Category Archives: Life

Contradeception

Yesterday’s post was fun and girly and….Holy Cow…had my second highest views of all time.  There is no denying that fashion is FUN!!  Fashion is fun because we, as women, like to feel pretty and feminine; the kicker is….God made us that way.  We are softer than men, we have less upper body strength than men, we are nurturers and caregivers, it is our nature; that is a GOOD thing.  Why do we fight it?  Today I am posting a brief my sweet friend, Carrie, wrote regarding our femininity.  It’s great food for thought with the election tomorrow, not to mention how we view ourselves and the creature God made us to be.  It may or may not sway your vote, however, I hope it helps to solidify the reality of what it is when we are made WOMAN.  Blessings!!  And if you haven’t already…go vote tomorrow!!

“Why ain’t a boy in a hundred gets to whitewash an illustrious fence like this one,”

The infamous Tom Sawyer spoke intently, baiting the first of many friends who passed by his lousy post, convincing them to exchange their prized possessions for an opportunity to do his dirty work.

“He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it” Author Mark Twain narrates, “ Namely, that in order to make a man or a boy, covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.”

The rapidly approaching presidential election reflects this dark principle of human nature. By exploiting a cause, one can run on an appalling record and still influence votes. After all, in order to make a girl or a woman covet a thing, it is only necessary to tell her a man can do it.

Our Commander-in-Chief, during the debate on domestic affairs, pledged to do all he can to afford woman the same opportunities as men. He asserted, woman in our country and around the world have been subject to grave injustices. Woman like Lily Ledbetter who worked many years making less money than her male equivalent without justice and well deserved recognition had top billing.

The media conversation in the days following the debate centered on what they called the war on women. Hearing the countless horror stories on the news of so many nameless women who have been denied pay, protection and sadly, dignity, are impossible and impermissible to ignore. We grieve that women in our own backyard have starved to feed their families, have been objectified and abandoned. War has been waged and Americans know they cannot sit idly by. America needs a pro-women candidate and Barack Obama is confident he is the guy.

His bold response to the inequality:  More contraception:  mandatory coverage for all. Stopping at nothing to ensure every prescription is filled and every womb empty because all of our womanly woes obviously stem from a lack of available contraception.

As women, we have suffered many fates at the hand of this illustrious pill;  yet our government wants us to open wide to swallow yet another dose of deception. Is this the revolution American women have been longing for? Do we need protection from our threatening reproductive systems, our broken bodies that every month do this crazy thing called ovulate. Are we really that naïve?

The pill our president peddles is not only detrimental to our health but to our society at large. Over the last century our country has endured a rapid moral decline; one that not-so-coincidentally coincides with the wide-spread availability of the pill. American women are smart enough to understand the correlation but sufficiently terrified of their own femininity and choose to ignore it.

The readily available statistics of the abuse and objectification of women and families in America are staggering. Is it not enough that more than half the women in America are without spouses, half the children live without at a father or a mother in their home, and millions of innocent children are ripped from their mother’s wombs when the cure-all first line of defense fails?

There is war on women. Femininity is being assaulted by those that claim who we are made to be as women, is simply not good enough.

Take a look in the mirror, ladies. Seriously take a long, deep, gaze at your bare outline.

Now take a second look, beyond the shame and unrealistic expectations about what the world tells you your femininity ought to resemble. This time, what do you see?

Behold, the glorious feminine frame, curves, breasts and the intricate lines that cover our most captivating capacity, our ability to nurture life. You are beautiful!

Femininity is not a disease, it is privilege. We don’t need a cure, or the hollow and dangerous promises that come at a devastating cost to our very nature as women. We do not want to hand over our most prized possession, the truth of our femininity, to partake in a dirty agenda. We can no longer pretend to be something we are not. Who we are is undeniably etched in our existence. We are worth infinitely more. Why ain’t every girl in a hundred liberated by this truth?

Pumpkin-obsessed

It’s fall.  Though we don’t get MUCH of a season change here in Central Florida, the humidity and temp do take periodic dives, sending us into a state of bliss.  This is the time of year I get to add my favorite item a little extry, extry into the recipes and food rotation.  Sadly, it appears my family does not share my excitement over pumpkin….at least not to the degree that I love it.  Boo hiss.  More than once I’ve been asked to “cool it on the pumpkin”.

Here are a few things “we” have enjoyed…(by we, I mean it’s been purchased and entered the house, however, not everyone has partaken of):

  • Pumpkin oatmeal….oh wow!  I love oatmeal for breakfast and this was a super yummy addition, not to mention healthy
  • Pumpkin muffins
  • Pumpkin pie Pop Tarts (yes, apparently Pop Tarts has “seasonal” flavors.  who knew?!
  • Pumpkin bread
  • Pumpkin ravioli
  • Pumpkin protein smoothie
  • Pumpkin marshmallows
  • Pumpkin coffee
  • Pumpkin spice coffee creamer
  • Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (regular recipe just add a can of pumpkin and cinnamon and nutmeg to taste!)
  • and……I still have 6 cans of pumpkin in the pantry!!!  and I WILL use them. oh yes, I will.   family requests be darned!

Now tonight for dinner, along with out 3 Bean Bake, I made that family of mine pumpkin muffins and added some cream cheese filling and guess what???  No complaints.  and no leftovers. That’s right.   I’m bringing them over to the pumpkin side…..

What do you think?  Too much pumpkin or just right?  Maybe I DO have a problem….

 

Two late nights, two tired, too tired…

Last night was the Jr. Pee Wee’s Pop Warner play off game.  Started @ 7.  Miss Cheer had to be there @ 6, Miss Soccer had practice @ 615.  Everyone made it where they needed to be on time and I taxied and waited and Miss Soccer and I went to catch the 2nd half of the game–I am a fabulous wife and gave Hubby a pass–however, shooting myself in the foot doing so because it was flippin’ COLD @ that game AND it didn’t get over until 9 therefore putting the little Misses to bed @ almost 10 after dinner and showers.  Usual bed time:  830.  Good times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning was pretty decent considering they had Halloween to look forward to, so the rousing wasn’t too terrible.  And tonight was fun….trick or treating with a friend in an easy ‘hood…those girls BANKED on the candy (Dad and the boys are excited about that share-factor).  Holy cow.  However, after walking for an hour and a half and enjoying a creepy haunted house (not ME, I stayed on the sidewalk…call me chicken..I don’t care), it was again bed late. Tomorrow morning should be interesting, right?  Maybe I’ll just coax them with chocolate….

The Cowgirl and Erkel….(the boys are too big…sniff, sniff)

What doesn’t kill us….

Do you ever seem as though you can get so easily caught in a vortex of despair?  (Currently, I am fine…but lately there are many around me suffering and each challenge seems to bring forth a new and fresh hell for someone else).  There is so much suffering around ALL of us.  Each of us with our own drama and issues to deal with and then to meld together as we swim our way through.  Thus is life.  Fluid and changing.

John 16:33 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

One of my favorite lyrics (and all-time sayings) in Kelly Clarkson’s song…..”What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is so true; it’s not the trials we face….because we ALL have crosses to bear throughout our lives…it is how we deal with those trials and when we rise above…we are stronger.

Last night I read my friend Lea’s blog and she put up this great poem and even better pictures to remind me that we are not only made stronger by life’s trials but more beautiful.  Looking at the pictures of these beautiful ladies and friends and looking back on the years….it’s true.  

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat,

known suffering,

known struggle,

known loss,

and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation,

a sensitivity,

and an understanding of life

that fills them with compassion,

gentleness,

and a deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.”

 

                       Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004); psychiatrist, author

Baking, backbends and stuff…7QTs!

My weekly roundup of the week with J.Fulwiler, Catholic blogger and reality show star and her amazing followers of blogginess…Check ’em out HERE, they have some FUNNY stuff over there….and USEFUL….and HISTORICAL….and…well…just go check it out, there’s something for EVERYone!!

1.  I’ve returned to the gym (for weight work).  My muscles are meeting to secretly stage a coup, I’m sure.  Shhh, don’t tell them, but we’re going back tomorrow.  As soon as I can bend over to tie my shoes.  It’s just not fair how quickly you get sore when you add in new/old/different stuff.  Cue the Rocky theme song….

2.  To celebrate my return to the gym, I helped our oldest daughter attempt a Pinterest recipe for chocolate chip cookie bowls…click HERE for pic credit AND recipe if you should like to give it a whirl.  Bless her heart.  Her Mama didn’t read the directions first.  Fortunately, she only made 6 and the rest regular cookies.  Apparently it calls for the cookie dough in the tube…whatev…

Taste=FABULOUS  Presentation=Room for improvement.

Ours:

Sweet girl. Our future “Cake boss”, but much kinder!

This is MESSY!!

ALMOST!!!!

Theirs. Perfectionists. So not real life…..:-P

3.  This weekend we are getting our family picture taken.  By a real person.  Not just a self-timer.  Christmas cards…..it’s on!

4.  Our youngest diva daughter has been working diligently on this backbend kick over and by golly, she got it!!  Try THIS LINK…I’m just too cheap frugal to upgrade to the video uploader….or you can go to my Twitter and view it…or just imagine our girl finally getting her backbend kick over!

5.  This morning, somehow, we overslept an ENTIRE HOUR!!!  ALL of us.  We woke up when our oldest should have been getting ON the bus.  Talk about an adrenaline rush.  I don’t know about you but we are seriously efficient when running EXTREMELY late.  There is NO time for bickering, arguing or even talking.  The high schooler and elementary kids made it on time and I was late (fortunately no patients were waiting on me…I wasn’t THAT late!!) and Hubby took our middle schooler at his regular time.  Mad skillz, I tell you. Or a well oiled machine.  controlled chaos.  What have you.  Sure got my heart rate up.  I have re-checked the alarm settings many times already tonight….

6.  This week my Aunt received bad news regarding her cancer and has decided to be done with chemo and to let nature take its course.  It’s awful.  Her daughter and son are my age.  I can’t even fathom it.  She is at peace with her decision and I know God will take care of her family but it isn’t going to be easy.  Not one bit.  Today, my brother-in-law (Hubby’s bro), had a heart catheterization and two stents placed. After he drove himself to the hospital because he wasn’t feeling so good.  He’s 42.  3 kids (10, 6 &6)  He’s doing fine but……ugh.  I can’t even go there.  The point is…..We do not know when our hour will come.  And I am reminded of a beautiful twitter quote I’ve been mulling over all week:   @JamesMartinSJ: Gospel: “Live today as if it were your first day…your last day…and your only day.”

7.  And so with Father Martin’s quote fresh on my heart earlier this week, I received an email with RIDICulously low air fare to see my mom.  I promptly booked 3 tickets for myself and the girls to go in January.  It’s their Christmas present (shhhhhh).  I’ll take the boys this summer.  YOLO, right?  Fortunately, Hubby was VERY understanding and forgave me for my completely impulsive decision without his input and is on board.  Phew.

That’s all from me….Blessings to you ALL!  Have a great weekend!