Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Catholic Blog Awards: And the Winners Are....


Awesomeness on the Net!

I am pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Catholic New Media Awards! I put a mark beside my personal favorites, but please understand that each and all of these are excellent. There are just so many hours in the day. Congratulations to everyone!

P.S. When they make a category for "Not Really a Momblog, Not Exactly Apologetics Either, but Raising Children and Goats in a (Mostly) Catholic Manner," I will be in the running! 


Best Blog by a Cleric

Most Spiritual Podcast

a href="http://christian-miracles.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Signs, Wonders, and Miracles

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Reasons to be Thankful

1) Air Conditioning
When my husband got off of work yesterday and joined me at the Ugly Yellow Trailer, it was 101 inside. When we left at 7:30, it had dropped to 100. This is my official recant of all my complaints about the air conditioner not working in that house. When it was running, it never got over 96 degrees. There is a big difference between 96 and 101. I am happy I only had two days of the latter.

2) Babysitting
As miserable as the heat and the 14 hour days were, I did not have to subject my children to either. Their grandparents subjected them to way too much candy and way too many movies instead. I missed their company, but I don't know that they noticed my absence much. They tell me How to Train Your Dragon was exciting!

Nanas are one of God's greatest gifts.

3) Friends
In the darkness before dawn yesterday, a van pulled into my driveway. I wasn't expecting anyone and I was alone, packing wildly, so I had a nervous moment until I recognized my neighbor and her daughter, hopping out and chattering cheerfully. They helped all morning and made it possible for the job of packing to be done by the end of yesterday. Not only are they the type of friends who help you move, they are the type who show up unannounced before dawn to do it. Rare friends, indeed.

4) Sunday
God made an entire day for rest. For that I am truly thankful.

Friday, August 26, 2011

7 Quick Takes: Can you be out by Sunday?

From this...
1) This Sunday?

...to this. Yeah, I can handle it.

2) Ah, well, then...I am packing up the Ugly Yellow Trailer in order to move it out of the way (no we haven't sold it yet) to make room for the foundation work for the new house. It's going to be moved in about two weeks. So, we've gone from waiting to panicking packing in a big hurry.

3) On a related note, I still have a goat due to kid. After the last kidding ordeal, I am dreading it. This goat is also overdue. It's still hot. The feed is still of such poor quality this year. In other words, all the criteria for another excuse to be up to my elbows in a goat is still in play, only this time I can't do it. I'm seriously considering selling her, pregnant and all, rather than risk her going into labor and having a bad time of it when I might not be here for her. Prayers would be appreciated.

4) In the middle of all of this, my poor husband is in the middle of a 12 day workweek, with 6 of those being out of town, and three 14 hour days tossed in just for fun. Then he gets a total of one day off before starting back up again.

5) I could continue on the woe is me meme here, but I've actually clocked in with a full night's sleep--in air conditioning no less!--so I'm feeling a bit more on the "fine" side than all this sounds.

6) I will gladly take recommendations for music to pack to in the Comment Box or over on Facebook or Twitter. I could use some serious jams to stuff my life in a box to.

7) Prayers for all those preparing for Irene!

 
Jennifer Fulwiler
Thanks to Jennifer Fulwiler, a fellow Texan, for hosting
7 Quick Takes Friday 

Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Culture Wars

Before I direct you over to Dr. Peter Kreeft's post on the Winning Strategy, I want to give you an insight into the Sign of the Cross that Catholics make before each prayer. It isn't just a silly thing Catholics do. It is a sign to everyone that is watching that here is a Christian, praying.
The Sign of the Cross

It is also a sign to any thing that is watching, the angels and the fallen angels. We are in spiritual warfare daily, struggling, wounded, and fighting the war within ourselves overcoming weakness and temptation. We know, dimly, that our battles matter for ourselves, yes, but also for the world. We either leave this world a little better for us having been here or a little worse. When we draw that Cross onto ourselves out of thin air, we are simultaneously putting on our battle gear and drawing the target.

Think cross hairs, think Cross, then read this...




The Winning Strategy


To win any war, the three most necessary things to know are: (1) that you are at war, (2) who your enemy is, and (3) what weapons or strategies can defeat him.

You cannot win a war (1) if you simply sew peace banners on a battlefield, (2) if you fight civil wars against your allies, or (3) if you use the wrong weapons.

Here is a three point checklist for the culture wars.


(click here to continue reading) 

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Hang in there...

I'm not posting much because it's been busy. On Monday we Baptized our daughter and had a little party and I've been tending to goats the rest of the week.
 It was a party that almost didn't happen because I woke up this Monday morning to a dying goat. I spent the majority of the day finding a large animal vet on call, getting there and back, and being schooled in anatomy, some pharmacology, and worst case scenarios. We'd already lost three kid goats due to the harsh conditions caused by the drought. I was told we could pretty much count on these to be goners, too. My job was to save the nanny, if I could.

So, all my cooking time and primping time for the party was taken up the emergency veterinary run. I prioritized on cooking and scrimped on the primping. Nobody noticed my outfit and hair--the main point being the Baptism, after all. Just for the record I'll have you know I did not smell like a goat during Church or during the reception. It was probably the first time all week, too.

I am not a fan of blood, nor gore. I dislike needles and medical jargon has never thrilled me either. In fact, my husband is the expert on anatomy and gross stuff, but he was on retreat when the first set of kids didn't make it and then he came home pretty sick with a staff infection by the time the second set were due to arrive. I've had to do the burying and the pharmacy farmer duties around the clock. But this little miracle made it through. She wasn't supposed to.She still might not make it, but she is here now. We like her and we'll keep her if we can.

Eudia the Wee
A Tiny Miracle

Now I get to warm a bottle for a little goat instead of digging deep holes for them. I much prefer the former. It's been one, long, dramatic, and very messy week. Did I mention we had both cars in the shop this week, too? Long week. Looong, long, long.

P.S. I'm boiling my shoes later.