October 15, 2006

Good Things – Volume I

Being that it is Sunday, I thought I’d share some Good Things with all of you.

First, my Aunt Kathy sent me the link to this video. Kate Nowak did a stunning job and I cried happy tears watching it. Her blog is wonderful, too, so be sure to check her out!

A few days ago I wrote my “Anniversary Tribute” to Doug as we celebrated five glorious years of marriage on the 13th of October. We didn’t do anything special for the big day. Doug made BBQ Ribs and Shrimp for me Friday night and it was excellent. My gift to him was given on Saturday. No, it’s not what YOU’RE thinking so get your minds out of the bedroom. After work, I came home and Dawson was cranky so I turned on Public Television. Lawrence Welk was on and Dawson loves the music. It’s okay, he’s only two. But during one of Lawrence’s jived up orchestra tunes, I dragged Doug off the couch and made him foxtrot with me. Yes. You read that right. We did the fox trot in our living room and laughed hysterically the entire time. You know that’s love. Seriously, I’m still laughing because our “moves” caused uncontrollable giggling from Dawson, too.

Today we went to church and Dawson was well behaved for 20 minutes. This is a record breaker. Usually he’s a terror two minutes after blessing himself. When I got home I found this in my e-mail. I’m feeling pretty Blessed today. Then I found this.

It’s quiet in the house. Dawson is napping. I’m finishing this post and heading into my bed as well! I’ll leave you with the first commercial that has made me cry since I gave birth to Dawson. This hit me hard because in a few short weeks my brother will be coming home.

Happy Sunday!

September 6, 2006

Who I Am vs. Who You Want Me To Be

I’ve become an outsider. A minority in terms of speaking. I’m positive your wondering what the hell I’m talking about.

I’m a Republican, conservative, Catholic woman from the midwest. I go to church every Sunday. I volunteer my time to teach 8th graders about the bible and what it is to be Catholic every Wednesday evening. I don’t believe in abortion. I don’t support stem cell research. I support the war in Iraq. I don’t condone homosexuality, but I don’t condemn it either (an on the fence issue for me that I grapple with constantly).

I try my best to follow my faith. I believe in God, I practice Catholicism openly, but even I admit I struggle with it daily. Afterall, I’m a sinner like everyone else. I make mistakes and I answer for them.

I don’t understand radical leftist liberals. I get irritated whenever Ted Kennedy opens his mouth. I despise John Kerry. I’m honest about my political views and I don’t back pedal my beliefs when someone opposes my opinions.

But what I don’t understand is that when I give forth a comment about politics or religion (both very important to me), if someone doesn’t agree with me, they stop reading me. They will pretend I don’t exist. I can’t do anything about that. But I would hope that you aren’t solely judging me or reading my blog based on my political and religious beliefs.

I’m a very open-minded person. I listen to other people without bias and try to see other points of view. I try not to attack others intentionally. But yet, I’m not granted the same courtesy.

This puzzles me and also causes me to wonder: In a world as big as ours, surely there must be others who believe what I do. Speak up! Don’t be afraid to stand your ground. Don’t hide. And please don’t conform to the majority. I once did the same and found out it’s not who I am.

I am Dana and my beliefs are just as important as anyone elses. Yes, we will not always agree, we may argue and object to each other, but at the end of the day we go on believing what we know, learning about others and co-existing in this world. That’s all I can ask for.

August 28, 2006

Catechism Classes

Well, tonight’s meeting went well. Catechism classes begin September 13. I will be teaching 8th grade. This won’t be any different than the ninth grade class I taught five years ago. Again, I’m the youngest teacher in the parish of St. Bronislava.

I’m going to have to relinquish my use of the F-word. This may be a little tough. And I suppose I’ll have to give up my childish ways in regards to the Witches of Stevens Point.

Other than that, things are good. I must break it to y’all that I’m not pregnant. I peed on the stick and no lines appeared. And I’m okay with this. God is in control and he made the best choice.

So tell me, what have you all been up to? I’m anxious to resume blog walking tomorrow!

Happy Monday!

July 25, 2006

Hate Mail

I’m starting to get sick and tired. Sick and tired of being ridiculed for my political position. Sick and tired of being interrogated for believing in God. For being pro-life. For being a feminist. For being a “patriot” (yes, I was called a patriot.) I’m also sick of being accused of hypocrisy. Especially when it’s the pot calling the kettle black. No, that wasn’t a racist remark either. So to all the venom spewing, filth-mongering persons who send me nasty e-mails in response to my abortion or Iraq war posts: Get off your ACLU high horses and worry about more important things. Like actually standing by your viewpoints without being wishy-washy, flip-floppy, cry babies.

Even as sick and tired as I’ve become, I will never give in to idiots like the man who e-mailed me.

Here’s a portion of the hate speech e-mail I received:

“Dana, where do you get off telling us that we are all alike? Where do you get off pushing your moral high ground on good people who care about the war in Iraq? We don’t want to see any more deaths. It’s time to withdraw our troops. Your little attack poster of the NYT is complete haranguing. It’s clear you have no education to back your claims of any of your beliefs. You just sit around blindly following your Catholic faith. Catholics are the worst ones. You hide behind pro-life movements, but are more than willing to send our boys off to war. And we’re supposed to be impressed by the fact you maintain a blog? Don’t you have real friends? Obviously not. You’re seeking validation for your pathetic little life. I think perhaps you should serve in Iraq. Front line. I doubt you’d survive. Even if you do have faith.”

I think I was blinded by the use of big words. Do you even know what haranguing means, buddy?

First of all, why do you read my blog? Are you looking for some weak woman to dump your insults on? You won’t find her here. Secondly, I’m not sure where you’re going with your point. First you talk about deaths in Iraq. “Liberals” (and I use that word loosely to encompass all the radical Ted Kennedy/John Murtha/Max Clelland wannabes like yourself, dear E-mailer) are screaming like squealing pigs about losing the lives of 10,000 men and women in Iraq — but you’re more than willing to exterminate 1.3 million babies every year to abortions. You’ll demand that we withdraw our troops from Iraq, but you won’t support the ban on partial birth abortion. By the way, the House voted 403 – 3 against withdrawal of our troops! And I’m pushing my moral high ground onto others? I’m a hypocrite? Spare me. Even your own beloved Democrats know they don’t want a withdrawal (or maybe they just know how to fool Americans with an election around the corner). They’ll vote for the war before they vote against it. Hey! Where have I heard that before?

These Democrats just like to wave their flags and flail their arms for attention. To scare the American people into defeat. But thank God above that Americans are smarter than you. And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Yes, I may be angry with the New York Times for openly publishing information about financial records that track the terrorists. But, tell me: What else is new? The Treason Times has never been much use. Frank Rich and Maureen Dowd should be lucky they have never been indicted for treason. If it were the days of World War II, I’d be embarrassed for them. Wait! I AM embarrassed for them.

And what does my Catholic faith have to do with your attack? Are you really that intolerant of religion? Or, are you just out of insults that you’re grasping for straws? You must be. Especially to attack my blog. I’d love to read yours, but you send anonymous e-mails from fake addresses instead of showing your slimy face. No wonder I hold no credibility to your remarks.

The funniest thing is you’re upset about losing lives in Iraq but you point blank tell me to serve in this war in hopes that I’ll die on the front lines. As God is my witness, I pray that you see the light. I pray that you understand that you need help. God Bless You. I do have faith.

I know I don’t have a Harvard education. I’m not a politician. I’m not a lawyer. But I also know right from wrong. I know that life is precious. I know that I stand by my beliefs and I’m not afraid to speak out. I’m not going to let people like you extinguish my voice. You can’t take my right to free speech away. You can’t take my patriotism from me. You can’t trample on my beliefs. You can’t stop me from loving America and my president. No matter how hard you try, no matter how many insults you spew my direction. Never. Gonna. Happen.