It's a Good Thing

Thank You God for...

another day...a hot cup of coffee...chocolate cake for breakfast...a beautiful early morning...a quiet house...peaceful children...a happy hubby...

share your thoughts today..what are you thankful for?

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

Oh what a beautiful day! Thanks be to God for a beautiful sunrise this morning. I didn't have my camera with me on my walk this morning, or I would have snapped a picture of the lovely pinks and blues that lit up the sky today.

The Sun is up and all is bright and warm. Last evening was such a joy to spend with good friends and new friends.

Dinner was good, conversation was better and we got to eat Pecan Pie! My favorite! We finished the evening with a house blessing for the new home of our new friends and it was a perfect ending to a pretty dern near perfect day.

The reading for the house blessing was from Luke. About Martha and Mary. I have to say, I almost chuckled... God had a sense of humor! All day long I was preparing for the guests to come and I was really trying hard to not "fret" about it. Even trying to sneak in some prayers during the preparations. As I stood there, listening to the Gospel, I realized just how smooth the day had gone. Thanks to my boys, who cleaned up after dinner, and my girls, who entertained the young ones after dinner, I was able to sit with my hubby and chat with our friends. It was just so easy. If that's the right word.

With the Holidays coming, remember Martha and Mary. Don't forget to slow down and sit at His feet. Even if it means standing at the sink, potato peeler in hand, but ears and heart open to His word. Blessings!

MMMmmmm..mmmmm...mmmmm

I am making brisket for dinner tonight. Marinated in Claude's famous brisket sauce. My neighbor gifted me with a bottle of this! It is unbelievably yummy! My house smells like a BBQ joint. Yum!

I've got some company coming tonight and I tell ya, I can't wait! I love having friends over. I've got a few more preparations..peel potatoes for mash, and get the living room dusted. I managed to get out this morning and get the rest of the kids costume accessories. They wanted to be hippies for Halloween. Go figure. Even dad is in on it. They only had one "afro" left at Party City so we had to go with the "rocker" hair. Sorta Elvis looking. I'll post some pictures this weekend.

Unfortunately, couldn't find the chest hair the oldest wanted. (That just makes me laugh).

Anyhow, I'm off to dust..you know..I think I'll go with baked potatoes instead of mashed. Yeah...Perfecto!
Enjoy your day!

A Homeschool Family Funny

H/T Aussie Coffee Shop

An All Souls Day Project

An All Souls Day Project I hope you are able to support this project.

Check out this at Larry D.'s place.

Check out Fr. Z's place as well.

BLOG BREAK!!

It's been a while since I played this game..thanks Sarah-Kala for tagging me..here goes:

Six names you go by:

Well that just depends on who your talkin' to!


Three things you are wearing:

After careful consideration of this question, I came to the realization that I hope everyone who reads this is wearing at least 3 pieces of clothing. Otherwise... Yuk.

Three things you want very badly right now:

Right now I have all I need..a good hot cuppa joe, peace and quiet and a cute dog.

Three things you did last night/yesterday:

Hey now, what's with the personal questions?!?!
Okay okay...we're really not that exciting..we watched Greta and cried, AFHV and laughed and tuned into a bit of O'Reilly before turning in. Do you know there is a representative in Congress with the last name Weiner. How tough is that?! Bless his heart.

Two things you ate today:

I haven't eaten yet.

Two people you last talked to on the phone:
I had to go check the phone! :)

Sarah and my hubby.

Two things you are going to do tomorrow:

One day at a time! I've learned not to posit an answer that far in advance.

Your three favorite beverages:

Water
Water
Oh...and more...Water.

So there ya have it. Take a blog break and play along if you will. Just leave me a link in the 'ol combox and I'll check it out.

I am 71% On October 31st

A Priest Life has posted some info on the I Am 71 Percent campaign to let President Obama know that 71% of Americans do not support tax payer funded abortions.

If you are one of those 71% visit their site and consider supporting this campaign.

I Am 71%

A Military Chapel in NC

The Chapel at Camp Lejeune, NC set up for The Extraordinary Form of the Mass.


Father Aiden Logan, Navy Chaplain, (GO NAVY!) celebrates the Extraordinary Form of the Mass at Camp Lejeune, NC. Click here for more.

Call To Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray. O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Did you know that you can pray the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office, Prayers of the Church, Breviary, etc) with the help of Universalis.com?
I was blessed to pray Morning prayer and Vespers with the Benedictines of St. Bernards Abbey not long ago. To pray in the presence of these holy men and listen as their chant rises to the ears of Our Lord was a truly awesome experience.

For more info on the Liturgy of The Hours check out EWTN

World Priest Day

Heavenly Father,
We come before you today to ask your blessing on our brothers,
Whom you have called to the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Lord Jesus,
We ask that you support them with your presence
And fill them with grace to serve You faithfully.

Gracious Spirit,
Unite us in service with those whom you have called.
Open our hearts to encourage our brothers and sons to pursue your calling,
And open their hearts to hear Your call to this most Holy Sacrament.

Amen.


click HERE to find out more about World Priest Day.

Reason Without Faith

This is an interesting take on Reason.
The Big Apple Coalition on Reason

"Yet while our collective viewpoint is secular, we share commonalities with many belief systems -- including religious. We are committed to a more compassionate world; we are working for a more reasonable citizenry and a higher level of discourse; we are striving to increase the quality of life for all; and we find fellowship an integral part of the human condition. Theists and nontheists alike are the same people: we go to work everyday; we have families and friends; we are involved in our communities, state, and country; and we care deeply about life."

Here is what Pope John Paul II said in Fides et Ratio :

Deprived of what Revelation offers, reason has taken side-tracks which expose it to the danger of losing sight of its final goal. Deprived of reason, faith has stressed feeling and experience, and so run the risk of no longer being a universal proposition. It is an illusion to think that faith, tied to weak reasoning, might be more penetrating; on the contrary, faith then runs the grave risk of withering into myth or superstition. By the same token, reason which is unrelated to an adult faith is not prompted to turn its gaze to the newness and radicality of being.

This is why I make this strong and insistent appeal—not, I trust, untimely—that faith and philosophy recover the profound unity which allows them to stand in harmony with their nature without compromising their mutual autonomy. The parrhesia of faith must be matched by the boldness of reason.

Catholic Company Book Review: JP2 High: Trespass Against Us

John Paul 2 High: Trespasses Against Us
The Catholic Company

This review was submitted to me by my oldest. He really enjoys the series and is waiting patiently for the next book to come out.

After the recent events in book one, George Peterson in still recovering from the incident with Allie Weaver’s ex-boyfriend, Tyler Getz. George’s conflict with Tyler is far from over, and when Allie starts getting threatening text messages on her cell phone, George immediately ties Tyler to them. But! All is now what it seems! George is stuck between his feelings of revenge and the knowledge that he should forgive his enemies.
This book is full of suspense and mystery. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire read. It left me hungry for the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book to teens! You won't be disappointed.

You can find this book at The Catholic Company.

Chinese Chicken Lo Mein

Just made this last night. Yum. Delish!
From The Chinese Chicken Cookbook
Sauce:
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 tbsp Shao-Hsing Wine or Sherry
2 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
pinch of white pepper

6 cups water 1 tsp minced ginger
1 tsp salt 1 tsp minced garlic
8 oz Fresh Chinese egg noodles 3 steamed black mushrooms, julienned
(or angel hair pasta) 1/2 cup carrots, cut into 2 in. matchsticks
2 tbsp peanut oil 2 scallions chopped
1/4 cup water chestnuts,
matchsticked


Put all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, mix well and reserve.
Put the cold water in a large pot and add the salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the noodles and cook for 1 1/2 minutes, or until al dente. Turn off the heat. Run cold water into the pot and drain. Repeat twice more and drain thoroughly. Reserve.
Heat a wok over high heat for 30 seconds. Add peanut oil and coat wok with it. When a wisp of white smoke appears add ginger and garlic. Stir Briefly. Add all the vegetables and stir-fry for 2 1/2 minutes. Turn off heat, remove vegetables and reserve.
Stir the reserved sauce and pour it into the wok. Turn the heat back on to high. Bring the sauce to a boil, add the vegetables and noodles and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed. Transfer to a preheated dish and serve.

Yum Yum!

Reality

Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc - www.reverendfun.com

Surrounded by...

The spirit of mmlech! Thanks to Sarah-Kala for her sage advice & timeless wisdom. I miss our front porch chats dearly.

Fast Girls, Fast Planes & Babe Magnets

This weekend my boys were out at the air show pulling parking lot duty with the Scouts. All fine and good. They were having a great time watching the stunt planes and admiring the Mustangs in the car show.

Apparently there were a few girls who were admiring my oldest as well. He now fancies himself a "babe magnet". He was approached by several girls and even gave out his email address! So..we had the talk about fast girls. The ones, like Rick James said "the kind you don't bring home to mother."

Now, I'm jumping to conclusions here, but I still believe that girls should be asked, not do the asking. Is that so wrong? Am I outta touch?

It kinda takes you back to your high school days..remember your cuties? We did have some good lookin' fella's at my school. So I guess..I'll admit..

I'm sorta proud to be the mom of a "babe magnet". :)

They've Gone and Done it!

Unfortunately, my parish does not bear one of these signs.
So what do you do when there is liturgical abuse? Inform yourselves.

Here are some links to why liturgical dance is to be done outside the liturgy:

Such is the case of the Israelites: in the synagogue their prayer is accompanied by a continuous movement to recall the precept from tradition: "When you pray, do so with all your heart, and all your bones." And for primitive peoples the same observation can be made.

However, the same criterion and judgment cannot be applied in the western culture.

Here dancing is tied with love, with diversion, with profaneness, with unbridling of the senses: such dancing, in general, is not pure.

"For that reason it cannot be introduced into liturgical celebrations of any kind whatever: that would be to inject into the liturgy one of the most desacralized and desacralizing elements; and so it would be equivalent to creating an atmosphere of profaneness which would easily recall to those present and to the participants in the celebration worldly places and situations."

(click to read the entire Document from the Congregation of The Sacraments and Divine Worship)

And from Cardinal Francis Arinze: A MUST SEE



Please feel free to share your thoughts and sources.

Martha/Mary Moments

source: Nathan Greene.com

I started my day laughing! I began reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. (got it at the Local Library) I haven't gotten very far but I can see myself in these two women in so many ways.

Being a woman in this world can be so conflicting. So many demands are placed upon us. Whether it's career, home, children, family, study, prayer, volunteer, we are asked to give, give, give. Then the media, television, radio, they all tell you to take a break! oh, and by the way they have the product or fantastic destination that will make your break so relaxing. Which just leads to one more thing for a woman to give. So there is no true relaxation.

I find, like Mary, that being at the foot of Christ is the best place. I have made it a practice to try to get to Adoration every Wednesday. It is not so easy. Many preparations are made to make it easier for this to happen. That's where my Martha speaks. She makes sure to remind me that the kids need to eat before I leave..not after!

I would like to use this book in our women's group. Have you read it? Let me know what you think. Share your Martha/Mary moments.

Saints of The Day

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Ora Pro Nobis!
St. Hedwig, Ora Pro Nobis!

Super Dee Duper!

I haven't been around 'cause I was off on retreat for the weekend and when I came back the week hit me like a ton of bricks. I am still trying to dig my way out.
I can hear the voices now "so you think you can just take off?!?!?! huh??!? I'll get you my pretty! You and your little dog too!"

Well, the dog is fairing quite well..me however, I have a ton of cleaning up to do, guests coming over tonight for study and dinner to cook.

Oh and Mr. Pinch just duped me into buying a used pencil for a quarter. Oh well. The story of my life. But! It was freshly sharpened and had a good eraser left!

Anyhow, I wanted to touch base with this blog. In case someone is actually reading it on anything like a regular basis. Even though its a sad little thing, really. I quite neglectful of it. I haven't even posted anything political in a while to spice it up a bit. To tell you the truth, I'm just tired of politics right now. And laundry and dishes and mopping and vacuuming.

Lord, bless my work here at home. Help me to see the fruitfulness of it and the joy that it brings my family to have a clean pair of socks and a hot meal on the table. Most Blessed Mother Mary, grant me the grace to serve my family without grumble. Amen.

Happy 13th!

I now have 2! Count 'em , 1, 2, teenagers under my roof. St. Therese, Pray for us!

He's destined for greatness! Just look at that mischievous smile.

It's My Crazy Life

Haven't been around here lately. Haven't found the time. I am preparing to go to a ladies retreat on Thursday. I can't wait!
Many good and wonderful things have happened lately though..one of our favorite Priests came back from vacation and is back to saying Daily Mass! We missed him much over the last two months.

My middle boy turns 13 tomorrow! Unbelievable! He is just a hair taller than his momma, but I can still take him! God is so good.

Picked up a ton of books at Borders, encyclopedia type books and a guitar song book for my oldest. The Little Princess for Panini and Little Women (see it, hear it (comes with cd))for Mr. Pinch. Those two are listening now before they head to bed. I like those books with CD, it introduces the classics to them and hopefully will spark a love of good reading.

Tomorrow we will take Mr. Awesome our to dinner at his favorite Mexican restaurant. That boy can eat some beans let me tell ya! And we all pay for it too.

I need to head to the Catholic bookstore to pick up some prayer partner gifts for my retreat. It will be a very nice quiet prayer time. I need a good recharge on the ol' batteries.

Speaking of..I'm headed to the big soaker tub to relax a bit tonight. I miss all my friends and family and a hot bath helps rejuvenate me and rid me of the sadness. I just realized I have't talked to my mom in over two weeks! We normally talk every day. I've been so busy and she's been busy with some volunteering. I. Will. Call. Tomorrow!
St. Therese, Pray for us!

Something Is Rotten In Denmark

Michelle Malkin has a good piece on Michelle Obama's "sacrificial" trip to Denmark this last week.

Something is rotten in Denmark. It smells too much like Chicago.

Worth the read.

Small Successes

It's been a very busy and exhausting week. I think I can safely call these few things "successes".

1. I managed to get 90% of the laundry done. I just went into my oldest sons room. Thank goodness he's camping this weekend or he'd be in a heap a' hot water!
2. We finished week 4 of school.
3. I signed the kids up for bowling league and we actually went!:)
4. We got to daily Mass twice this week! (Feasts of St. Michael & St. Therese)
5. We have successfully prayed the Rosary every school day so far this year!

So, all I want to do now is just relax. My hubby came home from a business trip to Canada and headed straight for scouts. Ugh. I know he didn't want to do it as much as I didn't want him to. He's tired from the trip. He's also committed to those boys and our boys. They were really looking forward to this weekender with Dad. So, off he went. I'll check in with him on Sunday. We'll get a chance to catch up.

Ya'll have a wonderful evenin'!

St. Therese, Ora Pro Nobis!