Going Paperless

Yesterday morning I looked forward to sitting down and composing a post honoring the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. My original idea was to gather quotes from eyewitnesses to the attack utilizing a specific book. The University of North Texas Oral History Program has collected oral history interviews from over 350 survivors, compiling them into a great resource titled, Remembering Pearl Harbor: Eyewitness Accounts by U.S. Military Men and Women, by Dr. Ronald Marcello and Dr. Robert LaForte.

I work in a library, which is a true joy - having so many reference books and services literally at your fingertips. I have the book I wanted at home, but didn’t think about getting it out before I came to the office. Yesterday I learned that my library doesn’t have a physical copy of the book; it’s only available as an eBook. Meaning that while I’m standing at a computer terminal surrounded by thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of academic research books, I have to go back to my office and stare at my computer screen to access the book online one page at a time, waiting for each page to load.

This is infuriating to those of us who grew up skimming books, rapidly browsing 10+ pages in under a minute, with keywords leaping off the page until we find what we’re looking for. I do realize that with an eBook the patron does not have to physically come to the library to use or check out the book, which suits our current instant gratification generation. I will admit to having a few free classics saved on my iPod for those rare moments I’m stuck somewhere without a real book tucked in my bag, purse, or car.

But when it comes to doing reference work, I’m definitely in the camp of people who are desperate for a physical stack of books that I can put my hands on and flip through the pages. Yes, I’m also one of those people who look up full-text articles online and hit PRINT just so I can get away from the computer for a while, take notes, underline, and highlight salient points. I’m the person that has so many books at home, my husband gives me that look when I bring home a new one. I’m very selective about which books are good enough for me to buy for my home versus just checking out a (hard) copy through the public or academic library.

Even as I write this, I’ve received an email (okay, I love email) stating that the US Government will cease publishing their 7.5" topographic quadrangle maps in a paper map format and will publish them only on their website.

I still refuse to believe that our society will go 100% paperless, but maybe those episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation where Picard reviewed all his reports on a handheld device aren’t too farfetched after all.

December 7, 1941

The instant I awoke this morning I realized it was Pearl Harbor Day. I don’t know exactly what Pearl Harbor means to most people anymore. How aware are they of the significance of that day? That thought led me to wonder whether in 68 years there will be young adults, teenagers, and children for whom Ground Zero is just a memorial in New York City representing some event one day in the distant past.

I visited Pearl Harbor in 1988; rode the ferry over to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial and stood in awe of the immensity of the attack. Tourists from all over the world joined me in hushed silence as we looked across Battleship Row and paid respect to those thousands who died in the attack.

On that fateful Sunday morning in 1941, there were ninety-four American warships anchored off the coast of Oahu in the US Territory of the Hawaiian Islands. At 6:30 a.m. American patrol planes sighted the first of two midget submarines trying to sneak into the harbor. A little after 7 a.m., a soldier at a U.S. Army radar station picked up an image representing a large number of planes, but officers assumed they were a flight of American bombers expected from California. The Japanese attack began at 7:55 a.m., unleashing bombs and torpedoes on Battleship Row, Ford Island Naval Air Station, Hickam Field, among other targets across the island. After two waves of attacks, with heated return fire from the US forces, the Japanese were able to successfully destroy five U.S. battleships, a number of other ships, and 261 aircraft, killing 2,390 Americans and wounding 1,178 others.

The secret attack at Pearl Harbor was the worst WWII defeat of the United States, and it united our country and forced us decisively into WWII.

I encourage everyone not familiar with the events of the day to take some time and read more about it. The National Archives website offers a few documents, including the original typescript of President Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy speech before Congress the following day. There are excellent photographs at the Naval History & Heritage Command website.

Though many years have passed, as I read about Japan and the U.S. at the precipice of war in the late 1930s, I cannot help but wonder whether the politics of the world have changed all that much. The game is still afoot, though the major players have different names. No one desires war, but many desire to knock down our powerful country and all it stands for. On 9-11 I went home, full of hurt and anger and put out our U.S. flag. I remember thinking that this day was our Pearl Harbor and wondering how much our daily lives would be affected. I continue to wonder what lays ahead for us, and whether we would really be able and willing to "Work, Fight, Sacrifice" for our country in the manner of our grandparents generation.

Bringing Beauty to the World

A few weeks ago, we taught our CCE students that God reveals Himself to us through Divine Revelation using Creation, People, and Jesus. By revealing Himself through Creation, God surrounds us with Beauty. You know that moment where you find yourself looking at a scene that leaves you breathless: the mist rising from a warm bayou in the cold stillness of an early morning, sun breaking through dark clouds after a thunderstorm, the brilliance of a clear blue sky in Fall - those are the moments when you realize that God created this world. God also uses people to do His works and reveal His truth when we share our special God-given talents with others or perform selfless acts of love toward each other.

On the tenth anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s Letter to Artists, Pope Benedict XVI hosted artists from around the world in the Sistene Chapel, where he expressed his interest in renewing “the Church’s friendship with the world of art.”

The Holy Father told the crowd of over 250 artists they are the “custodians of beauty,” and that because of their talents they have the “opportunity to speak to the heart of humanity, to touch individual and collective sensibilities, to call forth dreams and hopes, to broaden the horizons of knowledge and of human engagement.”

According to Pope Benedict XVI, in a world lacking of hope, with increasing signs of aggression and despair, there is an ever greater need for a return to spirituality in art. Artists have a renewed opportunity to bring beauty to the world, to use their gifts to enlighten mankind to the glory of God.

Vatican Splendors

National Museum of Catholic Art and History

Vatican Museums Online Collections

Advent - Preparation for a Mom

Advent – the season of preparing for Christ’s birth – arrived on Sunday.  Our priest reminded us that it’s like being a child waiting to go on a big vacation, all excitement and bustle.  In the same way we might prepare for a vacation or birthday or other big event, we now prepare our home, our families, and ourselves for Christ.

For most of us, preparing as a child is all about the excitement and waiting.  As adults, the word prepare, takes on a whole new meaning: Christmas cards, Christmas shopping, Christmas dinner, Christmas parties.  And as the adults, the work falls squarely on our shoulders.

So is it any wonder that I’m sitting up at almost 1 a.m. with so much on my mind that I can’t sleep.  It’s not just preparing for the Christmas season in my house, there are also school functions, parties, two birthdays and lots of extras on my “to do” list.  This year I’m also responsible for  room mom duties at both the preschool and kindergarten classes, contract work that needs to be finished, two birthday parties to host in one week, and so much more.

So instead of getting a good night’s rest to help tackle my Advent preparation,  I’m sitting up making mega-lists and worrying about how it will all get done. 

Is there a saint for worry warts like me?  Please let me know, because, I think I’m going to need a little extra help getting thru the next few weeks. And I have sneaky feeling that I’m not alone.

Pro Life America, but a Pro Abortion Congress

While on the treadmill one morning, a news headline on the television caught my eye, "New Poll shows 61% of Americans oppose public funding of abortions."  CNN continued on to say that  in addition,  51% of all Americans think women should pay for abortions out of their own pockets, even if they have private health insurance and no federal funds are involved.

Couple this new information with the two earlier polls this year showing that a majority of Americans now label themselves pro-life and you have to wonder who Congress is listening to while writing the Health care Reform bills.  While the Stupak Amendment prohibiting federal dollars paying for abortions barely passed in the House, House majority leaders announced the same week that they will work to strip the Stupak Amendment from the final version of the bill during conference committee.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has created a monthly Abortion Fee on all Americans in the Senate Bill for a new Government run health care plan to fund abortions. His plan provides for an unprecedented expansion of federally-funded abortion, even though nearly 2/3 of Americans oppose the federal funding of abortions.

While our country is becoming more pro-life, our Congress clings to a  diminished radical mentality of federally funded abortion.  This disconnect between the country and Congress is becoming more prevalent as the Health Care Bills are being debated and then votes are taken. 

At this time, while the Senate bill is currently being debated, it is imperative to let our voices be heard on what we want for our country and the country we leave for our children.

Thanksgiving Proclamation

[New York, 3 October 1789]

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

- Geo. Washington

A Christmas Carol

This weekend my husband and I took our daughters, age 10 and 7, to see the new animated 3-D Christmas Carol movie starring Jim Carrey.

My family (husband and daughters) are most familiar with A Christmas Carol from watching the 1999 Patrick Stewart version annually. When my husband and I were dating, we had the audio cassette of Stewart's one-man show, and listened to it regularly during the holidays. About a week ago, we started reading the original Charles Dickens story aloud after dinner as our family book.

So it was a happy surprise to our daughters when we pulled up at the theater and received our 3D glasses. The experience that follows is mixed.

Visually, the action is impressive and at times stunning. While the characters appear a bit oddly porportioned, their facial expressions and "acting" are dead on and you almost, nearly, forget you're watching animation. I worried that Jim Carrey, as Scrooge, would come across too strongly, forcing more Carrey into the character. But only a few times in the movie did I "recognize" Carrey's signature physical and vocal stylings. (Most prominently when Scrooge realizes he hasn't missed Christmas.) Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchitt nailed the character and elicted the most emotion from his scenes regarding Tiny Tim.

The techniques employed to segue from Spirit to Spirit provide you with visuals of the city and a sweeping motion that carries off excitingly in 3D format. But here I must insert a warning to parents of children under the age of 8: the original title of this book is A Christmas Carol: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, and the producers seem intent on including additional frightening elements not found in the original tale. These added effects appearing in 3D occasionally made me wonder whether the movie was more suitable for Halloween than Christmas. The Ghost of Christmas Present, who in the book simply ceases to exist at the stroke of midnight, perishes in the movie by clutching his chest in an apparant heart attack, falls down with cackling laughter and decomposes into a skeleton, skull still cackling, until the bones themselves disintegrate (reminiscent of one man's fate in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) until his dust blows over you in a shuddering manner. (3D remember...)

Another purely contrived lengthy special effects scene has the Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come relentlessly chasing Scrooge through the dark streets with a pair of terrifying black horses and their glowing red eyes and steamy breath reaching out to you. It would be scary to children without the 3D effect, but this one had both my daughters cowering and the 7 yr old pulled off her glasses quickly and hid her face.

Needless to say these moments, like a bit of sour milk, spoiled the overall taste of the movie for us. We expected there would be 3D scenes to make us jump--Marley's ghostly face in the doorknocker and his appearance and departure were deliciously perfect--but these later scenes were gratuitous at best.

The dialogue largely stayed true to the original text, though parts may be unfamiliar to those who haven't read the book or seen every version of the film and stage. I've read mixed reviews praising the film for including the religious songs "Adeste Fidelis" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and the camera lingered in a beautiful moment over a church steeple giving homage to reason for the season. However, there was one moment in the movie that pointedly derived from the original Dickens dialogue. I'm still turning it over and over in my mind what they truly mean to say with the insertion of one phrase (in italics below).

The Ghost of Christmas Present and Scrooge are observing people bringing their food to the bakery to be cooked. Scrooge says to the Ghost something close to, "You would deprive them of their means of dining every seventh day, often the only day on which they can be said to dine at all.” And in the movie, the ghost replies, There are some upon this earth of ours, so-called men of the cloth, who lay claim to know us, who are strange to us. Charge their doings on themselves, not us.”

The actual book reads:

"There are some upon this earth of ours,” returned the Spirit, “who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.”

Another noticible departure from the original dialogue is Mrs. Cratchitt looking at the dinner goose and wistfully commenting how she wishes her children might one day taste turkey. That was a big "huh?" moment for me also.

Still, as families head to the theater for Thanksgiving weekend, rest assured the remainder of the film appears true to the tale, with Scrooge arriving at his resolution to keep Christmas in his heart and Tiny Tim ringing out, "God Bless Us, Everyone!"

Update on the Senate Health Care Reform Vote

 To clarify my post yesterday on the Senate Health Care Bill- the vote today, Saturday, is a vote for Cloture, not on the actual passage of the bill.  But, the vote for cloture today is the actual deciding vote on this bill.  Harry Reid needs 60 votes for cloture, to move the bill forward towards a vote for passage, but he only needs 51 votes to pass the bill.  He most definitely has the 51 votes to pass the bill, so the only way to put the breaks on this monstrosity is for the Senate to fall short of the 60 votes for cloture tonight.

A recent study on cloture votes vs bill passage shows bills that passed cloture also go on to pass the Senate at a rate of 97.6% since 1999.


This vote will allow several moderate Democrats the opportunity to vote for the bill before they vote against the bill - an "out" for their reelection in tight states.

A vote for Cloture is a vote for the Health Care Reform Bill!

Important Health Care Reform Bill Vote Tomorrow in Senate

I encourage everyone to read all 2,074 pages of the Senate Health Care Reform bill if you have the time. It is predicted it would take 34 hours to read this bill not including the required time necessary to understand and analyze it. I personally don’t have the time to read this monstrosity of legislative language, so I look to various places that I trust for analysis.  And then I seek several other sources to verify the accuracy of the information in the first sources.

The truly terrifying part is how this entire process has been rushed.  Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid unveiled his new bill on Wednesday and plans for a vote in the Senate on Saturday.  There is no disagreement, that he is expecting our Senators to vote on a bill they have not read and have not publicly debated.

While most Americans want to see some sort of health care reform, I must ask you, is this really the reform you were expecting?  Are you confident that creating a new government bureaucracy will control costs and perform the intended function better than a free market system?  How sure are you?  Confident enough to saddle future generations with this enormous debt?

If you take the time to read varied analysis of the Senate bill, they all agree they this bill will raise taxes, hurt small businesses, and encourage employers to dump their employees on the government plan to avoid their massive tax increases.  In a time of 10.2% unemployment, can you afford more taxes?  What happens to your job if your employer is confronted with the mandates, fines and taxes in this bill that would go into effect on January 1, 2010?

One of the tricky parts of this bill, that the media doesn't like to address, is the fact that the taxes go into effect on January 1, 2010, but the "health benefit" part of this bill does not begin until 2014.  In order to make the bill appear "deficit neutral", they've front loaded the bill with taxes. What that means is the American people will pay four years of taxes before health care begins – or you pay taxes for ten years and receive health care for only six. But what happens after the first 10 years?  How will they be able to fund  these "benefits" and call them deficit neutral?

The Democrat leaders and President Obama state that we have to pass these bills without taking the time for public debate, analysis or even public reading because our health care system is in such a crisis that there simply isn't time to do so.  If they truly believe that, then how do they explain not starting any benefits for another 4 years?  What about the millions of people who have lost their health insurance when they lost their job this year? 

Another lovely provision added to the bill is a $100 million gift to Louisiana to help their moderate Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu make up her mind to support the bill.  They have also included, in the 17 new tax increases, a 5% tax on all elective cosmetic surgeries, whether covered by insurance or not. The Senate bill also creates a new marriage tax penalty after Congress allegedly removed the previous marriage penalty earlier this year.

I'm sure you've heard by now that new federal health care regulations have been introduced this week that includes limiting mammograms to women over the age of 50 and allowing only one every two years, rather than the current standards set by the American Cancer Society of once a year for women over the age of 40.  This rationing of care for "cost savings" is only a beginning of what to expect under government run health care.

 To secure the last few votes Speaker Pelosi needed for the House healthcare bill, last week she allowed the Stupak amendment to come for a vote.  The amendment, which strips the federal funding of abortion out of the House bill, passed and was included to the House bill immediately before the final vote.  Democratic House Leaders now admit that allowing the amendment was a strategic tactic to secure votes, but assure their voters, they will strip the amendment out of the bill in conference with the Senate.  They are confident that the federal funding of abortion remain in final health care bill. 

On the Senate side, Harry Reid has created a monthly Abortion Fee on all Americans in the new Government run health care plan. His plan provides for an unprecedented expansion of federally-funded abortion, even though almost 2/3 of Americans oppose the federal funding of abortions.  Don't leave this issue to the Catholic Bishops and pro-life groups.   

There is enough in these health care reform bills that will affect every one of our lives.  We should be paying close attention to the tax increases Congress is passing before it starts coming out of our paychecks and wallets this January, especially in this current economic climate. The deficit was already at an unprecedented high in 2008, and this year it has quadrupled  under the current Congress and President.

These bills propose healthcare for most, but at what cost?

This vote Saturday, tomorrow, in the Senate proposes to create a massive new government bureaucracy that cannot be undone.  I encourage you to take the time to read about the proposals in the links above and the two below, and then call your Senator's office to let them know what you think.  At the very least, they should not be rushing as they are to pass something so large without time for a full and public debate.

The Foundry
American Papist

Running the Marathon of Life

Once again, Lisa and I spent the weekend in San Antonio. Our husbands, sister-in-law, and two of their siblings ran Sunday in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon. We brought our five children up on Saturday night to cheer them on.

As over 30,000 runners took to the streets of San Antonio early Sunday morning, we staked out our first viewing area at mile 2, Alamo Plaza. The wheelchair marathoners started first, arms bulging as they spun their chairs, legs absent or tucked tightly into place. The Kenyans and other favored front-runners led a long steady seemingly never-ending stream of runners of all ages that passed by for over an hour.

Running is a solitary sport; the average marathoner races not against others, but against himself, striving to find his limit and go farther. This internal struggle about pushing yourself, telling your body it can keep going--my husband says that’s where you find faith.

At the Runners Expo the day before the marathon, he found himself drawn to a booth for a ministry called Team 413. Their name comes from Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. When you are focused on running, you draw on your faith that God is going to support you towards that finish line. Even when your body says you can’t, He says you can.

One more breath...

One more step...

One more mile...

Even though running is a solitary event, I’ve heard from our five family runners how much they prefer to run with others. How they fall into packs of other runners with a similar pace and run together, not necessarily as part of a team, but still drawing encouragement from one another. Just as we go through life as individuals, we surround ourselves with people that encourage us and push us to succeed in a variety of ways.

This is the second half-marathon for my husband and he noted that the Rock'n' Roll marathon series attracted a noticeably larger number of spectators lining the entire route. In addition to the various music stages set every few miles, there were local cheerleader, dance teams, and a high school band out motivating the runners.

At one point, runners passed by a gathering of severely disabled young people, ages four to fifteen, who had been brought out to witness the runners even though the children were largely unable to cheer and may not have been entirely cognizant of what they were seeing. They lined the sidewalk taking it all in with their teachers in attendance. My husband noticed them because of their headgear and special needs wheelchairs. He grew up with a cousin who has a severe form of cerebral palsy, so as he passed by the students he waved to them, made eye contact and called our Hi, Good Morning, Thank you for being here. Some of the students recognized that he had made eye contact, was talking to them, and their faces brightened. As he continued running, other runners were also acknowledging the children.

Sometimes we are the runners and sometimes we are the spectators, but no one goes through this life alone. We do not run alone. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Public Thank You Brings Me Hope

I like to read the comments section of news articles on the web. I find it interesting to see what other people think after reading the same article. Usually I find myself saddened by all the vile hate that is spewed at people who disagree with each other. Are people that hateful and upset with their own lives that they feel the need to say such horrific things to each other? Or is it the relative anonymity of the internet that allows people to shake off the mantel of civility? Are we doomed to continue this great divide until the fabric of our society is threatened?

Today I was sent the link to a blog post on HillBuzz written by a self described, “bunch of gay Hillary guys in Boystown, Chicago.” Not a blog I have ever read or heard of, but I was drawn in by the title of the article, Thank you former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. What I found there moved me deeply. These men have written a wonderful tribute to the former President and First Lady and recognized that they wrongly believed the hateful vitriol published by the Main Stream Media over the last 9 years. Shocked and impressed with their writing, I moved on to read through some of their 500+ comments posted below.

I sat, stunned, reading hundreds of comments for way too long because I was surprised by the warmth of the readers. It is very unusual to find a well written blog with comments in the hundreds that are not only civil, but respectful of each other. I was not the only reader to notice the effect this blog post was having on the visitors to their site. Comment after comment stated how this heartfelt post gave them hope for our country. That after all of the name calling divisive years that seemed only to get worse, people were waking up and thinking for themselves once again. And recognizing the similarities in all Americans rather than focusing on the differences.

My hat goes off to HillBuzz for filling me with hope that our society can overcome the hateful rhetoric pushed by so many with an agenda and see each other as simply Americans.

For their Service

This morning, we join our country honoring friends, neighbors, colleagues, and strangers who selflessly served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally designated to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place in the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918. The US legislature modified the holiday to include American Veterans of all wars in 1954 at the urging of veterans service organizations.

Yesterday morning on a local radio program, the host extolled the sacrifices made by our veterans in their services to our country. As he continued, my mind wandered to a recent CCE lesson on the lives of Saints – how they sacrificed their own comfort, and sometimes their lives, for God. In a similar manner, so too have our soldiers given up their own comforts, and sometimes their lives, for our country. For us, that we might enjoy the freedoms we too often take for granted.

On this Veterans Day, please take a minute to discover ways you might give back and show our support to them. Fly the American flag, view a parade or other service, dedicate a Mass, or contact a VFW hall and ask what they need. Last week my family participated in signing Christmas cards for our active servicemen and women in Afghanistan. The individual who put us in touch with this project reported they mailed 77 cases of cards and personal items.

The committee spent nearly three hours in line at the post office window completing six-page Customs forms, and watching the clerk stamp each and every page. As the line grew, others waiting became uncomfortable and tempers began to flare. However, after the organizers explained that the boxes were going to our boys and girls in Afghanistan, attitudes quickly changed, and folks started giving the committee ten dollar bills to help with the postage.

Lisa and I have a short list on the right-hand sidebar of ways you can support our current troops, and please remember to thank retired Veterans for their years of service also.

America Supports You
Cell Phones for Soldiers
Landstuhl Hospital Care Project
Move America Forward
The USO
Treats for Troops

Those Little Moments: God's Beauty

On the way home last week, after an intense rainstorm, the kids and I saw this rainbow. It was awe-inspiring to see this rainbow stretch across the sky with both ends visible from start to finish.  Every Roy G Biv color stood out vividly, and at one point we could even see a double arch in the sky.

Seeing this perfect rainbow initiated a lively conversation in the car, with the kids discussing everything from what causes a rainbow to is there really a pot of gold? From there, we discussed Noah and the rainbow God sent as his promise. Can we imagine that rainbow that appeared to Noah; would it have been as full and bright as this one, or more brilliant?

Even on an ordinary day, God reminds us that He is with us everywhere.

Serving

Yesterday, on the anniversary of her baptism, my older daughter participated in the Mass as an Altar Server for the first time.

As one of four servers, she assisted the Liturgy of the Eucharist. She and an older boy, the veteran, processed down the aisle with the priest and others; she helped to receive the gifts, held the bowl and towel as Fr. Mathew washed his hands, and stood proudly to receive communion with the other servers and Eucharistic Ministers.

She didn’t fidget or look bored, but responded and sang in the appropriate places. She behaved like a very mature young lady. Words cannot express how proud I felt watching her participate.

My mother drove an hour to attend our morning Mass and see her oldest granddaughter. I wish I’d been able to take a picture of them together, with my daughter in the alb. Growing up, Lisa and I often heard Mom wistfully comment how much she wished she could be an altar server, and she said it again more than once this morning. I don’t remember having any such desire myself, but it wasn’t available even then. Girls have only been allowed to serve since 1994.

As a parent, you try to teach and lead your children by example, without pressure. My daughter’s interest in participating shows me that she is beginning to develop her own identity within our church community.

What Every Catholic Mom Longs for...and Prays for...

 I received a beautiful, simple email this morning from Catholic Online that I must share with you. 

What Every Catholic Mom Longs for . . . 

and Prays for...  

Lord, please give me:

1.
Greater understanding of my husband

2.
Love sufficient to make our marriage better

3.
Greater devotion to the Virgin Mary

4.
The wisdom I need to raise my kids Catholic

5.
Good Catholic books they will love

6.
Catholic homework help --- for all subjects

7.
Kindness, no matter what happens, or how bad things get

8.
The ability to pray, even among the dishes and dirty diapers

9.
Gentle ways to draw those I love into . . . or back into . . . the Church

10.
Saintly solutions for all the other problems my days bring me

11.
Just a few moments of rest. 

(More would be better, but a few moments will do.)
 

New Pathways

Last month, Lisa and I mused on how we could get to know our priests better. As it turns out God had an answer.

Within days of writing that post, I was speaking to a woman about something PTA-elementary school related when she expressed her surprise that I wasn’t at a Pastoral Council information meeting the past Sunday. I had received a letter from our church the week before, but didn't read it. I only glanced at the envelope before putting it in my workbag with other documents for later review, and then completely forgot. That letter turned out to be an official invitation to go through our parish Discernment process for Pastoral Council.

After discussing the topic with my husband, I attended the second information meeting. During the meeting, I became cautiously excited about this opportunity to serve. It seemed as though God was opening a door and revealing a new path. I considered how various events in my life over this past year may have been given to me in preparation for this invitation. There were about 15 people attending this meeting and we were told only four or five would be discerned into the Council.

I had some time to pray about whether this was a true calling. I considered it carefully, checked my schedule, spoke to my husband, and decided to attend the official discernment meeting.

There were only six of us.

While listening to the others talk and observing the interactions, I knew that I wanted to be a part of this group. I received my call – on the telephone, from Father Bob – asking me to serve on the Council later that evening.

My first introductory experience took place this weekend and I'm already learning more about the two priests who run our Parish. I learned-much to my surprise-that our new Pastor, Fr. Bob, was the priest at the Catholic Church I attended in college nearly twenty years ago.

After this one weekend I am filled with hopeful anticipation of the year ahead. I’m looking forward to getting to know the other members, to making (face to face) friends based on our mutual faith, and growing in my own spirit and faith from this experience.

Locked Out is a Message from God

Rushing to leave the house quickly to pick up my youngest from preschool, I ran out into the garage and pulled my house door shut behind me. Right as the door went “click”; I realized I’d left my keys on the kitchen counter. Oops. We have never kept a key hidden on the property because I am just too paranoid for that and have never gotten around to giving one to a neighbor like at our old house.

Thankfully, I had my phone with me, so I made a couple of calls and arranged for my mom to pick up Birdie and come unlock my house. I hung up and suddenly realized I had an hour to kill outside by myself with nothing in particular to do. It was a strange feeling to suddenly have nowhere to go, no one with me and nothing to accomplish. I remembered my magazines I keep in the car for carpool and took them around to my front porch to sit. In the two years we’ve lived in this house, I have never once sat in my big wicker chairs decorating our wraparound porch. Very sad, I know, but I did discover they are very comfortable as well as good looking.

As I sat there, I realized what a beautiful day it was; nice and cool with a clear blue sky. My thoughts kept coming back to the idea that I really needed this break, to take the time out and do nothing. Even though I had my iPhone on me with all its glory and connectivity, I didn’t use it. Instead, I just sat and enjoyed doing nothing, just flipping absentmindedly through my magazines watching the cars drive by the house.

In that hour, I realized this “break” is necessary in my life. It was rejuvenating and calming to be still. A smile came across my face as I realized this was God’s way of telling me to enjoy life and remind me that I do have time to be quiet and still.

When I saw my mom’s minivan come around the corner, a part of me was sad. Even though I knew she brought me lunch and my precious daughter, I really didn’t want to go inside and leave that moment. God, in his infinite wisdom, found a way to speak to me in a manner I would hear clearly and understand. I’ll admit that it’s been a few weeks since I locked myself out and I haven’t been back to my porch to sit, but I am making much more of an effort to be still, quiet and thank the Lord for all his blessings in my life every day.

Respect Life: Health Care Reform - Contact your Senators & Representatives Today

As we observe the end of Respect Life month, the House released their 1,990 page Health Care Reform bill that most decidedly does not respect life.

In an unprecedented move, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USSCB) has delivered a solid written statement to all  Catholic parishes and congregations asking them to strongly send a message  to their U.S. Senators and U.S Representatives against the Health Care Reform bills in both houses of Congress.  Catholics should urge their political representatives to vote against the bills in their current form.

The motivation of the USCCB is that they support health care reform that respects the life and dignity of all people, and these bills are in direct contradiction to that mission.  Congress, in drafting these bills, rejected several amendments that included bans on taxpayer funded abortion and a strong conscience clause to protect health care workers.

Under the current health care reform bills, your tax dollars will go to perform abortions and health care workers are not protected from being forced to perform procedures against their moral or religious beliefs.  Parishes have been asked to include an insert in the weekly Bulletin or flyer for distribution after Mass.  Visit this link to get a copy to forward to your parish office to verify inclusion. 

The USCCB is not alone in their opposition to the bills, the Texas Catholic Conference has also issued a strong statement against the current Health Care Reform bills, along with The Catholic Medical Association.

In addition to the provisions against Life, there are other problems with these bills that are too numerous to list here.  Another large issue to bring to your attention are the increased taxes on the average American included in Health Care Reform. These tax increases do not discriminate; they  apply across the board to all Americans and all Businesses.

The proponents of Health Care Reform would have you believe only the "rich" would be affected. This is simply not true. For example, included is an excise tax on medical devices, such as hearing aids, contact lenses and the like.  There are 13 New Tax Increases in the House Democrat Health Care Bill, and many were not in the previous House versions of this bill.  It is predicted these tax increases will cost taxpayers $700 Billion in the next ten years.

Another argument for passing this legislation is that there is an urgency to cover all the uninsured persons immediately.  The bills being considered prove that argument to be false.  While the increased taxes take effect immediately upon passage, the health benefits do not start until 2013, several years too late to provide assistance to anyone currently hurting without insurance during our current economic downturn.  

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that this bill will cost the U.S. $1.055 TRILLION, not including the $245 billion needed to stop Medicare payments to doctors from decreasing, which the House plans to address through separate legislation introduced Thursday.  They also anticipate that penalties against individuals and corporations will bring in $161 billion and income and excise taxes levied will raise another $572 billion.

Proponents of the Health Care Reform Bills would have you believe that the only opposition to this bill is manufactured by the Republican Party.  First, no one who is intellectually honest could even accuse the Catholic Church in America of being controlled or influenced by the Republican Party.  Second,  Democrats and Independents are on the fence or against the Health Care Reform Bills, and Senator Leibermann (I) announcing his intent to join a filibuster against the Senate bill, the only true bipartisan unity is against these bills.

Time is of the essence. A vote could come on this bill as early as next week. Contact your Senator and Representative today!

* This post was a true joint effort, as Lisa accidentally deleted Shelly's draft on the topic. So, Lisa rewrote it with help from Shelly.

Happy Birthday Stellan

In early July 2008, the woman we know as MckMama went for her routine 20-week ultrasound for her fourth pregnancy. She discovered that there was a problem with the baby's heart. From that moment forward, this blogging mother of MSC (many small children; she has four) shared with her friends her fear, worries, determination, strength, and humbling faith.

Through word of mouth, her blog grew beyond expectations. There is a whole community that follows McKMama via her blog or twitter. I've posted about her before during one of Stellan's previous hospitalizations.

Two days ago Stellan's heart flipped into prolonged SVT and again things look very serious for him.

I keep thinking about this "miracle baby." When they first learned about his heart condition, the doctors said they were 95% certain that he would be stillborn. Very few medical professionals actually thought this child would survive his birth (today, one year ago). Miraculously, he was born alive...and has survived incredible odds.

No matter what happens to Stellan today, I honestly see this child as a sign from God that He exists. That He answers prayer. That He has a plan and we don't know what it is. That we must rely on blind faith. That God carries us through.

Stellan's LIFE is a GIFT. It is a clear sign that one life, no matter how small, can make a difference. Here, at the end of Respect Life month, this child - whom doctors said would not be here today - struggles for his life and we pray for God to heal him. We also pray God's will be done.

As I'm praying today for Stellan and his family, I'm reminded of these words MckMama wrote on August 7, 2008 before she knew Stellan would be born alive.

Stellan will live. He will! He will live here on earth, or he will live in Heaven with my sweet Jesus. God knows what He is going--for His glory--and none of this surprises Him. And, even if Stellan were to go home to Heaven today, I would still be so proud of all that he has accomplished even in his short life on earth!! I would count myself blessed to have carried him in my womb. And just as I have been a vessel of medication for him, Stellan has been a vessel of God's work in my spiritual life! He has been a conduit of change and revival in countless others, too--I dare say more than some full grown adults!! Yes, Stellan will live!!

Urban Sprawl

While Lisa and I were growing up on the north side of Houston, our parents would occasionally shake their head wonderingly and say, “I remember when all of this was trees and the road nothing but a two-lane farm-to-market.” At the time, the county began a project that widened the FM from four to seven lanes across. Now, twenty plus years later, that area has bloomed and wilted, with dense commercial development past its prime.

On a recent visit to my brother-in-law’s home in North Texas, we drove to Fort Worth, heading across on a road that I used to drive regularly to attend graduate school seventeen years ago. I remember well the two-lane blacktop with a wide shoulder where farm trucks and occasionally an 18-wheeler would pull over to let you pass. For two years I watched the changing seasons of sorghum, corn, and cotton being planted and harvested. Farmhouses dotted the landscape every few miles, especially this one little white house sitting on a slight rise surrounded by an ocean of green waves.

Now, the black-top is a modern three-lanes each way with a dedicated turn lane in the center. Billboards line the roadside announcing master planned communities like Prosper, Providence, and Savannah. Where big fields of sorghum and cotton once stood are rows and rows of homes clustered together. Signs advertise lots for sale and retail pad development.

In between the communities, fields lie fallow, a few hay bales lining the road. As a throwback to my memory, a late crop of sorghum stretches across maybe 100 acres. A new stoplight creates an intersection showcasing a grain silo faced by a head of forty-plus black Angus grazing. However, the sign says “CC Land Company, 101.5 acres for sale.”

The little white farm house I remember admiring every day is gone, without any landmark to remind me where it had stood. Eventually the remaining fields give way again to fully developed communities. Tractors that once plowed fields now mow swathes of St. Augustine. Finally, a few miles outside of Denton, I recognize a few familiar landmarks, homes and businesses that existed seventeen years ago.

During the entire drive, I marveled at the sprawl of urban living reaching out so far into this once rural farm community. Only forty miles north of here, just south of the Red River, my husband’s family once farmed Texas over 125 years ago. How long until the urban sprawl between Sherman and Gainsville encroaches on that land?

As this urban living creeps out steadily, will there be a day when there are no rural farms left?