tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78134015713992140662024-03-13T10:25:47.517-04:00From My Catholic PerspectiveParenting, writing, home schooling, and more.....all FROM MY CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVEKarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.comBlogger465125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-67027590546121813132017-08-10T11:14:00.000-04:002017-08-10T11:14:27.430-04:00A new blogging home....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now blogging about my family's latest adventures at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://fosterfamilyjoy.blogspot.com/">fosterfamilyjoy.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">There you'll hear about the beautiful ministry God has recently called us to....</span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-86306010617325681272015-07-20T09:54:00.000-04:002015-07-20T09:57:04.626-04:00FREE Kindle copy of my novel THE LIFE I DREAMED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-I-Dreamed-Kari-Burke-ebook/dp/B008GNLLI8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437400301&sr=1-1&keywords=the+life+i+dreamed" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhmAgpQI-TE/T_uACcjh9RI/AAAAAAAACSA/bDFGiGGT08U/s320/The_Life_I_Dreamed_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Emmy O’Brien knows that motherhood is a
gift, her children are a blessing, and her marriage is a sacrament. There
was even a time she fought to promote those very values and beliefs.
After having four children in rapid succession though, the demands of home and
family have blurred her strong convictions. Tired, overwhelmed, and
dissatisfied much of the time, she struggles each day to meet the needs of
those around her. When her husband receives a phone call from a 16 year
old girl, unexpectedly pregnant and suddenly homeless, Emmy’s world is turned
upside down and she must now decide, are her old-fashioned values and beliefs
still worth fighting for?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Berylium; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Berylium; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Free July 20-24, 2015 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-I-Dreamed-Kari-Burke-ebook/dp/B008GNLLI8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437400301&sr=1-1&keywords=the+life+i+dreamed">Amazon</a>!</span></span></i></span></span></span></div>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-23479066734789569392015-06-10T10:41:00.000-04:002015-06-12T12:16:42.063-04:00Book Review: Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yYVfxKnGL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yYVfxKnGL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Come-My-Beloved-Inspiring-Courtship-ebook/dp/B0055LH32W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1433947117&sr=8-3&keywords=Come+My+Beloved"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Come MyBeloved</span></u></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> is a compilation
of the “courtship” stories of 12 Catholic couples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always enjoy a good love story but this
book is not just a love story- it is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a
dozen love stories</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vignettes
tell not just of the love between a man and a woman, but each one tells a tale
of the love between a man, a woman, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
God</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the stories are all <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">absolutely true</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average romance novel cannot hold a
candle to this book!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I can’t express
how much I enjoyed reading about the varied and unique ways that couples were
brought together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved that they each
relied on God’s guidance to find not only a spouse, but a soul mate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In its own way, each story reveals God’s
creativeness, His unpredictability, and, of course, His loving plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together the stories illustrate the
importance of entrusting our relationships to God <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">even before they begin</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A vocation to
marriage is not an easy path of flawless communication, perfect trust, and
romantic candlelight dinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes
work and commitment and faith in God to make a marriage what it should truly be-
a self-giving, self-sacrificing relationship of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stories in <u>Come My Beloved</u> speak
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ever could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re a whole lot more
fun to read! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In a culture
that does everything to discourage self-sacrifice and sacramental marriage,
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</span><u>Come My Beloved</u> entertained me and, even more, it inspired me to
look at my own marriage anew and reminded me to appreciate the gift that the sacrament
of marriage truly is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-28389515729116574232015-05-04T11:32:00.001-04:002015-05-04T11:34:44.561-04:00Book Review: Kneel and Prey (Gabby Wells Thriller #1)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I read a lot of young adult fiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I read a lot of Christian fiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, those two genres pretty much sum up my
entire literary life these days….</div>
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Kneel and Prey, the 1<sup>st</sup> Gabby Wells thriller, is like
no other YA fiction I have come across before though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kneel and Prey is no light feel-good
Christian fluff either. Full of mystery, suspense, and action, the story explores
dark, evil themes taking the reader on an exciting and emotional ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Main character, Gabby Wells, is a motherless
high school student who attempts to take on a terrorist and save a whole town
from destruction. As she tries to stop a madman with a sinister agenda, she
must also face her own inner struggles and personal losses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I love that Gabby Wells is a flawed and realistically sinful
character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is Catholic and truly
desires to serve and follow God. But even as she strives to do what’s right,
she questions God and makes choices contrary to His will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gabby’s a little rough around the edges but,
somehow, that makes her even more likable and genuine… and easy to relate to. </div>
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Kneel and Prey was a welcome departure from the less intense Christian fiction I usually read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story had me
gripping my Kindle with white-knuckles, tense and engrossed in the action right
up to the unpredictable ending. And Gabby Wells, herself, had me cheering her on
and praying for a happy ending right along with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-72104822866234511302015-03-16T11:52:00.000-04:002015-06-12T12:15:04.185-04:00Book Review: Erin's Ring by Laura Pearl<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51y4Q2d5pAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51y4Q2d5pAL.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On my first Christmas as a married woman, my husband (of
only two months) surprised me with the gift of a Claddagh ring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The striking ring, which symbolizes friendship,
love, and, loyalty is steeped in Irish tradition and culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the perfect gift from the Irishman I
loved and had so recently promised to share my life with….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I heard that Laura Pearl’s newest YA novel, Erin’s Ring,
features just such a ring I knew I had to read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Claddagh ring <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in the story</i> is found in the churchyard and on it is an engraving
from Michael to Erin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirteen year old
Molly McCormick, after discovering the treasure, sets out to solve the mystery
of Michael and Erin, and why the ring bearing their message of love was found
buried in the dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As Molly delves deeper into the history of her new home, the
reader is treated to a second storyline intertwined with the first. Going back
over 170 years, Pearl also tells the tale of young Ann O’Brien, as she leaves
her home country of Ireland and immigrates to the small town of Dover, NH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is historical fiction at its best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two story lines, masterfully braided
together across time, complement and balance each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ann is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">living
</i>the stories that Molly is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">learning</i>
about as she pours over records in the town library searching for the owner of
the Claddagh ring and researching a school project.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As it turns out, the ring, though fairly prominently
featured and obviously of importance, is not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> what Erin’s Ring is all about though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> about a deep and abiding love for the Catholic faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Molly and Ann, in every challenge and
situation, are driven by their faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are unapologetically passionate about their faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are inspired to work for what is right
because of their faith. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Pearl is an expert at creating authentically Catholic characters
who are also multi-dimensional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it
comes as no surprise that it was the characters that drew me into the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially love that the
relationships in their lives create a perfect conduit for their strengths and
weaknesses to be revealed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
relationships in the book are full of ups and downs, misunderstandings and insecurities,
and, like the characters themselves, are just so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">real</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Erin’s Ring is a beautiful love story but it’s not so much
about the romantic love between a man and a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, it is about true love and devotion to
the Catholic faith and to family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
so many immoral worldly books on the shelves of our library these days, it can
be nearly impossible to find wholesome reading material for teen girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This story fills a need for real Catholic
fiction that never preaches, yet clearly delivers a message of hope and piety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Erin’s Ring is exactly the kind of story I
feel good about encouraging my daughters to curl up with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it’s exactly the kind of book I
myself enjoy curling up with!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">** I received a free copy of Erin's Ring in exchange for my honest review. **</span></span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-63105968152319034822015-02-24T15:27:00.000-05:002015-02-24T15:28:56.465-05:00FREE TODAY- my Short Story, A LIFE IMPRISONED<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Imprisoned-short-story-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424809431&sr=8-1&keywords=a+life+IMprisoned"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Imprisoned-short-story-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424809431&sr=8-1&keywords=a+life+IMprisoned" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSCMSz8pNdA/UbXX_JM2O_I/AAAAAAAAC_E/dCrrneKDjLg/s1600/small__7501604936.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My powerfully moving short story, <u><i>A Life Imprisoned</i></u>, is free today over at Amazon. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It tells the story of a skittish priest, a convicted murdered, and a life-altering meeting-- all in 19 pages! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The story has been described as "thought-provoking", "unsettling", and "well written." To get yourself a copy TODAY for FREE click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Imprisoned-short-story-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424809431&sr=8-1&keywords=a+life+IMprisoned">here</a>!</span></div>
<br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-22026576687039898182014-07-13T15:30:00.000-04:002014-07-13T15:35:57.987-04:00Mid-Summer Giveaway-- great, inspiring beach reads!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just for fun....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Both my published works-</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-I-Dreamed-Kari-Burke-ebook/dp/B008GNLLI8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405279731&sr=1-1&keywords=the+Life+I+Dreamed" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41IEPOdMAFL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-I-Dreamed-Kari-Burke-ebook/dp/B008GNLLI8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405279731&sr=1-1&keywords=the+Life+I+Dreamed">The Life I Dreamed</a>--</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Recipient of the prestigious Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval<br /><br />Motherhood is a gift.<br /><br />Children are a blessing.<br /><br />Marriage is a sacrament.<br /><br />Emmy
O’Brien knows all that. There was even a time she fought to promote
those very values and beliefs. After having four children in rapid
succession though, the demands of home and family have blurred her
strong convictions. Tired, overwhelmed, and dissatisfied much of the
time, she struggles each day to meet the needs of those around her.
When her husband receives a phone call from a 16 year old girl,
unexpectedly pregnant and suddenly homeless, Emmy’s world is turned
upside down and she must now decide, are her old-fashioned values and
beliefs still worth fighting for?</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">--and--</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Imprisoned-short-story-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405279877&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Life+Imprisoned">A Life Imprisoned</a>--</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Imprisoned-short-story-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405279877&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Life+Imprisoned" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41rmlomDgWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A skittish priest, a convicted murdered, and a life-altering meeting-- all in 19 pages!
</span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />A Life Imprisoned is a thought-provoking short story, available in
e-book format, that explores themes of comfort zones vs. being
challenged, our legal system, and the value and importance of life.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">FREE in Kindle format today through July 17 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Imprisoned-short-story-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405279877&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Life+Imprisoned">Amazon.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> This post may contain affiliate links.
</span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-71664386598068935622014-06-09T15:07:00.001-04:002014-06-09T15:09:26.160-04:00Kids say the darndest things.....<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was helping out at church for a few hours in early May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was First Communion and the DRE asked me
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with my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took my youngest with
me to run a few errands, I played a few games with her (she’s very into Old
Maid and Go Fish these days), then I let her help me with dinner preparations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My three middle children and I learned all about American
History this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended the year
discussing slavery and the civil war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
our studies, we read about the Dred Scott case. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took the opportunity to pointed out that, in
many ways, the supreme court decision that Scott was not truly a person but
only the property of his master and therefore had no right to file a case let
alone to be given the freedom he was seeking, mirrored the current view of
unborn babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained how the issue
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are offered- “it is not really a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">person</i>
we are referring to…..”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Thankfully, our
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teaching about the works of Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, Fredrick
Douglass, and other abolitionists.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few days after our history lesson on Dred Scott, my nine
year old son looked up out of the blue and said (as if he’d just stumbled upon
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</span>People should fight to end abortion, like they did to end slavery.” </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I should note-- My nine year old son has participated with us in the 40 days for Life campaign <i>just about every year since he was 3</i>, he goes along with me to drop his sister off to volunteer at the local crisis pregnancy center <i>every week</i>, he watched me write, and then spend the last two years promoting, my pro-life stories (check them out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-I-Dreamed-Kari-Burke-ebook/dp/B008GNLLI8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402340690&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Life+I+Dreamed">here</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Imprisoned-short-story-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1402340723&sr=1-1&keywords=a+life+imprisoned">here</a>). I assured him there ARE people fighting to end abortion.....</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">**This post may contain </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">affiliate links.**</span> </span><i><br /></i></span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-80579643334555026322014-04-14T11:45:00.001-04:002014-04-14T11:45:29.855-04:00Book Review- Finding Grace<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zV9YODPCL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zV9YODPCL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From the
moment I got my hands on Laura Pearl’s novel, <u>Finding Grace</u> it surprised
me by being so much <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more</i> than I
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Knowing only that it was the
story of a 13 year old girl with a name that was a challenge to live up to, I
expected a somewhat simple tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
surprised to find that <u>Finding Grace</u> was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything but</i> a short one-dimensional story….</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead of the quick read of
maybe 150 pages or so that I had envisioned, the book boasts well over 300 big pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is book is no quick afternoon read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead of just introducing the
reader to young Grace Kelly in her early teen years, the book follows her all
the way through high school and college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead of a sweet,
light-hearted glimpse into the ordinary struggles and innocent awkwardness of adolescence,
the book delves deep into difficult and mature themes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pearl tackles issues that may
have been relatively new and disturbing in the 1970’s but have become commonplace
and “normal” in our day and age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She confronts
such difficult subjects as pre-marital sex, underage drinking, contraception, the
feminist movement, moral relativism, and much more all while staying true to
the plotline and never losing sight of the story itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was much I liked about
Pearl’s debut novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, the book did
not come across as overtly preachy yet the main characters never failed to
stand up for what they believe in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are also a great variety of secondary characters with who Grace shares her life
and her story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of the secondary
characters adds to the lessons of the book, some by the wise choices they make,
others by their poor choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazingly
with such a large cast of characters, Pearl does a wonderful job of developing
each of them so thoroughly and making each one so unique and memorable that I
had no trouble keeping them all straight in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Second, the relationships
between characters were full of complexity and substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And amid those sometimes challenging, continually
honest interactions in Grace’s life, many of the most important messages in the
book are revealed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And lastly, the story promotes all
the things I value as a Catholic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Morality, truth, virtue, faith, it’s all there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The traditional, old fashioned ideals of
Grace’s close knit family become the lens through which she views the changing
world around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her family and her
faith are what allow her to navigate the often thorny path of the narrow road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interwoven into the fabric of the story are
compelling reasons for staying true to the precepts of the Catholic faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a bonus, through Grace’s always
believable life experiences, is revealed beautiful examples of holiness from
the lives of the saints. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All in all, <u>Finding Grace</u>
was full of unexpected surprises that I found to be both enjoyable and insightful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace is a character who sincerely strives to
practice the virtues that lead to sainthood, never giving up even when the
endeavor proves difficult. I look forward to sharing her story with my own
daughters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-53843559134039937092014-03-28T11:25:00.000-04:002014-03-28T14:42:35.680-04:00Water, water everywhere and life NEVER going according to MY plans<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Way back in mid-February, on an already busy Saturday afternoon, as I got ready to go to our upcoming
Teams of Our Lady meeting, Tim decided to fix the bathroom faucet that had very
low water pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Things didn’t go as
planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The valve broke off the pipe
and water gushed into our house at an alarmingly rapid rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had water pressure now- but now we couldn’t turn
it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water main shut off was
completely stuck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water poured into our house for
about 45 minutes or so while we waited for a plumber to come and fix it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole house was flooded in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We didn’t make it to our Teams meeting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The insurance
claims process, the water mitigation, the clean up and put back together of our
soggy house has been long and exhausting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>Nothing</i> has gone according to plan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--YMvCbd5sFk/UzWRYK_fV_I/AAAAAAAADG4/Rdyp09qzZGw/s1600/water+water+everywhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--YMvCbd5sFk/UzWRYK_fV_I/AAAAAAAADG4/Rdyp09qzZGw/s1600/water+water+everywhere.jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not really a picture of our flood. This is from last summer at the local "spray ground." But it was cute and it fits the theme of water water everywhere.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The chaos and unpredictability of it all started
almost immediately with four hours of ripping apart the wet mess of our home,
followed by four days of dodging huge dehumidifiers and fans all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Followed by <strike>four</strike> five weeks of waiting…waiting…waiting
for the new flooring, painting, minor carpentry repairs, and new bathroom
vanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In the meantime- under our old laminate, the kitchen
floor was the most indescribably hideous, disgusting linoleum that was
covered in mismatched patches and textured with streaky stripes of old tile
glue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wouldn't come clean- I know, I got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed it with multiple cleaning
agents ending up with bruised knees and a floor that still left the bottom of our socks a dingy brown color.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This week, more
than a month since the flood, the contractors hired by the insurance company began the restoration work!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">First thing, Monday morning, we got a call-
the flooring sub-contractor was coming to install the new laminate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at our school work for the day and
planned out how to accomplish it all in the midst of workmen taking over our
kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, an hour later, I got a call
from the flooring company again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
weren’t coming after all, because of rain in the forecast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we did our schoolwork, I watched out the
window as NO rain fell on our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nothing was fixed on Monday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Tuesday, we got
the same call again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flooring men
were on their way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids and I went
to Mass for the Feast of the Annunciation assuming the workmen would arrive soon after we got home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, we came home to a voice mail message-
the painters were coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Long story
short—still no floors but the painters were at our house ALL day leaving at
5:30 with only one room completed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Puw7CKTylyk/UzWPjhbTFNI/AAAAAAAADGk/0r3L5RkT70E/s1600/paint+cans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Puw7CKTylyk/UzWPjhbTFNI/AAAAAAAADGk/0r3L5RkT70E/s1600/paint+cans.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our leftover paint all lined up</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Wednesday, there
were paint cans, drop cloths, ladders, brushes, and baseboards stashed all over
my house, but the painters weren’t coming because FINALLY the flooring WOULD be
installed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One team of workers took on
the kitchen to install the laminate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
team tackled the bedrooms to put down new carpeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We couldn’t get down the hall, had to
literally climb our way to the toilet, and had furniture and toys and stuff all over the
family room (and all the painting supplies too) because it was the one room that would not be getting new
flooring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a mess of a day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids and I did about half of our planned
work and then gave up because the distractions were too overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Tim got home from work the floors looked
AWESOME, the house was mostly put back together and the kids and I were having
trouble keeping our eyes open through dinner because we were so tired from all the
chaos of the day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Thursday, the
painters came back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another loooong day
of painting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Workers all over my
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paint fumes permeating the air around
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apologetically sneaking by the painters and all their supplies to go to the
bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And seemingly endless phone
calls to figure out when the last of the work would be finished (our baseboards
were never finished and somehow in the craziness of Wednesday the pile of
uninstalled ones completely disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No one knew where they went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
one was scheduled to finish them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no
one would tell me when or IF they would ever be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new bathroom vanity has not come in yet. No word on an estimated date of arrival for that either. Oh and the family room carpet is supposed to be professionally cleaned for us. No one has even <i>mentioned</i> that. AUGHHHH!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My kids have been amazing troopers and have kept up with their school
work as well as they possibly could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
have stayed out of the workmen’s way and have not complained about the disruption
of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We are hanging in there keeping our positive attitudes and our sense of humor about the whole situation- but just barely.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ImpCJeveD7E/UzWQHT9pejI/AAAAAAAADGs/Jn3EZeGK2tg/s1600/002+Medium+Web+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ImpCJeveD7E/UzWQHT9pejI/AAAAAAAADGs/Jn3EZeGK2tg/s1600/002+Medium+Web+view.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new kitchen flooring- still waiting for the baseboards.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This morning it’s
Friday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still have no baseboards. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still no official word on them even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Still no word on any of the other unfinished work either. </span>But the kids and I have our co-op classes and
after not leaving the house all week because I had to be here to supervise the
workmen, we are all anxious to go see our friends and get some fresh air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But….a half hour before we were set to leave,
my four year old threw up ALL over the beautiful new laminate flooring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
co-op for us….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Lent is all
about letting go of our will and submitting to God’s, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’m getting the message..… Can things
quiet down just A LITTLE NOW?!?!!?!?!?!</span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-35481205692185876592014-02-27T15:20:00.000-05:002014-02-27T15:20:13.505-05:00My new toy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oexljjnrjws/Uw-dpoIs6pI/AAAAAAAADGE/sskWH_RMp8o/s1600/typewriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oexljjnrjws/Uw-dpoIs6pI/AAAAAAAADGE/sskWH_RMp8o/s1600/typewriter.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhpb-5VxIW4/Uw-dyLSL18I/AAAAAAAADGM/zP4U7fSHzU0/s1600/typewriter+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhpb-5VxIW4/Uw-dyLSL18I/AAAAAAAADGM/zP4U7fSHzU0/s1600/typewriter+003.jpg" height="366" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-69162151411165809142014-02-16T19:45:00.000-05:002014-02-17T13:10:41.234-05:00Confirmation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I guess I didn’t
do a very good job of keeping up with my Confirmation Prep Series. I didn’t
write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a thing</i> about my daughter’s
Christian Service hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How she signed
up to help out at the infant care center of our local crisis pregnancy center
to get her 20 required hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or about
how she fell in love with the babies there and could not give up her
volunteering even after she met the 20 hour requirement, and even now, more
than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">3 months</i> after she surpassed 20
hours, she still looks forward in great anticipation to the few hours a week
she gets to go play with those precious babies whose mothers chose life even in
the darkest of circumstances.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I didn’t write
about the service project she did with the other Confirmation candidates at our
parish- going to a soup kitchen and serving dinner and dessert to nearly 200
homeless men and women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or about the mini-retreat we had one chilly breezy
afternoon on the shores of Tampa Bay praying and reflecting and meditating on
the works of Holy Spirit along with her wonderful sponsor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Which reminds
me- I didn’t even mention my daughter’s chosen Confirmation sponsor- the lovely,
faith-filled young lady who used to be our babysitter but is now a treasured
friend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>My daughter was so incredibly
blessed to have a sponsor who is not just a loyal and kind friend but also a great
role model-- a truly magnificent example of authentically living out one’s Catholic
Christian faith even through the sometimes difficult challenges of late adolescence
and into early adulthood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I didn’t mention
much about the books we read in preparation, or the discussions we had, or the
prayers we shared. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">But, despite my
negligence in all this- I won’t let the opportunity to share about the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actual</i> Confirmation pass….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">After all our
learning and preparing and praying……..Last Thursday, finally- the Confirmation
Mass was upon us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents came and so
did some close family friends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of
course, our entire family was present to witness the sacrament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My oldest son was privileged to be one of the
altar servers assisting the bishop in the Mass.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My daughter
dressed in the long flowing skirt and matching silver sweater we had
painstakingly sought out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pinned on the
name tag prepared for her for the event that proclaimed her Confirmation name- “Bl.
Teresa of Calcutta.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wore a Holy
Spirit medal and dainty jeweled cross earrings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the Mass when we were invited into the moment
of silence before the official conferment of the sacrament, I offered my
prayers that my daughter would feel the Holy Spirit touching her heart, but,
that even in the moments of life when she didn’t that she would remain ever
faithful and close to Our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter
looked beautiful and peaceful as she stepped forward with her sponsor to
receive the sacrament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bishop spoke
with her for just a moment, imploring her to be like Mother Teresa and see
Jesus in everyone she meets in life and then he spoke the words of the
sacrament, “Be sealed with the Holy Spirit” and anointed her head with the
sacred chrism, making her a fully initiated Catholic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ME1Cam_tibs/UwFbFK_u7uI/AAAAAAAADFo/nD47TwIYDfk/s1600/confirmation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ME1Cam_tibs/UwFbFK_u7uI/AAAAAAAADFo/nD47TwIYDfk/s1600/confirmation.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the best picture we got during the Mass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The Mass was moving
and beautiful and the get-together afterwards was full of laughter and love as
we celebrated the joy of the occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a4QZOxM25PE/UwFeNh_zElI/AAAAAAAADF0/SLcfytf02Mg/s1600/confirmation+gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a4QZOxM25PE/UwFeNh_zElI/AAAAAAAADF0/SLcfytf02Mg/s1600/confirmation+gifts.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">opening her gifts after her Confirmation </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">(how cute is it that she put her new Confirmation name on her cup?)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Preparing my
daughter for this sacrament was a new experience for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was no expert on Confirmation going into it
but as with so many things- we learned together as we went along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am still no expert on the sacrament but through
our months of sacramental prep, my daughter and I were very blessed to have
many opportunities to talk about our faith and how to truly live it out and
what it means to be a soldier for Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope her faith was strengthened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope my faith was strengthened too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I hope the Holy Spirit continues to work
in both our lives inspiring us to holiness….. </span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-3276240697367476562014-02-10T15:16:00.001-05:002014-02-10T15:16:06.837-05:00Inspiring fiction- The Life I Dreamed<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-55989817538095877122014-01-22T00:00:00.000-05:002014-01-22T16:38:57.617-05:00Two Fabulous Pro-life Stories! FREE TODAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Life-Imprisoned-Kari-Burke-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390337067&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Life+Imprisoned">A Life Imprisoned </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-I-Dreamed-Kari-Burke-ebook/dp/B008GNLLI8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390337030&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Life+I+Dreamed">The Life I Dreamed</a></span></span></div>
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-36487748741492821372014-01-15T17:23:00.003-05:002014-01-16T16:06:01.245-05:00One hit wonder<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have a <a href="http://decorusbeatusvita.wordpress.com/">new blog</a>. A fancy new one created as a space to write about my writing. It has a beautiful design and is sitting there (over at Wordpress) all ready to be posted upon. However, Wordpress never seems to like me much and gives me nothing but endless problems. And I have a few things to say about my writing of late.....so, here I am back at "From My Catholic Perspective" where I thought I'd never be again...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To talk about one hit wonders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One hit wonders-- those fabulous chart topping songs that everyone loves and everyone sings. Those amazingly successful, incredibly popular songs by artists that no one has heard of before and no one ever hears from again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm sure there has <i>never</i> been a musician who has <i>aspired</i> to become a one hit wonder. Sure, it is better than a <i>no-hit</i> failure....... but not much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-I-Dreamed-Kari-Burke-ebook/dp/B008GNLLI8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389824550&sr=8-1&keywords=the+life+i+dreamed">a novel</a> a few years ago. It was great. Writing it was great. Editing it was great. Publishing it was great and reviews of it were, for the most part, pretty great. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So I wrote another novel and then another. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My second novel was terrible. So terrible, in fact, that I never finished the job of editing it. A few thousand words into my read-through of it told me, it was not worth pursuing further. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My third novel was much more fun to write than the second. The story seemed better, the plot clearer, the characters better developed. However- the editing process feels eeriely familiar to story #2. There are so many things that need to be fixed and I am not sure what the best way to go about fixing it all is. Should I re-write the entire first half of the book? Should I change the basic premise of the story? Should I make my characters totally different? Should I keep going with the story as it is and just clean up the grammatical errors, not worrying that parts of it just don't sit well with me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As I have pondered all these questions, I have also wondered- <i>Am I the writing equivalent of a one hit wonder? </i> Maybe my first novel was a fluke thing. Maybe I can't follow it up. Maybe I am not all that talented as a writer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And if all these things <i>are</i> true-- Can I live with hanging up my writer's hat, so to speak, and just being content to have had that one success? Is it okay to give up one's dreams after having just a tiny taste of those dreams coming true?!?!??!?!?</span>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-50288170604476949742013-09-23T08:39:00.003-04:002013-09-23T08:41:04.309-04:00My latest work....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I recently published a short story which is now officially available for purchase at Amazon.com. The story is entitled "A Life Imprisoned" and it tells the tale of a man who is convicted and given a life sentence for the murder of a dog.</span>.... </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Check it out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Life-Imprisoned-ebook/dp/B00FBU3XE4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1379939364&sr=1-1&keywords=A+LIfe+Imprisoned">here</a>!</span></span></div>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-46378016739535368102013-08-28T13:45:00.000-04:002013-08-28T13:45:00.070-04:00Bl. Teresa of Calcutta (Confirmation prep post #2)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This week, would have been the 103rd birthday of Mother
Teresa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next week is the 16th
anniversary of her death, and her feast day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the perfect time to share my 2<sup>nd</sup> post of preparing
for my daughter’s Confirmation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About 4 years ago, I read my two oldest children a biography
of Mother Teresa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all enjoyed the
story and when it was finished I asked them each to write a paragraph about
what a beautiful person Mother Teresa was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My then-8-year-old son looked at me funny and made some comment about
how she looked like a “shrively old woman” to him, not a “beautiful” person at
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter, 11 at the time,
understood though that Mother Teresa’s beauty went much, much deeper than her
wrinkled skin or stooped posture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
could see, even at the age of 11, that Mother Teresa’s beauty came from
within-- from her kind spirit, her obedient nature, her life of sacrifice,
service, and love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not surprisingly, when asked to choose a Confirmation saint
this past summer, Bl. Teresa of Calcutta was the first saint to come to my
daughter’s mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said that as she
thought about it, she just knew it had to be Mother Teresa. As soon as she
shared her choice with me, I knew she had made the perfect choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are so many reasons Bl. Teresa is beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her holiness, her simplicity, her love of the
“least of our brothers”, her dedication to serving others all make her a
wonderful Confirmation saint- even if she is not yet canonized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, there is another reason I am convinced that my daughter made the perfect
choice in her Confirmation saint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mother Teresa was a symbol of goodness and holiness all throughout
my childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember hearing about
her charitable works and her humble way of life in my C.C.D. classes and watching
clips of her on T.V. as she served the poor and met with world leaders to promote
a greater respect for the plight of those in poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Teresa was referred to as a “living
saint” and, even as I child, I could see that she was.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When she died in September of 1997, I was newly married,
just beginning my adult life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And three months
after Mother Teresa’s death, my husband and I joyfully discovered we were going
to be parents!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter was born just
10 days after the 1<sup>st</sup> anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <i> </i></span>That means, of course, that Bl. Teresa entered
eternal life just a few months before<i> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my
daughter’s</span> life</i> began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>How perfectly
fitting, and how comforting to me as a mother, to know that Bl. Teresa has been
watching over my daughter from heaven since the moment she was conceived.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And for more inspiration--here are a few quotes of hers that speak to her holiness better than
any of my words ever could……</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>"Keep the joy of loving God in your heart
and share this joy with all you meet especially your family. Be holy – let us
pray."</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet
come. We have only today. Let us begin."</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>"Like Jesus we belong to the world living
not for ourselves but for others. The joy of the Lord is our strength."</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Little things are indeed little, but to be
faithful in little things is a great thing.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible
rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that
children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time
for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“God doesn't require us to succeed; he only
requires that you try”</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“We cannot all do great things, but we can do
small things with great love.”</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“If you judge people, you have no time to love
them.”</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>"If you're too busy to pray...you're too
busy"</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>"People are often unreasonable and
self-centered. Forgive them anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
If you are kind, people may accuse you of
ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good you do today
may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your
best anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For you see, in the end, it
is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."</div>
</blockquote>
Photo credit-- from Wikipedia <br />
<br />
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-43231885411998993982013-08-19T14:07:00.000-04:002013-08-19T16:01:32.276-04:00Our first of day of school!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ST53t5f0ldk/UhJc_XtHnpI/AAAAAAAADEY/lEfcY2LXSXU/s1600/1st+day+of+school+2013-2014+011+Small+Web+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ST53t5f0ldk/UhJc_XtHnpI/AAAAAAAADEY/lEfcY2LXSXU/s1600/1st+day+of+school+2013-2014+011+Small+Web+view.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I was a kid, I used to start
anticipating the first day of school a few weeks before it was actually upon
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My anticipation was not full of joy or excitement
but instead, dread and anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember quite clearly, the butterflies that filled my stomach and the “what
ifs?” that filled my mind as the day drew nearer and nearer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I don’t like my new teacher?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I don’t have any friends in my
class?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I can’t to rise to the
standards of a new grade with greater expectations and a more difficult workload
than ever before?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> I always did well in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got good grades and I got along with all my
teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fears were proven
irrational and remained unsubstantiated year after year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, each new year, I fretted all over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Following
my graduation from high school, I thought that my first day anxieties were finally
behind me forever. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And until this year, that has been true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I’ve
home schooled my children fairly successfully for eight years now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like in my youth, I’ve anticipated the
beginning of every year starting a few weeks before the first day was actually
upon us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, I have anticipated
each <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">home school</i> year with optimism
and excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until now….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This
year is the first year I have felt reminiscent of my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">old</i> attitude towards the first day of school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I have been nervous and worried
about home schooling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have worried I
could not rise to challenge again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have worried that my lingering feelings of burn out from last year
would prevent me from being patient and motivated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have worried I just don’t have it in me to
face third grade again, and fifth grade again, and seventh grade again, and pre-school
(at home with me) and high school for the first time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Today
the first day is upon us though!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For weeks,
I have been praying and praying and praying for this school year to be successful
and peaceful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In
the past, like for New Year’s Day, I have made <a href="http://karilb75.blogspot.com/2011/08/school-years-resolutions.html">resolutions</a> for the beginning of
the school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This year, instead of resolutions, I am focusing on one word as a theme for our new school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My word for this school year is “balance.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will pray for and seek a balance </span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">between
structure –and- flexibility, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">between projects
and activities that are enjoyable and uncomplicated –and- hard work that
challenges and stretches us, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">between time
devoted to and focused completely on educating my children –and- time for
myself, to catch my breath, to sit in silence before the Lord and allow my soul
to be fed, to do the things I enjoy (like blogging!</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18HOhReitKk/UhJdGkopydI/AAAAAAAADEs/oE2l8By8I-o/s1600/scholar+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18HOhReitKk/UhJdGkopydI/AAAAAAAADEs/oE2l8By8I-o/s200/scholar+3.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-80NpNkiL8fk/UhJdGvbZUnI/AAAAAAAADEg/ycyMySQIBU0/s1600/scholars+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-80NpNkiL8fk/UhJdGvbZUnI/AAAAAAAADEg/ycyMySQIBU0/s200/scholars+1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gjb49YPpImo/UhJdGhqTGvI/AAAAAAAADEk/kcf5XmmXAcY/s1600/scholars+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gjb49YPpImo/UhJdGhqTGvI/AAAAAAAADEk/kcf5XmmXAcY/s200/scholars+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So far, so good! Our
first day went well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We achieved our
goals <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for the day</i> and found the
balance we needed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">today</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We'll tackle tomorrow when it comes. :) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> My plan is to take things one day at a time
and to continue to rely more on prayer this year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
very hopeful that, like in my youth, my anxiety for the past few weeks will
prove completely unfounded and my worry-filled “what ifs” will never
materialize.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-21433313355844712732013-08-14T17:57:00.000-04:002013-08-14T19:47:49.142-04:00Confirmation Prep-- post #1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter and I are embarking on a journey
of spiritual growth and sacramental prep this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter will receive the Sacrament of
Confirmation sometime in the spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
seems to be a lot of varying opinions as to when it is best to confirm our
young people and there also seemed to be a lot of emotions wrapped up in it
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I do see that there
is some benefit to earlier Confirmation, but I’m not upset that my daughter wasn’t
confirmed earlier. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just excited for her
to experience this beautiful sacrament and if this is the year our parish
chooses- in ninth grade- than this is the year we will enjoy the blessings of
the preparation and of the sacrament itself.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Since
my **almost** ninth grader is my oldest, she is always the first to see me
through new parenting hurdles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes these firsts cause me a bit of anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time giving birth- I was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">terrified</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time I had to potty train- I was
completely intimidated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first day of
home schooling ever- I had no idea what to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this first- I am SO excited about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My
own confirmation prep was… a bit disappointing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It came at a time in my life (eighth grade for me) when I was first
starting to question the importance of religion and whether I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> believed what my parents believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should have been the perfect time to ask all
my questions and get some answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I
failed to voice most of my queries and those I did ask were not always answered
by people who really understood themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, a great opportunity was missed in my life to really come to
know and understand and appreciate my Catholic faith waaaaay sooner than I ever
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Thankfully,
all these years later I have the answers I needed back then and I LOVE and appreciate
my Catholic faith more than anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
sure the answers came in God’s perfect timing and there was a reason I didn’t
understand it all back in eighth grade but I want to give my children every
opportunity to see the beauty and the fullness of our faith NOW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I seek to teach my children everything I can about our Church and our beliefs and, if
need be, I’m willing to learn new lessons and revelations along with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel privileged to be entrusted with this awesome responsibility. Confirmation prep gives me a new direction to
go in with my daughter and a whole new wealth of resources.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And
there are SO many resources I’m finding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I find, the more excited I am, and
the more I want to share my discoveries….So, I’m planning to post about our
experiences here over the course of the next few months.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">First
up, will be a post about my daughter’s discernment in picking a Confirmation
Saint…...She picked the perfect one and I can’t wait to share!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I have to post about her
Confirmation sponsor and then the <a href="http://lighthousecatholicmediablog.blogspot.com/">Lighthouse Catholic Media</a> C.D. I bought for
her at a home school conference this summer and the article I found online this
morning….etc…..</span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-57800501494198064932013-08-12T12:04:00.001-04:002013-08-15T11:57:07.714-04:00104 babies and 1 pre-schooler!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Last summer, we
had two amazing encounters with sea turtles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can read about our turtle walk when we helped mark new turtle nests
<a href="http://karilb75.blogspot.com/2012/07/turtle-walk.html">here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you can read about our experience,
later in the summer, of watching the hatching of a turtle nest <a href="http://karilb75.blogspot.com/2012/08/an-amazing-night-turtle-walk-part-ii.html">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">After watching (and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sort of</i> helping) those adorable baby
turtles get their start in life we told everyone we knew about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our only disappointment (if you can call it
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disorient and confuse the baby turtles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Anyway--<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter’s best friend wants to be a
marine biologist when she grows up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
when she asked if she could come along for a turtle walk with us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this year</i>, we excitedly set up another
date with the turtle walkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew there are never any guarantees of actually seeing turtles but my mom, who is friends with
lots of turtle walkers, promised to do all she could to work something out to, at least, give us the chance. She was successful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So Saturday evening
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We stood back
watching intently as the turtle walkers began their work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
wasn’t long before a live baby hatchling was discovered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been left behind when the nest hatched
as sometimes happens and it had been stuck there in the sand trapped without
its brothers and sisters to help it dig to the surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4LTKsOF-wTM/UgkFPTM24RI/AAAAAAAADDM/SWLXW-5bvQ0/s1600/turtle+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4LTKsOF-wTM/UgkFPTM24RI/AAAAAAAADDM/SWLXW-5bvQ0/s1600/turtle+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We ohhhed and
ahhed over the little guy watching it scramble around in a bucket as the rest
of the nest was excavated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before all was said and done another <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">three</i> hatchlings were found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a ton of pictures of the cute little
babies and wished them luck for their release which would come a few hours
later after sundown.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-libUgWowYyw/UgkFPb8i4HI/AAAAAAAADDQ/ihOaWLewR8w/s1600/turtle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-libUgWowYyw/UgkFPb8i4HI/AAAAAAAADDQ/ihOaWLewR8w/s1600/turtle+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtHoKupUkxc/UgkFPtcnbUI/AAAAAAAADDg/eEptk-KCgE4/s1600/turtle+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtHoKupUkxc/UgkFPtcnbUI/AAAAAAAADDg/eEptk-KCgE4/s1600/turtle+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-soJV06GwUzw/UgkFP7dFDhI/AAAAAAAADDc/rd64zt5UdqM/s1600/turtle+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-soJV06GwUzw/UgkFP7dFDhI/AAAAAAAADDc/rd64zt5UdqM/s1600/turtle+4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In addition to
the excavation, my mom had set up an early morning turtle walk for the our
daughter and her friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would
accompany a turtle walker on her rounds to check the beach for evidence of
overnight hatchings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided after seeing
the hatchlings from the excavation that I would sleep in and miss the morning walk
on the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was more excitement to
come though….</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Early Sunday morning, before the sun even came up, a nest was found
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</span>They assumed the baby turtle had died and the nest had been drowned out
somehow. But as it turned out it was just a hatching that came too late in the
night. The babies stalled their digging mid-hatch due to the rising temperatures of the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing to do was to dig up the nest
and save the babies in a bucket until sundown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Otherwise they would likely die from dehydration or from an encounter
with curious tourists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my daughter,
her friend, and my mother got to witness a second excavation, this time resulting in </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">the saving of
about a <i>hundred</i> baby turtles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X1I7_neFvFs/UgkGEhRZ0fI/AAAAAAAADDw/FjpFxdNyzyg/s1600/turtle+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X1I7_neFvFs/UgkGEhRZ0fI/AAAAAAAADDw/FjpFxdNyzyg/s1600/turtle+100.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Later, since the
rest of the family missed the early morning excitement, we got to get a peek at the hatchlings
sleeping in their bucket in the turtle walker's garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is awesome to have so many connections in
the turtle walking world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As if all that
wasn’t enough—we also celebrated my little one’s fourth birthday over the
weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is officially four years
old today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pre-school starts a week from
now and I am full of mixed emotions as I realize how far from babyhood my baby
is really getting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly, though, I feel
incredibly blessed to be her mother and to watch her grow and change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SgE-qZSVs2U/UgkHTNaFozI/AAAAAAAADEE/zbGblD75eHU/s1600/new+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SgE-qZSVs2U/UgkHTNaFozI/AAAAAAAADEE/zbGblD75eHU/s1600/new+baby.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My newborn baby back in 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AsB9MzWFzW0/UgkHTC1iHUI/AAAAAAAADEA/WbvGNyshjoE/s1600/my+pre-schooler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AsB9MzWFzW0/UgkHTC1iHUI/AAAAAAAADEA/WbvGNyshjoE/s1600/my+pre-schooler.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this morning at 4 years old!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">One last point-
really quick, as I know this post is going on forever- the irony of the
situation with the turtles is not lost on me as I celebrate the anniversary of my
fifth child’s birth (a child who <a href="http://karilb75.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-much-value-does-life-really-have.html">at one point</a> we feared may have serious health problems).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lengths that are gone to to protect and save baby sea
turtles while allowing and condoning and, at times, even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">encouraging</i> the murder of thousands of unborn
baby humans every day is INSANE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
cannot help but wonder how things could get so mixed up in this country-- that
animal life is valued but human life is disposable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, even as I ohhed and ahhed over those baby
turtles, I also prayed and mourned the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">human
babies </i>lost to abortion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our world <i>really</i> needs it so-please,
please, please pray with me!</span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-63010280998957814202013-08-09T19:03:00.001-04:002013-08-09T19:11:59.228-04:00Struggle<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I wrote about
<a href="http://karilb75.blogspot.com/2013/07/success.html">success</a> a few weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then, I
have been thinking about something that may seem contrary to success but, I
think, is not really not so far away after all…..</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I’ve been
thinking a lot about struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For much
of my life, I sought a way to avoid any and all struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, a few years ago, I met my current
spiritual director and after sharing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my
struggle</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to avoid struggle</i> with
her, she informed me that I was going about things all wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wise, patient, wonderful spiritual director
told me then (and has reminded me nearly every time I’ve seen her since) that
it is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in the struggle</i> that we are
made holy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I’ve since come
to understand a few things about the struggles of life—</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
is no shame in struggle.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love for everyone to see me as
perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be</i> perfect but the reality is: I’m
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's just because I care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I care about being a better, <i>holier</i> person and
I am aware there is a lot of room for improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, through my struggle, s-l-o-w-l-y, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am</i> being made holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a long process for some of us but it <i>is</i>
a process and as I struggle to overcome my weaknesses, my shortcomings, my
struggles- I am growing along the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Struggles
are unavoidable.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one lives a life void of struggles and if
they are-- they are stagnant and too stuck in their comfort zones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the priests I most admire in the world
used to say it was his job to “comfort the challenged (read struggling) and
challenge the comfortable.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His point was, of course, that we
should never rest in comfort but always strive for something better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oftentimes that means we must struggle in
order to move forward in our faith journey.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Struggles
often bring about our greatest lessons and serve as our greatest means to growth.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
guess this point is really just reiterating what I’ve already said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like a good workout where no pain means
no gain, life’s struggles make us stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes those struggles strengthen us by knocking us to our knees and
revealing where we should rely more on God’s strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way- on our knees in weakness and
surrender or, through God’s grace, finding it within ourselves to stand strong in
the face of adversity, we are better when we persevere through the rough spots
of life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite the struggles of life and the
hardships that may come our way- we should always face our days with JOY!</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Struggle is never an excuse to abandon our faith or to discount the
command that we should be joyful unto the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The devil loves for us to feel discouraged and the struggles of life can
certainly threaten to bring us to that point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we turn to Our Lord in all things though and give our lives <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">completely</i> to Him, we can experience
true and lasting joy even in struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This has been a tough lesson for me and sometimes, I still struggle with
it- but I’m learning and I’m growing and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in
the struggle</i> I am undoubtedly being made holy<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
For more on this subject from others much wiser than me :) Check out this post from Conversion Diary on <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/2013/07/21-tips-for-survival-mode.html">Survival Mode</a> and this post from Raising Homemakers on <a href="http://raisinghomemakers.com/2013/learning-to-be-cheerful/">Being cheerful</a>! Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-81112304066635499872013-08-07T12:57:00.001-04:002013-08-07T15:27:55.061-04:00A Bit Burnt Out<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I had high hopes for this summer and
big plans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of them did not come to
fruition and the past two months have not been what I expected, but it was still
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always enjoyed summer
break and when I realized the other day that ours is practically over now, I was
sadly shocked to realize the time had gone by so quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We
will be starting our 9<sup>th</sup> year of home schooling in less than two
weeks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I hate to admit it but I am
feeling a tad bit burnt out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hoped that
summer would be refreshing and relaxing and that fall would find me renewed and
excited for a new year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But…. the
struggle to keep up with all the different grades and different learning styles
and different personalities of my beautiful children while attempting to
educate them each properly and patiently is just not always easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And after 8 years, home schooling just doesn’t
excite me like it used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gVpbBKkR5lY/Tj6jPQwt4CI/AAAAAAAABeQ/5nrhyMlIUHU/s1600/IMGP5974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gVpbBKkR5lY/Tj6jPQwt4CI/AAAAAAAABeQ/5nrhyMlIUHU/s320/IMGP5974.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
still love the family friendliness of it and the flexibility and the wonderful
blessing of being able to be together every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still appreciate the opportunity to give my
children a truly Catholic education in the loving environment of our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the thought of the actual <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">work</i> of lesson planning and teaching and grading and record
keeping and just plain <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">juggling</i> exhausts
me a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
still feel called to home schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Without a doubt, I know this is still where God wants our family to
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I realize, as I did in our early
years, that I must trust that if He calls us to it, He will see us through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I feel burnt out, the more it is an opportunity
to turn it all over to Him and to rely even more on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His strength</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?!?!?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As
a family, we have been praying a <a href="http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/novenas/p00053.htm">nine week novena to St. Martha</a> perpetually for
nearly a year now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started it last
September and at the end of each nine weeks, we start it anew for another
intention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St. Martha has been awesome
in interceding for our every intention so far. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when we realized last night that our next
nine weeks was just beginning, we decided to offer this novena up for a
successful home school year- for motivation and positive attitudes to make this
year a great one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’m
still feeling a little unprepared for another year of home schooling but it is
nice to know, it doesn’t all rest on my shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through St. Martha’s intercession, I know God
will see me through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe this will
be our best year yet?!?!?!?!?!?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">St.
Martha, pray for us.</span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-13020629973601771022013-08-02T20:51:00.000-04:002013-08-02T22:14:25.017-04:00Time Flies!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This afternoon my beautiful nieces
were picked up and their weeklong stay with us came to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least one of my children has been in tears
since their departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> very sad to say good-bye and see the
end of our week of cousin fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The week
was loud and crazy and full of wound up, over-the-top excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was seven days of non-stop giggles and late
night chats and lots and lots and lots of memory-making. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it went w-a-a-a-a-y too fast.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQSGqzRaJPo/UfxR6VSymAI/AAAAAAAADCg/e0IkTvuzEVs/s1600/on+the+beam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQSGqzRaJPo/UfxR6VSymAI/AAAAAAAADCg/e0IkTvuzEVs/s1600/on+the+beam2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We had balance beam contests,
fashion shows, a bubble gum blowing contest, kid-directed home-made movies
(including the first ever kid “horror” film- a not-really-so-scary take on Frankenstein),
craft projects, art projects, water play, an unusual one of a kind picnic,
cooking fun, a silly photo contest, an even sillier lullaby (that never seemed
to end), bedtime stories, face painting, too much junk food, and just such a good time
together!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ty0SPrawkKY/UfxTtJodj8I/AAAAAAAADCw/6k1l6qd9MKw/s1600/cooking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ty0SPrawkKY/UfxTtJodj8I/AAAAAAAADCw/6k1l6qd9MKw/s1600/cooking.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DPavkkapx0A/UfxUoYgAI4I/AAAAAAAADC8/c-tqduvLqJI/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DPavkkapx0A/UfxUoYgAI4I/AAAAAAAADC8/c-tqduvLqJI/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZz5GCJ9Sd0/UfxR2pPyh9I/AAAAAAAADCY/CU0QQU7DvAo/s1600/walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZz5GCJ9Sd0/UfxR2pPyh9I/AAAAAAAADCY/CU0QQU7DvAo/s1600/walk.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When
I was young, I read <u>Cheaper by the Dozen</u> and for a week or so after that
I remember thinking it might be fun to have a dozen children myself someday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems God’s plans for my family are not
quite as bounteous as that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, He
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">has</i> blessed me with lots of nieces
and nephews, in addition to my own 5 children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And this week of having the house <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">full</i>
of kids was truly as much fun as I envisioned in my youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a wonderful opportunity to really spend
some time with my nieces and to get to know them even better too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">At
one point, I looked at Tim and said, “I know it sounds crazy but I love the
chaos because inherent in it is so much joy and love.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> That really sums up our week-- chaotic but full of joy and love.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My sister and brother-in-law (who also had a
great week) have suggested maybe making this an annual tradition- I can
honestly say- I LOVE that idea and I’m ready to start making the plans for next
year’s visit.....</span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-74647069548719915492013-07-29T13:34:00.001-04:002013-07-30T09:26:11.584-04:00Dozens of cousins-- almost!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Back in January,
when my sister first asked if I’d be willing to keep her three girls for a week this summer so
she and her husband could vacation without them, I didn’t hesitate to agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My children immediately started coming up
with ideas of all sorts of great things they could do with their cousins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For <i>seven long months</i> we looked forward to it but
finally....</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This week has arrived!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">On Saturday at 9
a.m. their minivan pulled up and my nieces jumped out ready for fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a last minute change in plans, we also got
my other sister’s 2 children for a couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So, I write these words to the joyful,
heart-warming sounds of 10 happy cousins playing together. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">They are: a 14 year old, a 12 year old, a 10 year old, two 9 year olds, three 8 year olds, a 4 year old, and an almost 4 year old. Only my brother's two boys are missing. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">At 18 and 13, they are probably not too sad to miss out on the "little" kid fun though. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Watching the kids together reminds me of some of my best childhood memories. I have SO many memories
of playing with my own cousins as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">only </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">get together once or twice a year but whenever we did, we
would play made up games and elaborate pretend scenarios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time would fly by so fast as we had the
times of our lives (with only a few little tiffs and disagreements popping up
here and there).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My sisters both
wished me luck and thanked me profusely as they drove away childless for the
week, but, really- I feel like I should be thanking them for this chance to
spend time with my nieces and nephew. I absolutely love seeing all the kids playing so well
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I actually love joining in their silly games and their crazy, fun ideas too. :) </span>It's been two years since we
have had ALL the kids all together like this and two years is a long time when you’re a
kid.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Last week, I
went to Pinterest and pinned tons of fun activities to do at home with a crowd
of kids because I knew we would be housebound this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only fit 7 people in my minivan, so
there is no way to go out to the park or the beach or even the store with the
10 children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I have yet to use even one of those great ideas I pinned because the children are too busy making
their own fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, there haven't been any tiffs or disagreements- just lots of giggling, lots of running around and wrestling, lots of happy screeching, and TONS and TONS of fun! I’m afraid this week is
going to go so quickly the kids will not fit in all they want to do together.....</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Here are just a few of the 200 pictures I've taken so far!</span></div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQFUYWO7XA0/UfalBMuC4II/AAAAAAAADCA/Oz6Lskyg-Yg/s1600/With+our+cousins+071+Small+Web+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQFUYWO7XA0/UfalBMuC4II/AAAAAAAADCA/Oz6Lskyg-Yg/s1600/With+our+cousins+071+Small+Web+view.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Working on a picture showing the trip from Missouri to Florida</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo80Ks-anMM/UfalBOnKnmI/AAAAAAAADB8/SZLVpeMXITQ/s1600/with+our+cousins+bandits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo80Ks-anMM/UfalBOnKnmI/AAAAAAAADB8/SZLVpeMXITQ/s1600/with+our+cousins+bandits.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing bandits (in p.j.'s, right before bed)</td></tr>
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</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBI47tAPgpE/UfalBU00cvI/AAAAAAAADCE/tgDZEaSXsOY/s1600/with+our+cousins+crocheting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBI47tAPgpE/UfalBU00cvI/AAAAAAAADCE/tgDZEaSXsOY/s1600/with+our+cousins+crocheting.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to crochet together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813401571399214066.post-54698616365305095162013-07-26T11:55:00.004-04:002013-07-29T09:31:25.332-04:00In honor of National NFP Awareness Week<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I
hesitate to write about NFP, because I firmly believe some things should just
remain private.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's why, I’ve never
shared here, online, about my husband and my decision years ago to take the
plunge and follow the Church’s teaching on family planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in honor of National NFP Awareness Week,
I wanted to say just a few words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Q5zYQvqjiw/TwyGBCYB96I/AAAAAAAAB6U/4P53zNzBP94/s1600/our+wedding+hands+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Q5zYQvqjiw/TwyGBCYB96I/AAAAAAAAB6U/4P53zNzBP94/s320/our+wedding+hands+001.jpg" width="253" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When
Tim and I first started <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i>
learning about our Catholic faith and getting to know other Catholic couples,
there <u><i>seemed</i></u> to be a huge dividing line. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That line was labeled with three little
letters- N-F-and-P. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were those “good”
devout Catholics on the one side and the not-quite-so devout “cafeteria style”
Catholics on the other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that I’ve
experienced marriage on both sides of that line, I see things a little
differently than I did back then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
necessarily believe that in our pre-NFP days Tim and I were not good Catholics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We simply didn’t understand the theology or
the reasoning behind it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think (hope)
we were the best Catholics we knew how to be at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0I5r68rvA8/TwyL1mqAmbI/AAAAAAAAB6k/YPP8QFvoUms/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0I5r68rvA8/TwyL1mqAmbI/AAAAAAAAB6k/YPP8QFvoUms/s320/004.JPG" width="111" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Thankfully,
God was patient in calling us to the “cross the line” so to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, Tim and I <i>did</i> answer His
call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NFP felt like a huge leap of faith
and even now, after years and years of understanding and practicing it, it still requires
faith every single day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, overall, it
has been a huge blessing in our marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are certainly stronger for having taken the leap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So
while it may have taken us a while to fully embrace, God knows we are
committed to NFP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows we want to
want <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only what He wants</i> for our
family and that we will always follow the Church’s teaching in this (and every)
area of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, He also knows it
isn’t always easy for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NFP can be a
real struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being open to life and
open to God’s plan when it may differ from ours can be overwhelming at
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a big family and
welcoming babies at God’s will, is, in and of itself, an immense leap of faith. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>NFP has been an incredible
blessing, but it has also been an incredible challenge- just like each of our
beautiful children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will continue to
be committed to it, and continue to be challenged by it, just like we are in
raising each of our beautiful children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NFP isn’t easy, but it’s what’s best for our marriage, for our bodies,
for our souls, and for our life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if
God’s plans are different than ours, we will trust that His are better and we
will willingly follow wherever He leads us and accept whatever blessings He bestows
upon us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what NFP has taught us
and what practicing it continually calls us too- trust in God and putting Him
at the center of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07189228866239286310noreply@blogger.com2