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| WHAT ENEMIES ARE YOU SICK OF FIGHTING? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/13/2010 |
Okay, we don't play many video games here. My kids are on Club Penguin once in awhile, Starfall or Popcap but not much else. Our home family system is an old Gamecube but the tech/science headline caught my eye - Top 5 Enemies we are sick of fighting (computer games, mind you).
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36336663/ns/technology_and_science-games/
I had to laugh as it reminded me of a billboard we saw on our trip up to CT this past weekend. A local Army Navy Store in Pennsylvania had a sign that stated it could supply you for all of your adventure needs:
"Rugged Terrian, Outdoor Expeditions, and Zombie Attacks!"
My kids and I laughed right out loud. It helped break up the drive in stop and go traffic as we discussed the likelihood of such attacks and what we should do. My 8 yr. old said he'd just head to Church!
So, I linked to the list (which I won't spoil for you now but it does include zombies) and it got me thinking about the enemies I am sick of fighting. So here,
RACHEL'S TOP FIVE ENEMIES SHE IS SICK OF FIGHTING:
5. Laziness. I know what I need to do but sit around bemoaning it and avoiding it because I don't like to do it. Housework in particular but it dribbles over into exercise, and my spiritual life. Sitting is so much easier than anything else.
4. Apathy. In the current atmosphere of Catholic bashing I can almost take a 'who cares' attitude. I have become almost used to it and as a result don't do anything about it. Granted, there is not much I can do but I could at least pray - pray for the Church as a whole, and in particular the Pope who is bearing the brunt of the attacks. I could write a letter to the editor or post a comment of support. Sure, it might not get published and I might be the brunt of unkind comments in response to my attempts to defend the Church but come on, I should try.
3. Self-consciousness. This is a close cousin to the apathy. I don't write letters, speak out or comment when I can in defense of the Church, the Pope, life issues, homeschooling or just being a better person because I am afraid of how I will look or be perceived. I am too eager to make sure everyone likes me that I don't want to draw attention to myself by disagreeing.
2. False modesty. This is the tendency I have to think that offering an opinion or comment would be inappropriate. "Who am I to speak out"? "What education or credentials do I have that gives me the right to speak up?" How about my baptismal rights to at least speak out if someone in my circle or family.
But, the #1 thing I am tired of fighting against is the world. Seriously, fighting the world is a weary battle. It never ends and I long for the days when Christ returns and we can give over the fight into His more capable hands. But, in that He is still doing his work from heaven I will have to keep doing my job here on earth.
I guess i should be be grateful that I don't have any new enemies to fight just the same old, same old and I know how to beat them - prayer, the sacraments and sacrifice.
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| FINDING HOLINESS ANYWHERE... [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/13/2010 |
We are coming off of Easter and as a result might find ourselves spiritually lagging.
With Lent and Holy Week over, the number of programs, talks or workshops available at your parish may have dwindled or even stopped completely. For many of us, holiness might seem easier to attain and easier to see during Lent, Holy Week and Easter.
My son brought this to my attention yesterday. He went on a boy's retreat just after Easter and had, as usual, a hugely fun time. He had a regular schedule that included daily hikes and games balanced with daily Mass, a chance for confession, Benediction and other 'holy' things.
He returned from this time with Christ to our house of noise, chaos and girls. He found himself in holiness withdrawal. At the tender age of 13, he told me that is hard being holy at home.
How true! It is hard being holy at home but in that is where God has placed us, holiness at home must be possible. We just need to tune into the opportunities we have and create a more holy atmosphere.
A schedule helps a great deal. My son learned this from the retreat. Do we have prayed scheduled in our day, time in our week for an extra Mass or visit to Jesus?
Reducing the chaos is also key. The aforementioned schedule helps keep chaos at bay but reducing/eliminating the chaos by keeping a clean and orderly house is necessary. I know my son's sense of disarray was fed by the fact that our suitcases were still in the living room last night.
We were also pretty loud coming home last evening from a long play practice (our home school group is performing Macbeth). Instilling in yourself and your children a real respect for inside voices and inside behavior helps reduce the sense of chaos.
As for the girls - well, I can't help him with that as our house will always have more girls than boys but it did remind me that boys and girls are very different from each other. I need to make sure I am tuned into my children's differences. This realization can let you help them find a routine that allows them the holiness they need.
We all wish for a convent or cloister once in a while and while we can't usually get them we can do our best to create them in our home. Holiness at home is possible it just takes some work. And holiness always takes some work. |
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| GEORGE WEIGEL ON THE CURRENT TONE [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/13/2010 |
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2010/04/another-long-lent
Consider giving it a read and keeping it close at hand when you feel under attack for being a Catholic. |
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| CATHOLIC LEAGUE IS TAKING ON THE NY TIMES [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/13/2010 |
http://catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1827
Mr. Donohue does a good job in a thankless position. While he does have support for what he does from many Catholics (self included), others consider him a whiner and still others think of him and the League as unnecessary.
Hopefully, what we are enduring as Catholics in the wake of the most recent abuse revelations from Europe, we will accept that there are many folks out there who have reason and cause to distrust us. However, there are still more who have no cause for their hatred just the knowledge that Catholic bashing sells papers. |
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| Wednesday, April 14, 2010 |
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| EARTH DAY IS COMING! [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/14/2010 |
Catholicvote.org has a great campaign in mind -
http://www.catholicvote.org/index.php?/site/donationpage/
Consider giving! |
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| FAN OF FERRIS BUELLER?? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/14/2010 |
Matt and I will humbly admit we are - it is right out of our teen years.
Well, if you are and you have some disposable income you can get his car:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/04/ferrari-in-ferris-buellers-day-off-up-for-sale-except-its-not-a-ferrari/1 |
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| WE DISCUSSED BULLYING ON FRIDAY'S RADIO SHOW - [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/14/2010 |
Here are some of the details and a discussion:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36335617/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
I found this statement at the end important:
"We grown-ups have to be much more active, proactive and responsible and do something about it," she said. "It's not kids' problem. It's our problem."
This is important as I have run into people who continue being bullies well into their adult life. In fact, I was a victim of such a bully at a theater waiting to see the new "Star Trek" movie. It was just as awful as when I encountered it as a child with one big difference - I was stronger and I had Matt by my side.
I just passively let the woman rant at me over a supposed slight (I had the audacity to tell her that she was cutting in line in front of us, another couple and three young people). She was amazing in her rant and with Matt watching protectively and other around me watching with smiles at her amazing display I felt safe.
She continued, even to the point of pushing me with her rather large stomach. At that point I couldn't help but laugh out loud which really deflated her and I took my ticket from Matt and moved on.
Sadly, Miss Prince never got the chance to laugh and move on. We as adults need to make sure that we are not the bullies and stop our children whenever we see even a hint of bullying (towards siblings as well!!!) |
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| GENDER ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/15/2010 |
What would you do if you heard this:
"Sexual liberty should win in most cases," she has stated. "There can be a conflict between religious liberty and sexual liberty, but in almost all cases the sexual liberty should win because that's the only way that the dignity of gay people can be affirmed in any realistic manner."
Bother you??
Well, it comes from Chai Feldblum, recessed appointed by the President to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
She is part of the team pushing for a federal law that would require all schools to make accommodations (including specifically hiring) transgendered teachers.
Really.
Check this out and decide what to do:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=972624 |
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| HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEE A HIJAB?? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/15/2010 |
Hijab being a Muslim head covering??
This story reveals another reason not to shop at Abercrombie& Fitch or Hollister (their immodest ads aside), as they apparently discriminate against employees who wear them.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-04-14-headscarves-muslim_N.htm
I have always found these scarves fascinating as it 'makes' the woman clearly a Muslim. There is no hiding your religion when you wear one of these. They know they will face discrimination, judgement and more every morning they put it on and still, they put it on.
I wonder what we would do as Catholics if the Pope asked us to do something similar. What if he were inspired to ask all Catholics to wear an outward sign of our inward faith?
Jews were required to wear their yellow stars under the Nazis but what if we did something similar out of love for God.
Many of our kids do it by the t-shirts they wear - proudly wearing pro-life, pro-Catholic shirts at school or otherwise. Do we as adults??
Do we want to hide our Catholicism or do we wear it proudly?
Now, granted, we don't need to wear an article of clothing to show we are Catholic but I wonder what life would be like if we did?
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| CAN YOU EAT WELL ON FOOD STAMPS?? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/15/2010 |
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36507576/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/
This story hit home for me. While we were never on food stamps there have been several times in our family's life when we were on WIC (gov't program for women, infants and children supplementing food income w/ milk, formula if needed, and more). I have family members who have been on food stamps due to employment issues. And all of us have seen food stamp families using them at our local grocery stores.
Despite the stereotype of families living on soda and doritos, I think most families strive to eat better than that but I also believe that many families don't strive to eat as well as they can.
For most of these families, however, I believe it is due to time and ignorance. They either don't have the time or make the time to cook and eat fresh. And they don't know how.
This article highlights that reality and while the article does a good job pointing it out, they don't make any suggestions on how to change that picture. I wonder if the gov't could just send out a few easy, inexpensive recipes each month?
With WIC we were required to take part in monthly meetings to learn about nutrition and health issues. Is the same required for food stamps??
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| FASHION SHOW?? OR SOMETHING MORE?? THE SAGA OF NJ'S CROSS-DRESSING 3RD GRADERS [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/15/2010 |
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36520384/ns/us_news-education/
Spinning this story into cross-dressing 3rd graders is a bit much but I do think that this is a poorly planned activity. Most 3rd grade boys (mine included) wouldn't want to be in a fashion show even if he could wear boys clothes and not all girls would want to either.
Making the most use of classroom time is important in schools and I don't think this idea made the best use of that time. While I don't believe the teacher had a hidden agenda at all, this was not a good idea for the entire class to be 'forced' to participate in. Doing a fashion show for those girls who wanted to would have been well-received and then allowing those who did not want to and the boys to do something else to commemorate women's history would have been more acceptable and useful.
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| IF WE DON'T THINK SCANDALS SELL NEWSPAPERS - [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/16/2010 |
It seems the Donner Party did NOT eat each other!
The Donner Party, infamous for surviving winter by resorting to cannibalism - probably didn't!
This poor family, forever vilified by the Victorian press of the time lived their entire lives asserting their innocence.
Now, they have some archeological proof to back up the family's claims.
So, do not lose hope - it seems that science and history may be offering the Donner's a long-overdue olive branch for the way in which the press and the public demonized them. Might we hope for the same?
It has only taken around 145 years for the truth to finally come out. I think we as a Church can last that long, don't you??
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| SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS ABOUT "CRACK BABIES" [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/16/2010 |
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36571290/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
Many are thriving, healthy adults - good news!! |
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| DOES "MADE IN CHINA" VS. "MADE IN USA" MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 4/16/2010 |
Consider this story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36476797/
New Balance (Matt's favorite brand) seems to be confusing the issue and then making it a very big deal in their branding from actually on their shoes to the boxes they are in.
I honestly will say that 70% is better than nothing but I don't like their approach and their blatant advertising about being made in the USA without full disclosure.
There are some interesting sites out there that list Made in USA products:
www.americanmadeyes.com
www.madeinusa.org
I know I strive not to buy Made in China but am not so strict with other countries as I also like Ten Thousand Villages ideal of helping families (especially women) around the world sell their materials.
I'm wondering if there is a Catholic approach to this situation?
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