Archive for May, 2008
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Up in the Panhandle Again
Katie and I travelled with my mom to visit our Aunt and Uncle in the Texas Panhandle again.
We tried to get close to their cows, but they were skittish and kept their distance from us; then we went out hunting for rattlesnakes to kill because my uncle spotted some recently.
The rattlesnakes, in addition to being [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Grapevines and Nature by Devman
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
Adoption Woes Continue
International adoptions, especially from Guatemala and Vietnam, are under scrutiny for horrible practices where people take others’ babies and put them up for adoption (to make money, I assume).
Surely there must be a easier, better way to make adoption possible?
2 Comments » - Posted in Love and War by Devman
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
Aah, long weekend
I am so relaxed this morning. That’s the beauty of long weekends–so much time to slow down and simply enjoy the company of my wonderful husband.
We had a great weekend. Devin invited me on a wonderful date Saturday evening at the Austin Wine Festival. It was the perfect date. A gorgeous [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Katie
Monday, May 26th, 2008
That Is Some Potent Garlic
We harvested our 5 garlic bulbs last week and hung them up to dry, then we cleaned them up and they are presumably ready to eat.
Well, I remember reading about all the great benefits of eating raw garlic, and I had a hankering, so I peeled one small clove and popped it in my mouth; [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Grapevines and Nature by Devman
Saturday, May 24th, 2008
Today–World Day of Prayer for China
I received an this week e-mail from Regnum Christi, asking for prayers today for China, in answer to the Holy Father’s request. Pope Benedict XVI has asked that Catholics worldwide unite in a day of prayer for Catholics in China this May 24, in the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Father Alvaro Corcuera, [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life, Saints and Angels by Katie
Saturday, May 24th, 2008
Adult Stem Cell Miracles in Texas
I remember going to elementary school with my older sister, and she told us one day that one of her classmates had sickle cell anemia, a genetic disorder that causes severe pain and shortens the person’s life by decades. There was no cure for it at that time.
Today, things are changing; just last week, the [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Faith and Reason by Devman
Friday, May 23rd, 2008
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church
Those words are part of the Creed, but both Catholics and (some) Protestants speak them and profess them to be true. They are called the four marks of the Church. So what do they mean then to each group?
That is the question that Bryan Cross just posted about on his blog, and he answered it [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason by Devman
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
I’m So Behind
I currently have 3 blog posts crowding in my head and want to comment on all of Devin’s posts–isn’t he wonderful? But, I’ve had such a hard time keeping up lately. I know that’s no excuse, however. Steven Covey says that the phrase “I don’t have time” is not entirely correct. [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life, Entertainment by Katie
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Chicken Update–the Buffs Are Coming!
The chickens have been doing well; Gertrude, the less social one, has taken on the bad habit of sleeping in the nest box, which means she poops in it and unless we clean it out early in the morning, they lay their eggs there (quite gross).
We received good news recently, however: A friend of mine [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Grapevines and Nature by Devman
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Bee Update
I would have posted this last week but was annoyed by our bees.
The Augustine saga has been:
1. Bee hive cut out of mom’s house and put in our backyard, no queen
2. We give them frame of brood from Ambrose and they raise their own queen (probably a mean one)
3. We buy $30 queen and re-queen [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Grapevines and Nature by Devman
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
The Secular Messiah Comes
Or, the Gospel of Barack Obama, by Mark Shea.
This article is over-the-top, but amazingly, the most over-the-top quotes are real ones from real people who are putting Obama on the level of the divine. Excerpts:
Gary Hart: “He is not operating on the same plane as ordinary politicians . . . [he is] the agent [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason, Politics by Devman
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
Nicolaus Copernicus Was a Catholic Priest
How is it that I never knew this before?
I heard it recently and looked it up: Sure enough, the first man to formulate a scientific heliocentric cosmology (yes, before Galileo) was Nicolaus Copernicus, a Catholic priest.
For more on the truth of the Galileo-Catholic Church controversy, see here.
The predominant understanding of this situation in popular [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason, Grapevines and Nature by Devman
Monday, May 19th, 2008
TAL Walk for Life–man oh man oh man!
Okay, everybody, you’re doing a great job! My TAL Walk pledges are now up to $855. You’ve already helped me beat my goal of $500, and now I’m getting excited. Why now $1000? If you haven’t pledged me yet, and you’re still looking for a good way to tithe in May, [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life, Love and War by Katie
Sunday, May 18th, 2008
Drawing the Tree of Christianity
Bryan Cross at Principium Unitatis (such a cool name), whose blog is dedicated to restoring Christian unity, made another excellent post about all the “denominations” within Christianity, specifically asking the question: Are these splits branches within the Church or are they schisms?
The genius of this post is his critique of a “denominational diagram” created by [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason by Devman
Sunday, May 18th, 2008
Cardinal Rode Celebrates Mass in Honor of Father Maciel
Cardinal Rode (I think it is pronounced Row-DAY), the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life celebrated Mass for the Legionaries in Rome a few months ago and was greatly encouraging in his homily.
Cardinal Rode began:
Today we are close to the thirtieth day since the death of [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason by Devman
Sunday, May 18th, 2008
It’s Official
I am a certified youth soccer coach for any age group up to under 12 years of age (U12)!
My coworker and I both plan to coach teams next season in the local youth soccer program, and I wanted to get some training for how to coach before starting, since, though I played my entire life, [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Grapevines and Nature by Devman
Friday, May 16th, 2008
Name That Nintendo Video Game
I just thought of an exciting new feature to introduce to the Vanguard: Name that Book/Movie/Video Game. I give you a (potentially cryptic) quote from one of the above items and you tell me and the other readers the book title/movie or game name.
Our inaugural edition will be from the original 8-bit Nintendo (NES) series [...]
5 Comments » - Posted in Entertainment by Devman
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
An Affirmation
Today I made an appointment with the adult faith formation director at our parish to ask him if I could start an apostolate called FAMILIA (Family Life in America) at our parish.
I explained that the heart of FAMILIA is reading the encyclicals of recent popes, especially Pope John Paul II but also Pope Paul VI, [...]
4 Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason by Devman
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
McCain’s First Term as President
Senator McCain sent this email today explaining what he wants to do in his first Presidential term:
My Friends,
We are all aware that next January, the political leadership of the United States will change significantly when a new president is sworn into our nation’s highest elected office. It is important that the [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Politics by Devman
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Another Rwandan Story of Hope
On cnn.com.
Today Rwanda is an African success story. It has one of the fastest economic growth rates in the region, and one of the lowest crime rates, and lowest rate of HIV-AIDS. About one third of Rwanda’s cabinet are female ministers and 48 percent of parliamentarians are women — the highest anywhere in the world, [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Love and War by Devman
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
National Abortion Rights Action League Endorses Obama
Today the National Abortion Rights Action League (who decided that going by NARAL was smarter because it got rid of the word “abortion” in their name) endorsed Obama.
Obama had this to say:
“There are few more tireless defenders of women’s rights in this country than NARAL Pro-Choice America and I’m proud to accept their support,†Sen. [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason, Politics by Devman
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
McCain on the Environment, Global Warming
I received this email from Senator John McCain’s Presidential campaign today (excerpt):
One of these challenges is global climate change. Whether we call it “climate change” or “global warming,” in the end we’re all left with the same set of facts. Good stewardship, prudence and simple common sense demand that we act to meet the challenge [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Grapevines and Nature, Politics by Devman
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
An Evangelical Manifesto
Bryan Cross gives the Catholic response to the recent publication of “An Evangelical Manifesto”, which many Evangelicals collaborated on to create.
Bryan explains that Catholics agree with much of the manifesto but also points out several statements that Catholics do not agree with.
I commend the creators of the manifesto for making an honest effort to spell [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason by Devman
Monday, May 12th, 2008
Natural Family Planning Vs. Contraception Videos
I read about these videos recently and watched one; they are entertaining and informative:
WPvideo 1.10
This one is our favorite:
WPvideo 1.10
From the Little Wretches.
No Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason by Devman
Monday, May 12th, 2008
Colorado Springs Visit
We just returned from visiting my sister-in-law, Kelly, in Colorado Springs! Here are the photos:
This Catholic center is in the mall! The Capuchin Franciscans run it, say Mass, hear Confessions, and it is very cool.
In the Garden of the Gods:
A neat building in Colorado Springs:
Snow-capped Pike’s Peak:
2 Comments » - Posted in Grapevines and Nature by Devman
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Bella Out on DVD
The inspiring movie Bella is out on DVD and has been extremely popular, breaking Amazon.com’s top 10 list at number 5 as of a few days ago!
I heard on Relevant Radio that both Rosie O’Donnell and Bill O’Reilly have praised the movie and given their enthusiastic support of it; apparently Rosie said that it was [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Entertainment by Devman
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Heroic Father
And a very sad story: In Chicago on Monday, Joseph Richardson shielded his little daughter from a driver who went off the road and struck them: He was killed, but his daughter is alive, though in serious condition.
May God have mercy on his soul and bless his family, and may he bring to repentance and [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Masculine Spirituality by Devman
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
At Stake in the Election
Senator McCain, the Republican candidate, will appoint constructionist judges and Justices who strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States.
Senators Clinton and Obama will appoint liberal activist judges and Justices who legislate from the bench, even against the will of the majority of the people.
Both Clinton and Obama voted against Justice Alito and Chief Justice [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Faith and Reason, Politics by Devman
Monday, May 5th, 2008
Book Review: The Children of Hurin
I just finished reading The Children of Hurin, the latest book written by J.R.R. Tolkien’s son, Christopher, but different from the previous ones in that it is a cohesive novel rather than unfinished tales and fragments of stories.
The story is mainly about Turin (pronounced TOO-rin), of whom a long chapter in The Silmarillion is dedicated; [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Entertainment by Devman
Monday, May 5th, 2008
Funds Update
Woo hoo! Thanks to a few very generous donors, I’m already up to $320. That was easy. Let’s keep it coming, blog readers. These funds go directly to helping women, men, and their babies–80% to pro-life lobbying and education and 20% to pregnancy resource centers in the Austin area. Your [...]