Saturday, June 24, 2006

Adoption

Visitors

4 Mar 2006 Though this one was written after most or all of the others here, it is placed on top due to the nature of some who traverse the internet searches looking for Adoptive topics to spread anger, bitterness, and to disparage adoptive parents. This serves as a warning that those kinds of comments will NOT be allowed here, and WILL be deleted.

There also may be some other posts in my archives that I have missed putting here.

God bless!

Open Letter about TWICE ADOPTED
12 Aug 2004

"We loved you too late" "I'll hold you in heaven."

22 Jan 2005

Happy Birthmother's Day, Karen and Liz, and all...

6 May 2005
It's Called CONTROL~~It's Called POWER
3 June 2005

Happy Anniversary!

27 Jun 2005

"Can I Live?" WOW

1 July 2005

"Papa, Do You Love Me?"

9 Aug 2005
For the Sins of the Father.....
26 Sept 2005
Thirty years ago.... this month, two mothers were born....
2 Oct 2005

National Adoption Month

7 Nov 2005

National Adoption Month Part 2

7 Nov 2005

National Adoption Month Part 3 An Adoptive Mother

7 Nov 2005

ADOPTION

7 Nov 2005

Thoughts

7 Nov 2005

Words From An Adoptive Mother's Heart:

7 Nov 2005
Legacy of an Adopted Child
7 Nov 2005
And finally..... for now, anyway!
7 Nov 2005

November 19--National Adoption Day

16 Nov 2005

Steven Curtis Chapman on TV promoting adoption

14 Dec 2005

Crimen: Impediment to Marriage

24 Jan 2006

An Adoption Acrostic

5 Mar 2006
Happy Birthmother's Day, again, Karen and Liz!
13 May 2006

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Fr Rob had a Guest

Fr. Rob Ready To Defend The Faith


Fr Rob had a guest recently, and showed us all what he will be doing if it ever comes down to REALLY having to defend our Faith, LOL! He has three entries on his blog about having Mark Shea as his guest while a speaker at Fr Rob's parishes, what they did, and finally how they prepared for w... er, relaxed.

It does sound like they enjoyed themselves immensely.

Catherine Herridge Updates Us via Gretawire

I had been wondering how Baby Peter was doing, and finally, today, Greta Van Susteren had another update, only THIS time, it is from Catherine Herridge herself.

Catherine is often on Fox News Channel, but she is also Peter's mother and the donor of the liver that he desparately needed to continue to live. Just in case you had not heard about this before, you can read more from previous postings that I had written.

Continue to keep them in your prayers. God bless!


So, from Gretawire:

Rather than having me report about my colleague Catherine Herridge and her infant son Peter today, I figured it better to let you get it directly from her. So, here is an e-mail that I received from Catherine last night:

E-mail No. 1

Hi Greta,
We miss you here in Pittsburgh!
Peter is doing well. As you know, he is a wiggler and wants all his tubes out as soon as possible! But now he is paying the price: His throat is a little swollen from all the rubbing against his airway tube. The doctors have sedated him to reduce the rubbing and the swelling. Once that is done, they hope to take it out so he can breathe on his own.
This is all that stands in the way of Peter leaving the ICU. So overall, this is good news!
Peter's liver (hard to believe that it used to be mine) is doing great. We are thrilled. His color is pink. One doctor saw him today who last saw him before the surgery and said, "Wow, he looks like an entirely different kid!"
Even though he is sedated, we still sit with him from about 6 a.m. through 10 p.m. every day. My mother, father and I take turns, holding Peter's little hand while my husband JD is out with Jamie. I know this helps Peter feel less alone.
Jamie, who is 20 months, is having a good time. He and his father have been to almost every park in Pittsburgh by now. And the parks here are very nice.
We continue to get cards and notes. THANK YOU to everyone who is thinking and praying for us. Peter's surgeon told me they've had a lot of calls from families who saw Greta's show. He said many of them had sick kids, like Peter, and now they have more hope something can be done.
Our family also wants to thank everyone who sent money to the transplant program. They told me they are using it to help families pay for the anti-rejection drugs after the operation. They are very expensive and can cost $1000.00 a month. This is a really big help for them.
Got to run. I'll give Peter a big kiss for everyone!

Catherine

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

"Partisan" Politics? No... CATHOLIC TEACHING!

Cardinal McCarrick Accuses his Brother Bishops of "Partisan" Politics

By Hilary White

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The task force appointed by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to "study" the issue of whether or not to give communion to Catholic politicians who persistently hold positions at odds with Catholic teaching has released its final report this weekend.

After years of deliberation and meetings, the verdict is in: bishops should decide for themselves. Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, the archbishop of Washington and head of the task force, reiterated the interim decision made by the US bishops at their meeting in Denver in 2004. He said there was "no substitute for the local bishop's pastoral judgment and his vital relationships with Catholic public officials in his own diocese."

The only addition Cardinal McCarrick - who claims to be a political "moderate" - made to the original conclusion was to scold some members of the Conference for what he called "partisan" politics which he said was becoming prevalent in the US Church.

McCarrick said, "My concern is the fear that the intense polarization and bitter battles of partisan politics may be seeping into the broader ecclesial life of our Catholic people and maybe even of our Conference."

Since the 1960's the Democratic party, traditionally supported by the US Catholic bishops, has forced the political "centre" further to the left, adopting abortion, euthanasia and same-sex "marriage".

While most bishops have remained silent on the matter, a small cadre of younger bishops such as Charles Chaput of Denver, Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln and Raymond Burke of St. Louis, have in recent years begun to shift the Church - at least in their own dioceses - away from adherence to the Democrat party line and called on Catholics to uphold the moral law in public life. A number of these announced as a kind of "minority report" to the Dallas decision that abortion-supporting politicians in their dioceses would be refused Communion.

Cardinal McCarrick refers to himself as a political 'moderate'. During the presidential election, McCarrick was lauded by Democrats and liberal media for his "balance" in the face of the abortion/Communion question. He told the media, "I have not gotten to the stage where I'm comfortable in denying the Eucharist."

The Cardinal's response infuriated pro-life Catholics who were calling on the bishops to present a united front against politicians, such as then-presidential candidate John Kerry, who used the name Catholic and promoted unrestricted abortion, homosexuality and euthanasia.

American Life League launched a full-page ad in the Washington Times that featured a close-up picture of the crucified Christ and the text, "Cardinal McCarrick, are you comfortable now?"

Many Catholics pointed out that the work of the task force had been done for them. The Church's Code of Canon Law is clear on the subject saying that anyone who is in a state of "manifest grave sin" - which in Catholic teaching includes voting for or supporting the killing of children - must be refused Communion.

A number of Vatican prelates, including the future Pope Benedict XVI, made it clear that politicians who openly advocated abortion, same-sex "marriage", or civil unions for homosexual partners were to be refused Communion.

While the bishops were meeting in Dallas, McCarrick went so far as to suppress crucial instructions from then-Cardinal Ratzinger who was head of the Church's doctrinal office. Ratzinger's letter said unambiguously that politicians who denied fundamental Catholic doctrine "must be refused" Communion.

Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Ad Campaign Questions Cardinal McCarrick's 'Discomfort' With Denying Communion to Pro-Abort Politicians
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/may/04050705.html

Washington Cardinal McCarrick Says He Supports Same-Sex Civil Unions on CNN
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06060810.html

Controversy Heats up over Cardinal McCarrick Downplaying Vatican Direction on Communion
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jul/04070701.html

Highest Authorities in Vatican Back Denial of Communion to Pro-Abortion Politicians
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jul/04070501.html


(c) Copyright: LifeSiteNews.com is a production of Interim Publishing. Permission to republish is granted (with limitation*) but acknowledgement of source is *REQUIRED* (use LifeSiteNews.com).

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

This One Will Follow Her Forever...lol!

You all remember "Kids Say the Darnedest Things" ?

Well, they sometimes DO the darnedest things, also...but how about a Dad who puts your 'things' on the internet for all the world to see, forever...LOL..

I can see her showers coming up some day... her wedding.... she will NEVER live this down... heheh....

This one came with a warning to use the bathroom before watching, and I will add move your drinks away, and SWALLOW anything you may have been eating or drinking....


Oh...and I am glad that they did NOT have video or internet when I was Evelyn's age...

God bless!

Monday, June 19, 2006

To God Be the Glory! Colorado, Stand Up for This Man!

Still reading on the same search that brought me to Catholic Thinker, and have found something that has NOT been covered by the main stream media (surprise, surprise!?) which is one of the most POWERFUL stories of Gianna Jessen's career, as well as one brave, brave legislator!

This one was found on Catholic Pillow Fight, one of the blogs I have bookmarked and often read, though it has been awhile since I got to read all of the blogs I have enjoyed. Tony has given his award to Ted Harvey, a member of the Colorado State House of Representatives. The story of this is in the May 9, 2006 issue of the Denver Post, and HIS version of the complete story is on his website.

He begins by telling us how it came to pass that Gianna sang the National Anthem that day, and how he introduced her. It is important that you read his words. He ends like this:

Members, today we are going to recognize the 90th anniversary of Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood,”

BANG! The gavel came down.

Just as I was finishing the last sentence of my speech…The climax of the morning…The Speaker of the House gaveled me down and said, “Representative Harvey, I will allow you to continue your introduction but not for the purposes of debating a measure now pending before the House.”

At which point I said,

“Mr. Speaker I understand, I just wanted to put a face to what we are celebrating today”.

Silence…Deafening silence.

I then walked back to my chair shaking like a leaf. The Democrats wouldn’t look at me…they were fuming. It was beautiful. I have been in the legislature for five tough years and this made it all worthwhile.

The House Majority Leader wouldn’t talk to me the rest of the day.

Was it because I introduced an abortion survivor, or was it because we touched her soul? She could congratulate an inspirational cerebral palsy victim and advocate, but was outraged when she discovered that the person she congratulated was also an abortion survivor.

The headline in the Denver Post the next day read Abortion Jab Earns Rebuke. The Majority Leader is quoted as saying "I think it was amazingly rude to use a human being as an example of his personal politics,"

Yes Representative Madden, Gianna Jessen is a human being. She was when she was in her mother’s womb and she was when she sang the National Anthem on the Floor of the Colorado House of Representatives.

The paper went on to quote Gianna Jessen, stating she was glad Harvey told her story.
"We need to discuss the humanity of it. I'm glad to be able to speak up for children in the womb," she said. "If abortion is about women's rights, where were my rights?"

Leslie Hanks, one of the matriarchs of the pro-life movement in Colorado, was in the House Chamber that morning and told me that it was the single greatest moment she had witnessed in the State Legislature in the 20 years that she’d been lobbying in the Capitol.

All I can say is, “Glory to God!” He orchestrated it all, every minute of it, and I was so honored to have been chosen to play a part. May we all continue to be filled with and to fight for the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In His service,

Ted Harvey
Assistant Minority Leader
Colorado House of Representatives


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Gianna Jessen, Abortion Survivor


"Can I Live?" WOW

Silenced?? I doubt it!

Followup to Silenced?? I Doubt It! Contacts listed

50 Abortion Survivors per year in England......

Who to choose as Heroes?

Gianna Jessen, In Her Own Words (2000)

Gianna Jessen Has Another Fan

Gianna Jessen and Baby Rowan

To God Be the Glory! Colorado, Stand Up for This Man!



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Gianna Jessen Has Another Fan


Gianna Jessen has another fan out there!

While some check their 'stats' to find out how much traffic is coming to their blogs, I check it to find OTHER blogs to read, and occasionally find some real Gems. Today, when I got home from work, there was a search for Gianna that found my blog. I wondered what other sites may have shown up, and was pleasantly surprised to find "Catholic Thinker", writing about having seen Gianna on the previous Friday evening. It is very much worth your time reading.

Gianna has been a 'part of my life' since we 'met' her in Wausau, WI when she was still a young teen, just beginning to charm the world with her smile, honesty, and strong testimony about surviving a saline abortion in 1977. I find myself smiling everytime I hear her name, or think of her.

I hope that someday YOU also get a chance to meet and hear her singing, speaking about her early life. But as you hear her and see her, remember that Gianna also runs... with cerebral palsy... Marathons!

God bless!


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Walid Shoebat, Ibrahim Abdullah, Zachariah Anani

This email came today, announcing that the Three Ex Terrorists will be speaking tomorrow.
For more information about them, see Walid Shoebat's website.


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Friends

Tomorrow night the Three Ex Terrorist event happens at 7.30 pm

Seaport Museum, Penns Landing Philadelphia, right next to Hyatt Hotel.

We have a few tickets left. Call 1-877-832-7200 for tickets which are only $20. The whole event is being recorded for major documentary production.

Major Media outlets covering the event are

Fox News Philly
CBN
CBS TV Inside Edition (National)
National Public Radio
The Associated Press TV
Reuters News service
Voice of America
World Net Daily
1210 Big Talker largest Philly Radio station
XM Satelite National talk show.
Many others too and more coming on board.

The Truth is being heard NOW!!

Thanks

Keith

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Reflections from a Father of the Bride

Reflections From a Father of the Bride


My shoes were shined, my tux was pressed and my toast was written. By all practical accounts, I was ready to be Father of the Bride this spring. But no checklist could prepare me for the powerful emotion that accompanied my firstborn’s wedding.



Read the rest of this excellent article here, written by a fellow Wisconsinite!

God bless!!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Over the time of their engagement (even long before), my son had to work through the ramifications of the failure to keep wedding vows by his parents, and the effect it has on the children (regardless of their ages). He had explained to his Katie the stand I have taken long ago, when he was just a baby, and again to her parents. Over his lifetime, he had heard me often speaking of the permanence and indissolubility of Marriage.

But he had also heard me very often say that he (and his sisters) MUST respect their father as the father. There were several times that each had asked permission to do something that I felt was more of a father's decision than mine to make, and I had told each that before I made the final decision, they had to go to their Dad to get his opinion, and that opinion would be respected. There was very few times that my decision was different than what he told them.

As sole custodial parent by court order, I did not have to include their father. That fact was pointed out to me many times by my children when they did not want to go and ask him. But I reminded them that God had given fathers a role, a position, a place in the family which MUST be respected and honored, even if some things that he had done (and did)... did not need to be respected.

Alanon and AA talks about principles over personalities. I called it respecting the person, while not accepting unacceptable behavior. They did not need to like what others did, but they did have to treat the person with dignity and respect as a person.... including their father.

While he had chosen to go back on his word to me many times, including his wedding vows, he was still their father, answerable to God for his children. There were times that he failed there, also, and broke promises (especially to his third child, his son). But there was no way that I could justify 'removing' him from what God had intended when we were allowed to become parents of our three children. When health and/or safety or morals were not the issue, those three children needed the input of a male chosen by God to be their Dad. Though it was difficult at times, I had to honor that role, that position, that 'office' myself, or fail my children as their mother.

One time, and one time only, I did NOT accept a decision that was made, because it would directly affect the future of my son. When asked to sign a form agreeing to pay for the head gear for our son, the response was anger and a cancellation of the appointment. There had been no discussion about it, just a deliberate unilateral decision to refuse treatment that was deemed necessary solely because it would cost a relatively small amount of money.

It was the only time that I defied his father's parental role and stepped FULLY into the sole custodial parental role, and reinstated that appointment. My son had his head gear, and later did not need braces other than to close spaces and straighten out the slight Class II bite he had. Several years later, while I was working for a dental firm that provided orthodontic work for employees and family members for two years' employment and $800.00, my son decided that he wanted to go through with that final part of treatment, and his father chose once again to refuse to pay for his half of the cost. I do not regret going against his decision, for it was a matter of health for my son.

Children need Fathers. Today's society tries to make that role out to be unnecessary. Fathers are mocked on many sit-coms, many cartoons, and even some movies.

Those kinds of programs were not allowed in our home. Each time that a child tried to tell me that it was 'only a show', I responded by telling them that this is the kind of show that does harm to the viewers, AND to the fathers. Some of those programs also made mothers look just as stupid as the fathers, with the child or teen knowing more than the parents.

And I used the words that this kind of programming does... brain-washing, propagandizing.

Children NEED fathers. But more, children need fathers to BE fathers, to take responsibility for the children God gave them. They need to be taught how to be a man, if a son, and how to be respected and cherished by a man, if a daughter.

They need to know the love of their father in order to know the Love of their Father.

For those fathers who carry out their roles as the head of their families, this is a tremendous responsibility for which they will answer 'when they meet their Maker', and hear "Well done, good and faithful servant'. For those who do not, who desert their families and their children, and abrogate their responsibility, the words will NOT be kindly. While mothers have to answer for our own failures, God Himself holds the father to be the head, the one responsible for the family.

It is an awesome responsibility.

Our job as parents is to lead our children back to God, who has allowed us to BE their parents. The greatest gift you can give your children is to love their mother, (I believe that Josh McDowell said that). Love is a CHOICE, not a feeling!! The second greatest gift you can give your children is yourself.

For those who are parenting as God intended, Bless you.

For those who have not been accepting the responsibility God has given you, it is not too late
to begin to parent, to father your children, to become the person in your children's lives, regardless of their ages, to make amends for any failure, to keep your word, to provide for them.

Children learn by example. Happy Father's Day!


“ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. ”- Ephesians 6:4


Cat's in the Cradle
by Sandy & Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day,
He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew,
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today,
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok."
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmmed,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile,
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu,
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

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"Oh, if a man tried to take his time on earth and prove before he died what one man's life could be worth, I wonder what would happen to this world?" -- Harry Chapin, 1942-1981.

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