7/27/11

On Prayer

Here's an inspiring quote from St. Thomas Aquinas on prayer. Its very good I think, because it addresses one of the mysteries of the spiritual life. If God already has a plan for the world, and already knows what was, and is, and is to come, then why pray for a special intention if it's not really going to change anything? On the other hand, remember that we are to pray without ceasing, as well as the parable of the friend at night (Luke 11), and the parable of the unjust judge and the widow (Luke 18). How do we reconcile resignation to God's will with perseverance in prayer? Here is St. Thomas' quote:
"We do not pray to change the divine scheme, but to ask those things which God has decreed to be brought about in response to our prayers."

Canada anyone?

     Check out this route!

      Tell me if you know anything you want to see anything along the way.  If anyone has been this route, what do you recommend?

By the way, it seems to me that we will be doing a lot of walking on this trip.  Taking some weeks to "train" for the increased level of exercise cannot go amiss.

7/26/11

Movies with a message even today.

     Here is a stack of links to some of my favorite children's movies. Most of the time the little ones couldn't take their eyes off the show as the animators drew in the characters and told the story. The three starred ones are the ones we own and have always been favorites, I just love the message in Miriam's .  Warning: The Mary and Joseph one has a reference to Jesus' little brothers and sisters. If you show these to very little children you may have to do some explaining.
 
*Miriam and the Baby Moses-draw on animation

*Elijah and the Fire from Heaven-draw on animation

*Paul's Adventure-draw on animation

Noah's great adventure-draw on animation

Joseph's Dream-draw on animation

Joshua and the land-draw on animation

Mary and Joseph-draw on animation

have fun!

7/22/11

Bunny here,
Well I'm finally getting the knack of being a housewife. OK I'm not exactly a housewife, I'm more of a house-sister/daughter/dog-owner/whatever. I digress. But seriously, have you ever wondered, just what do housewives do all day? I'll tell you.
1. Breakfast. Seems simple, right? However, we can't have eggs and toast or oatmeal every day of the week, but this is too messy and that takes too long to make. Fine, just grab a box of cheerios.
2. Dishes. Clear the table, stack the dishes in the dishpan, run the water, grab the soap- wait, someone put the soap away. Now just where is "away"? Oh, under the sink. Now the washcloth. But the one from yesterday is dry and a little crusty. Run downstairs, rifle through the laundry buckets, no clean washcloths, pull hair. Fine, back upstairs, rinse the old washcloth in very hot water. Wash the dishes while listening to march classics to calm frazzled nerves.
3. Now- wait, the dogs have been whining and sitting on their leashes ever since dishes. Fine. round up dogs, clip on leashes. Stay... Okay, go ahead. Not that fast! This is a walk, remember? You, slow down, he's trying to sniff. You, speed up, she wants to go. Heel, Heel! Good kids! Okay, run. You, slow down, we're not training for the Ironman. You, speed up, we want to get home before supper time. Good kids, we're home.
4. Nap in front of air conditioner.
5. Lunch. Maybe just sandwiches. Wait, there's those eggs that weren't used for breakfast. Maybe make a quiche? No butter for pie dough, maybe a pizza crust would work. Mix up pizza crust. Wait, does anyone else like quiche? Fine, save it for another day. Now there's this pizza dough. Fine, pizza for lunch.
6. Five-thousand-things-in-five-minutes. Dash around like a chicken with it's head cut off putting away random items while listening to break-neck speed music.
7. Vacuum.
8. Laundry. Back downstairs. Watch period drama while folding, sorting, and stacking clothes for distribution into drawers upstairs.
9. Freelance writing.
10. Yard work. Scoop doggie-do, pull weeds, dump weeds into paper bag, spray weeds on rock pile, contemplate trimming bushes, decide to let that wait for tomorrow, spray Japanese beetles eating bushes with dog shampoo, pick flowers for indoor vases.
11. Start Supper.
12. Relax. Get on computer to check e-mail.
At this step the family will come home from work, see you on the computer and say, "Haven't you done anything today?"
There you go, twelve easy steps to being a housewife. Easy, right?
Signing off,
Bunny

7/19/11

Cookie Desperation Invention

   One night I had a craving for cookies at about 10:30 p.m. but I didn't have any vanilla.  The only thing I had that could substitute was cinnamon so I mixed them up... and baked them. I finished at about midnight. THEY WERE GREAT!  Maybe it was my desperation, maybe it was watching "Doc Martin" while I beat the hard stick of butter into the sugar with a fork. Maybe it was just a great invention.  Here is the recipe:


MY Snicker Doodle Invention


3/4 cup butter
1-1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons Milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda


Heat the oven to 350.  Put the first four ingredients in a bowl and beat well until creamy.  Add the egg and continue beating. Add the flour, salt and soda all at once and mix until all the dry ingredients are incorporated into the mix. Refrigerate about 10 minutes. Form into small balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 8 minutes or slightly browner around the edges.

7/14/11

A Homeschool Family

Here is a great video of a homeschool family that I stumbled across on you tube. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.




7/2/11

Between the Lines

Hi, Bunny here,
I had a thought today while I was out with the pooches.

Remember that feeling on your third or fourth birthday when you get a brand new coloring book? You squeal in delight and flip through the pages admiring the clever drawings and start imagining how you will decorate the pages.
At the earliest opportunity you grab your box of well-used crayons and set to work spreading bright rainbows of enthusiastic color all over the pages of your new book. Happiness fills your tiny heart until a Highly Superior Sibling glances at the drawing.
"You have to stay between the lines," they say in a 'been there, done that' tone.
"But it's pretty," you protest.
"Doesn't matter," they reply smugly, "You have to stay between the lines, it's the rule."

Leap forward two years and picture yourself heading off to the park. Your short legs demote you to the last place in the exuberant clan as you rush up the sidewalk ahead of Mom. A street is reached and the siblings, after waiting a sufficient time for cars to disperse, begin to pelt across the street. You see a chance to pass to the front of the group and dart to the side. A squeal of tires, a yell from Mom and the next thing you know you have your arm jerked and are standing on the curb surrounded by grim-faced siblings.
"You always stay between the white lines," Mom says firmly.
"But why?" you ask, blinking back tears.
"You're safer that way," Mom explains. "It's the rule."

Now imagine a soccer field. The players flit about the field like colorful butterflies all chasing a small black and white ball. You know that your team is tied with the opponents and that you only have a few minutes left before the game is over. Suddenly the ball hurtles your way. With a burst of speed you catch up to it and begin dribbling down the field towards the goal. An opponent darts towards you and in a panic you kick the ball as hard as you can.
A groan goes up from your teammates and faraway your coach's voice yells, "Not over the line!"
A whistle sounds, and you realize you've lost the game.
"Why can't you just follow the rules?" growls a teammate.

You're a teenager and sweat is dripping down your face as you stoop to pick up a small, hard ball off the floor of the racquet-ball court. Dad's been trying to teach you how to play and you think you're finally getting the knack.
"Can I try serving it this time?" you ask.
"Sure," says Dad.
You toss the ball up in the air and bring the racquet back to swing when Dad calls, "Wait, you have to stand between the red lines."
"What for?" you ask.
"That's just the rules, " he says.

You've been going to drivers ed classes for an eternity and you finally have a drivers permit in your pocket. Early one morning Mom lets you slide behind the wheel for the first time. Painstaking you shift into reverse and back out of the driveway with exaggerated slowness. The car responds to a slight tap on the gas peddle by leaping forward with a roar. "Slowly," Mom instructs, "press gently on the gas and brake."
You nod and continue on stalwartly. The wheel feels slick under your fingers and you grab it tightly. A slight jerk of the arm and car veers dangerously close to the curb.
"Steady," says Mom. "Try to stay between the lines."

Some friends just down the street ask you to babysit for them while they go to a late-night concert. You have a license and easily drive the five or six blocks to their house. Around one o'clock they return. You make your report, receive your wages and trek back out to your little car. The hour is late and you are tired, so you proceed home about ten miles below the speed limit. A car pulls up behind you and you consider pulling over to let it pass, twice, but as you are almost home you decide not to. Suddenly with a flash of lights the sedate car behind you becomes a fiery steed of the law. You pull over as any dutiful citizen should. A light shines in your window and the officer says, "I need your licence and insurance information."
"What did I do wrong?" You ask.
"You crossed the fog line twice," he says, "I have to make sure you're not drunk."

Life is confusing sometimes. So many things change, yet so many remain through the years. I can just see some old person in a nursing home being told by a superior staff person that they must keep their wheelchair on this side of the line. America claims to be the home of the free, but how free are we if little things like lines can dictate so much of our lives? But on the other hand, where would we be without them?

Signing off, keep smiling, and stay inside the lines.