Something to Think On

We should be thankful we don't get as much government as we pay for.

-Will Rogers

A Quote for the Day

Genuine good taste consists in saying much in few words, in choosing among our thoughts, in having order and arrangement in what we say, and in speaking with composure.
Francois Fenelon

Humility, in the words of Josemaría Escrivá

Allow me to remind you that among other evident signs of a lack of humility are:

1. Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say
2. Always wanting to get your own way
3. Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners
4. Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so
5. Despising the point of view of others
6. Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan
7. Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own
8. Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation
9. Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you
10. Making excuses when rebuked
11. Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you
12. Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you
13. Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you
14. Refusing to carry out menial tasks
15. Seeking or wanting to be singled out
16. Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige…
17. Being ashamed of not having certain possessions…

St.Josemaría, Pray for us.

I think that this could be part of a very effective examination of Conscience. If I find other parts I'll post them.

The Week of Frustration

Looking back on the past week, I felt it might give you a laugh to read all of this:

Sunday - Putting my work pants in the wash, I noticed that there was a worn out patch in the lower part of the seat.

Monday - After counting all of my pennies and rejoicing that I had enough to cover a check I had mailed in to the phone company, an unexpected credit card payment was taken out of my checking account.

Tuesday - Came home from my first job, and threw my pants in the wash.  I took my keys, wallet, and belt out/off of my pants.  I realized my phone was still in there after several minutes.  RIP.

Wednesday - A pretty ordinary day, until I went to my second job.  I got there, swiped my badge and... "Punch not Accepted.  Not Scheduled."

Thursday - 3 out of every 4 people I tried to help at my first job were the snootiest, snobbiest, 'world owes me a living' type people I have ever run into.  Bright spot, my paycheck came in and was deposited before the cut-off time.  Still haven't seen the check get cashed.

Friday - Arrive at my second job, and find out that the badge that I lost the Friday before has finally been turned in.  I had already paid for a new badge on Monday.

Saturday - Woke up early (6:30 AM) to make sure I got to work on time.  Arrived at work before 7, only to find out I was scheduled at 8.

I hope you found it as funny as I now do.  I still need a new phone, but thankfully I still have my family around me, and our pets.  Despite all the unfortunate things that have happened, I know that God is watching out for all of us.

And my birthday is coming... :D

And now for the "It's-a-nice-place-to-visit-but-I-wouldn't-want-to-live-there" part of our show.

Yea, well, maybe visiting some of these places is only for the more adventurous and stout hearted of our group. These places were abandoned, some of them in a hurry.  Some are so decayed they are dangerous to try to walk into.  I see two lessons when I look at these pictures.   First, look at the beauty and design, there is no excuse for plain or ugly anything.  Second, there is a profound lesson on detachment here.  Things are just things and, as they say, you can't take them with you.  Just follow the link below the photo to the photographer's web site. 

(Notice the 1 of 18 at the top of the picture, that is 1 of 18 groups of pictures,  206 pictures total)

Brillance vs. Warmth - Curriculum Can Only Do So Much

Perhaps not my favorite author, but he makes a great point here.   In your homeschool year do not be just the taskmaster-schoolmarm-authority figure, remember, you are first the Mommy.  The warmth of maternity makes your presence the perfect growing (and learning) medium for your children.

Oh, Phooey!

I had a lovely morning.  Things seemed to be going my way.  I had mustered up the courage to tackle a meeting that I was worrying about.

It is all for the good of the kingdom and it came off with flying colors.

Everything we ate today
 is in this picture. Cool, huh?
Can you guess what we ate?

 We went out to Panera for a celebratory breakfast. Then home for a piano lesson and a lovely chat with my girls, all very nice.

  Just as Bonny's Piano lesson was beginning, I saw a hummingbird hovering near a red pot on the deck.  The pot was empty, so it was a disappointment to the hummingbird.
      I, in my kindness and good will toward all God's creatures, resolved to bring up onto the deck some flowers that were supposed to be hummingbird favorites, and went out to do just that, when I noticed that the plants needed a little water. Naturally, my good will extended to even the plant kingdom, and I went to fetch the hose and turn on the water.  Having finished that small work of mercy for my plants, I went to shut off the water, as all good girls should.  Suddenly, just as my foot hit the wet step of the deck, it slipped off the step.   My other foot came down on the same slippery step and followed its companion off the step!  I swiveled as I went down, trying to catch myself, but landed, sprawled out on the steps, the right side of my face striking the slippery step's edge.

I think the "slippery when wet" sign
 depicts the action of swiveling very well.

     No bones or glasses were broken, no blood visible, just a wounded pride , a dirty knee, and the potential for a serious facial bruise.  One ice pack later all I wanted was a nap.  Bonny was very consoling, "It"s O.K... it's hardly noticeable, Mom,  it just looks like you ran into a door."

Mortification of vanity... this too, is all for the good of the kingdom.

Everything is a Grace!

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

This week I had chance to hear a talk by Patrick Madrid that is distributed by Lighthouse Catholic Media.  The talk was called "Why I am Catholic when I could be anything else".

It has been a long time since I heard him speak and I enjoyed his engaging manner of talking and the anecdotes and exercises he described but I think I enjoyed most his Mission statement, which he read out at the end of the talk and I have to say it has lit a new fire under me to start making a difference where I am.  Below is a copy of that Mission statement.

Smooth knees...a real prayer warrior does not have smooth knees!
T.K.

Holy Spirit Novena- It's time to start again!

      Yesterday, during confession, my esteemed confessor told me two things, it is the Ascension, and so we must have our heads in the clouds, so to speak.  Lifting up our minds, our attitudes, our composure, our demeanor, our outlook, to be in heaven with Jesus.  But not just today, everyday!  We must live our lives as citizens of the heavenly kingdom stretched up to heaven but still impacting, for good, those here on earth with our lives and work.  (Bonny added that then we would be giving God that much more chance to fill us with Grace and make us conduits of his grace to those around us.)  He also said this is the time to push the reset button on your spiritual life.

 What better time to Reset than that time when we call down onto ourselves the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit Novena by St. Alphonsus Liguori

If you haven't started it yet, do it today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bslmmrs/5700183747/