talk about the cold shoulder

I just hope they have non decorative fireplaces or wood burning stoves and lots of wood.

<Russia shuts off gas lines to neighboring countries

good music

so I used to go thru and like name my favorite bands 1-10. Crazy music freak I was. Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know a few recent album recommendations.

1. The soundtrack from the movie Once. It's Damien Rice-like, but maybe a little less dark. Excellent passionate melodic music. You feel like you are back in the movie.

2. Cool Hand Luke's new album "The Sleeping House" excellent solid CHL again. It even has some instrumental tracks on it which are like some of their really good long intros on the old songs.

3. Copeland had a new release in the fall as well. Its a bit more ethereal then the last which is like how can that possibly be but it is. I like it though I am not as passionate about it like the last album, I think it must have to grow a bit more on me.

4. Emery put out a CD probably more than a year ago called I'm Only a Man. It deals with a lot of issues that most people don't want to sing about, suicide being one of them. It has a great few tracks on it my favorite is What Makes a Man a Man.

Ok. that's all. So if you want some good music go have a listen, or at least add the artists to your Pandora radio station.

What does marriage mean to you?

I wanted to ask this question today. As it seems that the cultural norm is to live together and then be engaged for a few years and then get married. What does marriage then mean to those within this progression? I know what it is to me, a sacrament, a visible sign of the grace of Jesus. Its sacred, and a life-long covenant.

But what is the cultural norm definition of marriage. I mean I want to think that it is that total self donation of oneself to another, but its so skewed from that. Knowing that there are exceptions where sex isn't part of the picture yet, but usually it is but that is skewed from the pureness, and beauty of sex. The truth behind the act becomes hidden, at least I would think for the girl, the girl has to worry about commitment, pregnancy, infections. The guy thinking hopefully about the first and the last of those as well, but they wouldn't have to if neither one had sex until they were married. I guess you could argue away the infection scheme if they didn't have sex with anyone else, but again this is not the usual case.

So at this point I have ruled out that the cultural definition of marriage doesn't involve waiting on sex so that their can be total self donation of one another. So what is then the definition, does it mean children? I think this may apply to a percentage of those that follow this live together, then marry crowd. So to them does marriage mean responsibility? Along with that responsibility there is a person that binds them together now. Which if they are humble and loving should bind them together more. A good thing, because part of God's definition of marriage is to have children, if they are able to do so, some people cannot.

But what about the other percentage that still gets married after living together and is adamant about not having children? Why do they get married? Because marriage is part of life? Because others influence them to do so? And still what does it mean to them, as it doesn't mean total self donation, it doesn't mean wanting to have a family, so is it some sort of a commitment? I think in some way it has to be, as skewed from the original commitment it is, it must be something along these lines, or why else? Just to have a big fancy party and get dressed up all nicely? Sadly this could be true too.

Well, the good in all of this is that God can fix it and make the fallen rise again, if we just work at it and accept it. There are so many turn around stories that I have heard that make me think that the real definition of marriage is what we are striving for when we get married. So I pray that for the reader no matter where you are in this vicious cycle.

A Christmas Carol
G.K. Chesterton

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s lap,
His hair was like a light.
(O, weary, weary is the world,
But here is all aright.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s breast,
His hair was like a star.
(O, stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s heart
His hair was like a fire.
(O, weary, weary is the world
But here the world’s desire.)

The Christ-child stood at Mary’s knee,
His hair was like a crown,
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.

the oddity of us

Being called the square this weekend, was quite an odd thing to be called. Usually I'm the weird one, or the black sheep of a bunch. I don't blend in well. I make bizarre decisions to a passerby or even to a semi-knowledgeable relative. Fortunately, I found the crazy zig-zag to match me, Keith. To any other person, my ideas would be thought of as just plain dumb, too dangerous, not financially stable enough, or wasteful of my education. :) I smile at this because I think of how many times people have thought that I was doing this or that for a boy. Little did they know that Jesus was the main component of my decision. But then again, how would a thinking woman ever put her sole trust in Jesus? Why would a thinking protestant become Catholic? Why would a thinking woman with a soon to PhD choose motherhood over career? Why would a thinking woman want a smaller house in a less comfy neighborhood instead of a big house in a sweet neighborhood when her husband gets a promotion at work? Why would a hopefully one day mom want to move with her husband to a developing country to have less, than to stay in the flourishing first world? If you haven't gotten the trend yet, the answer is trust in Jesus. I remember this wise saying a lot, if it doesn't point to Jesus then it isn't what its supposed to be. So amazingly, I found a crazy kid who lives by this as well (though at times we both struggle with it) and we are on a lifetime adventure together because of it. I love it, even when I get frustrated that it is going God's way and not my own (like last night :), ). God is just so cool, and the realization that he is out there in every person just makes you want to smile, and to help as much as you can when needed. To move would let us do this more, it would help us to stay on the straight and narrow, even though it is gonna be rough. I'm ready for the rollercoaster ride. :)

if you are a pro-lifer check this site out

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

you will love it.

mother

A mother is the most important person on earth. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any Cathedral -- a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body. -- Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty