Going Radio Silent

or , rather, Blog Silent. I have a ton of stuff going on and have to completely avoid the computer. It is way too much of a distraction (more like ESCAPE) right now. Even emails are going to be tossed aside for a bit =:-0. I think I will be back next Monday. Pray for Ben...this is not a good time for Bipolar kids (or consequently, their parents)! Thanks.

~ Peace~

Clogged and Closed

I really like Andrew's drumming on this one. These videos were shot in our basement.

Pink Elephant

There is an actual music video (made by Andrew) for a recorded version of this song. I will get Andy to put it on youtube so I can share it. Because of Will's car accident in October (please pray for him) Synthetic Animation is on indefinite hold. Take notice of Andrew's drumming...that is MY boy! Ahhh, he's so cool! Yes, I am a proud Mama!

Synthetic Animation's 1st show

More from the 1st show a year ago.
Listen to my Andy's fabulous drumming!

Synthetic Animation 1st show

This is Andrew's band over a year ago. Andrew is on drums, Eric on guitar, Steven on bass, and the at the piano is Will. Continue to pray for Will as he recovers from his car accident...it's going to be a long road.

The Raconteurs - Level

Jack White is my favorite guitarist. I love this live version of Level filmed last year. The White Stripes just came out with Icky Thump so it's time The Raconteurs come out with a 2nd CD.

The Shins - Australia

This group is awesome to listen to on a cold day. They are the perfect Autumn band. I love all their stuff.

Andy Samberg is...

...definitely one of the best new "Not Ready For Primetime Players" on SNL. I LOVE all of his digital shorts this one, called Andy Punches, being my favorite. Keep your eye out for Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins from Foo Fighters and Bon Jovi. This is just so stupid that it's hilarious.

I hope this TV writers strike will be resolved. I really miss SNL.

Peace & Laughter!

Temperature Tantrum

I live in the Atlanta suburbs. Normally, it is cold now...well cold to Atlantans which is 40 and 50 degrees. It is 75@!#*@!DEGREES outside! I am p*ssed! This kind of weather saps me of all my energy and makes me want to hide in a freezer. It's hot and I'm hot...under the collar! I need to move to Alaska...that is all there is to it!

Immaculate Mary and Our Lady of Guadalupe Crowning

So many cool things happened earlier , when it was still Dec. 8th. We went to Mass twice, once in the morning for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Mike gave an awesome homily about Our Lady. It made some connections for me regarding Mary that I had not completely made in my mind. The one that most jumped out at me was that the reason Mary was preserved from Original Sin was so she could be "truly free to make the right choice" when Gabriel told her that she would conceive a son. I always thought that since she was without sin (more because she would be the New Ark of the Covenant, this time holding God's word in Flesh) she could only make one choice, the right choice, the choice to say, "Yes" to God. But the way Fr. Mike put it, it was more that being free from sin allowed her the freedom to say yes or no, without external sway. He said that Original Sin (which Adam and Eve committed while without sin...so it was a truly free choice) has put us in a perpetual state of gravitating toward choose the selfish way, the easiest path, the quick lie etc... And that we actually have to think about choosing good...that it doesn't just come naturally. As I sat there listening to Fr. Mike I thought of what I wrote about in a recent post on "true freedom" and it only comes from abiding so completely in God that we are free to do the right thing...even when it's selfless and possibly involves suffering. There were once the two created without sin who chose to sin. And everafter threw mankind violently onto the wrong path away from God. Then there were the two created without sin (the first given that gift by the One she would give to the world) and they chose not to sin. And everafter lovingly guided mankind back to the right path toward God. What symmetry, what SENSE IT ALL MAKES! I was just blown away.

Then later we went to the Vigil Mass (to fulfill our Sunday obligation) and got treated to the Crowning of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We have a large Hispanic community in our parish. One of those parishioners moved her Catholic bookstore into one of the parish's upstairs unused offices. She is Hispanic as well. I can't remember if she is from Mexico or somewhere else in Latin America. Anyway, she felt led to have a crowing of the beautiful statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe that our parish acquired about 1 year ago. She remembered reading about how the original statue in Mexico was crowned with a crown which was made using gold filigree which was made by melting together gold that had been donated by the faithful of the region. So, she wanted to do that. However, she didn't know how she would go about asking, or getting Monsignor's approval to ask, the parishioners to donate gold items. So, one day in her shop she was thinking about it and in walked a woman (a woman I know, who is a homeschooler, and taught me how to make cord and beaded Rosaries) with a gold necklace (I think it was) with pearls and said, "God said to give this to you." How cool is that? That was the first piece of gold given for the crown. After that people found out what was going on and Msgr. gave the go ahead to tell people what this lady was trying to make happen so that she could receieve donations. Fast forward to today... the gold had been collected, God put a designer for the crown in this sweet woman's path, she found the right devout Catholic man to make it in Mexico (which is where Guadalupana first appeared) and it had arrived to be placed on the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe today at the first Vigil Mass which is the Family Mass (when the kids' choir always sings). There is so much symbolism in the crown, just as there is in the painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe (click on the title of this post to read about that). Here is a picture of the crown.

All in all it was a pretty cool day. We got to have Jesus TWICE in one day. And that was good for Robert and I because Ben was not having a good day between the Masses (which is a whole 'nother post!) but, thanks be to God, Ben was good at the two Masses. We got to hear a fabulous homily on the Immaculate Conception and then we got to witness the Crowning of Our Lady. It makes be think about what a Catholic woman, I know, from Africa once said at a Christ Renews His Parish retreat, "God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for the Holy Church, protect the Sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke thee in their necessities, and since thou art the ever Virgin Mary, and Mother of the True God, obtain for us from thy most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, of sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, of burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen.
One Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...in gratitude for the Miraculous Portrait as a continuing miracle and testimony.

~Peace~

Recent Family Pictures

Here are a smattering of recent photos. First is a photo of Andrew when he medaled at the November tournament (he's the tall one in the middle). He got 5th place out of over 100 High School Fencers...he was actually 1st place in pools and took 5th in direct eliminations). Way to go Capitain! He is so happy and we are so proud of him. Then there are pics of the coffee I roast at home (sooooo good); and what everyone said, on Thanksgiving, was the best pecan pie they EVER had! (I will post the recipe later) . A BEAUTIFUL open faced apple tart that was so good when fresh out of the oven and a sog-fest Thanksgiving day...(drat!!). My brother, Jonathan hugging Autumn and then with Toonces on his head. Then there are the kids picking out the real tree for downstairs. (It is up now and lit but undecorated.) The lighting of the town square. The shots with me looking good are the family Christmas photo and me and Robert after the parish Christmas party. (Normally, I'm a frightful sight of exhaustion, geeky glasses and unbrushed hair.) Then there are the cookies I baked today: Chocolate Chip, Sugar (recipe in previous post) and English Jam Tarts (not pictured but oh sooo delish!...I will post the recipe for those too!)

Last, but certainly not least, are pictures of Ben sleeping in front of the the tree, Andy laughing at YouTube, and Autumn making paperchains... all of which were taken at midnight!

~Peace~

Peace & Hostility Cookies (with recipe)

There will never be peace in the Middle East until there is peace in the backseat (of my car, between my 2 youngest kids, Ben and Autumn). I mean, REALLY, if children from the same loving family can't seem to stop being so hostile, blaming, yelling, arguing, and fighting is there any hope for the Jews and Muslims? They are from different faiths, which rose from the same family, and they've had a beef with each other about who is God's favorite for centuries?

I used to be Protestant (a vehemently anti-Catholic one at that). So, I can understand being indoctrinated from childhood into believing the worst about a belief system and those that adhere to it; which in my case was Catholicism. Admittedly, I was never encouraged to strap a bomb to myself and take out the local parish in the name of John Calvin. So, I guess that is where I part company with the over-the-top hostility circulating among some in the Middle East.

So, back to Ben and Autumn. As a Catholic mom, I really, really try to help them understand that they are hurting themselves, their family, the Church, and God by being so mean to each other...and over such petty stuff. I eschew corporal punishment, so I try to make consequences meaningful. But half the time the "meaning of their meanness" still doesn't get through their heads. Even though it is true that "I am the Mom", I really don't like to wield that power like a dictator. I try to engage my kids and help them to see what is going on. I try to encourage mutual respect for each other and focus on how God wants us all to treat each other. It is amazing to me, though, how sin breaks in. The "Me" in each one of them becomes all important and nothing else exists. The total selfishness and complete lack of empathy or understanding toward the other, and me, can be stunning. And hey, I know I am not the most peaceful chick walking the planet. I have the so-called Irish Temper (and the Scots have it too, of which I am also descended.) Apparently, the other 1/3 of me, the English (staid, keep a stiff upper lip) part has been completely squashed by the other two more fiery temperaments of my heritage, and rarely sees the light of day. (My poor husband.) However, God is really working on me and aspect of my personality. Having a hot temper isn't always a bad thing. It is the way one uses it that makes it bad. I think there is a difference between managing conflict positively and plain old open hostility. Both stem from a passionate personality. So, I am trying to take my passionate little kids and help them turn it into something good. For example, I am "on Fire" for the Catholic Church. I passionately defend her teachings...even the unpopular ones. Being unafraid to speak up and doing it with gusto makes people pay attention, but I can't do it angrily or I will lose my credibility to those I am trying to reach. However, the only attention I have been getting lately is that of the public watching me wrangle my two little warring countries (I mean kids)...not the attention I am quite wanting for them OR me.

After 37 years of being anti-Catholicism and 18 years of being an Evangelical Protestant, God brought me all the way home to His Church...the Catholic Church. I believed in Him for so long and was always looking for him and he guided me where I needed to go...but certainly not in my time...always His time. So, too, I hope and pray that He will bring peace to the Jews and Muslims by bringing them to his Son, who IS peace. So it is with God's help, I will continue to encourage my children to live together in peace, instead of battling against each other in anger. I fear, however, that it's going to take a lot longer than I thought. I shouldn't complain, though, because God's been patiently waiting for us to get our acts together for thousands of years!

In closing, I want to share a couple of pictures. I was baking today when all Hell broke loose between my little Israel and Palestine. First there are the Peace cookies: Beautiful, sweet, with a perfect texture, and giving off a delightful aroma ...the perfect sugar cookie...which I made while I blissfully baked through the afternoon. Then, there are the Hostility cookies: Ugly, burnt at the edges with a hardened center (the kids were yelling and I forgot about them until I could smell them...not good!). Makes me think of the real things: Peace is beautiful, blissful and a peaceful person perfumes the air with the love of God. Hostility makes one spiritually ugly, hard-hearted, and leaves those around them feeling burned.

Sugar Cookie Recipe

1 cup butter

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups AP flour

1 tsp Cream of Tartar

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp salt

a good grating of fresh Nutmeg

Sugar for dusting

Oven to 400F

Beat butter til pale and fluffy

add vanilla, mix well

add eggs beat well

Combine all dry ingredients

(don't leave out the nutmeg it makes the cookie)

then add to wet ingredients and mix well.

Drop on greased cookie sheets a couple of inches apart and bake until they match the first picture above (about 6-8 minutes). Lay on a rack and sprinkle with sugar while they are still hot, so that it will stick. When cool enough devour with a cold glass of milk. Totally Awesome!

Peace!

Flight of the Conchords- Business Time

This is for all us couples who have been married a LONG time!
(But just two minutes! Far too short!) These guys are just hilarious!

Monty Python-Holy Hand Grenade

5 is RIGHT OUT!

My Patron Saint shoulda been this guy...

St. Expeditus...the Patron Saint of Procrastinators! How Awesome!!!
Apparently, he is wearing water tight boots, in the pic, because he is always prepared. My motto has always been the Mark Twain quote, "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." I even have it printed on a t-shirt.

Here is a perfect example. I mentioned to the kids, earlier, that it was the Feast of St. Nicholas (when it still was, of course!). But, did I remember to have them put out their shoes Wednesday night? No! Did I do any cool craft thing with them or read them a book about him? Noooooo! But, in my pathetic defense, I did make some red and green paperchains with Autumn at around 11:30pm (the kid never sleeps) so that was Christmas themed? Yes, but St. Nick themed Maybe...ish...NOT....okay fine... I am pathetic. I even have 5 huge mounds of laundry in my bedroom to be folded and put away. I HATE putting it all away. Washing, drying and even folding is fine. And I am a neat freak. A procrastinating neat freak? How IS that possible? Anyway, I gotta start asking for a little intercession from good ole St. Expeditus...because I could sure use his help.

Good nite! (Though I am even procrastinating going to bed, which will only make me procrastinate waking up. Oh well, at least I DID roast some coffee tonite, so we will have that to look forward to.)

~Peace~

REAL Freedom

Yesterday was my Familia meeting. Familia is an apostolate of Regnum Christi. (Though you don't have to be a member of RC to be in Familia.) RC is very time consuming so I just stick with Familia. Anyway, the meetings are set up to read and study the Gospel, the Catechism, &Papal Encyclicals. We come up with resolutions to help us in our spiritual lives and we pray for each other.

Our Catechism lesson (taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church) was on Man's (& Woman's) Freedom. This section of the catechism is so beautiful, awe-inspiring, and pertinent to unschooling that I just have to write some of it out for all of you to read.

CCC 1730: God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. "God willed that man should be 'left in the hand of his own counsel,' so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to Him."

CCC 1731: Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility. By free will one shapes one's own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude.

CCC1732: As long as freedom has not bound itself definitively to its ultimate good which is God, there is the possibility of choosing between good and evil, and thus of growing in perfection or of failing and sinning. This freedom characterizes properly human acts. It is the basis of praise or blame, merit or reproach.

CCC1733: The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to the "slavery of sin."

CCC1734: Freedom makes man responsible for his acts to the extent that they are voluntary. Progress in virtue, knowledge of the good, and ascesis enhance the mastery of the will over its acts.

CCC1738: Freedom is exercised in relationships between human beings. Every human person, created in the image of God, has the natural right to be recognized as a free and responsible being. All owe to each other this duty of respect. The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in moral and religious matters, is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person. This right must be recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of common good and public order.

So, there you have it. Straight out of the mouth of the Catholic Church. A definition of freedom different from what the modern culture would believe. Little do they know, however, that in their seeming freedom to do whatever they want whenever they want they are really slaves to their own sins...especially the sin of selfishness which usually ends up infringing on the freedom of others. Abortion would be a perfect example.

My hope for us all is that we may truly be free and find that freedom in Christ who said, "The TRUTH will set you free."

~Peace~

Happy Feast of Saint Nicholas!

Very cool website. Of course, me being the "day late, dollar short" kinda gal...I totally forgot to have the kids put out their shoes last night to get candy from this wonderful saint. I know...bad Catholic mommy.

Peace

Please go to this blog NOW...

...and watch the short film. I promise all of you unschoolers out there that this wiil make you happy!

Peace,

Christmas is Coming, Christmas is Coming

I haven't downloaded all the recent pictures lately, which include the real tree we got Friday night. However, a couple of days ago, when the house was clean and beautiful (unlike right now...ugh!) I snapped some shots of how Christmas is shaping up around here. Later I am going to post as much as I can remember of our Priest's Advent homily yesterday. It was sooooo good.

Below are pics of the front yard, coming into the house, the foyer, living room from 2 angles, staircase, dining room and the last one is the view from my bed. We gotta have a tree in the bedroom. Nothing like going to sleep to twinkly lights. Oh, and unlike some of your lucky bloggers out there, we don't have snow. However, it is 41 degress and windy...and I'll take it! :-)

Heading to the Parish Christmas Party

We have never been able to go this party (which is just for adults..woo hoo!)because my husband's work party was always the same night. So, I am really looking forward to this. I actually found something nice to wear, in my closet (that fits!),because it is a dressy affair. I am very much the jeans and sweater girl this time of year.
We also got our tree yesterday. I lit it today. It is so tall, and fat, and beautiful. I will add a pic when I take one. Well, I am off to see very good friends at my wonderful parish and I will get to look and act like a grown up...HOW COOL!
........................time elapsed 4ish hours.................................
Okay, we had fun. Dinner was good. That is what happens when a few of the Knights of Columbus are actual chefs. The band was decent. We both had a chance to chat with a bunch of friends and have our Priest's amazing Irish Coffee. (And yes, he is Irish.) The band played old standards and some Christmas classics. It was fun to see various friends dancing. Some couples we know can really "cut a rug". I won't dance with Robert. There is too much of an 80's New Wave 'clubgirl' in me. I slow danced with Robert at our wedding...that was it. I know it's weird, but I can't do it...I can't. It is so embarassing to me. I didn't slow dance or go out dancing with guys when I was younger. The way I think of dancing is a bunch of friends kind of dancing in the same vicinity of each other but still dancing on their own at the same time. Maybe in 20 years, when I am in my early 60's I'll do it?

What I really did tho, was to prove to my friends, my husband, and myself that I can put on make-up, dress-up, and look really nice. I only have to do it once or twice a year. So there...world...I did it. Now I am happily typing away in my sweats...YEAH! Now I off to read Anne Bronte's Agnes Grey. So far it is really good. I forgot how much I love the books by the Bronte sisters. Below is a link to the Bronte Society.

http://www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/Bronte.html

Goodnite and God Bless