Every Baby is a Blessing

Yesterday, I received a welcome letter from Prolife Washington. They shared that Prolife Across America is joining forces with Prenatal Partners for Life to bring us billboards that "will help inform and educate the public about the blessings of babies born with Down Syndrome." Below is a picture of one of the billboards.

Please consider making a donation to one of the above mentioned organizations to help them get these billboards up across the nation.

40 Days for Life

My children and I were supposed to go to 40 Days for Life today, but it seemed like everything was against us. First, Patrick didn't want to wear a shirt. Then, I could not find my keys. When I finally had everyone buckled in their seats, including myself, I turned the key and our van would not start.

Fortunately, we are signed up to participate at other times throughout the next 40 days. I strongly encourage everyone to watch this 22 minute video, check to see if 40 Days for Life is happening at a location near you, and then prayerfully consider speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves by participating in 40 days of prayer, fasting, and vigil.

"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

~ Elie Wiesel, Holocaust Survivor, www.40daysforlife.com/show.cfm ~

Prayers Needed

Please pray for my mother-in-law. On Thursday, September 20, she was rushed, unconscious, to the emergency room. She spent the night in the ICU and eventually regained consciousness, but was not well enough to leave the hospital. My father-in-law just called to say that my mother-in-law has been having severe seizures today and is unconscious once again. The doctors will be doing a CT scan of her brain, shortly, to try and determine what is wrong.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

Ride4US

We had a wonderful time participating in Ride4US today! We enjoyed walking with family and friends for a great cause! I am so thankful to businesses like First Command Financial Planning, Pinnacle Capital, Founder's Choice Cabinetry, Connelly Law Offices, Lexus of Tacoma at Fife, The Spar, Metropolitan Market, BCRA, Hopper Construction, OneDurr Painting and Finishing, Forza Coffee Company, Town Apparel, and Hot Shoppe Design Factory for helping to make this event possible. I am also thankful to family and friends who helped Catherine surpass her Ride4US goal. More importantly, Ride4US surpassed their goal, raising over $90,000, enabling them to purchase three ultrasound machines from Sonosite for Care Net Pregnancy & Family Services of Pierce County.

We are all looking forward to participating again next year!

Thank you, Diego and Kim!

Prayer Request

Gloria Strauss passed away at 6:50 am this morning. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for her family.

http://gloria.sonicfog.com/

One Last Plea

If you are able, please make a donation to Ride4US via my daughter, http://www.active.com/donate/ride4us/4babies

Ride4US was founded by a Catholic, Diego Wendt, a few years ago to help Crisis Pregnancy Centers. This year's donations will go directly to Care Net Pregnancy Center of Pierce County. All donations are fully tax deductible.

We will be participating in Ride4US 4 the babies by walking 5 miles. Our daughter has been raising money for this event. She has surpassed her goal thanks to the generosity of family and friends, but she would like to raise even more money for this life-saving event.

Please make a donation to www.active.com/donate/ride4us/4babies and ask your friends to do the same!

He's Coming to the United States

Pope Benedict XVI will visit in April 2008. Please visit Catholic World News for more information.

Mass on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

On Friday, September 14, we went to Mass at Holy Family in Seattle. We were happy to participate in the Tridentine Rite Mass. Most of our children, some of whom had never been to this form of the Mass, were in awe. The baby was noisy and so he and my little boy, who likes to hold onto my skirt, were with me in the vestibule at times.

Three priests were present and I was happy to see that they spanned the ages. I am guessing that one of the priests was in his 20s, another was in his 50s, and the celebrant may have been in his 80s. There are several other priests in the Archdiocese of Seattle who are also interested in saying the Mass in the "Extraordinary Form". We are praying that more priests will offer a Sunday Mass in the Tridentine Rite in the Seattle Tacoma area in the near future.

Craft for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

I am sorry that I am posting this today, the Feast of the Exaltation, and not before, but I have been very busy. All the children (including my own) with whom I have done this craft have enjoyed it and liked the results.

Materials:

Oil pastels

Paper

Construction paper (or any stiffer paper)

Hair Spray or an art spray

What to do:

Draw a cross on construction paper

Cut the cross out*

Color the edges of the cross with the oil pastels

Place the cross on a piece of paper and hold it in place

Using your finger, gently rub the oil pastels from the cross onto the paper, making it come out like rays

Remove the cross

Spray with hair spray or an art spray to prevent smudging

Let dry

The end result will be a beautiful cross. It will look better than the hastily made sample below.

*The negative image can also be used by cutting the cross out with an exacto knife. The finished product will then be a colorful cross, rather than colorful rays.

**We usually make Easter cards using the above feathering technique.

I would enjoy seeing any end results.

Happy Feast Day!

Edited to add this photo of Brendan's impromptu cross:

Can You Spare Five Dollars?

As I have mentioned before, my daughter is raising money for Ride4US. Ride4Us is a volunteer organization that raises money for ultrasound machines for crisis pregnancy centers. All donations go directly to the charity and are fully tax deductible. This year, Ride4US is raising money for Care Net Pregnancy Center of Tacoma. Care Net Pregnancy Center of Tacoma offers entirely free support to pregnant women for as long as they need support. Thanks to the generosity of family and friends, Catherine has surpassed her goal for donations; however, Ride4US still has a lot of money to raise. If you can spare $5, please make a donation to Ride4US via my daughter.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and may God bless you!