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.

Bleeding Heart Flower

It's spring, and though I have a brown thumb, I was in a gardening mood.  So on Holy Thursday, I headed to my local Lowe's to look for a perennial plant that would grow in the shady bed near our front porch.  This beautiful bleeding heart flower caught my eye since it reminded me of The Sacred Heart of Jesus.  I bought it on Holy Thursday and planted it on Good Friday.  I'm hoping that it will serve as a permanent reminder of Jesus' sacrifice for us. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Your Heart still cherishes all the redeemed and is moved to pity for every human need. Aware of Your invitation, "Come to Me," we pray for the afflicted, the sick, the confused, for all broken hearts, and shattered lives. We bring to You all their material, emotional, and spiritual needs as well as our own. By the love that led You to take flesh of the Virgin Mary, we plead for a favorable response to our prayers.

Amen.

First Week of Advent

Aside from the usual purchase of the Christmas tree and decorating of the house, my family has a few other Advent traditions that we'd like to share.

Our sons are 5, 3, and 9 months old and we want to celebrate Advent in a way they can understand.  We started by lighting our Advent wreath every evening while we read a devotion from Living Light was Born One Night by Arden W. Mead.  This devotional is perfect for young children because the Bible verses and meditations are brief and the reflection questions they ask are at an appropriate level for our kids.  This little booklet is also great because it's not limited to 24 days -- it has enough devotions for the 4 full weeks of Advent!

Activity for the first Sunday of Advent

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent and I wanted to do something different and more Catholic-flavored as we decorated our house.  I decided to make a big Advent Candle display in the boys' bedroom window, which faces the street. 

It was pretty easy!  All I had to do was cut four rectangles out of construction paper (3 purple and 1 pink) and four flames out of yellow construction paper.  I got them laminated at Lakeshore (yay for the teachers' discount for homeschoolers!!!) so they'd be a little more durable and hopefully be usable for next year.  I taped the four rectangles to the window and one of the flames over the first one, so it looks like one candle of an Advent wreath has been lit.  My husband was skeptical, but it ended up looking pretty cool.

All Hallows' Eve Costumes

Knight Templar Costume

Materials:

• Pillowcase (white or cream-colored)

• Red felt

• Leather Belt

• Dark Hoodie and pants

• Toy Sword

Cut a cross from the felt and use fabric glue to attach it to the pillowcase. If you’re up to the task, feel free to sew it on! Cut holes for your child’s head and arms. Dress your child in dark pants and a dark hoodie, then put the pillowcase over the clothes. Fasten the leather belt around your child’s waist and you have your very own Knight Templar, ready to protect Christian pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land!



Here are some photos to use as models:

St. Maximilian Kolbe Costume

Materials:

• White or Gray long-sleeved shirt (I used a onesie for 8-month-old Kolbe)


• Black iron-on letters and numbers


• Round glasses

• Rosary and/or picture of Mary

It's pretty self-explanatory -- just iron on the letters and numbers.  Here is a picture to use as a model:

St. Edward the Confessor Costume

OK, I didn't make this one, but I thought I'd give you ideas anyway!

Materials:

• Crown
• Coat of Arms (see picture below)
• Sword
• Eyeliner for a beard

Here are some photos for inspiration:

This coat of arms is attribued to St. Edward the Confessor

Good luck and have a blessed All Saints' Day!

They've hijacked St. Patrick's Day

Help!  St. Patrick has been kidnapped by the environmentalists!

It really irked me today to see headlines like "How you can go green this St. Patrick's Day."  St. Patrick's Day is the feast of St. Patrick, who converted the pagans of Ireland to Christianity, not a precursor to Earth Day!

The global warming/environmental/gaia religion gets on my nerves endlessly and today was no exception.  I love how they've hijacked a Christian holiday to further their own neopagan religion.  The green beer, green clothes, pinching, and corned beef have caused a lot of people to lose focus on the meaning of March 17 and now this.  Poor St. Patrick must be so disappointed!

It reminds me of the VeggieTales short about St. Patrick where the Irish people worshipped pond scum and shamrocks.  Little did they know how prophetic their little cartoon would be.