Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Well hello blog!  You're looking good - the backgroud that is. (I have my sister to thank for that).  My sister also manages my music.  Thus, a few months ago you might have noticed the "If I Only Had A Brain" song.  Yeah, thanks Constance!

I hope everyone had a very enjoyable summer.  I know I did.  However, I'm still not sure what the ultimate highlight is. 

My family participated in the Pro-Life Action League's Annual Face the Truth Tour all seven days.  (Mostly mom and the kids, I was absent for only two days :()   I would have to say as an overall it was a very successful tour.  I hardly wittnessed any negativity; NOT ONE person got out of their car to "yell" at me.  On the contrary, we got many positive honks, "God Bless You!", and a few thumbs up now and then.

A few weeks after the actual week tour, we participated in the Rockford solo-day tour.  Let's just say that Rockford has a much more zealous and vocal pro-abortion presence and it deserves it's own little paragraph.  A few years ago, the very first time my family took part in this stop, my little brother got some kind of metal thrown at him.   This time it was my turn!  I GOT A GATORADE bottle thrown at me!  Let it be known: when pro-abortion people insult me, it only makes me happy!

The Truth suffers but never dies. ~ St. Theresa of Avila

Another "FUN!" thing we did was go BLUEBERRY PICKING!  I had been wanting to ever since we did the first time, about a decade ago.  So,  last minute us girls drove 3 hours to go bluberry picking out of state!  (The directions esimated two hours, but I think it took at least four just to get there)  It was worth it though, in my opinion!  We picked for about an hour or two and came back home with about thirteen pounds of blueberries, silly pictures,  a good hilarious video of mom (that I'm not aloud to show anyone) and some great memories.

Take a Stand for Free Speech!

A pro-life man, Joe Holland, was unjustly arrested for praying outside a Chicago Planned Parenthood Abortion facility on July 3, 2010. He is accused of violating the city's new "Bubble Zone" Ordinance.

According to the Thomas Moore Society, legally representing the pro-lifer:

"The "Bubble Zone" ordinance prohibits approaching within eight feet of a person, without consent, "for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education, or counseling." According to witnesses and available video, Holland was engaged solely in prayer activity and not in leafletting, picketing or "sidewalk counseling." Video of Holland's alleged disorderly conduct can be viewed here"

Please sign this petition to Mayor Daley to DROP THE CHARGES against Joe Holland!

www.ArrestedforPraying.com

Happy Memorial Day!

To celebrate Memorial day I really recommend this movie! It's an oldie but a goodie!

Fortunately all 15 parts are on YouTube!

United in faith...

So, where do I begin?

My little sister had a her tonsils and adenoids removed yesterday. We share a room. So, while she recovers, she tries not to laugh too loudly (and hard - for it hurts her to laugh) at old Dick Van Dyke episodes. She also keeps me up to date with all the latest news on blogs she visits.

But, with tonight's news (and the thought of Mr. GQ crying), we are crying our eyes out! My nose is so "stuffed up" I can't sleep! :)

On Monday we said our last good-byes to a very dear friend of ours.

Let's start at the very beginning!...A very good place to start!

My very first first picture ever taken of 'JoJo" (left) and my sister Constance
- A Church Picnic - Summer 2008 -

We met this special young lady about two summers ago. We were at one of the summer picnics of the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago. She was one of the "Dazzo" family. There they were eating their favorite: Panera Bread. After we ate I started playing catch, with a softball, with the oldest girl, "Jo Jo" - while some of her seven siblings played soccer with my mere three. Yes, that is my first memory of my dear friend who I will respectively call "JoJo Dazzo" for this post.

Jo Jo is two years older than my sister or, the same age as me.

Anyway, as we talked with Mrs. Lady Modesty and her daughter, that very day, we discovered my sister and Jo Jowere both interested in the religious life. Particularly...with the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest (take a breath!) - whose Motherhouse is located in Italy.

Constance (left) and JoJo (right) 5/10/10

Lady Modesty is probably the only non-procrastinator I know and helped the girls plan a trip all the way to Italy in May of '09 to visit the Convent. (Last year!)

Before we knew it there was the "Going Away Party" and then the day they left.

Both girls enjoyed their week visit immensely; it was defiantly a life changing experience for them as it seems they came home with a deeper love of Christ and this particular Order of nuns.

Jo Jo was hoping to be accepted into the Sister Adorers' Order in the fall of 2010.

But, happy news came just a month ago; she would be joining the Sister Adorers' newest Convent in
St. Louis this (past - yesterday) May 12, 2010!

Fortunately, we had time to say our good-byes at a party last Monday. My family had planned to visit JoJo at the end of May while we were visiting family in the Southern Illinois/St. Louis area. Therefore, we were able to hold back some tears. {But not all ;-)}

But tonight. Great news for JoJo, but sad news for us! Tonight, we read the latest news on Mrs. Lady Modesty's blog.., Jo Jowill be leaving for Italy very soon to start her formation. We will not be seeing her as we planned. We will not be seeing her for a long time...

My sister has already made a beautiful tribute to her dearest friend here...

Jo Jo read this to us from a holy card the last time we chatted on the phone:

~Pray for me, as I will for thee, so that we may merrily meet in Heaven.~

See that purple thing? Its my cast. I broke my elbow (just a hair line fracture) while on a bike ride with another good friend of mine a week ago - I only have to wear it for two more weeks! Jo Jo signed my cast. Any guesses at her real name? :) And, I'm going to have to keep that stinky old cast now!

God willing, we will meet again on this earth... but being so far away... prayer will be the only thing uniting us for now.

I will never forget you, JoJo!

Please keep her - and her family - in your prayers!

Tighten Up!

Happy Eastertide! I did not intend to abstain from blogging for Lent but I guess I did anyway! :)

I have not been blogging all together because of many little things. But, I did get a job! It's the best job I could wish for right now! I'm the chief executive assistant, only assistant, at a little Catholic Book store near my house. I work about once or twice a week. It's awesome!

Anyway, I get really nice customers and there are also those who pass by the shop and give us "the look" or say "A Catholic store...no thanks!" But, funner than that, we get those people who come in to debate. My employers are always "faithful to the magisterium" and when someone comes in the Holy Ghost sure inspires them! So, my first encounter...

...was an older woman. She came in through the coffee store next door (!) and asked "is this Episcopal?" I said, "No, we're a Catholic store." Then, that's when it started! "Oh, you know, some people need to loosen up. Have you heard about the Episcopals? They now have a woman bishop,and she's a lesbian!" (how progressive!) I of course went into the "if Jesus wanted woman priests, why wouldn't He have made the most perfect women of all, His Immaculate Mother, the first woman priest?" But, she just ignored it and said something about the church being run by men. All I could say would be, "well, the Church has lasted this long...I don't think we're going to start changing now!" But, when you get down to it, I wish I told her that some people just need to "tighten" up. While the Pope is infaliible, there are those in the Church and schools who are confusing people!

Let's look at Fr. Pfleger on the southside of Chicago. We see this man using the his holy priesthood to preach hate.

Hold on tight, I'm shifting gears here!

So, what do we faithful do when the Heirarchy of the Catholic church in America refuse to do anything about this man and then have the audacity to reward him?!

Yes, Cardinal George/the Archdiocese of Chicago presented Fr. Pfleger the “racial justice lifetime achievement award”

Well, here's my suggestion. (With help from my wonderful mother) Let's pray for Cardinal Francis George to live up to his obligations. Of course, prayer without works is dead, so let's write to him and beg him to admonish the sinner, invoke the Church's Laws to deny pro-abortion politicians the Holy Sacrament, Canon 915. To instruct the ignorant is a Corporal work of mercy and all of us have the duty to correct the clergy when the go asstry says St. Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica part 2 qeustion 33.

Also, the Archdiocese is conducting a survey that you may take part in here.

God Bless!

March for Life 2010!

How do you make 350,000 people disappear? Have them March for Life!

What is the March?

Late in October 1973, grassroots prolife leaders became concerned that January 22, 1974, might come and go without properly memorializing the Supreme Court's infamous abortion decisions and without petitioning Congress for redress.

No established right-to-life organization was prepared to undertake the planning, financial and operational responsibilities for a high impact prolife March on the U.S. Capitol. But, grassroots prolifers wanted to march! About thirty prolife veterans resolved themselves into a committee and began making plans for the first March for Life.

On January 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the West Steps of the Capitol.

And it has been taking place every year while getting bigger every year! Nowadays, we march from the National Mall up Constitution Ave. to the Supreme Court. But, that being said, the March still gets less than little media attention.

So, even if the media did cover it, I'm sure you would want to hear of my first hand experience anyway. This year I was so fortunate to go to the March with my sister by way of three buses from SJC Church in Chicago and some very energetic teens - and Canons. (Yes, our bus was dubbed the "boring bus") A very SAINTLY Brother orchestrated the entire trip and we are so grateful to him for welcoming us into his group!

Again, the actual march. Brother C gave the group a nice spiel about screaming. So, I think our group was the loudest there. As we walked we tried to do the "We love babies yes we do, We love babies how about you?!" chant with the other people. As we finally stopped along the march route, a Franciscan priest who was near a "Catholic University" sign seemed to join us.

Even though I've been to DC before, I had no idea where we were most of the time. There were people everywhere. Signs everywhere. We were packed together like sardines.

Then, the actual march started. The long banner passed. Then the "Silent No More" women with their powerful "I regret my abortion" signs.

Our family had made a "Free the ND 88" sign for us two girls to carry during the March. With all the people surrounding us and a lack of coridination skills, we gave up carrying it during the March. But, when we finally made it to the Supreme Court building, we pulled it out. And guess what University just happened to pass as we had it out? Yep, ND! Perfect! Another man actually took our picture and told us his wife is one of the 88. He thinks Fr. Jenkins will drop the charges but is not sure why he has not already.

So, we arrived at the Supreme Court steps and chanted for a while. The police blocked off both sidewalks on either side of the street and would not let us stand along the fences. So, we tried to stand off to the side. Once again, Br. Chad lead us in some pro-life chants and some Traditional Catholic songs. St. John Cantius has a magnificent choir, by the way, so it was beautiful!

Oh, and we saw some friends while we were there. Another highlight of our trip! ;-)

Our group did not leave until the March ended. (Which means the last of the Marchers passed the Supreme Court)

After dinner we went to do some touring. This is where the coolest story comes in.

I've been in contact with a fellow blogger, Little Mary for a while. We never really met so it was a rather awkward friendship.

So, while we were at the Lincoln Memorial, I happened to see this girl who looked really familiar. (I had seen her picture around) It was Little Mary! We both let out a screech in the monument. We never planned on meeting; it was truly an act of Providence!

Overall, the March is always an uplifting experience. Marching with thousands of people who share your most sacred views. People who are willing to defend life.

There is always the hope that "Roe vs. Wade may be overturned by next year." Some say that "there might not have to be a next year." Even if that is the case, I do not think the March should end. We should never forget all those who have been killed, hurt by abortion nor the joy that every life brings!

The Three Kings Were Late Too...

Happy Eleventh Day of Christmas! It's still the Christmas season, thank goodness! It seems like we just put up our tree yesterday but in reality, we put it up a month ago already! I hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year! Hey! This is my first post of 2010!

The picture was taken in Aurora, Illinois, where on Lehnertz Ave., the whole block displays the Christmas Story. The Nativity is on the end of the block. The people have been doing this for 50 something years and my dad has childhood memories of going there. Hopefully the tradition will last as our secular society becomes more hostile towards Christmas!

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

My favorite miracle of St. Nicholas (which God performed through him) from my Mom's book of saints:

"On one visitation he stayed in the house of a man into whom
Satan seemed to have entered; for when meat failed for his table he supplied it with the flesh of little children whom he stole and murdered in order to serve as meat to the travelers who were his guests. It was this
horrible repast, disguised with his best skill, that this wicked man
dared to set before the Bishop and his companions. No sooner had the man of God set his eyes upon the sumptuous table and upon the 'meat' prepared for him, that he understood the horrible fraud. He charged the host with this abominable crime, and the man, trembling confessed his sin. Then, St. Nicholas led the way to the place were the remains where the remains of the other victims had been hidden, To the horror of all, they found them salted down in a tub. Clothed with the majesty of a Bishop of God, and endowed with the power which the Almighty One gives to His Saints, no sooner had St. Nicholas made over them the sign of the cross, than the three little children were restored to life, and then given back to their Mother."

I hope everyone has/had a blessed day!

St. Nicholas, Patron Saint of children, pray for us!

A Tag

I never really get tagged or do tags but I thought this might be fun! Thanks Kathleen!

1- Have you been asked out? No I haven't - and that’s ok. :)

2 - Where was your default picture taken? What is my profile pic? It’s me. It was taken on the National Mall – that’s the Washington Monument in the background.

3 - What's your middle name? Anne (“with an “e”!)

4 - Your current relationship status? “Waiting for my knight in shining armor!” (Kathleen’s)

5 - What's the first thing you do when you wake up from a nap? Comb my hair so it doesn’t look like I was napping ;-)

6 - What is your current mood? I'm fine, thank you.

7 - What color shirt are you wearing? Navy Blue

8 - Missing something? nope

9 - Current Favorite Quote? “Being stupid is dumb.” – Fr. Pakwa

10 - If you could go back in time and change something what would be? I don’t know. God has a plan for everything….I don’t want to screw anything up!

11 - If you must be an animal for one day, what would you be? Must? Maybe a bird.

12 - Ever had a near death experience? Never!

13 - Something you do a lot? Homework!

14 - The song stuck in your head? So Sweet - Grace Ellen

15 - Least favorite household chore? Hard to say…vacuuming the stairs maybe (not that I do it often)

16 - Name someone with the same birthday as you. – My Aunt Peg

17 - When was the last time you cried? A Guisseppi Moscati movie (I usually don’t admit that I cry in movies)

18. - Have you ever sung in front of a large audience? Yeah, so, it’s been a while since then tho ;-)

19 - If you could have one super power what would it be? Running really fast.

20 - What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender? Faces

21 - What do you usually order from Starbucks? Mocha GRANDE

22 - What's your biggest secret? Like I’d really tell you?

23- What's your favorite color? Deep pink, rose

24 - Do you still watch kiddie shows or tv shows? Not lately.

25 - What's on your walls? darkish pink/purple paint. Sacred Heart and St. Margaret Mary, a beautiful cruicifix and L Innoconce...

26 - What are you? Me?

27 - Do you speak any other language? I study Ecclesiastical Latin… so not really

28 - What's your favorite smell? fire

29 - Describe your life in one word! prosaic

30 - Have you ever kissed in the rain? Noooooo

31 - What are you thinking about right now? Submitting my history test to Seton!

32 - What should you be doing? Smiling!

33 - Who was the last person that made you upset/angry? I can’t remember

34 - How often do you talk to God? A lot. But, I'd rather listen.

35 - Do you like working in the yard? Yes I do!

36 - If you could have any last name in the world, what would you want? Umm…

37 - What is your natural hair color? blond/brown (I never color my hair, btw)

38 - Do you have many friends? “Heavenly Friends” (My brother says) and you!

39 - Who is your role-model? Our Lord, His Mother, and His Angels and His Saints...

40 - Do you like your life? Yep!

I tag:
Little Mary

Rosary Girl