The latest on the fight in my town

Now look at what happened here in regards to the clinic. This is a city council meeting where the public is allowed to speak. The meeting went late into the night and I think the city council got a great education on the dangers of Planned Parenthood.

Next is a youth rally on Saturday. We are hoping for 500 high school and college age kids at this rally, so please, keep the prayers going!

Another view of the protest

Here is the best YouTube montage I have seen of the protest. It really captures the immensity of the crowd and the prayerful atmosphere. WARNING there are some close up of the graphic abortion signs used in the Face the Truth part of the tour. I don't want you to be caught by surprise.

Toward the end there is a picture of a small boy in a plaid shirt holding a sign of Jesus. That is my 9 year old son. He was right on the corner of a busy street. He volunteered for the job, and I was there with him for a while, but I was just so proud of him. My older son was holding a big sign in the Face the Truth part of the tour, which he did several times over the summer. I am also very proud of him, both for his convictions during the Face the Truth tour, as well as for joining me tonight at the clinic for an hour of prayer.

My girls and the little ones prayed for an hour at the prayer section of the protest, then joined the picket for another hour.

All in all, a very inspiring day. We are all saying, "Let's do it again" and since this huge rally was organized in only a couple of weeks, just think what we could do with some more time? We'll be back!

Today at the protest against Planned Parenthood

I forgot my camera today, but I found this on YouTube. This was taken in the morning when it was still cloudy, but it did clear up nicely later. Some of my children were singing along with this song, and one of my sons is holding a sign in the photo with the red pick up truck. Another one of my sons and I were holding a "Jesus heals and forgives" sign. There were well over 1000 people in attendance at the protest today. It was awe-inspiring and moving, and the Holy Spirit was clearly at work. I'll scour YouTube for some more videos later, but this is a small taste of the event. I'm going to bed; it's been a long but fulfilling day.

If this protest accomplishes nothing more than inspiring the pro-life community to keep fighting and to see just how many of us are out there, it was a day well spent. It was very peaceful, prayerful, and the concern for women and their babies was palpable. The concern for young people and lies they will be fed was also there strongly. My favorite sign "Abortion Hurts Women". Ain't that the truth, though?



Here's another that gives a little idea of the crowd. Again, this was early in the morning when the crowd was still light. It got much more crowded later in the morning.

Yet another excuse...

Well, things will be quiet around here for a few days, because our basement keeps flooding, I am preparing for school, and I am making myself more available for the 40 day vigil I referred to in my previous post. I'm swamped. I am working on sending out the little gifties I referred to in my 500th post contest. I still have some commenters that didn't claim their prize, so if you are just being shy, you still have until tomorrow before I mail them out. Last call, so to speak.

I referenced a movie in this post. If someone can tell me which one, I'll add you to the prize list. ;-)

So, I'll be scarce for a while. Please keep the pro life community here in your prayers. We are having a huge protest on Saturday, 9-11 am central time. And if you are looking for a good cause to support, the Pro Life Action League is spear heading this entire project, and could always use more support.

Early next week, I'll post photos and comments from the protest, so stay tuned.

pray for me, and I'll pray for you, okay?

Blessings!

What I'll be doing this evening...

I am asking for prayers. My husband and I will be taking part in an around the clock vigil, with prayer and fasting. The vigil is a 40 day effort of praying and protesting the opening of a new Planned Parenthood clinic in our town. Currently, there are no abortion clinics in our city, and it breaks my heart to think of the death that is about to occur here. We are asking for a miracle, that the clinic never opens, that some how, the lies and deception and degradation of girls will not happen here. The clinic will be only a few blocks away from one of the high schools, the one with the most minorities, which are often the targets of Planned Parenthood.

Anyway, the community here has organized a 40 day prayer vigil, and we will be taking part, and could use some extra prayer support.

Death is never the solution! Stop hurting women! Stop lying to women and stop hiding statutory rape! Stop getting between girls and their parents, and encouraging girls in harmful behavior and then keeping it from her parents. Someday when this holocaust is seen for what it is, my descendants are going to wonder how we ever allowed such butchery to continue. I want it to be known that I resist, and will shout out that abortion is discrimination against the unborn, and the most urgent human rights violation of our time. I just hate to see women violated and used for profit by a corporation that is only looking out for it's bottom line. Follow the money! Abstaining and adoption are not big money makers, and therefore not promoted by PP. Follow the money!

Check out Families Against Planned Parenthood if you would like to help. Also, check out Pro Life Action League for some updates on the vigil, and corresponding media articles. You can also make a donation if you are so inclined. The vigil is gaining attention, and has pulled the pro-life community together here. If PP thinks they can stroll into our back yards and begin killing our youngest members without any protest, they are sadly mistaken.

We will be there, praying, begging God for mercy and peace, healing and truth. I'll be out there tonight, so please, keep the prayers going!

blessings!

Aww, gosh, you guys are too kind...

In the last month or so I have come across 3 different people who gave me a blogger reflection award.

Blogger Reflection Award: this award should make an individual reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and who provided a Godly example. In other words, five dear bloggers who, when you reflect upon them, you are filled with a sense of pride and joy of knowing them and being blessed by them.

From Deb:

Renee at Crazyacres surely has to be amongst the nominees for being a blogger who inspires and encourages. A busy wife and homeschooling mother, Renee is a talented iconographer and also teaches students how to write icons. An Eastern Rite Catholic, she gifts me immensely with her beautiful posts of the rich liturgy of the church, on her iconography and her family life. I read Renee’s blog long before I commmented there and I secretly had the hope that she would connect with me in some way as I had always enjoyed her insightful and deeply resonating reflections . I was delighted when she began reading my blog and we soon developed a rapport that I greatly value.

From Amy Caroline:

Mary Poppins Not at Crazy Acres
I can’t even remember how I first came across her blog. Her iconography amazes me. Her pure spirit and faith, her willingness to take on the job of prayer warrior without even being asked, her tender and loving spirit are all inspiration.

From Margaret Mary:

Crazy Acres, the blog of my dear old friend, “Mary Poppins Not”, who is really my dear younger friend, as I knew her when she was a child (and I was already an adult). I was so happy to find her on the internet recently. MPN shares about her faith, her family, and her iconography. She has been an example to me as a blogger in sharing from the heart rather than just from the mind.

Well, thank you guys. I can't say this doesn't mean something to me. Very very kind of you.

Well, my job will now be to pass this on to 5 others. That is the difficult part, because it is the people I have come to know here on the blogosphere that keep me blogging. So many times I am convinced I have nothing else to add to the great conversations, but the thought of not engaging you all regularly is too much to consider. So choosing only 5 will be difficult, and in no way belittles the ones I didn't choose. I just have to go with the people that have had the most impact on ME. So in a way this is a big thank you to these five, but I would really like to thank everyone who visits here and especially those that leave comments. I'll say it again, I have no stat counter or anything, so the only way I know who visits are those that leave a note. Anyway. I digress.

Of course the obvious choices would be the 3 who nominated me. I love each of their blogs and have been enriched very much from their different perspectives and talents. But in an interest of spreading the love, I will choose 5 others.

First, there is Owen. He dislikes contests and awards, but I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to him for his open, loving heart and encouraging presence. Consider yourself exempted from passing this on if you choose, Owen.

He is a husband, father, artist, child of God, and a prayer warrior. I have come to understand my own desires to create, my unfortunate ability to hide from God and how to let Him assist me to over come that bad habit, as well as having new appreciation for my own dear husband and his burdens as father and provider. Owen has suffered with grace and openness, and given me so much more courage to endure my own crosses. Thank you, Owen!


Famous as she is, my next choice is Danielle Bean. Danielle always helps me appreciate my life and my motherhood. She sees joy is so many small moments that I might otherwise pass by. She has helped me develop a habit of seeing the beauty in an ordinary day, and to embrace the moment with love. Thank you, Danielle.

Then there is Suzanne. She is an artist, mom, and all around ray of sunshine. Always positive, even in dark times. Again, the ability to pull grace out of sadness, love out of fear and joy out of the ordinary has enriched me very much. Thank you, Suzanne.

Another lady I have read for a long time, but never commented so I don't think she even knows who I am is Rae from Journey Mama. Beautiful, loving writer who also has a lovely ability to find comfort in the common moments of each day. She has a huge heart and freely shares the unique life she is living. Thank you.

And lastly, Ginger, the Joyful Woman, has given me so much richness to enliven the way I look at things. Her wisdom and wit and beautiful photography and reflections are something I look forward to. It was Ginger who got me hiking, because of her photos. I now see beauty much more frequently, because of her.

Feel free to pass these on if you choose, and any of you readers who want to spontaneously nominate someone, please do. It was really difficult to choose 5, and I think that is why Owen dislikes this sort of thing. I can't say I blame him for that, but, I did my best, and when I get my blog list done in my sidebar, you can be assured that each one of those bloggers have enriched and gifted me.

Have a blessed day!

This is interesting (probably only to me)

take the test yourself!


"To understand Healers, we must understand their idealism as almost boundless and selfless, inspiring them to make extraordinary sacrifices for someone or something they believe in. The Healer is the Prince or Princess of fairytale, the King's Champion or Defender of the Faith..."
- The Portrait of a Healer Idealist (Keirsey)
One of my favorite books is "The Wounded Healer" by Henri Nouwen.

"INFPs are highly intuitive about people. They rely heavily on their intuitions to guide them, and use their discoveries to constantly search for value in life. They are on a continuous mission to find the truth and meaning underlying things. Every encounter and every piece of knowledge gained gets sifted through the INFP's value system, and is evaluated to see if it has any potential to help the INFP define or refine their own path in life."
- Portrait of an INFP (The Personality Page)
This is very true for me, and can be exhausting. How I long just to rest in understanding and trust!

"creative, smart, idealist, loner, attracted to sad things, disorganized, avoidant, can be overwhelmed by unpleasant feelings..."
- INFP Jung Type Descriptions (similarminds.com)
Yes, yes, yes. I do frequently get overwhelmed by loneliness, feeling left out or excluded. My "radar" is always on, looking for someone's displeasure with me. Again, exhausting.

"An INFP's feelings form the foundations of the individual. They are sacred and binding, in the sense that their emergence requires no further justification. An INFP's feelings are often guarded, kept safe from attack and ridicule. Only a few, close confidants are permitted entrance into this domain."
- INFP Profile (INFP Mailing List)
That guarded thing really can get in the way of forming deep, real relationships. I am trying to not do that so much, but it is amazing how after a little while of not guarding myself, I'll clam up tight in a hurry and have even more work to do to open up again. Exhausting.

"Highly creative, artistic and spiritual, they can produce wonderful works of art, music and literature. INFPs are natural artists. They will find great satisfaction if they encourage and develop their artistic abilities. That doesn't mean that an INFP has to be a famous writer or painter in order to be content. Simply the act of "creating" will be a fulfilling source of renewal and refreshment to the INFP. An INFP should allow himself or herself some artistic outlet, because it will add enrichment and positive energy to their life."
- INFP Personal Growth (The Personality Page)
Creepy, really, how true this is. Icon writing really fills this for me. i have done lots of other artistic endeavors, also, but rarely show anyone. It is too risky to show that much of my insides!


"INFPs never seem to lose their sense of wonder. One might say they see life through rose-colored glasses. It's as though they live at the edge of a looking-glassworld where mundane objects come to life, where flora and fauna take on near-human qualities."
- INFP Profile (TypeLogic)
So this is why I get so sad when the old farm houses and trees get torn down for another strip mall. It feels very personal to me.


"Their job must be fun, although not racous, and it must be meaningful to them. They need a strong purpose in their work. They want to be recognized and valued, without undue attention given to them. They may become embarrassed when make the center of attention. As a result, they may undersell their strengths in order to avoid being singled out and made to feel conspicuous. They would rather have their worth be noticed gradually over time."
- INFP - The Dreamer (Lifexplore)
One of the jobs compatible with this personality type is a Physical Therapist, which is what I did. I always felt God called me to the profession, and isn't that just perfect, being that He made me and knows me?

And the Winner is.......

WHOOT! WHOOT! WHOOT! Henny Penny gets the prize!! It was my 500th post. However, Barb started moving the entire contest in the right direction, AND the other guesses where all so creative, that each of the people who left a guess will get a prize. Henny Penny will get something extra, being that she was the winner and all, but I really enjoyed all the guesses! I thing :o) had the most creative answer, but it was true I had never posted a photo of myself til then. Anyway, that was fun and I want to thank you all for participating.

So, if you would like to claim your prize, e-mail me your address at reeree(at)mchsi(dot)com and withing the week I will get your gift in the mail. Now, don't be shy you guessers, you, claim your prize!

***Update***

I'll be busy for a few days, but in the mean time, send me those addresses if you want your prize. I've only gotten a few so far. C'mon, don't be shy!

school on the horizon

I don't actually mention home schooling much here, but since I am home schooling again this year, I thought I would put some thing out there for consideration.

My eldest will be in high school this year, and although I didn't know if we would home school for high school, it seems that if "it ain't broke, don't fix it", so we're giving it a go. We have some options if it doesn't go well this year, but I am optimistic.

I have always designed my own curriculum, and it has worked well for us. I am a "relaxed" home schooler that leans toward the classical method. Sort of a weird mix of un-schooling with a Charlotte Mason, classical and Montessori influence. Everyone is doing well enough, but high school, now that is a different story.

So this year, he and I will be enrolling in Seton for 9th grade. It isn't without trepidation, however. Seton is very structured, not too relaxed, and not too classical. What am I doing, I am asking myself?

My son thrives on structure. I have given him as much as I have, structure wise, but I just don't think it will be enough for the increased work demands of high-school. Seton is just chock full of structure. He is well prepared for the curriculum, to be sure, and I think having at least one year of the basics, much of which will be review, should strengthen his skills and confidence, and leave him very well prepared for the rest of high school and beyond.

It isn't without some second guessing that I do this, but knowing my son the way I do, I think he will thrive. I have 5 other full time students this year, plus an active 3 year old, plus life to live, and know myself well enough that he isn't going to get a lot from me. Seton has teachers and they grade papers and keep transcripts.

BUT...

It will cost more for him to be enrolled than I have usually spent on all my curriculum for all my kids in past years. In an effort to minimize the financial impact, I am going to try to use only resources I already own for the other 5 kidlets. I may have to buy new consumable workbooks, but I don't use many of these, so that won't be a large expense. So, while I am giving up quite a bit of control over my eldest's curriculum, I will be making up for the lack of creativity by pulling together a new creation from old resources for the other kids, and I am looking forward to that quite a bit.

linky love

Okay, I have noticed lately that my blog roll is a mess. Many wrong addresses, some inactive blogs, some that I read that aren't even over there. SO, help me out, and leave me a message if you want to be on the blog roll. I will be taking my existing one out, and slowly replacing it with updated links.

Getting to know you...

I got QUIZZED by Mimi and I thought I would post the questions and answers over here. To carry on with the spirit of the idea, if anyone wants to be quizzed, just say so in the com box, and I'll give you five questions, custom designed just for you.

And don't forget to give a guess in the quiz in the post below. There are prizes involved.

1) Have you always been artistic, or did writing icons pull out a side you didn't know you had?

I always wished I was artistic, but was never pleased with my efforts. Iconography was the first time my results matched my desires.

2) You've mentioned that your parents are traditional minded Catholics, what do they think of the recent Latin Mass statement from Pope Benedict?

They are very pleased, as am I. You cannot expect to stand when the traditions of your church are pushed aside. They feel that now some more foundation can be put back under the church and things should be able to get more stable. Plus, the Traditional Latin mass is beautiful, and it is part of our heritage, and people should not be robbed of their heritage.


3) Do you speak Romanian? How much is used in your Liturgy?

I do not speak Romanian, as I am not a Romanian by ethnicity. Not many of the Romanians speak Romanian any more, for that matter. We use the language in our Liturgy from time to time, and in Communion Hymns, and in a few other prayers (the Paos, or memorial service is partly in Romanian). We are learning Romanian Christmas carols, and so are our children, because we don't want them to disappear. Sadly, many of the children of the founding members of the church do not attend here, and us Western "converts" are picking up the torch.

and, my two stock questions :)

4) Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?

Paul McCartney, because he loved his wife so much (Linda. Heather I am ignoring).

5) What is your favorite song by a band/artist you usually dislike?

Have I Told You Lately, by Rob Stewart. It is the only song I can tolerate by him, and I have to admit it is a good one.

The Family

Here we are at the lake, on our last day. Notice how my oldest is now taller than me?

***Quiz***

There is something noteworthy about this post. First person to guess gets a prize in the mail from me. Ready, guess!

*****UPDATE*****

While it is true that I have never posted a photo of myself til now, that isn't what I was after. And yes, the little girl is in her jammies, as is the girl with the long blond hair. My diligence in having the perfect family photo has definitely faded over the years. As far as the quiz goes, here is a hint: It has nothing what so ever to do with the photo. Carry on. (yes, you can certainly have more than one guess).

*****UPDATE II******

Okay, Barb and henny penny are closing in on the quiz. Keep going, and because of the creativity of many of the other answers, I feel many more prizes will be awarded this quiz. Stay tuned...

Home again, and another anointing

We're back, safe and sound. I'll share some photos later, but it was a good vacation.

It began with a fright, however. On the way there my sister-in-law and seven of her eight children were in a serious accident. No one was seriously injured, just bruises and cuts, and aching bodies. The warm days and balmy waters were good therapy for the injured, and by the time we went home, the healing was well along its way. It was a terribly frightening experience for them, and a reminder to the rest of us that we need to treasure each other, as life is fragile.

My favorite memories of the week were watching the kids play in the water, my littlest loving being in the water, and getting a cute little tan. My five year old coming into my room on my birthday, and shyly wishing me a happy day. His cute, shy, loving expression was priceless.

All in all it was a nice time, but now it's back to real life, getting ready for school, planning my next icon workshop, and de-cluttering the rooms before most my day is full of schooling.

We went to Vespers last night for the Feast of the Transfiguration. Again, a beautiful service, followed by another anointing, as well as the blessing and distribution of blessed grapes. The custom of bringing fruit to the temple to be blessed by the priest originates in Old Testament times (Gen 4:2-4; Ex 13:12-13; Num 15:19-21; Deut 8:10-14). In many areas, August is the month of the ripening of many different fruits. Since olden times, the faithful have been bringing fruit to temple for blessing and as a sign of thanksgiving to God. St. John Chrysostom wrote, "The plowman receives fruit from the earth not so much for his labor and diligence, as out of goodness of God Who grows this fruit, because neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."

My favorite prayer of vespers is this one, sung slowly and with much feeling. Especially during challenging times, this prayer speaks to the need of trust in God, and need to ask for the gift of trusting God.

Deign, O Lord, to keep us this evening without sin.

- Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our Fathers! Praised and glorified is your name for ever. Amen.

- O Lord, let your mercy rest upon us, for we have placed our hope in You.

-Blessed are You, O Lord : teach me your statutes.

-Blessed are You, O Master : grant that I may understand your statutes.

-Blessed are You, O Holy One: enlighten me with your statutes.

-Everlasting is your love, O Lord; do not turn away from the work of your hands!

-Indeed, praise, adoration and glory are your due, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.

The Church is so generous with the faithful. The bounty of grace and consolation is amazing to me. All you have to do is ask, and it will be given to you, healing, feeding, loving, bandaging our sores, and over time, there will be definite, noticeable vigor in the spirit. This is my prayer; that all will avail themselves of the gentle calling of God, and partake of the banquet feast. Come to the Feast~