The Return of...

I've been gone for a long time.

I'm thinking of returning.  I've been inspired by another Catholic blogger but I won't hold myself to that standard of good writing.

Why return?  I need a hobby from going insane.  The kind of insane that can only be caused by children, daily craziness, and a world which I don't even understand anymore.

Time to buckle up.

Social Media - Not very social at all

Dear friends,

A couple of months ago I realized that my little baby was smiling at me and I was looking at my phone. Since then I’ve been reading and thinking a lot about the social isolation of “social media” and the online persona. I’ve been trying to limit my time in front of the screen – sometimes successfully, sometimes not.


Being online can help our businesses, organizations and keep up in close contact with our families. When does it become a distraction? When does it keep us away from people? When do we use it as an excuse to avoid the social complexities of life?

This video illustrates this issue well and I wanted to share it with you.

First week of Advent...A New Day in the New Liturgical Year.

Today I listened to a song that I just LOVE.

My husband first played this song for me when we were engaged.

Tonight I listened to the words, really TRULY listened with my ears and my heart.

I want to share the song and lyrics because they remind me of the reason for the Advent/Christmas season.

Enjoy.

You Are the New Day - King Singers

You are the new day,
You are the new day.
Meekness, love, humility
Come down to us this day:
Christ, your birth has proved to me
You are the new day.

Quiet in a stall you lie,
Angels watching in the sky
Whisper to you from on high:
“You are the new day.”

When our light is darkest night,
Hope has burned away,
Love, your ray of guiding light,
Show us the new day.

Love of all things great and small,
Leaving none, embracing all,
Fold around me where I fall,
Bring in the new day.

This new day will be a turning point
For every one,
If we let the Christ-child in
And reach for the new day.

Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life,
Healing sadness, ending strife,
You we welcome, Lord of life.
Born on a new day,
You are the new day.

Been a Long Time

Wow - it has been a really, really long time since my last posts. I'm thinking about restarting the blog since my life has changed so much.

My daughter is now 12.

My son is almost 9.

And we have a new baby - and she is almost 7 months.

My journey has changed.

My faith has been a struggle at times, in the last few years, but I'm trying very hard now.

Thanks be to God that I have my constant companion, best friend and husband to help me through navigate rough waters and storms.

I will admit that I have turned to social media for comfort and distraction - something I am working on. I feel as though my blog writing will help me keep my record - without looking to sites to validate or distract me. Only the Lord knows how distracted I am already.

Who knows - maybe I will forget to write more and come and visit my blog in another few years. :)

Sigh...

Here we go...

Four Eyes are Better than Two...

Isabella sat in the chair at the Optometrist and looked so small, her little legs dangling off the large chair.

I watched her take direction from the doctor and she was listening to the instructions so carefully.

Then she wanted to pick out glasses that wouldn’t make her look like a baby. She put them on and looked much older to me. What a lovely and smart little girl, but definitely not a baby.

It is amazing what a pair of glasses did for the both of us.

They helped her to see a world which has been blurry as of late.
They helped me see that she is growing up.

Olympics 2008...

My 6 year old begged us to watch the opening of the Olympics in Beijing.
We sat in front of the television and stared at the pageantry involved in the opening ceremonies.

We marveled at the Chinese children carrying the Chinese flag into the stadium. Well I did until the children handed it off to the soldiers who took it with robotic precision and expressionless faces. This is the China I think of and it makes me sad, deeply sad, to the bottom of my soul.

To me this simple action, children handing the flag to the military represented to me the children that are systematically killed / prevented by the Communist government of China. And I can’t bear to think of all the couples who are forcibly sterilized due to their one child per family laws.

While others may be able to celebrate the Olympics being held in China, I just can’t.
I can’t ignore the genocide just to acknowledge athletes…it is just too heartbreaking.

Politics, Sex and Religion...

I am like a moth to a flame, it never fails...

At any given time I am able to put my foot in my mouth about one of these subjects at a family function, usually on a big holiday. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy having discussions but I truly think the "appropriate-meter" in my brain went kind of haywire years ago.

Politics: Usually I am complaining that I am sick of them. Oh, and by the way, I am! Whether it is the latest Zogby poll, speech or controversial issue up for vote in DC I tend to make my opinion known.

Sex: This one is a fairly safe one for me because, while I am not a prude, I still tend to be respectful of this private topic. Okay, that isn't completely true. When we discuss issues like artificial contraception, oh I get pretty hot around the collar. Oh! And when we discuss that 1 in 4 teenagers has an STD by 14 years - you bet I have an opinion about it. I guess fashion relates to sex these days. After all, clothing companies have decided to dress 14 year olds like vamps and treat parents like morons if we ask a salesgirl for a pair of jeans that aren’t ultra low-rise.

Religion: For my own good I will just say very little about this. I just can’t seem to say the right thing at the right moment. How should one react to another person when their faith is being mocked, abused or slandered? Shall we sit silent when a person is misinformed? Is it better to say nothing and keep peace or be true to our Faith and risk isolating others or unintentionally “offending” those you are conversing with?

Regardless of the topic or time I hear myself talking all while saying in my head “Dear Lord woman…Shut Up!”

The truth is, I blame my children. I have even weaker social skills because I now hang out with the juice box crowd. In addition, my social opportunities are less frequent which sets me up for perfect conditions for being conversationally-challenged.

I will try to stick with some safe topics for my next social outing:

- How to make a fantastic peanut butter and “jolly” sandwich
- Potty training: Why diapers aren’t that bad anyway
- Gender issues: When the gas light is on, how far can you risk it?
- Playing with Barbie Dolls: Innocent fun.

Wait a minute, I have to admit Barbie is much better than those disgusting trashy Bratz dolls but Barbie is no picture of innocence either. I mean seriously, talk about leading Ken on with those ridiculous outfits and wearing even more make-up as the years go by. Doesn’t she know that it will only make boys think about one thing? ….The sad thing is that I have had this discussion when I took my daughter for a playdate. I seriously need to shut up.