S.A.G.A.

Sunday Snippets - January 29th

2012-01-29T13:26:00.000-06:00

This is the weekly Catholic Carnival! Be sure to visit RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week. Why not join us and share a blog post or two from last week?

This week was slower than last - I reviewed a book.

Obedience

2012-01-28T18:32:00.000-06:00

Sister Bernard is an aging nun whose life has long revolved around the convent in the South of France where she lives. She and the two other elderly nuns who live in the convent are preparing to move to Les Cèdres, a religious retirement home. The move brings upheaval to Sister Bernard's life and secrets from the past resurface. The village community that once relied on the convent for spiritual guidance is distrustful of the nuns as a result of a betrayal that happened ages ago, in a very different time.
At thirty, Sister Bernard, along with much of the rest of France, is living under German occupation. She hardly notices the difference the Nazis have brought to her life in the convent, though that soon changes when a young soldier starts to look her way. Before the soldier, Sister Bernard's closest companion was God himself. She heard his voice throughout the day, reminding her to wipe her feet and scolding her over the sacred silverware. When Sister Bernard falls into an affair with the solider, God is at first furious and then silent. Sister Bernard falls deeper into her relationship with the soldier and is pulled away from her life at the convent. Obsessed with her passionate feelings toward him, she is led into duplicity, putting her entire community at risk.
Obedience is a beautifully written novel of love and faith. It is a portrait of a woman struggling to come to terms with her faith, her forbidden love, and her guilt-ridden past. Alexandra Harris, writing for The Sunday Times, observed, "Obedience comes close at times to being what Virginia Woolf once imagined: ‘a novel about Silence, the things people don't say.'"
My Thoughts: I'm torn by this book; it was a story of love that shouldn't have been - a sinful relationship but at the same time Sister Bernard didn't end up all roses and happy in the end so I think it showed that our sins have consequences. I can see how a young naive nun in WWII could be seduced by a Nazi soldier to have a relationship.... I was shocked and my heart ached for Sister Bernard after her encounter with the Commandant.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy of Obedience available via NetGalley.

Sunday Snippets -- January 22nd

2012-01-21T18:48:00.002-06:00

My Son the Writer?

2012-01-20T07:01:00.000-06:00

James not only has free time at college to play video and computer games but even to write about them. His editorial was published at Press2Reset yesterday.

Progress of 2 Weeks

2012-01-15T18:54:00.001-06:00

2 weeks ago I blogged about my word - LISTEN. I've been making slow but steady progress. I am listening each morning by reading Scripture - it helps to have it delivered to my email box.

I am also reading a daily devotional book with meditations by Pope Benedict. Day 13 was entitled "Listening to God's Word" I was again reminded that God speaks to us through his Word and obedience to His word requires me to make time to listen to His voice.

Another way I have listened was during my first MCCW meeting at Redstone. There were a few positions in need of women to step forward to fill them - both were positions I could do but I listened and didn't hear God telling me to step forward so I kept quiet and others stepped up to the plate.

I was offered the opportunity to participate in an ENDOW study; I told the facilitator I would have to get back to her. I took time to pray, look at my calendar and then listened - I will be participating in this study. I need a group of women to meet with in a spiritual setting and I've always found it in the military community and will continue to do so even though Scott is retired.

Soon I will start searching out the word LISTEN in Scripture.. which reminds me that it jumped out at me during Mass this morning. It was the story of Samuel - "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Sam 3:10)

Irena's Jar of Secrets

2012-01-15T16:20:00.000-06:00

Irena's Jars of Secrets is a picture book but definitely not for young children. It tells the story of Irena Sendler - a Catholic social worker who rescued Jewish children from the Ghetto in Poland. Although told as gently as possible, I would recommend this book for ages 8+ and remind parents that they know their child best when selecting reading material. Irena's Jars of Secrets would be a great book for upper elementary students when studying World War II and the Holocaust especially in a Catholic school.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy of Irena's Jar of Secrets available via NetGalley.

Sunday Snippets - January 15

2012-01-14T19:18:00.000-06:00

This week I wrote a review of Sinner, a post about the wonders of the animal kingdom and a TV movie trailer. Since I forgot to link up last week, here is a book review from then as well.

Sinner: The Catholic Guy's Funny, Feeble Attempts to be a Faithful Catholic

2012-01-14T19:04:00.001-06:00

During Christmas break, my 20 year old daughter Madeleine told me on multiple occasions about Sinner. She loves The Catholic Guy aka Lino Rulli because in 2009 she got a brand new car with Sirius radio and a 4 hour drive to her university in Mississippi. So when this book became available from the Catholic Company, I jumped on it.

Loved it!!! Is it a great theological thesis? No. Is is a story of a great conversion? No. Is it going to be a long lasting Church classic? Doubt it. But it IS a real story, a story of a Catholic guy who made plenty of mistakes (aka sins) in his life, probably will make more but realizes he's imperfect and striving to be what he is called to be (although he's maybe not certain what that is) by the grace of God. Did I mention the humor? I love Lino's sense of humor but then although not Italian from birth, I was raised in an Italian family from the Bronx so I 'get' his humor while some Catholics might not.

Usually when I read a good book that I think my eldest will enjoy, I put it on a bookshelf until she comes home from college. This book will be going to to post office as I know she will NOT want to wait until spring break to read this much talked about book.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Sinner. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Dissection 101

2012-01-11T12:58:00.000-06:00

I've homeschooled since 1996, this is the first time dissecting has occurred in my home. I avoided it since both Madeleine and James took Biology while living overseas and did virtual labs.
But that changed today as Abigail (our future nurse) dissected a cow's eye; Theresa stayed far away but John was quite interested.

Cutting away the fat and tissue - she can't ever say that cooking chicken or ground beef is disgusting.

Peeking through the cornea.

The shimmery inside is the tapetum which humans don't have in their eyes; it helps to see better at night.

From left to right: retina, eye socket (with parts removed), cornea cut in half to look at thickness, iris and the lens.

Stayed tuned... in a few days or weeks, she'll be dissecting a sheep's heart.

Abigail on the 'little screen"

2012-01-09T13:22:00.003-06:00

Abigail was an extra in A Smile as Big as the Moon.

You can see Abigail in the trailer at the 3-4 second mark - she's the skinny girl with the long ponytail toward the back of the group of joggers.

Can't wait to see the entire movie during the Huntsville premiere on Friday 27 January. The film will air on ABC on Sunday January 29th 8pm CST.

The Keeper

2012-01-09T08:56:00.002-06:00

A family. A farm. A heart. All in need of repair.

Life on Windmill Farm hasn't been the same since Julia Lapp's father
has had trouble with his heart. But that doesn't stop Julia from hoping
for a bright future. She has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she
was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with
giddy anticipation. But when Paul tells her he wants to postpone the
wedding--again--she is determined to change his mind. She knows
who is to blame for Paul's sudden reluctance to wed: the Bee Man.

Roman Troyer, the Bee Man, travels through the Amish communities
of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out
to farmers in need of pollinators. A mysterious man who relishes his
nomadic life, Roman especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney
Ridge each year. But with Julia seriously at odds with him, Windmill
Farm is looking decidedly less appealing.

Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God
have something else in mind?

My Thoughts: I always feel bad when I get a book for review and I'm not in love with it. I can't put my finger on what it is that didn't excite me about The Keeper especially when I see that all reviewers on Amazon are giving it five stars. I've loved other books by Fisher so I will continue to look for her books in the future.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Enter here to have a chance at an iPad http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/183799

Party Time http://www.facebook.com/events/209723589116292

This book was provided to me by Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing Group; I received no monetary compensation for my honest review.

Parenting Your Adult Child

2012-01-01T20:52:00.002-06:00

Parenting Your Adult Child; Keeping the Faith (And Your Sanity) includes chapters about life after high school or college, the single life, choosing a mate and getting married, grandchildren and crises. But it seems to be a book mostly for those with truly adult children. I feel there is little in it for those of us with young adults in college which was disappointing. I was looking for practical suggestions, solutions and methods for parenting a grown child but so much was too vague for me to put into practical use.
The author at one point talks about twenty and thirty-somethings not being raised with solid Church teachings in their religious education. My young adult children had this while I did not since I was part of the 'Jesus love you, felt banner' generation. So this solidified my thinking that this book is more appropriate for those with older adult children.
In the chapter aimed at parents of young adults, the author says that "Faith cannot be legislated.... the days of requiring it are over." I totally disagree since if you live under my roof, you live by my rules (even if you are 18 or 20 or ....) especially since you are still my financial obligation. Thankfully my young adult children have never made a fuss about going to Mass and both still attend weekly at college so it's not an issue in our household.
Although not of practical use to me at this point in my parenting , I will be shelving it to refer to in the future as my children grow older and their life situations change.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Parenting Your Adult Child . They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

LISTEN (Word for 2012)

2012-01-01T18:10:00.001-06:00

1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.

2. to pay attention; heed; obey

3. to wait attentively for a sound

Related Words for : listen ---- hear, take heed, heed, mind

Synonyms
1, 2. attend. Hear, listen apply to the perception of sound. To hear is to have such perception by means of the auditory sense: to hear distant bells. To listen is to give attention in order to hear and understand the meaning of a sound or sounds: to listen to what is being said; to listen for a well-known footstep. 4. attend. 7. regard, heed.

Happy 12th Birthday John

2012-01-01T16:32:00.001-06:00

It was the never-ending birthday celebration. We started a day early with ice cream cake because it was the only day that all of us would be home at a cake eating time of day.

As it turned out, Madeleine didn't have to work so we were all home to enjoy pasta carbonara for dinner and then gift giving. Isn't this the face every boy should have when they get a knife for their birthday? The very next day he had it in his pocket when we went to Target - just in case I needed to cut something.

Merry Christmas (a little late)

2012-01-01T16:27:00.001-06:00

Just a few shots of the kids.....

FIVE Star Books of 2011

2012-01-01T13:18:00.000-06:00

An Invisible Thread

The Three Trees

The Sacred Acre

Broken Wings

All Different Kinds of Free

unPlanned