The renewal in the Eucharist of the covenant between the Lord and man draws the faithful into the compelling love of Christ and sets them on fire.

That title is a quote from a Vatican II document, SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM.  Isn't that great?   I've found that most of the Church documents I've read are very readable.
 Here are some more:(emphasis added)

11. But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects, it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds should be attuned to their voices, and that they should cooperate with divine grace lest they receive it in vain [28] . Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the mere observation of the laws governing valid and licit celebration; it is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects.

12. The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with his brethren, but he must also enter into his chamber to pray to the Father, in secret [29]; yet more, according to the teaching of the Apostle, he should pray without ceasing [30]. We learn from the same Apostle that we must always bear about in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodily frame [31]. This is why we ask the Lord in the sacrifice of the Mass that, "receiving the offering of the spiritual victim," he may fashion us for himself "as an eternal gift" [32].

14. Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people (1 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.

As you can see not only are these original documents readable, they are compelling! Never settle for the mass media version or a scholarly commentary on these or any other Church document. Read the original documents yourself to see, for yourself, one way in which Christ remains with us, until the end of time, through His Church.

An Excellent Recipe

Here's a peanut butter cookie recipe from a Taste of Home's Quick Cooking, Collector's Edition. It is truly excellent.

1/2 cup butter or margarine softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 & 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Additional sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add peanut butter, egg and vanilla; beat until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda and baking powder; add to creamed mixture and mix well. For easier shaping, chill the dough for 1 hour. Shape into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each ball by crisscrossing with the tines of a fork dipped in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are set.
Yields about 4 dozen.

Taking Flight

Here is an adorable picture of one of the River Bottom Beagles puppies that Bonny linked you to in her post.  (click on the word beagles in the phrase "especially beagles" in her post to see lots more.)

What do I want to be?

Hi! Bonny here. I've been thinking that I haven't decided what I want to be yet. Mom says there's plenty of time, but I don't know. I've gone through several options, painter, Olympic swimmer, music teacher, writer, scientist, and many others. I think I'm most into writing 'write' now, but I was born into a mixed family. My mom's likes paintng, my sisters are interested in horses, writing, music, and history. My dad's a computer sort of guy, Dashman would make a great National Parks Ranger, and Reaganite is more of the history and politics guy. As for me, you ask? I've got a great hand at computers, I like writing stories better then bookreports, I love swimming, fishing, camping, pets (especially beagles),(Here's one of our beagles caught napping on the blanket shelf.) swings, jumprope, sketching, riding, outdoors, indoors (on a cold day), and books. I like cooking and have made up two recipes. one is a raspberry fluff that is great as a filling between the layers of a birthday cake and the other is a salad dressing we call CR special. Anyway, I ask that you continue praying for me to help me make the "write" choice for my future.

Virtue Befitting a Son of God

     Here is a little something that I read and I would like you all to hear (or read) and take to heart.  It comes from a little book by Jose Marie Escriva called The Way:

#440   When you have finished your work, Do your brother's, helping him, for the sake of Christ, with such finesse and naturalness that no one --not even he-- will realize that you are doing more than in justice you ought.  

     This indeed is virtue befitting a son of God.

  I know that all of you know the reward that comes from this kind of service but the most difficult part of this assignment is keeping it to yourself when you have accomplished it. Generosity that is not, and does not become self service is real charity.

A quick Chesterton truism

 "There are two ways to get enough.  One is to continue to accumulate more and more.  The other is to desire less."
~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

Wild What?

     Yesterday... was just completely road trip, and tomorrow will be another road trip. So, I thought I would write a little today while I do some laundry.  Our road trips have been almost exclusively to visit family.  They are really the only thing worth that much sacrifice ("drive thru" food and cramped quarters for long hours).  When we had babies we used to call them wild hares (or maybe wild hairs depending on who you were looking at and the relative humidity that day).

      Here is our recipe for Wild Hare (Hair) in case you want to try one of your own someday.

Dad and Mom (Just 1 of these could also pull it off, but it's not as good a result.)
at least 1 child (actual number depended on how many we had and their schedules-you can see that this was easier to carry off when you were small and scheduleless.)
1 Car or van  (as time went on and there were more drivers in the family, this could be more than 1, usually not more than 3 and trucks have worked too.)
Gasoline in the tank

Bunny? Wet again?

1 change of clothing for the youngest of the crew.
1 change of clothes for the one most likely to fall in a lake, pond, stream, swamp or puddle. (Read "Bunny").
1 large sweatshirt or jacket to cover one other person in need.
A little bit of cash and a bag of snacks or some fast food.
Traveling music-and a Vegi Tale cd for emergencies (read Bonny) (the last could be exchanged for tape/cd players with head sets as you grew, but this significantly reduced the quality of the time spent together).
Books were sometimes allowed too. (Read "Bird"and "Buddy").
various toys and tools as seemed appropriate ( Read "little Bear").
A possible destination (usually, but not exclusively, dealing with Grandma and Grandpa)
Sense of humor (1 each)
Remember the camera,  we have the most wonderful memories of these trips!  I'll see if I can find some shots of trips to add here.
a notebook to record great quotes
    Pack everyone in the car on short notice with just enough change of clothes to make sure we will make it home again dry.  Call out "Have we got everybody?"and "Is everybody happy?" Launch off to destination. Keep praying!

What a Father Wants to Know

Here is a little poem by a very endearing poet whose talent I stumbled upon when I found a little book by him in a used bookstore.   This one I offer especially in honor of Father's Day.  Any father with even the slightest romantic sentiment will find Edgar A Guest an inspiration and a guide.


You would take my girl away!
What is there that I can say
Save the things all fathers think,
Seldom put in printers ink?
Little care I for your fame,
O the glory you may claim,
Or the fortune you may earn;
These are not my deep concern--
This I really want to know,
Will you always love her so?

It is fine enough to tell
that to-day you're doing well;
I appreciate your skill
and I think someday you will
Climb the ladder of success
To your lasting happiness;
But if all this should be had
and my little girl be sad,
I'd regret my whole life through
Having given her to you.

Will you always love her so?
That is what I want to know.
Will you comfort her and stay
At her side from day to day?
Knowing she must bear your name,
Will you shield her from all shame?
This the burden on my mind,
Will you thoughtful be and kind?
All that matters is to know
That you'll always love her so.

taken from The Passing Throng , by Edgar A. Guest
published by Reilly & Lee co. Chicago U.S.A. 1923

Great Dad in Action

Hello, hello, I'm Bunny, the middle daughter, (so give me a break because I have an older sister and a younger one) but I'm still very blessed.
So, yesterday was Father's Day, and while I could SAY something very touching and sweet about Fathers, I choose to look back a day and SHOW you a good dad at work.
Bird needs a car. There's no two ways around it, it's a fact. The car she has was condemned three years ago as scrap metal and you just never know when it will decide to turn on.
So, the day before Father's Day, Dad comes into the living room, points at me like the figure of doom might point at a chipmunk in his pantry, and he says, "How'd you like to go car shopping?"
"Me!?!" I squeak, like said chipmunk.
"Yup," he says, "Get ready, 'cause we're leaving in ten minutes."
Now don't get me wrong, I love being with Dad, he's a great dad, but really, Bonny is our lucky car buyin' girl. So I figure we might look around a bit, but come home with a car? Not likely.

Scene 1: Car dealership A
Enter two suspicious strangers. They prowl around a small green car with eyes that notice every ding and scratch.
Salesman gulps nervously and loosens his collar. Nerving himself up he walks towards the strangers with his must sell this car smile.
Two strangers turn out to be Dad and Bunny.
"Hi," says Dad, "we saw this car on the internet and since it's in our price and age range we thought we'd take a look."
Dad is such a good bluffer. This is actually his favorite car, the one he is most interested in, and therefore most likely to buy.
"Oh, sure," says salesman, "I'll go get the keys and you can have a look at it."
While the salesman is back in the building telling his co-workers that he was not scared, Dad shows me how to test the shocks. ("Push down hard on the hood and the trunk and if it only bounces once then they're still good.")
Salesman comes back and we take greenie for a whirl. Status report: makes weird noises, interior crumby and breaks are jerky (oddly enough the last one only happens when I am driving. Hmm).
We head off for dealership 2 with a card in our pockets and relief that that one is over.

Scene 2: Dealership B
Enter Dad and Bunny, they park car and begin prowling through quadruple-parked lot.
From the building emerges a smart, self-confident Salesman. He is paid by commission and will sell a car. If it kills him. Or us. Preferably both.
Oddly enough, we walk away from him. This he has not experienced. Little does he know, Dad likes to have a car to talk about before talking cars.
Salesman chases us until Dad finally has mercy and lets him catch up. "Can I help You?" Salesman calls over the car tops.
Dad tells him we are looking for a car that was advertised on the internet. Salesman looks disconcerted. "It might have been sold," he hedges, (the drama intensifies, will he make a sale today?) "Let me check with my manager." He turns and sprints back to the building.
Dad and I casually meander back through the labyrinth of cars towards our own. I can pick up on his mood: if the car isn't here we'll just go to the next place. Dad has one price and one style in mind. Only the best for Bird.
Salesman comes back at a fast trot. "Sorry," he pants as he pulls up beside us, "It was sold yesterday." But has our valiant Salesman given up hope? Never! Squatting beside us is a beautiful car of a different make, perhaps he can yet make a sale!
"Ohh, black interior, leather seats," comments Dad. I know Dad, he's just being nice. Both of us are thinking "that's gonna be hot in the summer".
"It's too flashy," I say, turning the predator's eyes away from Dad. "I don't like silver cars."
"But it has a sun roof," wheedles Salesman thinking he has an easy target.
"IT'S - TOO - FLASHY," I repeat, I can make a point when I want to.
"That one is flashy," Salesman points to a puke-green mustang.
"No," I reply, "this one is flashy, that one is sick."
"What color do you like?" Salesman will not let us leave without a commission
"Sorry," Dad breaks in, "We've got a couple other cars to look at. We might be back if we don't find anything we like. Are you open on Sunday?"
Salesman frumps. "You have to give us one day off."
Having burst his bubble, Dad and I retreat to our car before he can rope us in again.

Scene 3: Dealership C
Dad and I have a lovely drive across town to the third dealership.
Example: Dad, "I thought you'd like to get a mustang."
Me, "Dad, the only mustang I want has four legs and a tail."
Dad, "Ha ha ha!"
This next place had two cars we were going to look at. A nice salesman who seemed to be the boss of several underlings came up to help us and after Dad explained what we were looking for he handed us over to one of his minions, a nice young man I'll call Jay. We walked out the the cars and began to look them over.
One was a dark blue with a sun roof, the other was a grayish tan that shimmered pink. Something about the second one just screamed "Right for Bird" to me.
Dad had shown me where to look for rust spots and I located a little around the wheel-wells, but nothing major. Dad nodded. "It looks in good condition," he said.
"Do you want to take it for a drive?" asked Jay.
It ran well, but the brakes wobbled a little when going at high speeds. Dad asked me to try it to see what I thought. I was thrilled. The car ran smooth and it felt nice, all but the brakes.
"If it will make or break the deal we can fix them for you before you buy," Jay told us.
We decided that this was the best thing to do. The car went into the shop and we signed the papers. Dad asked the financial man how many people read the papers before signing.
"One out of fifty," was the disgusted reply. "Some people won't even let me explain to them what they're signing."
The car was still in the shop so we headed out to lunch at a Wendy's across the road. Even though a steady rain was beginning to fall, Dad asked me if I would drive the car home. I was so excited I almost hugged him. Instead, he fed me a spicy chicken nugget. When I indicated that my mouth was burning he said, "I guess you'll just have to get a frosty to cool down."
"Do you want one?" I asked.
"No," he said, "I'll just snitch some of yours."
Back at the dealership we snitched two lollipops from an obliging candy bowl and browsed the new car models. There was one with mechanical seat controls that I had fun playing around with while Dad fought off bored employees who where desperate for a customer. "You'd think they would remember that I don't need help," he grumbled as one guy walked away from him for a second time.
When the car was finished the Head Honcho found us. "Jay is pulling the car around for you," he said and I couldn't help thinking how nice he was being, until Jay and the car pulled into view. "PULL IT AROUND!" he bellowed out the door, "DON'T MAKE THEM WALK THROUGH THE RAIN!"
"It's alright," Dad tried to say, but HH wasn't listening. I don't think he even realized that he'd spoiled his own image.
Jay started walking in as HH led us out. Halfway between the door and the car we met. "Do you have both sets of keys?" HH broke of his monologue on how much he appreciated our business to growl at Jay.
"I just have the key I used," Jay said, blinking under the heavy downpour.
"Well get the other one for them!" snapped HH, before turning back to us. "Really, it's a great car, I'm so glad you were able to do business with us."
I wanted to point out that we were getting more wet from listening to his monologue than we would have if we'd stayed inside and dashed out to where Jay had parked, but I held my tongue. Poor Jay, obviously his boss didn't like him very much. Poor HH, he's going to lose customers if he keeps treating his employees like dirt.
At last Jay returned with the other key and we began the long drive home. It was a little tricky with rain and traffic, but Dad tried to keep in sight so I wouldn't get lost.
When we got home Bird was still at work, so we called out TK and Bonny to test drive the car over to Bird's work. She was gone already, so we drove back home. A block away we saw her little clunker in the driveway, so we called the house and told Bird to come out. The door opened and she stepped outside. Suddenly, her eyes popped open and her chin dropped. She began to squeal with delight.

Seeing the look on Dad's face, it made me think: maybe Dad's don't need new grills for Father's day. Maybe they just want people to see how much they're loved.

Signing off, Bunny

A Chesterton Quote for the Day

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.
-G. K. Chesterton

Another Chesterton Quote

"Here ends another day, during which I have had eyes, ears, hands and the great world around me. Tomorrow begins another day. Why am I allowed two?"
-G. K. Chesterton

A Chesterton Quote for the Day

Here is an interesting Chesterton quotation I came across today:

"Jesus promised his disciples three things—that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble."

-G. K. Chesterton

Bonnie's A Blogger!

Hi! I'm Bonny, the third daughter. This is my first public post and I'm very excited. My family thought it very nice to have a blog and keep together like this. I'm still in school, but just barely. Our new apartment (until we get a firmer position) was very dull until we bought some new furniture and some more of our own stuff down here. The new town is very good and my mom and I can walk almost everywhere. There are two swimming pools in very easy walking distance. God's blessings on you all, Bonny.

A Quote for Pentecost

O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.
-St. Augustine

Feast of St. Barnabas

Here is the very inspiring, opening prayer for today's Mass on the feast of St. Barnabas:

God our Father,
You filled Saint Barnabas with faith
and the Holy Spirit
and sent him to convert the nations.
Help us to proclaim the gospel by word and deed.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
for ever and ever.

So, Why A Piece of Blue Chalk?

Now and Forever!
Hello, I'm known as Bird, and I'm Daughter #1. I'm adding this post to provide a reference and explanation for the name of our blog. The title A Piece of Blue Chalk, comes from the ending of G.K. Chesterton's essay, A Sermon on Cheapness. The selection is as follows:

"My bosom friend the Pessimist and I were standing outside a small toy shop, glueing our noses to the glass, when the long silence was broken by my remarking on the beauty of a solid stick of blue chalk, which was offered for sale (in some tempest of generosity) for a halfpenny. `Have you considered,' I asked, `all that this stick of blue chalk means? For a halfpenny I am possessed of it. I go home at night under the stars, between dark walls and through mazy streets. I shall be free to write upon those walls beautiful or stern sentiments, arraigning the powers of the earth, and write them in the very colour of heaven. At home I may beguile the evening in a thousand innocent sports, designing barbaric patterns upon the new table-cloth, drawing dreamy and ideal landscapes upon the note-paper, decorating my own person in the manner of our British predecessors, sketching strange and ideal adventures for strange and ideal characters. And all this blue river of dreams is loosened by a halfpenny.'

The Pessimist replied, in his sad, stern way, `Drivel. It is only
the blue chalk you buy for a halfpenny. You do not buy the stars
for a halfpenny; you do not buy the streets for a halfpenny;
you do not buy your dreams or your love of drawing or your tastes
and imaginations for a halfpenny.'

`True,' I replied. `The stars and the dreams and myself are cheaper
than chalk: for I bought them for nothing.'

He burst into tears and became immediately convinced of the basis
of true religion. For our very word for God means Economy:
is not improvidence the opposite of Providence?"

Bloggie Beginnings

Praised be Jesus Christ!
   My family and I, in transition, have decided to find another creative way to keep in touch besides using email, text, the favored U.S. postal service and land line telephone options.  For the past two months parts of our family have been gradually moving away to accommodate the changing job situations.  Prayers have been answered (though not as we had imagined) and God's guidance has been clear, so we each pick up our piece of blue chalk and step into the night "between dark walls and through mazy streets..."