St. Charbel Makhlouf

Happy Feast of St. Charbel Makhlouf!

Summer time is really busy for me, with a lecture to present tomorrow.

Perhaps another post this weekend?

While I was working....

While I worked today, the blog passed a milestone.

Visit 10,000!

Time of Visit: Jul 18 2007 9:20:12 am
Visit Length: 0 seconds
Page Views: 1

This is normal for my blog. Most people don't stay for long, and a lot of people use my links as a jumping off point....

Time Zone: UTC+0:00

Visitor's Time: Jul 18 2007 3:20:12 pm
Visit Number: 10,000

Thank you all for visiting this blog. This picture, which was the inspiration for all this nonsense, has come a long way from the day I snapped it in San Antonio.

I am very proud of my little blog, because I have tried to make each and every one of these postings an original work. I especially am proud of the poetry which I have written here, especially the poems dedicated to my beautiful wife.

I suspect that it will take longer than twelve and a half months to reach the 20,000 mark. Work and the responsibilities of husband and father to the Noisykids have put a limit to my free time for blogging.

So Who Are the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne?

Martyred July 17, 1794

I found this information HERE!

They are:


1. Anne-Marie-Madeleine Thouret

2. Anne Petras

3. Marie-Geneviève Meunier

4. Rose-Chrétien de la Neuville

5. Euphrasia of the Immaculate Conception; aka Marie Claude Cyprienne Brard, or Catherine Charlotte Brard; born 1736 at Bourth, and professed in 1757

6. Madeleine-Claudine Ledoine (Mother Teresa of Saint Augustine), prioress, born in Paris, 22 Sept., 1752, professed 16 or 17 May, 1775

7. Marie-Anne Brideau

8. Marie-Anne Piedcourt (Sister of Jesus Crucified), choir-nun, b. 1715, professed 1737; on mounting the scaffold she said "I forgive you as heartily as I wish God to forgive me"

9. Marie-Antoniette or Anne Hanisset (Sister Teresa of the Holy Heart of Mary), b. at Rheims in 1740 or 1742, professed in 1764

10. Marie-Françoise Gabrielle de Croissy (Mother Henriette of Jesus), b. in Paris, 18 June, 1745, professed 22 Feb., 1764, prioress from 1779 to 1785

11. Marie-Gabrielle Trézel (Sister Teresa of Saint Ignatius), choir-nun, b. at Compiègne, 4 April, 1743, professed 12 Dec., 1771



There were also three lay sisters:


12. Angélique Roussel (Sister Mary of the Holy Ghost), lay sister, b. at Fresnes, 4 August, 1742, professed 14 May, 1769


13. Julie or Juliette Vérolot (Sister Saint Francis Xavier), lay sister, b. at Laignes or Lignières, 11 Jan., 1764, professed 12 Jan., 1789


14. Marie Dufour (Sister Saint Martha), lay sister, b. at Beaune, 1 or 2 Oct., 1742, entered the community in 1772



Two 'tourières,' who were not Carmelites at all but servants at the nunnery:


15. Catherine Soiron, born 2 February 1742 at Compiègne


16. Teresa Soiron, born 23 January 1748 at Compiègne both of whom had been in the service of the community since 1772.







Since they had not eaten for a while before their execution, they obtained some chocolate - hot chocolate? - to drink before going to the guillotine. The prioress did not want any of them fainting from hunger.



So, tomorrow I shall have some CHOCOLATE in honor of these women who offered their lives to God to end the Reign of Terror in France.

Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel!

"It is possible while sitting in your workshop stitching leather to
consecrate your heart of God. It is possible...for the person standing over
a pot cooking to make fervent and frequent prayer though it is not possible
to enter a church. For God takes no thought of place. This alone He
requires of us: a mind and soul that loves the things of God."

St. John Chrysostom

Commentary:

This sounds like a lot of St. Josemaria Escriva's writings. It indicates
that one of the recurrent themes of Opus Dei - sanctification through
whatever work one has - is not a new theme in the Church. Instead St.
Josemaria Escriva is repeating a worthwhile lesson to a world that
desperately needs to hear it.

Another Look at the Terror

Book Review:

To Quell the Terror: The Mystery of the Vocation of the Sixteen Carmelites of Compiègne, Guillotined July 17, 1794, by William Bush

Previously reviewed HERE.

July 17, 2007 marks the 213th anniversary of the execution of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Compiègne during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.

I have to agree with a friend's thought, that most saints who wear the martyr's crown did not receive it accidentally. Instead, martyrdom came as the culmination, or completion, of a life committed to the practice of 'death to self.' Saint Maximilian Kolbe is one saint who comes to mind. His volunteering to take the place of a married man who was to be starved to death was characteristic of a priest who had spent his life praying and working for the greater glory of God. The crowns of purity and martyrdom that he chose as a child were well-worn by the time he accompanied his fellow inmates into the cell where they were to be starved to death.

The Carmelite Nuns of Compiègne are a group of martyrs who also practiced 'death to self' as they went about a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The French Revolution and its subsequent Reign of Terror, combined with a prophetic dream of a nun more than a hundred years before, inspired them to make their deaths an offering, or holocaust, to end the Reign of Terror.

William Bush has written a thorough and inspiring book about the Carmelite Nuns. He describes the lives of the nuns at Compiègne (including a short biography of each) as well as describing the events which were taking place outside of the convent. These two stories connect the day that the nuns were ‘liberated’ from their cloister.

The most interesting part of Bush’s book is where he relates a mysterious vision experienced by a nun who lived at Compiègne approximately 100 years before the French Revolution. In the nun’s description of her vision, she told of a group of sisters she had never seen before who were called to ‘follow the Lamb.’ In this case the Lamb is presumably the Lamb of God, or Jesus Christ, and the nuns were to be martyred. This vision influenced the prioress to initiate the cloister’s offering up their lives to end the suffering of the people of France during the Revolution’s Reign of Terror.

William Bush wrote this book to correct the historical inaccuracies that have crept into the story of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne. In particular, Gertrude le Fort’s book The Song at the Scaffold modified a lot of the events that took place during the Reign of Terror. George Bernanos, who wrote The Dialogue of the Carmelites, also romanticized some of the details of the story. The play by Poulenc, Dialogues of the Carmelites also changed the story in order to make a more dramatic opera. All three of these works presented the French Revolution in a romantic, sympathetic light, and that was one of the key things that Bush wanted to correct. The revolution was not a wonderful and liberating change in the history of Man. The people of France suffered tremendously under the new government which wanted to eliminate the influence of the Church in France. Many people – not just religious – lost their lives during the Terror.

This book is not just a history book. Mr. Bush makes some rather pointed comments about Divine Mercy, and how the nuns considered their martyrdom to be an offering accepted by God:

“Their final song at the scaffold…was Psalm 117, Laudate Dominum omnes gentes, which proclaims the mystic truth couched at the heart of the Christian experience of salvation: God’s mercy is at the center of all things, even of being guillotined.

Oh praise the Lord all ye nations!
Praise him all ye people!
FOR HIS MERCY IS CONFIRMED UPON US
And the truth of the Lord remaineth forever!
Praise the Lord!"

Pages 14-15.

This aspect of the book is what touched me the most, and makes this book one which I recommend without reservation. As a latecomer to praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, I was always struck by the last line of the final prayer, which refers to the Will of God as ‘Love and Mercy Itself.’ This prayer, and the final song of the Carmelites, remind me that whatever suffering comes my way should be looked upon as a gift from God – a cross to be accepted as necessary for my salvation.

This quote - and the final prayer of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy - have been a rich source of consolation for me during this past year.

As an aside, the cover of this book shows the opening scene from Poulenc’s opera Dialogues of the Carmelites. It always reminds me of the ordinations I have been to, where the candidates for priesthood start by lying prone on the altar – certainly symbolic of their death to self.

My strongest prescription

For best results, take at least once a day!

Sunday Night Delayed Flight Thoughts

Band of Brothers

I spent the weekend at my brother the priest's parish.

Some thoughts were generated....

One is that weekends are very busy for priests. Father brotherofdadwithnoisykids was in meetings with the Legion of Mary, hearing confessions, and of course celebrating the holy sacrifice of the Mass. On top of this, he had to deal with Mr. High Maintenance Himself, dadwithnoisykids.

His assistant pastor was just as busy, and the seminarian assigned to the parish was assisting both priests.

An other observation is that despite what appeared to be a busy schedule - during ORDINARY TIME - both priests were obviously happy serving Our Lord and His people. There was no complaint about a schedule which stretched longer than mine. These priests, and the seminarian, also maintained a good sense of humor about the events that fill their days. That was the best part of the weekend: hearing these 'alter Christuses' talk about what makes their jobs so fun.

We compared the practice of medicine with that of the priest. Imagine a priest stopping a confession in order to call the other priests - plus any seminarian - so they could take a listen:

Penitent: "Anyway, Father -"
Priest: "Hold that thought.(opening door) HEY FRED! COME AND LISTEN TO THIS!"

Of course it didn't happen.

Visiting my brother fills me with hope for the Church. The example these priests give of men loving Our Lord and serving His flock is tremendous.

Now I have to catch a flight. Motu proprio to you.

July 4th Thoughts

Happy 4th of July.

Today we celebrate our independence.

What are you going to do about it?

First, get rid of your TV. I blogged on this a year ago. Today we celebrate the 12 anniversary of getting rid of ours.

I only wish I had destroyed it rather than given it away.

Another deeper thought:

On July 2, 1999, we lost our first child, whom we named Anastasia Innocent. The icon above is that of St. Anastasia.

Wifeofdadwithnoisykids was about 8 weeks along when she stopped having those nausea-filled days that indicate that another Noisykid is developing normally. An ultrasound confirmed what we feared.

We had a follow-up ultrasound later that week which showed the absence of the 'sac' which had been present a few days earlier. This sac is usually the first sign of a baby growing, and along with some blood tests, everything indicated that we had lost one of our little ones.

Because of constant bleeding, our obstetrician suggested a D & C. We were convinced, based on the ultrasound and the lab results, that our unborn child was dead, so we agreed to go ahead with the procedure.

Knowing our Faith - I had given him a copy of Humanae Vitae and both of us had explained the Church's teaching about abortion and contraception to him - he offered to have a priest present to 'do whatever could be done for us.'

I assumed he meant baptize the baby. We had already blessed my wife's belly, and earlier that day we conditionally baptized what turned out to be just a blood clot. I told him that no, it is obvious our baby is already dead, and so nothing more could be done for her.

Maybe it is wishful thinking, but we already thought of this child as a girl.

It was then that it hit me that I could not do anything more for this child. Unlike all my other children, this one had slipped away, unable to be held or caressed, or protected. This painful realization and the sorrow that accompanied it were too much to bear, and I recall crying like a baby.

Somehow I pulled myself together, and while my wife was in the operating room I went down to the hospital chapel. This was at the military hospital I was stationed at, and the chapel had a separate room for reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. I spent some time in prayer, then went to the gift shop and bought my wife a single yellow rose. I went to my office and waited.

My partner who anesthetized Wifeofdadwithnoisykids came to get me. He said very gently, "I think [she] needs you now." In the midst of her tears, my wife thanked my partner, and told him that she had offered up her suffering for him and his wife, since they were trying to have a baby at that time.

We have not forgotten our little lost Noisykid. We still have parts of that yellow rose, pressed into a picture frame along with her name. She is remembered at the Church of the Holy Innocents. We mention her name during Night Prayers when we ask God to bless each member of our family by name.

I think about her whenever I hear the song 'San Antonio Rose:'

"Moon in all your splendor,
know only my heart.
Call back my Rose,
Rose of San Antone."

But for us there is no calling her back.

For us this was a firm reminder that God truly is the Author of Life, and that even a couple who have had 8 healthy children are not guaranteed that children will just keep coming. We have tried to not take this gift God has given us for granted.

Three years later, we had another scare which landed us in the emergency room. This time, the ultrasound not only showed a little sac, but when color was added to the picture, we saw the beating heart of another little Noisykid. That Noisykid is the one who went on to inspire me to take the pseudonym 'dadwithnoisykids.'

Today, We Celebrate God's Blessing

On July 1, 1989, 'Herself' and 'Annoying' were joined in Holy Matrimony in front of friends, family, and the Roman Catholic Church.

The blessings that God has showered upon us are sometimes overwhelming when we stop and think about all that we have received.

The greatest gift we have received from God are the 12 living - and one deceased - children we have been given for this short time on earth. We pray that they become Saints, knowing, loving, and serving God in whatever vocation they are called to.

Another tremendous blessing for me is the friendship of such a wonderful woman, one who strives to love God more each day. I believe it is because of her love for God that she finds the grace and strength to love me and to live with me.


After changing out of their wedding clothes, and honeymooning in Northern Michigan - here they are by a lighthouse - the happy couple lived in Michigan for 7 years before gettting to Texas as fast as they could.


While I never stopped being 'Annoying,' the name Dadwithnoisykids is the name I prefer to use, as it reminds me of my vocation. 'Herself' became Wifeofdadwithnoisykids for the same reason.

Milestones Coming Up....

Tomorrow marks the 1st anniversary of this blog.

But never mind about that.

July 1, 2007 marks our 18th Wedding Anniversary!


And here is a picture from our past, back when she was Herself and I was Annoying. This is 1985, when we were 17 and 21, respectively. Notice the geeky pen in my pocket and my immature behavior. This was the beginning of Herself's many trials, first as friend of Annoying, later as Wifeofdadwithnoisykids.

More pictures to follow on July 1st.

I thank God every day, many times a day, for the blessings I have received married to such a wonderful woman.

Haiku for my wife

I will always run
off the road looking at your
beautiful brown eyes

2005.03.13

Music Meme

There are two "ME's" in the word MEME.



Anyway, Raulito tagged me for a music meme:



Top 5 Latin Hymns:



Pange Lingua - always reminds me of Fr. Robert Hugh Benson's book Lord of the World

O Salutaris Hostia

O Sanctissima

Schubert's Ave Maria

Regina Caeli

Ubi caritas



Top 5 English Hymns:



Immaculate Mary

The Magnificat - written by Rev. John Schiavone and sung by Sue Ann Pinner

Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above

The king of love my shepherd is

Hark the Herald Angels Sing



For Lenten meditation:



Henryk Gorecki's Symphony 3, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs






Then there is this:

Book Review: More Bad Things Happening in Boats

The Endurance, stuck in the ice:

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Journey

by Alfred Lansing


I first heard about Ernest Shackleton on William Bennett’s talk radio program when he read this famous quote about Shackleton:

"For scientific leadership, give me Scott, for swift and efficient travel give me Amundsen. But when you are in a hopeless situation, when you are seeing no way out, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton. Incomparable in adversity, he was the miracle worker who would save your life against all the odds and long after your number was up. The greatest leader that ever came on God's earth, bar none."

- Sir Raymond Priestley, a member of the 1907-09 Nimrod Expedition.

I chose to read about Shackleton because the world needs heroes of every kind and in every land – especially in the Church – and any man who inspires such praise may teach one something. Shackleton failed to reach his goal; but in the process of getting his colleagues and himself back to safety, he overcame tremendous obstacles.

Summary:

On December 5, 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton set off from a tiny island in the South Atlantic called South Georgia Island on an expedition to travel across the South Pole. His expedition consisted of two groups; one which headed from South America to the South Pole, and one which originated in New Zealand. Mr. Lansing’s book only covered the events that transpired on the group from South America, which included Shackleton.

The general plan was to sail as close as possible to the South Pole and then start heading over land and ice across Antarctica and meet up with the other team on the far side. On the way, the group would conduct scientific observations and collect specimens.

His plan went terribly wrong. Before the expedition could land on Antarctica, the ship was gradually surrounded by ice while sailing in a body of water known as the Wedell Sea. By January, 1915 it was held fast by a dense pack of ice. Over time the ice in the Wedell Sea would move in a Northwesterly direction, where it would eventually break apart into open water. Shackleton settled in to wait for the ice to eventually release the ship.

Shackleton's Route - note the dates:

Instead, the ship was slowly crushed by the ice as it exerted tremendous pressure against the ship. This process took several days, so most of the supplies were gotten off the ship before it was destroyed. One of the most important items retrieved from the ship were the lifeboats, which would be needed when the ice pack brought them to the open sea. The time between entrapment and abandoning ship was 9 months: January to October, 1915.

The expedition moved a couple of miles from the Endurance and set up camp. As the ice moved closer to the open water, the ice floes began to break apart. Eventually – in April, 1916 after being stuck in the ice for more than a year, Shackleton’s party had to abandon the ice and set sail for several islands which stretch toward the tip of South America. Consider that these men were sailing in lifeboats, with only basic navigational aids. This part of the trip was hard for the men, as they could not decide which island to land on.

They eventually land on Elephant Island – more than 800 miles from South Georgia Island, their starting point. That distance stretches across some of the roughest seas in the world, and the risk of losing men in the journey was too great to make it with all three boats. Shackleton decided to make the trip in one boat with a small crew, and send a rescue party for the men he would have to leave behind.

The Drake Passage, as the sea between South America and Antarctica is called, is part of a current of water that circles the Antarctic, keeping warmer water from reaching the frozen continent. This current, aptly name the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, has no land mass to slow it down, so it can be quite strong. This current, along with the prevailing West winds, make rounding Cape Horn challenging, and the inspiration for the saying, "Below 40 degrees, there is no law. Below 50 degrees, there is no God."

Launching the rowboat Caird for the 800 mile final leg. Surf's up!

Shackleton left Elephant Island on April 24, 1916, and spent the next two weeks sailing to South Georgia Island. They almost foundered several times; once a huge wave struck their boat nearly filling it with water. Landing on the west side of the island, Shackleton had to walk across the barren, mountainous island to reach the settlement on the other side.

After reaching safety, Shackleton hired a ship to rescue the group that was left on Elephant Island, an ordeal that took more than three months to accomplish.

Discussion

Shackleton’s adventure is a metaphor for real life: bad things happen, events spin out of control, we get sidelined, and we spend hours in self-doubt, not sure of our future and second-guessing our decisions. Challenges that seem impossible loom before us, and when they are defeated, they are replaced by even greater trials.

Large carnivorous animals sometimes try to bite us. This is a leopard seal - they attacked some of the explorers!

All of these things happen to everybody, not just Antarctic explorers. But just like the men in this book, we usually have to stand and face whatever trials come our way. How we deal with our trials will determine more than just the ‘end result’ of our lives. For example, Shackleton’s expedition was a complete failure until one considers that he led his whole group out of the Antarctic without losing one man.

It reminds me of a reading at Mass recently, from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans:

“Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,

knowing that affliction produces endurance,

and endurance, proven character,

and proven character, hope,

and hope does not disappoint,

because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts

through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us”

Romans 5:3-5

The trials we face today, even when we fail, can strengthen and prepare us for even more hardships that are sure to find us.

I would not say that Shackleton was a saint. In looking up information on him, I read some things about him that were not so admirable. In addition, the whole reason for his expedition is, in my opinion, was for earthly fame and fortune rather than for scientific advancement or the greater glory of God. But looking beyond his faults, and reading Alfred Lansing’s book, gives one a good example of fortitude and resourcefulness.

I recommend this book without reservation.

One question should still bother you about this review: what did they eat?

Gifts of Love

This is what I got for Father's Day:

1. One homemade Rosary, made from beads of other Rosaries.

2. A dollar bill.

3. A pin with a bird flying on it; similar to the Holy Spirit.

4. A bag of Coca-Cola gummi bottles - YUM!

5. Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons

6. Good Discipline Great Teens by Ray Guarendi

7. Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI

8. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

That is my baby girl reaching for the Rosary.

These were from my wife and children; full of love for an undeserving man.

Looks as if I better get back to reading....

Random Thoughts

Courtship

We went to a wedding yesterday, one where we LOST OUR BABYSITTER! The young woman who has watched our children(when both parents have to be away) got married. I am happy for her and for her husband, but she will be sorely missed.

This is the second daughter in this family to marry, and I can't help but notice something extraordinary about the father of the bride: I have never been to any other wedding(my own included) where the father of the bride looked so happy to be giving his daughter away in marriage. Now I have witnessed this man, this friend of mine, TWICE, with such a look of peace and joy as he witnesses his daughters going off to live their vocations.

After talking to him and his wife a couple times, I think I have the answer. Their daughters were courted; they did not date. We have some other friends who are doing this, and I spent a long time quizzing another friend about the details of courting.





Another key part of courting is that the young couple do not participate in 'public displays of affection' until after they are married.





The more I hear about courting,the more I like it. As one man said - and I agree with him - dating is not a good road to travel down. I recall one woman at a home schooling conference referred to it as 'practicing for divorce.' Sounds like an accurate description to me!





Several thoughts:





1. Courting gives the father an opportunity to turn away youngsters whom he knows would be no good for his daughter. Boys with no job prospects, no manners, no FAITH, etc. would be turned away before wasting the young woman's time. Boys who don't want to marry would also peel off after realizing what the end result of courtship would be.





2. Courting, and avoiding kissing, etc., would save both the young woman and man for their intended. The parents we spoke with use a 'courting couch' in public view(and little siblings for spies) as well as chaperones when the couple go out for an evening. A large family, with lots of little siblings, helps here.





3. Courting takes time. One man told me he thinks the couple should court for a year, so that they can experience some of the highs and lows that happen in married life. He told me about a young man who had problems at his job; it was good for the young woman to see how well her fiance handled work stress.





In his book Illustrissimi, Pope John Paul I referred to purity as the 'nobility of youth,' and that is what I wish to give to my children as they grow up and prepare to make their own ways in the world.





This is a subject which is very close to my heart and will require more prayer and thought as I watch my oldest child prepare to finish high school.





HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!





To all fathers, living and deceased, both biological and spiritual fathers, God bless you all.





I shall begin a novena in honor of St. Joseph tonight for all fathers, especially those who are close to dadwithnoisykids.

Gardening

We planted another row of vegetables: green beans, yellow squash, and cucumbers. It was a drizzly day with intermittent breaks in the clouds which allowed the sun to shine down on our little slice of Texas. That is, until we started turning over the soil, at which time the clouds burst asunder and unleashed a torrent of rain upon us. After hastily planting all the seedlings in what was fast becoming a mudbowl, we were soaked to the skin. After putting all the shovels and pitchforks in the shed we started for the house - just in time for the rain to stop and for the sun to come out again.

The whole time I was getting drenched, I wondered what it would be like to be in a boat on the high seas, with no warm home to to go to - like THESE guys experienced. Presently I am writing another book review about 'bad things that happen to good people in little boats.'

Happy Birthday, Noisykid #7!

Today we celebrate the birth of Noisykid #7!

Interesting facts about #7:

1. First Texas baby.
2. First Air Force Brat - although she is certainly NOT a brat!
3. Largest baby at 11 pounds, 4 ounces.
4. Only baby born on her due date; hence, the large size.
5. A joy and a blessing to her parents and her siblings
6. Ten years old today; we wish her many happy returns of the day.

UPDATE!!!!

MY WIFE POINTED OUT MORE INTERESTING FACTS:

7. Born on the Feast of St. Anthony
8. Born in San Antonio, Texas

An Informative Lecture

I asked a friend for information on raising chickens, and this is what he sent me:




Makes sense to me!

It reminds me of many lectures, presentations at meetings, and sermons.

Photograph From Last Week

This is a photograph of a foot of the little baby I blogged about HERE; the one who lived long enough to be baptized, held by her parents, and then died a little over an hour after being born. Click on the picture to see a larger image.

I thank God for my friends who brought this little child into this world and provided for her transition to the next world.

Notice to Seminarians/Religious

Rejoice!

Right now we are experiencing a rather sad time for various reasons that I
shall not discuss. But be assured that we are offering up our sufferings
for your intentions and for more men and women to answer the call to the
priesthood or religious life.

So smile and know that somewhere I am in a traffic jam, offering up the
fact that people don't automatically get out of my way when they see me
coming up behind them.

On a less serious note:

Last night, as we started Night Prayers with the examination of
conscience, my wife asked me to give a little more time before praying an
act of contrition. It appears that she likes more time for her examen. I
told her that when I feel I am drifting off to sleep I have to start
praying the act of contrition. There have been times in the past where
she has had to wake me up from my 'examination of conscience.'

One of the Greatest Gifts Parents Can Give...

...to their children:


Thanks to Domenico Bettinelli.

And I don't mean the candy bar!

Meme about my Wife

Inquiring minds want to know about Wifeofdadwithnoisykids.

So here goes. 8 interesting things about Wifeofdadwithnoisykids:

First, when I was proposed to he said ,well pounding the steering wheel in the middle of an argument ," Damn it women you make me crazy, Will you marry me?"

Second. when I was 9 years old, a stop sign fell on my head.

Third, I have a younger sister who is single, beautiful, fun loving, and looking for a GOOD CATHOLIC TEXAS HUSBAND who can afford her love for the finer things in life.

Fourth, when I was young I always wanted to marry and have 12 children.

Fifth, now at 39, I pray the Good Lord will see past my limited vision and bless us with more children! This really should be number one on my list.

Sixth, I live on 12 acres in the home my husband and I had designed and built for our large growing family, God willing.

Seventh, This is the ONE and ONLY blog entry you will ever see by Wifeofdadwithnoisykids. This entry is a little gift for Jackie Parkes MJ :)

Eighth, I'm married to Dadwithnoisykids!

P.S. Jackie I did my best. I had so much trouble coming up with anything. Hope you enjoy!

Joy and Sorrow in the Mystical Body of Christ

Storm clouds over DeSoto, Texas. 0830 a.m. June 3, 2007.

There are certain things which occur in life which cannot be blogged; they are too intense or personal to be shared with you, the reader. Despite this, I shall make an attempt to describe some of the events of this past weekend.

This past week has been one emotional moment following another. But along with all the pain and sorrow, lack of sleep, tears, laughter, and joy, there has been an overwhelming sense of being covered, or rather drenched by the grace of God.

Beginning of Eternal Life

Friday we became godparents for a little baby girl. We were honored to be asked, and we promised we would pray for her for the rest of our lives – even afterwards, actually. While we made our promise to assist in the raising of this little girl in the Faith, it was good to recall what we are obligated to do for our own children.

Little did I know that another couple would have to fulfill the most important obligation to their newborn daughter the next day.

This is only a TEST

On Saturday my oldest son, Histor the Wise, took his SAT test. While he did not appear nervous, I had butterflies in my stomach as I drove him to the local high school. I was especially nervous because our children are home schooled, and they are not used to taking multiple choice tests. So I fretted until I dropped him off, and I had to fight the urge to stay with him – even though I knew I would not be allowed into the testing center. Ultimately I had to leave him, to let him find his own way into the building and to experience the first of many formal exams. This is not the first time I have had to let our children go, but it is one of the milestones which reminds me how much they are growing and are soon to make their own ways in the world.

When I picked him up at the end of the test, he said, “I was well prepared.” I hope and pray that we are preparing our children just as well for all the other challenges that they will face in life, especially the spiritual challenges.


Beginning of Eternal Life, Again

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to hold a Saint.

A friend of ours gave birth a very special and beautiful child. This child had been diagnosed with a lethal condition by prenatal ultrasound. Multiple follow-up exams confirmed that the child had a serious condition, and various experts were consulted in the management of the pregnancy. Throughout this, our friends refused to consider aborting this baby. Instead, they prayed that the baby would be born healthy, and if that were not possible, that she would live long enough to receive the waters of baptism.

God is merciful and generous beyond our dreams. Our friends’ youngest child was born and did have the medical condition seen on ultrasound. Her time on this earth was short, but was culminated by the answer to so many prayers; she was baptized by her father, then held by her parents for the minutes she remained alive. Her siblings arrived shortly after she died, and were able to hold her and look upon her. One of them said, “she is beautiful – let’s take her home.” God took her home instead, and she is now among the saints.

That evening, my wife and I were asked to come up and visit with the couple and their new saint. We therefore had the honor of holding the body of a child who lived for such a short time, but lived as an example of the sanctity of life regardless of any handicap or defect. The parents of this child wished for her what we all wish for all of our children: that they become saints. We thank God for allowing her to live to be baptized, and ask for the prayers for the mother, father, brothers, and sisters of this new saint as they mourn the loss of their little baby.

This blog has been painful to write, and thinking of the sorrowful parts of this weekend fills my heart with sadness. But this sorrow comes with a joyful awareness how much we are truly members of the Mystical Body of Christ. That phrase is not just a sentimental buzz word or slogan. No. We all share in the joys and sufferings of our brothers and sisters, and in our case, two families blessed us by letting us come close to them in one of the most intimate aspects of their lives: the raising of children. The realization of this is so powerful that it is difficult for me to put it into words. Is it any wonder that my weekend blogs consisted of such silly nonsense?

It is my prayer that, like Histor the Wise said after the SAT test, all of our children will say at the end of their lives, “I was well prepared for my life.” Along with that, I hope and pray that we all take the example of our friends, who prayed for their child unceasingly, and when action was needed for the benefit of her eternal soul, and by the grace of God, did the right thing to secure for her life everlasting

SQUIRREL STRIKE REPORT

THIS IS AN OFFICIAL REPORT OF A SQUIRREL STRIKE

APPROXIMATELY 0803 ON JUNE 3 2007

EASTBOUND UPON EXITING PROPERTY ON XXXXXXXXXX STREET IN MIDLOTHIAN TEXAS

WEATHER OVERCAST WITH VISBILITY CEILING OF 1500 FEET AND 65 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURE

VEHICLE FORD 5 PERSON EXPLORER NOVEMBER VICTOR DELTA WITH V-6 ENGINE

OWNER OPERATED

SPEED APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR

DRIVER INITIATING ACCELERATION PROFILE AFTER LEAVING RESIDENCY

DRIVER NOTED MULTIPLE SQUIRRELS ENGAGED IN RANDOM PATTERN OF EVASION WITH ONE BREAKING SOUTHEAST INTO PATH OF NOVEMBER VICTOR DELTA

NOTED SQUIRREL AT APPROXIMATELY 10 YARDS OUT FROM COLLISION

NO EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN DUE TO ROAD SIZE

DRIVER INDICATES THAT SQUIRREL MOVED OUT OF VISUAL FIELD OF OWNER AT WHICH POINT DRIVER FELT A VARIATION IN ROAD SURFACE UNDER THE FRONT AND BACK RIGHT TIRES

SQUIRREL APPEARED TO HAVE SUSTAINED LETHAL INJURIES AS OBSERVED IN REAR VIEW MIRROR

NO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE

UNABLE TO INSPECT NOVEMBER VICTOR DELTA FOR DAMAGE AT COMPLETION OF MISSION DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

THIS REPORT HAS BEEN GENERATED AS A SAFETY MESSAGE TO ALL WHO MAY BE DRIVING EXPLORERS

THIS IS THE FIRST SQUIRREL STRIKE FOR THE VEHICLE NOVEMBER VICTOR DELTA

THERE WERE 2 REPORTED SQUIRREL STRIKES FOR THE VAN SIXTY ONE PAPA BIG BLUE MIRACLE

THERE WERE 0 REPORTED BIRD STRIKES WITH THE VAN YANKEE HOTEL JOLIET GREAT WHITE

WE WILL CONTINUE MONITORING THESE INCIDENTS

DAD WITH NOISY KIDS

Peaceful Protest by Aquatic Animals

I returned from an errand this afternoon and found these aquatic animals protesting the video which I put on my blog on this day.

This group calls itself S.Q.U.I.D.,

SOCIETY

QUELLING

UNDERWATER

INTENTIONAL

DEFAMATION

They were insulted by the video which shows a manatee running nose-first into a window in an aquarium, followed by malicious laughter by the human observers.

Their spokesman, Ekyu Manatee, decried the exploitation of aquatic beings for the entertainment of human beings.

"For trillions of years, human beings have exploited my aquatic brothers and sisters in aquariums everywhere. It is just another example of the Vatican conspiracies."

Ekyu Manatee, spokesmanatee

I have been ordered to take time to attend sensitivity training classes, as well as listen to John Denver songs incessantly, and memorize the poem 'Whales Weep Not' by D.H. Lawrence.

I refused, so I may be banned from the blogosphere.

Prayers, Please

Please remember SEVERAL people who are experiencing a bit of suffering in
their lives.

It appears that Our Lord is bestowing upon us a boatload of grace and
blessings, but they are coming with sorrow and pain on this earth.

Thank you. Blogging has taken back seat in this great roller coaster we
call LIFE.