Finally! Some Video...

The video for our production is finally getting published. Here is the olio "Jingle Bells" written and directed by Tina Kendall, one of our moms.

Directing is Hard Work!

For the last month I have been immersed in youth theater. I created a group of thespians, The Liberty Players, from our home educated co op and we have been working on our latest production, Last Stop Till Christmas. In one month, rehearsing once a week, these kids have made me so proud! They had their first performance last night and were simply amazing!

Our group consists of grades K-12. We opened with an Olio, a short 5-10 min performance, before our feature. The youngest among us, popped in and out of our family Christmas scene with Christmas jokes and merriment. The older kids sang Jingle Bells in the background. It was Laugh-in inspired. Funny, heart warming and awesome!

Then came the feature. A comedy about narcisism and self sacrifice. Giving of oneself inspires you to give to others. Their timing was on and the show was a hit! I can't tell you how much these kids truly inspire me. They drive me crazy too. They stuck with me, through venue changes, scene changes, horrible blocking and re-blocking..and re-blocking..and some more re-blocking and they pulled it all off on show night!

Video is in the works and will be uploaded here within the next few days! I can't wait to share it with you. Here's a pic of the cast:

The Church and New Media - A Review

When I first began this blog a few years ago, it was my hope that the posts that I would write would inspire others to get out there and lend a helping hand. Hence, the name of my blog. I began by posting about opportunities to volunteer and charities to volunteer for. My blog has since evolved into something of a family chronicle with, what I hope to be, an authentic Catholic tone. In The Church and New Media, Brian Vogt has brought together 11 of the most forward thinking and acting Catholic internet users to show us that we can use this "new media" not just to rant about the current political situation or show off family photos. We can use this "new media" to spread the Gospel in a highly effective way. We can reach thousands..even millions of people with just one blog post.

Your post, tweet or status update can travel around the world in seconds. Your words can literally bring the living water of Christ to people you will never see or meet. What's even better is that today, you might get to meet them! Blogger conventions and facebook has enabled us to connect with other Catholics in unprecedented ways.

Jesus told his disciples to cast their nets wide..that he would make them fishers of me. We too, are his disciples and we too must heed that call.

If you blog, facebook or tweet. If you Youtube or Vimeo. It is your choice to use them to glorify yourself or to glorify God. This book can help you discover new ways to use them to glorify God! To fill your nets for Christ and to increase your faith and the faith of others. Get it. Read it. Pass it to your priest. Tell everyone you know about it..tweet it. Facebook it. Youtube it. Blog it.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on The Church and New Media. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Military Council of Catholic Women

Check them out here..MCCW Worldwide and if you live in the Southeast follow us on Twitter and Facebook, MCCW Fort Gordon, Ga.

Priests, Saints and A Scorpion.

Yes. I have seen all three things this week! Well, maybe not the Saint. I did watch a television show about Mother Teresa. And of course, I talked to my good friend Sarah. She will be a saint, I'm sure!

This last Sunday, our new priest,Father Joe, was installed as our pastor. I've never seen a ceremony like this and it was very nice. He promised to take care of us and we promised to support him. This was important because we need to be reminded that he is our Priest. Our Pastor. We need to support him so that he can take care of us. Two way street. He's not only a good priest, he's super funny and we are very blessed to have him as our pastor.



So I talked about the saints already..Mother Teresa, Sarah..we are all called to be one! Today is the Feast of All Saints. It's a Holy Day of Obligation. Which means get to Mass today. Make the time. It's important. We celebrate our Church today! Sometimes, at Mass, I can almost see the Saints in Heaven celebrating with us. A good friend and teacher said, there is a thin veil between us and Heaven. It's hard to see through for us. Sometimes it clears..and we can see. The Sanctus is what brings this home for me.

Now for the part you've been waiting for! Scorpions? Yep. Scorpion, to be exact. Just one. Small, but frightening still. In my school room. I though the kids were joking. I was just at the computer entering in grades..I was just sitting there. My BARE FOOT was just where that dern creature is crawling right now!!! We got a jar, the kids had a good look, then promptly left him on the porch...in the jar. He didn't make the overnight temps. I'm not sad. I don't EVER want to see one of those again! Scary.

Off to teach some drama..20 kids..a Christmas production! Busy Busy!
St. Clare, Ora Pro Nobis!

Three Things

I was going to sit down and write a beautiful blog post about flowers and blue skies..no not really, but I actually had a few minutes of privacy and silence. No sooner did I click on "New Post", El Bambino started crying. I swear that boy has some kind of telekinetic thing going on. He knows. I mean it. He KNOWS! So, he's up there crying now..getting madder and madder. I suppose my time is up. Oh, my three things!

1. I'm in the process of reading a book to review here. On the Church and New Media. It's very good. I really like it.
2. I want to blog more about my faith. That's coming. Not sure where God will lead me on that one. Adoration is key.
3. I want to just plain blog more. Anyone out there with teens, tweens and babies have tips and tricks to find time to blog when there is no time? Help!

If you didn't know...Jesus waits for you silently in the Tabernacle. Go visit with him in Adoration. Even if you are not Catholic. He wants you there. With all your baggage, with all your kids and with all your love. One hour that will change your life. Guaranteed.

Have You Met Temple?

No, not the religious one. Temple Grandin. The Scientist.
A hidden gem in the vast archives of my Netflix account. I was intrigued by the cover.

A story based on the real life of an autistic woman who becomes one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.

It begins with Temple on the verge of college and quite happy to remain in highschool. Her desire to be a scientist and also to be with animals, and a supportive high school science teacher spur her on to college. A mother who is beyond patient and full of love for her child who is "different, but not Less" makes this movie heart wrenching but not a tear jerker. Temple's straight forwardness is refreshing and quite often humurous, keeping things light.

Rated PG. One instance of the word "dammit", a scene of bloody bull testicles used to frighten Temple, a scene where masturbation is subtly implied in question. I would recommend for pre teens and older. Great story of the value and preciousness of all life.

Check it out. I'd love to hear your thoughts.