A child's laughter

You hear all sorts of anecdotes about a child's laughter, but some are just too cute for me. I'm not a big fan of cute. My son sits next to me as I type ROARING, folded over in laughter, his laugh is LOUD, and he extends the end quite a bit, but I am laughing at him laughing. His laugh is almost maniacal, it is not a giggle, but a full body laugh. His laugh has made the whole house brighter, we are all laughing, mostly at him, but it is a most amazing thing. A dull tired Saturday night has been transformed by the sound of his laugh, for nearly the last two hours we all have been much happier, no kids are fighting, no kids are complaining, but everyone is light, all because of my son's good sense of humor.

If you are curious about what he cannot resist laughing at, Snoopy. Yep, 40 year old Charlie Brown cartoons on ABC family have my son doubled over in tears of laughter. 

Photo Geography Quiz

I have heard most Americans cannot identify historic sites, states and natural features. I'm lucky enough to not be one of them, I got 100% on this quiz. I'll see how my kids do...

Tired.

I'm tired, just plain old tired. I get up to early, stay up to late and have way to much to do each day. Something has to give. But What? I stay up late, because my husband works late, I get up early because I work early. I do too much because I trying to offer my kids the chance to be with friends, and to participate in the arts once in a while. 

Sure, I volunteer where I can, I could cut that out, but then, I'd have no adult interaction to look forward to. I write, but that only takes a few hours each month, if even that much. I could go to bed earlier, but I'd never see my husband, and I still rather like the old chap. Napping is not an option, I have a 4 year old boy, and he has an imaginary civilization. 

What exhausts me the most is the petty little things that happen in life, getting stuck in the middle of an argument, trying to keep the peace, and dealing with drama on many fronts. That is what I need to get rid of!! That, too, can not be gotten rid of, not matter how hard I try. My only option is prayer. Not just the quick morning offering I remember mid-shower, but serious contemplative prayer. Adoration. 

This week my parish is opening a beautiful brand new perpetual adoration chapel, and I have signed up for what I consider to be an ungodly hour. Please pray for me. I need this, not for me, but for all those who have to deal with me. I am honestly terrified that I will quit going in about 3 weeks when I decide to stay in my nice warm soft bed. It seems like a paradox that I can get refreshed by getting less rest, but it is one I am depending upon. 

"Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake"

Psalm 23:1-2, Psalm for today.

Why is it okay to poke fun at Catholics?

Seriously! I was at a concert the other evening, and the band, who I  know to be Christians, playing in a "faith community" sponsored venue poked fun at the fact that a group of Fransiscan asked to use one of their songs. It wasn't so much what they said, but how they said it and the way the crowd responded that bugged me. It was all so funny to them, that they had a song that was "catholic". I really did not see what was so funny. I was with a group of Catholics, and we were all left looking at each other somewhat confused. 

If this was an isolated incident in my life, I think I would have more patience, but almost daily I hear small little jabs at the Church. Sure, many of the things come from lack of understanding, but if I made fun of Muslims, or Hindus, or even worse, Evangelicals, I'd be brandished intolerant or worse. I do not get it. Sure, our faith has "quirks", and plenty of history to look at for humor, but still, why is it okay? I think it is time for Catholics to stand up and stop being the butt of jokes, better off yet, let's not make fun of ourselves!

Assumptions people make who teach NFP

There is this assumption that because I teach NFP, I am less than trilled when people, particularly my former students, are expecting another baby. Nothing could be further from the truth! It actually upsets me quite a bit that people would think I would be disappointed they are expecting. Usually when a student tells me they are pregnant, I am delighted, to me, it means I did my job. 

What? You ask, doesn't NFP prevent pregnancies? Well, yes, it does, but it also, and more importantly teaches an openness and generosity to life. So when I hear a student is expecting again, I know they really get it. That does not mean those who do not have more kids do not get it, after all there are a number of just reasons that they may not be having more children, but it is so easy to rejoice that a little baby is going to be joining a loving family! 

Another assumption about NFP teachers is that if we have huge families, we mustn't know how to use NFP. See the above explanation to understand this one. The opposite is also assumed, that if we have smaller families, we are not open to life or must be infertile. Ouch, this one hurts the most. I have only 3 kids. Notice how I say only, because my realm is filled with super-sized families, so three kids is out of the norm. Please do not get me wrong, I love the huge families, but variety is the spice of life. Our small family is no less a blessing and we are not less open to life, God has a different plan for us. As for the status of a woman's fertility, I hate to sound like a Feminist, but a woman's fertility is between her and God, and her husband and maybe her Doctor, but not every member of her home school group or her parish. 

So Congrats to all my expecting students, and hang in there to those who are judged and criticised for not having more children. We are all serving God, in different ways.

Thanks Guys!

It's Veteran's Day. I'm truly not patriotic, or pro-war, but I am so thankful and appreciative to those who serve. This year especially I realize the sacrifices made, not just by the soldiers, but by their families. My Brother-in-Law is in Afghanistan until next August, his 4 children will not have a dad for Christmas, and all of their birthdays this year, and it hurts. That is the sacrifice. 

So thanks, Dad, who spent 10 years in Vietnam. To my brother Joe, who is in the Army and went to Iraq in 2002 for a year and had to bury his friends. And most of all to Tony, who, though his kids and wife are sad, are learning the meaning of dedication, service and sacrifice.

From the X-files

Here's a little conversation we had today.

Xai- Mom, can I have a skunk?

Big sis- A SKUNK??!!??

Xai- To eat, can I have a skunk to eat, those things you baked??

Mom-  Oooohhh, Do you want a scone?

Xai- I'm just a little kid, I can't be expected to say things right.

I love my sister!

My sister is a character. She is a military wife and mother of 3 all 1 year apart. She lives with my mom to help her, my mom is disabled, and Kate needs the help, too, her hubby is overseas freezing his butt off in Afghanistan. She wears a size 2, which disgusts me, and is just a good person. She, however, fell away from the faith before she got to know it, thanks to my parents, who left when she was little. She has no negative feelings towards God or the church, but like I said, was to young to know, and has not found her way back yet. That's Kate.

Today we were talking about my mother, and if she would speak to us tonight, or be glued to the TV watching election coverage, when I asked Kate if she voted, she did, then she told me who she voted for, freely. McCain. Why? I'll quote her, " I couldn't vote for a baby killer". I love my sister. 

Festival of Hope

With all the talk about hope from some political camps, you'd think they owned the market on it, BUT, we are celebrating the 1st anniversary of Salvi Spes, the encyclical on Hope by our dear Benedict XVI. His writing on hope is about true hope, the hope we find in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Visit the Festival of hope, there are a great number of people contributing, including my favorite dinner guest this year, Nancy Brown. Did I mention they have give-aways?

A little something for All Saints Day!