The Day After

During our family Friday night dinner, the children asked my husband and I where we were when we realized American was being attacked on 9/11. I review that day several times a week, so being asked to repeat my tiny experiece of that day if very easy: calling daddy right away, glued to the TV, not being able to reach my own father up north, after flight 93 crashed going out into my southern yard to see if any planes were falling out of the sky above me...and my baby taking her first steps, and being shaken awake in terror  that night by a military plane flying over our home. My oldest daughter then asked us, "And what about the next day? What was that day like?" I sat there for a moment not being able to recall one memory of 9/12. Then my husband and I replied in unison: "It is still the next day."

Look at your Father when He's talking to you!

Our family morning prayer routine was interrupted last week because of our family's involvement in two different Catholic camps. My husband and oldest daughter attended Holy Mass at another parish. I and the rest of the kids participated in morning devotions with others in VBS.

Wanting to hear the daily readings one morning, I turned on EWTN and proceeded to get myself made up for the day. Br. Leo read the first reading and the lead the responsorial psalm. But, when Brother sang the Alleluia before the Gospel...I heard my soul being called. I'll never forget it....I was leaning over my bathroom counter into the mirror applying my mascara. I hear Him calling me out of the mirror and into His Presence. As every woman knows, once the process of applying mascara begins it must be carried out to the end!
Therefore, being in the middle of my plans for the moment I did not responded with obedience. It was more like a..."yep...I hear you...just a sec...be right there...coming...." but not moving. Then I suddenly saw myself in a new way. I stood there looking at myself looking at myself! While reflecting on my imagine I heard a voice inside my heart tell me, “You want to hear  God, but won't take your eyes of yourself!"

In that moment I realized the root of all my stress and anxiety and lack of peace was ME!   I know God has a plan for every moment of my life. What I have forgotten is that I am not to depend on myself for the fulfillment of His plans. I need to stop paying so much attention to what I am doing…and focus on what He is doing through me.

And when my Heavenly Father wants to talk to me....I should at least look in His direction!

A Little Saint

A friend of mine died suddenly last Sunday. Her funeral Mass was yesterday. She was a wife blessed with four beautiful children to nurture and educated while waiting to one day meet the several other babies she held only in her heart.

She always reminded me of Caroline Ingalls (Ma) on Little House. My friend was a simple and humble woman of pure sweetness and great FAITH!  She did nothing to attract attention to herself in anyway. Nothing about her would make her stand out in a crowd. Yet, she stood out in the hearts and lives of so many. My estimate is that there was close to 1000 people at her funeral in a city 3000 miles from where she grew up. No one there was a co-worker, no one was there to make an appearance out of political or business motivations or high society expectations …. Only pure hearted family and friends who loved her so much.  Six priests presided over the Mass and 3 deacons assisted simply because they wanted to be part of the last moment of the story of a special soul. One priest that knew her well referred to her as “a little saint.”

It dawned on me just today, (Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), that my dear saint wore the scapular. The promise is that one who wears it devoutly will exit Purgatory before the next Saturday after death. I don’t think she had to wait that long.

She was a “little saint” well in advance.

June: Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

J.M.J. 

This is the first day of  the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. How blessed my family is to have had the opportunity to begin this month with a Eucharistic Procession at a local Catholic school. One of my  older children is currently discerning religious life. Because of her interest in being a nun, last evening we had a wonderful visit with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. They teach at a local school and invited us to participate in this morning's devotion. To learn more about this order please visit: www.sistersofmary.org.  Please, remember to pray for vocations!

Prune the Branches of Government

When an individual or organization is not free to take care of its own property it makes me question why the heck we Americans still refer to ourselves as free.
Happy Memorial Day!  Which one of the American heros remembered today, served and died so that a local chuch would be punished for pruning its "own" trees?  It is time for some pruning alright! Let's start with the low branches of government and work up!
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/28/2333197/church-fined-for-improper-tree.html

Playing The Trump Card.

I don't have a lot to say about a possible Donald Trump presidential run, expect that I am not at all surprised. I saw this coming years ago. I do have something to say about his recently revealed "birther-ish" sediments.  No one can deny that Mr. Trump’s doubts about President Obama’s birth place have everyone talking. We are talking about it, because we can't help but wonder ourselves why this issue hasn't been resolved by simply making the certificate of birth public.


 What could be on the document that would hurt the president and/or the Democratic Party?  Place of birth? Maybe the president wasn't born at all, but under the wise eye of Harry Reid, was created as the "perfect progressive American male" at Area 51. That would explain why his medical records, also, have not been released.  Birth name? Maybe his birth name is Twelfth Imam.  This would clearly answer questions regarding Obama’s religion. Maybe it is the name of his parents they don't want the world to know? Is his father Moammar Gadhafi? Gadhafi does refer to Obama as "son". Or maybe he was born later than 1973 and therefore not the eligible age to run for president in '08? If the President is 12 years younger than he claims....well then, no wonder no one remembers him from ANY SCHOOL he ever attended!  This would also provide an explanation as to why his academic records must be sealed!


Of course, I don't actually believe the above suggestions are the truth. I do think that Donald Trump is taking advantage of our wild imaginations and suspicious minds to get A LOT OF PUPLICITY!  This attention has won him 2nd place in the at least one hypothetical poll.


I doubt Donald Trump has a chance of winning the conservative ticket.   I do agree with Mr. Trump that if it does comes out that Mr. Obama is not eligible to be president of the United States this would be the biggest hoax in US history. If Mr. Obama and team did dupe  all  most of America, then I have to wonder...of all the political cards played, could the birth certificate trick get Trumped? And if it did could it end the games of corruption and win America back into the hands of her people?

When the dog bites....

Last Wednesday morning my son was bitten in the face by a neighbor's dog. The ordeal had all the drama you might imagine; screaming children, crying mothers, and a little boy covered in blood bellowing a prayer for God's help.

My adrenalin was ordering one child to get ice, one to call my husband, and another to find a medically trained neighbor. Within moments my kitchen was filled with good hearted friends offering comfort and help. By the time we left for Urgent Care the needs of my other children were being well provided.  I was free to  focus on getting my son the medical attention he needed.

The dog's owners were also here. Their regret, sorrow and concern were sincere and obvious. We understand that animals are unpredictable and no one was at fault.  The victim and the witnesses all felt this way, too. There was no anger. No blaming.  No side taking.  Just a community coming together to care for one of its own.

After seven hours of going from Urgent Care, to the children's hospital, and finally to a plastic surgeon, we returned home to discover that two families had brought us dinner. Others had brought cookies and brownies and candy, a balloon and a bear. Our evening was spent receiving well wishing emails, answering phone calls and welcoming in friends stopping by just to check. The next day was filled with the same thoughtful expressions of friendship. My community is a wonderful example of what is right with Americans.

I live among amazing people. I wanted this blog to be all about them.  But as the weekend progressed, my mind has turned to the issue of property rights and how  the loss of authority over one's possessions can indeed inhibit the pursuit of happiness.

The county government wasted no time getting involved. The dog has been quarantined by the county; a good thing. The county also recommended starting my son on the post-bite rabies treatments; not a happy thing.  The treatments entail a regimen of very inconvenient and most likely unnecessary vaccines. We think the dog is healthy, but if we are wrong our mistake would be deadly.  

Can the dog be tested for rabies? There is a test, but it can only be done on the deceased. The "owners" of the dog have graciously and proactively requested this test be done on their dog as to spare my son more pain. But, Animal Control will not authorize it at this time for it would not be fair to the dog.   Therefore, yesterday was day 0 of the rabies vaccination process.

Just so you have this right. One could have her unborn baby ripped, piece by piece, out of her womb, but she could not have her child-biting dog be put to sleep to spare a baby more suffering.

THAT BITES!

PS:  Both the Animal Control officer and the county health department nurse have been nothing less than kind, informative and cooperative. I do appreciate their goodness.

Out of Bounds!

A good friend emailed me this video (link below). I was shocked by what is happening…especially over such a trivial thing as a basketball hoop! Watching it is very upsetting. It has the potential to ruin my day. It isn’t. It is giving me my long awaited inspiration for a maiden post.  And it is changing my day into one of prayer for my fellow Americans who are waking up to discover that property rights (and perhaps property lines?) are becoming imaginary.   Let US keep it real.

Go here to watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ZZHGO5sXw&feature=player_embedded