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July 13, 2005
Movie Night: Bon Voyage
What is one of my favorite modern conveniences? Netflix!
My suggested movie of the week for you is the French comedy Bon Voyage. Set in 1940's France, it is a great little tale (enough romance for me & enough intrigue for Brian) that is smart and subtly funny. Although nothing explicit in it (other than some PG-13 fist-fight type violence) wait until the kids go to bed to watch so you can read the subtitles in peace. Enjoy!
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The Doc Is In
For those looking for parenting tips, check out one of my favorite sources - Dr. Ray Guarendi. He is a clinical psychologist, author, public speaker, radio host, and Catholic dad of 10!
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From Hollywood to the Convent
Here is an uplifting article: From the Glitter of Hollywood to the Quiet of a Convent.
Mother Dolores Hart made her debut in Hollywood alongside Elvis Presley in Loving You. Since 1963, she’s inhabited a very different world. She caused a sensation when she became a cloistered nun at the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Conn. Mother Dolores became prioress there in May 2001. She is still a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She recently updated Barbara Middleton on her life in the cloister, where she will be celebrating the feast of St. Benedict July 11...
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July 7, 2005
Doing My Little Part
A person can only take so much bad news before they either get really depressed or really angry. Thankfully Bella just woke up (she's asleep on my lap) and she tightly wrapped her arms around my neck and said. "I love you Mama, but I have to go to bafroom and you forgot my bweakfast." It's time to get to work and do my own little part in making the world a better place and building the Kingdom of Christ through work and prayer.
With that note - that our littleones can teach us so much - I leave with a post from Danielle Bean entitled "Practicing Her Faith".
Gabrielle might be only 2 years old, but the girl knows she is Catholic.When she enters a church, her demeanor becomes suddenly business-like. First things first: she finds the holy water fonts. Then she is systematic in her approach. Every holy water font in the church must be visited, after all. She balances precariously on teetering tiptoes, stretches one arm high above her head, and manages to dip the very tips of her chubby fingers into the water. She then makes an elaborate show of blessing herself, her naked dolly, her little brother, and any other person or object within reach. Then it’s on to the next font...
When the soaking…er, blessing is completed, she commences an elegant procession to the pew. This involves taking three or four steps at a time, pausing for dramatic effect, and then performing an elaborate bow, a curtsy, or a genuflection that lasts for several seconds. She then stands, takes another few steps, and kneels again. In this way, she calls attention to herself…er, recognizes Jesus’ presence in the tabernacle four or five times before we sit down.One recent Sunday morning, as I watched her predictable performance, I reflected on the fact that so far, Gabrielle’s religious devotion is entirely exterior. She makes all the right moves because she copies what she sees, but of course in her 2 year old mind there is little connection between these exterior actions and her relationship with God.
I wondered if perhaps even I do a similar thing. I may not genuflect every couple of paces, but maybe there are some parts of my spiritual life that have become little more than exterior practices, done more out of habit than devotion. For example, when we say grace before meals, do I make the sign of the cross with reverence? During bedtime prayers with the children, do I think about the words we are praying?
Gabrielle is 2 years old. What’s my excuse?
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Just Wrong on So Many Levels
Triplets born 13 years apart.
"The birth of Laina Beasley raises difficult questions about the ethics of keeping embryos frozen for decades."
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July 6, 2005
Marriage Now Just a Sexual Relationship
Catholiceducation.org has posted an excellent article by Fr. Raymond de Souza entitled Marriage Now Just a Sexual Relationship. Take the time to read it.
Posted by bobbi at 8:43 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
FREELANCING 101
This is for anyone who loves to write. I couldn't stop laughing.
by Danielle Bean
Ten Easy Steps to Freelancing Success
1. Agree to a ridiculously short deadline in hopes of impressing Ms. Editor with a first-time assignment at a new magazine.
2. Panic.
3. For three days, suffer heart palpitations and draw a complete mental blank whenever coming within three feet of the computer.
4. The evening before the deadline, wait until husband asks, “Are you coming to bed?” before leaping off the couch and shouting, “What, are you crazy?... I have to work tonight!”
5. Sit at computer and re-arrange desktop icons. Drink a giant glass of Diet Coke. Take a bathroom break. Return to the computer and organize photos of kids at the lake.
6. Wait until husband goes to bed alone. Then, verrrrrry cautiously, with fear and loathing, open Microsoft Word. Sit in wonder at the sheer terror generated by the blank whiteness of a computer screen.
7. Take a deep breath, force eyelids open, and type. Type, and type, and type. Type while everyone else in house sleeps. Type with one hand while holding nursing baby. Type while eating giant bag of pretzels. Type while the cool evening air blows in through screened windows. Type while listening to the distant, comforting call of owls in the nearby woods. Type, and type, and type until….
8. You are done—Yes, done! Check spelling, check word count, read-over twice and smile at your accomplishment. Refuse to look at the clock. Email article to Ms. Editor who is going to be oh-so-impressed with your quick and thorough work.
9. Immediately receive a reply: An automated “Out of Office” reply from Ms. Editor’s office: “Thank you for your email. I will be on vacation for the next two weeks. When I return, I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner.” Stare at message in disbelief.
10. Go to bed. When husband awakens and asks, “How did your article turn out?” mumble “Fabulous” before collapsing on the pillow.
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