Thursday, July 10, 2008
"Et tu?" - The diary of a former atheist
"Et tu?" - The diary of a former atheist: "Prayer is always an act of humility, and even more so in a situation like ours yesterday. Praying together forced us to unite as Christians and daughters of God, and to share in our mutual need of his mercy. It made us remember that that situation was so much bigger than our different views on diapers or reward systems or the origin of that brown stain in front of the couch. Amidst our differences, it reminded us of something on which we were in agreement: that this situation was nothing more or less than an opportunity to love and serve God; and that the best way to do that would be to love and serve one another."
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
I've Been Meaning to Share This...May Crowning
Mary got to wear her first communion dress for the school's May Crowning mass. She saw us - Collin, Monica, and Chris and me and worried that Collin would do something...and so he did!! He ran to hug her and I struggled to reign him in while holding Chris on my hip...Ah - little brothers...
Big Brother - Little Brother
Collin loves Chris. Chris loves Collin. There has not been a single second of jealousy or nastiness from Collin (or any of my other kids for that matter) The two boys laugh at each other and Collin is always up for "wrestling" with Chris. Thank goodness Chris is so flexible!!! Chris is lovin' life right now and he seems to be the happiest little boy - he loves to watch and listen to his brother and his sisters. It helps that mom totes him around on her hip everywhere and he get to "snack" on mom's milk on demand too I bet. 
Monday, July 7, 2008
Women: Key to Cultural Renewal
Women: Key to Cultural Renewal: "Bishop Sheen had great insight when he said that the level of civilization of any society is always determined by the women. If women refuse to give in to premarital sex, and insist that men treat them well before and in marriage, they will raise up the level of the whole culture.
Some women are afraid to insist that their man treat them right, or to refuse to sleep with him, for fear of losing him. In fact, a woman has nothing to lose. If she stands firm, either the man will straighten out and treat her with respect, or he will refuse to treat her right and leave. Either way she wins. If she gives in and takes the trash behavior she loses both ways. Either she keeps a man who will treat her badly for life, or he ends up having so little respect for her that she loses him anyway. Bad news either way!
The man who disrespects or denigrates his wife ruins things for two people: himself and his wife. She may come to have little self-respect and confidence, and become a real mouse. He then, will be turned off by his mouse of a wife, whom he helped to create, and be miserable himself. Happy the man who treats his wife like a queen without becoming a marshmallow himself. His wife will make him feel like a king."
Some women are afraid to insist that their man treat them right, or to refuse to sleep with him, for fear of losing him. In fact, a woman has nothing to lose. If she stands firm, either the man will straighten out and treat her with respect, or he will refuse to treat her right and leave. Either way she wins. If she gives in and takes the trash behavior she loses both ways. Either she keeps a man who will treat her badly for life, or he ends up having so little respect for her that she loses him anyway. Bad news either way!
The man who disrespects or denigrates his wife ruins things for two people: himself and his wife. She may come to have little self-respect and confidence, and become a real mouse. He then, will be turned off by his mouse of a wife, whom he helped to create, and be miserable himself. Happy the man who treats his wife like a queen without becoming a marshmallow himself. His wife will make him feel like a king."
Men: A Break from Sex
Men: A Break from Sex: "Any young man who hopes to be saved should realize that chastity is an integral part of the Christian life, no matter what the culture, the media, or the hypocrites might say. There is simply no way around this.
Some say, either implicitly or explicitly, “Well, when I get married I’ll live chastely, but it’s too difficult now. Nobody lives this teaching.” Satan jumps for joy when he hears this.
What’s wrong with it? First, it’s wimpish. Basically they are saying, “I can’t handle gospel morality. I’m too weak. I have to compromise with the world.” If they lived in early Rome, they’d have said, “I can’t deal with these lions. Let me worship the false gods until the persecution is over, and then I’ll be a great Catholic.” But everyone knows that the only real Christians are those who go right to the Cross with Christ. “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me...” (Mt. 10:38) They are saying they want Christ without the Cross. Wimps!"
Some say, either implicitly or explicitly, “Well, when I get married I’ll live chastely, but it’s too difficult now. Nobody lives this teaching.” Satan jumps for joy when he hears this.
What’s wrong with it? First, it’s wimpish. Basically they are saying, “I can’t handle gospel morality. I’m too weak. I have to compromise with the world.” If they lived in early Rome, they’d have said, “I can’t deal with these lions. Let me worship the false gods until the persecution is over, and then I’ll be a great Catholic.” But everyone knows that the only real Christians are those who go right to the Cross with Christ. “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me...” (Mt. 10:38) They are saying they want Christ without the Cross. Wimps!"
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Finally!!! Someone Got It Right!! _ Commentary on the Gloucester pregnancies...- The ideology of teen pregnancy
Christopher Caldwell says it very well in this article I found. An excerpt follows..."It may flatter our self-regard to believe that the modern, western pattern of child-bearing arises from superior knowledge and sophistication, but it does not. It arises from our priorities. The Gloucester pregnancies are not about information the girls don’t have. They are about an argument the girls don’t buy. It is a fool’s errand to try to convince a girl that bearing a child is “sad” (a word used with appalling frequency in press accounts) or to argue that last year’s hit movie Juno leads girls astray by glamorising pregnancy. (Apparently glamorising sex is all right, especially if it serves some transcendent purpose such as selling shampoo, but glamorising motherhood crosses the line.)"
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Townhall.com::Talk Radio Online::Radio Show
Townhall.com::Talk Radio Online::Radio Show Check out Dennis Prager's Male/Female Hour - Why are women so unhappy?
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Aliens Have Few Friends
Yep, that'd be me. I'm the alien with few friends. I don't mind the few friends part because my friends are few but they're good ones. The kind that you can not talk to or see for a couple of months and yet when you do get together or talk it's as if no time has passed and you can make one another laugh until your face hurts!
I do mind however the Alien part. It can be difficult to have the proverbial "eye-in-the-middle-of-your-forehead" when meeting and getting to know new people. I have found that people either really quickly "connect" with me or really quickly dismiss me as a nutball or worse sweet but strange. Of course those who think I'm out and out nuts are so far removed from my values and worldview that there's no pain in that. But those who I do truly share so much in common with but who have such a totally different personality and approach than me can make me really second guess myself.
I have had recent occasions which have brought this to the forefront and I hate to say it but it's been on my mind and heart. Simply put - it just BUGS me!! I find it so hard at times to reign myself in and calm myself down in order that people can relate to me better. My humor, my loudness, my brashness, my over the top use of hyperbole to make humorous points, my sarcasm. All of it can really take its toll on those of an entirely different persuasion. They are so distracted by my "delivery" that my "message" is just out the window. I'm an alien. A nice alien. But an alien none the less.
Alien life sucks! Thank goodness for friends and for Jesus - they love this alien!!
I do mind however the Alien part. It can be difficult to have the proverbial "eye-in-the-middle-of-your-forehead" when meeting and getting to know new people. I have found that people either really quickly "connect" with me or really quickly dismiss me as a nutball or worse sweet but strange. Of course those who think I'm out and out nuts are so far removed from my values and worldview that there's no pain in that. But those who I do truly share so much in common with but who have such a totally different personality and approach than me can make me really second guess myself.I have had recent occasions which have brought this to the forefront and I hate to say it but it's been on my mind and heart. Simply put - it just BUGS me!! I find it so hard at times to reign myself in and calm myself down in order that people can relate to me better. My humor, my loudness, my brashness, my over the top use of hyperbole to make humorous points, my sarcasm. All of it can really take its toll on those of an entirely different persuasion. They are so distracted by my "delivery" that my "message" is just out the window. I'm an alien. A nice alien. But an alien none the less.
Alien life sucks! Thank goodness for friends and for Jesus - they love this alien!!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
God's Plan
So, here I am sitting on the front stairs of my house blowing bubbles as a little girl. Who knew that 32 years later I'd be living the life I live now. God had a definite plan for me all along. That's something I've come to realize and dwell upon lately. It makes me fee so special and yet humbled too. He had a plan for me, just me, and it's working itself out right now too.As of late I've volunteered to facilitate a TOB study at my church. The teens there are lead by a great youth minister. She has them all doing the TOB for Teens study program by Ascension Press. There is a young adult group and and adult/parent group simultaneously doing the same study as well. Because it's geared toward teens and I am facilitaing for adult/parents I've got to change up the info slightly to make it relevant for us instead. That hasn't been easy! Specifically last Monday night I crashed and burned so to speak. That experience really humbled me and got me thinking. It got me asking "ok Lord why did you put me here if I STINK at this!?" To which he responded to me "I have a plan for you. I have always had a plan just for you"
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tim Russert Father's Day Interview -- Beliefnet.com
Tim Russert Father's Day Interview -- Beliefnet.com: "And do you have a favorite story about your own father?
A memorable father-son moment
Well, so many. You know, my dad, after he read 'Big Russ and Me,' said, 'You made a mistake.' I said, 'Dad, I didn't make a mistake. I vetted the book so carefully and I really tried to be precise and be accurate.'
He said, 'Yeah, you say I always call you and say you've got to eat.' I said, 'You do. You call me on my birthday at 7:00 A.M. and say, 'You've got to eat. You've got to eat. What are you having for supper?'' I said, 'Dad, I haven't had breakfast yet.'
It is just being there."
A memorable father-son moment
Well, so many. You know, my dad, after he read 'Big Russ and Me,' said, 'You made a mistake.' I said, 'Dad, I didn't make a mistake. I vetted the book so carefully and I really tried to be precise and be accurate.'
He said, 'Yeah, you say I always call you and say you've got to eat.' I said, 'You do. You call me on my birthday at 7:00 A.M. and say, 'You've got to eat. You've got to eat. What are you having for supper?'' I said, 'Dad, I haven't had breakfast yet.'
It is just being there."
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Para Mi Familia de Espana
My sister, Kelly has recently gotten back in touch with our friends from Spain. This makes me very happy. Julia and Maria and their mom and dad Julia and Vicente, are good people. I have missed them so much in the past 12-15 years!!! WOW! It has been a LONG time since we have seen one another. I think of them often. Kelly has sent me their e-mail addresses and I have sent a note to Maria. I told her to come on over here to my blog. This blog is the fastest way I know of to catch her up on all the news of my life.
So - If you arte reading this I hope that you anjoy all the pictures and that you somehow are able to hit the translate button... I need a big refresher course for Spanish. But I do remember this - Te amo familia - muchos besos - Kris
Good Times... Back In the Day When There Was Still Something Decent On TV
This article caught my eye.Good Times: 'Ain't We Lucky We Got 'Em' Views TheRoot.com: The author writes about how she had once dissmissed "Good Times" but how she now realizes what a solid show it had been. I couldn't sgree more!!! The premise was similar to "Little House on the Prairie" which I love as well. A good family doing good things under not so great circumstances. Confronted with the crap life throws at families on a regular basis they chose to live their lives with integrity.. The author puts it like this...
"Good Times covered it. And the family's way of dealing with these issues always centered around morality, integrity, strength and just being downright decent. What African-American TV family represents those values today? Hell, what white family for that matter?
The Evanses had a strong two-parent home. James was clearly the leader of the family, but he and Florida still acted as partners. The kids respected the parents. They weren't obnoxious smart asses, and they weren't incorrigible troublemakers either. They were regular kids. They were us. Although they were poor, they were hopeful and eager to learn and jump at opportunity."
Frankly, I'm tired of the crap that's on tv. On gut instinct alone I said no way to Hannah Montana as well as a TON of other stupid shows. I just have a "sense" for how bad these teeny bopper sitcoms are and so they are AUTOMATIC NO NO's for my kids!! Yet, yesterday I decided to sneak a peek at Hannah Montanna just to see what it was all about...YIKES!!!! Boy was I right! We cannot expect our kids to grow up with any kind of balanced and proper sense of their place and purpose in this world, if we let them watch this crap. Thank goodness it's summer and my kiddos are to busy playing outside to feel like they're "missing out" on some tv show...
"Good Times covered it. And the family's way of dealing with these issues always centered around morality, integrity, strength and just being downright decent. What African-American TV family represents those values today? Hell, what white family for that matter?
The Evanses had a strong two-parent home. James was clearly the leader of the family, but he and Florida still acted as partners. The kids respected the parents. They weren't obnoxious smart asses, and they weren't incorrigible troublemakers either. They were regular kids. They were us. Although they were poor, they were hopeful and eager to learn and jump at opportunity."
Frankly, I'm tired of the crap that's on tv. On gut instinct alone I said no way to Hannah Montana as well as a TON of other stupid shows. I just have a "sense" for how bad these teeny bopper sitcoms are and so they are AUTOMATIC NO NO's for my kids!! Yet, yesterday I decided to sneak a peek at Hannah Montanna just to see what it was all about...YIKES!!!! Boy was I right! We cannot expect our kids to grow up with any kind of balanced and proper sense of their place and purpose in this world, if we let them watch this crap. Thank goodness it's summer and my kiddos are to busy playing outside to feel like they're "missing out" on some tv show...
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