Friday, January 20, 2006

Zenit takes note of Elizabeth Marquardt

Diane Sollee of Smart Marriages sent an article from Zenit in her news letter.

For those who don't know what Zenit is, it is an international news agency that covers the Vatican and other news concerning the Catholic Church.

Well, Zenit has noticed Elizabeth Marquardt and the Center for Marriage and Families. They have published an article on the findings of a study called "Family Structure and Children's Educational Outcomes."

It isn't long, but it is worth reading.

God bless!




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Thursday, January 19, 2006

Money Lost More Important than our Children???

Today on the news, I heard about the woman and her husband who had tried to extort money from Wendy's by claiming that she found a finger in her chili being sentenced. They spoke of the amount of money that employees lost, that Wendy's lost.

And I agree, it was horrible! My son used to work for a Wendy's, and I had enjoyed for a very long time the Salad Bar that they used to have, and their baked potatoes. I still like the salads, though wish that they still had the salad bars.

They got nine years.

SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - A couple who planted a human finger in a bowl of chili at a Wendy's fast food restaurant was sentenced in California on Wednesday to nine years in prison.

"Greed and avarice overtook this couple and they lost their moral compass," Judge Edward Davila said of Anna Ayala and her husband Jaime Plascencia in handing down the nine-year sentence.

The scam caused a sharp fall in sales at the third-largest U.S. burger chain, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue and a lingering impact to this day, officials say.

Plascencia was given another three years and four months for not paying support for the five children he has with another woman in an unrelated case, giving him a total sentence of 12 years, four months behind bars.

Davila also ordered the couple to pay almost $22 million in restitution but Wendy's officials indicated to the court they would only seek to collect approximately $170,000, representing the wages lost by employees at the San Jose restaurant where working hours were cut back after a downturn in business.


Then I also heard more on the Vermont Judge Cashman who had given a man a sixty day sentence for raping a young child for four years (that is not the entire sentence, but is essentially what he has to serve).

A second case, where there was NO Jail Time given to the man for having sex with a fifteen year old boy (a teacher, no less!) (See Bookworm Room)

And a third, a rape case, where the perpetrator used a date rape drug, and his victim therefore could not say no....
The young lady (the victim) was a guest on Hannity and Colmes Jan 18. I can't find it tonight online, but what I caught was that he got NO SENTENCE. Will make a mental note to find this story.........

So what I am thinking when I hear all of this is....

Defrauding someone so that they lose money is worth more time in prison than raping, molesting, and pedophilia ...

We care more about money than we do our kids and women in the court system... What a sad statement that makes!

But does that surprise anyone?


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Notes from Catholic Fire

Catholic Fire has several posts tonight that are good to read:

First, she has a quote that all should read and take to heart, and it is very TRUE, by CS Lewis: (Note well, my children)

Love Priorities "When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.
In so far as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all.
When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased."
~ C. S. Lewis


(Note well, my three adult children and spouses.... love you!)

Second,
Benedict XVI has an encyclical coming out about Jan 25, 2006, that warns believers not to confuse love with lust or degrade it "to mere sex". I think that this may be a good one to give to each of my three, but especially to my son and his fiancee whose wedding is rapidly coming up.

Third,
she points out an article that speaks of two women who have come forward to speak about their experiences in George R. Tiller's Wichita, Kansas abortion mill, after the January 13, 2005 death of Christin A. Gilbert at his clinic as a result of complications from a third trimester abortion he did. Details of her death can be found here, and the two women's words can be read here. There are other related stories found there, also.

It is a very sad, sad story.

And finally, she has a message from Fr Frank Pavone that I was GOING to write about, but had to work. Since she has it on hers, I will direct you there, instead.


God bless!!



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"The Catholic Church Is Close to You and Is Your Friend"

Someguy (with a a hat tip to Christian Attitudes) has directed us to Benedict XVI's address
to the Chief Rabbi of Rome.

It is a Zenit article from Jan. 16, 2006 and found here.


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Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Mother of the Groom Dress Blues.....

MAY 19, 2006...

















Oh, it is coming up so fast, and I hate shopping so badly, especially for dresses for myself.

I am now at the point where if I don't get one, it won't be done on time. So I am actively seeking a professional who can MAKE me one that fits and looks good on me.



There are very few times when I wish I were taller. This is one.

There are very few times when I wish I were not only taller, but thinner. This is one.

There are very few times when I wish that I were not only taller and thinner, but that my waist were in a more normal place on me, and not so high. This is one.

There are very few times when I wish I was not so narrow shouldered... etc etc etc.

THIS IS ONE!

Other times were when I was Mother of the Bride for both daughters....

Did I tell you how much I hate shopping for dresses for myself?

I HATE SHOPPING, PERIOD, but when it is for ME, I hate it even more...
and when it is for a DRESS...arrgggghhhhhhh!!!!!

I got the Mother-of-the-Groom-dress-searching/fitting/trying-on/measuring/altering blues...

think that could make a good song?


Pray for me. I hate shopping with a passion. I can't put it off any longer... my son may disown me.

God bless!


Update June 27, 2006 The Wedding


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"Tilly" by Frank Peretti

A very long time ago, I read Frank Peretti's books as they came out. And they spread through many members of my friends. I had often spoken of Spirtual Warfare to some before he began to have them published, but not many understood what I was talking about.

As time passed, my Mom also read them, and in the one where a fourth grade teacher utilizes visualization/relaxation technique, it clicked with her. Her comment was "It only takes one teacher to undo a lot of hard work....". Exactly.

Now, today, I happened on a site that brought him back to mind, with this post.

In addition to having written Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness (and others), Peretti has written one called Tilly that I have never forgotten. And today, I learned that it has been made into a film!

This book is touching, and could be very profound for any who have been touched by abortion significantly. I went to the site suggested and watched the trailers. I am going to try to also see it in full, or even get it for my library. I am glad that I checked out my visitor tonight.

God bless!


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