in·teg·ri·ty
1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2.the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
The last few years of job transitions and medical craziness has taught me a lot of things. But something that I learned about myself is that one of the qualities I value most about other people and the quality that I strive to make most important in my life is INTEGRITY.
I posted a link on Facebook yesterday about how Georgetown University had invited Kathleen Sebelius to speak at one of their graduation ceremonies. I happened to mention that I thought it was pretty disgraceful that a Catholic university would invite someone who openly goes against this faith to speak in a place of honor. And, as is usual with my eclectic group of friends on FB, I got a bit of backlash.
"Colleges shouldn't be in the practice of banning speakers," they said. "Sebelius has done a lot of great things as well," they said.
Yeah... I get that. That's not really the point. The point for me as that I don't think our Secretary of Health has a great deal of integrity. And for that matter... neither does our VP... or Nancy Pelosi. And here's why:
If you are going to publicly profess what religion you are. If you are going to claim that you are a Buddhist, a Catholic, an Evangelical, a Mormon... or whatever... then you better actually BE and SUPPORT the beliefs of that particular religion. Don't say you're Catholic, and then go speak at a NARAL convention about how important it is that women should be able to kill their children if they so wish. Don't say you're Catholic and then engaged in a public disagreement with the leadership of your Church on how your new mandate isn't REALLY taking away their religious freedom.
That's not integrity. If you're going to profess a faith... then live it. LIVE IT OUT LOUD.
And I'm not saying that you can't question teachings or develop your own ideas about why you practice a certain faith... that's natural. It's human. It's a path to maturity.
But when you publicly deny some of the basic tenents of that faith that you "PROFESS", then maybe it's time to rethink why you're professing it in the first place.
As a person who gets the opportunity to vote for you, how am I to trust any value you stand on if I can't even trust they way you practice your relationship with God? It makes me question your integrity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnO7qa7fMRc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
6 years ago... a countdown
Sometimes when I get really really starved for entertainment and I somehow convince myself that I can afford to stop cleaning or cooking or playing with the kids, I allow myself to go back and look at what life was like X amount of years ago. And since I've been blogging for almost 9 years (holy cow), it's really really easy for me to go back and check things out.
So, since Andrew and I will be celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary this coming Sunday, I thought I'd share some memories of us in the form of linking to old posts. Let's start with some of the early relationship posts... they're so giddy and silly. Can I also just say that I enjoy reading all of my crazy friends' comments almost as much as reading the posts themselves. You people were very argumentative back in the day! Have we all dulled in our older age??
1) Alien talk for "I'm in Love": (the comments are delightful!)
2) The boyfriend met the parents.
3) Ain't Love Grand?
Well... that takes you through the first 3 months of our relationship. More fun to come tomorrow.
So, since Andrew and I will be celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary this coming Sunday, I thought I'd share some memories of us in the form of linking to old posts. Let's start with some of the early relationship posts... they're so giddy and silly. Can I also just say that I enjoy reading all of my crazy friends' comments almost as much as reading the posts themselves. You people were very argumentative back in the day! Have we all dulled in our older age??
1) Alien talk for "I'm in Love": (the comments are delightful!)
2) The boyfriend met the parents.
3) Ain't Love Grand?
Well... that takes you through the first 3 months of our relationship. More fun to come tomorrow.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Adventures in Natural Family Planning
Let's talk about sex, baby... oh wait... let's not. This post isn't going to be as much about sex as it is about marriage, because for some reason I've never really felt comfortable discussing sex with anyone other than my husband. Like it turns me about 17 shades of red if anyone even begins to ask me personally about my sex life. My kids come from storks - don't you know?! But I digress... back to the topic at hand.
So... Natural Family Planning... kind of a hot-topic right now, huh? I guess contraception is really the hot topic - what with the Health and Human Services Mandate that "IT SHALL BE FREE FOR EVERY ONE," blah blah blah. But some people think that NFP is a form of contraception (it's not)... so I suppose the topics are related (maybe).
A little background for you: All Catholic couples wishing to get married in our Diocese are required to take a natural family planning course as part of their marriage preparation. Andrew and I began learning about NFP months before we were even married. And because we had learned it, it wasn't too surprising to us when we found expecting our first baby about 3 weeks after our wedding. So we had about 3 weeks worth of actual charting practice as a married couple before we just stopped using NFP. I mean... we were pregnant for nine months. Then the stork brought Mia. And then we didn't really have a good reason to wait for another kid so we figured why would we bother with charting my cycles... and that big white bird dropped Vince by our house... and we still didn't have a great reason to wait an extensive amount of time for a third kid, so we half-assedly (yes... I just said half-assendly) charted when we thought about it, and before long came Mr. William. And that's when things changed.
Because little Will was a preemie, an emergency c-section, and the product of an extremely stressful pregnancy, we finally had a serious reason to wait a while before #4, God-willing, were to come into this world. But it had been 6 years since we really used NFP, so we had to re-learn the method. Am I going anywhere with this post? Yes... yes I am. And this is where it gets good.
So in half-assedly (there's that word again) practicing NFP for 6 years, we sort of forgot some of the cool things about the method. I mean, we never used it to ACHIEVE a pregnancy. We just sort of didn't care if we did achieve... so I'm not sure we were really using the method at all.
But now we're playing a whole new ball game. (That last sentence is super funny if you were at our wedding - if you weren't, you're missing out.) You see, the past year *and especially the last few months as William has started weaning*, the hubs and I have actually had to talk to each other about whether we were ready for another kid. We've had to stay in conversation with each other and with God about what His plan for our family was. And - though this slightly betrays my first paragraph about embarassing sex talk - I'm just going to say that practicing chastity within marriage is far more difficult than practicing it outside of marriage. I mean each night you're in the same bed with the one person in the world who you love the most... the one who did something extra nice or sweet that day... the one who, for some reason you can't even figure out, looks extra good that day (usually that indicates a hormonal shift - fyi)... and you can't touch them. Well... you can... but then you start engines that have to be shut off... yada yada... okay too much info. (I'm currently about the 13th shade of red after that paragraph.) Back to the topic.
I have discovered in the past few months what a blessing Natural Family Planning is. I've always appreciated it for what it tells me about the health of my body. And I've always liked that it's a completely un-chemically way of avoiding pregnancy if we need to. But I'm finally seeing the beauty of it as a part of marriage. It definitely calls a person to a higher level of marital love. You cannot be selfish and practice Natural Family Planning - those two things just don't work together. You must constantly be thinking of the well-being of your spouse -- and, believe me, that is a sensational way to grow in holiness. It's no wonder that so few NFP couples ever get divorced. When you're actively and frequently thinking about your spouse and the good of your family over your own wants or needs, you're bound to have a pretty healthy marriage (especially when you're both working together.)
I don't have a good closing for this post except to say that if you're not using NFP, I highly recommend it. You are missing out!
Oh and here are some resources if you're extra motivated to check some stuff out:
Different NFP Methods
Natural... Why Not? (pdf)
So... Natural Family Planning... kind of a hot-topic right now, huh? I guess contraception is really the hot topic - what with the Health and Human Services Mandate that "IT SHALL BE FREE FOR EVERY ONE," blah blah blah. But some people think that NFP is a form of contraception (it's not)... so I suppose the topics are related (maybe).
A little background for you: All Catholic couples wishing to get married in our Diocese are required to take a natural family planning course as part of their marriage preparation. Andrew and I began learning about NFP months before we were even married. And because we had learned it, it wasn't too surprising to us when we found expecting our first baby about 3 weeks after our wedding. So we had about 3 weeks worth of actual charting practice as a married couple before we just stopped using NFP. I mean... we were pregnant for nine months. Then the stork brought Mia. And then we didn't really have a good reason to wait for another kid so we figured why would we bother with charting my cycles... and that big white bird dropped Vince by our house... and we still didn't have a great reason to wait an extensive amount of time for a third kid, so we half-assedly (yes... I just said half-assendly) charted when we thought about it, and before long came Mr. William. And that's when things changed.
Because little Will was a preemie, an emergency c-section, and the product of an extremely stressful pregnancy, we finally had a serious reason to wait a while before #4, God-willing, were to come into this world. But it had been 6 years since we really used NFP, so we had to re-learn the method. Am I going anywhere with this post? Yes... yes I am. And this is where it gets good.
So in half-assedly (there's that word again) practicing NFP for 6 years, we sort of forgot some of the cool things about the method. I mean, we never used it to ACHIEVE a pregnancy. We just sort of didn't care if we did achieve... so I'm not sure we were really using the method at all.
But now we're playing a whole new ball game. (That last sentence is super funny if you were at our wedding - if you weren't, you're missing out.) You see, the past year *and especially the last few months as William has started weaning*, the hubs and I have actually had to talk to each other about whether we were ready for another kid. We've had to stay in conversation with each other and with God about what His plan for our family was. And - though this slightly betrays my first paragraph about embarassing sex talk - I'm just going to say that practicing chastity within marriage is far more difficult than practicing it outside of marriage. I mean each night you're in the same bed with the one person in the world who you love the most... the one who did something extra nice or sweet that day... the one who, for some reason you can't even figure out, looks extra good that day (usually that indicates a hormonal shift - fyi)... and you can't touch them. Well... you can... but then you start engines that have to be shut off... yada yada... okay too much info. (I'm currently about the 13th shade of red after that paragraph.) Back to the topic.
I have discovered in the past few months what a blessing Natural Family Planning is. I've always appreciated it for what it tells me about the health of my body. And I've always liked that it's a completely un-chemically way of avoiding pregnancy if we need to. But I'm finally seeing the beauty of it as a part of marriage. It definitely calls a person to a higher level of marital love. You cannot be selfish and practice Natural Family Planning - those two things just don't work together. You must constantly be thinking of the well-being of your spouse -- and, believe me, that is a sensational way to grow in holiness. It's no wonder that so few NFP couples ever get divorced. When you're actively and frequently thinking about your spouse and the good of your family over your own wants or needs, you're bound to have a pretty healthy marriage (especially when you're both working together.)
I don't have a good closing for this post except to say that if you're not using NFP, I highly recommend it. You are missing out!
Oh and here are some resources if you're extra motivated to check some stuff out:
Different NFP Methods
Natural... Why Not? (pdf)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Pink Roses
Seven years ago this evening, a handsome young man came to the doorway of the Daisy House with a single solitary pink rose for me. He had come to take me on a date-our very first-to go out to dinner and see the Shockers play basketball. I was so excited.
It had been only one short month that we'd known each other. We met on a retreat for young adults at the retreat center where I now work, oddly enough. I was on the retreat team and Andrew was going on the retreat with his sister. I remember thinking when he checked into the retreat that he definitely looked like "my type." You know... the tall, skinny, nerdy-but-cute type to which I had always been drawn. The next morning at breakfast, I was serving and he came through the line. I said, "You're Andrew, right?" He was shocked that I knew his name and asked me about it as I came to sit down for a meal near him later that day. I just said that I'd been working on remembering all the retreatants names... which was mostly true... kind of.
That was our first official conversation. The next few weeks would bring me many opportunities to flirt with this new man that I'd met. He was at our house for the Super Bowl party that year and I remember we sat next to each other the entire night. A few days after that a bunch of us went out for his sister's birthday and ended up back at the house afterwards. I was finishing crocheting my first scarf, and as I finished, Andrew decided he would wrap it around his head to model it. His wonderful sissy - Thanks Marianna - said "YOU SHOULD TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER!" So Andrew scooched over next to me and we took our first photo. Did I mention he put his arm around me? I was all a flutter.
Then Mardis Gras rolled around and I thought I would be watching American Idol by myself as I waited for the other young adults to arrive for Rosary night. Then Andrew called me up and asked what I was doing. I said I was just going to watch TV and make brownies for Mardis Gras until everyone arrived, so nervously I suggested he come over and join me. I thought for sure it would be awkward since it was our first time alone together... but I don't even remember watching TV at all. We talked non-stop. And when it was time to make the brownies for the Mardis Gras celebration, I became even more smitten with this man when he pulled out his white apron and got ready to cook with me.
So when he arrived on my doorstep that chilly February evening for our first date... I had a hunch that something wonderful was beginning. And after that evening of talking and cheering for the Shocks and hanging out together, I came home, said night prayers with Andrew and hugged him goodbye. I walked into my room, opened my journal, and wrote "I think I just went on my first date with the man I'm going to marry."
It had been only one short month that we'd known each other. We met on a retreat for young adults at the retreat center where I now work, oddly enough. I was on the retreat team and Andrew was going on the retreat with his sister. I remember thinking when he checked into the retreat that he definitely looked like "my type." You know... the tall, skinny, nerdy-but-cute type to which I had always been drawn. The next morning at breakfast, I was serving and he came through the line. I said, "You're Andrew, right?" He was shocked that I knew his name and asked me about it as I came to sit down for a meal near him later that day. I just said that I'd been working on remembering all the retreatants names... which was mostly true... kind of.
That was our first official conversation. The next few weeks would bring me many opportunities to flirt with this new man that I'd met. He was at our house for the Super Bowl party that year and I remember we sat next to each other the entire night. A few days after that a bunch of us went out for his sister's birthday and ended up back at the house afterwards. I was finishing crocheting my first scarf, and as I finished, Andrew decided he would wrap it around his head to model it. His wonderful sissy - Thanks Marianna - said "YOU SHOULD TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER!" So Andrew scooched over next to me and we took our first photo. Did I mention he put his arm around me? I was all a flutter.
Then Mardis Gras rolled around and I thought I would be watching American Idol by myself as I waited for the other young adults to arrive for Rosary night. Then Andrew called me up and asked what I was doing. I said I was just going to watch TV and make brownies for Mardis Gras until everyone arrived, so nervously I suggested he come over and join me. I thought for sure it would be awkward since it was our first time alone together... but I don't even remember watching TV at all. We talked non-stop. And when it was time to make the brownies for the Mardis Gras celebration, I became even more smitten with this man when he pulled out his white apron and got ready to cook with me.
So when he arrived on my doorstep that chilly February evening for our first date... I had a hunch that something wonderful was beginning. And after that evening of talking and cheering for the Shocks and hanging out together, I came home, said night prayers with Andrew and hugged him goodbye. I walked into my room, opened my journal, and wrote "I think I just went on my first date with the man I'm going to marry."
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Pure Country - 20 years later
Thanks to some very generous Christmas presents in the form of cash, Andrew and I were able to take a RARE but AWESOME expensive date night. Last weekend we double dated with George Strait and Martina McBride-- and we were so privileged that they serenaded us!!
The concert was phenominal. Easily in my top five. But there was one thing that I was not prepared for...
I was super duper pumped to see George. I love his music. I love his swagger. I love his country-boy-ness. I used to imagine myself to be Harley in Pure Country. Perhaps some mysterious cowboy would come sweep me off my feet. So I went to the concert all excited to see this man:
Now I don't know why I was so shocked by this. When Pure Country came out, I looked like this:
Could someone explain how 20 years just blipped out of my life?!
The concert was phenominal. Easily in my top five. But there was one thing that I was not prepared for...
I was super duper pumped to see George. I love his music. I love his swagger. I love his country-boy-ness. I used to imagine myself to be Harley in Pure Country. Perhaps some mysterious cowboy would come sweep me off my feet. So I went to the concert all excited to see this man:
(Yummy)
After Martina gave a rocking 70 minute performance, my excitement built even more. The intermission ended, and I was more excited. When the lights dimmed again, I was practically beside myself. And then... this man walked out:
(Jigga-what?)
Holy Grandpa!!! When did THAT happen?? I leaned over to Andrew and said, "Awww... he looks like a Grandpa... I kind of want to give him a hug." There were at least 10 other moments like this through George's performance when I leaned over to Andrew and commented on how much older he looked than I thought he would. I mean, people, it blew my mind! Then George announced that his son had just had a kid. He actually IS a grandpa!!!
Dear Paula Cole, in answer to your question, "where have all the cowboys gone?"... I say "They're still around. They've just aged... A LOT."
Now I don't know why I was so shocked by this. When Pure Country came out, I looked like this:
(Technically this was 1994... but close enough. Check out those glasses!)
And now, I look like this:
(I'm the old one.)
Could someone explain how 20 years just blipped out of my life?!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Happy Birthday, Amelia Grace!
Today our little wedding gift from God turns five years old. I can hardly fathom how quickly those five years have flown by. But what better to do on her fifth birthday than direct you to some of my favorite past blogs all about her:
1) World Record Breaker - June 2006
2) Hello, My Baby... Hello, My Darlin - August 2006
3) Amelia Grace - a Birth Story - February 2007 and Super Cute first photos!!
4) Just Cute - June 2007.
5) Mia goes mobile! - Sept 2007
6) Adventures in Nursing - Oct 2007
7) Fashion Faux Pas - February 2008
8) Mia turns TWO, then THREE, then FOUR and starts pre-K!!
Happy 5th birthday to the smartest, most beautiful, neatest little 5-year-old I know! I love you!
1) World Record Breaker - June 2006
2) Hello, My Baby... Hello, My Darlin - August 2006
3) Amelia Grace - a Birth Story - February 2007 and Super Cute first photos!!
4) Just Cute - June 2007.
5) Mia goes mobile! - Sept 2007
6) Adventures in Nursing - Oct 2007
7) Fashion Faux Pas - February 2008
8) Mia turns TWO, then THREE, then FOUR and starts pre-K!!
Happy 5th birthday to the smartest, most beautiful, neatest little 5-year-old I know! I love you!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Has it been a year already?
Happy Birthday, Little Will!
It's hard to believe that it's been a year since all this went down. What a crazy pregnancy... and a crazy day that was. But our little 33-weeker is turning ONE today, and he is such a blessing!! Here are two never-before-seen photos from the first time I got to really hold him:
I can hardly believe how very tiny he was... how many tubes he was hooked up to for two weeks... the apnea monitor he was hooked up to for 2 months... or the way we had to keep him away from people for fear of germs his entire first winter.
Because nowadays he just seems like a normal one-year-old to me (if only just a bit smaller.) He is crawling and cruising and babbling. He's the sweetest little baby. Happy most of the time. Very laid back. Probably the easiest of my three, and it's not like the other two were terribly difficult babies. He has been a blessing to our little family in so many ways!!
I love you so much little WSU! I can't wait for many more years of getting to know you. Happy FIRST birthday!!
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