Chess Memories

Meggar got these chess shoe laces for her "old" boyfriend, Edmund. He's too big for the kindergarten team now, so she wanted to wish him good luck at state this weekend :-) My boys have "outgrown" chess as well, but we have good memories of it. I actually hope to find the K-State chess set for Dorito (manufactured by a senior in engineering).

Fruit of the Spirit #8

Mildness -- Fruit of the Spirit #8 

(the Greek translates mildness as gentleness or meekness)

Mildness is having a gentle disposition and gracious behavior toward others. Your disposition is your internal emotions and what you think - starting with God, with yourself, and reflecting outward toward how gentle you are in return to others. Mildness of spirit is not having a weak spirit. Instead it is a gentle layer on top of convictions which are as strong as steel. It is NOT acting spineless in trying to find goodness or looking foolish for your faith or even giving up/surrendering to a passive position. Instead, mildness of spirit comes when we look at situations with maturity and realize whose side God is on. We can judge promptly and react reasonably because we know Christ is in control. We are so full of hope that we can live without resentment or seeking revenge. This Bible verse tells us that when we seek mildness through prayer and imitation of Christ, then God will use that time to refresh us! 

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls. For my yoke is kindly and my load is light.” 

The Brothers Karamazov

For two months now, my book club has been reading "The Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoyevsky. I am quite happy to have finished all 700 pages, but it was not all happy reading. Certainly, the whole point of free will is that man can choose which master he will serve. While anyone can attempt to fool the world with intelligent speeches and lofty philosophies, our integrity is what we are like when no one else is looking/listening. Overally, I really enjoyed this powerful apologetic by a clear-eyed religious man. As narrator, Dostoyevsky manages to illumine both sides of the drama -- over faith, reason, loyalty, family, ethics, and love. (I loved the irony of "The Grand Inquisitor" best of all.) Actually, the worries of "modern" Russians in 1880 were not that much different from my "post-modern" peers in 2013.

Found the Drivers Ed Book

Both twins are excited to study for their permit. Next Monday they become eligible "student drivers" of my Previa minivan. Oh joy! The cost-cutting government office only offers the study guide online, so I dug out the paperback from Dorito's file cabinet. Sometimes my organizational prowess amazes me! Other times, my obsession weighs me down with the impossibility of ever completely catching up.

Scout Sunday

My three sons were honored with a Catholic religious award at today's Scout Mass. The "Ad Altare Dei" emblem symbolizes a Catholic Scout's study of the sacraments, which are received "at the altar of God." This was a great accomplishment!

Senior Pictures

Meggar was home and was pressed into service as the main photographer for Dorito's senior pictures--They turned out great! 

Confirmation Novenas

We began our final preparations for Confirmation for the twins with much happiness and expectation!
Meggar found this novena to St. Christopher to pray with Spencer for Polar Bear (who has chosen the confirmation name of St. Christopher) --

Almighty and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with the fire of Thy divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues and merits of Saint Christopher, in whose honor I make this novena, and following his example imitate, like him, the life of Thy divine Son. Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the merits and intercession of this powerful Helper, the petition which through him I humbly place before Thee, devoutly saying, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if it redounds to Thy greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.

We also began a novena for Winger (who has chosen the confirmation name of St. Joseph) to the Seven-fold Gifts of the Holy Spirit--

       O Holy Spirit, who on the day of Pentecost, didst with thy light enlighten and with heavenly fire didst inflame the disciples of  Christ: were there ever need of that light and fire that comes forth from thee, it is surely now when the darkenss of error blinds the mind, and the cold of indifference freezes the heart. We, therefore, O Eternal Love, because of our pressing need for thy help, have recourse to thy omnipotent goodness, and we implore thee to come as soon as possible to renew the face of the earth. Come, then, O Holy Spirit, and with they divine splendors illumine the many souls blinded by the false maxims of the world. Come, and with the fire of thy love, enkindle, and with fervor, fill so many frozen souls. Come, and with the outpouring of thy sevenfold gift, sanctify the redeemed. Come, come, demolish and scatter the kingdom of Satan; bring to be a new era of faith and grace, and make the holy kingdom of God triumph across the earth. Amen.