Home

I'm home...but just for one day. :) We pulled in only a few hours ago from a wonderful 4 days at the 2006 Couple to Couple League Family Convention in Arkansas, and have only today to do laundry and repack before my Mom, sisters, and I are off to the Ave Cor Mariae Summer Girls' Camp run by Miles Jesu.

A few random highlights from our trip...

Playing violin and piano and singing for the daily Conference Masses
Meeting up with new and old friends from around the country (particularly one whom I hadn't seen in four years!)
Being a childcare leader/helper for 45 eight-and-nine-year-olds
French braiding about 20 little girls' hair from the above mentioned group :)
One smiling little boy from my group asking me if I've seen the Sound of Music and telling me that I "reminded him of Maria".
Being told that I "looked like Anne of Green Gables"
Being greeted by a Southern gentleman sweeping the sidewalk with "Good day, miss. Lovely bonnet!" as the group of children and I walked past (I was wearing a straw hat).
Enjoying volleyball each night with wonderful, faith-filled teens from all over - and the rosary afterward, right there in the sand.
Enjoying the AR natives' accent...quite the twang they talk with down there, y'all know?
Driving through the lovely Ozark Mountains and lots of red-colored earth!

Surprise!

The first time I've been able to post while away from home. :) So while you and I thought I wouldn't be back here for a week (maybe two), here I am! Here's some wisdom for today from G.K. Chesterton...

"Coincidences are spiritual puns."
"If I had only one sermon to preach it would be a sermon against pride."
And best of all...
"Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions."

-Gilbert K. Chesterton

And while I'm away, you may enjoy visiting a few of my favorite blogs -- that is, if they aren't already your favorite too!

Catholic Mom and Author Danielle Bean

Biblical Womanhood

Here in the Bonny Glen and The Lilting House by Catholic Mom and Author Melissa Wiley

The Rebelution by Christian Homeschooled Twin Teens Alex and Brett Harris

Pax tecum and God bless!

I'm Off...

with my family on vacation for the next week. In the meantime you will all be in my prayers.

And a note from Claire's secretary (aka: sister Sarah)
In case Claire doesn't get a chance to write during the one day we are home between being gone, we're off to a Catholic Girls' Summer camp the first week of July! So if you don't hear from her until the middle of July...that's why.

Blessings!

A Lost Art

Few youth have had the chance I had last week: to enjoy real dancing. Not hip-swaying, body jiggling, or head jerking. Real wholesome, enjoyable, fun dancing in a group of lighthearted young men and women who don’t leave respect behind to enjoy themselves. Have you noticed the strange majority of young folks nowadays who have been deprived the simple joy of learning how to polka? Or waltz?

Perhaps a significant part of our problem is the absence of real music. I'm sorry, but you just can't call what's now blared at most weddings music. And it seems that the movement taking place on the dance floor is either something inspired by hip-hop or a hugging session. Dancing is indeed a lost art. And I daresay one which needs to be restored as part of the Culture of Life.

“..thou shalt again be adorned with thy timbrels, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.” (Jeremiah 31:4)

5th-Grade Schoolchildren Folk Dancing in 1935

A Beautiful Story

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a disease and needed a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liza." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood.

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

- Author Unknown
From "Glen's Story Corner" on Relevant Radio

Happy Father's Day!

"It is a wise father that knows his own child." (William Shakespeare)

Thank you, Daddy, for knowing me so well! God bless all our wonderful fathers, and all our priests too.

Chapters of Life

Graduation was beautiful. Not so much an end, but more so a beginning. My education is not over...it's just beginning another chapter. I love this quote from Robert Hutchkins, which we put on the graduation invitation: "The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives." Over the years, I have met so many students in the "regular" school system who simply loathe school and despise learning. And I remember listening to these grievances with the curiosity of one to whom learning was an adventure, and wondering what they meant. I often reflect on how my education, my years of homeschooling, have been so much more than simply book-learning. Of course books played a key role for me - and they always will! - but our "life skills" days of cooking, or cleaning, or sewing projects, or preparing for houseguests were just as much a part of fashioning me into who I am today. Homeschooling at its best is the cultivation of not only knowledge, but wisdom. Of not only brainpower, but heartpower. Of not only hearing and grasping, but seeing and understanding. Of not only principles, but truths. Of not only facts and figures, but virtues and values. Of not just preparation for a job or career...but preparation for LIFE. For the next chapter.

At the Graduation Mass, I read the following poem just before we graduates presented our parents with roses...

For all the heartfelt prayers for us
You’ve offered through the years
For all the sacrifices and struggles,
All the sweat and toil and tears

For all the times you held us
And wiped our tiny tears
For all the time you hugged us
And soothed away our fears

For all the smiles you gave us
When you wanted to give a sigh
For all the times you went on strong
When you wanted to sit down and cry

For all the years of learning
Of sitting on your knee
For all the years you’ve showed us
What a Christian ought to be

For loving us when we’re not loveable
For teaching us what’s true
And most of all for giving us life
Mom and Dad, we’re trying to say…thank you

P.S. No photos are available yet, but when they are, I'll try to post some. :)

Presently Occupied :)

I will be taking a break from blogging for the next week as I try to finish sewing a dress for my graduation. Adieu till then...

Picturesque

Our mock-orange bush, which has barely shown more than a dozen blossoms at once in the 17 years we have lived in our home, surprised us by bursting into glorious bloom last week! My sisters and I had so much fun making use of the perfectly lovely setting! It's not often that photographers have a backdrop this perfect available to them. ;)

(Mom says to add that this is because she finally convinced my dad to keep the clippers away from the bush the last few years!)

A Day for Gratitude

"...highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that Government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg

November 19, 1863

Let us remember with grateful hearts those brave men who have followed Christ's calling with true completeness:

No greater love hath a man than this; than to lay down his life for His friends.

Lord, may we never take for granted the freedom we enjoy, nor every breath that we are given.

The Advantages of Dressing Like a Lady

Guest Blog by Sarah Halbur, Written 05/04/06

This past weekend, my family and I attended an event in Chicago. It was a “dressy” occasion, as it included a Sunday Mass and reception to follow. So my family and I all dressed up – for the girls, nice dresses and hair-dos; for the boys, matching blue pants, shirts, and ties.

For our family, this is normal Sunday wear. We always dress up for Sunday Mass – so we didn’t think anything special of this Sunday’s attire.

But apparently, other people did – in a nice way. Some made a point of telling our family how nice we looked. One lady even went on to tell my mom, my sisters, and myself how refreshed she was that “none of our bellies were showing.”

Then I looked around. Other people were dressed nice…I guess. But everyone looked the same – black slacks held the floor. The few ladies who wore a skirt or a dress looked so refreshing, so pretty. I appreciated their attire. Now I could better understand why others appreciated our attire. It was unique.

That evening, our family visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. In the olden days, people would dress up to go to town, or just to go out. Not any more. Here I didn’t even pay attention to what people were wearing…the lizard exhibit was too intriguing…or…um…the clothes just weren’t.

Closing time drew near and we made our way to the door. The lizard exhibit was intriguing, and we had had a nice time. I noticed a group of young adults by the exit and could tell by their laughter that they, too, had had a fun time.

As my mom, my sisters and I approached the doors; two young men turned and acknowledged us. But it was here that I got my real surprise. The young men held the doors for us. Yes…let me repeat…they held the doors for us. And no, they weren’t even workers…just ordinary men simply doing an act of kindness for a few ladies, whom they did not know. Chivalry is not dead!

You see, I have made a discovery. In the olden days, it was customary for a gentleman to hold a door for a lady because this was one way a man would show his respect for the Dignity of Womanhood.

Why don’t most men hold doors anymore? Because ladies don’t want them too, or at least it appears that way, for two reasons:

1. Because of the “do it myself” attitude that so many women exude.
2. Because when women stopped dressing and acting with dignity, man stopped treating her with dignity.

I am truly honored whenever a gentleman holds a door for me. It is an act of chivalry I won’t forget.

So ladies…let’s step up to the call, shall we? Let’s become real ladies and they’ll become real gentlemen. It’s an honor!

Quote for the Day

"He who has faith has... an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well - even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly."

- B. C. Forbes, American Journalist and Founder of Forbes Magazine

My Heart is Full

My family just came off of organizing the 2006 Illinois Catholic Homeschool Conference and Vendor Fair. All I can say is...God is good. I could say so much, but it would be so little. The experiences of planning, preparing, working with others, learning, coordinating, and even the tiredness of it all have left me with so much meaning, so much richness. The mix of emotions can be such a strange thing sometimes...I am filled with such a sense of gratitude for God's goodness and for the sucess of this event, and yet deep down is mixed in a bit of sadness that this experience (at least for this year!) is over.

Lord, I come before You with a heart full of feeling...take me into Your hands and steady it. May I be graced to look back with awe at Your power manifested in the past, and at the same time be ready to face with sincereity, tranquility, and trust whatever tasks tomorrow will bring. Amen.

We Are an Easter People

Have you remembered that we are still celebrating the Easter Season? Of course, we celebrate the amazing event of our Lord's triumph over death all year round, but in a particular and joyous way during the Easter Season, which lasts for...50 days! That means for a full week and a half yet! Don't let the "Alleluia" slip from your lips, or the Easter song from your heart just because the Easter bunnies and eggs have disappeared entirely from store displays. Continue to celebrate! Each beautiful day of Spring should be a bright reminder that our King reigns, death has been conquered, life is abundant, and we are an Easter people.

The Power of Motherhood

They say that man is mighty,
He governs land and sea,
He wields a mighty scepter
O'er lesser powers that be;
But a mightier power and stronger
Man from his throne has hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

- William Ross Wallace

Happy Mother's Day!

Dress for Mass

I posted the following as a comment in the discussion going on at Catholic Mother Danielle Bean's blog about dress for Mass:

How many of us remember what “Church” really means? As Catholics, we are not simply entering a gathering space, a meeting hall, or a worship space – we are entering the House of God. If we truly believe in the absolutely real presence of the Creator of the Universe within the Eucharist, then a visit there is infinitely more monumental than a visit to the White House. We would never dream of “casually” presenting ourselves before an earthly ruler or king – so why should have any different attitude about presenting ourselves before the Kings of Kings? Sometimes it’s the little reminders that help us put things in perspective. How would we want to dress for an audience with the Holy Father? Each time we are at Mass, we are having an audience with not just the Vicar of Christ, but with Christ Himself! Is God able to see past our outward appearance and know the state of our hearts? Of course. Is a well-dressed Mass-goer with a “Pharisee” heart very pleasing to Him? Probably not. But at the same time, does he “care” what we wear? I would say definitely. Our outward appearance is often a very tangible reflection of our inner attitude. Our inner reverence should be conveyed by our dress and deportment. Also take into consideration that while God looks on the heart, we human creatures can only see the outside. We are physical beings, and we are affected by those around us. The Language of the Body is incredibly powerful. What kind of an attitude are you communicating to those around you when you go to Mass? Would they be able to look at you and know the sacredness of the sacrifice you are participating in?

Perhaps part of the difficulty here is that current American culture thinks there are only two modes of dressing: casual (usually meaning sloppy), or formal. The category “comfortable dressy” is probably foreign to most. It’s assumed that to wear a skirt, you’ll have to endure the nylons and high heels as well, when in fact there is a delightful “middle mode”. Believe it or not, it is possible to be comfortable, semi-dressy, and modest all at the same time. For a ladies’ example, a comfortable button-down blouse, floral cotton skirt, and closed-toe leather sandals in summer. Or a corduroy skirt, nice sweater, and comfortable leather slip-ons or buckle shoes with knee socks in winter. (Spandex or cotton leggings can also be a great addition for warmth and rarely show under a long, pretty skirt!).

My highest praise goes out to those priests and pastors courageous enough to challenge their parishioners on this subject, particularly by enforcing dress codes. Part of the problem in many parishes today is that we are not being challenged. It’s primarily the “thanks so much for you all being here”, without any reminder for us to take spiritual steps forward. Padre Pio comes emphatically to mind…this great spiritual warrior was known to turn away women from the confessional who came inappropriately dressed. And very few know that in 1930, Pope Pius XI’s Prefect of the Congregation of the Council, Donato Cardinal Sbaretti, released the following statement in the document Acta Apostolicae Sedis: “Maidens and women dressed immodestly are to be debarred from Holy Communion and from acting as sponsors at the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation; further, if the offense be extreme, they may even be forbidden to enter the church.”

Cardinal Sbaretti is also the one who gave us the following guidelines: “A dress cannot be called decent which is cut deeper than two fingers breadth under the pit of the throat, which does not cover the arms at least to the elbows, and scarcely reaches a bit beyond the knees. Furthermore, dresses of transparent material are improper.” (A note has since been added that quarter-length sleeves have ecclesiastical approval). Unfortunately for Catholic women, these guidelines have been a too-well-kept secret, leading many to believe that the Church has no standards for dress.

Conservative vs. Liberal

Conserve on pride;
Be liberal with humility.

Conserve on anger;
Be liberal with gentleness.

Conserve on selfishness;
Be liberal with generosity.

Conserve on thoughtlessness;
Be liberal with graciousness.

Conserve on gossip;
Be liberal with charity.

Conserve on slander;
Be liberal with genuine praise.

Conserve on complaining;
Be liberal with gratitude.

Conserve on resentment;
Be liberal with forgiveness.

Conserve on self-gratification;
Be liberal with sacrifice.

Trust

When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness
from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

- Anonymous

May you abide in God as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and
to guide you through each season of your life.

Free Gifts

So many of the best things in life truly are free. Like a walk in the country...with a sea of blue sky and rolling fields all around you, gentle sunshine caressing your cheek, and a tranquil, soft breeze stirring the green grasses. To hear nothing but the call and song of birds and the whisper of the wind, to pluck a stem of pearly lilacs and drink in their rich perfume. As I walked along on Sunday, I was struck anew with the truth of the the phrase, "the best things in life are free".

And what about the gift which makes me who I am? Is not Faith a free gift also? I was given a renewal of this gift in a most poignant way as on Monday I celebrated 18 years of being a child of God. That's right...18 years ago May 8th, a tiny soul was made bright, a tiny heart filled with grace as the waters of Baptism were poured over the head of a little baby. That little baby was me. And just six years later, on the very same day, that little girl was privileged to receive her Lord - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity - into her heart and soul as she made her First Holy Communion. Quite a Sacramental Day, May 8th (incidentally, the same day as Saint Therese the Little Flower received her First Holy Communion!). A day of gifts. Free gifts. Gifts I don't deserve. But gifts I am truly thankful for, nonetheless.

Now stop for just a moment. Push aside the complaints, the worries, the dissatisfactions. They occupy far too much of our attention, anyway. We're so quick to run to God when we "need" something, and forget about Him when all is well. Yet He continues to shower us with gifts, even when we're so wrapped up in our problems that we fail to notice them. When was the last time you noticed and thanked God for one of His gifts? That's the least we can do. After all, they're free.

Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton

"A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it."

Everlasting Man, 1925

"Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions."

ILN, 4/19/30