A Change in Plans...

So, as it happens, I go in to see my doctor today, one last visit before surgery next Friday the 7th. I had told him that I really wasn't having a good day. I just wasn't feeling very good, it had been a crazy week, my brother in law was in the hospital and I was pretty much just "spinning"... My contractions were increasing, but nothing that had my body doing anything... Sam is still locked up tight...

After examining me, weight was the same, BP was 128/72, no protein, etc... he told me that he wanted to see what he could do about delivering earlier... though the problem was he was going to be gone out of town until Wednesday next week. I thought "well, I'm already scheduled for Friday, what difference would one or two days make?..." Anyway, he said he wanted to check and left me to get dressed. While he was gone I said a prayer, telling God, "You know what is going on with my family right now. You know what is best... You know I want to be available for my sister and nephew when I am needed most... Your will be done..."

About 2 minutes later the doctor popped back in and said, "How about tomorrow at 3:30?"

Wow... Sometimes God answers prayers VERY swiftly and still, quite unexpectedly... So, after a couple of phone calls, it was decided that we would go ahead and do this... My brother in law is fading... right now my sister is focused on her husband and his needs... and I'm thinking that this way I will be there for my sis and nephew when and if they need me most... It may all be just another product of God's perfect timing... from death into life...

So, I'll be off for a little bit, but please keep us all in prayer... for my brother in law to have a peaceful and happy passing from this life to the next, for my sister and her son to be surrounded with love and grace to sustain them through this dark time... and for a safe and happy surgery and delivery for myself and Sam... Thanks!

We ARE NOT a Punishment

The son of my friend WI Catholic, has made an AMAZING video VERY appropriate for these times... Please, take time to watch and pass it on...



*Warning... there are some graphic photos at the end of the video that may not be suitable for young children. Be advised when viewing...

Gianna Jessen's Responce to Barak Obama

God Bless her! What better way to get the word out that these little helpless babies are REALLY people?? This is Gianna's second ad. If you haven't seen the first one, you can see it here.

Another BIG Thank You to Our American Bishops Making a Stand for Life!

As previously stated, it is SO refreshing to see and hear more of our American Bishops making a stand about the five key principles that we, as Catholics MUST consider, in order to vote this election with a clear conscience. They are 1. abortion, 2. EMBRYONIC stem cell research, 3. euthanasia, 4. cloning, and 5. defining marriage as between one man and one woman. All have to do with LIFE or death... As Tim Staples reminded listeners this morning on their Catholic Answers Live Show, a Catholic can NOT vote for a pro-abortion candidate, justifying that they aren't voting for him because he's pro-abortion, therefore it's "okay"... They can either choose the one that would cause the least amount of damage in the above instances, or they can choose not to vote... Though, in choosing not to vote, that can also cause problems in giving the opposing side an advantage... so we must choose carefully... and LIFE issues always take precedence over all other issues...

That said, Lifesite News posted yesterday a list of over 80 Bishops that have stated that the Life/Abortion issues are KEY in this upcoming election. No "ifs" "ands" or "buts"... No "maybe's"... So, did your Bishop make the list? Congratulations if he did! Unfortunately, I didn't see mine...

(Note that numbers 58 and 59 encompass 22 and 10 bishops respectively, who
are included in joint statements issued by the bishops of New York and
Pennsylvania)
1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver

2. Bishop James Conley, auxiliary of Denver

3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

4. Justin Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life
Activities

5. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine

6. Edward Cardinal Egan of New York

7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo

8.Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh

9. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs

10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio

11. Bishop Oscar Cantu, auxiliary of San Antonio

12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville

13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa

14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas

15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin

16. Sean Cardinal O'Malley of Boston

17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando

18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis

19. Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, President of the USCCB

20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker

21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse

22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland

23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City

24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco

25. Bishop Glen Provost of Lake Charles, LA

26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn

27. Bishop Joseph F. Martino of Scranton

28. Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura

29. Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte

30. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh

31. Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS

32. Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO

33. Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, WS

34. Bishop Ronald Gilmore of Dodge City, KS

35. Bishop Paul Coakley of Salina, KS

36. Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita

37. Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach

38. Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Fort Worth

39. Bishop Rene H. Gracida, retired, of Corpus Christi

40. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Houston

41. Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington

42. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond

43. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center

44. Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester

45. Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Patterson

46. Bishop Robert Herrmann of St. Louis

47. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore

48. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix

49. Bishop Thomas D. Doran of Rockford

50. Bishop Joseph A. Galante of Camden

51. Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham

52. Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett of Seattle

53. Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet

54. Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton

55. Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing

56. Bishop Leonard R. Blair of Toledo

57. Joint Statement by the bishops of New York State (22 bishops)

58. Joint Statement by the bishops of Pennsylvania (10 bishops)

For Obama, Babies are a Burden...

Found at Go Sarah Go ... this just brings tears to my eyes... and people want HIM to run our Country? They STILL want to say that they don't know his stance?... There are Catholics that STILL want to justify their reasons for voting for Obama?... I just don't get it...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Long Awaited and VERY Appreciated!

I am SO proud of the what seems to be more and more of our Catholic Bishops making a stand for Truth! Highlighted today by Bishop Gracida releasing a radio ad along with Catholic protests planned. Regardless of how much the "'catholics' for Obama" want to try and justify their stance, the Church CLEARLY states that there is NO WAY that a Catholic can vote with a clear conscience for Obama given his VERY WELL DEFINED stance on abortion. And let's face it, at THIS point, there is NO WAY ANYONE can say they don't know his stance on this issue...

Bishop Gracida's message is short, sweet and to the point:

"This is Bishop Rene H. Gracida, reminding all Catholics
that they must vote in this election with an informed conscience. A Catholic
cannot be said to have voted in this election with a good conscience if they
have voted for a pro-abortion candidate. Barack Hussein Obama is a pro-abortion
candidate."

You can listen to the ad at Randall Terry's website. Also, today marks the final nine days before the election. You are all invited to join in a novena for our nation, by praying any of the suggestions on CatholicVote.com or taking a few minutes to pray in ANY way for our country and our future leaders... this will be a history making election either way... But please God, may those who stand for life and will help protect our most innocent come out in DROVES to have their voices HEARD... Amen...

On Death and Dying...

It seems as Christians, our goal is to try to prepare ourselves, not more for this life but for the next... What is it we are taught from the beginning? Why did God create us? To love, serve and honor Him in THIS life, so that we may be with Him FOREVER in next... So when it happens that a loved one among us has reached his time to go and be with God, it is not for him that we mourn, but for ourselves... those of us left here to continue to fight on the front lines in hopes that one day, we too will have the opportunity to stand before God and hear Him tell us, "well done, good and faithful servant" and remain with Him forever....

Very soon I will be going to the hospital to see my brother-in-law and say my final 'goodbyes'. After his less than year long battle with an aggressive cancer, he has found his way home to the Catholic Church. God is good! He was able to partake in the sacraments, giving him strength and courage, to go forward for as long as his body would allow him to. The oncologist only yesterday told them that his body was done. It is shutting down and there is not much more that can be done, but pray... So pray, we will continue to do...

We pray for miracles, as we know that God is the God of miracles and no matter the outcome, we have already witnessed wonderful graces come from this terrible time... No matter the outcome, my brother in law has been able to partake of and receive the graces of the sacraments these last couple of months with much joy and peace. My prayer now is that he will hang on at least until Saturday, November 1, the feast of All Souls... What better time?... It was only yesterday when our parish pastor and associate came to his bedside and prayed over him, giving him yet another opportunity to receive the body and blood of Our Lord to sustain him on his journey 'home'... He will be good. He is as ready as one could be... But it is for my sister and nephew that my heart aches... This has all happened so fast... and I don't know if any of us left here can ever be "ready" to let go of a loved one in death....

Please say a prayer for the family. They really are priceless and felt as a soft place to land when they need it most... God's will be done...

A Word From History... Will Enough People HEAR It?...

Something I received from a friend today...

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a
sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08"
tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference--just
imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and
explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth
concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going
to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the
homeless guy outside.

The server angrily stormed from my sight. I went
outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside
as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was
grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific
redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful
for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave
away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money
more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to
swallow in concept than in practical application. During this
political season let's be reminded of these wise words:

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the
rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot
bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage
earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood
of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by
taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people
permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for
themselves."

--Abraham Lincoln

Is it Time to Give Up? But, I Haven't Sung Yet!!

I get so tired of the liberal media, that it gets to the point of where i just don't want to listen to them anymore... they have been PUSHING their one-sided agenda for months/years, and they've stepped it up even MORE so, it seems, since Sarah Palin made her entrance as the Republican VP pick. They can't stand even the THOUGHT of having a conservative, moralistic person with real values in office. How the heck could she EVER lead people in "real life"?...

But, so it goes... It seems we are again bombarded with Obama coming out on top of all the "polls", sometimes the margin being greater than others... more and more we are hearing the drama from the "catholics" for Obama, etc... and WHY are we "conservatives" such "one issue voters".... Why can't people WAKE UP and SEE how they are being led right down that WIDE road to perdition? Why can't they see and hear that the "change" that the Obama-mites are chanting about are changes that they really don't want to happen?... Why can't they see the big picture??!! There are so many seemingly intelligent people jumping headlong into the proverbial pot of warm water sitting on the stove, steadily getting hotter... In search of what? "change"... "something better"... "something" to fill that empty space they feel inside... it's called "life"...

I know I shouldn't lose hope... but sometimes it's really difficult to not... despite our best efforts, it seems our culture marches onward toward this culture of death... if "it" (insert: he/she) doesn't work, kill "it"... Our innocent unborn, our elderly, our sick, our disabled... "you can't possibly take care of yourself... not the way 'WE' want you too.. so let "us" do it for you... "WE" know what's best for you and for EVERYONE... We will provide you with food and health care and schooling, etc... as long as "WE" think you are worthy... If your not worthy, well we just call that "cutting costs"... According to what i understand about Obama's budget plan, my family and I will still be considered "poor", I guess, so I wonder just how much of Oprah's money will be coming my way?... don't worry, I'm not holding my breath... Perhaps this will be part of the "chastisements" we've heard about... I'd really like it not to be... and I think I fear for my children more so... still, God's will....

Our prayers continue to be lifted high on behalf of our Nation, our families, and most especially for our children. This election will be a life changing one, for sure... Fr. Corapi offers a Novena for us to join... No matter how, I think it is vital that we step up our prayers and sacrifices in whatever ways we can to do our part to stand for the culture of life... Who knows? Our OWN lives may depend on it... We can't throw the towel in yet! God is STILL the God of miracles! He still has the ability to bring GOOD out of everything! Even evil! So we pray, and we trust...

A Funny for the Season

Good News All Around!

So I got another update from my friend this morning about her nephew, Dylan. They got a call from the doctors last night saying that the bone scans were all free and clear of cancer. The small 3mm spot on the back side of his lung now appears to be "nothing" but they will keep an eye on it, anyway. This is helping the family all breathe a little easier in general, though Dylan's mom is still having a hard time letting her guard down, bless her heart... I don't blame her a bit... can't say that i wouldn't be the same way... Please continue to say a prayer for the family...

And my brother in law was going to have a laparoscopy at noon (PST) today to remove his gall bladder, the source of his infection. Now, hopefully, he will be feeling a whole lot better, soon and back on his road to recovery! It's been a tough road for he and his family, but we are so grateful to God for the good that He has worked through it... Thanks again for all the prayers!

November 7...

I can't see my toes... But 3 days after the election, 2 days after my 20th wedding anniversary, that's Sam's BIG arrival day. November 7, 2008 at 12:30 pm surgery is scheduled. Given my current state of discomfort I was really hoping that it would be sooner, but I trust that this is all part of God's plan and in His capable hands... All is offered up for my friends and family in need, though... I still have SO MUCH to be thankful for...

I went in to the doctor Monday morning only to be delayed by a his being called next door for an unexpected early delivery. After waiting about an hour and a half after my scheduled appointment I was told the doctor was in with the girl just before me, when a few minutes later I was again told that he was now called out for an emergency c-section... So... after remembering to say a prayer for the mom and baby in crises, I went home and returned later in the afternoon... long day... but when I finally saw my doctor he referred to me as his "Mystery-Miracle Lady"... the one that was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and blood pressure issues, but my last blood test showed my sugar levels to be better and my blood pressure was still 178/80. : ) go figure...

So, other than the increasing back pain, and trouble getting around, everything seems to be going fine. He still wasn't sure how big the baby might be. He said it was "hard to tell" with me, whatever that means... but, I really don't want to pay for another ultra sound (20%) just to see how big.... so, I guess we'll all just have to "wonder" until Sam arrives... my biggest delivery was at 40 weeks and he was 8 lbs.

So, short of a miraculous, spontaneous labor, or emergency (Please, God, no...) I will continue to finish up my "nesting" here at home and wait the next couple of weeks out. With my brother-in-law still in the hospital and little Dylan's new diagnosis, I have plenty to offer up for... thank you all for your continued prayers...

Sad News... Please Pray...

Before i started my blog, over a year ago ago a friend of mine had a nephew that was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer just prior to his 3rd birthday... After intense treatment and some very close calls Dylan came through with flying colors, along with some nice family perks that included being a poster child for children's cancer research and a trip to Disney World that he will never forget! Through it all, the little guy kept his awesome spirit, being an inspiration to all that knew him and knew about him... We were all so grateful after almost an entire year of treatments that he was given the "all clear".

Of course, with that comes the requirements of returning to recheck every few months. Unfortunately, this weeks scan returned some not so good news... There is a spot on his lung that would require going through a portion of his heart and spinal nerves to get to. He also had bone scans done that they will find the results for today... As I said, Dylan is a trooper, now 4, and we beg for prayers for him and his family, now... He has his mom and dad and two older sisters.

Thanks so much, and I will keep you all posted.

McCain-Obama Roast Charity at Annual Al Smith Dinner

I had never heard of this event before, but apparently it's an annual one... My hubby caught it last night and I took some time to see if I could find it on Youtube. This part, I think, was my favorite... But if you get a chance you might check out the other segments... My only regret is that CNN is the only station that carried it... But, it's good for a few laughs, and it's nice to see, even in the midst of all the chaos of an election year, candidates can still laugh at themselves...

What Obama Will Fight for...

Okay, just one more h/t to Mama Says, because I believe it is SO important that everyone understands WHAT exactly Barak Obama is standing for... again, I refer to her quote: "How can Obama lead a people, if he won't recognize a person?" Watch this video and then pass it on to any/everyone that you can... There is NO dancing around THIS truth....

We Did it! We Did it! Yeah! Lo Hicimos!

This "Dora Moment" brought to you by... The third presidential debate last Wednesday night... In my humble opinion, "political analyst" that I am... lol... I think it went pretty well. I had to watch it on Thursday, via- youtube, as I was gone Wednesday evening. I appreciated moderator Bob Schieffer, who seemed to be fair and include MORE topics than the same ones that have already been covered over and over again. Though, I have to say, my condolences to Joe the Plumber... poor guy's life will never be the same...

Two things that I found of particular interest in this debate: #1, the abortion topic was FINALLY covered, and was it just me, or was Obama squirming?... He was quite obviously NOT comfortable with this topic at all, where as McCain appeared to be QUITE comfortable and confident. To Quote blogger Mama Says : "How can Obama lead a people, if he won't recognize a person?"

The other topic, near and dear to my heart was the topic of education. The question was WHY do Americans spend MORE on our education programs yet have the lowest testing scores of anywhere else in the world? and what do YOU plan to do about it? Obama's 'solution' is to "get 'em in school EARLIER'??!!

This topic and question in and of itself was enough to make me almost laugh, if it wasn't so pathetic... Why, they ask, do we spend SO MUCH but GET so little in return from our students?... Well let's take a look at how curriculum has changed in lets say the past 25 or so years... Speaking as one from here on the "left" coast, land of fruits and nuts... HOW MUCH money is being WASTED on sex education programs for our kids? Teaching everything from when, how, how much, where, and how to do it 'safely' (matter of opinion) and what to do and where to go in case there's a "mistake" or "accident" as well as providing TRANSPORTATION to keep those "pesky parents" out of the equation and interfering with their kids "decision".... teaching pretty much EVERYTHING on the topic EXCEPT modesty, self control and self pride and worth...

HOW MUCH money is being spent on providing 'health care centers' on campus, complete with nurses and condoms, and other forms of artificial birth control? HOW MUCH money is being spent on books that cover such "enlightened topics" as the life styles of homosexuality, and transgendered? HOW MUCH money is being wasted in discarding books that use "discriminatory" words like 'reproduction' and 'traditional families' or *gasp* "Christianity"? Replacing these with "less offensive" (matter of opinion) topics like "My Two Mommy's/Daddy's". HOW MUCH money is being wasted on "school functions" that "celebrate" the gay life style? HOW MUCH money is spent on security, campus cops, metal detectors and investigators that are anymore pretty much common place on jr.-hi and highschool campuses nationwide...? Just HOW MUCH money is being WASTED on the INDOCTRINATION of our young people??!!

Whatever happened to teaching the BASICS of reading, writing and arithmetic? What happened to teaching kids REAL values, like the value of self worth, and self control? Giving themselves a LOT MORE value at a LOT LESS cost...

WHERE can they cut costs? Well, I got a few ideas.... and letting the government educational system get to our kids SOONER is NOT one of them... They are exposed to this garbage soon enough... As a home school mom, I know that I have "those days" when I just really want to throw my hands up in the air and put my kids back in to regular school... Fortunately, it never lasts for long...

The bottom line is, I think that John McCain and his running mate have done a decent job of getting their "plans" out there, of where they stand and what they what direction they would like to lead this nation. The Obama camp is still trying to dish their "camouflaged" rhetoric of culture of death, "spread the wealth", socialistic ideals... Not much we can do about those who continue to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the obvious all in the name of "change"... Not much except to pray... Pray for our nation... Redneck Catholic suggest prayer and fasting... Not a bad idea... Only 18 days left...

Will Abortion EVER be Brought Up in the Debates?

Wednesday night will be the third and final debate between presidential hopefuls Obama and McCain. We have heard them debate war and the financial crisis, but none of the moderators or "towns people" have asked about abortion... Pastor Rick Warren is the only one I recall asking, which brought forth Obama's brilliant "above my pay grade" response... Is that ALL we're going to hear from him on the subject? C'mon!

ProLife Blogs is encouraging us to petition Bob Schieffer for a fair debate this coming Wednesday and let's hear what else(if anything) that Obama has to say about the abortion "issue". After all, I think it's a pretty important thing to talk about, as I believe a lot of others do, to... It MUST be, the way the Obama camp and it's followers want to duck and dive around to avoid it...

Please check out the FRC Action web site to get your voice heard, and maybe, just maybe we will hear a fair interchange Wednesday night on that which matters most to me and many others....

"It's Gonna Happen.. Like it or Not..."

The ANNOYING words spoken by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome in the "Yes on 8" campaign commercial.

If you're not familiar with it, 'yes on 8' will keep traditional marriage between one man and one woman. For those of you here in California, you know last May, four California Supreme Court judges took it upon themselves to disregard the California voters voice for traditional marriage, making same-sex marriage legal. As we gather momentum toward the November 4 elections, the campaigning is heating up and the commercials are hitting the airwaves. Surprisingly, up to this point, I have seen MORE 'yes on 8' commercials than contrary... though the anti-family sect is definitely making their presence known... Even within our own Diocese there's been a recent "coming out" of a Catholic priest who, following his Sunday mass last week decided to purposefully invite the media to witness his closing thoughts and opposition to Proposition 8 to his congregation...*sigh*... applauded by some, others leaving in tears... It is so sad when even within the Church there is SUCH confusion...

This morning I woke to find a story of California's Creative Arts Charter School based out of San Francisco taking 18 FIRST graders on a "field trip" to witness their lesbian teacher's "wedding" to her same-sex partner... I just wonder how many "traditional wedding" field trips this class has taken or will take?... Are we really THAT hard up for educational material that we have to stoop to taking "wedding" field trips?... It is just yet another attempt by the secular agenda to FORCE their views upon our most innocent, our children. Indoctrination at it's worst... But THIS is not only what's "gonna happen", as we are hauntingly reminded of by SF Mayor Newsome in the "Yes on 8" campaign ad... apparently THIS is what is ALREADY HAPPENING... Is it getting so bad that even a word like "reproduction" becomes a "discriminatory word" that needs to be eradicated?... unfortunately, some say "yes"...


Right now, I feel my children are relatively safe... We home school... but I can already tell that it won't be long before even that becomes more and more threatened by the liberal agenda wanting to get their hands in and on our children, filling their minds with all things "open"... We must protect our children! I have my "Yes on 8" yard sign posted, and happily, have seen several posted in and around our neighborhood. But sadly, because I have a 12 1/2 year old son, he has been MUCH MORE aware of the upcoming election issues than the younger ones and has asked many questions, so we have had to discuss some of these issues that I wish we really didn't need to... But even he understands that two roosters can't lay an egg and two hens can't make a baby chick, so either pairing will eventually die out...


Most of all we must continue to pray for our broken land. Traditional marriage isn't about "taking rights" from anyone, but for preserving that which was established from the beginning as God meant it to be... The Church STILL teaches that compassion and human dignity should be given to any and all men/women, despite their state in life. We just can't make marriage what it is not. Cling to your Faith and cherish it. Pass it on to your children as well as you can... It is the BEST defense that we all have as the fires are turned up and the water starts to get warmer...


I wish I could find WHO said, "the only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." The WORST thing we could do, especially now, is "nothing". A few days ago I blogged about at least one California Bishop who is certainly DOING his part.... Holy Family, pray for us!

Mom's are for crying on...

When any of my little ones (or the big ones...) are sad, or upset, crying... the one they inevitably go to is me... While I admit that it isn't always at the most convenient times for me... (Like at 2 o'clock in the morning and they've had a bad dream, or can't sleep, or sick or achy, whatever... the "mom-gene" inevitably kicks in and goes to "comfort mode". Nothing seems to soothe a fretting spirit like a hug and the listening ear of mom...

Today, it was MY turn... It was a long and restless night. Mind you, at 8 1/2 months pregnant, even rolling over in bed becomes a MONUMENTAL task... on top of that, there is the 2-4 times that i get up to use the bathroom, and last night it was combined with the baby waking 3 different times, whining and whimpering.. not sure if she got too hot, and then too cold, or what... and then #2 coming crying in to my room in between. The nights turned cold a couple of nights ago, so he went to bed in his "zipper jammies", got too hot, so he took them off. THEN he got too cold and couldn't find them again in the dark.... and his legs were cramping.... *sigh* and then Hubby was fighting some sinus issues and was snoring more than usual... WHY do these things have to happen on Saturday night, when we get up to go to early Mass on Sunday?... As it turned out, everyone had FINALLY settled down and was hard at sleep by the time we were supposed to be getting up... I couldn't wake them, or me, for that matter... We decided that we would wait and go to evening Mass.

After some sleep and breakfast Hubby started on his "kitchen renovations" and I headed for the boys room to get some work done and finish getting it cleaned up and out. Trying to get a "jump start" on my sisters' big "help out" next weekend... My Mom called late in the afternoon to hear how I was doing and I broke down... I'm so tired, and so ready for this baby to come, yet so NOT ready... my house is just NOT ready... there is so much more that needs to be done, that I would like to be done, and I'm just not getting around like I would like to... and the kids, well, the kids haven't been as "helpful" as I wish they would be... and I'm just tired of trying to get them to help... seems like I go from encouraging, to rewarding, to asking, to insisting, repeating, growing frustrated, angry, snappy, to all out mean... I just want to get this done and they just don't really "get" that I feel like I'm running out of time!!! ready or not THIS BABY IS COMING!!

Mom listened... Mom supported... Mom let me cry... sometimes, that's all that is really needed to help me suck it up and move on... it works for my kids most of the time, too...

BTW, I'm Voting McCain/Palin

H/T to my friend at WICatholic. I don't know where she found this guy, but he pretty much says it all...

Another Day, Another Doctor...

So, I returned to see my Doctors "associate" this morning since my doctor is out on vacation until the 20th. Unfortunately, I'm four weeks from my due date and my blood pressure was a little higher than it had been... Not horrible - 140/80 - but higher than it had been... my husband is sure that my stressing over the unresolved billing and insurance issue was at least partly to blame... could be... All the same, even though my urine was fine and clear of any protein, he had me do a baby monitor check for 20 minutes, where they wrapped my tummy with the elastic bands and monitors and listened to Sam swim around for a few laps : ) He was great! Then I had to bring home a BIG empty bottle to collect 24 hours worth of urine... fun-fun... Everyone at the doctors office seemed anxious, like I was just about "ripe", but I feel like I am SO NOT ready... I think I'm still in denial... Can't believe that I will have another little tiny one to hold... I am supposed to go back next Wednesday to get the results of the urine testing, check my blood pressure again and see the nurse practitioner (my doctor will still be out...) and then I see my doctor again on the 20th. They keep telling me that "39 weeks" is the "recommended" time to have a c-section for the sake of the baby, but I guess we'll see where my BP is going and how long it lasts... My second baby is the only one that was born on his due date. The other three were 2-3 weeks early each, and all were quite healthy...

The best news is my sisters and nieces are gathering to help me out NEXT Saturday to finish all the details here around the house to make room for Sam. clearing and cleaning out rooms, installing bunk beds and hopefully having at least a week to get the baby to stay in a room with her big sissy at night. This will probably "hurt" the most, as she is quite the "mommy's girl" and we still have our little "bonding" time at bedtime, where she snuggles with me in my bed until she falls asleep, then I put her in her crib. I've never had two babies so close in age.... She just turned 2 only a few weeks ago... *sigh* We'll be fine, I know... Each baby went through a period of where they had their way of "protesting" the new addition, making Daddy the "favorite" from "that trader mommy who is spending WAY TOO MUCH TIME with 'that' baby..." ; ] My oldest has already claimed that HE will be the "baby hog"... hhhmmm... well, #4 may have something to say about THAT, too... As far as SHE'S concerned SHE'S "queen bee" of his life! lol!

PP, Get Your "facts" Straight...

I think it is almost LAUGHABLE the "fits" that the Obama camp is throwing over Republican VP Nominee Sarah Palin's references (true, I might add) to the company that Obama keeps, including bigots and terrorists. They want to cry out that NOW the gloves are off... PUHLEEEZE... From the moment that Sarah's name was released as McCain's running mate the liberal left has been SCRAMBLING to jump on any little crumb or piece of dirt they could find... and the little bit that they *think* they have found, they have just twisted and turned so completely it's ridiculous... (i.e. her 17 year old daughters un-planned pregnancy, or Sarah's supposed inexperience... like Obama has SO MUCH MORE?...) and what they can't find, it seems they've made up...

Anyway, now they have the "honest and upstanding" (sarcasm intended) people of Planned Parenthood, once again presenting their own "facts" against Sarah Palin. These people are SO blatant, it's disgusting... Evil will stop at NOTHING to get it's way... We MUST continue to pray for God's Mercy... St. Michael the Archangel Defend us in battle!

Sacramento Coadjutor Bishop Soto

Bishop William Weigand, of Sacramento will be retiring November 30 of this year. I have been a fan of Bishop Weigand's for some time... I think it started when he backed a local priest that had refused then Governor and liberal pro-abort supporter Gray Davis' annual visit to come to the local Catholic orphanage to distribute toys and other gifts at Christmas time. He further caused waves when he informed Davis that he should refrain from Holy Communion until he changed his stance on the abortion issue, as it was causing confusion and controversy to what the Church has always taught. It was the first time EVER that the Governors office was refused access to the orphanage, and contrary to much local outcry, Bishop Weigand held his ground.

I have also heard of him from time to time on our local Catholic Radio Station that broadcasts "The Bishops Radio Hour" weekdays, from Sacramento. So, I was more than a little sad when I heard that he would be retiring and more than a little skeptical about WHO would be replacing such a good, holy and orthodox man. The answer was/is Bishop Soto.

Praise be Jesus in His infinite wisdom! According to this recent article, Bishop Soto made MUCH more than just an appearance at the recent NACDLGM (National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries) conference held in Long Beach California on September 18.

Now, at first glance I would have raised my eyebrows, having attended several of the Anaheim Religious Education Congresses held in Anaheim CA, hosted by Roger Cardinal Mahoney every year, under the guise of being a "Catholic conference" but really isn't... That particular conference has a mix of Catholic and non-Catholic speakers ALL of which will speak on any number of "educational" topics from liturgical artsy-fartsy fan fare, to homosexuality acceptance and New Age theology.... And apparently, the coordinators of the NACDLGM, in accepting Bishop Soto's offer to attend and speak were under the same expectation. They must have figured that he was "one of those" Bishops that will bend and move around all the rules in order to justify the sinful behavior of homosexuality and somehow "justify" their lifestyles. But the good Bishop apparently had other plans and the NACDLGM surely DID NOT expect what he DID say, or they wouldn't have felt it necessary to APOLOGIZE to the assembly for the Bishops words after he was done. Just a few excerpts from Bishop Soto's address:

We can easily give in to the temptation to go along in order to get along.
We can easily be duped by the popular ideas and trends that surround us.
“Everybody does it” can become reason enough to think it or do it ourselves.
Like Peter we can think that what Jesus teaches us is too unrealistic, too
unreasonable. Like Peter we can convince ourselves that we know better than the
Lord. We may even try to negotiate with Jesus, like Peter does, for easier
terms.

We see this especially in the area of sexuality. So much of what we see and
hear every day can lead us to a distorted sense of our sexuality. Sexuality has
been reduced to a matter of personal preference and personal pleasure without
responsibility and with little respect for others. We can lose sight of the
profound dignity of the human person who shares in God’s love and creative work
through the chaste expression of one’s sexuality proper to one’s calling in
life.

We are surrounded by a “contraceptive culture” that has reduced the
procreative act to simple recreation absolved of any responsibility.

The deceptive language of “pro-choice” ignores the consequences of the
choice for abortion that does violence to the most innocent and leaves traumatic
scars on many young women.

What is a particular concern and alarm for us in California as well as
others across the country is the bold judicial challenge to the longstanding
cultural and moral understanding of marriage as a sacred covenant between a
woman and a man. Our own efforts to restore common sense through the ballot
initiative, Proposition 8, are portrayed as bigoted and out-of-touch. The irony
is that what we propose is most in touch with the nature of families and what is
good for the welfare of all.

That we find ourselves at this time, reasserting the basic moral and
reasonable understanding of marriage, means that much has changed in the popular
perceptions of sexuality and common notions about marriage. While we work to
pass Proposition 8 this coming November, it is important to remember why we do
this. Like Jesus, in the sixteenth chapter of Matthew that I cited, we are
saying a strong “no” to the California courts and to many who support the
court’s wrong-headed decision. This “no” is not rooted in bigotry or bias. It is
firmly rooted in a greater “yes” to a truer, more authentic appreciation of
love’s calling and love’s design for the human heart.

The nature of love has been distorted. Many popular notions have deviated
from its true destiny. Love for many has come to mean having sex. If you cannot
have sex than you cannot love. This is the message. Even more destructive is the
prevailing notion that sex is not an expression of love. Sex is love. This
reductio ad absurdam deprives sexuality of its true meaning and robs the human
person of the possibility of ever knowing real love.

Sexual intercourse is a beautiful expression of love, but this is so when
intercourse is understood as a unique expression intended to share in the
creative, faithful love of God."

You can read the entirety of Bishop Soto's address here.

And for a follow-up report on the reactions to Bishop Soto's address at the September 18 conference you can go here.

Knights of Columbus ProLife Commercial Spot

From today's Zenit News:

"Unborn Baby's Heartbeat Prompts Pro-life VoteNEW HAVEN, Connecticut, OCT.
2, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A Knights of Columbus radio spot running in many
U.S. markets until the Nov. 4 elections encourages citizens to listen to the
heartbeat of a 10-week-old unborn baby and vote pro-life.The 30-second spot is
running in more than a dozen states. The ad features the sound of a baby's
heartbeat at 10 weeks...

http://www.kofc.org/un/cmf/resources/prolife_ad.mp3

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson announced the beginning of the ad campaign.
"The fact that the child whose heartbeat we hear is alive is simply a matter of
science," he said. "We believe that it is vital that America's pro-life
community make it clear that they will reserve their votes for candidates of
either party who are committed to protecting life from conception to natural
death."

Why "Life" is THE MOST Important Issue...

I have been asked, or rather, accused before, about making the issue of "life" my number one, or perhaps ONLY priority in choosing who or what I vote for. It has long been my feeling that without "life", well, nothing else matters... If I don't care about life, my own, or anyone else's, regardless of race, age, gender or religion, then what is the point of voting at all?... But yesterday morning, as I was driving my kids to their enrichment classes I was listening to Theresa Tomeo's show on Catholic Radio, and a caller called in and read a letter. I apologize, but didn't catch if it was HER letter or a letter that she received from someone else, but she read it to Theresa and Theresa's guest, Fr. Frank Pavone. The gist of the letter read something like this (and forgive me, I'm paraphrasing from what I remember, but it made a point...):

If I found a candidate that vowed to solve the economic crisis, had the perfect plan for affordable health care, increase jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil BUT also vowed to legalize child pornography, would I still vote for that candidate?....

My answer, of course, would be a resounding "No!" as would a lot of peoples, I think, even the pro-aborts....What Fr. Pavone was telling the audience is that we, as a society have become so accustomed to abortion being part of our lives that like it or not, people began to accept it as "normal". It's just something that happens and so we have to accept it. Our vision becomes skewed in our effort to stop seeing abortion for what it really is. It is the TAKING of LIFE. Every single one of us, despite our race, religion, financial status, political affiliation, education, age, health, whatever, came in to this world the SAME way. We all started out as what some would call just a "blob of cells". We are all a product of our biological parents, grown within our mother's womb and given the chance to live, to breathe, to be a part of society, to have a voice.

The less fortunate are ripped from their mother's womb, sometimes being burned alive by saline, first. Sometimes they are brought forth by the feet first, only to have their head, still within that womb, punctured by scissors inflicting pain and death... Some, forced from the womb, unexpectedly still living, are placed on a shelf to die... Why?... What purpose does this serve?... Is it to make life better for the mom? Help her feel less burdened? Who is burdening her? the ones insisting that abortion is "for the best" and she'll get over it and be able to move on? Let's ask a woman who has had an abortion... How did her life "improve" AFTER wards?... How did it solve the problems she was facing before the abortion? or did it?... Have you ever watched or listened to some of these pro-abort men and women at any kind of rally? Or even on a television news debate...? Witnessed the anger not only in their voices, but on their faces? Yet they insist that abortion is a "good" thing?...

Abortions are being performed in our nation by the THOUSANDS. This holocaust far exceeds anything that took place in Nazi Germany during WWII. We don't want to look at the carnage left behind after an abortion, but isn't it a reality? It is what is happening right here, right now in our own back yards, so to speak.... right under our noses.... Isn't it an oxymoron that the same mom that chose 'life' for her own child can be witnessed taking that same child to the abortion clinic to do away with her daughter's, according to Mr. Obama, "mistake"... If you don't believe me, go stand in front of an abortion clinic and watch (and pray) for those coming in and out... not only the girls that are pregnant, but their "support" people bringing and taking them... boyfriends, siblings, mom's, dad's, some it's hard to tell WHO they might be.... Assembly line killing of babies... legal... just something that "happens"... Doesn't mean I have to agree with it, like it, endorse it, pay for it, or vote for those who do... Not any more than i would vote for a candidate that would try to legalize child pornography, despite where he or she stood on the other issues, accept, of course, the issue of 'life'... That, in my mind, still stands above and beyond all else.... and, for the record, even if i can't find the one candidate that holds to the value of life at all stages as I do, I will choose the one that holds that closest to that value and do the least amount of damage... We are a broken society in need of an overhaul... God help us...