Fourth of July BS Party

This year, thanks to Steve we had a grand time on the fourth, picnicking and boating at his uncle's cabin. And luckily for us all, I got quite a few pictures of the festivities. I'll post a few tonight, and maybe some more tomorrow. If you want any specific pic emailed to you just let me know.

Home again, home again....

We're back from our whirlwind New England tour. We managed to see some old college friends, tour Mystic, CT and Boston, MA. Along the way we passed through parts of 7 states (not counting PA). We stopped at least 6 or 7 times to calm Amelia and or eat and stretch. I learned exactly how much I love PA drivers, whose idiosyncrasies are at least known to me, as opposed to drivers in other states, who may at any moment do something horribly unexpected to me, but something which is obviously a tacitly agreed upon deviation from the rules amongst drivers in their state. For example the tendency to come zipping up the entrance ramp at full speed and 'merge' without paying any attention to who may or may not be on the roadway already, and especially not considering whether or not you may be causing them to brake rapidly to avoid crashing into you. So much fun!

The trip was made even more exciting, from the outset, when Maria threw up on the morning of our departure. So we spent awhile deciding whether to go or not. Obviously we went, but we spent alot of the first day or so looking anxiously at Maria for any sign of a repeat performance. Aside from not eating much, she was fine for the rest of the time. But then Amelia, got sick on Friday night, and hasn't been quite right since. There's nothing like a stomach bug to make a trip more interesting.

We did manage to have fun though, seeing various ships and historic buildings, watching "Dory" fish at the aquarium, pushing buttons a the Museum of Science, riding the train with a stroller and two kids, finding the elevator at the subway stops, eating lots of good food (far away from the subway and it's "aroma") and generally passing out with exhaustion in the "number room" each night. We met quite a few friendly Bostonians, who we very helpful in giving directions and advice about how to navigate the city and find good food. We also met a couple with two kids, who are training to be missionaries in Africa. Even their three year old was learning French in preparation for their mission. Meeting such interesting people makes traveling that much more fun.

I could say more but I'll stop now, and let the picture say the rest.

(Pictures in separate post)

Mystic, CT

Row, row, row your boat.

Charles Morgan whaler.

Anchored.

Capsun Demo.

Boston - Day 1

Boston Harbor

Walking the Freedom Trail.

Peanut butter, jelly, and banana panini. Yummy!

On the USS Constitution.

Paul Revere statue near Old North Church.

Boston - Day 2

Outside the Aquarium.

A jellyfish, swimming.

Touching a starfish.

A fountain in Boston Common.

The view from our hotel, with musical nuns.
(they're kinda like that gnome)

Boston - Day 3

Bird puppets.

In the butterfly garden.

Leaving butterfly garden, checking in mirror for 'passengers.'

Boston Public Garden.

Cheers!

There and back again - shots from the road.

Rest stop.

Somewhere in Connecticut.

Rest Stop.

Stop Amelia from screaming stop.

On the road, again.

It's a Wednesday.

Yep, that's right. Wednesday. And around here that means it was a crazy day. Doesn't matter if the day was actually a Wednesday or not. If it was crazy, busy, or downright frustrating then a Wednesday is what I call it.

I just started calling a bad day a "Wednesday" after experiencing a series of really crazy Wednesdays. Don't know why Wednesday are so crazy around here, they just are.

Well, this week has been a week of Wednesdays. That's right, a whole week of 'em.

I'll spare you the details. Let's just say, that because the rest of the week was soooo busy, crazy and full of surprises, today is even more busy, crazy and full of surprises.

Thankfully, tomorrow's the start of our vacation. So maybe we'll escape the world of Wednesdays, and find rest somewhere in New England. Or maybe not. I'll let ya know when we get back.

Until then may everyday be a "Sunday" for you all. :)

So Funny....

If you like Steven Colbert, you'll think so too. Or if you don't like liturgical dancing. Or if you have any sense of humor at all.

Just check it out here. Then check out the rest of the site. There's some pretty good clips (especially nice for those of us without cable.

Prayer Request

I just found out that the father of one of my friends committed suicide this weekend. She will be traveling to be with her family during this difficult time.

Please pray for her safe arrival, for the repose of the soul of her father, and for peace and healing within her family as they grieve this terrible loss.

A Day at the Park with Friends

Flowers

Growing up.

I always amazes me how the little things during an ordinary day can affect you. For example, today, Maria said grace at breakfast and at lunch right along with me. Now she's been able to say it for awhile, but she's never actually said it out loud with me. Usually she just whispers it, or doesn't say anything at all.

But today she said it out loud, along with me. And I couldn't help but think how fast the time goes and how much she has grown up already. And I have to admit, it brought tears to my eyes, to see her innocence and joy at accomplishing such a simple thing as a prayer.

I said a prayer of my own at that moment. That she would always find joy in simple prayers, and that she would carry her childlike faith into the rest of her life.

Religion: A Form of Abuse?

This article says so.

And I suppose that the author would exempt secular humanists from the proposed age restrictions for teaching religion to the young. And what of Atheism, Confucianism, and Taoism? Are they religions? Or just philosophies?

And what of public education of children? Isn't it just the teacher deciding what the student should and shouldn't learn? Isn't that indoctrination? Couldn't that be considered abusive? Don't most teachers require unquestioning acceptance of their teachings?

"1+1= 2," says the teacher.

"I don't think so, I think 1+1=4," say Johnny.

"No, that's wrong," says the teacher.

See what I mean, very abusive.

Further, schools are violent places. Just look how many school shootings there have been. Surely this proves the point that its abusive to send children to school. They are told what to wear, what to think, what to believe and so they become violent. And by watching the violence of others, they are taught violence. So I think we should ban all schools.


HT: Matthew S at Catholic Dads

Lost and Found

Lost: One tiny band-aid, from Amelia's leg after her vaccination at 2 on Wednesday.

Found: One tiny band-aid, on Mommy's tummy (in bed) at around 11:30 on Wednesday.

At least I know she didn't eat it.

Ain't misbehavin'...

I found this article through one of the groups on Cafe Mom. (Consensual Living, Respectful Parenting, Non-Coercive Parenting, etc.)

Here's a quote that kinda sums it up:

"I think adults say a child misbehaves whenever some specific action is judged as contrary to how the adult thinks the child should behave. The verdict of misbehavior, then, is clearly a value judgment made by the adult – a label placed on some particular behavior, a negative judgment of what the child is doing. Misbehavior thus is actually a specific action of the child that is seen by the adult as producing an undesirable consequence for the adult. What makes a child's behavior misbehavior (bad behavior) is the perception that the behavior is, or might be, bad behavior for the adult. The "badness'' of the behavior actually resides in the adult's mind, not the child's; the child in fact is doing what he or she chooses or needs to do to satisfy some need."

In other words, when the child's selfishness conflicts with my selfishness, and that bothers me, then I am the one who has a problem and not the child. I am the one who has to overcome my selfishness, to be able to see their selfishness, not as bad, but as normal "need" fulfillment.

Oh, and because it's my problem and not the child's problem, I shouldn't punish him. Or at least I shouldn't use, "power" tactics to deal with the behavior. 'Cuz we all know that "power" tactics break the child's spirit.

Sounds great, doesn't it?

Just another day...

Here's some picture's of the girl's from today. Nothing too special just your average day.

Amelia's new skill is standing. She can pull herself up sometimes too.

Maria requested that I take a picture of her, when she saw me taking one of Amelia. So here she is fooling around with her spoon when she was supposed to be eating her soup.

This is an interesting way to eat!

Amelia has discovered Maria's stash of 'credit cards'. She finds them very tasty.

"Don't leave home without it!"

Unanswered questions.

I just don't get what some people are thinking. I had an interview with a potential volunteer for ABB last night. I was expecting to be able to run through the usual drill, explain a little about our services, what volunteer positions that we need to fill, what training will be necessary, the hours you need to commit to, and then have her fill out the forms.

Instead I felt like I was the one being interviewed. But interviewed is too soft a word, it was really more like an interrogation. She rapid-fired questions at me, like she had a specific agenda that she wanted to run through. And they weren't "easy" questions, they were the big questions... the ones that on a good day take an hour or two to really explain in a convincing way.

I felt like I did back when I was joining the Church and had all those, well meaning, fundamentalists trying to "save my soul" and keep me from losing my faith. Just like them she didn't give me a chance to fully answer one question before she was on to the next in her list of "but what if?" extreme scenarios.

She pushed me to be specific, yet didn't really give me time to.

"But what would you say to someone considering an abortion?"

She wasn't satisfied when I said that that's something we learn in the training, she wanted an answer and she wanted it now. Then she wanted stats.

"How many minds have you changed?"

"What percentage of the women who call are seeking an abortion?"

Unfortunately, we don't keep detailed stats, yet. We're working on it, now that we have a database. But my question is, why would you need to know this sort of thing before you volunteer for a place? Or better, why would you need this information on first contact with a place? Why not wait for the specifics during training? At least the for the first question anyway.

Her other more outrageous questions included:

"What would you say to someone who called and said that she was raped and wanted an abortion?"

"What do you tell the clients about birth control?" - Followed by, "You don't tell them about birth control do you?" And then when I told her the answer, chastity counseling for single woman and NFP for married woman, she shot back a line of NFP questions.

"What's that?"

"Do you know anyone who practices that and finds it effective? My cousin used it and had twelve kids..."

"What's the difference between NFP and birth control? I don't see any difference. Do you see a difference?"

I told her about a study done in India which found effectiveness to be 99%. I mentioned this to show that even in places where the participants had less overall education, effectiveness was still high. Even after learning this, and hearing that the Pill can cause an early abortion, she still asked the following question:

"Oh, but what about the poor women in Africa, can you actually say that they shouldn't have the Pill? Those women who are so malnourished that they can't even produce milk for their babies and have to watch their children starve, one after another, shouldn't they have birth control? I'm not trying to argue here, I'm just trying to help you."

Argh. So what do you say to thinking like that? The person has already decided that certain things are true, and will come up with any situation, however extreme, where her view might be justified. And she doesn't really care to hear any explanation that goes against her already decided opinion.

I really do feel badly about it all. Given her age, I imagine that she is in that group of people who was told "the Church is changing the ban on contraceptives..." or "follow your conscience...." Maybe she used birth control herself; maybe she was even told by a priest that it was ok. Or maybe a friend was in one of the unfortunate situations she brought up.

It's harder then, to do the right thing, when you see the suffering that doing the right thing will cause. And it will often cause suffering of one kind or another to do the right thing. Especially when it comes to an crisis pregnancy. This is no easy way out of that situation. There are only moral and immoral choices, and suffering in one form or another.

And that is where we come in. Anyone who works at a crisis pregnancy center knows that our job is mostly just listening while a woman talks out her anger, sadness, fears and heartaches. We do all we can to ease the pain, but we can't ever take it away completely. All the resources we provide can't make the situation go away. And there is fallout for each of the choices that she could make.

Only God can bring good out of these situations, and that's why we encourage the woman we speak with to turn to God for comfort and solace in this trying time. Going against God's laws in an attempt to solve the hardship that these women face, would be doing them a disservice. For there is only more suffering to be had when we choose sin.

As for the questions that the woman asked, I do have answers, but I think most of you don't need to be convinced that abortion in any situation is wrong, and that contraceptives are not only wrong, but they are not the answer to the problems in Africa. However, if anyone wants to hear some explanations of these situations, just ask me. And I'll try to post some answers.

But please, if you ask, take time to listen to the answer.

Parking Lot?

If I were in charge of all things road related like PennDOT, I would still NOT leave my large expensive machines in the middle of the road on a holiday weekend. And if I did, I would definitely put several signs and lights warning people that they were there. A few cones just wouldn't suffice for me.

Pentecost

VENI, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.

Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.

Tu, septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.

Accende lumen sensibus:
infunde amorem cordibus:
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.

Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus:
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.

Per te sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium;
Teque utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.

Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio, qui a mortuis
surrexit, ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula.
Amen.

COME, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
Amen.

(Veni Creator Spiritus found here. Fuzzy Holy Spirit picture my own.)

Weekend fun

This morning we all went to the park, Jim and Maria to the playground, Amelia and I to Baby Boot Camp. I was pretty grumpy, because we were late, and it was HOT and HUMID. I am not a fan of summer weather. Luckily for me, the instructor had pulled a muscle in her back and was very willing to take it easy today, so I did a little cardio while she watched, and then we retreated to the shade for upper body work and abs.

After we were done, poor Amelia looked like she was starting to wilt. She looked up at me with big droopy eyes, as if to say "Why?". Poor thing. But we still had to extract Maria from the playground. I found Jim seated on bench under the half-finished gazebo, staring off into space. He looked wilted. "Maria's over there, with her friends," he said, gesturing in the general direction of the playground.

And there was Maria... running around with about 5 or 6 older kids, probably ages 7-11 or so. She was trying to ride one of their mini-bikes. She seemed completely unaffected by the heat. And she didn't want to leave, of course. We bribed her with one more ride down the slide and then dragged her off to the car.

In the car, I get the brilliant idea that since we're up and out "early" on a Saturday, i.e. before 10, we should drive around and check out the yard sale action. Very good idea. I found a silver plated candy dish for $1.50 that make a nice base for a smallish gift basket. We drove to another sale and found a backpack carrier for $5, so now we've got one for each girl. Great for when we go camping with my family. The best thing of all was the toddler-sized swing set. That's it in the picture above. For $30, it wasn't a bad deal, as it looks brand new. Now we at least have something in the backyard other than the sandbox to keep her occupied while I garden.

Now we're all hiding out inside though, as it's still hot and humid out there. Jim had planned for yardwork, but I think I'll be happiest if he just gets the air conditioner set up in our bedroom.

Voice-Activated

There are times when I'm really jealous of my husband's ability to fall asleep. Twice in the past week, he has demonstrated his amazing ability to drop off into a deep sleep with little or no warning.

The first time, was Friday night. I had had a really, really and busy day. We were in bed before I really had a chance to decompress and tell him about my day. So, at his request, I started to run through all that had gone on. I made it to ten o'clock, and then he laughed and said, maybe you'd better stop. But I didn't. I plowed on, for another minute or so, until I realized that he was very quiet. This struck me, as Jim is never quiet, unless he's sleeping. So to test my theory that he had fallen asleep I said, "and then aliens landed in the backyard." No response.

The second time, was just last night. I was chatting with him, just after we got into bed. I said something, I don't remember what and he laughed. "What?," I said. I really wanted to know why he was laughing at me. I got no response at all. Just breathing. Argh.

Twice in one week, I was left awake, and stirred up, unable to sleep. I really wish that I had a voice-activated sleep switch like that....

From the mouth of a two-year old...

"Oh, no! I made peanut butter all over my seat!"

"I've got a cold. My nose is running away from me."

"I have a head, and baby Mee-ya has a head. Mommy has a head, and Daddy has a head. Daddy took his head to work with him."

My NFP Post

In the past few weeks, my husband and I, and some of our friends, have been involved in a debate over NFP with some traditionalist Catholics. I have posted a rather lengthly argument for widespread teaching of NFP at Natural Family Life, my husband's blog. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Food!

Intentionally this time, Amelia has had her first taste of real food. Yummy! She really seemed to enjoy it and finished the whole serving that I'd prepared for her.

Ah, the anticipation!

First taste.

"Mmmm, this is good!"

"With two spoons, I can get more food faster!"

"No more pictures, I"m trying to eat!"

* that's avocado in case you're wondering... no rice cereal first here... maybe next week.