Author: darcee

Just one more Catholic wife and mother on the internet, blogging about homeschooling, living the faith and all that sort of thing.
Blogs I Know

Heads up

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I know a good number of Catholic mommy-bloggers link (or used to link) to Moms for Modesty, hosted by “Everyday Mommy“.   I saw her button when I first started blogging, but did  link to her because I detected a bit of an “anti-catholic” slant to her writing.  Nothing obvious and nothing I would want to say anything about at the time, but enough to make me think better than to link to her.  But I did support her Moms for modesty effort.

But as true colors often do she has finally shown them in all their ugliness.  (note: that she cut off the crucifix in her image, and accidentally I am sure – I don’t think she is low enough to try to mislead her readers that way.  She probably doesn’t even realize she did.  By eliminating Christ from the rosary mysteries in her image she actually creates  the thing she is really attacking.  It is almost a perfect example of a strawman.)

It isn’t that she is expressing a view counter to Catholic teaching — Catholics see that all the time.   It is her  mocking, nasty, ugly tone that is really offensive.  Also offensive is the way that she lumps everyone who has a different opinion as an “enemy”.     I guess this is just one of those cases where we need to pray.  This woman obviously has issues with what she believes the Catholic Church to be I pray her heart will be softened and her eyes opened to the truth.

Update: You might note that Everyday Mommy says in the comments that the image she used never had a crucifix.   My comments still stand.  It doesn’t matter if she cut it off or simply picked a picture with no crucifix.  A string of prayer beads without a crucifix isn’t a rosary, she was talking about rosaries, she is leaving the Crucified Christ off the Rosary and then condemning the rosary for taking away from Christ.  Strawman argument: accuse your adversary (she calls them enemies) of something they neither say nor do and then argue against the point of your own imagining.

My world

Sad news

darcee8 Comments

Monday we went to the Dr’s office for a quick ultra-sound and discovered that we had an anembryonic pregnancy,  it is also called a blighted ovum.  Basically everything developed fine except the baby.

It was such a sad thing looking at the screen with the kind of smooshed looking sac and where the little baby should have been there was nothing, no heart beat, no little arms or legs, no head and spine curled safely and securely inside me, nothing, just an empty space.

nothing is just such a horrible reality.  It creates such a disconnected sense of feelings. I feel like there is a well of grief and sorrow trapped inside my head that I can’t let out.  I am afraid to be around anyone too much because I feel like this dam will break suddenly and without control.   A week ago I was dreaming of little fingers and smooshy noses and a soft bundled nursling.  But it was all just dreams, nothing of substance.   The reality is that my body was every bit as tricked as my mind, so I have all the discomfort of miscarriage without the loss of the baby and I can’t for the life of me figure out if that is better or worse.    It is a loss where nothing was lost except the hope for something that didn’t happen.

Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – March 30, 2009

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook
Thank you Peggy.

FOR TODAY : March 30, 2008

Today is a bit chilly and windy.  The cherry trees are starting to bloom, snowdrops and crocuses have given way to daffodils and the lawn is springing green.  Easter is fast approaching.

Outside my Window – The plum tree is starting to bud out – there is moss everywhere.

I am thinking – Twins…. what would we do if we have twins.  Yes, I will find a way to worry about anything.  

From the learning rooms – We are starting into Rome.  I am putting together some preliminary ideas for a “life skills” unit-type study.

I am thankful for- The new baby on the way.  It seems so ironic that a month ago I lamented right here that I was wistful over there being no baby in the house.  Now we are expecting again.

From the kitchen – Crock-pot night.  Beef stroganoff, bread and salad

I am reading – I have the next Honor Harrington book on my nightstand, I still need to start it.

I am hoping – That everything goes well with the new baby.

I am creating – Hannah’s first communion dress.  This is the big project for the next few weeks.

I am hearing – Sarah playing,  her little playmobile people are going for a car ride.

Around the house – Trash bag challenging, working on some little projects that need tending to.

One of my favorite things – My big water cup.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week – I have no idea.  I am just taking this week one day at a time.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you –

The Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast
My world

Fun on the coast

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Yesterday we travel out to the coast.  Some days I am very well organized and have everything I need, plan for contingencies and all goes smoothly.  That was not yesterday.  I totally spaced bringing a change of clothing for the children, but thankfully the beach house had a washer and dryer.  I also managed to run Hannah’s chap stick through the wash… *sigh*  I guess I have to blame pregnancy hormones for making me a complete twit.

The kids had a fantastic time and so did I.

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Uncategorized

A day trip

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Today we are planning on going out to the coast.  Two of my sister-in-laws will be there and several of my nieces and nephews.   Hopefully the getting out and doing something will do me good and help me get over the last bit of this cold thing.

Seascape - Joseph Rodefer de Camp
Seascape - Joseph Rodefer de Camp
Blogs I Know · In the News · OMG it isn't that bad

Sarah Palin, Special Olympics and reality check

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Ok, so apparently our President said something surprisingly stupid and impolitic on  Jay Leno describing his bowling as Special Olympic worthy.   I really can’t get that worked up about it.  I know I should – Rachel has competed in several SO track events (and she likes to bowl), my cousin Brian won a silver medal in track at the Special Olympics world meet (a big deal, his family traveled out to Toronto and everything) but I guess I just don’t have the energy to really get upset about this.   It was dumb to say  — but coming from the same lips as “punished with a baby”,  I am just not surprised enough to get upset.   In the end  I think this (Special Olympics Champ to Barack: Bring it On!)  is the best response possible.

In one way I am sort of grateful for the gaffe (if you want to call it that) in that it unearthed this video.  Apparently in the rush to defend the president some of the die hard faithful Obama supports (or maybe those who just really hate Sarah Palin) brought this video to light.

What is the difference between a Hockey-mom and a Special Olympics Hockey-mom?  Nothing.   Perfect.  I also like how she talks about the absolute terror of knowing that your child is disabled and how love melts those fears away.  Say whatever you like about her, but this I absolutely respect: she lives this, and is open about it.  Plus it gives me my little excuse to say Special Olympics is wonderful.

Back when I was working downtown I would occasionally take the evening bus home.  One my route was a gentlemen who (I think) was autistic.  We got on the 72 at the same stop and I started talking to him.  I noticed he had a medal and asked him about it.  He had won it in the Special Olympic because he had ran “really, really fast”.  I told him that was really cool and that my little girl ran in the Special Olympics.  “Is she fast too?” he asked.  Yeah, she is fast.  I couldn’t even guess how many years that medal hung around that gentleman’s neck.  But he wore it everyday that I saw him.  It obviously meant a great deal to him.

Our world can be very hard for people who aren’t “perfect” but the Special Olympics gives everyone a chance to be a winner and a chance to be their best.  It celebrates the fact that we are all worth everything, that we all count and deserve a chance to try to be our best.   It is simultaneously what makes the president’s comment insensitive and stupid and what keeps me from getting too worked up about it.  None of us are perfect,  Barak Obama no exception, and no one is well served by the destructive politics that has reared its ugly head in our Nation this fall.  Picking up this one moment of stupidity isn’t useful unless it  is used intelligently to say something worth saying.

People with disabilities have much to offer our society and the Special Olympics has much to offer them.  So if you are so inclined, or if you have your dander up on this point please take a moment and donate to the Special Olympics while there you might want to read what they have say on the Obama/Leno thing.

H/T to Hotair for the Sarah Palin video and the challenge.

Uncategorized

woozy morning

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This morning was the first real pregnant morning.  After tossing and turning most the evening I gave into the morning and crawled out of bed, then the woozies hit.   Morning sickness has plauged all my pregnancies.  It starts out with the “normal” morning sickness at about 8 weeks.  The typical barf before breakfast sort of thing.  This gets steadly worse for the next two month until I am nearly incapable of eathing anything all day long or even smelling anything at all.  Then it goes away just in time for me to feel waddelly.  But babies are so sweet (just keep thinking that and it will all be ok)

Autism · Catholic stuff · My world

Good news.

darcee5 Comments

Last fall I was called and interviewed by U.S. Catholic for on an article they were working on about autism.  It was really a fun experience.  I also wrote a small companion piece for the article.  Both the article and my little piece are up at U.S. Catholic’s website.

We have also gotten to the official “announcement stage” of our newest little one.  We will be having a baby in late October.  As you can imagine the children are all overjoyed.  I am still feeling that slightly dreamy ‘overwhelmed’, but am I overwhelmed by how wonderful it is to be adding a new life to our home and all the little things that bringing a new baby into the world mean.

I think my brother-in-law said it best yesterday.  “I know your kids mean everything to you guys”.  And they do.  There is nothing we give up, nothing we “miss out on” that could possibly matter more than our houseful of laughing, crying, dancing, playing, occasionally fighting and always loving and beloved brood.

My world

Sort of slow around here.

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Yes, I have been lax the past few days.  It must be spring fever.

Around here we are still working on the 40 bags of stuff though I haven’t been posting on it daily as I would like to.

There is the First Communion Dress project which is coming along.

Other than that we have been busy.  This time of year my mind slowly starts looking forward.  I look forward to the summer and my herbs and flowers, the clothesline coming back out, the evenings out in the yard, camping, swimming lessons and days at the park.  I also start thinking about next years schooling.  What will we cover, what has worked and what hasn’t.    Spring is an exciting time.