-1-

I'm so sorry for the length of time that has
passed since I have last written a post.  Life
is SO crazy right now...and it just seems
like each week is flying by so quickly that all

I can do is hold on for the ride.

-2-
It's official!  I have graduated!  I'll
get my diploma from Seton Home Study
hopefully by next Monday,and my final transcripts
have been sent to my college!  It's exciting,
and yet at the same time, I hate change.
Ah well, it's part of life.

-3-
Is it just me, or is there something going on
every day in the month of May?  We've tallied it up
and on our schedule we have six graduations, one wedding,
one ordination, one big family birthday celebration,
and finals for the other kid's school.  Like I said....crazy.

-4-
I did a massive closet purge yesterday.  I have three big bags
to sell to our local consignment store and one hug bag to donate
to Goodwill.  My room is beautifully clean - it's amazing how
calming that is.

-5-
Last weekend we went to a debate between our
School of Faith teacher and atheists.  It was epic, and
made me appreciate my Catholic stance on morality and
God so much more.  And the fact that I stink at debating.
Oh well, we all have our weaknesses.

-6-
Does anyone have any good, more "modern"
books that they would recommend?  I have burnt through
so many books this week because every one that I
picked out either had profanity, immorality, or cussing while
doing immoral things....so any recommendations would
be much appreciated.

-7-
I ran across this couple's awesome story
through Life Teen - what a cool couple and
they have beautiful things to say about Catholic Marriage.
Check out one of his multiple posts here
and their blog here.

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

Chloe M.  

It's So Easy to Give Up

It is very easy for me to get excited about something and then give up after it gets hard.  For instance, I would love to say that it is easy for me to read my Bible.  It isn't, though.  It takes a lot of effort on my part to stop what I'm doing, sit down, and spend some quality "you and me" time with God.   There are dry spots when I feel like just giving up, but I try to keep going because I know that it is in those times that I'm drawing even closer to God.

Giving up is easy to do, though.  Sometimes it's not just giving up on Bible time or morning Mass, though.  Sometimes it's giving up on Church, or on the Catholic faith all together.  Although this seems like a huge jump, it's not -  the whole process is a slippery slope that is so easy to slide all the way down on.  This is manifested in these facts:


 October 2008, The Cardinal Newman Society published a comprehensive study of practices and beliefs of current and recent students at Catholic colleges and universities. The study, conducted by the reputable Washington, D.C., polling firm QEV Analytics, found that:

-Nearly 1 in 5 respondents knew another student who had or paid for an abortion.

-46% of current and recent students—and 50% of females—said they engaged in sex outside of marriage.

-84% said they had friends who engaged in premarital sex.

-60% agreed strongly or somewhat that abortion should be legal.

-60% agreed strongly or somewhat that premarital sex is not a sin.

-78% disagreed strongly or somewhat that using a condom to prevent pregnancy was a serious sin.

-57% agreed strongly or somewhat that same-sex “marriage” should be legal.

-57% said the experience of attending a Catholic college or university had no effect on their participation in Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation.

-54% of respondents said that their experience of attending a Catholic college or university had no effect on their support for the teachings of the Catholic Church.

-56% said their experience had no effect on their respect for the Pope and bishops.
See?  It's pretty easy to give up on a faith that you have had for eighteen years.  It's time to fall in love with our faith.  It's time to make our faith our own - to make a commitment to stick with it through thick and thin.  If Mother Teresa could have dry spells in her faith life, you probably will to.  


The true test comes by what you do when you don't think you can hold on any longer.  When you don't want to get up and go to Mass, or go to confession, or pray any more.

Saint Catherine of Sienna said, in a conversation with Christ: ""Where were thou, my divine Spouse, while I lay in such an abandoned, frightful condition?" She heard a voice saying, "Daughter, I was in thy heart, fortifying thee by grace."  Christ is right there beside you - all you have to do is turn back and run to Him. 

God bless,

Chloe M. 


 

Frozen with fear.

Part of the reason that I love this blog is that I can witness without actually seeing people.  That sounds horribly introverted of me, but it's true.  I'm terrified of actually having to defend my faith face-to-face because I know I'll mess up.  No matter how much I prepare, read, practice, or write, I'm frozen when it comes to in-person apologetics.  This has really manifested itself this week.

Instance one:  I work at a boutique where different vendors come in and restock their areas.  Monday, one of our vendors came in and announced she was pregnant!  This was great news!  She is twelve weeks along, and was talking about how, even though this baby was a "surprise," her husband and her had decided they wanted two babies, so it was perfectly fine.  She kept talking and said the reason she was pregnant now was because she had been having issues with her birth control.  To me, this was a light bulb moment that screamed "Insert something about NFP or why the pill doesn't work, and how things can be better!"  But she glossed over the subject and quickly started talking about how her little girl was handling being a big sister.  I let her - and didn't say a thing.  Now I feel horrible because I know that I passed up a chance to witness to the beauty of Catholicism, and I didn't because I was afraid of saying anything.

In our apologetics class on Saturday, we were talking about knowing your audience.  In this case, it was the fellow (yet "cafeteria" pick-and-choose-which-views-I-agree-with kind) Catholic, the denominational Protestant, the non-denominational Protestant, and the atheist.  It was then that it hit me: this stuff is tough!  The thought you have to put into what you are going to say, making sure to listen to what the other person is saying, staying in control of the conversation, and all this while not letting your emotions take over?  Pressure!

Thank goodness for the Holy Spirit.  I'm assuming, but I know most of my readers have received the sacrament of Confirmation, and we have been graced with the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives.  This made us a soldier of God's army, and a soldier's fights are not always physical.  Our call is to defend the name of God and of the Catholic Church.  To not be afraid to be the one that blends in and survives, but the one that stands out and fights!  To make it so obvious that you love your Catholic faith that people never have to second guess where you stand.  Sometimes it's OK to stick out in a crowd.  

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in  them the fire of your love.  Send forth Your spirit, and we shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.

God bless you all,

Chloe M.    

 

-1-

It's semi-official......I've graduated.
Semi-official because I still have to get the paper
that I have submitted graded.  With my luck I'll
have to re-do it, but until then, I'm done!

-

2-

Mom, Reagan and myself went to go see
Thorton Wilder's "Our Town" at one of
our local high schools.  The kids did an amazing job...
I hate plays that make me think so much I
get depressed and want to change my life.
Watch for a post on this one.

 

-3-

Our last Law Class is tonight.
Although some of it was over my head by
a lot, I'm really going to miss this class and
the interaction with the youth group in that setting.

-4-

I work on Saturdays, which isn't a big deal
at all, because it makes Sundays even better
than they were ever before.....Sundays make
great nap days after Church.

 

 

-5-

 

I'm listening to the radio and they
saying that, Boston right now, there is
a National Barista Competition.
They make their own coffee brew which
is mainly judged on the choice of flavor
that is infused (everything from bacon to
oranges.) WHY DO I LIVE IN
THE MIDWEST?  I may be making a
trip down to Boston....now.

 

 

 

-6-

I live in the Midwest, so we have been
getting some crazy weather.  It's April 12th, and we
are sitting at forty degrees for the day.  Needless to
say, I will be wearing a sweater today.

 

-7-

The highlight of my Sunday this weekend
is going to be singing for the second graders
first communion.  I love watching their wonder
as they receive Christ in the Eucharist for the first
time - I really wish I could have that joy
every Sunday instead of settling into the motions.
It is really Christ there!

 

God bless,

 

Chloe M. 

 

Changing Times

On Monday, I submitted my final paper for senior year.  So, I am officially done with high school....and I hate it.  For me, homeschooling hasn't only been the grade I've been in or the school I've done, it's been a way of life.  It's been my identity.  I'm not a homeschooler anymore - I'm a former homeschooler. 

It seems that everything is falling into place for my transition into college life.  I have a banquet to accept my scholarship at the end of this month, and then at the end of May, I have freshman orientation and class scheduling.  It's all coming together, but sometimes it feels like it's all crashing down. 

I've never been one to like change anyway, so this has been hard.  I know once everything starts up, classes begin, and I get into the swing of things, it will become routine.  Until then, I'm not only dreading the change, but I'm also incredibly nervous. 

But I know God has an incredibly beautiful plan for my life.  I have to continue to do my part and follow His will, and He is going to take care of me.  He knows me, loves me, and most importantly, wants only the best for me.

What a great Father. 

God bless,

Chloe M. 

NFP versus Contraception
You can use both to not have a child....why is one wrong and the other isn't?




Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four children.  Everything is going just as planned until Mr. Johnson looses his job.  He knows that at the present he cannot support another child.  So he and his wife continue to be together, but they use contraception to prevent a pregnancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children, too.  Their life is going wonderfully until one of their daughters gets sick.  The expenses for medical bills are through the roof, and Mr. Smith is having trouble keeping his family of six afloat.  He knows he cannot afford the hospital bills and extras that come with another baby.  He and his wife use natural family planning (NFP) and are only together during times where they could not conceive a child.

What is the difference?  Why are Mr. and Mrs. Johnson sinning, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the right?  Let's look at the differences between NFP and contraception and answer that question.

The nature of the marital union has two meanings: the sharing of love between the spouses and the giving of life.  When a couple is together, they have to accept both the love and the giving.  This is not to say that every time the couple is together, they must have a child.  It is though that the couple must never shut off the opportunity that life may happen.  Here lies the first major difference.  While artificial birth control (ABC) cuts off life, NFP follows the natural times of a woman's cycle, times that were designed by God Himself, to have a family according to His will. 

NFP values a woman, and does not objectify her.  When a couple is together and uses ABC, they reduce each other to objects for sexual pleasure.  They do not have the responsibility of a possible child to worry about, so they are able to "freely" be together whenever.  Yet when you are married to someone who does not even want to give his/her whole self to you, doesn't that make you feel used?  Or when they see your fertility as a curse, doesn't that make you feel degraded?  NFP sees that the sexual embrace is a beautiful gift from God, and a gift that should be accepted in it's entire beauty. 

NFP strengthens marriage.  When the couple does not want to conceive a child, they abstain from the sexual union.  This does not pull them apart, but rather makes their bond stronger.   It allows them to show each other love in non-physical ways and allows them to see that they appreciate and love each other not only for their bodies, but for who they are as a child of God.  ABC tears apart marriages because it allows the couple to think that self-control isn't necessary, sacrifices are worthless, and the main reason the spouse is loved is because they are the other half to the sexual embrace.


NFP can be used for multiple reasons.  While ABC only exists to stop or abort a pregnancy, NFP can be used to achieve pregnancy during a time when the couple feels God calling them to conceive. 

All of these good things about NFP do not make it bullet-proof.  NFP  can be abused very easily, and turned from the right thing for the right reason into the right thing for the wrong reason.   If used by a couple who is avoiding children for selfish reasons, it looses it's beauty and connection with Christ and love. 

Let us not forget the first word of natural family planning : NATURAL.  The pill changes the woman's body with hormones and chemicals.  NFP does not change a woman - it celebrates how the woman's fertility works. 

NFP also celebrates life.  Birth control not only prevents life by altering a woman's reaction to the sexual union, but also can destroy the life that is conceived before the woman even realizes she is pregnant.  It denies the couple parenthood for the sake of the convenience of being always "available" to each other.  Does this seem like a good trade off? 

NFP is different because it still allows marriage to be free, total, faithful and fruitful.  Birth control does none of these. 

Let me know what you think in the comment section below!

God bless,

Chloe M. 

My Phone Is Smarter Than Me.

This week, I finally caught up with the rest of the world and purchased a smart phone.  So far, the only thing it has accomplished is making me feel dumb.  Really, really dumb.

For instace: What is an SD card?  And why would a phone need it?  Also, it has been forever since I've used a touchscreen, so my texting speed has been reduced to five words per minute.  So if you texted me and I responded seven hours later, that's why. 

Is my life better now?  Do I feel more complete?  Eh, not really.  In fact, I feel like I've lost half of my brain, which is not a good feeling at all.  The sad thing is that phones are addicting.  You don't realize this when you have a step-up-from-a-flip-phone, but when there is a smart phone in your hands, it's hard to put it down.

For all intents and purposes, a smart phone does not make you "cool."  It doesn't make you smarter, prettier, or funnier.  It doesn't even help you be yourself.  The important thing is that Christ thinks you are pretty neat with or without a smart phone.  Which is awesome. 

Now, excuse me while I go figure out where the menu on my phone went and how I can ask my tech-savvy sister for help without sounding completly out of it.

God bless,

Choe M. 

-1-
It has been a long two weeks - thus my lack of posting.
We don't get spring break, but everyone I work with does, so I
spent a lot of the past two weeks working extra to cover everyone who was gone. Yet the weekend doesn't start 'til Sunday since I work all day Saturday, too :)

-2-
I cut all my hair off....again!

I had successfully been growing it out for about eight months,
but yesterday I went and chopped it all off back to a pixie cut.

It's going to be so much easier to style for work and college
classes. 

-3-

The end of April brings with it a scholarship
banquet.  Not only is it semi-formal, which I've
never been to such an event, but I've been warned
that I might have to give an acceptance speech.
Have any of you, dear readers, had to do this before?

If so, please enlighten me on what to say....I'm going blank here.
-4-
I actually have about four posts in the "edit" stage right now,
so I'm not totally slacking off....hopefully I can get one or two
of them finished for you to read this weekend.
-5-
Emma and Sophia's birthday are Sunday and Tuesday.
Each birthday I make a cake that has to do with
either something they did that year or what they
are interested in.
Some ideas:
Sophia's Tutu cake (since she wears her tutus all the
time and she is our dancer)

And Emma's cake is secret, in case she reads the blog :)

-6-
I thought this pretty much summed things up:

-7-
I was tipped off to a new modest clothing site - www.modestpop.com.

They have some really cute, affordable, modest, affordable pieces!

Did I mention affordable?

(this one is only $21.00) 


(And this one is only $12.00!)

Have a great Friday and a great weekend!

God bless,

Chloe M.