Everyone Deserves a Home

Monday, October 5, 2009 is World Habitat Day.

I have never had the opportunity to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. However, my husband has and he said it is an amazing opportunity. He would volunteer again in a heartbeat.

With the recent flooding in the Philippines, the tsunami in American Samoa, help is needed desperately. Please take a moment to visit the World Habitat Day website and if you can help in way I encourage you to do so.

World Habitat Day

Should we be suprised?

Iran is building nuclear missles, Afghanistan is in turmoil and our soldiers are dying there. Obama hasn't spoken to his Commanding General but once in 70 days!

What's so important? What's got his mind distracted? No, not health care. That's a dead horse right now.

He's off to...Denmark! Yep. Got to get good ol' Chicago on the map as an Olympic City. Good for jobs and the economy and such. I guess he lacks confidence in his wife and closest advisors to get the job done. He's doing it himself.

Ridiculous.

What Can I Do?

It's that time of year again! The Holidays are right around the corner. Many of us are being bombarded with school and scouting fundraisers. We are strapped for both time and money. Yet we are called to give. Not just to the little girl or boy down the street selling cookie dough for the PTA.

We are called to the works of Mercy. Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit those in prison and bury the dead.

Here are just a few suggestions for you and your family:

1. Invite a family who is struggling financially to dinner at your house.
2. Contact your local soup kitchen and volunteer one day or evening to serve.
3. Buy one bag of groceries just for the food bank at your next grocery run.
4. Go through your clothing and donate to the local women's/men's shelter.
5. Have a baby shower and donate the items to your local pregnancy care center.
6. Go through your blankets, find some warm ones and donate them to a local shelter.
7. Donate funds to your local shelter.
8. Find out about and get involved with a Habitat for Humanity build.
9. Take a day to visit a nursing home and spend time with the residents.
10. Ask at your local hospital how you can volunteer to visit those who are in long term care. Especially children's wards.
11. Call your friend or neighbor who you know has been ill or had surgery recently. Ask them how they are doing and if they need anything.
12. Donate books or religious items to your local prison.
13. Ask your local jail or prison about visitation and bring holy cards, donated bibles and books to distribute on visiting day.
14. Visit a cemetery and pray for those who have recently passed away.
15. Pray for the souls in purgatory.
16. If someone in your community has passed away visit their family and ask if they need anything? Offer your support.

These are just a few things you can do this season to give from your heart according to the works of mercy. May God richly bless you this season and may that blessing flow out from you to those around you.

UPDATE:
my kids so kindly reminded me of the following 3 things we can do when we can't do any of the things on the above list:
1. go to Daily Mass and offer it for all those who can do those listed things and for those who cannot.
2. attend Adoration and again, pray for those in need and those who serve the needy.
3. Pray the Rosary.

Thanks kids.

That's A Wrap

Another week down. We finally have a pool in our back yard. Right now it is only 3/4 of the way full. I turned the water off yesterday, unloaded the rain barrels (saved me 220 gallons of city water) and will finish it off this afternoon.
I'd finish this morning, but I have to take the girls to Young Marines and I don't want any over flow!

We also built the first stage of our deck. It's just a rectangle right now. We will put up a railing eventually and move the spa out there and off the back porch. There is much left to be done, but it is coming a long. I am going to get a blue chip today so I can take some pictures. I took some with my sons camera, but you have to wait for the pics to be developed..so that will be a bit.

Prayers are requested for my oldest. He's very seriously considering the Priesthood. He's only 15, but he's never quite been this serious about it. So if all you prayer warriors out there could ask Our Lady to bless his heart that would be beautiful.

That's a wrap for me this week.
Blessings!

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my blue chip has bit the dust

The blue memory chip that is. I have to go get one tomorrow because I have to show you what my hubby has been working on all day. In fact he's out at Lowes right now because we needed a few more things.

Since I can't show you, I'll tell ya about it. He's making a rain storage system for the house. 4 55 gallon drums connected via pvc pipe with a spigot to release the water to the hose and then the garden and yard. I can't wait for rain!

I will get a memory card tomorrow and take some pics to share. Now..we just need to figure out those solar panels!

Not Your Average 9/11 Anniversary...

Lots of folks are busy posting memorials and remembrances of where they were and what they were doing 8 years ago today. There are t.v. specials and Americans are asked once again to watch over and over again the planes fly into the Twin Towers in New York. Then watch them fall. Then stare at a farm that became an unsuspecting grave for so many in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

It is sad. It was shocking. I think sometime today, whether you observed the minutes of silence or not, every American remembered that day.

But that is not the only anniversary to be had today. Oddly enough, one year ago on this day I entered the blogosphere. I honestly, can't remember, why it was this day. Perhaps because there was a lot going on. I wanted to do something. Help people.

Well, I don't know if I've done anything or if I've helped anyone. My blog is a mix of religion, family and politics. I suppose, right now, those are my passions. I'm no expert in any of those areas but I love the research they lead me to. I love learning. I love a good debate even though I'm not very good at it. So that is where this blog has taken me. I've grown in my faith and discovered so many talented and infinitely more learned human beings than myself. Not half bad for a "hobby".

I thank those of you that do read my blog for your kind comments. Although I don't rend my garments and lament over the lack of comments, it is nice to see one every now and then. :)

May God Bless all of you who read this blog.

Small Successes

Not much, but we are on our way.
1 - I made it to Adoration with my husband this week. We have planned to go next week as well. Thanks Be To God!

2 - We have started our school day with the Rosary. Boy! Has that made a difference. Not a hallelujah moment, but attitudes are softer and kids are more focused.

3 - I managed to walk on the treadmill (at 2% incline) for one hour. I will do it again today, God willing. When I was finished I checked in on the kids, and said I was stinking up the school room. Gotta love 'em.

4 - I didn't argue with the hubby when he called the last time about a motorcycle. In fact, I went with him to buy it. He's now the proud and very very happy owner of a Harley Davidson Sportster.

It's Important

I'm sure this has been around the block a bit, but I wanted to post it here as well. I'm no rap fan, but this is worth listening to. Below the video are the lyrics

Can I Live? Nick Cannon

[Talking]
Talking Ma
I know the Situation is Personal
But it something that has to be told
As I was making this beat
You was all I could think about you heard my voice

[Verse 1]
Yeah Just think Just Think
What if you could Just
Just blink your self away..
Just Just wait just pause for a second
Let me plead my case
It's the late 70's Huh
You Seventeen huh
And having me that will ruin everything huh
It's alot of angels waiting on their wings
You see me in your sleep so you cant kill your dreams
300 Dollars thats the price of living what?
Mommy I dont like this clinic
Hopefully you'll make the right decision
And dont go through with the Knife incision
But it's hard to make the right move
When you in high school
How you have to work all day and take night school
Hopping off da bus when the rain is pouring
What you want morning sickness or the sickness of mourning

[Chorus]
I'll Always Be a part of you
Trust Your Soul Know it's always true
If I Could Talk I'd Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE
I'll Always Be a part of you
Trust Your Soul Know it's always true
If I Could Talk I'd Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE

[Verse 2]
I am a child of the king
Ain't no need to go fear me
And I see the flowing tears so know that you hear me
When I move in your womb that's me being scary
Cause who knows what my future holds
Yo the truth be told you ain't told a soul
Yo you ain't even showing I'm just 2 months old
Through your clothes try to hide me deny me
Went up 3 sizes
Your pride got you lying saying ain't nothing but a migraine
It ain't surprising you not trying to be in Wic food lines
Your friends will look at you funny but look at you mommy
That's a life inside you look at your tummy
What is becoming ma I am Oprah bound
You can tell he's a star from the Ultrasound
Our Sprits Connected Doors Open Now
Nothing But Love And Respect Thanks For Holding Me Down She Let Me Live...

[Chorus]
I'll Always Be a part of you
Trust Your Soul Know it's always true
If I Could Talk I'd Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE
I'll Always Be apart of you
Trust Your Soul Know it's always true
If I Could Talk I'd Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE
[Repeat 2]

[Nick Talking]

It's uplifting foreal yall
I ain't passing no judgement
Ain't making no decisions
I am just telling ya'll my story
I love life
I love my mother for giving me life
We all need to appreciate life
A strong woman that had to make a sacrifice
Thanks for listening
Thanks for listening
Mama thanks for listening

H/T Creative Minority Report

No Swimmy Swimmy Here.

The pool man (I am beginning to not like saying that) did not make it yesterday. Don't know why..the manager is trying to find that out. The ground needs to be dug out and the guy that does that has given them the slip. hehe

So we are rescheduled for Saturday. I guess that's okay as it gives hubby more time to become an electrician. hehe

School started yesterday and the oldest was right back to his old ways of Math diversion tactics. I can't take another year of that. I hated to do it (hehe) but he pushed me to it. He got the lecture on responsibility and changing his ways. hehe.

I have to laugh at the end of each one of these are I'll just go crawl back into bed and ask for a do over.

Happy First Day of School!

That's what I will be saying in about 20 mins as I walk through the house. Right now, all is quiet. The kids are still asleep and unassuming. Little do they know..hahahahahaha (evil homeschooling mom laugh).

Lesson plans have been reviewed. Pencils are sharpened. Erasers are already broken off, crayons have been opened and lost and notebooks have been doodled in. And we haven't even started yet! I have so many plans!

Not only is it the first day of school, our pool is being installed today. We found out yesterday that the electrician was going to charge us around $1000 to install a dedicated outlet for the pool. I say "was". We said "no thanks". Originally, the pool guy (I love saying that), had told us it would be closer to $300. Big difference. The Electrician just laughed when we told him that. So..my darling hubby, handyman extraordinaire, will be learning how to run electricity to pools. :) I know there has to be a You Tube video out there just for him. ;)

We finally found a supplier of 55 gallon drums for our rain barrels and we purchased 4 of them yesterday. We had to drive an hour and a half to get them, but it will be well worth it when the rain is collecting in them and flowing out into my gardens. FREEly. Now we just have to get the gutter installed and set up the operation. Another You Tube video has already been bookmarked. Let me tell ya, I never thought I'd spend so much time on You Tube, but it's proved to be quite helpful for outdoor projects. There are some creative folks out there.

Next project is the deck surround for the pool and spa. Next weekend will be the deck building party. Some friends from hubby's work said they would help for pizza and beer. I offered pizza and soda. I want my deck to be plum. Ya know! Beer after the deck is built.

I will try to take pictures of the pool installation today. The kids can't wait to have their first pool party. Honestly, neither can I.

Other projects on tap here:
- Screening in the back porch
- Building a brick BBQ pit
- Sewing curtains for all the rooms

I'll keep ya up to date.
Off to get ready for school!

Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

September 6, 2009 - Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

All Things Well

Readings:
Isaiah 35:4-7
Psalm 146:7-10
James 2:1-5
Mark 7:31-37

The incident in today’s Gospel is recorded only by Mark. The key line is what the crowd says at the end: “He has done all things well.” In the Greek, this echoes the creation story, recalling that God saw all the things he had done and declared them good (see Genesis 1:31).

Mark also deliberately evokes Isaiah’s promise, which we hear in today’s First Reading that God will make the deaf hear and the mute speak. He even uses a Greek word to describe the man’s condition (mogilalon = “speech impediment”) that’s only found in one other place in the Bible—in the Greek translation of today’s Isaiah passage, where the prophet describes the “dumb” singing.

The crowd recognizes that Jesus is doing what the prophet had foretold. But Mark wants us to see something far greater—that, to use the words from today’s First Reading: “Here is your God.”

Notice how personal and physical the drama is in the Gospel. Our focus is drawn to a hand, a finger, ears, a tongue, spitting. In Jesus, Mark shows us, God has truly come in the flesh.

What He has done is to make all things new, a new creation (see Revelation 21:1-5). As Isaiah promised, He has made the living waters of baptism flow in the desert of the world. He has set captives free from their sins, as we sing in today’s Psalm. He has come that rich and poor might dine together in the Eucharistic feast, as James tells us in today’s Epistle.

He has done for each of us what He did for that deaf mute. He has opened our ears to hear the Word of God, and loosed our tongues that we might sing praises to Him.

Let us then, in the Eucharist, again give thanks to our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Let us say with Isaiah, Here is our God, He comes to save us. Let us be rich in faith, that we might inherit the kingdom promised to those who love Him.

Vaccination Information

Just read an article on the use of aborted fetal stem cell use in many of our vaccines. This article is not about abortion per se, it is about the effect of the use of these stem cells on the children who receive the vaccinations. I find it very important to read for new mothers and fathers that will be making the choice to vaccinate very soon. If you care to be informed on this issue please click on the excerpt to read the entire article:

Today, more than 23 vaccines are contaminated by the use of aborted fetal cells. There is no law that requires that consumers be informed that some vaccines are made using aborted fetal cells and contain residual aborted fetal DNA. While newer vaccines produced using aborted fetal cells do inform consumers, in their package inserts, that the vaccines contain contaminating DNA from the cell used to produce the vaccine, they do not identify the cells as being derived from electively aborted human fetuses.

Small Successes

God is so good!! He has placed some wonderful people in my life. He just placed some of them very far away from me :). But that's okay. Their words of encouragement and acts of prayer and sacrifice are..I have no words to describe my thanks.

So onto my successes..(they are not really mine)..all glory to God on this one.

1)I've found a neighborhood walking partner. Thanks be to God! She's really sweet..she brings her little 9 month old with us and he's just such a happy baby. Much better than my t-bone. You'd think he was ancient. I actually had to pull him up the hill this morning. Ugh.

2)I got a call from another new friend who shares my love for the Catholic faith and that is a blessing beyond blessings! Thanks be to God.

3)And best of all! BEST OF ALL!....I got to watch Glenn Beck on Fox with my hubby tonight..and we watched it LIVE!..meaning it wasn't dvr'd like we do everything else. This is best of all because he was actually home at 5 pm AND he didn't fall asleep! He actually paused it to rewind some parts I missed because I was cooking.

4)I made pan seared salmon with romaine salad and broccoli smothered in real butter. (I need someone to make me a margarine stick in a circle with a line through it..I am graphically challenged)
It was so dern delicious. A beautiful ending to what I thought this morning might not be a good day.

Thanks be to God..now and forever!

Good Friends, Good Fun

Last night I had a Close To My Heart Party (CTMH). I invited ladies from Church and the neighborhood. It went very well..we had a great time making a scrapbook page layout and getting to know one another. I was very glad to be entertaining in the house. I really miss Sarah. She is all things crafty. And very good at it, as any of you who have received one of her pay it forwards could attest. I think we would have had a great time last night.

We just received our pool and spa and hopefully that will be up and running by this weekend. We are building a deck around it, that may take a little longer than this weekend, but at least getting the pool in and hooking electrical and all that up to both should be done this weekend. Pray for dry ground. Of course, it's decided to rain for the last three days. If the ground does not dry out we can't put the pool in because the bobcat will not be able to get around to grade the area.

My camera card is acting wonky so I took some photo's on the cell of the pool and the layout we did. Hope you enjoy.


Still in The Box.


For more CTMH ideas check out Lola's Shop on my sidebar or visit her new blog.