2 Homilies, and Mother Teresa

Today at Mass our pastor spoke of (among other topics) Blessed Mother Teresa and her "dark night of the soul." He related it to the part in today's Gospel where Jesus says "If you wish to follow me, take up your cross...." Father H said that the spiritual barrenness that Mother Teresa experienced through much of her life was her cross, her burden. Her example to us is that she bore her burden patiently and without complaining. She took up her cross and did not let it deter her from following Christ through her life of service. He reminded us that all of us have a cross, a burden, to bear; and that we are called to do so with grace and reliance on God.

Today's Gospel also made Father Daren at Servant and Steward think about Mother Teresa's example to us--but his homily discusses how she put aside all things--family, possessions, life--to follow Jesus.

Both homilies give us a lot to think about today.

Football game: watched it, got the T-shirt....now what?

The Irish couldn't handle it yesterday. I've never seen so many penalties in a single game in my life!

I think the new QB shows promise but the other 21 guys have to back him up.

I also think ESPN has the worst sports coverage of any channel I've watched. I missed a whole series because they had to show some guy eating sticky buns in a diner. Save it for the Food Network! I want to see the game!

My neighbor has suggested that I look for a recipe for "crow" in one of my many cookbooks.

But hope springs eternal; I am no fair-weather fan. Can I find any more cliches to say I'm sticking with my team?

(And what does one do with a very nice game-day T-shirt now that the game has been played badly and lost? It was so nice of my cyberbuddy Ellen from Family Corner to send it to me!)

GO IRISH!

Let the game begin!

An Ordination Day

Keep Franciscan friar Charles of New Haven in your prayers today as he is ordained to the priesthood!

Here's a sneak peek at the homily for his first Mass, to be celebrated tomorrow.

May God bless his ministry.

Image credit: Father Charles' holy cards commemorating this occasion.

Awards Night

Which, I might say, are long overdue!

Some of my fellow bloggers have been kind enough to give me some virtual awards, and it's high time I return the favor. I'm not paying attention to whether these winners have already been given this award, because I'm giving it to these folks regardless. There are some wonderful, smart, funny, sweet, faithful people out there in Blogland, and it's my privilege to know these:

BLOGGER REFLECTION AWARD
Received from Jean at Catholic Fire and Aimee at The Mother Load.

It is my honor to pass this award along by mentioning some of the writers whose reflections have touched me:
Denise, the Catholic Matriarch in My Domestic Church
The Kitchen Madonna
Sarah, of Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering
Lindsey at Enjoy the Journey

ROCKIN' GIRL BLOGGER AWARD
received from Sarah at Just another day of Catholic pondering

I'd love to say "You rock!" to:
Amy at R.C. Mommy
Aimee at The Mother Load

THINKING BLOGGER AWARD

The Kitchen Madonna honored me with this one, and I'd like to hand it to:
Jean at Catholic Fire
ukok
Michelle of Rosetta Stone
Christine of Domestic Vocation and Rambling Catholic Soccer Mom
Father Daren at Servant and Steward
All of these writers give me plenty to consider when I read their blogs.

NICE MATTERS AWARD

received from Denise at Catholic Matriarch in My Domestic Church, Jean at Catholic Fire and Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering.

Besides giving this one right back to the ones who gave it to me, I want to pass this award along to:
Esther
Ellen From Across the Net
Amy at R.C. Mommy
Christine M of The Simple and the Ordinary
Michelle of Rosetta Stone

Congratulations to all of you!

Father Jay Hits the Nail on the Head

Despite the fact that I religiously follow Notre Dame football, TheDad and I believe that sports, Scouting, and other clubs and activities don't take first place to family and faith. Father Jay has had it up to here with people who put God last because of children's activities. He's so right. I hope he slips copies of this into his church bulletins this Sunday.

Just a Note to My Neighbor, the Penn State Fan

Guess whose birthday is commemorated tomorrow?

Guess what famous university is named after her?


Guess whose team can't help but beat PSU, given the above facts?
GO IRISH!

I talk like a New Yorker. So what of it?

YES, I grew up in North Jersey. Now I live in the Philly 'burbs and the accent here is very different from home!

What American accent do you have?
Created by Xavier on Memegen.net

Northeastern.
You're probably from somewhere near New York City, possibly north Jersey, or Connecticut or Rhode Island. If you are from New York City you may be one of the types who people never believe when you say you're from New York.

If you are not from here, you are probably one of the following:
(a) A Philadelphian who can't stand the way other Philadelphians say "on";
(b) A Yat from New Orleans; or
(c) Someone from England, Australia, or New Zealand, in which case why are you doing this quiz in the first place?

Take this quiz now - it's easy!

We're going to start with "cot" and "caught." When you say those words do they sound the same or different?

Same, no wait I mean different, maybe, a little bit different... Different Same

Via Esther, who also grew up in New Jersey.

And they're off!

Off to school on Little Brother's very first day!

The One-Word Meme

Esther tagged me for the One-Word Meme. Answer each question in a single word.

1. Yourself: Impatient
2. Your spouse: Weatherguy
3. Your hair: Brown
4. Your mother: Teacher
5. Your father: Bicyclist
6. Your favourite item: PDA
7. Your dream last night: forgotten
8. Your favorite drink: Pepsi
9. Your dream car: Blue
10. The room you are in: Living
11. Your ex: None
12. Your fear: Chaos
13. What you want to be in 10 years: Librarian
14. Who you hung out with last night: Friends
15. What you’re not: Patient
16. Muffins: Corn
17. One of your wish list item: Beach
18. Time: Seven
19. The last thing you did: Ate
20. What you are wearing: Sweats
21. Your favorite weather: Fall
22. Your favorite book: Many
23. The last thing you ate: Dinner
24. Your life: Good
25. Your mood: Content
26. Your best friend: Husband
27. What you’re thinking about right now: sleep
28. Your car: Uplander
29. What you are doing at the moment: Typing
30. Your summer: Over
31. Your relationship status: Married
32. What is on your TV: Nothing
33. What the weather is like: Clear
34. When was the last time you laughed: Dinner

Ellen, I tag you!

Top 100 Songs when I graduated High School

I found this meme at Esther's blog and since she left an open tag, I had to play. I added this rule to her list:
Asterisk = I don't know the song

Here's the other rules:
Bold = I loved it!
Underlined = I liked it
Strikeout = I hated it!

List of songs source

1. Every Breath You Take, Police
2. Billie Jean, Michael Jackson
3. Flashdance... What A Feelin, Irene Cara
4. Down Under, Men At Work
5. Beat It, Michael Jackson
6. Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Bonnie Tyler
7. Maneater, Daryl Hall and John Oates
8. Baby Come To Me, Patti Austin and James Ingram
9. Maniac, Michael Sembello
10. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Eurythmics
11. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, Culture Club
12. You And I, Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle
13. Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners
14. Shame On The Moon, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
15. She Works Hard For The Money, Donna Summer
16. Never Gonna Let You Go, Sergio Mendes
17. Hungry Like The Wolf, Duran Duran
18. Let's Dance, David Bowie
19. ** Twilight Zone, Golden Earring
20. I Know There's Something Going On, Frida
21. Jeopardy, Greg Kihn Band
22. Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant
23. She Blinded Me With Science, Thomas Dolby
24. Africa, Toto
25. Little Red Corvette, Prince
26. Back On The Chain Gang, Pretenders
27. Up Where We Belong, Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
28. Mr. Roboto, Styx
29. **You Are, Lionel Richie
30. Der Kommissar, After The Fire
31. Puttin' On The Ritz, Taco
32. Sexual Healing, Marvin Gaye
33. **(Keep Feeling) Fascination, Human League
34. Time (Clock Of The Heart), Culture Club
35. The Safety Dance, Men Without Hats
36. Mickey, Toni Basil
37. You Can't Hurry Love, Phil Collins
38. Separate Ways, Journey
39. One On One, Daryl Hall and John Oates
40. We've Got Tonight, Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
41. 1999, Prince
42. Stray Cat Strut, Stray Cats
43. Allentown, Billy Joel
44. **Stand Back, Stevie Nicks
45. Tell Her About It, Billy Joel
46. Always Something There To Remind Me, Naked Eyes
47. Truly, Lionel Richie
48. Dirty Laundry, Don Henley
49. The Girl Is Mine, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
50. Too Shy, Kajagoogoo
51. **Goody Two Shoes, Adam Ant
52. Rock The Casbah, Clash
53. Our House, Madness
54. **Overkill, Men At Work
55. **Is There Something I Should Know, Duran Duran
56. Gloria, Laura Branigan
57. Affair Of The Heart, Rick Springfield
58. She's A Beauty, Tubes
59. Solitaire, Laura Branigan
60. Don't Let It End, Styx
61. How Am I Supposed To Live Without You, Laura Branigan
62. China Girl, David Bowie
63. Come Dancing, Kinks
64. Promises, Promises, Naked Eyes
65. **The Other Guy, Little River Band
66. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, Air Supply
67. Family Man, Daryl Hall and John Oates
68. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Michael Jackson
69. I Won't Hold You Back, Toto
70. **All Right, Christopher Cross
71. Straight From The Heart, Bryan Adams
72. Heart To Heart, Kenny Loggins
73. My Love, Lionel Richie
74. I'm Still Standing, Elton John
75. **Hot Girls In Love, Loverboy
76. It's A Mistake, Men At Work
77. **I'll Tumble 4 Ya, Culture Club
78. **All This Love, Debarge
79. **Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy, Sammy Hagar
80. **Heartbreaker, Dionne Warwick
81. Faithfully, Journey
82. Steppin' Out, Joe Jackson
83. **Take Me To Heart, Quarterflash
84. (She's) Sexy + 17, Stray Cats
85. **Try Again, Champaign
86. **Dead Giveaway, Shalamar
87. Lawyers In Love, Jackson Browne
88. **What About Me, Moving Pictures
89. **Human Nature, Michael Jackson
90. Photograph, Def Leppard
91. Pass The Dutchie, Musical Youth
92. True, Spandau Ballet
93. **Far From Over, Frank Stallone
94. **I've Got A Rock 'N' Roll Heart, Eric Clapton
95. It Might Be You, Stephen Bishop
96. Tonight I Celebrate My Love, Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
97. You Got Lucky, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
98. Don't Cry, Asia
99. Breaking Us In Two, Joe Jackson
100. **Fall In Love With Me, Earth, Wind and Fire

Wow, there were quite a few I didn't even know!

Want to play? Open tag!

Don't Let Your Money be Used to Fund Evil Works

I've been participating in Life Decisions International's boycott against corporate supporters of Planned Parenthood ever since I heard about it in the early 1990s.

The boycott is different, these days.

In some ways, it will be easier for me to participate, since nearly all the grocery-related corporations that had been on the Boycott List have been removed (removal from the list means that the corporation has agreed not to financially support Planned Parenthood in the future). The only supermarket-type items I still have to think about are personal-care items and certain over-the-counter medications.

And in some ways it will be harder. My favorite clothing source is now a boycott target. I'll be sad to give up buying Lands' End clothes--but there's a greater good here that I have to consider. My husband's favorite restaurant is now a boycott target. We didn't go there often, but it was a nice occasional treat. And I'll have to stop buying used books from half.com, since eBay is also on the Boycott List. Finally, we've gotten our last hoagies and cups of coffee from Wawa until it changes its tune about its corporate donations policy.

Two things make a boycott work. The first thing is that people have to be willing to be inconvenienced to do what is right. The second thing is that people have to regularly contact these companies and let them know why they are no longer using their products or services. As LDI points out in their Boycott List, "you do not want to cooperate with evil or help make it possible for others to do evil. If Company XYZ wants to find Planned Parenthood it will not be with the money God has placed in your care."

Here's how to order a Boycott List for your family. It includes a comprehensive list of brand names for each boycotted company as well as contact information, as well as an FAQ with guidance about how to write to these companies.


UPDATE: I just received communication from LDI that Wawa is no longer a boycott target! That makes 155 companies that have decided to stop funding Planned Parenthood.

UPDATE #2: Sears/Kmart/Lands End is also no longer a boycott target! Over 157 companies are no longer giving money to find Planned Parenthood's evil work.

Banquets and Humility

Yesterday at Mass our pastor had a very interesting take on the Gospel. This is a summary of his homily, in my own words.

It's not about the party. It's about our need for approval.

He said that we all need approval, affirmation and recognition--and that it's OK to need those. It's not even a contradition of the virtue of humility to need these things.

But the Gospel is calling us to think about whose approval, affirmation and recognition we seek.

Do we seek the approval of our friends? Do we only do what they would consider acceptable and admirable, for fear of losing their approval?

Do we seek the approval of those with whom we wish to associate--those up a few rungs on the social ladder? Do we edit our actions and words so that they would meet the approval of those people?

Or do we seek the approval of those who are truly in need? Do we put aside our own desire to be liked by our friends, family and social class, our desire to climb higher on the social ladder, in order to do what we know is needed to help someone else who can use a hand? Do we encourage our children to include the less popular kids in their lunchtime games on the playground?

That's humility: being ready to take the social consequence of acting in a loving manner toward those that have been deemed "unlovable" by the very people whose approval we so fervently desire.

After all, whose banquet do we really wish to enjoy? If it's God's banquet we're after, then we need to think very differently about whom we want to impress.

The Little Brother Weather Report

And now it's time for the Little Brother Weather Report, brought to you by a little channel surfer who just saw the local forecast:

"65 on the moon tonight, Mom!"

I am Bert

Quite true. I am Bert. And I'd bet good money that TheDad would score as Ernie.

Your Score: Bert

You scored 70% Organization, 51% abstract, and 45% extroverted!

This test measured 3 variables.

First, this test measured how organized you are. Some muppets like Cookie Monster make big messes, while others like Bert are quite anal about things being clean.

Second, this test measured if you prefer a concrete or an abstract viewpoint. For the purposes of this test, concrete people are considered to gravitate more to mathematical and logical approaches, whereas abstract people are more the dreamers and artistic type.

Third, this test measured if you are more of an introvert or an extrovert. By definition, an introvert concentrates more on herself and an extrovert focuses more on others. In this test an introvert was somebody that either tends to spend more time alone or thinks more about herself.

You are very organized, both concrete and abstract, and both introverted and extroverted.

Here is why are you Bert.

You are both very organized. You almost always know where your belongings are and you prefer things neat. You may even enjoy cleaning and find it therapeutic. Bert is a big neat freak and gets quite annoyed when Ernie makes a big mess.


You both are sometimes concrete and sometimes abstract thinkers. Bert is probably a bit more concrete in his bottlecap collecting addiction and his love of the weather. He does show his abstract side when he sings and performs his "Doin' The Pidgeon" song. You have a good balance in your life. You know when to be logical at times, but you also aren't afraid to explore your dreams and desires... within limits of course.


You are both somewhat introverted. Bert is probably more introverted, because he spends most of his time either with Ernie or alone. Still he has no problem being around other people in his role as chairman of "The National Association of 'W' Lovers." Like Bert, you probably like to have some time to yourself, but you do appreciate spending time with your friends, and you aren't scared of social situations.

The other possible characters are

Oscar the Grouch

Big Bird

Snuffleupagus

Ernie

Elmo

Kermit the Frog

Grover

Cookie Monster

Guy Smiley

The Count

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Link: The Your SESAME STREET Persona Test written by greencowsgomoo on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Via Amy. She's Elmo!

Bellyachin'

A little more than an hour ago, Middle Sister woke me up because her Best Friend, who's here at the beach with us for the week, had a stomachache.

Hmmm, maybe those 2 slices of Sicilian pizza plus a whole tub of cheese fries and a Coke were coming back to haunt her?

Or maybe she just misses her Mom, Dad and brother? Totally understandable.

I don't have any medicine here for upset stomachs, and I don't like to medicate other people's children even if I did. The best I could do was tell her to have some sips of water and try to find a way for her to be comfortable.

After a while she relaxed enough to lie down, curled up around a bucket "just in case." I thought she fell asleep and tried to remove it but she wouldn't let it go. So I tucked her stuffed penguin behind her head and covered her arms and legs with the blanket.

She's asleep.

Middle Sister and I are awake. She's worried about her friend. I'm figuring the worst is over, but the visit might be too.

I'm also not ashamed to admit that I'm glad the worst might be over, since I tend to get queasy myself just thinking about someone else's stomach woes....

We Are Here

This was worth waking up early today! Pardon the reflection. I hope I got a better shot on the "film" camera--yes, some of us still use them. But beautiful sunrises like this are just like a present, in my book. Nothing like starting the day with Morning Prayer in the dark of the porch, my coffee in my hand, and later a view like this.


Middle Sister calls this the Spooky Pier. Little Brother wants to get a Really Big Ladder and climb on it.


The lower porch of this house is where we are staying. The fabulous luxury car in front of the house does NOT belong to us.

However, there is a fabulous car that does not belong to us parked in our driveway. We had a bit of a glitch on the way here. Since we allowed both of the Big Kids to bring a friend on vacation, we needed to take both our cars. 10 minutes into the trip I noticed that the air conditioning in TheDad's Hyundai was not working. 5 minutes later I realized we were on our way to overheating, so I had the girls (who were riding with me) open the windows, and I turned on the heat. We pulled into Cracker Barrel for lunch and to figure out what we would do. Being only 20 minutes from home, we called our regular mechanic and he sent a tow truck for the Hyundai. We also called a car-rental place and the girls and I drove here in style in a Hyundai Santa Fe.

I'm the Designated Driver while on vacation because I'm the only one who can back the Santa Fe and the van into our driveway, and it's really hard to back OUT of the driveway.

TheDad was up way later than me last night, watching videos and playing games with all the Big Kids. When he finally decided it was bedtime, he woke me up to ask what kind of bagel I wanted this morning.

"Huh?"

"What kind of bagel do you want in the morning?"

The strangeness of that question in the middle of the night woke me up, and I just stared at him and said, "Do you really think you'll wake up before me tomorrow?" Then I went back to sleep.

He's still not awake. Good thing, too, because I'm still not sure what kind of bagel I want.

Down the Shore

If you need me, I'll be at the beach. Or as we say here in New Jersey, "down the shore."

Except when sleeping or dealing with matters of personal hygiene, I don't intend to take my eyes off the ocean the entire time.

There may or may not be internet access where we're staying. So if not--I'll see you next Saturday! Have a wonderful week!

Prayers requested!

For my friend SFO Girl's father-in-law, Jim, who is having a malignant brain tumor removed today. Timetable has him out of the hospital by Tuesday or earlier! Please pray for Jim, his wife and family, and all his surgeons, doctors, nurses and other caregivers. May God's healing hand be upon Jim. May his wife and family be free of worries and anxiety and be filled with peace and confidence that Jim will be OK. And may his medical team be blessed with accuracy, delicacy, and a healing touch.

UPDATE: The surgery went well, and Jim was awake, talking and hungry (all good signs) less than 12 hours after the surgery began. SFO Girl said that if all goes well, he'll be home in his recliner by Monday!

The Dignity of Women

In my sidebar you will notice an image like the one above. Clicking on that one will bring you to the site, The Dignity of Women, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's apostolic letter, Mulieris Dignitatem.

Genevieve Kinecke writes:

It is our great joy to learn that the Pontifical Council for the Laity is encouraging the faithful worldwide to observe the 20th anniversary of Mulieris Dignitatem in the coming year. This Apostolic Letter (signed August 15th, 1988) was written by John Paul II to encourage women in their vocations, to highlight the essential feminine genius that they provide to the world, and to restore spiritual and physical motherhood to a culture that was quickly losing sight of the very meaning of nuptial love.

The Catholics of North America have been asked in particular to consider the document in light of one overarching theme: The Dignity of Women in a Technological and Consumeristic Society. To that effect, a website has been created in order to provide a comprehensive resource for those looking for ways to reflect on this timely anniversary. Dignityofwomen.com will point to books, speakers, study guides, and other initiatives that will bring the beauty of this document to as many people as possible, while constantly integrating suggestions, additions, and a bulletin board of events for women to access over the coming year.

Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle mentions a Catholic radio show that also highlights this anniversary.

I look forward to reading this Apostolic Letter for the first time, and reflecting upon it in terms of my own vocation of wife and mother.

Big thanks to Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle for the image and sidebar link!