We Made It! AND *Radio Interview New Time*

I wonder if this could qualify as "live-blogging"? :o)

Veronica and I made it to Nebraska. I say "made it" because getting here turned out to be quite an adventure! Needless to say, we expected some, well, opposition (since any time something good is in the works one must be ready for an onslaught of obsticles) -- but I'm not sure we quite anticipated what we got. And this is only the first day! But in a sense, the opposition is actually encouraging...because we know that there must be some good fruit going to come about -- or else old sir devil wouldn't put up such a stiff fight. :)

Between a somewhat later start than we hoped this morning, traffic, "orange" security, a flight switch, more security, airplane trouble, another flight switch, unloading, and reboarding...we ended up getting here 4 hours later than planned. This afternoon's speaking event and interview with the Omaha Catholic Radio had to be replanned...

And yet, the hand of God could still be seen guiding us along. Between the flight switches, we were able to attend Mass and receive our Lord at the O'Hare Chapel. I had missed Mass this morning because of trying to finish preparations, and been lamenting that I wouldn't get to receive Jesus today. So I just prayed, "Lord, if You want me to receive You today, please work it out somehow!".

Well, in between the hustle and bustle of working our way through the airport, I looked up and saw a Roman collar. It was the Airport Chaplain, and, lo and behold: there was to be a Mass at 11:30 -- right in the middle of our "in between" time. Truly, an omnipotent Father watches over us.

Thankfully, it looks like I will still get to be with the little girls, only on Friday (more details to follow). And Spirit Catholic Radio is able to record our interview with me tomorrow morning.

Which brings me to the real purpose for this post: the interview air time has actually been changed. It will still air Friday morning, but is now planned for approximately 8:15-9:00am Central Time.

Again, if you're in the greater Omaha area, you can tune in to:
88.9FM (Omaha)
103.1FM (Schuyler)
98.3FM (Norfolk)

Or for everyone else, listen online here.

Thank you again for your wonderful prayers! It is so exciting and humbling to be, as Mother Teresa so beautifully put it, "a pencil in the hand of God". May He increase and I decrease!

~ ~ ~

And They're Off!

Claire and Veronica just left to the airport to catch their flight. For six days they'll be spreading the message of modesty and femininity with ladies (and girls) in Nebraska and Iowa.

And the work continues here too. A Rosa Mystica Table will be seen at a pro-life youth event at St. Jude's Catholic Church in New Lenox Saturday Night (3/10/07), compliments of the staff here at home. Please unite with us in prayer that we may touch many hearts...

Our Lady of the Way, protect and guide them!

Memorare...

Catholic Radio Interview

Update:
My interview on Omaha’s Spirit Catholic Radio (which will actually be recorded tomorrow) will be aired during their Morning Show on Friday, March 9th from approximately 7:15 to 7:45am Central Time.

If you're in the greater Omaha area, tune in to:
88.9FM (Omaha)
103.1FM (Schuyler)
98.3FM (Norfolk)

Or if you're anywhere else, you can listen live at the Spirit Radio Website!

Thank you for your prayers!

~ ~ ~

Nebraska/Iowa: News from...

The Rosa Mystica Modesty Movement
Restoring a Culture of Life through Modesty!

Dear Friends,

It is with great excitement that I prepare to fly out Tuesday (along with my sister and tavel companion Veronica) to Omaha, Nebraska for six days of speaking. If you happen to live/will be in the Omaha, NE, Wynot, NE, or Sioux City, IA areas, I'd love to meet you! And if you have friends in these areas, please spread the word!

Even more importantly, I humbly request your prayers. My apostolate is under the protection and guidance of Our Lady, Mystical Rose: it is her work. And none of it would be possible but for the wonderful support of so many prayer warriors such as yourselves. This is the beauty of the Body of Christ. If you can, please join in praying the novena below to Our Lady, Rosa Mystica. If you begin today (Sunday) and go for nine days, you will be praying throughout the duration of my trip. But even starting tomorrow, or anytime this week, is great too! …Even if you can't pray the novena, we ask that you try to offer Memorares or any prayers and sacrifices you can. May God be glorified and many souls reached!

And lastly, if you should feel led to contribute a monetary donation to this work – in any amount – know that it would be much appreciated. This apostolate does exist solely on grace and donations, since all of our resources are offered free of charge. If the Holy Spirit places it on your heart to contribute in some way, please do! (Visit my contact page for where to send a donation).

While carrying out Christ’s unique work for each of us, let us press on together toward the goal... (Phil. 3:14).

Yours in the Faith,
Miss Claire J.M. Halbur

Foundress and Directress
The Rosa Mystica Modesty Movement

~ ~ ~

Nebraska/Iowa Speaking Schedule

Tuesday, March 6:
St. Peter Catholic Church (Convent of the Seraphic Sisters of the Eucharist)
27th & Leavenworth
Omaha, Nebraska 68105

Presentation for homeschooled young ladies ages 6–10 (2:00pm)
Other young ladies welcome!
For more details or to RSVP contact Salesia at (402) 345-0541
………………………………………….

Wednesday, March 7:
Holy Family Parish
807 Emerson Ave.
Wynot, Nebraska 68792

Presentations for young ladies of the Religious Education Program
(1st–5th Grade 7:15pm, 6th–12th Grade 7:40pm)
Other young ladies welcome!
For more details contact Minette at (402) 357-2669
………………………………………….

Thursday, March 8:
Holy Family Parish (Sacred Heart Hall)
807 Emerson Ave.
Wynot, Nebraska 68792

Mother/Daughter Tea (7:00pm)
All ladies welcome, with or without daughters (6th grade and older)
For more details or to RSVP contact Minette at (402) 357-2669
………………………………………….

Friday, March 9:
Interview aired on Omaha’s Spirit Catholic Radio Morning Show
*For time, check back on this blog on or after Monday, 3/05*
88.9FM – Omaha 103.1FM – Schuyler 98.3FM – Norfolk
Listen Live at the Spirit Radio Website: www.kvss.com
………………………………………….

Saturday, March 10:
Trinity Heights Shrine
2501 33rd Street (& Floyd Blvd.)
Sioux City, Iowa 51108

Mother/Daughter Tea (1:30pm)
All ladies welcome, with or without daughters (6th grade and older)
For more details or to RSVP contact Judy at (712) 276-8032
………………………………………….

Sunday, March 11:
St. Peter Catholic Church
27th & Leavenworth
Omaha, Nebraska 68105

Mother/Daughter Tea (3:00pm)
All ladies welcome, with or without daughters (6th grade and older)
For more details or to RSVP contact Denise at (402) 502-1347

………………………………………….

Novena Prayer to Our Lady, Rosa Mystica

Mystical Rose, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, I venerate thee that I might honor thy Divine Son and thereby win His mercy. I ask for thy help in the clemency of thy Maternal Heart in all confidence that I will be heard. Hail Mary...

Mystical Rose, Mother of the Savior, Queen of the Holy Rosary and Mother of the Church, Christ's Mystical Body, I beseech thee on behalf of a war-torn world enslaved by sin, be merciful to those about to be lost for all eternity, especially those who have no one to pray for them, and pray for us, your children through consecration. Hail Mary...

Mystical Rose, Ever-Chaste Queen of Heaven and Earth, grant us holy zeal for souls, a heart surrendered to the Divine Will, and the grace and strength we need to carry out the work your Son has for us, so that one day, we and many others may join thee in perfect, pure union with Thy Son in the eternal beauty of Heaven. Hail Mary...

Hail Holy Queen...
Mystical Rose, Help of Christians, pray for us.

Mystical Rose of the Immaculate Conception, PRAY FOR US!

Memorare...

(prayer derived from devotions given here)

Thank you and may God bless you!

~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAIRE!

Yes, today is Claire's birthday!

(the bow on her head is because we have a picture of her on her 1st birthday with a bow on her head ;)

The Birthday Girl!

We love you, Claire!

Affectionately,
Your Staff

Lenten Message from Papa

"Lent is a favourable time to learn to stay with Mary and John, the beloved disciple, close to Him who on the Cross, consummated for all mankind the sacrifice of His life (cf. Jn 19:25). With a more fervent participation let us direct our gaze, therefore, in this time of penance and prayer, at Christ crucified who, dying on Calvary, revealed fully for us the love of God...

It is in the mystery of the Cross that the overwhelming power of the heavenly Father’s mercy is revealed in all of its fullness."

Read the rest here.

Holy Ash Wednesday!

~ ~ ~

Tiny Clarification

I realized that there may be some of you who've thought that my blog heading ("Reflections of an 18-year-old...) is outdated, since when I posted my birthday poem in October I received some "Happy Birthday" wishes! Just to clarify: My birthday is actually March 1st, so my blog header will be duly updated then. :)

~ ~ ~

Today's Funny Moment

Our little 6-year-old friend, when instructed to place his hand on David's cello to feel the vibrations as it was played:

"It feels like a massage!"

~ ~ ~

Today, I Got a Dozen Roses

1. The rose... of waking up to a glorious morning of glistening snow under perfect blue sky and delightful sunshine.

2. The rose... of smiling at all those faces I passed on our community college campus, while there for Spanish class this morning.

3. The rose... of a hug from a dear 90-year-old lady.

4. The rose... of a slice of homemade bread with thick butter and jam for breakfast. One of the simpler, yet finer things in life!

5. The rose... of a sweet Valentine from my violin student.

6. The rose... of laughter with a couple of innocent, carefree young souls.

7. The rose... of a dance through the church parking lot in the sunshine, just because my heart was light!

8. The rose... of my Guardian Angel graciously preserving me from any car mishap when the driver (yours truly) made a thoughtless mistake this afternoon.

9. The rose... of my young piano student hanging over the edge of the piano as I played for him -- with wide, wondrous eyes and the exclamation, "Oh, this is getting good...Teach me how to play that!"

10. The rose... of singing tonight, impropteau, with a group of six active little ones -- all dancing and singing along. "These are a few of my favorite things..."

11. The rose... of receiving the Modesty Survey Results!

12. The rose... of receiving my Lord and Lover: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist.

Indeed, I am blessed!

~ ~ ~

They've Arrived!

The results of The Modesty Survey have been released!

The Rebelution launched them today, in honor of St. Valentine's Day, as a special gift to Christian girls everywhere -- and a gift they are! Over 1,600 Christian guys (12-50+) submitted 150,000+ answers—including over 25,000 text responses to participate in this survey! The Survey Team did an amazing job in every aspect of this project: from publicizing, to answering concerns and questions, to balancing the approach and making the results super-easy to browse.

Most importantly, the survey is presented as a resource to help Christian girls (and guys), not a list of legalistic rules, and it is accompanied by the Modesty Survey Petition -- signed by hundreds of gentlemen -- which encourage young women to focus on the heart, to honor their parents, and to take this to prayer.

I encourage EVERYONE to head over and check it out! AND spread the word to others about this powerful project. The very fact that a team of teenagers conceived the idea and carried it out is amazing! It has been so truly exciting to watch it unfold. Please join me in praying for much good fruit to come from this -- and for the continued rising of our generation to a higher call, discovering the freedom of true discipleship.

P.S. Attention, Gentlemen: signatures are still being accepted for the Modesty Survey Petition, so there's still an opportunity for you to be a part of this!

~ ~ ~

Google No More!

I've been amazed at the number of folks I have spoken to lately (and active pro-lifers, too!) who don't know about ProLifeSearch.com!

Simple and direct, here's the operation:

ProLifeSearch.com is the "Web's First Pro-Life Search Engine." It is Google-powered (so don't worry, you don't loose any "search competence"!). You and I go to www.prolifesearch.com to search the Web just like we would with any major search engine, and the revunes this one generates are donated to Pro-Life charities.

If you have more questions about how it works, go here.

If not, make ProLifeSearch.com your homepage today!

~ ~ ~

A dear friend just called me

to share this quote she heard on the Christian radio station:

"If you think you're too small to make a difference...
try going to bed with a mosquito in your room."

~ ~ ~

From a Proud Sister

Take a moment to visit Generations for Life and read my sister's essay, which won their recent contest!

Sarah has written a bit for us in the past, too...she has a gift, and is using it for God's glory.

Congratulations, dear sister!

~ ~ ~

I'm Going to Nebraska!

Your prayers are requested as I prepare to fly to Nebraska/Iowa to speak from March 7-11. And if you or anyone you know happens to live in the Omaha, NE, Wynot, NE, or Sioux City, IA area -- watch for further details! I'd love to meet you!

Mystical Rose, Pray for Us

~ ~ ~

Hmmm...

Food-for-thought received in an email today... let's make it our resolution to keep the simple virtues alive!

~ ~ ~
Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense,who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and Maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapid ly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Calpol, sun lotion or a band-aid to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his sons, Accountability and Reason. He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

~ ~ ~

Best Catholic News Bytes of Today

- Pope Benedict gives theme of this year's World Youth Day (to be celebrated in all respective dioceses -- not to be confused with World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney)

- Papa encourages the youth to believe in true love!

- And he reminds us of the sanctity of marriage.

~ ~ ~

A Highlight

from our wonderful Bishop Sartain's homily today at our Diocesan-wide Homeschool Mass!

"We might stand with awe at the edge of the Grand Canyon, but really, we should have the same awe when looking at another human being...

of all God's marvelous creation, only we are made in His Image and Likeness."

~ ~ ~

Patroness of Florists,

Saint Dorothy, is celebrated today! A neat saint with a neat story.

Dorothy means Gift of God

Learn about her:

Saint Dorothy on Catholic Online
Saint Dorothy on Magnificat
Saint Dorothy on Patron Saints Index

~ ~ ~

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How Ever-Gone Your Branches

Yesterday was Candlemas Day. The Feast of the Presentation. And the traditional close of the Christmas Season. Duly so, our tree was taken down and hauled to the curb last Saturday.

A great deal of family tradition is wrapped up in our Christmas Tree...is it progressively decorated throughout the four weeks of Advent, in order to be completed by Christmas, and is left intact and lovely for the Christmastide celebration through the end of January.

But this season, our tree was even more special than usual. I know, I probably say that every year, but allow me to elaborate. In part, because the day this story happened, my parting comment was, "Well, at least it'll make a good blog post!" (And no, I didn't get to it). And in part because Veronica made sure to remind me this week that "Claire, you never did do your Christmas Tree post!"

So, in honor of the close of Christmas, the adventure this year's tree-cutting comes to you now, in style.

It was the first Sunday of Advent: over the last few years, we've established a pattern of cutting down our Christmas tree (the self-cutting down being a long-standing tradition for us) on the first Sunday of Advent. We then bring it home, rearrange our dining room to make room for it, and give it the honored placed in the big front window, where it sits in water for a week before anything more is done to it. The second week of Advent, lights are added; ornaments, the third; and finishing touches (namely, hand-done strings of cranberries and popcorn -- a custom from Mom's childhood) in the fourth week. Thus, the state of our tree progresses with the observance of Advent -- a decorating method which works very well for us.

But back to the cutting on the first Sunday of Advent...which, by the way, just so happened to be bitterly cold this season (a little like today -- we're talking wind chill here!). We had just had our first big snowfall of the winter a few days earlier, and this had come after a good rain-turned-to-ice storm. This didn't deter us, though: we simply bundled up like eskimos and went to the tree farm. Now, our all-time favorite type of tree is a Frasier Fur, and this took us to the far back field of the farm where they were located. We children hopped out of the car and took off in all directions, as we always seem to do upon reaching the tree field. ("Look at this one!" "No, this one's better!" "I found a good one over here!") In a moment or so we spotted some nicer-looking trees in the next lot over, and so scampered over there. Mom followed at a somewhat slower pace, and Dad decided to bring the car around.

(Significant detail: The rain-turned-to-ice storm meant lower sections of the mud road were covered with frozen-over water.) "Turning the car around" entailed driving over a section of ice...

"Okay, but don't get stuck!" were Mom's last words before she started to cross the field on foot toward us.

"Don't worry, I won't", Dad assured.

Next thing we know: Dad waving to us from across the field.

Yep, he was stuck...rather, the tires were cracked clear through the ice to the 8 inches or so of water underneath!

Well, we tried pushing. Which colored things up a bit (literally), because Dad had Sarah in the diver's seat with her foot on the gas and the car in reverse, while the rest of us tried pushing against the hood.

"Step on it a little," Dad instructed as we groaned and feet slipped. She did. "A little more...wait, not that much!" Thank goodness Dad was wearing full cover-alls, because they were now fully splattered with muddy water from those spinning tires! It's laughable...now. :)

When all our pushing efforts only produced more spinning tires and spurting muddy water, Veronica and I hiked back to the front of the farm (and I mean hiked!) to get some help.

"Sir?" I approached the gentlemen in the paying booth. "We're...stuck."

We didn't feel quite so silly when this very patient man said he'd spent hours the day before pulling other unfortunate (unwise?) cars from the same predicament. His truck, a chain, and some prayers got us out...but we still had the somewhat small detail left of getting the tree we came for. At this point, just about any tree looked rather nice, so we pretty much walked up to one nearby and said, "It's good; let's cut it." We got out of the cold and took our tree home.

But what Mom thought was the funniest part is that when we got it into the tree stand that night and looked at it again after all that adventure, we realized...it wasn't even a Frasier Fur.


(P.S. Everyone agreed the tree was worth it.)

~ ~ ~

How Neat is This?

The Rebelution announced today that the results of The Modesty Survey will be released for St. Valentine's Day!

~ ~ ~

In Honor of Yesterday's Saint

"Do you want our Lord to give you many graces? Visit him often.

Do you want him to give you few graces? Visit him seldom.

Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

are powerful and indispensable means

of overcoming the attacks of the devil.

Make frequent visits to Jesus in the Blessed

Sacrament and the devil will be powerless against you."

~ Saint John (Don) Bosco, Memorial: January 31st

Don Bosco Links...

Patron Saints Index

Catholic Online

Domestic Church

~ ~ ~

March for Life 2007 After-Coverage, Part 1

We arrived at the March Rally just after the President's address via phone, but were able to read his address via LifeSiteNews.com when we returned home. It's worth reading, especially if you didn't hear it!

President Bush's Address by Phone to the March for Life Participants

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Nellie, thank you. Thank you very much, Nellie. And I want to thank everybody there for taking part in today's March for Life. I appreciate so very much the devotion to such an honorable cause, and the good work everyone is doing to defend life.

And, Nellie, it's good to hear your voice again, and I thank you very much for giving me a chance to visit with you and the crowd that is assembled there on the Mall.

It is important for all Americans to remember that our Declaration of Independence states that every person has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also states that these rights come from our Creator, and that governments are formed to secure these rights for all their citizens. And we believe every human life has value, and we pray for the day when every child is welcome in life and protected into law.

Nellie, I want to thank you very much, and the members of Congress there who have worked hard to make progress toward this goal over the last six years. I want the folks assembled there to know that we're making progress. We promoted adoption, support parental notification laws, ended federal funding for abortions overseas, and are funding crisis pregnancy programs.

I had the privilege of signing legislation that extends legal protection to children who are born, despite abortion attempts, allows prosecutors to charge those who harm or kill a pregnant woman with harming or killing her unborn child, as well. I signed into law a ban on the cruel practice of partial-birth abortions, and we will vigorously defend that law in the courts.

Nellie, what I'm saying is, is that we're building a culture of life here. And I want to thank you and everybody assembled for helping.

We are a caring nation, and our values should also guide us on how we harness the gifts of science. New medical breakthroughs bring the hope of cures for terrible diseases and treatments that can improve the lives of millions. Our challenge is to make sure that science serves the cause of humanity instead of the other way around.

Last summer I vetoed a bill that would support the taking of innocent life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others, and I have made it clear to the Congress we must pursue medical advances in the name of life, not at the expense of it.

As we move forward, we've all got to remember that a true culture of life cannot be built by changing laws alone. We've all got to work hard to change hearts. We will find areas where we can agree and, at the same time, work to persuade more of our fellow citizens to join this great cause. The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. And so I say, go forth with confidence that a cause rooted in human dignity and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens cannot fail.

Again, Nellie, thank you very much. I appreciate your dedication to this important cause. I send my thanks to all there on the Mall. I ask for God's blessings on your work, and that God continue to bless our country.

Thank you.

~ ~ ~

Heard This Morning

on Relevant Radio

"To run from the cross is to run from love...

to run from the cross is to run from our destination...

to run from the cross is to run from JESUS CHRIST."

- Father John Corapi

Lil' Bits and Pieces

of good stuff around the blogsphere and web recently...

From Pope Benedict:
Papa speaks on wrong Christian silence and troubling entertainment, and is writing a book.

For Some Sad and Happy Tears:
Elizabeth Foss shares her heart in a true pro-life story on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.

Food for Thought:
Mr. Doug Phillips (of Vision Forum) writes a strong yet tender post about the influence of babies.

For Laughs:
A young man learns some valuable lessons about womanly hospitality. Like I always say: "Men and women are different -- and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out!" :)

Danielle Bean give the latest account of 22-month-old Raphael. Oh, wouldn't life be dull without toddlers?

No, I Didn't Vanish

The last month has been filled with lots of graces. Those of you who may still be with me -- thanks for staying tuned. ;) Every day our Lord has been pruning me, teaching me, smiling on me...I can only be in awe of His transforming power, and yet all too aware of my own littleness, my own NEED for his pruning and teaching.

Right now, I'm blogging from Washington D.C.! Yesterday we were blessed to experience, for the first time, the March for Life. In one word: incredible. More to follow in the days to come...

From Papa

"God’s sign is simplicity. God’s sign is the baby. God’s sign is that he makes himself small for us. This is how he reigns. He does not come with power and outward splendour. He comes as a baby – defenceless and in need of our help. He does not want to overwhelm us with his strength. He takes away our fear of his greatness. He asks for our love: so he makes himself a child. He wants nothing other from us than our love, through which we spontaneously learn to enter into his feelings, his thoughts and his will – we learn to live with him and to practise with him that humility of renunciation that belongs to the very essence of love. God made himself small so that we could understand him, welcome him, and love him."

~ Midnight Mass Homily of Holy Father Benedict XVI

HT: Danielle Bean

Behold! He Comes!

“Long lay the world
In sin and error pining…
‘Till He appeared
And the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope
The weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees!”

Traditional Christmas Carol

~ ~ ~

During this beautiful season, may each and every soul may feel its worth, and come to gaze with wonder upon this living mystery of God become man. For He has come! Wisdom...Saving Lord...Root of Jesse...Key of David...Radiant Dawn...King of Nations...Wonderful Counselor...Mighty God...Everlasting Father...Prince of Peace...

EMMANUEL.

Awed by the thrill of hope, captured by His gaze of love, may we fall on our knees…rejoicing!

O Emmanuel...

"O Emmanuel,

God with us,

King and lawgiver,

Desire of the nations,

Savior of all people,

Come and set us free,

Lord our God!"

Isaiah 7:14 ~ "The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him... Emmanuel."

Danielle Does it Again

Danielle Bean (or Mrs. Bean, as I usually refer to her myself) has, in her wonderfully-gifted way, given another hit-to-the-heart wake-up call. I'm sure I'm not the only one who needed it. Be sure you take a trip over to Danielle Daily to read her brilliant article Keeping Christmas!

O Rex Gentium...

“O King of all the nations,

the only joy of every human heart;

O Cornerstone that makes us one:

Come, deliver man,

whom You formed out of the dust of the earth."

Isaiah 9:5 ~ “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 2:4 ~ “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.”

What are the O Antiphons? Read Special Christmas Countdown.

O Oriens...

O Rising Dawn,

Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice;

come and enlighten those who sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death!

Isaiah 9:1 ~ “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.”

What are the O Antiphons? Read Special Christmas Countdown.

Special Christmas Countdown...The "O Antiphons"

The seven O Antiphons (also called the "Greater Antiphons" or "Major Antiphons") are prayers that come from the Liturgy of the Hours, or the special universal prayers that all Catholic priests and religious offer each day. They are offered during the Octave before Christmas Eve (December 17-23), a time which is called the "Golden Nights." Each Antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Isaias and Micheas (Micah). They speak of man's desire and longing for God, a longing which has existed throughout the history of God's people from the beginning of time through Abraham, Moses and David, fulfilled on the night when Emmanuel (God with us) was born.

If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, "Tomorrow, I will come." Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, "Tomorrow, I will come." So the O Antiphons not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.

- As explained on CatholicEducation.org, FishEaters.com, and Domestic-Church.com

The O Antiphons are a magnificent example of what priceless teaching and poignant reflection can be given us, the lay faithful, by glimpsing into the Liturgy of the Hours devotions. Their depth instills anew the wonder and beauty of our Catholic Liturgical Year.

December 17th began the Antiphons with O Sapientia (O Wisdom), followed by O Adonai (O Lord of Israel) on the 18th and O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) yesterday.

And now, today we pray:

O CLAVIS DAVID [Key of David],
and Sceptre of the House of Israel,
You open and no man closes;
You close and no man opens.
Come and deliver him from the chains of prison
who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death!

~ ~ ~

Isaias 22:22 ~ And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Isaias 9:6 ~ For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.

I can't take the credit

for having written this, but it did bring me a good chuckle today! Enjoy!

The Fourteen Days of Homeschooling

Compliments of Cecelia Harkins

Sung to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

On the first day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"Can you homeschool legally?"

On the second day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"Are they socialized?

Can you homeschool legally?

On the third day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"Do you give them tests?

Are they socialized?

Can you homeschool legally?"

On the fourth day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"What about P.E.?

Do you give them tests?
Are they socialized?
Can you homeschool legally?"

On the fifth day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"YOU ARE SO STRANGE!

What about P.E.?
Do you give them tests?

Are they socialized?

Can you homeschool legally?"

On the sixth day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"How long will you homeschool?

YOU ARE SO STRANGE!

What about P.E.?

Do you give them tests?
Are they socialized?
Can you homeschool legally?"

On the seventh day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"Look at what they're missing!

How long will you homeschool?

YOU ARE SO STRANGE!

What about P.E.,

Do you give them tests,

Are they socialized,

Do you homeschool legally?"

On the eighth day of homeschool
my neighbor said to me,
"Why do you do this?
Look at what they're missing!
How long will you homeschool?
YOU ARE SO STRANGE!
What about P.E.,
do you give them tests,
are they socialized,
do you homeschool legally?"

On the ninth day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"They'll miss the prom...

Why do you do this?

Look at what they're missing!

How long will you homeschool?

YOU ARE SO STRANGE!

What about P.E.,

do you give them tests,

are they socialized,

do you homeschool legally?"

On the tenth day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"What about graduation?

They'll miss the prom...
Why do you do this?
Look at what they're missing!
How long will you homeschool?
YOU ARE SO STRANGE!
What about P.E.?
Do you give them tests?
Are they socialized?
Do you homeschool legally?"

On the eleventh day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"I could never do that.

What about graduation?
They'll miss the prom...

Why do you do this?

Look at what they're missing!

How long will you homeschool?

YOU ARE SO STRANGE!

What about P.E.?

Do you give them tests?

Are they socialized?

Do you homeschool legally?"

On the twelfth day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"Can they go to college?

I could never do that.
What about graduation?

They'll miss the prom...
Why do you do this?
Look at what they're missing!
How long will you homeschool?
YOU ARE SO STRANGE!
What about P.E.?
Do you give them tests?
Are they socialized?
Do you homeschool legally?"

On the thirteenth day of homeschool

I thoughtfully replied:

"They can go to college,

yes, you can do this,

they can have graduation,

we don't like the prom,

we do it cuz we like it,

they are missing nothing,

we'll homeschool forever...

WE ARE NOT STRANGE!

We give them P.E.,

and we give them tests,

they are socialized,

AND WE HOMESCHOOL LEGALLY!

On the fourteenth day of homeschool

my neighbor said to me,

"How can I get started?

Why didn't you tell me?

Where do I buy curriculum?

When is the next conference?

WILL PEOPLE THINK WE'RE STRANGE?

I think we can do this,

if you'll help us,

we will join a sports team...

and we'll homeschool legally!"

A bit of follow-up...

Little did I know that my post about voting for SpunkyHomeschool versus Michael Bérubé in the the Weblog Awards would end up being quoted on his blog, sending me the highest traffic that day that I've ever experienced. A surprise, to say the least! Which also made for some interesting developments -- making it necessary for me to bring here some clarifications that Mr. Bérubé kindly made for us on his and IvyGate's (another leading contestant for the Weblog Best Educational Blog Award) comments during the race.

In his own words:

The point is this. We really were kidding. But in pretending to be people who take weblog awards way too seriously, we apparently crossed some people who take weblog awards way too seriously. I have nothing against Ms. Braun [Spunky] or her family, and wish them the very best.

Apparently, this whole incident is a good example of the mis-communication that our modern snazzy methods of communications can bring upon us sometimes. :) We homeschoolers are all-too-familiar with warring attitudes towards us…and the truth is there are many folks on the web who make remarks such as his and are serious. For those of us unfamiliar with Mr. Bérubé's style of irony, it was only natural we would take his remarks literally. It was a welcome development to learn that it was all not quite as heavy as we thought. :)

One a positive ending note, it was heartening to read very cordial comments by both SpunkyHomeschool and Mr. Bérubé on each other's blogs. The closing graciousness shown by each was an appreciated outcome to all this!

Drum Roll...

"Join other Christian young men and women in TheRebelution.com’s new and exciting project: The Modesty Survey. The Modesty Survey allows any girl to submit anonymous, modesty-related questions to Christian guys and to receive (multiple) anonymous replies. It’s the discussion you’ve always wanted to have."

Read the rest and find out how both gentlemen and ladies can participate by clicking here or on the above logo! But girls, you'll need to act fast, because the deadline for submitting your questions is tomorrow (December 15th).

I can't wait to see the results of this! As a young woman active in the modesty movement, I quickly learned that there is nothing so powerful and so moving for us girls seeking true modesty and real beauty, and nothing with such effectiveness at reaching those girls’ hearts who may even not be seeking modesty, as the testimonies and humble, honest pleas of Godly young men. I think sometimes it can take just one Godly man to drive home with sure force the message that scores of girls could have been trying to share with another girl. Sadly, it’s far too rare that young men (or fathers!) do speak up about this topic…but when they do, feminine ears perk up!

Please join me in prayer that this project will truly bear wonderful fruit for God's Kingdom!

Homeschoolers Unite!

Even though the 2006 Weblog Awards voting ends tomorrow, we can still affect the results!

In short, the two top blogs competing (very closely, I might add!) for the Best Educational Blog award are... liberal Michael Bérubé and SpunkyHomeschool, a dedicated, witty, and devout Christan homeschool mom.

This has really and truly come down to a battle of Christian ideals versus Secular ideals, Godly values versus Godless values. As reported on the ever-fantastic blog The Rebelution, "Michael Bérubé recently commented... 'The important thing is that...I crush the homeschoolers.' "

To get the whole scoop, click here.

To help SpunkyHomeschool win, you can vote once per day per computer by clicking here. Get your friends to vote too! But HURRY: voting ends tomorrow (December 15th)!

Today's Encouragement

"Girls are like apples on trees.

The best ones are at the top of the tree.

Boys don't want to reach for the good apples

because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt.

Instead they get the rotten apples from the ground

that aren't as good, but easy.

So the apples at the top think

there is something wrong with them,

when in fact they are amazing.

They just have to wait for the right boy,

the one who will risk everything,

who's brave enough to climb

all the way up to the top of the tree."

- Author Unknown

Glorious Words

"The Most Important Person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral -- a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body...The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation...What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?"

- Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

Strength in Weakness

Crystal at Biblical Womanhood had a post last week that's very worth reading. She very eloquently and beautifully wrote about something God has really been teaching me in recent weeks: to not only talk about relying on Him, but to do it. Two very different things. There are times when I feel so tiny, so inadequate, stretched so thin -- and all I can do is remind myself over and over, "Christ is my strength". What a consolation at those moments to know that no matter what kind of roller-coaster our emotions may take us on, Christ is the rock. And daily, hourly, each moment, we must learn to lean on Him. At times this means discomfort, maybe even storms. We just have to make sure that the more fiercely the winds blow, the more heavily we lean on His strength. And trust that in the end, there will be a rainbow.

Turkey Soup Recipe

Well, no one expressly asked for it, but I thought I'd post it anyway...and maybe a few of you who've never had turkey soup will enjoy trying something new!

HOMEMADE TURKEY SOUP

From: The Halbur Kitchen

Directions for homemade broth:
Cook 1 large turkey in your roaster or pan with water in the bottom covering half the turkey. After the turkey is cooked, pour off the broth. To make extra broth, save all the turkey bones, skin, etc. Place turkey waste in a large pot, cover with water and slow cook for 6 to 8 hours. (We usually cook ours overnight and wake up to turn it off). Pour off broth and discard waste. If you desire low-fat broth, let all broth chill in your refrigerator until set. The fat will float to the top and harden. It can then be easily discarded.

Ingredients:
Add the following measurements of ingredients to about 8 cups of broth. If you have more than 8 cups, you can just add more of each ingredient. Some people may like to add more or less of each ingredient anyway, depending whether they want more broth in their soup or more stock. Therefore, the following is a guideline.

- 2 cups brown rice or noodles (If rice, add as soon as you start cooking soup. If using noodles, add 10 minutes before soup is done.)
- 1 large chopped onion
- 6 or more cloves of fresh garlic
- 2 cups cut-up turkey meat
- 3 cups largely cut carrots
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- "Mrs. Dash" seasoning OR "Pleasoning"
- Other favorite soup seasonings if desired
Note: No MSG or boullion is needed for a good turkey flavor if you make your own broth.

Variations:
1 to 2 cups of the following ingredients can be added to your soup. We have tried them all, and have found that any or all of them are very tasty.

- Green peas (add at the end otherwise they’ll get mushy)
- Grated zucchini
- Chopped broccoli
- Chopped cauliflower
- Chopped green beans
- Any of your other favorite vegetables

Cooking Directions:
Add all ingredients and simmer soup until carrots are soft. If you used rice, is should be soft as well as broccoli, cauliflower, etc. We usually serve the soup with cheese and crackers. Note: We often freeze our leftover soup in labeled plastic containers...a great "instant" meal and a much healthier alternative to TV dinners. :)

Makes 8 to 12 servings.

A Day for Gratitude

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God...

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."

- from Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation

October 3, 1863

No matter what the trials in our live, each of us truly has much to be thankful for. Today is a day to take a few moments to stop. To slow down. Amidst all the wonderful warmth and bustle of celebration and reunion, don't forget to reflect a bit quietly too. To gaze with your heart full at those simplest things in life that really are the greatest gifts. To marvel at the never-abandoning providence of our God. And to wonder at the love of such a Creator.

I wish you all a truly grace-filled Thanksgiving. May our hearts learn to be grateful all the year through!

Poll for Fun: Sopa de Pavo!

In addition to my sister's cake last night, I was kept busy for several hours cooking up a gigantic batch of turkey soup. That's right, turkey soup (sopa de pavo, as we had fun referring to it with our Spanish friends).

You can laugh, but for me, turkey soup has been a part of my growing up. So has turkey-eating all year round, for that matter! So it wasn't until recently that I realized most folks...haven't. Don't ask me why. Neither the visiting friend, the piano student who came for a lesson, nor the person I spoke with on the phone last night had ever heard of, much less tasted, turkey soup.

So, it being Thanksgiving week and all, I thought we should have a little fun here. How many of you lovely blog readers have heard of turkey soup before...or tried it? Leave a comment! Or maybe we're not isolated, and it's a long-standing family dinner for you, too. Let us know. :-)

And just maybe, if you ask, I'll post our special recipe so you can have a scrumptious way to use up all your leftovers on Thursday!

Theology and Cake

Last night, as my sister mixed a big double-batch of our favorite Chocolate Zucchini Cake, a friend who happened to be visiting looked at the bowl's flour-and-cocoa-and-oil-mountain and jestingly quipped, "That doesn't look like much!".

But we all know, of course, that somehow -- almost magically! -- all those various ingredients poured together, mixed up, and baked, will come out all right. Even wonderful.

It's a little like us. We don't look like much sometimes, but the Master Maker keeps smiling and adding, mixing and fixing, stirring and sweetening. And we have to trust at the end, we'll come out all right.

Even wonderful.

Be Strong!

by Malthie Davenport Babcock

Be Strong! We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do and loads to lift:

Shun not the struggle-face it; 'tis God's gift.

Be Strong! Say not, "The day's are evil. Who's to blame?"

And fold the hands and acquiesce-oh, shame!

Stand up, speak out, and bravely in God's name.

Be Strong! It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day how long;

Faint not-fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

Better Late Than Never...

At last, the long-ago-promised "All Saints" post!

Saints-in-the-making... portraying heavenly models at our homeschool "All Saints" Party:

Claire as Servant of God Queen Isabel the Catholic of Castille, Sarah as Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Veronica as Saint Galla, David as Saint Padre Pio.

"Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You. Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You."

- from Padre Pio's Prayer after Communion

Prayer to Saint Galla:

Saint Galla, we bring to your feet all widows, those poor and suffering, those ill and dying. Comfort them with the same love and compassion you gave to such souls while on earth. From heaven, teach us how to be humble servants.

Amen.

Feast: October 5

Catherine of Alexandria:

Patroness of Aalsum, Nederlands; apologists; all craftsmen who work with a wheel (potters, spinners, etc.); archivists; attornies; barristers; diocese of Dumaguete, Philippines; dying people; educators; girls; Heidesheim am Rhein, Germany; jurists; knife grinders; knife sharpeners; Kuldiga, Latvia; lawyers; librarians; libraries; Mähring, Germany; maidens; mechanics; millers; nurses; old maids; philosophers; potters; preachers; scholars; schoolchildren; scribes; secretaries; spinners; spinsters; stenographers; students; tanners; teachers; theologians; turners; University of Paris; unmarried girls; wheelwrights; Zejtun, Malta


"Lord, in whose hands lies the sway of kingdoms, I humbly beseech Thee to hear the prayer of thy servant, and show forth the truth, and manifest Thy will with Thy marvellous works: so that if my cause is not just, I may not be allowed to sin through ignorance, and if its just, Thou give me wisdom and courage to sustain it with the aid of Thine arm, that through Thy grace we may have peace in these kingdoms."

- Favorite prayer of Queen Isabel the Catholic

It shows up a little faint in the picture, but I am holding a map of the US...most of us have heard Queen Isabel's name, but only briefly in connection with Columbus. Very few of us know how deeply spiritual this woman was!

“Although there would be nothing but stones, I would continue there while there may be souls to save.”

- Queen Isabel's response when told that America had not the riches of the East

A few from the "army" of Saints!

Because This Made Me Smile

You think English is easy???

Can you read these right the first time?

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce.

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.

19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it: English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"? Why can you make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the uniqueness of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

AND...There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the
secretary to write UP a report?

We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of our time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP.

When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.

We could go on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP!

Have a joyous day!

Let us pray

that God will bless those politicians and Americans who are striving to honor Him and that those who are not will soon have a conversion.

Hope you voted today...voted in God's honor.

I know...

...you're all dying to see the great post Claire recently hinted about, but you might need to wait a few more days. In a few minutes we're heading out of town for the weekend... so sit tight, and we'll be back before you know it!

Best wishes and many blessings from,
One of Claire's great sisters :)

Happy All Saints Day!

I had a lovely post all planned, but since I'm supposed to be sleeping it will have to wait until tomorrow.

All you Holy Men and Women,

Saints and Soliders of God,

Pray for Us!

9 Day Countdown to Election Day

We received the following story in an email the other day...

"During the George Bush vs. Al Gore debacle in Florida, a group of concerned Catholics from the Bishop's Conference in DC started a Divine Mercy Novena to pray for the results of that election to be ended peacefully and according to God's will. The day after the Novena, George Bush was declared the victor. Truly a grace of Divine Mercy as the battle against him was fought long and hard."

The message went on to suggest the praying of a novena for this year's elections. What a truly marvelous idea! And a truly powerful yet utterly peaceful way to positively sway the results. Spread the word amongst the faithful and on your own blogs! Of course, you could do any devotional novena of your choosing, to any favorite saint, but I suggest a novena to the Divine Mercy by offering the chaplet each day specifically for this intention. (And if you're ambitious, you could even add the specific novena prayers for each day!).

To end on election day (November 7th) means beginning today (October 30th), but since many of you may not read this until tomorrow morning, don't worry -- just start right up and you'll be praying over election day. No less efficacious, I'm sure!

Chaplet Opening Prayer...
"You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us."

"O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in You!"

Chaplet Closing Prayer...
"Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in dificult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen."

To learn how to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, click here or here.

Jesus, I trust in You!

A Really Great Quote!

Seen on a forum this week...

"A woman's heart should be so close to the Lord,

that a man would have to seek Him to find her."

~ Unknown

I love that! Ladies...it's time to reexamine ourselves. How close are our hearts to our first Beloved? And any gentlemen who may be reading...remember that if you'd seek a woman's heart that will rest secure in your love, seek one that already knows how to rest secure in HIS Love.

"Reflections"

When I turned ten, I began a tradition of composing a special poem each year on my birthday (usually writing it at the same time I was born). Hence, a "poetry post" today with the latest: my eighteenth birthday poem, for your enjoyment...

Time passes by, each moment slips

Into the sea of the past

Moments of joy…moments of sorrow

Not a one of them will last

Daily I rise; daily I wake

And breathe of each new day

Moments of grace…moments of waste

Which will be my chosen way?

Will I breathe each breath for You
And with each, live Your Life?
Or will I throw each breath away
In wasted, joyless strife?

Will my heart be filled with You

And pulse for You each beat?

Or will it pulse unfeelingly

And loveless throbs repeat?

I want to speak, and think, and act
Your Love in all I do
To live, and move, and breathe, and give
Each moment back to You

-Claire Joann Mary Halbur

March 01, 2006

Wisdom from a Bumper Sticker

I was out running several errands this afternoon. You know the story: traffic, parking-lot-zoos, checkout lines galore, etc., etc. And then, of course, a nicely up drawbridge to greet me as I turned a corner to cross the river toward the other side of town. With a continually-rotating list through my head of a hundred things yet-needing-to-be-done-today, sitting at a bridge wasn't exactly what I would have chosen to stop for at that moment.

But then, right in front of me, was a particular bumper sticker on a particular car. Well, not exactly... it was actually a little sign in the back window with a quote. And it read:

The only way for evil to triumph

is for good people to do nothing.

I remembered hearing that somewhere before. But whether you've heard it or not, take one moment (even though you're not stopped at a drawbridge) and stop. Now read it again -- only substitute the word "me" in place of "good people". The only way for evil to triumph is for me to do nothing.

What are each of us personally doing to conquer evil with good? In our own hearts? In our families? In our country? In our world? We just can't afford to sit back and wait for someone else to defend the Truth. Remember: God doesn't call the qualified...He qualifies the called!

A Peek

at some of what's kept me busy today!

...a nice big mailing to folks around the US (and beyond!) who've requested my resources.

Finally!

Way upon a several-months-ago, a few of you requested some photos of my graduation gown. I didn't forget! Here are some snapshots from the Illinois State Fair in August, where I modeled the dress in the Fashion Revue. Enjoy! And pardon the blurriness - all the "action" photos were that way since my sister took them from the back of the auditorium, and I was moving. :)

On stage

Doing a turn...a good view of the 15-inch ruffle

A side-view: visiting with the Bishop on Graduation Day

Since It's Late

and I should be in bed rather than typing up a post, take a trip over to Danielle Bean for some inspiration from her latest beautiful post Hand in the Dough. You'll see why she's one of my favorites...and why I call visiting her corner of cyberspace my "Daily Dose of Delight from Danielle"!

Blessings!

What a Treat!

Tonight, I had the rare and special treat of sitting in a movie theatre...to enjoy a real film. Several months ago, when visiting friends brought with them the movie Love Comes Softly, we fell in love with it immediately - and equally enjoyed its sequels, Love's Enduring Promise and Love's Long Journey. Now the next epic is in the theaters (and the first of the series to be so!).

Love's Abiding Joy does, indeed, live up to its title. All I could think afterward tonight was: wouldn't our world be a different place if all movies were of the same beautiful quality as this one? The same interplay of resounding, timeless themes? The same tender, yet down-to-earth portrayal of Faith? The same centeredness around home, family, and the things that deep down every one of us hold most dear? The same uplifting trueness to truth?

I pray for the day when we may see a resurgence of such qualities in not just one movie of ten showing on the big screens of a given theater, but...all of them.

Reflection for Today

from Mother Teresa

"It is easy to love those who are far away. It isn't always easy to love those who are right next to us. It is easier to offer a dish of rice to satisfy the hunger of a poor person, than to fill up the loneliness and suffering of someone lacking love in our own family."


How absolutely true!

Lord, I beg today for the grace to see You not only in the sometimes distressing diguise of my neighbor, but in the sometimes distressing disguise of those within my own home. May I serve them with Your Love, Your Heart, Your Joy...especially when I feel least inclined to do so. Amen.

Today's Dose of Chesterton

"Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere."

"Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another."

"The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people."

Not many of us possess such a combination of both profundity and wit, eh?

No, I Haven't Fallen Off the Face of the Earth...

...I've only been working hard on it! Life is far from dull, and (sadly) my blog has been untentionally abandoned for what seems a very long time. My apologies! And I commend anyone who may still be visiting!

What have the last few (okay, several) weeks held? Well, the Rosary Walk for Life was a tremendous success -- and an amazing example of God's faithful Providence. For months, we'd been praying for good weather. Since the scheduled walk from Church to the Abortion Clinic was 1-1/2 miles each way, we petitioned heaven for at least no rain. And then, the week before came all the threatening forcasts...my grandma, God love her, is our "resident" meteorologist. Meaning that she watches the weather channel like a hawk and makes it her personal duty to inform each of her 11 children (stationed at various places around the country, I might add) of the up-and-coming predictions for their area. This becomes even more necessary when she knows of any important event, much less an outdoor event. So, as you can imagine, the last few days leading up to the Walk on the 23rd were peppered with phone calls. And the news only became less and less promising. Not just ordinary rain predicted, or plain old thunderstorms, but threats of hail, tornadoes, and flooding were all in effect for -- you guessed it -- Saturday, September 23rd. All we could do was keep on praying. After all, it's not too hard for God to stop a tornado.

The morning of the 23rd dawned foggy and gray. A really good crowd of over 250 still showed up (praise God for folks who know how to brave weather forecasts!) and even though the sun didn't show, raindrops didn't either. For the entire duration of the walk, the sky held, the wind stayed gentle, and everything remained composed. We prayed 20 decades of the rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, two litanies, scores of songs, and walked the 3-mile-round-trip to the clinic and back. And then, barely ten minutes after we got back to Church for closing benediction, it...rained. And poured. Rivers.

But we'd already experienced rivers that morning. Rivers of mercy, of Divine tenderness, and of Fatherly gentleness. God is good!