Archive for November, 2006:
Married Love and the Gift of Life
“Marriage is more than a civil contract; it is a lifelong covenant of love between a man and a woman. It is an intimate partnership in which husbands and wives learn to give and receive love unselfishly, and then teach their children to do so as well. Christian marriage in particular is a ‘great mystery,’ a sign of the love between Christ and his Church (Eph 5:32).”
This statement released by the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) on November 14th can be read online here. I’m impressed and really encouraged to see something like this coming from our American Bishops.
“Married love differs from any other love in the world. By its nature, the love of husband and wife is so complete, so ordered to a lifetime of communion with God and each other, that it is open to creating a new human being they will love and care for together. Part of God’s gift to husband and wife is this ability in and through their love to cooperate with God’s creative power. Therefore, the mutual gift of fertility is an integral part of the bonding power of marital intercourse. That power to create a new life with God is at the heart of what spouses share with each other.”
Read it and by all means share it!
Subscribe to the comments for this postInternational symbol for breastfeeding
Personally I think this is a very good idea.
“The purpose of an international symbol for breastfeeding is to increase public awareness of breastfeeding, to provide an alternative to the use of a baby bottle image to designate baby friendly areas in public, and to mark breastfeeding friendly facilities.
Of course, breastfeeding does not require a special place and is appropriate—as the Canadian government’s slogan says—”anytime, anywhere.” The purpose of the symbol is not to segregate breastfeeding, but to help integrate it into society by better accommodating it in public.
For example, sometimes there are no chairs in public, sometimes nowhere to change the baby, or for the mother separated from her baby, nowhere to plug in an electric breast pump. Mothers welcome quiet, private places in public where they can collect themselves and their children. The symbol could designate these kinds of places.” (full story. . .)
I have nursed in public many times over the years and plan to continue doing so, but a recent story of a breastfeeding mother being forced off a commercial airplane for nursing her child, makes me a bit nervous. I don’t know if the woman in the story was indeed being discreet in her nursing, but even so it’s ironic that the flight attendant was offended by it considering how many women publicaly wear what - to me - is truly offensive clothing. Tops that show quite a bit of their breasts in fact and yet I’ve never heard of anyone asking one of those woman to cover up because she was being offensive to others. So then why is it that when a mother breastfeeds her child - even discreetly - she is subject to scrutiny and criticism?
The Loveliness of Homemade Gifts
Dawn is hosting a Loviness Fair this week- The Loveliness of Homemade Gifts.
I love to make things and every year I have grand delusions ideas of making homemade gifts for everyone on my list. But not this year. This year I am not even making the attempt and I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it! Oh sure, most people would agree that given I am “expecting” a very special gift of my own very soon, no one expects me to make them anything. But even if they did they would be disappointed - though more likely they probably wouldn’t even notice. Few people truly appreciate what goes into making something - especially if they aren’t the crafting type themselves and even if they do recognize and appreciate the effort, most people don’t expect it and wouldn’t really miss it if it wasn’t there.
Don’t get me wrong, I think homemade gifts are wonderful! I love it when I receive one and am ever so thankful that someone would take the time to make something for me. But I also know that sometimes we can become so focused on what we think we should be doing that we lose sight of what’s really important and find we might need a reality check (thanks Rowena!) to get our focus back in its proper place. 
So no, I’m not making any handmade gifts this year. But I do have plans. We’re making a Jesse Tree and O Antiphon Cards for Advent and we’ll be reading lots of beautiful books from Cay Gibson’s Catholic Mosaic, all while snuggling and nursing our new baby who is due to arrive right at the start of Advent.
Of course, my sewing plans are never ending. Baby items, kids items etc. But that’s just normal life here - no Christmas deadline or 1 a.m. last minute desperations. Just lots of love and cuddles. I can hardly wait!
10 Random Facts Meme
The Bookworm tagged me a while ago but I haven’t responded until now. I’m still not sure who cares to read 10 random facts about me but here goes:
1. I have a talent for parallel parking - really, I’m better at it than even my dh.
2. I have an irrational, unrelated to any event I know of, fear of unguarded railroad crossings. I’ll drive over them but it kind of freaks me out.
3. I got braces on my teeth when I was 31 and begged my orthodontist to take them off before I went to Rome the next year. He did.
4. I went to Rome in the Jubilee year. It was awesome!
5. I don’t wear my retainer.
6. It doesn’t fit anymore. 
7. I use to be so thin people thought I was anorexic. No one thinks that anymore.
8. When I was about 10 years old my sister Missy tried to convince me she was really Isis. I didn’t believe her.
9. When I was about 5 or 6 I wrote my sister Melanie’s name on my mom’s ironing board cover with permanent marker. I did it so well my mom didn’t believe Mel didn’t do it, so she got in trouble and I didn’t. Sorry Mel.
10. I love to run. I use to hate it but now I love it and can’t wait to get back to it after having this baby.
There. Totally random. Weird.
