Author: franciscanmom

Barb Szyszkiewicz is a wife, mom, Secular Franciscan and freelance writer and serves as Editor for CatholicMom.com. Mom to three young adults, she enjoys writing, cooking, and reading. Barb is a music minister at her parish. She is also an avid Notre Dame football and basketball fan. Barb blogs at FranciscanMom.com and shares her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information for diabetics at www.Cook and Count.wordpress.com.

The Sweater Rebellion

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My kids all wear uniforms to school.

Now that the weather is getting cooler, those short-sleeved golf shirts are not doing the job. But this year the dress code for the middle-schoolers has changed. Unlike years past, they are not permitted to wear their gym sweatshirt (with school logo) unless it’s Gym Day. On other days, they must wear the school sweater.

Middle Sister and her friends had enjoyed the middle-school privilege last year, until the principal determined that the older students looked very sloppy in the sweatshirts and decided that they would not be worn during this school year. Needless to say, Middle Sister and the others are quite unhappy about this.

I made sure to purchase her a uniform sweater in the correct size over the summer, but she insists that she won’t wear it. In that case, it’ll be in mint condition when Little Brother grows into it. But I predicted that she’d change her mind after the first cold day.

The school is also undergoing renovations, including a new heating system. This morning she was not looking forward to the prospect of sitting in a classroom when it’s 42 degrees outside. “Mom, did you know that my school doesn’t even have heat?”

“It’s still early; they’ll turn the heat on soon.”

“They’re replacing the boiler! Why didn’t they do that over the summer?” (I can’t argue with that logic…it would have been smarter to do that job in August). “And they won’t even let us wear our jackets!”

“Good thing you have a sweater,” I commented. “You can wear that today.”

“I’ll never wear the sweater and my friends won’t either. We’re rebelling against sweaters.”

“I’m warm,” Little Brother bragged. “I’m wearing my sweater.”

She’s cutting off her nose to spite her face, and I’m not willing to enable her on this score. I figure she’ll give in when she gets cold enough. To me, this is a silly fight, and suffering through cold days isn’t the way to convince the principal to change her mind.

The bus pulled up. And I wasn’t above getting in one last little dig.

“Have a good day,” I called. “Stay warm!”

The Four Things Meme

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Just for fun, from Christine at Domestic Vocation!

Just 4 things…each

A) 4 places I go to over and over:
church, school library, Shop Rite, my basement (that’s where the washing machine is!)

B) 4 people who e-mail me most regularly:
my sister, SFO Girl, TheDad, other staff members at Family Corner

C) 4 of my favorite places to eat:
home (really!), Cracker Barrel, the Diner Formerly Known as Burger King, a local Romanian cafe

D) 4 places I would rather be right now:
home (really!), the beach, the mountains where the leaves are turning, a bookstore with a non-Starbucks coffee shop (I don’t like Starbucks coffee)

E) 4 TV shows I watch over & over:
M*A*S*H, What Not to Wear, Clean House, local Fox morning news

Abortion is the Worst Form of Social Injustice

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The Bishop in Scranton, PA is making sure that politicians and public figures who claim to be Catholic know that the Church will not stand for Catholic support of abortion.

The Deacon’s Bench has an article on the subject here, including links to an article in the New York Times and the Bishop’s letter.

I was disappointed but not surprised to read that a professor at my alma mater–in fact, one of the professors who taught me during my years there–a Roman Catholic Sister, no less–is spearheading a campaign to remind local voters that racism is a sin and that they should not be afraid of voting for Barack Obama. In fact, she is a member of the Catholic advisory Committee for Obama’s campaign.

Maybe she should listen to her bishop:

“Being ‘right’ on taxes, education, health care, immigration and the economy fails to make up for the error of disregarding the value of a human life,” the bishop wrote. “It is a tragic irony that ‘pro-choice’ candidates have come to support homicide — the gravest injustice a society can tolerate — in the name of ‘social justice.’ ”

Butterfly Trivia

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Little Brother just came over here and asked me, “What would happen if you were in a restaurant and a butterfly came over and it was hungry?”

I said, “I don’t know. What would you do?”

“I would get the waiter, and ask him to bring over some butterfly food,” he answered.

“Sounds good,” I said. “What do butterflies eat?”

“Butter!”

The Smell of Autumn is in the Air

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More accurately, the smell of autumn is in my heating ducts.

We have forced hot-air heat, which means this place is dry and dusty (an asthmatic’s purgatory) all winter.

A little while ago I turned on the heat, just to make sure everything would fire up when we really need it. I heard the furnace kick on and then the blower got started.

Middle Sister looked up from what she was doing and sniffed the air.

“The heat’s on,” I explained.

“I know,” she said. “I love that smell.”

“You love the smell of burning dust?“

I think it’s time to open a window or two.

On the Feast of Saint Francis

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Reflect today upon Francis’ hymn of praise. And note that last line–that is what St. Francis was all about. All Secular Franciscan fraternities pray that prayer together at the beginning of each meeting. I believe that we should pray it daily, and I’m going to make sure that I see it every morning to begin my day.

The Canticle of the Creatures
by Francis of Assisi

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.

Friar Charles shares some thoughts from his confessor on loving one another. You don’t have to be a priest or a Franciscan to benefit from this wisdom.

Blessings to you today on this feast of Francis!

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An Open Letter to TheDad

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I know that since you are busy in Washington, D.C. you would want to know how things are going here.

The Cub Scout meeting went fairly smoothly. The boys especially enjoyed the “wrap the mummy” game, especially since one of the other leaders volunteered his wife and me to be the mummies. It was fairly chaotic as 16 little boys wrapped us from head to foot in toilet paper (1000 sheets really DO last longer!)

That leader informed everyone that you told him to nominate me to be one of the mummies.

When you come home tomorrow, I recommend that you Remember the Milky Ways.

You owe me.

Big time.

And if I find anything on YouTube about this, you’ll be buying Milky Ways by the case.

Love you!

Here’s where I pound my head against the wall in frustration

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Little Brother: I want ice cream.

Me: I bought ice cream today. After dinner, you can have some.

Little Brother: What kind did you get?

Me: Chocolate Chip Mint.

Little Brother (whining): But I wanted Mint Chocolate Chip!

Yet Another Reason

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…why TheDad is officially an Awesome Guy.

I am just not in the mood to cook anything today. Never mind the fact that my eyes are filling up with tears at irregular intervals, and chopping things for the planned lo mein dinner would probably not be a good idea. I don’t want to amputate any fingers….

But all I had to do was ask and he said, no problem–you don’t have to cook.

I did iron today, and do laundry, and I got some “absolutely necessary” errands in–like making sure we had some stuff in the house so there would be lunches for the kids tomorrow. But I just did not get to anything else, and I’m thankful that TheDad is understanding about that.

I just feel like I am walking around in this weird state; I can go along for a few minutes just fine and then it occurs to me, oh yeah, my dad has cancer and he’s not going to have it taken care of for 2 1/2 more months.

I think tomorrow I am going to start the day with some caffeinated coffee and throw myself into something big like cleaning out the garage.

Guess I’ll Take That as a Compliment

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I wouldn’t want to be the president anyway.

Your result for The Presidential Capacity Test…

Religious Adviser to the President

79% Values, 53% Charisma and 47% Judgment!

How would YOU do on the Presidential Capacity Test?