Simple Woman's Daybook (September)

I am participating in a Simple Woman's Daybook.

Outside my Window...it is going to go up to 94 today in Maryland according to this mornings weather report on WMAL.  It is currently pleasant in the morning as we just returned from walking our dog, Bella.  She attracted a couple of our neighbors' dogs.  It's so funny how she gets so excited when she first sees them at times...and...suddenly...a couple minutes later...she doesn't even know the other dogs are there.  Why is her "doggy world" like this?

I am Thinking...I am very concerned about my 24 year old son.  His heart is breaking as he just helped his girlfriend move three hours away to attend grad school.  His girlfriend is studying to be a physical therapist and they just tacked on three more years of study for this degree.  I do not see the need for this.  I think people (likely liberals) are specifically making it harder for young people to start families together.

Son and Girlfriend

I am Thankful...for the interview I had with a local Catholic school to possibly be a substitute teacher in the future.  In the meantime, I might be able to help with after school care.

In the Kitchen...We barbecued chicken last night and had mashed potatoes and fresh green beans.  I also made some yummy Buffalo Chicken Bites for our next tailgate at University of Maryland football games.

Dinner last night

Yummy Tailgate Food

I am Wearing...pink shorts, grey tee, and black flip flops.

I am Reading...My son's book on Thomas Becket with him.

I am Creating...Two crafts for two different journal classes I am teaching.

I am Looking Forward to...going to the Penn State game with Maryland in Pennsylvania with my hubby, other son, girlfriend, and her parents.  It will be the first time we meet her parents.  She is a beautiful girl my son met on CatholicMatch.com.  I've heard about 1/3 of couples are meeting online these days.

Son and Girlfriend

I am Hearing...the quiet in the house while my son is doing his religion. He studies three separate religion books, including the Catechism and Bible History.

Around the House...I just watched the ending of the "Lord of the Rings" with my 5th grader last night.  It was so good that I could hardly take my eyes off of what was going to happen next!

I am Praying...for my children and our country/military...always...always...always!

One of My Favorite Things...was seeing my 5th grader double up on some of his work this year so that he does not fall behind.

A Few Plans for Next Week...attend Back-To-School night at my daughter's Catholic school in Virginia.  I always look forward to meeting her teachers.

Here is a recent pic to share:

Family at the Beach 2016 Summer

Crabby Leaders Who Want to Control You

I am suddenly faced with a very strange situation this summer regarding the employment of four of my children as lifeguards at a local pool with an arrogant manager. My two oldest sons worked at the pool years ago in their first high school job. This manager unjustly fired both of them at the end of the summer for being arrogant.  There were no facts or proof...just her and her crabby sister's opinion.  I can still see the numbness on the faces of my two beautiful young sons after she fired them.  My heart was broken and there seemed to be nothing I could do.

It took time for my heart to mend even though the memory of the hurt will probably be with me the rest of my life.  I never knew this manager.  I just knew of her.  I knew basically two things: 1) she arrogantly fired my two sons, and 2) she always sits in the front at Mass on Sundays.  These two facts don't seem to fit together...if you know what I mean.

Anyway, fast forward to the present during this summer and now my two daughters are working at the same pool with one of the same crabby managers. After my daughter told her that she disagreed with her treatment of yelling at another employee who had to take an important family phone call, she began trying to communicate to me more.  One day, she actually followed me around the pool with a big smile on her face.  It was a bit uncomfortable.  Therefore, I tried to tell her to lighten up in a friendly tone and said, "keep those employees smiling!"  That was my mistake.  As I continued to walk out the entrance, she called my name: "Mrs. Miller?" As I turned she asked me (the mother of the two sons she fired and never spoke to in her life): "Is there a problem?"  Right...like I'm going to bring up my disapproval of the past and jeopardize my two daughters current employment or approve of her past negligent behavior when it was wrong.  After a long pause, she continued her probing questions to the woman she hurt in the past and doesn't even know: "It's like you think I never make employees smile.?."  I finally said, "No, that is not the case."  I don't even know her well enough to claim this is how she is all the time even though some other parents have similar complaints.

To continue, I found the strength the other day to be cheerful upon greeting her when I had to put my daughter's lunch in the refrigerator. She returned my greeting in a friendly way.  Afterwards, that was the first time my daughter was able to leave work early to shower and change before she had to return to coach the swim team.  It is almost like the way I treat her determines how she will treat my daughters. This is such a strange feeling to me and appears to be how arrogant leaders control others.  It is a pervasive evil tactic in our society. Hopefully, this is not the only factor that determines how she treats my two daughters.

With all this happening, I often think of Ted Cruz and how Donald Trump trashed his wife and family, set him up to dramatize his speech at the convention, and gladly ruined his career by saying he wouldn't accept his endorsement if he gave him one. You just don't trash fellow patriots and good people this way.  It's just like the crabby manager at the pool who tried to ruin my two sons lives.  I would never agree with her heartless actions.  Just like Ted can never agree with Trumps false heartless accusations about his own family.  Trump doesn't care at all about how he heartlessly slandered Ted's family.  Even after Ivanka said that she doesn't vote by party but what is important to their family.  It appears that Ted's family doesn't count.

Donald Trump has the power and position to apologize to Ted for slandering his family to release him from the agony of feeling he has to choose between his family and his country.  Republicans are proving they are cry babies just like democrats when they don't get what they want when they want it.  Just like liberals, they will exclude Ted from political affairs now.  Liberals try to exclude anyone who doesn't think exactly like they do...especially if your a republican (IRS scandal). It appears the country wants a leader that can be a jerk if he wants to be.  I perfectly understand Ted's hesitation in endorsing Trump. Rather than apologize to Ted like a compassionate leader to bring him into the fold, Trump's choice is to squash him like a bug ruining his reputation, This is exactly what liberals do and has been what Ted has been trying to warn us about all along. Yes, I will be voting for Trump just because he is much better than Hillary regarding our safety and respect for our military and law enforcement. At the same time, I will be praying for Ted Cruz and his family and watching the pep rally along with them.

Love Defined: Giving versus Using

Sexual desire is supposed to be an EXPRESSION of the person who desires to make a gift of self (self-donation) to another person which involves responsibility as opposed to just emotion, desire, and attraction.

1.)  Express:

1a) directly, firmly, and explicitly stated (he disobeyed my express orders) b) EXACT, PRECISE

Only a husband and wife in their sexuality can directly, firmly, explicitly, exactly, and precisely express their love for each other as God intended.  Thus it is not only in their emotions and characters but their very design of their bodies created in the image of God that fulfills this purpose of self-donation.

2a) designed for or adapted to its purpose b) of a particular sort: specific (he came for that specific purpose)

As stated previously, the sexual desire between a husband and wife are only able to fulfill God's purpose for their lives...both emotionally and physically.

4.) Express.

1a) DELINIATE, DEPICT b) to represent in words: STATE c) to give or convey a true impression of: SHOW, REFLECT d) to make known the opinions or feelings of (oneself) (expressed himself very strongly on that subject) e: to give expression to the artistic or creative impulses or abilities of (oneself) f) to represent by a sign or symbol: SYMBOLIZE

Only the sexual desire of a husband and wife deliniates (portrays, or represents accurately, or describes in sharp or vivid detail) the design suggested by God for total whole-hearted self-donation.

Only the sexual desire of a husband and wife accurately and naturally depicts (to represent by a picture, describes) the kind of self-donation God suggests for married individuals.

The bible clearly represents in words and explicitly states the one analogy God uses above all others to express His love for us: the love between a husband and wife.

Only the sexual desire of a husband and wife gives or conveys (communicates the knowledge of) the  will of God designed by His plan.

God has made known the opinions and feelings he has for us to be united with him in heaven which clearly states sodomy as a divergence from this plan.

God has illustrated in the bible that traditional marriage is used to symbolize His relationship with Israel and Christ's relationship with the Church as His spouse.

2a) to force out (as the juice of a fruit) by pressure b) to subject to pressure so as to extract something

This is what gay marriage legislation subjects Christians to: pressure applied on us in the way of fines or punishment to force us to cave or be silent on the choice to avoid this immorality.  This is how too many homosexuals express their sexuality...by forcing others to change.  Heterosexuals have never used the law to punish homosexuals and heterosexuality was never imposed on human beings.  Why is gay marriage suddenly allowed to be used as an imposition on everyone?  It appears that some gays do want to express their sexuality but clearly can not do it in line with God's plan.  Therefore, they attempt to make the Christian submit to their desires by forcing them with fines, punishment, and silence.  We are targets for them and if we do not stop this insanity now...later it will be too late.

Choice / Disagreement is not Judgement

Christians are blessed to be able to view/measure their life against God's standards.  This does not mean they are judging others who live by different standards.  This just means that if an example of something that goes against these standards is given, the observer has the knowledge to separate it out from these standards with a red flag in order to choose avoidance of the example given.  Thus, this example is unsuitable for their own life as an authentic disciple.  To disagree with something means: to fail to agree; to differ in opinion, and to be unsuitable.  There exist a driving hateful force in the homosexual movement and the liberal left to make the world think that this simple choice or disagreement is a judgement.

This hateful driving force is laid out in Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen's book called "After the Ball: How America Will Conquer its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90's."  You see that right in the very title of this book they negligently label what in most cases is a simple choice or disagreement on how to live peacefully by calling it fear and hatred.  Thus, in their attempt to fight this supposedly "fear and hatred," it justifies their utilization of intimidation and hate to stop it.

This driving hateful force is called 'jamming.'  Jamming is psychological terrorism meant to silence expression of or even support for dissenting opinion.  Everyone has a right to be able to express their views and have opinions about virtuous and peaceful ways of living.  As you can see, there is nothing virtuous, loving, or peaceful about jamming.  In jamming - the target is shown a "bigot" being rejected by his crowd for his "prejudice" (of which it is not but only a simple choice or disagreement on how to live peacefully) against gays.  Therefore, just by knowing that the homosexual lifestyle is unsuitable for their own lives as disciples...Christians are called "bigots."

If the homosexual does not want to live by God's standards, they have a free will to choose this approach.  This does not mean they have to spit obsenities at Christians for having a free will to live under God's standards.  Many of them display an uncontrollable anger toward the other who choose to live under God's laws.  In this book, they are actually taught to view the other as their opponent.  The Christian is not their opponent that needs to be contested, conflicted, and debated with in order  for them to express their homosexuality without forcing it on others and attain the same financial benefits as those in a heterosexual marriage exactly because Christians are not judging them but simply choosing a different way to live. 

To judge means: to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises; to sit in judgement on; to determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation; govern rule; to form an estimate or evaluation of.  There is data that exists on the results that are derived in the homosexual lifestyle and the heterosexual lifestyle.  This is what should be analyzed by our political leaders in order to make favorable gay rights legislation because they do have to become a type judge in this situation (it's a shame that too many ignore or try to distort the facts on homosexuality).

Political leaders are the individuals homosexuals need to work with (not condemn) in order to receive help.  Homosexual civil unions or gay marriage (not marriage) is relatively new and gays need to start focusing on improving the data that reflects their own lifestyle rather than hatefully attacking innocent bystanders.  In other words, start worrying about themselves instead of sticking their nose in the lives of others to make them out to be "haters" and "homophobes."  Jamming doesn't just take place with words anymore...it takes place with one's physical prescence now by gay activists or "trans people" desiring to intrude into women's restrooms violating their privacy and modesty.  Jamming in and of itself is hateful and violent language and perverted instrusion.  Homosexuals seem to be seeking respect for their lifestyle but will not get it by jamming, forcing Christians to participate in their wedding ceremonies, denying women the ability to honor their modesty and privacy in women's restrooms, or setting themselves up as a priviledged class whose needs trump the needs of others. 

Thankful Thursday

What a wonderful opportunity to post the things we are thankful for during our week at Thankful Thursday.  Here is my list:

- The nicer weather for a few days here in Maryland so that my son and our new puppy and I enjoyed a walk together.

- The father-daughter dance at my daughter's Catholic school.

- The Blue and Gold dinner for my son's cub scout pack.

- The Valentine's candy a sent to my two college sons (even though it is late).

- The energy to clean and organize a little the other day.

- A potential new doctor.

- 2% milk - it gives me energy and I think I need the Vitamin D for my bones.

- The authentic history and theology my girls are learning at school.

Inner Freedom vs. Outer Freedom on July 4th

It is such a joy to experience the 'inner freedom' that comes from knowing Christ and living out His mission as a loyal disciple. It is this 'inner freedom' that has brought our country to the success she has today because it is our Faith that fosters how we communicate and serve others. America has always been a giving nation. Let's pray that we can continue to strengthen this 'inner freedom' that surpasses the 'outer freedom' which only seeks attention and has selfish pursuits. It is this 'inner freedom' that helps bring about the right kind of 'outer freedom' as individuals can be united in virtuous aims that bring a sense of justice to society. It all begins with how much love is in our hearts. Oftentimes, when ones vision is weak and immature a false sense of 'outer freedom' leaves less autonomy and more controls on virtuous family life.

In the Bishops statement called "Economic Justice for All" they stated that, "We see the struggles of ordinary families to make ends meet and provide a better future for their children." I have to ask myself, "Is every family ordinary? and What are the criteria to be called an ordinary family?" I would like to call all parents to be 'EXTRAORDINARY' in raising their children by immersing them in the Faith. It is this 'inner freedom' that results from a strong Faith life that children do not learn about in the public school system. Parents need to take the time and efforts to teach their young children to incorporate a more serious desire to be a disciple of Christ. This, in turn, will be spread into our society as our children continue to put others first in the way they interact and do business as they grow. A true disciple runs the race or partakes in the human journey with his eyes on the prize! Peace and happiness reign when this prize is the love for the Sacred Heart of Christ!