More Cheering!

One of the many highlights of our fabulous experience at the March for Life this year was experiencing a special preview of the movie BELLA. I am so thrilled to now see that a September release is planned! All I can say is that this is a jewel of a film. The kind that makes you laugh, cry, shiver, cry some more, think deeply, and cry again all in the space of a few hours (though I speak from a feminine standpoint, my dad got tearful too when we saw it). It's the kind of film that we need a lot more of. The kind that will help restore a culture of life and love. The kind of movie that gives hope!

For news, resources, trailers, and tons more visit www.bellathemovie.com. Share the news with all your friends!

Whoa

No wonder our vocabulary, grammer skills, and critical thinking skills tend to be so, um, limited nowadays!

• 1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
• 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
• 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
• 70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.

And each day in the U.S., people spend..

• 4 hours watching TV,
• 3 hours listening to the radio
• and 14 minutes reading magazines.

Like Colleen Hammond pointed out, this doesn't even include internet time! Hmmm....

HT: Colleen Hammond

- Stat source

Cheering!

If you have not yet visited Sen. Sam Brownback's website, you absolutely must head right over! And if you're like an awful lot of the folks and friends I've spoken to, and have the misfortune not to know who he is, consider this an official introduction!

This awesome video is a must-watch:

Update and Reflection

I'm low on sleep at the moment, but reflective. It's one of those times when I feel as though I'm skimming across the "lake" of things I could write about!

Our Lord is continually stretching me. As in teaching me to trust Him more. It's been quite a week (thus far...I know, we're only two days into it, but they've been a packed two days!).

I know the summer is going to fly by: June's calendar was our most "open" of the summer months (although our calendar is never "open" in a true sense of the word) and it is already almost gone!

Thought for the day: Did you ever stop and realize that "boredom" is actually not the lack of something to do, but the lack of something that you feel like doing? I chuckle sometimes when a peer may mention "too much time" on their hands during the summer. I've never had that problem: quite the opposite. :)

I have been praying and preparing for my new job as Director of Religious Education at our parish, St. Joseph's, this coming school year. The hand of Providence was very evident in getting me the position, and I am excited to continue the vision of the former D.R.E. (a dear friend of ours whom I worked closely with as an assistant the last two years).

I am also excitedly anticipating my Suzuki Violin Teaching Training course in Stevens Point, WI July 29-August 11. The world of music -- like the world of Faith, and I'm convinced complementary to it -- is one that I feel I could spend my whole life discovering...and intend to, God-willing. The biggest challenge for me always is trying to maintain a balance between my abundant activities. I am a person of many hobbies, but little time to do them! How much I've been impressed of late with how crucial the balance between prayer, work, and recreation. I love remembering the time I was told to break that word up and look at it: re-creation.

That's what our Lord is continually doing in each of us... if we let Him.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 (Corinthians 5:17)

All in the Terminology

When it occured Sunday, the first thing I said was "I must blog that!" Since I didn't that day, here we are...

Dad was speaking to a group of parents around a table at a party, saying "And the Holy Father came out on the deck..." when my sister quickly interjected "Balcony, dad!". To which another homeschool mom sitting nearby laughed and quipped, "You're such a homeschooler!"

I know I haven't been around much

of late, as my sister kindly reminded me in a comment yesterday. :) The past two weeks have been a time of some real spiritual highs -- and lows. Through the "struggling" days, I try to keep foremost in mind that no matter how askew my feelings might be, my God is a God of strength and security. What a consolation! And what gentle gifts He sends my way. I only have to glance out the window at today's perfect blue sky and brilliant sunshine dancing across the green tree leaves to have a striking reminder of His love for me. Hopefully soon I will be able to post about a few of the wonderful graces of the last several weeks!

Meanwhile, would please you join me in praying for all those souls who have much greater challenges than we do, such as lovely Crystal of BiblicalWomanhood.com? I'm often blessed by her blog and her example. Due to complications with her second pregnancy, she's to be induced tonight and is asking for special prayers.

May you recognize the Lord's smile on your day!

Words of a Shepherd

Our Bishop J. Peter Sartain's columns in The Catholic Explorer are always wonderful, and I found this week's particularly thought provoking. Worth a read!

Wherever I find myself—at church, work, shopping or the airport—there is something which in this place, at this time, and with these people, God wishes to teach me. If there is a way to apply the word “instantaneous” to the spiritual life, it is that the present, the here-and-now, is bursting with God’s presence. It is a hazard to assume that God is somewhere else but not here, or that he should respond to my prayer as quickly as I expect my e-mails to be answered.

Read the whole thing here.

Birthday Blessings to My Dear Sister!

Yesterday was Sarah's Birthday!

Here we were seventeen years ago...

...Here we are today

I love you, dear sister!

Hands and the Priesthood

Contemplation of the "Hands" reflection, simultaneous with joyful anticipation of this coming weekend's priestly ordination of a wonderful seminarian friend of ours, brought this to me...


A dish of water in my hands is...a dish of water.
A dish of water in the hands of a priest is a powerful weapon.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A drop of oil in my hands is sufficient for cooking.

A drop of oil in the hands of a priest is a means of healing.

It depends on whose hands it's in.

A piece of bread in my hands is a small snack.
A piece of bread in the hands of a priest is the Body of my Lord.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A cup of wine in my hands is enough for a toast.
A cup of wine in the hands of a priest is the Blood of my Savior.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

Father, bless our priests who bring Your Life to us!

As We Look Toward Pentecost...

"The titles given to the Holy Spirit must surely stir the soul of anyone who hears them, and make him realise that they speak of nothing less than the supreme Being. Is He not called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, the steadfast Spirit, the guiding Spirit? But His principal and most personal title is the Holy Spirit... The Spirit is the source of holiness, a spiritual light, and He offers His own light to every mind to help it in its search for truth... The Spirit raises our hearts to heaven, guides the steps of the weak, and brings to perfection those who are making progress. He enlightens those who have been cleansed from every stain of sin and makes them spiritual by communion with Himself."

From Saint Basil's treatise On the Holy Spirit (Office of Readings)

"He Maketh All Things Beautiful in His Time"

There will (hopefully) be some expansions and alterations around here for the next several days (weeks?). I hope to -- without taking too much time... we'll see! -- try and make this blog more artistic and more unique. If you are experiencing any problems with the new template, kindly let me know!

How Beautiful... is the Body of Christ

Oh, my heart is so full. How often I realize that these times when my blog is most neglected are the times I truly have the most to write about! Such is the continual struggle for balance, it seems.

It is so very bittersweet to have The Play (as we always affectionately refer to it) now behind us. I cannot begin to express how blessed I have been through my years as a member of The Little Flowers Club. It has been such a real part of my formation into who I am, who I am becoming.

The uniqueness of the opportunities I've received through the club have become more of a realization to me over the years. When questioned by curious or doubtful souls about the "well-roundedness" of my homeschool education, Little Flowers Club was always one of the first examples I would mention as a wonderful social and spiritual outlet. And as I've met many young ladies through my movement who find themselves feeling very alone in their convictions, I realize anew the great blessing of growing up with so many dear girls as friends, the gift of such a supportive group of maidens sharing my own values.

Despite my own weakness and often, a sense of great inadequacy, each day our Lord expands my mind and heart to new horizons. A sense of wonderment at His goodness fills me. I feel as though I am reaching with the arms of my soul toward new depths of understanding and wisdom -- and at the same time of trust and simplicity.

It was, shall I say, "incidental" that on Saturday afternoon (Day 2 of The Play), Sarah, Veronica and I played and sang for a wedding: including the song How Beautiful. I cannot think of any words more perfect to express the wellspring within me in recent days.

...How beautiful when humble hearts give

the fruit of pure lives

so that others may live...

How beautiful the feet that bring

the sound of good news

and the love of the King...

How beautiful is the body of Christ.

(Complete lyrics here)

The past several years, one of the most special aspects of our plays for me has been not only the working together of girls and director, but of the group of young men (brothers and cousins of club members) who gallantly "take the background", if you will, as our stage, lighting, and sound crew. "The Papa Martin Crew" might not be the ones getting the applause and spotlight, but in many ways they are really the backbone of the operation. Sure, they're human. Sure, they slipped up a few times (like all of us!). But their selfless giving is beautiful to see. Our working together to put on these plays has struck me a very real example of how much good can be accomplished by masculine and feminine gifts working side by side for the glory of God.

And I am convinced more than ever of the world's need for not only truly masculine and truly feminine gifts, but of what I call "the 3 main types" within the Body of Christ: laborers, scientists, and artists. Just as masculinity and femininity complement and round each other out in God's plan, so do the other three. One group alone cannot fill the need of the world. Some are chiefly called to be laborers (think Martha of Bethany or St. Gerard Majella), to be students of the needs of each day. Some - Dad, for example! - are chiefly called to be scientists, to be students of the workings of the universe and the world around us. And some (such as St. Thomas Aquinas and Pope John Paul the Great) - are chiefly called to be artists, students of the workings of the human person and our need for beauty and truth.

No one is greater or lesser than the rest. The key is our unity, our Catholicism. Our understanding that we must work together. As I commented on my dear friend Malori's blog yesterday... Though each of us are given a unique calling within the Body of Christ, though each is placed in a slightly different "channel", we all must be working toward the same cause, the same goal: a Culture of Life, of Love, of Faith, of Truth. Our individual tasks as warriors in this battle may be on any number of important fronts, but they really all come together at the core. And above all, we must be strong and unified in prayer and trust, keeping our eyes focused with great hope on our universal goal.

I will leave you with another beautiful quote from the Letter to Artists...

"None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked upon the work of his hands. A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colours and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you."

Let us live this mystery!

~ ~ ~

Where Have I Been Lately?

Rehearsing, practicing, costuming, and program-making for The Little Flowers Catholic Dance and Theatre Troupe Play coming up this weekend! We've taken so many wonderful rehearsal snapshots, shared so much laughter, and made so many wonderful memories that I wish I could do a series of posts on them all; but since the hour is late, I will just share a few of my favorite practice photos from the past several weeks...

A group of girls dancing "Listen" outside!


An arial view (from our upstairs window!) of dance practice

A funny moment

My favorite capture of a "Listen" formation

Two male leads interact in their scene

Sarah dances as an angel at practice

Me with one of our littlest actors, in our yard following a beautiful blue-skied afternoon of rehearsing!

Practicing "Remember Me": the last dance of the play

So if I continue to be rather silent here the next several days, I have a good reason! We are practically living at the auditorium this week, with setup today and all-day dress rehearsals tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday. But it's all totally worth it.

If you haven't read it already, I encourage you to take the time to read John Paul the Great's wonderful Letter to Artists: the inspiration for this whole endeavor. He writes it "To all who are passionately dedicated to the search for new 'epiphanies' of beauty so that through their creative work as artists they may offer these as gifts to the world." How I love that!

Have a grace-filled day, and remember:

"Intense love does not measure, it just gives."

-Mother Teresa

~ ~ ~

"Be Satisfied with Me"

What timeless, wonderful wisdom from St. Anthonhy of Padua! So true, so important. So key to who we are...let this sink in today!

Be Satisfied with Me

by St. Anthony of Padua

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,
To have a deep soul relationship with another,
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But to a Christian, God says, "No, not until you are satisfied,
Fulfilled and content with being loved by me alone,
With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me.
With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with me alone.

Discovering that only in me is your satisfaction to be found,
Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship,
That I have planned for you.
You will never be united to another
Until you are united with me.
Exclusive of anyone or anything else.
Exclusive of any other desires or longings.
I want you to stop planning, to stop wishing, and allow me to give you
The most thrilling plan existing . . . one you cannot imagine.
I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you.

You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things.
Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am.
Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.
Just wait, that's all. Don't be anxious, don't worry
Don't look around at things others have gotten
Or that I have given them
Don't look around at the things you think you want,
Just keep looking off and away up to me,
Or you'll miss what I want to show you.
And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love
Far more wonderful than you could dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready,
I am working even at this moment
To have both of you ready at the same time.
Until you are both satisfied exclusively with me.

HT: Danielle Bean

~ ~ ~

Hands

A great reflection we received in an email!

~ ~ ~

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $475 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.

2 fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
2 fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now, it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears,
your hopes, your dreams, your families
and your relationships in God's hands because...

It depends whose hands it's in.

One of my illustrations from the Rosa Mystica Modesty Movement's new coloring book

~ ~ ~

Right On!

A homeschooling mom’s bumper-sticker answer to the question “What about socialization?”...

Homeschoolers:
Civilized, not Socialized

HT: Young Ladies Christian Fellowship

~ ~ ~

Greetings on this beautiful day!

This day is so alive, so beautiful. All the flowering trees are in perfect bloom, reminding me of last year's post at this time! I can hear the chirping of birds outside and feel the carress of a gentle breeze through the open window next to me. And the sun is simply pouring down from the bluest of blue skies. How I love spring! What a gift from our brilliantly artistic Creator.

The past 14 days have been so full. So often I struggle with the delicate balance of things...if I could choose what I "would like" to do, it would be almost continually writing the posts - and series - for this blog that are ever-forming in my head! But alas, so often duties call my name. Like now... Mom is calling for lunch.

So I leave you with some terrific wisdom from Chesterton:

"Feminists are those who cannot stand female characteristics."

"...it (feminism) is mixed up with a muddled idea that women are free when they serve their employers but slaves when they help their husbands."

Blessings on your day!

~ ~ ~

One Year

It was exactly one year ago today that I started blogging. I almost missed the "anniversary"! My prayer is that I've been able to "be a light" here this year, and by the grace of God, may continue to be with increasing trust and faithfulness.

"Our Lord does not call us to be successful, but only to be faithful." (Mother Teresa)

Please feel free to leave a comment or email me if you have any encouragement for me, or suggestions for how to make this blog a more faithful tool for God's glory, or topics or questions you would like to see addressed, or feedback on post themes that may or may not have been helpful to you... this little space is not intended to be merely a personal "journal", or place to "vent", but hopefully a blessing and encouragement for myself and others to remain faithful on our individual calls to holiness. Any and all prayers/suggestions to help me keep focused on that goal are welcome!

Soli Deo Gloria!

~ ~ ~

From Papa for Easter

“My Lord and my God!” We too renew that profession of faith of Thomas. I have chosen these words for my Easter greetings this year, because humanity today expects from Christians a renewed witness to the resurrection of Christ; it needs to encounter him and to know him as true God and true man. If we can recognize in this apostle the doubts and uncertainties of so many Christians today, the fears and disappointments of many of our contemporaries, with him we can also rediscover with renewed conviction, faith in Christ dead and risen for us. This faith, handed down through the centuries by the successors of the Apostles, continues on because the risen Lord dies no more. He lives in the church and guides it firmly towards the fulfillment of his eternal design of salvation.

- From Pope Benedict's Easter Sunday Address

~ ~ ~

Surrexit Christus, Alleluia!

Even though it might not feel like Easter outside, perhaps the winterlike weather is our Lord reminding us that no matter what the exterior circumstances, we still have reason to rejoice!

Let the Alleluias ring!

...