Pope Francis' Comments About Women

Today, Pope Francis made these remarks about women in Latin America:

In Latin America, hope has a woman’s face

I need not dwell on the role of women on our continent and in our Church. From their lips we learned the faith, and with their milk we took on the features of our mestizo soul and our immunity to despair. I think of indigenous or black mothers, I think of mothers in our cities working three jobs, I think of elderly women who serve as catechists, and I think of consecrated woman and those who quietly go about doing so much good. Without women, the Church of this continent would lose its power to be continually reborn. It is women who keep patiently kindling the flame of faith. We have a grave obligation to understand, respect, appreciate and promote the ecclesial and social impact of all that they do. They accompanied Jesus on his mission; they did not abandon him at the foot of the cross; they alone awaited for the night of death to give back the Lord of life; they flooded the world with his risen presence. If we hope for a new and living chapter of faith in this continent, we will not get it without women. Please, do not let them be reduced to servants of our ingrained clericalism. For they are on the front lines of the Latin American Church, in their setting out with Jesus, in their persevering amid the sufferings of their people, in their clinging to the hope that conquers death, and in their joyful way of proclaiming to the world that Christ is alive and risen.

"How was your casa?"

    Sebastian just began a Montessori program.  They call it "the casa."  Sebastian has needed phasing in, but he now really loves it.  The first day was 30 minutes, the second day, an hour, and so forth.  This week, he has had three days of the full day, which is 8-11:45am.
    The first morning, he asked, "Mommy, where did you go?"  I said, "I took a walk down the street and back."
     "Oh," he replied.  
     The second day, he asked, "Mommy, where did you go this time?"  "To Mass," I replied.
     "Hmm," he said.
     The third day, he asked again, "Mommy, where did you go today?"  I said, "To work."
     He said, "What is your work?"
     I said, "I am a teacher."
     "Like Ms. Polly [one of his Montessori teachers]?"
     "Sort of," I replied.
     "Hmm," he said again.
     Today, he asked, "Mommy, how was YOUR casa?"    

Jacob's Sixteenth

     Sometimes milestones in a person's life (like graduations or anniversaries) are quiet, and pass by relatively unnoticed.  But Jacob's sixteenth birthday has measured up to all that such a birthday might be:
     -He recently got his driver's permit
     -He just earned and received as gifts enough money to buy a car
     -He (and our family) hosted a school-wide event at our home, inviting approximately four hundred teenagers for a big bash
     -He just completed four years of being the founding editor-in-chief of the Dallas Catholic News, an online monthly paper that he created
     -He just released the first issue of this year's Informer--the Cistercian newspaper--as its editor-in-chief, and it is greatly expanded and developed from its previous leadership
     -He just got to a sub-22 minute 5K, beating his previous personal record

    It is a watershed time in his life, and how grateful I am for all the blessings he enjoys!
   
     

Sebastian is three

Sebastian is now three!  He got a Batman mask, and two superhero action figures for his birthday, plus a few workbooks and a football.  He was overjoyed.  

     We are working every day on his temper.  Sometimes he melts down because he is tired or stressed.  But other times, he is trying to get what he wants.  We are taking it a day at a time, distinguishing between the two, and trying to connect and comfort him when he is beyond reasoning, but being firm with our boundaries and reliable with our consequences when he is just trying to manipulate us.  Sometimes its hard to tell the difference!  

    The sweet moments throughout the day, however, keep me in the game.  His little laugh and playful attitude are truly precious!  

Using a Napkin!

Annie got the first petal on her virtue flower.  It is a petal for achievement in using a napkin!  Everything that is a major effort, not coming easily, we make a petal, and when she has acquired the virtue, we glue the petal and throw a "Petal party"!  Super fun.  She is so proud.

County Fair!

We had a great time with cousins at the county fair!  We love our cousins!

Jake is Driving!

Jake got his Drivers' Permit!  After a long day at the DMV, even Annie and Sebastian got pretend permits!

Then, Jake drove his first drive across Irving!  We were all a little skittish, but he did a great job!

The Girl with the Cross Necklace

 Mom, Annie, Leigh and I went to the Kimbell Museum.  Here is Annie listening to the guided tour and Mom studying a Bernini statue.

Here is Moms' favorite painting in the museum: the Girl with a Cross Necklace by Braque.
I love it too!

Cycladic Culture

I had no idea that there were ancient cultures that were ancient to the ancients.  That is, if ancient history is marked by people like Socrates and Plato (400 BC) to Julius Caesar 32 BC), then I learned about cultures that were 2,000 years before them.  One of the main cultures I learned about is the Cycladic peoples, who lived 2800-2300 BC in the Mediterranean.  Here are some of their works of art.  

Kite Surfing

   As is predictable with Ron, he happened upon the unpredictable.  He rented an ATV--All Terrain Vehicle.  He took Sebastian and Clare all over the island, scouting out fishing villages, mountains, waterfalls, and the ancient ruins of the Cycladian culture.  The next day, we rented two, and all went for a ride.  We went in search of the beach reported to be the most beautiful on the island.  What did we find--kite surfing!  Lots and lots of kite surfers!

Family Vacation

After an intense six weeks of work, our family took a vacation for a few days on a beautiful Greek island.  What a joy!

Clare

  Clare had her birthday on the last day of the program when we were in Nafplio.  She got her ears pierced!  She's about the most fortunate girl in the world, to have spent most of the birthdays of her life in Italy, France and Greece!  What a streak!