It Ad Joseph (Go To Joseph!)

St. Patrick's Day was a high feast day around our house this weekend!  We practically painted the house and everything in it shamrock green!  Even one of our former parish's priests wore a stole bearing the colors of the Irish flag.  Do you know what those colors represent?  The green represents the Catholics, the orange represents the Protestants, and the white represents the hoped-for peace between them.

(....yeah, I know.  Keep praying!)

Today, of course, good St. Joseph is not to be ignored.  For all you Italians out there -- or just you humble daughters of the foster father of our Lord -- here are some crafty ideas for celebrating this important feast day from one of the usual suspects, Catholic Icing.

Additionally, we found a really lovely, simple, paper "St. Joseph's Altar", courtesy of Evann Duplantier, for your family to construct.  Evann also has a lovely page full of menu choices, where you may enjoy everything from inspirational photos of other St. Joseph's Day altars to a super easy (and yummy!) edible craft.

St. Joseph's Altars may be as humble or elaborate as you like, but I encourage you to enjoy this lively Italian tradition in your home.  From red wine to seafood to donuts, it's worth consecrating your edibles to the man who was the Provider for the Holy Family.

Our parish deacon reminded us last Christmas that, although St. Joseph figures prominently in Jesus's early life in the Bible, St. Joseph never says a word.  Not one syllable.  How many of us could be counted upon to hear the Lord, follow His instructions, trust in His ways, and serve Him as He wishes, without ever saying a word?

Not me.

Yet St. Joseph gives us all the perfect example of "silent strength."  If you want to raise up a mentor for your spouse, a hero for your sons, a good example for your fathers, or a model husband for your daughters, "it ad Joseph."  Go To Joseph!

And that's an order straight from the top:

Blessed "Pope John XXIII, who succeeded Pius XII in 1958, added some new feasts and made some other changes to the liturgical calendar, as well as amending some of the rubrics. In his 1962 edition of the Missal, he also deleted the word 'perfidis' (Latin: 'faithless') from the Good Friday prayer for the Jews, and added the name of St. Joseph to the Canon of the Mass. The second change was particularly significant, as many had considered the text of the Canon to be practically untouchable." (emphasis added)

Prior to Vatican II, Eucharistic Prayer I was the only Canon used by the Church.  And it hadn't been touched for over 1,000 years.

Tales by the camp fire from that Council have it that an elderly priest originally made the humble suggestion to add St. Joseph to the Mass.  He was scoffed at by Vatican hierarchy, only to be vindicated when Pope John XXIII approved the addition the very next day.

It Ad Joseph!  And enjoy!

To Veil or Not To Veil?

Ever since the corrected wording of the Mass was restored at Advent last year, the thought of wearing a veil has been in my heart.  But I agree w/ so many -- when you're unaccustomed to seeing it, the wearer can seem ostentatious.  Then I saw a woman (admittedly, older) one day wearing a black veil that was just a whisper, just barely there.  It was a traditional mantilla, shoulder-length, but the black lace was so sheer (almost like organza), with only some dainty lace edging, that my heart leapt and I thought, "Ah-ha!  There is the veil for me!"

I happened upon her in the church parking lot during the week, and explained my admiration.  "Please tell me," I smiled, "where did you get it?"  She smiled back gently.  "I made it."

My heart sank.  Selfishly, my smile faded a bit.  "Oh," I replied weakly, hoping to sound as if I thought that was lovely, but knowing instead that I sounded disappointed.

"I'd be glad to make you one!" she rushed to assure me with a delighted grin.  My hopes rose anew.

"Really!?" I asked.  Then inspiration struck.  "Ooo!  I make rosary bracelets!  I'll make you one!"

So now, we have exchanged sacramentals and I wear the veil at every Mass.

A dear friend, who recently decided to veil, noted that at her son's First Communion, the presiding priest complimented the children on how dressed up they were, and invited them to dress and comport themselves as well every time they received Jesus in the Eucharist, because it was just that special.  My veil helps me remember that importance, and now wearing it seems as natural as genuflecting.  Just as I would not wear my pajamas to Mass, my veil is a visible reminder to me that I am on holy ground, and so should garb myself appropriately.

The Bible calls a woman's hair her glory, and my veil reminds me that I should humble myself in every aspect before the Lord.  Since wearing it, I must also report that at least half a dozen women have approached me cordially to inquire about it and consider it themselves.

I'm not posting this to be a veil-pusher, but just to encourage anyone else who might be considering wearing a veil for Mass and in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.  Remember, you're not wearing it in submission to any man around you.  You're wearing it in submission to The Son of Man, The Creator Of The Universe.  How humbled we are in the presence of the Lord!

....plus, it's not a burka, for Pete's sake!  ;-D

St. Patrick's Day - Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients (bread):

3 c. flour

¾ tsp. salt

½ c. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. cream of tartar

1/3 c. butter

1½ c. buttermilk

½ box raisins (optional)

Ingredients (glaze):

¼ c. 10x confectioners sugar

2-3 tbl. milk

Instructions:

§      Mix dry ingredients.  Cut in butter.  Add raisins and buttermilk.  Batter will be sticky.  Flour your hands and shape into a ball.  Knead 15 seconds on lightly floured surface.

§      Place on lightly greased baking sheet to flatten into  a 10” diameter disc.  Cut a deep cross in the top with a serated knife, saying, “God bless this family, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.”

§      Bake at 350o for 40-50 minutes.

§      Brush on glaze while warm.  Serve!

(from the “Building the Family Cookbook”, by Suzanne Fowler)

Happy Pi Day!

Today is Pi Day!  Celebrate the mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to it's diameter, approximately 3.14!  (The actual number goes on endlessly for infinity.)  Math proves the order of the universe God created.  Here's how we celebrated it, with chicken pot pie at dinner:

Rules for Our Home

Here's a little post for your refrigerator!  We formulated these rules based on the current state of lots of Lilliputians in the house.  ....believe me, sometimes the very first rule is the hardest!

May the Lord bless your home with His order and peace!

______________________________________________________

Rules for Our Home

1 - Always have a joyous grateful attitude, even when no one else is looking.  (Psalm 34:1)

2 - JOY:  Jesus first; Others next; Yourself last.  Wait your turn patiently and help others. (Mark 12:30-31)

3 - Always be honest and respectful.  Take good care of everything and everyone God has given us. (Luke 16:10, 2 Corinthians 8:21, I Timothy 3:4, Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:4)

4 - Always be kind in your words and actions.  Treat others as you would wish to be treated.  (Matthew 7:12)

5 - Always clean up your own mess. Play with one toy at a time and put things back where they belong.  (Numbers 1:50, Numbers 3:31, I Chronicles 9:29, John 2:19)

6 - Always wonder.  Explore, seek, and learn something new whenever you can.  (Luke 9:43)

7 - Always live a balanced life.  Think, learn, pray, work, play, and enjoy something every day.  (Eph. 5:10)

8 - Never raise a hand to hit nor throw things.  (Exodus 21:12)

9 - Never let the sun set on your wrath.  (Ephesians 4:26)

10 - Always say, “Goodnight, I love you!”

Blessings or Burdens?

"She felt he was a burden to her....We were a burden."
(Lee Harvey Oswald's brother, Robert Oswald, in 1993, commenting on their mother's attitude toward her children)

It was late at night and we were watching a t.v. special on the Kennedy assasination, with interviews and photos of the never-before-seen type.  On hearing Oswald's remark, my heart fell through my stomach like a cold fat rock plunging to the bottom of a murky pond.  Oh.  Oh.  Oh, how awful.  What an awful, awful, feeling to have from the person whose love for you is meant to be unconditional in this world.  The person who, as I remind my own children when pressing my case for hugging, tickling, or kissing privileges, helped God to make you.  The person whose title, "Mother," has inspired everything from epic poetry, to the naming of ships and airplanes, to the giddy grins of grown football players waving into the camera as they mouth, "Hi, Mom!" while dancing a jig in the end zone.

Oh.  How awful.

.....yet, do I convey that to my children?  That they are a burden to me?

One wouldn't think so.  We had hoped fervently for nine years to have children, before we finally woke up and adopted our first one.  Ready to begin a second arduous effort of paperwork and travel, we suddenly found ourselves pregnant with #2.  And then had four more successive bundles of joy thereafter.

Whooppee!

Yet, in an entirely unscientific survey, I quizzed my friends as I brought my now mobile and rambunctious kids to soccer one particularly harrowing afternoon.  "Please tell me you yell at your kids," I implored as my munchkins merrily sprinted off and I took a deep breath into the cold wind.  The first mom nearly gasped and said, "Oh, my goodness!  Are you kidding me?  Thank you so much!  You, too!?  We had such a horrible day today!  I feel terrible!"

Another friend with ten children actually snorted with suppressed laughter and readily admitted, "Yes.  And anyone who tells you they don't is lying."

Since misery loves company, it was comforting to know I wasn't the only mother alive who had gone off like a grenade at her kids.  The greater comfort, however, was in how remorseful each of us immediately felt, how instinctively we knew our behavior diminished our roles as mothers, regardless of how justified we were in wanting to strangle the offending offspring.

A wise priest and former Navy chaplain once gave me two assignments as penance in my confession:  1).  find an outlet for my anger management (whether it was daily workouts like his former aircraft carrier commander or the silence of prayer time alone), and; 2). find a babysitter to enable me to get away from the kids for one hour a week (you know, like they say on the aspirin bottle -- "take two and keep away from children").

The merits or misdirection of "me time" is a post for another day, but in this instance the effects of my anger and desire for time alone needed to be addressed.

The Bible clearly says:

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord!  The fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate."  (emphasis added) (Psalm 127:3-5)

"Children’s children are the crown of old men...." (Proverbs 17:6)

"For you formed my inward parts.  You knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  (Psalm 139:13)

"When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world."  (John 16:21)

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.' " (Matthew 18:1-3)

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."  (Matthew 18:10)

 (....okay, do I need to keep quoting here?)

And yet, despite the Word of God, the world teaches us differently:
 
"I've got two daughters.  Nine years old and six years old.  I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals.  But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."  (Barack Obama, Town Hall Meeting, Johnstown, PA, March 29, 2008)

Which do I convey to my children?  That they are a punishment?  A burden?  Or a blessing?  Will my children look back on their childhood with wistful smiles and fond memories of warmth and love and laughter?  Or will they cringe and attempt to shake it off, suppressing memories of brusque impatience and yelling to get through the day, just glad they are past that as they try to move forward with their lives, beyond the ill effects of my influence on their early childhood?

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not suggesting I attempt never to yell at my kids again.  In a house with as much activity as ours, sometimes it's literally the only way to be heard.  And my husband is a huge advocate of the "ATM" method of discipline ("Ask 'em.  Tell 'em.  Make 'em."), which sometimes necessitates a raised eyebrow, a raised voice, and a raised hand pointing the way to the directed task.

But, the words of Lee Harvey Oswald's brother were heavy in my ears, his voice strong and steady as he nodded firmly, almost emotionless and matter-of-fact:

"I don't know at what age Mother verbalized the effect that she felt he [Lee Harvey Oswald] was a burden to her. But she certainly conveyed it to John and I at very early ages. We're talking seven, eight, nine, 10 years old. At what age Lee started gathering this, or sensing it, or hearing it and applying it to him, I don't know. But certainly by age three, he had the sense, 'I need to be someplace else.' Mother would be putting him with a nanny, or a babysitter, or in an orphan home with us, just to get us out of her hair. We were a burden."

Out of her hair?  Why?  What else did she need to go do instead?  What possibly could be more important than the formation of an innocent soul entrusted to your care?  We all have many other responsibilities, too, but as mothers we have first and foremost a primary priority: the raising of our children.

Do I consider my children to be a burden or a blessing?  Without question, I consider them a blessing!  But, is that what I show them day to day?  Do I hug, kiss, smile at, encourage, listen to patiently, pray with, and appreciate their presence in my life?  Or do I relegate their presence to another set of must/needs on my endless home and homeschool "To Do" lists each day -- snarling when we fall behind, growling when we fall short of perfection, and seething when they get side-tracked and fail to see the big picture of what we must accomplish that day?

I'm not Pollyanna and I don't envision successfully comporting myself with the practical perfection of Mary Poppins any time soon.  But, I am honest enough to recognize that I need to step back and regain some of the perspective I had as an individual in the Lord's presence before all The Wee Folk arrived.  In the words of Venerable Bede Jarrett, O.P., we have no abiding city here, but our actions will bear out our eternity.

And as mothers, we also are training (for good or for ill) other impressionable souls.

"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." (Matthew 18:6)

"Preach the Gospel always.  When necessary, use words." (St. Francis of Assisi)

"Children Learn What They Live" (by Dorothy Law Nolte) 

Am I teaching my children, by my example, to be know-it-alls, love the things of this world, and be self-serving?  Or am I teaching them to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next?

A wise friend once said, "the years fly by, but each day is an eternity."  Maybe God sometimes lets our days seemingly drag out so that we have as much time as possible to mend our ways, to turn to Him, and to train our children to do so, too.  At this point in my life, I now know mothers whose children have pre-deceased them.  From miscarriages to suicidal teenagers to cancer-striken adults, "How tragic!" doesn't begin to describe the pain these mothers endure.  Any one of them would give her right arm for just one more day with her child.

Will I ever appreciate the presence of my own children as much?

I'm not touting impossible motherly perfection.  And it's going to take more than one well-meaning Lent to amend my short fuse, change my habit of sharp anger, grow in Godly patience (actually, 21 days, I'm told), and be the mother I want my children to have.

It's going to take one step at a time.  One small step at a time.  But, I'm going to start now.  Start today.  And start small.  You know -- a trip to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, two aspirin, and a hope to at least attain mediumcalifragilisticexpialidocious.

I'll keep you posted in 21 days.

"There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep."  (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

A happy childhood lasts a lifetime!

Children Learn What They Live

by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D. - 1972
 

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

 

Ember Wednesday

Remember, this Wednesday is the first Ember Wednesday of the Church year!  See my post here for all the details on the ancient feasts of "Ember Days".  You won't want to miss this special opportunity to join the universal Church (because that's what "catholic" means, you know -- universal!) in prayer and fasting during Lent.

Many hands make light work!  Let's carry each other and the cross of Christ -- together!

Only the Fearless Can Be Great

Ever see the Disney cartoon movie "Ratatouille"?  In an early scene, the protagonist (a rat with a love of cooking) receives the following advice from his mentor, an enormously famous, successful, Parisian chef and restauranteur:

"Cooking is not for the faint of heart.  You must be imaginative, strong!  You must try things that may not work.  You must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from.  Your only limit is your soul.  What I say is true!  Anyone can cook.  But, only the fearless can be great!"


These now-familiar lines came drifting out of our family room as our children watched this movie the other day.  When I heard this passage again for the third or fourth time, it struck me that this advice also could apply to our prayer life.

How often have we cowered in prayer, sought refuge in bland platitudes, or merely mouthed memorized words?  How often have we allowed our minds to be distracted, to drift aimlessly, or to simply shrug and throw up our hands, baffled by what we perceived to be a lack of response to our (honestly) weak and lame attempts to communicate with the Almighty?


Be brave!  Be strong!  Be courageous!


Tell God your problems.  Tell Him the gory details.  Tell Him why you are frowning in frustration.  Tell Him your needs.  Tell Him your woes.  Complain to Him!


Tell Him the most amazing thing your kid said or did today.  Tell Him breathlessly how thrilled you are with your latest accomplishment at school or at work.  Tell Him how happy you are that the new puppy finally got potty-trained.  Rejoice with Him!


Tell Him you love Him.  Tell Him how much you want to thank Him for the many blessings you enjoy.  Tell Him He's the best dad ever.  Tell Him every breath you take and every move you make is done all for the glory of Him.  Praise Him!


Gush!  Moan!  Squeal!  Whine!  Clap!  Cheer!  Groan!  Grin!


And then be still and know that He is God.

Listen.

Listen for His voice.


When Elijah journeyed into the wilderness, he did not hear the voice of the Lord in the violent wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire.  He heard God's voice in a nearly silent whisper (I Kings 19).  And Elijah was humble before it.


For you see, God doesn't need you to tell Him all about your life.  He doesn't need you to tell Him any of that.  He already knows your wants, your needs, your joys and sufferings.

But, He wants you to tell Him.  Just as an earthly parent listens with indulgent love to his child detailing a latest achievement, so too does God want you to love Him so much that He is the first person to whom you are dying to tell your latest triumph, tragedy, secret, or story.  He wants you to seek His input, His ear, His advice.  He wants you to talk to Him and consult with Him all day.  He wants you to love Him so much that every corner, every aspect of your life becomes filled with your desire to tell Him, to converse with Him, to listen to Him.

To know, love, and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.


Prayer is not for the faint of heart.  You must be imaginative, strong!  You must try things that may not work.  You must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from.  Your only limit is your soul.  What I say is true!  Anyone can pray.  But, only the fearless can be great!

The one to Whom we sing, "How Great Thou Art!" is there.  He is there waiting.  For you.  Always.  Whether you approach Him boldly or timidly on any given day, go to Him.  Seek His presence.  Seek His counsel.  Demand His attention.

And be humble, gracious, and thankful in receiving it.

Then soon, before you know it, before even the end of Lent maybe, you will be great in prayer.  Great in the frequency of your contact with the Lord.  Great in your confidence and trust in Him.  Great in your example to your loved ones and children.  Great in your love for He Who has given it all to you.


Be brave!  Be strong!  Be courageous!


Be assured of God's love for you.  Now put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a great catch.

Happy Heart Day....!?

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice the plethora of Valentine's Day greetings this year which not only (once again) ignored the saintly origin of the holy day (from which we derive the word, "holiday"), but even excluded the saint's name altogether?  Instead, a graphic of a heart or even the actual word, "heart", was featured in the title greeting, thus rendering the salutation, "Happy Heart Day!", as in, "I [*heart*] NY!" or "I [*heart*] My Pekinese!"

Yes, my friends, here is yet another example of the secular commercialization of what was once a Christian holy day and now slowly has become a rabid excuse for excessive materialism.  Don't get me wrong -- I'm just as thrilled as the next girl to give and receive chocolates, flowers, and expressions of undying devotion from a loved one (...okay, just before Lent, especially the chocolates part).

But, amidst it all, I pause and marvel sadly at the subtle ability of the evil one to stuff our gaping maws with more unnecessary, worldly, marshmallow fluff, utterly diverting our attention from the real gift of love: Christ on the cross.  That's why Valentine died (all 14 of them -- see my other post today).  Not just for intense, but nonetheless limited, earthly love, whether passionate or filial, but for eternal love, so we may come to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.

That's what St. Valentine's Day is all about, Charlie Brown.

So this year, if you are buying your sweetie a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers, consider also gifting him or her with a Spiritual Bouquet, your own personally crafted gift of prayer.  Plus, it's free!  Whether your Valentine is a friend, a spouse, your children, or another loved one, pray that you both may arrive someday at The Pearly Gates, ready to welcome each other in to the presence of God.

What a celebration of love that will be! 

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

While the Church recognizes 14 saintly martyrs named Valentine, the earliest known one was St. Valentinus, a 3rd century Catholic who refused to obey Emperor Claudius The Cruel's dictate to worship 12 gods.  Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned.  His jailer surreptitiously asked Valentinus to teach his blind daughter, Julia.  Valentinus taught her the beauty of God's creation, as well as how to pray.  Julia believed and humbly prayed for healing, which God granted in a flash of bright light.  On the eve of Valentinus's execution (February 14, 270 A.D.), he wrote Julia a note encouraging her always to stay close to God, and signed it, "From Your Valentine."

And that, in the immortal words of Paul Harvey, is the rest of the story!

Feast of St. Scholastica

Today is the feast of St. Scholastica.  I've always loved how she went over her brother, St. Benedict's, head to jump up the chain of command and get what she wanted!

Oh.  You're not familiar with that story?  Well!

St. Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict, and both went on to found holy orders at Monte Cassino, Italy, within five miles of each other.  The two would meet at a farmhouse between their respective religious houses to discuss all things holy in life.  At what was to be their last meeting, Scholastica sensed she soon would be called home to God, and asked Benedict to stay in the farmhouse for the night, so the two could stay up throughout the evening continuing their discussions.

Benedict, being a good Rule-follower (having, um, written the actual monastic rule), refused to do so, as he did not want to violate his own rule and spend the night outside a monastery.  Greatly distressed, Scholastica prayed fervently to God.  Shortly thereafter, a violent storm arose outside, preventing Benedict and his humble entourage from leaving.

"Sister!" he exclaimed.  "What have you done!?"

Scholastic smiled.  "I asked you for a favor, and you refused.  I asked God and He granted it."

Three days later, back inside the walls of his own monastery, Benedict beheld the soul of his sister rising to heaven in the form of a dove.  He buried her within the sepulchre he had built for himself.

Here's a copy of our favorite book here at home, telling the whole tale in brilliant form (you can purchase it here - scroll down to the direct link to Amazon in the right sidebar):

So remember, it's God whom you should ask whenever you REALLY need a favor!  Enjoy!

Homeschool Support Groups

If you homeschool, I strongly urge you to join a local support group with a similar faith, style, and values to yours.  We definitely are not "group therapy" type of people, but I don't know what I would do without the contact, interaction, shared faith, play time, and sustenance of our homeschool group.  Our affinity is so strong that when our national entity disbanded, our local group (within one week!) took steps to form a new organization, a non-profit, and a bank account so we seamlessly could continue the support and activity of our educational faith family.

How truly grateful I am!

Really, where else can you take your eight year old daughter to a gathering of her shrieking, giggling peers (in this case, Little Flowers, which basically is like Catholic Girl Scouts, but is focused on our faith) and learn on the way home that one of the hot topics of their conversation was to determine on which day each girl goes to Adoration?  (They had almost the whole week covered!)

Find "your people" and mesh with them.  Sign up.  Show up.  Get involved.  Their children are the people you want your children to learn from, and vice versa.

May God bless the families of our homeschool group in the same measure as they have brought joy to ours!

Senator Rick Santorum IS Horton!

Dear Senator Santorum,

Ever read Horton Hears a Who! ?

I am Jo-Jo from Who-ville in Apartment J-12.

I am a Catholic homeschooling mother of six children, one of whom has special needs.

I am supporting your campaign now.

And I have a gift for you: your next ad.  It's going to be a home run, and here's why:

When you swept three states, I thought, "I'm going to pray a rosary tonight that Rick Santorum becomes our nominee."  Then I thought -- what if my tiny prayer puts Senator Santorum over the top?  What if my plea is the one to tip the scales for his success!?  Just as Horton the elephant fought for the Whos' right to exist on that small speck, Senator Santorum is fighting for the ignored middle-America.  And just as the Whos were ignored until they all made themselves heard (when "that one small extra 'Yopp!' put it over!"), we can and we WILL win your nomination by uniting conservatives ALL!

- The media are the Wickersham Brothers monkeys.
- Americans are the Whos of Who-ville fighting for their lives and livelihoods on that speck.
- Barack Obama is the eagle Vlad Vlad-i-koff (who tells us, "Quit your yapping!" and "I think you will fail.")
- And YOU, Senator, are Horton.

Save us, Senator Santorum!  We are prepared to sound our barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.  Lead us!  Save us!  Save our country from the fundamentally changed path on which Barack Obama has placed us.  Repeal Obamacare!  Reform the culture of government dependency!  Revive inherent American resilience and individual exceptionalism!  Restore our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!

Be the Republican nominee, and approve this message!  :-)

Thank you, Senator, for your generous time, which I know with both your family and your campaign is at a premium.  May God continue to bless you for your valor, integrity, and perseverance.  Always be assured of our prayers!  (Our homeschool group was praying for Bella!)

 

Word of the Year

I happened across this post from www.Scrapgirls.com and was touched by the inspiration of choosing a Word of the Year. I hope you enjoy it, too! I also encourage you to choose a SAINT OF THE YEAR, to intercede for you and your family in all your endeavors before the throne of God!

Have You Chosen a Word of the Year?

Choosing a word of the year has become fairly popular among bloggers and scrapbookers. Last year, I decided to try it out and see what happened. The word I choose for 2011 was SAVOR. My intentions when choosing SAVOR was that I begin to live life more fully and bravely. I wanted to take more pleasure in my life and enjoy it.

That is what I intended, and in the end, that is what happened. But, as it turned out, in order for me to savor my life, I had to make some very difficult decisions and take actions that scared me to death. I had to do some house-cleaning both within and without. I had to examine myself and face what I found.

It was a tough year. Very, very tough. It was a wonderful year. Very, very wonderful. It was a year that I'll never forget.

Now - one year later - I can safely say that 2011 was a gigantic growth year for me. It was the year I became brave. It was the year I learned to fully believe in myself. It was the year I learned to forgive myself and others. It was the year I dropped things that had bothered me for decades. It was the year I learned not to be bothered by things I can't control.

By year's end, I had re-found my zest for living. I regained my appreciation for my family, my friends, and my work. I remembered why I love my life and what I do. I began to relish my days and now I look forward to getting up each morning. My ability to come up with new ideas returned. I learned to relax and enjoy myself.

Do I still have problems? Sure. Do I still have health issues to battle with? Sure. Do I still have challenges of all sorts? Sure. Do I occasionally have self-doubts? Sure. Do I make mistakes? Nearly every day. But overall, I'm okay. I'm really, truly okay. I feel like a different person than I was one year ago, and that's a very good thing. It's good to grow.

So, as you can see, I found the Word of the Year experience quite fascinating. After carefully considering what it might mean to me to take on another word, I've decided to try it again. Because I now feel that choosing a word is a serious matter, I took months to decide what this year's word would be. I was having such a hard time picking one this time around that I nearly abandoned my search. But then one morning, I read a couple of talks about faith and gleaned a couple of ideas that I knew I wanted to remember.

1. Faith is an action word.
2. Faith looks towards the future and leaves the past in the past.

I love those thoughts. I think it will be quite useful for me to drum them into my head, heart, and soul. Therefore, my word of 2012 is FAITH.

Last year, I made a couple of very simple paper reminders of my word SAVOR. I stuck one on a dresser drawer and one on my bathroom mirror, which I looked at twice a day. As I think back on it, I realize that my choice to place it on the mirror was a good one because I did think about my word fairly often as I prepared for my day and for bed each evening.

This year, I decided to spend a little more time on my word declaration, and so I created a printable piece of artwork that I have hung on my office wall in an 8x10-inch picture frame. I'm also going to print out a little one and stick it to my mirror.

(The lighting in this photo is a little off. It is actually as gold as the original and looks very nice against my blue wall.)

If you'll read it carefully, you'll see that faith is either the first or the last word of each sentence.

Here is a portion of one of the talks that helped me select faith as my word of 2012.

"Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today's world, I wish to suggest a single choice - a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. It does not come as the dew falls from heaven. The Savior said, "Come unto me" (Matthew 11:28) and "Knock, and it shall be [given] you" (Matthew 7:7). These are action verbs - come, knock. They are choices. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism." Richard C Edgley

I challenge you to choose a word for 2012. Once you have, place the word where you can see it. Don't worry about having to "do" anything about the word. Chances are that life will bring opportunities for your word to take on a life of its own. At the end of the year, take a little time to reflect on the word and see if it made an impact. You might be very surprised at the results. If you would like, you could make a digital scrapbooking layout or a piece of printable artwork with your word on it, as I have. If you'd care to, you could share your layout or artwork with us in the Scrap Girls Gallery. I'd love to see what you come up with!

Have a great day.

Until tomorrow,

Ro