Author: darcee

Just one more Catholic wife and mother on the internet, blogging about homeschooling, living the faith and all that sort of thing.
Catholic homemaking · Simplicity

A penny saved

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WWII Poster encouraging thrift - The National Archives
WWII Poster encouraging thrift - The National Archives

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”.  A well worn little axiom if there ever was one.   January is always a great  month to start working on new ideas, new plans, new goals.  With the current economic situation many of us are talking about ways to be thrifty, live more simply, basically spend and use less.

Right before Christmas Portland was blanketed in snow and ice.  After the holiday had pass and the snow was all but gone I took my oldest to get her hair cut and happened to overhear another customer talking about what a great Christmas she had had.  She hadn’t been able to get out and shop for all her last minute gifts, but she had a wonderful Christmas anyway.  She had made a couple gifts and just hadn’t given as many gifts as usual.  I thought it was really cool that she felt that way instead of feeling as though she had missed something.

Yesterday I found a really nice post about economy at  The Simple Wife.   I like her takes on the concept of economy and I agree whole heartily that we live in a culture with too much waste and trash.  We view everything as disposable — even people.

One of the themes in Tolkien’s work which has stuck with me is the thought of  things made to last.  He covers almost in passing, but as an enduring theme in his books,  the connections between craftsmanship, beauty and thrift.  All things functional also have form and where possible the form should be lovely and well crafted.  All things worth of creating are worth creating well and nothing should be wasted, tossed aside or abandoned.  Which is in a sense the essence of simple living, have less, do more with it and select those things we add to our life with care and care for what we have.  Only when something is ruined and twisted or wasted beyond repair is it destroyed.

Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – January 12, 2009

darcee5 Comments

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

FOR TODAY : January 12, 2008
Today is Christopher’s  10th birthday.  He has grown from a rolly-polly baby to a lean, tall and handsom young man.  

Outside my Window – The weather has shifted to a grey rain soaked mess.  This week it is supposed to warm up a little and dry everything off.  The fruit apple tree is looking a littl mossy, the roses need to be pruned.  Sort of bleak.   

I am thinking –   Despite the sogginess outside this might be a pretty good week.  I have a good idea what I want to get done, it is just a matter of getting to it. 

From the learning rooms – This week is my first of four rethinking and retooling weeks. 

I am thankful for-  Email.  It is such a nice way to keep in touch with friends.

From the kitchen – A new crockpot.

I am wearing – Brown slacks and a white top.

I am reading – On Basilisk Station

I am hoping –  That I get to pulling up the horrible, evil, once-upon-a-time was white, carpet up this week.

I am creating –  Some new lesson plans

I am hearing –  The children playing.

Around the house –Why does it seem like all the light bulbs go out at once.  We changed four yesterday and I see another one.

One of my favorite things – My full spectrum light.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week –  Getting back full into the homeschool day routine.  Finishing up my new planner.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you – 

My ten year old guy
My ten year old guy

 

Blogs I Know · My world

Seven thoughts

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Jen at Conversion Diary has been doing this and every week I have been tempted and then got side tracked or something.  There is a first time for everything.

1

I think I would very much enjoy Valkyrie, but why oh why does Tom Cruise have to be in it?

 2

Children go to sleep really easily when you wake them up a little earlier and run them hard and happy all day.

3

Yes, I was very cranky about my ex-sister-in-law and the picture thing a couple weeks ago.  After my ex forwarded her email to me I went ahead and sent her the picture.  I am sort of weird that way I guess.

4

I love getting emails from people I haven’t heard from in a long while.  Today I got one that made me laugh, so many half forgotten things shared silliness about tea-cozies and my strange way of being a little to starch-collared for my own good.

5

Blizzard adding the achievement system in World of Warcraft has been a really bad time sink for me.

6 

I enjoy having friends hang out at my house with me, but the thought of company visiting send me into near panic attacks. 

7

I find it really interesting that I see things in pictures that I don’t see in real life.  If I am looking at a picture of my house I will see everything that is out of place, but if I am just walking through I don’t see it.  Same goes with the children.  If I take a picture I will see the messed hair, holes in clothing, smudgy faces, but in real life I just don’t catch all that.

Autism

As God made me

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 Rachel flashes us a grin
Rachel flashes us a grin

God made us each as an expression of His perfect and wonderful love.  How do we reconcile that to the fact that all of us are born faulted.  Particularly, how do we reconcile that to idea that some people face incredible challenges because of birth defects, disability or genetic disease?  This has been highlighted today while I was reading about Autism Speaks video Autism Every Day and some of the reactions to the video.

I will probably write about the film when I have more time.   A good amount of the controversy surrounding the film had to do with its creators who “We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals.”  A good number of people, myself included, worry about the “biomedical research into causes and prevention” bit.  If by prevention you mean prevention in the Down’s Syndrom sense of prevention  — no thanks.   Aborting children for the sole reason that they might be born autistic is not morally acceptable.  Rachel is as much deserving and entitled to her life as any person and has been since the moment she came to be. 

But, does that mean that I wouldn’t provide her with just about any opportunity to lead a more normal life?  Don’t I want there to be a cure for her? Or is Rachel’s autism something about her that altering it would mean making her someone else? 

Even setting aside the reality that at fifteen, even if you could somehow totally remove autism and have Rachel be completly normal today she would still have a devil of a time catching up with the years of schooling and language that she would have to deal with learning. (note that she can not read) But let’s just say we could magically catch Rachel up with this miracle cure too.  Would we want to do it?   Would we want to do it knowing that in way autism defines some of what and who Rachel is?  I think we can only answer yes to this.

And there comes the trick.  We love Rachel as she is, but we can also see the dreadful issues that autism causes for her.   While she is mostly happy with her life there are undeniable struggles for her because of her disability.  One of the things I find most offensively obnoxious when reading on autism forums and boards is those who are diversity/disability activist in the sense that they focus not on the disability of autism as being a profound issue limiting their social interactions, chance to form meaningful relationships or even care for themselves as adults, but on the diversity that autism is.  They view autism as something which sets them apart, but also a critical aspect of who they are.   Which is true.  But when you are reading and posting on a forum and berating parents like myself who are here hoping to find something which will allow their children to do things like learn to read and write and communicate their feelings then something seems off.   We aren’t trying to “fix” individuals on the autism spectrum who are functioning in life — supported or independently, we want our children to have that same chance.   That is, I suppose, what offends me.  The idea that I don’t love my child as she is if I want her to have the opportunity to function on a reasonably independent level, in short, if I didn’t wish that she wasn’t autistic, or at least not as severely autistic.

God created Rachel as she is and that is autistic.   There is something about that that is His plan.  Vainly I can look at myself and say, Yes, being Rachel’s mother has changed my outlook considerably.   Or I could look at my children and see that they are more compassionate and tolerant people than I could have hoped they would be otherwise.   But I can also see Rachel in her struggles and her happiness which are different from her typical peers in many ways, but still similar.   But I can not, as her mother, wish that she wasn’t so profoundly affected by autism.  Some of this is selfishness on my part, but great deal of it is completely focused on Rachel.    It is even more true as she enters into adulthood and I am faced with the inevitable concerns that she can not adequately communicate her wants and needs in a way that others can help her achieve them.   Is it wrong to wish that Rachel could be other than how she was born? To wish that she wasn’t autistic.

I have to think not.   I think there is often a confusion about between the soul and the mind.  We judge too much on a persons mental capacity and most specifically on their ability to communicate,  even sadly with regards to spiritual things.  I was far more guilty of this before I had Rachel than I am now, but I still find myself occasionally slipping into this mindset.  But that begs the question, “Is someone’s worth based on their intelligence?”  We have to say no to this.   There is more to the person than the way their brain functions.  A tragic accident or disease which damaged someone’s mind doesn’t make them a different soul, it would only alter the function of that particular organ.   Which is why I don’t think Rachel would elementally be a different person if the autism-cure-fairy showed up and made her “normal”.  What I love about Rachel is no more her autism than my love for any of my children is based on their strengths or weaknesses.  I love her for who she is with autism or without.  For her own ease of life I wish she didn’t have to deal with autism but we all deal with what we are given both our blessing and our challenges.

Uncategorized

Community

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This week I have been thinking a lot on the importance of community.  

Last night one of our neighbors knocked on the door just as we were putting the finishing touches on dinner.  Their tarp-tent-temporary garage thing had been pushed around by the strong winds and they needed some help moving it back and setting right.  So Kyle put on his shoes and went out to help them.   We count ourselves lucky to live on a little street with really kind neighbors.

Faith in Action · In Prayer · My world

Inauguration Day Mass Intentions Update

darcee1 Comment
obama
no cause is lost until we surrender

This is from Barbara who is corridinating this great effort:

January 6, 2009

Greetings on the Feast of Blessed Andre Bessette. May his example of doing little things for the greater glory of God be our inspiration for our Mass Intention efforts this day.

We currently have 109 Masses being offered in 31 States and Washington, DC. We also have six more Masses secured in Italy, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Portugal and Canada.

It has been exciting to see the Mass list grow and encouraging to read the enthusiastic responses from people throughout the country. Some people have evan been able to secure Masses in several parishes in their cities.

Next week, we will send out an e-mail inviting Catholics around the country to attend a Mass in their local area. So, it would be great to secure more Masses in all states so that more people would have the opportunity to attend a Mass locally.

Time is of the essence. It is getting more difficult to secure Mass Intentions for the specific date: 1/20/09. But there are still options. You can either ask for the closest date available or if you know your pastor to be zealously pro-life, you can talk to him directly and he may be willing to change the intention schedule, if at all possible.

Also, consider that the following places are not booked as early: convents, abbeys, monasteries, retirement homes for priests and nuns, hospitals, nursing homes, and college campuses. (The main campus churches are probably already booked, but the dorm Mass intentions are generally more available and flexible.). But even parishes are still making room for our intention in their schedules, so don’t hesitate to ask. Again, I have had good success sending out e-mails to specific priests that I know to be ardently pro-life. I also have had wonderful responses from convents this past week.

We are still missing the following states, so if you have contacts in these states, please let them know about this project:

Alaska (AK)
Colorado (CO)
Connecticut (CT)
Delaware (DE)
Idaho (ID)
Louisiana (LA)
Maine (ME)
Massachusetts (MA)
Mississippi (MS)
Missouri (MO)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Jersey (NJ)  
New York (NY)
North Carolina (NC)
Oklahoma (OK)
Tennessee (TN)
Virginia (VA)
West Virginia (WV)

May God bless our efforts, may He hear and answer our prayers according to His Divine Will, and may we hear good news in the coming year for the sake of the unborn and most vulnerable among us.

My world

Ripples

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Wooded River Landscape - Henri Biva
Wooded River Landscape - Henri Biva

When I was in high school we live on the Mazzarn River near Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was a painfully awkward teen who looked forward to each summer escaping from school to spend my days in the river swimming. Each spring I would wait for the weather to change, the days to lengthen, and the water to warm. The dogwood tree would drop its pink blossoms into the river making perfect circular ripples. The ripples would bump into each other cause small distortions they would flow downstream and vanish.

Sometimes, writing online feels like dropping a small petal into a huge river. I know that this small little blog doesn’t reach a huge audience or make a big difference in anyone’s world. But every once in a while I hear from someone else out there and it makes it all worth while.

Fun · Simple Woman's Daybook · Simplicity

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – December 22, 2008

darcee1 Comment

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

FOR TODAY : December 22, 2008
So we had some snow last week, this week we are snowed in.  We have a good ten inches of snow (easily).  The trees are coated in ice, thanks to Saturday night’s freezing rain.  The weather outside is frightful… we are all safe and warm.

Outside my Window – Wow… snow, ice, feels like a moved to Vermont or something.  

I am thinking –   About the pantry.  My dad is out and about and will be picking us up some essentials at the store.  We are staying put until it thaws a bit. 

From the learning rooms – My neighbor brought over a gingerbread house kit… fun craft for this afternoon.

I am thankful for-  My warm home.  My dad who is the emergency snow-man, and escort to the ballet.  Yeah for him and his 4 wheel drive, snow tires and chains.

From the kitchen – More cookies and maybe some fudge.

I am wearing – Grey sweats and my black velvet top.

I am reading – Nothing in particular at the moment.  I skimmed through the latest issue of “Threads” last night. 

I am hoping –  That everyone stays safe today.

I am creating –  Christmas cookies and fun crafts.

I am hearing –  Kyle teasing Josh about tossing him out in the snow.  Josh thinks it is hilarious.

Around the house – You would think they would be getting tired of the weather…. nope.  But they do need to get some energy burned off.

One of my favorite things – My camera.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week – Christmas!!!!  .

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you – 

iceflocked

 

Caritas · Catholic stuff

Inauguration Day Mass Intentions Update

darcee2 Comments

The goal is all 50 states — If you live in one of the states below without a mass or know someone who does would you please consider sponsoring a mass?  If you leave a comment with your I will send you the information to have your mass intention liste.

Advent greetings to each of you to as we round the corner to Christmas,

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update. Feel free to share this with others.

You folks are awesome! Through your efforts, we have added twenty Masses in eleven states this past week, bringing our total to 19 states and 48 Masses. Please check the roster to see if you know anyone in the states that aren’t covered.

Thanks to each of you who have reserved a Mass for the intention of our new president. Can you imagine the effect this will have? Please check below to be sure your Mass is entered and entered correctly. I apologize for any omissions or errors.

If you were planning on having a Mass offered for this intention and haven’t yet done so, it would be good to do it soon as parish schedules are filling up for January. Even if your local parish is already offering a Mass for our new president, I encourage you to contact a different parish, a monastery or a priests’ retirement center. Catholic colleges are another a great option. Since our parish was already covered, I sent my request to a semi-retired priest who serves at a convent. He was glad to do it.

Little funny: One priest mentioned that elected officials seldom keep their campaign promises so we can be hopeful!

May God’s richest Christmas blessings be upon you and your families, and may He hear our prayers for the sake of the unborn and the most vulnerable among us in the new year.

48 Masses in 19 States and Washington DC

Alabama (AL)

Alaska (AK)

Arizona (AZ)

Arkansas (AR)

California (CA)
Santa Paula, CA: TAC (St. Thomas Aquinas College), Fr. Rafftery

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

Delaware (DE)

Florida (FL)
St Petersburg, FL: St. Raphael’s
Sebastian, FL: St. Sebastian’s  (Jan. 23)

Georgia (GA)
Canton, GA: Our Lady of Lasalette’s

Hawaii (HI)
Honolulu, HI: Father Damien’s on Aliamanu Military Reservation

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)
Westmont, IL: Holy Trinity

Indiana (IN)

Iowa (IA)
Iowa City, IA: St. Mary’s

Kansas (KS)
Dodge City, KS: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Garden City, KS: St. Dominic’s

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Maine (ME)

Maryland (MD)

Massachusetts (MA)

Michigan (MI)
Livonia, MI: St. Michael’s,


Minnesota (MN)
Crookston, MN: Diocese of Crookston Chancery,
Crookston, MN:  Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception,Hillsboro, OR: St. Matthew’s
Joseph, OR: St. Katherine’s
La Grande, OR: Our Lady of the Valley
Portland, OR: Holy Rosary
Sherwood, OR: St. Francis’

Mississippi (MS)

Missouri (MO)

Montana (MT)

Nebraska (NE)

Nevada (NV)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

New York (NY)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)
Belfield/South Heart, ND: St. Mary’s/St. Bernards, Fr. Lucht
Bismarck, ND: Fr. Richter
Bismarck, ND: Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, (both 6:45 and 8 AM)
Bowman, ND: St. Charles, Fr. Mormon
Dickinson, ND: Queen of Peace, Fr. Zwack
Dickinson, ND: St. Patrick’s, Fr. Kreitinger
Glenburn, ND: St. Philomena’s, Fr. Gardner
Hebron, ND: St. Ann’s
Linton, ND, St. Anthony’s, Fr. Benz
Mantador, ND: Sts. Peter and Paul, Fr. Anderl
Valley City, ND: Maryvale-Sisters of the Presentation Convent, Fr. Seeberger
Valley City, ND: St. Catherine’s
New England, ND, St. Mary’s, Fr. Basil
Williston, ND: St. Joseph’s, Fr. Schafer

Ohio (OH)
Dayton, OH

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)
Beaverton, OR: St. John Vianney Retirement Center

Pennsylvania (PA)
Mars, PA: St. Kilian’s


Rhode Island (RI)
North Kingstown, RI: St. Frances de Sales’
South Carolina (SC)
Rock Hill, SC:  St. Anne’s

South Dakota (SD)
Aberdeen, SD (2 Masses)
Redfield, SN: Sacred Heart
Sioux Falls, SD: Holy Spirit Parish 

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)
Rio Grande City at the Benedictine Monastery of the Good Shepherd

Utah (UT)

Vermont (VT)

Virginia (VA)

Washington (WA)
Camas, WA: St. Thomas Aquinas’
Seattle, WA: Sacred Heart,
Vancouver, WA: Holy Redeemer

West Virginia (WV)

Wisconsin (WI)

Wyoming (WY)
Evanston, Wy: St. Mary Magdalen’s

Washington D.C.
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception  (Not guaranteed on 1/20/09)

Missionaries of Charity, Fr. Wayne Sattler

This grassroots Inauguration Day Mass Intention project is being promoted . . .
on AM 1370 in Grand Forks.
in Fargo Diocese paper, New Earth, December issue
by Human Life PAC of WA State
by USCCB Respect Life Committee
by Lighthouse Catholic Media
by History Links—Integrated Learning for Catholic Families

 

 

Here is the original request:

If you are like me, you have felt somewhat concerned about the results of the election and the future of our country. I am sharing an idea with a few close friends in the hope that others will join me in doing one little thing that could help to change the course of history.

WHO: A few faithful Catholic lay people and priests. (Anyone can do this: stay-at-home moms, singles, retired people, students–anyone–and we can have a huge impact on our country’s future.)

WHAT: Have a Mass said on Inauguration Day for our new President. It can be said for his conversion or, “That our new president will work to protect the dignity of each human life.” Consider that St. Leonard of Port Maurice said that one Mass offered before death may be more profitable than many after it, and St. Anslem affirmed this.

WHEN: Tuesday January 20, 2009 Inauguration Day

WHERE: Throughout our country in as many Catholic churches as possible.

WHY: Because offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for an intention is very powerful. Please see my story below.

HOW: Simply call your local parish and ask to reserve January 20th for your intention. Then send a check for $10 to the priest for your Mass intention. (More details below.) Next please choose three friends (or more) to pass this email on to.

But now, let me share the story behind this inspiration.

A young friend of ours owns a barbershop. One day a gentleman came in, interested in renting space from her, but he said that, as a Jew, he was offended by the crucifix that she had hanging there. They got into a long discussion/debate and when they parted she said, “You pray for me and I will pray for you.” Later she shared this story with her family and her younger, teen-age sister decided to have a Mass offered for the intention of this man’s conversion. Six months later the shop-owner was entering the cathedral and a gentleman who was leaving the church said, “Do you remember me? I had wanted to rent space from you. I am becoming a Catholic.”

This story of one simple act inspired me and helped me to realize the profound impact of a Mass offered for the conversion of heart.

Thanks for considering my request and may God bless America!

Your Sister in Christ,

B—

MORE DETAILS:

RESERVING A MASS INTENTION: We will have to move quickly because the dates in many parishes are already filling up. If January 20 is already taken at your local parish, you may choose another date or contact a nearby parish. Also consider having Masses offered at local hospitals, nursing homes, monasteries, etc. Consider retired priests who may be offering private Masses. There is no limit to how many Masses you can have offered on any given day. You may also have the Mass offered for a “Special Intention” if you prefer.

SENDING THE EMAIL TO OTHERS: Please copy the information I am sending you, but if possible, add a personal introduction for each person you send it to so this is a personal invitation from one pro-life Catholic to another. My hope is that each person will send this on to at least three other people.

You can also feel free to ask local priests if they would be willing to waive the stipend and offer the Mass for this intention. There are many priests that I think would be willing to do this. Once it is on the parish calendar, please add it to our “Ongoing Roster” below.

I would like to try to keep track of how many Masses are offered and where. I will send out periodic updates. I would like to see at least one Mass offered for this intention in each state (or many more!). So, if you can think of people outside your local area that might like to do this, please send this on to them.