PepsiCo has changed it's tune!

This is a great post provided by Jeff Miller at the Curt Jester.  Apparently, PepsiCo has caved under the pressure of boycotts.  Strangely enough, just last month they denied ever using any human cells for research.  They are singing a different tune this month.  This is what I mean about how they do everything they can to deceive you...to tell you half truths.  You are free to do what you wish, but I'm staying away from PepsiCo.  It just feels safer.

Monday Morning Nugget

You have remitted the guilt of your people; you have forgiven all their sins.  You have held back all your wrath; you have not lashed out with your anger.  -Psalm 85:3-4

Reflection:  Mary, ever Virgin, is a true Mother of Mercy, who disposes Jesus to clemency.  As a consoler of the human race, she never ceases to pour out before Him her prayer for the salvation of the faithful crushed by the weight of their sins.   -St. Pius V

Prayer:  O Mary, you continually plead for us before the throne of your Divine Son.  Help me to show my gratitude for His mercy toward me by striving to avoid all sin in the future.  Amen

Aborted Baby Cells--Addendum***

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been doing my very best to make my blog a pleasant place to visit.  I want to focus on positive things...my faith, my family and all those other things in life that I'm so thankful for.  To hear bad news (or whining, arguing, fighting, etc.), all you have to do is turn on the T.V. or read the newspaper.  It's all over the place.  I'm so tired of it all.  Anyway, I've really been making an effort to post good things.

Unfortunately, something came to me in the mail the other day that I MUST share with you!  To be honest, I was stunned.  I had no idea that there is an entire industry that harvests human aborted baby cells and USES them in FOOD PRODUCTS*****, as well as other items.  Because our family has access to these items and we use some of these, I'm going to post them here so you can make informed decisions about how you and your family will proceed with this information.

This information came to me from Christian Action News.  I have received this publication for many, many years and I am confident that this information is accurate and current.  I could not, in good conscience, let this information "slip by" and not do anything about it.  I had to share this so that you WILL KNOW the extent of evil in this world.  How much do you think Jesus grieves?



*****It has come to my intention from a reliable source, that the aborted baby cells are being used to TEST some of these products...and are not actually IN the products.  With that being said, you should know that the information that comes from Senomyx is far from clear.  I think they do that on purpose...if they can confuse you with their word plays, then perhaps you can't actually pinpoint the truth.  HOWEVER, I do not want to confuse you either.  Aborted baby cells are still ABORTED BABY cells whether they are used to test the product or to produce the product.  Either way, a human baby is dead!  As a pro-life Catholic, I can't ever, in good conscience, use these products again since I am now aware of this situation. *******

This is exactly how it appears in the newsletter:

Products & Vaccines That Use Aborted Baby Cells

Children of God for Life is the world leader of the campaign for ethical vaccines, medicines and consumer products.  They have completed the list of companies and products that use aborted baby cells.

Pepsi Beverages on the Boycott

All Pepsi soft drinks
Mountain Dew
No Fear beverages
Seattle's Best Coffee
Sierra Mist soft drinks
Mug Root Beer
Ocean Spray
Tazo beverages
AMP Energy beverages
Aquafina flavored beverages
Frappuccino beverages
Gatorade beverages
Tropicana juices
Aquafina water
Doubleshot energy beverages
SoBe beverages
Fiesta Miranda beverages
IZZE beverages

Other Senomyx Partner Products

At this time we are formally boycotting PepsiCo products, however many have asked us for lists of the other companies involved with Senomyx and what products are involved.

Nestles Products

All coffee creamers
Maggi Brand instant soups, bouillon cubes, ketchup, sauces, seasoning, instant noodles

Kraft - Cadbury Adams LLC Products:  Gum

Black Jack chewing gum
Bubbaloo/Bubblicious
Chiclets
Clorets
Dentyne
Freshen Up Gum
Sour Cherry Gum
Sour Apple Gum
Stride
Trident

Cadbury Adams LLC Candies

Sour Cherry Blasters
Fruit Mania
Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts
Maynards Wine Gum
Swedish Fish
Swedish Berries
Juicy Squirts
Original Gummies
Fuzzy Peach
Sour Chillers
Sour Patch Kids
Mini fruit Gums

Other Cadbury Adams LLC Products

Certs breath mints
Halls Cough Drops

Neocutis Products

This company produces anti wrinkle creams that contain cells from a 14 week gestation aborted male baby!  Following is the list of the creams, but we recommend a full boycott of all Neocutis Products.

Bio-Gel Prevedem Journee Bio-Serum Lumiere
Bio Restorative Skin Cream

Vaccines Containing Aborted Fetal Cells and the Manufacturers:

MMR II (Merck)
ProQuad (MMR + Chickenpox - Merck)
Varivax (Chickenpox - Merck)
Pentacel (Polio + DTaP + HIB -Sanofi Pasteur)
Vaqta (Hepatitis A - Merck)
Havrix (Hepatitis A - Glaxo SmithKline)
Twinrix (Hepatitis A and B combo - Glaxo)
Zostavax (Shingles - Merck)
Imovax (Rabies - Sanofi Pasteur)

Other medicines:

Pulmozyme (Cystic Fibrosis - Genentech)
Enbrel (Rheumatoid Arthritis - Amgen)

NOTE:  Moral options exist for Rabies, Polio and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Separate moral options are
currently not available for Measles and Mumps.  For more information, visit Children of God for Life website at http://cogforlife.org.


What are you going to do with this information?

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My special friend, Judy,  hosts this meme every Wednesday!  Her motto is "a thankful heart is a joyful heart"!  I completely agree!  In this meme, we are to share 5 things that we are thankful for this week.  Please join us  for an Attitude of Gratitude and visit Judy's blog for the link up!  Prepare to be blessed!

1.  This week, I'm extremely grateful for the gift of song/music.  I've heard it said that when you sing, you pray twice!  I was blessed to hear some very special Sacred Music by a very special artist.  Once I heard her sing (by "her", I mean Colleen Nixon), I was instantly in the presence of God!  Honestly, it was a gift!

2.  I'm very thankful for friends who you can share daily frustrations and  joys with.  It's so nice to be able to talk to someone and you know that they know how you feel...because they've been there, done that!  It's almost as though words aren't needed....just a look, a glance and the recognition of "I know how you feel." 

3.  I'm thankful that we have a religious articles shop right in the back of our church!  I found Amelia's First Communion veil there just this past weekend!  I have been looking all over town (and on the internet) but not really finding what I was looking for.  After mass on Sunday, I snuck into the shop for a few minutes and found the perfect one!

4.  For family celebrations!  We just celebrated my nephew's Confirmation and my niece will be graduating from college this coming Friday....with honors!  We also have Amelia's First Communion next month, as well as Olivia's graduation from Kindergarten.  I don't see these events as burdens to "get through"....I see them as times of enjoying each other's company, lots of laughter and lots of good food! 

5.  I'm thankful today, for the gift of memories.  I miss my mother and father so much.  My dad has been gone for 30 years (in June)...and yet it seems like yesterday.  Sometimes, when I'm in a crowd of people, I hear someone cough or clear their throat and it sounds just like my dad.  It's almost as if he's right there with me.  Usually, when that happens, I spend the rest of the day reliving memories of the special times with my dad.  My mom has been gone for 6 years and sometimes, I still pick up the phone as if to call her.  If we didn't have memories of our loved ones, a part of our lives would cease to exist.  We are who we are because of them.  Their memories will live on in my heart and mind, forever!  Thank goodness!!

What are you thankful for this week???

Turn Your Steps Homeward

"Let us work hard everyday at making progress toward God.  If we are tested or tempted in our children or in our purses, let's not panic but place our hope in God.  We are Christians, and our homeland is not here.  Like good children, let us turn our steps homeward, that our course may be approved and guided to it's conclusion."

St. Augustine, Sermon 16A, 13

Prayer:  Heal and open my eyes, Lord, that I may recognize Your will.  Put to flight my foolishness that I may know you.  Amen

 St. Augustine, Soliloquies 1,1

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...the morning is just beginning.  It's still cool and crisp and clean.  It rained all weekend.  We needed it.

I am thinking...that I should probably take some special time with Nathan over the next few weeks.  He's been really struggling lately and it seems that he and I have been butting heads on a regular basis.  I think we both need some TLC.

I am thankful for...my husband.  I'm not sure why he puts up with me.  All I know is that he is a very patient man and that I am blessed to be married to him.

From the learning rooms...I wish I had something enlightening to share here, but I don't.  We are just trying to get through these last few weeks of school.  It's times like these that I will forever be grateful for our year of homeschooling.  Sometimes the "traditional school hoops" can leave us all tired from having to jump through them.  Sigh.


From the kitchen...I'm leaning towards a chicken and rice casserole of some sort with a side of steamed green beans.  If I don't get off my duff soon, it will just be grilled cheese sandwiches.

I am wearing...blue jeans, gray t-shirt, flip-flops (definitely NOT a fashion statement!)

I am creating...a plan for deep cleaning the house.  Dan and Nathan will be gone for several days in June...and I plan to get a babysitter for the girls while I PURGE!

I am going...to a very special concert at church tonight.  If you've ever heard Colleen Nixon sing, you know just how wonderful she is.  If you haven't, take a few minutes to listen.  You will be blessed.

I am reading...I'm actually in the middle of Stephen King book.  I wanted some mystery, intrigue and even some spookiness.  However, I'm never quite prepared though for the type of horror that King seems to be able to conjure up in his sick, sick mind.  It's over 1000 pages, and I may or may not finish it.  If he could just get on with the actual plot...instead of all this side stuff...I'd be really happy.

I am hoping...that the next week will be "event less". 

I am hearing...the fan on my laptop.


Around the house....signs that no one has taken the time to straighten up lately.

One of my favorite things...quiet.

A few plans for the rest of the week....concert at church, movie with my sister-in-law on Wednesday, my niece's college graduation on Friday....and lots of arguing about homework to fill in the gaps..

A picture thought I'd like to share:

Playing with our new camera....Clearly I haven't figured out how to use it yet!

Attention Homeschoolers!

For the last year or so, I've been receiving a daily email from "Quirky Momma: Kids Activities Blog".  These emails are packed full of wonderful ideas!  The email I received yesterday was especially good and I wanted to share it with you.  This one was about making your own math games!

My son, Nathan, has always had a hard time with math facts.  He's OK with addition and subtraction, but, not so with multiplication and division.  As you know, if you don't have your math facts memorized...just about every other thing you do in math is harder.  Currently, he is really struggling with subtracting fractions (mixed) when you have to borrow.  I'm sure I've spent well over 5 hours this week alone working with him.  It's can be frustrating!

When I saw this math game in the email this morning, my senses perked up!

There are several more math games available. You should really check it out!  We're going to make this game and practice our math facts on a daily basis.  With any luck, Amelia and Olivia will have a head start with math facts!

I sure hope this helps someone out there!

Enjoy your day!

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My good friend Judy hosts this meme every Wednesday!  It's all about having an "attitude of gratitude".  Focusing on all the blessings God has bestowed upon me instead of all the bumps in my road of life...is a good thing!  I am to share 5 things that I'm thankful for....

1.  For the mild weather we have been having here in Jacksonville!  It's been perfect for being outside and enjoying nature....not too hot and not too cold!  Perfect for springtime!

2.  For the overnight trip we took as a family last week!  Even though it was only a short jaunt to the beach, we enjoyed ourselves immensely!  We got to play in the ocean, swim in the hotel pool and have a yummy dinner of fresh seafood (crab)!

3.  For a husband who isn't afraid (or reluctant) to do regular household duties to help out his exhausted wife.  Doing the dishes, making the kids lunches and cleaning up after an aging dog who had an accident on the carpet are just some of the sacrifices my husband makes after a hard day of work.

4.  For our seminarians!  Having 3 of them "home" during Holy Week was a true blessing!  Having them assisting on the altar in their vestments (cassock and laced surplice) is just incredible!  What a sight!

5.  For the restored health of my sister-in-law, MJ.  She was ill with an upper respiratory infection and then had a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotics!  This landed her in ICU for a few days but I am happy to report that she has made a full recovery!  Thanks be to God!

This felt good.....to look for God's blessings and share them!  From now on, Wednesdays will be my day of thanks! 

Please join in on this humbling meme!  Take a few minutes to focus on your blessings and then visit Judy so you can take part!

I splurged!

I've been eyeing a particular magazine since I saw it on another blog.  It's called "Artful Blogging - Visually Inspiring Online Journals".  When I say I splurged....I mean I really splurged.  It was $14.99!  I don't think I've ever spent that much on a magazine!  I can guarantee you I won't be throwing it away anytime soon!
Anyway, it's truly a gorgeous piece of work!  Lots and lots of beautiful photographs.  Slightly discouraging for someone like me who can barely turn on a camera, let alone take a good picture.  Still, it's a wonderful glimpse into other bloggers and their creativity.  It's full of inspiration, to be sure.
Several bloggers that were profiled mentioned the friendship, feedback, inspiration and camaraderie that can come from an online community.  I totally agree.  Someone else mentioned that "inviting visitors into one's blogging world is much like welcoming them into one's own home--a home that hopefully reflects one's personality, is comfortable and enriching, and will leave the guest happy or relaxed or inspired, but, most of all, delighted that they came and excited at the prospect of visiting again."

I like that, don't you?  I mean, isn't that what you want for your blog?  I'm more determined than ever to make this a safe and pleasant place to be!  I've been brainstorming and I've come up with a few ideas for some regular features that I'd like to begin here at my place.    Stay tuned!  In the meantime, I have a magazine that I have to re-read (you know, to get my moneys worth!). See you soon!

Remembering last year....

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday.  This solemnity is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter.  Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, had several "encounters with Jesus".  These encounters were in the form of visions and visitations from Jesus himself.  You can read more of Faustina's experiences  from her diary here.
She was canonized on April 30, 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

Last year, on this day, I was in Rome for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II.  He is now Blessed John Paul II. 

I will never be able to express in words the experience of being in St. Peter's Square for this event.  Both Pope Benedict XVI and John Paul II have a very special place in my heart.  I feel as though I know them.  It feels like they are part of my family.  As a matter of fact, Pope Benedict reminds me so much of my grandfather.  Whenever I see him, I feel like I want to run up to him and hug him...to have him embrace me in his arms the way my Grandpa Joe did. 

I wanted to share with you some pictures from that wonderful day!  Thanks to my dear friend, Monsignor Steven J. Lopes, we were able to have a birds eye view of the entire ceremony from the garden balcony of Cardinal William Levada, Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.  Mons. Steve is the Cardinal's priest secretary.  Although we started out in the middle of a crowd that numbered in the hundreds of thousands, Fr. Steve rescued the four of us from certain death by a crushing crowd!  I kid you not!  Thank goodness for cell phones and persistent nuns!

These are the pictures I took AFTER we were rescued and were safe!

This is the view of Cardinal Levada's balcony from St. Peter's
That's where were were privileged to be!!

Once we made it through the crowd, this was our view down
the Via della Conciliazione!

News crews were set up on the tops of many buildings.
This was a station from Germany.

I think we had an excellent view!

This was the view looking directly down from the balcony. 
Wall to wall people with no breathing room.
And yes, it's true, many Europeans do NOT wear deodorant!
Just sayin.

Telephoto lens!

Some of the sisters enjoying the view.

Wonderful coffee and Italian Easter bread..Colomba Pasquale.

Awesome boys choir.

The opposite view of the balcony.

Aren't they pretty?

Can you imagine waking up to this view every morning?

Deo Gratias - Thanks be to God!

Pope Benedict XVI

This has to have been one of the most wonderful spiritual experiences of my life!  It was intense.  I felt like I belonged there.  I felt like I was home!

  “The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!.” (1074 – paragraph 2)

Changes

Several weeks ago, I posted about my confusion over where this blog was going and whether or not I even wanted to continue blogging.  To be honest, blogging has lost some of it's appeal.  I used to be excited about sharing my life and musings with my online friends.  Lately, it's seemed like a chore....one that I do anything and everything to avoid.  Every now and then I'd think of something that would be good to create a post about...and then I think, "Nah....".

This week, while reading some of my favorite blogs (I'm still excited about reading other people's blogs!!), I realized that there are changes all around.  For instance, Rachel Balducci from Testosterhome recently wrote about how the focus of her blog may be changing....she called it, "A New Blogging Chapter".  Similarly, my very good friend Judy (Benmakesten) mentioned in a recent blog post about her primary reason for blogging.  She put it like this, "I intend to keep this blog as a place that uplifts, encourages, and supports a family life theme and provides a place for people to come and enjoy some light reading, online; as well as get to know my own family and catch a glimpse of our adventures, challenges, and blessings in our homeschooling lifestyle."  I must tell you, that's exactly what Judy's blog does....uplifts, encourages and supports!  Another blogger that does that is Dawn from By Sun and Candlelight.  She always shares the loveliest things!  It's just a pleasure to visit her blog.  There's never any drama or negativity the way there is here.  Sigh.

I had never really thought of my blog in those terms before.  I considered it mostly just a journal or diary of my own feelings and experiences.  Honestly, it never really occurred to me whether or not someone might be angry, disturbed or hurt by something I'd written.  I've always had that egotistical attitude that if they didn't like something about me or my blog, then nothing was forcing them to read it!  After all, I certainly don't force anyone to come here.

As I've contemplated this whole subject over the last few days, I've come to realize that maybe blogging isn't fun anymore because this has become a negative place, even for me.  Actually, I've come to quite a few realizations and I wanted to share them with you.  This is what I've been thinking about in relation to my blog and what I want it to be....

Things I Am Not

I am not an artist or photographer.  With that in mind, my blog will not be a place for abstract thoughts and pictures.  Heck, I don't even have a camera right now.  The only thing I have is my phone...and it doesn't have a flash.  If the truth be told...I haven't the foggiest idea how to get the pictures off of my smart phone and onto my computer...except for emailing them to myself and that takes SO.DARN.LONG, that I've totally given up posting pictures!

I am not a poet or a professional writer.  This means that whatever I write here may not be grammatically correct, may not be spelled correctly, or may not even make any sense to anyone but me.

I am not perfect, or even close.  Were you ever in any doubt?

I am not an encyclopedia.  I have a very limited knowledge of things.  Translate that to, I know a little bit about this and that and a lot about nothing!  I am also not very inclined to do tons of research before I post about something.

I am not creative or crafty.  Most of the things that make some people think I am, are really just ideas I've hijacked from somewhere else and tweaked slightly to fit my needs.  I'm not sure an original idea has ever come from my brain.

Things I Am

I am passionate about a lot of things.  You can be assured that there are many topics that interest me that I can (and probably should) share on this blog.  I love sharing about my favorite things...like my kids, my faith and homeschooling.  My problem, I think, comes from having a hard time piecing everything together to make a coherent post.

I am a survivor.  Of breast cancer, of parenthood, of depression/panic disorders, of my own self loathing.....and a Democrat in the White House.

I am part of an online community that I wouldn't give up for anything.  ANYTHING!  I have grown so much over the last several years because of this blogging community.  It truly feels like family to me.  I could never stop cold turkey.

I am eager to get back into it.  I want to blog regularly.  It helps me to express myself in ways that I just can't verbally.  I feel like I can be more honest and heartfelt when I share in my "diary".  I feel like I need to reconnect with my family on a more regular basis.

I am ready to make time.  Sometimes it's just very time consuming to post on a regular basis.  By the time I've come home from work, helped with homework, prepared dinner, checked email and checked Facebook....I'm falling asleep.  As a matter of fact, the other night, I woke up at about 4am with my laptop still on my lap.  I think I'm ready to make a commitment to blogging.

So, what does all this actually mean for my blog?  We shall see.  I want my blog to be uplifting, supportive and encouraging, no matter what I'm blogging about (just like Judy!)  To do that and still be honest and open, is an enormous feat.  I want my posts to be heartfelt and well thought out.  I want to have a purpose for this blog.

I'm not exactly sure how to accomplish all of this...nor even where to start.  However, there will be changes.  You can count on it.  In the meantime, please share any ideas or comments that you might have with me.  I appreciate feedback and interaction with all of you.

I want this to be a place you look forward to coming to and one that when you leave, you're glad that you visited.  That's all, no more, no less.  I can hardly to wait to see where we end up!

See you soon!

Alleluia!

Jesus, remember me....

                                                   .....when you come into your kingdom.

Holy Thursday Mass

I don't think I have ever been more moved at a Mass than I was tonight.  I was literally moved to tears several times.  I think part of it might have been seeing my son on the altar, swinging the incense back and forth...back and forth in perfect rhythm. It also could have been watching our pastor, who has terribly painful arthritis in his knees, kneel down and get up 12 times while washing the feet of the catechumens. Or, it could have been watching Father precess down the aisle of the church holding the Blessed Sacrament for all to worship and adore.

Actually, I think it was all of those things, combined with the stinging sensation of the sin in my life that really put me over the edge tonight.  I especially enjoyed the changes to the rubrics that made me pay more attention to the order of things.

Tonight, for a little over an hour, all was right with the world.  Nothing else mattered...not politics, not undone dishes in the sink, not unfolded laundry, not even my two fidgety girls who had to go to the bathroom TWICE during the hour!  I prayed from the heart....from my very soul in a way that I haven't prayed in a long time.  Jesus was more real to me tonight than ever!

Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.
Amen.

Wordless Wednesday

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...it's still dark.  It just seems wrong to be up and moving around when it still looks like the middle of the night!

I am thinking...that I really need to get going on finding a First Communion dress for Amelia.  May 12 is creeping up on us!

I am thankful for...my mother in law.  She is fully recovered from her car accident and she is ready to put it all behind her.

From the learning rooms...right now, Dan and I are really working with Amelia on controlling her anger.  This is a challenge for her.  We are trying to teach our kids to have better self control. 


From the kitchen...pork chops for dinner tonight.  I had wanted to put them in the crock pot, but I can't really find a recipe that I like and that fits with the "no carb" lifestyle.  I'll probably just bake them.

I am wearing...pajamas with little lavender flowers.

I am creating...a plan to get started on a project that could quite possibly become a small family business....we'll see.

I am going...to take the bird to the vet today for a follow up visit.  She has a clutched right foot and we aren't sure what's causing it.  Two weeks ago, the vet said she didn't think it was from an injury...so it could be a tumor or possibly a stroke.  She seems to be holding her own...eating and drinking.  Time will tell.

I am reading...I'm actually in the middle of several books...my goal is to finish them before I start something new.  Right now, though, I'm reading a book about the Total Consecration.

I am hoping...that one of these days soon, I can get caught up on laundry.  

I am hearing...the hum of the dryer and the coffee pot.


Around the house...signs that three children live here!

One of my favorite things...those rare days when everyone in my house gets along and there is no yelling or fighting.

A few plans for the rest of the week...babysitting a friend's grandchildren on Holy Thursday, attending all of the special masses this weekend, and just simply enjoying this time in the Liturgical calendar.

A picture thought I'd like to share:

Spanish moss hanging from the Oak Trees in our yard