PAINT!

2 walls....3coats of kilz..everyone but the twins kicking in.

Wow... I could actually learn to tolerate this place!

Our BIG comfy couch

Alrighty, friends. My "piggy bank Guardian Angel" has been hard at work the last week.

We now have an off-white leather (yay!!!) sectional.

The kids said, "There's a seat for all of us! And Grammy, too!"

Sean mapped out the tv-watching section, the book-reading section, and the "think I'll have a quick nap" section. :D

What a cool find, thanks to a good friend who has started a very interesting new business.

Our road should be in a whole lot better shape mid-May.

Hopefully after that, you'll come have a cushy seat on this Davenport-sized davenport :)

One last post....

It's just too bazaar for words.  I mean, I was expecting Loreena McKennitt or Enya... when suddenly...

Yes... it's Celtic Metal.  Forgive me, please!

But then again, who'd think that this irish lad could sing "Brown Eyed Girl?"

Indeed... "no white man sings like Van Morrison!"

Catholicism and Intelligent Design...

When I first wrote about intelligent design (ID for short), I had read a wonderful article in the NYT written by Austrian Cardinal Schonborn (an editor for the modern catechism).  He made a few mistakes though - and perhaps was caught up in the crossfire.

Thus, Father George Coyne of the Vatican Observatory responded.  Whereas Schonborn attacked neo-darwinism for it's atheistic bent, Coyne replied that darwinism isn't beholden to athiest philosophy.

He makes the interesting point, as first intuited by Cardinal John Newman, that "the theory of Darwin, true or not, is not necessarily atheistic; on the contrary, it may simply be suggesting a larger idea of divine providence and skill.”

But, in a bazaar turn, Fr. Coyne then goes on to discredit Intelligent Design.

It all turns around the differing definitions of "Intelligent Design."  Catholics, by and large, were initially supportive of the term and found it's apparent co-existence with darwinism to be refreshing.  But Christians at large, had seen the terminology in a different light - that of a literal, fundamentalist meaning.  In other words, Creationalism.

Now, a documentary film by Ben Stein has been released.  "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" is a cute ditty which goes on a rampant attack against neo-darwinism.  With a showcase interview of Richard Dawkins (who himself made fun of Lourdes in his showcase "The Root of all Evil") Ben Stein serves revenge up cold.  Poor Dawkins...

And thus, Intelligent Design has been kicked to the side of the road for vultures to pick at.

But where have we gone with all this?  The fascinating term "Intelligent Design" is now lumped with "water powered engine" and "free energy machines."  A great idea co-opted into disgrace.

Fr. Coyne sums it up like so: Intelligent Design diminishes God into “an engineer who designs systems rather than a lover.”

C'est la vie....

A Prayer---Simple Soul

Eddi Reader is incredible. I post this here for my recollection.



Lyrics here

UPDATE: Prayer Need Remains Intense

Please continue praying for the intentions of the Donahue Family.

Here is an audio link the homily from Theodore's funeral. (Text Here)

Here is a video, so you may see for yourself the sweetness which has gone out of this world.

Why I LOVE Apple

Awesome Tools!!


As we begin heading toward research projects, we seek tools to make the process as stream-lined as possible for the children.

CD found Scrivener.

It is AWESOME!

A lot of folks we know won't buy from Apple because they are linked to several pro-"choice," anti-natal agencies.

Who isn't?!?! (I know... Dell has the best track record. Not what I'm looking for)

I would really, really like my kids to be able to express themselves clearly, beautifully, and with full impact as simply as possible.

Nothing I ran into in the Windoze world came close to Apple.

When I'm an old woman I shall wear purple

What color is your soul painted? Purple Your soul is painted the color purple, which embodies the characteristics of sensuality, spirituality, creativity, wealth, royalty, nobility, mystery, enlightenment, arrogance, gaudiness, mourning, confusion, pride, delicacy, power, meditation, religion, and ambition. Purple falls under the element of Earth, and was once a European symbol of royalty; today it symbolizes the divine.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Papa Sends His Love

Too cool! I have read the transcript, but the actual video is really a sweet treasure.

Love you, too, PAPA!



Update: Peggy Noonan's article on BXVI is nice
Except for this excerpt:

Another small fear, born of hearing him last week at the mass. Benedict spoke in many languages including English, which he speaks fluidly and with a strong German accent. This is an accent that 60 years of World War II movies have taught Americans to hear as vaguely sinister, or comic. The nicer commentators may say he sounds like Col. Klink in "Hogan's Heroes." I hope he speaks even more than usual about love, for that may remove the sting, as love does.

Blech. Dreck. Heck.

Maybe I have somewhat rose-colored glasses on, but I know so many people who studied German in high school or university that I am shocked by this.

But then again, I have the most special friends in the world. Real Treasures!

When I HEARD the video above, it was a soothing balm to hear that sweet, distinctly Bavarian accented English.

Am I the only one who just loves that sound?

Guess it doesn't matter.

HEY! Noonan also notes Papa will turn 81 during his visit state-side. Think I'll post a video of my kids singing him Happy Birthday!

Catch ya later
-S

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

Who knew? I was going for groovy LOL

The Ties that Bind

This past weekend, we celebrated one cousin's wedding, and another cousin's baby shower.

We love watching the family grow. It is a beautiful thing.

Congratulations to Kent and Celli. May they have MANY years of wedded bliss.

Congratulations to Andy and Nicole. Baby Charlie (due in July) will light up their already joyful lives.

Congratulations to Thomas on his new job!

And in recent family news, congratulations to Malika on her US citizenship!

We are also blessed to have received Baby Beckman into our lives. What a wonderful MIRACLE the child is!

What a year!!!! 2008 is blest, blest, BLEST!

PLEASE PRAY

for dadwithnoisykids and family.

Their 16 year old son and brother passed away last week.

He was a very rare, sweet soul, and we were blessed to shake his hand.

Peace and grace unto them.