Stupak-Pitts Amendment Passes

Posting by email….

Over this weekend a prolife victory was achieved! Thank you for contacting your representatives. As Charmain Yoest of AUL Action says, while this is a great victory, the battle is not over. Here is an email I receive from Charmaine yesterday:

Yesterday, while Americans United for Life Action was busy fighting for you in the final hours of the vote for the House health care bill, Planned Parenthood sent an urgent e-mail of desperation trying to rally pro-choice activists to help them fight the pro-life Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment.

What they didn’t account for is that YOU have been an incredible champion for life over these past few months by vigorously contacting Congress through phone calls, e-mails, letters and district office visits. That teamwork led to a remarkable victory.

The pro-life Democrats and Republicans took a stand for the sanctity of life by passing the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment on a vote of 240 to 194. This amendment prohibits the use of federal dollars to fund abortion in health care.

This victory is a step toward a future where both
political parties defend Life.

But one victory does not mean the battle is won.

Yesterday’s rhetoric from the Democratic leadership indicates an intention to subvert the bipartisan pro-life majority. We are deeply concerned that Democratic leadership intends to undermine this victory that reflects the will of an overwhelming majority of Americans.

The battle will move quickly over to the Senate. We all have to take a deep breath and refocus our efforts toward watching the final language of the Senate bill to ensure that pro-life protections remain in the final health care bill.

While we applaud the passage of the Stupak-Pitts amendment, serious concerns about H.R. 3962 remain. The Rules Committee did not permit amendments to address concerns about conscience protection, the use of comparative effectiveness research and end of life provisions. (See our legal team’s analysis on the AUL blog.)

We must keep a watchful eye on Congress in the coming days and weeks to make sure the health care bill contains pro-life protections. Every moment that you took to wait on the line to talk to your Congressmen, write an e-mail or letter, you helped protect the sanctity of life.

Thank you for standing strong with us in showing Congress that Real Health Care Respects Life!

Quiet

Things will probably get quiet around here. The gpu is getting more and more fussy so I can barely use my computer anymore. (even now I’m on my phone.)

Wednesday we are taking mac down to Austin to get it fixed. Not sure how long they’ll keep it for the repair. I just hope not too long. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure they won’t be able to fix it on the spot. I just hope that the gpu behaves long enough for me to back up my hard drive!!!

So enjoy the break from my insanity and drivel!!!!

Blessings!

Cuz I’m cool like that

7 Quick Takes (vol 57)

~1~

There is little else on my mind than the tragedy that took place here at Fort Hood yesterday.  I have been crying on and off all day.  I don’t know how anything can ever be normal again.

I am afraid to look for victims’ names.  What if there is someone I know on that  list?

I am incredibly proud of the brave soldiers who did what needed to be done.  I’m hearing of stories of soldiers who were walking their graduation who left the ceremony, in their caps and gowns to run toward the shots and render aid.  I hear of young soldiers who were safe outside of the building running in to assist the wounded. I hear of those who gave assistance to fallen comrades only to find out later that they themselves have been shot.    I find that today I am crying as much with pride as I am with sorrow for the tragedy.  I am so incredibly proud to still be a part of this military family and all of its heros.

~2~

Today was a total wash in school.  Heck, the whole week has been a wash, really, with all of the performances and so on.  Today I just couldn’t muster the energy to start.  The kids are kind of shell-shocked, too.     And that’s okay.  As homeschoolers, we can make up for lost time whenever we see fit.  I am so grateful for that.

~3~

Last night I purchased tickets for SgtSoldierSon and Mrs.SoldierSon to come here for Thanksgiving weekend.  I am excited beyond belief!!!

~4~

It has been a hard week in another way.  I have not talked to SuperSoldier since last Thursday evening.  I have not gone this long without talking to him since he was in basic training.  I miss him so very much.  I miss talking to him, laughing with him, sharing our lives, commiserating with him.  He graduates in just under 2 weeks and should be coming home right after graduation (or shortly after.)  I need to see him!!  These two weeks (+/-) will drag by, I’m sure!

~5~

I want to share with you something that Chief did for me this week.  It was incredibly kind and loving.  I am still so touched by it.  On Wednesday morning when I had to take the girls to the theater for their daytime performances for the kids in the local school district, (and took a trip to Chuck E Cheeses) he was on his way home from a chiropractor appointment.  We passed by each other.  After we finally finished up at the Rat’s place, I warned TheBoy that he would have to entertain himself because I had a lot of housework to do.

You see, the house had pretty much gotten trashed that morning.  I was not looking forward to what was waiting for me.   Dirty dishes, toys and junk strewn from room to room, bathrooms to be cleaned, laundry to be washed… general “destruction.”  When I walked in the door, I found that our place was picked up, swept, dishes done and everything was tidy!  Chief, though he really needed to get into work, though it would mean a longer day at the office, took the time to blow through the house and handle nearly all of the things that needed to be done.  It was an incredible transformation.  The dishwasher had even finished running and was ready for me to unload by the time I got home.  All I had to do was clean a bathroom and do some laundry.  I cannot express how grateful I am for that kindness.  It completely made my day… made my week.   Thank you, Chief.  Thank you for that.  I truly appreciate all that you did that day and all that you do everyday for us.  <3

~6~

TheBoy who is rounding the corner on 4 has been quite a handful lately.  It seems that I had somehow forgotten that 4 year olds are about as bad as 2 year olds… only we don’t usually expect to see that from a 4 year old (even if we have gone through it 5 times before.)  I finally laid down the law this morning… and it seems to be wroking.  I have headed off several fits by reminding him of the warning he received:  If there are ANY fits, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE!  With that simple reminder, he pulled himself together and today has been fit free.  Thankfully he took me and the warning (which was quite vague, don’t you think?!) seriously.  I hope it continues to be this easy!

~7~

CSA commitment weekend is upon us.  Chief and I were not sure what to do.  We have already committed our tithes.  We often give alms (over and above our tithes) already.  Here was one more thing.  We are not being greedy or stingy.  We are feeling stretched!!!  We didn’t know what to do.  Finally, we decided to give a one time gift that “feels” small to me.  I know it is not.  I know that we are faithful to give the Lord all he is due and more.  Why do I feel guilty then?

 

Head over to Jen’s for more Quick Takes.

Unbelievable… except it is believable.

It is unbelievable to me that our president behaves this way ~ except it’s not.  Not really.

Robert A George wrote a good article about the president’s lack of tact  and questionable leadership, though I think describing him as “wildly disconnected” is a bit of an understatement.   George writes,

“President Obama didn’t wait long after Tuesday’s devastating elections to give critics another reason to question his leadership, but this time the subject matter was more grim than a pair of governorships.

After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas, the nation watched in horror as the toll of dead and injured climbed. The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance. At about 5 p.m., cable stations went to the president. The situation called for not only his trademark eloquence, but also grace and perspective.

But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks.”  [read the rest here]

Call or Email TODAY

From an AUL email I received:

This is the moment. Today is the day for taking a stand. We are on the eve of the vote on the U.S. House of Representatives pro-abortion health care bill H.R. 3962.

There is nothing more important right now than FLOODING our Congressmen with calls and e-mails insisting that they vote against using federal dollars for abortion funding.

This afternoon, pro-abortion House Leaders are expected to put forward a “Rule” which BLOCKS the only Pro-Life Amendment on the table, the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, from receiving a vote.

Instead, the “Rule” is expected to include the Ellsworth Amendment, which House Leadership has been falsely calling a “pro-life” amendment. The Ellsworth Amendment allows federal funding of abortion in the public plan and allows government subsidies to go to private plans that include abortion coverage.

Don’t be fooled.  Such a Rule would prevent any truly pro-life provision from being considered or included.  The Stupak-Pitts Amendment is THE only provision that would truly exclude abortion funding, but we expect the Rule to bar a vote on the Stupak-Pitts Amendment.

If H.R. 3962 becomes law, it will do exactly what we have feared: It will create the largest expansion of abortion funding in over 30 years.

___________________________

We only have TODAY!  Don’t delay!  Help us stop abortion funding under the guise of health care reform! Call House Leadership and call your Member of Congress!

I have contacted my representative, Congressman John Carter, and have already received his promise to continue to work hard to protect babies in the womb.  Have you contacted yours? Call or email today.  Please.

And pray.  Pray much.

urgent prayers, please

Thank God!  Chief is FINALLY home!

update, 19:53

I learned of this tragedy from Chief at 13:50… just minutes after it happened.  I thank God that Chief called and that I found out from him.  If someone else had reached me first, I would have been a nervous wreck.

Much of what was reported today was quite confusing.  A lot of the information that came out was wrong or “garbled”.  The picture is becoming clearer now ~ we have a name of the murderer:  Major Malik Hasan, Army psychiatrist who didn’t want to deploy and was reportedly angry at our president for not pulling troops out of Iraq as promised.  He had already gained the attention of federal law enforcement because of internet postings discussing suicide bombings and other threats.   One of the postings equated suicide bombing with a soldier who throws himself on a live grenade to save the lives of his comrades.  Sounds like  ji ha dist thinking to me.  The man was a coward and a murderer whatever else he was.

okay, one more update… (2100)  i’m watching the ft hood press conf. late (my dvr was paused w/out my knowledge!) and Hasan is NOT dead.  He was injured, but is in custody and is in stable condition and is in the constant company of a CID agent.

Sgt Kimberly Munley, hero

AND (thanks be to God!) the female police officer, Sgt. Kimberly Munley who is believed to be the first responder and the one who is believed to have shot and stopped (ultimately) Hasan was NOT killed.  She is out of surgery and is stable!  Thanks be to God!!!

 

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I heart combat life savers!!!!

Two soldiers who were taken to a civilian hospital are now out of surgery and are in the ICU.  Please pray for their recovery.

Some are reporting that sources on Ft Hood say a second gunman could still be on the loose and that that particular suspect said he was only shooting military men. Gen. Cone stated that it was a single shooter.  Thanks be to God that there is not another in this case.

The lockdown on Fort Hood has been lifted.  Chief called, but said the traffic is almost not moving at all.  He is going to see if he can find something to eat at the shoppette and will try to wait a little while for post to begin to clear out.

This is a huge tragedy for all of us, those of us who are here and live and work with these families who have suffered so and, of course, especially the families who have lost their loved ones and those who are still in hospital tonight..

I am so very angry about what has happened.  I am so, so angry.

Thank you all for your prayers.  Please continue to pray as we and they will have to begin to pick up the pieces in the coming days, weeks and months.

original post:

there is a report that there have been multiple shootings on fort hood and that there multiple victims.  Two (as of yet) unconfirmed reports estimate that there are between 10 and 15 victims.  the post is locked down.  multiple emergency service agencies from the area have been called in to assist.  many of my friends are on post right now for the promotion ceremony of KC’s husband.  They should not have been anywhere near where they are reporting the shootings occurred, but I’m worried anyway. Update:  All of my friends have been accounted for and are fine.

please pray for everyone involved.

Update from KXXV 2:22pm Fort Hood reports 7 people are dead 12 are wounded and one person is in custody.

Update from KXXV:2:30 Fort Hood is asking people on post to stay away from windows. Two school districts from nearby towns are also on lockdown.  I don’t know why.  They are pretty far from post.

FOXNEWS reports there were 2 shooters dressed in “fatigues”, only one in custody.

Update: there are apparently 3 shooters, 1 in custody, one reportedly surrounded and the third is reported to be still at large.  The 3d killed a police officer.  Apparently there are now 3 crime scenes.

LORD, HAVE MERCY!!!!

Fort Hood Official: Violent Incident on Post Thursday Afternoon (this report claims the post is not locked down, but my husband just called to say he could not leave post as planned because it IS locked down.)

http://www.kcendt.com/?p=18317

Rescue crews rushing to Fort Hood – KXXV-TV News Channel 25 – Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen

At Least 7 Dead, 12 Wounded in Shooting at Ft. Hood in Texas – Local News | News Articles | National News | US News – FOXNews.com

Wordless Wednesday (a look at the past week)

 

 

5mart Martha (and Mary) for 2 November 2009

5mart Martha (and Mary) is a weekly meme hosted on Mondays by Therese over at Aussie Coffee Shop. At the start of each week, we list some goals:  5 Marthas (practical) and 5 Marys (spiritual).  Here are mine:

 

 

 

 

Martha:

• Get the craft closet done
• Set up the rest of the beds and get the guest room finished
• Clear out the freezer and fridges
• Work on the edging of the baptismal garment (yes, still!!!)
• Make an appt for “Mac” (turns out there is a known issue with graphics cards on some of the MacBook pros… MY graphics card!  Apple will fix it for free, but I have to make an appt and get to Austin.)

Marys:

• Spend an hour each day in prayer and scripture reading
• Pray the rosary each day
• Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy each day
• Get to Holy Hour
• Practice giving a soft answer (Gentleness)

Head over to Therese’s to see what other 5mart Marthas and Marys are up to this week!

Coolest Halloween Costume EVER

 

Thanks to V. for sharing this!

7 Quick Takes (Vol 56)

1

The birthday party was a lot of fun!  TheBoy really enjoyed himself.  Carla outdid herself.

2

The girls have rehearsal tonight.  They don’t normally have rehearsals on Fridays, but things haven’t gone as well as hoped (a lot of kids miss rehearsals or are very late) so they’ve added a Friday rehearsal.  The first tech rehearsal is this Sunday.  Milky White has a 4 hour rehearsal on her birthday!

3

SuperSoldier got his orders last night.  He still has his levy briefing tomorrow.  He is going to…….

Fort Lewis!

I really wish he was coming here.  But I’m really glad he’s not going to Korea this time.  The good  news is that he will only be a few hours away from one of his grandpas.  That will really be nice for both of them.  One NCO speculated he will have a lot of leave before he has to report.  That will be nice.

The most frustrating thing is that in the group of guys who got orders yesterday NINE of them got orders to Ft Hood.  NINE.  *sigh*

4

I am glad it is Friday.  This has been a rough week.  I wonder if my guardian angel had vacation this week or something. (not really!)

5

I am really failing to keep up with my Marthas.  I’ve done alright with my Marys, but not quite completely on track.

6

We are going to a promotion party tomorrow night.  I am really looking forward to it!  It should be a lot of fun.

7

I have to start the hunt for a Mother of the Groom dress.  It is an evening ceremony.  I’m more concerned about shoes than the dress, though.  I have horrible Flintstone feet.  I can’t wear normal women’s shoes (not even in “wide”) and wear Birkenstocks exclusively ~ but only the sandals.  I once bought a pair of their clogs and they didn’t fit.  I am considering wearing satin slippers with a really long skirt or something.  *sigh*

Head over to Jen’s for more Quick Takes.

Oooooooooooh!

An old friend, Shelley, is having a blog giveaway! Go to her blog and check out how you can enter!

Shelley’s Giveaway

Good luck and God bless you!

What????

I cannot believe this is serious, but apparently it is.  What in the world?  Who thinks of these things?  Did he/she ever hear of soap and water?  Ever think about being careful?  This is so ridiculous it’s hilarious.

 

How many does a household need?  Certainly one wouldn’t share with another?  How many do you get to have on hand for guests?

 

H/T: TheQueenofHearts

Reflections – 29 October

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Narcissus,

Bishop of Jerusalem (2d century).

You can read a biography of him HERE.

St Narcissus, pray for us!

It is also Cathy’s birthday!!!

Happy birthday, dear friend!

I love you!

Thanks to Darcee at Simply Catholic for this format!

Reflections -29 October 2009.

About this week – first nonfamily birthday party for TheBoy is today, still hoping to get to those dang closets,

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I am wearing – stretchy pants and a t-shirt

I am feeling – pretty good, other than some joint aches and allergy stuff. I am still losing weight ~ a total of 21lbs since 24 September

I am hearing – dishwasher, fish tank, fridge.

I am thankful for – our trip to Tahoe

I am wondering – why there are so many “leaders” at Ft Huachuca who are terrible leaders?!  (I’ll spare you the details)

In prayer – My whole family, a friend’s husband’s employment situation and their family situation.

The Family

Chief: has been run absolutely ragged at work the past couple of weeks.  he still likes the job (i think!) but it’s been busy and rough lately.

SoldierBoy: told me he is happy he doesn’t have to go to “rentaparent.com” for December! (meanie!)

Mrs.SoldierBoy: is working 5 days a week and is very busy, but has very kindly answered all of my questions as they come up!

SuperSoldier: Is completely done with the academic portion of his AIT and only has to go to the field for a 9 day exercise.  He will miss the first day because he has a levy briefing (orders, start paperwork to move to his permanent party unit, etc.) on Friday!!!!  I’m a nervous wreck!!!!!  I am dying to know where he’s going and I’m afraid to find out… what if it’s FAR?!

The Queen of Hearts: has been busy and is not liking the essay she needs to write on Ivanhoe.  She liked the book, just not the essay.

The Mad Hatter: has been a bit of a grump lately!

MissCreativity: seems to be more distracted than usual.

TheBoy: is so excited about the party today!

The Homefires:

Kitchen – Hmmmm. What to cook today? Something with chicken and something I can put in the crockpot so Chief can eat when he gets home. TheBoy and I will be at a party when he comes home, so I need something he can serve himself without too much fuss.

In our my craft room: I’ve avoided knitting, except for a very basic hat (mindless knitting)… and even that hasn’t been much or often.

In our school: nothing exciting to report.  We’re just slugging along.

Lucky Room(s) of the week: Closets!!!!  Still!!!

My iPod -

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My Reading -

Still hoping to finish The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life and The Fulfillment of All Desire. I am reading The End first.

The Fulfillment of All Desire

Drawing upon the teaching of seven Spiritual Doctors of the Church, Ralph Martin presents an in-depth study of the journey to God. This book provides encouragement and direction for the pilgrim who desires to know, love, and serve our Lord.

The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life

Let the pages of The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life fill you with the same burning words of love, with the same ardent desire to know God above all created things, that St. Thérèse gained from them. Let them also enrich your understanding of certain teachings of the Faith that can often seem so mysterious, even frightening:

+The signs that will precede the world’s end

+The coming of the Antichrist, and how to recognize him

+The Judgment and where it may send us: heaven, hell, and purgatory

+Biblical end-times prophecy: how to read it and not be deceived

Jesus commands us to be ever-watchful for his return, and ever-mindful that we have no lasting city on earth. The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life is an invaluable aid to inculcating in your spirit that heavenly orientation, without which true human happiness cannot be found—in this world or the next.

Liturgical/Spiritual Goals/Resolutions -

• Be more faithful to the daily rosary and daily chaplet of Divine Mercy
• Imitate the virtues of Christ as he underwent his Passion and Death

Meditation -

Letter to the Romans 8:31-39.

What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here is a picture:

This is how I feel some days!

 

God bless you!!!!

On Costumes and Candy

(you can get this cool desktop image
by Zefhar by  clicking the image.)

I wouldn’t normally bother writing this sort of thing, but I started to type out a comment and it got much too long and I realized that my thoughts were not really what were being sought anyway.  Jen at Conversion Diary asked those who don’t celebrate halloween to give their reasons.  Since I don’t quite qualify as the person she is looking for input from (though I used to be), here it is in my own space.

In our family, we celebrated, then didn’t celebrate, now we do again.

We celebrated initially because, well, that’s what “everyone” did.  Then we started to hear some of those arguments against participating that weren’t completely crackpot and were worth consideration.  We were not sure we completely agreed and were not sure we completely disagreed, so we erred on the side of caution and stopped doing the whole trick or treating/celebrating halloween (in the typical secular sense… we did still celebrate All Saints Eve in our own way.)

After many years of taking the kids out for pizza during trick-or-treat hours, doing our own bob-for-apples and letting the kids pick out “good” candy that we bought for them, we just kind of rethought it.

We, and our kids, weren’t any holier due to opting out of this fun time once a year for our own version of fun.  Our boys accepted it, but were never happy about it. They loved the costumes, the fun of going around the neighborhood and collecting goodies, seeing friends doing the same and so on.  They didn’t become “rude” (the phrase “trick-or-treat” was in no way a threat from them to the homeowners) or greedy nor did they insist on gory, evil type costumes or any of that.   And, as I said, they (and we) didn’t get any holier simply because they didn’t go trick-or-treating.

No matter what others may do to corrupt All Hallow’s Eve, we came to the conclusion and realization that it is simply a fun tradition here in America and that participating in it is not a danger to our kids’ souls.  The enemy of our souls is doing a good job at coming at this from two angles.  He inspires some to corrupt the day with deliberate evil and in others he causes fear of that evil and inspires us to opt out.  This is often, though not always, very divisive.  It sometimes leads to negative things… like pride, judging our neighbor (instead of judging the activities of 31 October for themselves) and so on.

I’ve met those who clearly have looked down their noses at us because we go around our neighborhood, dressed as Buzz Lightyear or Woody or a cat while collecting candy (that others freely give!)  I’ve also met those who looked down on us when we didn’t trick or treat:  we were mean parents, isolationists, freaks and so on.

My answer to the question of why we didn’t is simply that we were unsure and didn’t want to get it wrong.  We acted out of fear, I think, though it was not an overwhelming, paralyzing fear.

The bottom line is that celebrating halloween in the traditional secular sense does not add to our holiness, but as I mentioned before, neither did not celebrating it.  Celebrating does not take away from it, either.  There are lots of other things that influence my holiness, like whether or not I deliberately try to live the virtues, how often I get to confession and so on.  Taking the kids out for candy once a year is really not an issue.

We firmly believe that halloween is just a day of fun for kids across the country.    Even if some wish to corrupt a holy day, we find we can celebrate the secular fun without joining in the corruption.   There are some that mock the Mass, but we don’t stop going to Mass because that is true.  So many have reduced Christmas to a commercial, gift-giving holiday rather than a celebration of the Incarnation, yet we still celebrate Christmas.  We even give gifts!  That does not automatically mean that we have corrupted Christmas.

Though historically these two days are tied together (31 October and 1 November), the dressing up and collecting (as well as giving) candy and the celebration of the victory of the Saints are really two separate things.  It doesn’t matter to us if everyone else recognizes it.  It doesn’t even matter if others corrupt it.  Many good things are corrupted… human sexuality, marriage and so on, but that corruption doesn’t change them from good to bad.  It only shows how we can corrupt what is good.  Maybe costumes and trick-or-treating aren’t exactly a “good” (really they are kind of neutral) but that doesn’t make them evil, either.

We are sure to celebrate the Holy Day in many ways in our family (including celebrating MilkyWhite’s birthday!)  In “celebrating” halloween as well, we do nothing more than celebrate childhood and a fun (secular) tradition.  I wish we’d never lost sight of that, yet I also don’t spend too much time on regret.  It’s just costumes and candy after all.