The Winning Strategy

"No, you can’t imagine it, any more than anyone could imagine how twelve nice Jewish boys could conquer the Roman Empire. You can’t imagine it, but you can do it. You can become a saint. Absolutely no one and nothing can stop you. It is your free choice. Here is one of the truest and most terrifying sentences I have ever read (from William Law’s Serious Call): “If you will look into your own heart in complete honesty, you must admit that there is one and only one reason why you are not a saint: you do not wholly want to be.

That insight is terrifying because it is an indictment. But it is also thrillingly hopeful because it is an offer, an open door. Each of us can become a saint. We really can."

~ Peter Kreeft, The Winning Strategy

HT: Lora (via email)

Read-Aloud Books for 5-Year-Old Children

I was happy to receive a question about read-aloud books for 5-year-old children. My first inclination was to recommend chapter books, but thankfully I took some time to think. I thought about the chapter books that I read to my two oldest daughters, starting around age five and six. Although the girls enjoyed listening to the stories, they remember none of them. They do remember the picture books that I read to them. I thought about the books that my husband reads to our children at night.  Our older children like listening to them. Sometimes, the younger children like to stay and listen, too, but other times, I sneak away with my little ones and read them picture books.

What stories have my five-year-old children enjoyed hearing?

In addition to the various picture books mentioned on this page and elsewhere on my blog, some of the books that my five-year-old children have enjoyed listening to are:

Barry: The Bravest Saint Bernard by Lynn Hall

Billy And Blaze: A Boy And His Horse by C.W. Anderson and the other books in this series.

Devotional Stories for Little Folks and by Nancy Nicholson

George Washington and the other picture books in this series by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire.

Happy Times in Noisy Village and other books in this series by Astrid Lindgren.

The Little Caterpillar That Finds Jesus: A Parable of the Eucharist and some of the other Precious Life books by Susan A. Brindle, Joan A. Bell, and Miriam A. Lademan

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Paddington Treasury by Michael Bond

Pooh Library original 4-volume set This set by A.A. Milne includes Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner, When We Were Very Young, and Now We are Six.

Treasure Box books edited by the Maryknoll Sisters (a series of picture books)

In addition to reading picture books to my younger children at night, I also try to read to them each morning. When I do so, I have noticed that my older children will invariably stop what they are doing and listen to th story. Some of them will even come and stand or sit close to me, so that they can see the pictures. While I definitely think that chapter books should be read aloud and I appreciate listening to my husband read them to our children, I am enjoying reading picture books with my younger (and older) children. I know that there will be plenty of time to  read books like these to my little ones. Picture books tend to lend themselves to cuddling up and reading together, fostering an early enjoyment of reading that will most likely continue as the children grow. 

Sermons on Marriage

On Saturday, I was unable to go to Mass, so I visited http://www.audiosancto.org/. I was happy to see that three sermons on marriage were posted. Our pastor recently preached three excellent sermons on the same topic and I was interested in hearing more on the subject.

I found all three of the sermons to be informative. The historical information, shared in the last sermon, is very interesting.  The sermons can be heard by clicking on the following links:

• Marriage (part 1): What is Marriage
• Marriage (part 2): The Canonical Form of Marriage
• Marriage (part 3): The Necessary Purpose of Marriage in Society Physical Terms

Apple Trees and Chickenpox

On Saturday, Brendan planted an apple tree with a little help from his dad.  On Sunday morning, Finnian asked, "Mommy, does our apple tree have any apples, yet?" This morning, Finnian asked, "Mommy, does our apple tree have any apples, yet?" I have explained to him that our apple tree probably won't produce apples this year, but he remembers last year's tomatoes and he is anxious to see the apples grow.

On another note, four of my children have chickenpox. Hopefully, my two youngest will get them at the same time, too.

Remembering

Palma Giovane

Last year, on this date, my family and I were looking forward to going to Mass for the Feast of Candlemas. However, as the afternoon wore on, I started to experience some complications with my pregnancy and I knew that it would be prudent to stay home. I had experienced similar problems when I was pregnant with Elizabeth, but this time, they seemed more intense. Thus, I asked family and friends to pray and I made a doctor's appointment for the next day.

The doctor's appointment went well and my ob felt that there was no real reason for concern. He had me schedule a follow-up appointment and sent me to the lab to have my hcg levels checked. On the morning of the 4th, I received a phone call from the nurse, letting me know that my hcg levels were over 23,000 and everything looked great, but everything wasn't great. After dinner that night, I started to hemorrhage and I continued to do so for the next 11 1/2 hours. When I felt completely weak and like I was going to either faint or die, I prayed, "Dear God, please have mercy on me. I want to be here for my husband and children, and I don't want to die without going to confession or receiving last rites." Then I called for my husband to come and help me. Everything slowed down. He came in and helped me into our room and bed. Thankfully, I was able to stay there for almost 30 minutes.

On the 5th, after experiencing such a horrendous night, I thought that my miscarriage was complete, but I soon learned that it was not. My pregnancy came to a final end on the 7th of February. Since that time, I have prayed regularly for another baby and I have offered my cross for a pregnant mother in our parish who, after 11 miscarriages, delivered her second son on the 29th of January. Since February 2010, I have tried (sometimes very ungraciously) to be able to accept God's will. I have tried to focus on the many blessings in my life and I have found some peace.

Tonight, for the feast of Candlemas, I will go to Mass and I will pray for all mother's who have lost a child or children in miscarriage or after birth. I will pray once more for acceptance of God's will and I will thank Our Blessed Mother for her example. Tonight, I will pray for my children and I will hold each one them a little bit closer, thanking God for blessing me with them.

"We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple; according to Thy Name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of justice. -- (Ps. 47. 2). Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised, in the city of God, in His holy mountain."
INTROIT Ps. 47. 10, 11

Washington State March for Life Photos

On January 18, we participated in the March for Life in Olympia. We were all very impressed with Archbishop Sartain (Seattle's new Archbishop) and the number of people who were present to witness to the sanctity of human life. The local Catholic radio station reported that there were approximately 9000 participants.

The children were thrilled to meet Archbishop Sartain (and so were we). He took the time to ask each of the children their names and shook Patrick's hand for a few minutes, or rather Patrick shook the Archbishop's hand for a few minutes.

Below is a slideshow from the March.

Who Will Protect Her?

A few nights ago, Catherine brought Elizabeth into my bedroom, saying, "Elizabeth is scared." I took her in my arms and the following conversation took place:

Me:  "You don't need to be scared. Mommy will protect you."

Elizabeth: "No!"

Me: "Daddy's here. He can protect you, too."

Elizabeth (a little louder): "No! Jesus protect me."

2010 Read Alouds

Once again, this past year, my husband read to our older children. The children listened to him read:

Redwall by Brian Jacques

The Cure of Ars: The Priest Who Out-Talked the Devil by Milton Lomask

Crossbows and Crucifixes: A Novel of the Priest Hunters and the Brave Young Men Who Fought Them by Henry Garnett

Red Falcons Of Tremoine by Hendry Peart

Beorn the Proud by Madeleine A. Polland

New Year's Dinner

Traditionally, our New Year's dinner consists of spiral-sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetables, salad, Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Juice, and eggnog.  On December 31, my husband went to the store and purchased the necessary items for our meal. However, in our family, the birthday child decides the menu for his special day. Therefore, on New Year's Day, my husband asked our youngest son, "What do you want for dinner?" Our little boy responded, "Chinese food."  Our son might have started a new tradition. We will see what he wants for his birthday dinner next year.