Advent Thoughts from Years Past
Image: Julian Hochgesang I was going through my unpublished drafts and came across these two, so I'm publishing now as part of my digital decluttering efforts: Unfinished Draft From 2011: Two weeks ago I finally tackled the kitchen island that hasn't been decluttered...
Notes on Integrative Oncology
Image: timJ I'm reading Cancer Secrets (Amazon associate link) right now by Dr. Jonathan Stegall and it's really speaking to me. He's a Christian so his worldview matches mine. I've only read the intro and the beginning of the first chapter but I can tell I'm going to...
A Cancer Diary
Before I begin, let me say that I have NOT been officially diagnosed with breast cancer. I've had some troubling symptoms, and got a thermogram November 8. Image: Kien Do Here's an article on breast thermography. Got the results on November 22 and my left breast is at...
Charity Amid Confusion
Image: Andrew Neel Confusion is not of God, we know this. The question is, how do we respond to it? Our best example, as with most things, can be found in Mary. At the Annunciation, did Mary understand everything? No. But she knew enough to say yes. She had the basics...
Updated: Hope for the Church
As long as we have men like Alexander Tschugguel in the Church, we have hope. It wasn't a spur of the moment decision, it took discernment and wisdom. Thank God for courageous men like him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p74CEA1_go In the previous post I said that I...
Is It Mama Mary?
One of these things is not like the others.... But if we're the least bit uncomfortable about the difference, we're told it's only because of our "Western sensibilities". Okay then. Here's a compilation of Marian apparitions/images of popular devotion, and the places...
What I Wish I’d Known
Image: Rebecca Peterson-Hall SAVING GRACE you don't do it for yourself you don't do it for your kids you don't do it for your husband you don't do it for company you do it for God God sees God hears God knows even when no one does even when no one understands or...
Revisiting the HP Dilemma: What’s A Parent to do?
Sea of books. Currently reorganizing the collection; the Literature section will eventually be sorted by author. I hesitated writing this post for my friend because almost every single discussion I've seen or been in online about HP eventually devolved into personal...
Divine Providence
I know so many people who would have a problem with this. To me it's the only explanation that makes sense, and I find much peace in it. ***** Divine Wisdom, says Holy Scripture, “reacheth … from end to end mightily and ordereth all things sweetly” (Wisdom...
Musings on My Stinky Veil
A few months ago, while in St. Louis to help care for my Papa who was dying, we attended Mass at a church we hadn't been to before. Like our kids, we love visiting different churches whenever we are out of town. I realized belatedly that I had left my black veil back...
Mothers, Daughters, Rape, and Abortion
Image: Liana Mikah You've seen all the articles on abortion going around. You've seen all the pro-choice and pro-life arguments. I'm addressing this to the mom who has daughters, wondering if she could counsel her daughter to keep a child, should her daughter get...
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brant Pitre
Finally, it is worth noting that before the Fall, the woman is never actually called "Eve." She is simply called "woman." As Adam declares: "She shall be called Woman (Hebrew 'ishah), because she was taken out of Man (Hebrew 'ish)" (Genesis 2:23). If you keep reading...
Remembering Papa
My earliest memory of Papa is of him sitting on the side of his and mommy’s bed, in the early morning hours when it was still dark, praying. He left all of us a legacy of faith. It was at his side I learned how to sing the Filipino Pasion, which according to...
I Need to Write Again
I haven't written regularly since July of last year. February was my last blog post. Somewhere along the way, I thought, maybe July would be a great time to start again. But here I am. I've made notes upon notes in my planner of topics I want to write about, and...
Pan Con Chicharron | St. Turibius of Mogrovejo
Season pork belly (cut however way you want -- cubes, slices, big chunks) with salt, pepper, a teeny bit of vinegar, and garlic powder. Bake/roast in 375F degree oven, turning frequently and discarding fat rendered (or save it for another use) until cooked through and...