O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self control,
Thy liberty in law.
Am I mean? Am I just narrow-minded, divisive, overly rigid, Pharasaical, because of my dismay at our recessional "hymn" at Mass today?
As announced by the cantor: "In honor of our country's history, our recessional song will be God Bless America. "
Hmm. I think that singing a hymn asking God's guidance and blessing for our country is a great thing, especially if it has a verse or two imploring Him not to give us the judgment we so richly deserve. Until that hymn gets written, though, why not O Beautiful for Spacious Skies or even Faith of Our Fathers?
My issue with God Bless America is that, first of all, it's not a Catholic hymn or really even a hymn at all. It's a show tune, originally written by Irving Berlin for a revue, set aside, and then revised into the version made famous by Kate Smith. I have no problem with the song in secular settings. But for Mass, let's select a piece with a style and history that says "hymn."
There's also the small quibble that music at Mass should honor God, not "our country's history."
Finally, I have a practical objection. Apparently the publishers of our hymnals share my thought that God Bless America is not a hymn, as they have not seen fit to include it in any of the small library of missalettes, song books, and other supplements that grace our parish pews. (I'm sure it's not the royalty issue, as they're paying out big bucks to include the Compleat Haugen.) That means there are no printed lyrics available for anyone who wants to sing but doesn't already know the words.
Gen-Xers (and Y-ers, and younger) how many of you could sing God Bless America, beginning to end, with no prompts, right now? I know I can't, and I would consider myself fairly average when it comes to songs known by heart. We also have a number of people in our parish who were not born in this country. So at least half the congregation was just standing around while everyone else sang.
But those who did sing, sang well and sang the whole verse, and that's pretty rare at our parish -- usually people are gathering up their stuff and headed out the door the second the priest turns around.
Oh well. As long as I'm giving the report, the opening hymn was some contemporary thing I didn't recognize. We did sing Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest. And of course, no Mass at our parish is complete without that fine gem, Christ Be Our Light by Bernadette Farrell, played with a monotonous one-trip-let one-trip-let one-trip-let accompaniment on the organ. I've never had a migraine headache, but I always imagine it as being something like this piece.
And no, I'm not going to write a letter to the pastor.
Oh, and what's up with this -- our missalette did not print the text of the Sequence! It only referred us to its own musical version in the back, set to Ode to Joy. I might write suggesting that we switch missalettes next year.
Thanks to Narwen via Gerard for the reminder.
Chesterton loved children, and was often tapped to play Old King Cole in pageants. Here's some verse by Chesterton that always gives me the giggles:
Old King Cole Was a merry old soul And a merry old soul was he He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his fiddlers threeafter Lord Tennyson:
Cole, that unwearied prince of Colchester,
Growing more gay with age and with long days
Deeper in laughter and desire of life
As that Virginian climber on our walls
Flames scarlet with the fading of the year;
Called for his wassail and that other weed
Virginian also, from the western woods
Where English Raleigh checked the boast of Spain,
And lighting joy with joy, and piling up
Pleasure as crown for pleasure, bade me bring
Those three, the minstrels whose emblazoned coats
Shone with the oyster-shells of Colchester;
And these three played, and playing grew more fain
Of mirth and music; till the heathen came
And the King slept beside the northern sea.after W.B. Yeats:
Of an old King in a story
From the grey sea-folk I have heard
Whose heart was no more broken
Than the wings of a bird.As soon as the moon was silver
And the thin stars began,
He took his pipe and his tankard,
Like an old peasant man.And three tall shadows were with him
And came at his command;
And played before him for ever
The fiddles of fairyland.And he died in the young summer
Of the world's desire;
Before our hearts were broken
Like sticks in a fire.
after Walt Whitman:Me clairvoyant,
Me conscious of you, old camarado,
Needing no telescope, lorgnette, field-glass, opera-glass, myopic pince-nez,
Me piercing two thousand years with eye naked and not ashamed;
The crown cannot hide you from me,
Musty old feudal-heraldic trappings cannot hide you from me,
I perceive that you drink.
(I am drinking with you. I am as drunk as you are.)
I see you are inhaling tobacco, puffing, smoking, spitting
(I do not object to your spitting),
You prophetic of American largeness,
You anticipating the broad masculine manners of these States;
I see in you also there are movements, tremors, tears, desire for the melodious,
I salute your three violinists, endlessly making vibrations,
Rigid, relentless, capable of going on for ever;
They play my accompaniment; but I shall take no notice of any accompaniment;
I myself am a complete orchestra.
So long.
Ella Gunderson became frustrated trying to find something fashionable — yet modest — in a world where she seems to be surrounded by low-riding jeans and tight, revealing tops. So she penned a letter."Dear Nordstrom," she wrote. "I am an eleven-year-old girl who has tried shopping at your store for clothes (in particular jeans), but all of them ride way under my hips, and the next size up is too big and falls down...."
....Two Nordstrom executives wrote back, promising the Redmond girl the company would try to educate both its purchasing managers and salespeople on the range of fashion choices that should be available to young people. (link)
Go Ella! I have a theory that retailers are not always very smart, and they need us to spell things out for them. It's not enough to roll your eyes and walk out of the store; they're just going to just the clothes even skimpier unless we clue them in.
Because they haven't gotten the clue yet:
"If modesty is what she is looking for, it's going to come full force in the fall," said Gigi Solis Schanen, the New York-based fashion editor for Seventeen magazine."The '50s sexy-librarian look is in."
...Annie Sparrow, owner of Seattle women's boutique Tulip and a trend watcher, said women in their 20s and 30s are also tiring of the skimpy look.
"People are saying 'I am a woman, I've had babies and I have hips. I can't go around showing my booty to everyone on the streets,' " Sparrow said."
Hello, fashion industry, your clue phone is ringing.... The point is not that girls like Ella want to look like a "sexy librarian" instead of a sexy pop singer. The point is that they don't want to look overtly sexy. Ms Sparrow, the point of modesty is not to conceal a "less that perfect" body -- there are girls and women with fashion-perfect figures who want to cover up too.
We didn't get to see it last night (Tuesday night) -- bad storms disrupted our reception. (Yup, no cable.) So we didn't get to see how it ended. Did the colonists vote the icky Governor off the island?
Sorry for the slow blogging this week. I've been trying to limit my computer time, following the counsel of the nice man I talked to last week (the one wearing a black shirt and a purple stole....) When I have been on-line, I've been helping Emily of "After Abortion" out; her template crashed last Friday and I've been helping her recover her links and gussy up her template a little bit. (including adding her Atom feed .)
...or one of them, anyway: Lileks has something up on abortion today. He usually avoids this subject, so it's interesting to see him addressing it:
It has to do with something I heard Kerry say on the radio last Friday, a snippet from a speech made a few months ago. He said something that seemed to conflate two different issues:'Abortion should be rare, but it should be safe and legal -- and the government should stay out of the bedrooms of America,' he said to cheers and applause.
Abortion takes place in the bedroom?
No; conception takes place in the bedroom. (Usually.)
In his original post, Bill wrote, "It's not possible that the mind of a Lileks has not pondered the genesis of his beloved Gnat, that he has not asked, 'When did she begin?' -- and less possible yet that he has not found an answer." Looks like he was right on the money with that one.
This morning we went to Mass in Auriesville and saw another family we know from homeschooling events. They are a very nice family who stumbled upon our old NO parish on the days they had the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Albany. The couple of times they went, they lucked out because my father was homilising, so I think they got the nice impression that the Parish was somewhat orthodox. Anywho, they are sweet because whenever I see them they have wonderful compliments for my father, who is usually criticised for his backwards thinking around here.
The wife was telling me she just returned from Lourdes with her husband and one of her daughters because her daughter has severe epilepsy. Apparently not only is the epilepsy debilitating, but the drugs the little girl is on cause behavourial problems. A group I never heard of called the Knights of Malta financed the trip for her family in the hopes of a miracle. I pray she gets one. Please say a prayer for this family.
During Mass the two youngest boys were, well, Little Monsters. I imagine people watching us from behind must have seen this crazy lady shaking her fist at raucous little boys. No, I didn't really shake my fist at them, but I kept whispering so many "knock that off"s I felt like an evil crazy lady.
After Mass an older couple stopped me and started speaking Spanish to me which, besides the fact I do not speak Spanish, threw me off because the man who clearly looked Italian was speaking fluently with an Italian accent. It threw me off because at first I thought he was speaking Italian and I had this sudden sense of comfort from what is familiar. People never look at me and think "Italian", but rather that I am Spanish, so I was momentarily psyched. Silly, I know.
The couple instantly started telling me (in English) that we had a beautiful family and we reminded them of themselves when their children were small. They had 7 boys and Mass was always an adventure for them, as it was for us this morning. They had so many wonderful compliments, it was very nice. Later I asked the man in Italian if he spoke Italian as well...Si.
7 boys! Here I am thinking that after three boys in a row, with the luck of the draw the next one should be a girl. My friend Karen just had her 8th girl (she has 2 boys as well). And I think after three boys I should get a girl. Maybe if I pray really hard that God will realise I know better than He does what kinds of souls to send me!
Well, off to make eggplant parmagiana for dinner.
Yesterday I went food shopping. I hit a few stores, Price Chopper, my health food co-op and Sam's. I bought my normal four pounds of butter at Sam's, but instead of the regular $5-6 I usually pay, I paid ten bucks for it! I am going to have to start baking my cookies with margarine and applesauce.
I also paid $3.50 for a gallon of milk. I will start mixing it with powdered milklike alicia suggested. My neighbor said he will sell me raw milk for $1.25 a gallon, but is worried about selling it to me because it is raw and is afraid we may get sick. I have read it is better for you like this, although it won't keep very long. I would probably make it stretch by making yogurt out of it. Anyone know the scoop?
Remember when I blogged below about the Transformers 20th Anniversary and how the show became annoying after the movie? Well someone who wrote a letter to the editor in the July 2004 edition of ToyFare agrees. Warning, coarse language ahead:
Dear ToyFare,
I am shocked and angered that you guys would print a statement as untrue as "Bumblebee is the suckiest Autobot." [He's paraphrasing, but we do say that a lot.-Ed.] I mean, let's face it, there are plenty of Autobots who suck more. Rodimus Prime sucked worse and so did Springer. And we cannot forget about the uber-annoying kid Autobot, Wheelie. (Man, did the Autobots get any good characters in the movie?) So the next time you say someone in the suckiest, just remember to make sure that there isn't anyone who sucks just a little more."The next time you say someone is the suckiest, just remember to make sure that there isn't anyone who sucks just a little more." I'm writing that one down and sending it to. Dr. Phil.
I am going to reveal to you a secret of sanctity and happiness. If every day during five minutes, you will keep your imagfination quiet, shut your eyes to all the things of sense, and close your ears to all the sounds of the earth, so as to be able to withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptized soul, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, speaking there to that Holy spirit saying:O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten, guide, strengthen, and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to be submissive in everything that You permit to happen to me, only show me what is Your will.
If you do this, your life will pass happily and serenely. Consolation will abound even in the midst of troubles. Grace will be given in proportion to the trial as well as strength to bear it, bringing you to the gates of Paradise full of merit.
This submission to the Holy Spirit is the Secret of Sanctity.
- Cardinal Mercier
Tomorrow's a good day to start one.
I just heard from Michelle (aka "Shellynna"), blogeuse of "And Then?". She was concerned that there were "too many other things that weren't getting done." She considered resisting the siren call of the blog by lashing herself to the mast of her ship, but was concerned that she would be able to untie the knots and escape. So she has taken her blog down completely.
She does hope to come back to blogging in the future, and promises to pop up in comments boxes here and there. Meanwhile, she'll still be available at her old email address.
I'll miss "And Then?" but I totally understand. I will be scarce myself in the next few weeks, for similar reasons, but I will be answering email.
That upcoming article on friendship I blogged on a few weeks ago? I didn't think it would be up on the Web until next month, but Jeff found it: On Male Friendship
Despite the title, I don't think this article is just for the guys.
UPDATE: There's an article on friendship, with a special focus on women's friendships, in the Summer 2004 issue of Faith and Family. My copy just arrived yesterday so I haven't read the article yet.
this is pretty darn accurate.
You're a Fluff writer!
What kind of writer are you?
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Especially the criticism about "I'm not quite sure what Buffy is doing in Rivendall" is me to a T!
When I was a little girl, I used to make up hundreds of comic books all the time (I don't write, but I used to draw). They were always Optimus Prime and Princess Allura save the day from Magneto and whatnot.
You're a Dialogue/Character Writer!
What kind of writer are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Today I got the most astonishing mail -- an flyer from this fine outreach of the Archdiocese of Washington, inviting me to "call and discuss my needs."
Oh brother! And why today?
My children are wondering who would win-Alien or Predator. For what it's worth, they have seen neither of these movies but live vicariously through my husband who tells them tales of his favourite sci fi movies. They sit there for hours as he gives the history of the Sith and Spider-Man. Some kids get The Three Bears...
Anyway, I thought the discussion had been long ended until I saw this written on the board in 11 year old handwriting:
Predator must win! Alien was beat by Sigourney Weaver-no contest!
May the Lord preserve our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, in Thy mercy look down upon Thy servant, John Paul, whom Thou has appointed to preside over Thy Church, and grant we beseech Thee that both by word and example he may edify those who are under his charge, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Happy Birthday to our Holy Father!
Apparently this is old news, but I just heard about it. Joss Whedon is set to write for the X-Men. Thought I'd pass it on...
Because I feel much better, thank you. I still have a headache, but it is feeling like a normal headache, not the horrible kind.
So, yesterday we worked on the garden. I wish I had My Peony here to give me advice and show me where I was going wrong. My husband built me one raised bed because that was all I needed so far for all the plants I had that are ready to go out. My neighbor plowed this huge plot of land and the one raised bed is barely a speck on it. I think that is one of the points of raised beds though, less room. I planted the rhubarb and some corn conventionally so I felt like I am utilising some more of the land.
The soil is just dreadful. It is rocky and dry and you hit clay three inches down. That was when I wished I had my Peony. It is also hard to water becaue the hand pump close to it in the horse barn is not working. We are not sure if we are doing something worng, such as not pumping it enough, or if it is broken. Still, even if nothing grows, the kids, hubby and I had a fun afternoon digging in the dirt together. All except Gorbulas who sat himself in the van (doors open) and fell asleep for the event.
In the morning we attended 9 AM Mass in Auriesville. My husband would like to make that the normal Sunday routine since it is actually the closest Church to us. They will only be open until fall, so we should take advantage of it as long as the weather is nice.
We came home and had a late Sunday breakfast, worked in the garden and I made manicotti for dinner. I also spent the day snacking on pepper jack cheese, and roasted red peppers with anchovies. It was a little nicer than the usual Sunday running around. Especially since Gorbulas was so under the weather.
In the meantime here is my Recipe for Manicotti (pronounced mah-nee-gawt).
4 beaten eggs (Egg Beaters work just as well)
1 cup of water
1 cup of all purpose flour
Mix together, it will make a watery batter. Spread about 1/3 a cup of the batter on a hot, small non-stick skillet and flip once like a pancake. The manicotti will be very thin.
For the filling mix 2 pounds of ricotta cheese, 1 egg, salt, pepper and parsley and I like to add some romano cheese if I have it. Fill the manicotti and roll it up. Place in a baking dish (with gravy on the bottom) side by side. Cover with gravy and bake for like 1/2 an hour.Serve with the usual Italian condiments and sides, grated cheese and crushed red pepper, salad and Italian bread. Nummy!
*Gorbulas has had a stomach virus since wednesday he cannot seem to shake. The doctor said diarrhea and vomiting can last for like ten days, so she did not seem to worried. I am his Mommy so I am worried. He will not sick to the BRAT diet (like who can blame him). Please pray he does not get dehydrated.
*I have a nasty migraine. It is Monday and I have so much to do today in this condition, please say a prayer it goes well. My first OB appointment ins scheduled for today and between the two, I do not see myself making it.
My apologies -- I will be late getting the Group Read up this week. I'll try to get it up soon, but I'm not sure how soon "soon" will be.
If you are interested in joining the Group Read, why not take the opportunity to catch up and join us? We'll be discussing Chapters 25-32 this week. Click on the big Group Read button, there on the left sidebar, to catch up on previous weeks.
May the Lord preserve our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, in Thy mercy look down upon Thy servant, John Paul, whom Thou has appointed to preside over Thy Church, and grant we beseech Thee that both by word and example he may edify those who are under his charge, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please pray for Alicia's sister-in-law, who is critically ill with a ruptured brain aneurysm. She is undergoing surgery right now to relieve the pressure on her brain.
May the Lord preserve our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, in Thy mercy look down upon Thy servant, John Paul, whom Thou has appointed to preside over Thy Church, and grant we beseech Thee that both by word and example he may edify those who are under his charge, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hasbro is celebrating by releasing a
Special 20th Anniversary Addition Optimus Prime.
I remember being 11 and watching Transformers in 1984 after GI Joe and before Voltron. It totally rocked until after the movie (which is on my list of best movies-I even have the soundtrack) when Optimus Prime died and Rodimus became the new leader. He was so boring and whiney. I was so glad when they rose Optimus from the dead. I don't think anyone could stand one more episode listening to him whine about the responsibilty of leadership. A shame because Galvatron was one psycho protagonist.
Yes, this is the Navy Hymn, but surely our gentlemen of the Navy will not object if I give the verses for all our services....
The melody ("Melita") can be heard here. Get an mp3 of this hymn sung by the Navy Sea Chanters here.
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain
O'er which our traffic runs amain,
by mountain pass or valley low,
Wherever Lord thy brethren go;
Protect them by Thy guardian hand
From every peril on the land.
Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Though the great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!
Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,
Watch over the men who guard our coasts.
Protect them from the raging seas
And give them light and life and peace.
Grant them from Thy great throne above
The shield and shelter of Thy love.
Eternal Father, grant, we pray,
To all Marines, both night and day,
The courage, honor, strength, and skill
Their land to serve, thy law fulfill;
Be thou the shield forevermore
From every peril to the Corps.
O Trinity of love and power!
Our family shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect us wheresoever we go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
And those who on the ocean ply;
Be with our troops upon the land,
And all who for their country stand:
Be with these guardians day and night
And may their trust be in they might.
May the Lord preserve our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, in Thy mercy look down upon Thy servant, John Paul, whom Thou has appointed to preside over Thy Church, and grant we beseech Thee that both by word and example he may edify those who are under his charge, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look, Dick, look!
Bob is reading a book.
The book has a picture of Edgar.
Edgar has three names: Edgar, Allan, Poe.
Edgar looks creepy.
Creepy, creepy, creepy.
Now Bob is writing.
Busy, busy writing.
What is Bob writing?
Oh, Puff! Oh, Spot!
Oh, oh, oh!
Bob is writing a parody!
Funny Bob!
Peony is laughing!
to Samuel Riddle, who is SIX!
On this day in history (which was yesterday, but I was distracted by the Sump Pump Saga....)
...in 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeard for the first time to the little shepherd children of Fatima. Sister Lucia is still with us!
...in 1974, blogger Pete "Omnipresence" Vere was born. Happy Birthday!
...in 1981, an assasination attempt was made on Pope John Paul II.
...also in 1981, blogger Robert Diaz was born. Happy Birthday!
Curt Jester is having a caption contest with the goofiest looking picture I have ever seen. I did not comment because I have no caption. But what is up with the flower wreaths on their heads? And why are they so old? This is cornier than "Hands Acroos America".
It turned out to be a busy week. I'm too weary to recount the whole tale, but it involves the hated basement waterproofing company. They had a plan to correct the swamp forming in our front yard by running an underground line from the sump pump discharge line under our lawn to drain out through the curb into the gutter. This plan was in place for almost three weeks until my husband thought it might be wise to double-check and see if a permit from the county was required.
It's a good thing he thought of that, because that small point hadn't occurred to the waterproofers. So I've spend the last three days on the phone with the county, receiving inspectors (note to self: call the inspector) and hand-carrying permit applications over to the county. (Good thing we live close to the county seat. ) The people from the county were very helpful, so we were able to pull it all together very quickly.
So the work got done yesterday as planned, and I look forward to seeing the swamp dry out. Now I have to help soothe my poor husband's anxiety over his lawn and keep the sod moist where it was dug up and replaced.
Please join us in offering a Novena for the Holy Father's intentions in honor of his birthday (May 18):
May the Lord preserve our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, in Thy mercy look down upon Thy servant, John Paul, whom Thou has appointed to preside over Thy Church, and grant we beseechThee that both by word and example he may edify those who are under his charge, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
VH-1 is posting the 50 Worst Songs.
I think I would add that Let's Just Kiss and Say Good-bye song by who is that, the Brooklyn Bridge? Give me a chance I will think of some more. Add your own.
I have refrained from commenting on politics in regards to the war and partisan politics in this blog for many reasons. The biggest is that I never feel like I have all the facts. My gut always tells me that the info that gets filtered down through the media is half truths, or has some spin on it, so I like to reserve my judgements. Also, my comments here, after I felt I did not get all the information would only go to stir people up for no reason.
With that said, I am not sure this is even a political comment as much as a comment on the current events in general. I have a lot more to say as far as my own thoughts politically, but I will keep them to myself.
I was listening to Michael Savage last night. Very often he makes comments I whole heartedly agree with. Yet for every agreement, he says something that rubs me the wrong way, which does not put him on my favourite people list. He was playing sound clips of people commenting on the murder of Nick Berg, but in the middle of it he played the "soundtrack" if you will of Nick Berg's beheading. I instantly broke into hysterical tears had nightmares all night.
This whole event has made me sick to my stomach. First the grim pictures of the US soldiers abuse in the Iraqi prisons, which was plastered on every newspaper cover. Not only was that upsetting enough, but the way the media used to it spin anti-Bush sentiments was just horrible and tiresome. It's like it was too much to deal with the issue and we couldn't just get facts, but everyone's opinion about why Bush is horrible on top of that. Please give me enough credit to form my own opinion.
On top of that, I was horrified enough to read the description of what happened,
I didn't need to see no pictures! I had to hide the newspapers from my kids-they didn't need to see that either. Why did we need to see that?
Now this poor guy-I can't imagine how scared he must have been. Things are a mess these people are crazy. They did this in the name of God?
I am becoming very afraid of what the future holds because I think we are seeing the tip of the iceberg.
Sorry, I had to vent a bit after my restless night.
Please join us in offering a Novena for the Holy Father's intentions in honor of his birthday (May 18):
May the Lord preserve our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, in Thy mercy look down upon Thy servant, John Paul, whom Thou has appointed to preside over Thy Church, and grant we beseech Thee that both by word and example he may edify those who are under his charge, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please join us in offering a Novena for the Holy Father's intentions in honor of his birthday (May 18):
May the Lord preserve our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, in Thy mercy look down upon Thy servant, John Paul, whom Thou has appointed to preside over Thy Church, and grant we beseech Thee that both by word and example he may edify those who are under his charge, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Gorbulas did it again! It was a beautiful day out (which is a blessing in and of itself because the forecast predicted thunder showers all day). When Polo came him, Gorbulas, who had shed his pants was just in sneakers, a T-shirt a diaper and Mickey Mouse ears, took his diaper off and let him run around dressed like Porky Pig (a shirt and no pants). This was around 5 and he is still (7PM) attired the same way with no accidents because he went potty all on his own!
* My cantaloupe seedlings are sprouting, I am so excited. I put my plants outside to get some real sun and fresh air, but it was too windy, they got blown away. They also got very dry.
Gorbulas went potty yesterday.
I took off his clothes last night to get him ready for his bath. Sometimes I let him run around naked and pinch him on his cute little baby butt. Like most babies(yeah, I know he's 2, but whenever there is an older sibling, the youngest is automatically "the baby"), as soon as you take his clothes off he hops around with glee. Then he hopped right into the bathroom and we all heard "tinkle, tinkle" so we (well we made Rosey Posey do it) ran into the bathroom in a panic thinking he peed on the floor. He came hopping out saying "potty" and sure enough, that's where he went.
I actually had not even considered starting potty training yet because the whole thing stresses me out. Looks like I will have to get on the ball.