Life Affirming Movies

Our family celebrates Sundays with mass, a special lunch, dessert, and family movie or game night.  Since we have four young children, we only watch movies that we feel are appropriate.  If the movies teach life lessons in addition to being entertaining, that's a win!  

I will add the disclaimer, that we watch all movies through our ClearPlay DVD player, so scenes with inappropriate content (language, sex, violence, etc.) are filtered out.

Here is a list of movies that we have found to be life-affirming and appropriate for families of all ages:

Bella
So much has been written about Bella that I feel that my words will not do it justice.  Please click the links below to learn more about this incredible movie:

Roger Ebert's review of Bella 
Steven Greydanus' review from the National Catholic Register

Plus, Eduardo Verastegui's testimony is incredible!




October Baby
October Baby is the story of a young woman who, after a health crisis, learns that she was adopted after surviving an attempted abortion.  This movie chronicles her emotional journey toward acceptance of her past and forgiveness.  It's an outstanding testament to unconditional love.

When the movie is over, please do not turn off the TV.  The story that follows is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes.




Robots
Yes, I said Robots.  The basic plot of the movie is that a slick, flashy robot named Ratchet takes over the largest company in Robot City and changes its slogan from "You can shine, no matter what you're made of" to "Why be you when you can be new?"  He then proceeds to hunt down and destroy all the "outmodes," which are older and/or obsolete robots.  Ratchet orders his company to stop making replacement parts for these "outmodes" and focuses solely on upgrades.  With the help of his new friends, loveable hero Rodney Copperbottom uses his talents as an up-and-coming robot inventor/engineer to help repair the local outmodes.  When his deeds are discovered by Ratchet, a fight to save the lives of the outmodes ensues.

This movie is an interesting study on the value of life and would be a good jumping-off point to teach your kids about the dignity of the old and infirm and the right to life until natural death.  It's also sweet to see how much Rodney's parents wanted a child and the love between the robot family is very sweet.  I'm actually surprised that more people haven't caught on to the pro-life themes of this movie.

My one criticism of this movie is the potty humor.  There are some double-entendres, but they go right over my kids' heads.

Lenten Soup Supper - Potato Cheese Soup

serves 4-6

Ingredients
4 cups cubed potatoes
4 cups vegetable broth (I like to use Better than Bouillion)
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped leek (light green part only)
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1.  Combine potatoes, broth, celery, and leeks in a large saucepan.  Stir in seasoned salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.

2.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, until potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes).  Puree mixture in a blender, then return to pan.  (or use an immersion blender inside the saucepan - my preferred technique)

3.  Add milk to potato mixture and mix well.  Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes.

4.  Stir in cheese and cook, stirring frequently until the cheese is melted.

5.  Serve immediately.

Please Help Aquinas and More!

Aquinas and More is a store that sells Catholic goods.  When my husband and I were engaged, it meant a lot to me to have a wedding rosary and the only place I could find one at an affordable prices was Aquinas and More.  Because of that and because my husband authored blog posts for them occasionally, their store has a special place in my heart.  

Unfortunately, the tough economic climate forced Aquinas and More to shut down their brick and mortar store late last year.  They had to shut down their online store as well, but are trying to raise enough funds to keep their ministry alive. Their goal is to raise $250,000 and they have issued a challenge to meet this goal before a new Pope is chosen!  If you are able to give, please click the link to Save Aquinas and More .

* A special bonus about Aquinas and More is that they do not sell anything made in China!

Lenten Soup Supper: Creamy Tomato Parmesan Soup

serves 4

Ingredients
2 T. butter
2 cloves garlic
2 carrots
2 stalks celery
1/4 cup flour
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 cups vegetable broth (I like to use Better than Bouillion)
1/2 T. dried basil
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/4 cup shredded parmesan
3/4 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper, to taste

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Meanwhile, in a food processor, finely chop the garlic, carrots, and celery.
3. Sweat the vegetables in the butter until soft, minding to not burn the garlic.
4. Add the flour and stir well to incorporate.
5. Add the entire can of tomatoes, broth, basil, and oregano and stir to combine.
6. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
7. Before serving, add the cream and parmesan and stir to combine.
8. Season to taste.

All Hallows Eve Celebration

Over the past 2-3 years, our family has been phasing out Halloween.  We don't like how the American Halloween celebration has turned morbid, gruesome, and sexual, so we wanted to shift our focus to the traditional celebration of All Hallows' Eve.

This afternoon, we will be hosting our first All Hallows' Eve celebration.  All attendees were invited to dress as their favorite saints.  The participating families were asked to bring a cardboard or wood "headstone" with the names of their deceased loved ones written on it.  We will begin our party by praying a decade of the rosary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, particularly for our loved ones.  We will then pray a litany of the saints, invoking all of our patron saints.  Then, while dinner finishes cooking, the kids will be able to watch a couple of animated videos about saints (We'll be watching Francesco's Friendly World and The Day the Sun Danced) while they color pictures of saints.

The decorations will be focused on autumn and Catholicism -- no scary stuff here!  I'll be serving Butternut Bisque, cornbread, spiced apple cider, and Apple Cider Caramel Cookies.  

After dinner and dessert, the adults will have time for fellowship and the kids will have time to play.  Hopefully, this will be a fun, spiritual day and our children will come to not miss "Halloween" at all!

 

Praying with the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purg

The Day The Sun Danced

Parental Watch List - Books that Include Abortion

It should be no surprise that I am pro-life, as I am a practicing Catholic mother of at least 4 children.  In my leisure reading, I have found many casual references to abortion and I feel that people, especially parents, should be made aware of these books.  I am not encouraging book banning, as I believe that some of these books have many redeeming qualities.  However, I feel that parents need to be aware if their children are reading these books so that they can provide parental guidance and open a discussion regarding life issues.

**Keep in mind that the following may include plot spoilers**

• Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg - All-in-all, this is a cute story about a spunky girl who grows up in a quirky, struggling family.  Some parts are a bit off-color, there is fornication, and marriages break up, but the title character overcomes.  However, in one scene, a character goes to procure an abortion and learns that the abortionist has a successful front business because she knows everyone's "dirty" secrets.
• The Color of Water by James McBride - This is a riveting read about religion and race relations and the son who grows up in a mixed-race, mixed-religion family.  Just be warned that a character is basically coerced into getting an abortion when she finds herself pregnant at the age of 17.

Book Review - Saints Behaving Badly

Saints Behaving Badly

I just finished reading Saints Behaving Badly by Thomas J. Craughwell. I have to admit that if I hadn't seen an advertisement in a Catholic magazine for the book, I would have been a bit turned off by the title because I can imagine someone with anti-Catholic sentiments gleefully trying to slander our saints.

I found Saints Behaving Badly to be a quick, easy, and fascinating read.  The author went into greater detail about some of the saints' follies than I had previously read in other books.  The take home message that no matter how far you fall into sin, you can always repent, convert, and lead a life of sanctity was comforting to me.

However, I have to say that the cover image and the little icons of angels and devils in the book bothered me.  I can't stand it when satan is portrayed in a cute or comic manner because I believe it lessens the impact of his evil.  By using an illustration of a saint with a devil's pointed tail, I believe the author and/or publisher either doesn't respect the saints or doesn't believe in the depth of satan's evil.  (I tend to think this was the publisher's decision since the book itself is very respectful toward the saints.)

All-in-all, I think that Saints Behaving Badly is worthwhile reading, especially for a busy mom like me who doesn't seem to be able to find a lot of time to sit and focus on more heady subject matter.