">as one of her auxillary bishops</a>!!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKY5VJiLQRE1lOnUlErsb5cstkry7RuRCtKR3FjZD_2fh86PRuM-5Z_6ziGeV5ox477Z-Z4etRES87TGzhy6na9E0_UC0D8RqgPOn6LSd0bSgYgJsnGWzhMXrx6G0cNEiluvtIu7rMsA/s1600/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKY5VJiLQRE1lOnUlErsb5cstkry7RuRCtKR3FjZD_2fh86PRuM-5Z_6ziGeV5ox477Z-Z4etRES87TGzhy6na9E0_UC0D8RqgPOn6LSd0bSgYgJsnGWzhMXrx6G0cNEiluvtIu7rMsA/s320/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're getting Fr. Robert. We're getting Fr. Robert. Woot,</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's some more hope: <a href="http://www.christcathedralcalifornia.org/" target="_blank">Christ Cathedral is happening</a>. In a post-clerical scandal world it is a big deal to me and to many that the Church in the west shows signs of expansion and revitalization. The cathedral is undergoing renovation right now but will hopefully open its doors soon. I'm so there for mass next time we head to Disney.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.walkforlifewc.com/" target="_blank">Walk for Life West Coast </a>numbers continue to swell. Also a big deal. <br />
<br />
We still have our beautiful, historic Missions (a.k.a. the indigenous roots of our flip flop problem). Why our <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/california/travel-tips-and-articles/77228" target="_blank">Mission Trail</a> still isn't widely known as the Camino of America, I just don't know.<br />
<br />
Catholic Answers is in San Diego. 'Nuff said.<br />
<br />
And never, ever forget this: Californians voted not once but twice to affirm the traditional definition marriage. Twice. That fact alone should tell you two things about California: 1.) the people here <i>do </i>care and 2.) you'll never hear that we care, not in the mass media anyway, which has also been completely silent about our receding liberty.<br />
<br />
It's tough out here. So please pray for us. For rain. For the Church in California.<br />
Our souls and our soil will thank you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-17479047920801151112015-05-29T23:39:00.002-07:002015-05-31T13:14:49.697-07:00Why I Believe Greed is the Most Pervasive Sin of Our Culture Today<div class="MsoNormal">
As a Silicon Valley resident I have a front row seat to some
of the greatest financial disparities in the country. CEOs commute to work in
their luxury cars on the same freeways as their vanpooling, underpaid workers. Here, some live as kings while the majority are exploited. Greed's theater. It's a world surely envisioned by the enemy and sculpted by human greed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But even if I didn’t live <i>here</i>, per se, judging by how it’s going in other
places of the country, I would argue that in many aspects of our culture, greed is the most pervasive sin of
our time. Here’s why:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greed keeps people quiet,
noses to the grindstone…</b>if those people are lucky enough to have jobs, that
is. Are you sad <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2015/06/05/millennial-college-graduates-young-educated-jobless-335821.html" target="_blank">the Millenials still can’t
find work?</a><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2015/06/05/millennial-college-graduates-young-educated-jobless-335821.html" target="_blank"> </a> I’m sure our parents aren't happy about it either, but it perplexes me that so few have vocally protested.
But then again, they seem to be the only
ones working, <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/planning-to-retire/2008/11/21/3-reasons-baby-boomers-aare-the-richest-generation-in-history" target="_blank">if not in the best financial positions of their lives</a>… and they’re
staying very, very quiet about it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greed leads to corruption
in schools, churches and charities.</b> Why
is Fr. Liturgical Dance driving a luxury car while only one percent of his
parishioners can afford his parish’s private school? Why <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>
Catholic School <a href="http://www.archbalt.org/about-us/our-bishops/cardinal-obrien/articles/catholic-education.cfm" target="_blank">now for the wealthy</a> (is this really what we want, Church)? Why do charities and universities have six
and seven-figure salaried leadership? <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/opinion/sunday/the-real-reason-college-tuition-costs-so-much.html?smid=fb-share" target="_blank">There sure is a lot of money to be made as
an administrator of a tax-exempt organization.</a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/opinion/sunday/the-real-reason-college-tuition-costs-so-much.html?smid=fb-share" target="_blank"> </a>
Speaking of taxes...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greed leads to the
misuse of your taxes.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live in a
state with almost the highest taxes on absolutely everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where does it go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh to things like <a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/california-house-passes-bill-forcing-pregnancy-centers-to-refer-for-abortio" target="_blank">this</a>,<a href="http://www.catholicvote.org/statue-of-junipero-serra-to-be-removed-from-u-s-capitol-building/" target="_blank"> this</a>, and<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/early_years/2014/01/calif_lawmaker_submits_bill_on_mandatory_kindergarten.html" target="_blank"> this.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for nothing, Sacramento.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greed leads to the spreading
and acceptance of more greed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Is it
not in the interest of the greedy to lower social mores and encourage greed in everyone
else? Trust me, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">even the poor can become
greedy</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll march off and get our
birth control, kill our babies, kill our own bodies so long as the uppers of
society will keep us employed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
forget to tell us our decisions are somehow ‘empowering.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The manufacturers of liberation are sure
profiteering as the serfs buy their propaganda.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greed insulates
against having to feel any responsibility for anyone else and fools you into
thinking you are just being practical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Money
Insulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the condition
wherein plenty of comforts can be purchased to distract you away from truly
caring about the state of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
else do you need? Just a 401K, right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Practical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like, say, building barns to store surplus
wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, wait…(and no, I'm not saying retirement plans are evil).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greed delays true
maturity.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do people put off
marriage, kids, and growing up, i.e. real life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many may be desperately trying to establish
themselves, which is honorable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
there is a wisdom in starting a family “before it’s too late” because of its positive
effect on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The family is where you learn to sacrifice, share, to let go
of worldly treasure and of course, raise kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Starting young-ish means you are not too old or too set in your ways to
change. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many who delay starting families even for practical reasons (see above) inadvertently risk never growing up, and getting stuck pursuing prosperity as
an end unto itself (i.e. greed).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVb7X9pXrOde5r03pgrrm7CCJ3ctgZEz-qhhBokreCdXvLkW5Y-XIqAAZLpgjZid8SC0Luw_ONvtzBVXbVhQOrXZmeFeHYxAzjeAm9amEdvW8qlVjJbjittRy71Izv1_nbbvwL7DFkV8/s1600/Ceramic-Dog-Bone-Personalized-3x5-Photo-Frame-10546_tn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVb7X9pXrOde5r03pgrrm7CCJ3ctgZEz-qhhBokreCdXvLkW5Y-XIqAAZLpgjZid8SC0Luw_ONvtzBVXbVhQOrXZmeFeHYxAzjeAm9amEdvW8qlVjJbjittRy71Izv1_nbbvwL7DFkV8/s1600/Ceramic-Dog-Bone-Personalized-3x5-Photo-Frame-10546_tn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good ol' Rover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greed replaces children
with “stuff.”</b> It can kill the family before it ever gets started. You’ll
have lots of stuff though!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And pets! And
lots of stuff for the pets!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get the
picture - and it’s probably a framed one of the Boston terrier on the mantle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greed makes you
compete for handouts instead of fixing the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>All of my friends who voted for Obama did
so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">based on just one thing</i>, “He’s
going to get us free health care.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
sympathize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When your rent increases
hundreds of dollars in one month, as it is like to in the Bay Area, you are
desperate not to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free healthcare
should be something the Church provides… justly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we don’t, do we, Church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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And now Generation Desperation will elect whatever corrupt politician promises them what they need FOR
FREE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This politician or series of them, will stay in office until the Church finally figures out that if we
don’t fix problem of the uninsured, someone else will, and it will probably
come at the <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/01/24/little-sisters-poor-have-had-their-prayers-answered.html" target="_blank">expense and persecution</a> of the sitting-on-our-hands Church.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So to sum up, greed is the most pervasive sin of our time
because it is responsible for an era where a working class remains silent
in the face of injustice, of over-inflated salaries for administrators, misuse
of taxes, lowering of morals, indifference, immaturity, materialism as a
substitution for children, and it keeps people clawing for handouts and
electing corrupt politicians who promise to fulfill their needs for FREE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Side note:
murder-for-hire organizations such as Planned Parenthood are thriving in this
environment.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hmmm…sounds like my<i> </i>generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have I missed anything?<br />
<br />
What the <a href="http://www.kgns.tv/home/headlines/Pope-Francis-Greed-is-the-beginning-of-corruption-304906211.html" target="_blank">Holy Father</a> has to say about greed.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-47448879385231700152015-04-13T23:06:00.000-07:002015-05-29T22:39:29.781-07:00Dear Upcoming Presidential Election, I Already Hate YouDear Upcoming Presidential Election, let's just get this out of the way now.<br />
<br />
I already hate you. In fact I've hated all four of you that I have voted in so far.<br />
<br />
I see you for what you are. An overly expensive, farcical dog and pony show whose two candidates leave me morally bankrupt on different levels. <br />
<br />
None of the lesser known candidates I <i>really </i>admire will ever make it to President let alone lead the party platform. They'll get shot down in the first round...again, as will my hope for true change.<br />
<br />
Let's skip to the final chapter, shall we presidential election? <br />
<br />
At your culmination, we will again have a president who will sit in office for the next four years, passing policies that will rarely ever inspire me on a good day, and blame the opposing party for stalling them the rest of the time.<br />
<br />
I just want you to know ahead of time from me that we are not friends, presidential election. You don't like, know or even care to know me and I certainly am sick at the very mention of you. <br />
<br />
I am disappointed in you, ashamed of you and if I could avoid ever mentioning you to my children I would. But the day will come when I will have to tell them about you, and what being a part of you means for someone so wholly and repeatedly disappointed in you with no end to the let downs in sight. <br />
<br />
I doubt my kids even know the current president's name. President? What's that? Something that requires an election that you dread coming around every four years, I guess.<br />
<br />
So can we just skip this next election, please? Obama can just hang up his hat and let's just not bother with a replacement. Please? Congress can continue being constipated and the rest of us holding the country together on the grassroots level can keep our day jobs?<br />
<br />
Heck, if we must have an election, maybe we can just <i>draw straws</i> this time? <br />
<br />
Who will you parade around this year, presidential election? The wealthy candidate who uses my values to bait me into voting for them or the wealthy candidate who uses my uses my values to bait me into voting for them? Hm. Let's see.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nope. You can keep it to yourself, presidential election, or announce it to the world, I really don't care. Your very name now dishonors the veterans who have died for your sake. I vote almost solely out of hallowed respect for their sacrifice and valor. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Valor, and honor, by the way, presidential election, are those qualities that command respect in and of themselves and not just because someone in Hollywood threw you a fancy fundraiser.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let's get this over with, presidential election - I know you are going to come anyway and you know that I am going to have to vote one of your circus animals into office. It's inevitable. Let's do this. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I only ask that we get this over quickly so that the rest of us busy with real life can get back to it soon. At least give me that, won't you? The ability to forget you? Until the next time. In which case just reread this then too. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-73555822888309741342015-04-06T23:18:00.002-07:002015-05-29T22:40:25.084-07:00The Temptation to Skip a Sinner's FuneralI recently faced an unusual temptation to skip the Catholic funeral of someone whom I know did not live well.<br />
<br />
Shame on me.<br />
<br />
Pope Francis has literally just called for a <a href="http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1501122.htm" target="_blank">year of Mercy</a> and here I am, sinner so aware of my need for mercy, not willing to extend it to my fellow sinner in Christ. As if it was too late for that person, and like it would be a ...waste?...of my time to attend their funeral.<br />
<br />
Again, shame, shame on me, giving them the cheap mercy of "I'll remember you when it is convenient to me and my arms-length, no effort on my part, compassion."<br />
<br />
No, my friends. Only paying homage to those we perceive as <i>deserving</i> of honor in death will not do. It is not merciful, it is not reverent, it is hardly Christian. <br />
<br />
And seriously, which soul needs my prayers the most? Probably the one at whose funeral it will be a struggle on some level for everyone to pay respects.<br />
<br />
So what happened? I attended the funeral and it was a solemn but respectful affair. This person, despite their human failings, had always been kind to me and apparently, to others who were grieved for their loss. It was a good lesson for me never to sweep someone's life under a rug just because their sins were grave and public. Even heinous sinners leave behind friends and family whose commemoration of their loved one's death also seems to help their own healing. So it seemed to be the case with this person.<br />
<br />
All life and death are empty without Christ and I would not wish separation from God on anyone, whether living or deceased. So kindly remember to pray for that soul who passed away that if she is not yet in the peace of Christ, she be there soon. Also, kindly pray for a sinner like me to grow in love for all people during this very aptly named Holy Year of Mercy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-79295255768932631262015-03-17T10:23:00.004-07:002015-03-17T10:38:13.718-07:00So why do you prefer the Latin mass, really?Alright, Latin mass attendees, here's you chance to gush.<br />
<br />
I want to know what you love about the Latin mass.<br />
<br />
As a Novus Ordo goer, who has only attended a handful of Latin masses (and probably only because she didn't make it in time to her preferred venue) I struggle to know why anyone becomes a devotee to that form of the mass.<br />
<br />
It's not the Latin thing. I love Latin. I just really love the Novus Ordo.<br />
<br />
Permit me a moment of gushing.<br />
<br />
I love the Novus Ordo. I love its structure and flow. I love hearing the Word of God proclaimed in English. I love listening to the consecration prayers (when I can, over the kids) and I love feeling the mass resound in my soul - it's not this way all of the time, of course, but grace mostly comes. <br />
<br />
I love the songs. My particular parish uses the <a href="http://www.adoremus.org/Hymnal1.html" target="_blank">Adoremus Hymnal,</a> and I know many hymns by heart.<br />
<br />
I love how we have options for how to receive the Eucharist. My particular parish uses a communion rail which I appreciate as my family can kneel together. But whether we kneel or stand (depending on how many kids we are holding or if I am pregnant), receive in the hand or on the tongue (because flu season) I appreciate that there are many ways to reverently receive Christ.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKCfKCe0S9aBv010mV0gxaRNcGj6nCSr8i0IhO-lLtrXPJoo-yZCn8NMILn3MXHkJ_HKqZ1ip5UUHtJiaZ0jg6PvYiU-RF1s1F9PufY4BAPMMNUCC0tGDHk2R_nwXs18e6j6rupLy8wA/s1600/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKCfKCe0S9aBv010mV0gxaRNcGj6nCSr8i0IhO-lLtrXPJoo-yZCn8NMILn3MXHkJ_HKqZ1ip5UUHtJiaZ0jg6PvYiU-RF1s1F9PufY4BAPMMNUCC0tGDHk2R_nwXs18e6j6rupLy8wA/s1600/giphy.gif" height="135" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No kiss of peace or corn for you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Admittedly, I am a bit of a kiss of peace curmudgeon...we keep the kisses in-family and gesture at everyone else but I really don't mind when someone politely extends their hand. I just slap it away in disgust <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOLyoxBSo1g" target="_blank">a la Nacho Libre</a>. Okay, not really.<br />
<br />
I just love the Novus Ordo. Respectfully, reverently done, even with several traditional elements (we sing the Ave Maria in Latin at the end of every mass) with holy priests at the helm, it rocks my world.<br />
<br />
The Latin mass...not so much. A bit of a spiritual dry well for me. <br />
<br />
But maybe I'm missing something? Hence I want to hear from the Latin mass goers: why do you prefer the Latin mass? In responding, please limit your answers to the Latin mass, or the spirituality of the mass itself and how it feeds you personally. <br />
<br />
The reason for this is that many times when I've posed this question, I've received more of a venting response against the Novus Ordo. Responses like, "The people who go to the Latin mass dress better and are more respectful," or "It's <i>high</i> mass (implied tone: why would I ever want to go to a <i>low </i>mass?)..." or "The Latin mass used to be the treasure of the Church..." which as nice as that is, still doesn't answer my question about why they personally attend the Latin vs. any other form nowadays.<br />
<br />
By the way: the same Novus Ordo mass that I profess to love is not perfect by any means. People <i>don't</i> always dress like it's Easter or come on time (Guilty! Yes, flip flops do happen in California I am afraid!). Sometimes you hear a cell phone and many enthusiastic individuals elbow their way to the communion rail to receive Jesus in a shameless display of eucharistic line olympics.<br />
<br />
So why do I still love the Novus Ordo, in sprite of that? Because I go to mass to go to mass and for no other reason. And I attend one that feeds me. Period.<br />
<br />
How about you, Latin massers? I want to know! Comments are now unmoderated just for you! Go!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-47895182973852254382014-12-03T22:42:00.003-08:002014-12-16T23:54:43.251-08:00Advent for Tired MomsIt’s baack. It’s
Advent. We laid out the Advent wreath,
blessed it and lit the first candle.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I reveled in the blessed flame for a sweet moment until the
demands of the infant in his high chair needing food shoveled in his mouth
brought me back to domestic life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I confess it: I secretly envy those who aren’t in the baby
stage years anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to fight the
bitterness as I wipe up mouths and messes all around the table while the season of joy is burning away faster than the lit purple candle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mommy, the wax is getting everywhere…” my six year old
points out that the candle, which is just slightly tilted, is apparently off
kilter enough to burn unevenly and make a huge mess of things at its base.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thank you, darling.” I say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess Advent has started.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How I want to savor every moment, crooked candle and all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even the joy is work; it is a labor, and
the worker is often too tired to really experience it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think of Mary at the end of her pregnancy during this
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no Advent yet. There was
just this Roman imposed census and this journey she was going to have to make
while she neared her delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did she too have to labor to experience joy in her un-ideal
circumstances? It couldn’t have been all rosy and mystical like we get to
experience with our advent wreathes, nativity scenes and baking marathons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was it like for her?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the past few months I have been keeping close Our Lady
of Guadalupe in the hopes of, I don’t know, actually getting to know her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe I just need her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to know that it’s okay not to be in
perpetual spiritual bliss twenty four seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to know that the tiredness of being a mom is a part
of and not separate to what Advent means and that I don’t have to try to fake
being joyful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to know that the
joy of the season, hard work it though it may be, is still a valid joy and that
the grace to feign off that bitterness towards life is pretty substantial grace
in itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To those that are able to immerse themselves in Advent with
daily mass, devotional readings, special advent prayers etc., please remember
those of us who are just glad that the crooked purple candle gets lit a couple
of times.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please pray for those of us who can’t go two feet without a
request or boo-boo or kid problem needing attention and that only get to
experience some of advent while the kids are busy watching Mickey’s Christmas
Carol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'll admit it! I am probably watching Mickey too. </span>This is as good as it gets for
now, and sometimes we just need the encouragement that that’s okay.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
And Blessed Mother, please pray for those parents who, like
yourself at this time of you, aren’t living in the most ideal
circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This joy of the season,
for some is a labor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please help us
remember the greatest labor and joy are yet to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-16745696376571638922014-10-14T20:43:00.000-07:002015-03-17T10:44:07.988-07:00Here's An Idea For the Synod: Free Prenatal and Post-partum ServicesFree pre-natal and post-partum services at all Catholic hospitals nationwide. Period.<br />
<br />
And I'd bet that all the "war on women" accusations would stop overnight. Well, not in some circles to be sure.<br />
<br />
Imagine: a pregnant woman sitting in front of her computer scanning her options for free prenatal services.<br />
<br />
What's that? Planned Parenthood? No, they always have those protestors out front and besides, aren't they a bit twisted?<br />
<br />
Oh, but look! The local Catholic hospital offers the same services for free (minus the birth control and abortion). Really? Catholics taking care of women? Those crazy zygote-lovers who believe in the sanctity of life from the moment of conception...i<i>s actually taking care of people, zygote people, from the moment of conception?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>No required insurance?? </i>In fact, we don't even care if they have insurance or not...it's a human life and a mother, people! Is there no room at the inn for the mothers carrying unborn children at our illustrious Catholic hospitals?<br />
<br />
Pipe dream?<br />
<br />
The logical next step?<br />
<br />
I mean, as a Church, what would happen if we actually became THE place for pregnant women to turn to to learn about everything reproduction related. Wow. What might actually happen then? Oh, I dunno, conversion? Connecting with those who need us the most. Where is that in our mission statement? Oh, everywhere, that's right.<br />
<br />
OR how about this idea: Catholic hospitals absorbing and supporting the zillion crisis pregnancy centers across the country who already do this. <br />
<br />
Either way. It's a family issue and should be a Synod issue, I think. What do you think?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-28142571251475843722014-10-12T23:38:00.001-07:002015-03-17T10:46:50.868-07:00Life Without Birth Control<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="http://catholicmom.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/55275514.jpg" href="http://catholicmom.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/55275514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="55275514" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-71266" data-mce-src="http://catholicmom.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/55275514-400x400.jpg" src="http://catholicmom.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/55275514-400x400.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
My husband and I are seven years in and we still can't tell what our friends and family <i>really</i> think of our birth control-free lifestyle.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
Well, that's not totally true, I can <i>sort of </i>tell. I suspect that most either expect us to ditch the whole Natural Family Planning thing any day now <em>or</em> they pretty much assume that I'm probably pregnant. As in pregnant right now and every time they see me and all of the time.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
But they are true friends which means at least they won't unfriend me on Facebook. I think.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
They probably also wonder what my husband and I think of them. The answer: yeah we're totally judgmental jerks. Only, we so aren't.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
We don't sit there "tsking" away at their acceptance of contraception or their sins, because then, as sinners we'd be hypocrites.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
But he and I (mostly me) are NFP enthusiasts. To a fault. This is common knowledge amongst all our friends who tolerate it and us even if they aren't one hundred percent sure what NFP is. To them, NFP means only one thing anyway: no birth control. They know Jon doesn't wear anything and I don't alter my self in any way to be intimate with him. I suppose I just hope that they wonder what that's like (but not in graphic detail).<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
What I mean is: I hope that they wonder what it's like to live without birth control. Have my husband and I emulated the ideal NFP couple? Pfft. No way. But it's normal life to us and frankly, neither of us would have it any other way.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
So what are contraception-free Skittles really like? Well...<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
Life without birth control is actually when, <b>at one point in the month, your husband has never been more attractive than any man on earth has ever been in that moment</b>. Once the "take me take me take me" feelings subside you then move onto the<b> "</b>meh" portion of the month<b>.</b> The sex is still really nice but the rush and the adrenaline are gone during this time. Mostly. In any case you remember how tired your million kids (sorry I just had to say it) make you and sleep trumps sex most nights.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
Until the next month when the sexiness comes back, that is. Notice, I made no mention of taking temperatures, or keeping your charts organized and applying various rules etc. etc. Naw. When something becomes a part of your life, you get pretty good at it. NFP is like that too.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
I know this account of life without birth control is over simplified for some. Where's the monthly epic battle against all vices? Where is the abacus to record the spiritual dolors that come with periodic abstinence? Where's the gilt framed picture of the scared hearts of Jesus and Mary gazing creepily in the direction of your marriage bed? <b>This must be what most people think of when they meet a Catholic who doesn't use birth control!</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<b>Life without birth control is simply or not so simply this: it's life minus barriers and chemicals when you have sex. Period. </b>Sounds great, right? And it is! So why aren't people lining up to hear more about it?<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
Once again, as an enthusiast, when I go to assuage their fears and clear up any misconceptions they have, I might actually be doing more harm than good in promoting NFP in lofty terms to someone. Believe me I have <em>tried,</em> both with acquaintances and in large parish group settings. "Need help conceiving? Call me!", "You're engaged? If you ever want to hear my NFP talk, let me know!" I can almost hear them tossing the NFP idea out of their minds as they glance around to my zillion kids bouncing off the walls.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
My "My NFP is Better Than Your Birth Control" bumper sticker most likely isn't helping me either.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
About the kids. We have three. I know for some that's like saying three thousand, and the laundry pile makes it feel that way, but it's not. It's three. And you know what? We probably aren't done and <em>that is normal too</em>.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong>Plus we all know that as a good Catholic couple, my husband and I only care about making babies and not actually caring for them when they are here.</strong> Just this morning I remember thinking, "Time for a new one!" as I threw an unsheathed banana in the direction of my eighteenth month old's cage. Hey, at least I refill his water feeder from time to time.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
Life without birth control, in short, is still normal life, just perhaps a bit sexier at a high point each month, way more organic, and yes, doable even for dummy like me. But if none of that even remotely appeals to you, don't worry, the next time you want to have sex, I am sure there is an exciting pharmacy with a pimply teenager waiting to ring you up near you!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-33574158627385401332014-08-10T15:40:00.002-07:002014-10-13T18:45:19.237-07:00Why I Can’t Read or Watch Fifty Shades of GreyIt’s the middle of the night.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I make my way stepping over toys to the kids’ room in search
of my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I find him half asleep and rocking our four year old son who
has been experiencing night terrors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In literally only a couple of hours my husband
will have to get up and go to work for his family while we all sleep in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hardly seems fair to the man, having to
suffer through the night only to wake up and go provide for his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However he does it, every single day, out of
love for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That, to me, is a man and that is exactly why I can’t read
or watch <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fifty Shades</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of Grey </i>where the main character,
Christian (I hate that he is named this) Grey, ties up, beats up and practices all
sorts of "BDSM" (bondage, domination, sadism, masochism) on his girlfriend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the girl, Anastasia (aw, how Disney), she’s in love with
it, or him, or at least can’t seem to live without it or him, right? Healthy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's the thing: people, women especially will never come
to view <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fifty Shades</i> in the destructive,
shameful light it should be cast in unless they have experienced what real
masculinity and selfless suffering look like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unless they’ve encountered what it means to be in fully committed
relationship (i.e. marriage), with someone who dies to themselves everyday, or
in the middle of the night if need be, for them and their family, then a smut
book like <i>Fifty Shades</i> is all mindless fun and games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That isn’t to say that married women and mothers haven’t
read the book by the droves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book
alone has sold almost one hundred million copies globally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom-porn is the term, I believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you kidding me?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wives, is BDSM the sort of sexual relationship you want with
your spouse?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is Christian Grey the man you’d want for your daughters? If
you have a daughter, the thought of any man abusing them in such a way as
Christian does Anastasia, and having it glorified as sexy, should spark
immediate disgust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is Christian Grey the man you want your sons to grow
into?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t even entertain the notion
of any of my beautiful boys as Christian Grey without wanting to move to
Timbucktoo just to avoid them ever exposed to the normalization of such
shameful acts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To those who say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they
would never</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do </i>what’s in the story,
but they don’t see the harm in reading the books and seeing the movie, please
consider this:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Purity of heart is important and I submit to you that <b>convoluting
that purity with a story like Fifty Shades dampens your sense of God and
therefore, right and wrong</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you can’t tell the difference between what is good and
what is bad, then what’s to stop you from making seriously unhealthy decisions
for your relationship? From 'experimenting' or from the get-go choosing the wrong person to be with? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May the wise take heed: in reality, sexually impure acts, whether they are to the degree described in <i>Fifty Shades</i> or even if they take a less violent form, such as cohabitation (equally destructive over time), is the emotionally
codependent path upon which many bad relationships tread for a long time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avoid
the allure of twisted temptations sold as exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stick to the loving, selfless acts of charity
that build up your spouse, family and yourself and upon which all healthy
relationships are based.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All long lasting, sexually fulfilling
marriages as well. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-12253325655347980402014-07-24T23:05:00.001-07:002014-07-24T23:12:46.354-07:00Why TV’s “Dating Naked” Shows Too Little<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 13.5pt;">First
of all, ew.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 13.5pt;">Have
you seen the advertisements for TV’s latest naked themed show?</span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 13.5pt;">If not, watch <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/11/naked-dating-trailer/" target="_blank">here</a> (warning: butts
everywhere).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">As
the trailer depicts, the show’s singles defend abandoning clothes in their
pursuit for the right person because they at the point where they will “try
anything” and because dating in the real world sucks, apparently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Um.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What the show gets right.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Yes,
there are elements about the show that get at our natural human desire to love
and be loved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sans</i> barriers, material
or otherwise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Removing clothes is being
equated with removing any superficial blockades to true intimacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I
get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hook-up generation is deeply
and understandably frustrated with their “relationships” never going anywhere
(imagine that).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are thirsting to
forge a genuine connection with someone that is more than skin deep, pun
intended. However, it’s questionable just how much zip lining across a jungle
canopy in the buff with a stranger achieves any sort of authentic intimacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">What the show gets very, very wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The
show is getting authenticity wrong. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
true self is not just our disrobed self no matter how many participants claim to
have felt a deeper connection with someone due to being naked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Sweetheart,
that’s called pheromones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The
show gets the beauty and thrill of nudity wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally gettin’ nekked with someone, which
used to be exciting and reserved for married couples, now basically loses it
impact fifteen minutes into the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that, my friends is just tragic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Bottom
line, when nudity is basically reduced to a dress code then, as St. JP2 said about
pornography, the problem with a series like “Dating Naked” is not showing too
much but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too little </i></span>of the
person<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSk15TOZcF51owv4r2fydU7i7a2CzCH-gvXqAF9y1O3CslNQdIQWpP9dI7GHa5VfMgCVEM2an0e9s1r6RM-xSyzWYDfOrkQKi0394CVeLJuFPenD5DIAELmY-FplnHk-OzFRGGnaGl59g/s1600/TheFallOfMan_HendrikGoltzius-NGAgov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSk15TOZcF51owv4r2fydU7i7a2CzCH-gvXqAF9y1O3CslNQdIQWpP9dI7GHa5VfMgCVEM2an0e9s1r6RM-xSyzWYDfOrkQKi0394CVeLJuFPenD5DIAELmY-FplnHk-OzFRGGnaGl59g/s1600/TheFallOfMan_HendrikGoltzius-NGAgov.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">On
the show, it’s doubtful we will ever get to see the “real” people we are
watching (not that I’m watching the show) because we are too busy being
distracted by “too much” of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is </i>distracting. It’s meant to be –
otherwise they would have chosen normal-sized people to be on TV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Oh,
people will defend the dating naked idea. And I am sure the show will receive
great ratings and viewership…due to the deep conversations, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">But
if this is the culture’s answer for how and unmarried person can forge a meaningful
relationship with the right person, then I’d be very disappointed if I was a
single right now...and I’d still be single.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I
mean who is actually ever going to date naked?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In real life, it doesn’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You try getting to know someone or have a meaningful discussion about
politics, religion, the housing market whatever, without cracking a giggle at the
dingly dangly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">So
I stand by my principles that the “Dating Naked” shows too little .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">But
also too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I
say again, ew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-21731094436115281092014-07-03T22:17:00.000-07:002014-08-10T15:46:35.927-07:00To the Young Woman Buying Condoms at the Store<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear young woman whom I observed buying condoms at the store
the other night,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You probably didn’t take much notice, but we just happened cross
paths in the same grocery aisle when I was buying baby supplies which someone
humorously located right across from the family planning section.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You were there with a girlfriend and you were on your cell
phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You sounded a bit tipsy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I walked by holding my baby, I overheard you explain to
your caller, “I’m trying to buy condoms here,” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I shuddered when you said that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judging by appearance, you must be at least
ten years younger than myself. No wedding ring either.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your girlfriend casually suggested buying someone else a box
of condoms too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And one for
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Might as well,” you said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart bled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dear young woman who I observed buying condoms at the store the other night,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You probably didn’t notice that we crossed paths the other night. <del style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coincidence</del> Providence placed us in the same grocery aisle when I was buying baby supplies which someone humorously located right across from the family planning section.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You were there with a girlfriend and you were on your cell phone. You sounded a bit tipsy.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As I walked by holding my baby, I overheard you explain to your caller, “I’m trying to buy condoms here.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I admit it: I shuddered when you said that. Judging by appearances, you must be at least ten years younger than myself. No wedding ring either.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Your girlfriend casually suggested buying someone else a box of condoms too. And one for herself. “Might as well,” you said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Then my heart bled.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Let me explain. I realize we aren’t personally acquainted. I’m not here to judge you or belittle you or to lambast you with fire and brimstone over your personal choices but I am here to tell you one thing: you are beautiful.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Let me repeat that. <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You. Are. Beautiful.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
That’s probably why it hurt to overhear you that night, to watch you and your friend pay for your condoms and walk away laughing into the night. Because there but for the grace of God go I.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I wanted to run after you and tell you how you deserved better than inebriated “safe” sex, to show you a card of the Divine Mercy, to introduce you to my one-year-old as an interactive example of what sex is actually meant for.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I wonder if you would have listened.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
At the pregnancy center I see girls, no, young women like yourself who all made a string of decisions, perhaps starting with buying condoms at the store, only to wind up broken, isolated, and regretful. It’s nothing I would want for you or anyone and yet I failed to have the courage to dissuade you from your choices that night.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But if I had been more bold, I suppose I would have started with telling you that you are beautiful. After that would come the heartfelt, motherly diatribe on how condoms are ugly, awkward things and that premarital sex is beneath you and that you could change your life, find a deserving life partner, and discover your true worth at any time.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Again, I wonder if you would have listened.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Perhaps I could have shared my own experience. You see, I don’t know what condom-sex feels like, but I can’t imagine it’s better than the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">au natural</em>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I only know what it is like to have sex with my husband without any barriers between us. By God’s grace I have been blessed to experience what it is to have a man cherish me for all I am and relish in the joy of conceiving child after child with me, and who desires all of me, including my fertility, in a passionate way.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My question to you, my dear, is this: isn’t that something you want for yourself?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I guarantee you, that stupid family planning (I hate the combination of those two words) aisle isn’t going to stock that degree of commitment for you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And I promise you this: whether or not you feel what you are doing is wrong, I’m sure there is a question in your heart over whether there is anything<i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> more</i> you are meant for.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I’m here to tell you there is. <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> There is a plan for sex for you and me and everyone. </strong> It is, in fact a perfect plan that is moral, natural, satisfying, fun, pleasurable, marriage strengthening, life-giving, and faith solidifying.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What’s more, you and I, in all of our imperfections and sinfulness, have been made worthy of it because you are a child of God and again, you are beautiful.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Somehow, someway, someday I hope you will listen. And I pray to have the courage to finally speak this truth in love to you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Signed,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Your big sister in Christ who would gladly throw herself in front of a bus to keep you from sin, if she could (as would all of your anonymous sisters in Christ who are praying for you.)</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-88421715916979990722014-06-23T09:16:00.001-07:002014-06-23T09:16:24.910-07:00Am American Camino (a.k.a Camino de Mickey D's)<div class="MsoNormal">
After watching Martin Sheen’s “The Way” where Sheen’s
character backpacks Spain’s famed pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago de
Compostela, something crazy Catholic was…unleashed… in me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My St. Joan of Arc fantasy crossed streams with my inner
Spaniard missionary and I wanted to fly across the world on a <s>winged stallion</s>
plane wielding my <s>rosary sword </s>passport in order to descend upon every
pilgrimage site in Europe with the fire of a thousand tongues of the Holy Spirit
behind me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I thought, nah.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m an American.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what’s an American mom with a
burning desire to make a pilgrimage supposed to do?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know! Invent my own American “camino,” a driving one, and
a route featuring churches and convenience stores along the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except I didn’t have to dream up anything new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We actually have a camino and we don’t even
realize it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’m calling it the Camino de Mickey D’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually
it's a route I traveled with my mom and kids that connects my parish in Santa
Clara, California (Our Lady of Peace Shrine) to Shrine of the Most Blessed
Sacrament and Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama (aka
Mother Angelica and the Poor Clares of EWTN).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Believe me, we took our time, driving onlyaround 6 hrs each day with plenty of snack and bathroom stops in between.<br />
<br /></div>
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Take a look at the map and list of stops and let me know if
you’d ever undertake the American Southwestern Camino (or leave a note if you
can think of another route from another region of our large, beautiful
country)!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI1wSIRQltXbK3sOz8sTuSUvE5mX0UYReln9kFQZbRHKxlSJM-4YH2vfucwjLadx_dThccQXyQ33nsSaVP_xGYg0erMIbUOA7KnAPqXEiIVOsdqpjqGS2OV6OsiwYgzVovo4GaUrkchs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-21+at+7.37.57+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI1wSIRQltXbK3sOz8sTuSUvE5mX0UYReln9kFQZbRHKxlSJM-4YH2vfucwjLadx_dThccQXyQ33nsSaVP_xGYg0erMIbUOA7KnAPqXEiIVOsdqpjqGS2OV6OsiwYgzVovo4GaUrkchs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-21+at+7.37.57+AM.png" height="177" width="640" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-67595959645592834132014-06-01T11:47:00.000-07:002014-07-03T22:04:00.930-07:00Ten Totally Lame Reasons NOT to Get Married<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">The
Huffington Post recently dictated a forgone
conclusion of my post-marriage generation in an article titled <i><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/14/reasons-not-to-get-married_n_5274911.html" target="_blank">10 Reasons It’sTotally Fine Never to Get Married</a>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Let’s
explore their lame-o rationales, shall we? (Their arguments are in bold, followed by
my comments.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">1. They say: Most people aren't in a hurry to get
married anymore.</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Quoth the oracle: “So, there's no need to stress about not
getting married -- everyone else is staying single too.” And we know from
experience that when everyone is doing something it must be okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlyp7posa-EkakFA_nr8Kje9eCqG6uyluTvT8_w-ZTgjVDV07DyYpqhxX8sR9TH-8ticiCe_wsqgYViod10LkwNJ9j-j-WDrxjE2VZSaL7zGqyNlvCGd70y_3oFT9Yx9biw52bX53szo/s1600/10-Reasons-Its-Totally-Lame-NOT-to-Get-Married-550x366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlyp7posa-EkakFA_nr8Kje9eCqG6uyluTvT8_w-ZTgjVDV07DyYpqhxX8sR9TH-8ticiCe_wsqgYViod10LkwNJ9j-j-WDrxjE2VZSaL7zGqyNlvCGd70y_3oFT9Yx9biw52bX53szo/s1600/10-Reasons-Its-Totally-Lame-NOT-to-Get-Married-550x366.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there....PSYCHE!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">2. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">In fact, many people feel there aren't many
advantages to being married.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">And
if un-married people feel that way, having never been married, then of course,
they must be right! <o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">3. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">For men, being married could be connected
to being overweight.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">All
those demands of marriage can really cut into gym time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How else is a guy supposed to burn all those
calories from stagnantly watching professional sports all weekend?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I both know a real man isn’t going to
give up watching his team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marrying his
girlfriend, on the other hand…<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">4. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">Marriage can present a slew of financial
problems.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This gem of a quote, “Another point: getting married can cause a
single parent to lose student aid for their child.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow. Just think of all those government
incentives you’re missing out on by getting hitched!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh! Bring it on, profitable fornication
(that’s Latin or Greek for what everyone else is doing anyway.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">5. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">Marriage can seem like an outdated institution,
and some people just don't want to fit into that mold.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">But
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">new</i> soon to be outdated institution of
staying single: that's okay!<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">6. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">Getting married can put your friendships at
risk.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Hm.
You know which kinds of friendships come to an end because you spend time with your family?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ones weren’t really friendships to begin
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sweat there, good riddance.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">7. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">Marriage can lead to the risky habit of
relying <u>on one individual for every emotional need.</u></span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Unlike
cohabitation or dating where you risk ...relying <u>on one individual for every
emotional need.</u></span></strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">8. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">These days, a happy marriage requires a
serious commitment of time and energy that can be hard to maintain. </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;"> So why bother? Time, energy,
commitment…pshah! We should all settle
for relationships that only require sporadic bursts of low grade energy
followed by a tapering lull as you spend an indeterminate amount of life
wondering whether or not it’s the right time to get married.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">9. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">And, as dim as it sounds, plenty of
marriages in this country end up in a divorce anyway.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">So
avoid becoming a statistic! Unless, of course, it’s the statistic of staying
single.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">10. </span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> They say: </span></strong><strong style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">Plus, there's a good alternative to marriage. It's called a civil union or a
domestic partnership. </span></strong></div>
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“calorie free” beverage, which seems like a good alternative to soda until you
realize that it’s is actually worse for you, is totally unsatisfying, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-sodas-and-weight-gain-not-so-fast" target="_blank">linked to obesity</a>, and overall, doesn’t really substitute for the real thing i.e
marriage.</span></strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-39401978981640542222014-01-19T22:26:00.002-08:002014-01-20T23:48:53.821-08:00Why Everyone Should Have at Least Three Kids If They Can<style>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the title made you roll your eyes
bear with me, I would have done the same a year ago.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think it was a few minutes after dinner, when my older two kids
were dancing and chanting, “What Does The Fox Say?” to the baby squealing with
laughter in his high chair, that the fruit of my decision to have a third child
twinkled like the bright joy issuing from the baby’s eyes.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was not an isolated moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve felt this way frequently over the last few
months.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As someone formerly overwhelmed with two kids, it’s a
complete shocker that I’m enjoying having three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were plenty of times when I was ready
to throw in the towel convinced that God had erred when he created Mother (cue
me waving my fist at Heaven shrieking, “You are so clearly a man!” to The Man,
if you follow me.)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having three kids is completely different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s why: the older two who previously only
had each other to pick on are now channeling their energy into showering their
baby brother with love…and lyrics from silly You Tube videos as I mentioned
above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squabbling does still happen, by
the way, I’m not saying having a baby is the magical cure to sibling rivalry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, an infant in the house does help
them fight less over petty stuff like toys since, you know, the baby is
basically the ultimate toy now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we
have to work on “sharing” the baby.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wouldn’t have it any other way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In short, I thought my heart grew with every kid, but my
trajectory of growth is not nearly as steep or magnificent as my kids’ maturity
into loving little people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their capacity to be caring individuals has absolutely
exploded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, they are good kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, I like them and motherhood more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It might sound counterintuitive but for those couples
struggling with two my advice is: have three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You will grow but more importantly and astoundingly those
same two kids you are currently struggling with will grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might just start enjoying them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parents with three or more, what has
your experience been?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-32913103566027825772013-11-30T23:28:00.002-08:002013-11-30T23:28:58.482-08:00A Magnificat for Tired Moms
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
My messy house proclaims the greatness of the Lord
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My children’s bellies rejoice in slow cooker, our savior.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For one meal this tired, lowly servant rested.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Henceforth all ages will call me mom or mama or mommy </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
or some variation thereof.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The dishwasher has done great things for me</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And holey be its watery jets.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Naptimes have mercy on all who take them, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For every generation fears mama’s cranky wrath.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Holding babies has shown the strength of my arm,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But nursing has scattered my brain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Among other things I also clean the porcelain throne.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To do so, I have lifted up the seat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My bank account was once filled with good things, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But my gas tank, growing children, ballet class, tuition, a family
vacation and buying in bulk have rendered it empty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But God has come to the help of his servant, this tired mom,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the husband has remembered to throw out the trash and do
recycling,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The promise mentioned “between the lines” on our wedding
day, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To me and our future family forever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please God grant me the grace to do this another day, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And don’t strike me dead for writing this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tired moms, what does your Magnificat say?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-73364670740884458462013-11-30T23:12:00.001-08:002013-11-30T23:12:16.387-08:00A Covered California Nightmare
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Do you think that all the negative speculation over how bad California’s
new, affordable health insurance exchange, Covered California is, is exaggerated?
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If it is anything like how Covered CA’s current call centers are
operating then be very, very afraid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following is a true story about one woman who did everything
the call center operators told her to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That woman was me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It all began on the website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I clicked that nice, friendly looking, “Start here” button and filled
out the application.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I submitted I
got this message:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Congratulations!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You qualified for $0 per month in premium
assistance.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That meant that
I<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> didn’t</b> get any help, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why was I being congratulated again? I
double-checked their scale and our income and household size met their
criteria, so what was the problem?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Commence call number one, which, of course meant a “higher
than average” wait time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I got a
real person on the phone I asked why I didn’t qualify for assistance when I met
the criteria. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You need
to fax your husband’s paycheck stubs.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And didn’t hear from them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I called back a week later to ask if they received my fax.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Our fax
machine has been broken. You need to send it to the PO box.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And didn’t hear from them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Call three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they
receive the paycheck stubs?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Ma’am we have no way of
knowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a call center in Fresno and
that P.O Box is in West Sacramento.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
don’t know if anyone is taking care of that and they aren’t really telling us
anything.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what should I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Call back.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I did. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time though, I got someone who knew what she was
doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her name was Lwanda and she was
very friendly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She said:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You didn’t need to fax or mail your paycheck stubs in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">old</i> system,” (that ancient system of a couple of weeks ago) “Now we
have a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">new </i>system where you can just
scan your stubs in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, I wasted
my time following instructions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She also educated me on peculiar facts about the application
process such as how the plan was linked to the primary tax filer and if I
wasn’t listed as the primary (which I am not – my husband is) the system would
not allow me to pick a plan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So Lwanda “fixed” my application so we could proceed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except that we didn’t pick a plan during that phone call because
poor Lwanda was using a PC and the great state of California has chosen
Internet Explorer as their browser, which means that each page takes two
minutes to load.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally, Lwanda
made a great discover on my behalf (drumroll): there was a glitch in the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A glitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A single technology error that stood between me and a Covered CA plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet you didn’t see that coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh wait, yes, you probably did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The good news: I do actually qualify for aid!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bad news: I’m going to have to start all
over again and submit a new application.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Either that or wait a week for someone at the “help” desk to
stumble upon Lwanda’s message about my glitch issue and actually drudge up the
energy to do something about it. Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not going to happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remind me again how universal healthcare, if it’s run like
this, is supposed to help me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m very,
very afraid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What ending befits this story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only this: a letter I just received from them
today that cheerfully reads (due to the aforementioned glitch):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Congratulations!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
qualify for up to $0 per month premium assistance.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wonderful. So congratulate me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do I not get any tax credit
assistance but I also get a Covered California nightmare to go with it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-11963156064746323102013-11-30T22:55:00.000-08:002013-11-30T22:55:58.886-08:00And the Mom of the Year Award Goes to..<style>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the Mom of the Year Award Goes To…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe a standing ovation is in order.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One befitting the scenario on that morning. Picture it:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one little girl crossing the threshold into
her kindergarten classroom, her mother behind her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just as she is turning around to make a scene again, her expressionless
mother closes the door on her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And holds it there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry,
kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to go to school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s no noise, no wailing or screaming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I guess the torture devices are not there that day). After a few moments, the pressure against
the other side of the door stops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same
expressionless mom scampers away before girl can run out after her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s all rainbows and sunshine and unicorns once you are
gone.” That’s what the teacher said after last week’s meltdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All “rainbows and sunshine and unicorns,”
after the flood of tears and the pleadings for mommy not to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A completely different girl once I left,
apparently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So no, sir, I don’t feel bad about standing on one side of
the door and holding it shut while the girl stood on the other side trying to
push it open and run out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I pick her up I ask cheerfully, “So, honey, how was
your day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bubbly girl replies,
“I had fun, mama!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course she did. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But wait!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
more! Fast-forward to later that same night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why,
it’s my little girl who is volunteering to set the table for the whole
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she is singing while she
does it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s singing “My Country Tis
of Thee” no less, and making up her own lyrics to the tune.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I observe, “Sweetie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How wonderful of you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re such
a big, helpful girl!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am a big girl, mama! I go to school!” she says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I guess the old “caged animal” approach to education does
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the mom of the year award goes to…not me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you are now free to give me a standing
ovation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have any “mom of the
year” award moments from the past week or month to share?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-88594066177640983522013-09-20T23:57:00.000-07:002013-09-21T13:28:39.457-07:00Babies are Fun… No, Wait, Aargh!<style>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, so I had a baby three months and thirty pounds ago.
Which means that I still need to lose as much as my three year old weighs just
to get back to “zero” (not the size, mind you.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I am flippin’ angry over that.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact I’ve been angry a lot lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like when the baby is crying in the back seat and won’t take
the binky that my daughter is giving him and we hit every single red light and
slow driver on the road before we get home - I’ve been angry about that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Or when a certain national drugstore chain decides to earmark half a dozen
spots closest to their front door for stupid “low emissions” vehicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psah! You bet that rubbed me the wrong way as
I swung my CO2 emitting dented and cracked American made truck into one of
those spots in that “I’m postpartum and I dare you to give me a ticket” kind of
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still stewing over it, though, and
just might boycott the place in a personal rant over the injustice of it all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even worse, lately I’ve been angry with my husband over him
just breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, because for
most of the day, he breathes where there’s no scent of soiled diaper, or spit
up, or chicken nuggets around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He called me as I composed this post (which I
wrote while nursing, by the way) to say:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Guess what? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just got
a plenary indulgence!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, perhaps a more pious wife would have been happy for her husband about this, but I went all <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmwqnqL3Hbg" target="_blank">Dana Carvey</a> on him, “Well, aren’t you just special?”
I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was quiet for a second (and, being English, did not understand the reference anyway) before he
took his life in his hands by asking, “So what’s for dinner?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I choked back the angry rant I could have spewed at that
moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you cooking?” I asked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s not my day to cook.” He said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry.” I
said. “I guess I can just pick up some burgers,” he said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Great. It looks like that extra grace is really paying off
today.” I said in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made some comment about me giving up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at the infant nursing at my breast
and said, “Yup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glad we could both cross this bridge
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, see you in a couple of minutes?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Check and mate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Score
one for the angry gal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know, the angry one with a “Catholic mom” blog full with
posts that frequently feature poop, domestic rants and homeschooling thoughts,
because yes, I now personify every stereotype I always told myself I never
would!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point you are probably wondering, then why do it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why have kids and why do any of it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can only respond, because of this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyILBOEF4e_b8WQkNEO8-DIC0k1Kzt7peNmNfoYS4alyw5y1F0q3sfqva17BdlAOXAuTY0TLUVPzKKAW-YjzpXSX80Zh-YaFE5jYq99JlbIfiMSfU_ASGoJYVx2liZH6lqvfxvzVGgII/s1600/Jude+Pio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyILBOEF4e_b8WQkNEO8-DIC0k1Kzt7peNmNfoYS4alyw5y1F0q3sfqva17BdlAOXAuTY0TLUVPzKKAW-YjzpXSX80Zh-YaFE5jYq99JlbIfiMSfU_ASGoJYVx2liZH6lqvfxvzVGgII/s320/Jude+Pio.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you
know that he laughs in his sleep?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
when he sees me he lights up like I’m the sun?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That the world was made more complete, and his siblings are I (believe
it or not?) are better with him around.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did I mention that I only had him three months ago? No
wonder I feel this way! What do you expect, people? I had a baby only three
months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure all of this
is normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know exactly how to
fight this thing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(so if you too are in
the same boat, take this down):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m going to make it a point to be with people and not just
ask for prayers on Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
presence of others helps, especially for an introvert like me whose tendency is
to isolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the only thing that
helps, actually, in addition to the rosary...and beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, I started this post wanting to write about how great being with
people is when you have a baby, but then, you know…aargh!</div>
.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-91667600129202813762013-09-04T20:36:00.001-07:002013-09-04T20:36:22.262-07:00Faith of our Family: England vs. America
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<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the greatest adventures of marrying an English
Catholic and raising our hybrid Yank/Brit children in the Faith has been exposing
them to the richness found in both the English and American Catholic Churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I studied there, as a Hispanic
Californian, I felt happily “at home” with the English Catholics and my husband
has fit in pretty well out here in California where the demographics of the
Church are very demonstratively<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> not </i>English.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having lived in each other’s respective Churches, a nice
organic overlap between English Catholicism and American Catholicism has arisen
in our home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It surfaces in different,
novel ways.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For instance, the “Amen.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Americans say “Amen” with a long “a” sound. The
English say “AH-men.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While at Oxford, it
rubbed off on me in a big way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still
feel a bit snobby for saying it that way, but I still do it, aware that most of
Christendom and Latin America also say it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids say both at different times and it’s
kind of fun to watch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Our Lady of Guadalupe
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> St. Thomas More live in our home.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She, in a framed gold picture, he as a fridge
magnet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But hey, to each according to
their station, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Every time we attend
mass in England we get to practice singing the whole song!</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So if a song has four verses, we sing those four verses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of this slicing up the closing hymn,
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least not in any English mass
I’ve ever attended.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Over there, abstinence
from meat on Fridays is back</b>…in the country where the fish and chips are
awesome and we look forward to indulging when we visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My kids get to witness
firsthand that the Church’s liturgy is the same everywhere</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they have no excuse not to participate no matter
where we are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Their Churches are older…
and prettier</b>. Many are currently protestant because of this big To-Do that
happened in the 16<sup>th</sup> century called the Reformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I never miss the chance to go see a big,
ancient one whenever we visit and I make sure to remind the kids that
once-upon-a-time, they all used to be ours (and more theirs than mine, because
they have their father’s genes.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Our churches are
fuller.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our parish in Santa Clara
may be a-typical as parishes go as every Sunday we face hundreds, if not thousands
of people, crowding in for mass so that it’s standing room only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that, for me, means the church is
full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my brother in law, who
described for me what the “packed” mass at his parish looks like, congregants
more or less filling up most of the pews qualifies as “full.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Although I hear this is not the case in English
parishes with more ethnic minorities.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so it is not with any small pride that I
beam over the aforementioned hybrid English/American <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>children filling up a said sparsely “full” pew
to capacity when we attend mass there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They have same
freedom of religion and speech problems with their secular state as we do.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So pray for our English brethren, won’t you? It’s
far more “post-Christian” over there with only 4% of the population identifying
as Christian (and I’m pretty sure my husband’s extended family make up most of
the Catholics of southern England anyway). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Their St. Michael
prayer is different.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also sounds
way more Englishy. Look it up. I still get confused, and substitution occurs
but it really doesn’t matter, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
I say ‘restrain’ vs. ‘rebuke’ or “Divine power” vs. “Power of God” it’s all the
same meaning, correct (someone help me out with this!)?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They say, “Lord,
graciously hear us,” while we command, “Lord, hear our prayer</b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, our prayers of petition stink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I very much prefer the former, for sure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Obligation means
obligation.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of this “moving the
Holy Day of Obligation to Sunday,” rubbish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that day requires mass, then go to mass on that
day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An extra liturgy is offered for working
people and it’s up to you to get there, as far as I am aware.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They have J.R.R Tolkien
and G.K Chesterton</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know of no
other Catholic American author of the previous century to have written on par
with these two English Catholic authors (but then again, I never studied
American literature).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You bet my kids
will read both men.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We have EWTN.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know of no English Catholic media outlet that comes close to being like EWTN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother in law loves EWTN and spent her
last visit to California watching World Youth Day Rio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll bet that was something she never
imagined herself doing: watching our first Latin American pope celebrate World
Youth day in South America while herself vacationing in America.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, lo, the adventures in our blended English/American
Catholic household continue!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns
out the combination of St. Thomas More and Our Lady of Guadalupe make powerful
intercessors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the same token, I’m
sure in its inevitable that one day both St. Julian of Norwich and Bl. Miguel
Pro will also feature prominently among other interesting British/Californian amalgamations
of the Faith that will continue cropping up in our home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-78815401679186916282013-08-21T14:50:00.002-07:002013-09-16T22:50:57.563-07:00The Sisterhood of Lay Catholic Women<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
If the Catholic Church ever took out an ad that listed its most
winning attributes, most people might be surprised to find, “Haven for women
seeking earnest, genuine friendships with other women.” Which is a shame
really, because for me, in recent years, that’s exactly what the Church has done:
it has provided a wellspring of fun, down to earth, Faith filled women of all
ages, near and far, that I would never have know otherwise.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dare I even say it? In the Church, as a woman, I’ve found a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sisterhood</i> of sorts with other lay
Catholic women.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I would never suggest that the sisterhood I speak of is
on the same level as consecrated religious sisters, there are some striking similarities
between the lives of “Sr.” sisters and us, lay woman “sisters.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Number one: like nuns, we lay women pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pretty much need to pray or else we’ll die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Rosary is frequently our prayer of
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray for the members of our
‘community’ whether that means other women in our parish, social circles,
families or those whom we’ve met online. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After mass today, for instance, I was asking a
few Catholic moms to pray for a special intention.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Try going out into secular society and stringing the words
“pray” and “special” and “intention” together in one sentence and see how that
goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In contrast, amongst my Catholic lay
sisters, such a request is received as naturally as if you were asking for a
peanut butter and jelly sandwich (In fact, asking for a sandwich would be a
little more weird, you know, because who actually goes around doing that?)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Number two: we adore Jesus before all others, both
figuratively and literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And truly,
if any of us is being honest, we’re slightly envious that consecrated religious
sisters get the spouse who probably would never forget when it’s trash night. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Number three: Our ‘sisterhood’ can be as widespread as any
religious order thanks to newer technologies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blogosphere sisterhood is a rather recent invention, and
perhaps a stretch for the imagination for some, but believe me, it exists.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like when one blogger’s child is injured and everyone links
to her page on the internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t
just end there, you see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My whole family
will take the time to pray for hers as often as we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or when another blogger publishes a book it’s
such a strengthening moment for our ‘community’ of lay women everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I personally also find it incredibly consoling when a lay women
writes about the experience of being a lay woman. Is there anything more freeing
for a woman than knowing that her sister’s crosses are nearly identical to her own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doubt it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s saved my life to be sure. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because I have the experiences of other women to bounce off
of, I know that for any sort of difficulty I’m having, there’s someone who has ‘been
there.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, she’s probably ‘been there’
several times over and is a bit battle scorched and salty, but hey, that’s the
toll that has come from her faithful perseverance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I am being very honest, I kind of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i> her if I am ever to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be</i>
her to other lay women who, at the end of the day, find themselves thirsting
for what all women need on such a basic, primordial level: a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nay, a sister.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But let it not all be about pain and sacrifice, for,
mercifully, Catholic lay women are also ridiculous, crazy fun. This is the last
similarity between ourselves and religious that I’ll mention: we too know how
to have a good time!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I once shunned the company of women at my parish convinced
that I’d be a hypocrite if I approached them because there I was, such a mess
and still attending mass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now,
having gotten to know many of the gals at the parish, and realizing that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we’re all a mess</i> in our own ways, it’s
been awesome!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve never laughed so hard or so genuinely as with my Catholic
sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s made me a better person because
I’m not staying stuck in my own mind, as is my tendency. Nor do I have to fear
them judging me if I do something crazy like regularly attend spiritual direction,
participate in a Walk for Life or have a baby. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was always a challenge making friendships in the secular
world as I went about half hoping that no one would notice how much I loved God
and His Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But such a concern has
evaporated now that I know there is a community that I can truly be myself with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
only way to describe it is a sisterhood of lay Catholic women, all adhering to
their Faith, the rock upon which they are building their lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-87083286648461032512013-08-08T14:38:00.000-07:002013-08-08T14:44:04.309-07:00How To Ruin Your Family Vacation in Nine Easy Steps (And How the Fruits of the Holy Spirit Can Redeem It)<style>
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<br />
Having just come off one of our yearly <s>purgatories</s>
vacations myself, I hereby submit that truly ruining your family’s time
together has nothing to do with poor planning and everything to do with your
party’s demeanor
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take heart, though!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have the fruits of the Holy Spirit to help redeem our getaways. And
you might be as surprised as I was to discover how the Paraclete’s fruits seem
like they were written with the family vacationer specifically in mind. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are nine ways to ruin your family vacation and the
fruit that counters it:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1.) Always assume
your ideas are better than everyone else’s.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does someone suffer from a case of I-know-it-all-itis?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me guess: you know the best way to pack,
what sights to see, and how to do everything
better! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, keep reminding others about that and when no one is motivated to do anything or help out
don’t be surprised.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Kindness.</b> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This fruit requires showing kindness to
all no matter what, even if their ideas <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>
truly inferior to yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if Uncle
Ernie always packs the food supplies upside-down, and cousin Cletus must see
that world famous potato chip for the thousandth time, be kind!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might just exercise some patience or learn
to appreciate something you never thought you would.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2.) Insist on your
own comfort first. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>If your mantra
goes: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> space, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my </i>stuff, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> slightly
obese side of the room, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> luxurious shower
time, then you will quickly learn that the surest way to make enemies is placing
your own comfort first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Love.</b> This refers to a selfless and giving love (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">caritas</i>) that gives freely without asking anything in return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look, everyone wants the same cushy thing,
but not everyone can have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So share
what little space and hot water there may be as to make life a bit more
pleasant for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it’s not
fair to make <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everyone else </i>gain brownie
points in heaven while you make off like a bandit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3.) Abide by your own
schedule despite your group’s itinerary</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rule number one: move with the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disregard this if you not only want people to
loathe you but also if you gain a weird personal satisfaction in perpetually
making others late.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Faithfulness</b>. This means committing to something greater than oneself, in
this case: the group’s itinerary, which should not be overly constrained by individual
needs. If everyone only ate when they were hungry, you’d have seventeen different
eating times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If everyone ‘took their
time’ getting ready then you’d always be late to things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So keep to the plan even if it means taking
food to go and speeding up a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simple.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4.) Disregard the
feelings of others.</b> Drive unsafely. Smoke at meals. Play loud music into
the wee hours and what do you get?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
if you are a Christian, along with a show of some great hypocrisy, your poor
vacation etiquette has now made regimented state prison sound like a resort for
everyone around you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Goodness</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goodness is close to self-discipline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So smoke away from the crowd, put on
headphones and abide by the rules of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No one likes to feel like they are with someone that just doesn’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So don’t be that someone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5.) Fight with
people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></b>Wait until the right moment to bring up a past hurt or
issue, or even better, create new one that will take weeks, if not years afterwards
to bury the hatchet over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bonus if you
make a family member have to play the mediator because that is exactly what
they were hoping to do on their vacation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Peace</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace means<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
being right with God through Christ’s sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only then are we able to have and make peace with
others. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they show us that everything pales in
importance in comparison to truly having peace no matter how your worldly vacation
is going.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6.) Over-Indulge. </b>Over
sleep. Over pack. Over eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drink to excess.
It’s up to you to choose which vice you most want your kids to remember you for
(sloth, gluttony, or hoarding, oh my!).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Self-Control.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7.) Stress over the minutia</b>.
What?! The kids’ socks don’t match? I know, make a big deal out of it because
the world will explode if you don’t. Although, last I checked, it was called ‘vacation,’
which means giving others and yourself a break from worrying about minutia.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Gentleness.</b> This is one trait that St. Paul insists on. So it must be
important, right? It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> important. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things happen when on vacation and sometimes
socks don’t match. Take it as it comes and don’t let it change you into a
monster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay gentle, my friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which brings us to:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8.) Frown.</b> If you
are unhappy, be sure to appear unhappy so people know you are unhappy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll surely appreciate the black cloud
hanging over the group and want to go out and explore the wide world then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Joy. </b>Joy here refers to<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> something that is not a human-based
happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, there are moments where
you probably will feel tired and irritated on vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let it go of the bad feelings and pray
for that Divine Joy that has never been found in human things anyway. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9.) Complain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>When glowering at others in silence isn’t
enough, there’s always getting verbal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Express ad nauseum how everything around you fails to please you and then
wonder why no one seems to be having a good time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fruit of the Spirit:
Forbearance</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, it’s family and
you’re stuck (three words for you: let it go.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you really expect them
to be perfect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re charged with
sanctifying you, and trust me, they definitely will rise to the occasion,
especially during your family vacation! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But maybe, just maybe, if you and I and all of us prayed for
the fruits of the Holy Spirit while we traveled, we just might gain
sanctification without the usual, er, ‘opportunities’ for sanctification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just might enjoy ourselves, and allow
others to have a great time as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And check out this funny slideshow of awkward family
vacation photos which prove we are probably more ahead than we think! Stay safe
and holy out there! </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/video/hillarylevine/the-awkward-family-vacation-slideshow-to-end-all-awkward-fam">http://www.buzzfeed.com/video/hillarylevine/the-awkward-family-vacation-slideshow-to-end-all-awkward-fam</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-71669835287038513412013-07-09T18:13:00.001-07:002013-07-09T18:13:28.227-07:00Maternity Leave Ending Next Week!The Laundry will be blogging again next week! Thank you to all for your prayers during this latest maternity leave. Baby #3 and I are doing well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-4761778587809627222013-05-27T12:59:00.001-07:002013-11-30T23:42:31.283-08:00What Your Kids Will Remember<div class="MsoNormal">
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The following narrowings of the “What will your kids remember about you, their parent?”
question may help us more thoughtfully evaluate our efforts (Don’t worry, this isn’t another guilt-trip for
that one time you looked at your phone for a second while they played ... maybe): <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto8jc80aZfBI4PMEdDbibqdmNfmRdK9YMWzNR1fCHLrAtSNOlJsn7lKePmmi8LzlsKkfBMFiluMl71my08oevpOehC1OAlQ423FtaPNiMSNu5rZWvfL6NkxVVhrdD361paAKp86K8DFg/s1600/the-changing-roles-of-fathers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto8jc80aZfBI4PMEdDbibqdmNfmRdK9YMWzNR1fCHLrAtSNOlJsn7lKePmmi8LzlsKkfBMFiluMl71my08oevpOehC1OAlQ423FtaPNiMSNu5rZWvfL6NkxVVhrdD361paAKp86K8DFg/s1600/the-changing-roles-of-fathers.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tummy munching: hands down one of the most memorable aspects of parenting for all involved.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What will your kids
remember… about how present you were <i>when</i> you were with them? </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s a way of being fully present to your kids even if
you are a working parent and there is a way of being completely distracted away
from them even if you stay-at-home. Ask yourself, when you have the chance to be with to your children, how
fully present are you? </div>
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<br /></div>
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Do they get adequate face-time with you or are you always <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doing something </i>away from them such as house
projects, sleeping, working out, hanging out with friends etc. so that most of
your time is occupied with your own interests?</div>
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<br /></div>
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I too struggle with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Childrearing is hard, tiring, isolating and monotonous. We need to get
things done around the house and do things for our mental health. And it’s easy
to feel unduly put upon by kids’ simple requests in the midst of the million obligations
that come with being a responsible adult. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I take great comfort in knowing that no one is born an
expert at balancing their kids’ needs and the needs of the universe with their
personal needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if it helps, one
rule I set for myself is this: give the kids as much time as it takes to
accomplish tasks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I clean and email
for an hour, I then make sure I give them an hour to do whatever they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, at all meals I sit down and talk to
them and ask questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems to be
working and I hope they remember our time together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What will your kids
remember…about how you treated others?</b></div>
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Telling the kids to love their neighbor and then talking
smack about those noisy, inconsiderate buffoons in front of them is more that a
contradiction wouldn’t you say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apply
this now to family members, cashiers, your fellow parishioners and the other
drivers on the road and then ask yourself, what will they remember about how
you treated God’s beloved humanity?</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Td0hkNM8ipPBcH8ufkXhAjmekvhJ2YRc4A8tRYrOe2Mc3eHkHvao5Ldt_TRb9qLvwjjY90-xPJYs1HRo2nLxojgCnoYcXquqSuPdztMzAlXJGyXbSUhnhkCLdKAc4i5atUnxJ-bpH-A/s1600/Do-Unto-Others.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Td0hkNM8ipPBcH8ufkXhAjmekvhJ2YRc4A8tRYrOe2Mc3eHkHvao5Ldt_TRb9qLvwjjY90-xPJYs1HRo2nLxojgCnoYcXquqSuPdztMzAlXJGyXbSUhnhkCLdKAc4i5atUnxJ-bpH-A/s320/Do-Unto-Others.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ughhh. Sometimes Christ is just so good at being a Christian! You? How often do you do this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What about serving others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'm convinced that every family has a charism for doing a specific type of work together. In any case, <i>mission</i> is an indispensable aspect of being Christians. We would do well to remember that this is</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> kind of <i>the </i>essential component for getting into heaven. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">If it is </span>missing, it makes our Christian witness a bit incomplete, wouldn't you say? While we all want our children to be compassionate, <i>teaching them how</i> is still done best by heroic example. How we've been charitable, loved, served and treated others is something our kids will most definitely remember about us. </span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What will your kids
remember…about the importance you placed on material things?</b></div>
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Whether you are blessed with riches or as poor as church
mice, there’s a way of placing too much importance on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">things</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One big mistake we frequently
make as parents is equating family happiness with material comfort or financial robustness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not saying having
nice things is bad, but whether you had the latest and greatest or you were a
charity case, were you grateful and generous with what you had? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Were you miserable all the while having the nicest and
finest things in life? Well, that’s what they will remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were you happy and joyful while driving
around in an old jalopy and wearing second hand clothes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Bottom line: how important is your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stuff</i> to you and is that what you want
them to remember?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What will your kids
remember…about your faith?</b></div>
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One of my very first memories is that of a framed picture of Pope John Paul II in my grandparents’ house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I grew up during the 1980s feeling like he was one of the family (in that pre-EWTN world).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was so familiar because his picture, with his serene smile and hands clasped in prayer, always hung on the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s one of the earliest examples of the
Faith becoming personal for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HWapTzD6BrJSODSN7r32sCaPyfGZ7JwrWOixOnghZ_MPy18uCJBMwBu0pU94-hoBaT2sVy88vgdqeqGOQjvsX5nrJNwKdIb1SSghOWV-qO-575rfTC2l5gpR_r2EdJRLU1J7gLpvzb4/s1600/Top-5-Ways-to-Engage-Kids-in-Faith_article_img.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HWapTzD6BrJSODSN7r32sCaPyfGZ7JwrWOixOnghZ_MPy18uCJBMwBu0pU94-hoBaT2sVy88vgdqeqGOQjvsX5nrJNwKdIb1SSghOWV-qO-575rfTC2l5gpR_r2EdJRLU1J7gLpvzb4/s1600/Top-5-Ways-to-Engage-Kids-in-Faith_article_img.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look around your house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How many images do you have up? Your children will remember them or note
their absence as they are growing up.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Outside of displaying holy images do you have a family
prayer time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not referring to
anything extravagant, just a time to pray together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you attend mass? Do you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sing at mass</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, the kids are taking notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Of course, we should want to do these things not out of guilt but out of love for Christ. By the way, how is that going for you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And please keep in mind, the answer to that
question is what your kids will remember.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">People do the best
they can</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">with what they know</b>, but
what they need to know is that sometimes our image of what the “best” is doesn’t
matter at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice in everything I’ve
mentioned, I haven’t placed any importance on worldly notions of success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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What’s truly important to kids is how we’ve loved and lived and were
patient and forgiving and fully present to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately, if this post shows nothing else,
it is that we would be hypocritical to call ourselves ‘good’ parents if we never
really spent time with our children, considered ourselves and family superior
to the rest of humanity, were occupied with amassing material things, and
ignored God. Surely no-one wants their kids to remember that about themselves.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My kids will never be able to say I was perfect mom, but I
do want them to say they remember a woman who was always
trying to do the best by them (though failing often, hopefully improving over
time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want them to say I was kind to
others, that I never sacrificed family harmony for the sake of acquiring fancy things,
and that I tried to make the Faith alive for them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what I am trying to do and what I
hope that they remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427584755957708826.post-87772977467362247132013-05-17T15:02:00.000-07:002013-05-24T19:15:32.820-07:00Pro-Lifers and Former Abortion Workers Must Be Patient with Each Other<style>
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</style>Trending in the media and blogosphere on account of the
Gosnell trial and the emergence of investigations into the cruel, ugly face of
the late-term abortion industry are several editorials that highlight one of
the toughest parts about this movement: it is made up of sinners<br />
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<br /></div>
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Sinners who are working to end abortion, sinners who are
post abortive, sinners who used to work in the abortion industry, sinners who
are angry about the sin of abortion, sinners who come off as cold and others as
judgmental.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sinners, sinners, sinners,
all of us who want desperately for this great sin of abortion to end and nought
but the help of God’s grace, and yes other sinners, to help that come about.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As someone who has worked in the pro-life movement now for
almost a decade, I believe wholeheartedly in God’s unconditional forgiveness
for all sinners, regardless of how scarlet those sins may be, should one be
genuinely sorry.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But this last month, some of the articles I read and photos
I’ve viewed online, and testimony from abortion workers I’ve heard have
absolutely disgusted me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stomach has
been turned, my heart has been sickened and my faith been taken to a new level
of trust in God’s mercy for myself, for others and for our country.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I believe repentance and healing is possible for everyone,
but, let me tell you, I had to really, really pray this last month to maintain
that belief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does that me a bad person?
Or just a pro-lifer who needs everyone’s patience as I work towards a
conversion within myself to becoming more fully compassionate toward others?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Some reading this might be tempted to label me as deeply and
secretly judgmental toward those involved in abortion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To a certain extent, they wouldn’t be
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to pray EVERYDAY about not
being judgmental whether it’s over someone’s driving
ability or childrearing or eating habits.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Most people, I find, also have to struggle with their
general prejudices about many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re all human.</div>
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<br /></div>
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When it comes to holding prejudices regarding the abortion
industry, even unconsciously, keep in mind that we’re talking about a business where sin
compounds with sin compounds with more sin and it can genuinely be a shock to the
system, even for the most seasoned individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And </span>just as many former abortion workers talk
about how it was Love that helped them to change their ways, that same Love
from the Almighty is what pro-lifers need if they are going “into battle,”
so to speak, to change hearts in the abortion industry.</div>
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<br /></div>
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That means that pro-lifers need to experience God’s Love in their own
brokenness and sinfulness so they understand how someone can say, “I used to
work helping to kill babies, but I have found forgiveness,” or “I killed my
children, but I have had found healing and new life in Christ,” and believe such redemption is possible.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Two conversions must always take place for true healing between our camps to
occur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those involved in the sin of abortion
must change their beliefs and repent their involvement in the sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pro-lifer must also convert interiorly
and become a truly compassionate, herald of the Gospel if they are to maintain
any credibility as Christians at all.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Neither type of conversion or process is easy, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we have got to admit that more</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">often</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pro-lifers have to understand it might take a lifetime someone to come
to regret their role in abortion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
who have repented for their abortion-related sins need to be understanding when
forgiveness and rejoicing over their conversion doesn’t come like an automatic
finger snap to many people ‘on the outside.’</div>
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<br /></div>
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If the comment boxes regarding this topic are any indication
of mood then there is one glaring truth out there in the pro-life movement:
pro-lifers and former abortion workers, and post abortive individuals must be
patient with each other. But I believe that when we are willing to extend that olive branch of patience
to one another, then perhaps then the rancor in the comment boxes over whether
someone is truly sorry over their past sins, or if someone else is “real”
pro-lifer or just an angry, condescending jerk, will cease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>So let's pray for each other's conversions! Is there any one of us that doesn't need it?</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then maybe we can all catch up to heaven and do a little
more of the celebrating over changed hearts, with the Father, who runs to
embrace each of us no matter how far away we are.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0