It's Not Magic

Yesterday I headed over to Big Brother's high school to help process orders for their magazine sale fundraiser. I hate fundraisers like this, but it's a way I can help during the school day, which is the best time for me to volunteer.

It was nice to meet some other moms, since I know very few parents of kids in the high school. We had some down time, and it was a chance to discuss things about our kids, and the school, and sports, just all kinds of things.

One mom was telling a horror story about a soccer game her daughter had recently played, where someone on the opposing team caused an injury to her daughter and the opposing fans were yelling, "Hit her again!"

That conversation quickly degenerated into a denigration of the other school, with statements like:
"Well, after all, look where they draw their students from."
"I had to go in there one time and there were about 5 pregnant girls sitting outside the office."

At that point I had to jump into the discussion. I let them know that for many years I have been a "homebound tutor" for several area schools including Big Brother's high school. I've taught pregnant students before, and held their newborn babies while they took notes or completed tests. Some of these girls were from our school. A Catholic school.

Of course, they brushed off my comments. They were not interested in hearing about that.

Do they think that this school, because it's a Catholic school, is naturally immune from teen pregnancy, discipline problems, and drugs? Because if that's what they believe, if they leave it all up to the school, then they're lying down on the job. And those problems will never go away.

The Founder's Feast

Prayer of St. Francis to the Crucified Christ:
"O Lord, I beg of you two graces before I die--to experience personally and in all possible fullness the pain of your bitter passion, and to feel for you the same love that moved you to sacrifice yourself for us." (Little Flowers of St. Francis)

"Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks, and serve Him with great humility."

He is a tough act to follow, to be sure.

If you're interested in learning more about Francis of Assisi, I strongly suggest you start by reading Chesterton's biography of the saint. There's nothing sappy, sentimental, or touchy-feely there, and it's absolutely fascinating and motivating.

Image credit

Consolation Prize?

Middle Sister has been unsuccessfully campaigning for a cell phone for several days now.

But she's apparently decided to change her tactics.

Overheard: "Dad, if I can't get a cell phone, can I at least get a new basketball?"

To Honor One Who Gave All

Please leave a note of condolences and prayers at this post. It is a virtual sympathy card for the family of a young American soldier who gave his life in the Middle East.
I don't know this young man or his family. Probably you don't either. But we all owe him a lot. Pray today for the repose of his soul and for consolation for his loved ones.

My Nerd Test Score

Because all the cool bloggers are taking this test.




Pretty accurate, I'd say, though I'd have scored myself way higher on the "awkwardness" one. I guess that since I (unlike Little Brother) don't strap (multiple) light sabres to my belt, it was in my favor there.
I do have a degree in Literature so I'm glad to see that I tested high for that. As far as the technology stuff, it must be the result of TheDad's influence, since he's a programmer.

What's In a Name?

While I wait for the timer to go "beep" and tell me that the angel food cake is done, (box mix, people, I am a lazy thing when it comes to cakes!)...

Laura the Crazy Mama has this fun game to play!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)

Shadow Uplander

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)

Coffee Ginger

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME:(first letter of first name, first three letters of last name)

B-Szy

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)

Blue Chipmunk

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)

Ann Paterson

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)

Szyba

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)

The Green Pepsi

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)

John John (more interesting if I use nicknames: John Turk)

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )

Claire Francis

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)

Spaziano Somerset

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)

Autumn Lilac

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)

Boysenberry Jackety

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)

Egg Dogwood

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)

The Reading Hailstorm Tour

Anyone can play!

And Now, Let's Play "How Did THAT Get There?"

Come on, moms, you know you are all experts at this game.

So here's today's challenge: I just found a small ziplock bag containing two vials of green food coloring, in the middle of the floor in the back of the van. How did THAT get there (and what was someone planning to do with it?)

Interrogation of the children on this subject will commence immediately after school today.

Blogger's Quiz

Jean and Ukok tagged me for this quiz:

Here's a fun quiz made up especially for bloggers. The rules are easy. Just post the quiz on your blog and answer the questions, then pass it on to five other bloggers, and link to them in your post. Be sure to link back to the one who sent it to you.

1. Do you attend the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo? I was born in 1965. Novus Ordo is all I know.

2. If you attend the TLM, how far do you drive to get there? Does not apply (see #1).

3. If you had to apply a Catholic label to yourself, what would it be? Secular Franciscan!

4. Are you a comment junkie? No, but I like them! And I know you have to "give to get" so I try to leave comments when someone's post makes an impression.

5. Do you go back to read the comments on the blogs you’ve commented on? Sometimes, not all the time.

6. Have you ever left an anonymous comment on another blog? No, I always identify myself.

7. Which blogroll would you most like to be on? I read a lot of blogs in Bloglines, and doing that partly keeps me "honest" in terms of blogroll. I can't see their blogroll and be all obsessive over whether I'm on it. I'm terrible about updating my own, as well.

8. Which blog is the first one you check?
Whichever is first to have something new in Bloglines.

9. Have you met any other bloggers in person? Yes! I have met Amy, Michelle, Denise, Ellen, and Christine.

10. What are you reading?Not much, right now. Donna Marie Cooper O'Boyle's The Heart of Motherhood, Father Leo Patalinghug's Grace Before Meals, and Dana Thomas' strangely fascinating book, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost its Luster (WHY I picked this up at the library, I'll never know, but I am sucked into this for sure!)

Bonus Question! Has your site been banned by Spirit of Vatican II?
No; I'm guessing they have not heard of me over there. Or could it be because I play guitar in church, so despite my conservative leanings, I'm still "church" because of my instrument?
If it has, who do you think Father Tim really is? I have no idea who Father Tim is. However, I suspect that he is the brains behind this meme, so he can find some more sites to ban (PICK ME!!)

I pass this quiz on to: Everyone I named in question #9!

It's Homemade Cookie Day!

What are you baking?

I made Michelle's Molasses Crinkle Cookies and let me tell you, these things are fabulous! Or as Little Brother says, "fab-lee-ous!"

They taste even better than they smell, which is amazing.

Go ahead and make some. You know you want to.

This has to be one of my favorite holidays. How can you go wrong with cookies?

Grandparents Behaving Badly

This just in: a grandfather is suspected of using a toddler to help him steal purses at a Jersey Shore boardwalk.

And yesterday Middle Sister overheard a grandmother calling her young granddaughter "dummy." This really upset Middle Sister. "That grandmother is such a put-downer!" she said.

I can't imagine what I'd feel like if I ever heard that my parents or in-laws insulted one of my children, much less used them for a criminal activity.

Please join me today in praying for those children who are not blessed with the kind of grandparents kids dream of having. The kind who read them books, treat them to cupcakes with extra frosting, take them for walks in the woods, wear sweatshirts advertising their athletic teams, build computers for them, show them their latest project-in-progress, laugh at knock-knock jokes they've heard 100 times, and make sure to stock their favorite cookies. The kind my kids are blessed to have.

Mom's at Home. Kids are in School.

If I had a dollar for everyone who asked me what I'd be doing all day long while all of the children are in school full-day, I'd be well on the way to covering next year's new school uniforms (or at least Big Brother's required-by-school pricey shoes).

While it is acceptable, around here, to stay home with my children as long as they are at home, I seem to have crossed the line now that Little Brother's in kindergarten and there are 8 hours without children in this house.

Do you know how many bonbon jokes I've heard in the past few weeks? Or suggestions that I can get all caught up on the soaps (which I have never watched in my life)?

I truly can't count the number of people who assume that now that Little Brother is off to kindergarten, I'll be off to work. My job is done, you see. I've gotten them all off to school.

We tried that once before, when Middle Sister started school, and I had a 4-hour-a-day teaching job. Then Big Brother came down with mono, 2 weeks into the school year, and TheDad and I had to figure out whose work schedule would be inconvenienced to take care of a sick child. We quickly came to the conclusion that this wasn't worth it. Not having any immediate family members closer than 65 miles away means that we don't have a lot of backup. Our family is on our own for a lot of things that my parents, when we were kids, and now my brother, sister, and TheDad's brother can take for granted because there are grandparents in the area and they can help out.

And we believe that the kids need me just as much as ever--just in a different way. They need me to be there when they climb down off that school bus in the afternoon, rumpled and tired and excited about their day. They need to be able to come in and find that I have gotten my errands and "daytime" chores done during their school time, so that after school I am not so consumed with laundry and cleaning and such that I can't listen to them talk about their day, inspect artwork and classwork, share a snack, and read all those notices that come home from the PTA. They need me to pick up Middle Sister and Little Brother after school on Tuesday this week so we can hurry over to a local high school and watch Big Brother's cross-country meet. They need me to find a way to volunteer some time in each of their schools. They even need me to strive to attend daily Mass while they're off at school. And if someone is sick, they need me to be there.

They may be in school, but my job is not done. And that's good, because I love my job.

And I Shelve This One...Where?

There's a method to my madness in the way I shelve the books around here.

In the living room we have 2 bookscases. The first one, top down, goes like this:
My "by and about" Laura Ingalls Wilder collection
Spiritual books
Large paperback fiction and hardback children's classics
Hardback fiction
Humor and regular size paperback fiction
Biography and story collections

The second one, top down:
Christmas CDs and speakers
CDs and CD player
Reference and stereo
TheDad's bookshelf (he's nowhere near the literary packrat I am!)
Household reference and nonfiction
Old photo boxes and board games

Then in the kitchen I have a really tall shelf for cookbooks.

I'm not always this anal organized about stuff, but I like to be able to find my books when I want them. This system works for me.

So my question is--where do I put this one?

Grace Before Meals by Father Leo E. Patalinghug

This is part cookbook--part spiritual reading--part family and household reference.

I think that this book would be especially good for young families, but it's encouraging for any family. As it goes through the major events in the liturgical year, it includes recipes, conversation topics and background information. It's rounded out with Scripture quotes and ideas for prayer and good works. All in all, it's a great mix!

Visiting the Grace Before Meals website will get you to a place where you can purchase the book as well as sign up for a weekly e-newsletter and visit Father's blog.

A big "thank you" to Denise who first introduced me to this website and book.

AAAAAAUGH!

Notre Dame 19, Purdue 33
Closest game yet this season. And I will say, with the QB that played for ND in the second half, they looked much better. Hey Charlie, how about starting that guy next time?
GO IRISH--you can do it!

Worth Every Penny

Little Brother went outside half an hour ago and found our neighbors having a garage sale.

Since our neighbors have a boy the same age as Middle Sister as well as a 7-year-old girl, Little Brother found himself in Toy Heaven. Now these neighbors have unfailingly been generous with Boy Next Door's outgrown clothing and toys--Little Brother's been the beneficiary of many fun items.

But today he hit the jackpot.

Behold the Fisher Price Castle.

We have one of these; it used to belong to Big Brother and that thing has seen about 12 years of use. Most of the knights still survive.

But Boy Next Door's castle would be just the thing for Little Brother to set up a proper battle--Castle vs. Castle. Especially since Boy Next Door's castle came with a full complement of RED knights (ours has black ones and gold ones). And all at the bargain price of only $3, nice and clean and in terrific condition.

The cannonballs will be flying today!

Did we need another castle? No. But for $3, it will buy Little Brother many busy afternoons this winter when the weather is bad and he can't run outside. I think it was money well spent.

More on 40 Days for Life

2 of the commenters in my 40 Days for Life post mentioned the Aurora, IL battle that is going on right now.

This could be anywhere. Denver will probably be next.

READ Jill Stanek's column on this issue for a lot of information.

VISIT Mary Poppins NOT's Crazyacres blog for updates. She is THERE! She is PRAYING and PARTICIPATING IN THE VIGILS. I didn't link a specific post because she has many on the subject.

CHECK OUT Jane's blog at Building the Ark. She has good links and information as well!

PRAY for those people who are able to participate in peaceful vigils at the Aurora site and other sites throughout our country. They need our strength to back them up. May God bless their efforts and protect them.

100 Acre Quiz

Everybody's got a quiz today, it seems. And I just LOVE quizzes!


Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

Via Christine, who's also Kanga.

What Classical Composer Are You?

You scored as Schubert, So, you've found something you like to do. You don't want to do anything else. You do a good job, even if it kills you. Schubert 80% J.S. Bach 75% Haydn 70% Wagner 65% Brahms 60% Beethoven 55% Hector Berlioz 50% Chopin 50% Handel 45% Tchaikovsky 40% Schumann 40% Mozart 30% Liszt 15% Which classical composer are you? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Schubert, So, you've found something you like to do. You don't want to do anything else. You do a good job, even if it kills you. Guess I should listen to some of his music and see if I like it. Via Esther, who scored as my favorite composer, J.S. Bach.

Words to Live By

From today's Liturgy of the Hours, Morning Prayer:

Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them. Do nothing that will sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed against the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind. In place of these, be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ.

(Ephesians 4:29-32)

Things that make you say, "YIKES!"

TheDad just told me about this shark that was caught on Flagler Beach in Florida.

6 years ago, we visited that beach. TheDad took Middle Sister and Big Brother swimming there. There are no lifeguards. He had just gotten the kids out of the water and was giving them something to drink and helping them dry off, when he saw the fin--and, farther back, the tail. Needless to say, that was the end of the swim.

40 Days for Life Begins Today!

Read here for a full explanation of the effort.

During these forty days, pro-life Americans will participate in a three-pronged spiritual battle against the evil of abortion:
1. Prayer and Fasting
2. Peaceful Vigil
3. Community Outreach

It's not too late to consider how you and your family can participate in some or all of these efforts.

Prayer and fasting are self-explanatory, and peaceful vigil might not be possible for every family. Here are a few ideas for community outreach that families can do together:
1. Shop for baby necessities (diapers, formula, layette clothing, wipes) and deliver them as a family to a local Crisis Pregnancy Center. Check your Yellow Pages for "Abortion Alternatives" if you need to find a location near you.
2. Join the boycott against corporate supporters of Planned Parenthood. Don't buy their stuff, and write to tell them why!
3. Donate a book to your school or public library that has a prolife perspective. Regina Doman's Angel in the Waters is one such book, written for children and intended to be a read-aloud for ages 4 to 8.

Worth reading: Michelle at Rosetta Stone's take on 40 Days for Life.
Milehimama has some ideas on this subject as well.