Project 365: Day 47

My Claddagh ring that I wanted for a really, really long time.  Conrad surprised me with this one six years ago on my birthday (six years ago today!).

I have been following along with Me Ra Koh's SOAR recipients since halfway through last year.  I try to do some of the exercises they do, but I've never posted one on my blog before today.  I just thought this one was perfect to share, it being an anniversary of sorts, and I was trying to find an object as a self- portrait.  

I liken this ring to a self-portrait not only because of the obvious symbolism (if you don't know the story behind the Claddagh, look here), but also because the photo looks like an object coming out of the shadows with a single source of light shining on it.  That is the way I feel lately.  I feel like I am just now leaving the shadows and starting to become the person I was always created by God to be.  There are still shadows surrounding the ring.  I'm not out into the light completely, and I probably never will be in this lifetime, but just as the ring seems to be doing, I am starting to move closer and closer into that single source of light.

I am a little sad because I cannot wear this ring anymore unless I get it sized down.  That's not very likely to happen.  The irony is that the reason I am sad and cannot wear it any longer is because I am finally losing this weight, which is part of my feeling of emerging from the shadows.  Emergence stings, but it makes you shine brighter.  Full circle, baby.

New Year: Project 365: Day 1

My Project 365 goal this year is to practice getting correct exposure and color in-camera.  Fair warning, all photos will be SOOC and not edited at all...I have a feeling it won't all be pretty.  But I hope to get better at this, gaining time in post process and saving the editing for capturing certain photo styles desired by individual clients.

Day 1: A Christmas ornament my parents have had since before I was even around.  Or somewhere around there.  There is something incredibly comforting about your parents' Christmas tree, right?

This has been one of the best Christmases ever.  We are taking our time celebrating and will even be celebrating past Epiphany (January 6) this year.  I have a feeling Monday, January 10 is going to hit like a ton of bricks, but I'm trying to enjoy it until then. 

Along the same lines, I recently postulated to my husband a really super-simple solution to what seems to be a growing dilemma about "Christmas" and who seems to own the word/holiday/season.  Some Christians resent the commercializing and secularizing of our second most important holiday of the year.  And then the commercializ-ers and seculariz-ers resent mention of the word "Jesus" when trying to celebrate their holiday dedicated to Peace, Love, and Joy.  For the sake of brevity, I'm leaving out those who celebrate other holidays which just so happen to also coincide with the winter solstice; "Happy Chanukah", "Happy Kwanzaa", "Merry (or whatever) Saturnalia" don't really have any other connotations, unlike the seemingly innocent "Merry Christmas". 

So here's my solution: Everyone who wants to "keep Christ in Christmas" just needs to give the word away.  There's no getting it back, and frankly, the trees, the santas, the lights, the gifts, the reindeer, the hustle and bustle and energy...are really fun and will always be associated with "Christmas".  And now instead, when wishing to refer to the holiday based on Luke 2:1-20 we need merely to wish each other a "Blessed Nativity".  There ya go--two holidays in one and think how much less confusing for the children ;-)

Because You Know I Just *Had* To

Say something, that is. Remember this post? Remember how I postulated that emotionalism is maybe not the best way to go about solving The Great American Rift?

Just look what happens when emotionalism rules the person. Now, I am hearing a lot of people say, so what? So what if he's gone; that just means he is no longer able to kill babies. That the man who has committed this "murder of a murderer" should now be a hero for advancing the prolife cause. Well, HELLO people, murder is not an act of life, it is an act of death. And not only does it not help people to see the atrocity of late-term elective abortions, it furthers the supposition that anyone associated with a word in which this killer associates himself has little regard for any person in a state of life beyond birth.

I cannot imagine the pain that Mr. Tiller's wife had to feel, seeing him lie dying on a church floor. This family has lost a husband, a father, a son. I sit and wonder about someone deeming my own life not worth living because of my "sins". No matter what his life entailed, his is still a life gone before its time. No one deserves an end like this, be it a 67-year-old abortionist, a 27-week-old-fetus, or even a worldwide terrorist. No one.

Hannah's Big Day

My big girl was so excited for this day. She took her preparations quite seriously, as well as the whole Sacrament. Sometimes this girl drives me crazy and we clash a lot. But when her behavior is troublesome to me, I at least can rest easy in the fact that she has quite the special relationship with God going on. Priorities, you know.

How The Pro-Life Cause Could Be Helped

Uh-oh, there she goes proselytizing again! Feel free to skip this one if you just can't stand it, or me. Although if you can't stand me...why are you even reading my blog?

Anyhoo. So we were watching this documentary the other day about the politicizing of abortion. And there was this scene where this lady was protesting outside a clinic, talking in a super high-pitched voice, pretending to speak for the unborn children of the women walking into the clinic. "Hi Mommy, I can't wait to meet you. Mommy, what are you doing? Mommy, why are you doing this to me? Mommy, please, I want to see your face. Mommy, NOOOO!"


Ugh. My stomach just about dropped to my knees. It was so horrendous I wanted to puke. I wanted to be there and ask that lady, "Just what good do you think that's going to do?" Does she think that by trying to sound like the baby it will change anything for that woman? I don't think so. In fact, I think that that scene is why people have such low opinions of some "pro-lifers". (see footnote 1) I wanted to yell at the screen for her to stop making us look like uneducated, intolerant fanatics! It honestly drives me crazy.

So here's my idea on how to help the pro-life cause. People seriously need to try to remain unemotional about the whole thing. I know it's hard, when you take in the enormity and the magnanimous reality of the whole thing. I know. It's hard for me to not get emotional about it as well. But I really think that we would all be better served to just stay with the basic scientific facts and go from there. You can't dispute facts, and remaining unemotional will definitely lead to more civil discussion.

If that's the desired end, anyway. For me, I don't think the issue is going anywhere until civil discourse ends up changing people's hearts and minds. On the other hand, if imparting guilt is the only desired effect, then by all means lets all go protest in high-pitched squeaky voices.

1 - When speaking of a group of people, I'll always put "pro-lifers" and "pro-choicers" in quotes. Because I don't think that a lot of "pro-lifers" are actually pro-ALL-life, they're actually just anti-abortion. And by the same token I think that using the phrase "pro-choicers" just masks pro-abortion with a prettier phrase. Semantics are everything, people.

Minnesota Winter Morning

Minnesota Winter Morning

An Epiphany of Reason and Humility

He has revealed Himself. He personally. And now the way to Him is open. The novelty of the Christian announcement does not consist in a thought, but in a fact: God has revealed Himself. Yet this is no blind fact, it is a fact that is, itself, Logos -- the presence of eternal reason in our flesh. Verbum caro factum est (John 1:14)... It is a rational fact. Naturally, the humility of reason is always needed in order to accept it. It takes man's humility to respond to God's humility.

-Benedict XVI

More Advent Stuff, Completely Out of Order...

...so sue me.

I'm behind because we didn't get our second week decorations up until Thursday and I can't find my camera cord, so we'll just have to think about that later. In the meantime, here are some other random Advent-y pictures.


The kids' countdown to Christmas rings.
The chain is much shorter now, obviously.



Happy Gaudette Sunday!

Opening the Doors, Follow-Up

I intended to reply to a comment on this post, but my response got far too long for a comment, so here you go, out in the wide-open:


On a Department of Peace and Nonviolence~

First, yes, it is idealistic, as I admitted right from the start. I think that a department such as this might get lost and seem pretty insignificant under the shadow of such an extensive national military. And it's bureaucratic, yes. I do get that.

But it's better than the status quo. Sometimes symbolism is good, and just knowing our government is willing to make strides toward turning our image around from that of a schoolyard bully could change the way things get done around the entire world.

Once upon a time civil rights was a bunch of idealistic gobbledygook as well. And hey, Jesus was an idealist, so it works for me.


On the Freedom of Choice Act~

1. If a woman is intent on terminating a pregnancy after the age of viability (except in extreme cases yada, yada, yada), there is something wrong. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but if someone has carried a baby around for five-to-nine months and finally decides to get rid of it instead of waiting a couple months and giving it up after birth, then there's something else going on in her head besides not wanting to be burdened with a child. This woman needs help, and getting rid of the "problem" is like putting a tiny little band-aid on a gaping wound.

FOCA will assure that a state's ability and right to make sure this doesn't happen is taken away.

2. FOCA will make access to abortion much quicker, much easier--allowing someone to make a HUGE snap decision they might later regret. I personally know of six women (girls, really) who have had abortions, all of whom regret it strongly, and for a couple of them it has affected their entire psychological balance. This is not some fly-by-night decision to be made.
Putting it out there as full disclosure, my personal position is that I don't think abortion should be legal as a "choice" whatsoever (again, except in extreme cases, yada, yada, yada). But if it is going to remain legal, for goodness sakes, at least let there be SOME hoops to jump through in order for a woman to make an informed and well thought-out decision.

3. Under this Act, our daughters are free to go to a clinic and have an abortion without so much as a single note from us. There can be no state restrictions put on this. The earliest pregnancy I've heard of in "real life" is at age nine. My daughter is seven. Theoretically, she could become pregnant and find a "trusted adult" to take her to have an abortion and I would never know about it. That's extreme, I realize, but a slippery slope is a dangerous thing. The fact that I would not want any daughter under my guardianship, be she nine or be she seventeen, to have an abortion aside--there are serious future health risks here! A child should not be making these health decisions without a parent.

And again, if a child feels the need to hide a pregnancy from her parents, there are bigger issues here that will never be solved with the termination of a pregnancy. That whole gaping wound thing and such.

4. This isn't really a future ramification, but rather an argument against the whole thing...you know, constitutionally, we really don't have a right to privacy anyway--the so-called "constitutional right" the Act is based on.

So there you go. I feel kind of weird getting this strong on my blog, but I'm nothing if not opinionated :-)

2008 Family Advent, Part II

The girls both made Advent wreaths in their church classes last week.


Hannah's
which I'm afraid to light because of the inevitable
smell of burning fantastic plastic garland




Emme's
which has already been attacked by
both a 16-month-old and a cat with a vengeance

Opening The Doors of Government

Idealistic? Maybe. But it sure can't hurt to visit this website and let your voice be heard. Dennis Kucinich, whom I (mostly) greatly admire, is really pushing for a Department of Peace and Nonviolence. I think that's something we can all agree on, so visit this website and let Obama know that we want a U.S. Department of Peace.

Behind the whole thing is a movement of citizens inspired by the presidential campaign who are now submitting ideas for how they think the Obama Administration should change America. It's called "Ideas for Change in America."

Could you please quickly vote for the idea: Appoint Secretary of Peace in Department of Peace and Non-Violence. You can read and vote for the idea here.

Click on the left side where it says Ideas for Change in America - Vote Now!

The top 10 ideas are going to be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day, so each idea has a real chance at becoming policy. I, myself, have not only voted for the DoP, but have also decided to let my voice be heard that I think our new president should stop all this FOCA (freedom of choice act) baloney, which I know will get me nowhere...still, I had to try!

Oh, and about FOCA, by the way, it may sound like a good idea to some people, but there are future ramifications which could be very complicated and lead to further demoralization of women. You can read the whole bill at the Library of Congress website.

And that's all I have to say about that.

~Peace Out~

The Tree

The tree is up. I've never had a real tree before, so I'm not used to the gaps and stuff (hey, we're on a budget you know!). I think it's beautiful just the same.

I'm also not used to having to pick up pine needles every other minute, and Hannah might be allergic to them...so I don't know if our Advent tree will be a real one again next year.

2008 Family Advent, Part I

We are playing up Advent in a big way in the J household this year. Preparing for the birth of our Lord is a huge deal, so we intend to treat it as such this year. We began by picking out an Advent Tree last night:

So this week, the tree is bought and put up. We'll add more decorations each week until Christmas. This really helps the kids to know what it's like to wait and harbor a bubbling excitement-not only for presents (because they are kids, after all) but for the true magic of Christ-mas. In the past we've just done all the Christmas decorating on one day right after Thanksgiving, but to be honest, it was a big headache-y ordeal. And by the time Christmas actually came, it was all old news.

Christmas used to begin on December 25th and last for 12 days. Guess what? In the Catholic tradition, it still does! So if I seem to be acting Scroogeish when I don't return your hearty Merry Christmas for another 23 days, I'm really not. But you can rest assured there will be no Scrooges around here and we will totally be partying it up from Christmas until Epiphany (Jan. 6). And in the meantime, have a blessed Advent if you celebrate it, and have an awesome next four weeks if you don't!

An Introduction

"Hi guys, I've been meaning to introduce you two but haven't gotten around to it until now. I think you both have more in common than you would think."

"Pro-lifer, meet Pro-choicer. Pro-choicer, this is pro-lifer."

"I think you've both heard a lot about each other, but a lot of it is just rumors, misinformation, and misunderstanding. I hope to clear up a lot of that and have you two getting along in no time. I chose you two to do an introduction because you're pretty much each an 'average' person on your respective 'side'."

"What's that, Pro-choicer? Hmmm, no, I don't think that's right. That's probably one of the misunderstandings you've heard that I spoke of earlier. No, Pro-lifer really does care about women and the challenges they face. That's why Pro-lifer works with women in crisis pregnancies, directing them to good resources for adoption and helping to provide other resources for keeping a baby she wasn't planning on and raising it with good help, if that is the route she chooses to take."

"Pro-lifer also cares about the unplanned babies. Pro-lifer doesn't want to see a little life snuffed out because of misinformation. Generally, Pro-lifer doesn't want to see a mature life snuffed out before it's time, either. Pro-lifer is loathe to international conflicts and the death penalty, as well. Most of the time, when Pro-lifer says they are 'pro-life', they mean 'pro-all-life', from conception to natural death."

"Well, Pro-lifer, don't look too smug. Pro-choicer really cares about women as well. Pro-choicer hurts to see women in crisis and believes they deserve better than the treatment they get in the status quo."

"Nope, that's a rumor as well. At least for Pro-choicer it is. There may be others who think that abortion is a great thing and should be praised, but not Pro-choicer, who is an average voice for their side. No, Pro-choicer actually thinks that abortion is an evil. A necessary evil, but not a great thing. Pro-choicer believes that for some women, it may be their only choice."

"Well, Pro-lifer, you're right, abortion isn't a woman's only choice, but try to be sympathetic, here. Some women have been taught that it is their only choice, or at least the only choice that is safe for them in their situation. Pro-choicer really doesn't want to see women in some of the horrible situations they face."

"Yes guys, I know. You both think you have the solution. Maybe one of you does. Maybe you both do. But how about instead of trying to talk over and around each other, you just stop a minute and listen to me."

"Okay, good, thank you. Now that I have you quiet for a moment, why don't you each take turns voicing your concerns to each other in a civilized manner."

"That's great, guys! I'm glad to see you're getting somewhere and getting to know each other. I knew you'd get along if you just got a chance to meet."

Inanimate Object Day: Goodbye Summer Edition

I say Goodbye Summer Edition because it is so not summer here anymore. It's that awesome slight chill in the air that makes me want to wear hooded sweatshirts and sleep with the covers on. So I bid adeiu to summer by remembering a big summer event, the Midsommar Celebration at hubby's grandparents' country church. It is always a big joyful event of summer.

The Swedish Flag



Portrait inside the church of Jesus in the Garden.



The first official Summer '08 sunset over the South Dakota prairie.

What I Would Say Anyway

STATEMENT OF HIS EMINENCE, EDWARD CARDINAL EGAN CONCERNING REMARKS MADE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

"Like many other citizens of this nation, I was shocked to learn that the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America would make the kind of statements that were made to Mr. Tom Brokaw of NBC-TV on Sunday, August 24, 2008. What the Speaker had to say about theologians and their positions regarding abortion was not only misinformed; it was also, and especially, utterly incredible in this day and age.

We are blessed in the 21st century with crystal-clear photographs and action films of the living realities within their pregnant mothers. No one with the slightest measure of integrity or honor could fail to know what these marvelous beings manifestly, clearly, and obviously are, as they smile and wave into the world outside the womb. In simplest terms, they are human beings with an inalienable right to live, a right that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is bound to defend at all costs for the most basic of ethical reasons. They are not parts of their mothers, and what they are depends not at all upon the opinions of theologians of any faith. Anyone who dares to defend that they may be legitimately killed because another human being “chooses” to do so or for any other equally ridiculous reason should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name.

Edward Cardinal Egan

Archbishop of New York"

MP31W - Part III

Continued from Part I and Part II:

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

She may have experienced some pain and hard times in life, but she is willing to move on and look forward to the future. Her contentment offers her this consolation, and it all stems from a strong faith.

26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She's a homeschooler! *wink* She welcomes the education of her self, and speaks the truth in faith and is not ashamed to pass on her education. She is constantly seeking to learn more.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Beating a dead horse here, if it hasn't been stressed enough -- she is not a lazy chick! She knows all and sees all.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

A little note about the husband here--he is not a man who takes his wife for granted. She does wonderful things for her family--the heart of it, really--and he knows it. He is not oblivious to her efforts, and he puts forth similar effort in the care of her. He is 100% for the partnership of his marriage.

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

She may be beautiful, she may be glamorous, she may be witty, she may be frumpy, she may be uninteresting, she may be all or none or part of these things, but whatever she is, she knows that she is nothing without God.

MP31W - Part II

Continued from Part I:

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

She takes care of her body as a temple. She is not a wilting flower. Laziness is not even a word in her vocabulary. She doesn't need to hit the gym for this, either. No, she works incredibly hard in everyday tasks, and her body shows it.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

This is one smart cookie, in case you haven't gathered yet. Burning the midnight oil, literally, all for good. She doesn't pass work off or needlessly delegate out of sheer laziness. And she probably doesn't make her husband do all the dishes because she wants to go to bed and dishes are yucky.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. (Hey, some sentiments are just timeless.)

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Jane of all trades, and master of them as well. She works diligently, endlessly (as if that hasn't been mentioned yet!), but she is no doormat. She takes real pride in all her work because her planning-scheming-organizing reaps its benefits in contentment. Yes, she does all this to better her family, but contentment is a reward to her own self and is a very big motivator.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

She builds her husband up instead of tearing him down, no matter the circumstances and supports him without complaint in all his pursuits. People see this and admire both of them.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, a
nd supplies the merchants with sashes.

She's wise. So much so it would almost border on shrewdness, but instead of gloating or hoarding her knowledge, she shares her wisdom with others. Like, in a blog or something. KIDDING! Sort of. HA!

Last portion to come, stay tuned.

MP31W - Part I

(AKA: The Modern Proverbs 31 Woman)

Who is she?

10 A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Yes, it really is hard to find a woman with noble character. (A man, either, for that matter.) Noble character, in today's terms, would be a strong woman who can deal with anything that may come her way. She is to integrity what humor is to The Office.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

She will uphold her partnership in the marriage and will avoid anything that would put it in second place. She doesn't go behind his back and spend too much money or constantly play the Drama Queen.

13 She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

She is happy to help in the household. She does her part to provide for her family's needs in whatever means necessary and is willing to go to great lengths in order to meet these needs.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

She does not waste time in unproductive pursuits at the expense of her family (like spending too much time on the computer...I'm just sayin'...). She can devise a plan and implement it. She works for the wellness of her husband and children, but she does not ignore the needy outside of her family.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She's super-resourceful. She can find good deals, stretch a dollar into oblivion, and wisely invests both her time and her money. Notice how independently she is able to act. The original Independent Woman.


More to come, stay tuned!

Stimulating the Economy

This little blurb was in my church bulletin today, courtesy of the social justice group:

The government rebate check we are receiving has stimulated some thoughts about justice. We are receiving money to buy material things in order to stimulate our economy. Maybe the fear is that the richest country in the world could be at risk with being a poor country without these stimulus checks. Meanwhile two countries are suffering with major disasters; people in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to suffer from the consequences of war; the ongoing struggle in Darfur continues where people are starving every day; and the list goes on. Yet, we will receive our rebate checks to stimulate the economy with the purchase of material goods. What would Jesus think and do?

What do you think about this?