I Love Talking to Rudy Giuliani's Campaigners

I will admit to being a little gleeful when I talk to Rudy Giuliani's campaign crew, who seem to call my house weekly or even more often than that.

They want me and TheDad to send them a sizeable campaign contribution and to pledge to vote for Giuliani in the November election.

Not gonna happen.

As I just informed the campaign worker who called my home just now, I will never vote for Giuliani or any other candidate from any party who supports abortion on demand.

"Well, as you may know, ma'am, Mr. Giuliani supports reasonable restrictions on abortion," I was told.

Michael Gershon's op-ed piece in the Washington Post shows that this assertion by Giuliani's campaign staff is untrue.

Giuliani is not only pro-choice. He has supported embryonic stem cell research and public funding for abortion. He supports the death penalty. He supports "waterboarding" of terror suspects and seems convinced that the conduct of the war on terrorism has been too constrained. Individually, these issues are debatable. Taken together, they are the exact opposite of Catholic teaching, which calls for a "consistent ethic of life" rather than its consistent devaluation.

What Giuliani apparently considers "reasonable," I consider "unconscionable."

Putting 2 and 2 Together

...and coming up with an answer that's no good.

This afternoon I was reading the online bulletin for the parish where our 2 younger kids attend school.

Here's the "letter from the pastor" for this week:

Dear Friends in Christ,
It is mind boggling to think that Jesus came on earth not to establish peace, but division. Were not the angels at Bethlehem crying for peace when Jesus was born that Christmas morning? Was not peace the prayer of Jesus before he ascended to the Father?
There can never be peace if there is division among us. To attain peace and unity, Jesus is calling for a new kind of familiar relationship. It is no longer a relationship based on family ties, but on faith communities and prayer circles. Thus, because we are all Christians under one fold and one Church, everyone becomes a brother and a sister to us.
This can only happen if we follow what Jesus is telling us. Only if we challenge ourselves to see Jesus in others. Only if we treat others just like the way Jesus is treating us.
Incidentally, I would like to inform you that in accordance with Diocesan guidelines, we have appointed a committee to search for a new Principal for our school....

Right next to that letter was a little blurb about this weekend's Second Reading:

In today’s second reading, St. Paul encourages us not to grow weary or lose heart, but to persevere in following Jesus. Our willingness to give of ourselves, even in the face of conflict and division, is one way to measure our discipleship.

On a local news website I read that our Principal has resigned due to "health reasons."

I can't help but think that there's more to it than that, and that our school is under a spiritual attack. Please pray for all involved, and for the children and staff members who start school in three weeks.

Packing List

I don't know if it's just me, but when I am getting us all ready to go on vacation (for the fourth summer in a row, a week in a house down the shore) I always make sure to pack my planner, a notebook or clipboard with paper, and at least one time-management/household management/motivational book.

I know I can count on at least one night of insomnia out of the seven we'll be there. Plus I tend to wake up earlier than most family members, so I get a good amount of quiet time for thinking and planning. Little Brother's the other early riser, but I can usually convince him that it would be fun to go back to sleep with Daddy, and buy myself a few extra quiet minutes.

It's almost like a time for making New Year's Resolutions. I write, make charts, and compose lists.

I've come to look forward to this aspect of our vacation. This year I'm reading It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh. It's easy to read about decluttering when I'm not surrounded by all our clutter.

From the front porch of the house we're renting, I can see the ocean. What a peaceful place to sit and plan! We'll be there in a week--I can't wait!

Adulthood is Overrated

According to Middle Sister, at least.

TheDad has been working hard all day on a programming project. Middle Sister doesn't understand why, since he's sitting at the dining room table, she can't just come in and chat with him about anything that's on her mind. This is partly because when TheDad is programming, a bomb could go off in the next room and he'd never notice. Low distractability is a good quality in a programmer, but it frustrates the kids.

So as she wanders through the room, she complains to TheDad that he has been working since 8:30 this morning, and asks when he'll be done. He wants to finish, and explains that to her. It might take several more hours. "This is my life," he concludes.

"Then you have a boring life," she responded.

Candyland: Little Brother Flies Solo

Little Brother is sitting here playing Candyland all by himself. Of course, I'm getting a play-by-play.

"Mom, guess what! I'm red. I'm yellow. And I'm losing."

Just a Feeling: Prayers are Needed

This morning before 7:00, our doorbell rang. Of course I thought the worst, and went scrambling for my robe and my glasses to go answer the door.

It was Adventure Boy, in a filthy T-shirt, sandals on the wrong feet, carrying a large wrestler toy and an even larger "Brother Bear" and wearing a safari hat and binoculars.

Obviously he was ready for just about anything that early in the morning!

However, we were not ready for anything at that hour. In fact, no one else was awake. I told him that it was too early to play and that he had to go back home. Then after I closed the door I thought maybe I should follow him and make sure he went home. So I found some shoes and headed back out the front door, only to find him coming down the path from the back of the house--he had tried to visit our backyard neighbors when I told him it was too early!

I escorted him down the driveway and began walking down the street with him, and then saw his grandmother standing in front of the house.

Very slowly, Adventure Boy walked home.

St. John Bosco, pray for him and for all the Adventure Boys of the world. And while you're praying, pray for me and all the neighbors of Adventure Boys. We need to know what to do.

Scary

That's the word for the inside of my refrigerator today.

I finally traced the disgusting smell to the bag of fresh (well, not anymore) green beans. Guess there were some bad ones in there.

In the interest of making the whole thing smell a LOT better than it did, I emptied everything out. I got rid of a few things I could no longer identify. I wiped all the shelves and the yick off the bottom. Yick? It's an industry term. 409 was my best friend today, that's for sure.

Feeling ruthless, I pitched about 4 half-containers of icing, all sorts of outdated stuff that got shoved to the back and forgotten, and the contents of 5 containers. Then I rushed the trash bag past the horrified children who were holding their noses, and out the back door. It's trash day tomorrow (how smart of me to clean the fridge today!)

Boy, there's a lot of room in there now. And it's organized! All the salad dressing is together in a basket; my 3 "frequent flier ingredients" are right on the top shelf of the door (bread machine yeast, big jar of garlic, and lemon juice); all the jelly is together and the ice-cream toppings are gathered in one spot, too.

I freely admit to dreading this chore, but it really only took me less than an hour to do, and it's one of those jobs where you can really admire the results.

I wonder how long it will take to get it to its former rummaged, messy state? With 5 eaters in the house, I give it a week.

What We Heard

Today, on the Feast of the Assumption.

Our priest's homily was a reflection on the first line of the Magnificat: "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord."

First he reminded us that the month of August is full of celebrations of spiritual giants. He told the story of Edith Stein (St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross) whose feast we observe August 9, and referenced the meaning the Magnificat held in the life of this saint.

Next, Father discussed the work of Kathleen Sullivan in abstinence education for teenagers. He observed that God showed His own reverence for the human body by assuming Mary's earthly body into Heaven upon her death, and that it is our duty to also have reverence for the human body.

Finally, Father told the story of a young person approaching a wiser, older person and asking what he should do with his life. The advisor asked the young person: "What is it that you do that makes your being proclaim the greatness of the Lord, that makes you feel fully alive? THAT is what you should do with your life."

If you'd like to hear my favorite arrangement of my favorite Gospel Canticle, visit this site and click on "Magnificat." The composer is a Franciscan Friar from Holy Name Province. I learned this song back in high school when another Friar introduced Father Tamburello's compositions to our choir. A few years ago I contacted Father to request permission to use his "Magnificat" at our Secular Franciscan meetings as part of Evening Prayer. He generously gave the permission and mailed me the sheet music to the song. It is a beautiful, simple arrangement of the Gospel canticle--but nothing elaborate is needed with lyrics like these. Enjoy it!

Image Credit: Dan Paulos

Planner Contest!

Lorri is having a contest at The Mac & Cheese Chronicles! There are 2 prizes--2 different planners. Check it out! I'm such a calendar geek, I had to enter this contest.

One Came Back

In the spirit of thankfulness for prayers answered, visit a new group blog that Christine M. has started! It's called "One Came Back" in honor of the one leper out of ten who returned to thank Jesus after being cured of his disease.

If you have a prayer request or thanks to offer for prayers answered, visit "One Came Back!"

H/T to Esther for the Scripture stamp! "I am the handmaid of the Lord." May we all have the gratitude of the one leper and the attitude of the Blessed Mother.

Things to be Thankful For

Today is the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Esther and Jean have done a wonderful job of discussing this fascinating modern saint.

One of my grandmothers had a special devotion to St. Maximilian Kolbe. In fact, I first heard of him from her. She had a nickname for everyone, it seemed--and she called him "Uncle Max."

Today I am thankful for St. Maximilian, for his example of perseverance and unselfishness, and his urging that through imitating the love of Mary, we can come to a deeper love of God. Part of that love is recognizing that God has given us many gifts, and being thankful for them.

Today I am thankful that we are all home again, all together. This has been a weird weekend. My parents took Middle Sister and Little Brother to their house on Saturday so TheDad and I could attend a wedding on Sunday. Big Brother stayed home alone. Yesterday he and I drove "up north" to pick the kids up. When we got home, TheDad was waiting for us. It just feels good to be all together again.

Today I am thankful for TheDad's easy attitude that he displayed Sunday when I realized that I had the Tiniest Black Purse on Earth and that it wouldn't fit my bare essentials: wallet, phone, keys, lipstick and asthma inhaler. "I have to run to Target," I informed him as I zipped out the door. When I came home and said, "I'm back," he called out, "It looks great" without even turning around to SEE the new purse.

Today I am thankful for kids who make me laugh. Last night in the car we had a lot of fun. Out of the clear blue sky we got announcements like, "I want a kazoo." (that was Big Brother)

Today I am thankful for sunshine, the sound of birds and cicadas, clotheslines, and the BOGO sale at Payless. And for all the other gifts, big and small, that God has given today.

What Author's Fiction Am I?

Which Author's Fiction are You?

Flannery O'Connor wrote your book. Not much escapes your notice.
Take this quiz!








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Go figure. I wrote my college senior thesis on Flannery O'Connor. Maybe I should get those books out and savor a re-read!
H/T to Esther, who is also Flannery O'Connor.

This was fun--and kind of true

Your Birthdate: July 28

You have a Type A personality so big it makes other Type A's shrink away in shame. You never shy away from adversity - and you love to tackle impossible problems. Failure is not an option for you, and more than a few people are put off by your ego. You tend to be controlling, and you hate leaving anything up to chance. Your strength: Your bold approach to life Your weakness: You don't accept help Your power color: Bronze Your power symbol: Pyramid Your power month: October

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Humility

Frater has a not-to-be-missed post about Incarnation and Resurrection: We are a Christmas People. He backs up his theory with quotes and prayers from St. Clare of Assisi, whose feast we celebrate today.

And he's right. We are a Christmas people. And that has nothing to do with buying presents.

I think it is a particularly Franciscan way of thinking. Yes, Easter is essential to our faith. You can't get to Easter without going through Good Friday. But you also can't get to Easter without Christmas. Without the Incarnation, there could be no Resurrection. Think about the foreshadowing that Simeon provided to the Blessed Mother at the Presentation of the Lord (Luke 2: 34-35). Sister Jane Kopas, OSF writes:

Thanks to Francis, human emotion and events in the life of Jesus took center stage. It was he who originated the idea of the Christmas crèche in the little town of Greccio. The human Jesus was so real to him that he wished to celebrate his humanity. The reality of the poor Jesus in the birth scene has touched the minds and hearts of his contemporaries and people for centuries since then. The deepest mirroring of the life of Jesus came late in his life....Two years before he died, his identification with the suffering of Jesus manifested itself physically. While he was caught up in prayer in a mountain retreat, he had a vision of a six-winged seraph that penetrated his very being and left him with the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ, in his feet, hands, and side. For the rest of his life he tried to hide these marks so as not to draw attention to himself.

So even in two of Francis' more famous moments--the Greccio, and the Stigmata, he highlights the birth and death of Jesus.

Ultimately it is all about humility. And that's also a particularly Franciscan thing. You don't get much more humble than those early Friars and Sisters who gave up everything, kept nothing, in order to gain the treasure of Heaven. And you don't get any more humble than Jesus, who was born in a stable and slept in a manger--and who grew up to lay down His very life as a sacrifice to His Father for OUR sins. From beginning to end, Jesus modeled the kind of humility that Franciscans strive to imitate.

Humility is countercultural. In our world, it is considered a bad thing to be humble, to put aside one's own wants and even needs for the sake of someone (or Someone) else. Humility just doesn't go along with the "I'm worth it" and "I deserve it" attitude that is encouraged today. Humility is hard. We want what we want, when we want it. But humility requires sacrifice.

Ultimately, the major feasts of our Church all celebrate humility, and the willingness to lay aside one's own wants, needs and desires for the sake of something even greater. Jesus did it. The Blessed Mother did it. All the saints did it. Can we?

This, that, and the other thing

First of all, I'd appreciate your prayers as this afternoon I'll be having a medical test done. Nothing horrible, scary, icky or invasive, fortunately! Thanks....

And since a few of you have asked for a follow-up on the prayers for TheDad, things at his office seem to have settled down. He keeps work stuff pretty close to the vest, as he tries to leave it behind when he leaves the office, and also because (I think) he tells me things on a Need-to-Panic Basis. I have WCSS, you see....But anyway, he said that he won the battle with the vice-president, and he's still employed.

My parents will be arriving sometime today. Mom will stay until Monday or so, when I take her back home. Dad will leave tomorrow. Mom's going to watch the kids (make sure they don't kill each other or burn down the house) while TheDad and I attend a wedding Sunday evening. A sunset wedding. On a New Jersey beach (faces east). At 6 PM (sunset at this time of year in this part of the country is more like 8 PM). But hey--it's a beach wedding, so I don't have to wear pantyhose! I expect to spend the next couple of days arguing with my mother about why she should be sleeping in a bed and let one of the kids have the couch, and trying to figure out if I have anything in the house that she will eat. I did remember to stock up on Nilla Wafers, Ovaltine, and Good Guy Milk (my dad's term for 1% milk).

I thought I'd toss some links your way, since I've been seeing some Really Good Stuff out there!

Visit Debbie (AKA ukok) for her inspirational scripture/photo series.

Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle is having a contest! The prize is a copy of her book, The Heart of Motherhood. I own this book and am reading it now--definitely recommended.

The Catholic Dads have been busy lately. Go see what they've been up to. Lots of good food for thought.

Micki posts a different Holy Card from her collection every day.

The pastor at my younger kids' school has a blog. Sometimes it's in English, sometimes Tagalog. The English entries are well worth your time!

Enjoy!

Crockpot Festival!

Barbara is hosting a Crockpot Festival at her cooking blog!

Normally I save this kind of message for my own cooking blog, but I figured that someone else might be in the same position I'm in right now. I just got Big Brother's school calendar in the mail today, and I know the other kids' calendar will soon follow. Then it will be the cross-country meet schedule, and basketball season, and, well, you know the drill! I'm going to need all the great ideas for slow-cooked meals I can find--and all of these are family-tested.

So despite the fact that I haven't even finished my August menu plan, I'm using this excuse to think ahead and browse among the offerings in the Crockpot Festival. Check it out!

Judging a Food by its Wrapper

Danielle gave me the heads-up to this article:
Food Tastes Better with McDonalds Logo, Kids Say

As Big Brother would say, "Thank you, Captain Obvious!"

Our tax dollars paid for this study since it was funded by the Centers for Disease Control, when any parent or teacher or anyone who has spent time with small children could have told them what they'd find. Hear that, Centers for Disease Control? I could have told you this for FREE! (It really toasts my marshmallows when I see how my money is wasted!)

We're visual people. We're very vulnerable to visual cues, which include brand messages but are certainly not limited to them. Food marketers know it, and that's why they choose certain colors for packaging, among other strategies they employ to entice customers to buy more of their products.

As a parent, I have endured the quirks of small (and even not-so-small) children who insist that their ice water tastes better in the green cup, or the Philadelphia Eagles cup, or the Peter Rabbit "coffee cup." Preferences can change daily or hang on for years! I have weathered the tantrums of the child who wanted the pink sippy cup, not the purple one. I've got a teenager who thinks that pasta shells are better than ziti, but being the bottomless pit he is, he'll happily eat whichever form of pasta I serve (the ingredients are identical, after all).

We've all got our preferences. TheDad likes his flavored instant coffee (and after all my efforts to teach him that real coffee is SO much better). I only like "generic" Honeycomb. No two family members in this house like the same kind of soda best. It's what makes us all unique.

One night we took the kids, and a friend of Big Brother, to the local Chinese buffet. Our visiting teenager returned to the table with his plate heaped high, a few kinds of food running into the others. I like to sample things at the buffet, so I arranged my plate with rice in the middle and a few different entrees all around. "Wow, your plate looks so much better than mine," he commented--even though we had pretty much the same food.

Presentation is everything. It's why adults buy pretty dishes, trays and tablecloths. It's why the Zoopals paper plates are so popular. I like them because of those little divided sections, great for some grapes or crackers, but you know that kids are going to fight over who gets the frog and who gets the fish.

What really disturbed me about the study was the number of small children in this survey who apparently eat McDonalds food more than once per week, and the number of them who had TVs in their rooms.

Let's stop blaming McDonalds for capitalizing on human nature and put the blame where it belongs--on the parents who indulge their children in this manner. Frequent fast-food consumption is not good for anyone. And no little kid needs a TV in his room! Where does the "product familiarity" mentioned in the article come from? Thin air? I don't think so. These parents need to grow a spine and say "no" to Happy Meals once in a while.

I'll stick to making sure the green cup is clean so Little Brother can have his ice water in his favorite cup. With four ice cubes, please.

Compromising My Mental Health

Or what's left of it!

My brother- and sister-in-law gave me some puzzles for my birthday.

Both of them are rated "extreme" on a scale of "beginner" to "ultra extreme."


This one is mostly coffee beans. The extreme difficulty here will only be enhanced by the fact that I'm assembling it on a brown coffee table. I'm still sorting out the "edge" pieces.


And I'll have to buy some bigger furniture before I can make this one. At the very least, we'll have to drag in a sheet of plywood to put this puzzle together, as it's 39 by 27! It's so big it comes with a poster to help you figure out how it should look.

Anyone up for a puzzle party? I hate to suffer alone. But I'm powerless over the lure of the jigsaw.

Cold Front

For the ninety-gazillionth time this summer I had to remind Little Brother not to stand around with the door wide open: "Close the door, please! You're letting out all the cold!"

"But the fan will keep going around and around and making more cold!"

"Yes it will, but we shouldn't waste the cold by putting it outside."

"But if we did, then it would SNOW!"

Required Reading

If you have any daughters, you should read this book!

Girls Gone Mild by Wendy Shalit is an honest and eye-opening discussion about the challenges our daughters face in a world where toys, music, the media, and fashion discourage them from modest and chaste behavior and dress. I'm right there with her on the "Bratz" issue, and that was only the introduction! It's encouraging to know that there are girls out there who aren't interested in buying into the values being pushed on them. I hope my daughter will be strong enough to be one of them, and I certainly want to encourage that.

I'm not done reading the book yet, so you may hear more from me as I get deeper into it. Meanwhile, check out what Danielle and Denise have said about this book.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way to recommend this book here. I purchased the book myself and am glad I did. I'll also be recommending that my public library purchase this book.