Forcing the Fun

Tomorrow I will watch the Super Bowl. I am not a football fan, so I always feel like a hypocrite when I do watch. I will be rooting for the Giants, because - well - NY is better than every other place in the world. And I know this because I am a New Yorker. I don't really feel qualified to watch the game, but since most of the folks in the stand aren't either ( and are faking the excitement as well)I guess its all OK. I do feel qualified to eat the food. And watch the funny T.V. commercials ( which are better than the game for me). I know, its not pretty to be this way- but it's real.

Sarah Again

This morning shortly after I woke, I made my way down the hall to the bathroom. Bounding out came Sarah Anne . She promptly announced "The Goldilocks doll cut her hair!" and ran past me. I answered "what?" and proceeded inside, where I found a scissor and a mess of doll hair on the floor. I called out to Sarah

"Sarah...could you come here for a minute?"
"She came smiling and bouncing back down the hall."
"What Mom?"
"Sarah what did you say happened in here?"
"The Goldilocks doll cut her hair!"
"She did?"
"Yes!"
This brought a vague image of a scary doll to my still sleep mind...

"Are you sure you didn't cut her hair?"
"NO!"
"Oh, ok. What were you doing while she was cutting her hair?"
a short sort of sarcastic giggle preceded her next words
"watching!"

Tomorrow We Fast!

We are offering a fast tomorrow as a family, to combat the HHS mandate. Fred and I stopped at Panera's tonight and picked up a few loaves of bread, and I'll get my bread maker out tonight too. Any and all of you are welcome to join us in our fast. Come on it'll be fun! Challenge yourself for a good cause!  It has been wonderful hearing from so many of you through email and phone calls and your support for the movement to restore our Religious freedom. I am also glad you seem to realize that this fight is not simply about contraception. It is about religious liberty, and the first amendment. And just in case you haven't read the first amendment lately, I'll post it here:

In other news I have some incredibly encouraging links to share with you all about how the fight is going. The Bishop count for those who have spoken out has reached 140 out of 195 making that 75% of our bishops! 

The Becket fund put on their website that more than 40 non-Catholic organizations and other denominations have signed on to help the Church fight this battle. Our protestant and Jewish brothers and sisters also see the harm being inflicted through this legislation. Ave Maria Radio has also set up a website to gather support and compile petitions against HHS. You can check out their site here.

And little ole' me did some beacon lighting today as well. I sent a few emails off asking some faithful friends to help out here and there, and boy was the response overwhelming! I had the distinct feeling of the hobbit Merrie from Lord of the Rings before that huge battle begins. For such a small creature he did an awful lot of good by just lighting that small flame. We mustn't forget that every little bit counts! We may be very small creatures, but we all have a father in heaven who loves us and hears our cries and petitions.Remind yourselves - if Christ be for us, WHO can be against us! Don't forget to light your own beacons tomorrow- spread the word!

Some Things are Worth Fighting For

In regards to the violation of our religious rights, Senator Marco Rubio has introduced a  bill to overturn the HHS Mandate.

135 Bishops have spoken out against this atrocity. That is over 70% of our bishops. This is unprecedented  for these men. Apparently they have finally woken up and see the gravity of the situation.

2 schools Belmont Abbey and Colorado Christian School have both filed a federal lawsuit for the violation of  their first amendment rights  and  their  federal civil rights statute.

Naturally, there are things you can do too. ALL of us can do something.

I know the knee jerk reaction here is to write to your congressional leaders and be done with it. That is simply not enough. It is a good response but lets put first things first. The Bishops have asked us to fast and pray.

And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Obama Administration's decision. 

The Bishops have asked us to FAST and PRAY.

Will you do that?

Will you fast to keep religious freedom alive in our country?

Will you take a little time to quiet your soul before God and ask his help?

FASTING is a powerful means of effecting change. Allowing your body to be hungry for a day, lets your spirit grow stronger. If your first response to this request is one of revulsion or excuse, you ought to think about that. Do a bread and water fast if you can. Make it count. Let God hear your stomach.

• Ninevah was saved through prayer and fasting. 

• Moses fasted  before he received the 10 commandments.

• Our fathers and forefathers fasted to obtain the blessings of God.

• Our Lord fasted in the desert for 40 days  before starting his earthly ministry.

• President Lincoln declared a national day of fasting to unite our great nation. 

You needn't understand the semantics of how fasting changes the outcome, you can simply choose to do it in faith. Pray as you fast. It can move mountains.

After you finish your fast then you can go here to write your representatives.

And if you still need some inspiration for the fight, spend a few minutes with the below clip  titled 'in defiance of tyranny' and see if it changes your perspective just a little bit. ( You have my permission to repost on your facebook wall)

Thems' Fighting Words

 Ya know I am all for letting everybody have their say, especially when it comes to politics. Most of you know that despite my own strong feelings on various matters, I do my utmost to be respectful of the fact not everyone looks out at life though my eyes. I even think that goes for not bad mouthing our President and doing my best to tolerate the difference of opinions he and I have on all kinds of fronts.

But guess what ladies and gents- my tolerance has found its limit. That would be the HHS Mandate. In case you don't yet know what that is yet, it is a bill forcing all employers  including the Catholic ones to  provide contraceptives, (even those whose properties act as abortifacients). Let me clear of what that list looks like:

•  Catholic Charities
•  Catholic Relief Services
•  Catholic hospitals
•  Food banks
•  Homeless shelters
•  Most Catholic schools
•  Most diocesan offices
•  Catholic business owners

Essentially the Obama administration has told all Catholic institutions they must comply with his decision that they need to violate their conscience. In every way this is wrong. I am incensed and disgusted that any nation would push this rubbish on its citizens. Our great nation was founded on principals that support religious freedom among many other freedoms that are now being trampled on. As a caveat, he has given us a year to get used to violating our conscience. 

Well, I'll tell you this Mr. President. I don't need a year to decide if I am willing to violate my conscience. I don't need even an extra day. It ain't gonna happen. 

As a mother of ten children, who has faced down more obgyn's then I'd care to remember- I can assure you I have had my conscience challenged plenty of times. I have heard all my Catholic girlfriends tell the same story baby after baby. You no sooner finish giving birth than have the entire hospital converge at your bedside to offer you a chance to violate your conscience and push pills on you despite the fact that you clearly tell them it goes against the teachings of your church and your conscience. 

How bout a snip?

What about your husband?

Want a prescription?

You know how this happens don't you?

Are You SURE????

I did not make it through that gauntlet and come this far in my life to be told by my President that it is suddenly time for him to decide the teachings of my church can be 'legally violated'. Seriously? Do you really believe I will let your word prevail against Jesus Christ? 

And make no mistake about this, this is not the DEMOCRAT position. This is not the LIBERAL position.

Sean Michael Winters is about the most liberal democrat Catholic in existence and even he finds terrible fault with this position. I will not lump all of you good folks out  there with this one. I know you are probably just as disgusted with this as I am ( and if you're not well, you SHOULD BE!) This is so Anti-American I could just scream. I am starting to actually believe this guy was not born here with views like this!

Mr President, you are seriously out of line. And if its a fight you want, 

BRING IT!