Sarah Palin: should the mother of an infant be Vice President?

The thought occurred to me while I was rejoicing in Senator McCain's good taste: should the mother of an infant, much less an infant with Down syndrome be seeking even more responsibility than she already has?

You know I love her as a person, I posted about her back in April when her youngest son, Trig was born. I love her as a moral, pro-life, no-favorites politician. But should a Christian woman with a young infant be doing this?

Those of you who read this blog know how much of my time is invested in my children. A home schooling mother is very busy; add dozens of therapy appointments a month and a writing career, a teaching job and you have an overwrought mother with a cluttered home. My girls have expressed a desire to attend school, so I am making a move to Connecticut for good Catholic schools to alleviate some of this pressure, and focus more on writing.

For fifteen years, I have had to work in addition to mothering. I don't have a choice; my husband's siblings and parents in El Salvador depend on him for financial support, so I have to pitch in. When the girls were younger, I ran a preschool in my home. They had lots of friends, plenty to do; art, story time, outdoor play, field trips, etc. but less alone time with Mom. For the past 8 years, I worked part-time teaching English at a local college; they got more attention from Daddy, they went on bike rides and out to lunch at the restaurant down the road on the beach. Their relationship strengthened; but the house was a wreck when I got home from a five hour class on Saturday afternoon. I (usually) bit my tongue and tried to focus on my husband and children's happiness while I cleaned up, with their help.

Every decision has it's price. I think the mind of the Church on this issue is that Catholic women have a duty to exercise their prudential judgement on this. Elizabeth Foss rightly pointed out that soon to be Blessed Zelie Martin, mother of St Therese of Lisieux, operated a lace-making business out of her home. St. Gianna Berretta Molla worked as a Pediatrician while her children were young. The famous Old Testament feminine role model, the Proverbs 31 woman made cloth at home, sold it in the public square and brought both prosperity and honor to her family. Danielle Bean, Michele Quigley, and Heidi Hess Saxton edit good Catholic magazines while raising their children. My point is, that although these women are engaged in business activities, their family is their first priority. I know stay at home mothers whose volunteer or social activities encroach upon their mothering time.

We have to seek the will of God for our particular situation and in charity, refrain from criticizing one another. To correct a friend who is going astray in this direction, is the loving thing to do, but until you know the particulars of a working mother, please don't sit in judgement of her. I've been hurt by the judgements of fellow homeschooling mothers with more comfortable financial circumstances, who see all mothers who work as vain and materialistic.

I understand that stay at home mothers are tired of their vital role in raising children for heaven being mocked and this may account for a backlash against Sarah Palin. But I urge you to consider the powerful witness Sarah can be as Vice President. She can be a positive role model of a true feminist; pro-life, pro-family, faithful Christian, whose family life blends with her political career. Her husband is very supportive and isn't afraid of doing his share of child care; and we all know that this is crucial to the success of any working mother. I love when she described how she puts down the blackberry and picks up the breast pump. I would probably try to do both at once and make a hash of it!

Danielle Bean has quite a lively discussion on this subject going on at Faith and Family Live.

9/17 UPDATE: Elizabeth Miller has a great post on how Sarah Palin might be a source of unity for women on this issue.

Book Review: "Roadmap to Holland"

Roadmap to Holland
By Jennifer Graf Groneberg
292 pages
I have had the privelege of corresponding with Jennifer via her blog "Pinwheels" and am a great admirer of her literary talent. Now I admire her as a mother as well.

Those of us who give birth to children with Down syndrome have been likened to travelers to Italy who find that their plane unexpectedly lands in Holland. The title “Roadmap to Holland” is a reference to that famous essay by Emily Perl Kingsley, who worked for decades writing for Sesame Street and whose son Jason has Down syndrome.
She has for generations provided this invaluable wisdom for new parents of children with Down syndrome. In “Roadmap to Holland” we meet Jennifer, a new and compassionate companion on our journey raising a child who is both very different, and yet surprisingly similar to our other children.

Jennifer and her husband Tom had the perfect life; both writers, they lived on a peninsula on a lake in Montana; they worked in their home office down the hill from their home, surrounded by peace and tranquility of nature. Their life was enlivened by the joy of a young son, Carter. Just what inspired them to test fate by conceiving again? This question kept returning to Jennifer’s mind as the difficulties in her journey to Holland began to reveal themselves. Twin boys, Bennett and Avery and were born seven weeks premature with the daunting possibility of lifelong repercussions. Just when Jennifer thought the news couldn’t get worse, she was informed that Avery, her little blue-eyed boy with a full head of blond hair, had Trisomy 21, an extra 21st chromosome. Jennifer’s first reaction, like so many, was an urge to flee, leaving all the fears behind. She, however being the valiant woman she is, stayed the course, and, for months commuted to the hospital, pumping her milk round the clock, holding her babies by turns, caring for her older son, longing for a full night’s sleep, until, finally, her little boys came home, one by one to the little house by the lake.

Jennifer’s story is a vivid, day by day journal of some of the most devoted mothering in modern literature, tempered by her honest descriptions of her personal growth in acceptance of Avery’s diagnosis. Her vivid descriptions of each scene, draws us into her life’s journey so deeply that we are reluctant to see the book end. “Roadmap” evoked so many of my own fond and painful memories as the mother of a daughter with Trisomy 21, that I feel as if I could easily spend a quiet winter afternoon at the little house by the lake chatting with her by the fireplace, sipping tea as our children play at our feet.

Still searching for the spiritual underpinnings of life, Jennifer is not afraid to admit that she has not found all of life’s answers, yet she is powerfully articulate describing the beauty of what she has found; that life with three little boys, one of whom has an extra chromosome, is a blessing she never would have anticipated. She has been enriched by her experience in ways which, until this book came out, many other mothers could not appreciate: she cites the tragic statistic that 90% of expectant mothers whose unborn child is diagnosed with Down syndrome choose to end it’s life. Books like “Roadmap to Holland” provide support to mothers facing the daunting prospect of raising a special needs child; they know that they are not alone. They can pick up this volume; and enter into Jennifer’s world of challenges, tears, and triumphs, where, through sleep-hooded eyes; a grateful mother can still see the sun shine.

I recommend this book for mothers who are facing challenges, and seek companionship on their journey. Jennifer has an extraordinarily detailed description of the therapies available for our children, coupled with a complete appendix with resources for parents of children with Down syndrome. I hope that “Roadmap to Holland” joins “Gifts” on the bookshelves of obstetricians and genetic counselors who want to give their patients a realistic yet inspiring idea of what it’s really like to raise a child with Trisomy 21 in today’s world.

You are my inspiration!

I am really counting on them, and it's so comforting that around the globe, our family is surrounded by prayer. This is the universal Church.
Speaking of support, if you have time, go and see "Henry Poole is Here", a wonderfully inspiring film which shows the Church in a suprisingly good light.

I need your prayers for our move

Things are at a critical point as we approach our last week in New York, and we need your prayers for our move to Connecticut. Something tells me a lot of blessings await our family in our new home; it's the amount of stress we're going through at this moment.

This battle belongs to the Lord, and I leave it in His Hands, please pray with me.

Good news for those with Trisomy 21

Higher Education Act Passed
Congress has approved a bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. This act, which sets federal higher education policy for at least the next five years, will expand eligibility for grants and work study jobs to students with intellectual disabilities; authorize new model programs; and, infuse the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into the higher education law.
Summary of provisions for students with intellectual disabilities
Allows students with intellectual disabilities, who are attending programs designed for them in higher education, to be eligible for the first time for Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and the Federal Work-Study Program.
Authorizes the development and expansion of high-quality, inclusive model comprehensive transition and post-secondary programs.
Authorizes the establishment of a coordinating center for the new model programs. This center will provide technical assistance, evaluation, and development of recommendations for model accreditation standards as well as outreach and dissemination to postsecondary programs, families and prospective students.
Ensure equal college opportunities for students with disabilities
Establishes a national center to provide support services and best practices for colleges, students with disabilities, and their families.
Helps colleges recruit, retain, and graduate students with disabilities and improves education materials and facilities.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
The Higher Education Opportunity Act contains numerous provisions regarding the preparation of educators in early childhood, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education settings to use the principles of UDL in their instructional practices. UDL provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged. It also reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports, and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students. The recent UDL efforts were led by a task force headed by Ricki Sabia, Associate Director of the National Down Syndrome Society Policy Center, and 24 general education and disability organizations, including the National Down Syndrome Congress. For more information on the Task Force and Universal Design for Learning see www.udl4allstudents.com and www.cast.org.
The National Down Syndrome Congress applauds the leadership and hard work of our partners at the NDSS Policy Center on this initiative. In addition, we recognize and appreciate the leadership and bipartisan spirit of the following members of Congress who were instrumental in the passage of this bill: Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX), who is also the father of a son with Down syndrome; Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Kennedy (D-MA); Ranking Member Enzi (R-WY); House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Miller (D-CA); Ranking Member McKeon (R-CA); and, Senator Mikulski (D-MD). For more information on the Higher Education Act, contact Madeleine Will at mwill@ndss.org.

Isabella had a great time at Morning Star Camp

I was very hesitant when Isabella, who was returning to Morning Star Camp this year without big sister Gabbi, wanted to stay for two weeks.I thought that this was a very long time for a homeschooled girl to be away from her family. Not that I didn't trust the Sisters implicitly, I have seen few religious with a deeper love and appreciation for the needs of children. I couldn't wait to hear of the lessons in virture, sports, woodlore, crafts, friendship and the Faith which Isabella would bring home from her stay at camp. Plus, the sense of pride and independence which comes from sticking it out during inevitable bouts of homesickness.
I decided to allow Isabella to stay the extra week when we arrived at the Camp, and she immediately disappeared to find last year's friends, leaving me with her bags. She quickly found her cabin, got her things, and installed them in her brand new bunk, and returned to lobby for the second week. I paid the fee, and enjoyed a tour of the spanking new Monfort Retreat (see a slideshow of the construction here) located on top of a mountain in Washington New Hampshire (all right, it's technically a hill, but, to a flatlander like me it's a mountain).

Buildings are log cabins, and we watched them going up by means of beautiful slide shows set to music during the school year, so I was anxious to see the nearly finished product. The cafeteria is cavernous, with high ceilings dotted with rustic chandeliers, and a piano which fills the room with music. Excess noise is absorbed by the log walls, and a large covered outdoor eating area ensures that the girls will be in touch with the natural beauty of the woodlands, no matter what the weather. The log chapel will have arched screened windows, looking out on the quiet lake, and the river which feeds it. A log crucifix over the altar is reminiscent of the one Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha may have made for herself in her long house, not too far away in upstate New York. I breathed in the moist balsam-scented air, one of my favorite smells in the world, and enjoyed the peace of the place. Nothing to hear but the sounds of nature, punctuated by the delighted squeals of friends reuniting and discovering their new campground. Three circles of fragrant new log cabins named after saints greeted the girls.


It was hard to tear myself away from this piece of heaven, but the sisters assured me that plans for a mother's retreat were in the works, so with that promise, and a good push from Isabella, who wanted her adventure to begin, Gabbi, Christy and I left Camp Morning Star to begin the long ride home.
My cell phone had no reception at the camp, and that had been our planned means of communication, so my contact with my middle daughter was limited to two brief phone calls, where she sounded so animated about her adventures in camp, that my missing her was well worth it. Her father was so intrigued by my vivid descriptions of the primeval beauty of the rustic camp set deep in the pine woodlands, that, despite painful sciatica, he offered to drive up to retrieve his nature girl at the end of the two weeks. We left before dawn, using the road Gabbi and I mapped out to go home, and were the second family to arrive at Camp, to the utter shock of Isabella who expected us to be late. She was two shades darker, and that included her clothing, died deep brown from the black mud left by the construction around the camp, but radiantly happy. We helped her clean up the cabin, retiring the mattresses for the season, checking out her upper bunk (which she did NOT fall out of) and admiring the names of the cabins. Hers was Blessed Kateri. Each morning, at reveille, if her cabin didn't show up in their PJ's for prayers, they would be a sister, calling, "Blessed Kateri, time to get up!"Daily Latin Mass and rosary marked their days, and everyone wore their scapular. Girls were cheerfully helping the sisters clean up, and carrying one another's bags to their parent's cars.

Isabella and I took Christy for a tour of the lakeshore, where the rowboats and kayaks were launched, and where, in the future, there will be a beach. I loved seeing her familiarity with the camp, which, only two short weeks ago had been uncharted territory for her. I had been worried that the suburban girl might be overwhelmed by the north woods, but Isabella was in her element in the woods, much like her mother at her age. I always dreamed of a vacation like Isabella has had; adventure in nature, camaraderie and the Faith all blended into two unforgettable weeks.


I'll let Bella tell you about what she did when she gets a chance to write, and she will show you her fascinating photos of nature and girlish antics.
None of them, I regret to say, are of her, since her camera was packed deep in her bag when we arrived. I forgot to ask for it, since I was so taken with the sheer beauty of the camp and wanted to experience it as fully as possible before it was time to leave. I'm sure Isabella will show up in the camp slideshow, which we'll be linking to here.

Mr C is going strong at 70

He is teaching the medical community to up their expectations of life with Down syndrome.
Mr. C is 70 and has no signs of dementia.
What's his secret?
In the world of Down syndrome, 'Mr. C' is a rarity. A real person whose progress has been tracked for the past 16 years, at seventy, 'Mr. C' has well surpassed the average life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome, currently in the late fifties, but in the teens when 'Mr. C' was born. Further, 'Mr. C' does not exhibit clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which is almost a given for people with typical Down syndrome over 65 yeas of age. 'Mr. C,' while remaining nameless, puts an optimistic face on the future of aging for people with Down syndrome, as scientists ask the critical question: What is it about 'Mr. C's' individual characteristics and experiences that have made him not only live longer, but also age successfully despite having Down syndrome?
"'Mr. C' paints an optimistic picture for people with Down syndrome who are aging, and says that an ordinary person with Down syndrome ought to be able to make it to seventy, once you find 'Mr. C's' secret," explains Dr. Sharon J. Krinsky-McHale, lead author of the study and Research Scientist at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities.
Read the entire story here.

The power of words to heal and hurt

Spain: Down Syndrome kids aborted

This explains the tragedy of what the world loses when one of our lovely children is aborted.

I'm so proud of Joey's Mom!

She as part of the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress organized the protest of "Tropic Thunder" in this article.

Book Re-readers unite!

OK, I know you're out there! There are readers of this blog who re-read books. Faith and Family Live blog has a post for you.
I did, before I had three blogs and three kids. . . and it was one of the best ways of learning grammar and literary style. I grew up when teaching grammar was out of style (is it back yet? I homeschool, so I'm out of touch with public educational trends).
From learning the difference between subject and predicate in second grade to my monumental struggles to understand indirect object in seventh grade French (it would have been easier to learn in English first, NON?) I had NO grammar in grammar school. I even got a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language without a single course in grammar. Oh, I paid for a grammar course, and bought a $100 grammar book, but the professor was bored by teaching grammar and preferred to chat during class time. I was shortchanged on grammar.
But, like my Irish gran who wasn't able to get as much formal education as she would have liked,
I read, and I read, and I read. CS Lewis, Alcott, Austen, Laura Ingalls Wilder, James Herriott, and when I was 13 I read 1037 page "Gone with the Wind" in a record 3 days, while my worried mother brought meals to my room. It was actually due for re-release in my local movie theatre, and besides, I was enthralled by the story.
These and many other wonderful authors taught me grammar and literary style. Plus, living through a great story more than once is one of life's great pleasures.
If you like my writing, now you know my secret; READ READ and RE-READ great writers!

"It's Just a Word"

I had to express my thougths on today's release of "Tropic Thunder", so I wrote the editorial "It's Just a Word" for Catholic Exchange.

Update on offensive film: "Tropic Thunder"

Help The Arc Fight Offensive Portrayal of People with Intellectual Disabilities

Background

Tropic Thunder is an action/adventure/comedy scheduled for nationwide release on August 13 and promises to be one of the blockbusters of the summer. DreamWorks is the film's producer and Paramount is its distributor.
The premier will be held in Los Angeles, California on Monday, August 11.The film features popular actors Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black as self-absorbed actors filming a big-budget war movie on location. Through a series of freak occurrences, they are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying. Stiller plays Tugg Speedman, a fading action star who earlier failed in his bid for an Oscar as "Simple Jack," a man with an intellectual disability.

"Simple Jack" is featured as a film-within-a-film, with Stiller sporting a classic institutional bowl haircut and bad teeth (see poster below). The film within-a-film's slogan is "What he doesn't have in his head, he makes up for in his heart." A satirical plot synopsis quotes a critic as saying that Speedman's Jack was "one of the most retarded performances in cinema history."
Status
A small number of disability advocates was able to screen the film on Friday, August 8. Their assessment of the film was that it was far worse than anything they could have anticipated. According to David Tolleson, the Executive Director of the National Down Syndrome Congress who attended the screening, "it provides real ammunition for cruelty" especially for the film's target audience of adolescent males. "Not only is the Simple Jack character highly central to the film's plot, it is portrayed in the most demeaning way," according to Tolleson.
In perhaps the single most offensive scene in the film, Matthew McConaughey, who plays a Hollywood agent, speaks to the film's main character who wants to adopt a child. "Well, at least you still have a choice. I'm stuck with mine," states McConaughey while pointing to a photograph of his teenage son who appears to have an intellectual disability.There has been mounting outrage from the disability community as the film's content is gradually becoming known.
For excellent coverage of the issue, see Patricia Bauer's Column and related posts. Hundreds of comments have been posted on the blog expressing outrage about the movie. Representatives of a number of national disability organizations, including The Arc's Executive Director Peter V. Berns, met with DreamWorks and Paramount studio executives in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday, August 6. The purpose of the meeting was to express concerns, request a viewing of the film, and discuss possible solutions.
Take Action
Depending on negotiations with the studio executives over the weekend, The Arc and its coalition partners may be calling on its membership to take appropriate action.
Such action includes a protest at the premier in Los Angeles on August 11 and/or national boycott when the film is released on August 13. Stay tuned......

My horsewoman is away at camp this week

She was so delighted to have finally arrived at the new Morning Star Camp in Washington, NH, after viewing the construction of the new log buildings all year, that she begged me to leave, so I wouldn't interfere with her camp experience, though I was merely enjoying a tour of the beautiful chapel. I took that as a good sign.
Here's a slideshow of the new camp in Washington NH, on a hidden lake deep in the woods. It's breathtakingly beautiful, I can't wait for their first mother's retreat scheduled for next summer!

But I miss my little outdoor girl, so I've been working on a montage of her horseback riding birthday party last May at Nativity Riding Academy of Ridge Long Island, NY.

I missed posting on St. John Vianney

Please understand if posts are sparse; I am in the midst of pre-moving rush. We plan to move to CT in time for school at the Academy's opening on August 27th. WOW! That's soon!
And my 9th grader is still finishing Seton!
So, I will link to Elena's wonderful post on St. John Vianney since I don't think I could do better anyway!

Educating teachers about Down syndrome

Here is a program in Omaha which trains one teacher per school to be an expert in educating children with T21.
The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City started the program in 2004 after finding that both parents and teachers were nervous about educating students with Down syndrome.
"We thought that we need to get everybody together and create a collaborative, cooperative, welcoming environment so everyone's not anxious," said Amy Allison, executive director of the guild.
Read the entire story here.
HT Omaha World Herald

"Tropic Thunder" to meet with Down Syndrome reps over offensive film

For the time being the viral site for "Tropic Thunder" has been shut down, pending a meeting with Special Olmypics and Down Syndrome Association officials. The story of actors who play "retards" in a film is patently offensive to those with disabilities, and I don't see how the offensive parts can be removed from the film, which is a crude comedy written, directd and acted by Ben Stiller.
This is a swift and temporary victory for advocates for the mentally disabled. But the fim is still going forward. Let's keep the pressure on to stop the offensive nature of this heartless film mocking the intellectually impaired.
Read the entire story here.

I just joined the Extraordinary Moms Network

Here is my first post. See the image in my sidebar.

Summer bounty from our garden

We ate these tri-color snap beans while still warm from the sun.

Yumm!

Voluntown Firehouse hosts Chicken Barbeque Fundraiser for the Girard Family

At 4PM, as I drove to the firehouse for the barbecue, I was surprised by the traffic jam created by the hundreds of attendees as the barbecue began. My amazement grew upon entering the firehouse, it was packed with Chinese auction items, handicrafts and baked goods made by loving hands. There was a joyful sense of purpose in the crowd who were united in their purpose to help a family touched by tragedy.
As we walked up to the line for our chicken, I was greeted warmly by Jacqueline Girard, who remembered me from my recent trips to the Academy of the Holy Family, where she will be a sophomore. My oldest daughter Gabriela will be entering the same class, as she begins school there this fall. The girls chatted about upcoming school activities, and I was pleased that Gabriela now has a friend in her new school.
The rain which had been threatening cleared, a hot sun broke through, and as quickly as new tables were set up, more and more families sat down to enjoy a generous portion of savory chicken accompanied by fresh rolls, cole slaw and potato salad. I sat with Albina and Joe, a couple from Norwich, who shared about their work in their home parish. I told them about my upcoming move to Canterbury, and how the spirit of joyful cooperation I saw at the firehouse that evening reaffirmed my decision to join the friendly community of laypeople who are involved with activities at the Friary. Friars moved through the crowd, helping to clean up, and greeting participants. A band played popular favorites, and attendees lingered to enjoy one another's company in the summer twilight. The chicken barbecue was a resounding success.

The Girard family was encircled with love from the community at this difficult time, and we hope to participate in future fundraisers. If you would like to contribute to the fund for the family please send donations to:
Bank of America
590 West Main St (Rt 82)
Norwich, CT 06360

Books for Dessert: A Book Club for Intellectually Disabled is catching on

What intellectual stimulation do intellectually disabled adults have to look forward to after high school? Now, starting at a Long Island library, such clubs are spreading like wildfire.
When Jamie Comer graduated from high school at age 21, gone were the in-depth assignments and hours of homework that had long challenged him.As Comer, who has Down syndrome, began to gradually lose critical thinking skills without the aid of vigorous schoolwork, his mother struggled to find opportunities to keep him mentally sharp."People have always assumed that people like Jamie don't really have opinions on anything remotely complex," said his mother, Nancy Comer, 64, of Port Washington. "They're just expected to work and be happy."
And, in true parent advocate style, Nancy started a book club for her son.
Well done, Nancy!
I hope that by the time my kindergartener is old enough that such clubs are in every library.
Read the entire article here.
HT Newsday

Are you going to receive the Portiuncula Indulgence today?

Here is an image of St. Francis' original Portiuncula, or Little Portion which he restored by hand in response to Our Lord telling him to "rebuild my church".

I am going to visit my favorite church in the world, Our Lady of Guadalupe Friary in Griswold, CT. Since it is a Friary and even has a model of a Portiuncula, we will get the Indulgence.

How wonderfully generous Our Lord is, this was my plan to stop there on the way to Morning Star Camp. I am bringing six young ladies with me to share the experience!

from Mary Vitamin email:

The Portiuncula Indulgence refers to the plenary indulgence originally granted by Pope Honorious III at the request of St. Francis to those who visit the chapel of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi on August 2nd. This chapel was dear to the heart of Holy Father Saint Francis. (The original small chapel is now enshrined in a large basilica.) The indulgence has been extended to Franciscan churches the world over.
(See the Catholic Encyclopedia for further reading.)

Father Marion Habig, OFM, explains the history of the Portiuncula indulgence:
“A special impulse led St. Francis on a certain night to go to the chapel. There he saw our Lord and His holy Mother surrounded by a great host of angels. Filled with astonishment and reverence, the saint prostrated himself upon the ground and adored the Divine majesty. Then he heard the voice of our Lord urging him with ineffable tenderness to ask some special favor. Nothing was so near to the heart of Francis as the salvation of souls, and so, after a few moments of reflection, he asked for the grace of a full pardon for all who, being contrite and having confessed their sins, would visit this little sanctuary. Mary cast herself upon her knees before her Divine Son, and repeated the petition of her faithful servant.”
The Franciscan Book of Saints (Franciscan Herald Press:1979), 570.

Modest Bridal Gowns: what a concept!

Thank heavens someone is addressing the issue of immodest bridal gowns!!
It seems that, no matter the season, all bridal gowns are strapless affairs which have no place in church. Perhaps it's because fewer couples are marrying in church or synagogue. But, there is a trend, however small for bridal gowns with a sense of mystery. . .and decency.
"'Customers will say, 'I'm having a religious wedding, what can you do to these dresses to fit my standards?' -- usually arms covered, neckline covered, no cleavage, very little skin," Sarra said.
Much of the country has seen an increase in conservative branches of mainstream religions.
The Camille La Vie store at Palisades Center in West Nyack, N.Y., tends to get more Orthodox Jewish brides, while the California stores have many Islamic customers, and an Arizona shop gets requests from Mormon customers.
These brides, Sarra said, don't want plain when they ask for "modest." "They still want the look that's hot. That's why we offer more options to add a sleeve, add a neckline," she said. "

I'm embarrassed that no one mentioned Catholic brides, the only link I could find was for Mormons! What's wrong with Catholic brides? We have Our Lady as a role model, and we are not interested in modest bridal gowns? Just look at how modest Our Lady is and use that as a guide. Here are some more guidelines from EWTN on how a Catholic bride should dress.
Read the entire story here.
HTJewish World Review

Where the name of this blog comes from

from the daily meditations of Mary Vitamin:
Cause of Our Joy and St. Leopold Mandic
Feast day - July 30th

Quote:
“It is almost impossible to say how much Father Leopold loved the Madonna. The tone of his voice when he spoke of her, the light in his eyes when he looked at a picture of her, cannot be put into words at all. You would have to have seen him in order to comprehend something of the ardent love for Mary in the heart of this Capuchin.”
Father Pietro Bernardi, O.F.M. Cap, postulator
Ferdinand Holbock, New Saints and Blesseds of the Catholic Church Vol I, (Ignatius Press), 223.

Meditation:
“During his assignment at the friary in Thiene, near Vicenza, in the years 1906 to 1909, Father Leopold often helped the lay brothers humbly with the household chores, washed the dishes, cleaned the cells, and set the table. Since his soul was turned constantly toward God, he wanted them to pray during their work, especially the Litany of Loreto. At the invocation ‘Cause of our joy’, he interrupted his work, lifted his eyes to heaven, and remained for a while in this attitude, as though enraptured. Once a confrere asked him, ‘Father Leopold, why do you interrupt your work at this invocation of the Litany of Loreto and raise your eyes to heaven?’ At that he exclaimed, ‘O Madonna, the Madonna, the cause of our joy!’ Then he remained looking up to heaven for a long time, his face beaming.”
Ferdinand Holbock, New Saints and Blesseds of the Catholic Church Vol I,(Ignatius Press), 226-7.

Resolution:
What did St. Leopold have to be joyful about? He was only four feet six inches tall. His dream of missionary work was never fulfilled. Instead he spent hours every day in the Confessional. In fact, at his canonization John Paul referred to Saint Leopold as “the Confessor”. How many crosses did he bear in hearing so many confessions?
I will imitate St. Leopold who during his work paused at the invocation Cause of our Joy and looked up to heaven. I will ask him to explain this mystery to me and teach me to find my joy in Our Lady.

True Love

. . .is when you are still under the influence of painkillers from minor surgery, and you drag your scarred body over to the computer to save the files of your hysterical wife.
We had a major rainstorm on Sunday with multiple power outages, and lightning which looked like it had crashed the computer, reducing me to tears. You see, I hadn't taken the time to save my photos and important documents, counting way too much on this blog to preserve my memories.
I prayed the rosary with the girls for a computer. It wasn't entirely frivolous, it reminded me of Jesus' parable of the woman who has lost a coin, searching through the entire house till she recovers it. However, I discovered a far more precious treasure. . . the sight of my husband lovingly restoring my files while still suffering.

That is one memory nothing can erase.

Tribute to a young knight: Marc Girard

Catholic novelist Regina Doman has written a moving tribute to the young Knight of Lepanto who died trying to save his family from drowning. We are helping out at the Chicken Barbeque this Saturday August 2 at the Voluntown Fire Dept. to help Marc's mother and siblings through some rough financial times, and to show them our support.
Please continue to send your financial support through Regina's Paypal account.

From Diane and John Grovers: a blog giveaway

We wanted to tell you that we are doing a little give away on our blog. To celebrate the crazy wild success of Hidden Treausres we are giving a little gift away. It is free. And it is just for fun. Rules are on the new part of our blog. http://erinandmaryellensexcellentadventures.blogspot.com/ In the last few months, we have gotten word that Hidden Treasures has been handed out to new parents expecting a child with Down syndrome at a rate that we never quite expected. We are excited because their feedback is that they are finding hope after they get done reading our little site. We are also hearing from parents who have just given birth and they are letting us know that they are SO excited to have such an insprirational site to read while they are new to the journey.
We have gotten emails from people who don't even have a child, but they learned so much from reading the blog. It has been just wonderful.To celebrate, we wanted to do a give away! So we hope you will join us in celebrating and try to be the one who gets our little gift.
Thanks for helping us to get this site into the hands of those who need this.
Diane and John

Isabella's piano recital

Isabella has a wonderful piano teacher, she is the homeschooling mom who truly understands children, teaches lessons designed for each child, and shares her talent and enthusiasm for music. Bella learned Edvard Grieg's "Morning Mood" and Verdi's "La Donna E Mobile" in only three months, and gained a new understanding of technique and excitement about her playing. Afterwards the homeschooling families had a potluck dinner with the main course a gift from their beloved and talented teacher. The highlight of the dinner was the gorgeous chocolate cake made by our hostess which was a grand piano whose top was a solid piece of dark chocolate. It tasted every bit as luscious as it looked!

After dinner the young musicians enjoyed time outdoors on the wonderful swing on a towering oak tree.

Isabella's parents, sisters, and grandparents(see photo) were very proud of her musically elegant and lively performance.

Faith and Family live

"Faith and Family", my favorite magazine is now online and accepts comments; yeah!
They also have a great introductory giveaway. Take a look.

Summer Symphony

"Next year, I'll camp out at the campgrounds for this event, we'll eat a leisurely dinner, and be sipping wine around the campfire when the New York Philharmonic plays. "

You know what they say about the best laid plans. . .

We didn't go camping but we did enjoy a simple picnic with good friends, and the world's most beautiful music. . .Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky in a free concert by a world class orchestra, followed by Grucci fireworks.

So, who's complaining?

Pope Benedict isn't the ony one who likes cats!

Dear EWTN Family,

Since the end of last year, Mother has been enjoying the company of a little feline friend we all call, “Mikey”. He loves being with her and often takes his little siestas on Mother’s bed, with his paw or his chin resting on her. He’s a bit on the round side but beautiful nonetheless and enjoys the affection of all. Mother is often amused by his little quirky behaviors that are often described as, “Only Mikey would…” She especially gets a kick out of watching him chase his tail.Besides all that makes up her day indoors, on occasion Mother is able to go outside to feel the sunshine and enjoy the beautiful cloister gardens. She loves those cherry Marigolds.All in all, Mother is still Mother. With that Mother Angelica twinkle in her eyes and her warm smile, she can brighten up a room. As always she is appreciative of all your love and prayers. Rest assured, Mother holds each of you in her heart, while she asks her Spouse, Jesus, to bless you.

From The Sisters at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery

Don't you just love the image of a kitty resting on on Mother, bringing her joy by being playful?!

As a fellow cat lover, this just makes me purr. ...

Help for the sleepless

It appears that for the first time since 1987, when I spent a year in Europe, I will be moving away from Long Island, where I lived all my life. I have been praying and hoping for this move to Connecticut for months, and was joyful during the day, since this answer to prayer. Yesterday I had asked Our Lord "is this your will for me, if so, please let something let me know we're actually going to move." Within a couple of hours, a check was on the way in the exact amount we needed for a down payment. So why do worries about the economy and the move keep me awake at night? I needed. . .
Today's Meditation from Mary Vitamin
St. Teresa of Avila writes about the spirit of recollection:
“You know that God is everywhere; and this is a great truth, for, of course, wherever the king is, or so they say, the court is too: that is to say, wherever God is, there is Heaven. …Avoid being bashful with God, as some people are, in the belief that they are being humble. It would not be humility on your part if the King were to do you a favour and you refused to accept it; but you would be showing humility by taking it, and being pleased with it, yet realizing how far you are from deserving it. A fine humility it would be if I had the Emperor of Heaven and Earth in my house, coming to it to do me a favour and to delight in my company, and I were so humble that I would not answer His questions, nor remain with Him, nor accept what He gave me, but left Him alone. ...
Do not be foolish; ask Him to let you speak to Him, and, as He is your Spouse, to treat you as His brides. Remember how important it is for you to have understood this truth -- that the Lord is within us and that we should be there with Him.
If one prays in this way, the prayer may be only vocal, but the mind will be recollected much sooner; and this is a prayer which brings with it many blessings. It is called recollection because the soul collects together all the faculties and enters within itself to be with its God.”
The Way of Perfection, Chapter 28
Sign up for Mary Vitamin daily spiritual emails here.

Summer flowers

With very little help from me, the hollyhocks, yellow phlox, pink and red roses have been creating a show here at my house.
Dont' you just love perennials?

Woman author with Trisomy 21 turning heads

Kellie Greenwald is a young woman with Down syndrome who has just written and illustrated her autobiography.

She's creating a sensation in her winter home in Naples, Florida.

HT Naples News

A Good man is hard to find

Here's some advice from a wise old priest on how to judge whether your beau is truly your Prince Charming.

Here's a clue; feelings are NOT the number one indicator that your man is marriage material!
HT NYTimes

National Down Syndrome Congress Conference

I'm so sorry I couldn't make this conference. It sounded wonderful.

Long Islander Chris Burke was there with his band, singing the theme song from his 1989-1993 TV series, "Life Goes On". I bought the CD when we met Chris at the Buddy Walk in New York City, and it's great. Chris has served as a role model for self-advocates for a generation.

Gifts from the Sea

A man with Down syndrome in his new car: Jon's story

For those of us with young children, such stories are so important. Jon is an inspiration to all he meets! Read his story in Lights of Love.

Special t-shirts for special people; announcing "1 in 800" wear

These lovely t-shirts can be purchased at Band of Angels Foundation.

They remind us that to be born with Trisomy 21 is a rare gift. It makes you one in 800.

New Mary Moments Blog Carnival

Behold Your Mother will be hosting Mary Moments Carnivals. These will be monthly collections of posts from - we hope - all over the blogosphere, in honor of the Blessed Mother. In August, the theme will be “Great Marian Books.”
The deadline for submissions is August 10, and the Mary Moments Carnival will be posted on August 15 at Behold Your Mother. There’s an online submission form, or entries may be sent to peerybingle-at-gmail-dot-com, with Mary Moments in the subject line.

My article on teens at the Youth Rally at Dunwoodie in the National Catholic Register

My article on the teens at Dunwoodie has been published in the National Catholic Register.I ran into Dr. Alice Von Hildebrand leaving Mass at Holy Family parish in New Rochelle that day, it was such an honor to be be able to interview her. She is pursuing canonization for her husband Dietrich, but I think she herself should be canonized, she is such a wise and holy woman.Thank you to Therese who made that incredible day possible, and to the members of the Holy Family Youth Group in New Rochelle who gave Gabbi an ID card in the nick of time!Thanks to Tina who found the link for me, for those of you with a subscription, this column is coming out in next week's paper.

Book Review: A Haystack Full of Needles

Ask a mother who home educates her children, ask which question she encounters most frequently and she will undoubtedly respond, “What about socialization?” In the decade since I began teaching my three daughters at home, this question has remained, even as other questions like, “Is that legal?” and “are you qualified to teach?” have vanished due to the increasing prominence of home instruction.
Now, thanks to the experience and literary gifts of home educator and author, Alice Gunther we have not only an eloquent answer to this question, but an inspiring guide on how to help our children find friendship and acceptance outside the domestic church. “A Haystack Full of Needles” is the book we have been waiting for, the book we may give as a gift to questioning family members, but one we will also keep close as we seek opportunities to help our children develop socially.Alice, like so many of our family members had concerns about a home educating mother’s ability to meet her children’s need for social interaction. She takes us back to the days when she thought home educators were doing the impossible, to her early attempts at finding companions for herself and her young daughters, to the successful support group she is a the center of on Long Island. She inspires the mother who feels alone in her decision to home educate with her fond anecdotes and down to earth suggestions on how to find other Catholic home educating families, how to build community, how to run a successful social event, and how to support one another in good times and bad.
“ Home-educating mothers share a unique cultural experience. We understand one another, and a large part of "socialization" should be geared toward nurturing friendship for mothers who choose this narrow, but incredibly rewarding, path"
Haystack is far more engaging than a dry how-to manual, however. Alice, whose childhood involved many trips to family in the Emerald Isle has inherited the legendary Irish facility with language gives her prose a poetic lilt which leads to such picturesque images as,“The truth is homeschooling groups are not founded—they trickle together gradually, like a barrel filling up with rain. Still, there are ways we can help the process along, fastening the hoops around the staves of the barrel, lest we lose a precious drop.”
The secret to the success of Alice’s home schooling groups is her heartfelt compassion for the struggles of the home educating mother and her natural generosity in reaching out to meet their needs. “Socialization for homeschoolers is every bit as much about friendship for mothers as it is for the children. Many best friends have been made around the kitchen table”Haystack includes an impressive array of Alice’s social involvements, nature study groups, Shakespearean plays, creative crafts woven into celebrations of the liturgical year, but the greatest strength of this book lies in the fact that no one in the community is overlooked, not even the special needs child who is shy to become involved in a group activity. Alice has tips for getting these children involved and making them feel loved, “One trick I have is to pull out something especially fun, like a game or interesting little novelty. Not only does this entertain the child who happens to be alone—it also attracts others to be his companions." She describes the pains she has taken to teach her children the art of making the newcomer to the group feel welcome in her home, and that explains why at some of her Little Flower meetings, her lawn is filled with hundreds of happy participants.
Many people wonder if home educating is possible through high school. Alice admits that though many high school age boys attend school; home education social groups nurture the teenage soul as well.“When I think about home schooled teenagers, the image that presents itself in my mind is that of a rose freshly blooming. Those little children who once played in our house or crafted at our table are fine young men and women now, and they are a joy to behold. How many mothers of teenagers are able to say that they love all their children's friends? Yet this is what I can say wholeheartedly, and I believe that these vivid roses are even more beautiful when arranged together in a bouquet.”
That is why I recommend Haystack for all mothers seeking a sense of community in a fast-paced world in which children fail to savor the sweetness of childhood in their headlong rush to emulate questionable role models. Alice Gunther in her distinctly poetic manner, reminds us of the riches of a childhood fully lived in the loving embrace of the Body of Christ. The advice she offers in Haystack, is valuable even if your children are in school you are seeking ways to find like-minded friends for your family. She explains her balanced view of home educating here," As I mention this, let me be clear in saying that I do not think families who are not called to home educate are any less faithful or blessed by God. Yet, I do think, for whatever reason, God calls some of us to serve him in this specific way—not a more exalted way—but a different and necessary one."

I agree with my friend Alice that communities like the Immaculate Heart of Mary group which we enjoy on Long Island may just be the seedbed of the New Springtime of Evangelization which our dear Pope John Paul II predicted. One innocent child spending a pleasant afternoon among friends in the garden, one family sharing the joy of the Faith with another, young families are rediscovering Christian community and renewing the Body of Christ.
Alice Gunther's book is available for pre-order through Hillside Education

Review of Wall-E

Is up at Catholic Media Review.

Knights of Lepanto Encampment

The Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Griswold, CT hosts a father son encampment several weekends a year which teach Catholic morality and chivalry which is true manliness. The next encampment is July18-20. Watch Grand Knight Thom Girard discuss the last encampment which was held Memorial Day weekend of this year. At the very end of the video, during the Processional of the Closing Mass, you can see me with the lilac top, turning to watch the priest enter the chapel. I regret that this was the only time I spent with these two great men, and I wish that I had introduced myself to them after Mass. Watch the video interview with Thom here.
The tragedy which took Thom and his 18 year old son's life on June 30 is made all the more poignant when you hear Thom praise his son for achieving knighthood during the Encampment. Thom was drowning in a lake that day, and his son Marc died while trying to save his life. He had truly put the concept of sacrifice and chivalry into practice.
There is a fund for Mrs. Girard, Thom's widow, who will be caring for the couple's four surviving children. Read about it here. See if you can help out this family which has seen so much tragedy.
"No greater love has man than this to lay down his life for a friend".
Eternal rest grant to them O Lord,and let perpetual light shine upon them,
May their souls, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

An opportunity to influence genetic counseling sessions

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
You are invited to participate in a study conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of
Health and the Johns Hopkins University.
Why is this study being done?
To learn more about how caregivers adjust to having a child with Down syndrome (DS). We are
interested in hearing from caregivers who may be learning to adjust and also from caregivers
who feel well-adjusted.

Who can participate in this study?
You must be 18 years of age or older and must be the primary caregiver for a child with DS.
Please fill out only one survey per household.
What is involved in this study?
There is one survey that takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. It asks about your
thoughts and feelings about your experience as a caregiver to your child.
What are the risks of the study?
There are no known risks of taking part in this study. If taking the survey makes you feel upset,
you can stop taking the survey at any time. If it causes you to become upset or worried about
yourself or your child, you can also contact the researchers (see below) and they will help direct
you to the appropriate resources.
Are there benefits to taking part in the study?
You will not personally receive any benefits from taking part in this study. We hope to learn
more about how caregivers adjust to having a child with DS and pass that understanding on to
help caregivers in the future.
Do I have to participate?
No, you do not have to take part in this study if you do not want to. Your decision to take the
survey will not have an affect on your child’s healthcare. If you begin the survey, you can
choose to skip any question that you don’t want to answer. You can also stop taking the survey
at any time. If you finish the survey and then change your mind, we will not be able to delete it
since the surveys are all anonymous.

Social and Behavioral Research Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Institutes of Health
31 Center Drive (B1B36) – MSC 2073
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 443-2595-phone (301) 480-3108-fax

Who else will know that I am in the study?
We do not ask for your name or contact information on this survey. If you provide us with your
name by calling or writing to us, we will not link your name with your responses. This study
will not be part of any medical record. When we report our research results, it will be done with
no identifiable information from individual participants.
How do I participate?
The survey can be found online at www.downsyndromesurvey.com.
If you prefer to complete a paper version of the survey, please contact Megan Truitt at (301) 443-2595 or mtruitt@mail.nih.gov to receive the survey and a pre-addressed and stamped return envelope.
Any contact information you give to the researchers in order to mail the survey will be
immediately destroyed after it is mailed. Also, if you are more comfortable completing the
survey over the phone, please contact Megan Truitt (see contact information above) to arrange a
time to do so.
Thank you for your interest and time! If you are taking this survey online, please print a copy of
this consent form so that you have the researchers’ contact information.Also, after the study is complete, we plan on giving out a short summary of the results through
the recruitment sources as a way of saying thanks for participating. If interested, please check
the Kennedy Krieger Institute website below for the study summary:

www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_cp.jsp?pid=1399
Megan Truitt Barbara Biesecker
Associate Investigator, JHU/NHGRI Primary Investigator, JHU/NHGRI
Genetic Counseling Training Program Genetic Counseling Training Program
(301) 443-2595 (301) 496-3979
mtruitt@mail.nih.gov
barbarab@mail.nih.gov

My latest discovery

This marvellous essay by Caitrin Nichol on Down syndrome and families by introduces this lovely Madonna and Child by Italian Rennaissance painter Andrea Mantegna, father of 14 children, one of whom may have had Trisomy 21.
A physician has diagnosed the Child Jesus with T21 as well, despite the protests of the curator of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
I agree with the doctor.
He's beautiful!



HT The New Atlantis
Here's another painting where people with T21 are included.

Isn't searching for a cure an insult to our children?

I was just attacked at a Down syndrome site for "wanting to treat our beautiful children like lab mice", and rejecting their uniqueness. I am still smarting from the dressing down out those women gave me, because nothing could be farther from the truth.

I think we mothers get confused about loving the child and hating the disease. Children with Down syndrome do have their personalities somewhat shaped by their chromosomal enhancement, so many mothers can't imagine them without DS, and they love them as they are, so anyone who wants to change them is seen as rejecting them. The child faces a lot of rejection from society, and her mother becomes her best defender and loves her child with the ferocity of a lioness.
SO, if a researcher says he's got a cure, isn't he rejecting our children's uniqueness?

Let me tell you the history of Dr. Lejeune. One day in the 1960's there was a TV program in France about aborting children with DS,and a teenage boy with DS started sobbing after the program, 'Mom, they want to kill us!" The next day, he begged Dr. Lejeune to protect him from those who wanted to kill him. Dr. Lejeune made finding a cure for DS his life's work. Dr Lejeune told Dr. Marie Peeters Ney, who came to work with him in Paris, that it was the duty of Catholic researchers to do this, because, if not, "in twenty years, there won't be any children with T21 left". With a 90 percent abortion rate, and better prenatal tests available for T21, he wasn't far wrong, was he?
Now, if your typical child came down with a bacterial infection, you wouldn't hesitate to give him an antibiotic, would you? If he had Cystic Fibrosis, and was slowly dying before your eyes, wouldn't you give anything for a cure to save his life? Down syndrome is a disease just like the other two, and if a well-tested drug came along to help Christina's memory, her coordination, her speech development, or her ability to learn, should I say, "no, I love her as she is?" or give it to her?
I would certainly give it to her.
Just because I believe that God chose her for me doesn't mean that if a cure became available that I would see it as outside His will. That doesn't mean that I keep looking at her and imagine "what if she could do this or that?" No way, I love every little advance she struggles to make,and her dogged persistence to learn things I took for granted when her sisters leaned it ( like potty training!!) I admire her pure heart, her cheerfulness and her curiosity, just as I admire the good qualities of her sisters. She has unique gifts from God, and nothing will ever change that.

I think sometimes that the more resistance we faced from family and friends to giving birth to and keeping our child, the more defensive we get, AND sometimes we can back ourselves into an unhealthy position. We attribute evil motives to the scientists who are working on a cure, or
dollmakers who want to make our children happy with a toy that resembles them. Or doesn't.

Did you know, that only 6 years ago, when my Christy was born, the mentality of the medical community went something like, "we told you how to diagnose and abort your child with Down syndrome, you chose not to, so tough, don't come running to us for a cure!" Do parents of children with Autism hear this? NO. For one reason, Autism is diagnosed after not before birth. The mentality used for dealing with Down syndrome at the March of Dimes was cure the disease by killing the diseased. Sick. Dr. Lejeune was taken off the list of the MOD beneficiaries because he was prolife. I have this from the founder of the Michael Fund(raises funds for researchers on Down syndrome who are pro-life) Randy Engel, who heard it directly from the good doctor on two occasions.

Now, thanks to thousands of active parents, legislators and scientists are coming together to find cures for the delays caused by T21. Programs to educate our children, NOT warehouse them are proliferating around the nation, and I feel an optimism in the air that someday soon, having a child with an extra chromosome will no longer be seen as the greatest tragedy that can happen to a mother. They will no longer be aborted, and my daughter will look around and see lots of beautiful faces like hers.

Servant of God, Dr. Jerome Lejeune

On my birthday last year, June 28, 2007, the cause for canonization of this saintly scientist was opened. Read the two posts at Unborn Word of the Day about the amazing career of Dr. Lejeune and his close friendship with Pope John Paul II.

My article includes this prayer for the intercession of Dr. Lejeune:

Prayer to Obtain Graces by God’s Servant’s Intercession
God, who created man in your image and intended him to share your glory,
We thank you for having granted to your Church the gift of professor Jerome Lejeune, a distinguished servant of life. He knew how to place his immense intelligence and deep faith at the service of the defense of human life, especially unborn life, always seeking to treat and to cure.

A passionate witness to truth and charity, he knew how to reconcile faith and reason in the sight of today’s world.
By his intercession, and according to your will, we ask you to grant us the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon become one of your saints.

Amen.

As the cause for canonization of Lejeune moves forward, testimonies of medically inexplicable cures sought by his intercession will be recorded, and holy cards with this prayer are available at this address:

Postulation de la cause de béatification
et de canonisation du Serviteur de Dieu Jérôme Lejeune
Abbaye Saint-Wandrille F-76490
Saint-Wandrille, France.

I am asking the good doctor's intercession to help Christina with potty training, behavior, and speech development.

My favorite patriotic song

This is my favorite verse from "My Country 'Tis of Thee" it sums up my love for the USA.

Our Father's God, to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
Of Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King!

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

My review is up at Catholic Media Review.

Dress up, bring your American Girl Doll, and your mother.

I'm taking my mom (and daughters) for her birthday.

Kids need to learn that you can live through tough times, you never know. . .

Four Things Meme

Jean at Catholic Fire tagged me for this meme.

Four places I go over and over:
1. Church
2. My parents house
3. The local public school where Christina receives her therapies
4. the library

Four people who email me regularly
1. A Homeschooling Thespian
2. Pascendi
3. Elizabeth
4. Monica

Four of my favorite places to eat:
1. on my pool deck
2. at my mother's house
3. a Chinese Buffet, so we can get the food quickly and Christina doen't get restless and run around the restaurant
4. a picnic in the park

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. in the mountains
2. at the ocean
3. in Rome, meeting Pope Benedict
4. in front of the Blessed Sacrament

Four TV shows I watch all the time
1. Sunday Night Live with Fr. Groeschel
2. The World Over
3. Life on the Rock
4. Living His Life Abundantly

Four words which best describe you
enthusiastic
impetuous
loyal
generous

Four favorite old school actors
Audrey Hepburn
Maureen O'Hara
Gregory Peck
Jimmy Stewart

Four favorite "old School" TV game shows
Jeopardy
Password
Kids say the Darndest Things
That's My Line

Four Favorite "old school" TV shows
The Andy Griffith Show
Leave it To Beaver
Patty Duke
The Flying Nun

List four things you liked best about Christmas when you were a child
1. family gatherings
2. setting up the Christmas tree and sitting behind it in a special corner playing with my toys
3. visiting the stores all decorated in the city
4. the Christmas play at Mass

List the four things you liked best about Halloween when you were a child
1.getting dressed up
2.candy
3.trick-or-treating
4.parties

List the four
things you did not like about growing up
1.the ugly culture of the seventies
2.junior high; need I say more?
3.public school teachers who taught lies about the Catholic Church
4.having no sisters

List four events that impacted your life
1. seeing Pope John Paul II as a teenager
2. My Cursillo Weekend
3. my wedding to Francisco
4. becoming the mother of three lovely girls and three saints in heaven
I tag A Homeschooling Thespian, and Elizabeth.
Anyone who wants to play is tagged.