I’m conducting an experiment at my house, in part to teach my teenagers and in part to prove a point.  My love for the liturgical calendar and the way it tells the gospel story has become my new method for evangelization, so I hang a cross by my side door and “decorate” it in the appropriate liturgical color of that day or season.  See below.

Pentecost Sunday

Advent

Christmas

Easter

Sometimes I miss a day- like this past Friday, when I could have placed a red flower amidst the greenery, reminding me of the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist. (I also had wanted to make Grasshopper Parfaits that day, but was too busy AND had no green food coloring…).  Whenever I change it up, the decorated cross that is, I drag both of our kids outside to point it out to them.  ”Yeah, yeah,” they say as they are forced to notice.  The funny thing is, only one person coming and going through that heavily used entrance to our home has ever asked me about the cross.  She is Catholic and a friend of my daughter, and when she noticed the purple ribbon one winters’ day, she asked me about it and its relationship to Advent.  BINGO- I gave her a half-gallon of my homemade iced tea as a prize and told her she was welcome at our house any time.

So today, I am putting that red flower on my cross to mark the Feast of Corpus Christi,  and I am wondering if many of the people in Corpus Christi, TX know the significance of the Latin name for their city.  For that matter, what about the residents of St. Augustine, FL; St. Louis, MO; St. Paul, MN; or Rome, GA?  Corpus Christi is the seat of a diocese in South Texas, and the Cathedral is lovely and historic.  This weekend when I receive communion and hear “Body of Christ”  I’m going to be thinking about the folks in Corpus Christi.  Blessings to you!

Chick B

As you know, we Southern Catholic Chicks like to talk, and we barely scratched the surface of topics during our taping on Tuesday, June 7 at the WDUN studio.  Our gracious hosts, Mark Peffer and Carol Bush of Totus Tuus Catholic Radio, invited us to be guests for The Catholic Hour, which airs every Sunday night.  After preparing 8 discussion questions, sending them to us ahead of time, and warning us to be brief, we STILL only covered 2 of the questions.  (Sorry Mark and Carol).  They might want to have us back sometime or not ever see us again…we aren’t sure which!

You can learn more about Totus Tuus Catholic Radio and their wonderful media ministry at their website.  And don’t forget to tune in for some Chick Chatter on Sunday!

Mark and Carol collaborating on how to cut our segment to the required 20 minutes of air time

Chicks A and B

…Tried to teach these kids some manners.  I’m going to my grave insisting that they say “Yes Mam” and “No Mam” and not apologizing for it.  This is still the South, you know.

…Tried to stay out of their school projects, homework, and school life in general.  The turning point came when the youngest, the one who is 13 now, asked me for some homework help in 3rd grade, to which I replied,” I’ve already done 3rd grade.  Now it’s your turn.”

…Tried to let them have activities and friendships that interested them, even if it meant lots of driving from 3-7pm many nights.  One Saturday, I swear I was in the car for 6 straight hours, but who’s counting?  I could have (and should have) just driven on down to the beach.

…Tried to eat together as a family as much as possible, even if the dinner conversation was filled with “biting and devouring” as I like to call it, and I don’t mean toward the food.  (see Galatians 5:15 as a reference).

…Tried to establish family traditions and memorable vacations.  This I may actually have accomplished when we co-owned an RV with another Atlanta family.  We took 4 major trips cross country, the final trip encompassing 3.5 weeks of family togetherness.  Even though no one was speaking by the time we got home, just a mere year later they were asking for more.  RV travel is kind of like child-birth- you forget the pain.

…Tried to teach them about faith, the Church, and the joy of following Christ.  This is the most challenging yet most fulfilling, especially now that I am the only Catholic Christian in the family.  While each child has a great personal faith and sense of following the Lord, there is still much work to do in teaching them the fullness of the faith, the sacramental life, and the history and significance of the Church.  This effort, in particular, has done loads for my prayer life…

The world’s most famous grave marker stands for all to see in Rome.  Father Barron makes some wonderful observations about it here.    Cheers!   Chick B

Thanks to the efforts of Chick K (Kim Schulman) and the staff at Holy Spirit, Father Martin entertained me and a crowd with his stories of humor and its relationship to faith.  His talk included 10 points, all of which I recorded on the only “paper” I had handy – miniature lime green post it notes.  Beyond his numbered points of emphasis, however, came story after story about witty Popes and bishops; the funny side of Jesus and his ministry; self-deprecating jokes about the Jesuits and their relationship to the Franciscans and Dominicans; and a host of examples of humor and its place in our daily spiritual lives.  I have been to many inspiring talks on faith since becoming Catholic.  Never have I been so inspired by laughing so much.  I’m talkin’ gut wrenching laughter.  Silly, giggling laughter.  Thank goodness I don’t have on any mascara laughter.

Thank you Father Martin.  If laughter is the best medicine, then I was the healthiest person in Atlanta last night.

Chick B

BUT, when I went to get her registered and was randomly assigned a tag beginning with the letters BV, I immediately thought of the Blessed Virgin.  Perhaps this is how a recent convert’s mind works.  ANYWAY, she is a Southern truck and has a double name now.  Case closed.

So, just the other day I’m down at the corner getting the power steering fluid checked, and the gas attendant asks me what I do with this truck.

“Are you equestrian?” he says.

“Oh no, not equestrian.  I just haul things.” Pause. “I grow vegetables.”

No I don’t- I don’t grow vegetables.  I grew one tomato plant last year (see blog entries called Green Thumb Garden Duel), and technically that was a fruit.  But I panicked, and I had to say something.  I mean, how many grown women do you know who drive a pick up?  In fact, it is a great source of humiliation for my middle schoolers.  They know parents who have pick ups, but they are all men.  I keep telling my kids, “Just be who God created you to be, ok?”

Fact is, Ramses Maria has really come in handy over the years.  Friends have borrowed her to move.  We have recycled our Christmas tree at the local park because of her.  And we have hosted the most awesome tailgates at my son’s baseball games when the spring weather gets warm and inviting.  Chick A and I took her to a silent retreat once, and a priest has asked me to consider loaning her out on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for a local parade.  So see, this blue truck has been in a bit of demand lately.

As for the vegetables, I liked the way my fib sounded – “I grow vegetables”- so I have decided to really grow vegetables this year. I’ve already been to a vegetable workshop down at Callaway Gardens, and I have a friend working on getting me some good soil for my back yard.  I may even throw in a blueberry bush or two, different species of course, for cross-pollination purposes.  Who knows what the earth will produce and what I’ll be able to haul by autumn.  I’ll keep you posted.

Chick B

Reading Rebecca Teti’s article entitled “Apostolate of Fun” has confirmed something that Chick A and I have long discussed, even before becoming Catholic.  That is, the world is in need of much more good, clean fun.  Thanks to our fathers who were jovial, gregarious and – dare I say it- downright merry, we come from folks who like to have a good time and who are able to laugh at life.  By the way, our mothers also have a grand sense of humor and perspective.  The love of life that was passed down from our parents was shown to us as “fun without sin,” as Ms. Teti points out.  Not to say that our parents never did anything wrong in their early years, but they have been marvelous examples of people who are happy, funny, and joyous to be around.  This is what we hope to model to our children, too.

I’ve been thinking one particular thought lately – that Catholics have “more fun” (or at least have the potential to have more fun).  Of course, this is a total generalization, but bear with me for a minute.  We celebrate a feast or a fast on almost every day of the liturgical calendar; we have 2000 years of historical and religious sites from which to learn and visit; we span every continent, practically every nation, with a myriad of customs and traditions; and our worship is filled with the most magnificent signs and symbols.  Despite horrible things that happen in the Church such as the priest abuse scandal, we have alot to be happy about.  As we live our daily lives as Catholic Christians, there is much fun to be had.

So, if no one minds, we’d like to be thought of as the Apostles of Fun and Merriment.  Although we each have a cross to bear in our personal lives (don’t we all?!),  we still hope to be extremely merry, encouraging our children and maybe some adults to have some good clean fun along the way.

We’ve got plans for more “Catholic road trips” this summer…

local Catholic road trip

another book club meeting with Italian food honoring St. Catherine of Siena…

a fish fry dinner with the Holy Fryers during Lent…

a summer visit to the EWTN studios and Irondale Cafe…

Meeting Father Mark Mary at the EWTN studios

and so much more-

Join us when you can!

Chick B

stopping along the way to drink some of our own signature iced tea!

Chick B's son on day 1 of the snow week

We are STILL stuck down here in “Hot-lanta” – seriously, between Christmas break and now these extended snow days, our kids have gone to school for 4 days in the last month.  My husband commented that it felt like half of a summer vacation.  Last night I had nacho chips and a grapefruit for dinner.  Chick A had the peanut M&Ms.  I have multiple splinters in my hand from all the wood-carrying and fire-building.  My son was even hoping they would go to school today- now that is desperate.

On a much more serious note, our power did not go out through this whole freeze over, for which we all are so grateful.  Also, I have been torn up over the tragedy in Tuscon, watching alot of the news coverage and realizing my pizza-plight is nothing in comparison.  Finally, I went to bed last night knowing that a homeless person would probably die on the streets of downtown and asking the Lord to show me what more I can do in 2011 to help.

Chick B

L to R: Kathrine Garcia, Jim Buffler, Kim Schulman, and Shelia Buffler at a dinner hosted by Kim Schulman (Chick K) during the visit of the relics

Somehow I landed a position on the “Scarf Security Team” (SST) for the relics (a scarf and gloves) of St. Gianna that were at Holy Spirit Catholic Church last fall.  Chick K (a cradle Catholic) asked me if I would be willing to assist with veneration of the relics after Mass.

“Well, what will my duties be?” I asked.

“Oh you just stand there with the relics, hand out prayer cards and make sure the relics stay in the appropriate place.” she said.

Then she jokingly added “If they run off with the relic – you just give ‘em a body slam and get the relic back.”

“Oh, okay” I said (apprehensive about my assignment).

I mean just a few short years ago I was a Protestant attending a non-denominational church and had never really heard of relics.  And now – I was guarding them?  So what did this former evangelical Protestant learn from her position on the Scarf Security Team (SST)?  Well first of all, God HAS a sense of humor.  He created humor and laughter after all.  He takes the most unlikely candidates and gives them the most unusual duties.  (Why not a Cradle Catholic on the SST – you know someone who might be a little more comfortable with relics?)  To add to this – I find out that Jim Buffler, who is in charge of touring the relics of St. Gianna and giving presentations about her life, was a former fundamentalist Christian!  Now – that’s funny.  You just have to laugh.

Second – there is a great difference between reverence or devotion and worship.  People lovingly came to touch the relics and receive a prayer card.  Many shared with me how St. Gianna was a model for their Christian walk.  They were inspired by her faith and her actions.  Their worship was reserved for Christ and she was a means to draw them closer to Him.

Finally, I enjoyed learning about St. Gianna, the modern day saint who was a wife and mother.  She is an inspiration to all of us who strive to be the best wife and mother we can be.

And – secretly – I was extremely thankful that I did not have to body slam anyone!  It was a mild crowd.

Chick A

At one point, Chick A's tree toppled but was quickly restored to its upright position

I am pleased to report that I made a tiny bit of progress in my Advent/Christmas resolution  . . . but it was actually just small steps in peeling back the “Martha Stewart” layers to experience the true meaning of Advent and Christmas.  There is room for improvement next year.  However, I did find that I was much better at the subtracting (without guilt) than adding.  (See blog entry Dec 9 entitled “Martha Stewart Doesn’t Live Here (Anymore)” for my resolutions.)

Below you will find my (self graded) report card.  For simplicity I just gave myself a pass/fail!

Subtractions:

*No Christmas Cards!  Pass –with flying colors I might add! Well Chicks, practice makes perfect and this was my third year of not sending cards.  It just gets easier and easier  . . . and this year I did not even feel a tinge of guilt when a card came in!  (BTW – when I received your card, I was thankful for your effort!  And when I did not receive a card from a regular “card-sending friend,” I thought to myself “way to go girl – cards are on the way out!”)

*Minimize Christmas Decorations!  Pass! From your comments – looks like several of you are already doing this – kudos to you!!  My tree, mantle and porch railing were beautifully decorated.  But all the rest of the Christmas décor was left in the big red box – downstairs.  This definitely added to that peaceful Christmas feeling!!  The kids did not miss it – they enjoyed the decorations that we had.

*More Online Shopping!  Fail! While I did do more Christmas shopping online, I did find myself at the mall several times this season including Christmas Eve – how did that happen???  Oh well  . . .

Additions:

*Daily Christmas Devotions with family and weekly game night!  Fail! Maybe not a total fail – let’s call it a change in plans here.  I had resolved to do Advent devotions with the family – but these ended up being mostly done by myself.  However, I lit the Advent candles, and we were able to have plenty of discussions regarding the need to simplify, incorporate quiet time and the importance of “waiting” during Advent.  The weekly game nights did not happen either.  Instead I spent a great deal of time driving my teen, my tween and their friends to their activities.  I counted it as a blessing as I realize that my 14 ½ year old will soon be driving herself.  It gave me the opportunity to spend time with her and get to know some of her friends better. .  . and I didn’t feel pressure to be at home working on my to-do list!

Daily Mass!  Fail! Didn’t make it to as many as I wanted to.  However, I did make it to some, and my children did accompany me to Mass several times during Christmas – in addition to attending their church.  Both attended Mass on Christmas Eve with me!

Lots of Christmas Music and Candles!  Pass! Perhaps this was the addition that brought the most joy and peace into our home and took the least effort.  Every night we lit candles, put on Christmas carols and sat by the fire – this was the best!!

As I was checking in with my accountability partner (Chick B) we both remarked on how wonderful it was to celebrate Advent in full and wait on all those Christmas decorations.  It really set the tone for an unhurried, peaceful Christmas season.  You would think the opposite would be true – getting ready early would create more time for enjoyment.  But maybe that just frees you to cram more in?  Not sure about that – but hopefully I can improve with each year.     Chick A

With the help of Chick B's son, our Christmas trees were delivered to the local park conservancy for recycling - courtesy the blue truck Ramses Maria

]]> http://southerncatholicchicks.com/2011/01/05/chick-as-martha-stewart-christmas-report-card/feed/ 0 http://southerncatholicchicks.com/2010/12/13/ladies-in-purple/ http://southerncatholicchicks.com/2010/12/13/ladies-in-purple/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:06:01 +0000 2scc http://southerncatholicchicks.com/?p=1272 I have never thought of purple as a fashion color – my wardrobe mainly consists of earth tones – browns, beiges, black and olive green.  But when Chick B and I spoke at the St. Pius Mother’s Club Advent Dinner, we were greeted with a sea of ladies in purple  . . . and it was beautiful!

There were purple sweaters, purple tops, purple accessories and even a purple dress.  Now these were not those bright, obnoxious looking purples – these were beautiful, rich and muted tones – very tasteful and fashionable.  Liturgical dressing – what a grand idea I thought at the time.

So now, I’ve decided it’s time to spice up my winter wardrobe with a purple item or two so I can celebrate Advent in style next year.  Chicks, as you are doing your shopping this holiday season, be on the lookout for cute purple tops for me and Chick B.  Let us know where to find one so we can join the ladies in purple and make a liturgical fashion statement!

Chick A