I don't think I ever really believed in what Catholics call "grace of state" until I became a mom. If you're Catholic then you know what I'm talking about. We use the term "grace of state" when we mean that God provides the graces necessary to deal with whatever we need to deal with in our particular state in life. Of course, in order to cash in on this special grace we have to been in tune with the Church's modes of providing grace (i.e. the Sacraments). But for some reason I could never really see this grace at work in my life until Joseph's birth.

I'm sure that as a university student God certainly provided me with a whole lot of grace. And during my sometimes agonizing (okay, I exaggerate a little) discernment process of what to do with my life and whether to marry, there was certainly lots of grace. But it's never so evident as when you're a parent.

That parents with young children survive day after day, month after month on very little sleep or being woken up multiple times per night must be a proof for God's providential grace of state. There is no way I could have done it as a university student. Not to say that I don't still complain when I'm woken up several times a night, but I'm almost positive that in my pre-motherhood days I actually would have snapped completely. 

In addition, this special grace is so particular -- not just "grace for mothers," "grace for fathers," etc -- that we are provided with grace to have patience with our particular child or our particular spouse. Often I think, there's no way I could be married to so and so or be a mother to that child, I wonder how his wife/her parent does it. But that's just the point. Grace of state is particular to my own state in life. 

Dan and I will sometimes compare our days and marvel at how the other deals with their daily tasks. Dan is finishing his first full week teaching a rowdy, misbehaving, set-back group of 21 grade one students. I can't imagine being in his shoes -- having the daunting task of teaching all those kids to read and write, dealing with their awful parents, and spending 45 min driving each way getting to work. I tell him how what he's doing is amazing! But he'll simply reply that I'm just as busy caring for Joseph every day, all day long. Yeah, but this isn't work. Well, it is. But it's work that is fitted to my state in life, as a mother.

It's an encouraging thought that when Christ told St Paul "my grace is sufficient" He really meant it. That means that we each have enough grace for our state in life -- as a mother/father, wife/husband, student/teacher -- at this moment. It means that I don't have to be worried that I can't handle 4 young children at one time or that I'm scared of having teenage children. I don't have 4 children. I don't have any teenagers. If and when I ever do, God will provide the grace necessary. And that is an encouraging thought.

The Saddest Day of the Year :(

I just want to say how sad I am that at around 9:30pm tonight there will be no more football. The feeling is similar to how December 26th means no more Christmas, or how after finishing Becca's home made spring rolls means there will be no more for another 2 years.

I will be sure to enjoy the game, and the pizza... but no spring rolls, of course. Maybe next year.

Prediction: Calgary 32, Toronto 28

_______________________________________________________________________________

On another note, it's been extremely hectic trying to figure out how to teach grade one! Especially since I haven't been left any guidelines or sample lessons or anything. The hardest part is simply having to take over midyear, and not knowing where the students are at. I suppose I could give them a week's worth of tests...

As I introduced myself to the students last week, we held a Question and Answer segment. Basically the students were allowed to ask me questions about myself, I would then answer them, and then they'd draw a picture of how they perceived me. Here are a few questions they asked which basically summarize the whole segment:

"Do you like jungles?"

"Do you go to Tobin Lake every summer?"

"Are you scared of jungles?"

"Do you like the beach? I like the beach!"

"Do you go to the park?"

"Did you know you look like my uncle?"

"I like jungles!"

   _______________________________________________________________________________

Christ is King. Amen.

5 Snippets: Cute & Funny

Joseph has been delighting us with some of his recent antics. As he begins to talk and learn about all the things are around him, it's cute and funny to watch. Here's a little taste for you:

{one}

One of Joseph's favourite pastimes is looking at all the various statues of Jesus, Mary, and the saints in our bedroom and the living room. When in our arms he'll point to them, indicating he wants an up-close introduction. Our routine is to pick them up one at a time, tell him who it is, and then he gently opens his mouth wide to give each one a kiss. He is totally delighted with his heavenly friends.

{two}

Joseph has started reading books. Dan mentioned this in one of his posts already. Most recently, we were "reading" The Runnaway Bunny. We got to the page when the little bunny says he will become a sail boat and sail away from the mother. "If you become a sail boat," says the mother bunny, "I will become the wind and blow you where I want you to go." So I blow. Then Joseph blows. No matter how much I act out all the other pages in the book, he keeps turning back to this one, delighted with the wind he's figured out how to make.

{three}

A church in town here puts on an interactive Christmas show every year called "Bethlehem Live". It's exactly what the title says: a live journey to Bethlehem that you take. When we went last Friday night, they led us from station to station outdoors while Roman soldiers accosted us, bandits tried to steal our money, real horses scared off the bandits, merchants tried to sell us goods in the marketplace, and an innkeeper told us there was no room at the inn. It was all very exciting with outdoor fires, wonderful costumes and actors, etc. Finally, we reached the stable where Mary and Joseph showed us the (live) baby Jesus. Baby Jesus was lost on Joseph. Instead, our Joseph turned around to look at the (real) sheep and calf in the stable with an ecstatic: "Emma". So now thinks any medium size animal is an Emma, not just all dogs.

{four}

Joseph has picked up a new habit to indicate generally "yes" or his interest in something. He tucks his double chin down into his chest and walks around bobbing his whole upper body in a nod. It looks ridiculous! And it's so darn cute. 

Reading with Daddy

{five}

I've already mentioned Joseph's love for his heavenly friends, but I can't resist adding another story. Recently, we started putting him to sleep in his own room (Uncle Stephen's room while Stephen's away at school). The first night we turned on a beautiful night-light of Mary. "Wow" was Joseph's reaction. I told him it was "Mama Mary". "Mama Mama," Joseph then told Dan, pointing to her. We had to turn out the light to get him to go to sleep. He also loves a tiny little plastic statue of the Infant Jesus in Stephen's room. Joseph knows who it is and calls Him "Isus." We were talking about "Isus" the other day and to our surprise Joseph turned around, with the statue in his hand, and pointed to "Isus" on the cross on the wall. Smart kid!

Jesus Loves Me This I know, for the Summa Tells Me So!

Throughout the past 2 1/2 months I have been taking a Christology course through Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Now I have taken Christology courses before, be it through the Academy or even at Redeemer (from the perspective of the Eastern Orthodox). In these courses the study of the Church Fathers was emphasized. However, this current course is different. Namely, it examines Christology through the mind of St. Thomas Aquinas, via the Summa Theologica and the the Summa Contra Gentiles. As a supplement we are also studying many of the works of Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict on Christology. Also, the course is a 900-level course, which essentially means it demands more work and deeper insight.

Currently I am studying in anticipation of my final exam in two weeks. I won't have much time to study while I teach, so I thought it best to start now. I am currently pouring over many Summa articles. Here are some of my favourites from this semester (though I have dumbed them down slightly)...

III, Q. 1, Art. 2 - Whether it was necessary for the restoration of the human race that the Word of God should become incarnate?

I like this question because it is the grandaddy of all questions for Christians. Did Christ have to come down as man to save us? To answer, in the words of Bilbo Baggins: "well no!...    ...and YES..."

Essentially Aquinas gives the classic distinction of relative vs. absolute necessity. Absolutely speaking, Christ did not have to come down as man to save us. God could have snapped his immaterial fingers and man could have been saved. However, relatively speaking it was necessary. In other words, it was fitting that Christ became man; to help strengthen our faith, hope, and charity, and to atone for the sins of man to God through the sacrifice of the God-man. Very fitting indeed. But not of absolute necessity, which in a sense demonstrates all the more the love of God by willingly humbling himself to become man, and suffer.

So the next time something doesn't go your way, don't get mad at God! He knows what it's like to suffer...


III, Q. 1, Art. 5 - Whether it was fitting that God should become incarnate in the beginning of the human race?

In other words, why didn't Jesus come earlier? Or even, as article 6 asks, why didn't Jesus come at the end of the world? Why come when he did?

Quite simply, the world wasn't ready for Jesus at the beginning of the human race. It took many years to understand that, golly gee, this world is messed up and needs some saving. On the other hand, waiting until the end of the world would be a little late, don't you think? Sort of like getting the answer to a movie while the final credits are rolling.


III, Q. 3, Art. 8 - Whether it was more fitting that the Person of the Son rather than any other Divine Person should assume human nature?

Could the Father have come instead? Or how about the Holy Spirit? Or what about all three?
Yes, yes, and yes.

But, it was more fitting that Jesus come. Why? Jesus is eternally begotten of the Father. In other words, as the Son he's the best exemplar. He's the best example of what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God, for he is the image of the invisible God. Does that make sense? Sigh. Just read the article.


III, Q. 4, Art. 1 - Whether human nature was more assumable by the Son of God than any other nature?

Why didn't God assume the nature of a butterfly instead? That's discrimination! God should be taken to the human rights tribunal. Or, why didn't God assume the nature of an angel? Surely angels are higher than men!

Well, irrational creatures lack dignity for God to assume their nature. Sorry butterflies. You're nice, but not that nice. On the other hand, angels have no need of God taking on their nature to save them. Angels are good, and will always remain good.

But what about the devil and his demons??? Their choice is an eternal choice. They can't be saved, because they have made an eternal decision to disobey God. So to hell with them!


III, Q. 7, Art. 3 and 4 - Whether in Christ there was faith? Whether in Christ there was hope?

Christ had no faith. Christ had no hope. Now go out there and be Christ-like!

True. But Christ didn't have faith because faith is for Divine things unseen. And Christ had the beatific vision (i.e. he constantly beheld the Divine, for he was Divine). Christ didn't have hope either, for God is the object of hope, and Christ is God. So, strictly speaking, Christ did not have faith or hope (but he had charity, of course).


III, Q. 8, Art. 8 - Whether Anti-christ may be called the head of all the wicked?

Who doesn't love a good debate on demonology? I feel like Brent and Hank at Corner Gas debating the age old question: "Who is worse, the devil or the Anti-Christ?"

The devil is worse. The devil is first in the order of wickedness and sin. The devil also has more power and influence of evil. However, in a sense the Anti-Christ will have the wickedness of the devil most fully impressed on him. Further, the Anti-Christ more closely represents the opposite of Christ. You know, the Anti of Christ, hence the name the Anti-Christ. It gets the point across. So in that sense he's a greater mockery to Christ. But the devil is still the head of the wicked.

With all of this in mind, I hope you don't have to go to sleep anytime soon...


III, Q. 15, Art. 2 - Whether there was the "fomes" of sin in Christ?

I just like this question because of the word "fomes." Fomes is a Latin word meaning "tinder." In other words, it refers to our likelihood, or tremendous inclination, to sin. Christ did not have this "tinder" towards sin. Why? Because Christ always obeyed right reason. His reason perfectly controlled his passions. Therefore, there was no inclination to sin in Christ. He just followed reason perfectly.


III, Q. 18, Art. 1 - Whether there are two wills in Christ?

Christ is not Gollum, but he does have two wills - one Divine, and one human.  If Christ didn't have a human will then he wouldn't truly be a man. If he didn't have a Divine will then he wouldn't truly be God. Simple, isn't it? It's hard to believe so many heresies started over such a simple truth.

I love how Pope Benedict XVI, who as Cardinal Ratzinger, explains Christ's two wills:

“the two ‘wills’ are united in the way in which two wills can be united, namely, in a common affirmation of a shared value. In other words, what unites the two wills is the Yes of Christ’s human will to the divine will of the Logos. Thus, in concrete terms – ‘existentially’ – the two wills become a single will while remaining, at the ontological level, two independent realities.”

Behold the Pierced One - p. 92

If our wills are totally united to doing God's will, in essence we will be acting as one will (though in actuality it will be two). Very beautiful, Pope Benedict!


So, there you have some of my favourite articles from this semester. I really didn't do them justice. You'll just have to read them yourself!

Let it Snow!

Winter set in here almost a month ago. The first snow fall came and stayed. The Ontario girl in me is thinking, "It's going to be one long winter!" Although Saskatchewan is home now, I don't know if I'll ever get used to these long, cold winters. And yet, I'm really enjoying the snow and cold, for now.

A beautiful prairie sunset just across the road

I bought my second and third pairs of long underwear this year. I remember vividly laughing at my mom who gloried in her own long underwear when I was young. Well, maybe I'm still laughing a little because it doesn't get near as cold anywhere in Southern Ontario as it will here. Mind you, it hasn't spiked down to -30 or even -25 yet. And I'm not sure if I've ever experience -40 or -50. 

My happy men

On beautiful sunny days I'm happy to spend time playing outside, but when it's overcast or snowing a little I'm much more inclined to avoid any outing. Thankfully, I feel some kind of motherly obligation to take my outdoors-loving little guy outside everyday. The result is, it's good for both of us!

Our 2nd snowman of the year

We've made a couple of snowmen already this year. Unfortunately, the dog (Emma) has knocked them over. One day shortly after building the snowman, Joseph and I were yelling at Emma for chasing vehicles. Scared of us, she turned on her heels to run off and smacked right into the frozen snowman. Serves her right!

Emma's jealous of all the attention Joseph receives

We've also made a few little snow angels and you wouldn't believe how cute they are with a 14 month chubby little body! Our favourite daily activities, though, are to walk the trail through the woods and sled in the ditch -- ahem, our hill. With our good old bag of hard-as-rock lawn fertilizer in the back for weight, Joseph's sled keeps him pretty happy. As long as we keep moving, that is. We like to check out all the little footprints on the trail, guess how long it will be before some of the leaning trees tumble over, and call for Emma when she gets too far away.

Joseph loves it when we run around the trail

We've also been doing a LOT of bird watching! When the bird feeder was first filled, Grandpa could barely keep up with the birds to fill it fast enough. We watch the grosbeaks, finches, chickadees, wrens, and, of course, the nasty blue jays. Some days there are up to 6 or 8 grosbeaks vying for feeder space.

Two male grosbeaks snacking

One morning a male grosbeak flew right into the window. Grandpa retrieved the stunned little bird before Emma could harm it and brought him inside. It was all we could do to keep Joseph from touching it. He was so excited! In his high little voice (as opposed to his low manly voice), he was chit chatting to the bird and going back and forth between the rest of us telling us about the bird.

Grandpa and Joseph save the grosbeak

I can't tell you how many times we've stopped to say, "It feels like it should be mid-December." And then let the reality sink in that it's still over a month until Christmas. And after Christmas is when Winter really sets in. Yes, we're in for a long winter! But the Christmas music has already begun in earnest here. And I now know why my mother-in-law insists on no Christmas music until after Remembrance Day. Since Monday we've heard nothing but Christmas music all day, everyday. Not that I'm complaining. I've married into a family that certainly takes everything Christmas-related very, very seriously. If you did something one year, well, it's tradition. And the day after Christmas is one of the saddest days of the year because you have to wait a whole year to open presents again!

Coin Answer

Just in case one of you didn't figure out the riddle from Wednesday...

Place 3 coins on one side of the scale, and 3 coins on the other side of the scale.

(c) (c) (c) = (c) (c) (c)                              (c)(c)

If the scale balances then weigh the remaining 2 coins to see which one is heavier.

(c) = (c)

If, when weighing 3 vs. 3, the scale tips downward on one side, balance 1 vs. 1 from that side. If one of them weighs more then there you go. If they balance then it is the other coin that weighs more.

That will give you two weighings.

3 Coins in a Fountain...

Here's a little brain-teaser for you as we hit the middle of the week.

There are 8 coins, and they all look the same. Now 7 of the coins weigh the same amount while the other coin weighs just a little bit more. Say you have a balance for a scale... using the scale only twice, can you tell me which coin is the heavier one? How?

The Unemployment Rate Just Dropped.

Last Tuesday - Becca and I pray to St. Joseph along the lines of: "Dear St. Joseph, you are the man. Even Jesus and Mary had to obey you in life. I really really need a job, and soon..."

Wednesday - The phone starts ringing off the hook with two different principals competing for my teaching services.

Thursday - Off to Tisdale Elementary School for an interview. The interview is with the principal and vice-principal only. Apparently their superintendent is ok with that. It goes well. They offer me a job on the spot teaching 0.80 fulltime grade one.

Friday - Off to William Mason School in Choiceland for an interview. The interview is with the principal and a superintendent. There is another candidate to be interviewed as well. Here I learn more about what the school division is actually like (it mirrors my teacher's college experience). The position in question is for teaching fulltime kindergarten/gr.1-6 social studies. I'm quite uneasy about kindergarten. Accordingly, I don't even shave in preparation for the interview. Alas, the interview goes well. Two hours later I am offered a job there.

You'd think I'd learn by now. Always be specific when praying. I guess I forgot to tell St. Joseph that teaching grades 4 and up perhaps would be more suitable for me. Nope. Instead I must choose between kindergarten, grade one, or unemployment.

Saturday - Work at the Co-op. There's nothing like shoveling snow, driving a forklift, and moving lumber around to clear the old head.

Sunday - Utter agony over what to do. I start looking into other options such as being a professional burger flipper at MacDonalds. To top it off, the Riders lose a nail-biter in the playoffs.

Monday - Decision Day. I wake up completely clueless as to what I should do. At first I was leaning towards taking the Choiceland position. Then, I was leaning towards taking nothing at all. After nearly two hours spent in the church, I decide, due to a lack of a gut feeling, to go with the best apparent rational decision out there. Becca later affirms this position. And so, we decide to accept the Tisdale Elementary School position.

...And then white smoke came rising from the Sistine Chapel

I will be starting at Tisdale Elementary School within a week. There I will teach core grade one subjects to 22 eager students. The position ends June 27th, and is not quite fulltime, which will be fine. It will allow me a little more time for getting accustomed to teaching grade one, as well as finishing my current Christology course. If I can manage alright, I may take another Masters course during the winter semester. But that decision can wait for another weekend. Also, the drive to Tisdale is upwards of 40+ minutes. If need be, Becca and I can move there during the Christmas break. Again, that's another decision that can wait for the time being.

It is a little nerve-wracking thinking about teaching grade ones. They're just... they're just... just... so small. But as one principal once told me, kids are kids. They might get bigger and more annoying, but deep down they're all just kids.

So that's the story of our weekend here. Thanks be to God.
I guess I should've listened to Garfield:

A Poor Sport

I love sports. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. I soak it all in. There is a Roughrider theme song which has the words:

"Well, seasons come and go. Like the glory and the pain.

One sure thing I know. It's we'll live through that again.

Even in the worst of defeats *cough* 13th man *cough* there is one thing we know, we'll be back. Hope springs eternal every new season.

  

Not so much in politics.

In politics if you lose you wait four years for another shot. In the meantime you lose 5.5 trillion dollars (possibly more this time around), 4 million babies to abortion, put leaders of Catholic organizations in jail for failing to act against Church teaching, continue redefining marriage and morality, raise taxes, beat up Israel... oh yeah, and put your neighbours to the North in a tough spot by your non-existent economy.

In sports you maybe get a new coach, get rid of a few players, sign some new players, have the draft, and next thing you know it's training camp again. Nobody dies. Life goes on.

Not so much in politics.

I guess there are a lot of solid Catholics who will wake up feeling miserable down South. But I'm sure they will dust themselves off and get back to work. You think the devil is resilient? He's got nothing on a ticked off Catholic.

As for those who voted for Obama, they're pretty elated right now. There's nothing like getting your own way, even if it is suicide. Nietzsche would be proud. But hey, there's no arguing democracy. Right?

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

                                                                                                                            ― James Bovard

I think I'll go watch some football.

More Ontario Trip

Although it's been almost a month now since our trip to Ontario, this blog still has very little to show for it. I wanted to share with you a few pictures from our trip and they've been sitting here for quite some time. So here they are...

The reason for our trip: the wedding of Mr & Mrs Carruthers -- don't they look super happy?!

Our chauffeurs -- ain't that one snazzy Carolla?

The family with our newest brother-in-law addition. Joseph's face = priceless!

Our own little family

The Godfather, Uncle Jim

Grandma, thrilled to have her little grandson 

Triple trouble: Joseph, Kallum, and Conor. These little guys had lots of fun watching each other during the weekend.

Our walker -- Joseph entertained us almost nightly with his wind-down-for-bed walking craze

A beautiful fall hike with Grandma and Grandpa and the good ol' baby backpack from the last century (seriously)

Joseph admires a stick

Brrm, brrm. Joseph was thrilled to be on the quad with Grandpa, despite what his expression says.

A walk with Great-Grandma and Sam (whom Joseph affectionately called "Emma" -- the universal word for "dog")

Our pre-packing room disaster! Thanks so much for the use of your room, Bridget! Sorry, I don't have even one picture of you.

3 Up, 3 Down - Nov. 5, 2012

Here is another installment of 3 up, 3 down. To review, I interchange the ups and the downs, and start with the downs first so that I can end on an up...


1. Down - No Calls on the Horizon

The phone hasn't exactly been lighting up since I was put on the substitute teaching list. I must be low on the depth chart. Possibly behind Yoda.

1. Up - Co-op Open Door Policy

Despite lacking calls to teach, the managers at the Co-op have still continued to let me come in and work, at the hours of my choosing, despite the lumber yard slowing down significantly. This helps bring in some much needed cash (though somehow the cash always seems to disappear).

2. Down - Looking for Racism in all the Wrong Places

The other day Darian Durant posted a picture on facebook:

As usual, many people commented on the picture with the usual "Go Darian!" responses. I wrote:

"You know, with a mohawk you'd really look like Mr. T."

Later I had a reply to my response by some other 'fan'. Someone accused me of racism, saying "why, because all black people look the same?!" And went on and on about how racist I was! Huh?

I wrote that he looks like Mr. T because, well, he looks like him.

Anyway, immediately a bunch of people came to my defense, and the person who accused me of racism either pulled his post, or Durant himself pulled the post. I pity the fool.


2. Up - Great Endings

Speaking of football, there were some great games again this weekend. The endings of the Thursday and Friday night games were simply awesome! Sigh, I really don't know what I'm going to do once the season ends, especially if there is no NHL on T.V.

3. Down - If Salt Should Lose its Flavour...

Fr. Tom Rosica, the head dude of Salt and Light TV, recently went onto his network and hosted a certain Gregory Baum, an ex-priest who is one of the great enemies of true Catholicism in Canada. Fr. Rosica apparently gushed over how great Baum is, and even stated how much he's "admired [Baum's] theology."

I'm not impressed at all.

I think it's safe to say that Salt and Light TV has lost its flavour, and therefore is only good for being thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Fr. Rosica

3. Up - Joseph Reads

Saturday night Becca called me to our room to watch as Joseph read us a book. He read his favourite:

In the book Joseph pulls tabs over, which then reveal various characters. As he went through the book Joseph made the appropriate sounds for each character, such as a "roaarrrrr!" for the lion, a "ssssssnnn" for the snake, and a "BOOOOM!" and "oh" for the hippo and birdy. Joseph then ended his reading by talking joyfully, in his cute high-pitched voice, once Spot and his mom were reunited. Good story Joseph!

The Joseph Bowl

Joseph's favourite pastime these days is to pull out the stack of mixing bowls from the cupboard to play with. We've given up trying to keep them clean and just hope to remember to rinse them out before we use them. 

We caught this funny little incident on video the other night. Enjoy!