I love the way they explain things because it doesn't hurt my brain :)
For the list of everything they have you can go to this link which is their directory
Here is a good one about a really a Bad Pope becoming Good! If only I we could say the same about the Borgia Popes. Thank you Holy Spirit that we came out alive after them!
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Also... really off topic but I finally found somebody who will have kittens ready to go in June/July. I need help finding a good name. Preferably, it should sound nice in both English and Spanish. Right now my list is this:
a) Bosco: After St. John Bosco, who gave his life ministering to underprivileged children.
b) Fable: Because I love stories
c) Toulouse: So fun to say! Also one of the kittens in the Aristocats.
d) Becket: After St. Thomas Becket, philandering dude turned Holy Bishop and martyr.
e) Blaise: Like Fable it's kind of hard to say in spanish, but I like it.
d) Winston: Just listen to Georgette holler that name in Oliver and Co. It's great!
Which is your favorite? Have any better ideas?
Always grateful that you procrastinate at my blog,
"And then skipping along home I began to connect this whole experience to my spiritual life. Not because I’m just that holy, but because I often hear how diligence in both your prayer and exercise bring great results. Sometimes people forget to say that you build up to it and that it might take a long time before you see any changes in your life so you give up early and settle for a mediocre relationship with God and being out of shape."
The movie Australia is underrated. Yes, it's ridiculously over the top but the humor of it makes it more enjoyable than most epic wannabe movies.
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Bittersweet song:
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Jesus call us to be gentle as doves AND wise as serpents. He calls us to use our heart AND mind. We are called to be deliriously joyful AND steadily sober. He calls us to a wholeness that cannot exist while living in extremes but in extremes that walk hand in hand.
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Mini-points on why I think I like The Hunger Games. I have read better books certainly, with richer language and twists so here's just a few thoughts after listening to it on audio numerous times:
a) It's Practical: I've only listened to it in audio book format but the prose is so to the point that it's hard for me to get confused even if I'm focused on something else like drawing and cleaning dishes. I can't listen to Lord of the Rings while multitasking because I want to sit and immerse myself in the imagery. The HG gets to the point and doesn't often require you to ponder poetic descriptions. It's very snappy and certain passages have yet to get old.
b) It's for Girls: Not that the book can't be for boys too but it does capture female characters very well and so you can live through their ups and downs with them. Despite living in completely different circumstances Katniss's thoughts, feelings and personal experiences are very easy to relate to. I knew the author had to be female the moment she described what Katniss had to do to go through beauty base zero and the many details of the dresses she wore. It was a little overdone but she tied everything in well and you could tell she was letting herself have fun with those bits. I often describe this book as a less excellent version of Ender's Game for girls.
c) The Characters: Suzanne Collins is very good at making you care about the characters and making even the less important players compelling in some ways. She gives just the right amount of detail and binds one character to another with effect dialogue. I say effective because sometimes I felt that her word choices got too repetitive. All in all I haven't been so devastated over deaths since Harry Potter.
d) Unconditional Love: I don't know why it took me so long to realize this but unconditional love is everywhere in this series. Katniss would fight and die for her sister. Peeta would fight and die for Katniss. There are a lot of people risking their lives for each other, and it doesn't seem forced. In horrible, twisted circumstances people stand by the people they love and I think everyone hopes someone loves them like that and that they would be brave enough to do the same. The book never really touches upon what the spirituality of these people is but this scripture verse came to mind: 'No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends' (John 15:15).
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And I'm not worried about the movie disappointing me for a couple reasons. The book didn't necessarily describe things that would look good on screen, so I knew that the essence of any given passage would be the most important thing to keep. Moreover, if I don't like the movie I can just reread the book and picture it just the way I like.
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Thanks for all the feedback about cats!
God Bless You All this Week!
Lent is the autumn of the spiritual life during which we gather fruit to keep us going for the rest of the year. Enrich yourselves with these treasures, which nobody can take away from you and which cannot be destroyed. I am accustomed to say that we will not spend Lent well unless we are determined to make the most of it. Let us, therefore, spend this Lent as if it were our last, and we will make it well. Listen to the sermons, because holy words are pearls; they are ships of infinite mercy - the true ocean of the East. (Letters 329; O. XIII, p. 144)
- St. Francis de Sales
I'm tired of slushy weather, it makes me feel slushy and sleepy. Bible study is cancelled so I jumped on the opportunity to write some quick takes. Maybe it'll wake me up.
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So I never thought I'd ever want to own a cat. My thinking was they don't like people, so I don't want one because if you are going to take care of something they'd better want to be friends. So until a few weeks ago I was anti-cat girl. And then I started look up potential pets for very busy singles who might not be home all that often. Tiny little rodent things were out since you can't kiss them on their wee nosies since they carry diseases. And let's face it they're not that cuddly. A dog was never a possibility since they need to be walked all the time and will get depressed if left alone. So I googled "Friendliest Cats" and I was drawn to the description of Ragdolls. I still wasn't convinced however. I didn't know if having a cat was worth the stigma of 'Cat Lady' which will inevitably follow if I live alone and own a cat. Hey, if Taylor Swift gets called that I don't know why I would be spared. She shared her love for her cat on the Ellen show and how her friends call her Crazy Cat Lady. She doesn't care. Clearly I should get all my life advice from Taylor and get a cat.
Ragdoll kitten
What I want to know is do you own a cat? Do you like your cat? Is it a pain in the butt to own a cat if your the only one responsible for it?
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During Ballet I kept hearing the class next door play the coolest instrumental song and I couldn't figure out what it was. For weeks I ruminated about it until I just asked the girls in my class if anybody knew what it was....
It's a cover of Alejandro by Lady Gaga
.... Gah my life. I love that song.
Here it is:
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Congratulations to my Little Sister who got into Grad School! Whoooo hoooo! I'm so proud!
This song is for her:
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The song above is from Studio Ghibili's latest movie The Secret World of Arrietty. The lovelyness of the film took my breath away and I hope everyone watches it.
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My dear friend, L got me this amazing necklace:
The Thistle is an emblem of Scotland! According to legend the Scotts were asleep, and unbeknownst to them their enemies were approaching. One fool of a foe stepped on some thistles with his bare feet and howled waking the Scotts up and giving them a great advantage and victory!
In Christianity the thistle is symbolic of the sufferings of Christ!
L also said something very nice to me about why she picked it for me! That part is mine ;)
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There is a joy in the small things in life that I cannot comprehend but am so grateful for. These small moments in a day can a timeless, where you and a thing of small but immeasurable beauty regard each other and it is like having a special secret all your own. Sometimes its a streak of light or a smell or a soft blanket around your shoulders or a smile. It's marvelous. Thank you God for all those things that make my life thick and rich.
