A New Favorite

The Donkey

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.

- G.K. Chesterton

Grampa Bozo

My grandparents have been in town, and my Grampa Bozo (the kids' great-grandpa) has been an inspiration to me on how to give attention to my kids. He is fully enamored with them. Everything they do and say is of complete interest to him.

He spent almost an hour playing with a toy from the dollar store with my 3 year old daughter. They would point out the colors that shone through the lights while the toy played music. No exaggeration; almost an hour.

When my oldest son was practicing his piano songs (Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Skip to My Lou), my Grampa Bozo sat, chin resting in his hand, rapt with attention as if listening to a concert pianist. No words, no enthusiastic, patronizing applause to make my son feel good about himself. Just undivided attention.

When my kids are in the front yard playing soccer or football, my Grampa just watches from the sidelines. No, not "watches" as in playing yard duty, but "watches" as in studying, taking the play habits of my children in.

And my kids just adore him. My three year old likes to play "snob" to people she isn't around often. She likes to give dirty looks and turn her head away to get people to beg for her attention. No snobbiness with Grampa Bozo though. Just joy at being around him.

He isn't a kid-type of person in the sense that he likes arts and crafts or speaks in a sing-song voice that kids like. He is a kid-type of person in that somehow, his spirit connects with their's in a personal, heartfelt way. He doesn't patronize; he is truly interested in them. He doesn't need to dish out compliments left and right to make them feel good about themselves; the look in his eyes does that instead.

Walk for Life, San Francisco

Thanks to earthie who posted this link with pictures of the Walk For Life West Coast. It leaves one speechless.

I wanted to go the first year this event took place, but was unable to. My brother-in-law and his wife went, and their experience led me to reconsider, since if we did go we would have to bring the kids. This protest is NOT for children, or the faint-of-heart, or the emotionally unstable pro-lifer, I would say. I would love to be a part of this peaceful (at least on the pro-life side) protest, but that's not where God wants me right now.

However, I will say this, if I were on the fence on the abortion issue, and this march was a decision-making moment for me, I don't think I could objectively say I would ever be pro-choice. The evil present is almost tangible, and if you check out the photo gallery, you will know what I mean.

My resolutions

My Lenten resolution, along with G.R.'s is to pray together as a couple every day. We pray with the kids, as a family, even individually, but rarely just he and I anymore. We hope to change that over these next few weeks. I've also heard that praying together is an excellent way for couples to reconnect, since many times we get insight into the struggles, worries, and joys of a person when we hear his prayers from his heart.

I also am hoping to make a list of intentions for each day of Lent and say a Rosary for that particular intention each day. Today's intention: my cousin who is in jail (not for the first time) for drug possesion with intent to sell and who has learned he has prostate and testicular cancer at age 37. He is now refusing treatment because he feels he has screwed his life up as well as those he has been close with and he is giving up.

And I am going to use this entire Lenten season to try and overcome a struggle I have been having for a couple of years now (sorry, its personal). I hope to say a chaplet for it each day, but if not, then at least to make a concerted effort in overcoming it.

What I decided not to give up this Lent:
soap operas (a usual Lenten sacrifice that really isn't much a of a sacrifice anymore. I watch them only occaisionally now and only when really bored).
TV (that would just be too hard!)
the internet (I have to check my e-mail everyday due to some obligations and didn't think I could only check e-mail without going online).
coffee (I don't want to deal with the headaches in the beginning).

How to Fast

via Mary over at CMOMC

HOW TO FAST

Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from apparent darkness;
Feast on the reality of light.

Fast from pessimism;
Feast on optimism.

Fast from thoughts of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.

Fast from worry;
Feast on Divine Providence.

Fast from unrelenting pressure;
Feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from negatives;
Feast on positives.

Fast from complaining;
Feast on appreciation.

Fast from hostility;
Feast on non-resistance.

Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from anxiety;
Feast on hope.

Fast from yourself;
Feast on a silent heart.