Un Attached Society

Number One Son and Hubby went to a Cub Scout overnight at the Dallas Zoo yesterday. Number One Daughter and Number Two Son and I went to the Austin Zoo, a rescue Zoo about 15 minutes from our house on most days. There was something going on with small imported cars at the CapMetro commuter lot, so it took us much longer to get there than usual. The Zoo trip is always fun for the kids and a big workout for me. The Hill Country terrain is rough no matter what kind of stroller you are pushing. When we were riding the train a large birthday party group got on. The little boy in front of us was about Number One Son's age, maybe 6 or 7. He wanted to be away from his mother and that seemed okay with her. I found this very strange. All of our children want to be with us. Isn't that the way is is supposed to be? Has society trained children from an early age (with daycare and school) that you shouldn't want to be with your parents. The way I read it, children aren't supposed to leave their parent until they get married. Our hope and prayers are that our children will want to be with us and that we will remain a close family forever to eternity.

The Aduacity of Obama

Whether is is conscious or not, Mr. Obama is attacking the Catholic Church. In the same week he meets with the head of the U.S.C.C.B. and is cautioned/warned/educated on the evils of fetal (murdered baby)stem cell research, forcing health care workers to participate in evil or lose their jobs and the dire consequences of FOCA. President Obama accepts an invitation or invites himself (will we ever know?) to speak at Our Lady's namesake university in the United States, Notre Dame. I can not think of any man who blatantly mocks OUR church more than President Obama. He surrounds himself with fringe Catholics. Does he really think that he is above what is morally right? Our fervent prayers will continue so he will see the fullness of truth. It is my most sincere prayer, that Catholic will be so outraged by this that he is uninvited. I was happy to see that many people are as upset as myself. There is a petition that will be presented to the President of Notre Dame. This is simply Unbelievable! How does this look to the rest of the world? I am so disappointed in many of my fellow Americans. I love my country, but my heart aches for what is happening in the first months of the current administration.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Breaking News: Catholic Notre Dame University to Give Obama Honorary Degree
By Kathleen Gilbert
3/20/2009
LifeSiteNews (www.lifesitenews.com)


NOTRE DAME, Indiana (LifeSiteNews.com) - White House Secretary Robert Gibbs
stated today that Obama will give the commencement address at Notre Dame
University this year. The school confirmed the announcement, stating on its
website that Obama will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the
University's 164th University Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. May 17 in the
Joyce Center on campus.

In 2004, the United States of Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a
policy statement called "Catholics in Political Life," which says, with
reference to pro-abortion politicians, "They should not be given awards, honors
or platforms which would suggest support for their actions."

President Obama has been called the "abortion president" by pro-life activists,
and his appearance at the university would appear to violate the USCCB's policy
against honoring pro-abortion politicians.

One alumnus from the university has already expressed his displeasure in an open
letter sent today to the president of Notre Dame, Rev. John Jenkins.

William Newton, a D.C. area attorney, wrote, "As an alumnus of Notre Dame Law
School, I am deeply offended that you would invite President Barack Obama to
speak at Commencement this year."

Newton then lists the numerous pro-abortion decisions that Obama has made since
assuming the office of the presidency. "This is the person that you feel is
worthy to address the students and faculty of Notre Dame, in the shadow of Our
Lady atop the Golden Dome, with the spires of the Basilica in the background?"
writes Newton.

"Father Sorin must be wringing his hands in heaven, that his successor would
approve this disgrace. Shame on Notre Dame for choosing to scandalize the
faithful who continue to support the Catholic identity and mission of the
University."

Conservative commentator Kathryn Jean Lopez said on The Corner that the
arrangement was "shameful."

"Last week the president of the United States perpetrated an assault on human
dignity. No statements or press releases will undo what Notre Dame's position in
the eyes of the world is in response: 'Doesn't matter,'" wrote Lopez. "We've got
THE ONE. So much for the One the school's namesake gave birth to."

"I've been optimistic that the radicalism of this administration on life could
be a real catalyst for renewal in many churches. At Notre Dame, the
administration there just made a choice. They took a giant step away from their
identity as 'Catholic.' They [sic] rather be of this world than the one they
supposedly exist to bring people toward."

Notre Dame is among the most prestigious Catholic universities in America. The
school's Center for Ethics and Culture recently established a pro-life fund in
an effort to bolster Notre Dame's pro-life identity.

To contact Notre Dame:
Phone: (574) 631-5000
email form: http://president.nd.edu/contact-us

Notre Dame Fellows:
Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., President, U. of Portland
(503) 943-7101

Patrick F. McCartan, Senior partner, Jones Day
(216) 586-7272


William M. Goodyear, CEO, Navigant Consulting
main: (312) 583-5700

list of all Notre Dame Fellows: www.nd.edu/leadership/fellows

To contact the USCCB:

Cardinal Francis George, President
Archdiocese of Chicago
phone: 312-751- 8200


Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Chairman, Committee on Education
Diocese of Worcester
phone: 508-791-7171


To contact Notre Dame's bishop:
Bishop John D'Arcy, Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese
Fort Wayne Chancery
phone: (260) 422-4611

St. Patrick's Beans

The kids love theses beans. They have molasses and brown sugar in them which is probably why. We've renamed Boston Baked Beans, St. Patrick's Beans, my recipe varies a bit from the original to eliminate food allergens. It is vegetarian, nightshade free, casein and gluten free. We serve this with boiled cabbage and turnips. I've also made Irish Soda bread, but the kids can't have it and us not having it is a sacrifice. I use a Crock Pot and don't soak the beans. I was one of those folks who used to get fussy about non-Irish celebrating a wonderful saint by partying until they puked, but now I'm happy to sigh a petition to make St. Patrick's Day a national holiday, even if it is sponsored by a beer company. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a Catholic Saint was honored with a national holiday? I think of a wonderful opportunity to evangelize Christians and non-Christians world wide about this wonderful Catholic, not just Christian, saint.

1 pound dry Navy Beans (Great Northern will work, but we like Navy better)
1 onion chopped
1/2 cup molasses (we like Grandma's Molasses best, blackstrap is too strong)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard


1/2 tablespoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Rinse a pick the stones out of the beans, put in a crock pot with the chopped onion, molasses, brown sugar and dry mustard. DO NOT ADD THE SALT. Cover with water and cook on high for 4-6 hours. Avoid taking the lid off the pot or stirring too much. If you need to add more water, make sure it is boiling hot. When the beans are tender, add the salt and pepper and serve.

Happy 2 Number Two Son!

Our house, and especially our kitchen, is rarely clean. Two years ago, it was my mother-in-law's birthday and they were on their way to our house to celebrate. Hubby was cleaning and decorating, I was could not be much help. The kids and I went next door and walked the Stations of the Cross, came home and had a birthday party for Grandma. I had an appointment for an amniotomy the next day. Number One Daughter had come so quickly, that our doctor was afraid I might not make it to the hospital for Number Two Son. I went into labor that night, so Hubby and I headed to the hospital a several hours before our check-in time. Number Two Son was born the next morning, leave it up to my boys to keep me up all night! I was so tired, I guess I still am. Last year and last night, the day before his birthday, we have gone and walked the stations of the cross. I hope that we can keep doing it, it is a nice tradition. Today, Number Two Son happily put on the "birthday shirt" and took pictures. Hubby and I got matching shirt/dress on our Jamaican honeymoon and we take the kids pictures wearing them each year on their birthday. One of these days, I'll get organized and put them together in a scrapbook. Today we will have coconut cupcakes with chocolate covered blueberries and on Tuesday we will have ice cream with our Field Trip Friends. As the years go by, I am finding it harder to plan birthday celebrations. We have so much stuff, I want to teach my kids not to be greedy, we never have extra money and, did I mention, I am tired? Our Little One is happy with his birthday toys and loves coconut cake and blueberries. What more can a two year old ask for? Every time anyone sings, "Happy Birthday" he smiles and sings along, so we do it on a regular basis.

Obedience

Okay, I get it now:
Abstinence = Obedience
Not eating meat is simply an act of obedience. I knew from Hubby's RCIA class and sponsoring a couple of ladies the next year about the tradition of giving up meat. The rich ate meat, the poor ate fish and had meat for celebrations. It is possible that the poor might not have had food to eat at all if they had not eaten fish or other sea creatures. Lent is a time of sacrifice, so it would make sense not to eat meat, but it is still my opinion that eating very expensive fish, etc... for a Friday Lenten meal is disingenuous.

Children's Holy Hour

Last year I read a post somewhere about a homeschool group that offers Children's Adoration, I also saw information about Children of the Eucharist. When Hubby's summer school money came in, I purchased the materials. We are in a difficult situation. I work every Friday night and the two church's that offer Adoration for Children are on Friday. After chatting with park day friends,praying about it and e-mails exchanged, I met with the pastor of the Church Down the Street. He was so kind and understanding and offered to host a Holy Hour for us. He was very matter-of-fact about my (our) challenges with having more than one child and wanting to expose them to learning, but needing to take care of the smaller ones. Moms are also in the same situation that I am. We don't carve out time to be alone with Jesus. I would like to visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament more often than I do. We live next door to a 24 hour adoration chapel. With our work schedules, homeschooling and all the time I spend in the kitchen, it is hard to get time for myself without feeling guilty for leaving the kids with Hubby who has worked a long day with middle school students. We had our second Holy Hour yesterday. I am so glad that we are doing this. I am feeling differently than I thought I might. I am suffering more than feeling Peace, but I will gladly accept the stress so that the children will know that, no matter what, Jesus is there for them and they can ALWAYS talk to Jesus. The experience is not a well oiled machine, and I don't know that it ever will be. Number One Daughter and Number Two Son were running around and playing with the organ (thankfully not plugged in). I really wanted to just be there and not be in charge or responsible for anything, but Jesus had another plan. After our first Holy Hour, we found out that Fr. Joe will be leaving in June to go to Chile. We don't know what will happen when the new Pastor comes, but if we are organized and helpful, hopefully this special opportunity will continue.

Swallowtail Soup

The two older kids and Hubby went to the Farmer's Market on Saturday and came back with some seasonal veggies and fresh dill. I used to make a vegetarian Borscht, but haven't made it in a long time because it's main ingredients: potatoes, tomatoes and beets are on the "Not Allowed" list for some or most of us. I thought about it and went to HEB and bought some additional veggies and this is what I came up with. It was very tasty and has gotten better each day. The substitution of sweet potatoes does a good job replacing the beets and I didn't miss the tomatoes. We decided to call it Swallowtail Soup because we have never been able to grow dill at home for more than a few weeks because the Swallowtail butterflies come and eat it up!

Number One Daughter has been wanting to help in the kitchen, so I cut up all the veggies and we put them in a plastic bowl which she then passed on to Hubby who put them in the pot. We are so very blessed that the kids all loved this soup, asked for seconds and ate it as leftovers.

1 small onion or 2 golf ball sized green onions (tops included)(chopped)
1 shallot (chopped)
3 ribs celery (chopped)
4 carrots (peeled and chopped)
2 bay leaves
4 sweet potatoes(peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch cubes)
1 head cabbage (chopped)
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill (dried won't work)
2 cans black beans
Sour Cream for garnish
Water
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper

This requires a very large soup or stock pot. Add about a quart of water into the pot with the onions, shallot, bay leaves, celery and carrots, boil for about 10 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and more water to cover, cook for another 10 minutes. Add the cabbage, black beans and dill and possibly more water to cover, and cook until the cabbage has wilted, about 10-15 minutes after it returns to a boil. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

This is a good non-meat meal for Lent. We have been eating on ours for three days. We used our biggest snap on lid container to store it. I'm sure that most families would eat this with a starch (we used to eat Pumpernickel/Swiss grilled cheese with Borscht, before food allergies) and maybe a salad.