Beautiful Cards

Micki at Holy Cards for Your Inspiration always has beautiful (and often antique) holy cards on display.  She chooses a new one each day.

Today's card is especially beautiful, and I wanted to share it with you.

Be sure to subscribe or go there daily to see all of the cards and get a daily dose of beauty.

Why Would a Woman Subscribe to "The Art of Manliness" Blog?

Because of posts like this one.  

Here at the Art of Manliness, we haven’t been shy about the fact that we’re big proponents of marriage. We certainly don’t advocate that men rush into marriage willy nilly, whether they’re ready or not. That would be seriously unwise. But once your find your true love and you’re sure she’s the one, there’s no reason to delay your nuptials. Why? Marriage offers truly significant benefits that cannot be found outside of it. Here are 6 reasons you should grow up, man-up, and stopping being scared of walking down the aisle:  ...  [emphasis added]

The reasons are wonderful, and they are only the basic, secular-type reasons.  Spiritually, there are even more.  But this is a great place to start.

I just love a real manly blog.  And The Art of Manliness is certainly that! 

Bad Grammar!

No...not that kind of Grammar...

...the kind the Red Inkwell shows off.

Yay!

Updates!  Updates at the Red Inkwell!

Hooray for the grammar nazis!

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Cornucopia

The weekend at my Nana's was pretty nice, despite the rain.  :)  We got to spend time together, play games, go shopping, visit my grandfather's grave, and watch a movie or two.  While there, Travel Man and I also drove around a little bit and wound up seeing protesters outside a building I'd seen my whole life in Toms River - and it's an ABORTION CLINIC!  I had no idea that was what the nondescript, brown building was.  I'd gone past it a bazillion times!

Now that I'm back, I've been catching up on a few blogs (skimming, really), and found a few things that are really great.  So I'll share, in case you don't read these blogs yourself.

• Shoved to Them has a message for you whiners: think of how happy these Catholics in Kosovo would be to sit at Mass with crappy music.
• Joel highlights a homily on the parable of the vineyard workers.  If you have a problem with this parable (let's face it, I think everyone has at least one parable that is difficult to accept), this post will help to shed new light on a tale that might seem unfair on the surface.
• I'm only part-way through this, but there are two posts at Jimmy Akin's blog on the election.  Read both of them.  This election is really a toughie, and I'm not clear in the bag for McCain, even if I absolutely adore Sarah Palin.
• In more news, the financial crisis is confusing at best.  If you understand it, great.  But the average person has no idea what's going on and is just scared.  Let's face it, our society is in debt up to their eyeballs!   Soccer Dad/Travel Man mentioned that some credit card companies are taking advantage of that "we have the right to change these terms without notice" clause and slashing limits in half.  Might not be bad if you're not up to your limit, but for the many people who are?  Wow.  All I can say is that I am grateful to God that we were able to get that last credit card paid off by switching it to our credit union.  Yes, we're still paying it, but we aren't scared of the payments doubling suddenly (they were already rising every month, even when we paid early).  We will have our only other load (aside from the house) paid off next month, and will hack at this last large debt next year.  Our goal, and it will be tough, is to pay it off in less than half of the four years we are slated to do it in.  But back to the national financial news: the Darwins have a couple of great posts on the topic that can help you understand a bit more of what's going on and why conservatives can support this bailout.  (My only stipulation is that I'd like them to stop saying that "the taxpayers stand to make money on this deal."  I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday, people.  When everything gets sold off in chunks and money is made, the government is going to keep it all and get bigger.  You'll find some new way to bug me or try to treat me like a five year old.)  All in all, I've come to the (uneasy) conclusion that this bailout just might be very necessary, and it isn't going to be the end of the world (or conservatism - sheesh, Rush's comments on "nothing trumps conservatism" made me sick) if the deal goes down.  
• The Anchoress has too many good posts to narrow down.  If you don't read her blog, you're missing something great.  She isn't conservative or liberal - she's CATHOLIC.  And she manages to do so without calling the president names or being hostile.  (I can speak with the tongue of angels, but if I do so without love...)  So head there and feast: she's covering the financial meltdown, the election, and more.  Good - no, GREAT stuff.
• Finally - and this is my own note here - this weekend is Life Chain Sunday.  My entire family is participating this year.  Please keep us (and all those who participate in Life Chain Sunday) in your prayers.  While nearly everyone who passes us in my area is friendly, there are always a couple of hostile people, and I'm certain that in larger cities it's a bigger problem.  Participate if you can, pray for the unborn if you can't.

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Blog Highlight: Laura Borealis

I've got some amazing family members, you know.  My cousin is currently in Mexico, spending a year there before going out into the "real world" with her degree.  Check her out at About a Year in Mexico.  (She's got some lovely eye candy for Catholics in a recent post.)

I can't add her to my Bloglines just now, though.  Phooey.  I'll add her to the "Click Click Click" part of the blog's sidebar.  

Blogroll Highlight: Roanoke Cop

I've got a new-ish blog up on my sidebar: Roanoke Cop.  He writes about his adventures in busting bad guys.  He's also a friend of mine and a quite devout Catholic, to boot.  

And did I mention he's a really good (and funny) writer?

Anyway, his most recent post is about meeting someone famous.  My thought way, "Maybe this is the guy behind the godsbot."




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Blogroll Highlight: New Blog for Grammar Nazis

I've just added a new blog to the blogroll, though it's just getting started.  So far, they've only got one entry, but they are looking for help.

The Red Inkwell: Itching to Fix Grammatical Errors Everywhere

Should be interesting once it's got more entries.




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Where in the World is Travel Man?

Right now, he's in his recliner, polishing up another post on his blog. But he was on a couple of business trips ("work trips" as the girls call them) recently - hence the posts. (Hey, Sarah, was he near you?)

Check out his musings and say hello!







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Blogroll Highlight: Where in the World is Travel Man?

Travel Man is on the road again (a little like Willie Nelson, but more wholesome-like), and he's been blogging! I gave him the camera last week while he was away, and he's even got pictures!

Go check him out, and see where he's been.

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And Now for an Important Announcement

Travel Man has an important update about Big Girl's basketball championship game. (If you click around on his blog, you'll also find some new travel updates. I encouraged him to post while he was sitting in the hotel room on his trip this week.) I really, really encourage you to read this post, even if you don't care much about his travelling posts. His description of the game is really awesome, and I teared up reading it. (I'm such a proud mama!)

And now, I think I'll finally go to bed. I was worried about heading off when I heard that our little corner of the world was under tornado warnings!! Holy smokes! But since that expired at 11:45, I think I'll get some sleep before Coffee with Jesus in the morning. Then after breakfast, I'm off to get a business license and pay more money to the government. Anyone who doesn't think the government is too big hasn't ever tried running a business. Seriously. It's ridiculous the fees and forms I've got to fill out just to answer a phone in my house. Golly, I hope they don't decide I'm not zoned for it! *sigh*






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Blogroll Highlight: The Charcoal Fire

I haven't highlighted a specific blog (save the Travel Man blog) in a while, and I wanted to point out an excellent site called The Charcoal Fire. Kevin has such fascinating articles there, and they are definitely theologically deep at times. (Check out his recent musings on forgiveness and the parable of the king who forgave the servant's debts.)

Today, though, while catching up, I read a really cool story about how his life was saved by an abcessed tooth. Really! I'll give you a sample, but you just click on over and read the rest for yourself:

... Several doctors had informed my mother that because of her fertility cycles she would never have children. My Dad knew that before he married her, but he loved her and it wasn't a problem for him. Plus, he didn't believe the doctors anyway. But after not conceiving in their first year of marriage, my mother decided to see her OB/GYN about the condition. At the office, they administered a pregnancy blood test, and if it turned out to be negative, the doctor recommended an injection to stimulate ovulation and assist in conception. However, if the shot were to unknowingly follow conception, it would likely cause a miscarriage.

So after a few days, the doctor's office called my mom to let them know that the test was negative, and to ask her to come in and receive the injection. But unbeknownst to both my mother and the doctors, I was there. My mom says she felt hesitant to receive the shot for some reason. So, my little life seemed to be in peril. ...

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Watch as Our Hero Leaps Into Action!

Soccer Dad has been on missions as Travel Man recently. He's got a couple of new posts up now, and he'll have a ton of them in March.

Stay tuned to find out what happens next to our favorite super hero ...

Travel Man!!!





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Blogroll Highlight: Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering?

While skipping my Monday Humor posts, I also wound up skipping the blogroll highlight for a few weeks. But today I'm back with one of my favorite blogs.

Sarah not only has a thoughful blog where she ponders faith, family, and the meaning of life, but it is really one of the prettiest blogs ever. And I'll be darned if she didn't go and change the template again! A frequent hostess for the Catholic Carnival, Sarah also manages to see some really beautiful inter-relations between posts and life and faith. Honestly, I read her posts hosting the Carnival and am amazed at how beautifully she puts it together.

If you've never read Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering, go check it out and see if you won't add it to your own blogroll.



Christine

How Perfect is Your Foriegn Language?

Kristine Franklin has a wonderful story about a missionary she's known. It's part of a growing series, too!

Read about Bill and Jim, the Indonesian missionaries.



Christine

Blogroll Highlight: Word Up!

Today's spotlight is on The WØRD: A Colbert Blog for Catholic It-Getters, a new blog that posts clips from "The Colbert Report" and points out the Catholicism that lurks behind the persona that is Stephen Colbert. I am a fan of Colbert, though I did need a break after a bit. (I was getting a little burned out after never missing it for more than four months!)

This blog is the perfect way to get back into watching one of my favorite shows on TV. Plus, I get a nice heads up on when he mentions being Catholic. (One of my favorite videos posted so far was this one, in which he talks about Sinead O'Connor and mentions her stunt on SNL with the picture of John Paul II, among other signs of the aPOPcalypse.)

Head on over and enjoy!


Christine

Blogroll Highlight: Luau Lady

Today's spotlight is on Esther, the Catholic Mom in Hawaii. Though she's originally from the coolest state in the union, these days Esther is blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Her blog is beautiful to behold, and she's an excellent source for prayers, novenas, and interesting information on devotions and such. Besides, her blog is rated G!

Head on over and visit Esther today.

Blogroll Highlight: "The King's Good Servant, and God's First."

Jay's blog was added to my blogroll a while back. I think I added him because he thought something I wrote was funny. Obviously, this is the kind of person I want to hang around, right? I mean, if you're going to have any kind of social group, why not a mutual admiration society?

I actually like Jay's blog for more than his obvious good taste in humor. He's a conservative in politics but doesn't place that above his faith. He's a family man who often has very good observations on what makes a family tick (or not). And he works hard to be a faithful Catholic. All these things make it easier to swallow his status as a lawyer.

If you notice the title of his blog (Pro Ecclesia, Pro Familia, Pro Civitate), he also puts things in the proper order: God, family, country. That's a good thing, as Martha Stewart says. ;)

Go tell Jay hello, if you aren't already a regular reader of his.

Blogroll Highlight: Kris Franklin

I am almost positive this is the same woman who was on "Now We Are Catholic" on EWTN along with Rosalind Moss. I loved that show! It was one of the things I automatically saved on my DVR until it moved and then was pulled for more recent shows. I can't tell you how much I've learned from that old show.

But now there is a blog called "Middle Aged, Not Muddle-Headed," and Mrs. Franklin has been discussing as of late the strange phenominon of people treating their pets as children. I have to say that it always bothers me a bit to see adults treating their animals as if they are real children and not pets. Mind you, I have had pets to which I was very attached, even cried when they had to be put down, but when you refer to your dog as a son, there is something wrong. She's put her finger on what she believes to be the cause: our contraceptive mentality as a culture. Check out her thought-provoking essays on the topics.

Blogroll Highlight: Ace of Hearts

Actually, it's Ace's Mommy's blog. Stacey and I "met" at a Pro Life group on Yahoo ages ago, and she and I have kept in touch here and there over the years. Her blog chronicled her pregnancy and the birth of Ace, and now she chronicles a lot of her everyday life.

And, by the way, when you go to check out her blog, be sure to remember Ace in your prayers. And put Stacey and Drew in there, too.

So go and visit the Housewife in Flip-Flops. And don't ask about the thong. (That must be a Southren thing - I'd never heard anyone call them by that name until I moved out of New Jersey.)