Merry Christmas!

It's hard to blog when I haven't blogged for over a month. I start thinking that I need to have something really significant or fascinating to write, or else you won't want to read it. I didn't feel that way when I was writing every day... So if you've gotten this far, please bear with me as I dust off my hesitation and oil my rustiness.

For us, our news is significant, even though it's what we've done for the past many years. Some things only get better with time, like aged wine. All of your kids are here with us for Christmas, the three who live here with us, plus our daughter who lives in Atlanta, our son who is in the Air Force, and our son who lives in Kentucky. We also have an addition romping around this year: Paul's black lab/retriever guide dog, Chicago. Oh if you are wondering, you are right, guide dogs don't romp...that is, as long at they are in the harness. But when Chicago is free in the house, he is a normal happy puppy, joining in the excitement.

We attended a beautiful Latin Mass last night at the huge historic St. Alphonsus church in downtown Baltimore, where Ed sang in the particularly vibrant and joyous choir, and the lights shone all around.

Joe and Ed cooked the breakfast, Greg made the coffee, and after opening gifts, Mary and Joe stuffed the turkey. The dinner is underway and I've only done a little bit here and there (make toast, wash a few dishes). I am really enjoying this!

I hope that your Christmas is happy and brings you much joy, not only today but throughout the season.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving! and Can You Guess?

This post is an anniversary of sorts, not an anniversary in my family life, but my blogging life. Can you guess what number this post is? I can't think of any little gift to offer you if you guess correctly, but if you want to make a guess in the comments, I will offer a special prayer for you.

It was nearly three years ago that I began my blog with a post about Christmas shopping and the Christian/Christmas spirit. Although I now have a different kind of part-time job, perhaps we can all be reminded, myself included, to make life a little lighter for retail workers, who serve us so faithfully. If you would like to read that first blog post, you can find it here.

But this week, it's time to start getting ready for our Thanksgiving celebrations. I've bought some of my food but still have to buy my turkey. I am so thankful that we can...and for so many other blessings, as well!

Last night I read a beautiful post on Thanksgiving by Cay Gibson at her blog Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks. If you'd like to enjoy the article, too, you can find it here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Where's the Freedom?

Where is the "freedom" in the Freedom of Choice Act?

If this bill is passed, hospitals, obstestricians, and their nurses will lose the freedom to choose whether or not abortions are something they want to provide. In other words, they will not be legally allowed to act according to their consciences.

If this bill is passed, the states will lose the freedom to pass legislation - or to enforce current legislation - regarding abortion. For example, in some states parents must be informed before a minor daughter can be given an abortion. In other states, information must be provided to the mother explaining her options. If the Freedom of Choice Act were passed into federal law, any related state laws would be wiped out in one short stroke of the pen.

The Freedom of Choice Act is so strong and broad, that in addition to other considerations, if it were passed, women could find themselves getting medically "unsafe" abortions. Although I believe that any abortion is medically and mentally dangerous for the mother, and it is certainly lethal for the baby, yet this was the original argument I heard so many years ago, before abortion was made legal - that illegal ("back alley") abortions were dangerous. They repeat that argument even now, even while they consider taking away the very minimal medical protections that exist (for the mother).

So, whether you believe as I do that abortion is always wrong, or whether you don't fully agree with me, please consider that the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is not a healthy piece of legislation. And please join us in fighting this bill, which is slated to be re-introduced with the new administration.

Thank you, and God bless us one and all.

Fight FOCA Website
(Sign a petition, and learn more about the Freedom of Choice Act)

National Committee for a Human Life Amendment - Action Page
(this particular page was posted in September but it is very informative)

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

What American Accent Do You Have?

Lots of much more serious stuff is habiting my mind and I will be wanting to share some of it with you in the near future, but let's just have some fun for tonight.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West   Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
The Midland
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Well, guess where I'm from? Grew up in Washington State until I was age 18. Lived in California from then until I was 40. Occasionally, though, people have asked if my accent (what accent?) is Midwestern or European (Irish maybe?...though ever so slight: the accent, that is, not the Irish, which I'm proud of).

Feel free to try the quiz for yourself and to share the results with us.



Hat tip to Alexandra at her Happy Hearts at Home blog.

And my apologies to whomever I got the "What Kind of Muffin Are You?" quiz from, the other day. Sometimes I wander from blog to link and forget where I've been. At least if I wander off when I'm on the internet, I know I can always click the X and find my way home. (Just kidding. I'm really not in the habit of getting lost in real life, only in this "virtual life".)

Help a Friend Help Others

Maureen Wittmann has helped me, and I'm sure countless other homeschool parents (and even parents who don't homeschool), with her literature recommendations, as well as with other advice and moral support.

Her most recent book For the Love of Literature helps parents in "teaching core subjects through literature".

She has been working on writing a new, much-asked-for book: 100 Books for Kids Who Love to Read, but she is finding it difficult to proceed on the research needed for this book. Why? Because her family moved a few months ago, and she now finds herself in a country library district that doesn't have an inner-library or interlibrary loan system.

How can we help? If you already make purchases through Amazon, you can simply make them by clicking through the Amazon link on Maureen's blog. It won't cost you a penny, and it will help her buy the books needed to keep working on her book.

What Kind of Muffin Are You?

I always hesitate to post things like this because...when you read the first two lines, you will see why... But, just for fun, just to step out of my over-seriousness, I share this with you. Try it yourself, if you'd like, by clicking on the link at the end. You might be as surprised as I was at how accurate the results seem to be.

You Are a Bran Muffin

Some people have accused you of being all work and no play. And that does describe you most of the time. You are very career oriented. When you're not working making money, you're working to improve yourself. You have very little room in your life for fluff. You want to live as good of a life as possible. You are competitive and driven. You like to surround yourself with other motivated people. While you are a go-getter, you are by no means self centered. Quite the opposite. You are a caring, together, and stable friend. You are grounded enough to be there for people.

What Kind of Muffin Are You?

Pray for Our President - Pray for Our Country

It was with a very heavy heart that I was unable to contribute to history by voting for a black person to be president. I think it is wonderful that our nation has come this far in its growth in recognizing that people of all races are equally deserving of respect.

At the same time that we have grown in this way, we don't seem to have grown as a nation in recognizing that a person who has not yet been born is also as deserving of respect as anyone else.

It was for this issue, as well as others, that I had to "vote my conscience". I had to vote according to the issues, not according to my long-time desire for racial equality and recognition in our county.

So what now? What about the rights of the unborn? What about the issues that some of us don't agree on? Is all lost?

First of all, we know that although God gives man free will and doesn't run things like a puppeteer, yet He brings a greater good out of all things. He knows what is in the mind of each man, woman and child, and everything that ever will be. I liked Especially Heather's blog post on this yesterday morning.

Secondly, we are a great nation - a republic - built on checks and balances. No one person makes all the decisions. Not even the senate and house, along with that man, make all the decisions. The constituents have their influence, by phone calls, letters, and by prayer. And as one of my sons was telling me this morning, the senate minority leader was re-elected. That should help with the checks and balances.

It is a time for us to be vigilant, a time for us to pray. It is always a time for us to be vigilant and to pray, but it is a time to be reminded of that.

At the same time, I think that even those of us who are dismayed about some of the issues can rejoice in the day, can rejoice with a grateful heart. We can be at peace, not to put aside our actions but to put aside our anxieties, with the words, "Be still and know that I am God".

Thank you, Lord, for helping us to recognize as a nation that people of all races are equally created in your image and likeness. Thank you for giving us a nation where we are not dependent upon the opinions and thoughts of one man or one group, but where we have a say in our government, even when we don't agree with the views of some of our leaders. Guide our president and all of our leaders in your will. Help us to exercise our privileges and duties, and help us to trust in Your divine providence each day. Amen.

Powerful Novena of Childlike Confidence - Praying for Our Country

This upcoming election time scares me for a lot of reasons...but hey, that's nothing new. I've lived over a half century and a lot of things have scared me. One wonderful thing I've learned in all that time is that God is always with us. And so far, in my 55 years, even when some things in the world go badly, it seems that other things improve...not always because of circumstances but because God brings good not only out of good, but God also brings good out of evil.

*********************

I am planning to say this nine hour novena some time over the weekend for the elections, for our country, for all of our citizens. I'm posting it here in case any of you would like to join me.

*********************

Novena to the Infant of Prague

This novena is to be said at the same time every hour for nine consecutive hours - just one day.

O Jesus, Who hast said, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you, through the intercession of Mary, Thy Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request.)

O Jesus, Who hast said, all that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you, through the intercession of Mary, Thy Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask They Father in They Name that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request.)

O Jesus, Who hast said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass", through the intercession of Mary, Thy Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.

(Make your request.)

*********************

Prayers for the Elections and for our Nation

Anyone who visits my blog may know that I don't discuss politics. But I do have concerns, like everyone else, about the elections...and about the general health, safety and economy of our country, now and for the future.

You can find a daily prayer for the elections at Maureen Wittmann's blog. For any of us who are just now getting to it, it may be too late to say the prayers as a nine day novena; however, we can still join in the prayers for the days that remain. The power of prayer is in the intention and in the love we put into it.

What great power of love will be flooding our country in the coming week...as people all over the country pray! Whatever the beliefs or prayers may be, whatever the outcomes may be, God will surely bless in His own mysterious ways a country that is steeped in prayer.

Catholic Homeschool Co-op in Baltimore

Do you know any Catholic friends or family members in Baltimore who are starting to homeschool...or do you know anyone moving to Baltimore who is a Catholic homeschooling family? If so, you might like to let them know about our homeschool enrichment co-op. We are very economical (all you need are transportation to where we are and a willingness to participate). We are very democratic (we have a council form of leadership - which looks to the members to all decide together what activities we want to pursue).

At the present time, we mingle and grow friendships over lunch, board games, and projects (this fall the kids had fun making a rocket). Then we have a spiritual element, one week a Gospel reflection and the next week a Catholic apologetics quiz-type game. We follow that with P.E., led by a P.E. teacher who is now a homeschool parent.

We are blessed with resources. The kids love our old Catholic school building, complete with lockers (part of a current parish, which generously shares their facility with us). We have several classrooms, a fenced parking lot to play in, and our own arts and crafts supplies.

If you know someone who would be interested, they can get in touch with me at:
margmary53 at yahoo dot com

Striving for Abundant Survival

I love being contrary. I mean, how can I put “survival” and “abundant” in the same sentence, right? And yet, I mean just that.

I am a survivor…and perhaps you are too. We survive many things in life: Childhood abuse at the hands of other children. Losing loved ones…some of them tragically. Watching our children suffer. Financial concerns. Maybe what you’re surviving is different from what I’m surviving. Maybe for you it was the premature death of a loved one, or a serious illness of you or a family member. But whatever the differences, we are probably both survivors.

I see that Merriam-Webster says of the word survive: “to continue to function or prosper”…so perhaps my putting the terms “abundant” and “survival” together into one sentence is not contrary, after all, if it means to prosper. We don’t have to “just barely” survive! We can survive fully – fully in love with life! As we “continue to function”, we can also “prosper”.

There are many ways to prosper. Even if we’ve had financial losses, we might prosper financially at some time in the future, if we practice delayed gratification today, and if certain things go our way. But there are other ways to prosper as well.

Abundance is defined as “marked by great plenty (as of resources)”. Our greatest resource, of course, is prayer. We also have love at our disposal, as well as laughter. We can find joy in a rose or a sunny, blue sky (or a rainy day if you happen to be from Washington State like I am). We can find joy in a hobby. Yes, some hobbies take resources that we don’t have, but any passionate interest can be a hobby of sorts, and some are free. Seeing a classical car cruising down the road still takes my breath away…and it doesn’t cost me anything. What do you enjoy seeing or hearing? We can grasp the little moments and enjoy them in the midst of difficulties.

We can also share our resources. I remember a tough time several years ago when I felt that I had absolutely nothing to give to anyone…except a smile. I didn’t smile because I was happy. I smiled because I wanted to give something. But while I was smiling in friendliness, I was feeling happier, if only for a moment at a time.

And so, I have at last found a theme for my blog: “Striving for Abundant Survival.” Come, strive with me. Smile with me. Laugh with me. And as David said in the 33rd Psalm, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name together.”

Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers

Beautiful enough for your coffee table, yet small enough for your purse, this little book is a treasury of uplifting thoughts - and prayers to lift us up.

Each page is beautiful, both in content and eye appeal.

Included are snippets of Scripture, wise words of Pope John Paul II, gems from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and brief quotes from other saints as well. The author speaks from her heart to inspire us to the beauty and wonder of motherhood and help lift our minds and hearts to God.

The author - Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle - was a friend of Blessed Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa gave her blessing to her writing of the Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers, which was published in 2005 by Our Sunday Visitor.

Donna-Marie has also written a number of other books, including Prayerfully Expecting, The Heart of Motherhood, and Catholic Saints Prayer Book. Her newest books are Grace Café and The Domestic Church.

To order any the books, or read more about them, you can visit her official website or either of her blogs, Daily Donna-Marie, or Embracing Motherhood. Scroll down and look on the left hand column to order any of her books.

Rediscovering Aldi's Food Store

Or: Recovering Our Grocery Budget

"Whatever happened to my budget for groceries?" I wondered recently as I suddenly became aware that my grocery expenditures had skyrocketed...paying at least a third more last month than what was in my grocery budget.

Was it the fact that working part-time, homeschooling a high schooler, and giving moral support to adult kids is taking up a lot of my time? Definitely this has entered in...especially along with being stressed by all the news going on around me. But does running to our neighborhood supermarket every day for an item or two, and instead picking up $30 worth of "stuff", really save me time? Nope. Not really. Does it really relieve my stress? Nope. Not really.

For years now, we've been shopping at three stores each Friday in order to get the best buys. (It's a family outing, with even my macho young men pitching in.) But adding those daily trips to the most expensive store was counter-productive. So I decided this was the first place to cut. One "extra" trip to a store for perishable staples per week should cover it (and help us "recover it").

Enter Aldi's. I began doing my "extra" trip at Aldi's, where I've been getting good prices on milk...and other foods. As I started my periodic evaluation of prices, I found out that I can pay considerably less at Aldi's now on most of the food items I've been able to get at our Wal Mart or Sam's Club stores. I hadn't realized how much food prices had gone up. Now I'm paying yesterday's Wal Mart prices at Aldi's. And the funniest thing is that my 15 year old, worse-for-the-wear minivan looks out of place amid the newer-model luxury cars and SUVs in the Aldi's parking lot.

I've been gradual about adjusting where I buy what items, and yet, already this past week, I was only five dollars over budget on groceries. Hurray! And we haven't even changed our basic eating habits.

I'd like to invite you to join me...not necessarily at Aldi's. Maybe you don't have one in your area. Maybe you don't want to try generic brands (in spite of the double guarantee). But it never hurts to re-evaluate our buying habits and the prices we are paying. If you do, I hope you have as much fun as I've been having.


P.S. You can read Maureen Wittmann's Ten Tips on Saving Money at the Grocery Store.

Franciscan Ecards

I have been having way too much fun! This is the month for birthdays: my sister, my two nephews, several dear friends...and a wedding anniversary thrown in for a bit of variety.

So I headed on over to Franciscan Ecards. I've been there many times over the years but Sr. Pat (from my home state of Washington) has outdone herself in renewing the site. The colors are so vibrant and the choices abundant.

After you choose a card, you get to pick a song, pick a poem, pick a stamp for the envelope. You can choose your own background colors, write a personal message, and change the font size.

In a hurry? Too many decisions? Then, you can just pick the card and put in the email addresses.

Either way, it's super easy to do. And the address is super simple to memorize, too. Just remember: holyecards.com

What could be easier than that?

Enjoy!

Novena to St. Jude - Day Nine

O Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Marytr, grant that we may so dispose our lives that we may always be pleasing to God. In working out our salvation in this vale of tears we have many needs and necessities. Today we turn to thee, asking you to intercede for us and obtain for us the favors we ask of God. Especially do we petition for [here mention your intentions].

May we not so much seek temporal good but rather what will avail our souls, knowing that it profiteth us nothing if we gain the whole world yet suffer the loss of our soul.

Therefore, may we incline ourselves towards the Divine Will, seeing God's grood and gracious purpose in all our trials.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena - Day Eight

O Saint Jude, Apostle of Christ, pray that we may ever imitate the Divine Master and live according to His Will. May we cooperate with the grace of God and ever remain pleasing in His sight. Especially do we ask you to plead for us and obtain whatsoever is necessary for our salvation. Forget not our special petitions [here mention your intentions]. May we always be thankful to God for the blessings we have received in the past. Whatsoever we ask for the present or future, we submit to the Divine Will, realizing that God knows best what is good for us. We know He will respond to our prayers and petitions in some way or other.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

******************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena - Day Seven

O Holy Apostle Saint Jude, in whose honor we are gathered today, may we never forget that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ chose you to be one of His twelve Apostles. On this account and on account of the martyrdom you suffered for the Faith, we know you are a close friend of Almighty God. Therefore we do not hesitate to petition you in our necessities, especially [here mention your intentions]. We humbly submit ourselves to the Will of God, knowing full well that no sincere prayer is ever left unanswered. May we see God's good and gracious purpose working in all our trials.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

*****************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena - Day Six

Saint Jude, Apostle of Christ, and helper in despairing cases, hear the prayers and petitions of those who are gathered together in thy honor. In all our needs and desires may we only seek what is pleasing to God and what is best for our salvation. These, our petitions [here mention your intentions] we submit to thee, asking you to obtain them for us, if they are for the good of our souls. We are resigned to God's Holy Will in all things, knowing that He will leave no sincere prayer unanswered in some way, though it may be a way unexpected by us.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

*******************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Speaking of Unemployment

As we've been praying for people who are unemployed, and other economic problems, I came across the following article, Prayers and Tips for the Unemployed, posted by my friend Esther. Lots of great ideas.

St. Jude Novena - Day Five

O Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and companion of Jesus Christ, who has shown us by example how to lead a life of zeal and devotion, we humbly entreat thee today to hear our prayers and petitions. Especially do we ask you to obtain for us the following favors [here mention your intentions]. Grant that in praying for present and future favors, we may not forget the innumerable ones showered upon us in the past but often return to give thanks. Humbly we resign ourselves to God's Holy Will, knowing that He alone knows what is best for us in our needs and our necessities.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

***********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena - Day Four

Saint Jude who was called to be one of Christ's chosen Apostles and who labored to bring men to a knowledge and love of God, listen with compassion to those gathered together to honor thee and ask thy intercession. In this troubled world of ours we have many trials, difficulties and temptations. Plead for us in the Heavenly Court, asking especially that our petitions may be answered, especially the particular one we have in mind at this moment [here mention your intentions]. May it please God to answer our prayers in the way that He knows best, giving us grace to see His purpose in everything.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

*****************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena - Day Three

O Saint Jude, Apostle of Jesus Christ, thou who has so faithfully and devotedly helped to spread His Gospel of Light, we who are gathered together today in thy honor, ask and petition thee to remember us and our needs. Especially do we pray for [here mention your intentions]. May it also please our Lord to lend an ear to your supplications in our behalf. Grant that we may ever pray with fervor and devotion, resigning ourselves humbly to the Divine Will, seeing God's purpose in all our trials and knowing that He will leave no sincere prayer unanswered in some way.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

*******************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena - Day Two

O Blessed Apostle Saint Jude, who has been instrumental in gathering us here together today, grant that we may always serve Jesus Christ as He deserves to be served, giving of our best efforts in living as He wishes us to live. May we so dispose our hearts and minds that God will always be inclined to listen to our prayers and petitions, especially those petitions which we entrust to thy care and for which we ask you to plead for us [here mention your intentions].

Grant that we may be enlightened as to what is best for us, in the present and future, not forgetting the Blessings we have received in the past.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

******************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Prayers to St. Jude for the Economy

Just for the record: I do NOT think the nation is on the brink of another great depression. Let me repeat that in a positive way: Personally, I think that we, as a nation, will pull through the present economic crises.

However, for people who have lost their homes, for people who have lost or are in danger of losing their jobs, for young people (and old) who are struggling to find jobs, the crisis is very real. So let us pray for our own families and for all those who are in financial need of any kind.

In case anyone would like to join me again in praying the Novena to St. Jude, I am going to include it here again. Interestingly, it was five months ago that I posted it, but people have continued to leave comments, thanking St. Jude for favors. Sometimes someone asks us to include them in our St. Jude novena, not realizing, I think, that the post they have found is from the past...So then I start thinking, hmm, maybe I should be saying a perpetual St. Jude novena with, and for, all these people.

So today I have restructured my sidebar so that you can more quickly get to the Scripture and Prayers link, from which you can easily get to the St. Jude Novena link.

But, once again...

I am taking this novena from a book called The Catholic Family Book of Novenas, copyright 1956 by John J. Crawley & Co. with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. (For you who are non-Catholics, those two Latin names grant permission to publish and assurance that the prayes are approved by the Catholic Church. And a "novena" is a prayer repeated for a specified period of time, often for nine days. The repetition shows perseverance as in the parable, where Jesus said that if someone keeps knocing on the door, the master of the house will let him in just because he keeps knocking).

I am posting these prayers in good faith, assuming that the 1956 copyright has expired. If I find out that the copyright was renewed, I will remove this from my blog.

NOVENA TO ST. JUDE

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER:
Glorious Saint Jude, by those sublime prerogatives wherewith thou wast enobled in thy lifetime namely, Thy kinship with Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh and thy vocation to be an apostle, by that glory which now is thine in heaven as the reward of thy apostolic labor and thy martyrdom, obtain from me from the Giver of every good gift and every perfect gift all the graces whereof I stand in need, especially [Here mention your request.], in order to treasure up in my heart the divinely inspired doctrines which thou has transmitted to us in Thy epistle, that is to say, to build our edifice of perfection upon our most holy faith, praying by the grace of the Holy Spirit to keep ourselves in the love of God by all means, to help them that go astray, exulting thus the glory and majesty, the dominion and power of Him Who is able to keep us without sin, and to present us spotless, with exceeding joy, at the coming of our Divine Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

FIRST DAY:
O Blessed Apostle Saint Jude, who labored so zealously for the conversion of the Gentiles in many lands, and performed numerous miracles in needful and despairing cases, we invoke thee to take a special interest in us and in our needs. We feel that you understand us in a particular way. Hear our prayer and our petitions and plead for us in all our necessities especially [here mention your intentions.]. May we be patient in finding out God's Holy Will and courageous in carrying it out.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy.

*********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Busy, Busy...Preparing for High School Again

Time to get ready for school!

Actually, it was probably time a while back...but I was busy moving...and busy working...and busy traveling to Joe's Air Force graduation. Of course,we did do quite a bit of our planning a few months ago. It's just a matter of pulling it all together now.

For example, I still need to sign up for Netflix. Yep, that is going to be a part of our curriculum for world history. Since Peter is visually impaired but not blind, he enjoys movies a lot. I bought a guide to help me find pertinent movies, called Learning with the Movies by Beth Holland. If you're interested in bringing the cultures of historical times to life for your student in this way, in addition to this great book, there is also a Learning with the Movies website.

We still need to get Peter signed up with Hadley School for the Blind for their English Skills correspondence course. He will get the lessons on cassette...and then, of course, write or type his work.

For science, we bought Biology 101, also from Timberdoodle. It's a Christian program presented on DVDs. They say this about the course:

"Biology 101 is best for students who:
1. Would benefit from an overview before an intense biology study.
2. Struggle with textbook learning but readily learn via discussions.
3. Are not college-bound but need the basics of biology."
BUT, they go on to say: "With initiative, Biology 101 can also be used as a fullblown accredited biology course. Towards that end a printable PDF file with a 12-page Course Accreditation Program booklet is included on disc 4." We plan to make it into a "fullblown accredited biology course", because Peter definitely plans to go to college in a few years.

Once again, I am so grateful for the new (well, "newer") made-for-homeschoolers' math programs, called Teaching Textbooks. I would recommend these for everyone, but they do work particularly well for my son, as he can do the lesson from the book, using his video magnifier...after listening to the author present the lesson in real voice. While the lesson is being presented, he can watch the numbers, using his computer's screen magnification software.

For Religion, I plan on using the apologetics CDs by John Martignoni of Bible Christian Society, discussing them with him and having him write some appropriate papers. Since I have not yet listened to all of the CDs yet myself, this will be a learning process for both of us, and I will see what we think as we go along, remaining open to adding other resources as well.

The only thing left to work out for this year is what would be best for him to use to improve his Braille skills. He can read just about anything in Braille, but quite slowly. Because he can read print with his video magnifier and with computer magnification, and because he has excellent auditory comprehension, Braille has not been our primary focus the past few years. But I've been encouraged that it would benefit him in the future to become more proficient in Braille...which of course is why we taught him Braille in the first place. So I need to decide whether I will braille selections for him myself with the software and his Braille embosser; or whether we will have him just practice reading Braille books; or whether we should sign him up for a course with Hadley School for the Blind.

If you are a homeschooler, and you, too, are getting ready to begin schooling...well, I was going to wish you well...and I do; however, I'll bet you already have all your plans in place! If so, this tortoise will catch up with you when you stop for your nap.

A Proud Family

Last week all eight of us met in Alabama. The five of us in Maryland drove down in our fifteen year old minivan. (Thank you, God, for another safe trip!) Paul and his new guide dog "Chicago" flew from Northern Kentucky to Atlanta on a buddy pass, which Mary got from an airline friend. (Thanks, Kelly.) Mary picked Paul up at the Atlanta airport and they drove to Montgomery together.

We all came to attend Joe's graduation from Basic Officer's Training at Maxwell Air Force Base. We had a wonderful time being all together. And we are all very proud of Joe's success in qualifying for the program; his perseverance in getting through the very rigorous twelve weeks' training; and his commitment to serve his country.

Thank You for Your Prayers

My father is improving.

Thank you, and God bless.

Personal Prayer Request

Please pray for my father, who is in intensive care due to what they think may be an allergy to a medication.

We Have Moved!

We actually accomplished it...somehow. We moved. It was only about six miles away, and only from one apartment to another, yet what an undertaking! I never want to do that again. Well, probably I do, some day, but not right away.

I have some advice if you ever consider moving:

A) Forget it. (Just kidding.)

B) Get rid of everything BIG. Do we really need a king-size bed? Wouldn't a queen-size bed work? Do we really need bookcases that are 6' tall by 4' wide? Think small. And if you're getting ready to buy a desktop computer, how about a laptop? (Not all our desktops are in current working order but we have four of them! And of course that also means monitors, etc.)

C) Do not (I repeat "do not") make any decisions about cancelling anything on the morning of the move...especially the landline telephone service.

Yes, on the first morning of the move, I received an email (just before our internet was disconnected), telling me that our new DSL internet was not going to be hooked up for another two weeks. So I called our cable t.v. company and told them I wanted them to give me internet in our new place after all...and the lady told me that if I let them give me telephone service too, I would get free long distance 24/7, and it would cost me only $2.00 more than I had been paying for t.v. and internet. Well, we had just found out our cell phones would not work in the new apartment so it sounded fabulous. I said YES...and cancelled our landline phone.

Long story short: We now have landline phone service with our previous provider. I tried to cancel the not-yet-working digital phone service with the cable company, but I was told that now if I cancel it, I will paying about $20 more per month than if I keep it (keep what??). Well, if and when it gets up and running, we will at least have the free long-distance. And with family - immediate and extended - in various states, that is always a good thing.

Now if I can just find my way through the maze of boxes to the telephone.

The Dog Ate My Homework and Other Unlikely Stories

Actually, I don't have a dog. Nor do I have birds...at least not as pets, unless you count the ones who like to frequent our balcony.

Yesterday, with five minutes to finish getting ready for work, I discovered that my uniform shirts were in the washing machine, wet. I found an adequate substitute, and headed down to my car.

Lo and behold, three little birds (presumably from my balcony?) were flying around inside the front of the car. I had left the little roof-top window up...it only goes up a bit, and I've left it up many times in the past ten years that we've owned the car. No tiny animal has ever invited himself in before. Okay, first time for everything.

I opened the driver's door and nothing happened, so I left it open and went around to open the passenger door, after which the birds flew out the driver's side. I went back up to the apartment for some disinfectant wipes, cleaned everything up, and headed off.

As I drove, I prayed that nothing bad would happen. And nothing bad happened. But on the route that I take every single day, there was - for the first time - a detour. I just had to laugh.

Blind Son Gets Guide Dog

Exciting news in our family! Our college son who became blind a year and a half ago is at guide dog school. He received his dog yesterday, a black male which is a cross between a black lab and a golden retriever.

My son sounded soo happy, and we are all happy and excited with him.

Checking In With You

I really have not disappeared from the face of the earth! I am not on the internet much these days but I still think of all you good readers and keep you in my prayers.

Everything is good with us; we're just very, very busy! We got our fifth child through high school, and all his paperwork in order to get into college in the fall. I've ordered books for the coming year for our sixth and last child (who is going into his sophomore year). We've made plans for our homeschool enrichment co-op for next year, where I am now on the three member council (since I didn't already have enough to do). We are looking forward to a great year, so if you happen to live in Baltimore, look us up.

We will be moving in mid-July, not cross-country, not even cross-city, only six or eight miles. However, it's just about as big an undertaking...maybe bigger since it's not a corporate move - so we have to pack our own stuff (oh, poor lil' things). I seem to have amnesia about the last move we made when we had to pack our own stuff. It would surely have been with babies in tow, so this one should be a piece of cake in comparison. But working around a job (even a part-time job) throws a different kind of angle into the equation.

Some of you may remember when I first moved to this city and basically knew no one. Since then we have made many friends. But this year we got to know a family so well that they have become dear family friends. We talk by email and phone, we get together on holidays, we camp together. In the midst of everything else that's going on right now, they are doing what we always knew (yet I always dreaded) that they would probably be doing soon: Moving again. Not moving like us, six or eight miles away, but closer to a thousand miles away. I am happy for them (through my own tears) and grateful. Even though they (and we) knew they probably wouldn't be here permanently, they were willing to open their hearts to us.

When I think of our kids living in various states, our relatives who are spread out in the West, our friends going back to Florida, I think maybe an RV would be the way for us to retire some day. Great thing to be thinking about in the midst of a gas crisis, isn't it? But hey, there's nothing like having dreams. And there's nothing like dreaming of being able to be with all our people, even in this life.

Please keep us in your prayers as we make our little move, and our friends as they make their big one, and all our kids as they move through their transitions in life. Those I will save for another post, so that I won't let so much time go between posting. You all are in my prayers and thoughts.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness

I've been tagged for an important meme by Stina. This meme is to help spread the awareness on the ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’ month of June. Please help our fellow women in passing on the importance of regular examination and early detection of breast cancer in order to catch this disease when it first erupts, maximizing the chance of survival and recovery.

Here are several facts on breast cancer that everyone should know about.

• The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
• Risks for breast cancer include a family history, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last ten years of oral contraceptives, and daily consumption of alcohol.
• Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
• Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.
• Over eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.
• You are never too young to develop breast cancer! Breast Self-Exam should begin by the age of twenty. (Ladies, this is important to teach your daughters when they hit puberty. If they get in the habit when they're young, it's much more likely they'll continue as they get older.)

Resources: American Cancer Society National Cancer Institute Komen Foundation. You can help the lives of many women by spreading the word about The Breast Cancer Site pink button as many times as you can. If The Breast Cancer Site receives 8 million clicks on the pink button in June, their premier sponsor -Bare Necessities- will donate $10,000 for more free mammograms. CLICK the pink button today!

Please pass the word along.

My Magazine Article

You can read my article Homeschooling with Sudden Vision Loss which was published in Home Education Magazine by clicking here. (I'm not sure why it says below the title, "Risks Public Virtual Schools Pose to Homeschools". I think it's simply a mistake, as it isn't what my article is about.)

Good Morning

The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. The sky is blue.

Why are the shrubs in the parking lot covered in red when it's not fall but spring? Ahh, I really should learn more about different plant types. Maybe some day...although I have my doubts. I like to just enjoy the beauty without understanding the visual detail.

This morning I've been commenting at a couple blogs as I visit them, and I decided I really ought to say hello to my own blog readers -- if I still have any.

One blogger was wondering why she blogs and whether it's worth it. I told her - basically - that it's just good to know her. I guess I guilt-tripped myself into blogging this morning.

Why did I start my blog? At the time I started it, I was working part time in retail sales at a department store. I wanted to share with people how it felt to be a retail clerk, how we can lift their day for love of God with just a smile or a good word. As time went on, I also wanted to help others who were struggling financially to know they were not alone and offer a few tidbits of advice now and then.

When my second son began losing his vision, I threw myself into blogging daily. It gave me something to do, not that I didn't have enough to do, but something positive and uplifting to do.

As time went on, I continued, hopeful that maybe I could start a part-time writing "career", and blogging would be a good networking opportunity for that. I got some kicks out of watching my site meter, but my greatest joy has been getting to know some really wonderful people...not for anything they can do for me, but just for who they are.

Eventually, I realized I was not launching a writing career - at least at this time. And I did need to make that little bit of extra money. So I got a part-time job. I will probably always write in some way. I have books on back burners. I have to keep buying more stoves to have enough back burners to put them on. You should see my kitchen. Ha. Just kidding. As you may know, I live in an apartment with a little kitchen, but yeah, I have a lot of ideas for books that I never quite get around to writing. Sometimes I think them, and later on someone else writes them. And that's okay, too.

So for now my life has taken a different turn. I'm working part-time in an interesting job. Interesting to me, but probably sounds boring to some. I try to describe my job and people yawn and their eyes glaze over. Let's just say I work in a billing department of a medical office but I don't get on the computer. Suits me fine because my responsibility is simply to be accurate. When I go home, the work doesn't go with me.

I've gotten more involved in our homeschool co-op, where as some of you know, I have been teaching preschool this past year. I will be more involved next year than this year. This blog used to be my apostolate. Having relocated, it was also where I had most of my friends. Now that I've entered the...I won't say the "real world" because this virtual world is very real...but now that I've submerged myself into a different world of apostolate and friends whom I can see and touch, I don't have as much time for this one. But I have so many wonderful friends from this blogging experience, this whole online experience.

Hey, I am not saying good-bye, but only good morning!

God bless you all! (If there is any "you all" still reading).

Novena to Saint Jude - Day Nine

Novena to Saint Jude

Day Nine

O Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Marytr, grant that we may so dispose our lives that we may always be pleasing to God. In working out our salvation in this vale of tears we have many needs and necessities. Today we turn to thee, asking you to intercede for us and obtain for us the favors we ask of God. Especially do we petition for [here mention your intentions].

May we not so much seek temporal good but rather what will avail our souls, knowing that it profiteth us nothing if we gain the whole world yet suffer the loss of our soul.

Therefore, may we incline ourselves towards the Divine Will, seeing God's grood and gracious purpose in all our trials.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Novena to Saint Jude - Day Eight

Novena to Saint Jude

Day Eight

O Saint Jude, Apostle of Christ, pray that we may ever imitate the Divine Master and live according to His Will. May we cooperate with the grace of God and ever remain pleasing in His sight. Especially do we ask you to plead for us and obtain whatsoever is necessary for our salvation. Forget not our special petitions [here mention your intentions]. May we always be thankful to God for the blessings we have received in the past. Whatsoever we ask for the present or future, we submit to the Divine Will, realizing that God knows best what is good for us. We know He will respond to our prayers and petitions in some way or other.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

***********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Novena to Saint Jude - Day Seven

O Holy Apostle Saint Jude, in whose honor we are gathered today, may we never forget that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ chose you to be one of His twelve Apostles. On this account and on account of the martyrdom you suffered for the Faith, we know you are a close friend of Almighty God. Therefore we do not hesitate to petition you in our necessities, especially [here mention your intentions]. We humbly submit ourselves to the Will of God, knowing full well that no sincere prayer is ever left unanswered. May we see God's good and gracious purpose working in all our trials.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Novena to Saint Jude - Day Six

Novena to Saint Jude

Day Six

Saint Jude, Apostle of Christ, and helper in despairing cases, hear the prayers and petitions of those who are gathered together in thy honor. In all our needs and desires may we only seek what is pleasing to God and what is best for our salvation. These, our petitions [here mention your intentions] we submit to thee, asking you to obtain them for us, if they are for the good of our souls. We are resigned to God's Holy Will in all things, knowing that He will leave no sincere prayer unanswered in some way, though it may be a way unexpected by us.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

*********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Novena to Saint Jude - Day Five

Novena to Saint Jude

Fifth Day

O Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and companion of Jesus Christ, who has shown us by example how to lead a life of zeal and devotion, we humbly entreat thee today to hear our prayers and petitions. Especially do we ask you to obtain for us the following favors [here mention your intentions]. Grant that in praying for present and future favors, we may not forget the innumerable ones showered upon us in the past but often return to give thanks. Humbly we resign ourselves to God's Holy Will, knowing that He alone knows what is best for us in our needs and our necessities.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

*********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Novena to Saint Jude - Day Four

Novena to Saint Jude

Fourth Day

Saint Jude who was called to be one of Christ's chosen Apostles and who labored to bring men to a knowledge and love of God, listen with compassion to those gathered together to honor thee and ask thy intercession. In this troubled world of ours we have many trials, difficulties and temptations. Plead for us in the Heavenly Court, asking especially that our petitions may be answered, especially the particular one we have in mind at this moment [here mention your intentions]. May it please God to answer our prayers in the way that He knows best, giving us grace to see His purpose in everything.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena - Day Three

Novena to Saint Jude

Third Day

O Saint Jude, Apostle of Jesus Christ, thou who has so faithfully and devotedly helped to spread His Gospel of Light, we who are gathered together today in thy honor, ask and petition thee to remember us and our needs. Especially do we pray for [here mention your intentions]. May it also please our Lord to lend an ear to your supplications in our behalf. Grant that we may ever pray with fervor and devotion, resigning ourselves humbly to the Divine Will, seeing God's purpose in all our trials and knowing that He will leave no sincere prayer unanswered in some way.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena - Day Two

O Blessed Apostle Saint Jude, who has been instrumental in gathering us here together today, grant that we may always serve Jesus Christ as He deserves to be served, giving of our best efforts in living as He wishes us to live. May we so dispose our hearts and minds that God will always be inclined to listen to our prayers and petitions, especially those petitions which we entrust to thy care and for which we ask you to plead for us [here mention your intentions].

Grant that we may be enlightened as to what is best for us, in the present and future, not forgetting the Blessings we have received in the past.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy!

********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

St. Jude Novena

St. Jude was one of the apostles and a cousin of Jesus. People often pray to him for "impossible" or difficult situations. If you have a situation like this, perhaps you'd like to join in this novena to St. Jude with me. You can leave a request in the comment box if you'd like (you don't have to say what your request is; you can simply say you'd like to be included). Whether you leave a comment or not, I will include the needs of anyone who reads my blog...and if you say the prayers, I would be thrilled if you would include my requests in your intentions, as well.

I am taking this novena from a book called The Catholic Family Book of Novenas, copyright 1956 by John J. Crawley & Co. with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. (For you who are non-Catholics, those two Latin names grant permission to publish and assurance that the prayes are approved by the Catholic Church. And a "novena" is a prayer repeated for a specified period of time, often for nine days. The repetition shows perseverance as in the parable, where Jesus said that if someone keeps knocing on the door, the master of the house will let him in just because he keeps knocking).

I am posting these prayers in good faith, assuming that the 1956 copyright has expired. If I find out that the copyright was renewed, I will remove this from my blog.

NOVENA TO ST. JUDE

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER:
Glorious Saint Jude, by those sublime prerogatives wherewith thou wast enobled in thy lifetime namely, Thy kinship with Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh and thy vocation to be an apostle, by that glory which now is thine in heaven as the reward of thy apostolic labor and thy martyrdom, obtain from me from the Giver of every good gift and every perfect gift all the graces whereof I stand in need, especially [Here mention your request.], in order to treasure up in my heart the divinely inspired doctrines which thou has transmitted to us in Thy epistle, that is to say, to build our edifice of perfection upon our most holy faith, praying by the grace of the Holy Spirit to keep ourselves in the love of God by all means, to help them that go astray, exulting thus the glory and majesty, the dominion and power of Him Who is able to keep us without sin, and to present us spotless, with exceeding joy, at the coming of our Divine Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

FIRST DAY:
O Blessed Apostle Saint Jude, who labored so zealously for the conversion of the Gentiles in many lands, and performed numerous miracles in needful and despairing cases, we invoke thee to take a special interest in us and in our needs. We feel that you understand us in a particular way. Hear our prayer and our petitions and plead for us in all our necessities especially [here mention your intentions.]. May we be patient in finding out God's Holy Will and courageous in carrying it out.

Saint Jude, pray for us!
My Jesus, mercy.

*********************

You can find the prayers for all nine days of the St. Jude Novena by visiting the Scriptures and Prayers page.

Just Visiting

Like in monopoly, I am just visiting. I'm not really back from my sabbatical. Or perhaps it's changed from a sabbatical to a change in priorities. I may not be able to post frequently anymore.

Since a public blog is very public, I haven't felt I could post all my personal business here...which is also my personal "busy-ness". But I will say that I've had a lot on my mind and been very busy.

I will say that in addition to homeschooling and teaching a weekly preschool class, I have started working a part-time job.

I will also share with you that one of our children will be entering the Air Force in May, one of our children just launched her career, and one of our children was just accepted into his college of choice...

Other than that, there's nothing new going on. That's supposed to be funny, of course. Well, and it's not quite true, either; but, as I said, it's a public blog.

God bless you, my friends.

Divine Mercy Novena Begins Today

Just as Jesus came to St. Margaret Mary centuries ago to tell the world of the great love of His Sacred Heart, He later came to St. Faustina to encourage us to trust in Him and His Divine Mercy.

It is customary to begin saying the novena on Good Friday and end the day before Divine Mercy Sunday. If you are reading this on Saturday, you can still end on Divine Mercy Sunday. Or, you can say the novena any time you like.

You can find the novena here.



Hat tip to Ebeth.

Legally Blind Governor Steps Up

As some of you may have read, the man who will be sworn in as governor of New York on Monday is legally blind! Can you tell I'm excited about that?

You know, and I know, that we are not defined by our disabilities but by your abilities and motivations. But it's nice to let the world know!

What Time of Day Are You?

Just for fun, I took this quiz:

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Hat tip to Alexandra.

Sign Petition to Save Homeschooling in California

Homeschooling has come under serious threat in California. Won't you please join in signing a petition to keep homeschooling legal in California?

You can find the petition at the Home School Legal Defense Association website.

Sabbatical

I feel a bit badly that I haven't been posting very often. Not guilty, just a little badly. My reason for being here (here at my blog, not here on earth) is to share with you: resources, inspiration, and just plain ol' stuff from my life.

At the moment, I just don't have the time and focus to do a whole lot of that. But I'm not quitting, just resting a bit, and re-evaluating my schedule. I may post daily again, or I may not. But I do have things I want to share with you, so please bear with me.

God bless you.

Drinking Away One's Sorrows?

Everyone knows that the focus of my blog is...not. It doesn't have any one particular (or general?) focus. This does have its advantages. When I see an astounding article like this, I can share it with you. Does it "fit" the blog? Why not? Basically my blog is whatever is on my mind or heart, or what I find interesting that I hope you may too. Without further ado, I thought you might find this article interesting. Or maybe enlightening:

Drinking Makes Heart Grow More Sorrowful, Study Finds

Although, due to alcoholism in the extended family, I jokingly refer to myself as a prohibitionist, I am not sharing this article to say, "Don't drink." (I am, after all, Catholic.)

I don't want to tell you "Don't..." about anything, but if I were going to, I would definitely want to say, "Don't drink to drown your sorrows." Very dangerous practice. But now we have a laboratory test about it. Wow!

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

This, of course, was just for fun. I don't know how different these quizzes are from reading a fortune cookie. Just random? But hey, at least the ice cream is pink!

Middle Name Meme

I was tagged by Jean at Catholic Fire for this meme. Thank you, Jean.

Rules:

1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don’t have a middle name, use your maiden name or your mother’s maiden name).
3. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name.

M - Merry. I am a merry pessimist. What's that? I can often see the bad things may be coming...but I also enjoy laughing a lot - at myself and at life.

A - Attitude. "I can do all things in Him who strengthens me." (Phillipians 4:13)

R - Rosary. I don't kneel down and say the whole Rosary every day, but it accompanies me, comforts me, and supports me, a little at a time, through my day.

Y - You. You are important to me: you, my reader; you, my friend; you, of course, my family.

I will tag:

A Woman Seeking Grace
By Sun and Candlelight
Crazy Acres
Karen Edmisten

Preschool Resources

As I was searching for just the right pictures for my preschool class at our homeschool co-op, it occurred to me to share with you my updated list of resources in case you are interested, or know someone who would be.

Websites for Pictures to Color:
My Friend Magazine (Wide variety of Catholic pictures)
Apples 4 the Teacher (Lots of choices)
Lucy Learns.Com (good source of some simple animal pictures)
ABC Teach (Patterns for coloring or making shape books)
St. Jude's Coloring Book (explaining the Mass to children)
Coloring Saints.Com (Rosary pictures and Saint pictures)


Craft Books I've Gotten from the Library:
The Big Book of Bible Crafts by Kim Sullivan Fiano
Arts and Crafts Projects for Preschoolers by Judy Nayer
Preschool Arts and Crafts by Grace Jasmine

Note: Please observe copyright requests. For example, some say you may print the picture as long as you leave the copyright on the page.

The Mass is the Mass

As some of you know, I'm a convert, having come to the Catholic Church at the age of 18, via a pseudo-Catholic cult. Finding my way back to the real Fold was an interesting journey.

Along the way, I acquired some ideas that I no longer hold. One of those was the concept that the new Mass (changed in the sixties) was inferior, and worse, not good and something to avoid attending at all costs.

I don't believe that anymore, and I am so delighted now - every time I am able to attend either the traditional Mass or the mainstream Mass (sometimes called the "new Mass").

So when I read this blog post tonight at Venite Missa Est, I really enjoyed it. You can read it here (scroll down to In Defense of Novus Ordo Missae).

For the Love of Literature

I wrote the following this morning to my author friend Maureen Wittmann, and then decided that I ought to share it with you as well:

"I want to tell you that I've been doing something with your book For the Love of Literature that I never usually do with a non-fiction book: reading it from beginning to end. I am especially enjoying the history section, where I am getting a timeline in my head, seeing who lived at the same time as whom, and meeting old authors whom I knew from one book or two and getting excited that they've written so many. The book is an education in itself and I can't wait to start getting the books that are on the lists."