Wednesday, January 30, 2008

You Raise Me Up



(Here's how you can stop the background music before playing the video: Please click the square white button on the Music Control panel on the right side at the top of my sidebar.)

The first time I heard this song, You Raise Me Up, I wondered if it was about God raising us up or about people raising us up. More recently I heard it and realized that it is sometimes God directly, and sometimes God through people. He has certainly done both in my life in recent times. I am most grateful to those dear to me who raise me up, and to Him who sends them into my life.

As my sister-in-law always says, "God is good. All the time."

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Prayer Request for Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, who has written several Catholic prayer books and has another one coming out this spring, was in a car accident along with her daughter. They are at home but have some recovery to do, and with a trip to Rome coming up very soon. You can read more at her blog Embracing Motherhood.

Please keep them in your prayers.

A New Blog in the Family

Have you ever wondered about the political two-party system? How about voting in the primaries, state by state, while the media gets in more than their two cents worth?

Here is a new blog by my oldest son, who says, "I will try in this blog to offer my opinions and conclusions on political issues of the day and the political process. But, mostly I hope to provide sound analysis of happenings in the political arena and leave an opening for my readers to draw their own conclusions."

Click on the title to visit his blog:
Margin For Error
Political Commentary from an Open Mind


Friday, January 25, 2008

Quote from St. Francis de Sales

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.
- St. Francis de Sales


Yesterday was his feast day and I read this last night after having my preschool class, so it really made sense to me. This shall become my motto, something to work toward with the little ones. It is always a struggle to try to find this balance, to be both firm and patient. It's easy to swing toward either over-indulgence or impatience. St. Francis de Sales, pray for us. Dear readers, pray for me.



Hat tip to A Catholic Mom in Hawaii, Esther.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

A Quote

"Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things."
Henry Ward Beecher

Thank you to Sister Pat for the quote.

Oh, and not to worry. No new troubles going on in my life. The quote just spoke to me and I wanted to share it with you.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

NEW Catholic Saints Prayer Book

The Catholic Saints Prayer Book by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle is scheduled for release in March. Today she has announced a contest to win a free book. You can visit her post about this here.

Meme Going Around

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No, I don't think so.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I don't cry. Just kidding. But others aren't likely to know about it...unless they're watching a sad (or happy) movie with me.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Any but bologna.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Does a bear live in the woods? Yes, I have six wonderful kids.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes! But I would probably treat myself better than I do. And I think I would like to get away from me now and then for just a little while.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? What's a lot?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No, I hope not, unless the doctor missed something when I was five.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Not unless it's a safer - less scary - way to get down from the second floor of a mall than an escalator. Just kidding. Simple answer: no.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Special K with Strawberries.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? You've got to be kidding me. You mean it's okay not to untie them. I've always gotten after my kids for not untying them.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Super-resilient! And I ain't kiddin' this time. I might add, I'm resilient with help of God's grace.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Cherry Cordial. Or a cherry dipped chocolate cone from Dairy Queen.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? What they are feeling; their emotions and moods.

15. RED OR PINK? Pink.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? Ha! Like I'm going to tell you that. (Whatever it is. Now I'll be thinking all afternoon. No, I think I'll sleep instead.)

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grown kids who live in other states.

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black pants, no shoes.

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Weiner sandwich.

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? In the background or listening, really listening? Oh, let's just skip this one. Listening isn't my thing, anyway (unless you have a problem you want me to listen to.)

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Sky blue.

22. FAVORITE SMELLS? Food cooking.

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My daughter.

24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? People.

25. HAIR COLOR? Brown with premature undyed white - and proud of it.

26. EYE COLOR? Green

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Never even considered them. I don't even like WATER in my eyes.

28. FAVORITE FOOD? The kind that goes in my mouth. I love to eat.

29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Very definitely happy endings.

30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The one I want to share with you (again) because I'm really excited about it and think everyone should see it is: Remember the Titans.

31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? I think you'd either call it raspberry or mauve.

32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Spring or Fall!

33. HUGS OR KISSES? Friends or Hubby?

34. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cherry Pie.

35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Irish Red by Jim Kjelgaard...half-heartedly. Needed something light. A great book but I prefer them a little more character-driven.

36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Some bank I've never heard of. Don't know where it came from (the mouse pad, I mean, not the bank. I think I know where banks come from but I won't tell you as this is G rated. Just kidding.).

37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? The last thing I watched on t.v. that I want to recommend was a Monk episode.

38. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The sound of family and friends greeting me.

39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.

40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Hawaii when I was in the 6th grade.

41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Writing. I guess whether or not I have talent is up for discussion...I haven't had a lot of talent for marketing my writing...but writing is definitely an obsession.

42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Vancouver, Washington. That's Washington State, not Washington, D.C. And that's Vancouver, Washington, on the southern border of Washington across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, not Vancouver B.C. Have had to convince a lot of people I'm not Canadian. Maybe I should answer "where are you from" with: "Not D.C., not B.C." It could be a riddle.

If anyone reading this would like to answer these questions, please feel free to pick it up from me as I picked it up from others. Just copy, delete my answers, and insert yours. If you do, I'd love it if you'd leave me a link to your post.



Hat tip: I've seen this blog around lately, but I picked it up from Jean.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Spread the Love Award



Jean at Catholic Fire passed on this beautiful award. I am very honored that you thought of me, Jean, and am also honored to be included along with the fine women she awarded. You can visit their blogs by visiting her post.

Thank you, Jean!

I thought it would be interesting to see where this began, so I traced my way back (no quick task). What I found was a beautifully artistic Victorian blog with a big heart behind it. You can find that post here if you'd like.

I would like to pass this award on to all my blog friends and readers. I think in keeping with the spirit of its founder, anyone who wants to can pick this up. But I will also specifically award a few of the blogs I love to visit.

1. To Sister Janet of Pause for Prayer who probably doesn't "do" awards and might not even find out about this one, but she certainly does spread the love with her meditations and her words of wisdom from her heart. Thought you might like to check it out.

2. To my new friend Stina at Lord, Guard and Guide. I like the way she shares from her life and her heart. And thank you, Stina, for visiting mine and commenting.

3. To Mrs. Jackie Parkes at Catholic Mom of 10. I am overwhelmed by all her posts. She is an inspiration. It's always nice to hear from you, too, Jackie.

And now, all those links were a lot of work, so it's back to my sofa for more wintertime "rest and recovery".

God bless you all and I love you.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Winter Pastime

Would you call it a flu-cough or a cough-flu? At any rate, it's "got" us.

This afternoon we enjoyed watching a Yogi Bear video that we bought twenty years ago. It was great for laugh-out-loud "medicine". We also enjoyed watching the snow fall, something that doesn't happen too often here in Baltimore.

Well, folks, I'm off to continue reading Irish Red by Jim Kjelgaard.

I hope you are all getting through January in a safe and healthy manner.

Monday, January 14, 2008

How Do They Make These Quizzes?

It's really beyond me how they come up with these quizzes. But...they were right. I'm the second born child.

You Are Likely a Second Born

At your darkest moments, you feel inadequate.
At work and school. you do best when you're evaluating.
When you love someone, you offer them constructive criticism.

In friendship, you tend to give a lot of feedback - positive and negative.
Your ideal careers are: accounting, banking, art, carpentry, decorating, teaching, and writing novels.
You will leave your mark on the world with art and creative projects.


Sunday, January 13, 2008

States I Have Visited



create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

The red indicates states I have visited at some time in my life. Are you jealous? Don't be. Please. First of all, I've lived more than half a century. Secondly, when I was a young adult (barely), I moved away from my parents. Then I moved away from my childhood best friend of eleven years (we had gone together to what turned out to be a cult; but that's another whole story). At one point my husband got relocated and we moved half way across the country from his mom who was our next door neighbor, and his sister and family who lived in a nearby town. And then a couple years ago, for my husband to get a job, we moved several states away from our three young adult kids. My heart has been torn to pieces many times.

Here's a funny thing about moving clear across country, all the way from growing up in Washington State to now living in Baltimore. Yesterday our youngest son asked me when it was that we went to Washington. I said, "Well, last summer we went to Arlington National Cemetery." (Actually I said, "the cemetery".) He said, "I meant your Washington!" Oh, my. When we moved here, I knew I was going to hear people say "Washington" when they meant "Washington D.C." but I wasn't going to think that way. I guess it's kind of like adopting a foreign language or the culture of a region.

And yes, some of those states were visited briefly enroute to a move, but some of it has been recreational travel, too, and I am grateful for all those opportunities to see the wide world of the United States. It's all good. And God is so good to us.



P.S. When I published this post, the right hand side of the map got cut off. I guess the map needs a wide berth. Well, I will have to just tell you, then - and I should be saying this for those who can't see the map anyway - my total is about 34 states.

Hat tip to Alicia.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

A Meme - Name it what you will

I was tagged for this meme by my dear blogger friend Jean at Catholic Fire.

1. Do you wear a name tag at work?
No. I "work" at home. But I wish everyone wore name tags everywhere except home.

2. What kind of car do you drive?
My Pontiac Transport minivan is now 15 years "young"!

3. What do you order when you go to Taco Bell?
Burrito...which is what I'm eating right now, only I made it at home.

4. Have you ever had a garage sale?
A couple that totally flopped, and one that our good friends and my kids helped make successful when we relocated.

5. What color is your iPod?
iPod? What's that? Just kidding but nope, don't have one. If I had one, I suppose it would have to be pink! Do they make them in pink? :)

6. What kind of dog do you have?
Dog? What's that? Nope, no dog, either.

7. What's for dinner tonight?
If it's Saturday, it must be pizza (from the freezer, not delivery).

8. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had?
A few swallows of Egg Nog on New Year's Eve.

9. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
Let it fly out of my hands, out of the car, and onto the concrete. It was okay except for the scratches.

10. Last time you were sick?
Does a cold count? If so, it's now.

11. How long is your hair?
Short.

12. Are you happy right now?
Yes.

13. What did you say last?
"Are you happy right now? Duh." Guess that was a menopausal type answer. :)

14. Who came over last?
Our out-of-state, adult kids for Christmas!

15. Do you drink beer?
No, but I like the smell.

16. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted?
Can't remember, but if so, we were both joking.

17. What is your favorite key chain on your keys?
My Giant discount tag? I don't have any decorative tags with my keys. I like to keep my keys simple.

18. What did you get for graduation?
Luggage.

19. What's in your pocket?
You really want to know? Kleenex. Needed plenty of those last night while re-watching "Remember the Titans".

20. Who introduced you to the person who tagged you for this meme? (I changed this question from the original.)
Esther of Catholic Mom in Hawaii.

21. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear?
Nope. I'm beyond that generation, I think.

22. What DVD is in your DVD player?
We don't keep DVDs in our DVD player.

23. What's something fun you did today?
Email a dear friend.

24. Who was the principal of your high school?
Don't remember the names of either but, as editor of the school newspaper, I got along with him but not the dean.

25. Has your house ever been TP'd?
Nope.

26.What do you think of when you hear the word "meow"?
Cat; what else? My daughter's cat?

27. What are you listening to right now?
My son commenting with me, as I do this.

28. Drinking?
Water. Aren't I good? Don't ask me later when I go out.

29. What is your favorite aisle at Wal-Mart?
The one with spaghetti, tuna, refried beans, etc.

30. When is your mother's birthday?
My mom's birthday was October 12, which used to be Columbus Day.

31. When is your birthday?
January 26.

32. What is your area code?
Too revealing.

33. Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now?
I'm supposed to remember this?

34. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror?
A green rosary to coordinate with my green car.

35. How many states in the US have you been to?
Can't remember at the moment, but that reminds me that I was going to post something about that before Christmas and forgot. Now I have something else to post soon.

36. What kind of milk do you drink?
Chocolate, made with 2% milk.

37. What are you going to do after this?
Mail something one of my kids forgot to take home at Christmas (yep, I'm kinda' slow these days).

38. Who was the last person you went shopping with?
Grocery shopping with my three sons who live at home.

39. What is your favorite fruit?
Strawberries fresh from the garden.

40. What about your favorite dessert?
Maybe cherry pie. Maybe with cherry cordial ice cream (which has chocolate in it).

41. What is something you need to go shopping for?
Clothes, with a gift card from Christmas. (See previous answer: I'm kinda' slow these days...or maybe busy is the word.)

42. Do you have the same name as one of your relatives?
Yes, a cousin.

43. What kind of car does one of your siblings drive?
Subaru.

44. Do you like pickles?
Yep. I eat everyone else's at hamburger places. (Most of my family members don't like them. Don't worry, if you like them, I wouldn't eat yours. :) ).

45. How about olives?
Like black. Don't eat green.

46. What is your favorite kind of gum?
Any kind that never enters my mouth. I don't care for gum at all. I used to use it to keep my ears from plugging when flying...but have learned to manage without it.

47. What is your favorite kind of juice?
Sparkling anything.

48. Do you have any tan lines?
Don't think so. Do I have any tan? :) Don't think so.

49. What hospital were you born in?
St. Joseph's.

50. What is your favorite TV show?
Murder She Wrote with Angela Lansbury.

I tag anyone who would like to join in!

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Printer Question

Do any of you, my dear readers, know what would cause the printer to print partially (leaving off a few words at the end of some sentences and the bottom half of some lines) when using black ink, but print just fine if I put what I want to print into blue ink? (Yep, I changed the black cartridge.)

Better than "Do you know what would cause it?" is the question, "Do you know a simple solution for the problem?" (But tell me I don't need a new printer, please.)

On the Merry-Go-Round

When I was a kid we had these playground merry-go-rounds. Children would get on and push with their feet to get it going and then jump the rest of the way on to ride with the momentum. If someone came along later, they would run around until they got enough speed to grab the railing and jump on.

I got off the merry-go-round for the holidays but someone has already gotten it moving. I'm running, reaching for that rail, trying to get back on.

And that is why I haven't posted for four days...and don't know how much I'll be posting in the near future. If you think of it, pray for me, hanging onto the rail, running, trying to get the momentum to jump...

Friday, January 04, 2008

Have You Entered the Book Contest?

Maureen Wittmann's great book give-away continues! Today I won a book! A Pocket Guide to the Mass by Michael Dubruiel. I'm so excited!

If I can win a book, maybe you can too! A different book is being given way each day.

Check it out here!

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

NEW Catholic Movie Reviews!

Here is a place to go to find out about movies! This is a blog that's just been started by a group of four Catholic women (two of whom I know from their personal blogs) in response to their concerns after a reviewer for the USCCB Office of Film and Broadcasting gave a positive review to the anti-Catholic, anti-religious The Golden Compass.

National Treasure, I am Legend, and Juno are among the first reviews these dedicated women have posted. They also offer a list of "Other Places for Good Reviews" in the sidebar of their blog.