Stations of the Cross for Your Family. . . Plus 20% off

One way I have involved my children in Lenten devotions this year is by praying the Stations of the Cross each Friday.  Holy Heroes offers a Stations of the Cross CD that is for the whole family-small children, older children, and adults alike.  Last year Dominic began listening and following along with a Stations of the Cross coloring book that the Holy Heroes website also sells.  This year he can easily follow along, coloring a little of each station as we pray.  For younger children, I suggest making a copy of one page from the coloring book for them to use for the length of the entire CD.   Younger children can also learn or join in as best they know to the 3 prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be).  

                             

                                                                    holyheroes.com

This CD is easy for kids to relate to because children's voices are heard in each station.  Children introduce each of the fourteen stations of the Cross, they lead the 3 prayers mentioned above as well as offer a prayer related to each station.  These prayers I find applicable for both children and adults in daily life.  The prayer after the first station asks the Lord for help to tell the truth even when it is hard to do so.  After the third station, they pray for endurance after failure and help not to complain.  A simple explanation (spoken by an adult) is given of each station which also includes background music and sound.  For example, during certain stations you can hear the jeering crowd.  Jesus being nailed to the Cross, strong winds, and an earthquake can be heard during the 11th and 12th Stations.  The CD is presented in such a way to keep (most) kids and adults in prayerful reflection throughout.  This CD includes English and Spanish versions.  

Holy Heroes offers other CDs including the Mysteries of the Rosary, lives of saints, and Read Aloud books.  The site includes free activities for kids during seasons of the Church Year (they have a video of each Gospel each Sunday this Lent), activities to download, and you can even listen to CD samples.  Check out their website http://www.holyheroes.com/  to see all they have to offer!  

Plus, Holy Heroes has given all my readers a one time coupon code for 20% off most of their products.  The online code is sweet20. This offer ends April 1, 2013.  

Musings of a Mom 2/10-16/2013

News Feed:  For those of you who have not seen or met our family's newest addition, here is Tessa Rose, born January 10th.  Weighing in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces, she was 18 inches long.  We are blessed!

A special thanks to family and friends for their prayers, support, gifts of time, talent, and treasure both before and after her birth.  May God bless you.  Also, thank you to her patron saints: St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Rose of Lima, and all the Saint Teresa's up there!  And in thanksgiving to the Infant of Prague for answering my prayers!
                                                        
          Read the history of the Infant of Prague here and pray the novena here.

I'm Pondering:  the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.  My first reaction was much like most others'-surprised/shocked, but my second response can be made clear in my FB post that day:

"Dear holy Father,
We love you and you, as the leader of Christ's Church, will be truly missed! May we follow your example this Lenten season and discern God's will in our lives despite ridicule, obstacles, and a society that proclaims power, money, and pleasure as its gods. Thank you for your leadership and all your future prayers for us, the Church Militant!"
                                                         

Here are my extended thoughts as I have contemplated, listened or read what others have had to say:

Courage, humility, and acceptance:  It takes a noble man to realize he cannot carry out the duties once entrusted to him.  The Pope declared to the world that he has accepted his human limitations and surrendered to the will of God.  He hasn't given up, lost hope, or done some careless act.  Such humility to see yourself as God sees you and courage to admit it.  

We will always have a Pope who will shepherd the needs of the flock in truth and faith.  The Church is guided by Christ and the Holy Spirit who gives the chosen successor of St. Peter the gift of infallibility (in matters of faith and morals). In this Year of Faith , may we remember that our faith is not on the Pope, but, instead, on Christ Himself.  

I can't help to compare, contrast rather, this man with the man behind the State of the Union Address. Here is what Speaker of the House John Boehner had to say about the President's handling of the country's deficit:  “I don’t think he has the guts to do it. He doesn't have the courage to take on the liberal side of his own party – never has.”  It takes courage to fix a problem-whether yours to begin with or not, but no courage or humility is needed to blame others.  It takes courage to keep promises, not just make them.  It takes humility to recognize the power one has in leadership and to do what's best for a nation without selfish pride or desires getting in the way.  

Here are quotes from the President's speech after the Sandy Hook shootings:  "If there’s even one step we can take to save a child, then surely we have an obligation to try." Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?” For a man so strongly convicted to protecting our children, why is there no protection given to the unborn who also "have their entire lives ahead of them".  What makes that 1st graders life different now than it was 7 years ago in the womb?  And as he said in reference to making the care of our children the first task-"if we don't get that right, we don't get anything right."   Click here to view  pro-life video in response to President's speech regarding Sandy Hook shootings

I'm Praying: about what to do for Lent-I heard once that for Lent you should 1. choose one sin to work on-no doubt to get rid of in your life  2. choose one addition to your devotional lives 3. choose a penance in order to strengthen your will and grow in self-discipline (saying "no" to yourself so you can say "yes" to God) and 4. choose a worthy charity to give your time and/or money to.
This year I want to get Dominic involved.

Around the House:  Trying to get back into the groove of a daily household schedule.  All my meals and snacks I had froze before the baby was born are gone, so planning meals, mainly breakfast and supper takes place the night before (at least I try).  Prepping breakfast the night before sure makes the AMs more manageable with 3 hungry kids!   Besides cooking, it seems my day is filled with dishes, laundry, homeschooling, and feeding the 3 hungry kids!  

From the Kitchen:  Attempted a new recipe-rhubarb bread.  Kids liked it, but I wasn't thoroughly impressed.  **Note to self-don't try new recipe to give as birthday gifts.
Meatless Friday-Black beans and rice  I forgot just how much I like this dish and would consider it one of my comfort foods.  Even my husband who isn't a beans guy doesn't mind this.  Freshened up with avocado  fresh tomatoes and a squirt of lime and it makes me anxious for fresh summer fruits and vegies.   My husband prefers a poached egg on top.

Most Important Tasks:  Need to start Tessa's 1 year calendar.  Hallmark doesn't sell them anymore.  Decided to forego buying one on eBay  save some money and print off calendar from the internet.  Why do I think I'll scrapbook for my third child as I am years behind in putting pages together for my first two?

The Kids:
                                

Dominic: The countdown for Kindergarten screening has begun!  He is excited, but I don't think he fully knows what he's in for!

Joanna: Always wants to do schoolwork with her brother.  She wanted to play flashcards with me ( I am sure she thought it was the Memory game).   She stated the name of what was pictured and I told her what letter it started with.  We then put it to tune (this is how Dominic learned the sounds of letters).  For example A is for apple, a-a-apple.  They were all pictures that began with T, M, and L.  We had finished all the M  pictures and I was thinking of additional M words.  She would repeat after me.  I decided she wasn't fully comprehending after M is for mustard, m-m- mustard.  For she proceeded to say M is for ketchup, m-m-ketchup!
  She struggles with the Ls-they sound like Ws.  She made funny faces trying to mimic me as I showed her where her tongue should go in order to pronounce L.  Not too successful. She reawwy wiked watching Uncle Wuke pway basketball.    

Tessa: She's growing like a weed.  (note reference above to my 3 hungry kids)  She has always liked watching the others play and talk to her (even at 6 hours old when we brought her home-she looked at one and then the other as though she was saying "so this is who you are!")   Really giving big grins when talked to.  Not sure if she is beginning to bat at her toys in her bouncy seat or if she hits them by accident.
Thank you to those who gave me and let me "borrow their idea of journaling.  At this time in my life, I think this format will be easier to compile my thoughts and you will probably be seeing more of them than my usual posts.  Tell me what you think!  

Rockin' the Baby Bump

This post was written originally for myself, but I've added to it in order to share with others.  I decided that if it could save just one life or change just one hardened heart, it would be worth it.  I feel it necessary to give a short background before delving into some things that I don't normally share on a daily basis with just anyone. So here goes:  I grew up with parents who were certainly open to life-I have 1 sister and 5 brothers-one of whom I am 20 years older.  In high school I went monthly to the abortion clinic to pray and in college was president of the Ravens Respect Life Club.  I have twice attending the national March For Life on the anniversary of Roe v Wade in January, joining hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers praying and making a stand down the national mall and to the US Capitol.  In discovering my vocation in life, an Economics paper titled The Baby and Society, confirmed my inmost desire God planted in my heart.  When teaching, one of my favorite units in Religion was on Life and I loved passing out the Pro-Life bumper stickers to the kids to go home and stick on their vehicles (hope I didn't get anyone in trouble!)  And once married, Mary brought my prayer for a child to the Lord for we conceived a short time later and hence our son has a Marian name: Dominic.   

Update 01/10/18 Today my baby turns 5. FIVE!  My husband had me convinced that she was a boy and we only talked about boy names.  In early labor, as we walked the parish campus, I reminded him that there was a 50% chance it was a girl and we needed to have some name options.  We had Tessa Marie chosen for baby #1 (boy) who was born on Oct. 1st (feast day of St. Therese)  and used Marie for #2 baby's middle name.  So when he suggested Tessa Rose, after St. Therese the little flower,  I was most happy there was no for need discussion between contractions.  Shortly after she was born, I marveled at how God works in our lives.  As I was nesting the weeks before birth, I had placed a rose picture on my bedside table and changed out a wedding picture for a Mother Teresa picture in a prominent place in the house (never once thinking of any correlations at the time....again my husband had me convinced it was a boy).  Tessa is so lucky so has so many St. Theresas and St. Roses to intercede for her.  She is just like her mamma and has her favorites.... I love her smile when she sees "my saints" as she calls them.    

 

It was early May, and my husband and I were slightly dumbfounded and a little overwhelmed.  As we checked and double checked our chart, the signs of conceiving a child the previous month were not there.  But yet,  I showed all the signs of being pregnant.  There was such a mix of emotions, especially as this was not what we planned quite yet especially after two difficult births and not being sure the (then) littlest one was ready to be a big sister.

An Answer to A Prayer
As a mother of small children, often times prayers become simple.  For quite some time, my prayer after Holy Communion was this: "Lord, teach me to love."  After many months, God answered it in a slightly unexpected way.  What better way to learn to love than to bring forth life?  Love is not selfish.  It is always about another person.  It is a complete denial of oneself.  A child comes into this life entirely helpless-in need of food, shelter, warmth-but really can't we just sum it all up and say-in need of love?  The contraceptive mentality of today would say that this baby was a mistake. He or she is unwanted.  But when using Natural Family Planning (NFP), this baby of ours becomes our fiat, like Mary's, to God.  Our "yes, let it be done to me according to your will, O Lord."  I may not have thought I was ready and I was definitely surprised, but yet I love this baby forming inside of me-this little life is no accident!

We don't have children because "we are ready" or because  we think "they will make us happy".  (We must, however, exercise our gift of reason and prayerfully discern God's will in the matter if He is ready for us to conceive.)  We have children because God allows us to and thence we find ourselves enjoying true happiness that we otherwise would have never known.   A year ago, I began this blog and chose it's name really, I guess in looking back, mimicking my prayer-to teach me to love.   This Christmas, my greatest gift is the gift of my three children.

As you share this Christmas with your loved ones, I want to share this poem by Anita Robertson that I read many years ago.  Remember how Christ came into the world in order to transform it.  It is He who has made life special, unique, and holy no matter the circumstances.  We must remember that a child is a gift bestowed on us by God that they might know, love, and serve Him and one day be with Him in Heaven.  We are here to trust in Him and to do what He wills with our lives.  He has a plan for each of us-"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe!  Plans to give you a future full of hope!"  Jeremiah 29:11

When God wants something great done in this world, He doesn't dispatch a legion of avenging angels; neither does He call forth a whirlwind nor ignite the fuse of volcanic fireworks; no commandeering of troops into battle nor discharging zealous crusaders to holy causes.  He does not orchestrate the burst and boom of thunder nor display His fiery arrows' majesty across the sky to bring His purpose to pass. When God wants something great done in this world. . . He sends a baby and then. . . He waits.

I am so excited to discover God's unveiling plan He has for me and this new babe. God is good!

Dear Little One,

The time is very near to meet you,
and look into your eyes;
 hold you in my arms too
and sing you favorite lullabies.

Your very being means more to me 
than diamonds on a string;  
and my long awaited trip across the Tuscan sea.
I am so glad God brought you into being!

Finer than my Italian-made leather boots
or the latest fashion style.
I'm anxious to get to know you and your cahoots
and to greet your little smile!  

Oh!  How I await the future pitter-patter
of a third set of feet
mingled with all the household clatter.
All this my dream house on a hill could never beat. 

A higher degree or a job in the workplace   
nothing would compare
with another smiley face 
upon my bed when I awaken there!

For little one, you see,
even now each beat of my heart
and every breath I breathe 
says "I love you!"  "I love you!"  "I love you!"

                                               - Mom


                       


                 


"Every child is here to love and to be loved."  Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
                                                       

The Two Mothers

A lady was calling upon a friend whose two children were brought in during the call.  As they talked together the caller said eagerly, and yet with evidently no thought of the meaning of her words, "Oh, I'd give my life to have two such children."  And the mother replied with a subdued earnestness whose quiet told of the depth of experience out of which her words came," That's exactly what it costs!"


The most important person on earth is a mother.  She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral.  She need not.  She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral-a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body.  The Angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven.  Only a human mother can.  Mother's are closer to God the Creator than any other creatures.  God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation.  What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?
                                                                                  -Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

Frankenseeds

I'm sure becoming a new mom has always been a challenge: adjusting to a new schedule, feeding times, changing diapers, the correct way a baby should sleep. . .  But today there are many concerns lurking out there that could literally scare you right out of motherhood:

-pesticides and other chemicals sprayed on your food
-BPA in plastic bottles among other numerous things
-lead, pthlates as well as other chemicals found in toys
-off gassing of toxic fumes from furniture, mattresses, etc. in your indoor air, not to mention outdoor pollution
-toxins in your personal care products and cleaning products 
-aborted fetal DNA found in many vaccines society pushes
-the once FDA approved children's medicines that have been recalled
-rise of childhood diseases
-GMOs-Genetically Modified Organisms

I could go on, but just typing this list makes me shudder at all the hazards my family faces.  Many of these subjects are of debate, some many people work to avoid in their daily lives, and still others are unheard of or given no thought by many people.  October is Non-GMO month so I have chosen today to write about the first irreversible technology in human history: Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

What are GMOs?
First a little background-GMO's are organisms that are created when genes from one species are taken and forced into the DNA of another species.  This merging of DNA from different species (also called genetic engineering or GE, creates a plant, animal, bacteria, or viral gene that does not occur in nature or by traditional crossbreeding.  Almost all commercial GMOs are bred to withstand direct application of poison and/or produce their own poison.  In other words 1.  herbicide tolerant plants are those that live while weeds die when sprayed and 2. pesticide producing plants produce their own insecticide that opens up a bug's stomach when the plant is bitten and the bug dies.  GMOs can also be referred to as GM (genetically modified) or GE (genetically engineered) seed/food.

Why GMOs?
Genetically engineered food was to be the best technology to feed the world-it was to maximize yields, improve crop health, enhance nutrition and food quality, increase food safety, and reduce waste.  An increase in US exports  and food supply domination were foreseeable.  Farmers were attracted because GMO seeds were going to make it easier to kill weeds and increase their profit.

The Facts/We Want the Truth
Is feeding the world really the agenda?  Are people starving around the world because of not enough food production or because of lack of access, lack of money, or the lack of our society to share with one another?  Do the biotech companies simply want to control our food supply and make a buck. . . er, lots of bucks?  It seems greed and power are steering our fateful forks for none of the GMOs currently on the market offer increased yields, better nutrition, or improved lives for farmers.  Here are some examples:
    Exports and Food Yields
 1.The US has lost 99% of corn exports to Europe.  (Source)  Soy exports declined 70% in quantity and 44% in value since 1998.  (Source)  The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, and Technology (AASTD) reported that GM crop yields were non consistent and in some cases, they declined.  Sustainable non-GMO agricultural methods  in developing countries, on the other hand,  have conclusively yielded increases of 79% or higher.   The AASTD "determined that the current GMOs have nothing to offer the goals of reducing hunger and poverty, improving nutrition, health, and rural livelihoods and facilitating social and environmental sustainability.  (Source) 
      Crop Health and Waste Reduction
 2. There is a reduction in the use of herbicides on GM crops for the first few years.  But herbicides kill the beneficial microorganisms in the soils.  After a short amount of years, weeds become resistant (called "superweeds") and farmers must use more herbicides/pesticides.  In the US there are 325 million more pounds of pesticides applied to GM crops than their non-GMO counterparts.  There are currently 10,000 acres of cotton in Georgia now resistant to all herbicides.  There are now wanting to use 2,4-D-a component of Agent Orange.  (Genetic Roulette: the Gamble of Our Lives)   According to USDA data by the Center for Food Safety, farmers applied 4.9 million pounds of glyphosate (an active ingredient in Roundup) to soybeans in 1994.  This was the year before Roundup Ready seeds were planted in fields.  Gylphosate use by 2006, increased almost 20 fold, to 96.7 million pounds.  (Source)  (Source)
  Crop Health, Nutrition, and Food Quality/Safety
3.  Remember the loss of beneficial soil microorganisms?  Since the introduction of GM seeds there has been a dramatic increase in crop diseases. Sprayed plants are less healthy because of lack of nutrients in the soil, therefore the animals that eat them are nutrient deficient, weak, and sick.  We eat the plants and animals robbing ourselves of nutrients as well.  These residues end up in our bodies, "hugging" the nutrients and making them less available to us. (Genetic Roulette: the Gamble of Our Lives)   Roundup, for example, is  dangerous to our environment: plants, animals, water, and our soil.  It is linked to sterility, hormone disruption, birth defects, and cancer.  (Source)  (Source) (Source) (Source) 

   Food Nutrition and Safety 

4. "There are no human clinical trials and no agency that even attempts to monitor GMO-related health problems among the population," according to Jeffrey Smith in The Big GMO Cover-Up.   "Outside the carefully controlled laboratory setting, it is more difficult to confidently assign GMOs as the cause for a particular set of diseases. (Source)  The  Monsanto website, when answering questions about food safety, says there is no evidence to link the unsafe issues with GM food.  But the only people who have "proven" that GE foods are safe are the chemical companies that produce them.  The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) publicly condemned GMOs in our food supply calling them a "serious health risk".  It states that several animals studies reveal a long list of disorders including reproductive problems, immune system problems-including asthma, allergies, and inflammation, accelerated aging, organ damage, problems with the gastrointestinal systems, and dysfunction with regulation of cholesterol and insulin.  The AAEM wants the government to implement an immediate moratorium on all GM foods and has urged physicians to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients.  (Source)  Some doctors say that GE foods may be the reason for the increase in gastrointestinal problems.  Leaky guts in kids is also on the rise as well as allergic reactions and intolerance to foods.  (Genetic Roulette: the Gamble of Our Lives) 

 * GMO corn has been linked to significantly higher rates of tumors, organ damage and premature deaths in rats according to a November 2012 report published in Food and Chemical Toxicology.  

Even though there's no direct link because of the sly manipulation of the biotech industry, the increase in crop, animal, and human diseases in correlation with the introduction of GMOs speaks for itself.  I can honestly say that it's common knowledge that America is much sicker than it was 20 years ago and diseases, especially among the young, have increased.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, from 1994 to 2001, overall food related illnesses doubled. (Source)  I don't think it's ironic that the same health problems found in lab animals and livestock that have been fed GM foods are now on the rise in the US population.  Nor is it coincidence that when animals and humans stop eating GMOs, their health improves. (Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives) 

Why didn't we all know about GMOs?  It seems as if the biotech companies didn't want us to.  It was done without our knowledge or consent.  You see, FDA scientists warned that GE food was harmful, but the FDA boss was a former Monsanto attorney and later their vice president (and currently a top FDA czar.) (Source)   (Source)  The FDA doesn't require any studies and doesn't monitor any health issues linked to GMOs.  Our food supply has been given over to a private multinational corporation-the same corporation that gave us DDT and Agent Orange.  They own a good portion of our commercial seed.  Source

If GM food really was all the biotech companies claim, they wouldn't be patenting seeds, suing farmers, "hushing" those who speak against GMOs in such ruthless ways, or putting seed cleaners out of business. Farmers can no longer save their seeds for replanting, but have to buy new seed each year. (Source)  Even some farmers who don't plant GMO seed have been sued after their fields were contaminated by pollen or seed from someone else's GE crop that sprouted or volunteered.  Monsanto's website reads: "producing more, conserving more, improving lives.  That's sustainable agriculture and that's what Monsanto is all about."  It also states "the Challenge: Meeting the needs of today while preserving the planet for tomorrow " Monsanto's history, however, has angered environmentalists, health advocates, and small farmers.  Its records does not support their claim. (Source) 

Read Vanity Fair's article to learn more about the "grip" Monsanto has on America's food chain and it's "ruthless legal battles on American small farmers".   

 http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805

  Profits
5. And whose profits have increased?? In 1974, Roundup was patented by Monsanto.  Today, Monsanto sells Roundup and most GM seeds.  GMO seeds are nearly twice as much as conventional seeds.  (Source)  In India, Monsanto controls the cottonseed industry.  Millions of farmers were forced to plant Bt cotton.  Not only do workers now suffer from itching and rashes in Bt fields versus the non GM fields, but the animals that graze on the fields get sick and die.  Farmers invested and borrowed money  in the more expensive Bt seeds and the chemicals needed to go along with the seed.  Since Bt cotton is so unreliable, it has caused a high suicide rate. An Indian farmer commits suicide every 30 minutes and 85% have been linked to the high import costs of the purchase of seeds.  (Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives) (Source)
  Food Safety
6. GE seeds are laboratory-made and once released they cannot be recalled from the environment. (Source) The potential impact  of GMO contamination is huge.  GMOs cross pollinate and their seeds travel.  They are a threat to the health of future generations.  (Source) 
                                     

                                                       photo credit: http://momsforsafefood.net/2012/01/09/the-big-gmo-cover-up/

What's Modified?
1. soy
2. corn (not popcorn) but I will add that convenience  popcorn is "bathed" in GMOs
3. cottonseed (for oil)
4. Canola (for oil)
5. sugar beets (for sugar)
6. papaya (hawaiian and chinese)
7. zucchini
8. yellow crookneck squash
9. alfalfa (for hay)

There are only 9 genetically modified organisms, but over 70% of foods in the supermarket (mainly in processed foods) contain one or more GE ingredient. (Source) The list of GM ingredients is overwhelming and many can be tricky to find.  (Some examples include corn derivatives such as maltodextrin or hidden names of MSG such as hydrolyzed soy or vegetable protein, yeast extract or natural flavoring-and all its variations.)  Grab something out of your pantry or fridge.  Look over the ingredient list-I dare ya!  The challenge goes beyond packaged  food with a list of ingredients, however.  Think about the meat, eggs, and dairy products you consume. What did the animals supplying this food eat?

*Monsanto is getting approval for GM sweet corn.  I've also heard talk about genetically modifying apples so they don't turn brown, chocolate, bananas, I'm sure there's more.  

                                                         An anti-Monsanto crop circle in the Phillipines. 
                 
                                                     http://www.vanityfair.com/dam/politics/2008/05/poar03_monsanto0805.jpg   

Children and GMOs
Children are at the greatest risk.  They are more sensitive to GMOs because of their smaller body mass, higher metabolic rates and growing rates-therefore needing more food/nutrition, and they are more sensitive to toxins since they are not completely developed in certain areas and their immune system is not prepared for it. Children are likely to be exposed through many of their favorite foods: conventional cereals, snack bars, cookies, candy, sweet drinks, cold cuts, (processed) fruit snacks, crackers contain large amounts of these high risk ingredients.

Avoiding GMOs
1. buy/grow/raise organic foods/animals
2.Avoid the at risk ingredients all together
3.Read labels. Buy non GMO products.  (Currently the FDA does not require labeling of any GM ingredients.  However, The Institute for Responsible Technology has partnered with the Non-GMO Project  in labeling products that are GMO free.  Look for the Non-GMO Project Verified seal which certifies ingredients in a product have been tested.  They are a non profit, 3rd party verifier that backs up the claims the companies make about their products.  Check out their:
-website: nongmoshoppingguide.com
- free i-phone app: Shop No-GMO,
- booklet (available at their website and other locations)

Don't Give Up
There's still a chance for us to say goodbye to GMOs.  If more people are informed and reject GE foods, the U.S. can be like the more than 50 countries that allow labeling of GE foods.  In the European Union where labeling is required, there is almost no GM food in the stores, restaurants or in their fields. (Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives)   (note above how the US has lost a significant amount of exports to the EU).  There is a California (Nov) 2012 ballot to label GM food and there have been bills introduced in 19 states to label.  Watch this short video about proposition 37-the video Monsanto doesn't want you to see.   According to Urban Garden Magazine.com, most consumers say they would avoid GMO brands if given a choice once they realize the dangers of GM foods. (source)  There is hope.  If food companies see that GM ingredients are a sales liability they will be removed.  It is said that even if a small percentage of US consumers started avoiding GM brands, the millions of lost sales can force brands to remove GM ingredients.

Join the over 1.2 million people and sign this petition to the FDA, telling them we have a right to know what is being put into our food!

Coming Soon  

My GMO Story and Tips for Going GMO Free.  Stay posted!

I'd be happy to (try to) answer any questions you may have and would like requests for additional discussions on this topic!

Sources:
http://www.aaemonline.org/gmopost.html
http://archive.truthout.org/haitian-farmers-commit-burning-monsanto-hybrid-seeds59616
http://www.chrgj.org/publications/docs/every30min.pdf

http://www.ehow.com/about_6797745_toxicity-roundup-weed-killer.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_8582729_dangers-using-roundup.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_R._Taylor

Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives. Prod. Jeffrey M. Smith. 2012 Online video.  Assessed on 15 Oct. 2012.   http://geneticroulettemovie.com/

http://gmo-journal.com/2011/06/17/loss-of-biodiversity-and-genetically-modified-crops/

http://www.gmwatch.org/gm-firms/10558-the-worlds-top-ten-seed-companies-who-owns-nature

http://justfood.org/food-justice/understanding-terms

http://www.monsanto.com/food-inc/Pages/seed-saving-and-legal-activities.aspx

http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/pages/food-labeling.aspx
http://www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/Roundup-Weed-Killer-Toxicity.aspx
http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/07/usda-prepares-ground-dows-herbicide-sucking-crops
http://www.naturalnews.com/034847_Michael_Taylor_Monsanto_FDA.html
http://www.nongmoproject.org/consumers
http://www.organicitsworthit.org/quick/gmos-101

http://www.organicvalley.coop/why-organic/gmos/prop-37/

http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/the-ge-process

http://responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691512005637

http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2009/11/the-big-gmo-cover-up/2 http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805

Wallace, Rich.  "GMO Update: Consumer Consciousness of the Rise." Taste for Life Oct. 2012: 22.  

Tortillas, Tigers, and Terrible Twos

Our preschool curriculum is here!  Dominic had been waiting and begging me to begin his "schoolwork" as he calls it.  When it arrived he was all grins and was soooo excited as his pastime as of late has been coloring, painting, drawing, and asking how anything and everything is spelled.

Here he (they) are with the newly arrived materials.  

So my first year of back to teaching has begun. At the start, homeschooling seemed much easier than the conventional/traditional schooling I previously taught within.   It was a little tough getting into a routine, but things seemed to be going swell until...  

... well, I think the picture says it all.  Joanna definitely needs attention, wants to do everything her big brother does, and did I mention potty training and terrible twos??  So not only is there prep work for a little preschooler, there's also the "Now what will I have Joanna do while Dominic does his schoolwork?" question.

We are getting ready for week 6 and Dominic is doing quite well mastering new skills and reviewing old ones. In fact, even before officially beginning he was writing his numbers and spelling things like Dad, Mom, additional names of family members, map, ball, zoo on every paper in sight.  In fact, the other day at a garage sale, he started writing his name on the lady's price notebook.  That kid!

For a preschooler, mastering eye/hand coordination, and learning the tripod grasp while writing is very important and meticulous.  He is such a perfectionist, however, that any little mess up is a HUGE deal to him. I decided that we needed to address this issue before it becomes a problem: 1. now in learning the basic skills of writing correctly  2. later in a classroom setting where he could fall behind if he's too worried about making mistakes or always fixing them which could distract from learning and 3. life in general-it's not perfect-some things you can change, others you have to 'Let go and Let God.'  So right now, we are working on approaching screw-ups in different ways.  Because children learn through many different senses, several times a week we practice writing numbers/letters in salt.  This has created a more relaxing approach to the issue-he has to "erase" to write a new letter/number/shape whether he messed up the previous one or not.  (toddler's love this too!)

    action shot

 At the time we first started using the salt technique, we were studying the letter T.  We used a tiger game to emphasize the /t/ sound.  The tiger purred when given a word that began with a T and growled when fed a word not begging with T.  (This was an entertaining game.)  
                                           

I also decided to make homemade tortillas that I had been wanting to do for quite some time.  Little did I know that this would turn into more than just learning the /t/ sound.  As you can see in the following picture, I had trouble rolling them into circles.
                                                   
                                                              First attempt at tortilla making

The perfect opportunity arrived to show him (as he was watching me roll them out and cook them)  that sometimes things don't turn out the way we want.  Some things take practice to master; others we have to accept that it will never be perfect.  We learn from our mistakes.  Another important thing I think we often forget in our daily lives- hardships, shortcomings, imperfections can be offered up in union with the sufferings of our Lord.  (Even failures have a bright side!)  Complaining, giving up, or throwing fits does not get us anywhere.  In fact, whether we are a child or not, it simply sets us back a step or two in one way or another.
                                              
                                                    I think my tortillas got a little better with practice.  
                                     
                                                                They were still roll able. . .   
                                     
                                                 . . .  and no one seemed to care as we chowed down our burritos! 


God gives us so many teaching opportunities-for ourselves and others-in our daily lives.  You are responsible for your actions or lack thereof.  You will be held accountable at the Last Judgement, not only for yourself  but you must also remember for those to whom you were given to teach and model a Christian life (homeschooling or not).  Your children do learn from you.  Let them learn the holy life from you- for if they are not molded by you, society will fashion them.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; 

courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; 

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; 

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.

Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your 

ways acknowledge him,and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3, 5-6

What I've Learned After Six Years of Marriage

So tomorrow's our anniversary.  Sixth, to be exact.  For those of you who know my husband, you can attest to the fact that if he's always picking on you, you know he likes you.  I seem to be no exception.  This morning he's chasing me around making comments about if we're going to make it to seven years.  In a warning tone, I told him, we haven't made it to six-yet.

Time sure has flown by, and yet, so much has happened in six years.  Life, no matter your vocation, is a journey of learning, growing, and changing.  So I decided to reflect on what I have learned, how I've grown and how I have changed or what I need to change.  

• Love is not a feeling, but a choice.  Love is not a means to anything, but something to be desired for itself and to be given freely for itself.  There has been many a day that I have not had that same romantic feeling like the day we met or the day we married.  What is left when the "honeymoon" feeling is over?    Love is a true act of the will.  
• Without God as number 1 in your life and relationship, there is no (true) love.
• It is not about equality or what you can do for me, but what can I do for you?  It is no longer "me", but "we".
• Watching my tongue!  Criticizing carefully and going the positive, encouraging route turns out so much better.  
• Respecting his authority and finding a greater love for his goodness and learning from it.        
• Love teaches humility. I most definitely have come to recognize my weaknesses, as I'm sure my husband has noticed them too.  Humility is more than just acknowledgement; it is relying on God to change.  Granting and asking for forgiveness takes humility also.       
• The beauty of children is the fruit of love.  

In marriage you learn alot about your spouse AND yourself.   It is however, a continuation of your past relationship.  It is so very important to grow in knowledge and care about someone in friendship first, then in a dating scene, and continue to learn and love during your engagement.  You find out his past, his present, and what he and you both together wish for the future.   You learn to love who he is.   Oh, you know, there is always that one annoying thing or something you wish you could change.   (I knew he put the toilet seat down, but I did not know that he left his clothes, hat, sunglasses, shoes, and phone, in any spot, corner, or open area that was available the second he was through with them.)  But, all in all, you love the way he is, and the way he walks, and the way he. . . . and you want your children to have those same traits.  BUT IF HE IS NOT SOMEONE YOU WISH TO MARRY AND SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DATING!  For those preparing for marriage, practice real love NOW!  True love is based on sacrifice; it is a selfless giving up of oneself for the good of the other person.  If two people coming together cannot truly love now, how will they in marriage?  



Just this past weekend, I hosted a shower for my soon to be sister-in-law, Jackie.  My sister and I debated on what sort of a game to play, but found most of them to be too drawn out or just plain raunchy.  When we live in a society where half of marriages end in divorce, why promote it?  After a quick Google search, I found that the median length of first marriages that end in divorce is 7.8-7.9 years.  So what's the secret?  I obviously haven't reached that mark yet, but I do plan on going much, much longer than 7-8 years.  If I had just one piece of advice to give, I would say, first love God.  He will show you the rest.  Our society today claims love to be so many fluffed up things that it isn't.  It's really just lust in disguise.  Take a look at the cross.  There is nothing fluffed up about laying down one's life as a true act of love.  It most certainly didn't feel good.  It wasn't done because "everyone" was doing it.  It wasn't an attempt to control what we do.  It wasn't a selfish act of pleasure.  No, it was a selfless act for the good of each one of us.      

We are made to love, but often we find ourselves in the midst of failure (as we see it), despair, or pain.  We may turn to sinful pleasures to "fill" our emptiness and divert our attention from this void.  Unless we reach for God, acknowledging that we are made for much, much more, the devil has a hay day with our soul.  Only God can mend our souls and bring us true joy.   We must turn to Him at all moments in our life!

So in the end (to get back to my story), there was no game at the shower.  However, a heart was given to each guest as they arrived.  On it, they were to write words of wisdom for Jackie.  As she later read aloud the advice from family and friends, most of whom had been married for many more years than 7, I saw that these words were not only for her and my brother, but for each one of us, married or not.  How we love one another affects all of us.  I truly want the best for my brother and wife.  I truly want the best for them for their sake, but also for the sake of others.  (My children, for example, will truly benefit when their cousins are brought up in a REAL LOVEing home.)  


Here are some quotes on love that became part of the decor for the shower:

We love because He first loved us.  1John 4:19

To love another person is to see the face of God.  Victor Hugo-Les Miserables

Love, to be real, it must cost-it must hurt-it must empty us of self.  Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

There is no place for selfishness-and no place for fear!  Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands.  Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice.  Pope John Paul II

Do everything you do for love, that way there are no little things.  Everything is big. 
Bl. Josemearia Escriva 

Have you ever wondered why some old married couples look alike?  I have always found this fascinating and I think St. Bernard has an interesting insight:  What we love, we grow to resemble.  St. Bernard of Clarivaux  When we truly love God, then our will is one with His will for us.

And one of my favorite quotes: To love is to will the good of another.  St. Thomas Aquinas

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 Love never fails. 

1Cor 13:4-8 

This is the Day for St. Joseph Catholic School, Ost

 A little over 8 years ago, I had almost finished student teaching and was searching for a job at a small Catholic school.  I had completed one interview at Holy Rosary-Wea, a small school outside a suburb of KC, when my mom mentioned an ad in the Catholic Advance looking for teachers for the soon to be newly "re"converted Catholic school in St. Joe, Ost.  "No way!"  I told her.  I was NOT going to teach combined classes.  I applied anyways and a few weeks later, I was back home for the weekend for not one, not two, but 4 interviews!  My home parish, St. Patrick's, Kingman, Holy Name, Coffeyville, St. Peter's Shulte, and St. Joseph, Ost.  What a long weekend!  Here's a quick summary of my interviews:

St. Patrick's:  very odd- I don't think I had ever truly entered the principal's office before, but it would have been even more bizarre if it had been the same principal when I was there.  This turned out to be more of a practice interview because they didn't think they were in need of a teacher the following year.  She was helpful, because she was helping Mrs. Harmon (new principal at St. Joe, Ost) conduct her interviews.

Holy Name: I met Sr. Janice downtown Wichita at the Catholic School's Office.  I do not remember much of our interview, but that something just didn't "seem" right.  It was also pretty far away from home since I could save money living with my parents.

St. Peter's:   Interviewed twice: once with just the principal and once with the school council-awkward!  Needless to say, I was re-jected!

St. Joseph:  Last interview-I was tired, hot, had a sore throat (which was to become a theme here-every year I taught I would be close to hoarse the first week or two of school) and three of us were stuck in a tiny back room of the old convent with junk all around.  ( I am sure the clean-up process had begun and this was one of the only viable rooms to use).  However, the interview went amazingly well.  I remember Mrs. Harmon, looking at her notes and saying, "Wow, you just answered the next question."  I wasn't trying to be an overachiever, but I truly felt "at home."  Just like the Apostles in the upper room, I believe the Holy Spirit was at work in that tiny, crowded back room.  I'd say we all were comfortable, for even Fr. Eck sat in his chair, arms crossed and eyes closed.  (Someday, I'll ask him whether he was deep in prayer or deep asleep!)

I can easily say my whole St. Joe experience has been "letting go, and letting God."  I had two offers for a job and believe it or not I chose the "No way!"  school.  That first year of teaching was very demanding.  I spent very little time away from the classroom.  So sorry to say that the previous school had really slagged in their job and most students were a year or more behind.  A first year teacher has so very much to learn in general, not to mention at a new school, with all new first year faculty.  That first year, I can literally say I didn't "sit down."   Even my planning period was spent doing lesson plans and copies for a 5th grader with brain cancer (God rest his soul) because he couldn't come to school.  Again the Holy Spirit was at work, keeping me motivated and determined to work hard.  The students, parents, and parish also deserved much credit for their dedication and hard work to strive ever forward and put the school's new theme into action: An Old Tradition with a New Beginning.  Looking back, I can see that God was preparing me for my life now: a constantly learning, growing, and changing experience as a mom.  That's right- a mom.  Which brings me to another example of letting go and letting God.   About 6 weeks after resigning myself to looking for Mr. Right, Mr. Right did show up-a St. Joe native helping his dad coach the 6th through 8th grade basketball teams.  I taught two years as Miss Powell and the third year as Mrs. Clupny.  After the third year, I resigned to God's will yet again and stayed home with our first child that was due that October.

Today I definitely have a different "view" of St. Joseph Catholic School, Ost.  I'm no longer a part of the faculty, but I literally can see a lot of happenings from my front door (my husband and I bought my grandmother's house which sits only yards away from the school.)  My soon to be sister-in-law is currently a teacher there.  My oldest will be in Kindergarten in 2013. (see link below for a quick video snap of him-second 54).  And if progress stays on track, his class will be the first to have all the new additions  The parish recently received permission to begin building additional classrooms in order to divide the current combined classes to accommodate their growing attendance.  (See Channel 12 video clip here).   From my view, I still see dedicated faculty,students, parents, and a parish working hard for an important goal.  The school has had many achievements and honors these past eight years-both academic and spiritual- including one important award received this past year: the Governor's Award.   I only hope that St. Joseph will continue its "Old Tradition with a New Beginning" with God as its final goal, for the sake of my children and for all those who will attend or have attended this blessed school.  I hope that St. Joe will be a place they call home.  A place that will prepare them for life; a place where they can learn to let go of their will in order to do the will of God to prepare them for their future home: Heaven.