Pro-Life Superbowl Ad Denied

If you haven't seen the awesome new pro-life ad on Catholicvote.org, make sure to check it out soon because unfortunately it will no longer be playing during this year's Superbowl. Watch it here.

NBC had originally approved to air this ad, but only 3 days before the event decided to pull it to avoid advertisements regarding "political candidates and issues". Read more about the controversy here: http://www.ncregister.com/daily/pro_life_super_bowl_ad_sacked/

Below is contact information for NBC. Let's all send an email to NBC and let them know how you feel about their decision:

Jeff.Zucker@nbcuni.com President and CEO, NBC Universal
Jeff.Gaspin@nbcuni.com President and COO, Universal Television Group
Kenneth.Schanzer@nbcuni.com President, NBC Sports
Derek.Bond@nbcuni.com Executive VP Studios & Broadcast Operations
(Barbara) Bo.Argentino@nbcuni.com Senior VP Advertising & Media Sales, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution
Scot.Chastain@nbcuni.com VP Affiliate Advertising and Promotion Services, NBC Entertainment
Dick.Ebersol@nbcuni.com Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics
Mike.McCarley@nbcuni.com VP Communications and Marketing, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics
Jacky.Olitsky@nbcuni.com Director of Program Standards

West Coast Walk for Life

The West Coast Walk for Life took place in San Francisco this past weekend, Saturday January 24. It is estimated that more than 30,000 people walked for the cause, despite the dreary weather! This is the 5th annual walk, and the turnout has been increasing since its beginnings.

It was a beautiful and very hope-filled experience, to walk through the streets of a socially liberal city, and stand up for the truth and the unborn. Please continue to pray for an end to abortion, and the dignity of all human beings from conception through natural death. Let's do our best to always CHOOSE LIFE!!

New Music Update: "Anthology"

For some of us Catholics, priests are the living "rock stars" of our faith. In this case, here is a group of priests WITH musical talent!





On February 10th the new Abbey CD, entitled "Anthology," will be released. Here is a link to a preview of the new St. Michael's Abbey CD to be released on February 10th:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4LEwtA_Nbo.

The CD will be available for purchase at several websites including:
http://stmichaelsabbey.com/Abbey-Store.htmlhttp://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.monasterygreetings.com/

Slow Cooker Beef Veggie Stew

One of my favorite new things is the slow cooker my husband got me for Christmas. You just throw things in and it cooks for you! Fantastic!!!

Here's a recipe I made last week that was really good:

Beef & Vegetable Soup in a Slow Cooker

2 Cans (14.5oz each) beef broth

2 Cans (5.5oz each) Tomato Juice or V8

1.5 cups chopped veggies of choice (carrots, celery, onions, corns peas, potato, leeks, etc.)

1 cup chopped cooked roast beef (I used beef stew meat that was precut and raw when I threw it in; it melted in your mouth when cooked)

1/4 cup rice (white or brown)

1 tsp dried minced onion

1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning

Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook all day on low setting and Voila!

My husband was appreciating his own gift that night. I served it with mashed potatoes on the side, but said rice would be better next time.

Do you have any slow cooker recipes you like? I'm all about this now!

My in-laws came for a visit to see their new grandbaby last week. While they were here, my father-in-law re-wished us the gift of "hope". He had asked for this gift for us during his speech at our wedding, and before he left made a point to stop and re-ask for it. (He's has a tendency to talk/pray.)

It's been something we've needing for various reasons (one of which being my husband's being told that he is on a short list to serve for 6 to 12 months over seas in the Navy). And it got me thinking...

The pope's last encyclical was on a hope. And whenever the pope puts out an encyclical, it is because it contains a message we both need, and are ready to hear. Our great desire for this message is seen in Pres. Obama's overwhelmingly successful campaign based on the promise of hope. (Seriously - Benedict should look into copyright infringment.)

So what is it about hope that we need specifically today? Everyone in the world is being called to accept this gift that God is waiting to give us. Why? Why now? Well, I'm not sure. I haven't even read the encyclical yet (I know... jeez).

One thing I can tell you is that while I was typing this, my husband called and told me that his commanding officer just contacted him and told him that things are falling in line so that he probably won't have to go. (Yay! Was not looking forward to my daughter's first word being Afghanistan. God is good!) Another thing I can tell you is, we do not hope in vain.

Holy Family

I saw this image and wanted to share - so cute and beautiful.

Get LOST, Tonight!

It is finally back!! Several seasons later, we still have no idea what is going on... Do you?

On a sidenote, my Sawyer generated nickname is "Sugarpop". Find out yours: http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=nickname

Jane Roe on Abortion in 2009

This week marks the anniversary of the Roe. vs. Wade Supreme Court decision, which legalized abortion in America. Please watch this powerful ad, by Norma McCorvey ("Jane Roe").

http://www.virtuemedia.org/norma.htm

Looks like we have a case for Roe vs. Roe.

Natural Longing for Children

I just wanted to share a beautiful post from one of my favorite blogs, Building Cathedrals:

http://buildingcathedrals.blogspot.com/2009/01/unspoken-longing.html

Seven Necessities of Parents of Adolescent Boys

Seven Necessities for Parents (teachers) of Adolescent Boys:

1. Clear guidelines with reasonable consequences from a unified front;cutting slack but also holding boys accountable for their actions.

2. Reasonable explanations for the criteria, guidelines and decisionsmade by parents.

3. Avoiding hyper-analysis of boys' emotions and states of mind:avoiding "taking their temperature" too often.

4. Unconditional love with an emphasis on character and effort morethan outcome: Encourage boys to live up to their potential while havingreasonable expectations. To love them regardless of whether they make itinto Harvard or become a star quarterback.

5. Authenticity, faith and fidelity should be reflected in parent'slifestyles.

6. Qualities of a dad: Manliness, temperance, making significant timefor family, putting aside work, and being a reliable source of guidance.

7. Qualities of a mom: Emotional stability, selflessness, lovingservice and extreme patience.

- Father Michael Sliney, L.O.C.

Go Steelers!

I must really love my husband, in order to post something about FOOTBALL!! I just wanted to remind you all to root for the Pittsburg Steelers this Sunday. In case you still need some more convincing, I've included a quote from my favorite football player, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.

And while he views his team’s 2006 Super Bowl win as “really beautiful and a blessing,” humility shines through when he adds that “success in football
doesn’t matter. Success in anything doesn’t matter. As Mother Teresa said, God calls us not to be successful but to be faithful. My prayer is that I would glorify God no matter what, and not have success be the definition of it. If I can be content whether making a big play or getting a touchdown scored on me, then I’d be happy being faithful and not successful.”

I don't know about you, but any football player who quotes our Blessed Mother Teresa absolutely ROCKS in my book!

Inventor of Birth Control Pill has Serious Regrets

Austria's Der Standard recently published an article by the inventor of the birth control pill, Carl Djerassi, blaming his own invention as a result in "demographic catastrophe". http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=14730

Even more interesting is Djerassi's 2001 written reflection about the pill, and his apology to the effect it has had on women. I have not read "This Man's Pill", but here is a review of his writings: http://www.djerassi.com/pill/index.html.

It is never too late...

BEIJING (Reuters) – A 107-year-old Chinese woman who was afraid to marry when she was young has decided to look for her first husband and hopes to find a fellow centenarian so they will have something to talk about, a Chinese paper reported.
Wang Guiying is worried she is becoming a burden to her aging nieces and nephews since breaking her leg when she was 102 and had to stop doing chores like washing her clothes.
"I'm already 107 and I still haven't got married," the Chongqing Commercial Times quoted her saying. "What will happen if I don't hurry up and find a husband?"
Born in southern Guizhou province the child of a salt merchant, Wang grew up watching her uncles and other men scold and beat their wives and often found her aunt crying in the woodshed after an attack, the paper said.
"All the married people around there lived like that. Getting married was too frightening," she said of an era when Chinese women had few rights and low social standing.
Many also had their feet bound in an excruciating process aimed at making them look more dainty and marriageable.
After Wang's father, mother and older sister died, she still shied away from marriage. Instead she moved to the countryside and survived as a farmer until she was 74 years old and no longer strong enough to work in the fields, the report said.
Her nephew in the booming city of Chongqing then took Wang in, but she is worried he and her other nephews and nieces are too old to take care of her now even the youngest is 60.
"My nephews and nieces are getting older and their children are already tied up with their own families and I am becoming more and more of a burden," she said.
Local officials have said they are happy to help Wang search for a 100-year old groom, and suggested her family get in touch with old people's homes to find candidates, the paper said.
(Reporting by Emma Graham-Harrison; Editing by Nick Macfie and Sugita Katyal)

But we're so happy!

Every time hubby and I watch commercials for NuvaRing and Mirena we usually end up laughing and making fun of the commercials. First off all, it's really sad that our society is so desensitized that it advertises for birth control on TV at pretty much all hours of the day (even during Jon and Kate + Eight). I'm slightly dreading the day when baby will wonder what a certain product is and I'll have to give a kid friendly explanation. Oi. Anyways, we just find it hilarious that while the woman narrator is giving a rather long list of possible side effects which usually includes blood clots and other lovely things and reminding women that it does not protect against STDs the women on screen are being happy go lucky as if they hadn't a care in the world. Oh marketing. It really is just so sad, but everyone of these commercials reminds us of how freeing NFP really is. I am FREE from worrying about scary adverse side effects from pills and STDs. Yay.

On a side note, I keep seeing more and more articles about the adverse side effects of Guardisil and how it really isn't effective for the age range Merck is pushing i ton (the middle school set). Any thoughts? Personally, since I heard about the shot I told Matt there was no way baby is going to get that shot. It's either abstain or live with the possible consequences.

My daughter made the blog!

http://catholicmomconfessions.blogspot.com/

My husband's aunt runs that blog and it's great for Catholic moms. She is SOLID and homeschools, has been married for 20 years with 5 kids including a newborn! I highly recommend checking it out :)

Great Quote

I received this quote in an e-mail today and really liked it so I thought I would share...

“We need to be able to ask God for the grace to see ourselves as he sees us. This is one of the foundations for our ability to grow in freedom. The part of you that you don’t like is holding you captive. There is such great freedom in being you. You don’t have to be someone else, and you don’t have to be who you think people want you to be. Just be you.”
Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR

A new way to "Google"?

http://www.ncregister.com/daily/catholic_google_debuts/

What Not To Say

At six and a half months of pregnancy, I've already heard too much! In case you are unaware of pregnancy etiquette, below are a few things you DO NOT say to a pregnant lady.

-"Are you pregnant??"

-"You look huge!!" Mention that the BABY or the BELLY looks bigger, not the woman.

-"Wow, eating a few too many Christmas cookies?" Oh, the comedians out there...

-"Was it planned?" Who cares?? It is what it is.

-"You are looking a little HEFTIER this year, maybe you should watch yourself." Another comedian.

-"Get as much sleep as you can before the baby comes."
Despite the exhaustion, sleep isn't so simple when you are uncomfortably pregnant.

-" You look about ready to go!" No, I still have 3 more months...

- "Are you having twins??" No, are you?

- Lastly, please do not make a comment about your own physical pain (especially if you are a man). You have no idea.

If you've made a pregnancy faux pas, don't worry, we are very forgiving. For the future, however, I hope these tips help. Thank you!

Moms, what are the worst things YOU heard during your pregnancies??