tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9509631157124318592024-03-14T02:23:34.606-05:00Whimsy-Whimsy: Catholic HomeschoolWhimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-61066821371996297822009-03-26T21:40:00.002-05:002009-03-26T21:43:42.629-05:00For Dietrich and Il Postino<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dyers.org/images/beards/beardtypes.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 475px; height: 1729px;" src="http://www.dyers.org/images/beards/beardtypes.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.dyers.org/blog/beards/beard-type-chart/">source</a>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com198tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-42186575834082339242009-03-22T16:01:00.002-05:002009-03-22T16:05:51.787-05:00At rest above it all.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2816166885_0863015192.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2816166885_0863015192.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>The key to a successful kite launch is to unspool the string as fast as possible so the kite can avoid all of the gusting activity near the ground. </div><div><br /></div><div>In a manner of speaking, the kite achieves peace once it is able to rise above it all!<br /><div><br /></div></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-49636793959552928102009-03-20T23:54:00.001-05:002009-03-20T23:54:55.201-05:00Orders of Magnitude<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a href="http://www.nanoreisen.de/english/index.html">Nano Journeys</a> is a neat website for seeing orders of magnitude if you have high speed internet. Click on the suitcase.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Mary Daly of <a href="http://hedgeschool.homestead.com/Universe.html">Hedge School</a> organizes her science data into orders of magnitude much like a history student would organize events by a timeline.</p>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-46478214146766783372009-03-17T14:53:00.004-05:002009-03-17T15:01:56.637-05:00Letter to a Mom with a smallish library.<div><img src="http://www.forbeslibrary.org/kids/images/Catch-the-beat_1.jpg" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">You may want to inquire about your library's collection of Caldecott winners. Our library has many of them for checkout, but has a special collection that you can only read at the library. I would be scandalized if your library didn't carry them, even if it is a small library. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Also; I know what you mean about not having read anything until kids. I rather enjoy discovering all these books that I'd either never read or had forgotten. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">My homeschool philosophy is this: I'm not protesting against any school or teacher; I'm creating a culture in our home where I can best impart my values. I've probably read the books we own a hundred times each, and year after year, though we always find new titles to check out from the library, I try to include the tried and true titles. The books are like old friends. There are many times when a child will sigh over a familiar book cover and say, "Oh, I love this book!"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">So, it's not the worst thing that your library doesn't have an ample collection, and a small price to pay for living in a rural area.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a href="http://lib.mansfield.edu/caldecott.cfm" target="_blank" style="font-weight: inherit; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">List of Caldecott winners.</span></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Here are some of my favorites. I enjoy the works of most of these illustrators. In some cases, I enjoy other titles by the same illustrator more than the title that won him/her the Caldecott medal. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">2005</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Kevin Henkes. Kitten's First Full Moon. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1996</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Peggy Rathmann. Officer Buckle and Gloria. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1994</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Allen Say. Grandfather's Journey. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1993</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Emily Arnold McCully. Mirette on the High Wire. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1988</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">John Schoenherr (illus.) Owl Moon. written by Jane Yolen. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1985</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Trina Schart Hyman. Saint George and the Dragon: A Golden Legend. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1981</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Arnold Lobel. Fables. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1980</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Barbara Cooney (illus.) Ox-Cart Man. written by Donald Hall.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1976</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Leo & Diane Dillon (Illus.) Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1975</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Gerald McDermott. Arrow to the Sun. Viking Press.</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1969</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Uri Shulevitz (Illus.) The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship. retold by Arthur Ransome. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1968</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Ed Emberley (Illus.) Drummer Hoff. adapted by Barbara Emberley. Prentice-Hall.</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1965</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Beni Montresor (Illus.) May I Bring a Friend? written by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1964</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Maurice Sendak. Where the Wild Things Are. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1963</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Ezra Jack Keats. The Snowy Day. Viking Press.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1959</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Barbara Cooney (Illus.) Chanticleer and the Fox; adapted from the Canterbury Tales of Chaucer. written by Thomas Y. Crowell.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1958</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Robert McCloskey. Time of Wonder. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1957</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Marc Simont (Illus.) A Tree Is Nice. written by Janice Udry. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1956</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Feodor Rojankovsky (Illus.) Frog Went a-Courtin'. written by John Langstaff. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1955</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Marcia Brown. Cinderella; written by Charles Perrault. trans. & illus. by Marcia Brown. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1954</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Ludwig Bemelmans. Madeline's Rescue. .</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1953</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Lynd Ward. The Biggest Bear.</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1950</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Leo Politi. Song of the Swallows. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1949</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Berta & Elmer Hader. The Big Snow. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1948</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Roger Duvoisin (Illus.) White Snow, Bright Snow. written by Alvin Tresselt.</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1945</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Elizabeth Orton Jones (Illus.) A Prayer for a Child. written by Rachel Lyman Field. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1944</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Louis Slobodkin (Illus.) Many Moons. written by James Thurber.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1943</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Virginia Lee Burton. The Little House. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1942</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> Robert McCloskey. Make Way for Ducklings. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1941</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> Robert Lawson. They Were Strong and Good. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1940</span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire. Abraham Lincoln. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">1938</span></span></span><span class="EC_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> Dorothy Lathrop. Animals of the Bible.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="EC_Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Hope this helps!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div></div></span></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-38203940380251723762009-03-15T07:39:00.002-05:002009-03-17T15:02:52.194-05:00Wombs of Life<a href="http://wombsoflife.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Wombs of Life</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> has a new post!<br /><br />It is on the beatitudes. I reproduce it here because I thought it was very thoughtful!<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(41, 48, 59); font-size:13px;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="http://wombsoflife.blogspot.com/2009/03/womb-of-beatitudes-solidarity.html" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Womb of the Beatitudes: Solidarity</span></span></a></h3><div class="post-header-line-1"></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In reading the beatitudes in Matthew's Gospel, I have often come away puzzled as to how these actually fit into my everyday life. What does it mean to be meek or be poor in spirit or to be pure of heart? What do these things on a practical level mean for my life: my relationships with God, others, and myself? Lately I have thought on this more often. After remembering a way of reading the Scriptures that I learned at a retreat once, I have gleaned the beginning of understanding the beatitudes.<br /><br />For example, in chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians where it says, "Love is patient, love is kind...", substitute the name of Jesus every time the word love occurs. You get, "Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind... ." It gives new meaning to the passage of Scripture. In doing the same thing with the Beatitudes, it helps get to the deeper meaning.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus is poor in spirit. He was born in a stable surrounded by the beasts lodged their. He had no covetous desire for wealth and he lived simply. He had nowhere to lay his head and made himself poorer than the foxes and birds. When we identify with our brothers and sisters who have very little in the ways of money, possessions, education, or importance in society, then we identify ourselves with Jesus. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">From all Eternity Jesus as God the Son is loved by and begotten by God the Father. In the internal life of the Trinity, God the Son completely impoverishes Himself in order to be filled and overflowed with every good thing from God the Father. In freely pouring Himself out in complete love and obedience to the Father he is given every bit of His Father's Kingdom and </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Wealth of Love. The Holy Spirit is their way of relating and their exchange of Infinite Love. When the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the Church, He is called the first down payment or installment by Paul. ( Eph 1: 13-14). Jesus tells us if we who are part of an evil generation know how to give what is good to our children, how much more the Father will give us the Holy Spirit when we ask Him (Lk. 11:13).</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus was meek. He told us, "Come to me all you who labor and find life burdensome for I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart" (Mt. 11:29). Jesus</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> was silent before those who condemned him. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth" (Is 53:7). When he died he was cut off from the land of the living and he freely gave himself as a sin offering for our offenses. Because of this, God raised Him up and gave Him his portion with the great and gave Him the Name above every other name. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In our afflictions God expands us and prepares us for the good things He wishes to give us. In Isaiah 54 the barren woman is told to expand her tents. "Enlarge the place of your tent;Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;Lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.And your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities." Through her sufferings she is preparing and is prepared for the coming fulfillment of the Lord's promises. She has hope. "Blessed is she who believed that the promises of the Lord to her would be fulfilled" (Luke 1:45). The wombs of our hearts are expanded so we can give birth to a larger portion of the "land" Jesus, our inheritance. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(also see Pope Benedict XVI's </span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Saved in Hope</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> #33)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus wept. Jesus mourned Lazarus. He had great anguish over the death of his friend. He gave comfort to Martha even as he challenged her to have faith. "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Lk. 11:25-26). Do we believe this? Do I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God who is to come into the world? If I do believe, then through faith, I allow Jesus to move back the mountain of a stone that keeps me trapped in the death and decay of my sins. If I believe then he can command to sin and evil "Unbind him! Let him go!." If I believe... I shall be comforted. Out of this comfort, I can minister to the needs of others and give them the same solace as I have found in Jesus.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus said that his food was to do the will of the Father who sent Him.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In John 6, Jesus says "I am the bread of life. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will never die." After the fall of humanity from grace, injustice came into the world and God chose to end it by transforming the greatest injustice deicide, into the greatest blessing. God sent His only begotten Son into the world to restore Justice. Through Jesus' Life, Death, and Resurrection we are reconciled to God and made righteous before Him. Jesus shares with us the Bread of Life made out of the bread of his sorrows. The Sacrifice of Calvary is one and the same with the Sacrifice of the Mass. Through Jesus' Body and Blood we are nourished as we grow in the womb of the Church our earthly mother. We are born from death into new life through our celebration of the Holy Sacraments. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Even though we are wounded by the effects of original sin, we still have a hunger and thirst for God who is our Justice and righteousness. We seek to do His will because it is Just and it feeds us. We still know when we suffer injustice, and we hunger and thirst for the restoral of our righteousness. Jesus says when we visit those in prison, that we do that unto him. We help to restore to them their dignity as a child of God that they have lost through committing crimes or by being unjustly imprisoned. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">If we have to be purified in the after life in purgatory, it will be our penultimate destination before heaven. When we pray for the poor souls, we help them get closer to what they ultimately hunger and thirst for: union with God. In offering the Mass for the dead, we share with them the heavenly banquet of the Eucharist and we are one with them at the Lord's table. One day we will be finally born to eternal life and have our fill.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm" (Prov. 11:17).</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus told the parable of the the unmerciful servant where a man who was forgiven a great debt by his master was unmerciful to his fellow servant who owed a considerably less debt. The master hears of this and has the first servant handed over to the torturers in prison until he should pay back the entire debt. He tells us that that is how the Heavenly Father will deal with us unless we are merciful.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">When you pray say: Our Father... forgives our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. God is good and demands our goodness in response to His. If you have hate in your heart against your brother or sister you are to go to them and settle the matter before making your offering at the altar (Mt. 5:24). This is why we have the penitential rite at Mass and we say the Lamb of God before receiving Holy Communion. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus is the Divine Mercy. If we are merciful to one another then truly He lives in us and we live in Him and in turn we live in each other. We have solidarity with each other knowing that we too were once slaves in the land of Egypt.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blessed are the pure of heart: for they shall see God.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus was always in dialogue with His Father and always beheld the Beatific Vision. When sin separates us from God and when we can no longer see by faith Him whose image we are created in, we are blind to the will of God and cannot hear what he wants for us. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him" (1 Jn. 3:2-6). </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus is our Peace with God. "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18). Through Jesus the Son , God the Father has reconciled all things in Heaven and on Earth to Himself, making peace through the blood of the cross (Col. 1:19). Through water and the Holy Spirit in baptism we are now children of God and we are given the vocation to be peacemakers. It is not our call to condemn people but to call them in charity to the truth of God's ways. Our hearts must always be big enough to forgive and we must always let the peace of Christ reign in our hearts.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus suffered for our sake and gave his life that we might live. </span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">For us men and our salvation he came down from heaven. When we are reviled for Jesus' sake and when we identify with those who are persecuted, we are in solidarity with Jesus and His Body the Church. "When one member of the body suffers, the entire body suffers" (1 Cor. 12:26). I can't summarize this any better than Jesus does in Matthew 10:16-21.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span><br /></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I humbly submit this exposition on the Beatitudes in hopes that it will help you find solidarity with Our Lord and therefore with your brothers and sisters.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style=""></span></span></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br /></span></div></span></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-4121751816872825492009-03-07T00:15:00.003-06:002009-03-07T20:03:58.364-06:00BoxesI went to an "Evening of Rest" at a Baptist Church this evening. (I was invited by a member.) There were many homeschoolers there, and I really felt a "sisterhood" on that front.</span><br /></p></span><div><br /></div><div>When I first arrived, a meal was served, and I had very huge potato (that's the only size they had :-)) and some green been salad and a fruit cup -- not really a "small" meal. The woman sitting next to me said, "oh, I see you're not eating much." I said, "well, I'm not eating meat today."</div><div><br /></div><div>Though the ladies at the table were polite, I sensed that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">it</span> was noticed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there were people who shared their testimonies, and one of them said that as her father lay dying from ALS (Lou Gerhig's disease) they were all listening to Scripture on a cassette tape -- a devotional that her parents had kept their whole lives. They would listen to Scripture in order, but in no set time limit -- so in that sense there was a "randomness" to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The morning before her father died, Psalm 116 came on. She said, "does anyone here know Psalm 116" I piped up and said, "Precious in the sight of the Lord. . ." She finished, "is the death of his Saints." That was exactly what she needed at that time. It was very moving.</div><div><br /></div><div>I noticed after that, though, the ladies at the table opened up and took a little more interest in me -- like "oh, she's one of us." </div><div><br /></div><div>I admit I find that appealing to the part of me that doesn't like being put in a box. But, putting pride aside, Bishop Chaput once said that the Scriptures are so powerful that they can change lives even without the benefit of the context of the Sacraments. </div><div><br /></div><div>That was just a little gift from God! I felt like St. Josph Cupertino, who knew only one Scripture thoroughly (he wasn't very bright) and when it came to be tested on Scripture, that was the one he was asked about -- and he aced the test!</div><div><br /></div><div>I should say a quick little prayer for <a href="http://whimsy-whimsy.blogspot.com/2008/12/psalms-reading-for-sane-man.html">Penn </a> that he may read the Psalms he was given. Psalm 116 is quoted at the beginning of the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL';"><p> <sup id="en-NIV-15864" class="versenum" value="15" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; line-height: normal; ">15</sup> Precious in the sight of the LORD <br /> is the death of his saints.</p><p> <sup id="en-NIV-15865" class="versenum" value="16" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; line-height: normal; ">16</sup> O LORD, truly I am your servant; <br /> I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;<br /> you have freed me from my chains.</p></span></div><div><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><br /></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-87156314553302031742009-02-28T22:36:00.002-06:002009-06-25T16:46:18.876-05:00SAT prep for grade school<a href="http://mrsnancybrown.blogspot.com/2009/02/preparing-for-sat-and-act-in-grade.html">source</a> <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:14;"><h2 style="MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px; FONT: bold 105% 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(119,119,119)" class="date-header">Friday, February 20, 2009</h2><div style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 30px" class="post hentry"><a style="COLOR: rgb(222,112,8)" name="7734697123373539296"></a><h3 style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: bold 160% Courier, monospace; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(158,82,5)" class="post-title entry-title"><a style="COLOR: rgb(158,82,5)" href="http://mrsnancybrown.blogspot.com/2009/02/preparing-for-sat-and-act-in-grade.html">Preparing for the SAT and ACT in Grade School</a></h3><div class="post-header-line-1"></div><div class="post-body entry-content">I know that sounds funny, but what can you do to prepare your children for a high school standardized test in grade school?<br /><br />Here's what I've learned:<br /><br />1. The SAT and ACT are *not* the be all and end all tests to show what your child can or can't do. However, they are almost universally accepted by colleges and universities and they will rate your children based on these tests.<br /><br />2. Both tests require a LOT of reading. Preparing your children to be good readers in grade school will, indeed, help them in high school, and of course, college. <br /><br />3. Both tests really test Language Arts heavily. Reading, writing, comprehension, mechanics. Where do the commas go? How to correctly punctuate. Careful reading and understand of a passage they've never seen before. If things have to slide in grade school for whatever reason, don't ever let Language Arts slide. Always do it. And always do...<br /><br />4. Math is also tested heavily. In fact, for the SAT, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">only</span> Language Arts and Math are tested. So, in grade school, the two subjects that should be done every day, regardless, are Language Arts and Math.<br /><br />The ACT tests Science, and naturally, science is important, too. However, they will test general knowledge and abstracting facts from the provided information much more than actual memorized scientific data. So again, reading comprehension is important for science, too.<br /><br />Both tests last over 3 hours, and that's 3 hours of solid reading. So being a strong reader is really most of the battle for these standardized tests.<br /><br />So, here is my grade school plan for you:<br />•Read to your child every day.<br />•Have you child read to you every day.<br />•Do language arts stuff every day: grammar, mechanics, comprehension, writing, etc.<br />•Do math every day.<br /><br />That's it. If you have as a goal to make your child a strong reader, they will most likely do very well on both the ACT or SAT.</div></div></span></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-92172981655071293772009-02-25T09:07:00.003-06:002009-02-25T10:34:08.801-06:00The Long Lent (of 2002)I read George Weigel's <span style="font-style:italic;">Courage to be Catholic</span> yesterday, written to help Catholics cope with the sexual abuse crisis in 2002. <div><br /></div><div>It was good review after the<a href="http://www.usml.edu/"> Legion of Christ news</a>.<br /><br /></div><div>I was struck especially by a line in the afterword section of the paperback edition:</div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote>If Catholics retreat into the parishes, renewal movements, or retreat centers that they know and trust, effectively cutting themselves off from the life of the diocese or universal Church, the cause of authentic Catholic reform is likely to be further impeded.</blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>I realize there is a lot to be said for community support; I'm not denying that. But the temptation to use your clique as an excuse to avoid "crappy Catholics" is a real one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fr. Barron, in this videoclip, says that he tells his seminarians [at <a href="http://www.usml.edu/">Mundelein</a>] that they need to have a love for the sinner, while at the same time have no desire for the sin. I think that could apply to all of us.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HF8Tm7luxx4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HF8Tm7luxx4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-51986473747346081332009-02-06T13:20:00.003-06:002009-02-06T13:24:39.774-06:00You might be a homeschooler. . .h/t <a href="http://www.majellamom.blogspot.com/">Waiting for Charlie</a><br /><br />I can't tell which is my favorite. Ah, heck. They're all my favorites!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W2ambQ6uX4s&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W2ambQ6uX4s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And, an oldie but goodie!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FQRlmCNC5XE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FQRlmCNC5XE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-83281370636277939832009-02-02T09:01:00.004-06:002009-02-02T09:06:40.895-06:00SSS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/MyStyle/20070621/293.paintbrush.062107.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 473px;" src="http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/MyStyle/20070621/293.paintbrush.062107.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Sorry So Scarce!<div><br /></div><div>We've been Painting, Painting, Painting around here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Quite the learning experience!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll try to be around on Fridays.</div><div><br /></div><div>Painting gives me plenty of time to ponder life. . . but I'm so exhausted by the end of the day any useful ideas just melt into my pillow!</div><div><br /></div><div>~ Whimsy</div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-29514830320179244842009-01-19T19:15:00.001-06:002009-01-19T19:18:16.407-06:00Do the Bird<div>People of all ages are invited to go outside and look for Birds in Art/Art in Birds for a contest sponsored by the Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen-science project focused on birds in neighborhood settings.</div><div><br /></div><div>For the Birds in Art/Art in Birds challenge you can take photos, do some painting, write a story, create a sculpture. What do you see in a bird that is beautiful, stirring, or inspirational? It could be a broken-down nest in winter, a song recording, video of a bird perching on your window, something that makes you stop, look twice, laugh, cry.</div><div><br /></div><div>Prizes include bird sound recordings, books, gift certificates, "green" products, and more. We’ll send the first 50 entrants a copy of our "Doves and Pigeons" poster by Julie Zickefoose. Selected images will be posted on the <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/celebration/">Celebrate Urban Birds</a> website.</div><div><br /></div><div>How to enter:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Email your photo, art, or video entry to urbanbirds@cornell.edu. Links are acceptable for videos.</div><div>2. Write "Art in Birds/Birds in Art contest" in the subject line. </div><div>3. Include your name and mailing address </div><div>4. Tell us why you submitted your entry to the Art in Birds/Birds in Art contest. </div><div><br /></div><div>Deadline for entries is February 28, 2009</div><div><br /></div><div>Visit the Celebrate Urban Birds web site for more information.</div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-68379991431821061752009-01-19T19:06:00.003-06:002009-01-19T19:12:35.904-06:00Homeschool Humorh/t <a href="http://thankevann.com/homeschoolgoodies/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Homeschool Goodies,</span></a><a href="http://politickles.com/blog/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> from Politickles</span></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:10px;"><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: left; font-size:2.6em;"><span style=""><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Drawbacks to Homeschooling</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">*</span></span></h1><ol><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">No snow days</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You can’t miss the bus</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You can’t be suspended and sent home</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You can’t hide the vegetables you don’t like in a milk carton</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mom always sides with the teacher</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dad always sides with the principal</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You can’t intercept your report card and “fix” it before your parents see it</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You can’t transfer to another school</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The nightmare of showing up at school in your pyjamas is a daily reality</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The good-looking boy/girl in the desk next to you is your brother/sister (gross!)</span></span></li></ol><p style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; font-size:1.2em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">*from a kid’s perspective</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; font-size:1.2em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: normal; "><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: left; font-size:2.6em;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Benefits to Homeschooling</span></span></h1><ol><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The teacher never threatens to tell your mom</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Your parents never get called in for a “conference”</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You can’t be expelled</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You don’t care what your classmates think of you</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You don’t have to worry about forgetting your lunch/lunch money</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You don’t have to change clothes after school</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You don’t have to sell raffle tickets, cookies, or chocolate bars</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The dog is always nearby and ready to eat your homework</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If the teacher grades on the curve, you’re guaranteed an A</span></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Unless you have a twin, you’re bound to be the valedictorian</span></span></li></ol></span></span></p></span></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-13075060833232906902009-01-19T19:00:00.004-06:002009-01-19T19:04:59.045-06:00Another Reason to Homeschool<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCN8FUAXZGc/SXUiVj4igjI/AAAAAAAAAEs/QspcT8herm0/s1600-h/shovel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCN8FUAXZGc/SXUiVj4igjI/AAAAAAAAAEs/QspcT8herm0/s200/shovel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293174690848866866" /></a><br /><b><span style=" ;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';font-size:13.5pt;">Dear Mrs. Jones,</span></b><span style=" ;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';font-size:13.5pt;"><br /><br /></span><div><span style=" ;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';font-size:13.5pt;">I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, </span></div><div><span style=" ;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';font-size:13.5pt;">an ex-t-c d-nc-r. <br />I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.<br />From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in. <b><br />Sincerely,<br />Mrs. Smith</b></span> <br /></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-55010440915350972382009-01-16T21:12:00.002-06:002009-01-16T21:16:45.780-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCN8FUAXZGc/SXFMwRZqqsI/AAAAAAAAAEk/iTFYUmls-xo/s1600-h/mfl_logo_header.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 100px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCN8FUAXZGc/SXFMwRZqqsI/AAAAAAAAAEk/iTFYUmls-xo/s200/mfl_logo_header.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292095429325531842" /></a><a href="http://www.marchforlife.org/images/stories/docs/mfl%202009%20notesflyer.pdf">March for Life: Next Thursday, January 22, 2009.</a><div><br /></div><div>Wish I were there!</div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-21178373537018831832009-01-16T08:38:00.003-06:002009-01-16T08:44:24.982-06:00Quick Takes Friday: St. Fursey Edition<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><div>1.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy St. Fursey's Day! Go to Jen's blog, <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/">Conversion Diary</a>, for more Quick Fridays.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3491">St. Fursey</a> was an Irish monastic founder, the brother of Sts. Foillan and Ulan, praised by St. Bede. Fursey was born on the island of Inisguia en Lough Carri, Ire land, as a noble. He founded Rathmat Abbey, now probably Killursa. In 630 Fursey and his friends went to East Anglia, England, where he founded a monastery near Ugremouth on land donated by King Sigebert. In his later years, Fursey went toFrance to build a monastery at Lagny, near Paris, France. He was buried in Picardy. St.Bede and others wrote about Fursey’s intense ecstasies.<br /></div><div><br /></div>2.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I learned this winter that there is good snowman snow -- soft and heavy</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And there is good ice sledding snow -- dry and crunchy; preferably after a freezing rain</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The jury is still out on snow that is fun to shovel.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>3.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://whimsy-whimsy.blogspot.com/2008/08/vitamins.html">For Vitamin T.</a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.eborecipes.com/">The EZBake Oven Scratch Recipes.</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>4.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Overheard: "I'm surprised no one in my 4 H club knew what <a href="http://brightbytes.com/cosite/what.html">Camera Obscura</a> meant in Latin."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It takes a certain, child-like humility to assume that everyone with more birthdays than you knows everything that you do.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>5.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://50daysafter.blogspot.com/2008/09/adopt-catholic-blog.html">Adopt a Catholic Blog!</a> I adopt <a href="http://www.majellamom.blogspot.com/">Waiting For Charlie </a>and <a href="http://wombsoflife.blogspot.com/">Wombs of Life</a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>6.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Two <a href="http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19980701/SAINTS/STROSE.HTM">St. Rose of Lima</a> (Aug 23) quotes from the <a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/index2.htm">Catechism of the Catholic Church</a>:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><blockquote>Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to<br />heaven. (CCC 618)<br /></blockquote></div><br /><div><br /><blockquote><br /><p>When her mother reproached her for caring for the poor and the sick at<br />home, St. Rose of Lima said to her: "When we serve the poor and the sick, we<br />serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve<br />Jesus. (CCC 2449)</p></blockquote></div></div></span>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-56705914186347966562009-01-14T21:23:00.002-06:002009-01-14T21:27:13.944-06:00Already!The January 13th edition of Catholic Carnival (#207) is up -- and has been up for a couple of days, already!<br /><br />Check out Evann's <em>whims</em>ical format, with a "Carnival" theme (the season before Mardi Gras, which began on January 6).<br /><br />You can alway look on my sidebar for the latest and greatest of the Catholic Carnivals, too.Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-70467325169209970642009-01-14T20:32:00.003-06:002009-01-14T20:52:23.464-06:00Pretty sweet. Kinda tart!My husband and Evann of <a href="http://thankevann.com/homeschoolgoodies/">Homeschool Goodies</a> agree -- Thank you, Evann, for the Lemonade Award!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291345154915563266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 195px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCN8FUAXZGc/SW6iYja59wI/AAAAAAAAAEc/nfKz8giG-Ng/s200/lemonadeaward.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>With the Lemonade award,you are supposed to give it to 10 others who showattitude (the good kind!) or gratitude.</p><p><br /> </p>I'd like to pass on the award to:<br /><br />Magellamom of <a href="http://majellamom.blogspot.com/">Waiting for Charlie</a><br />Dietrich of <a href="http://wombsoflife.blogspot.com/">Wombs of Life</a><br />MB of <a href="http://matercaritas.blogspot.com/">Mater Caritas</a><br />and <a href="http://oldbroadsheet.blogspot.com/">The Old Broad</a><br /><br />OK, it's not ten. But what they lack in number they make up for in attitude.<br />Take that in any way you want. :-)Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-5674403845498241092009-01-12T10:42:00.003-06:002009-01-12T11:21:33.663-06:00Baptism and TemptationsThis Sunday was the Feast of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_of_the_Lord">Baptism of the Lord</a>. We heard the Gospel of Mark 1:7-11. Hence, I was expecting next week to be about the temptation of Christ in the desert. <br /><br /><div>After all, the stories are paired together in Mark 1:7-13 and Matthew 3:13 - 4:11.</div><div> </div><div>They are found together in Luke as well, though Luke inserts the geneology of Christ between the Baptism and Temptation accounts. (Luke 3:21-22 / geneology / 4:1-13)</div><br /><br />Also, knowing that we are in <a href="http://www.catholicdoors.com/courses/liturgy.htm">Year B</a>, I thought we might hear Mark 1:12-13 -- two quick verses about the temptation! -- "Well," I thought, "maybe we'll hear John's version." He also has an account of the Baptism, in a round-about way, through the witness of John the Baptist:<br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove,<br />and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me<br />to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and<br />remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen<br />and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”</blockquote>But, John omits the Temptation story! Instead, on the testimony of John, two of his disciples leave him and follow Jesus, and segues into the Call of the Apostles.<br /><br />And, yet! In Matthew 17:2-23, Jesus rebukes Peter: <br /><blockquote>Get behind me, Satan!</blockquote>(This is a response to Peter's fear of Jesus' death in Jerusalem.)<br /><br />At this point, I search for "<a href="http://www.goodsearch.com/Search.aspx?Keywords=borromeo+ccc">Borromeo CCC</a>" and find something like this:<br /><br />BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION (535-540)<br /><div align="center"><br /><em>“Can you be baptized in the way I must be baptized?”</em></div><div align="right">Mark 10:38, referring to the Cross<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">“Because Jesus himself is without sin and has no old life to bury, his acceptance of baptism is an anticipation of the Cross.”</div><div align="right">Pope Benedict XVI, On the Way to Jesus Christ<br /></div><div align="left">Details of Christ's Baptism:</div><div align="left">1.Jesus allows himself to be counted among sinners (Mark 3:7)</div><div align="left">2.Jesus is identified by John the Baptist as the “Lamb of God”</div><div align="left">3.The Father's voice delights in the obedience of His Son</div><div align="left">4.The Spirit rests on Jesus</div><div align="left">5.The heavens, closed by Adam's sin, are opened</div><div align="left"><br /><strong>Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation.</strong> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="right"><em>Satan in Genesis 3</em></div><div align="right">"Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?"<br />"You will not surely die.”“</div><div align="right">“You will be like God."</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><em>Satan in Matthew 4</em></div><div align="left">“Command these stones to become loaves of bread." </div><div align="left">"Throw yourself down, [so the angels will catch you.]”</div><div align="left">"I will give you] the kingdoms of the world!”</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="right"><em>Jesus' reply</em></div><div align="right">"'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."</div><div align="right">''You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" </div><div align="right">"Be gone, Satan! 'You shall worship the Lord your God"</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">From BXVI:</div><div align="center">“To consider ourselves, the needs and desires of the moment to be more important than God is – that is the temptation that always besets us.” </div><div align="center">Pope Benedict XVI, <em>On the Way to Jesus Christ</em></div>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-4866152598272976062009-01-11T21:50:00.003-06:002009-01-11T22:16:51.865-06:00The Holy Name of JesusThe month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.<br />I was reminded of this when I read Evann's post on <a href="http://thankevann.com/homeschoolgoodies/?p=1488">Homeschool Goodies</a>.<br />You may find various prayers <a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/tp/Prayers_January.htm">here</a>.<br /><br />Of course you can learn about His Most Holy Name at "Borromeo CCC" in paragraphs <a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c2a2.htm">430-455</a>.<br /><br />You may find this summary helpful:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>HOLY NAME OF JESUS (430-440)</strong><br /><em>“God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus Whom you crucified.”</em> </div><div align="right">Acts 2:36, Peter's First Sermon<br /></div><div align="left">At the heart of catechesis we find a Person . . . everything is taught with reference to Him. We proclaim Jesus Christ in order to lead others to faith in Him.</div><div align="left"><br />The Holy Name of <strong>Jesus</strong>:</div><ul><li><div align="left">means “God Saves”the Divine Name that alone brings salvation (John 3:18)</div></li><li>Jesus' Resurrection glorifies his name</li><li>the evil spirits fear this name<br /></li></ul><div align="left"><strong>Christ</strong>:</div><ul><li><div align="left">Messiah in Hebrew, khristos in Greek</div></li><li><div align="left">means “anointed”Jesus perfectly accomplished the Divine mission<br /></div></li></ul><div align="left">The Messianic ConsecrationAccording to the Old Law, priests (Exodus 29:29), kings (1 Samuel 10:1), and prophets (Isaiah 61:1) were supposed to be anointed for their respective offices; now, the Christ, or the Messiah, combined this threefold dignity in His Person. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The Father anoints, the Son is anointed, and he was anointed with the Spirit who is the anointing.<br /></div><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>CHRIST THE KING</strong>: The true meaning of kingship is revealed only when he is raised on high on the cross: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>HOLY NAME OF JESUS (441-455)<br /></div></strong><div align="center"><em>No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.</em> </div><div align="right">1 Corinthians 12:3<br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong>Son of God</strong></div><ul><li><div align="left">In the Old Testament, a title given to anyone who has a strong relationship with God. Not necessarily implied that the person is Divine.</div></li><li>Peter's profession of Faith, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) acknowledges Christ's Divine Sonship.</li><li>The Baptism and Transfiguration episodes recall the voice of the Father designating Jesus as His “beloved Son.”<br /></li></ul><div align="left"><strong>Lord</strong></div><ul><li><div align="left">Since pronouncing YHWH is avoided out of reverence for the holiness of the name, Jews use Adonai instead in prayers. In the Greek Septuagint, YHWH is rendered as Kyrios -- Lord.<br /></div></li><li><div align="left">At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, “Lord” transcends the the title of respect and becomes adoration, and takes on a connotation of love: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)<br /></div></li><li><div align="left">Do not submit your freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.<br /></div></li></ul><div align="left">Christian prayer is characterized by the title "Lord"</div><ul><li><div align="left">invitation: "The Lord be with you"</div></li><li><div align="left">conclusion "through Christ our Lord"</div></li><li><div align="left">the exclamation full of trust and hope: - “Come Lord Jesus!”<br /></div></li></ul>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-29644165858119344302009-01-02T14:11:00.003-06:002009-01-02T14:16:57.197-06:00Quick Takes Friday1.<br /><br />Crappy Catholics. We all know of 'em. Probably we're related to quite a few. I know I see one in the mirror more often than I care to admit. On the 4th Sunday of Advent, my town was FREEZING. And yet, there we all were. Shivering and praying. Shivering and praying.<br /><br />You know God must love Crappy Catholics because he made so many of them. And they must love Him, too, to show up at church in such, ahem, Crappy Weather.<br /><br /><br />2.<br /><br /><br /><br />It happens. Sometimes the homily is lacking a little something at Mass. With all charity, let me direct you to <a href="http://mysteriumfidei.net/download.php">Fr. Tom Cook</a>. His Sunday homilies in October are always dedicated to Pro-Life topics, and this Advent, he's been meditating on the readings of St. Paul that we've been hearing at Mass.<br /><br /><br />3.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cse.dmu.ac.uk/~mward/gkc/books/christmas-poem.html">Chesterton's Christmas Poem</a> (excerpt)<br /><br />A child in a foul stable,<br />Where the beasts feed and foam;<br />Only where He was homeless<br />Are you and I at home;<br /><br />More of <a href="http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/833/The_God_in_the_Cave_Chesterton.html">Chesterton's Christmas Meditations</a>:<br /><br />4.<br /><br />Christmas Everywhere by Phillips Brooks<br /><br />Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!<br />Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine,<br />Christmas in lands of the palm-tree and vine,<br />Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,<br />Christmas where cornfields stand sunny and bright.<br />Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,<br />Christmas where old men are patient and gray,<br />Christmas where peace, like a dove in his flight,<br />Broods o're brave men in the thick of the fight;<br />Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!<br />For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all;<br />No palace too great, no cottage too small.<br /><br />5.<br /><br />Yes, I agree with <a href="http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/2008/12/gregorian-chant.html">Fr. Dwight</a> that we should all learn Chant, because it is "home-grown" worship. However, in English, singing the Psalms to the beat of that "old time Protestant religion" can't be beat. You can open up your King James Bible and look at the lyrics to many of the songs set to a Psalm, and it is amazing how well they match up. That isn't often the case with many of the Psalm settings you might hear at Mass.<br /><br />Now, our crew is learning some of the most famous Chant prayers -- Pater Noster, Salve Regina and others -- but that is because they know the words in English already, and that makes it a lot easier to do vocabulary work with the Chants.<br /><br />In our morning prayer routine, the "imports" are the milquetoast, and the "homegrowns" are the meat.<br /><br /><br /><br />6.<br /><br />Did you know that Interstate Highway 80 is very windy? We call it the Wy-aska-wa Wind, after the three contiguous states that blow the hardest.<br /><br />7.<br /><br />Happy New Year!<br /><br />See <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/2009/01/7-quick-takes-friday-vol-15.html">Jen </a>for more Quick Takes!Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-67386449081979253332008-12-26T11:10:00.001-06:002008-12-26T11:13:25.070-06:00Merry Christmas!Psalm 98 is the tradional "Christmas Psalm". "Joy to the World" may be its most famous rendition, but this is beautiful, too:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ab4tn7V1LSo&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ab4tn7V1LSo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Enjoy!Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-69470490858348253152008-12-22T12:03:00.003-06:002008-12-22T12:29:11.655-06:00The Psalms: Reading for a Sane Man<a href="http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/">Curt Jester</a> has a video clip of Penn -- of Penn and Teller -- recounting a puzzling, moving experience of receiving the book of Psalms from a Christian man. Penn is amazed at how sane the man is.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7JHS8adO3hM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7JHS8adO3hM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I hope Penn cracks the Book. The First Psalm starts with a ringing choice: <a href="http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/i/bitmwstp.htm">good or evil</a>.<br /><br />The traditional Psalm for Advent is the <a href="http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/i/l/lilmstot.htm">25th,</a> and the traditional Psalm for Christmas is the <a href="http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/l/clussing.htm">98th</a>.<br /><br />Since September is the Month of the Sorrowful Mother, our family sang Psalm 10: <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/d/wdtlsosf.htm">Why Doth the Lord Stand Off So Far, and Why Conceal His Face? </a><br /><br />Well, we had some reason to recall these words a couple of months later. If you need words to express your grief, frustration and defeat -- look to the Psalms, like Jesus did on the Cross in uttering the first words of Psalm 22: <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/g/mgmgic2t.htm">My God, My God I cry to Thee</a>.<br /><br />The end of 22 is a segue into <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/k/i/kinglove.htm">Psalm 23</a>, the most famous Psalm. This song was sung at Princess Diana's funeral.<br /><br />In the Psalms you'll find Praise. <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/l/allpeopl.htm">All People That on Earth Do Dwell</a> is such a famous hymn that the tune is actually named "The Old Hundredth" because it is the 100 th Psalm.<br /><br />Many of the Psalms are attributed to King David, but Psalm 136 -- set here to a Disco beat -- is attributed to the community who was sent into exile by Nebuchadnezzar.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nm1g8FFRArc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nm1g8FFRArc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Penn's life will be enriched if he cracks the Book.Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-19775634193461299342008-12-19T14:45:00.004-06:002008-12-19T15:03:22.642-06:004 Quick Takes FridayToday was the perfect winter day. <br /><br />5 am - 7 am -- Shovel snow. (6 -7 with hubby) (OK, that wasn't the perfect part. Our lot isn't that big, but the snow was that heavy.)<br /><br />7 am - noon -- School. (That was pretty good.)<br /><br />noon - 1:30 pm -- Sledding! I found out that the precipitation that makes for back-breaking shovelling makes the most excellent sledding!<br /><br />2 pm - 3 pm -- Bake shortbread cookies. Recipe: 4 cups white flour, 1 cup brown sugar and 1 stick of softened butter. That's not enough oil for the recipe, so add canola oil until the consistency is right. It's really easy to work with if you don't add any whole wheat flour. Bake at 400 for 5 minutes. <br /><br />This really is the perfect recipe if you are expecting your little elves to consume a significant part of the dough while cutting the shapes out.<br /><br />--<br /><br />No matter how small the job, draw pictures for the electrician. No matter how much his company is charging per hour for his services, he may not take the necessary notes to remember just exactly what it is he's supposed to do!<br /><br />--<br /><br />We celebrate Advent until we light the pink candle. Bring on the Christmas carols! I never really knew that the rollicking, fox-chase song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" middle five stanzas of the song gave a verse-by-verse retelling of the first 10 verses of Luke 2. It lacks the self-conscious piety of "Silent Night" but is actually more technically Scriptural than the latter.<br /><br />--<br /><br />"Quick" -- as in "the quick and the dead" and "quicksilver" (an archaic term for mercury) means "Living" (Get it? Mercury is "living silver".)<br /><br />I find this second meaning totally appropriate to the spirit of "Quick Takes Friday" in that we get a glimpse of life lived.<br /><br />Thanks, <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/">Jen</a>!Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-86304165124815469292008-11-26T18:47:00.002-06:002008-11-26T18:53:51.274-06:00INTP<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCN8FUAXZGc/SS3uUZaw0NI/AAAAAAAAAD0/1q-q_vaYVDo/s1600-h/INTP.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273132772908650706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 156px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCN8FUAXZGc/SS3uUZaw0NI/AAAAAAAAAD0/1q-q_vaYVDo/s200/INTP.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>I bit, and had my blog analyzed. My blog is the "logical and analytical type".</p><p>Analyze your blog here: <a href="http://www.typealyzer.com/">http://www.typealyzer.com/</a></p><p>h/t <a href="http://ironiccatholic.blogspot.com/">http://ironiccatholic.blogspot.com/</a></p><p>I wonder what my blog's astrological sign is?</p>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950963115712431859.post-40261284956876201672008-11-25T23:55:00.007-06:002008-12-21T14:40:04.696-06:00CCC<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Di<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">d you know the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is online? </span></span><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">It is sponsored by a church by the name of St. Charles Borromeo, so if you ever want to search for it, type in “borromeo ccc” and it should come right up.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">The CCC has something for everybody.<br />If you are interested in apologetics – challenges to the Catholic faith, and their refutations, are in there.<br />If you love the Saints – the CCC is chock-full of their quotes, from the Early Fathers to the Little Flower. References to our Blessed Mother are sprinkled throughout the text.<br />If you are interested in the unique perspective from the Eastern traditions that are in communion with the Holy Father – the CCC quotes liberally from their magestic liturgies.<br /></span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Though the Compendium is useful for “just the facts, ma'am” it lacks the literary texture of the original. So, if you don't have the CCC, get it! But the search engine on St. Borromeo's website can't be beat.<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">If you haven't seen it yet, here is a little bit of the CCC (edited) for your meditation this Holy Season. I put ¶ 533 in bold, as I think you may find it most interesting.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >December 8:<br />Immaculate Conception<br /></span><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" name="DDE_LINK1"></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">¶ 487-511<br />What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God,134 was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The "splendor of an entirely unique holiness" by which Mary is "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ: she is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son".</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The early Fathers gladly assert. . .: "The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith."<br />People are sometimes troubled by the silence of St. Mark's Gospel and the New Testament Epistles about Jesus' virginal conception. Some might wonder if we were merely dealing with legends or theological constructs not claiming to be history. To this we must respond: Faith in the virginal conception of Jesus met with the lively opposition, mockery or incomprehension of non-believers, Jews and pagans alike; so it could hardly have been motivated by pagan mythology or by some adaptation to the ideas of the age. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Mary's virginity manifests God's absolute initiative in the Incarnation. Jesus has only God as Father. "He was never estranged from the Father because of the human nature which he assumed. . . He is naturally Son of the Father as to his divinity and naturally son of his mother as to his humanity, but properly Son of the Father in both natures."<br />The spousal character of the human vocation in relation to God is fulfilled perfectly in Mary's virginal motherhood.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The Virgin Mary "cooperated through free faith and obedience in human salvation". She uttered her yes "in the name of all human nature". By her obedience she became the new Eve, mother of the living.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">Advent<br />¶ 522-524</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">The coming of God's Son to earth is an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries. He makes everything converge on Christ: all the rituals and sacrifices, figures and symbols of the "First Covenant".He announces him through the mouths of the prophets who succeeded one another in Israel. Moreover, he awakens in the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation of this coming. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way. "Prophet of the Most High", John surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last. He inaugurates the Gospel, already from his mother's womb welcomes the coming of Christ, and rejoices in being "the friend of the bridegroom", whom he points out as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Going before Jesus "in the spirit and power of Elijah", John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by his Baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease."</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">December 25:<br />Christmas<br />¶ 525-534</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The Church never tires of singing the glory of this night:</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal<br />And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible.<br />The angels and shepherds praise him<br />And the magi advance with the star,<br />For you are born for us,<br />Little Child, God eternal!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the kingdom. For this, we must humble ourselves and become little. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">O marvelous exchange! Man's Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">During the greater part of his life Jesus shared the condition of the vast majority of human beings: a daily life spent without evident greatness, a life of manual labor. His religious life was that of a Jew obedient to the law of God, a life in the community. From this whole period it is revealed to us that Jesus was "obedient" to his parents and that he "increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man." </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus' obedience to his mother and legal father fulfills the fourth commandment perfectly and was the temporal image of his filial obedience to his Father in heaven. The everyday obedience of Jesus to Joseph and Mary both announced and anticipated the obedience of Holy Thursday: "Not my will. . ." The obedience of Christ in the daily routine of his hidden life was already inaugurating his work of restoring what the disobedience of Adam had destroyed.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">533 The hidden life at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life:</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The home of Nazareth is the school where we begin to understand the life of Jesus - the school of the Gospel. </span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">First, then, a lesson of silence. May esteem for silence, that admirable and indispensable condition of mind, revive in us. . . </span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">A lesson on family life. May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character. . . </span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">A lesson of work. Nazareth, home of the "Carpenter's Son", in you I would choose to understand and proclaim the severe and redeeming law of human work. . .</span></strong><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To conclude, I want to greet all the workers of the world, holding up to them their great pattern their brother who is God.<br /></span><br /></span>Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718011747484428178noreply@blogger.com0