Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Oh, for the days of kindergarten soccer, when we used to pray before games and run through "tunnels" afterwards, share snack, and not keep score.

I love football, but sometimes I hate football fans! Last night, we drove #1 son into a lovely nearby mountain community for an away football game. We dropped him off early and then went to have dinner with Adam at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place (aren't those always the best ones?). The evening was going swimmingly until we showed up to watch the game.

My son plays on the "senior" team, so we arrived in the middle of the game before his. At that game, we were treated to a display of nasty sideline behavior that was so bad that the refs actually called a "sideline warning". Before you start thinking that this was an overzealous dad, guess what - it was a MOM!!! (No, not me...).

Things just got worse from there. The crowd on our side of the field felt they our team was being subjected to bad officiating, and they let the team of referrees know their feelings - loudly and crudely. It got so bad that I actually took Adam and moved to the end of the opposing team's sideline in the fourth quarter.

We lost the game in double overtime, thanks to a called back touchdown and some additional questionable calls, but by that point, the local sherrifs had actually been called to escort the officials from the field and remove one particularly nasty fan (no, not the MOM!).

At this point, I'm questioning my responsiblities as a parent. At the very least, I feel like calling our league president to discuss the reprehensible behavior of our fans. When did it become acceptable to stand and yell obscenities and have people laugh and think it's funny? Sorry for the rant here, but I'm "all shook up"! Maybe I should encourage #1 son to go back to the spelling bee team...spectators aren't allowed to talk during spelling bees!

Why Feel Inferior??

This little pearl of wisdom landed in my e mailbox this morning and has me thinking:

Inspirational Thought of the Day

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

I've been thinking to myself, "Do I feel inferior?" - Believe me, there have definitely been times when I've felt inferior, but somehow in the last few years those thoughts haven't played much of a role in my head.

Like everyone else, there are many things about myself that I'd like to change - bad habits, things I'd like to do better, stuff I'd love to learn - but I can't say that I've dwelt lately on feeling inferior. The last major inferiority complex I can remember followed my decision to become a "stay at home mom" (how many of those actually stay at home???), giving up a successful and lucrative career. That feeling of inferiority had something at its root: my job had become my identity and without that job, I wasn't sure what my true identity really was. Now, fourteen years lately, I still wonder that at times, but I'm not ever plagued that I made the wrong decision for my family. Any inferiority I might have felt in social situations was completely of my own making. And let me say that this is not a comment on the whole working vs. not-working thing - two of the world's best moms are my sisters, both of whom balance their vocation as mother and their careers ultra-successfully!

I've also had times of feeling physically inferior, perhaps due to weight issues or a lack of "style" - but maybe one of the blessings of being a forty-something is that a lot of that now feels unimportant.

I really think Eleanor was right on the whole inferiority thing...for me, my "goals" remain but I know that, as trite as it may sound, God made me just the way I am (big feet and all!) for His purpose. It's my job to ascertain that purpose and to make the most of each day, and dwelling on my shortcomings detracts from time better spent driving my boys, feeding my boys and doing all the other stuff that so totally fills each day. Sorry for the boring monologue, but I think I've worked this one out in my mind!

Time Well Spent

When I have my act together, I spend Friday mornings at Church. This includes working in the parish office on our Church Web Site and taking a break to attend our Friday morning school mass with Adam. Thankfully, it's the type of school that encourages families to sit together with their children at the school mass, rather than relegating parents to the back pews.

Every week, when I'm sitting their in the company of 600 plus little saints in training, I thank God for the blessings He's showered down so faithfully on our family. Close to the top of the list is my children's school, which is truly a wonderful community.

Whatever anxieties may be troubling me when I walk through the door for Friday mass are left at the foot of the altar when I receive the Eucharist. I almost always emerge from that Mass feeling refreshed, renewed, in love with my children and their squirmy buddies, and appreciative of our teachers.

Why would I ever think of skipping?

Obsessive Mom Learns New Hobby

OK, everyone's getting scarves for Christmas this year, so start placing your color preferences here....the Catholic Mom is learning how to knit!

Just what I need, another hobby...

A friend of mine has been bugging me for a month now to join a group of women who meet weekly at our local Catholic bookstore to knit together. I have informed her repeatedly that I'm craft impaired, but she kept after me assuring me that she personally would teach me.

Well today I went, and guess what - it was really fun!

Before the gathering, I stopped at Walmart and bought the cheapest knitting needles and the second cheapest thingy of yarn (it was a little cuter than the cheapest one), assuring myself that this too is a passing phase. I didn't want to invest too much money. (This is the same friend who ushered me into the rubbber stamp phase and now I've got at least $200 of stamps sitting unused in my craft room).

A really long time ago, my saintly grandmother taught me how to knit. I grew bored quickly and set it aside. But knitting must be one of those skills, like riding a bike, that stays with you. Within a few minutes, I remembered what to do and I actually have about an inch of a scarf to show for the hour and a half I spent this morning. I'm speeding up a bit, so I should have at least one half a scarf completed by the end of football season!

The best part of the morning was just sitting in the company of friends, old and new, and doing something creative while enjoying a lively and fun conversation. Yes, I have laundry that needs to be done and emails to answer, but it was nice to take a morning off. I will probably have to re-learn again next Wednesday and I may get another inch done next week - I'm going to try to keep the hobby in check and not get too obsessive with it (HAH!)

So if anybody needs a new, slightly irregular and very imperfect scarf for Christmas, place your orders now!

Music Ministry

I've been working on music stuff today over at Catholic Mom. Click here to read my cool interview David Wang, lead vocalist of Critical Mass. My favorite song on their new CD is their great cover of Carry On Wayward Son - David Wang is one of those amazing people who seemingly have it all and do it all! He's a dad of nine, a university professor, and a rocker...I need to start sleeping less to keep up with people like him! Great music and a great guy.

Speaking of great guys, I had the following email from a guy name Gerard, from Mississippi. He's looking to spread the word about a song he wrote in response to Katrina. Take a minute to listen to his song and drop him a note to say hi and that CatholicMom.com sent you. It's such a wonderful thing to hear about all of the people who are using their talents and time to help others in response to the hurricanes.

I am a native of Grand Point, Louisiana, which is mid way between New Orleans and Baton Rouge in St. James Parish, but have transplanted to southwest Mississippi where we attend St. Ann's.

By candlelight, in the coolness of the morning, on September 2, 2005, the 3rd day after Hurricane Katrina hit, I wrote the words to this song. Being without power at my house, I drove 200 miles to my in-laws' house where I recorded it on my Digitech GNX4.

For 9 days, we were without power and water near Meadville, Mississippi, but I am thankful for the things I do have, among them, my family, my friends, a house and a job.

Click here to hear the song

Click here to see the words

I am trying to get this song "out there" so that others might hear it. Please listen and then forward this email. Through friend-to-friend emails, since September 6, this song has been downloaded over 1250 times! Web hits have come from countries all over the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, Brazil. PASS IT ON!!! Let me know where it's going! Thanks, Gerard

Contact Info:
Gerard C. Faucheux, Sr.
1168 Myers Rd NE
Meadville, MS 39653

gcfaucheux@yahoo.com

Words of Wisdom

I am lucky to have the world's best parents.

It came in handy as a kid growing up to live in a home filled with love and laughter. As a teenager and young adult, it was cool to have REASONABLE people for parents - they trusted, loved and didn't place too many restrictions on me. When I became a parent myself, I loved and appreciated them at a whole new level as the trials of becoming a mom myself began to kick in.

Well, the lessons continue and today I learned a big one from Daddy. You see, I have a fourteen year old living at my house...and he's being a fourteen year old. He's exerting his opinion about things, wanting to spend oodles of time on the phone and with his friends, and pushing his outer limits in search of more independence as he becomes a young man.

His mom, on the other hand, is reacting emotionally to the seemingly sudden emergence of this young man. I want him off the phone, at the table with his family, communicative about the emotions he's going through, and polite with his parents, his brother and other grown ups he encounters.

I don't think I'm asking too much.

Neither does he.

Sometimes lately, we're driving each other crazy.

Well, this morning I was talking on the phone to my parents, who are somewhere in the south working their way back to Gulfport. I was lamenting my current situation with the fourteen year old and Daddy said, "Are you being positive and loving with him? Are you building him up and telling him how wonderful he is?"

Silence on my end as I had a flashback to them doing that with me when I was a teenager...yikes! Was I as bad to them as I feel like he's being to me?

My answer to Daddy: "What if he doesn't deserve it?" (What kind of a terribe thing was that for me to say????)

His answer to me: "Then be twice as loving and positive to him."

Double yikes - he's right! So that's my task for today - to stop dwelling on my nit-picking criticism of every little thing that's driving me nuts and to start an intense focus on all that is good and wonderful about the young man who lives at my house. Those aspects of him far outweigh anything else - I am, indeed, a lucky (but somewhat weary) mom of a wonderful and loveable teenage son.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the lessons...If I can be half the parent you are hopefully my boys will do ok in this life!

The Sweetest Boy I Know

The sweetest boy I know has beautiful golden hair and a sprinkle of freckles across his nose and rosy cheeks and bright blue eyes.

He was born three weeks early and weighed only five pounds, fifteen ounces, but now he's five feet tall and has feet almost as big as his daddy's.

He loves to play with sticks, build things with legos and sculpt. He's not too into sports, preferring his art lessons and family time at home. He loves animals, especially his hamster Max!

The sweetest boy I know wakes up each day with a smile, gives me a hug every morning, and always says thank you when I give him breakfast. His hugs instantly put me in a good mood, which is a great way to start any day!

The sweetest boy I know can also turn cloudy...his temper can run hot and his patience can run thin - maybe being capable of being sweet also makes one prone to excess in other emotions too. Luckily for the rest of us, his sweet moments far outweigh his sassy ones.

The sweetest boy I know, my precious Adam, arrived on the scene eleven years ago today. I remember saying prayers with Eric the night before Adam's birth was induced, and wondering if a mom's heart could have enough love to spread between two little boys. The answer is definitely yes, but loving Adam comes easily!

Happy birthday Adam - I love you!

On a Mission

We seek worldly knowledge, confident that the world exhibits coherence that reflects a Creator. We will train the intellects of our students, cultivate their faith and instill the virtues necessary for living a good life. We will strive to build a community generous to those in need and responsive to the demands of justice – strengthened by grace and guided by the command to love God and neighbor.

This is no easy mission. But its difficulty is not our concern; we did not create the mission, and we cannot change it. The word “mission” derives from the Latin root missus – which means “sent.” We have been sent – to seek God, study the world, and serve humanity.

If we are clear in our purpose, we will excel in our ideals.

From the inauguration address of Fr. John I. Jenkins, University of Notre Dame

Aw Shucks...

I don't usually toot my own horn, but this piece of email I received this morning was just too priceless not to share...notes like this make my head spin and make waking up way too early seem worthwhile!

Hi Lisa,

I am a mum in the Highlands of Scotland in the UK. I have been using your Gospel activities at our church now for several months, and wanted to let you know it has been a great way of getting our little people interested.

We are only a very small rural community, but we seem to be getting more and more families with little ones coming to our church and have now even managed to set up their own, regular "little church" for children up to first communion age to enjoy their own liturgy, before joining their families to celebrate the Eucharist. By using links from your page we managed to buy leaders' books which allowed us to do this and our priest, who is almost 90 years old, is delighted to see more and more families joining us every month.

The work which you and the others do to help mums like me to keep our faith alive is so wonderful and I know it has played such a significant part in helping our community of faith to grow in just a few short months.

God bless you all

Margaret

Fortrose,
The Black Isle
Scotland

Cleaning out the inbox

It's a constant battle dealing with the swarms of incoming email at CatholicMom.com and Max the hamster has not been very much help lately. He seems to be eating and sleeping a lot more...do hamsters hibernate in the winter? If so, I think he's getting ready to do so! I may have to put Frogdor the pool frog to work as director of spam! (Yes, he's still hanging around the deep end!)

Here's an interesting site for kids working on geography and country reports.

This looks like a great place for Catholic kids CDs, but I haven't heard them myself.

Check back later for more!

Cool Couple

I'm featuring a three page spread this week at CatholicMom.com on Paul and Joan Plum, a couple who have been working for thirty years to write and publish catechetical materials for Catholic kiddos. Click here to take a look at the incredible work the Plums are doing.

Go Irish!

Last night, our local Notre Dame Club of Central California hosted Jazmin Garcia, Admissions Representative for the University of Notre Dame at a Notre Dame Information Night at our local Catholic high school. It was a great evening, bringing back lots of fun memories for Greg and I on our wonderful days at ND.

My poor boys...they are what you call "double legacies". Mom and Dad met, fell in love, graduated from and married at Notre Dame. That leaves Eric and Adam subject to expectations that they too may someday attend Our Lady's University.

The campaigning has been going on for years. Mom is ruthless - "It's either Notre Dame or ___!"(fill in the blank with the name of whatever local community college is cheapest).

Dad prefers a more understanding approach - "Whatever makes them happiest..." or something along those lines.

What could make them happier than four years in South Bend?!

Well, last night we had help from Jazmin, who delivered a presentation that was so compelling that even a USC fan might jump ship and apply to ND. Our family was in charge of set up and refreshments, so we got to meet her early and stay afterwards to visit with Jazmin and her parents, who coincidentally live in the area. Jazmin's dad reminded me of someone I know: he spoke with tears in his eyes about the day Jazmin received her letter of acceptance to ND. As his eldest daughter, Jazmin was the first in her family to pursue an education beyond high school. He beamed throughout her presentation - looking at him made me cry tears of happiness, since I know the hard work that went into sending Jazmin and later his son to Notre Dame, and I know and share his love for the University.

Football statistics aside, everyone should have the chance to spend some time at Notre Dame. It's a wonderful, spirit filled place overflowing with great minds and even greater souls.

I wish for my boys late nights with buddies in the dorms, walks around the lake, candles lit at the grotto, and maybe even fellow domers for wives. Granted, we've got a few years to go before they consider colleges, but last night they got one small taste of what it might be like to be a student and Notre Dame...and they loved it!

Have a Heart

This morning, Eric and I woke up early again, for another great cause: our town's annual American Heart Association Heart Walk.

Heart disease is the #1 killer in America and it has been found that 1 in 3 women will die of heart disease. That said, it's not something that I ever considered too much before I became great friends with a special woman named Michelle.

Seven years ago, at the age of 28, my friend Michelle suffered and almost died from a major heart attack. The picture of health, this non-drinking, non-smoking college soccer player had no history of heart disease. She awoke in the middle of the night one night to crushing heart pains and was rushed to the hospital. She nearly died...and she was the Mom of a kindergartener and a two year old.

Now, seven years, one emegency triple bypass and a pacemaker later, Michelle is a walking "Poster Girl" for the American Heart Association. As a spokesperson, she tells her story and makes a great case for the fact that each of us should do all we can to fight and find a cure for heart disease.

So this morning, the cause that got me out of bed (on my one morning to sleep in) was my friend Michelle - a woman who never feels sorry for herself despite the fact that she's in constant risk of being placed on the heart transplant list.

I think Michelle honestly believes that she has been given this lot in life to help educate and inform others about the risks and prevention of heart disease. For me, she's a great role model not only for living a healthy lifestyle, but also for being a fighter - and one with a great attitude as well!

Michelle is one of the many heros in my life, so this morning as I jogged along watching my son's back as he grew smaller and smaller and the space between us grew greater and greater, I thanked God for the fact that I'm healthy enough to run two miles (albeit very slowly) and that my friend Michelle is healthy enough to walk two miles and teach us all about courage, determination and living each day to its fullest.

For more information about our Heart Walk team, click here.

Learning to Give

I spent this morning in the presence of several Saints-In-Training!

For the past two weeks, our school's student body has been led by their Student Government Leaders in a drive to raise funds to help rebuild St. Thomas School in Long Beach, Mississippi. This drive has personal meaning to me, as St. Thomas is the school home of my sweet nephew and Godson, First Grader Patrick. Patrick's school was devastated by Katrina, and now he's boarding with his cousins until his own school can locate and reopen in temporary quarters.

For every First Grader Patrick, there are thousands of other kids whose little worlds have been turned upside down. The scope of the tragedy is daunting and can feel overwhelming at times...

That's why I feel so lucky to be surrounded by this particular group of Saints - kids who recognize that they have the responsibility and the ability to respond to friends in need. In their own ways, the children of St. Anthony's School have opened their hearts and thought creatively about ways to reach out and raise needed funds.

They've held car washes, done chores, given up outings, and even asked for donations in lieu of birthday gifts.

They've raised pennies, quarters, paper money, and even some checks and have thanked and blessed each donor.

They haven't balked at the need - they've just done their best to reach out and set a shining example of Christ's lesson that we must each love our neighbors as best we can.

This morning, they rose before dawn and took to local corners to smile, wave flags and invite donations from passing motorists. Some drivers gave change, others gave bills - but all who gave were better off for their interaction with these young Saints-In-Training. I had the pleasure of watching my 14 year old son with pride and love as he did his own part. I'm one lucky mom!

If you'd like more information on how YOU and your family can help the students of St. Thomas School visit www.stthomasschoolkatrinarelief.com

Where has she been???

I never promised to be a good blogger and sometimes trying to be a semi good mom gets in the way of being even a so-so blogger. The past few days have been filled with the mundane moments that fill most moms lives: driving places, overseeing homework, trying desperately to prepare and serve three semi healthy meals a day, cleaning too many toilets and the like.

Add to that a podiatry appointment and shoe shopping with Nana, a son turning 14 and the attendant festivities, a junior high football game, and a Sunday brunch at my mother in laws and you get a pretty clear picture of what I've been up to the past few days. The crying shame is that, mundane though they sound, most of these activities would make great fodder for blogging but I don't have the time to sit still and string two thoughts together!

I'm hoping things lighten up a little in the next few days, permitting me some "me time", but I'm not promising myself anything! For now, I've got to run Eric to altar serving practice, fix dinner and help Adam with homework - all in the next 45 minutes! Ah, the life of a Mom....

Pat Has the Answers!

I've always been partial to people named "Pat" and there's a special new one in my life. I'm not sure if she read my mind, but Catholic Mom Columnist Pat Gohn came to the rescue on my dilemna for looking to find CONCRETE things my family and I can do in response to Katrina.

Click here to read Pat's column. I'm off to mark my own calendar!

Hooray for the Trash Truck!

I was talking with my Daddy this morning on the phone (yes, it's working and they have power and water too!) - he's back at their house in Gulfport to survey the damage and keep a watchful eye on my sister Brady.

He had just finished telling me about how he'd accomplished picking up and throwing out all of the roof shingles that had been strewn about their yard. I noted a distracted tone in his voice, and then he said, "I think I hear the trash truck!".

Sure enough, things are going well enough in their area of town that the garbage is being picked up. Daddy excused himself to run out and help the men with the mammoth job of picking up that heavy garbage can and to take them some water.

It gave me pause...it's amazing how much I take for granted. Since the trash and recycling at my house falls on Greg's "to do" list, I'm not very conscious of trash except that it miraculously goes away once a week without my lifting a finger.

Suddenly, things like having your refuse picked up on a timely schedule feels like a luxury - a blessing - and to the folks in Gulfport, I'm sure it feels like a minor miracle!

We out here in California continue to drive our SUVs to a Costco packed with excess, while there are people all over the South struggling to get their hands on the bare necessities. Yes, we're trying to do our share by contributing to relief funds and offering a welcome mat to "displaced Americans", but I feel as though we really have no concept of the tremendous daily struggles some people face each day.

I'm trying my darndest to think of CONCRETE ways to act in support of them, and to model this type of behavior for my children. Today's lesson, don't take anything for granted, including weekly garbage and recycling services.

If I had a theme song

Do you ever play that game in your mind where you imagine who would play you in the movies??? Admit it, you've thought about it! I don't think that much about who would play me, but I do insist that my handsome husband Greg be portrayed by either Tom Cruise (sans scientology) or Dan Abrams...don't ask.

But if I had a theme song, I know for sure I'd pick Rejoice and Be Glad by Nancy Krebs, on her newest CD Songs from the Heart. If you click on this link, you can hear a "snippet" of this great song. I listen to it a lot when I'm on the treadmill - the entire price of the CD is a value just for the uplifting nature of this one song. You won't get to hear the best part of the song, but you'll get the general idea.

Perhaps I owe my optimistic nature to my Daddy, for whom every new day is the "Best Day of My Life!" It's been a bit tough to be optimistic this past week, but today I choose to look away from all of the suffering and towards the faces of all of those around me who are working as best they know how to help someone, anyone, and to make our world a better place.

I have an interview up and running with Nancy Krebs, who's been quite busy lately spreading joy through her music. Click here to read my interview with Nancy and be sure to check out my theme song!

Masterpiece Mysteries

A new free movie series called "Masterpiece Mysteries" is now available for download at www.bridegroompress.com
The series is based on a talk given on sacred art at a Michigan conference. The movie files are in Windows Media format; they will walk you through how to read the symbols present in several masterpieces of medieval and Renaissance artwork.

Thanks to Steve for sharing this information!

More Holy Cards Stuff

Click here to read a wonderful article on HolyCards.com, one of my favorite web sites, from The Tidings.

Canticle of New Orleans

Please pause and take a moment to read this lovely prayer, composed by Sr. Margaret Charles Kerry of the Daughters of St. Paul. You'll be glad you did!

News from Angelina and Maria

One of my favorite Catholic Artists, Angelina Davis, is a Gulfport resident. I've been worried about her and her family all week, and was so happy to receive the following email from her Mom, Maria:

The Storm - Words cannot describe the devestation that Katrina has brought. During the storm I broke down twice when the winds just were unbelievable. I went through Camille in 69'. I was 10 years old. Eleven children with our parents rode out that storm in the middle of the night. Katrina began for us around 5:00 a.m. Monday morning. By 8:00 a.m. the winds were at least 100 mph. I have a great room where the walls are 16 foot high, 6-3 foot windows are located on one wall. That particular wall was moving in and out with the wind as if you were taking big breathes. I just knew the wall would eventually would cave in. Keep in mind our prayers never stopped. I have a Blessed Mother in my bedroom and a candle was lit in front of her. Mid morning, the winds began to pick up even higher, approximately in the 130- 150 mph. Trees were breaking, the r! ain was coming down horizontally, roofing material was flying in the air, some were hitting our house like bullets. We were blessed that not a one hit a window. I was still very concerned about loosing the wall when a huge explosion happened. I was unbelievably upset and made everyone move to a inner room in the back of the house. Later, much later, my husband and myself went to check on the generator in the back of the house and I noticed that there was furniture and objects all on the porch in a mess. The door leading into the garage was open and we felt as though we had just stepped out into the storm. Well, the garage door had been ripped off and was flying in and out of the garage hitting my car then out on to the outside of the house. The door was hanging by one cable. We were blessed in a way because when the garage door blowing out it relieved some pressure in the house to the point that th! e large wall stopped breathing so bad. It saved us from&nbs p;a lot of danger.

After the Storm - The storm battered us for 12 hours. We walked outside to finally see all the damage, looking at your roof is first priority. As neighbors venture out and look around in total disbelief, you yell over and ask, "how is everyone"? "Are you ok"? You thank God that it is over.

Total Destruction - Our home had minimal damage. Out of 250 homes in our neighborhood there was only two that did not have leaks from roof damage, ours was one of the two. Every other house had their roofs torn off to the bare plywood or blown out attics. Two houses across the lake blew apart. Insulation, asphalt roofing, wood and trees everywhere.

Venturing out to Downtown - Jim's Law Office and Angelina Productions is located downtown Gulfport, 13 miles south from our house. We were very tense and anxious to see if we had any business to go to. It took us about an hour to go 13 miles. The courthouse is located across the road from our business and that is where the Civil Defense and Emergency agencies are located. In a storm like this someone can be unscathed and the house next to you might be blown away to the foundation. We finally made it to the corner where our business is and yes it too seemed to be fine. We cried with joy. Once entering the building we did however have roof damage and water came in. Minimal though considering the attorney next to us has a "Moon roof" at his building now. No roof at all on the back side of his office.

My hometown - I've lived here on the Coast my entire life and have been through a many of hurricane including Camille, "Who was no Lady". Katrina left nothing her path. Houses and business that Camille left, Katrina took and more. The Coast is tucked between Mobile, AL and Slidell, LA (a suberb of New Orleans). The cities are located on the Gulf of Mexico and are as follows from East to West: Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach (my hometown), Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis, Waveland, then you get into LA. We have only seen footage of the damage on T.V. because these cities are closed to the general public for "Search and Rescue" and emergency purposes, such as if you live there or securing your business. All I can say is that there is nothing left. It is everything you have seen on the national broadcast but 10 times more. I have had no contact with friends, family, all phon! es have been off, including cell phones. We finally heard from a neighbor that if we ventured out north on Hwy 49 to Jackson about 5 miles that we would get a signal. We did and was able to reach Jim's sister and aunt and uncle.

Long Beach, MS - My hometown is no more. The Catholic Church that was destroyed by Camille and rebuilt was destroyed again along with the Catholic elementary school behind it, the rectory and the parish life center gone. The Church and Parish life center is just outer walls, you can see right through them.

The Power of Water - Waveland and Bay St. Louis do not exist anymore. The church in Waveland is only a concrete foundation with 4 steps leading up to it. The Catholic elementary school is a slab.

Death - My son Chris (25) decided to leave his apartment in Bay St. Louis and stay with friends in a small community called Diamondhead, located north of I-10. He showed up on Tuesday in shock and disbelief. He said, "Momma, its gone, its all gone, there is no Pass Christian". Chris was the manager at an upscale resturant in Pass Christian. The boys were all 25 years old and had worked under Emril Lagasse. Their resturant was gone. Chris explained that all the scenic drive homes, some dating back to the 1800's were gone, ripped into debris. Then he said he saw 5 dead people in a ditch by the resturant being put into body bags and loaded onto a pick-up truck. He could barely speak. I hugged him and talked with him about keeping it in perspective. Pray and thank God you are safe and alive. Pray for those who lost their lives and those who are worse off than us. Believe that God wi! ll take us out of this just as he took us out of the storm. Always be thankful for what you have because there are so many that do not have anything left.

Communication - There are over 100 dead here on the Coast. We have no idea who they are because of notifing next of kin and we have no paper coming in, no communication except the local television reporting the utmost important information to us. I am worried about a few people I knew that stayed in places (homes) that were asked by the authorities to leave (mandatory evacuation). There just isn't anyway to find out about anyone except seeing your neighbors.

Your prayers - We sincerely thank each and everyone of you for your continued prayers and support through all this. It could be weeks before we get electricity. The authorities are saying maybe this weekend water. That would be awesome. We are taking each day as it comes and handling it accordingly. It has brought us all a little closer and we are reminded of the importance of the simpler things in life, the Love of God, family and friends.

God bless you all and please understand it might take some time between e-mails. Peace, the Davis', Jim, Maria, Christopher and Angelina

Chip Richter pitching in

All over the country, people are looking into their hearts and trying to come up with ways to help raise needed funds for those needing help. One of my good friends and her son, who are excellent bakers, are going to make up a basket of baked goods to raffle off with all proceeds going to our School's fund for St. Thomas school and parish. I'm planning to buy lots of tickets...home made bread and cookies, for a good cause.

Here's an email I received from Chip Richter:

I'm sure you, like me, have been watching and reading about the tremendous need and suffering of the folks in Mississippi and Louisiana after the hurricane. I want to let you know that for the next few months we will be donating 100% of the profits of CDs sold online to the American Red Cross earmarked for the relief effort. Sometimes in the face of such an overwhelming disaster as this it's hard to know how to help... for me this is an opportunity to make a small contribution. Please consider purchasing one or all three titles by clicking on the links below and you will not only be donating to the Red Cross, but actually get my CDs sent to you because of it!

"Designed to Shine"

"My Dad's Coat"

"Live at Lakeside DVD/CD"

Prayer Chain

Gods Gals have a beautiful prayer chain going...

I find myself unable to pray eloquently at this time...my prayers are more like, "Thank you God for my washing machine, and for these dirty clothes - we have clothes to change into, and more than the shirts on our backs."

"Thank you God for my kitchen floor, which needs mopping, and for the roof over my head."

"Thank you God for my refrigerator and all of the food in it..."

"God, please be with my sister Brady and all of those working so hard to restore power and safety and to rescue the lost..."

I think God may be sick of hearing from me in the past few days...I've been pestering Him quite a bit, but at times like this, I can't help it.

Catholic Schools Nationwide Open Doors to Displaced Students

Catholic schools from across the nation are opening their doors to students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The Diocese of Shreveport, Louisiana, which has seven elementary schools, for example, enrolled more than 200 students in the days after displaced people from afflicted dioceses moved into the Shreveport area. Read More

My Family's Church - St. Thomas the Apostle

These are photos of my family's church in Mississippi, St. Thomas the Apostle. This vibrant faith community is one of my very favorite places to attend Mass. I have great memories of holding my baby nephew (now a first grader at the parish school), as an infant during Mass so that his parents could have a moment of peace. We last visited the parish last Easter, around the time of the passing of Pope John Paul II. They have a wonderful Pastor, Father Louis...y'all are in our prayers! To donate, visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

I know that we, collectively, as the Body of Christ will respond to all those in need of homes, food and jobs. Please pray today for my brother in law, Matt, who is on the road from Atlanta to Gulfport to check on my sister Brady, and his own parents.

September Non-Fiction Book Club Selection

A special thanks to Julie Cragon, author of Bless My Child, for sharing the following letter to our readers.

Dear Catholic Mom Readers,

I am pleased and excited that Bless My Child will be featured for the September Book Club pick. I cannot express how awesome the response to Bless My Child has been from moms, dads, teachers and principals. It humbles me every time a parent comes into the store or sees me at school and shares a special moment they have been given because of a prayer from the book they have shared with a child or prayed for a child. I oftentimes wish I could take some credit but I have to say that I was given each and every word. Because of the wonderful examples of both my mom and dad, I have learned the power of prayer. I believe that if I start each day with prayer that God will give me the strength not just to get through the day but to enjoy even those which are most hectic. My parents taught us that through prayer anything is possible and since I know they'll never read this and I would never want to admit they were right about a! nything, I can freely say that they are right.

I was a very lively child and teen. Number six child of eight, I knew everything about how to get my parents' attention and every other adult in my life. I'm sure my parents wore some skin off their knees in St. Henry Chapel hoping and praying that some day I would "get it". My mom always kept her Bible, prayer book and journal on a table in her room. From their examples of prayer and faith, I have learned the importance of prayer. I have learned that parenting does not come with a manual but God did leave us a book to refer to for strength and He gave us one another. I have learned to pay attention instead of want attention. When I started having children of my own, I have to admit, it was almost a bummer to realize that it's not all about me. It makes me crazy to hear myself say to my children "offer it up" or "pray about it". Time finally let me stop worrying about becoming my parents and start bein! g grateful that my husband and I could be one tenth the parents they have been to me.

Bless My Child is definitely about praying not just for my children but for the teens that work with us at St. Mary's Bookstore and the children young and old who's parent's ask us to pray for them every day. They are prayers that developed through years of requests and encounters. My children are taught by the St. Cecilia Dominican sisters and I constantly tell them that, instead of "it takes a village", it will take the whole convent to raise my children.

With that in mind, may we all join as community and pray for the victims of Katrina. May Mary gather them in Her Mantle and our country join together to give them homes and food and all the many needs that will come from this catastrophe. May all the souls lost rest in peace. The calls have already come all the way to Nashville asking for openings in our Catholic schools for the children for this year. May we open our hearts and our doors to all. God Bless all us moms!
Julie Cragon

September Fiction Book Club Selection

A special thanks to Robina Williams, author of Jerome and the Seraph for sharing the following letter to our readers. Click here to read my Book Spotlight Author Interview with Robina Williams.

I am honored by the choice of Jerome and the Seraph as the September fiction read for the CatholicMom.com book club. It is a great privilege for me. I hope your readers find my book interesting and entertaining.

May I begin by explaining the title of the book? Brother Jerome is a Catholic friar—though, at first, ex-friar might seem a more apt description, as we meet Jerome when he unexpectedly finds himself in the afterworld following an unfortunate accident in the friary graveyard. The afterworld, he finds, is curiously lacking in cherubs, harps and fluffy white clouds. He’s rather disappointed with it, in fact, until his pet cat, Leo, turns up. Leo, however, isn’t the cat Jerome had thought he was. Leo’s real name is Quant, and he has some very special qualities, for he is a quantum cat.

Two cats—one theoretical, one real—contributed to the creation of Quant. I came across the concept of a quantum cat when I was writing an academic thesis and read about Schrödinger’s Cat that, because of the uncertain world of quantum physics, was both alive and dead at the same time. What a useful character for a book, I thought. Then, when I was living in an old stone house on a Welsh hillside, I was visited occasionally by a cat who came and went as he pleased, and was quite a mystery as, though he clearly wasn’t a stray, I never discovered where he lived. Schrödinger’s Cat and my mysterious Welsh cat combined to form my quantum cat, Quant—companion to Jerome (and looking suspiciously like a smaller version of the lion who had kept Saint Jerome company all those centuries ago). We see Quant in his true seraphic form at the end of Angelos, the sequel to Jerome and the Seraph. Angelos will be published in paperback in November 2005 by Twilight Times Books.

My M.Phil. thesis gave me the idea, too, of bringing paintings into the plots of my books. I was writing about the nineteenth-century English novelist Wilkie Collins, author of The Woman in White and The Moonstone, among many other works. Collins was a painter before he became a writer and was closely involved with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. I was struck by the painterly elements in his writings. When I began to plan my Quantum Cat series, it occurred to me that I might bring some paintings into my stories. Jerome and the Seraph is centered around Spencer Stanhope's Thoughts of the Past and Angelos around Holman Hunt's The Scapegoat; and other paintings play peripheral parts in the plots. I hope you’ll spare a moment to visit my website www.robinawilliams.com and read the illustrated articles on it about the paintings in the books.

Both books take a look at the nature of time, and Jerome finds that, despite his unexpected and initially unwelcome demise, he is still a member of his religious order—he has simply been transferred to the beyond-the-grave branch. Time, he finds, isn’t as linear as he had supposed, and is less a case of experiencing a sequence of events than of moving from one dimension to another—which is a comforting thought to those of us who have lost loved ones.

I am grateful to you, Lisa, for offering me this opportunity to talk to your readers. If anyone would like to contact me about my books, you’re welcome to do so at robina@robinawilliams.com .

For more information on Jerome and the Seraph click here.

How Can I Help?

Click here to download Our Sunday Visitor's pamphlet on how Catholics can respond to disaster situations.

Our Prayers Continue

I was able to speak with my baby sister Brady, the bravest woman in Mississippi, last night and am feeling much better for having talked with her. As a management employee of Mississippi Power, Brady had to report for "storm duty" immediately after Katrina passed through her hometown of Gulfport.

On her special cell phone last night, Brady spoke with me for an hour about her initial impressions...everything from learning that her storm duty location on Highway 90 was completely destroyed, to driving her truck over tree limbs and around power lines, to all of the the incredible people she's working with to help restore power to Mississippi. She told me about one employee who wandered in to work with a dazed look, explaining that his home had been completely destroyed and that he'd just walked several miles to report to work. The efforts are herculean, and the people who are undertaking all of this hard work have lost everything but are just happy to be alive. Brady and other Mississippi Power employees are on the job.

I warned Brady - my petite five foot two inch, size two sister - not to don any hardhats and start climbing up power poles, but I wouldn't put it past her. My prayers for her safety and for that of all of the rescue workers continue.

I thought I'd share the following, which landed in my mailbox this morning:

Prayer Attributed to St. Augustine

Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake or watch or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ, rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, shield your joyous ones, and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

Thanks to Julie at HolyCards.com for this lovely angel.

To Help

To make a donation or learn more about Catholic Charities emergency response efforts for Katrina, click here.

As Hurricane Katrina continues to make her trek northward, Catholic Charities agencies from around the region, such as agencies in Florida and Baton Rouge, are poised to send technical assistance teams to help the local Catholic Charities in the impacted areas with their response efforts. Once the all clear is given that it is safe to return to those communities hit by the devastating hurricane, the damage and needs assessment will begin.

First off, let me say that my family who live in Gulfport are alive, and for that we are counting our blessings as we pray for the repose of the souls of those lost and for the brave people out searching for the missing.

The devastation is difficult to take in...I find myself at a loss for words. We don't know the condition of my parents' or my sister's home, but have fears that my brother in law's law firm (also my daddy's employer), may be badly damaged to the point of total destruction. My brave sister Brady, who works for Mississippi Power, is out and about today working with her teams to restore power. Please pray for her safety.

It appears that among other things, my family's beloved church is destroyed:

St. Thomas the Apostlic Catholic Church, which sits on U.S. 90, celebrated its 100th anniversary in August. It is now gone.


When Camille hit in 1969, Long Beach residents were able to hold Mass in St. Thomas School gym. There is nothing left of that but the superstructure.

For more information visit the Sun Herald.

I don't know what else to say besides asking everyone to pray with me today...thanks!

Running from Katrina

Right now, members of my family living in the Gulfport, MS area are busy scurrying for safety and I've become a compulsive Weather Channel junkie.

We arrived home from Eric's game last night (a 45 to zip romping over poor Los Banos) at 11:30 and I flipped on the W.C. to check on Katrina. Seems things had upgraded a bit since we left home! My family has begun the evacuation process, headed towards safety, except my poor sister Brady who works for the power company. She's headed over to Mobile and will then have to report to work immediately after the storm to help assess and deal with the damage. Please join me in praying for her safety and for all of those in the path of this storm.

Thank goodness for the technology that permits us some advance warning in order to get out of the way of these hurricanes! As a California girl, the thought of my Mom and Dad "hunkering down" with 145 mile per hour winds headed their way is terrifying. Safe travels to all and prayers for all!

Odds and Ends

5 days of school down, 175 days to go...

Photos from last weeks football games can be viewed here Eric, my big guy, is number 66. He's largely unseen in the photos as linemen are usually under a clump of bodies somewhere within two seconds of the play commencing. Last week's games were scrimmages and I thought the guys looked pretty good, but today will be the true test as they play their first "real" game tonight.

This quote landed in my email box this morning:

Serving God isn’t about burning yourself out. It isn’t about action motivated by guilt or obligation. It comes from a deep realization that every bit of our daily work (and play) should be aimed at serving God.

I went to lunch with a group of friends yesterday, and then to go donate blood with one of my best friends. We normally do this several times during the school year. Giving blood is a great way to help someone else...it's free, it doesn't take very long, and it can help to save someone's life. Unfortunately, I learned yesterday that our trip to Costa Rica has me banned for a duration of one year. So now I've decided I need to motivate at least five people to give blood this year in my place. Click here to learn more about how you can give the gift of life by donating blood.

Today's Saint is Saint Monica, Patron Saint of Wives...one of the ultimate Catholic Moms. Her longstanding prayers for her son, Augustine, seemed to work out after much patience. Click here to learn more about St. Monica and let's all pray, through her intercession, for our sons and daugthers.

Speaking of sons, I received a very sad email from a friend who lost someone special in Iraq this week. Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of Tim, for his family, for all of our troops, our world leaders and for lasting peace in our world.

We have an away football game today, so our family will be taking a little road trip to Los Banos - best known for being the place you stop to buy gas on your way to San Francisco if you're from the valley. We have a few spare hours there, so we're going to explore around town a bit and I'll report back on the game and fun stuff to do in Los Banos. Please pray for no injuries!

Sorry for being a neglectful blogger this week and thanks for all of your support and encouragement. I'm hoping to be more on top of things this coming week. I have great Book Club picks for September, some fun new articles and columns to share and much more. Have a wonderful weekend!

TGIF!!!

Putting the Wheels Back on the Cart

OK, I got overconfident a bit too early. On Tuesday evening, I was congratulating myself for how smoothly this transition week seemed to be going. The boys were back in school with relatively few traumas, the schedule seemed to be going ok, and my own personal "situation" seemed to be progressing well.

By that I mean that I've been attempting to restore some order to the parts of my life that take a back seat during summer vacation. You moms know what I mean...our "routines" fall apart. The things that we take time to do while the kids are in school suddenly go undone during summer vacation. For me, these routines include my personal reading and prayer time, going to the gym, time spent in conversation with my girlfriends, haircuts, going to weight watchers, etc. Also sadly neglected have been my web responsibilities for CatholicMom.com (thus the stacks of books and mail sitting around my office). During summer, time with my family takes priority over everything else.

Anyway, on Tuesday night as I was drifting off to sleep I thought I had things pretty well under control - and then yesterday hit. Yesterday was the first full day of school, and it reminded me about how crazy our schedule is for nine months of the year. I won't go into all of the gory details, but will just say that there was lots of driving, too many activities, too much homework, bad meal planning and implementation (i.e. cereal for dinner for 3/4 of the family), an overdose of stress and a lost book resulting in an hour delay in the already too late bedtime...

So apparently I don't have it all under control and it's going to take a little more work and a lot more prayer to ease the transition to the chaotic school year schedule. This morning, I'm setting aside some time to desperately attempt to get organized and to find that book (something Eric needs that remains lost despite repeated pleas to St. Anthony - I think he's trying to send me a message that I need to get my act together).

If you're facing the same issues around your home, please know that I'm praying for you as I pray for my own peace of mind. If, unlike me, you do have your act together, would you please say an extra prayer for a crazy woman in California and for that lost book? Thanks!

The Book in Question

A few people have written me this morning requesting more information on the book I mentioned in my St. Rose of Lima post. You can take a look at it at Amazon...the only disadvantaged is that your version won't come pre-underlined by my Daddy!

A Rose for Today

One of my greatest pleasures is sitting in the quiet of the morning, when everyone is still asleep except the cat, the hamster and me, and doing my morning reading.

I must admit to being less than disciplined when it comes to this practice, but on those days when the stars align and I make the time, pearls of wisdom found in the daily scriptures and the other books I read give me food for the journey.

One of my favorite "daily books" is my Daddy's 1975 Illustrated Lives of the Saints book, which carries a beautiful inscription to him from his lovely wife, referencing 1975 as "One of the Best Years of Our Life!". I'm not sure when I stole that book from him, but I hope that the graces I receive from reading and praying with it overcome the fact that I snatched it! Holding that book, reading about the lives of the great men and women featured in its pages, and seeing my daddy's underlines in just the right places make me feel close to him, even though he's sitting 2,000 miles away! Conveniently for me, he's already underlined all of the most important passages - a fact not surprising, since he and I tend to think a lot alike!

Today's Saint, Rose of Lima, is a fascinating character. Although I could never withstand the mortifications she practiced, she appears to have been loved in her community for her emphasis on caring for the poor and needy. She is credited with having started Social Services in her native Peru - proof to me that the work of one humble soul can change the world around her.

Here's an interesting quote, attributed to St. Rose of Lima:

Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: "Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven."

God, grant each of us your strength and grace to continue our way along that climb to heaven...

Back to School

The school supplies have been purchased, labeled and sorted by child. They are strategically organized in the new, compartmentalized backpacks.

The hair has been cut and there are shoes that fit properly and meet uniform code.

The number two pencils have been sharpened to dramatic points.

The white uniform shirts, ironed and hanging at the ready, will make their debut tomorrow and will, for one day, not have any stains on them when they are donned.

The forms, slips, questionnaires, and documentation have been filled out and have the appropriate checks attached (yep, my kids go to Catholic school - so half of this month's checks will be payable to their school).

The boys have been read to, prayed with and tucked into bed (the teenager did negotiate for a later bed time this year). They're not asleep - but they know that the wake up call will be approximately three hours earlier than they're used to tomorrow.

We're all ready...right?

I have a terrible reputation for hating "back to school". It's so bad that a few years ago, a local paper even did a news story about it! The article commented on one mom (me) who avoided all the other moms' gleeful first day of school celebrations in lamentation of the fact that she missed her kids too much.

It's so bad that at this morning's 9:30 mass some of my fellow parishioners checked in on my mental health status and told me they had Kleenex prepared for me for tomorrow.

I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be to send my first born off to 8th grade, where he and his classmates are looking forward to ruling the roost. I'm ready for a year of fun and learning, with teachers who are among the finest human beings I've ever met. I'm ready to see my friends in the parking lot and hear my kids' stories of reuniting with their buddies on the fields at lunchtime.

Blessedly, our school year always commences with an outdoor prayer service first thing in the morning on the first day. We gather as students, teachers, and a surprisingly large faction of parents, to pray for the Lord's intercession on this, another year of learning and living.

There will be songs, hugs, petitions, and yes, probably a few tears on my part. But there will also be the realization that my children are at a wonderful school, surrounded by teachers who love them and families who share our faith and values...and for that blessing I am grateful, and ready.

August Fiction Book Club Pick

I'm pleased to share the following letter to our readers from author Debra Murphy, who penned our August Fiction Selection, The Mystery of Things. For more information on ordering this book click here.

Dear Catholic Mom readers,

I’m honored and excited that The Mystery of Things was chosen for the August fiction read of the CatholicMom.com book club. But I have a little confession to make, which I hope will make your reading experience more fruitful and enjoyable: You, faithful Catholic mothers, many of you striving for holiness in your family life, were not the “target audience”, as the marketing people like to put it, of my novel: I wrote it primarily with college-age non-Catholics (or lukewarm Catholics) in mind—young people without a firm faith foundation seeking to make sense of their lives and our present troubled culture, often in the face of personal challenges, powerful temptations, and destructive ideologies. (Young people, in fact, like my protagonist, James.) This may help explain for some of you why the book was written with unusual frankness (for an orthodox Catholic novel) about some of those temptations and challenges. Young people nowadays pride themselves on wanting straight talk about the big and thorny issues of life, and I have tried to oblige them.

The Mystery of Things can be read on many different levels: as a whodunnit/whydunnit mystery; as a re-working of the St. George-and-the-Dragon myth in a Midwestern setting; as a love story; as a Bard-lover’s concoction of Shakespearean plots and themes dressed up in contemporary clothes. But it is also a novel about the Theology of the Body and a horror story about how the abuse of sexuality leads to the Culture of Death. Like the familiar frog-in-the-water-over-a-bunson-burner experiment, too many of our young people are so inured to the everyday horrors around us that they don’t see the connection between their personal morality and that Culture of Death. The Mystery of Things was written in part to awaken them to those connections, and to offer a powerful alternative: self-sacrificial love.

I hope you all find the story a good read and a satisfying tale. Oh, and when you’re done, pass it along to one of those twenty-somethings—we all know some; sometimes they’re in our own family—in need of some frank talk about Dragons.

God bless,

Debra Murphy

True Love

True Love has driven a station wagon, a motor home, a mercedes, a pink cadillac, a "little toughy", a minivan, or a 20 year old convertible mustang and knows that the best road trips are always the ones that take you to unplanned destinations along the way...

True Love has lived in a one bedroom apartment, a duplex, a tract house, a near mansion, a house with no oven in the kitchen, an Urban condo, on a country club and everywhere in between, and knows that the best home is wherever a family lives together in happiness...

True Love always keeps sufficient wine in the rack and diet coke in the fridge...

True Love listens to John Denver eight tracks, tapes of little girls singing church songs, Charlotte Church, Celine Dion, Olivia Newton John, the Grease Soundtrack, or any free concert in the park...

True Love likes sitting in a hot tub, talking for hours on end...

True Love rides along in the golf cart just for fun because someone likes golfing so much...

True Love has had no money, lots of money, a little bit of money, more money, less money, and has always given to Church first and known that God will provide...

True Love has raised five children, who've found five awesome "significant others", all of whom would rather hang around with their parents than their friends...

True Love will fly across the country for a babysitting gig or eat leftovers for a month to send Nana where she's most needed...

True Love has always put faith in God at the center of their marriage, providing a shining example for family and friends of what happiness should look like...

True Love never leaves one good party in search of another!

Happy 43rd Anniversary to my favorite married couple! I love you tremendously and thank God everyday for giving me the perfect example of what marriage is all about!

The Return of Frogdor

This little guy has moved into our pool!

Last week, when the VIPs were in town and we were all lounging by the pool, Adam screeched in delight when he found this little frog swimming in the shallow end. Thankfully, mom was not in the pool at the time. I have to admit to being a little squeamish about frogs.

He was christened "Frogdor" (the VIPs got that reference, but mom didn't...) and ceremoniously released into the wilds of the backyard, ostensibly to return to his natural habitat.

Now, a week later, it turns out Frogdor thinks our pool is his natural habitat. He appears to have doubled in size and seems quite content living in the deep end. Adam swears that this is, indeed, the same Frogdor (I'm not sure if he has some identifying scar or what, but I'll take Adam's word for it!).

At the rate he's growing, I'm relatively certain that he'll be a choice entry for next year's title as "Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". Adam is begging to have him as a pet:

"I promise Mom, he'll be an outdoor frog!"
(Yeah right, like I'd agree to an indoor frog!)

In typical Mom fashion, I have given him the classic "We'll see..." answer and am hoping, once again, that Frogdor will be heading home to his true habitat, which I'm assuming is the nearby river.

In the mean time, Max the hamster (VP for Filing) is considering hiring Frogdor as Receptionist for CatholicMom.com.

Hearing from a long lost friend!

One of the world's best surprises is finding an email from a long lost friend, one you haven't heard from in quite a while. This happened to me today!

In the midst of my daily email slugging, I found a note from a friend I went to high school with, who decided to contact me out of the blue and found my email address online. I last spoke with her about five years ago at a reunion. I'm a terrible correspondent though, and sadly we lost touch after that.

It was such a fun surprise to hear from her today, and to get caught up on all that's going on in her life. At my age, she has a new 18 month old...that gives me hope that maybe I'm not too old!!! She also has one starting college, and a few in between - her note gave me a wonderful update on her own life and those of her kiddos as well. It was such a great way to start the day!

One beauty of the internet (which is also, perhaps its curse) is that it offers us a way to quickly, easily, and freely connect with one another. If you've lost touch with a friend, a relative or a teacher who meant a lot to you, why not drop that special someone an email and let her know you're thinking of and praying for her. I bet she'll be as happy as I was today!

Oops!

The correct answer to the Pope Stamp Question is Israel...sorry for posting the wrong link! Not enough coffee I guess!
Here's the correct link!

Do you have a "poignant" make up story to share?

Stephanie contacted me today looking for the following:

I am working on a story for ALL YOU women's magazine (WalMart) at 400 words, about burying the hatchet, making up with a friend, relative, spouse, kid, boss...and how the person did it...after a major conflict that caused upset to both. Always the more poignant, the better... I'm seeking some moms, and ethnics are welcome.

The deadline is tight, of course (the way of journalism...) ...and I would ask for a photo of each person to be e-mailed to me for submission to the editor, so I'm looking for someone between 20 and 60 who presents herself well. I appreciate your help so much! Hope to hear from you. My contact is below.

With best wishes,
Stephanie Stephens
StephensInk
Laguna Niguel, CA & Cambridge, NZ
MA, ASJA
Office: (949) 388-8439
Cell: (949) 246-0075
stephaniestephens@cox.net

If you're a Catholic writer...or want to be one...

You might want to order the CDs from the TAC writer's conference. For $30 you get five CDs with all of the conference speakers, plus the extremely helpful handouts given out that day. For more information contact dshaneyfelt@thomasaquinas.edu

Yikes...summer cleaning!

Hi all! Just a quick note to ask for some prayers today. I've run into a "situation" with space management at CatholicMom.com - I am exceding my space alotment at my current host and need to do some reassessment of the situation. It seems I've outgrown the space I'm paying for yet again...

Please say a prayer for me this morning as I try to resolve this situation quickly! Sometimes, with frustrations like this, I feel like hanging up my keyboard and walking away - but the fact that the site is so busy and full of "stuff" must mean that the Holy Spirit is at work there somewhere. Thanks, as always for your prayers!

Feast of the Assumption

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For those who would like to read more about the history and meaning of this feast, visit Crossroads Initiative for a helpful overview. Marcellino also has a concise and interesting MP3 download which I'm planning to share with the boys later today.

From today's Gospel:

And Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever."

Fru-Gals?

I was just exploring this site, which reguested a link from Catholic Mom, and noted that today is their monthly "Buy Nothing Day"...does this mean that I can, in good conscience, procrastinate yet another day on taking the boys Uniform and School Supply shopping?

Actually, it's an interesting concept - to take one day a month and buy nothing. There are probably many days I do that, but I wonder if I could actually do so if I were consciously abstaining from shopping? My only problem today is that Greg made the last of the coffee this morning, so I'd have to wake up really early tomorrow and head out and buy my starbucks...maybe I'll do "Buy Nothing Day" on the 16th!

Start Your Monday with Inspiration

Thanks to my friend Kathy for sharing this link which shares a great little flash movie on the inspirational "Children learn what they live". Warning: if you're at work, turn down your speakers first!

Can You Guess

The first country to come out with a JPII postage stamp? Click here to visit Crossroads Initiative and read the complete story.

Where I'm Wishing to Be This Week

Actually, I'm quite content just where I am, but if I could be one other place this week it would be in Germany, for World Youth Day. I'm hoping to be at the next one with my boys and a group of kids from our church. Sadly, our youth group hasn't been very active of late and I don't know a single kid who will be attending. Many of the other parishes from our area are sending large groups. My prayers go out for safe travels and a wonderful spiritual experience for all who are attending.
Click here to visit the official WYD website

Teach a Man to Fish...

Adam, our ten year old, has been expressing great interest lately in learning to cook. It started with having access to pouring and preparing his favorite cold cereals. Today, he embarked on the journey to cooking the perfect fried egg.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for encouraging my kids to try new things, but I'm less enthusiastic about things that make a mess for me to clean up once they're done learning. That was the deal today with the eggs - how do you teach a kid to crack eggs, flip them at the perfect moment, and cook them to a state of readiness without either burning down the kitchen or leaving a gooey mess?

Fire didn't happen, but the gooey mess did...and I just smiled, congratulated Adam on his beautiful eggs, and cleaned it up. Inside my head, I was less than positive, but I tried really hard not to let it show.

Encouraging our kids to grow and become independent is our jobs, right? Then why does it have to be so tough sometimes?! I know cooking an egg and the resultant mess is no big deal, but these days it feels like my kiddos are racing to exert their independence more than ever. While I'm grateful for their efforts, a small part of me (or maybe not so small) would like to keep them in that stage where the mother/son bond is strong, love-filled and (she admits, filled with guilt) core to survival.

What I don't want to encourage is a bond based solely on dependence...so I guess I'll keep letting Adam try new recipes, despite goo.

Get Ready for the Big Show Tonight

We'll be out in the back yard with a campfire and s'mores:

Every August, when many people go vacationing in the country where skies are dark, the best-known meteor shower makes its appearance -- the Perseids.

In 2005, the Perseids are expected to reach their maximum on August 12. Peak activity is unfortunately predicted for the daylight hours across North America.

Sky watchers are thus encouraged to watch during the predawn hours of Friday, August 12 and again during the early morning hours of Saturday.

Click here for more information

Did You Miss Me?

Well, there's been a decided neglect of blogging lately, due to the fact that I've been busy enjoying time with the VIPs. On Tuesday, we saw "March of the Penguins" - it's hard to imagine being entertained for ninety minutes by nothing but penguins, but this movie was simply incredible! If you have a chance, make the time to see it. The film is beautifully photographed and features stunning scenery. The stars of the show, the empire penguins, are simply fascinating. The film describe one year in the life of a tribe of penguins, their march to find a mate, the monogamous relationships they pursue, the birth of their chicks, and the hardships the parents endure to ensure life and sustenance for their young. It's just a great movie - all in attendance loved it.

Yesterday, we took a day trip to Yosemite. I'm lucky enough to live an hour from the south gate - something I all too frequently take for granted. We spent the day tromping near waterfalls, taking gentle hikes, lunching on pizza and just generally enjoying one another's company. God's majesty is resplendent at Yosemite - both in the towering sequoias and powerful waterfalls and in the quiet breezes across the meadows filled with wildflowers. I should visit more frequently...it's like taking a retreat!

The VIPs are off on their own today for a day trip to Monterey, and I'm already missing their company. It should be a good day to catch up on a few things, but I think I'm going to goof off with the boys instead. The lazy days of summer will soon be over, and there will be plenty of time for work then!

The VIPs Arrive Today!

Ready or not, my special guests arrive at our house later today. The guestrooms and bathrooms are relatively clean and I'm waiting with great anticipation.

I remember that in our childhood, when my grandparents would come to visit us from across the country, my siblings and I would wait outside on the curb all day the day they were expected. They always drove, and my parents must have had a vague idea of the time frame when they'd arrive, but to us kids it felt like we waited on that curb for hours.

The excitement would build as the time passed until we would see them pull onto the street. It's the same excitement I feel now whenever I open my home to family or visiting friends. You want everything to be ready for them, as if the cleanliness that greets them could relay to them how happy you are to have them in your home!

My childhood home was filled with visitors - we lived in Southern California, close to Disneyland, so perhaps that added to our appeal as a destination. But I prefer to think that it was my parents' welcoming hearts and the warmth of their invitation that drew people for visits.

My daddy had a special tourist circuit that we'd take guests on - they saw all of the high points for Southern California when they came to our house! I don't remember my parents ever conveying the impression that guests were an imposition. They even entertained guests they didn't know, including a French youth I'd met during my European travels who showed up unannounced and indicated I'd invited him to visit if he was ever in the area. I don't think I was even living at home at the time - but my mom and dad welcomed him and showed him hospitality.

I hope our home is half as welcoming as the home of my childhood, and that we'll be lucky enough to continue to welcome VIPs!

Tomato Chocolate Cake???

This recipe arrived in my mailbox today. I didn't think it was possible for me to not like chocolate cake, but this sounds downright yucky. Has anyone ever done this?

Chocolate Tomato Soup Cake

Put one 18-ounce box of dry chocolate cake mix into a large bowl and add one 10-3/4 ounce can of undiluted tomato soup, one teaspoon of baking soda and two eggs. Mix well. Bake according to the cake mix directions. For a quick frosting, cover the top of the cake with marshmallows right before you remove it from the oven.

Meet My File Clerk

This is Max, the holy hamster! Max is the Vice President for Filing at CatholicMom.com - he also helps out with my laundry.

Adam and I have discovered recently that the big bathtub in mom and dad's bathroom is a great place for Max to run around. He can exercise and we don't have to worry to much about him escaping (which he'd like to do...he hates doing all that laundry!).

Today we decided to get a good picture of Max, which is touch to do when he's in his cage. Have you ever tried to get a hamster to stand still for a close up??? This is my best shot! He's not smiling in the picture...typical!

In Cast You Missed It The First Time Around

Click here to view my interview with Fr. Richard Devine, Medical Ethicist. I found his attitude on this difficult topic to be very Christ-like and positive.

Support and Encouragement for Adopted Children

Anyone who has participated in the adoption process (or is considering adoption) will want to take a look at my interview with Stacie Cahill, author of a wonderful children's book entitled Who Am I?. Stacie, a therapist and mom of three, shares her heart and her take on adoption in this interview. Click here to enjoy a few moments with Stacie.

TGIF!

Although it's less pertinent in summer, I always love Fridays! This week, I'm rejoicing because we've almost survived the first week of football intact, Greg and Adam come home tonight, and we have a relatively un-busy weekend.

In the waning days of summer, I treasure those unscheduled days when the hardest decision is when to go swimming and what to grill for dinner. All too soon, we'll be back into the hustle and bustle, running from school to sports practices, to homework and everything else. That's not to mention any "business" types of commitments...

For now, I'm reveling in the prospect of a weekend with my men! Hope you have a great one too!

Every Monday Morning

I get so many books to review, but every now and then a really special one comes along. That's the case with Every Monday Morning by Linda Hutton. It's written for kids, but I think that Linda's message of service to others will really resonate with grown ups too! Click here to read my review and think about sharing this with a special child in your life. It's always inspiring to read stories about people who go out of their way to do nice things for others!

Stack Management Day

I'm a stacker...everyone has their way of organizing things, and mine is to create piles of items that need to be dealt with - bills, laundry, books or cds to review, calendar items...I'm surrounded by stacks!

Every few weeks the stacks start to overtake my life and I have to spend a day or two doing "stack management" - this typically involves resorting the stacks, putting some things away, throwing others away, and recreating new (and hopefully smaller) stacks.

This "system" flies in the face of everything I've read about time management and efficiency. If you're a good time manager, you touch everything only once and deal with it immediately...there's no stacking involved because you've dealt with the item the first time you touched it and it's relegated to its proper place.

I've tried this, but it doesn't work for me. I have to be in the right mood/frame of mind for certain things. Frequently I'm not! Frequently I'd rather go for a walk with Eric, swim with Adam, play my violin, talk on the phone to my mom or sisters, surf the internet, or just goof off.

There's been a good bit of goofing off this week, so the rest of today needs to be spent in Stack Management Mode. The VIP guests arrive next week, and there are serious stacks littering their accommodations!

Usually in the midst of a day like this I make a resolution to stop procrastinating and get more organized. Maybe today's the day that resolution sticks...who knows? OK, off to deal with the stacks!

Getting Ready for Back to School

I know it's early, but according to this checklist there are some things we should be doing now to get ready. Click here if you're an organized Mom or Dad (or Nana!)
This is about the time every year that I start to seriously consider moving to Maui and homeschooling....

Rest in Peace Susan

To read a statement from Susan's family released at today's news conference, click here. Prayers for the family and baby Susan continue.

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen

Susan Torres Update

Here's a link to the story indicating that Susan Rollins Torres has given birth to a little girl today - click here for additional details and please join my family in prayers and support for this family.

Arnold - Looking Good!

Take a peek at my birthday present..all new and improved! It's amazing what a great paint job can do!

Trials of a Football Mom

The party's over...with the dawn of August came the start of daily football practice for Eric (five days a week with equipment pickup on Saturday - they give us Sunday as a day of rest!). Adam and Greg left town Sunday for a weeklong trip to the mountains to meet up with Greg's high school friends. I could have left Eric with grandma or a friend, but I knew it was time to take up my duties for the season as Football Mom.

Football Mom is kind of like a toughened up version of Soccer Mom. I'm still learning the ropes, but these are some of the duties of a (Catholic) Football Mom:

* Spend the summer feeding son healthy doses of lean protein to add healthy weight in hopes that he'll be one of the bigger guys on the team (he thinks that's because you want him to start, but it's actually because you want him to be the smash-er instead of the smash-ee!)

* In the heat of a Fresno summer, run with him (or a few steps behind) and do those terrible two person sit ups where you pass the football between the two of you - I can usually do about 43 sit ups and then I just stand there and hand him the ball while he does too many for me to count. Do pushups with him...and no, you can't do the "girl" pushups. Even if you can only do eight non-girl pushups!

* Realize that once practice season starts, your personal schedule revolves around his football practice - football coaches don't seem to care about "family commitments"...those need to happen in July.

* On the first night of practice, you're not allowed to get out of the car to chat with other parents...if you do feel compelled to get out of the car for any reason, you must allow football player son to exit the car first, drive off as though you're leaving, park at least a block away where mom's car is not visible, and then sneak back to visit with other moms (who have all been given the same death-glare when they tried to walk their sons to practice).

* Up until this year, as a Football Mom I was allowed to walk around the high school track during practice. Apparently there's a new rule for eighth grade Football Moms: You must leave the grounds during practice. If you feel the need to watch, you must do so from a great distance and only if other moms are already present and watching. It's really better if you show up two minutes before practice ends with an icy beverage and an airconditioned car.

* There are two essential items that must be carried by a Catholic Football Mom at all times - a charged up cell phone and a Rosary...need I explain these?

Luckily, football season begins with a one week conditioning period in t shirts and shorts before the boys receive their pads and helmets. I'm pretty sure that the conditioning is for the Football Moms, whose skills have grown rusty and nerves have grown weak since last season...

One Stop Shopping for Sunday Gospel Activities

For some reason, one of the most popular features of CatholicMom.com is the weekly coloring page. Also popular are the word searches, crosswords and Mass Worksheets that are prepared to go along with each Sunday's Gospel reading. Preparing and posting these takes up a good chunk of time each week (that's why I take a break during the summer) and I've been looking for a good way to streamline this. I'm also working on making them more accessible and easier to find, so I've come up with this grid and I'll be working on getting the rest of this page better organized also. It's turned into a real mess! Say a prayer for me while I try to get it cleaned up (it's more fun than mopping my kitchen, which is what I should be doing today!). Inspiring and thought provoking blog posts may be limited this week as I take care of some of this web housekeeping stuff prior to the start of the school year.