Reflections on life, faith, family and the times we live in
... by a mom at home raising kids.

Sunday, May 31, 2009
Let the Fire Fall!!
Come Holy Spirit!!

Let the Fire Fall!


The Holy Spirit will fill man's mind with good thoughts, will help him formulate his prayer even to the wording of it, will supernaturalize his actions, will constantly nourish his love until, on becoming a perfect man in Jesus Christ, man shares in heaven the triumph of the same Jesus Christ.
Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Come Holy Spirit...

Happy Pentecost
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Friday, May 29, 2009
Pregnancy as Torture!!
My son Michael emailed me this article from the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute,  A U.N. Committee is actually claiming that Nicaragua's pro-life laws are... are you ready?.......

.Torture!

"The United Nations (UN) committee charged with monitoring compliance with the Convention Against Torture has declared that Nicaragua’s full protection of fetal life violates the country's obligations under the Convention. This is the first time this committee has reviewed Nicaragua since that government outlawed abortion for any reason three years ago."

And get this.  Amnesty International supports this U. N. Committee!!!!

"Among the human rights lobbyist organizations that have increasingly lent a voice to abortion advocacy in the developing world is Amnesty International, which abandoned its previous neutrality on the issue in 2007. In a shadow briefing to the torture committee, Amnesty asserted that Nicaragua's legislation banning all abortions was equivalent to government commissioned “torture” or at least “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” banned by the Convention. "

OK.  Now I've heard Everything!!!
(not really.)

Pregnancy is torture!!??!!??!!??!!??!!??

Carrying a baby, bringing a new human being into the world, not killing your baby......this is torture.

I'm sorry, but those who have actually articulated this position can only be described as very, very sick people.

To have such profound disrespect for the sacred gift of human life is, well, I don't know how else to describe it, diabolical.

That this idea has not been met with utter disgust and contempt is frightening.

Lord have mercy.

And may God bless C-fam as they fight against this horror.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
She's not a "little girl" anymore.
When my youngest daughter was born we thought of the kids in groups of three.  There were the "big kids," my two oldest who were 10 and 12.  There were the "little boys," who were 4 and 6.  And there were the "little girls," newborn and almost 2.

NOW, the older of the "little girls" is, at this very moment, attending her last day of grade school. 

 SHE'S GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER!!!!!!!!

I hate to use the trite expression that aging parents always use but,

How did this happen?!?!

My lesson for today is to spend every day loving my kids and appreciating every moment because the time continues to slip through my fingers like water.
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

On Memorial Day, late in the day, we packed up our leftover food from the Confirmation party and went to Gallop Park for a picnic.

I did not have much energy left.  It was good to just sit and not have any dishes. :-)


 Husband Mike likes being near the water, so he was happy being near the pond.

I think everyone was a little tired, even Liz.

But.... young people don't relax for long.... Jim challenging his sisters to a race.  I actually raced them too at one point which would have made for a very amusing video.  His dad also raced him.  Needless to say, no one beat Jim.

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Saturday, May 23, 2009
Prom Night
Last night was the prom at Jim's high school.  He went with a very nice girl, the younger sister of the girl his older brother went with two years ago :-)


I couldn't convince him to take Grandpa's very comfortable Lincoln Town Car.  No, he had to go for his dad's loud, stiff mustang.


But he went with a very nice group of kids and a good time was had by all.


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Friday, May 22, 2009
Liz receives the Sacrament of Confirmation as "Cecilia."

Last night Liz was confirmed in the faith!!!  Her Confirmation saint was Saint Cecilia.  Her oldest sister Anne was her sponsor.



Practicing processing in....


Bishop Carl Mengeling and our dear pastor Father Ed Fride posed with the Confirmands for pictures afterwards.

Now all of my children have been confirmed.  Liz is the youngest.  I'm starting to feel old.  (Probably because I AM old.)  I no longer have any young (as in really young) children.  It's a strange feeling.  Still, there is also a real sense of satisfaction as I see them mature.  That is, after all, the goal of parenting.

Saint Cecilia, please pray for Liz!!

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Thursday, May 21, 2009
Here is my week.

Last weekend-- major play production at our grade school.  Both girls and Mom very involved.
Everyone exhausted by the end.  (But it was very fun.)

Monday-- Spring concert at the high school.

Tuesday morning-- Honors Convocation at the high school
                  afternoon-- work flower sale at the grade school
                evening--  Spring concert at the grade school

Wednesday-- Finish making Liz's Confirmation rosary
                        Get flowers in the ground 
                        Catholic League Track championships
                     Last Confirmation class 

Thursday-- Last Women's Catholic Scripture Study--potluck brunch
                   Confirmation!!!  ( Mike arrives by train )

Friday-- Ice Cream Social at the grade school
                Drive Mike to airport
                Prom night at high school

Saturday-- Opening Day at our neighborhood pool
                    Potluck dinner

Sunday-- Brunch at our house celebrating Liz's confirmation

These events are, of course, in addition to my usual responsibilities.  I have to be very careful in weeks like this.  They can be very anxiety-producing for me.  I am prone to anxiety and I hate to say "no."  Not a good combination.

BUT.....When I was asked if I could work at Friday's ice cream social did I say "Oh sure"?  Nope.  I did what I had to do and explained that I really couldn't add anything more to this week.  

Yikes.  Even having said 'no' to one thing, I have a week here that is really too full.  Oh well.  It will be good. 

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Monday, May 18, 2009
Common Ground? How about speaking the truth?
“When we open our hearts and our minds to those who may not think precisely like we do or believe precisely what we believe—that’s when we discover at least the possibility of common ground,” Obama said.
So what?  Why is "common ground" something to be sought after?  Why is it a good?  

Should we seek "common ground" with those who want to destroy Israel?  How about those in authority who did nothing even after being informed of priests abusing children?  Should we seek "common ground" with terrorists?  This is typical empty Obama rhetoric.  Sounds kind of good until you stop to think about what it means.

Obama happily declared that we could agree on some things:    That abortion is a gut-wrenching decision for a woman, and that we all want to reduce the number of abortions.

When was there EVER disagreement on these two items???

And when the discussion is about what is the truth about the dignity of the human person why is finding areas of agreement a goal?

It is speaking the truth that is necessary, not finding agreement.  

Speaking the truth!!!!

I saw Obama receive his honorary law degree and I was brought to tears for the pain inflicted on Our Blessed Mother.

Lord have mercy!


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Notre Dame Commencement
I watched (in order to be able to comment) the commencement address of President Obama.  There were several times (I guess, 3) when the speech was interrupted by people shouting.  I could not understand their words but I just heard on Catholic radio what they were saying:

"Abortion is murder!!!!"

"Stop killing babies!!!!"

and my favorite....

"President Obama, you owe the mother of God an apology!!!!"

Amen!
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Notre Dame
I will write more about Notre Dame probably later today.

I went to the Notre Dame Office of News and Information website thinking there might be some coverage about the alternate commencement activities.  I found nothing and so sent them the following email.

Your coverage of this year's commencement is conspicuously lacking any information at all about the alternate graduation activities organized by ND Response.  Why?  If the invitation of President Obama to deliver the Commencement address is to be justified by an appeal to dialogue and and an attempt at mutual understanding I should think you would want to promote such a dialogue by presenting information on ALL of the commencement activities.  Perhaps the whole story is told on a different page.  A search of your site has not produced anything.

You state that both President Obama and Father Jenkins used the controversy surrounding Obama's presence as a "teachable moment."  Really.  Those who opposed the honoring of a man who has utterly defied the principles of justice in regard to the unborn need to be taught?  What a patronizing explanation of what was really happening.

I urge you, in the spirit of true dialogue to report ALL that was happening on commencement day.  To do otherwise is to demonstrate quite the opposite of those arguments used to justify the invitation of President Obama to this year's graduation.

I love the University of Notre Dame and continue to pray for it.

Should you also feel led to hold them accountable, the site is here.
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Friday, May 15, 2009
Our parish May Crowning
Before I begin to tell you about the May Crowning at Christ the King parish I must issue a disclaimer on this blog.

Lest you think that I and my family lead a charmed life I must acknowledge, as I have occasionally in the past, that our family is like any other family.  We have our challenges and our "stuff."  All is not perfect.  

On this blog I only write about the positive incidents, the good stuff.  I do not write about negative or difficult situations in my family.   

That being said.....

Every year Christ the King Parish randomly chooses a Confirmand girl to crown the Blessed Mother and a First Communicant girl to carry the crown in procession.

This year, randomly, my own daughter Liz was chosen to crown the Blessed Mother!!!!  I could not have been more pleased!!  She also was very honored.


Here is our lovely Marian statue after the crowning.



With the help of Mary O., we again were able to order from Hawaii this gorgeous crown!!


Confirmand altar boys led the procession.

First Communicants were encouraged to come in their Communion attire.  They led the procession with the Confirmands.

Liz and the First Communicant approaching the statue.


And here is sweet Liz crowning Our Lady on behalf of us all.

Mary, queen of the angels, queen of the May, queen of all saints, queen of heaven, queen of peace.....pray for us all!!!!
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
AP English Exam-- uh oh
My son took his AP English exam yesterday.  On the practice test he passed with flying colors.  Here was our conversation:

Mom (me):  So, how did the English exam go?

Jim:  I think I did good on it.

Mom:  You think you did good on the AP English exam?

Jim:  Yup.

Mom:  Do you know how to say that sentence in correct English?

Jim:  Yeah, Mom.

Mom:  OK.  (Phew)  Here's hoping he did WELL on the exam.  Sheesh.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Way too busy!!!
Holy cow!!  Have I ever been busy.  I bet you all thought the swine flu had hit our family but good.   Nope!  No swine flu.  Just a really full schedule that has allowed me no time to blog--  no reading or writing!!  Saturday was our parish May Crowning (which I will be writing about soon.), then an all day Confirmation retreat, then an anniversary party in Lansing-- and that was just Saturday!   

Sunday brought Mothers Day and I was delighted to be able to celebrate it with ALL of my children-- the brood pictured below.  Very fun!


On Monday I substitute taught a class of fourth graders (one of my favorite classes in the school).  Today I  must have spent several hours in the car-- three round trips to the grade school.  Liz is in the school play this weekend and I am one of the drama moms.  Tonight I made one of Father Fortunato's favorite desserts for his lunch tomorrow.  In the morning I will sub again, this time for the preschool.  Tomorrow drama goes until 8 but the Confirmation kids will leave early, as will I.  Dress rehearsal on Thursday and performances Friday and Saturday.

Yikes, I have to be careful when I get this busy.  I really need to have some relaxation time and blogging does that for me.  Hope to at spend at least a little time on it over the next few days.

Hope you all are well and that you had a wonderful Mothers Day!!
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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Good News, Bad News
The good news is that my son's high school resumed school today.  The bad news is that the risk of swine flu is still the same.  It's just that the health department has relaxed their guidelines.  We have not even heard definitively whether or not the "probable cases" have been confirmed.   Hmmmmm.  Not sure how I feel about this.  Even though the health department has apparently determined that it's not as serious as they thought,   I hope it won't make it's way through the school sickening everybody.

On a lighter note, there are some delightful flowers blooming in my yard.


And it seems like it was just a few weeks ago that we were still freezing cold and trying to stay warm.


Wait a minute.  It WAS just a few weeks ago.  Teehee.  Such is the weather in Michigan.
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Swine Flu!!

Well, first I heard of swine flu in Mexico.  Then it was in Texas with one American fatality.  Then it was in a handful of states, including Michigan.  Then there was a confirmed case about a half hour north of here.  And then.....

BAM!!!

Two suspected cases at my son's high school and the school is closed for a week!!!!!

Spring concert, athletic practices and events, prom, and everything else school related are all canceled.

WOW!!!  And the school is just following the recommendation of the county health department!

Strange times.  Yesterday there were lists of school closings in our area-- just like snow days.

So.  Not to be outdone by anyone else's possible overreaction, I went to Meijer and bought an enormous supply of those simple items that, short of a vaccine, remain our only defense against dreaded viruses.  ( I also bought every flavor of every item for those family members who cannot be persuaded to ignore the taste buds in favor of good health :-)

May this pass quickly!!!
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Monday, May 04, 2009
After the Show
For the several hours of Fiddler on the Roof ALL my children (and hubby) were in the same location.  I love it when our whole family is together.

My oldest was in town for the show.  He's on Jim's left. Anne is on his right and Liz (youngest) on the end.


Perchik (Jim) with the musical director (who happens to be his brother John:-)


Jim with the daddy-o.


And Jim with me.  I was just a little proud of this guy ;-)

Then, we had dinner at Max and Erma's.  Jim had to strike the set and John had to get to Mass but the rest of us were able to have dinner before Mike had to leave.  It was a sweet time.

God has been very good to me.
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Friday, May 01, 2009
Fiddler on the Roof!
I love to see my kids in high school plays!!

This weekend Jim is in his high school's production of "Fiddler on the Roof."

Jim plays Perchik, the radical scholar the second daughter falls in love with.

Jim is on the right in the above photo.


Jim on the left.

And with John as musical director Jim can rest assured that the music will be well under control for his songs.  I loved seeing John during Jim's numbers-- fervently directing, trying to keep these high school musicians right where they need to be for the number.


Perchik (Jim) teaching Hodel to dance.  (below)


If you're in this area and want information about these performances just email me.

This is a fun weekend.


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