In My Absence Read This

I know I have told you before about how amazing I think Deacon John is,

His Homily for St Steven's Day is just another bit of proof.

You should all have his blog on your blogroll, and you should be reading his homilies every time he writes them.

I sure wish he were closer to home, I would love to be able to hear him preach a few of these in person.

Pax

I'm Still Standing . . .

well for short periods of time anyway.

I am getting better, really I am. I actually took a shower, got dressed, and got out of the house for a while today. I took the girls over to Borders so that they could use the gift cards they got from their Aunt for Christmas. Actually when we got there I was so wiped out that I sat in the coffee shop nursing decaff Americano while they looked at books and DVDs and stuff.

Then we went to two other stores so that I could buy more cold medicine and my special wheat free bread and crackers and then we drove back home. After I check email and write this I plan to take a nice long nap.

Okay, so maybe I'm not quite so cured as I thought I was but when you consider that on Tuesday I didn't get out of bed all day except to use the bathroom or get more to drink, and yesterday I didn't get up till after one o'clock, and was back in bed by 8:30.

By increments I appear to at least seem capable of remaining vertical for longer stretches of time. That has to account for something.

Pax

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Sorry for the Silence, but things have been a bit harried around the angelmeg household these last few weeks. On top of trying to get my mom's situation more organized (she is moving into an more severe stage of Alzheimer's and is more and more confused, so we are trying to make sure that she is safe in her home), I ended up having the audacity to catch a virus and have been practically flat on my back for the past few days.

Well, that isn't technically true. I did manage to make some wheat free Christmas cookies that don't altogether taste like cardboard, and I made a scarf for the angelbaby that taxed all of my knitting and crocheting abilities, but she really loves it.

I am on the mend now, so I intend to complete the thousand gifts project, even if it takes well into the new year.

Right now we are on our way to mrangelmeg's sister's house for the evening to celebrate with his father. Tomorrow night his sister's family will come here to celebrate with his mom. (Isn't that neat how that works out.

Then I will have Christmas day to recover before I drive up to see mom on Tuesday and make sure things are running smoothly at her house and deliver presents for her and my sisters.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, or as my oldest daughter has started calling this time of year

Happy ChannuChristmaKwanzaaDan

Pax

Amazing Things Happen When You Can't Sleep OR Angelmeg's Theology Lesson for the Week

My sister couldn't sleep so she was watching a movie in her room with the sound up way too loud and it woke me up.

Anyway I decided to surf the blogosphere anc check out some weblogs of seminarians from my beloved Saint Meinrad just for kicks.

That is when I came across this Blog by one seminarian, John O'Neill, that I have had the pleasure of actually meeting, though I don't know if he would remember me.


What I really want you to read is this paper he wrote for his Theological Anthropology Course.


I know this professor, and were it not for my slavish need to actually graduate soon and being focussed these days on only taking courses that are required for graduation I would have signed up for this course. More's the pity I suppose.

181. My talk went well
182. Running into my old boss and finding that I have no emotion whatever (no more anger, nothing) left over where he is concerned.
183. Being asked to share my love of my faith with others
184. Fresh friut
185. Cheese
186. The fact that there was still a priest available to hear my confession after my talk was over (thanks Fr. Rich)
187. Top Chef, it keeps entertaining even if Marcel won the Quick Fire Challenge
188. sleeping well (This one may come up repeatedly, but when you have insomnia, every time is a gift
189. Having a lazy morning every once in a while
190. getting a little Christmas shopping out of the way
191. Spending some time with my mother in law
192. Finding something you are looking for (Christmas surprise)
193. Fun old movies on AMC
194. spending an entire day away from the computer (hey I do it occasionally)
196. Watching tv with the kids Especially Thursday night's NBC lineup
197. Jamie Presley's portrayal of Joy on My Name is Earl
198. Writing in my journal before I go to bed.
199. Volunteering at the Library at my daughter's school, just as my mom did at my school when I was my daughter's age. Some traditions are good to carry on.
200. Good friends like Deb, the Media Specialist I work with at the School
201. Elementary School kids who can make me laugh every week by doing exactly the same thing.
202. Finding the non-wheat bread that I like at the Organic grocery in town.
203. Flourless Chocolate cookies
204. Driving by just in time to help my son when he had a blowout in his truck.
205. The fact that my son was handling his truck's flat pretty well on his own.
206. Being able to eat a BLT because I had #202 above yummy
207. Getting to sleep in on Saturday, even if it only meant until 9:45
208. Watching the Angelbaby donate her hair to Locks of Love
209. Getting a good haircut
210. Watching a sappy Christmas movie with mrangelmeg about a 50 year old man who wants to join the Senior Tour.
211. Being able to tell mrangelmeg that I would support his wanting to join the Senior Tour if he thought that God was calling him to do it, and meaning it.
212. Mrangelmeg finally getting the title to his jeap and getting the plates so he can drive it.
213. Spending the evening with good friends
214. Dancing with mrangelmeg even if we aren't "stars"
215. Having mrangelmeg say that he would be willing to take ballroom dancing lessons with me at the YMCA (something I have always wanted to do)
216. Not being tempted enough to indulge in one of the brownies that looked so good but would have been very bad for me
217. Getting to see Bill and Aggie, a very dear older couple that I haven't seen for a very long time
218. Staying to help clean up, even if my feet hurt.
219. Never having to wear those sandals ever again
220. coming home to our kids after being out
221. scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, especially when you are really hungry
222. Good homilies
223. Seeing a friend whose mother has recently died, being able to console her.
224. Seeing my prayer partner whom I haven't been able to pray with for a while since I have been going to mom's on Monday nights.
225. Son and husband getting son's truck tire fixed, which took most of the afternoon.
226. Third daughter going to the youth Mass, something I was hoping she would want to do but wasn't going to push her into doing.
227. Getting most of my Christmas shopping done while she was at Mass.
228. Warmer weather for a while
229. finding the rest of my Christmas gifts on the internet, nothing left to buy WOO HOO!!!
230. Dr's who take care of us when we need it
231. Second daughter, who doesn't talk much, but can say what needs to be said and can laugh with me occasionally
232. Good weather for my drive up to mom's
233. Having a good day with mom.
234. Seeing that mom eats her meals, even though she complains about them
235. Making dinner for mom and my sisters


more later

Pax

189.

Christmas Meme

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate??

Egg nog spiked, hot chocolate without

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Wrap (let me put you straight though, on December 24th, Mrs Santa -me- and Santa -himself- have a traditional wrapping party, we get all of the presents ready ; I wrap everything while he reads the paper and helps with one or two gifts. Actually he is getting better and better at wrapping now that we have fewer gifts to wrap)

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

We tried all white one year and didn't like the way it looked, we have colored twinkly lights

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

I have done in the past, but to be honest I really don't need it so why bother

5. When do you put your decorations up?

I try to wait till the third week end of Advent, sometimes I can't wait, usually I am too busy to get to it till then or I can't get himself to drag everything out till then.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Hmmm...besides the husband, oh you mean food!!! I really like cranberry relish and yams

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

One year it began to snow as we went into midnight mass and when we came out everything was blanketed in white, it was like magic.

8. When and how did you learn there was no Santa?

Do you mean to tell me there isn't a Santa Clause? Who have you been talking to?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

We have a tradition with the kids of opening a gift of a book and jammies on Christmas Eve and the rest of the presents on Christmas day. The Jammies were supposed to be magical and help them to get to sleep so Santa could get to our house more quickly.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?

Twinkly lights and lots of angels and bells, and then mauve bows and streamers that match my livingroom.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love a white Christmas, so long as it goes away by January 2nd and warms up from then on

12. Can you ice skate?

yes, haven't been in years though

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

I got the Complete Winnie the Pooh when I was a little girl and I absolutely loved it, I had the entire book read by New Years Day.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Midnight Mass!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Mexican wedding cakes, I love to make them, I am going to have to see if I can find a way to modify the recipe so that I can actually eat them this year, I wonder how they tase made with rice flour.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

We have a set of Santa Mugs that we get out every year to use for our after Midnight Mass cocoa, That is probably my favorite thing

17. What tops your tree?

An angel who is holding a string of garland and helping to decorate the tree, hey I will take all the help I can get.

18. Which do you prefer: Giving or Receiving?

definitely giving, I don't much like to shop, but I love to find just the right gift

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Nat King Cole singing the Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roastin')

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?

Love to see them but don't much like to eat them

21. Favorite Christmas movie?

Duh, this one is a no brainer Die Hard!!!!!
Seriously The Christmas Movie or It's a Wonderful Life

I tag anyone who wishes to join in the Christmas spirit

Pax

166. My third daughter, whose birthday is today.
167. St Nicholas, whose feast day is today.
168. Shoes by the fireplace in anticipation of treats from St. Nicholas
169. Shoes filled with treats.
170. Morning talks on the way to school with my two youngest daughters.
171. Finding just the right gifts for my duaghter's birthday.
172. Sharing a budding love of knitting with my oldest daughter.
173. Still marveling at the Pro Life storyline on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on Monday evening. (more on that in a future post)
174. Morning communion services when the Priest is too ill to make it to the church. We are still a worshiping community in the absence of the priest.
175. Prayers for the comfort of our Pastor who is nearing retirement in just about a month.
176. Wrapping Birthday gifts.
177. Finding the exact kind of cake daughter wanted (especially because I didn't have to bake it)
178. Warm gloves on a cold morning.
179. Piano lessons.
180. Lunch with my birthday girl since I won't be home for the family celebration.

Pax

151. The feeling you get from finishing reading a novel.
152. The writings of Nicholas Sparks, I like his characters.
153. A Warm Blanket (hat tip to Linus Van Pelt for that one)
154. Not getting a migraine after not taking my medicine last night which I forgot to pack.
155. Another pleasant day with mom, full of laughs.
156. Visiting with a colleage and talking about many things. I don't miss my old job, but I do miss some of the people I used to work with.
157. The act of driving home. It seems to take less time each time I drive home.
158. Ariving home to a well ordered house thanks to mrangelmeg
159. A late afternoon nap.
160. Surprising the angelbaby by picking her up at the Boys and Girls club (I wasn't supposed to be home till tomorrow morning)
161. Rice Pasta, which doesn't taste all that bad and means occasionally I can eat spaghetti again.
163. Preparing for St. Nicholas Day tomorrow.
164. Getting more ideas for my talk tomorrow night.
165. Breyers All Natural Coffee Ice Cream

Pax

111. Getting to know some new friends.
112. Learning about Francis and Clare
113. The chance to have a long conversation with a friend I hadn't seen in a while.
114. Having Sr. Barbara as the Workshop facilitator, I love her knowledge of scripture and spirituality
115. Sleeping well away from home (and no strange dreams even on the 4th floor)
116. Waking up with the bells
117. Fruit for breakfast.
118. Seeing Fr. Damien at Breakfast.
119. Great Breakfast conversation.
120. Our workshop start time being 9:00 (10:00 my time)
121. The little Gas Station/Grocery store being open in Saint Meinrad, because I really needed gas and a few things.
122. A fun morning of music lyrics asides with Tom.
123. A great prayer from Francis that will help me with my mom.
124. Awesome lunch conversation.
125. Seeing an old professor at lunch.
126. Trader Joe's Chocolate Truffle Candy Bar
127. Playing guitar before class began in the afternoon.
128. Spending the afternoon immersed in Ignatian spirituality at a Benedictine House
129. Being able to share my love of Ignatian spirituality with my classmates
130. Having Sr. Barb thank me for my input and help with the Ignatian part of the workshop.
131. Making it to where I was going in the evening without losing my way.
132. A wonderful dinner with friends.
133. An evening of conversation, and consolation from two people who love me.
134. Staying the night at their house and being pampered beyond belief.
135. Waking up to the smell of coffee brewing that I didn't have to make myself.
136. Sharing in John and Pat's worshiping Community
137. Getting to hear John Lector at Mass.
138. Hearing Fr. Dan's Homily for the First Sunday of Advent.
139. The Good News of Jesus: I am not God!!!!! woo hoo!
140. A great breakfast, made lovingly for me by my hostess.
141. Helping John with some ideas for the class he is going to teach in the spring.
142. Beautifu weather for the drive home.
143. More clean laundry.
144. Spending the afternoon with the whole family here before I have to leave again.
145. Getting back in sync with my sister on planning for mom.
146. FInding a prayer to end my talk for Wednesday's RCIA session.
147. Being able to cook dinner for my family.
148. Doing the dishes (now that is a surprise, not usually something I consider a gift, but being home to do them today was a gift.)
149. Losing this list once and having to retype it.
150. Getting to sleep in my own bed, next to mrangelmeg, before I have to head back up to mom's tomorrow.

Pax

101. Safe Driving
102. Clear weather (even if it was a bit windy)
103. Getting my paper written
104. That first view of Abbey Church when you come into Saint Meinrad, it makes you feel as though you are safe.
105. being able to drag my bags up the hill from the parking lot (some people will realize how much of a gift this is)
106. Watching the angelbaby on Tiger Talk TV this morning at her school. She did a great job.
107. Having people who will pray for you when you need it.
108. Having a room far enough away from the bells, so that you don't really hear them.
109. A good friend to have dinner with when I am away from home.
110. Seeing friends again after a long absence.

Pax

81. Supportive friends whose loving counsel is only a phone call or email away.
82. Running into people from the parish where I used to work while out doing errands (happened three times yesterday).
83. Having some one's advise while I was trying on outfits at the store. (I hate to shop, so someone else's opinion was really nice to have)
84. Helpful employees who actually know where to find the stuff you ask them about. (Kate from Borders I am talking about you in particular)
86. Being able to find everything on some one's birthday list without pulling out my hair.
87. Or going broke.
88. Finding out that said list was also her Christmas list, which means I am done shopping for this particular child. ***see # 83 above ***
89. Finding the readings I need for a workshop I am in this weekend in a book I already have when I don't have time to get the book that is suggested.
90. Spending the evening with family at a Christmas party that had nice food and a fun activity and no one fighting.
91. My Name is Earl
92. The Office
93. Scrubs
94. Not waking up to a blanket of snow.
95. Having a husband willing to do the afternoon pickups so that I can leave earlier for my drive to St Meinrad so that I don't get caught in bad weather.
96. Having heat in my car before bad weather hits.
97. Our daughter calling to let us know when she would be home so we wouldn't worry.
98. Answered prayers.
99. A Charlie Brown Christmas Album
100. The Media Specialist (Librarian) at my daughter's school, for whom I volunteer on Fridays. We have become friends, and I love my time there more for the conversations with her than anything else.

more later. This has been so much fun, and so good for me. I highly recommend it for everyone. It is never too late to start.

Pax

Gifts Galore

61. Hugs from kids I haven't seen in a few days.
62. Especially being hugged by an autistic daughter.
63. Not having to cook dinner because the kids are so good at doing it themselves.
64. Coming home to piles and piles of clean laundry (thanks mrangelmeg)
65. Not needing the inhaler I left at my moms.
66. the feeling of accomplishment at having taken care of so much in the afternoon through phone calls and conversations.
67. Social Service people whose job it is to help when you don't know where to turn.
68. My comfy TV watching chair.
69. Salty potato chips.
70. The staff at the Starbucks that I frequent.
71. The church community I am involved in on Wednesday evenings for RCIA.
72. Realizing that I will always find new things to learn about this awesome Catholic Faith.
73. Being able to take correction, and grow from the experience.
74. Seeing my faults and hopefully not repeating them (with God's help.)
74. Realizing that I am good at helping people to understand theological concepts.
75. The comfort of using my own computer for a few days.
76. Good Night kisses
77. Sleeping in my own bed.
78. Having mrangelmeg's arm around me in the middle of the night.
79. My title to my car finally getting here so I can get the plates before the temporary runs out.
80. Watching my son's maturity level increase as he takes on new challenges every day.

I will write more later today, but I have a ton of errands to run if I plan to stay on track. You all have a blessed day and keep your eyes open for the fingerprints of God on your life.

Pax

More Ironic Reasons to be Catholic

Ironic Catholic has posted 10 more resons to be Catholic.

Being a Catholic with three names (angelmeg is my pseudonym, don't-cha-know) I have to choose that one as my favorite. I personally chose Loretta as my Confirmation name, and until I was ten I thought that the Church had named a saint after me because there was a saint in the Litany of Saints with my exact first and middle name; Margaret Mary. I was crushed to find out she was a real woman, until I read about her and saw how awesome she was.

Enjoy

Pax

Oooh, Oooh, More Gifts!

36. Sweet Potato Chips
37. The Company of friends at dinner, especially when they happen to be family
38. Being with mom on one of her good days.
39. laughing.
40. Hearing the same family story told over and over.
41. Cold Iced tea
42. Baileys Irish Cream
43. The Council of good friends.
44. Talking to my sister until we fell asleep, just like we did when we shared a room as kids.
45. A warm house.
46. Reading PD James' The Children of Men.
47. House, the television show.
48. Being able to work together with my sister to do what is best for mom.
49. Knowing, and being able to experience a GOOD Homilist like Deacon John-- Preach it Brother!!!!
50. Waking up and not feeling achy from arthritis.
51. The taste of Hershey's extra dark chocolate
52. cell phone plug in's for cars
53. web sudoku
54. The thrill of seeing your name in print for the first time.
55. enjoying the writing process.
56. the anticipation of going home after being away.
57. The Daily Show
58. The Colbert Report
59. The taste of morning coffee
60. Morning prayers

Pax

More to be Thankful For

26. The Readings at Daily Mass Today.
27. The sound of children singing (it was the school mass for my mom's parish)
28. The Grace of Tears (some will understand this better than others)
29. St Margaret Mary
30. My husband's voice, and his common sense which can calm me down.
31. Friends far and near, even when you can only spend a few minutes on the phone with them
32. Being given the gift of patience in just the moment that you need it, especially when you are dealing with someone with my mother's disease.
33. Having a sister who has worked in nursing homes most of her life and has the moxie to call and ask for help when she feels overwhelmed about what mom is going through.
34. Being able to work with mom, even to do something as simple as getting a haircut.
35. Christian music in my CD player.

more later.

Pax

Gimme Gimme . . . Tis the Season After All

I have decided that what will help me the most right now is to participate in this little blogger project. If you click on the picture above you can read more about it. I will be counting my blessings between now and the Feast of the Nativity, when we celebrate the greatest Gift of all, our salvation. This is supposed to help me get in touch with how blessed I am and how carefully God is watching over me. The way the past few days have gone I really need this.


1. Taking a long walk with my mother in the park.
2. Having a conversation with mom that was at times very lucid and present.
3. Having the patience to be here when she is in this condition.
4. My cell phone, which keeps me connected to my husband and children when I am here with mom.
5. Internet access, so that I can email friends for prayers and support.
6. Watching the dvd of pictures of the family with mom and being able to help her remember names.
7. The smell of Rose perfume.
8. Cooking dinner for mom and my sister.
9. Sleeping most of the night without waking up.
10. The taste of dark chocolate truffles.
11. The news that they have a professor for my summer class I need for graduation.
12. a portable keyboard so that I can practice piano while I am here
13. Warm weather these past few days.
14. The new story idea I have been working on.
15. The ability to laugh, which makes the harder things I have to face seem at least bearable.
16. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a show with writing that is intelligent and stimulating.
17. Perpetual Adoration Chapels, mom's church has one we visited Sunday. It was a calm hour that gave me a lot of strength.
18. The life and writings of Walker Percy thanks to my pals at Korrektiv who first introduced me to him
19. Alarm clocks.
20. Daily Mass.
21. The smell of coffee brewing.
22. The medications that keep my body working the way it should so that I can function as well as I do.
23. warm socks
24. Priests who do the work they do because they are called by God to a life less ordinary.
25. the ability to read, anything, anywhere (mom was reading the signs in the park as we walked. she may not be able to read books anymore, but she can still read)


I will be continuing the list as I see God's fingerprints over the next days and weeks.


If anyone feels compelled, they are welcome to join in. What an antidote for this season of excess than to be excessively thankful for all that we already have.

Pax

Update on my time with mom

I am still here taking care of mom. I am having some limited success getting her to do her daily bathing and care -- moreso than my sister who has been taking care of her and my sister who was staying here earlier in the week. I haven't really spent an evening here when she has been in full blown sundowning all by myself though.

For the past two days we have been taking advantage of the nice weather and taking a walk each day, something elese that my sister that has been living with her hasn't been doing (because of a weight/health issue on my sister's part more than any other reason). Mom has enjoyed the walk.

Mom is much more confused, but we have gotten along really well. I really don't want to put her in nursing care, but I suppose if she is this confused about where she is, to the point of not really knowing where she is, or continually asking when she will be going home, perhaps it is the right time to move her.

I know that in my work in the parish I visited enough nursing homes to know that I don't want my mother to be one of those people who are tied to their beds because the staff doesn't want them wandering around, or who is drugged up all the time to keep them docile.

I am praying and trying to listen for the voice of God so that I know that I am making the right choice for mom.

Keep praying for me.

Pax

Just in Time for your Hoilday Needs

When you can't find the right words to suit your needs look to the Divine Word.


The Biblical Curse Generator


hat tip to Ironic Catholic for the link.


Happy Cursing

Pax

I Must be Getting Smarter

Because I wasn't this smart in High School, I promise you . . .

You paid attention during 100% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

hat tip to Tony at Catholic Pillow Fight for the link

Pax

Humility Goes Where I Go

I wrote this a long time ago about a shift in my way of thinking about service and something as simple and humble as changing the toilet paper roll without complaining or having to be asked to do it.

I think that at home I have done a pretty good job of changing them without saying anything to anyone about the number of times I change the rolls in not only the master bathroom, but in the girls' bathroom and even my son's bathroom.

This evening when I got to my mom's and was getting ready for bed, what did I find when I sat down to go to the bathroom, but an empty toilet paper roll! I guess God was just allowing me to serve my sister and mom as well.

It just made me remember to do it without complaining that the person who used the last piece hadn't thought to change the roll after she was through. I suppose I was just lucky there was some tissue left in the Kleenex box.

Pax

Finding a New Way to Love

I have run away from home . . .


I am spending the next few days at my mom's house because my sister who does the 24/7 care for my mom needed a mental health break, so she went away for the holiday and was supposed to be back on Sunday the 26th. Only she called on Friday to inform us that she cannot get back until Thursday, so another sister and I are tag teaming to make up the full time care. Jeanne has been there since Friday morning and I am going to stay through the first part of the week and then Jeanne will be back on Wednesday afternoon.

I have stayed with my mom before, but this will be the first time I have been the primary caregiver. When you are dealing with someone with alzheimer's disease this can be very, very challenging indeed. You have to keep reminding yourself that the person you used to know is no longer there. Even though she may look and sound just like my mother, she can't reason, or remember in the same way.

She gets very upset when her routine is changed, so I have to be very careful to do things the same way they usually are done. Lucky for me that my other sister who lives here will still be here most of the time to help me out.

I know I can do this, one woman with alzheimer's can't be as challenging as my five kids and husband -- well at least can't be challenging in the same way. I have my daily mantra of prayers all set out.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference

and help me make it to Wednesday with some of my wits and most of my sense of humor.

pray for me if you get a chance.

Pax

I keep telling them I'm not a hoosier . . .

But when you have lived here for over half your life sometimes you begin to wonder. At least this quiz reminds me that I am not, in the deep dark reaches of my speach centers, a hoosier.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
Philadelphia
The Northeast
The Midland
The South
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

hat tip to God Spede ye Plough for the link.

Pax

Direct Thanksgiving Help Line

SIC (spouse of Ironic Catholic) has posted a great Dear Communion of Saints just in time for Thanksgiving.

Being a great fan of Flannery we will forgive him placing her in the communion, after all aren't we all supposed to aspire to be in their number? She could be there.

I am sure that no matter how much fun he has had filling in for Ironic on her blog that he is very happy to have her back from her trip, especially since the ironic kids were sick while she was away.

Pax

A View of Spain

My Brother recently chucked his job and just about everything he owns and moved to Spain. He is unmarried and writes for a living, so there was really nothing keeping him here in the States.

If you are interested in learning about life in Valencia (he writes very well -- though I do not take responsibility for any foul language or his political leanings).

His Blog is called Leftbanker

Why not click on over and give it a view, you may just get the urge to visit Spain yourself.

Pax

Attention Dads of Daughters

Some Advice from a contemporary . . .





Pax

God's Personal Comedy Central

I am sure you have heard the old addage:

If you want to make God laugh, make plans.

That is exactly how I feel at this moment. I had my entire semester planned out, I was going to be taking a weekday course with the seminarians at Saint Meinrad on Mondays and Thursdays and still be able to visit my mom on Tuesdays as I have been. Things were looking pretty good in that direction. This was going to keep me from taking two Philosophy courses, which you all know that I love so completely, at the same time next summer.

Well, as things turn out, what a difference a week makes. I got a call from my sister yesterday and it seems as though my presence will be more necessary than ever at my mom's house next semester. My sister and I will have to trade off spending a week at a time up there to take care of mom so that mom can stay in her house instead of going to a nursing home. My other sister who is doing this care now has decided that she no longer wants to be there and until we can get better arrangements in place this will have to be how we work this out.

We have talked about this all along, I was just hoping that we could put this off till next summer or fall.

So, I will be spending every other week with my mother instead of two days a week with seminarians. To be honest I will prefer her company to theirs, but don't tell them that. There must be some reason that God wants me to take the two classes at the same time, and I am sure that it will become apparent to me when I am in the thick of them this summer.

And just so I don't get buried in reading this summer I can get a jump start by getting the reading lists for the two classes early and get started reading Aristotle and Plato and Augustine and Aquinas while I am at my mom's house.

Hey, stop laughing, it could happen!

Pax

For Those We've Lost

Today we had a special mass for the deceased members of the Knights of Columbus Council to which mrangelmeg and our our son are affiliated. We went to a different parish than our own in order to honor these men and in a special way to support their widows.

It was a very interesting Mass because there are many people in that parish that I know, so I got to see some people who don't know yet that I am no longer working, and one friend from St. Meinrad who will be graduating this Spring.

Now we are home on a cold rainy Sunday with a few things to do before the Colts game this afternoon.

Not a bad way to spend a day if you ask me.

Pax

Separation of Church and State of Matter?

Read This Awesome Post from Ironic Catholic, which actually was written by her devoted husband.

Having worked in a Home Economics/Food and Nutrition office in College this was extremely funny to me in ways I can't even begin to explain.

I was laughing so hard I think I may have done some aerobic exercise for today. So I have that going for me as well.

Enjoy.

Pax

Truth is stranger than - well - made up dictionary references

angelmeg -- [adjective]: Benevolent to a fault 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

mrangelmeg -- [noun]: A poltergeist sent back in time to change the course of history forever 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

hat tip to Ironic Catholic for the link and the laugh.

Pax

Why Mommy Carefully Chooses Which Books Angelbaby Reads

Because This trash passes for Children's Literature.


It was bad enough that Ted Kennedy wrote a children's book.

Then Madonna thought she had to get her two cents worth in the Children's Literature genre.


And even before that we had this forced into our libraries as a "forward thinking piece of literature".


So, when the angelbaby wants to buy new books, we go together to get them so that I can "help" her to make good decisions.

Besides, angelbaby's mommy will never be a Democrat so long as they continue to vote for a woman's right to kill her unborn child for any reason. Any other stance they take has no moral value if they can't get that simple decision right.

Hat tip to Korrectiv for the first link.


Pax

High Class Art?

Just when I thought things couldn't get any more messed up in the world I read a story like this one.


What next? Velvet Elvises for millions?

hat tip to mrangelmeg for the link.


Pax

Milestones Reached

I met with my advisor this morning and I am set to register for my penultimate class in my Masters Degree program.

I am going to take a class this Spring Semester at Saint Meinrad on Monday and Thursday mornings. Which will mean a commute, but it is the only way to get the class I need and not have to take two philosophy classes at the same time (every other weekend) next summer. It will mean taking a class which will be mostly seminarians except me. and having to trust that the weather will cooperate, but I am praying that I have a good experience.


After that I will have a class in the summer in Indianapolis, and then a final in the fall and I will be done.

Who would have thought that I would be so close to this goal? I am sure that when I began this journey way back in the fall of 2003 graduation was very far from my mind and here it is right around the corner!

Who knows what I will be doing with my degree, but from where I sit now the future looks filled with promise, and I am very excited about the opportunities I have to explore.

Keep me in your prayers, after all these last two classes are both Philosophy classes. I may just die before I get through them.

Pax

I'm in a Flannery State of Mind

We have had a month around here.

Car trouble like you wouldn't believe. I just bought a new car to replace the car that was hit and now my new car is in the shop because I found out that the heater doesn't work. Lucky for me that the place I purchased it from is willing to take it in and make things right for me.

But, just when my car worries are getting worked out, my husband's car is doing strange things again (and I mean really strange). So, lucky for me I bought a car big enough to hold the entire family.

God's grace isn't warm and fuzzy, sometimes it is dark and disruptive. That is just what the woman after my own heart Flannery was always trying to tell people with her fiction. God loves us and when we love Him that doesn't make our lives perfect it just means that we aren't alone in our troubles.

So, we are off to try to get our car situations worked out. God is good, all the time. Even when we have to pick up one car, just to take the other one to the shop.

Pax

Proof

A Franciscan, a Benedictine, and a Dominican were discussing which Order God loved best. The debate was becoming very, very heated. They each had extremely valid points in their favor, and they decided that there was only one way that they could ever get a definitive answer. They would write a letter to God, and let Him decide which Order was the one He preferred above all others in the world.

A few days after they sent their letter they received a reply on beautiful vellum stationary. It was written in the most majestic script any of them had ever beheld and this is what it read:

My Dear Children,

You are all cherished members of my
household, and I love each and every one of you equally. Please stop your
petty bickering and get back to the good work that you should be
doing.

Your All Forgiving Father

God SJ

Pax

Children of Men

WARNING: This Trailer made me cry,

I hope the movie lives up to the preview . . .






h/t to Mike at The Propaganda Machine for the link

Voticons

Those little emoticons just not expressive enough for the feelings you have about your ballot choices this election? The Curt Jester has come to the rescue with

Voticons to fill the bill.

my personal favorite, and the sentiment I wish to leave you with after my foray into that sanctum sanctorum, the voting booth in my precinct in Indiana this wonderful day . . .



It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged." G.K. Chesterton


Way to go Jeff, the man with the courage to say what we all think.

Pax

All Creatures Great and Small

One of the best things about living out here in the 4.5 acre woods is that on occasion we are visited by a sight like the one I got this morning. I woke up at about 6 a.m. and went out to the kitchen for a glass of water. Just outside the back of the house, as peaceful as could be was a young buck, much like the one in this picture. He was wide awake and just peacefully sitting there.

I tried to take a picture of him with my digital camera, but even on the night settings I couldn't get an image through the glass of the back door. I was afraid that if I tried to open the door I would spook him away.

We have seen as many as three deer at one time in the yard which can be both really cool and a bit frightening when you drive onto the driveway late at night and they run in front of the car. We are very careful of them. Many a deer has been hit on the highway near our house. In fact we noticed a dead deer in the field next door just yesterday. I sure hope it wasn't a companion of the one from the yard this morning.

I think deer are such beautiful animals, and I don't mind at all sharing my yard with the occasional one. Though we do have a suspicion that they feast on the goldfish in the pond on occasion. I don't think mrangelmeg envisioned his pond as a feeding station for wild deer.

Who would have thought that a city girl like me would learn to love the country enough to appreciate the occasional deer in her yard? Certainly not me.

God is good, all the time.

Pax

Beware: Your Pink Ribbon Might be Supporting Abortion

This Article was very eye opening for me.

I have always thought of the Susan G Koman Foundation as being on the front lines of the fight for women's health, but I refuse to support any organization that will be so short sighted as to give my donation for breast cancer research to an organization that is involved in any way in the abortion industry as Planned Parenthood is.

I have, in the past thought about giving to this foundation, but for one reason or another something has always come up and my money has always gone to another cause. Now I am very happy that I didn't support them. I want a cure for breast cancer, but not at the expense of the lives of unborn children.

Pax

I Found It!

Praise God, I found a car I actually a) like and b) can afford. It is a one owner Ford Taurus Wagon that is low mileage and looks great for being 9 years old.

Now if I can just go pick it up tomorrow without massive amounts of buyers remorse setting in. I think that the only thing worse than having to purchase a car is having to purchase a dress for a wedding and I am speaking of not the bride's dress, just a dress to wear to a formal wedding that I think looks good on me.

I know this is the car I want, it feels like the right decision. I am so glad I don't have to look anymore.

Pax

If I had a Champagne Bottle . . .

who am I kidding, if I had a bottle of champagne I would drink the stuff.

Anyway. I want to introduce all of you to a new blog in the Catholic Blogosphere:


The Speakin' Deacon

which is hosted by none other than my guest blogger Deacon John. He has begun with an awesome homily for All Saints Day. And I hope that you will all subscribe to his feed so that you don't miss a word that flows from the gifted mind of this awesome man. He certainly was led to the vocation of Deacon so that he could honor us with his ability to preach.

I have been blessed to hear a few of his homilies in person. I only wish that his blog was podcast equipped, because as good as they are written out, they are truly written to be preached and they are very powerful when you hear them preached.

I will be sad to lose him from this site, but I realize that it is a far far better place to which he has gone. (okay that was a bit hokey, but I am tired this afternoon).

add him to your blogroll, subscribe to his feed, be blessed by his gift of preaching, and let him become one of your friends.

Pax

All Souls Day

Wis 3:1-9
Rom 5:5-11
Jn 6:37-40

I have to admit, I worry. I worry about lots of things, most of them completely out of my control. Some worries are irrational, some are understandable, but almost none of them are things I can control. I worry about my daughter, my wife, my mother, my sister, my brother, my friends, you get the picture. I worry, and that brings us to today, All Souls Day, the day we remember all of those who have gone before us. Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of All Saints, everyone who has made it to the bigs, whether we know them or not. Today we celebrate everyone, especially those whose disposition is, shall we say, unknown. And that makes me worry. All of us have lost people close to us, people we loved, but people, human beings, subject to all of the frailties and failings that being human can mean. That leads to worry, one of those worries about something that I have absolutely no control over. I don’t have any control, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing I can do. There is much I can do because I can pray. I can pray for those who have gone on before; I can pray that they reach the ultimate glory. I pray because I love (yes love, not loved) them, and want only for them to be with God, to enjoy the perfect peace and love that is Heaven. I pray so that one day they can pray for me, who will undoubtedly need their help and a great deal more. I pray and I worry, but I also find comfort, comfort in today’s Gospel. Jesus says “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” Later Jesus says “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” Everyone who believes, not everyone who is perfect, not everyone who is without fault. God wants us, all of us. Sure, we can still mess it up, but God still wants us, all of us. I find that thought very comforting indeed. Hope for me, hope for those I love, hope for all of us is there, there in the boundless love of God. Maybe today I can worry just a little less.
Deacon John
Feast of All Souls
Nov. 2, 2006

Haloween, All Saints, Day of the Dead, etc

We had three Dr's in the house for Halloween this year. Daughter number 1 was Dr. House, Daughter number 3 was Dr. Who (number 4 or 5 I can't remember) and the angelbaby was Dr. Allison Cameron from the show House.

Son was Samurai Jack, and Daughter number 2 settled for a plain old vampire. She put her costume together in about ten minutes.

Today for all saints the kids and I went to Mass at the Campus Newman Center because our parish doesn't have a Mass this evening for the Holy Day. It was a really nice mass. We have Dominican Priests here at our Newman Center and they have brought a very interesting viewpoint to our community.

Tomorrow I will celebrate Day of the Dead by searching for a replacement vehicle, as the insurance company has decided that my car had too high mileage for them to warrant doing the fix after all so they declared it a total loss and paid me off. Sigh. Is there a patron saint of used cars? I could sure use his help about now.

I just hope I don't end up being dead one after spending three days looking for a replacement vehicle, I am exhausted already and have only been at it two days as it is.

Pray for me.

Pax

Angelmeg's Civics Lesson for This Week

h/t to Suzanne for the link, check out the other Fr. Pavone Comercials on YouTube by clicking on the video above. Every K of C Council in the country should be paying to run these in their local markets between now and election day.

Pax

A Pretty Good Weekend for Sports

In the angelmeg household anyway.

First our Beloved Cardinals won the World Series in just five games. My favorite fan poster of the series was the one that said Experts are Idiots because all of the pundits had the Tigers winning the series and some even said it would be a Tiger sweep.

Then yesterday IU beat Michigan State in Football. And it wasn't just a squeak by win in the last second, they dominated the entire game and won with a 46-21 final score. We were working the concession stand so we could only watch the small monitor posted in the concourse, but it sure looked like a good game, and it sounded like the fans were having a great time.

And Finally, tonight our Colts kept their title of Undefeated, and the best clutch team in the league by defeating Denver 34-31 in one of the tensest games I have ever watched them play this year. I love Peyton Manning, I am also a big fan of Jeff Saturday, the center.I am really beginning to love Adam Venatieri. That man can really kick them when we need them. He has a lot of poise and has come in to win a few really close games for us this year.

So, needless to say the sports fans in the angelmeg household are pretty happy bunch. And we didn't even watch a golf tournament which probably would have really made the weekend perfect.

Pax

...was blind, but now I see

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary time
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52

There is an old saying, be careful of what you ask for, you might get it. It seems odd, but sometimes the very thing we want the most is the thing that disappoints us the most. I remember way back in a freshman psychology class reading about a study done of people who were born blind gaining their sight. This group of individuals had always been blind, they had never had sight. Through a surgical procedure they were able to see for the first time. Surprisingly, the study found that almost all of them reported being disappointed. Gaining their sight was not the euphoric experience they thought it would be, they felt let down. Their expectation of what the world would look like did not match the reality of the world. Never having seen before, I’m not sure what they expected, but as we know the world can be a dull, dingy place, not always bright, cheerful and wonderful. They got the one thing they wanted, but it wasn’t what they though it would be.
Outside of Jericho waited a man named Bartimaeus, a man blind from birth. He waited for the coming of a man named Jesus. He had heard of this man, of his great healing powers, and he waited. All Bartimaeus wanted was to see. Nothing else mattered, nothing else, he thought, could matter as much in his life as gaining the ability to see. So he waited, waited for Jesus, waited for the hope of sight. When Jesus approached Bartimaeus boldly called out to him, “Son of David, have pity on me.” People tried to quiet him, to make him, go away, to keep him from bothering Jesus, but he would not stop. Seeing was the only thing that mattered, and Jesus was the one who could make that possible. So Bartimaeus called out, until Jesus said “bring him to me.” When Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted Bartimaeus did not hesitate, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus then said “go your way, your faith has saved you.” And for the first time in his life, Bartimaeus could see. We don’t know what his reaction to sight was, but it must have been positive because the scripture says he followed Jesus on the way. Bartimaeus may not have been disappointed. Yes, he was able to see for the first time, but more than that, he heard the words Jesus said to him, “Go your way, your faith has saved you.” Your faith has saved you, not your sight, sight is only secondary, secondary to being saved, saved from blindness, physical blindness, and the blindness that keeps us from seeing Jesus, and ourselves as Jesus sees us. We who seek to follow Jesus are a lot like Bartimaeus, we are blind and calling out to the Son of God to allow us to see. Jesus answers us as he answered Bartimaeus, and we can see. But like those blind from birth who suddenly gain sight, we’re disappointed. Disappointed because what we can see isn’t necessarily what we want to see. We are given the power to see, the power to see ourselves as we truly are, and all too often it’s not a pretty picture. We expected brightness, light, glory. What we get is ourselves, our faults, our failings. What a disappointment. We want light, we want glory, we want to be free from our faults, we want it to get easier. What we forget is all of what Jesus said to Bartimaeus, and to us. Go your way, your faith has saved you. Faith, that is what matters. It is our faith that makes it possible for us to ask for sight. It is our faith that allows us to see who we are. Faith opens our eyes to ourselves, but it also opens our eyes to God, to the God who grants us that faith, and that sight, and the grace to use that sight to change. The greatest gift we can get is the sight that faith gives us, the sight to see our faults, and the faith to repent of them. Seeing doesn’t make it easy, it just makes it possible. We must be like Bartimaeus, we must be persistent. Keep calling out, keep asking for the power to see, and the grace to act on that vision. Keep calling, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”

Deacon John Simons
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Oct. 29, 2006

Venti Creator Spiritu, No Room!

Check Out Ironic Catholic for a look at the newest deadly sin. Finally something of which I can speak with authority.

Pax

Mental Pause Moment #2 The Hair Dilemma

I have never had the greatest hair. I have always envied women who have full bouncy beautiful hair. Mine is thin, fine and wispy on a good day.

Unfortunately, since this menopause adventure has begun two things have changed. Now my very fine hair is even more dry, and it is even beginning to fall out! What is up with that?

I mean really, if hair has to start falling out of my body I can think of a few more desireable places for it to be gone from than the top of my head for goodness sake. I would love to never ever have to shave my legs again, why can't menopause cause the hair on my legs to fall out? I ask you?

But, alas no, I stand in the shower and watch as the precious strands come out each time I wash my hair. I have taken to using slightly more expensive shampoos, (believe me, I am the discount queen when it comes to health and beauty products) hoping desperately that I will find one that will stop the thinning.

I would hate to think that someday I will have to start using something more drastic.

For now I will stick to prayer, does anyone know who the patron saint of hair loss is?

Pax

Mental Pause Moment #1 Thermostats: internal and external

Is it me or is it hot/cold in here . . .

Why is it that a woman's thermostat suddenly goes kaput during this time in her life?

I used to always be cold and to joke about how nice it would be to have hot flashes so that occasionally I would get to be warm for a change. Boy was I mistaken.

Now instead of being predictably cold 99% of the time all year round, I am freezing cold one minute, then just when I have adjusted my clothing or the room temperature to make my self feel warm enough so I can stop thinking about how I feel, I will have a hot flash and be sweating my head off.

It is the worst at night. I have a hard time finding sleeping attire that is comfortable because I tend to be freezing when I go to sleep, but then wake up a few hours later in a pool of sweat because my temperature has risen a couple hundred degrees while I am asleep. I get tons of exercise just shoving the covers on and off at night.

So, throughout all of this I have been pondering which would be worse, a hell that is cold or hot. (Hoping with all my heart in a loving and merciful God who will not allow me to send myself there, but catch me on the wrong day getting hit by a bus and all bets are off!)

Having been too cold for most of my life, and now just recently having experienced the too hot moments I still think that a cold hell would be worse. That is unless in the hot hell one were unable to sweat. hmmmm, any thoughts?

At least I know that eventually my little experiment in thermostat control issues will work itself out. Maybe when it is all over my body will have figured out how to be normal temperature. Wouldn't that be a treat?

Hey, it could happen.

Pax

Crisis Averted

So I took my poor battered car in to the shop today and now I am driving a rental car for the duration.

I was a bit concerned that I would have a difficult time finding a rental car in parking lots. I had visions of myself using the panic button more often than I care to think about and embarrassing my kids thoroughly because I couldn't for the life of me remember where the heck I had parked the rental car.

Well, I don't think I will have much trouble finding the car I got, it is the most disgusting color of neon blue that it practically glows. I will be able to spot it from at least three rows away!

Which just goes to show you:

God is good, all the time.

Pax

What is "Perfection"?

This is a very eye-opening video from Dove. I haven't worn makeup in years, partly because I can't be bothered, and partly because I like the way I look, and don't think I need to add to God's handiwork.






h/t to Tony at Catholic Pillow Fight for the link.

Pax

MentalPause Moment Alerts

A note to my loyal male readership.

I am a woman entering menopause, and from time to time I
will feel the need to blog about how this time in my life affects me,
physically, mentally and spiritually.

I offer no apology for these posts,
but I will, in an effort to warn you, begin each of these posts with the above
heading so that you can skip them if you so choose.

But, if you have a wife, mother, daughter, sister, secretary,

insurance agent, dentist, doctor, librarian, or bank teller

who happens to be a woman you just might want to read these

for the information into the mystical world of the mentalpausal mind.

It can be a very scary place, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

The Management

Pax

Church Etiquette

Never, ever, ever . . .



answer your cell phone in church. Even if it rings before Mass starts.



I kid you not, this actually happened this morning at Mass, a woman actually answered her cell phone, had a conversation and hung up right there in her pew. I was so shocked.


Pax

Who Needs "Kung Fu Grip" . . .

When you can have "walk on water" action?







H/t to God Spede Ye Plough for the Link

Pax

Another Hilarious Day at The Office

So I have admitted before that I am an absolute fan-natic of the NBC Show The Office.

I watched the webisodes this summer with the patience of an addict waiting for the weekly fix every Thursday. I will even admit to checking back on Wednesdays just to see if they might have done me a solid and put up a webisode a day early!

My 20 year old daughter bought seasons 1 and two on DVD, saving me the expense (praise the Lord) so I have been watching the deleted scenes, bloopers reels and listening to the commentary reels. It was from the cast commentary on one of the episodes that I found out that Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam, has a Myspace page.

I joined Myspace a few weeks ago to read the Secret Public Journal of one of my favorite comedians from the Bob and Tom Show, Mike Birbiglia, so now I have access to Jenna Fischer's blog, along with a few other of the cast members of The Office!!

One of my favorite cast member MySpace pages is Toby (is Paul). Paul Lieberstien, who plays Toby on the show is an amazing actor and comedy writer.

One of my favorite entries on his MySpace blog is:

A note to would be identity thieves . . .

prepare to not get laid.

He also has a Book Title of the Month Club that is really funny.


Anyway, Now I don't have to wait for Thursdays to indulge my Office addiction, I have many, varied outlets for the funny I need.

Pax

Better Smells, Bells, and Names: Ironic Reasons 70-61

Ironic Catholic has posted the next ten Ironic reasons to be Catholic

and these ten are full of smells bells and names.


Enjoy.

Pax

GPS for the Really Paranoid

now that is what I call nagging!

Pax

Homily for Tuesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time

Sometimes current events really drive what needs to be said...

Tuesday of the 28th Week
In Ordinary Time
Galatians 5: 1-6
Luke 11: 37-41

Here goes Jesus, jumping on the poor Pharisees again. Reading this and some other passages one could begin to get the idea that the Pharisees were really bad people. They weren’t really. They certainly didn’t see themselves as bad. They were the interpreters of the Law. For the Pharisees, indeed for Judaism, one was justified in the eyes of God by observance of the Law. So keeping the Law, the proper interpretation of the Law, was essential if one wanted to be a good person, if one hoped to be justified in the eyes of God. Their problem was that for them the Law had practically become an idol, it was their identity. The observance of the Law was how they defined themselves. Jesus was pointing out to them that they had become so wrapped up in the Law that they had practically forgotten the Lawgiver. Faith had become the rules, not the relationship. Jesus was telling them that they were Jews in name only, giving the appearance of faith, but without the substance. They only looked good, they were, in the strict sense of the word, hypocrites. Events of the last couple of weeks, one event in particular, made me see this passage from Luke in a somewhat different way. A man entered a one room Amish schoolhouse. He intended to kill the girls there, for whatever demented reasons he had. In reading about this tragedy I found that the oldest girl there, all of eleven, in an effort to buy time for the younger girls asked the man to kill her first. Then the second oldest girl asked that he kill her next, all in an effort to save the younger ones. What amazing courage! Self-sacrifice that is almost completely foreign to our society. This was a sacrifice that can only come from a faith that knows no limit. Later, after the tragedy had ended, as the Amish community buried their children, they held not just a memorial service, but a service of forgiveness. Not a service asking God to forgive the juvenile sins of their dead children, but a service asking God to forgive the man who killed their children. Forgive the man who killed their children. The news media were stunned, amazed by this action. Many of us were amazed, I was amazed, and I should not have been. I was amazed by their faith, by their willingness to live the faith they profess. I was amazed, and I was ashamed that I was amazed. Then it occurred to me, I am, we are, the Pharisees. We call ourselves Christian, we strive to look Christian, we strive to appear Christian in the eyes of others, but what are we on the inside? Do we really believe what we claim to believe? Are we Christian in name only? We walk around with our WWJD bracelets, but would we really do what Jesus would do? Jesus would have done just what that Amish community did, Jesus DID what that Amish community did. They were living the faith they profess. This quaint, odd group that refuses to join the 21st century lived the faith we claim. I shudder to think of what the reaction might have been had that man gone into one of our schools. We would have demanded trial the next day with the execution immediately following, with too many of us “Christians” volunteering to pull the switch.
I was amazed, and I am ashamed. I am a Pharisee. May God grant us the grace to live the faith we profess.

Deacon John Simmons
Tuesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Oct. 17, 2006

When it Rains . . .

Last Wednesday my car was rear-ended in a rainstorm. I have some substantial damage to the rear bumper, but I am fine. My insurance company finally tracked down the insurance company of the young man who hit me and I will soon be getting the damage to my car fixed, I hope.

Tonight, my dear son, who has only been driving for less than a month was driving his truck in the twilight on a rainy four lane street following my husband who was taking his mother's car to the shop, and somehow got distracted and swerved into the other lane and was in an accident. He is fine, but his truck is damaged beyond repair probably.

I feel worse for his confidence behind the wheel than for his driving ability. The poor kid only got his licence a few weeks ago at the age of 22. I think he probably just wasn't ready for the conditions.

Our agent is going to love us now. Oh well, that is why we have insurance.

Please pray for my son, that he will be able to move forward from this and regain his confidence and hopefully get behind the wheel of a car again and drive soon. I know that an accident early in my driving career scared me away from driving for nearly 12 years.

Pax

Your Weekly Shot of B16: Where Your Treasure Should Be Stored

From the Homily of Canonization Mass on Sunday at which he canonized four saints:

"If man puts his trust in riches in this world

he does not attain the full meaning of life or authentic joy."

"On the contrary, if, trusting in the word of God,

he denies himself and his properties for the kingdom of Heaven,

he seems to lose much, but in reality gains everything," the Pope said.

"The saint is precisely that man or woman who,

responding with joy and generosity to Christ's call,

leaves everything to follow him," the Holy Father said.

The Pontiff added: "Earthly riches occupy and preoccupy the mind and heart.

"Jesus does not say that they are evil,

but that they separate us from God if they are not 'invested' so to speak,

in the kingdom of heaven, if they are not spent for those who are in poverty."

Read the entire article here along with articles about the four saints.

Again, if you do not get the Zenit daily dispatch in your email inbox, take a few seconds after you read the article to sign up to receive it.

Pax

Amazing Find

Thanks to new electronic image enhancement equipment we can now see what God was giving to Adam in the Michelangelo painting on the Sistine Chapel ceiling:


go here to see the enhanced image.

Ed Peters gets the hat tip for this one. I am really glad I wasn't drinking a cup of coffee or I might have a really messy computer keyboard and screen this morning.

Pax

What I'm Not Missing

Mrangelmeg and I took his cousin Lilli to St Meinrad with us on Friday evening for a couple of functions that happened to be going on that evening in conjunction with this semester's lay student class weekend. As I have said before I am happily not taking a class this semester, but these two particular functions were ones that were not to be missed.

The first was the dedication of a painting that was donated to the school by the students of Fr Damien Dietlein OSB, the Old Testament Professor there. The picture is called Exodus and is of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, painted by an Ethiopian artist who currently lives in South Dakota. The entire enterprise was done as a surprise to Damo (our name for Father) and he was genuinely touched and surprised by the affair.

The other activity was the inaugural session of Theology in the Round, a session intended to bring Seminarians, Lay Students and Alumni together for an evening of discussion surrounding a topic chosen by a guest speaker. The evening's speaker happened to be another of my professors: Fr. Denis Robinson OSB whom I had for Early Church History and had been telling mrangelmeg about for months. His topic was John Henry Newman and Catholic Education. It was a bit more lecture than discussion, but very interesting none-the-less. I really wanted mrangelmeg to have a chance to experience Fr. Denis because he is a force with which to be reckoned.

After that discussion we spent some time in the little bar on campus which is called the Unstable ( Benedictines take a vow of stability, so they call the bar, the Unstable, get it?) visiting with all my friends who are there for class this weekend while I am not. I do miss them so very much, though I don't miss class at all. I even had a chance to talk to the artist of the painting, which was really cool, they flew him in for the unveiling, but his plane was delayed and he didn't get there till later, but he was going to be there for the weekend.

We had a wonderful time. And we got to see the Extreme Makeover Home Edition house in St. Meinrad (the town) as we drove to the Monastery. How cool was that?

I have to admit, knowing that those of my friends who were there for Fr. Denis' class on Creed were having a quiz on Heresies in the early church on Saturday morning I was more than happy to be returning home Friday night.

Pax

A Well Ordered Place for My Passion

So I started drinking wine with dinner about two years ago (for the medicinal qualities, among other things). Since then I have purchased wine and just set the bottles on the kitchen counter. All the while I have been searching for a wine rack, but have never quite found the one I wanted and have been unable to settle for something I really didn't want just because I needed someplace to put the clutter of wine bottles on my counter.

I was really beginning to get frustrated, and to wonder if I would ever find something that I really liked. It so happened that this past week we had mrangelmeg's cousin Lilli visiting us from Taos NM, and since I was being the gracious hostess, I bowed out of working the IU vs Iowa Football game concession stand (Go Hoosiers, what a win!) and Lilli and I drove up to Oliver Winery for a wine tasting and tour.

We had a wonderful time and while we were waiting in line with our bottles of wine to purchase (because you can't just taste Gewurztraminer and Viongier that is that amazing without purchasing a few bottles to take home!) I happened to be standing right next to the absolutely perfect wine rack to match my dining room table and chairs.

So, not only did I come away from the day with a couple of nice bottles of wine and a really cool wine opener, I also have a very nice place to store them. And to make everything just perfect, Lilli bought me a wine journal so that I can keep track of the wines I like and keep notes about the ones I am not so fond of so that I can keep them all straight in my head.

All in all I would say it was a very very nice day.

Another I Hope Humorous Entry

My creation
Originally uploaded by angelmeg.

I hope this is humorous, the inspiration of it comes from my time praying in front of the abortion clinic here in town. I am considered to be doing "terrorist" activity and this is my weapon. It got me to thinking that if we all were praying together it really would be a weapon of mass destruction to the abortion industry.

Sorry about the picture quality, I don't know how to get it clearer.

Pax

My Creation (Ha)

My creation
Originally uploaded by angelmeg.

Here is my entry in The Lapped Catholic's Contest.


Pax

A Note to My Friends

I hate it when people post bogus warnings,

and I have even done it myself a couple times...

but this one is real, and it's important.

So please warn all of your friends you feel needs the heads-up.

If someone comes to your front door saying

they are checking for ticks due to the change in weather

and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up,

DO NOT DO IT!!

IT IS A SCAM!!

They only want to see you naked.

I wish I'd gotten this yesterday.

I feel so stupid!

Borrowed from the Weeks of Fun Newsletter annweeks@insightbb.com


Pax

Geography Meme

Ok, this seems a bit odd, but I'll play along...
1. A Place where you have been and your favorite thing there:
Not being a great world traveler, I haven't been many places, but my favorite city is San Francisco. I was overwhelmed by the people, the diversity of cultures, languages, customs, it was an amazing place I would be happy to live in, if I could afford it! Any place where you need a jacket in the last week of June is ok with me

2. A Country you would like to visit and why:
Too easy, Ireland. Got to see the ould sod. Not all of my ancestor came from there, but enough that I claim it as mine.

3. A Place from History you would like to visit and why:
Any place in history? A tough choice. How about Jerusalem around the year 30C.E. I can't think of many more exciting places to be.

4. A Place/Subject you know a lot about:
Well now I know more about modern philosophy than I ever wanted to...
but something I do know a little bit about is the history of the Order of Deacons in the Church, its rise, fall, and restoration. Call it occupational narcissism.

5. A Place you would like to learn more about:
I would love to know more about Ireland, especially the history of Ireland. I know a little (too little) but i would love to learn more. A facsinating people and a fascinating place. Maybe in my spare time...

6. A fictional place you would like to visit:
As much as I would like to come up with something erudite and learned, the one fictional place I would really like to see is the bridge of the starship Enterprise, Next Generation version, of course. I'm as disappointed in me as you are. Oh well...