Never Give Up

This isn't the first time I've posted this amazing person! For a dose of inspiration that will really put things in to perspective take a few minutes to listen to Nick Vujicic and be inspired to KEEP going!

House Minority Leader John Boehner

I couldn't have said it better.... What has come of this country, and WHY do we have politicians that could give a rat's patoot about what the American people want?... I went to bed a bit sad last night... and if I could have stood to sit through and listen to Nancy, I might have heard Mr. Boehner... Thanks to my friend Cynthia for bringing it to my attention this morning... Perhaps the "good news" in all this is that perhaps even more Americans will wake up and take action.... just HOW MUCH damage can be done in 4 years?... We are finding out, and unfortunately, will continue to find out, even after his 4 years are up... I shudder to think... Not for myself, so much as for my children...They are the ones that will really "pay"... in more ways than one... "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord"... Joshua 24:15

What I've Been Trying to Tell People For Years...

It never fails to surprise or disappoint me, all at the same time... EVERY year local religious teachers are all abuzz about the upcoming "Religious" Education Conference (The "Catholic" part of the title was dropped years ago...) held down in the Anaheim Convention center, every year, hosted by their very own Archbishop Roger Cardinal Mahoney. And every year I try to explain to them that this isn't really a "good" thing and they should avoid it like the plague... Thank you to Michael Voris and Real Catholic TV. Perhaps THIS will help convince more parishes that this is NOT the conference that you want to send our Catholic Religious Educators to... Is it bad to be grateful that Cardinal Mahoney's retirement is imminent?... I am curious as to what will happen to his Conference then...?

How Calloused Does One Have to Be?...

I'm just wondering.... On one hand I think that the pro-life movement is gaining momentum by leaps and bounds, as more and more people become aware that that really is a life, a baby human, a beating heart inside the mother.... there are a lot of factors we can thank for that... answered prayer, former victims that are "Silent no more", advances in technology, etc... But sadly, the other side still exists... there ARE still those that fail/refuse to see the reality of killing the most innocent and vulnerable among us discounting it as a choice...

The latest outrage came from a new article written by abortion nurse turned pro-life advocate Jill Stanek . It was a about a young woman that decided to "demystify" others about what really takes place with an RU486 abortion by giving a play by play "tweet" about her own. I couldn't pull my eyes from it as I continued reading in disbelief.... But as Jill stated, I think the "lie" sold to this young woman about a "safe, easy at-home abortion" is really made evident... it wasn't easy at all... and the flip-ness of her attitude during the procedure that i got from her "tweets" was really an education for me as to the state of mind that these women have (it was just a lot of VERY uncomfortable cramping, and a heavy, heavy period that lasted WAY longer than she expected... and take notice of her final tweet...) It's sad, really... and it deepens my resolve to pray for them all the more...

"Remember the Marvels the Lord Has Done"...

This morning at Mass, Father asked us to, instead of dwelling on what is making us unhappy, or asking WHY we are put in this or that situation, to REMEMBER the Marvels the Lord has done in our lives... and in contemplating this, we can't just get stuck on remembering the BIG and standout happenings, but ALL the little miracles that He brings to our lives each day... Despite all the sadness, frustrations, set backs, disappointments that always seem SO horrible at the time I'm going through them, God has obviously carried us through... And after the fact, we can look back on those tough times and maybe even see a little more clearly the "why" of why God allowed us to go through them... it makes me more thankful for the blessings... and yes, I can even count the set backs as blessings... If we hadn't lost our business over 8 years ago, my husband would never had found the job that he has. If we hadn't lost almost everything we had as we struggled to find work and make ends meet with 2 kids, we probably wouldn't have learned to live on as little as we do today with 5 kids... even though my pregnancies have been struggles for me, physically and emotionally, to the point of despair and depression, feeling as though we couldn't possibly take care of another baby, God has always provided for our every need and then some...

That said, looking back on the hurdles we've jumped and the successes we've had (though, in many circles, we would not be what many would call "successful"....) what makes me most sad are broken families and the killing of innocent lives... and again, in many parts of society, these are things that are supposed to be mainstream and "okay"... both, in my opinion, cause destruction of souls... This video, though... this video, in a few short minutes gives me hope... I pray that more survivors, mothers, fathers and children, will be unafraid to step forward and tell their stories... putting a face to the injustices... EVERY saved child/mother/father/family is truly one of God's GREATEST Marvels.... Thanks to my friend Sarah for sharing it with me!


check out ThisisRyan.com

Oh! Is THAT How it Goes?....

I just love listening to my kids when they are playing "Mass." My second oldest son has always had a fasination with Mass and all that is going on in Church. So much so that he was trained to be an altar server at the age of six... and even now, at almost 11 years old, he likes to dress up in the mini priest robes that we bought him at the Catholic Family Conferance a few years ago and play "Mass". And as his little sisters grow older, they, too, love to play along, saying the readings, sitting in the pews, carrying up the gifts, etc... This evening after dinner, as they were playing and my husband and I sat in the dining room listening, smiling, we heard that it was time for the Gospel reading and they all rise up singing "Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ! King of endless stories!" good thing we were done eating and didn't have food in our mouths.... : )

How DARE Father Clarify Catholic teachings from the Pulpit!!

Wha?... Huh??!!! yup... so said a local "catholic" reporter, sharing in the local paper with an entire quarter page how he "stood up" to a local Catholic Priest... no.. not after Mass. Not in passing, but DURING.... a 7pm evening Latin Rite Mass, no less... Which, I think, makes the outburst all the more absurd... And his writing about it in the local rag only helped display the writer's ignorance to Catholic teaching and the role of our Priests. Mr. Gonzales uses much of the same rhetoric that "catholic" politicians, etc... use to support their spineless stance on abortion, so even though he claims to be "pro-life", his defence of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is no surprise...

God bless Fr. Ralph! A good, orthodox and honorable priest with local ties that has given countless hours of service to our community, especially in his most reverent offering of the Holy Mass...While I wasn't in attendance to this particular Mass, I have no doubt that he handled the situation with the utmost respect to Mr.Gonzales, while still holding fast to the Truths " that we have been taught"... (1 Thessalonians 2:15). Fr. Ralph is a Priest among priests when it comes to teaching. And teaching is EXACTLY what is suppose to be done from the pulpit! He is to shepherd the flock... and when the sheep start to stray, it is his JOB to call them back from danger. ESPECIALLY when their lives (souls) are at risk. This is what Mr. Gonzales clearly doesn't understand...

Fr. Ralph wasn't out in a political forum. He was Celebrating Mass at our Catholic Church. He was clarifying to those Catholics at Mass, that still might be distracted or sidetracked by "wolves in sheep's clothing"that the Church still teaches that abortion is wrong... It doesn't matter what political views you hold, or what party you belong to. If you choose to be Catholic (and that IS a choice...) than you must hold fast to what the Catholic Church teaches, and THIS IS IT. Your being Catholic, a part of The Church that Jesus gave us over 2000 years ago, should come first in our lives, and all else follows. If you want to be in a public or political spectrum, your first duty is to your Faith and beliefs... No need to shove anything down any one's throats, so to speak. No need to get on your soap box and preach to the world your "religion". You simply grow a back bone and stand firm and hold fast to that which you claim to believe and follow through in action. You see, not everyone that claims to be Catholic or even everyone that attends Sunday Mass regularly is necessarily BEING "Catholic" or in union with what the Church Teaches .... "Catholic" means "universal". what is taught and believed is what Jesus handed down to his apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit and has been taught in our Church for over 2000 years. The teachings haven't changed, despite what Mr. Gonzales or Nancy Pelosi claim, or what they claim that St.Thomas Aquinas confirms for them... Obviously, had St. Thomas had the technology or knowledge then, that is available now, his opinion on when life begins would have been made MUCH clearer. Reguardless he NEVER claims that abortion is okay...

Here is where so many get side tracked... We are Catholic... we are to be seen as the older sibling to all other Christian denominations, and much has been "given" to us, so much is expected. I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again... "Just BE Catholic..." This is what Fr. Ralph was challenging his congregation with at that Sunday evening Mass. Be not afraid to stand for Truth... If you want to claim to be Catholic than just BE Catholic.... Accept the FULLNESS and beauty that Our Mother Church offers without hesitation, fully trusting and relying on what God has given us, guided by the Holy Spirit. Don't apologize, don't justify, don't make excuses... and pray for Fr. Ralph... and all our priests... that they may grow ever stronger to speak and teach the Truth, boldly...