I think you just insulted me!

Today a friend was telling me about a funny scene from a Simpson's episode. In it, one of the Flanders kids made a funny remark. The Flanders family is the kooky Christian family. You know, the dumb goody two shoes people who love Jesus. My friend said, "That's how I picture your family." And then she laughed...

I felt my face fall. I got angry. Unfortunately, I did respond a bit icily, "We're Christian, but we're not dumb." Anyone who makes fun of your faith should be set straight right away. I don't blame this person, because she is ignorant of the fact that a life with Christ is the best life. The Simpsons, while funny, does make Christians look like Jesus freaks. Whatever. I remember my mom telling us when I was young, "Be a fool for Jesus." So, here I am.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Since we were young, St. Patrick's Day has been a big celebration in my family. We'd wear green, make Irish food, play Irish music and sometimes we'd go hear Irish music and see Irish dancing. It was fun trying to dance the "Seige of Ennis" at the fun St. Patrick's Day events my mom would take us.


It's also on this day that I miss Gram Dolan, aka Mary Genevieve Maher Dolan. She and Grampa loved this day and encouraged our excitement and love of it and Ireland in us.

The doggies got in on the fun as well today, or were forced into the fun as you can see in the photos below.


We're having corned beef and cabbage tonight and Irish Soda Bread. In our family we have two St. Paddy's Day birthdays--Sayeda Mahler and Miriam Campbell. Happy birthday, Lassies!

Quote of the Day

The inability to open up to hope is what blocks trust, and blocked trust is the reason for blighted dreams.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

The Blessings of Lent

Each year, I look forward to Lent as it's my favorite liturgical season. This year, besides giving some good thing up, we added some spiritual reading and got back to our evening prayer together. At dinner, we read a short daily meditation which is based on a scripture reading. The booklet is called "New Life In Christ." The Lenten meditations are drawn from the writings of Pope John Paul II. We have been trying to take advantage of the Wednesday evening Mass at 6pm, followed by the bread and soup dinner and talk downstairs. On Fridays our parish has the Stations of the Cross. Working in Poulsbo till 5 or after and trying to get to W. Bremerton by 5:30 is kind of a challenge, but worth it.

Lent's journey will lead us only closer to Jesus. Life is kind of like Lent--ups and downs, pains and falling, growth and maturity--and Christ Risen is at the end waiting to meet us. God bless you this Lent.

God bless you during Lent.

Oh, Bill...

Our 42nd President shows off his lack of basic knowledge of biology in this interview about destructive embryonic stem cell research. He thinks the embryos are unfertilized. I guess it depends on what the meaning of the word "fertilized," is right, Bill? Thanks, Ellen, for sending this to me.

A Good Start to the Weekend

After being away from home every day at my job, I really look forward to the weekends at home with John and the doggies. This morning we went to Mass together, and John treated me to my favorite drink--a double tall cappuccino from one of the small coffee places here(because friends don't let friends drink Starbucks). It tasted extra delicious since I gave up the bean a few days a week this Lent. :)

The morning here is gray, chilly and rainy--but starting the day with Mass gives warmth and a glow to our outlook and a reaffirmation of our Lenten journey, goals and sacrifices. As we continue our day here at home--running errands, studying, cleaning the house, we are reminded that we are called "to be made perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." (the Gospel message this morning) We will not reach perfection in this life, but we are called by Jesus to be the best we were designed to be. Father Dick reminded us of this in his homily today--perfection in the Greek sense of the word.

So, today, I will strive to be the perfect wife, sister, daughter that I can be. That doesn't mean perfect in the Stepford sense of the word, something which I think people can get confused. It's not a facade of perfection and a guard of rigid judging. Rather, it's a humble striving to be the useful instrument in the hands of the Master.

Happy Birthday, Christina!!

Today is our sister-in-law Christina's birthday! Her presence in our family has made our lives richer through her example of hard work, perseverance, faith, and her talent of making delicious desserts which we all look forward to at family gatherings.

These last few months have been more than challenging for Christina, Jeff and their kids since her diagnosis of an aggressive form of breast cancer in November. She has shown us all that although life will throw a person a curve ball, we must remember that Jesus is with us and will bear us up under our cross as He bore his.

Christina, we love you and are praying for you and are so grateful to call you ‘sister’ and ‘friend.’ God bless you on your birthday!

Happy Birthday, Caleb!!

Today is our brother-in-law Caleb's 28th birthday! We wish you a very happy day and a year full of blessings and happiness. It is a blessing to have you in our family and we are grateful for the gift of your life. We wish we could be there to celebrate with you, but instead will hold you in prayer and our thoughts. Happy, happy birthday, Caleb!!