sacred life

I'm going on 4 1/2 hours of sleep and would much rather be curled up under my covers, but it's almost time to head back out again for karate. So I'm letting the kids watch The Day the Sun Danced (it's one of Fatima's special days today, after all). Alas, my good friend wrote this wonderful post yesterday. They happened to attend the Vigil yesterday, and we went this morning, so it seems very pertinent right now. And I love the analogy of David's five smooth small stones- I might have to steal it for my five little people ;^)

We didn't get any choice words muttered under breath this morning, but plenty of averted eyes and glares. And one woman who said in annoyance as she approached, "I have to use the sidewalk. Sorry!" So we smiled and moved our stroller a little further back, though the other side of the sidewalk was completely free. I had the same opportunity to talk to our kids about the importance of praying for those with anger in their hearts, those who don't understand why we decide to go and be a prayerful presence at this place of carnage (today happened to be an abortion day, and there were quite a few clients coming and going). Because, as Sue said, abortion is not a "sticky subject" that should be avoided and simply prayed for in the quiet of our homes (which is also a good thing to do, don't get me wrong). It is the murder of babies. There are those who fight vehemently for a woman's right to choose because, "It's her body." A baby growing in a woman's womb is not her body. It's not an organ or clump of tissue. It's another body entirely with a separate beating heart and DNA all its own. If one has a “right” to control her body, then she has a responsibility to do so before she gets pregnant. Hopping off of soapbox now...

After praying a couple of Rosaries with scripture with the lovely shift managers (the second time we've prayed with Mary, on the left above), the kids and I popped into a gas station for pumpkin donut holes and hot chocolate because it was COLD standing there for an hour! Then we drove over to Lake Wingra to take in some of the fleeting fall beauty, stopping with our blinkers along the way to collect some especially colorful leaves. For what? I have no clue. The sun was just starting to peep through the clouds, creating a dramatic, radiant affect on the lake. It was one of those amazing, grace-filled mornings, where God's love and beauty is so evident. And then, you know, the little ones start in with their screaming because they've had enough, and you have to snap back to reality and actually go do some schoolwork and some of the hard parenting, which has been the case with one child lately. I know God is just as present in those times. If not more.

We are blessed!