Let It Snow!

What a restful retreat in a winter wonderland! We are here in New Mexico with our friends the Hayeses from Louisiana.  What a JOY!

Merry Christmas

What a blessed Christmas!  The best part was Midnight Mass. That’s what makes sense out of all the festivities.  What a joy to celebrate together! 

Why Stay Catholic

In the midst of such hard times in the Catholic Church, some people are struggling in their faith and losing their resolve.  Here is a great article in answer to the question, “Why Stay Catholic?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/22/opinion/catholic-christmas-church.html

Precious Great-Grandfather

It is such a joy to visit “Old Paw Paw,” our kids’ great-grandfather, as well as Ron’s dad, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Elizabeth, and our Rombs family.  We love you, Paw Paw!

Introducing: Metaphysics of Motherhood!

Our website, Mighty is Her Call has a new page, called Metaphysics of Motherhood.   Wahoo!  I am ultra-excited about this endeavor!  I will be posting all my work on this incredibly exciting (and completely original) topic.  Here is the link to the page: https://mightyishercall.com/metaphysics-of-motherhood/
Here is today's post, called "The Pre-Socratics and Motherhood":

The Pre-Socratic philosophers were occupied with answering metaphysical questions, not in terms of myth or metaphor, but realistically.  One of the primary metaphysical questions they sought to answer is about causation: Why is there change?  Change is omni-present, from the shifting of the four seasons, to the birth, growth, death and decay or organisms.  Why?  What are the causes of change?
The first Pre-Socratic philosopher, Thales, offered his answer: all things are made of water.  So, when something changes, it is a re-arrangement of water particles, or a ratification or condensation of water.  Anaximander came after him, saying all things are from "the infinite."  From the infinite come opposites, and change is the result of the strife among them.  Anaximenes said all things are made of air; Heraclitus, fire; Empedocles, the four elements--earth, air, fire and water; Anaxagoras said all things are arranged and rearranged by Mind, and what Mind orders is the elements; Pythagoras said all things are ultimately reducible to number, that number is the logosthat orders the universe. Parmenides, wildly, denied change, and said that reality is eternal and unchanging, hence the changes we detect with our senses are illusory; the atomists such as Democritus, Leucippus and Licretius  claimed that all change is a function of atoms arranging and rearranging.

Ultimately, the central question for the Pre-Socratics is about causation, and the prototypical instance of change is birth.  Coming to be: this is the paradigm of change.  Not surprisingly, the Pre-Socratics had loads to say about women and men on the subject of generation.  Oh, how tiresome, really, are the ancient theories of reproduction.  The seed: is it from both the woman and the man, or just the woman or just the man?  The uterus: is the fetus on the right or left?  This will determine the sex of the child.  The temperature: is it warm or cool?  This will determine the level of masculinity or femininity of the baby.  Gonads, sperm, sexual fluids from the woman and the man. . . it is not for the delicate reader.  How I blushed in graduate school the first time I was exposed to Aristotle's review of his predecessors on generation, and then the presentation of his view.

Let us not miss the fact that generation of human beings--motherhood, fatherhood, parenthood, pregnancy, birth--is one of the foundational topics in the origin of metaphysics.  Over the centuries, it became sidelined. . . we'll get to why that is.  A "metaphysics of motherhood" may sound funny to the modern reader.  To the Pre-Socratic, however, the term would have been run-of-the-mill.  He would simply have looked up from his ouzo and olives and asked you, "What do you think about the role of a woman's sexual fluids in intercourse?"

Running White Rock Lake

In training for a half- marathon in February, I am already over 9 miles.  I just ran all the way around White Rock Lake—a first!  Having spent so much time at that lake growing up, it was a nastalgic run.

Tea Party

Annie thrilled me with a tea party today for just her and me.  We had a delightful conversation—she asked me about my interests: “What do you like to do, Mom?”  I replied, “My favorite things to do are read books, write books, pray and exercise.”  We then launched into a discussion of her recent reads...Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, On the Banks of Plum Creek.  We then discussed her interest in playing the violin.  We decided that she could take guitar for one more year and then transition to violin. We enjoyed tea, a gift she had for me (a little necklace), and Advent candles.  All in all, Annie is a DELIGHT.

I love Advent!

Adult in the Church

Clare is our newest adult member of the Church!  She was confirmed last night.  She was so ready!  Thanks to Celeste Howard for all she did to prepare this group of homeschooling girls.  May the Holy Spirit bless and keep them all the days of their lives.

Green Eggs and Ham

It has taken me SIX CHILDREN and ONE THOUSAND readings of Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham finally to make green eggs and ham.  It feels like a significant milestone in my life as a mother!  Somehow I now feel complete.

Run, Don’t Trot

Our family continued its tradition of running the Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving.  What a great way to begin Thanksgiving!  Kim and I ran the first portion together, and Leah and Clare ran together as well. I enjoyed finishing the 8 mile run, just behind Ron, Ken, Jake and Charlie.

We Love Emma's House

Every week we go to Emma's House--a non-profit for teens with special needs.  We love the precious people!  One of the young ladies and I did puzzles.  Every time she got a piece placed right, I looked shocked.  She laughed and laughed.  She really made my day!

Candied Apples

Annie had a party for her friends--a Fall Party.  We made homemade candied apples!

Lots of Firsts

This Halloween, we had lots of firsts!  First time to decorate the outside of our house, first time to have a houseful of 17-year-old boys over for a party, first time to carve pumpkins in almost a decade, and first time to have three parties in a week!

What a Night!

It was such a memorable night--celebrating Humanae Vitae and the light it casts on family life.  So many of our lives have been so radically transformed, our thinking completely re-oriented, and the portrait of our families forever changed, because of this encyclical.  On its 50th anniversary, it is only right that the families, and mothers in particular, be thanked for their humble and powerful vocations. It was great to be with my husband and so many wonderful friends!

Ball in the Ball

I cannot believe the Ball in the Ball is tomorrow night!  Months of planning--it is finally here!
My hope is that it will be like "Babette's Feast" for the guests--a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. The families who live under the guidance of this encyclical are counter-cultural, and live lives of love.  For many, the calling is hard.  It is time to take a break and party!

John Paul II, We Love You!

"The future of humanity was entrusted to mothers. . . "  (JPII)
   

Mothers Speak Up

Pres. Macron of France made derogatory remarks about women with large families.  The response was global: educated women with large families from around the world spoke up.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2018/10/19/perfectly-educated-women-dont-have-big-families-macron-said-then-moms-spoke-up/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.7b92c607b7f0 

5 Stitches

    Our family had just finished prayer time, and we were all huddled around, laughing and talking. Sebastian was running around and tripped.  His head knocked right into a piece of furniture, and blood started spewing.  Ron, Clare and I raced off to the ER, and he got 5 stitches! Poor little guy!

Clare was especially fantastic, assuring Sebastian that he would be proud of his stitches after the fact, like she is of hers.  As she predicted, he is much better today, simply LOVING telling every one his "glory story" and showing off his bandage. Thanks be to God for good doctors and health care.  And thanks be to God for Sebastian.  What a heart-breaker he is! 

Woe Unto She

Woe unto she who begins the homeschool day by having all her students memorize "Rejoice always; in all circumstances give thanks" (I Thes. 5:16).  For undoubtedly, the washing machine will break, her toddler will throw a tantrum, and a check will bounce, all within the first ten minutes of the day.  Can she rejoice through the trials?  Woe unto she who ever-too-hastily chooses a Bible verse for the day!

Celebrating Mighty Is Her Call Inc.

Here is my good husband taking me out for a night on the town, celebrating the official documents arriving in the mail: Mighty Is Her Call, Inc, a ministry for Catholic mothers, now exists!

He is so wonderful to me! It is only because of the support he gives me that I can do the website (about to be launched!) and the events (the Ball in the Ball is coming up!) that I am doing.  God bless him!

Embracing Humanae Vitae

An article in First Things includes a powerful quote from a wonderful woman, Nina Heereman.  She laments the kind of Catholicism with which she grew up in Europe, which she describes as “Catholicism hollowed out … a shell with no serious sin and therefore no state of grace [and] no encounter with Christ.” (Article written by George Weigel, "The Catholic Crisis," 10.10.18).
    The point she makes is that only when we embrace the fullness of the Church's teachings, including its moral teachings on human love and sexuality, is it possible to have the full encounter with Christ.  With her, I truly believe that an embrace of Humanae Vitae is a path to the heart of the Gospel.

It Feels Like a Dream

   In the car, Clare was chattering away about the Confirmation retreat she just attended all weekend.  My other kids were laughing, probing, joking, and pelting her with questions about her 2 nights away with the youth group.
   We were driving through my grandmother's wonderful old neighborhood, and we passed all the places most memorable to me: my favorite Mexican food restaurant, my favorite shopping areas, the flavored popcorn shop, and the smoothie bar.  Those streets were the ones on which I learned to drive when I was sixteen.  The stoplights, the turn lanes, the curbs, the pavement are all so familiar.  There is no place in the world that is more like "home" to me than that little corner of the earth.
    As we drove, Clare's stories warmed my heart.  I thought, "I never could have imagined this.  When I was a teenager, I could not have begun to picture myself driving my own teenager and a bunch of other kids on these same roads.  It all happened so fast.  I am so grateful that I have been so blessed by my family.  It feels like a dream."

Toof-picks

"Toof-pick, toof-pick, anybody wanna toof-pick!"
Sebastian tried to sell toothpicks to all of us throughout the afternoon.  He reminded me of all our other children at four years old.  But until today, he had not really reminded me of our other kids.  They played together for hours on end.  They were happy and relaxed.  Sebastian, however, was not really that way.  He was clingy to me, grumpy, and prone to fits. 
    I think the big change is because of the homeschool.  This one short year, we are homeschooling, and Sebastian is around most of the kids most of the time.  He is integrating into their play time, their projects, their glue and glitter, their baking and cracking eggs.  Currently, Leigh is the master of Rombs play.  She orchestrates "restaurant," animal games, and hide and seek.  Sebastian has never been more happy, more silly, more relaxed.  It feels like he is finally a Rombs.   

The Joy of My Life

     I'm a struggler, and normally, I would not describe myself as a typically joyful person.  But joy has finally come in full bloom in my life, and most of it is due to my family.  Our oldest is in high school and has not set off into the world yet.  He is a friend and an inspiration to everyone in this home.  Our youngest has grown out of his worst toddler tantrums and is easier to manage.  I get to spend each day, all day long, with my four daughters as well, whom I get to educate, encourage and enjoy, because they are four of the finest young women I've ever met.  Evenings with my husband in the living room picking on the classical guitar and everyone huddled together, talking and laughing, are a dream come true.
     When I was in college, I visited a friend at his home.  Seeing his family shocked me--they all liked each other and wanted to be together.  This family had a great big house, but they never spread out or found their own quiet spaces.  Instead, they were always clustered together in the living room and adjoining kitchen.  It was as though there was a strange gravitational force in that house that kept them from going off on their own.  And they actually seemed to like it.
     That became a life goal: If I ever had a family, I wanted one that liked to be together.  And with homeschooling this year, I can say we are together all the time.  What a test of the goal!  It could be a disaster.  But to my great delight, it is a joy.  The joy of my life.

Cowboy

Look at this cowboy.  He is always ready to fight the bad guys.  But the next moment he softens and says, "I wuv you, Mom" or "You're the best, Mom!"  I love this kid!!

Our Homeschool

   Each morning we begin with a few comments, then prayer and Bible reading.  This morning, I told my young ladies: "I am motivated this for this week to be substantial for us all.  My end goal for you is to be able to achieve your fullest happiness, that is, your most significant way of being a gift for others.  Very few people find their highest purpose in life.  I am doing my utmost that you each fulfill your God-given potential.   Hence our year's academic goals are: 1) excellence in knowledge of the Bible; 2) excellence in math; 3) excellence in science, and outstanding performance on standardized tests in both areas; 4) excellence in writing, public speaking, and the ability to articulate what you think and know.  May these achievements open doors for you, and help you be able to follow God's calling for your lives."
     Our school's patron saint is St. Madeline Sophie Barat, who was homeschooled by her brother.  Because of the unusual education she received from him (receiving the education usually given only to young men seeking priestly ordination), she was able to become who she became: the founder of a world-wide system of schools for young women, comparable to the Jesuit education for boys.  Homeschooling changed her life, and changed the life of so many people (including mine, since I, too, received an education at one of her schools--thanks Mom!).  My prayer is that my homeschool will open up possibilities for service, excellence and love that my young ladies would otherwise never attain.  God, give us grace!  

In His Arms

   The scripture verse that stayed with me the most this week is from Isaiah: "Here comes with power the Lord God, who rules by his strong arm; Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care." (Isaiah 40)
     All week I have been so comforted by the notion that I am a little ewe in the arms of Christ, my Shepherd.
     Today, I noticed a way that God had supplied my needs.  I had prayed for my daughter Annie to improve in a certain way, and she did right away, and I thought, "See, I am a tiny ewe in the arms of Christ.  Thank you, Lord."

On the news again

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Pope-Francis-Urges-Silence-Prayers-Amid-Calls-for-Him-to-Respond-to-Growing-Scandal-492358611.html

In the Wall Street Journal

Our petition was written about in the Wall Street Journal.  We are up to 28,000 signatures!

https://www.wsj.com/articles/notable-quotable-a-letter-to-pope-francis-1535747389

https://catholicwomensforum.org/letter-to-pope-francis/

400 High School Students Coming Over Tonight

In addition to ALL the other things today mentioned in the last post, we are also hosting 400 high school students tonight!  Over the past few months, we refinished our pool, renovated our cabana and bathroom, cleared out the carport, re-carpeted the gym, and power washed our house, trying to get that all done by this date.  Ta-Da!  We did it!  Tonight, we have a clean, tidied up, refurbished, partially renovated house!

My clip on the 5 o'clock news

     I was finishing our homeschool day, while a very old man from a fridge repair company was replacing our coil and condenser in the kitchen.  The phone rang.  It was a reporter from NBC5.  "Are you the Dr. Kathryn Rombs who signed the petition regarding the pope?"
   "Yes I am," I replied.
   "Can I come over and interview you?"
    Nicole was in our house 15 minutes later with Chris, the videographer.  Here is the clip:
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Dallas-Bishop-492163571.html

    What a day!  As NBC was finishing up, our photographers came in and began their set up.  I had hired a photographer to shoot Jolly and me, as we are about to launch our website, "Mighty Is Her Call," whose aim is to raise awareness of the genius of open to life Catholic Motherhood and encourage mothers as they give the gift of themselves.  So, as one crew wrapped up, the other began! All sorts of head shots, family shots, and portraits were taken in various arrangements.
    Then, Ron laughed and said, "Guess who is on his way?  J.J. with a bunch of nuns!"  J.J. Sanford, our friend, our dean, and our very favorite UD administrator brought three Nashville Dominican Sisters to our house to pay us a quick visit.  Can you believe it?  It was absolutely lovely and truly, the strangest day I've had in a long time.  I stood in our entry way explaining almost apologetically that I had signed this petition, with the name of UD as my workplace, and it having gone viral around the world, without even mentioning it to him.  It had all just happened so fast, and I had no idea the the petition would get so much attention.
    The photographers packed up and left, and then the sisters and J.J. made their goodbyes.   As the poor old refrigerator repair man packed up his tool kit and ripped the receipt out of his booklet and handed it to Ron, he said, "I am in other people's houses every single day.  It is what I do.  I am an old man, and I have seen a lot.  But I have never seen anything like this."

Catholic Women are Making Headlines!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6117907/Catholic-women-sign-letter-urging-pope-break-silence-claims-ignored-sex-abuse-allegations.html

Please feel free to sign at womenwantanswers.com

Inspiring Quote

Here is a quote by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI that can be a beacon for us in the darkness:

'The Church will become small and will have to start afresh more or less from the beginning. She will no longer be able to inhabit many of the edifices she built in prosperity. As the number of her adherents diminishes...she will lose many of her social privileges...As a small society, [the Church] will make much bigger demands on the initiative of her individual members...

It will be hard-going for the Church, for the process of crystallization and clarification will cost her much valuable energy. It will make her poor and cause her to become the Church of the meek...The process will be long and wearisome as was the road from the false progressivism on the eve of the French Revolution — when a bishop might be thought smart if he made fun of dogmas and even insinuated that the existence of God was by no means certain...But when the trial of this sifting is past, a great power will flow from a more spiritualized and simplified Church. Men in a totally planned world will find themselves unspeakably lonely. If they have completely lost sight of God, they will feel the whole horror of their poverty. Then they will discover the little flock of believers as something wholly new. They will discover it as a hope that is meant for them, an answer for which they have always been searching in secret.

And so it seems certain to me that the Church is facing very hard times. The real crisis has scarcely begun. We will have to count on terrific upheavals. But I am equally certain about what will remain at the end: not the Church of the political cult, which is dead already, but the Church of faith. She may well no longer be the dominant social power to the extent that she was until recently; but she will enjoy a fresh blossoming and be seen as man's home, where he will find life and hope beyond death.'--Pope Benedict XVI, Faith and the Future (Ignatius Press 2009)

Petition to Pope Francis

I have signed a petition, asking Pope Francis to speak up regarding the accusations against him by Archbishop Vigano.  If you are a Catholic woman, please consider signing as well.  There is such a groundswell of public outcry that this horrific problem needs swift and serious correction.  The Catholic Church needs women's leadership at this time.

https://catholicwomensforum.org/letter-to-pope-francis/ 

Here is another resource, for those interested:

https://avemariaradio.net/sexual-misconduct-resource-page/

Overjoyed to Homeschool

   After three years of teaching philosophy in the university, caring for a new child, and beginning a Catholic mothers' ministry, I am returning to homeschooling.  I am OVERJOYED.
    Why am I doing this?  Have I lost my mind?  My 17-year-old son is receiving an outstanding education in an all-male Catholic school.  But there is no comparable school (that is both faithfully Catholic and an honors school) for young women.  After several years of my daughters being in a private school that emphasizes faith formation but is neither an honors school nor has an honors track, I pitched it to my young ladies: "Let's homeschool.  I'll help you have an honors level education."  After a little consideration of pros and cons, they jumped at it.
    I have gotten all of the same textbooks that my son's schools uses, plus the teachers' editions.  I have designed a curriculum for each daughter, emphasizing their needs and aspirations.  Am I in over my head? Absolutely.  But is the grace of God sufficient?  Always.
    As for teaching in the university, I am sure I will have chances to do that in the future.  But these years with my children at home are precious and priceless, and I will never get them back.  I am determined not to miss these years.
    As for my baby, he is now 4-years-old, and integrating into our homeschool.  After just one week, he already loves his binder, his building tools, his alphabet puzzle, and his stickers.  He usually comes to the homeschool table dressed as a superhero (which is what he is, after all).  
    As for my ministry, it is continuing to grow and thrive.
   As for my being overjoyed--I thank God for this opportunity, for my beautiful children whom I cherish more than words can say, and count on the Lord in daily prayer and Bible reading to be our Vine, our Teacher, and the Bread of Life of our year together.

Commentary Worth Reading

The scandal and upheaval within the Catholic Church right now is nauseating to me.  How I pray that the Holy Spirit will burn away the rubbish and clean this house.

Here is a commentary worth reading:
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/08/17/catholics-need-new-church-culture-remedial-course-virtues

Here is a homily worth listening to--rather incredible, really:
https://ia801504.us.archive.org/6/items/20OrdinaryB8.19.18JW/20%20Ordinary%20B%20(8.19.18)%20(JW).mp3

I am praying with FAITH and HOPE that this tragedy can be eradicated and healed forever.

Best Aunt Ever

Here is Aunt Kimmy who has won Sebastian's heart.  She was his "date" at a Rangers game, and bought him hot dogs, a ball, glove and cap.  She is teaching him to pitch.  How blessed he is to have an aunt like her!

Homeschooling: Poured Out for Others

     I've had a shocking discovery that reverberates through every day of my decades of motherhood.  The meaning of my life is finding my way of being like Christ, of carrying his image, his life, his spirit in everything I do.  And that way is motherhood.  I am poured out, shared, broken and opened up as a daily offering for my children.
     Right now, I am relishing one of the apexes of making my life a gift for others.  I am setting up my homeschool.  After three years of being away from this lifestyle, we are returning.  Four young ladies and a little man will all be educated in this home by yours truly this year.  How holy it feels, to identify each book, to set up each study space, to pray for each one and what their needs are.  Some need to become articulate, being able to master material and present it well.  Others need to fill in some gaps in spelling, grammar and math.  Still others need to learn to love to read, traditional school having virtually killed their love of literature.  This is one way I can love my children, being a little reflection of Christ to them.  I get to see their needs, pray for them, help them set new goals for themselves, and seek to meet them.  It is a way of dignifying them, and dignifying my relationship with them.
     Being a mother has always been for me a way to make my life a gift for others.  Whether it is holding an infant in my arms, teaching my six-year-old to make pie crust, or picking my teenager up from a homecoming dance late at night, I am giving my time, attention, love, advise, and encouragement to others.  How thrilled I am to get this precious year, making my life a gift in a new way.

Family is Everything

    Family is everything.  It is such an important part of our lives.  If family is not going well, we carry that with us and are dragged down wherever we go.
   What a blessing to have relationships with my mom, dad, these crazy sisters and brothers that is thriving!

Amazing travelers!

I am shocked at how well this troop did, crossing the Atlantic, then enduring 7 more hours of travel to get home.  Annie looks as adorable after an 11-hour plane ride as she does first thing in the morning!

The four girls were amazingly helpful with Sebastian and with the bag transfer at our layover, as well as getting through customs.  

Getting home was a delight.  We have been hard at work, switching four of the kids' bedrooms (and thus de-cluttering and redecorating), and repairing some garden beds our dog messed up and me building a little garden for Mary.  

How blessed I am to have my family.