O’er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

Virginia Veteran Wins Battle to Keep His Flagpole in Yard:

Warner and Sen. Jim Webb, both Virginia Democrats, had rallied behind Barfoot, a World War II veteran.

In a letter last week, Webb urged the association to “consider the exceptional nature of Col. Barfoot’s service when considering his pride and determination in honoring our flag.”

So, if you aren’t a Medal of Honor recipient, fat chance getting Virginia Democrats to support you in your efforts to fly the nation’s symbol in your yard.

As a side note, our new house in Georgia happens to have a flagpole in the front. He has a light shining on the flag so you don’t have to take it down, but perhaps my Scouting sons will want to do daily flag ceremonies. We’ll need to add an artillary piece and play Retreat every evening.

My St. Nicholas Gift

Last night we had an incident. It was a day of incidents involving a certain mischievous toddler who is learning that mother is not amused by her foraging into the open bag of sugar or by her dumping spices all over the kitchen and dining room floors. But last night, we had the granddaddy of incidents.

I was trying to read the three books we have on St. Nicholas to interested children. Several children were drawing pictures for St. Nicholas on the dining room table. Peter had “messed up” and “needed” White-Out. I have had my perfectionist children utilize this substance when their schoolwork – written in ink – has needed correction. Very quickly they turned to it for every little mistake, even ones done in pencil. They even used it to decorate their Halloween pumpkins. I keep telling them it is not paint. And I keep telling them they need to keep it capped and out of little hands. They do not heed me.

As I was reading, I looked up, and Mary had joined those at the table doing art work. “Is there anything on the table for her to get into?” I asked, completely forgetting about the White-Out. They assured me it was safe. Not five minutes later, a cry of alarm went up. Sure enough, she had spilled it and had used it as finger paint on the table.

What followed was a flurry of activity as children were ordered to clean the table with paper towels and Goof-Off (I am almost out of this fantastic cleaner), and I attempted to wash the stuff off the baby’s hands and arms and had to use Goof-Off there, too. After all this was done, I walked past the table to throw something away before resuming my reading, and that’s when I saw the other pool of white liquid at the other end of the table. This one was even bigger and incorporated a sizable section of my favorite tablecloth which had been pushed back to allow for drawing on the wood surface. To say I was upset would be an understatement.

Story time was over. Children were instructed to clean up the few scattered toys and to begin the rosary while I cleaned the mess. And then off to bed with them.

I did hear whispering, and Fritz asked me how to make scrambled eggs, an unusual question from an eleven year old boy at bedtime. Thus I was not overly surprised when I heard noises in the kitchen early this morning. I was, though, surprised at the hour: 4:50 AM. My boys do not generally get up before 6 AM. I remained in bed as long as the tot, who joined me around midnight, would allow, which was about an hour longer.

Despite expecting breakfast, I was nevertheless surprised by the magnitude. The table was set for all of us. Orange juice had been made from the frozen concentrate. Coffee was poured (and cold – Fritz doesn’t seem to understand that some things are meant to be consumed at a temperature above room temperature). Sausage was made. Eggs were made (also cold, and not at all tasty…I did my best to eat them and then suggested he have a hands-on lesson another day). Bread was toasted, and waffles, which he does know how to do, were in process (the plain were done and he was working on the chocolate chip).

The boys had set their alarm for 4:30 AM knowing that I am usually up by 5 AM. The girls had been in on the planning, but when the boys tried to get them up to help with the execution, my sleeping beauties had blearily sat at the table and then escaped back to their soft beds the first moment the boys turned their backs.

“Did you do this for the feast of St. Nicholas?” I asked Billy.

“Yes…and because we’re sorry about the table cloth,” he replied.

I had forgiven them, of course. A tablecloth is, after all, merely a tablecloth. I am so very thankful for these wonderful children who are beginning to learn that just saying sorry doesn’t fix destroyed property, but who are willing to put in such extra effort to mend a relationship strained by their negligence.

And I am thankful for the mercies of God Who forgives me my anger. And I shall see what extra effort I can take today to make up for my own misdeeds.

In the meantime, White-Out is now banned and any rogue containers I find will be confiscated and thrown in the garbage.

The stockings were hung by the front door with care

My dearest Fritz, Billy, Katie, Jenny, Peter & Mary,

Advent is a special time of year: the preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. With less than 20 days before that wonderful day, you have much to do. But I know that you are getting ready for something else: the return of your father. Keep up the prayers as your voices join those of the saints. I know it is hard but you need to keep faith in the Lord that all will be well. This has been a difficult year with many changes ahead for next, but with prayer you will be ready for them. Continue to be kind and generous and always share, particularly when it is most difficult. Decorate your house nicely to remind yourself of the coming of the Light of the Lord and live every moment filled with God’s love. I have left you a few items as tokens to help you prepare for Christmas. They are reminders of the gifts our Lord gives us every day. May the Lord bless you all the days of your lives, and may you grow in love and kindness.

Sincerely,

St. Nicholas

Oh, please run for President

Santorum: Conservatives Must Battle ‘Toxic Tide’ of Pop Culture more than Politics:

“Following the dinner Santorum stressed to LifeSiteNews.com that conservatives ‘do a lousy job of financing the cultural movement.’ ‘We are an entertainment information culture, and if we just focus on the politics, we focus on just a very small sliver of American life,’ he said.

‘That’s where America is, and if we don’t meet them there, we’re not going to meet America.'”

Amen!

Like putting lipstick on the Grim Reaper

Michigan Abortion Facility Advertizes Abortion as “Sacred Work”:

“The narrator in the recently released video goes on to say: ‘If you have made the decision to have an abortion, and are having a hard time feeling good about yourself, and remembering that you are a good person, let us remind you and help you see the goodness in yourself and your choice.

‘You are a good woman, doing the best you can in your situation.'”

The article says that the facility has a spa-like atmosphere with low lights and aromatherapy.

Hard, courageous decisions never make you feel bad about yourself. If what you are doing is making you sick to your stomach, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it.

Heading for home

Awesome friend of the day award goes to Christie who drove the half hour to my house to open the door for the Dell technician. I go home to an Internet connection. It only took three weeks. Dell emailed me a “satisfaction” survey a few days ago, and the next day emailed me a reminder. If there is a place to put open comments, I look forward to pointing out the ridiculousness of emailing a survey to a customer with a broken computer.

Awesome friend of the week award goes to Laurie who has welcomed the 7 of us into her home and even let the dog stay here. She has been just as consumed with finding me a house as I have. And I think she’s just as sick of it as I am. My last task before I leave here today is to do the final arrangements with the owner of the house right down the street. This place is almost perfect. The only drawback is that there are only three bedrooms, and if the third bedroom were as enormous as the second bedroom, it really would be perfect. Fortunately, the living space is so generous and well planned, that the sleeping space should not be a significant issue.

And how can you beat living a short walk from another military, Catholic, homeschool family with whom you enjoy spending time?

Today’s adventure is…

…house hunting. Ugh.

I have left Florida and am in rainy Georgia. There is a house for rent down the street from my friend. I will definitely have to check it out. My husband’s guidance is #1: a good neighborhood for the kids, #2: a big enough house (note that he’d sacrifice living space for kids’ playmates…of course, he only spends a fraction of his day in the house), #3: commute time. My priorities are the exact opposite.

FYI: my Dell computer is STILL broken. I am NOT a happy camper.