02.07.09
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Real Women, Real Saints

I have finally finished reading Real Women, Real Saints by Gina Loehr. This book compiles brief accounts of the lives of 100 people (99 women and one husband) and concludes with a short chapter on the Queen of All Saints. The saints (*) surveyed come from various backgrounds, from all vocations (single, married, religious), and from all time periods (early martyrs to 20th century models of virtue).

Unlike many compilations, this book arranges the saints thematically based on how they exemplify the virtues of faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. Although the information about each saint is limited, it delivers a targeted message on how real women have managed to live virtuous lives.

Gina Loehr’s subtitle, Friends for your Spiritual Journey, is apt. In these pages you will find women who suffered joyfully. Many were the victims of violence (torture, rape, incest), many were notorious sinners, many came from or inherited dysfunctional families. All encountered the same trials that make the command ‘Love thy neighbor’ so difficult to follow. Their steadfast adherence to the virtues encourages us to do the same.

As an example, Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837) was married to a man of such violent temper he was known to grab the corner of the tablecloth and yank the entire meal to the floor if something displeased him. Although I doubt I would ever be as patient in my response if my husband pulled a trick like that, her devotion to making her home a calm and loving one is worthy of emulation, and any wife facing a tantruming husband can find spiritual support in Anna Maria.

This book review was a long time in coming, because I do not think this book is best when read quickly. I imagined myself like a teacher grading 15 student essays that all answered the question, “How does your saint demonstrate the virtue of charity?” when I sat for an hour and read that chapter all the way through. It is better taken one saint at a time, perhaps one a day as part of one’s spiritual meditation.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for any woman’s library, and I think it would make an excellent gift for teachers, or lay ministers, or perhaps that new mom who needs something to read while she’s nursing her infant.

This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Real Women, Real Saints.

(*) The term “saint” is broadly applied in this review. Some of the women are “Servants of God,” some are “Venerable,” and some are “Blessed”, official Church titles for the stages preceding “Saint.” Each person’s “rank” is clearly given in her biography and the table of contents.

02.06.09
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YOU are GREAT!

Really! You are amazing!

Take the time, 16 1/2 minutes, to watch this video. It’s a love story that will make you smile and make you want to make other people smile.

“You paid for parking, just for me?” (Trust me. It’s a romantic line.)

It’s Friday. Perhaps work or the kids or life in general has been beating you up this week. Watch this video. Instead of yelling at the kids to get dressed for the 5th time this morning, you will generously point out shirts that complement their eyes. Instead of being annoyed at their blankets and robes being strewn about the house, you will praise their creative tepee building skills.

Really. It’s an awesome video. And I saw it first over at June Cleaver After a Six-Pack who is, herself, an amazing woman. Funny. Strong. Incredible. Amazing!

02.06.09
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Solidarity

In an effort to have greater empathy for the suffering unemployed in America, I have turned my thermostats down to 50 degrees. The four older kids huddled in one bedroom with an electric heater, and the little ones snuggled in my bed with the electric blanket cranked on high. We’re cold, but our hearts are warmed with fraternal love.

OK, apparently, we’re out of heating oil.

I thought the company said they would return automatically and fill us up when needed, but I guess not. Of course, one never discovers things like this at a reasonable hour, say, noon. Nope. Bedtime is a better time, right?

I sure hope they’ll be able to make my delivery before lunchtime. Solidarity has its limits.

**Update: After bottoming out around 51 degrees, we’re on the way up.

Heating Oil Delivery Man: Wow. I can’t believe you guys have gone since October without a fill. It’s February!

Me: Yeah, I thought you guys were supposed to come automatically?

HODM: We are!

Me: Okaaaay……???????

See, honey, it’s not my fault.

02.04.09
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Sad news

Several years ago, I flippantly blogged that a book by Michael Dubruiel was “doing nothing” for me. I was embarrassed when the author left a comment. Blog Lesson #427: do not write anything that you wouldn’t say to a person’s face. I could have been more diplomatic.

Later that year, I redeemed myself by highly recommending his novena book, (Mention Your Request Here): The Church’s Most Powerful Novenas. I do love this book, and it is the first place I turn in times of desperation. Michael kindly sent me the newer edition when it was released.

This morning I learned that Michael Dubruiel died suddenly yesterday. My condolences to Amy Welborn and her children. This is such sad news.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

02.02.09
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Name that Poem

Peter says, “the crowing of the cock, and the barking of the farmer’s dog…what comes next, Mommy?”

And I say, “And felt the damp of the river fog.”

He repeats, then asks, “What comes next?”

“That rises after the sun goes down.”

And we continue through the next stanza, until finally I say enough.

No cheating. Who can name the poem and author?

02.02.09
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Apology accepted

Daschle Apologizes for Tax Errors, Faces Grilling

Everybody makes mistakes, Tom. As an American citizen whose country is in an economic crisis so frightening that my Congress is planning on spending HUGE amounts of money we don’t have to try to “fix” it, I accept your apology.

And I submit to my Congress, in the best interest of all Americans, that the $900 billion pork bill include funding to the IRS for extra auditors who will start with the current roster of Representatives and Senators, and then work back through the last decade of all elected federal officials, just to see if there might not be two or three more mistakes – honest ones, I’m sure – in their filings.

Ten honest mistakes in ten years the size of Daschle’s $146,000 oopsey is $1.5 mil in uncollected taxes. Does anybody really think that only 10 members of Congress in the last ten years made a mistake? If Obama’s cabinet choices yield two tax evaders (so far), then surely a look at all of Congress could get us a tidy sum of dough.

And if these are all honest mistakes, we can blame the oppressive tax system which is onerous and complicated and difficult for truly honest people to follow (and easy for dishonest people to cheat). And who is responsible for the tax system? Apparently, the biggest tax evaders of them all.

02.02.09
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New Month’s Resolution for January

I promised that my New Month’s Resolutions would reflect back to my New Year’s Resolution to be more organized and to take the running of the household more seriously. Last month, the plan was to organize the office and the school room. I got the office done, except for printing out five labels for the clutter-management boxes I bought. It’s been days and days, and I can actually see my desk most of the time, a vast improvement over its usual condition. It is unrealistic for busy, involved people to completely avoid a certain degree of paperwork clutter. Better to make it all pretty, or at least hidden, and retrievable.

The schoolroom is a big task, and I just didn’t get to it last month. This month, I will.

I also need to sit down and plan out meals for the month, something I have been trying to do since October with fairly good success. But since Lent begins this month, I think I will go ahead and plan out most of the meals through the beginning of April. I’ll leave one day a week for “something new,” but the rest of the days will just be simple, inexpensive, and routine (perhaps a two-week repeating cycle). Then I can focus on buying the ingredients in advance, so they are on hand, and perhaps even doing some prep work in advance (like cooking and seasoning taco meat and putting it in the freezer), so that crunch time meals are stress-free.

What is a New Month’s Resolution? Every month I look at where I need to focus my attention. Perhaps I’ve been procrastinating on certain chores. Perhaps I need to spend some extra time with one or more of the kids. Perhaps I’d like to try a new habit. New Month’s Resolutions are not grandiose plans to lose ten pounds or declutter the entire house or give up smoking (of course, I don’t smoke, but if I did, this would not be the venue in which I would give it up). New Month’s resolutions are short-term commitments; they are easily attained goals; they focus on what is needed right now, instead of what is best for a lifetime.

Do you have a new month’s resolution?

02.01.09
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Republican is the New Punk

My sister sent me this link. I’m surprised Bill didn’t see it first…or maybe he did, but yesterday was just a really busy crazy day.

…The arts have failed. They no longer keep mass culture in check with thought-provoking art that challenges the establishment. Now they’re in charge of spreading the mainstream mandate of the Liberal Vatican. There isn’t an original thought among them, just a thousand-mile stare, a blue logo and the drone-like vocabulary of emotive, vaguely inspiring chants.

We’re the new rebellion against the majority juggernaut that doesn’t take kindly to dissent. Make a fist and show them what happens when they tell you what to think, feel and believe.

If you want me to unite to your cause, then end abortion, give the people back the money they earned, fight terror, keep your hands off free speech on the radio and enable job creators to make more jobs. Until then, screw your hope and screw your change.