angel means messenger

2010-08-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

Directions For Our Times audio for August

June message as given to Anne, a Lay Apostle

2010-06-16T11:32:00.001-05:00

On the first of every month, Our Lord gives Anne a new message about His call to service.

June 1, 2010

Jesus

Dearest apostles, are you weary? Do you wonder why My service requires such holiness? I know that you do not always understand the relationship between your suffering and the graces I am sending to others. This is not clear to you when you are carrying heavy crosses that require great trust. When you are with Me for eternity, you will understand this connection and you will rejoice that you were willing to remain in My service despite the demands made upon your will. I ask and I ask and again I ask, and you answer, and you answer, and again, you answer. My dear apostles, you are in such a habit of saying yes to Me, that you continue on, day after day. The days are passing, are they not? One after another, days are completed and you have claimed grace for the world. This is how it has been arranged for you, dearest children of the Father. You are asked to be good and holy and in return, the Father cooperates by keeping your intentions close to His heart. In this moment, where you have been placed, there is grace. Do you feel it? Do you trust Me? I am with you. I have not abandoned you. Will you resist the temptation to leave Me when I press on your commitment? If you ask Me for the grace of perseverance, I will give this to you. This is My gift. But you must ask for and then accept this gift. If you feel like you are failing and yet you are trying to serve as best you can, then you must spend time with Me and examine the concept of failure from heaven’s view. You may find that you are a success in My eyes, even while the world dismisses your contribution. All is well. Do not fear fatigue. Only fear a decision to abandon Me. Remember, I will never leave you. Never.

Catholicism Live: Alleluia! Christ Jesus is Risen!

2010-04-04T17:27:00.000-05:00

Catholicism Live: Alleluia! Christ Jesus is Risen!

More bluebonnets

2010-04-01T09:44:00.002-05:00

Bluebonnets 2010

2010-04-01T09:41:00.001-05:00

It is spring in South Texas. Because of the rain we are having a bumper crop of bluebonnets this year.

Satan behind media attacks on the Pope, asserts Italian exorcist :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

2010-04-01T09:38:00.000-05:00

Satan behind media attacks on the Pope, asserts Italian exorcist :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Message from heaven given at Pana, IL

2010-03-30T11:32:00.001-05:00

MESSAGE FROM HEAVEN

SHARON FITZPATRICK LOCUTIONIST

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010

MY DEAR DEAR PRECIOUS LITTLE CHILDREN,

IT IS WITH GREAT LOVE THAT I GREET YOU. YOU HAVE HAD MANY DAYS OF TRIAL AND

YOUR HEARTS TAKE ON A SADNESS FOR THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH. IT IS A TIME OF

SORROW AND PAIN. YOUR LENT HAS BEEN SPENT IN HEARTACHE. BUT AFTER LENT COMES

THE RESURRECTION AND JOY AND YOU MY CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE THIS.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY WITH TRUSTING HEARTS. EVERY PRAYER

IS IMPORTANT AND EACH ONE USED ACCORDING TO THE HOLY WILL OF GOD. LISTEN

CAREFULLY BECAUSE YOUR FAITH WILL TELL YOU TO CONTINUE AND TO FEAR NOT. YOU

ARE THE FORCE TO BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE IN HEARTS AND THE RESCUE OF SOULS.

LET THESE LAST DAYS OF LENT BE A STRENGTHENING OF YOUR HEARTS AND A

PREPARATION OF YOUR SOULS. LET THE BEAUTIFUL GRACE OF GOD TRANSFORM YOU. BE

PAT I E N T, BE KIND, BE FOR EACH OTHER. YOU ARE THOSE PLACED FOR THESE TIMES AND

THUS YOU SHARE IN THE INHERITANCE OF HEAVEN.

I LOVE YOU DEAR CHILDREN, AND I STAY WITH YOU IN THE NIGHT AND IN THE DAY. I AM

WITH YOU IN EVERY TRIAL AND EVERY JOY - I AM YOUR MOTHER AND I AM FOREVER FOR

YOU.

WITH A SINCERE AND DEEP LOVE I BLESS YOU AND I DO SO IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,

THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

YOU HAVE ALSO THE BLESSING OF CHRIST. IT FALLS GENTLY AND SWEETLY UPON YOU. OH

HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS. IT IS GIVEN TO YOU WITH TRUE LOVE AND MY PRIEST - SONS DRAW

IT FROM THEIR HEARTS. ACCEPT IT WITH LOVE FOR THESE PRIESTS AND THEN PRAISE AND

THANK GOD FOREVER, FOREVER, FOREVER.

PRAYER GROUP ROSARY • WEDNESDAYS - 7:00 P.M. • SUNDAYS - 3:00 P.M.

LADY OF LOURDES GROTTO (BEHIND HOSPITAL) PANA, IL

The myth of pedophile priests

2010-03-29T12:46:00.006-05:00

I read this today over at Father Longenecker's blog about the abuse scandal in the Church. It's very good so I copied it here:
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Myth of Pedophile Priests
As more pedophile priest scandals blow up across Europe we should be ashamed of the offenders and those who sheltered them and oppressed the victims. The guilty should be weeded out, removed from office and handed over to the civil authorities where they are guilty of crimes. Systems to avoid abuse must be established and rigorously maintained, and victims should be justly compensated for their suffering.

However, Penn State professor Philip Jenkins (who is not a Catholic) has written the most objective book on the subject, and he summarizes his arguments in this excellent article. In light of his work, we should remember some basic facts and principles:

Priestly celibacy is not the issue - married men are more likely to abuse children than unmarried
Most child abuse takes place within the home.
All religious groups have pedophile scandals, and the Catholics (while the largest religious group) are at the bottom of the list statistically.
Child abuse is prevalent in all areas of society: schools, youth organizations, sports, etc.
Statistically, of all the professions, Christian clergy are least likely to offend. Doctors, Farmers and Teachers are the professions most likely to abuse children--not clergy.
Among clergy offenders Catholic priests are least likely to offend.
Catholic cases of pedophilia make more headlines because of anti Catholic prejudice and because the Catholic Church is bigger and more lucractive to sue.
Pedophilia and Euphebophilia are different problems. The former is sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children. The latter is attraction to teenagers. Most cases branded 'pedophila' are actually 'euphebophila.'
Most of the cases of euphebophilia are homosexual in nature, however the politically correct do not want this problem to be associated with homosexuality.
The number of Catholic priests guilty of pedophilia is very small.
What we now call 'cover up' was often done in a different cultural context, when the problem was not fully understood and when all establishment organizations hushed scandals. They did so for what seemed good reasons at the time: protection of the victims and their families, opportunity for rehabilitation of the offender, the avoidance of scandal to others. It is unfair to judge events thirty years ago by today's standards.
When lawsuits are looming people smell money. We must be wary of false accusations.
The accused must be entitled to a fair hearing. The church should insist on hard proof of the abuse, and for the sake of justice, ensure that the innocent are not prosecuted.
When guilt is established the offender must be punished, not sheltered.
Distinctions must be made between types of abuse. Some offenses are worse than others. Verbal abuse or corporal punishment during a time when that was acceptable, while lamentable, is not the same as sexual abuse or extreme physical abuse.
Sexual abuse of an adult, or a sexually experienced older teenager is wrong, and damaging, and should be punished, but it is not the same as the sexual abuse of a younger, innocent child.
Number of offenses must be considered. One lapse is not of the same seriousness as repeated, persistent and premeditated offenses.

I am in no way wishing to be soft of pedophiles and those who covered for them, however justice and truth demand an objective analysis of the facts.

There is no way I could have said this better than Father did. It's a difficult subject but the media gets this so wrong on many counts because basically it hates the Catholic Church.

94 Percent!

2010-03-23T10:32:00.000-05:00

94 Percent!

2010-03-23T09:50:00.003-05:00

How To Pray The Rosary Everyday

Pray the Rosary daily with meditations, scripture and
encouragement from a Rosary community.

More Real Catholic TV

2010-03-06T11:07:00.001-06:00

Real Catholic TV Mar. 4, 2010

2010-03-06T11:04:00.000-06:00

2010-02-09T12:52:00.000-06:00

Global Warming Hysteria: For Some, It’s a Matter of Faith » Secondhand Smoke | A First Things Blog

2009-12-28T16:25:00.001-06:00

Global Warming Hysteria: For Some, It’s a Matter of Faith » Secondhand Smoke | A First Things Blog

Posted using ShareThis

(Dan Sealana's Blog): Fr. Corapi clip: "Get up off your butt and go to church..."

2009-11-02T10:26:00.001-06:00

It's All Skubala! (Dan Sealana's Blog): Fr. Corapi clip: "Get up off your butt and go to church..."

Ok, when you go to his blog, please don't think I condone his language :-). I just had to share this clip of Father Corapi.

Top White House Official Says Obama Team 'Controlled' Media Coverage During Campaign - Political News - FOXNews.com

2009-10-19T17:41:00.001-05:00

Top White House Official Says Obama Team 'Controlled' Media Coverage During Campaign - Political News - FOXNews.com

Posted using ShareThis

Laura's A&M hat w/out pom pom

2009-10-13T18:15:00.001-05:00

It's not cold enough (it's actually pretty warm here) to wear this yet. I wonder if it ever will be?

Feast of the Archangels

2009-09-29T10:06:00.002-05:00

I have a devotion to the great St. Michael the Archangel. I made a St. Michael chaplet and hope to make more to give away. I believe he has protected me and my family many times and that he will continue to protect us in these times of great evil.

"What are you doing?"

2009-09-28T13:05:00.002-05:00

This is what the Angel of Fatima asked the three little shepherds when he found them not praying as he had asked them to do months earlier.

It reminds me of the question from Twitter, "what are you doing?". We should ask ourselves what are we doing, and can we not be praying and offering up our suffering, or annoyances, etc. for the sake of souls.

Welsh Terrier keychain

2009-09-23T10:12:00.002-05:00

Welsh Terrier keychain. I'd like to get another one but I don't remember where I got it this one. I also would like to see if there is a schipperke one.

new haircut

2009-09-22T14:44:00.000-05:00

Went to a different salon today. I think I like it there.

2009-09-03T18:41:00.002-05:00

This my version of the pearl necklace in BeadStyle Magazine, July 2009. The designer is DonnaMarie Bates. This is one of the few pieces I've made that I really like.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

2009-07-16T11:34:00.001-05:00

Happy Feast day to all the Carmelites and all of us who wear the Brown Scapular.

An pan

2009-06-30T11:24:00.002-05:00

My daughter made an pan, a sweet bean paste filled bun. Delicious!

Gigi's prize winning painting

2009-05-08T12:51:00.005-05:00

This is a closer view of the male Northern Shoveler

Here is the painting with the 2nd place ribbon

Holy Saturday

2009-04-11T13:28:00.002-05:00

When we used to attend St. Francis di Paola Church, they had a touching devotion on Holy Saturday. They would spend Good Friday evening and Holy Saturday in the church keeping Mary company during her mourning period. It is a quiet time and people would take turns all night just staying with the Blessed Mother. I never thought about how Mary must have felt during that time after Jesus was placed in the tomb. I wish other churches had this devotion.

Northern Shoveler

2009-02-22T19:19:00.002-06:00

This is the Northern Shoveler that we saw and photographed at Woodlawn. It was swimming with its mate, too. Apparently pairs stay together for a long time. This is what dd will paint for the contest. Isn't it pretty? I'd never known about them before we started studying ducks. At first I thought it was a mallard. Now I know better.

Shell pearl and turquoise necklace

2009-02-22T16:58:00.003-06:00

This is the necklace I made to donate to the Children's Chorus of SA for their silent auction. I still don't know if they want it! It was inspired by a design by Rupa Balachandar as seen in Bead Style magazine. I like the coral color of the shell pearls.

The search for the right duck

2009-02-22T16:52:00.003-06:00

We thought this wood duck might be the one my dd would paint for the Junior Duck Stamp contest. But we couldn't find it again. So she went with another duck, the Northern shoveler. I'll see if I can find an image of that next.

sounds so familiar

2009-02-06T10:27:00.004-06:00

The following quote is from Amy Welborn's blog about the Legionnaries of Christ and the lay group Regnum Christi:

Secrecy, hero-worship, deification of individuals, reflexive dismissal of critics as wrong-headed or even of the devil, an untoward interest in money and appearance, manipulation of members, demeaning attitudes toward non-members, deceptive means…

trouble.

Top 10 Reasons to Stay Catholic

2009-01-22T22:05:00.002-06:00

Top Ten Reasons:*

10.) It's politically incorrect. (Annoy the Catholic bashers).
9.) You can sing badly, and no one cares. (9 out of 10 American Catholics are musically impaired).
8.) You can impress your friends. (Tell them you belong to a militant international institution).
7.) Your Mother. (Low cost way to keep her happy).
6.) Great Weddings! (When it comes to ceremony, the Catholic Church is smokin').
5.) Great Pope!
4.) Saints. (Talk about friends in high places!)
3.) Confession. (No, it's not fun, but what a deal).
2.) Dependability. (Jesus founded our Chuch on Peter, the rock, and promised that the gates of hell should not prevail against It.)

And the number one reason to stay Roman Catholic is the awesome gift of... (Drum roll, please...)

THE EUCHARIST!

"He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood will have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day. For My Flesh is real food and My Blood is real drink. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood lives in Me and I in him."
- John 6:54-56

*Design Copyright 1994 by House of Abraham Creations.

Yuri Bezmenov

2009-01-14T14:32:00.004-06:00

I don't know if anyone reads my blog but I need to pass on this link to this youtube video. It is about how the soviet communists used "demoralization" as part of their approach to spread Marxist ideologies to other countries. They said it could take 15-20 years and that we in the US are probably in the 3rd generation of young adults exposed to this stuff. Considering the recent election results it all sounds eerily accurate.

Please go here and watch. If you have time look for the whole 9 part series (by hermitcleric). It is definitely worth your time.

pray for the souls in purgatory

2009-01-11T11:44:00.000-06:00

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.

Amen.

another one bites the dust

2009-01-10T10:44:00.002-06:00

Why do some young women go after men in the seminary? They're engaged to the Bride of Christ for heaven's sakes!

Oh,never mind. I'm just venting ;-).

Spiritual 911

2009-01-03T13:06:00.003-06:00

Here is Fr. John Corapi's advice for spiritual help in times of urgent need or crisis:

Spiritual 911

9 Memorares:
Remember oh most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee oh Virgin of Virgins my mother. To thee do we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful. Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

1 Rosary (there is an online rosary here that is really helpful)

1 Divine Mercy chaplet (pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at your computer here

33 minutes

2008-12-12T15:19:00.002-06:00

Emmett and Penny

2008-12-12T11:27:00.003-06:00

This will be on the card that I will send to the folks on an email list for Welsh Terrier owners. That's Emmett the schipperke on the left and Penny the Welsh terrier on the right. It's fun to receive lots of Christmas cards with dogs on them.

Garland girl costume

2008-11-24T15:10:00.001-06:00

Gigi was a Junior Rat and a Garland girl in the Kerrville Nutcracker this weekend. This was the costume she wore. I didn't get to photograph her before she changed so this is all I could get.

Please pray for Michael Summerville

2008-11-13T14:20:00.002-06:00

My friends the Summervilles suffered a terrible accident on Oct. 15 when their youngest son Michael fell into their pool.

You can read their story here

They read all the guestbook entries and they say they gather a lot of strength from them.

They're just wonderful people and I feel honored to know them.

Teeny, tiny chihuahua

2008-11-10T16:08:00.003-06:00

Isn't this amazing? My daughter made this out of a sock!! Using a book written in Japanese no less!

Her talent continues to amaze me.

Rings!

2008-09-30T13:28:00.007-05:00

I've been making a lot of rings lately. These are modeled by one of my beautiful daughters.

I've made lots of these with birthstone crystal colors and both in silver and gold-filled wire.

Silver swirl ring. I want to try this in 16 gauge next time.

I like the color of the Swarovski crystal in this one, Erinite, I think.

Philippians 4:6-7

2008-09-26T11:11:00.002-05:00

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2008-09-08T17:06:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday, Blessed Mother!

"Within the radius of the Holy Spirit's breath"

2008-08-19T22:16:00.005-05:00

The Holy Father spoke about the Holy Spirit today so beautifully I have to put the words here. He answered a seminarian who asked how he can keep the closeness he felt to God while he was at the World Youth Day in Sydney. I loved it! The whole thing can be read here.

"In the end, it is the Lord who helps us but we must be available as instruments," he continued. "I would say simply: No one can give what he does not personally possess; in other words we cannot pass on the Holy Spirit effectively or make him perceptible to others unless we ourselves are close to him."

The Holy Father went on to encourage his listeners to remain "within the radius of the Holy Spirit's breath, in contact with him. Only if we are continually touched within by the Holy Spirit, if he dwells in us, will it be possible for us to pass him on to others."

He said that the Holy Spirit can be considered the breath of Christ, and "we, in a certain sense, must ask Christ to breathe on us always, so that his breath will become alive and strong and work upon the world. This means that we must keep close to Christ."

Word of God

The Pontiff said the secret to staying close to Christ is meditating on his word. Recalling an expression he used in Sydney, the Pontiff proposed that speaking with God through his word is "as if we were to find ourselves strolling in the garden of the Holy Spirit; we talk to him and he talks to us."

"And then, naturally, this listening, walking in the environment of the word must be transformed into a response, a response in prayer, in contact with Christ," he added, recommending time spent with the Eucharist and the frequenting of the sacrament of penance.

The Bishop of Rome affirmed such a relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit would give shape to daily life, structuring it in such a way that "God has access to us all the time. […] We are in continuous contact with Christ and […] we are continuously receiving the breath of the Holy Spirit."

"If we do this, if we are not too lazy, undisciplined or sluggish, then something happens to us: The day acquires a form, and in it, our life itself acquires a form and this light will shine from us without us having to give it much thought," he said.

Penny has pancreatitis!

2008-08-10T20:49:00.002-05:00

Well, last weekend Penny was doing fine, very happy and spunky. Just her usual self. Then on Monday she started shaking and panting. Lots of panting and shaking. So I took her to the emergency clinic since it was after hours. They said dogs who do this are usually in pain. After a blood test and some other tests, they said she has pancreatitis. She stayed there for the night then I took her to our vet. They did some more blood tests and did an ultrasound and consulted with another vet. He later told me he was very concerned about her that day. Then on Wednesday I took her back to the emergency clinic so that that vet could take over her case. She stayed there getting fluids and pain meds and antibiotics and slowly was able to start eating. She came home Friday (Yay!) and I had to bring her back on Saturday and today to get IV antibiotics. She still has an IV port and I have to flush it every six hours. Her food is very low fat Royal Canin. She will have to be on low fat food always and her pancreatitis could come back. She will always have a sensitive pancreas. Poor Penny!
But at least she is home and acting better, wagging her tail and barking at whatever. I asked for lots of prayers and that is why she is better I'm sure. If you are reading this please keep her in your prayers.

Penny in her cone

2008-08-03T22:02:00.002-05:00

Penny had to have surgery to remove a bump to check for skin cancer. She has to wear this so she won't scratch it. At first she came home without it and scratched at the sutures. In the morning she scared us with a lot of blood on her face. I rushed her back to the vet, they cleaned her up and watched her for the rest of the day. She's much better now but I know she'll be glad when she can get the staples out and that cone off! Poor Penny! She's such a good girl.

desert sand socks, now there are two

2008-07-30T21:51:00.002-05:00

Plugging away at the desert sand socks I'm knitting for Socks for Soldiers. The marker helps me see how much I've knitted that day. Kelly Petkun from Knit Picks calls them affirmation markers.

Today is the feast day of St. Peter Chrysologus.

an inch or two of desert sand sock

2008-07-22T10:19:00.003-05:00

This is how much I've done so far on the desert sand sock. The Socks For Soldiers lady requires a loose cast on and it makes a kind of wavy edge. But it's to provide extra ease at the top. It just looks funky.

new socks

2008-07-18T23:23:00.002-05:00

I wanted to post this so that I could remember when I started the new pair of Socks for Soldiers. I started them on July 16th. I have about 3/4 of an inch on them. I need to start the second sock to get over the cast on and first row. I hate that part and I don't want to get Second Sock Syndrome.

Tomorrow Jackie leaves for Alabama!! We have to get up early to get her to the airport. Please pray for her if you are reading this.

day 17 of eat stop eat

2008-07-16T23:12:00.002-05:00

This week I am encouraged by my fasting. I really might have lost 2 lbs. now, and so I am at 129.8. I started at 131.8.
The ebook has a chart that shows a 2% loss by day 24. This Monday I didn't get a headache. Yay!

Today is the Feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I wear a scapular that you never have to take off. I think you can get them at totallycatholic.com and you can see what they look like here

chaplet of Divine Mercy at your computer

2008-07-06T15:19:00.003-05:00

I just found this today. You can pray the Divine Mercy chaplet while at your computer. It's kinda neat that you don't have to have your rosary with you.

pray for our nation

2008-07-04T19:53:00.002-05:00

Please pray for our nation today. Read here what is happening in Alabama.

second fasting day

2008-07-04T17:11:00.002-05:00

Today is my second fasting day. I wish I hadn't had a bad headache today but other than that it was OK. Since I get these headaches a lot, I don't blame it on the fasting. I think I might have lost a pound but I'm not sure. That's what my scale says anyway but I don't trust my scale with a one pound difference. It rained today and I'm hoping it will rain some more. I love the rain.

I've been keeping up with the happenings at www.mej.com and praying for our nation with them. The fasting makes it more significant for me, too.

first fasting day

2008-06-30T21:12:00.003-05:00

Today I started intermittent fasting according to a method called Eat Stop Eat. You can read about it here.

It wasn't too bad and I didn't get dizzy or lightheaded. Twenty four hours without food. I did it. I think the next one will be Thursday evening to Friday evening and will coincide with prayers that others are doing for our nation.

a frenzy of rosary chaplet making

2008-06-24T15:47:00.002-05:00

A dear friend asked me to help her make 34(!) rosary chaplets for an eighth grade graduating class. We didn't have a whole lot of time to do it but we did it. They have a beautiful center depicting Our Lady of the Atonement. I think they came out really pretty. My fingers were sore for a day or two but it was worth it.

jewelry

2008-05-03T19:14:00.002-05:00

I have some things for sale at etsy.com here

house and yarn

2008-02-28T08:19:00.004-06:00

Still looking for a house :-(. There are 2 more houses I can go see today and I don't know if I have the enthusiasm to see them. And now it's getting to the point where we should put our house on the market. That could happen very soon! I must clean!

I have a devotion to St. Philomena and a friend just sent me a youtube link about her. Can you believe St. Philomena is on Youtube? Please watch it if you can.

I've asked St. Joseph (of course), the Blessed Mother (again of course), and St. Philomena for their assistance with finding a house and selling our house. Why mess around, right?

I finally got my black yarn for the socks for soldiers. I didn't have the right size needles so I need to go get some maybe from Yarnivore. And I hope I don't go blind from knitting with black yarn.

Thank goodness for handwork

2008-02-15T21:08:00.005-06:00

So sorry I haven't posted in a long long time. We started looking at houses and de-junking and cleaning our house in preparation for moving (or so we thought). Then we had carpet put in and that was an ordeal. Lots of stuff got put in storage. But we didn't find a house that feels right for us. So we are just waiting for one to come up that we love.

In the meantime I'm trying to teach the kids but not getting enough teaching done. I stopped beading almost but then made a swarovski heart pendant. It was with 5mm beads so it's a little big. I might post a pic of it. And I made a valentine's day bracelet for Laura to wear to school. It's cute and was easy and fast to make.

Now I seem to be back to knitting and crocheting. I think it gives me comfort to do handwork. I joined a list for making socks for soldiers. You can read about it here

And I started making some red (and I mean RED) ballet-style slippers for Gigi in crochet. I had to modify the pattern to fit her feet but I think they're coming out nice. They're from a book about crafts for the ballet student and they are red because of the story and movie about The Red Shoes. We just saw the movie the other day on TCM.

Dave will be back from Jordan tomorrow. He gets back after midnight so I hope I can stay awake since I have to pick him up from the airport.

Our Lady of America

2008-01-10T10:41:00.000-06:00

Please visit this site to see what Our Lady needs from us her children in America.

These words struck me and stayed with me:

"Be my army of chaste souls, ready to fight to the death to preserve the purity of your souls. I am the Immaculate One, Patroness of your land. Be my faithful children as I have been your faithful mother."

We are to love

2007-12-20T09:46:00.000-06:00

I read this and it gave me great consolation today.

I hope it helps you, too.

Which of you by being anxious

2007-12-20T09:25:00.000-06:00

And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.

[23] For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
[24] Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
[25] And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life?
[26] If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
[27] Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
[28] But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!
[29] And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind.
[30] For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them.
[31] Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well.

2008

2007-12-13T10:45:00.000-06:00

I saw this comment about one of our presidential candidates:

She needs to swing by a military installation about 10pm to listen to her new theme song...

Luke 12:49-53

2007-12-11T13:31:00.000-06:00

[49] "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!
[50] I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!
[51] Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division;
[52] for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three;
[53] they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

2007-12-10T22:21:00.000-06:00

1Cor.13
[1]

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

[2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
[3] If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

copper bracelet

2007-12-09T17:08:00.001-06:00

Here is the bracelet with the copper swirl links. I guess I like it. It's very lightweight which is good for me.

The scan came out blurry because the links are not flat.

my dogs

2007-12-07T14:03:00.001-06:00

I'm on an email list for Welsh terrier owners and we are going to exchange Christmas cards. This is the first time for me to be included so I took a bunch of pix today to try to get a good one. This was taken before they got bored with it and I almost dropped Emmett trying to put home back on the bench. I think it's a good one but I haven't decided if this is the one I'll use.

What fun trying to get your dogs to sit for a photo!

Day 7 and sister Briege

2007-12-06T09:31:00.000-06:00

Day Seven O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and my mother, from the sublime heights of your dignity turn your merciful eyes upon me while I, full of confidence in your bounty and keeping in mind your Immaculate conception and fully conscious of your power, beg of you to come to our aid and ask your Divine Son to grant the favor we earnestly seek in this novena... if it be beneficial for our immortal souls and the souls for whom we pray.
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.

For those of us who need prayer, you can listen to Sister Briege pray with you here

Sister Briege is an Irish nun who has the gift of healing. She mostly prays for and with priests all over the world and I find that her prayer gives me a great deal of peace and sometimes a feeling of quiet joy. Try it and see for yourself!

copper swirls

2007-12-05T11:51:00.000-06:00

Some of you know I make jewelry. I started to become interested in using wire and decided to try this copper bracelet. These pieces will be joined with silver wire and jumprings. I'm enjoying working with copper wire and the hammering and stuff. It's fun pounding away at it. If it looks good when I finish it I'll post a picture of it. One thing I learned from a beading Web site: if you have trouble getting a good photo of your jewelry try scanning it. I think it worked.

Day 6

2007-12-05T11:48:00.000-06:00

Today is Day 6 of the Immaculate Conception novena.

PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son,
we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain,
so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.
Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, world without end.

Amen.

Day Six Glorious and immortal Queen of Heaven, we profess our firm belief in your Immaculate Conception preordained for you in the merits of your Divine Son. We rejoice with you in your Immaculate Conception. To the one ever-reigning God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three in Person, one in nature, we offer thanks for your blessed Immaculate Conception. O Mother of the Word made Flesh, listen to our petition as we ask this special grace during this novena...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

Day 4 &5

2007-12-04T10:26:00.000-06:00

I'm so sorry I missed Day 4 yesterday. I had to help my dd #3 with a book report and had to go watch dd#2 in her play at school, which was very funny. The play, not the book report :-).

PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son,
we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain,
so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.
Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, world without end.

Amen.

Day Four

O Mary, Mother of God, endowed in your glorious Immaculate Conception with the fullness of grace; unique among women in that you are both mother and virgin; Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ, we ask you to look down with a tender heart from your throne and listen to our prayers as we earnestly ask that you obtain for us the favor for which we now plead...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

Day Five

O Lord, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, did prepare a fitting dwelling for your Son, we beseech you that as by the foreseen death of your Son, you did preserve her from all stain of sin, grant that through her intercession, we may be favored with the granting of the grace that we seek for at this time...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

Day 3

2007-12-02T22:34:00.000-06:00

Day Three

O Blessed Virgin Mary, glory of the Christian people, joy of the universal Church and Mother of Our Lord, speak for us to the Heart of Jesus, who is your Son and our brother. O Mary, who by your holy Immaculate Conception did enter the world free from stain, in your mercy obtain for us from Jesus the special favor which we now so earnestly seek...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
Amen.

Day 2

2007-12-01T23:35:00.000-06:00

Day Two O Mary, ever blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Queen of angels and of saints, we salute you with the most profound veneration and filial devotion as we contemplate your holy Immaculate Conception, We thank you for your maternal protection and for the many blessings that we have received through your wondrous mercy and most powerful intercession. In all our necessities we have recourse to you with unbounded confidence. O Mother of Mercy, we beseech you now to hear our prayer and to obtain for us of your Divine Son the favor that we so earnestly request in this novena...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
Amen.

Immaculate Conception novena

2007-11-30T10:55:00.000-06:00

If you start a novena today it will end at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th.

PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son,
we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain,
so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.
Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, world without end.

Amen.

First, recite the Prayer to the Immaculate Conception.
Then, recite the appropriate prayer of each of the nine days.

Day One O most Holy Virgin, who was pleasing to the Lord and became His mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, who by your blessed Immaculate Conception, from the first moment of your conception did crush the head of the enemy, receive our prayers as we implore you to present at the throne of God the favor we now request...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
Amen.

"If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway."

The Universal Living Rosary

2007-11-28T09:38:00.000-06:00

I am a member of the Universal Living Rosary Association. We are given a particular rosary mystery decade and are to pray it everyday for the rest of our lives. When you send your name they will put it with 14 other names and together you make an entire 15-decade rosary that is recited every day. Mine is The Nativity. This is significant to me because when I got it I was pregnant and meditating on the Nativity meant thinking about the Baby Jesus.

Our intention for each day is for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and in honor of St. Philomena.

I love St. Philomena and wear her cord around my waist. That is the cord up there on the right.

Their address is:

The Universal Living Rosary
P.O. Box 1303
Dickinson, TX 77539
USA

They send lots of rosaries, scapulars and other sacramentals to other countries all over the world, to people who cannot afford them.

Holy Ghost, I offer Thee the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, His Most Precious Blood, the sorrowful, humble, pure, obedient and Immaculate Heart of Mary, to repair for all my offenses and negligences. I consesecrate myself unreservedly to Thee. I place all my trust in Thee. Amen.

"If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway." Mother Teresa

Nutcracker in the Hills

2007-11-27T13:57:00.001-06:00

This is my first image posted to this blog. This is my daughter when she was in the Nutcracker. She was a Bon Bon, one of the kids who come out from the big dress of Mother Ginger. Isn't she cute? The Bon Bons were the best part of the Nutcracker, I must say.

begin with prayer

2007-11-27T11:45:00.000-06:00

If I remember to begin everything with prayer, things seem to go better for me. I usually consecrate all the big things, things that give me anxiety, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I give it to her and ask her to take care of all the details, like a mother would do. But on most days I have to try hard to remember to pray before everything, like, our school work, our tests, meal preparation, just the whole day. Mother Teresa, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, structured her sisters' days around adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass.

Advent is coming and I hope we can get a new Advent wreath and new candles.

The weather is beautiful now. Cool and clear with blue skies. This is the time that Texas shines.

"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway"
Mother Teresa

a cold hurts

2007-11-15T14:52:00.000-06:00

Today is the third day of my cold and I am tired of it already. It hurts my head mostly. Advil helps. But I thought I would be rid of it by now because I've been taking Zicam. Oh, well. Offer it up as they say.

Painting was done and grouting (except for that one white spot). The shower walls should be here today but I doubt it.

I'm sad that the little girl that was spotted in Medjugorje was not Madeleine McCann. I'm really sad about that.

Today we got cooler and it feels good. Maybe I should run today. Yes, I really should. I can listen to the new songs I downloaded today. Well they're not new actually, they are old but I haven't heard them in a long time. When I heard Gimme Shelter in the trailer for the movie Bella it made me want to hear more of that album, then I wanted to hear an old Cream one and then Blind Faith. Back to my childhood:-).

post race

2007-11-13T11:24:00.000-06:00

Well, the half-marathon is over. I was very sore yesterday and a little sore still today. I don't think I was this sore last time. I took some seconds off my time so I'm glad about that. It was much more fun (if fun is the right word) this time running with David. He kept me going when I was so tired near the end.

The bathroom re-modeling is still going on. Painting of the walls happening today. I guess it will be better than it was.

Today I have been thinking about Garabandal. I haven't thought of it in a long time. Coincidentally Nov. 13th is when they have an update on it every year. Joey Lomangino is still alive. It is said that he will live to see the Miracle. I decided to signup for their emails in case there is anything that happens soon.

I have also been praying very much for the recovery of the kidnapped little girl Madeleine McCann. I wish so much that I could help them find her. There was a prayer card that just turned up on my counter of the Santo Nino de Atocha so I prayed the prayer on the back of it. It asks for the intercession of Our Lady:

Oh most pure Mother of Santo Nino de Atocha, Most Loving Spouse of the Holy Spirit, refuge of sinners and my most loving Mother, I trust in your love and generosity that you will intercede for me with your Son that He grant what I ask for.

I pray that your protection will come to me and He will assist me in His divine power because He can do everything and upon Him depends my happiness. Amen.

Pray for the Holy Souls

2007-11-07T10:13:00.000-06:00

I hope I start remembering to pray for the souls in purgatory every day. Here is a prayer that my kids and I have said:

Prayer of
St. Gertrude the Great

Our Lord dictated the following prayer to St. Gertrude the Great to release 1,000 Souls from Purgatory each time it is said.

"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

St. Gertrude's life was the mystic life of the Cloister – a Benedictine nun. She meditated on the Passion of Christ, which many times brought a flood of tears to her eyes. She did many penances and Our Lord appeared to her many times. She had a tender love for the Blessed Virgin and was very devoted to the suffering souls in Purgatory. She died in 1334. Her feast day is November 16th.

Approval and recommendation (sgd.) M. Cardinal Pahiarca at Lisbon, Portugal, on March 4, 1936.

The holy souls are eager for the prayers of the faithful which can gain indulgences for them. Their intercession is powerful. Pray unceasingly. We must empty Purgatory!
Padre Pio

***

"It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins" (2 Mac 12:46)

***

St. Alphonsus Liguori says that though the Holy Souls cannot merit for themselves, they can obtain for us great graces. They are not, formally speaking, intercessors as the Saints are but, through the sweet Providence of God, they can obtain for us astounding favours and deliver us from evils, sickness and dangers of every kind.

12 miles

2007-11-04T13:18:00.000-06:00

Today we ran 12 miles in preparation for the Half Marathon at the San Antonio Marathon. This was not a good run for me. I tired early and I dragged in at the end. Looking back I guess I should have had something to eat first and I maybe could have had a sports drink instead of water during the run. Using a sports gel, gu, helps, too. I hurt almost everywhere and I'm just glad it's over. Really, I hope that the actual Half will be better than today.

I've been praying for Father Francis Mary from Life on the Rock on EWTN. I've taken his problem to heart, praying most of my hour of adoration for him. How do things like this happen? I just don't know.

All Hallow's Eve

2007-10-31T10:17:00.000-05:00

Halloween used to be about the eve of All Saint's day. Now it's mostly about dressing up in costumes and getting candy from your neighbors. I never get too excited about this day. Everything about it seems fake. It's not really a holy day. Tomorrow is the Holy day. Halloween seems like a pretend holiday to me. But kids seem to enjoy getting the candy and dressing up. Our orthodontist has a deal to bring in your candy and they will give you back a dollar a pound! Most kids would probably still keep some to eat. I would, too.

And isn't today the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg church? This would be the birthday of the "Reformation". It's interesting to me that it would happen on October 31st. Most evangelical/fundamentalists think this day is bad. I knew a family who would leave their home and go to a movie in order to avoid taking part in any of it. They are right about one thing: this day is bad for its consequences throughout the history of the Church. The protestant revolt would continue to rip apart the Body of Christ so that now we have tens of thousands of different denominations each teaching something different.

This year Joey will be dressed up as a Jedi knight. I'm glad his light saber has an off switch. Gigi will be a pretty pirate. Laura--I'm not sure. Snoopy, I think.

North American Martyrs

2007-10-19T09:38:00.000-05:00

Today is the feast day of the North American Martyrs. Here is a Jesuit prayer for their feast day:

Holy Martyrs and patrons, protect this land which you have blessed by the shedding of your blood. Renew in these days our Catholic faith which you helped to establish in this new land. Bring all our fellow citizens to a knowledge and love of the truth. Make us zealous in the profession of our faith so that we may continue and perfect the work which you have begun with so much labour and suffering. Pray for our homes, our schools, our missions, for vocations, for the conversion of sinners, the return of those who have wandered from the fold, and the perseverance of all the Faithful. And foster a deeper and increasing unity among all Christians. Amen.

October is the month of the Rosary. Let's all pray the rosary as much as we can during this month, every day if possible.

Laura's birthday is coming up! She'll be 17 on Sunday! Oh my gosh.

And it finally got cool here last night. I think it was 57 this morning. Nice!

Teresa of Avila

2007-10-15T13:35:00.000-05:00

Today is the Feast day of St. Teresa of Avila. I feel a kinship with her, I'm not sure why. I remember reading about her and there was a diary entry that mentioned the town of Arevalo in Spain which she passed through during her travels. That was significant to me :-).

I like this quote from her: "Lord, is this is how you treat your friends, it's no wonder you have so few!" She suffered a great deal but also had joyous visions of our Lord which gave her great consolations. St. Teresa had great devotion to St. Joseph and to the Infant Jesus, just like me!

This weekend we celebrated Dave's birthday twice. We had a good time and I hope our friends did, too. We really want to spend more time with our friends and family.

Feast day

2007-10-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

Today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels! I would like to share the guardian angel prayer that many of us learned as children:

Angel of God
My guardian dear
To whom God's love entrusts me here
Ever this day (or night) be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

In my life my guardian angel has helped me in real life ways. When my third daughter was born I didn't have a name for her, yet. I looked and looked through name books that the nurses had in the hospital but I still couldn't decide. The Social Security clerk was bugging me to name this child because she said if I left the hospital without filling out the form I would have to go the county seat to finish it, which was in Santa Barbara, about an hour away. So, I finally prayed about it. I said to my angel, "God probably has a name for her. Can you go ask Him and then tell me what it is?" Instantly a name came: Gianna Paula. I said, Ok, that's nice. I thought, who is St. Gianna? At first I thought, well it sounds like the feminine form of John Paul. Both good saints and a good Pope. Later I remembered about a woman who had just been declared Blessed. Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla, an Italian pediatrition. She is now St. Gianna. St. Gianna was pregnant with her fourth child when the doctors found cancer in her womb. The doctors wanted to perform surgery to remove the tumor but this would have meant death for the unborn child. She said no. The child was born and Gianna died soon after. The Pope said her witness was a hymn to life.

Jesus said the angels of children "see face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10). So, even though their task is here with us on earth, they never lose the Beatific Vision. That's why we can ask them to go to God for us and they then communicate with us in our intellect. St. Thomas is called the Angelic Doctor because he wrote extensively about the angels.

Say your guardian angel prayer today!

Rascal Flatts

2007-09-28T09:39:00.000-05:00

My daughter loves Rascal Flatts and she got their new CD when it came out. Today on the radio the DJ was talking about one of the songs on it and he mentioned one line from it that I wanted to share:

I wonder if guardian angels cry
When they see it all played out
And as they stand with their hands tied
Oh, do they cry out loud

Do those Rascal Flatts boys know how Catholic they sound?:-)

It reminded me of something I read one time about how our angels watch over us always, all throughout our lives. They watch everything we do, and they have to witness all our mistakes and sins. I had to apologize to my angel after I read that. I really am sorry that my angel has had to see all the stupid, bad stuff I have done.

But I think I act better maybe, knowing that I don't want to offend my angel and that helps me to remember that, most of all, I don't ever want to offend God.

Another thing I hope to talk about soon is the concept of going to Jesus through Mary. This "way" to God has helped me more that anything in my life. God is so good to send us His own beautiful, perfect mother to bring us to Him. More on that soon.

St. Vincent de Paul

2007-09-27T10:40:00.000-05:00

Today is the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul. There are many Societies of St. Vincent de Paul in most dioceses and I am privileged to be a member of a conference in my parish. They are known for ministering to the poor.

Here is one quote from this great saint:

The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.

Saint Vincent de Paul

His body lies incorrupt in Paris, France.

what are angels?

2007-09-25T14:31:00.000-05:00

Today I think I want to talk about what angels are. Angels are pure spirits created by God. There are good angels and bad angels (called devils). Mostly I will talk about good angels. Some people say that when someone dies, especially a child or a baby, that they go to become angels in Heaven. It's a nice thought but not really true. Humans can't become angels. Angels are angels and people are people. But it is true that when we die our souls go on to the afterlife without our bodies. Maybe that's where the confusion comes in.

There will be some feast days soon that honor the angels. On Sept. 29th we honor the Archangels. We know St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael as Archangels. I love the prayer to St. Michael and I try to pray it every day. There is a really nice chaplet to St. Michael that is also good to pray. It honors the nine choirs of angels. I have beads to make these chaplets and I really should start making them. Maybe I'll do that this week.

And then on Oct. 2nd is the feast of the Guardian Angels. I love my Guardian Angel! I'm so grateful to God that I have a Guardian angel. If you are reading this you should take some time now to talk to your angel and just say thanks for being here. Go ahead. I'll wait.

Good! I hope from now on you will foster your relationship with your angel. He or she will be so proud of you.

autumnal equinox

2007-09-23T16:11:00.000-05:00

I saw the sun rise today because I had to run before we went to Mass. Apparently if I had gotten out there early enough I might have seen Venus. It's supposed to be bright right now. This run was not that good. I felt slow and I don't know, weak maybe? Later on I found out why. It is day one. But I did it, I ran 7 miles. I'm still on track to do the Half Marathon on November 11th. And Dave is doing it with me. Yay! I'm also signed up to do the Helotes 5K. That should be OK. I'm trying to get friends to do it with me but so far only have one possible taker.

today is Joey's birthday party!

2007-09-19T12:59:00.000-05:00

I prayed to think up a name for this blog. That is what I came up with. The other day I thought I would name it Thank You Notes. You, know to count my blessings, be grateful, all that stuff. But, I really don't like thank you notes. Writing them, I mean. So that wasn't good.

Ok, so, here I am. In the blogosphere.

Thank you, guardian angel for helping to name it!