Snowy Pre-feasts of 2007

Here's a pic taken of our church during Holy Week, April 2007

And here's one of our backyard taken a few days before Christmas, 2007. (Click pic for larger view - you can see the big fat snowflakes falling.)

Yes, we did actually have a few months without snow in between those two times.

Blessed are...

When we come to know our own hearts, our own sins and failings, we will recognize that most arguments and disagreements come from us - our own self-esteem, our pride, our irritability, our carelessness, our willfulness, and our mistrust of others. Once we see this, we will learn to be lenient towards others, to forgive their weaknesses, and to be gentle and patient with everyone.

St. John of Kronstadt

"Ten Homilies on the Beatitudes" (Fourth Homily)

Oh, how they've changed

Guess which political party said the following (hint: not Libertarian):
“Freedom of education, being an essential of civil and religious liberty . . . must not be interfered with under any pretext whatever,” the party’s national platform declared. “We are opposed to state interference with parental rights and rights of conscience in the education of children as an infringement of the fundamental . . . doctrine that the largest individual liberty consistent with the rights of others ensures the highest type of American citizenship and the best government.”

Give up?
"That ringing endorsement of parental supremacy in education was adopted by the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1892, which just goes to show what was possible before the Democratic Party was taken hostage by the teachers unions. (Wondrous to relate, the platform also warned that “the tendency to centralize all power at the federal capital has become a menace,” blasted barriers to free trade as “robbery of the great majority of the American people for the benefit of the few,” and pledged “relentless opposition to the Republican policy of profligate expenditure.”)"

Read the rest of this great article discussing the separation of school and state here.

Let your light so shine...

I so often want to share my faith with people, but don't really know how. Part of my problem is how turned off I was by the type of Christian evangelism that I experienced growing up and going to college in the South. Cheesy tracts left anonymously in public places, sermons delivered on the street corner, or well-meaning Bob Jones students proselytizing to Clemson students outside the Main Street bars on a Friday night - not effective.

Here's a nice way to look at it:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). That is, just as people are scandalized by the indifference of some of us and direct the edge of their tongue against our Lord, so [Christ is saying] when you practice virtue and people see you, they do not stop at praise of you; instead, when they see your good deeds shining and lighting up your face, they are moved to praise of your Father in heaven. When this happens in their case, we in our turn are amply rewarded, and over and above their praise the Lord bestows on us countless good things: "Those giving glory to me I myself will glorify" (I Samuel 2:30).



St. John Chrysostom

"Daily Readings from the Writings of St. John"

No Cult Here

Yesterday I heard the late 80's song "Cult of Personality" on the radio, which describes the dangers of being so taken with a leader that you just simply accept anything they say without question. Being an enthusiastic supporter of Ron Paul, I thought about the "Ron Paul Revolution" as compared to the scenario described in the song. There's a huge difference. The "Revolution" is not really about Ron Paul - it's about the idea of Liberty. He just happens to be an eloquent messenger who is at the right place and time to help deliver the message. I had the pleasure of spending an hour or so in his company the other day (see below) and can say that he is a very likable man who can express his ideas intelligently and clearly. But he doesn't have that forceful charisma that you see in a lot of other political leaders, or that some people expect to see in a presidential candidate. That's what is so exciting about the Ron Paul Revolution. Since it's more about his message of Liberty rather than him as a person, the Revolution can continue beyond this particular election, regardless of its outcome.

Here's a great quote from Anthony Gregory over at LewRockwell.com from an article discussing the appeal of this unlikely hero to a huge number of young people:
"The people of my generation, those a little younger or a little older, have been longing for an escape from politics as usual for a long time. Ron Paul offers the out. He is a cultural conservative and political radical. He is a Republican peacenik, a straight-laced Christian who wants true tolerance for all Americans, an honest and humble man offering an honest and humble foreign policy. He might not follow the latest fads, but he follows the Constitution and champions individual rights. His revolution is one of liberty, not the libertine conservatism that misses the point entirely."

Lunch with Ron Paul

Okay - back to the Ron Paul theme. My husband and I, along with our priest Father Andrew, were invited to meet with Dr. Paul and a few other guests for a lunch today. All my husband and I could say afterwards was "That was so cool!" 'Cuz it was! There wasn't a prepared speech or formal presentation - we just sat around eating lunch and having interesting conversations. It blew my mind to speak to someone who is such a kindred spirit and realize that he is a long-time Congressman who is running for President. I wish I could be more eloquent, but... it was so cool!

Fine Living

Okay - I have to show that there is more to my life than my support for Ron Paul (scroll down and you'll see what I mean)! My hubby and I finally went on a little vacation together recently (the first time since we had kids!) - we spent 2 nights at the Mt. Washington Hotel - an amazing, elegant Grand Hotel (built in 1902) nestled in some of the most impressive of the White Mountains. I don't have any good shots of the outside (you can see that at their website), but here are a couple of the lobby. I could get used to fine living and dining! It was one the best dining experiences I've ever had. Yummmmm.

Video of our Field Trip

I just found this video on You Tube that shows Ron Paul shaking our hands during his visit to Concord last week (see my post below). You see us at about 25 seconds in. The audio in the later part isn't great - there are other videos that are better for hearing him talk.

Field Trip to the State House

The kids and I went to the NH State House today and met Dr. Ron Paul, shook his hand, watched him sign some papers, then talk to reporters and others who had questions. Here he is during that last part. Crowded and hot, but exciting to be there!

Great Quote!

"Parental control of child rearing, especially education, is one of the bulwarks of liberty. No nation can remain free when the state has greater influence over the knowledge and values transmitted to children than the family."
-Intro of the Family Education Freedom Act by Ron Paul, Jan. 31, 2001

Ron Paul for President

Just when I was ready to completely withdraw from the political process, after years of disappointment with politicians from both sides...

↑ Click the play button above to watch.
Dr. Paul is an exciting candidate because he understands that the best chance we have for prosperity and peace is to have a very limited central government. We've tried the large, powerful federal government model for generations now - does anyone really think it's working?

Kitties distracting my work

Bionicle Sam

Many Years, Deacon Greg!

Congratulations to our friend Greg on his Ordination to the Diaconate! Here he is with 3 of his 4 godsons - the one on the far left belongs to us.

The First Day of Spring - NH Style

It's taken a long time, but I'm finally getting used to "spring" in NH. It looks like this. The visible signs of spring, instead of leaves and flowers, are the "Frost Heave" warning signs that pop up along the roads and the sap collecting pails hanging on the side of sugar maples. Not to mention the wet snow pants hanging in front of the fireplace (since the snow is so soft and melty on top).