My Dad's Dementia

My Dad has dementia. That is hard to say or type. My Dad has dementia. His memory is slowly fading. He doesn't eat well if someone is not there with him and he can't really pull things from the fridge together for a meal. He is starting to be unable to do tasks like paying his bills or make up a grocery list. He can do some of it if he is interrupted but it is slow going. He has mentioned more than once the damage that does to his confidence. He easily gets lost and flustered.

It is our turn, as his children, to take care of our Dad. He has been, very fortunately, very willing to ask for help and to let us do things for him. He has mentioned more than once how lucky he is to have us. He has us because my parents were open to life. It makes me so sad for the people who have 2.5 children but have no one to visit them, no one to take care of them. I saw it all the time when my grandma was in a nursing home.

Each of us are coming to terms with what that means and the difference in my Dad. Some are in denial that he is as bad as he is. Others think he is worse than he is. Some are letting their own guilt or denial get in the way of doing what is right. Some of that reflects their own past history with my Dad and their relationship to him. But, we are stepping up, in varying amounts, to take care of him.

It has been a great joy to be able to do something for my Dad. While this time is sad, and will get sadder yet, I would not change it. I enjoy every moment I spend with him and every thing I do for him in a different way than before. Our visits have more meaning and are richer because I know that someday he may not know my name. I want to be satisfied that when he dies that I have done everything I could for him. Everything. I do not want any regrets.

Please pray for a happy and peaceful death for my Dad. Please pray for us that we remain strong and united in our care of him. Please let us put him first and ourselves second.

Bullies, Babies and the Mosque

There is no question that the Mosque should not be built nearly on the site of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. It wasn't just New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania who were attacked. It was all of us. The terrorist didn't care who died, just that we did die.

Out of respect for our nation and the people who died; out of patriotism; out of sensitivity for those who lost loved ones, it should be built elsewhere. No one is object to a mosque being built, only to the planned location.

Take a look at this video regarding the ground zero mosque: It brings up some interesting points regarding the likelihood of patriotism before Islam, of country before Islam and the mindset of even moderate muslims.

Now there's a so-called Christian pastor who plans to burn the Koran on 9/11. He seems much more like a cult leader to me. What true Christian would want to do that? What could that possibly accomplish? Why is he doing this now? My advice to this cult pastor? Take your toys and go home. You aren't helping.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us! Pray for the United States! Save us from ourselves. Pray for all sinners. Those who know your Son and those who do not.
Amen

God or god?

Since when has God become god? More and more in print god is replacing God. I have seen it online, in books, magazines and other publications. I guess it shouldn't be surprising since God has been edged out of public places, schools and lives. Now He's being shorted His Own Name?

When someone thanks God, I assume they mean the God of Christianity and Judaism. When I read 'I thank god for her' am I to assume that this person worships the god of .. what? Money, fairydust, botox? Because that is what I think.

This minimization of God is happening far too frequently to be chalked up to typographical errors. Isn't it time for us to take a stand and take back our country? For far too long the atheists and others have slowly erased God from our country. They do not have the right to take God's Own Name from Him!

Has anyone else noticed this?

Saying Sorry

I have noticed that many people don't know how to apologize. They seem to think a simple 'sorry' is adequate. It usually it is not because it is not enough. Just a 'sorry' could mean I'm sorry I got caught, I'm sorry you are mad or I am sorry I have to listen to you crab about this thing I did.

When my daughter was little, she would have to say what and why she was sorry. I think that teaches cause and effect as well as empathy.

So, if we need to apologize to each other more fully, how much more of an apology plus sorrow do we owe God for all the offenses we cause Him?

Here are two acts of contrition that I came across recently. I really like them because they are more complete.


Forgive me my sins, O Lord,
forgive me my sins;
the sins of my youth, the sins of my age,
the sins of my soul, the sins of my body;
my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins,
the sins I know,
the sins I have concealed so long,
and which are now hidden from my memory.
I am truly sorry for every sin,
mortal and venial,
for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour.
I know my sins have wounded Thy tender Heart,
O my Savior,
let me be freed from the bonds of evil
through the most bitter Passion of my Redeemer.
O my Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been. Amen.

here's a similar one, from the irish:

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me.
O God, forgive me for all the sins of my life;
The sins of my youth and the sins of my age,
The sins of my body and the sins of my soul,
The sins I have confessed and the sins I have forgotten,
The sins against others in thought, word, and deed,
My sins of omission.
O, my God, I am sorry for all my sins, because You are so good;
And I will not sin again with the help of God.
God be merciful to me, a sinner.
Divine Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying,
Deliver the holy souls in purgatory.

Blind Hatred

Some coward hung two hate filled home made signs on a footbridge spanning the highway near my Dad's house. One said KKK and the other was the confederate flag. My first thought was, "I must have seen that wrong", my second thought was, "I should call the police. Someone should take those down". My next thought was, "Duh. I'm someone. I will take those down". So I did. My heart was pounding. I had adrenaline, fear and anger pumping through me. I still do, three hours later. I was so wishing that the coward who hung those (in the dead of night, no doubt) would confront me.

How is it possible for people to rationalize hating a group of people based on a common trait? How is it possible to believe that ALL people of one type are bad, evil, etc? How is such blind hatred possible? Think about how stupid the following sounds:

~ all people with freckles are sub-human.
~ all people with curly hair are evil
~ all people with big feet are bad

If someone said any of those things, I believe that people would laugh at how ridiculous it is. Because such blanket hatred is absurd and without foundation. There are good and bad people of every shape, size, gender and color. We are all children of God, beloved by God and worthy of respect because we are made in the image and likeness of God - even that sad soul who hung those signs.

Please pray for those who are filled with blind hatred and prejudice. Please pray for those who may have seen the sign and were hurt.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us sinners.

Obama Moves away from 'Freedom of Religion' toward 'Freedom of Worship'? - U.s. - Catholic Online

Obama Moves away from 'Freedom of Religion' toward 'Freedom of Worship'? - U.s. - Catholic Online

First he declared that we are not a Christian nation. Now in words he's very slyly changing a basic fundamental right set down by the fathers of our nation. Obama is using 'freedom of worship' rather than 'freedom of religion'. Does it really matter?

Yes. It matters greatly. The United States is a Christian nation. It was founded on the judeo-christian principles and morals. The constitution promises freedom of religion not freedom of worship.

Words matter. Words can clarify or they can conceal. Words can heal or hurt. Words can unite or divide.

Yes, words matter. One might argue that he is not changing the constitution. No, not yet. What he is doing is changing perception. It is an almost subliminal change. A phrase needs only repetition in order to become part of the vernacular. Soon, just like the frog in the pot of water, citizens of the United States won't blink an eye at the phrase "freedom of worship". They won't blink an eye as freedoms are slowly eroded by a corrupt and morally bankrupt president.

Brainwashing.. Sex Ed for Kindergarteners?

According to an article on Foxnews.com, a Helena, Montana school board of trustees is considering a sex education curriculum that would begin in kindergarten. Kindergarten! A child of that age should be learning how to behave in school, not clinical terms for body parts.

Outrageous as this is; it gets worse. First graders would learn that sex could occur between same gender couples. I think I was learning how to count money and tell time in first grade.

The coup de grace in all of this is when they get to learn about the difference places those clinical body parts can go and what can be done with them. Those lucky kids would be in about fourth grade.

What are these people thinking?! Children at such tender ages do not have the ability to handle such information nor can it possibly be healthy. It is the parent's job and right to know and decide when it is the right time to tell Johnny and Susie as much as they can handle and what they believe is morally acceptable.

This is nothing less than brainwashing propaganda.

Here's a novel idea: why not teach kids reading, writing and arithmetic, the good old basics? How about history that hasn't been rewritten to include someone's sexual orientation? Why not give actual grades based on knowledge of concepts? Schools should stick to teaching the basics and leave the rest with the parents.

Yes! Yes! Ohhhh, You don't.

British Feminist Journalist Says Abortion a "Lesser Evil" Than Misogny

In the middle of this article it is crystal clear that the journalist knows that life begins at conception; knows the baby is a person; knows but then disappointingly clings to the "women's right to control over her own biology". No one controls their own body or biology. Every breath we take is given to us by God.

How, how is it possible to know that abortion is murder yet condone it? Truly, I don't understand.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for the conversion of abortionists and those who support or who have had an abortion. Console those who regret their abortions and intercede with your Son for their healing. Amen

Idolatry and the Catholic Church

Do you have pictures of family or friends in your house? Most people do. Most people love those in the photographs and are happy to see the pictures and think of the person it portrays. Is the photo the person? No. It is a likeness of the person. Is it idolatry to have a picture of that person? No. Similarly, we often admire our father or mother or some other relative for how they lived their lives. Is that idolatry? No.

What is Idolatry? According to merriam webster, it is the worship of a physical object as a god. Many people have the misconception that the Catholic Church, with all her statues and whatnot, is full of idolatry.

Catholics do not worship statues, nor do we worship Mary. Worship is for God alone. Catholics often choose saints with whom we can identify or whom we admire. Statues, scapulars, prayer cards remind us of those we love, just like the photo of our relatives and friends. They remind us to pray. They remind us of others who have struggled through life, or acted with great courage and love of Christ and attained sainthood. They point always to Christ. It is through Christ alone they received the graces to act courageously or love greatly. It is their trust in Christ that inspires us.

Catholics worship God alone.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for those who hate the Catholic Church. Pray for us sinners and those who have recourse to thee.
Amen

Attacking the Church

Foxnews had an article about a certain singer's latest video which is rife with Catholic images used in an unholy, irreverent and mocking way. News flash Steph, Madonna's already been there, done that. Amazingly, the article asks why it is only Christianity and usually Catholicism, that is the target. Why not Islam? Why not Buddhism? Why not any other religion? We already know the answer to that, don't we?

What is shocking to me is the hatred and ignorance expressed by some of those who commented on the article. One particular person was gleeful at anything that mocked the 'idolatry' of a such 'moneymaking organization'.

What other religion has stood fast for over 2000 years to the same teachings? What other religion teaches the truth regarding abortion, birth control and homosexual activity? People do not like to be told no. People do not like to be told what they are doing is sinful. That is why the Church is hated, as Jesus was hated.

Finally, what other church or organization has done as much for the poor, education and health care? It is the Catholic Church who created orphanages, hospitals and schools.