Does a Baby Who Never Sleeps Qualify as an Impossible Case?

Jen over at Conversion Diary created a saint name generator -- give it a whirl and get a patron saint for 2011. Mine is St. Rita.....hmmmmm......

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas....

...every time I open the mailbox. I just love getting Christmas cards! And my favorites are the ones with pictures of family and friends, which is why we are sending out a photo card this year. It may or may not have a picture of all three of us (I vote just Baby D, Husband votes all of us), but we are definitely going with Shutterfly . They have so many beautiful cards that I am truly having a difficult time narrowing it down! Things will ultimately be decided by the picture we decide to use, but I have a few favorites that are major contenders:
Classic Modern Wreath                     

Holly Frame

 

Snowflake Sprinkles

Oh Holy Night

Pine Cone Toile

  

Feel free to cast some votes as to your favorite....I'm leaning toward the second and fourth ones, but I am open to suggestions. It would also be nice to have a Bible verse on there, too. 

I love Shutterfly products. I've purchased custom stationary and calendars for myself and lots of family members, and they are always beautiful. They even have some great new backgrounds and designs for calendars this year. I'm definitely excited to see what our cards turn out like!

A Giveaway!

Check out A Woman's Place for a beautiful sacrifice beads giveaway. What a wonderful Christmas present these would make!

Stolen from Betty Duffy, Who Stole It From Pentimento

The pain of her choice -- a choice that was clearly coerced every step of the way, as so very many abortions are -- is only underscored by the fact that, in her circles, there are few, if any, socially-sanctioned ways to speak about the suffering and regret of abortion without facing scorn.

 This is a sad, beautiful post about the gilded idea of "choice" and how it is, in actuality, anything but.

How infinitely tragic that the word choice task force has so neutered these empowered women that they lack the language to articulate the deepest of feminine pains: the loss of one's child.

Baby D can sit up on his own! Most of the time. He occasionally wobbles left or right, but for the most part, he sits up! And. it. is. adorable.

Surfacing...Momentarily....

So, turns out having a baby really takes up, uh, all of one's time. But, for those who really miss me, here's a list someone else composed of the best 100 first lines of novels. Enjoy!

Pants! Pants! Pants!

There's been an interesting/hilarious/informative argument about the moral merits of pants and skirts taking over the series of tubes known as the internet. Since I'm not nearly as funny as Simcha Fisher, I'll just post the latest and greatest links and you can chuckle for yourself.

The original offending article 
Pants: A Manisfesto
The Pants Pass
Darwin Weighs In

And for what it's worth, I think just about anything can be worn in a trashy/immodest/provocative way. Are some pants naturally more inappropriate than some skirts? Of course. Can the same be said of some skirts? Naturally. Should we give a little more credit to men, that they can wander this good green Earth, not pouncing on every female they encounter? I should hope so. Though we shouldn't make it easier for men to objectify by handing out views of our butts on silver platters, I really see no reason to restructure my entire wardrobe to eliminate mens' exercise of free will. And while I'm certainly not endorsing Paris Hilton for her own clothing line, I'm inclined to think that even if every last woman wore a floor-length burlap sack from here on out, there would still be affairs, pornography, and lust. Thoughts?

O Hipsters, How I Love to Mock You

Especially in dinosaur and puppy forms.

Quick Takes

1. I think I am going bald. When everyone said, "Just wait until post-partum hair loss starts," I was thinking a few strands at a time. Not clean-the-drain-out-twice-every-time-you-shower and have-a-minor-melt-down-every-time-you-use-a-hairbrush. Thank goodness hat season is almost here (I can say that in September, living in New England).

2. Speaking of New England, isn't fall just the best? Or is it Fall? Or Autumn? Or autumn? Who cares?

3. Every time my son gives me a big, gummy grin I think of how different it will be when he has some teeth in there.

4. Is it sad that I would now list Sandra Boynton as one of my top 10 favorite authors? I mean, have you read Birthday Monsters? I laughed, I cried -- what a beautiful story arc.

5. Did you know it's Grandparents' Day on Sunday?

6. A mother’s heart is a crazy thing. Half of it wants our small children to hurry up and wean, hurry up and potty train, hurry up and gain some independence already. And yet the other half wants them to never do any of those things and to remain exactly as they are forever. When the inevitable happens and they do gain some self-sufficiency, our hearts ache just a little at what feels like the ultimate betrayal. A beautiful post here by Danielle Bean about her own Daniel.

7.

 

Check out conversiondiary.com for some more Quick Takes!

S.O.S.

Any advice for a mom whose four month doesn't nap? Like, ever? And who hasn't had a chance to clean her bathrooms in a month? And who lives near someone whose car alarm has been going off for 2 HOURS? And who is so frustrated with her baby she wants to let him just cry and cry instead of picking him up, and then she feels like the worst mother in the world because for Heaven's sake he probably just wants you to love him instead of being the selfish mom you are so you pick him up but you resent him for it? Because you are just more tired than you ever thought any one could ever be. And why is he crying again? And for how long is he going to want to nurse every hour? And will someone shut that damn alarm off? And why is this so hard??

After the Sabbath was Passed

A link to a beautiful piece of music on Conversion Diary. Why oh why give up stunning music like this for tambourines, drums, and electric guitars?

Mommy Blog Round-Up

The sidebar on the right doesn't include all the Catholic/Mommy blogs that I check if I have a chance (which isn't too often, with a 4 month old who doesn't nap), so I thought I would round up a list of some really good ones. As one of the only people under 30 I know who has a kid, and is a practicing Catholic, it's nice to see what other Christian mommies have to say about raising children, attending Mass, finding recipes...you know, the exciting stuff. Anyway, how these busy moms have time to write such awesome posts, I will never understand. Maybe they don't spend all their time on the internet reading a million other Mommy blogs. Now that's an idea...

I Have to Sit Down
Shower of Roses
O My Family
Testosterhome
The Philospher Mom
Wildflowers and Marbles
A Woman's Place
Conversion Diary
Betty Duffy
Like Mother Like Daughter
Light and Momentary
My Catholic Marriage
Abigail's Alcove

Check them out! And add some in the comments if you know of another good one!

Yet Another Use for Super-Disguise Mustaches

Super Extreme Mega History Heroes!

Where's Catholic Catherine?

I know this is technically (or purportedly, anyway) a Catholic blog, and lately I've been focusing on poo and how fast my baby is growing (did I mention that he is already in size 3 diapers?), when I do write at all. And when I do post something, the sentences are mostly run-ons that require a decoder ring to muddle through (see: previous sentence. and this one too, kind of.) Anyway, I am hoping to get back to more Catholic-minded thoughts. I always have lofty post ideas and then a million things come up and suddenly days go by and the topic is no longer relevant or I've completely forgotten it. So, you know, just in case you come here looking for Catholic stuff...it's coming.

The Legend Lives

There is a tale from centuries gone by. The legend has been passed down, from great-grandmother to  mother, and maybe even between a father or two. A tale of preposterous circumstances, a perfect storm of physics and plastics so harrowing that the details are usually only relayed in a whisper and never when the shadows have grown long and the sun has set. It is the legend of the REVERSE POOPY. Let me set the scene for you......

Mother and baby wake up at usual time. Baby smiles big, gummy grin and both begin their morning routine - diaper change, songs on the changing table, a quick wardrobe maneuver from jammies to the day's [first] outfit. Matching bib is secured around Baby's chubby neck and downstairs they go! Nothing out of the ordinary so far....Baby is placed in bouncy seat in kitchen while Mom gets coffee and cereal. Jokes and smiles and songs are exchanged (albeit mostly on one side). Mom lifts Baby's bouncy seat and places it on dining room table so the repartee can progress while Mom eats. Baby is unusually quiet, but very smiley, so Mom continues with routine. They chat. There is a slight rumbling from Baby's stomach and a subsequent gurgle from his posterior end. Hmmm, no look of deep concentration on his face. No earth shattering explosion. This is clearly only a moderate dirty diaper. No need to rush upstairs. Mom takes vitamins and gives Baby his Vitamin D drops. No more sounds from this sweet child. No unusual smells. Mom scoops up Baby and, singing a little song, saunters upstairs to the changing table. Same old, same old. Maybe not even worth changing! Or, is it.....? Mom places Baby on the table. Something is not right....There are dark spots on the front of his pant legs. Did he manage to drool without Mom noticing? She moves closer for a sniff....Is that....poo? On his thighs? In the front? A feeling of fear creeps through her stomach. She begins to peel off baby clothing. And....it is everywhere. Poo. In places you could never imagine you would ever find it. She thinks, Do I even have enough wipes to handle this? The monkey pants are an unwilling sacrifice. Who knows if the onesie can be saved. She can hardly find the diaper in all that poo. But the fact that it was silent and enormous is really not what you, Dear Reader, should take away from this. Those factors are disturbing but not as uncommon as the inexperienced diaper changer might think. No, the most terrifying part of the whole ordeal was how the diaper completely blew out in the front. No poo up Baby's back. No smears on his bottom. But hideous, orange poo obliterating his thighs and knees. Physically possible? Apparently. Perplexing? Absolutely.

Sweet Baby J

Baby D's cousin is finally here! We are all super excited to meet Baby J tonight. Please say a little prayer for this brand new baby and his brand new parents!

a little Middlemarch on Monday

The tenacity with which he strove to hide this inward drama made it the more vivid for him; as we hear with the more keenness what we wish others not to hear. Instead of wondering at this result of misery in Mr. Casaubon, I think it quite ordinary. Will not a tiny speck very close to our vision blot out the glory of the world, and leave only a margin by which we see the blot? I know no speck so troublesome as self.

thankful

Sometimes you just have a wonderful day, with beautiful August weather, phone conversations that deepen friendships, and afternoons with caring relatives. And then your son smiles at a silly dance you do. And you are so, so grateful for it all.

a little Middlemarch on Monday

"It was certainly a hasty speech, my dear," said Mrs. Garth, with whom speaking evil of dignities was a high misdemeanor. "We should not value our Vicar the less because there was a ridiculous curate in the next parish."

"There's something in what she says, though," said Caleb, not disposed to have Mary's sharpness undervalued. "A bad workman of any sort makes his fellows mistrusted. Things hang together," he added, looking on the floor and moving his feet uneasily with a sense that words were scantier than thoughts.

"Clearly," said the Vicar, amused. "By being contemptible we set men's minds to the tune of contempt."

The Things I Don't Regret

This mom lost her son to drug addiction...a sad, beautiful post.

It makes the sleepless nights and cranky days a little easier to bear.

Happy 3 Month Birthday, Baby D!

Three months! Where o where does the time go? Looking back through my log of old posts, I realized that I had written one on his 1 and 2 month birthdays, and never finished/published them. So this post combines all three into a super-mega-fantastic post. So let's work our way backwards, shall we? Here we are, Baby D, three months after the day you were born. I used to call you Little Man because of your old man hairline but now you really are a little man! You smile and respond and laugh and coo; you can hold your head up (somewhat) and you can even support some of your own body weight on your legs! We don't even swaddle you anymore, so we find you in all sorts of crazy places all over your crib when we check on you at night. Boy do you like to travel around your bed! But not in the car - you hate the carseat, with its confining belts and gadgets. Even a baby mirror and my singing can only entertain you for so long before you start to wail - a horrible noise that you really only make when strapped into that seat. Which makes me want to cry, because I can't pick you up! But you're really just not that into crying (except at the end of a very long day). Instead, you have this kind of yell, like you're calling out to us - hey, feed me! entertain me! love me! You're just a happy kid who likes to spend time with people, even if it's just sitting on the front porch and watching the trees move in the breeze. And I could spend all day with you, Baby D, watching you smile at the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whew! Happy 2 months, Baby D! All three of us have survived many, many sleep deprived (but wonderful!) days. And now you smile! You coo! You're actually quite chatty. You like to watch light and shadows, stare out windows, take baths before bedtime, play with your hands, and kick your legs constantly. It's like you woke up one morning and realized there's a whole big world out there. We have to carry you facing away from us now, so you can look at absolutely everything while we tote you around. But you still love to snuggle and be held while you fall asleep - thank goodness! I wouldn't want my little man growing up too fast. As difficult and trying and exhausting as these months have been, there is nothing as delightful and absolutely breathtaking as watching you really come alive and find the world around you. Even a ceiling fan or a leaf blowing in the breeze is mesmerizing when you contemplate it the way a baby does. And it's even more enthralling and magical to watch the baby as he watches the world. Thank you for this gift, Baby D.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baby D is finally one month old! Part of me can hardly believe it's been a month already, and part of me feels like it has been forever. It's been a rough four weeks - we're all waiting anxiously for that first smile to reward us for all the late nights and endless diaper changes. But there are little glimmers of development along the way - he grabbed my shirt! he held his head up for 10 seconds instead of 5! he noticed himself in the mobile mirror! Something so small seems so big when you witness a human doing it for the first time ever. I can't wait to see what's coming next, D.

Why Do I Have A Feeling This is Headed Our Way?

H is for Huuuuuuge

Gives New Meaning to the Phrase "Going to the Dogs"

Uh yeah. There are really no words. Except, who else is not surprised that it's a female Anglican pastor?

Why was a dog in church in the first place?
First Things weighs in

Maybe It's Just Because I Follow So Many Catholic Mommy Blogs...

...but the posts I read always seem to be wonderfully overlapping. Here are two from two blogs I always enjoy:

A Woman's Place on the vocation of Mothermood at Mass
Betty Duffy on the Holy kindness of strangers


Our son is still charmingly well-behaved at Mass (for a 3 month old who loves to be constantly bounced or walked, he politely allows himself to be cradled in our laps with nary a squeak. Ok, maybe a tiny squeak. But he is so darn cute that even the most hardened elderly parishioner's icy glare melts when they turn around in their pew and see him calmly batting his eyelashes at them.) Anyway, the occasional Sunday when either my husband or I need to quickly bring Baby D to the cry room (or outside, like at our previous church which lacked such a room) always makes me think, should there really be a designated place to store our children so the Mass can continue in peace? I'm all for removing a screaming child from the situation (and we've all experienced the ear-piercing wail of our own child or another's at Mass) but why is there a special spot, a kind of limbo, where a parent and child can tangentially experience the Mass without annoying another parishioners? And what of those parents who completely bypass the pews and begin Mass behind the soundproof glass - will this be my husband and I someday? And why don't churches built before the 60s have these magic rooms? Hmmmm....

On the Feast of St. Martha

Father Z reminds us to both listen and work.

A comment on this post:

One of the things that I loved about Mass, when I decided to convert, was that there are crying babies and toddlers there - believe it or not! It just seems like the whole human family is there, and that's so precious. I was proud of those parents for bringing their children - everyone should be.

A related story: One time, at an RCIA prayer meeting, a mother had to bring her toddler. The toddler started a tantrum and the mother apologized profusely. Our wonderful priest smiled and said, "Don't apologize. She's acting the same way Jesus acted at that age." Those words have always stuck with me; I hope maybe they can bring a smile (or at least a bit of peace!) to you.

"I have Kevin Costner on the phone...He'll know what to do!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM

2 Posts in 2 Days

You may have noticed that I have added three new buttons to the side bar on the right. ---->

(Scroll down. Keep going. You'll see them.)

They're three super neat online shops hosted (and supplied with super cute handmade products!) by three ladies. After drooling over the ruffled adorableness and personalized necklaces for far too long (wasting precious baby nap minutes), I decided to stick the buttons over there -----> so others could appreciate the handiwork.

And hey, in this economy, with this president, and this idea of stimulus, small businesses can use all the help they can get. We might all be forced to open our own online shops soon.

Well, except for us SAHMs. Yay job security.

Looks Like Two Tiny People Can Have a Giant Baby

Not that my husband and I are all that tiny (we're both slightly above average height, though a bit on the skinny side), and not that Baby D is ginormous, but he is certainly not the average sized baby we assumed we would have.

Obligatory baby stat info:

Length: 24 1/2 inches - 97th percentile
Weight: 13 lb. 6 oz. - 90th percentile
Head: 40.5 cm - 75th percentile


Keep in mind that this kid was born 8 lb. , 22 in. And he is certainly not drinking formula.
I know. It's a mystery to us, too.
Our little basketball player!

Not that many people actually read this blog, but to those of you who check in occasionally, sorry I have been MIA! Apparently raising a child actually takes a lot of work. Who knew? Even though he has been sleeping better, and is currently napping in his swing, I have no brain power to write anything of value. (Note how I can't even produce a title for this entry.) So here's an interesting tidbit about where your money is going, written by someone else.

Whoever's Afraid of Labor...

...should really fear the first 3 weeks. Yikes!

On My "To Read" List

Father Euteneuer's latest Human Life International email newsletter is about a book that seems to be popping up everywhere recently: Brian Gail's Fatherless. It's a novel that "takes on the pervasive moral issues of our day... contraception, adultery, pornography, demonic influence and more. This book provides a realistic and up-close look at what happens to a culture that is left spiritually 'Fatherless'." The novel is endorsed by Dr. Janet Smith, Fr. Euteneuer, and the late Fr. Richard John Neuheus. I usually shy away from modern fiction in general, but especially pieces that are purposely religion driven (that slightly weird section of Barnes & Noble that's a subset of the Christian shelves, anyone?). They tend to be cheesy, awkward, and fairly boring. If Fr. Neuheus liked Fatherless, though, I am more than eager to get a copy. 


Also: 

• Fr. Euteneuer's newsletter

• the Fatherless website

Priorities

My life goals include, but are not limited to:

1. helping my husband and children get to Heaven
2. never, ever wearing mom jeans

A Story

There is the story of a Franciscan priest who was desperately running to catch a bus. He made it up the steps just before the doors closed shut behind him and plopped down exhausted, proclaiming loudly, "God is good!" A little old lady sitting next to him smiled and said, "Yes... and He would be just as good if you didn't catch the bus!"

Help

Still pregnant. STILL pregnant. Still pregnant.

After months of announcing "April 24th" in response to due date questions, it is now April 27th, and here we are, baby clothes and diapers stacked and waiting.

Where oh where is my baby?

Blog to Check Out

http://corner.nationalreview.com/ brings a new blog to everyone's attention: Obamacare Fail . Its writers are working to "make sure that you know the effects of President Obama’s universal healthcare scheme on Americans throughout the country."

Keep Your Laws Off My Body

Can someone please explain to me why abortion falls under the category of "things I choose to do with my body and thus must be protected by the right to privacy" but the FDA can tell me (rather, restaurants and manufacturers) how much sodium should be allowed in the foods I choose to eat? This is why government regulation in health care is such a slippery slope - once a country makes it the business of the elected officials (and some unelected, as the case may be) to oversee the health of its constituents, the tentacles of regulation and restriction find their way into every aspect of our lives. Wait, do leviathans have tentacles?

Verdict: Not Gay Enough

Thank you, Mark Steyn, for unearthing yet another gem:

It's come to this:

Veteran Rep. Babette Josephs (D., Phila.) last Thursday accused her primary opponent, Gregg Kravitz, of pretending to be bisexual in order to pander to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender voters, a powerful bloc in the district.

"I outed him as a straight person," Josephs said during a fund-raiser at the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant...

Kravitz, 29, said that he is sexually attracted to both men and women and called Josephs' comments offensive...

"We've hit a new high point when candidates are accused of pretending to be gay to win a seat," said Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News.

Hmm. Now you mention it, I wonder if Barney Frank isn't just putting it on...

UPDATE: In related news:

Three bisexual men are suing a national gay-athletic organization, saying they were discriminated against during the Gay Softball World Series held in the Seattle area two years ago.

The three Bay Area men say the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance in essence deemed them not gay enough to participate in the series.

Gregg Kravitz should try that if he loses the primary.

I Can't Believe I Missed Equal Pay Day!

There I was, blissfully loafing around like the very pregnant lady that I am, and I somehow managed to miss Equal Pay Day! It's so hard to stay on top of these things when you no longer live on a campus and no one actually cares what the feminists have to say. The official holiday was on Tuesday, and is meant to "'symbolize how far into 2010 women must work to earn what men earned in 2009,' says the National Committee on Pay Equity."

How does the enlightened individual celebrate such a holiday, you ask? Why, with the feminist trifecta, of course: rallies, speak-outs, and bake sales. Nothing says "I deserve a higher salary" like a chocolate chip cookie baked with love. Equal Pay Day is also a great excuse to indulge in some (legal) substance abuse: "NOW suggests women gather together at local bars for “Un-happy Hours” where they can share their dissatisfactions. 'See if a local bar, club, or restaurant (try the women-owned ones first!) will give you drink specials [where] women pay 78% of their tabs and men pay 100%'." Women are allowed to own bars now?! Wow, thanks feminists!

Anyway, Christina Hoff Sommers of AEI takes the feminists to task over the idea that women earn 22% less than men for doing the same work.

Whitney Houston, Reincarnate...Or Something

It should say something about the very late stage of my pregnancy that this clip made me cry.

I love how even in Taiwan you can tell exactly who's supposed to be Simon, Paula, and Randy.

I heard that he still got voted off, though. Harsh.

Vindication!

My husband was pretty excited to find this post over on the First Things blog yesterday. He and I have about five giant bookcases in our small one-bedroom apartment... and that doesn't even account for the books we have squirreled away at our parents' homes. To be frank, we love books. Like, really love them. Old books, new books... I enjoy just looking at all their spines, ready and waiting for someone to pluck them off their sagging shelves. I adore reading with and to children, and we've already started a small collection of books to enjoy with Baby Boy once he decides to arrive...assuming he savors the written word as much as his parents.

The First Things post is about a study which finds that “Growing up in a home with 500 books would propel a child 3.2 years further in education, on average, than would growing up in a similar home with few or no books. This is a large effect, both absolutely and in comparison with other influences on education,” adds the research team, led by University of Nevada sociologist M.D.R. Evans. “A child from a family rich in books is 19 percentage points more likely to complete university than a comparable child growing up without a home library.”

Now, to me, this just seems obvious. Children take their cues from the world around them, and if Mommy and Daddy spend hours a day watching television, then the children tacitly understand that television is highly valued. Children have far more common sense than we give them credit for - just take a look around you the next time you're at Mass. Find the children who don't kneel or sing along or reverently receive the Eucharist - are Mommy and Daddy kneeling or singing along or reverent? It follows that a home with books (and not just as decoration, but as something read and shared and discussed) will foster children who see that reading and thinking are worthwhile endeavors.

Rosary Giveaway

The writer over at A Woman's Place just opened an Etsy shop, and is having a rosary giveaway to celebrate! Check out her blog and find out how to earn some entries. She's also got great posts on everything from the recent developments with the Pope to being a young Catholic mom. Highly recommended!

You Know You're Nine Months Pregnant When....

you drop something on the floor and think, "Do I really need that?"

Ode on a Pair of Ankles

Thou still unravish'd bones of shapeliness,

 Thou joints of early pregnancy,

With definition, between calf and tarsals.

 One can see where a leg ends, the graceful foot begins.

No concern for elevation of lower extremities,

Everything looks as it should.

But the passage of time, the gaining of weight,

  And soon the ankle stays for just a short time,

Just the precious first few moments of the day.

 Whose cankles are these? What sausages that pass for toes?

 What blood must be pooled in these?
What water must be retained, to reach that impossible size?

O elevate them! raise them up! with pillow      

Or ottoman or arm of sofa.           

Will they never be two separate forms again,

Thou, once slender foot? thou idyllic calf?

As the third trimester progresses,          

And due date approaches,         

Cankles shall remain, and swelling doth increase.          

And I am forced to admit:                                                           

'Beauty is ankles, ankles beauty, - that is all        

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'

Low-Emission Unicorns were My Idea

Powered by rainbows.

Who Knew?

Some of the (less gross) things I have learned can happen during pregnancy:

• Your brain turns to absolute mush. Take this conversation between me and the husband: 

Me: The only thing left to set up is...that thing that goes with the stroller...you know...and then in the car...what's it called? Husband: You mean the car seat?
Me: Yes! I knew it wasn't a car chair, but for the life of me...

• Depth perception? Gone. Clumsiness? Off the charts. I find myself holding an object and going to put it on the table or counter, only to smash it into some other item that's already there. This happens constantly. 
• You can be hungrier or thirstier than you ever thought possible, but your stomach can be so squashed that there is just nowhere to put it. 
• Putting on socks and shoes becomes nearly impossible. You eventually just give up and opt for slippers.
• Sometimes all you want to eat are chicken nuggets. Every day. For lunch. With mustard. 

There are more, but my mush brain forgot all the funny things I had planned to say.

Casting Stones

Jimmy Akin does a great job of clearly describing the details of the case that is the focus of the recent sex abuse hysteria.

It is still fascinating to me that publications like the New York Times can spiral downward into the realm of tabloid sensationalism, hardly conducting legitimate research or verifying sources - editors of high school newspapers appear to have higher standards. As Akin notes, the NYT ultimately shoots itself in the foot by providing links to some primary source documents that pertain to the case. Savvy readers of the sources can come to their own conclusions, after sifting through the mud that serves as unbiased reporting in NY.

As disturbing and frustrating as some facts of the case are, and as tempting as it is to bury one's head in the sand and pray that the articles and hysteria just go away, it is ultimately important that Catholics do two things: (1) Pray for everyone involved in the scandal, from abused to abusers to Catholics with the courage to speak out against the mistreatment of the Pope and (2) Make ourselves as knowledgeable about the case as possible because when others ask you about the facts or make rude comments, which they will, we need to be armed and ready.

Let me end by saying that I in no way condone any misconduct on the part of the Catholic Church, especially where the abuse of its youngest members are concerned. I do take umbrage, however, at the way in which so-called journalists, New Atheists, and others of a similar stripe rabidly snatch at any and all things negative that can be associated with the Church and boldly broadcast them as "fact." You can practically hear them giggling with glee at the thought that they contributed to the witch hunt that may finally take down the monolithic Catholic Church.


Also:

• A Woman's Place offers some good articles on the NYT and their litany of lies
• Scroll down for Father Z's continued commentary on the hysteria
• Father Longenecker lets Dick Dawkins in on the debate
• The Curt Jester reminds us of Psalm 52

Food for Thought, on a Meat-Less Friday

• "Detachment is supposed to be painful." 
• "Detachment from things gives us the freedom we need to follow Christ.  Goods are only the means." 
• "Less is more. Everything added to Jesus dilutes him."

A Sampling of Sowell

First, Thomas Sowell on the fickle American memory and what it means for Democrats' success.

And second, Sowell on the phrase "Garbage in, garbage out."


Does anyone else just love this guy? I mean, look at those glasses!

FYI, Congressman Stupak

As Richard Doerflinger notes over at The Catholic Thing, an executive order from President Obama is not enough to ensure that the health care bill doesn't use federal funds for abortions:

"According to [decades of federal appellate rulings], such health legislation creates a statutory requirement for abortion funding, unless Congress clearly forbids such funding. That is why the Hyde amendment was needed in 1976, to stop Medicaid from funding 300,000 abortions a year. The statutory mandate construed by the courts would override any executive order or regulation ... Only a change in the law enacted by Congress, not an executive order, can begin to address this very serious problem in the legislation."

Wow. No one saw that coming. Except maybe Mr. Stupak...?


Also:

• William Saunders asks why we need an executive order when the Dems and the President told us the bill excludes federal funding for abortion... 

"My mom says average people are the most special people of all. And that's why God made so many of them." - Michael Scott

Betty Draper, World's Greatest Mom

I can only hope to be half as awesome a mom as Betty Draper. Minus the drinking and smoking during pregnancy, of course.

See Betty's Guide to Parenting.

Mmmmmm Dispensation....

Rejoice meat-loving, practicing Catholics!

Turns out the Solemnity of St. Joseph falls on a Friday this year (next Friday, to be exact) as the blogger over at Whispers in the Loggia is quick to point out. So, thanks to Canon 1251, which says that "abstinence from meat is to be observed... unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday," looks like we can all celebrate St. Joseph the way he was meant to be: with a steak.

If you're stuck for some culinary ways to rejoice (with or without meat), check out this post over at Catholic Cuisine. Scroll down to find the recipes for St. Joseph and enjoy!

From:	Brian Burch - CatholicVoteAction
Date sent	03/09/2010 09:03:38 am
Subject:	Are You Ready to Pay?
Dear CatholicVote Member, See the picture to the right? That building is Planned Parenthood’s newest abortion “super center” opened last month in Houston, Texas, and is the largest abortion facility in the western hemisphere. The massive 78,000 square foot facility also includes a surgical wing to provide late-term abortions. Why is this significant? Because if President Obama’s healthcare bill passes, your tax dollars could help fund this “community health center” and others like it. President Obama has set March 18 as the date for a final House vote on the Senate pro-abortion healthcare bill. Speaker Pelosi is giving pro-life Democrats and Republicans no chance to amend the pro-abortion Senate healthcare plan. It’s take it or leave it. In addition to other loopholes, their plan includes as much as $11 billion over 5 years for “community health centers” including Planned Parenthood clinics like the one in Houston.  Enter the Stupak 12 Rep. Bart Stupak and a coalition of pro-life Democrats are now standing in the way. These courageous representatives have vowed to vote against any legislation that does not explicitly exclude taxpayer funding for abortion providers, or insurance companies that provide abortion. Without these votes, the healthcare “reform” legislation might not pass. CatholicVote is working feverishly to stop this legislation from going forward. We were told yesterday that the pressure being placed on these pro-life representatives is overwhelming. They are hearing from their pro-abortion colleagues and pro-abortion groups that stand to profit from this legislation. But have they heard from you? Can you place at least 2 calls to any of the representatives listed below? Tell them that millions of people are counting on them to do the right thing. Tell them to stand strong. And tell them you will support them in any way you can. Finally, tell them you are praying for them. Let's make sure they hear from the Catholic vote. Sincerely, Brian Burch, President CatholicVoteAction.org There are no restrictions in the Senate bill on how the money for Community Health Centers can be spent. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius would be empowered to funnel cash to organizations like Planned Parenthood. Is this the kind of healthcare reform that you want? Here is a partial list of those who need to hear from you: Jerry Costello (IL) (618) 233-8026 (202) 225-5661 Kathy Dahlkemper (PA) (814) 456-2038 (202) 225-5406 Joe Donnelly (IN) (574) 288-2780 (202) 225-3915 Steve Driehaus (OH) (513) 684-2723 (202) 225-2216 Brad Ellsworth (IN) (812) 465-6484 (202) 225-4636 Marcy Kaptur (OH) (419) 259-7500 (202) 225-4146 Dale Kildee (MI) (810) 239-1437 (202) 225-3611 Jim Oberstar (MN) (218) 727-7474 (202) 225-6211 Charlie Wilson (OH) (740) 376-0868 (202) 225-5705

The Great Angel Debate

My husband has been having a discussion on another Catholic blog and on his own site about the existence of angels. You can read Zach's post about his side of the debate on Civics Geeks. The friend with whom Zach was originally having this debate comments by saying:

Indeed one cannot be a Catholic and not believe in angels.

Now, the fact that you can't be Catholic and pro-choice I get. And agree with. But this? Ridiculous.

Rejecting angels is in a real way rejecting Christ.

Quite a charge, Zach.

The Bible tells us that there is a very real war being waged, and it worries me that professed Catholics could be so lukewarm about the existence and the nature of the enemy. It is terribly dangerous to see the opposition as simply "deep evil" rather than spiritual beings seeking nothing short of our utter despair and the resignation of our souls.

I don't see it as an either/or. I believe in deep evil that seeks our utter despair and the resignation of our souls; in short, death. I think I take evil much more seriously than people who simply believe in "angels" and "demons" and "possession" and all that. Such people rarely actually identify evil in the world. War? Just part of life. Poverty? We will always have the poor with us. And so on. Evil is not named as evil by the very people who profess to believe in the "demonic."

"For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).

I love this passage and believe every word of it. It's an important verse for Christian radicals. Dig a little deeper and you will find that this is NOT about "angels" or "demons."

And, lest someone be swayed by these comments, here is my response:

Firstly, according to the Fourth Lateran Council, belief in the existence of angels is a dogma of the faith. God "by His almighty power created together in the beginning of time both creatures, the Spiritual and the Corporeal, namely, the Angelic and the earthly, and afterwards, the human as it were a common creature, composed of spirit and body." As Peter Kreeft says in Catholic Christianity, his companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Angels are not mythical but real. They are not an optional addition to the Catholic faith...The life of Christ especially is surrounded by their work (see Catechism 333)" (51). He continues: If the devil is [and by extension, angels are] not real, the Bible lies (see I Pet 5:8), and Christ was a fool, for he certainly believed in demons and in Satan (see, for instance, Luke 10:18)" (52). So, to reject angels is in a very real way to reject Christ, or to at least claim intellectual authority over Him. If, for some reason, you are a Catholic who isn't compelled by dogmas of the faith, the revelation of God, or the testimony of Jesus Christ, ask yourself this: if you believe in God who is an invisible and purely spiritual Being, why would you refuse to believe in angels? if one purely spiritual being can exist, why not another?

Additionally, I'm confused about your statement that you "believe in deep evil that seeks our utter despair and the resignation of our souls." Evil isn't a "thing," because it wasn't created by God. In the way that darkness is a lack of light, evil is a lack of good. It is a turning away from the goodness of God. This turning away is a choice, thus there must be a chooser. As with human free will, angels have the capacity to choose evil (turn away from God), and to tempt and oppress humans (as demons). This is not so much an
argument for spiritual beings as it is an argument against your idea of evil itself seeking our souls.

Finally, I sincerely hope that you don't actually mean that you "take evil much more seriously than people who simply believe in "angels" and "demons" and "possession" and all that." This would be assuming the moral highground over the Church, Tradition, and Jesus Christ.

The Wisdom of Sowell and Lincoln

I just love Thomas Sowell. His articles are always so clear and concise, filled with citations and common sense. He begins this one, Stimulus or Sedative?, with a quotation from another logical thinker, Lincoln:

Abraham Lincoln once asked an audience how many legs a dog has, if you called the tail a leg? When the audience said "five," Lincoln corrected them, saying that the answer was four. "The fact that you call a tail a leg does not make it a leg."

That same principle applies today, says Sowell. The fact that politicians call something a "stimulus" does not make it a stimulus. The fact that they call something a "jobs bill" does not mean there will be more jobs.

 Sowell continues by arguing that the so-called stimulus bill has had the opposite effect of its name, instilling little to no confidence in the private sector. The result? Money dumped into the economy isn't encouraging the American people to spend. Keep reading here.

My Mother's Worst Fear For Me....

Here's an interesting factoid that arrived in my inbox from BabyCenter.com:

A Russian woman holds the record for having the most children. Between 1725 and 1765, she was pregnant 27 times and had 69 children.

Thy Will Be Done, or Multiple Things I've Been Meaning to Post About

..It wasn’t the Lord’s path for me and I have no regrets.

If only we could all be so trusting and selfless! 


Read Kristin Holum's, now Sister Catherine's, story here.

 ----

As my brother-in-law said, "Meat always tastes best on Fridays."

----

Hmmm, considering forwarding this to all the friends and family inquiring about when I'll be returning to work...

"The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, has highlighted the importance of a mother in the home caring for her family and has suggested economic compensation or tax reductions for those women who choose to do this... He observed, 'The self-realization sought by the woman in a job, in a career, in social success has as a cost the renouncement of the marriage and children.' "

----
I can't help but see a connection between these two quotations:

“The human person is a being which does not become itself automatically. Nor does it do so simply by letting itself be carried along and surrendering to the natural gravitational pull of a kind of vegetative life. It becomes itself always and only by struggling against the tendency simply to vegetate and by dint of discipline that is able to rise above the pressures of routine and to liberate the self from the compulsions of utilitarian goals and instincts.” Pope Benedict XVI

"For two of the most perfect and powerful means to becoming a saint are Eucharistic adoration and frequent Holy Communion - not because they are liturgically correct, and not because they are psychologically useful, but because Jesus Christ the saint-maker is present in the Eucharist as He is nowhere else in the world. And wherever He is present, He is active. Even when He waits patiently in the Tabernacle, disguised behind the appearances of a little wafer of bread, He is acting. ('Waiting' is an action too.)"  Peter Kreeft

Let us pray that we can be always active, always struggling against the tendency simply to vegetate.

Some Thoughts..

I was thinking yesterday that being pregnant puts a woman in such a unique position. I think it's really hard to convey to women who haven't ever been pregnant (and to men!) just what it's like. I admit that I used to be more than a little weirded out by the thought that a human being would someday live inside of me. You mean, he just lives in there? And you can't do all of the things you used to do or want to do? And sometimes you can actually feel and SEE him moving? Gross! Ahh, how things and minds change. Anyway, back to the unique position idea. You see, yesterday, after I had written out my Lenten goals, I doubted my success. Father Euteneuer (in the link at the bottom of yesterday's post) warned against an Icarus-like Lenten goal list - quality versus quantity, and such. And I started thinking, Am I really going to go to daily Mass? I certainly have the time, but am I really going to go? Do I actually desire enough to show God my love that I am willing to sacrifice my time every day? Lent always makes me realize how truly selfish I am.

But then another thought struck me - every time I go to Mass, so does my son. Every time I receive Communion, so does my son. Now, I had vaguely thought about this throughout my 7 months of pregnancy, thinking of it more as something the two of us shared than anything else. But yesterday I realized that, while pregnant, if I don't take my son to Mass, no one else will. Really, no one else can. It is my unique duty at this point in my life to bring my son to God's house. Of course, motherhood itself opens a whole new world of opportunities for a woman, as she steps into a role that a dad or other relative could never fill in quite the same way. And others can pray for him, now and after birth. Once he is born, others can take him to church or tell him about the mysteries of the Rosary, or read him the Gospels. But at this moment in time, if I don't sacrifice and take him to Mass, no one else can. What an incredible and awesome responsibility.

Lenten Links and Lofty Goals

I can hardly believe Lent starts tomorrow! It seems like it was just Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, and then New Year's, and then Valentine's Day...and suddenly, after months of excess and overeating, here we are. I don't know about you, but I'm the kind of person for whom deadlines are a double edged sword - they instill a creeping anxiety in me while simultaneously giving me the slap to the face that helps me get things accomplished. At the risk of sounding crass, Lent is like a term paper deadline for me. The thought that we are going to be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus in a little over 40 days is what I need every year to make me reevaluate the way I live my life and take stock of the material excesses and habits that serve to distance me from God. My plan for this Lenten season is:

- cut out watching any television during the day and to fill that time with prayer and/or daily Mass
- make daily prayer with my husband a priority
- eliminate all joking at others' expense (this applies to two particular people who shall remain nameless at this point) and gossip - actually think about what I say before I say it!
- spend free-reading time reading Catholic literature instead of Sherlock Holmes stories, etc.

So that's the plan. I think that making it "public" (for the 3 people who read this blog) will help me stick to it and achieve the personal conversion that is the heart of Lent. 

And to help you with your Lenten journey, here are some good links and articles I dug up while wasting time on the internet:

We Could All Use a Little More Deprivation
Recommended Reading for Lent
Fr. Euteneuer on Wasting Lent
All Your Lenten Questions Answered
More Lenten Reading
Death on a Friday Afternoon

A YouTube Video Is Worth a Thousand Words

Digital food for thought on two of America's most irritating, botoxed, hairsprayed women in politics - one from the national scene and one who aspires to the same:

1. Not that I'm Jack Cafferty's #1 fan or anything,  but as Laura Ingraham said about The Situation Room correspondent, "Even a stopped clock is right twice a day." Here he tells Wolf Blitzer how he really feels about Nancy Pelosi. Amen, Cafferty.

2. If you're not familiar with Massachusetts politics (or Massachusettes, as Coakley seems to think it's spelled), a special election next week will determine who will fill the Senate seat formerly known as "Ted Kennedy's." Scott Brown (R) has taken on Martha Coakley (D); his election would be a massive upset for Democrats on a national level, and a triumph in a state that is so ridiculously left-leaning that Coakley barely had to wage a campaign for the seat - or so she thought. As her public appearances (though few and far between) consistently show how uninformed and pathetic she is, Brown is seriously closing the gap. To add insult to Coakley's injury, one of her staffers recently assaulted a reporter from The Weekly Standard who attempted to question Coakley about her statement that "there are no more Taliban in Afghanistan." She reponds with, "I'm sorry, does anyone else have a question?" and her staffer responds by shoving the reporter to the ground. Politics as usual in Massachusettes - after all, the race is for the Kennedy seat. The reporter's last name? No, not Kopechne.

Back to Basics

I always thought that I was a bit old school, even before I really committed to Catholicism. I felt uncomfortable in immodest clothing; I enjoyed cooking for people and liked family dinners; I preferred to read a book instead of watching tv; I thought Amish people were interesting; even swearing felt forced...the list goes on.

I like simpler things. I assumed I was just weird.

But today I learned about a movement called voluntary simplicity! The blogger at A Woman's Place... noted that she is reading a book called Back to Basics, I clicked on the Amazon link, and was immediately intrigued. Apparently the general concept of voluntary simplicity has lots of levels (I'm not the kind of person who's going to start using an outhouse! Let's be serious.), and people choose to pursue simple living for many reasons - a cursory Google search leads me to believe that most of these simplicity seekers are anti-consumerist or those trying to reduce their carbon footprints. I really don't fall into either of those categories. But for those of us (like the blogger at A Woman's Place) who strive to live an authentically Catholic life, reducing our dependency on material goods and earthly affirmations of our worth could only be a positive thing. This makes me think of the number of Catholic speakers I've listened to (Peter Kreeft, Matthew Kelly) who talk about people being slaves to technology - tv, cell phones, ipods, Facebook. These things are created to make our lives easier, simpler, more efficient - but they end up consuming chunks of our day, until there is no time for prayer or talk or authentic relationships with those around us.

Zach, I would be interested to see if/how the simpler life fits in with Pieper's Leisure.

This post, interestingly enough, coincides with the week that my husband and I have decided to cancel our cable services - Comcast has increased our prices and, while saving for our home, it just seems ludicrous to waste money on a luxury like HDTV. Thus begins our journey into the depths of voluntary simplicity...

At Skip Hop, "we're in tune with the cool person you were before parenthood."

What if I wasn't cool, even before parenthood? Where are the products for those of us who are lame to begin with? That's what I want to know. Don't these companies understand that some people are just normal? Thanks for pouring salt on the wound.

Skip Hop seems to think that having a kid (MAYBE two. But seriously, isn't one enough?) is something cool people have all agreed can now be added to the 'hot' column of some cosmic 'hot or not' list. I guess it does open up a new realm of Facebook groups to join and events to attend. And yeah, it would be pretty sweet if my kid could be "cooler" than I ever was (having set the bar pretty low should help him in that arena), but I'll spend my efforts on developing a moral, God-loving (and fearing) child instead.

Anyway, check out their website and you'll see what I'm complaining about.

Although I do really want the funky farmyard activity gym and the build-a-barn blocks....

Mind Control

As part of a New Year's resolution to become more familiar with the word of God, my husband and I have decided to start our own little Bible study. Our process is inspired by a combination of a blogpost on the First Things website and a talk we received from Lighthouse Catholic Media by Matthew Kelly called "Building Better Families." The First Things post is called "How to Change Your Mind," and its author makes the bold claim that following his four step program will transform your life - not in the way that a January detox program will rid you of non-organic toxins in your colon, or some "Auras for Dummies" book from the New Age section at BN will help you determine the color of your own chakra. Nope. Following his advice, he says, will transform your life by helping you to truly internalize the message that is meant to give us real peace and shed light on the real purpose of our lives. What are these magic 4 steps, you ask? Simple:

1. Choose a book of the Bible
2. Read it in its entirety.
3. Repeat step #2 twenty times.
4. Repeat this process for all books of the Bible.

Easy enough! As the author says, Christians often talk about having a Biblical worldview yet most have only a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible. They attempt to build a framework without first gathering the lumber and cement needed to create a solid foundation. The benefits of following this process should therefore be obvious. By fully immersing yourself into the text you’ll come to truly know the text. You’ll deepen your understanding of each book and knowledge of the the Bible as a whole. So true. And so simple. If you're going to have a religion based on the word of God, you should probably be familiar with that word. Just a thought.

Anyway, you can check out his post for more detailed info. about how to go about this process, and a list of of NT and OT books from shortest to longest. My husband and I have started with the Letters of John (since the author recommends working shortest to longest, NT to OT). We read all three of them last night, and will try to read them each night for a week, moving on to the next shortest book when this week is over.

For someone like me, who is torn between having too little familiarity with the Bible and being overwhelmed by the thought of plunging in, solo, on page 1, I think this little experiment is going to work really well - if my husband and I can just stick to the regimen. So what does God give us? A little encouragement - today's NT reading for daily Mass is from John's first letter. Looks like I might be on the right track...

Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4-6).

This is my inaugural post! Welcome to my blog, where I'll write about things I read in books, ideas I find on the internet, how super cool it is to be a 20-something Catholic, stuff I talk about with my husband, and how our Baby Boy (due April 24!) is doing.

Try to control your excitement.