A thoughtful post from a monsignor in Washington about a young man in Louisville who was born with some physical abnormalities; it is a moving story about a father and son as well.
Don't ever, ever forget what an atrocity it is for babies to be genetically screened and aborted for having physical or cognitive limitations. It is discrimination of the earliest kind and there is no justification for the hatred some people show their children just because they might be born different from others.
Superbowl watchers: look out for an ad about Tim Tebow and his mom, Pam, during the game. It seems Focus on the Family has put together an ad that features Pam Tebow talking about her decision to not abort her son when doctor's recommended it. Apparently the slogan "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life" and the spot itself are "extrodinarily offensive" to pro-abortion groups who tried to threaten CBS for deciding to air it. Funny they never seem to protest the network's crime shows that depict women being abused and violated in graphic detail...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Beginning of the End
My Lost obsession will reach new heights this season, of that I am sure. I have already let my midwife, a fellow fan, know that we cannot schedule prenatal visits late on Tuesdays; the baby and I have a tacit understanding that she is not to be born during the series finale, though I do think I could go through early labor while it is on. I know, with all that's going on in the world how can I care about Lost? Maybe I am a petty, small person. It is probably a sign of my lack of virtue as well.
Our friend Jake mentioned at dinner one night "Oh yeah, you're a Lost fan. You should really watch this Onion video." Very funny Jake.
I will be tuning in tonight, with abandon, for a rerun of last season's finale and then again on Feb. 2 for this season's premiere. It is the beginning of the end, folks, and is not to be missed.
Our friend Jake mentioned at dinner one night "Oh yeah, you're a Lost fan. You should really watch this Onion video." Very funny Jake.
I will be tuning in tonight, with abandon, for a rerun of last season's finale and then again on Feb. 2 for this season's premiere. It is the beginning of the end, folks, and is not to be missed.
Jack: You like playing games, Locke?
Locke: Absolutely!
Locke: Absolutely!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Happy MLKJ Day to my favorite easy target
"Our efforts build on Dr. King's mission by transforming the federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service grounded in his teachings of social justice and nonviolence."
So says the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Michigan. In fact, all PP clinics in Michigan are holding a fund raiser/feminine hygiene product drive in honor of the day.
Social justice and nonviolence. Hmm. Planned Parenthood might do a lot one way or the other but I don't know if sharing in the non-violent social justice of Dr. King is one of them. Sure, some will say that they've made life better for women, and women being an oft oppressed group means they are making advances for social justice. But King was primarily interested in social justice as it pertained to black Americans, not women who need low cost birth control. And you don't need to look far to find black people who are (rightfully) disgusted with the prejudicial agenda Planned Parenthood often works under, which serves to undermine black communities.
Non-violence-- I won't even go there. It is just ironic and worth bringing to light, in my opinion.
So says the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Michigan. In fact, all PP clinics in Michigan are holding a fund raiser/feminine hygiene product drive in honor of the day.
Social justice and nonviolence. Hmm. Planned Parenthood might do a lot one way or the other but I don't know if sharing in the non-violent social justice of Dr. King is one of them. Sure, some will say that they've made life better for women, and women being an oft oppressed group means they are making advances for social justice. But King was primarily interested in social justice as it pertained to black Americans, not women who need low cost birth control. And you don't need to look far to find black people who are (rightfully) disgusted with the prejudicial agenda Planned Parenthood often works under, which serves to undermine black communities.
Non-violence-- I won't even go there. It is just ironic and worth bringing to light, in my opinion.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Homeschooling a Two Year Old?
I've been interested in homeschooling our kids before Alan and I were even married. After all, I consider my education at home some of the better parts of my learning years and with all the moving we might be doing until Alan finishes school and settles into a good job, well it just seemed logical.
So I started to peruse websites for information on the best time to start, how to start, what to do. I suddenly realized that like being married, homeschooling doesn't just flow naturally from a person. Yes, some claim that it can (like those brave and confounding unschoolers) but I don't think I have it in me to teach through life circumstances alone.
On the other hand, think of all a child learns without ever being formerly taught: how to walk, speak, sing, pray, conform to certain social patterns. These things take teaching but there is generally no carved out twenty minutes each day when you instruct your child on speaking, lessons on good eating habits-- these things usually come organically, even for the child who might have special needs and require more focused attention sometimes.
So anyway, I am at the point of gathering materials. Our generous relatives showered Lucy with educational toys per our request and I now have a shelf full of lacing cards, alphabet magnets, tanagrams, puzzles, play money. I've acquired math manipulatives, miniature animals, and a felt board on my own. So right now on odd days Lucy plays with these things in succession, sitting at the table. I'm hoping we are at least setting up the habits needed to get a lesson done in the future. Because while many things are learned through everyday life others will require more focused times of learning. Maybe it is less about starting Lucy down the right path and more about training myself to teach!
So I started to peruse websites for information on the best time to start, how to start, what to do. I suddenly realized that like being married, homeschooling doesn't just flow naturally from a person. Yes, some claim that it can (like those brave and confounding unschoolers) but I don't think I have it in me to teach through life circumstances alone.
On the other hand, think of all a child learns without ever being formerly taught: how to walk, speak, sing, pray, conform to certain social patterns. These things take teaching but there is generally no carved out twenty minutes each day when you instruct your child on speaking, lessons on good eating habits-- these things usually come organically, even for the child who might have special needs and require more focused attention sometimes.
So anyway, I am at the point of gathering materials. Our generous relatives showered Lucy with educational toys per our request and I now have a shelf full of lacing cards, alphabet magnets, tanagrams, puzzles, play money. I've acquired math manipulatives, miniature animals, and a felt board on my own. So right now on odd days Lucy plays with these things in succession, sitting at the table. I'm hoping we are at least setting up the habits needed to get a lesson done in the future. Because while many things are learned through everyday life others will require more focused times of learning. Maybe it is less about starting Lucy down the right path and more about training myself to teach!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Fellow Losties...
... I thought this was great. And to all you doubters: if Lost is so terrible, why is the president's press secretary commenting on it?
"Jack: I don't believe in destiny.
Locke: Yes you do, you just don't know it yet"
-from "Exodus, Part III"
Locke: Yes you do, you just don't know it yet"
-from "Exodus, Part III"
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Roll With It
What a year! We planned to move to Florida and stayed in Kentucky instead. I ran a half marathon. We became Catholic. My mom found out she was sick but recovered quickly enough. Alan earned his masters degree. We moved into another house. We spent the summer in Tacoma with Alan's relatives. Baby #2 began. I kept on working my same old job and learned to enjoy it. Lucy learned to talk, run, get herself dressed, ride a tricycle. We drove to DC, Michigan, New Jersey. I earned $50 for published pieces. Lucy and I made batches and batches of cookies.
I think the year has made me tired in the best sort of way. Yes, the agitations abounded: saying goodbyes, being low on funds, changing plans a dozen times. Most recently I managed to tick off my landlady and damage a rental car-- again, trifles that will soon fade into the tangle of a year. But after a long walk in the woods or a day devoted to running a race, you fall asleep at night knowing you are very tired and satisfied because overall it was good. So I move into the next year being a bit weary from the last but at the same time hoping for another that is something like it.
I think the year has made me tired in the best sort of way. Yes, the agitations abounded: saying goodbyes, being low on funds, changing plans a dozen times. Most recently I managed to tick off my landlady and damage a rental car-- again, trifles that will soon fade into the tangle of a year. But after a long walk in the woods or a day devoted to running a race, you fall asleep at night knowing you are very tired and satisfied because overall it was good. So I move into the next year being a bit weary from the last but at the same time hoping for another that is something like it.
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