Catholic NFP Mom

Country Living: Armadillos

2011-08-13T20:45:00.000-05:00

Something we've learned this year about living in the country is how to share the space with God's creatures. This Armadillo was kind enough to "aerate" the yard for us! But he got too carried away tearing it up so Papa drove him to a better place in the wild (miles away). Good thing we didn't trap a skunk!!

Midwest Catholic Family Conference

2011-08-07T15:43:00.000-05:00

Our family trip this year was to Witchita, Kansas for the Midwest Catholic Family Conference. It was our 1st trip as a family of 6!

We stopped in Ardmore, OK for dinner at Whataburger:

Then we stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn Express in Oklahoma City. As one friend describes this sort of sleeping arrangement: It was time for family bonding!

This is one of MANY continental breakfasts....ugh....

When we got to Witchita, it was too early for the conference to start, so we took a "field trip" to the Science Museum. The kids had a blast.

My little Highnesses:

We just couldn't tear her away from these puzzles:

Part of the exhibit was dedicated to the history of air travel. Jamie is manning an early model airplane here:

John Paul harvests grain:

As we were leaving, it was hard not to notice the 100+ degree temps that we somehow didn't escape by traveling 7 hours north! We immediately craved our favorite Frozen Yogurt joint back home. Thanks to Smart Phones, we tracked down a nearly identical place called the Orange Leaf about 10 minutes away:

After a short opening to the conference, we got to our hotel and crashed:

The next day the conference was in full swing. John Paul and Gianna shared the Preschool class together. They had a blast! The brothers and sisters ran all of the programs and it was filled with great activities all day long. (Mom and Dad got to enjoy the speakers and vendors without distraction...so nice!)

Each of the kids made a thank you card to give to one of the many priests and religious at the conference. This is Jamie talking to her chosen recipient:

Here's the token souvenir photo:

Yum! We ate at this Souper Salad twice. A great way to feed starving kids a variety of foods and get more bang for your buck!

For being so good, we surprised them with some shirts we couldn't resist buying at the conference.

Another breakfast:

Here's a glance at Jamie's class...lots of kids!

The kids show off some of their crafts and say good-bye to the conference.

We were planning on staying one more night in OKC on the way back, but we instead decided to truck it all the way home. It was a great weekend (even though it was no escape from the heat and our van's battery died and had to be replaced). We are already looking forward to going again in the future, probably when Josie is old enough to attend the children's activities. Maybe some of you will join us!

The New Garden: The Harvest

2011-06-27T17:48:00.000-05:00

We've had good crops this year. A few zucchini, until they burned up. A couple of acorn squash (until they figured out it wasn't fall or winter). Some strawberries, jalapenos, and a few okra (that will soon be in the hundreds). But the BIGGEST crop of all has been the tomatoes!

The New Class Pets

2011-06-26T17:41:00.001-05:00

We have 2 new class pets (*sigh*). Meet Liz (from Magic School Bus):

...and Pascal (from Tangled).

He goes nicely next to the new lavender Beta named Rapunzel.

Meet Josephine

2011-06-15T16:17:00.004-05:00

Josephine Elizabeth

Born June 6, 2011, 2:04pm

7 lbs. 15 oz., 20 in.

Marian ATC Results

2011-05-24T17:39:00.001-05:00

Jamie loved making her Marian Artist Trading Cards....but she's getting a lesson in detachments, since she'd like to keep them...

1. Our Lady of Schoenstatt

2. Our Lady of Guadalupe

3. Our Lady of Lourdes

4. Our Lady of Fatima

5. Our Lady of the Angels

We'll post the 5 cards we get in return later.

The New Garden: The Crop!

2011-05-23T07:46:00.000-05:00

Crop - Free Slideshow Maker

Maternity Pics

2011-05-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Maternity - Free Slideshow Maker

Character Day?

2011-05-21T20:02:00.000-05:00

Jamie created her own "Character Day". She has been dressing up like her favorite literary character lately: "Lucy Rose". It is a cute series of books. I think Jamie likes the character because she can identify with her. For those of you with boys, they would probably enjoy the "Melonhead" series by the same author: Katy Kelly. Both are cute stories about kids growing up in Washington D.C. Each book has some sort of educational theme running through them (inventors for example), and they also describe multiple landmarks around D.C. as well. Makes us want to go visit soon!

Country Living: "Cow Patties!"

2011-05-20T19:19:00.002-05:00

Stray....cows....

How would you like to find this 4 feet from your back porch?

GROSS!!!!!!

Marian Artist Trading Card Swap

2011-05-19T08:43:00.005-05:00

I think this is a great idea! My oldest (the artist) is going to do it. Want to join us??

NFP and the Vocations Crisis

2011-04-27T11:33:00.005-05:00

In light of JP2's beautification this weekend, and a curious question from my 7 year old, I have come to ponder the connection between Natural Family Planning and one possible solution for the vocations crisis.

Through John Paul's wisdom and Theology of the Body, the concept of chaste marriages has now been reclaimed and on the rise again. NFP families realize the beauty and need for discernment within their marriage and the generosity to have more children has played on our hearts. Even those families that don't necessarily need to use an "NFP method", but are living out chaste marriages, are still part of this same movement that can help grow the church.

It was not uncommon, decades ago, for our grandparents and great-grandparents to commonly have 7 or more children. In a Catholic family the odds of at least one vocation coming from this bunch was very likely, even common. But with the rise of Modern Catholicism (and easy contraception) beginning in the 60's, even a family of 7 could be lacking a vocation. And these children as adults exprienced an influx of divorce and contraception in their own marriages as the message to raise holy families was stifled by both the silence of the church and the clamor of the culture. Satan succeeded to hold back the beauty of the Church in the minds of those young people who were sent out into a new selfish world of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Those distractions were the perfect formula for silencing the call to religious life for countless men and women.

The other day, my 7 year old daughter said she was worried that she might have a call to be a nun, but yet she so badly wants to be a wife and mother. She wondered if other sisters once wanted a family of their own. We had a long discussion about the process of discernment, and I ran across this recent article on vocations from the National Catholic Register that was also very helpful to her. But for my 7 year old to even be asking this question reminds me why a husband and wife should be careful to discern the size of their family in light of the needs of the whole church, and not just their immediate family.

Another factor to larger families contributing to vocations would be the care of aging parents. It's no secret that our generation is about to experience a sharp rise in the elderly population. This wouldn't be so much of a problem if that same generation hadn't stopped reproducing at a rate high enough to replace themselves and to take care of them. A child of a larger family on the other hand can feel free to follow a possible calling to "leave this world" with the peace and assurance of siblings to take care of their parents. Consider the story of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei. He wanted to become a priest, but doubted his calling for a time, especially after the death of his 3 younger siblings that left only his oldest sister. He then begged the Lord to send another son to carry on the family name. He got his answer when his parents were blessed with another son though later in their marriage.

Other typical characteristics of NFP families that might make vocations more likely would be: the nearly non-existant divorce rate, providing a stable environment which emphasizes the lifetime commitment of one's vocation. There is also their likely obedience to Holy Mother Church, as they are arguably already most obedient in what is arguably the hardest moral issue to overcome in our modern times. And finally the witness to their children of the need for prayer and discernment about life decisions. Not to mention the obvious witness of chastity according to their state in life!

A new springtime of Evangelization is on the horizon. Take a stroll down the streets of Steubenville University, meet the families of College Station, TX (affectionately known as Stuebenville South), or attend a Youth 2000 retreat, and you will feel quite encouraged I'm sure. Even the rise in requiring precana NFP classes, along with inspiring marriage preparation programs from the likes of Christopher West, is a great stepping stone to seeing the fruit of this theory of an NFP/Vocations connection.

I would never suggest that there is one "magic bullet" to cure the current vocations crisis. But one common thread that I seem to find among young vocations is 1st their commitment to prayer and eucharistic adoration, and second, their roots in a large and devout Catholic family. As my husband and I attend more potlucks and parties with other "NFPers", we relish at the sight of more children than adults. It's the only place we don't have to explain the origin of our daughter Gianna's name. And if we call our son "John Paul!" into the crowd, and more than one child comes running, we can't help but smile :)

Happy Easter!

LInk: To Use or Not to Use NFP?

2011-03-23T16:42:00.003-05:00

I know I've neglected this blog for awhile. But I had to at least share an "NFP" related link. There is a great discussion going on at I Have to Sit Down.

Topic: "Why Doesn't the Church Make a List?" for reasons to use NFP.

Always a controversial topic, but important none-the-less. If I have time soon, I'll post a more detailed post on my opinion soon (though you will see it in the comments at this blog)

Breastfeeding Supermodel

2011-01-20T20:17:00.001-06:00

Check out this Supermodel Mom showing off her nursing skills and the accompanying opinion piece on whether public breastfeeding is modest. Beautiful!

Half Way There!

2011-01-16T15:13:00.000-06:00

20 weeks!

The New Garden: Brick Delivery

2011-01-15T17:55:00.000-06:00

The concrete blocks arrived! Now the heavy lifting begins.

The New Garden: Staking and Prepping

2011-01-14T17:49:00.000-06:00

While waiting for the concrete blocks to arrive, we staked off the area for the beds. Dad also added a few tires to experiment with until we are able to expand the garden down the road.

1st Snow of 2011

2011-01-09T21:08:00.000-06:00

Ok...us Texans are getting spoiled now! I measured between 3"-4".

Little Flowers Meeting #4: Love of Neighbor

2011-01-08T21:05:00.001-06:00

This month we are learning about the virtue "Love of Neighbor". We discussed the challenges that come with loving our neighbor and how to work at overcoming them. The flower was the rose because of the multilayer and facets that go with this virtue. The saint was St. Jane Frances de Chantel who helped hundreds of women by founding the Salesian order for women. The girls practiced their love of neighbor by helping a fellow flower and her family in mourning over the death of a family member. We made a spiritual flower bouquet out of tissues and tagged acts of sacrifices on the stems. Then we pitched in to do some chores for them in order to make their homecoming more pleasant.

The New Garden: Clearing

2011-01-06T21:07:00.001-06:00

It's time to clear out the old garden and get ready for the new. I got the kids dirty and we pulled up some old branches and tomato cages so that the land would be ready for mowing over. I also took some before pictures to compare to later:

The New Garden: Planning

2011-01-05T21:06:00.002-06:00

We have decided to start from scratch on a new garden. With the help of my Uncle Andre and his vast organic gardening wisdom, we are going to attempt raised beds. First, we drew out our plan after doing a little browsing at the hardware store for ideas and prices.

It's a Girl!

2010-12-30T20:18:00.001-06:00

Meet the 3rd daughter...and despite an initially disappointed son, he is thrilled to have another sister :)

Merry Christmas...

2010-12-25T20:23:00.001-06:00

...and Have a Blessed 2011!

Happy St. Nicholas' Day

2010-12-06T20:22:00.001-06:00

Every December 6th, we celebrate St. Nicholas Day. Instead of opening stockings on Christmas, we open them now. We also read the story about the real Santa Claus and color pictures of St. Nick. It's a fun mid-advent celebration!

Christmas Card 2010

2010-11-22T19:20:00.001-06:00

Nativity Blue Christmas

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

More Wisdom from JP2 on Mothering

2010-11-21T17:54:00.003-06:00

May mothers, young women and girls not listen to those who tell them that working at a secular job, succeeding in a secular profession, is more important than the vocation of giving life and caring for this life as a mother.

-Pope John Paul II, October 1, 1979

My Jamie turns 7

2010-11-13T08:30:00.002-06:00

Happy Mommy-versary to me! 7 years ago my whole world changed as becoming a Mom became a reality. She is my pride and joy, my shining star. I admire her faith and love for the Lord, her passion for art, and her selflessness as the best big sister in the world! I love you.

Love at 1st Sight

2010-11-04T18:45:00.000-05:00

9 weeks, 5 days, and right on time!

My Little Saints

2010-10-31T19:27:00.003-05:00

As is tradition in our house, we celebrated All Hallow's Eve (Halloween) by dressing up as Saints. Then we went to our Parish All Saint's Party and had lots of fun. Our oldest, Jamie, was St. Bernadette. Our son decided to dress up as our parish priest. And Gianna was St. Therese as a little child. (minus the long curly hair). Then they carved their "Saint-O-Lanterns".

Little Flowers Meeting #3: Love of God

2010-10-30T20:19:00.000-05:00

This month the girls learned about the virtue of loving God: the queen of all virtues. In order to live out all other virtues we 1st must have love of God. The flower was the peony which has many layers, just as our love for God can be expressed through so many other layers of virtues. They learned that in order to love God, they must 1st get to know him, like through prayer, and then they can show their love for God by serving Him and others. The saint for this virtue was St. Agnes, who like so many others showed the ultimate love for God through martyrdom. The craft was custom bracelets with the words "Know", "Love", and "Serve" on them.

Awesome Wisdom from JP2 on Pregnancy!

2010-10-29T21:33:00.003-05:00

I'm reading Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for Mothers To Be, and this month there was an awesome quote that I just had to share:

Although both together are parents of their child, the woman's motherhood constitutes a special part in the shared parenthood, and the most demanding part. Parenthood--even though it belongs to both--is realized more fully in the woman, especially in the prenatal period. It is the woman who pays directly for this shared generation, which literally absorbs the energies of her body and soul. It is therefore necessary that the man be fully aware that in their shared parenthood he owes a special debt to the woman. No program of "equal rights" between women and men is valid unless it takes this fact fully into account.

--Pope John Paul II, Mulieris Dignitatem

Imagine, the divine wisdom that this holy man had, and contrary to popular criticism, the fact that he is a celibate single man does not cloud his capacity to reach out to women and families.

Awesome Video on Mary

2010-10-28T21:07:00.004-05:00

This is an excellent video for understanding Mary in the scriptures:

Natural Lifestyle: No shampoo??

2010-10-27T10:45:00.002-05:00

Has anyone every heard of going "No Poo"?

It wasn't the first time I heard about this, but I ran across this article about how to maintain your hair without shampoo.

It makes sense. Our hair oils have a supply and demand just like breastmilk. The more we strip them away with shampoo, the more it will produce.

Besides, shampoo was nonexistent forever. And the number of chemicals we put on our scalp today is frightening, many of which are not regulated by the FDA.

I haven't tried this yet, but I'm seriously considering it. It requires using baking soda on the scalp and apple cidar vinegar on the ends. I've looked up some other natural recipe shampoos as well. That could be a possible alternative if I don't like this, but it would be way more costly.

If I make the leap, I'll let you know!

My Gianna is 2

2010-10-22T19:08:00.003-05:00

Today I celebrate the life of my precious one: a celebration of life. The world can be such an ugly place sometimes, full of hatred and pain. But one look at my Gianna brings a smile to my face and peace to my heart. Happy Birthday sweetie! I love you and thank God for you every day!

MIA but back with news...

2010-10-18T21:24:00.003-05:00

Yes, I've been MIA. I can't tell you why exactly. I've been distracted (and I'd say that's probably an understatement as far as blogging goes). But as I have some exciting news, perhaps you will forgive me, and know I have PLENTY to talk about now:

Baby #4 is on the way!

We are thrilled, although at first admittedly shocked. I was so ready to have another one, but we were trying to wait a little while to let my bones strengthen with my body's natural hormones during the monthly cycle. WELL...I've got the hormones alright! But now I will have to face the challenge of seriously considering weaning MUCH sooner than I would like. It's just the ONLY way to get my cycles back, and the back to back prolonged nursings have just worn my bones thin.

Why did we get pregnant? Well, I've talked it over with my "bosses" at CCL and they agree that it was a method pregnancy. Meaning, that the rules we chose to follow were 96.9% effective (in comparison to other rules that are more effective) and guess what? We were the 3.1%. So there you go. It happens, and if we had a mortal reason not to get pregnant, we WOULD have been much more conservative. I thank God for making this choice for us when we thought it wasn't time.

The good news is that I'm exercising now and taking lots of vitamins (though it is much harder right now with the morning sickness). But I will manage eventually. Perhaps I will have a fighting chance to strengthen my bones after all! I plan on getting my next scan right after the baby is born (due June 4th).

God Bless my awesome NFP doc, Dr. Joseph Behan. He doesn't see this as a serious problem, especially because I have yet to break a bone to show that the "proof is in the pudding" as he put it. So that's good news and reason to believe that my test results were probably exaggerated for someone my age. Whew!

I look forward to blogging about all of my new thoughts this time around. With a natural lifestyle well underway, will I have the courage to make the necessary changes for this pregnancy?? We shall see!

Little Flowers Meeting #2: Hope

2010-09-18T21:23:00.000-05:00

This month the girls learned about the virtue of Hope. The "flower" this month was Ivy because like ivy we should cling to our Lord with Hope that he will answer our prayers. The saint was Saint Monica who prayed for many many years for the conversion of her husband and son. For the craft they made large sacrifice bead chains, taught by St. Therese to mark your daily prayers of sacrifice. They could write down the name of someone they want to pray for at the top and practice the virtue of Hope as they trust that the Lord will answer their prayers and honor their sacrifices. Another successful month (I get to teach next time).

Little Flowers Meeting #1: Faith

2010-08-21T23:11:00.000-05:00

This month the girls learned about Faith. The flower was the sunflower because they always turn their faces to the sun (as should we turn to the "Son"). The saint that models this virtue is St. Catherine of Sienna. They learned about what it means to have faith and how we express our faith. For the craft they made door hangers that said "Prayer Time" so they could put them on their rooms in order to have quiet prayer time. I think they had a good time. We can't wait for next month.

Country Living: Ducks

2010-08-20T13:39:00.000-05:00

Our neighbor has raised 10 ducklings and they often make their rounds down the street to visit each home. These pictures were from the 1st night we saw them. I couldn't believe how many there were. They were gobbling up all the crickets. Now, we can feed them the old bread!

Raquel Welch on the Pill and Sex

2010-08-16T12:00:00.002-05:00

I was watching Huckabee and saw this surprising interview with Raquel Welch (the famous woman from this poster...who I honestly could not have told you her name before today). She spoke about her views on the effects of the pill on women, and the meaning of sex. It's was very refreshing, and honestly shocking coming from a feminist sex figure straight out of the 60's!

Little Flowers Induction Tea

2010-07-16T23:09:00.000-05:00

Some of the Moms and I have started a Little Flowers Girl's Club. It's a Catholic girls group designed to help young girls grow in virtue, learn about the saints, and serve the community under the guidance of St. Therese the "Little Flower". We had our Induction Tea at our place. I made a nice breakfast, with cute little rose shaped cakes...and then boom, came down sick. So I didn't get to participate but I hear the girls had a fabulous time. Each Mom got to pin a St. Therese Medal on their girl(s) and they lit candles for every virtue they would learn about this year.

Natural lifestyle: NaProTechnology

2010-06-14T12:38:00.004-05:00

Infertility is a reality for so many people. Unfortunately most turn to unethical methods like InVitro to solve the problem. Why is it so wrong? The manipulation of embryos in the lab, degrades the human body to a mere machine to be tinkered with. Conceived embryos are often frozen , discarded, or even aborted after conception because of the high number of lab created/implanted babies during the process. Those losses aside, anything that separates the unitive and procreative aspects of the sexual embrace are disordered and morally evil (the same logic explains why contraception, sterilization, surrogacy and homosexuality are also wrong).

But couples don't have to compromise their faith and principles. Enter NaPro Technology : an ethical alternative that respects the dignity of the persons, while proving to be less expensive but more effective than InVitro! I personally know women who have benefitted not just from infertility treatments, but also other numerous ailments related to the female reproductive system (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Endometriosis, etc.).

The following news clip will introduce you to the founding doctor and shows the success rate of his awesome institution:

Country Living: Poison Ivy

2010-06-06T20:53:00.000-05:00

Well, my greed for luscious blackberries finally bit me on the behind... or shall I say the face. I have a horrible case of poison ivy. Just one of many reminders that living in the country isn't always good times. There are real dangers to face, and my education has just begun! Please pray for me. I can't take any steroids and the swelling is getting worse, not better.

Happy Memorial Day

2010-05-31T20:51:00.000-05:00

Jamie made a patriotic T-shirt for Memorial Day. This day means alot to here because she has adopted a U.S. Soldier who is over in Afghanistan right now. Her name is Billie and we send her care packages every month or so. The experience has been very educational for Jamie I think. It gives her a greater appreciation for all the men and women through the years who have found to preserve our freedom.

God Bless Our Soldiers!

Country Living: "Wild" Cocoons

2010-05-27T20:50:00.000-05:00

Mom spotted this butterfly cocoon on the playhouse. And Jamie found another one on the wheel of her wagon. Of course, this is so simple, but for "new country folk" we think it's so cool to find cocoons that are created in wild spots, rather than catching the butterflies and watching them in jars!

Headcovering How to:

2010-05-25T20:45:00.002-05:00

I ran across this neat website that adequately explains the hows and whys of veiling. Hopefully you're curious and will check it out! I've found the whole veiling experience to be very rewarding and quite painless...after the first week or so.

Country Living: Wild Blackberries

2010-05-24T20:48:00.000-05:00

In Texas, they call them dewberries, but they are wild blackberries. They are growing on our property and all over the vacant lot next door. We go out every other night to pick them. I made my first pie. Yum! Yum! So cool that something so valuable (sometimes $6 or more a pound) is just growing wild out here!

Country Living: Stray Horse?

2010-05-20T20:46:00.000-05:00

Life in suburbia, has it's normal sights. Garbage cans lined along the road, neighbors push-mowing their lawns, and the occasional stray dog. In the country, I'm learning things are different. Some people use garbage cans, but sometimes we also save compost or burn our trash. Neighbors still mow, but they use tractors or riding mowers.

But it's the animal life that is much different. You've got the yucky ones like snakes and skunks. By far the most awesome are the deer that graze in the evening. Stray dogs? Probably not. Stay horses however are another story!

One evening my mom was sitting in the back yard when she noticed a large brown horse run through our yard. Suddenly, our neighbor ran over and asked us to get a bucket and belt. We gave it to him, and chased the horse around our property, trying to round him up. It was like a rodeo in our backyard! Turned out, it belong to another neighbor 2 doors down and got out of the fence. We had hoof prints in our front yard and back as you can see from the pictures.

We know we're in the country now!

Trailer: "Blood Money"

2010-05-18T08:31:00.002-05:00

It's been a busy few weeks, but I wanted to touch base with a video trailer to a new Prolife Documentary coming to expose Planned Parenthood and the truth about abortion:

God Bless My Little Communicant

2010-05-08T20:20:00.000-05:00

Dear Jamie: You are a precious jewel, my first born. As you come to know Jesus in a new and special way, may you never forget the wonder and gift of the Eucharist. I love you so much.

-Mommy

Happy Feast Day Gianna

2010-04-28T12:30:00.006-05:00

To my little darling daughter: Happy feast day! Thank you for being so patient as I strive to be the saintly mother that St. Gianna was. I love you!

St. Gianna Beretta Molla pray for us.

Cute Commercial

2010-04-26T14:30:00.001-05:00

Love little things like this! Shows a glimmer of hope for the next generation.

Happy Birthday Papa

2010-04-16T11:55:00.002-05:00

Natural Lifestyle: Homemade Laundry Detergent

2010-04-13T07:30:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I finished my first batch of homemade laundry detergent and I am happy to report that I love it! It is cheap, effective, and easy to make. I chose to make a powder form because I didn't want to mess with boiling water and making more of a mess than is absolutely necessary. There are lots of recipes one could try. Here's the one I use:

One bar of Ivory Soap (finely grated)

One Cup of Washing Soda

One Cup of Borax

That's it! It lasted me 3 weeks (as long as a bottle of Wisk would last me), but you can make 8 times that much with all the ingredients on hand if you want. I calculate that it cost me $1.32 for one batch (not including the coupon I had this time for the Ivory soap). That's $0.44/week. Before I spent at least $6.00 on a bottle of detergent; that's $2.00/week!

You can use different bar soap too, as long is it doesn't contain oils (like Caress or Dove).

BONUS TIP: I've also substituted about 1/2 cup of vinegar for Fabric Softner. Works great and SOOOOOO much cheaper. It helps remove odors, too. Doesn't have a bad smell, just no smell. (WARNING: NEVER mix Vinegar and Bleach! I'm allergic to bleach so it's not a problem here, but you might want to know this.)

Unfortunately I have no tips on how to make FOLDING the laundry any easier :( But if you are like me and HATE laundry, I do it ALL in one day ONCE a week. This way I can say "I don't have to do laundry for 6 more days!"

Happy Laundering!

I met Cardinal DiNardo!

2010-04-12T16:37:00.004-05:00

This weekend was the Annual Bishop's Prolife Dinner for the Catholic Prolife Committee here in Dallas. I got to meet Abby Johnson (who is just a doll) and I also just found out she came Home to the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil! Congrats to her! Her story provides so much hope for the Prolife movement. What? You haven't heard of her? She's the former Planned Parenthood director of College Station who became prolife during 40 days for life last fall after assisting in an abortion procedure. Please pray for her as she boldly travels around the country revealing the evils of Planned Parenthood from first hand experience.

I also met Cardinal DiNardo Galveston/Houston. He's just super! Very down to earth and so generous in humility. He gave a very inspiring speech. When I spoke to him, I said, "I've heard lots of great things about you." He replied, "Only believe half of what you hear and I'll be happy."

Emotional Monday

2010-04-05T11:50:00.002-05:00

Blessed to be a sponsor to a dear friend who came into the Church at Easter Vigil.

Remembering the wonderful Easter meal I was able to share with my family.

Deeply sad and sympathetic to those in my life experiencing the loss of life and loved ones.

Overwhelmed by loads and loads of laundry (we must wear less clothes during the week....really...).

The Many Memories of April 2nd

2010-04-02T20:27:00.008-05:00

I wanted to share what this special day means to me. You may be thinking, "What is it? Did her husband propose? Did she have a baby? Did she receive a special gift?". Well, technically, none of the above, but I guess you could say the events of April 2nd are a gift in some way.

5 years ago today, our beloved Pope John Paul II passed from this worldy life to join the saints and angels in Heaven. I'll never forget that day since I was at a Youth 2000 retreat sitting before the Blessed Sacrament when I was informed that he had finally passed away.

1 year later, on that very same day, my son John Paul was Baptized into the church becoming a child of God. Coincidence? Of course not! Our love for JP2 became a prayer for a son and our prayer of Thanksgiving was sharing in this saint's special day.

Today being Good Friday makes it all the more special. I've always been fascinated with this day since it's the only day of the year when the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is NOT celebrated. And the irony of "Good" in its name is worth pondering in and of itself. How can something so horrific be "Good"? But of course what is better than remembering the consumation of the new covenant, the ultimate payment for our sins, and the perfect act of Love that IS Christ Crucified. I think we should start calling it "Best Friday".

Natural Family Planning is...

2010-03-17T15:54:00.001-05:00

Emotional Monday

2010-03-15T08:47:00.004-05:00

Mesmerized by the fact I can watch the sun come up every morning from my backyard.

Empathetic with my mutually miserable children as they cough, sneeze, and blow their nose all day along with me.

Completely STUNNED at how out of touch I am with the current events by not using the Internet or watching the news for a week!

Grateful to God that we are finally home!

Cute Joke

2010-03-15T08:45:00.001-05:00

Just a cute joke that was sent to me I'll share while I'm unpacking...

TOP 10 CATHOLIC PICK UP LINES:

10. May I offer you a light for that votive candle?
9. Hi there. My buddy and I were wondering if you would settle a dispute we're having. Do you think the word should be pronounced HOMEschooling, or homeSCHOOLing?
8. Sorry, but I couldn't help but noticing how cute you look in that ankle-length, shapeless, plaid jumper.
7. What's a nice girl like you doing at a First Saturday Rosary Cenacle like this?
6. You don't like the culture of death either? Wow! We have so much in common!
5. Let's get out of here. I know a much cozier little Catholic bookstore downtown.
4. I bet I can guess your confirmation name.
3. You've got stunning scapular-brown eyes.
2. Did you feel what I felt when we reached into the holy water font at the same time?
1. Confess here often?

Sounds of a SAHM for today:

2010-02-24T17:49:00.003-06:00

1. The giggle of your toddler as you slide down a slide together...the 1st time, 2nd time, 3rd time, etc.

2. "I DID it!" When your son figures out how to put his pants on... backwards.

3. Silence...when by some miracle ALL 3 of your children are taking a nap!

Emotional Monday

2010-02-22T08:27:00.002-06:00

Anxious to start packing and ready to move in 12 days!!

Worried that Jamie's ticks and OCD are here to stay again and can't decide what the next step is.

Grateful for the recent health and well being of our family after a long rough patch last year.

Tired of the Winter Olympics, but Glad 24 is on tonight!

Choosing a Birthday Cake

2010-02-19T15:53:00.005-06:00

Looking at my cake book...

John Paul: I want this one.

Mom: Those are for Halloween. Those cats and witches are ugly.

(he turns the page)

John Paul: Oo! Santa Clause isn't ugly! Santa Clause is happy!

The search for the perfect 4th Birthday cake continues!!

Feeling Nostalgic

2010-02-18T11:45:00.004-06:00

I totally stole this idea from my friend Elizabeth, but when I saw this old pic of her and her son, it reminded me of one of my own from Spring 2004 (my oldest daughter):

Natural Family Planning Babies Are Organic

2010-02-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

God's Simple Treats

2010-02-16T10:35:00.005-06:00

Yesterday I ate the most delicious orange. It was perfectly ripe and peeled nicely. Each slice had a skin so silky and each bite contained a burst of sweet scrumptiousness.

Just a simple orange, and yet it made me think of the wonder and splendor of God.

I love watching the Food Network and learning different techniques for making delicious concoctions. Some of it takes a lot of time and work to complete, but in the end, it's worth it.

But an orange is so basic...so elementary...so simple. Or did God put all the thought and work into making the delicious treat? Not only delicious but so nutritious!

How often do we overlook the simple and satisfying treats of God's creation available to us.

Emotional Monday

2010-02-15T08:54:00.001-06:00

HAPPY that there is no rain/snow in the forecast all week, which means we can finally pour a drive way to my new home and close in just a few weeks!

SAD that an old friend has just taken a nose dive in her faith and appears to be in a dark place. Please pray for her.

WORRIED that my favorite candidate for Texas Governor, Debra Medina, may have lost valuable ground because of a rough radio interview.

EXCITED that my hubby found a previously viewed deal on Julie and Julia. I had watched it this weekend and loved it. (although it is better with a ClearPlay DVD for the sake of a few curse words and suggestive scenes).

He's growing up :(

2010-02-13T18:16:00.005-06:00

Mom: "What's this?" (pointing out a bit of spoiling in his "big boy pants")

JP: "Awwww. I'm sorry Mommy. I didn't MEAN to."

Mom: "That's Ok. I love you and I forgive you."

The above conversation is a sure sign that my little boy is growing up. It's a mile away from the previous crying, fighting, or yelling (from him AND me) that used to exist in it's place.

In 2 weeks he will be turning 4. And before you know it, 14, 24, etc. So tonight I'll just hug him, look at his goofy grin, and give him a big smooch on the lips....and remember that moment forever!

SNOW FUN!

2010-02-11T09:08:00.001-06:00

Snow is beautiful, fun, and VERY, VERY rare!

Lovely Blog on Femininity

2010-02-09T20:36:00.003-06:00

While researching the art of more feminine dress, and deciding if I wanted to give up "pants" for Lent, I stumbled upon this intriguing blog! It's about femininity in a feminist world and it's written by a teenage girl who's the oldest of 6. She has the most remarkably insightful things to say about women in the modern world. I found myself truly fascinated by her maturity. I just had to share.

If you finish your school work...

2010-02-08T08:02:00.000-06:00

...you get to play with the box!

Toddler Math

2010-02-06T08:03:00.001-06:00

Toddler + Trash Can = Black Hole

So far, my youngest has thrown away (well, only what I've managed to catch her doing):

-a stack of plastic cups

-a fork

-book, after book, after book

-small toys

-crayons

-socks

Other items still missing that I can't find "for some reason":

-one Handy Manny tool

-many lids and stoppers to "those cups"

-socks (the answer to one of life's mysteries solved!)

Every time something important is missing I FEAR trash day.

Easy Bread Recipe

2010-02-05T07:56:00.002-06:00

I can't wait to try this. I love this kind of bread at the bakery, but it's not cheap. Looks cheap to make AND easy!

Natural Lifestyle: Clean Eating

2010-02-01T14:58:00.004-06:00

I was recently given some back issues to a magazine called Clean Eating. I have since gotten my own subscription because I love it. I have learned so much about the benefits of "eating clean". What does that mean, you ask?

Clean Eating basically means eating food in its purest form or as close as possible. It means making smarter choices at the store, at a restaurant, etc. by simply reading the labels or preparing things fresh from home. The more ingredients on a label usually means the more processed it is.

We have recently converted our household diet to clean eating and have had surprising results. JC has lost almost 25 pounds in just 5 weeks with our new diet of fresh foods.

We've cut out high-fructose corn syrup, food colorings, refined sugars and grains, and anything partially hydrogenated.

Surprisingly it has been easier than I expected. Some foods do end up inevitably more expensive, yet our grocery bill has not gone up! Why? Because we aren't loading the cart with processed foods which add up as well. Making things from scratch is always cheaper and purchasing produce in season saves as well. (of course when I can grow this stuff myself how much better!). I try not to look at the "healthy foods" as expensive, but rather the "unhealthy foods" as made with cheaper ingredients and fillers. It has really changed my perspective.

When Jamie and I had to change our diets last July after discovering certain food allergies and sensitivities, we found ourselves essentially shopping for 2 different diets....the allergy diet and the non-allergy diet. THAT got expensive. But when JC decided to lose some weight, we switched to JUST the allergy diet which inevitably meant the healthier diet.

I also had 6 months of learning how to substitute ingredients in my favorite recipes. Now, I've adapted that to "Clean" substitutions. For example: In place of sugar in recipes I now use "Agave Nectar". And everything still comes out delicious. Or replacing white flour with wheat or millet, oatmeal, potato, etc. Replacing salt with sea salt is a healthy alternative too.

Are we 100% there? Not yet, but I'd say out diet reflects about 85/15 Clean to "unclean". That's a heavy improvement. Check out an issue of Clean Eating sometime and see what you think.

You are what you eat. So with clean eating you can't go wrong.

CNSNews.com - Pro-Life Advocates Plan to Protest Opening of Largest Abortion Clinic in U.S.

2010-01-07T15:33:00.001-06:00

CNSNews.com - Pro-Life Advocates Plan to Protest Opening of Largest Abortion Clinic in U.S.

Posted using ShareThis

Excellent Shepherd: Jerome Listecki

2009-12-16T11:37:00.002-06:00

Thank You Bishop!

Milwaukee Archbishop: You Can’t Call Yourself Catholic and Support Contraception

By John-Henry Westen
MILWAUKEE, December 15, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The incoming Archbishop of Milwaukee, Jerome Listecki, has responded to a campaign by "Young Catholics for Choice" to promote use of contraception and abortion among Catholic youth.
Using media advertising the group is, says the Archbishop-Designate, "attempting to convey the message that Catholics can disregard Church teaching regarding contraception, abortion and human sexuality in general and remain Catholics in good standing." However, "Nothing could be further from the truth."
"While people can call themselves whatever they want, it is my duty as a bishop to state clearly and unequivocally that by professing and disseminating views in grave contradiction to Catholic teaching, members of organizations like 'Young Catholics for Choice' in fact disown their Catholic heritage, tragically distancing themselves from that communion with the Church to which they are called," added the archbishop.
Using language first employed by Catholic dissenters to Humanae Vitae, YCFC calls on Catholics to use an "informed conscience" to decide to use birth control and the morning-after-pill, also called "emergency contraception."
Their ad campaign states: "Young Catholics are having sex. We are using contraception and condoms. We are having abortions. We are bisexual, gay, lesbian, straight and transgender. And none of this makes us any less Catholic than conservative Catholics who speak out against us.
"The truth is, they don't represent what the majority of Catholics - especially those of us in our 20s and 30s - think about sex. It comes down to Catholic teaching on conscience. Basically, every individual has the right and responsibility to follow his or her own conscience - and respect others' right to do the same. With conscience and respect, good Catholic sex is not only possible, it's already happening. "
The group, claiming to be a youth wing of "Catholics for Choice," admits that it's mandate is to "take action to counter the bishops' impact both in the United States and around the world. "
Archbishop Listecki concluded his statement calling for prayers for the YCFC members. "We pray that they may reconcile their position which is contrary to the Catholic Faith they claim to profess."

It hatched! At IHOP!

2009-11-15T14:36:00.002-06:00

We ate breakfast at IHOP today and I just KNEW the butterfly would hatch, so yes...we brought it into the restaurant. And YEP! it did. We later said good-bye to our little friend. He was called "Cucumber" as a Caterpillar, "Pickle" as a chrysalis, and "Relish" as a butterfly.

Does he deserve that halo??

2009-11-15T14:35:00.001-06:00

...I guess so :)

Quick News: Congress, Bishops, Kidneys, & Huckabee

2009-11-11T11:59:00.002-06:00

1. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsley of California attacks the USCCB for being against the health care bill and suggests they should lose their tax exemplification status.

2. Bishop Tobin of Connecticut tells Pro choice Congressman Kennedy what it REALLY means to be a Catholic.

3. A local priest in my own Diocese of Dallas gave one of his kidney's this week to a parishioner.

4. Planned Parenthood director sees a live abortion on sonogram for the 1st time, leaves her job and joins the crisis pregnancy center down the street. Watch Huckabee's interview with her:

LIKE FR. FRANK PAVONE OFTEN SAYS, "AMERICA WILL NOT STOP ABORTION UNTIL IT SEES ABORTION!" IT WON'T BE PRETTY, BUT IT MUST BE DONE! WATCH "THE SILENT SCREAM" HERE.

Meet Our Pet Caterpillar

2009-11-07T20:09:00.001-06:00

We caught a caterpillar at the land and Jamie named it Cucumber. Easy Science Project. Stay tuned...

Happy All Hallow's Eve

2009-10-31T22:26:00.003-05:00

St. Rose of Lima

Saint-O-Lantern

Experience in front of an abortion mill: The New Morality

2009-10-28T18:16:00.003-05:00

The following comes from an experience my Mom had today while praying at an abortion clinic:

I wanted to share an experience my husband and I had today. We went to Robinson's abortion clinic to pray for 1 hour during these "40 days for Life". We usually try to pray at least once a month at the Planned Parenthood clinic over on Greenville Avenue, but it is at Robinson's where they are doing the 40 days.

When we pray at Planned Parenthood, we are not actually near the clinic. We stand at the corner as people drive in that direction. There is only one way in and out to get to Planned Parenthood. So we never really see those who are actually entering the clinic or coming out of the clinic. Today was different, we stood right in front of the clinic, so we saw people enter and leave. No, sadly, we were not blessed with seeing a baby saved today.

Instead, in the 1 hour that we were there, we saw the first woman leave the clinic in a wheel chair to her car. My heart just dropped. Like I said, we've never seen this side of what goes on at these clinics. After about 20 minutes, woman number two comes out in the exact same fashion. Man drives up, woman comes out in a wheel chair and away they go, not realizing that all though they believe they just got rid of their "problem", this experience will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

After this second couple left, a man across the street that we could not see, started to play the Ave Maria on a trumpet. It was beautiful and at the same time chilling, it was hard to fight the tears. But not nearly as hard as when after he played the Ave Maria, he played "Day is Done". Yes, the day was definitely done for those two innocent babies.

After another 15 minutes we had to witness, yet another woman coming out in the same fashion. "Victim" number 3 in just 1 hour. The thought that came to my mind at that time was....."Oh dear Lord, it's like an assembly line for murdering babies." I could even imagine the doctor saying "Next!" without giving it a second thought as to what he's doing. The woman who drove this woman home was in such a hurry to escape our presence, she almost pulled out in front of another car.

I was secretly glad that my hour was finally up. I wasn't sure how much more I could take....and all that in just 1 hour! There are only 6 more days left in this 40 days for Life. Of course we don't stop praying after that. I write this not to make you feel guilty if you have not found the time to pray at the clinic. We, too, have been so busy that it took us this long to finally go down there. Everybody has different circumstances, and it's understandable, but prayer is always something we can do.

Pray from your homes if you can't go down there. Pray for those who ARE down there praying and being a presence for the unborn children. Prayer IS powerful, because on the bright, because of the presence of those who are there, we have had some babies saved!! Thanks be to God!! Here is a poem that my husband came upon and it was for the occasion:

The New Morality

You didn't make it, Unborn Child.

They wouldn't let you be.

To your bud of life, they took a knife.

It's the "New Morality."

They didn't mean to hurt you, Love!

You have to understand.

Forgive them for what they did,

their life was so well-planned.

They couldn't take you with them

up the ladder of success.

Money meant more to them

than a child, heaven-blessed.

Tell me, little Unborn Child,

what did the Creator say?

Did He wrap you in His love,

and wipe your tears away?

You hover on the edge of time.

I see your faceless form.

You laugh whenever children play,

Oh, God, for you I mourn!

He sent His only Precious Son

to teach us all "the Way."

Still, we kill the unborn ones.

It happens every day!

You didn't make it, Unborn Child.

They wouldn't let you be.

They just expelled a blob of cells.

It's the "New Morality."

Music Video on the Eucharist

2009-10-28T10:15:00.002-05:00

I wish I were further in my study of Latin to understand the lyrics (if that's what it is):

Jewels of Homeschooling: Sibling Tutoring

2009-09-30T23:15:00.003-05:00

One of the best parts of homeschooling is when an older child gets to play teacher to a younger sibling. It allows them to serve others while reinforcing educational concepts. It's a beautiful process! Jamie loves teaching John Paul his School work. And he loves learning!

Goofy Kids

2009-09-30T23:14:00.000-05:00

Goofy Kid #1 enjoys putting anything and everything on her head and walking around. I guess it's good for her posture!

Goofy Kid #2 uses a plastic jungle gym for a safety net while learning how to use the monkey bars. Love the shades!

Goofy Kid #3 apparently thinks wants to keep his head covered out of the rain while reading his book...sitting on the couch!

Gotta Share this video:

2009-09-17T20:58:00.002-05:00

I'm on a star wars kick. I FINALLY watched all 6 episodes for the 1st time these last few weeks. So, when I saw this from a new vocations site I just discovered, I HAD to share... even if it is a little goofy!

Superbreeders

2009-09-10T09:28:00.006-05:00

(Full Story Here:) Are some women superbreeders?

Yes we are! I'm a a fertile turtle, but now with osteopenia that will have to slow down dramatically!

Can you believe the Duggars are having number 19? I think it's great. They are a model family, whether they have 2 kids or 20. St. Catherine of Siena was the last of 25 children. So we are NOT talking about world records or freaks here. Just an incredibly blessed family!

I admire their courage! They go on the news and announce this great news as if everyone is going to embrace them and offer they prayers and congratulations. Unfortunately I've read nothing but ridicule, jokes, and even the occasional "That's gross!" comments. Never the less, they hold their heads up high, with bright smiles on their faces, forever mindful of God's blessings upon their family.

This family witnesses in a way that I only wish I could. God Bless them!

Here's a recent interview with the Duggars on "Huckabee":

Overheard at the store:

2009-09-08T11:44:00.002-05:00

John Paul: "Look! A Balloon! B-A-L-L-O-O-N."

Jamie: "Is that how you spell Balloon?"

Natural Lifestyle: The Homestead

2009-09-04T14:07:00.007-05:00

We are currently living with a relative while our house is being built. So needless to say many of my goals toward a natural lifestyle are neither practical or possible in some cases.

However, building a house provides many opportunities to prepare. For example, we are incorporating a second pantry for keeping dried goods and anything we might jar or can from our garden. Also, picking materials for building can be creative. If money were not an issue, I could go with wool carpeting and hard wood flooring. But, on a tighter budget, we can still manage to choose the least synthetic materials as possible (maybe a bit more engineered) but with fewer chemicals and plastics.

The ultimate goal would be to live entirely off of the land and become self sufficient. That would probably involve farming (goats, chickens, fish, etc.). And we've also considered a rain well, to collect water in. This will take time, but in the end would be worth pursuing during these unstable times. Can we really rely on the market or government to provide is with all our needs during a crisis? (think Katrina)

Having a garden alone will be the cornerstone of this new life: wholesome, home grown food that we nourish with care, so it can nourish us. We had a tiny garden at the last home, and really only got one good year out of it. The soil at the new place looks more promising, so there's hope!

I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie and wondering what it would be like to live such a simple life. Perhaps our new homestead will be just that.

Natural Lifestyle: Diapers

2009-09-02T23:00:00.005-05:00

I've been so busy these past few weeks getting ready for the kids schooling I haven't gotten around to my "Natural Lifestyle" posts as promised. A friend of mine asked me about cloth diapers, so I thought I'd at least start there.

Yes, I've considered cloth diapers. It was one of my goals even prior to this natural transition. We are getting a bigger and more efficient washer/dryer soon, therefore I would be willing to try this. I'm not even quite sure what this entails but since potty training my son has been an endless challenge, I feel like I'm already cleaning dozens of under pants. What's the difference?

It's actually not on the top of my "natural parenting goals list". Why? Well, it will not effect the natural/unnatural upbringing of my children (unless our diapers are laced with some toxin I don't know about). Method of waste elimination is not as important as say the food the child ate to begin with.

However, it's cost efficient and a labor of love. Spiritually it would be humbling and even more sacrificial than it already is. *sigh* We'll see!

Homeschooling Under Attack

2009-09-02T12:46:00.003-05:00

A friend sent me this Fox News story. A New Hampshire girl is being taken out of her homeschool environment and forced into public school for less than a good reason. Here's one quote from the judge:

"[E]ducation is by its nature an exploration and examination of new things," the court order read. "[A] child requires academic, social, cultural, and physical interaction with a variety of experiences, people, concepts, and surroundings in order to grow to an adult who can make intelligent decisions about how to achieve a productive and satisfying life."

When are we going to stop letting government tell us how to parent? When are they going to leave us alone and stop acting like omniscient gods that define what is and is not required of a child? How, by the way, do they know the child was not getting all those so called "requirements" from other sources??? Leave us alone!!

Proof: God is replaced by Earth

2009-08-28T23:41:00.003-05:00

This was in a public classroom! And people wonder why I homeschool. No Green propaganda in my classroom:

Take a Second Look at Huckabee, Please.

2009-08-24T12:05:00.004-05:00

I usually blog about Conservative Politics over at TradCons. But today, I want to share with you a touching video of a politician who's much more than politics: Mike Huckabee. (I never miss his show on Fox News every Weekend)

My husband told me he heard Huckabee on Fox and Friends this weekend talking about his wedding anniversary. The hosts made some comment about how happy they must be after all these years. Huck looked at them and without hesitation says, "I didn't get married to be happy!" (they all look at him wondering) "I got married to be holy. Let me explain. We are born into this world selfish, that's why we're lying in our cribs crying. By loving my wife and living for her, I can shed that selfishness."

Unfortunately that was a short paraphrase of the exchange because I couldn't find a video of the conversation anywhere. You get the point he was making and once again shows how I believe Huckabee is a man of grace (and even shows Catholicity a time or two).

But, while searching for THAT video, I found this one. I'd like you to take a look and tell me your thoughts:

Protecting environment must involve morals, Archbishop Chaput insists

2009-08-19T17:23:00.001-05:00

Too sick to type my thoughts...but here's a good report in regards to the evironment, morals, and the Church.

Protecting environment must involve morals, Archbishop Chaput insists

Shared via AddThis

John Paul's cute sayings for the week:

2009-08-17T10:15:00.002-05:00

(Sitting down to dinner without Daddy)

Mommy: Daddy's at church for a meeting.

John Paul: Is Daddy at church, going to eat Jesus in the Eucharist??

Mommy: No sweety, not today.

~

(Comes into my room while I'm having a hacking cough attack)

John Paul: Mommy? Do you need to go to the dentist with Daddy?

Mommy: Do you mean the doctor?

John Paul: Yeah! Doctor!

Burqini's Rock!

2009-08-13T11:31:00.005-05:00

Have you heard the recent controversy of a French Muslim banned from wearing her Burqini at a public pool? It was supposedly for hygiene reasons. I've never heard of a Burqini but I think they're kind of nice. I have no use for the head covering, but the modest fashion is appealing to me.

Some would say I'm being too prudish. But you know, I don't wear my underwear in public so why should I mimic them with my swimwear?? Maybe a short sleeve and capri version would be nice.

Apparently we have short memories because less than 100 years ago, this swimwear was seen on our shores:

I searched this winter for a "modest" bathing suit. Every one piece I found had a cleavage slit down to my naval! I finally settled on this boyshort fashion from Blair. I wore it for the first time recently at a family reunion. I felt more modest than usual, but still not as covered as I would have preferred.

However I just ran across these today at WholesomeWear.com:

So they may seem a little "dorky" to some, but I applaud their creative solution. I'm considering this for my girls and myself. Do you think they'll ban us from the pools for hygiene??

Green vs. Natural

2009-08-11T13:57:00.006-05:00

So, in the last 7 to 8 months I have been on a roller coaster. The ride has been wild and mostly rewarding. Unfortunately, the color of the tracks are GREEN! However, I shudder at the thought. I am NOT a tree hugging, hippie protesting, PETA supporting, vegetarian, or even an environmentalist. The closest I'd come to any of those is a conservationist: Leave the Earth cleaner than you came because the Earth is God's creation and should be treated with care. (Pretty much what B16 has said on the matter)

The GREEN movement in my opinion is one of 2 movements for individuals (often both):

#1) A religion with Earth as it's God and

#2) A Political tool to take away our freedoms (both locally and globally).

I firmly believe GREEN is the new RED (socialism). And since I was in elementary school, my generation has been slowly "nudged" into believing that choosing paper over plastic, littering, and not recycling are all social sins. Today, those sins are venial compared to the new reusable shopping bags, toxic light bulbs, and ugly, unsafe, and imposed electric cars, all of which must be accepted or to environmental hell you go!

So I REFUSE to use the term GREEN. My journey is toward a NATURAL LIFESTYLE and from this point forward will be referred to as such.

*whew* Glad we got that straight.

I will soon be posting on my findings toward a Natural Lifestyle, and what this means for me and my family physically, socially, and spiritually.

Funny (and creative) Kids

2009-08-04T13:39:00.004-05:00

Sample #1- (Setting: Jamie is on the toilet, using the restroom. John Paul is in the bedroom)

Jamie: "9...10...Ready or not here I come!......Are you in the bedroom?"

JP: "Yes."

Jamie: "Found you!"

Sample #2- (Setting: Jamie and John Paul are in the back seat of the car)

Jamie: "9...10...Ready or not here I come! Found you."

A Doctor's Wisdom

2009-07-16T11:35:00.002-05:00

A friend forwarded this to me:

A DOCTOR'S WISDOM
A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 yr. old and I'm pregnant again. I don't wantkids so close together.'

So the doctor said: 'Ok, and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little while, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.'

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.
Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of two babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. That way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to killone of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

One of my greatest fears...

2009-07-16T10:24:00.008-05:00

Here it is! The moment I've been waiting for. With National Health Care on the brink of existence, we now learn of the philosophy of Obama's Science Czar: John Holdren.

(My emphasis in black, comments in yellow).

Obama's science czar suggested compulsory abortion, sterilization
By: David Freddoso
Commentary Staff Writer, Washington Examiner
07/14/09 4:55 PM EDT

Internet reports are now circulating that Obama's Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, John Holdren, penned a 1977 book that approved of and recommended compulsory sterilization and even abortion in some cases, as part of a government population control regime. (Are we sure this isn't really Peter Singer in disguise?)

Given the general unreliability of Internet quotations, I wanted to go straight to this now-rare text and make sure the reports were both accurate and kept Holdren's writings in context. Generally speaking, they are, and they do.

The Holdren book, titled Ecoscience and co-authored with Malthus enthusiasts Paul and Anne Ehrlich, weighs in at more than 1,000 pages. Of greatest importance to its discussion of how to limit the human population is its disregard for any ethical considerations. (no kidding? Are we surprised?)

Holdren (with the Ehrlichs) notes the existence of “moral objections to some proposals...especially to any kind of compulsion.” But his approach is completely amoral. He implies that compulsory population control is less preferable, because of some people's objections, (Uh, yeah! As sure as the day is long) but he argues repeatedly that it is sometimes necessary, and necessity trumps all ethical objections. (Obama Philosophy 101)

He writes:

Several coercive proposals deserve discussion, mainly because some countries may ultimately have to resort to them unless current trends in birth rates are rapidly reversed by other means. (of course this is old and today we are at birth rates below the replacement level...but why should that stop them?? Now they can use the "save the planet" argument to have fewer carbon breathers walking around.) Some involuntary measures (scariest 2 words ever) could be less repressive or discriminatory, in fact, than some of the socioeconomic measures suggested.

Holdren refers approvingly, for example, to Indira Gandhi's government for its then-recent attempt at a compulsory sterilization program:

India in the mid-1970s not only entertained the idea of compulsory sterilization, but moved toward implementing it...This decision was greeted with dismay abroad, (shocking) but Indira Gandhi's government felt it had little other choice. There is too little time left to experiment further with educational programs and hope that social change will generate a spontaneous fertility decline, and most of the Indian population is too poor for direct economic pressures (especially penalties) to be effective.

When necessary, then, compulsory sterilization is justified. This attitude suffuses the following passage, in which the possibility of putting a “sterilant” into a population's drinking water is seriously discussed. Holdren and his co-authors do not recommend this particular method, but their objections to it are merely practical and health-related, not moral or stemming from any concern for human freedom: (much like our leaders today...*sigh* Great!)

Adding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods is a suggestion that seems to horrify people more than most proposals for involuntary fertility control. Indeed, this would pose some very difficult political, legal, and social questions, to say nothing of the technical problems. No such sterilant exists today, nor does one appear to be under development. To be acceptable, such a substance would have to meet some rather stiff requirements: it must be uniformly effective, despite widely varying doses received by individuals, and despite varying degrees of fertility and sensitivity among individuals; it must be free of dangerous or unpleasant side effects; and it must have no effect on members of the opposite sex, children, old people, pets, or livestock...Again, there is no sign of such an agent on the horizon. And the risk of serious, unforeseen side effects would, in our opinion, militate against the use of any such agent, even though this plan has the advantage of avoiding the need for socioeconomic pressures that might tend to discriminate against particular groups (30 years later this is no longer tickling anyone's conscience...embryonic stem cell research and other immoral scientific experiments exploit the poor every day, for example, harvesting eggs for money). or penalize children. (Again...commonly set aside as a consideration...i.e. killing children, same-sex adoption, performing abortions on minor illegally and/or sending them back to their rapists, etc.)

Even though they do not recommend it, note that Holdren and his co-authors treat this as a serious policy proposal with serious drawbacks -- not as an insane idea unworthy of consideration. (What are the odds he's had a conversion of heart??)

They look with more favor on this “milder” form of coercive sterilization: (Doesn't that phrase just make your scalp itch?)

Of course, a government might require only implantation of the contraceptive capsule, leaving its removal to the individual's discretion but requiring reimplantation after childbirth. (Via national health care? He must be dancing in his boots right about now!) Since having a child would require positive action (removal of the capsule), many more births would be prevented than in the reverse situation.

Holdren and his co-authors also tackle the problem of illegitimacy, recognizing that it could be one consequence of a society which, in its effort to limit births, downgrades the value of intact nuclear families and encourages lifelong bachelorhood: (Duh!)

[R]esponsible parenthood ought to be encouraged and illegitimate childbearing could be strongly discouraged. (Obviously on the surface that sounds great...but this is the Anti-Humanae Vitae form of Responsible Parenthood...read on) One way to carry out this disapproval might be to insist that all illegitimate babies be put up for adoption (how generous) -- especially those born to minors, who generally are not capable of caring properly for a child alone...It would even be possible to require pregnant single women to marry or have abortions, perhaps as an alternative to placement for adoption, depending on the society. (Again, via national health care?)

Holdren's suggestion here is presented perfectly in context. It stands alone in the text without any accompanying reservations.

President Obama has spoken repeatedly in favor of putting science before ideology. The real debate, however, has never been about whether ethics are needed in science, but rather over whose ethics should determine where science will or will not go. (God help us all)

Nowhere has Obama suggested that science should be completely ethics-free. But Holdren is his Science Czar all the same.

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