Prayer Request

TheDad has headed up to "Refineryville" where my in-laws live. Tomorrow morning, early, he will take Pop to the hospital for an aortic valve replacement.

Everyone is nervous. This is a Big Deal. And recovery will be a Big Deal.

I'm holding down the fort here at home, and I'll be making and freezing some individual servings of healthy meals for him to bring up on subsequent trips. Today he took along 2 portions of Chicken Parmesan with pasta. This way, there will be something available for his mom and cousin when they get home from visiting Pop in the hospital.

During Pop's recovery, TheDad plans to spend a couple of nights a week with his parents so he can help with the heavy chores. I'm glad that he is able to do this for his parents. Little Brother will not be so understanding.

Please keep Pop in your prayers in the coming weeks--but especially tomorrow. And don't forget a spare prayer for the rest of us who worry about him!

Because the Least I Can Do Is Tell YOU About It

If this pharmacy were in my neighborhood, I'd shop there in a minute.

Mike Koelzer is a pharmacist who has chosen to stop selling birth-control pills in his family-owned pharmacy, because of the abortifacient qualities of these pills.

But check out this press release from American Life League on what this man has to put up with because of his choice on how to run his business!

EUCHARIST-DESECRATING MYERS LEADS ATTACKS AGAINST PRO-LIFE PHARMACIST
Washington, D.C. (18 September 2008) – P.Z. Myers, the infamous Minnesota biology professor who incited national outcry after desecrating the Eucharist and photographing the act for his blog, has now unleashed his venom on a new target - Mike Koelzer, a member of American Life League Associate group Pharmacists for Life International.

"Not content with desecrating Catholics' most sacred Sacrament, Myers is once again spewing hate and anger at anyone who would dare proclaim a belief in God or attempt to stop the murder of the preborn," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League.

Koelzer, owner of Kay Pharmacy in Grand Rapids, Michigan, stopped selling contraceptive products in 2002. He's been featured in The Washington Post and on ABC World News for his views on abortion-causing drugs.

Myers' latest screed of religious intolerance on his blog Pharyngula incited an all-out internet attack against Koelzer. Threats and hate mail inundated Koelzer's e-mail after he inadvertently sent Myers a speaking invitation.

"I would enjoy speaking at your church or your organization's conference or other event. I also would be honored to have you share my apostolate in your blog etc. To learn more about my apostolate, please see www.prolifepharmacy.com," Koelzer's invitation read.

An outraged Myers asked his blog readers to flood Koelzer's Web site with mail. They replied en masse with over 400 threats of profanity and hate-filled messages including:

"Burn the building to the ground. And have Mike Koelzer sterilized."

"Commit suicide."

"Mike Koelzer is being persecuted for trying to protect innocent human life," Brown said. "We encourage all American Life League supporters to log onto this site and lend your support to the efforts of this courageous man."

American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to natural death.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Pharyngula: He Doesn't Know Me Very Well (15 September 2008)

Pharmacists for Life International

Catholic News Agency: Pro-Life Pharmacy Owner Explains Hi No-Contraception Policy (15 September 2008)

The Washington Times: Professor Solicits Hosts to Desecrate (12 July 2008)

New to the Blogroll

New to my blogroll is More Moms for McCain.

From their sidebar:

**We want a future for our children that is full of goodness and hope.

**We want a tomorrow full of opportunity for them.

**We want a country that stresses both individualism and community--a place where people reach out in kindness to help, but also encourage one another in self-sufficiency.

**We want safety, security and a country with a CULTURE OF LIFE.

**We want freedom to worship our God without ridicule.

**We want minimal government intrusion and the LIBERTY to PURSUE HAPPINESS.

**We want to keep what we work so hard to earn.

**We want to be partners in rebuilding the America our forefathers envisioned.

We want JOHN MCCAIN for PRESIDENT.

This blog is packed with news and links and commentary. Add it to YOUR blogroll/RSS feed.

3-Ply TP: Not for Me

I don't quite fit the demographic, and I can't say that this is a product I'd buy.

Triple-ply toilet paper?

The article linked above says they're marketing this to over-45 women (I'm close, but not there YET) who view their bathroom as a "sanctuary for quality time."

I'm still teaching some people in this house that one doesn't barge in when the bathroom door is closed. My bathroom hasn't hit the level of "sanctuary" yet. And there's the small matter of that Army Guy standing guard over the sink (maybe I'll make a tiny little sign to hang on his rifle: USE SOAP! If I do, I WILL post a picture!)

Can you imagine with 3-ply TP would do to those low-flush toilets? Already they have to be flushed twice (or more), canceling out any "water savings" they claim to have.

I think their target market is not over-45 women, but plumbers who will be laughing all the way to the bank with all the unclogging work that will come their way after this stuff hits the store shelves.

Help! I'm Nag-Impaired!

Big Brother's high school uses this convenient online service that allows parents to spy on their kids' grades keep a check on their children's academic progress.

It's a nice idea, because a parent can check out test grades, homework completion, and participation.

It's a nice idea when the site works.

We're two weeks into the school year and I can't access any data on my son's progress for this year. According to the website, there have been no assignments or tests to date.

Today I contacted the school's tech support person and explained the problem, and I got this reply:

We apologize for the inconvenience; however, we are awaiting a necessary update which needs to be done by the Diocese in order for ParentConnect to work for this year. Please be patient while we work with the Diocese to get this done. Thank you.

Did the Diocese not realize that school started 2 weeks ago? Whose idea was it to wait until school started to make sure things were updated?

If the site doesn't do what it's designed to do, I have to assume that all homework is being done and all tests have been preceded by proper study. I need this site--it helps me nag!

Things Parents Say (when they live in my house): a retrospective

• Who left their gum at the Nativity scene?
• If you go around hitting people with your T-shirt, don't complain when it gets ripped.
• Pouring your glass of milk down the toilet does not constitute Drinking The Milk!
• You may not hang your robe from your ceiling!
• Little Brother, don't walk on chairs that have place mats on them!
• Do not dribble the basketball on your sister's head.
• You may not do damage to anyone else's eyebrows.
• You may not use silverware to clean your sneakers.
• Don't braid your earrings.
• Stop tickling your brother's soda cup!
• Candy corn is NOT a vegetable!
• HEY! Get this hockey stick off the organ!
• Paper dolls and Koosh balls don't mix.

Brought to you by the mom with the Paratrooper in the Candlesticks and the Army Guy guarding the bathroom sink.

Underground

That's where I'll be spending a good deal of time this week.

TheDad has determined that his at-home computer work requires a better place to concentrate than the Dining Room Table.

Not to mention that I keep kicking all his stuff out of there every time we want to eat. Which we do fairly regularly....

We've got a semi-finished basement with a bedroom/office space in the "finished" section. It's about a 12X12 space. Right now it is chock full of bins of clothing for Little Brother to grow into (one bin each for sizes 8 through 14), a whole bunch of Little Brother's old toys, lots of craft supplies that Middle Sister enjoys rummaging through, 2 bookcases of TheDad's computer books and the overflow of my literature books, and miscellaneous camping gear. Then there are the 2 defunct printers, the 1/2 case of printer paper and the paper shredder....this room is not an office. It's a dump!

Except for what I refer to as the "Technology Graveyard," there's no good reason I can't deal with most of what's down there. So I'll be busy cleaning and hauling and offering things on freecycle and throwing out and reorganizing and repurposing--and I hope that pretty soon I will have made a nice office space for TheDad.

I think the printer paper and the paper shredder can stay. Anything else is fair game.

The Stigmata of St. Francis

Father Daren at Servant and Steward has a beautiful post on the Stigmata of St. Francis, including a reading from his biographer, Thomas of Celano, and some art depicting the event.

If you're interested in learning more about Francis, read here.

And don't miss a beautiful prayer of St. Anthony!

Prayer Requests

On my heart today:

My father-in-law, who needs heart valve replacement surgery, and who is NOT going to like the recovery...he will not be able to go out each day and get his coffee and his paper and chat with the other retired guys and roam Home Depot...may he be restored to his full health so he can get back to his regular routine and return to building computers for his friends.

SFO Girl's daughter N, who should be released from the hospital today. I pray that a donor kidney will be found soon so that her time on dialysis will be short. I also keep her family, especially her sisters, in prayer at this time.

Barbara's dear friend Jill.

All those in the path of Hurricane Ike, including Milehimama and some members of Denise's family. Donna Marie Cooper-O'Boyle has a prayer for those in the hurricane's path.

Accomplishment

OK, it's not much. But I'm happy with it.

This morning I made a "Stuff-Mart" run to pick up some over-the-counter medicines, TheDad's "Chick Coffee" (this chick won't touch that stuff, but he loves it, so I graciously buy it for him, even though the checkout lady probably thinks I'm the one addicted to it...) and a new mop head.

I hate changing mop heads. Ewwwww.

Anyway, when I was rummaging around in the mops I found this really cool Libman Scrub-Brush-On-A-Stick. Let me be the first to say that this thing is a GENIUS idea. My kitchen floor (which is white--somebody smack me if I ever choose that color for a floor again) was bordering on the disgusting, so I knew that this scrubber was for me. Definitely worth $6.

So I took my new Scrub-Brush-On-A-Stick and a bucket of Lestoil and got to scrubbing. Then I took my old mop and another bucket of water so I could rinse as I go. I scrubbed and scrubbed. Scrubbing is a really good workout, I might add.

If Lestoil didn't smell so strong, it wouldn't work so good. (Can you sing that commercial jingle, too?) Well, it sure does smell; I'm glad the windows are open--but my floor is so clean. So shiny.

They are guaranteed to stay that way at least one more hour, until the school bus gets here. All bets are off after that.

So I think I have earned the opportunity to make myself a nice cup of coffee and put my feet up and read until that school bus arrives. And then I will greet everyone and force them to admire my nice shiny clean floor.

And then I won't let anyone in the kitchen, so no one can spill. Yeah, that'll work...

Stuff I Don't Do

Every mom has an unwritten list of stuff she doesn't "do" and I am no exception.

Danielle and Aimee have crossed over to the other side graciously written out their lists so every other mom will feel that she is not alone.

So...I will hereby demonstrate just how much of a Slacker Mom I really am.

I don't do window screens. I can't figure out how to get them out of the windows, which I admit I don't wash too frequently either.

I don't clean things that are higher than my head. I'm 5'2". A lot of things are higher than my head. I just chuck stuff up there and pretend it's invisible.

I don't do "outside." Inside the house is generally my domain.

I don't do insects. That's what TheDad is for; if he's not around, I can generally count on Adventure Boy!

I don't dust if I can at all help it. Lucky for me, Middle Sister likes to dust. When I was growing up, my sister had very bad asthma, and it seems like Mom was ALWAYS making me dust. I figure I've done enough dusting for one lifetime.

I don't vacuum behind furniture, except in the family room. If we ever move, I shudder to think of the size of the dust bunnies that must be living back there.

(I do iron, though. But not the kids' uniforms, once I discovered what they do with them in between the time I iron the clothes and the kids put them on.)

A Message to Obama

A HUGE "thank you" to Milehimama, who created this poster and has generously shared it.

In my house, we vote PRO-LIFE!

Common Sense

Via Colleen Hammond, I came across this column on personal responsiblity.

As Justice Casey Percell said, “It is not the responsibility of the government or the legal system to protect a citizen from himself.“ You made a poor choice, take your lumps and move on.

So true! Read the whole thing.

A Book Meme

How could I resist? I love books!

I was tagged by Esther for this meme. Obviously she knows that books are my weakness!

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

There were always books around when I was growing up. Mom has always been an avid reader, and she took us to the library often. We loved attending "Story Hour" even when the librarian read The Story of Ping week after week after week after week.

What are some books you read as a child?

When we were preschoolers, Dad worked for Putnam publishing and got a lot of "seconds" (books sewn into their binding upside-down, or otherwise defective but usable books.) Some of these became favorites of mine, including anything by Wanda Gag (I love her artwork to this day) and Andrew Henry's Meadow, which my parents actually hid so they wouldn't have to read it to me anymore. When I learned to read, I branched out into series like the Bobbsey Twins, the Little House series, the Betsy-Tacy books, the Tuckers, Cherry Ames and a few Nancy Drew, though I wasn't a big fan of hers. And I loved Beverly Cleary and Pearl S. Buck's children's books.


What is your favorite genre?

For fiction, I love novels (not short stories) that take place in a locale familiar to me. For nonfiction, I enjoy cookbooks and books that deal in some way with human behavior (such as books involving marketing).

Do you have a favorite novel?

Oh yes. Just anyone who visits my blog regularly....okay...A Tree Grows in Brookyn by Betty Smith.
(I didn't even have to change this from Esther's answer! Obviously we share the same great taste in books. I discovered this book when I was about 12 and reread it regularly.)

Where do you usually read?

Anywhere I can. I have a comfy spot on the couch right near my desk, with a good lamp and a table for my coffee cup. There are about 15 books stacked there right now (2 piles!) What more could I want?

When do you usually read?

Several times a day but usually after lunch and before I fall asleep.
(recycling Esther's answer once again!)

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

Yes, of course, doesn't any bookworm worth their salt ;-)
(Great minds think alike, Esther!)

Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?

Yes. I tend to devour fiction books; nonfiction books take me longer to read but I also don't tend to read them straight through. I might read part of them, put them down for days, weeks, months and then pick them up again and finish--or not. It takes a lot for me to abandon a novel even if I don't like it; I usually want to know how it turns out.

Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?

All of the above!

Do you keep most of the books you buy?

TheDad would say I keep way too many of the books I buy. But I can't help myself.

If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them?

The Little House books, Andrew Henry's Meadow, the Chronicles of Narnia, Wanda Gag's works, The Little House and Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel, McElligot's Pool by Dr. Seuss (another of my childhood favorites), and Beverly Cleary's works.

What are you reading now?

I'm "between books" at the moment but there are a few in my library bag waiting on me.

Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Yes, I do--in my PDA.

What’s next?

I haven't decided what to read next yet.

What books would you like to reread?

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Flannery O'Connor's works

Who are your favorite authors?

Betty Smith, Ann Tatlock, Flannery O'Connor, Marian Keyes, Charles Martin, Jon Hassler, Maeve Binchy, Suzanne Strempek Shea.

Tag: Barbara

Cast Away!

Middle Sister missed a few hours of school this morning so she could have her cast removed. She almost forgot to bring along her other shoe, since it's been 4 full weeks that she hasn't worn a left shoe!

Hooray--the doctor x-rayed her foot and was thrilled by how well it had healed.

He told her she could do anything she wanted, no restrictions.

This mom could have done with a few restrictions, since she is now plotting to find a way to try out for boys' football when she gets to high school. Good thing parental signatures are required on sports permission forms....

She has a two-tone cast because while we were on the cruise, she slipped on a wet sidewalk in the Bahamas and fell, putting a crack in the heel of the cast--of course, right by the spot where she had broken her foot. The ship's doctor added a layer to the bottom half of the cast, so she sort of had a "good-n-plenty" color theme going. The doctor today was impressed that they were able to make the repair on board ship, and I am thankful that it didn't seem to impede the healing.

This morning when she got dressed she put her jeans on. She can get those flare-leg jeans over the cast and you can't even see it. So when we were called into the doctor's office they looked at her and said, "Where's your cast? Aren't you wearing your cast?"

She flipped up the leg of her pants a little and then they could see it. They were amazed that she had gotten the jeans on over the cast.

"Everyone underestimates me," she complained.

Music at Church

Soutenus brings up an interesting point in her post about a praise song she heard in church this weekend.

I've been playing guitar in church choirs for 28 years now. With the exception of 9 of those years when I was the choir leader, I have not had the power or privilege to choose the music. And many, many times I think that what we sing is just junk...songs with "Jesus is my boyfriend" lyrics, songs with tunes that would be more appropriate in a Broadway musical, songs that have been so done to death that if I have to sing them one more time I might go nuts....and that includes some of the "new" stuff in the hymnals as much as some of the stuff that I've been playing these whole 28 years.

Anyway.

The choir that I sing with currently has been singing a particular version of the Lord's Prayer for about 25 years. Our pastor wants the choir to increase its repertoire, which is narrow. And he has pulled the plug on the sung Lord's Prayer.

People really like this song. No matter what else we sing at Mass, they will belt out the Lord's Prayer far above anything else. While we're singing that, I look around the church and more people are singing it than any other song or acclamation in the Mass.

So, OK. It's the same one, week after week after week after week after week.

But people don't mind that. They really love to sing it. We have had people tell us that they asked for their child to be baptized at this Mass because of that one song.

And I had one woman, whom I've known for years and who I've never known was prone to violence, grab me by the lapel of my jacket and demand to know why we were not singing the Lord's Prayer anymore.

I basically just told her that Father told us not to sing it anymore.

And I'm failing in obedience right now by complaining about it. But I will abide by his wishes for our choir and hope that this will help me grow, in the process.

It would have helped, though, if there were a little "from-the-pulpit" teaching on why there are some different things going on in church now--musically and otherwise.

He's On To Me

Big Brother just wandered over here asking me for a blank CD, which I handed over to him as I reminded him to say, "Thanks, Mom--you're awesome."

He went one better: "Thanks, Mom--you're awesome, and you could definitely beat my Friend Who Rules at Video Games in Guitar Hero."

Then he walked away saying, "That's like the equivalent of a verbal Milky Way."

Scary Gustav

Picture source: Weather Underground

I complained about Fay and how she ruined our vacation.

That was nothing compared to what Gustav has been up to, and what is yet to come in the Gulf states.

Big Brother and the Habitat for Humanity group at his school have plans to spend a week in Mississippi, rebuilding in the Katrina-hit areas.

There may be nothing left for them to build by the time Gustav is through.

Pray for the safety of all those in the path of this very strong, very scary storm.

UPDATE: Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle has a beautiful litany to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, if you're looking for a specific way to pray for those affected by the storm.

Roundup on the McCain/Palin Ticket

Some fascinating reading here:

From Sheila Wray Gregoire in Canada, Thoughts on Moms in Politics

The Kitchen Madonna links to a WaPo article that's worth reading, and shares a specific way to pray for Sarah Palin.

Margaret in Minnesota has a wonderful article on voting prolife.

Mary Ellen Barret has a piece in Catholic Exchange on how Palin is an example for our daughters.

I'll be adding to this as I find more. This is the first time I have been so interested in an election!

How Well Do YOU Know Your Husband?

The Regular Guy has this quiz. Like Jean, I figured I'd play along as a meme.

1. Sitting in front of the tv, what's on the screen?
Fox News, the Weather Channel, or Home Improvement reruns (if he's watching with Middle Sister)

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
bleu cheese, oil and vinegar or MAYBE the house vinaigrette, but that last one is a reach

3. What's one food he doesn't like?
Tuna casserole

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order?
He doesn't drink, so he will have an iced tea or root beer. And don't forget the hot wings!

5. Where did he go to high school?
The public high school in his hometown.

6. What size shoe does he wear?
11 wide

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
He's not a collector

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Italian hoagie

9. What would this person eat every day if he could?
See #8; also chicken parmesan and rib-eye steak

10. What is his favorite cereal?
Cream of wheat with cheese on it

11. What would he never wear?
"low" socks, despite everyone else's best efforts

12. What is his favorite sports team?
He only follows sports when a local team makes the playoffs

13. Who will he vote for?
McCain/Palin

14. Who is his best friend?
me

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do?
Any "type A" behavior qualifies

16. How many states has he lived in?
2

17. What is his heritage?
Polish/Lithuanian

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?
Yellow cake with vanilla frosting OR strawberry shortcake

19. Did he play sports in high school?
Cross-country and tennis

20. What could he spend hours doing?
Programming computers, following political news, watching the Weather Channel

Quiet Boys

Little Brother and Adventure Boy are busy playing a game of Pokemon Monopoly (we inherited this game from Boy Next Door).

They don't have a good idea of the rules of the game, and Little Brother is choosing to ignore the instruction booklet.

He's carefully piling money according to color while Adventure Boy painstakingly stacks the little clear blue square thingies that are this game's version of "houses and hotels" but which resemble Legos more than edifices.

Light-sabres are standing by in case there is any dispute about the game, and Adventure Boy even arrived here dressed in is Obi-Wan Kenobi costume. Obviously he's ready for anything.

I've never heard these two play so quietly without being up to something. Guess I'd better enjoy it!

An Impressive Choice

I leave most of the politics around this household to TheDad, preferring to stick to my own pursuits (reading, cooking, homemaking, and matters Franciscan). But I have to say I am very excited about John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin, Alaska's governor, as his running mate.

You can learn more about Palin from various links at this site. A little to whet your appetite: She's a conservative, pro-life Republican; mother of 5; supportive of small business, our military, and competition in health care. I'm very impressed by her position paper on education, especially the part where she states that early childhood education efforts should be focused on the children who need them most, and that parents are the child's first teachers. She also supports the rights of home schoolers.

McCain/Palin in '08!

Overheard at My House

"My ticklish spots are my armpits and...oh wait, I'm not going to tell you my new one."

For Better or For Worse

Is anyone else following the comic strip "For Better or For Worse?"

I have been reading this comic for so long that the characters feel like a part of the family.

Does anyone else have a bad feeling about what's going on with Grandpa?

We might want to reconsider

...allowing Little Brother to be the Official Leader of Grace Before Meals.

Last night was we all joined hands around the dinner table, he began:

"Ready, set, go!"

Toast on the Stairs

One of the things my kids learned on the cruise was that they do not have to clean up after themselves.

Little Brother was shocked, one morning, to find a plate with toast crusts on one of the staircases. He told me that he would never do anything like that. (Now, that is definitely crossing the line, people. Find a table to put your stuff down!)

Since returning home they seem to have applied the lesson of Someone Else Cleans Up All Messes to our home.

Wrong, bunny breath!

I came downstairs this morning to find a bowl with some lettuce and salad dressing on Little Brother's "art table" in the family room, and an awful lot of stuff all over the place in there: light sabres, Wii games and controllers, pillows, matchbox cars, marbles and batteries (dead or alive? Someone else gets to test them to find out).

They're all lucky I didn't get them out of bed right then and there to pick up this mess.

In the living room I found my paint pens on the coffee table. Middle Sister had borrowed them to embellish her notebooks. I told her that when she was done, she should leave them on my desk. It's 3 feet from the coffee table, by the way...

The remote for the family-room TV was in the kitchen.

There are going to be some busy children in my house today. I imagine there's going to be some yelling, and since it's nice weather, my windows are open.

So I apologize in advance to my neighbors, and even to SFO Girl and Ellen, for what you may hear today. But I've had enough of the toast on the stairs.

TheDad's Big Day

Yesterday was TheDad's birthday, and his last day off before returning to work.

He made the most of the day, doing such exciting things as dropping off his car to get the timing belt replaced, arranging for Cub Scout recruitment flyers, and holding a Cub Scout planning meeting.

But we celebrated in style with dinner at his favorite restaurant, Outback Steakhouse, and homemade cupcakes for dessert.

After dinner we picked up his car, and then he took Little Brother over to the high school where Big Brother and Middle Sister were helping out at a fund-raiser car wash. (They're raising money to send 20 kids to Mississippi for a week to help with Habitat for Humanity's hurricane-relief effort. Big Brother is going.)

I got back home first and found something near the front door--a little package of Reese's Scoops. I thought maybe one of the Big Kids had dropped it on their way out, but I wasn't sure, so I moved it where no one would step on it.

A few minutes later Adventure Boy appeared at the door. He told me that he had come over with a present for TheDad, and handed me the package of candy. Just then, TheDad pulled into the driveway, and I told Adventure Boy that he could give his present to TheDad himself.

I have the feeling that this candy was Adventure Boy's own treat, that he gave to TheDad after he found out earlier in the day that it was his birthday.

So even though TheDad didn't win the lottery last night, I am sure he knows he received a much more valuable prize.

Happy Birthday!

Things I Never Thought I'd Have to Say

"Magnetix are for building, not for bullets."

A Bad Dream

Every parent has nightmares about something bad happening to one of the kids.

While on our trip, I had a nightmare--about Adventure Boy. And it's been dogging me all week.

I guess he is more "mine" than I'd thought.

I hope everything is OK for the little guy.

Terra Firma

It has been an interesting week.

We decided to go on a short cruise to the Bahamas. I said I would only go if there were no storms out there at sea.

When we booked the cruise there was nothing out there. The next day, Fay blew up out of nowhere.

Fay followed us around all week and she is still sticking with us. We are back on land although the ship had to dock at a different port and we were bused back to our cars. The bus ride was scary.

We had reservations at a hotel near our friends in Ormond Beach, but when we got there the hotel was locked up tight. The lights were off and nobody was home. After we visited our friends we headed north to Palm Coast where we found a place to stay.

It's going to be a long, wet drive north.

TO COME: Middle Sister gets a 2-tone cast, and a rant on shipboard child care. PLUS: thoughts on wastefulness inspired by the cruise buffet.

Prayers are Working!!

Prayers are working! Here is the latest from SFO Girl:

TODAY..she feels like a new girl and wants to go home. They are puzzled
and her creatinine came down from 10 to 7 ...an unexpected trend. Still high...

For whatever reason...DIVINE? There is no place on the schedule open to do an
IR port...until Tuesday....Waiting for the nephrology docs to do rounds and see
if the plan is the same or another wait and see.Or....it will go ahead as planned.
God is in charge

She woke this morning like a new girl...yesterday she appears as if she were
shot down and in misery until 4 AM

Her BP's today lower than the last 2 months....Off the IV BP meds.

God be Praised for all the miracles great and small...even if one is just feeling
human this morning. She is STARVING and wants to get on the move...complete
turnabout....Waiting for new labs and Neph docs...

Appreciating the prayers ...may they rise to the heavens!

More Update on N: Continued Prayer Request

N's family has received the news they did not want to hear. Her dad sent an email to family and friends:

Yesterday she was admitted to the hospital with acute kidney failure; her doctors feel that her kidney of two years has reached the end of its serviceable life and has become a liability.

Today she will receive a hemodialysis port - she will have hemodialysis for the immediate future. She will have surgery to remove her transplanted kidney in the days to come.

Needless to say her spirits (and her family's) are very low at this time as she embraces this reality.

You know what to do.

The Wrong Tool for the Job

Adventure Boy showed up here this afternoon toting one of these:



I've never seen one of these toys in action before and was rather amazed that this toy vacuum actually WORKS!

I had just finished vacuuming the living room, dining room and stairs with my vacuum

and here comes Adventure Boy to show me that his vacuum picked up a whole bunch of stuff that mine had missed!

Apparently I could have saved us a whole bunch of money if I'd gone for the toy Dirt Devil. BONUS: it's so small that only a child can use it. What genius invented this toy?

Adventure Boy has been vacuuming in here for more than an hour this afternoon (I never asked him to). I felt that some appreciation was in order so I invited him to stay for spaghetti.

Prayer Request!

I just received an email from my friend SFO Girl--her daughter N is in a health crisis right now. Having received a kidney transplant nearly 3 years ago, N has to be very careful about her health. They are on their way to the hospital. Please keep N and the whole family in prayers!

UPDATE 2:30 PM: I just spoke to SFO Girl. N has been placed in the ICU. She appreciates all the prayers--please continue them.

Time for Flexibility

The S--z Family Vacation is almost upon us.

This is not a time to see me at my best. If you want to see me at my worst, though, just hang around here this week (as we plan) and next week (as we travel). I know that we are blessed in being able to take a family vacation.

The past couple of summers have not been too bad. We've spent 4 vacations running at the New Jersey Shore and it was about as painless as it gets. Yes, I had to cook and clean the house. It was just like home, but with more sand. But I knew my way around town and we had our own sheets and towels, and the familiarity was comfortable.

We won't be going to the beach this year. With Middle Sister's broken foot, the Jersey Shore is out of the question. That means there will be no familiarity, no comfort.

TheDad is talking about needing a GPS. The kids are putting in their two cents regarding travel plans, destinations and who gets the coveted Way Back Seat in the van (probably Middle Sister, who needs to put her foot up!) We have no reservations, no itinerary, no plan, no tickets.

So it is time for me to officially Flip Out as I consider what must be done this week!

That Book I Just Read & Reviewed

Remember that book I just read and reviewed--A Civilization of Love by Carl Anderson?

Mr. Anderson really puts his money where his mouth is.

This morning over at Portiuncula (one of my favorite blogs on a Franciscan theme) there's an article called "Supreme Knight of Columbus Calls for a Long Overdue Change on Abortion."

One point made in this article:

"It is time that Catholics shine a bright line of separation between themselves and all those politicians of every political party who defend the abortion regime of Roe vs. Wade."

Don't stop here. Read the whole thing.

And the #1 Reason Why...

...you should not go into my refrigerator and just blindly grab a jug and pour yourself a beverage.




These two containers look and feel way too similar.

Ooops.

A Book Well Worth Your Time

I've been spending some time poring over a wonderful book, A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World by Carl Anderson.

Anderson is Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus and he shares plenty of wisdom in this book. I was dog-earing pages all over the place; the chapter on "The Domestic Church" was fabulous. Anderson asserts, "the family is--and will be--the chief witness to the active power of the love of God in the world" (p. 82). Think about that and see how it changes the way you view family life, and your goals for your family.

Each chapter ends with "suggestions for contemplation and action." Those are excellent--don't skip them!

While the book is short, only 173 pages, it is meaty. It's not a fast read. This is a book to be savored in small bits, reflecting over them and considering how to apply the ideas in your own life. I appreciate that Anderson does not talk down to his audience but instead has written a challenging book, realistic but not simplistic.

Consider this:

"ultimately the power of Catholics to transform America into a culture of life and a civilization of love will lie in the power of their example more than in the power of the ballot box, even though the ballot box is important. The early Christians did not take over the Roman Empire by electoral choice: there were no elections to speak of in those days. Rather they did so by their example, by holding out the possibility of a life that was higher, more beautiful, and above all more authentic than the vulgarity, violence and greed of late antiquity. Christians today have the same opportunity to offer another way to a world that is also surfeited with these same problems" (p. 171)

I recommend this book for your personal library as well as for parish libraries.

This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on A Civilization of Love.

Things Big Brothers Do

...to torture Little Brothers and Adventure Boys.

They hide someplace, and call the house with their cell phones, and send the little boys on a wild goose chase to find him.

Only 4 weeks until school starts, and then Big Brother will be too busy for such pursuits.

The boys will be sad then. So I guess I'd better let them enjoy it now.

My Inner Seventh-Grade Boy

Little Brother and Adventure Boy are sitting behind me playing with the domino set. First they were building lines to knock over, but then Adventure Boy started turning the dominoes into people.

He held up the double-blank domino, and said, "Look! I have no face!"

Big Brother and I agreed that Adventure Boy has an admirably sick sense of humor.

Of course, Big Brother and I share that same sense of humor. Middle Sister, however, does not--at least not when it comes to animals. Yesterday on the way to her orthopedic appointment, we passed a dead raccoon by the side of the road.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh," she moaned. I looked back in my mirror to see what had caught her attention.

"He should have looked both ways," I observed.

Solid as a Rock

Middle Sister is hobbling around here sporting a hot pink cast up to her knee. The color here doesn't do it justice. It is neon-bright. It was pretty cool to watch the P.A. build the cast around her leg. I was amazed at how quickly it hardened!

There will be no more swimming for her this summer. The cast will come off on the second day of school (so she will get to show it off to her classmates before it's removed).

With the cast, at least, she is in less pain. The doctor said it's not a "career ending injury" which is a good thing. And she's in-between sports season, for once. The loss of swimming, however, was a big blow to her.

Accident Prone

Shortly I will be off to the doctor's with Middle Sister, who slammed her foot on a concrete shelf in our family room late last night. (I always knew someone was going to get badly hurt on that thing!)

I am thankful that Big Brother is home so that he can watch Little Brother; that Middle Sister is already proficient on crutches (she's way too big for me to carry); that the doctor's office was able to get her in early; and that there is plenty of frozen pizza (not to mention chicken nuggets) so Big Brother can make lunch.

She's hurting. Prayers would be appreciated :)

LUNCHTIME UPDATE: After a doctor visit, an X-ray and a long wait we were sent home to call our doctor back. They gave us the number of an orthopedist--it's a possible fracture of the heel. But the orthopedist's office is on lunch break so I am impatiently waiting until 1:00 (don't get me started).

Meanwhile, Middle Sister commented, "It doesn't look like I'm gonna get my trampoline anytime soon."

MORE UPDATE: We have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to see the orthopedist. So Middle Sister is enjoying a chore-free afternoon with her foot up.