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Monday, February 22, 2010

Review: A Century Turns: New Hopes, New Fears

So, what were you doing in 1989? 

I was a newly hired Delta Air Lines corporate ladder-climber, wielding a recent MBA, marriage license and a brand-new baby boy.  I was (and still am) a Catholic, conservative and Republican (in that order). It was the dawn of a new decade, the last of the 20th century and we all had hopes and fears for the country.

For the next 20 years America would experience bad times and good times -- Iraq and Katrina, housing booms and economic busts, deaths of amazing people and births of children saved from abortion, technology advances beyond anyone's imagining.  Our country would move from a white conservative president to a black liberal president with little social upheaval, something that would be considered a miracle in any other country but the US!

But what do we really know about those 20 years -- other than we now have blogs, Wii, text-messaging, and higher national debt and a recession?  Read William J. Bennett's latest, A Century Turns: New Hopes, New Fears, and you will get a very good picture of how we got from there to here, and even a glimpse of where we're headed. 

This is actually volume three of Bennett's American history series titled America: The Last Best Hope .  But this one shifts a bit from the previous two:  Volume 1 and 2 of the series deal with the times 1492-1914 and then 1914-1989.  Dr. Bennett was personally involved in just a bit of the history-making of the last part of volume 2, but very actively involved in the events of the next two decades.  In volume 3 we are given his own personal thoughts and remembrances of the past 20 years in light of American history and politics. 

Dr. Bennett, who held various government jobs (including head of the Department of Education under Ronald Reagan from 1985-88) and currently acts as the Washington Fellow of the Claremont Institute, is a noted conservative Republican who has a great love and interest in American history  and politics; further he wants to ensure that all Americans understand where we were and where we're going.   Because of his life experience, particularly as a Washington insider during the 20 years of this book, the reader gets a clear understanding of not just what happened but why and what it all means.  Now, Bennett's world-view is from a conservative (some would say, extremely conservative) viewpoint and yet his book attempts to give credit (or blame) where it is due, no matter which side of the aisle. 

From Bush Senior's one-term presidency, to the morally-questionable two terms of Clinton, through the war years and domestic issues of Bush Junior's two-terms to the eve of an American president who is not only African-American but is also a fairly unknown quantity in Washington circles (he was serving his first Senate term when he ran for election).  This book reads like a novel.  The writing is excellent, highly readable and informative.



The subtitle of this book is quite appropriate: new hope and new fears.  For the past 20 years we've seen the hope of new technologies which make our lives better and the fears of some of these technologies; we've seen the hope of new democracies and the fear of terrorism; we've lived through the hopes of housing booms and the fear of economic downturns.  And yet, we're still America ... we're still here and working through our problems and celebrating our successes.  As Bennett ends his book on the eve of Obama's first term in the White House ... yes, there is fear but there is a strong hope in the future.

One thing I didn't like about this book was whenever the conservative politicians would err, Bennett always seemed to have a footnote that mentioned he was against the event and warned the person.  Hind-sight is ALWAYS 20-20 and Bennett loses a little credibility in mentioning these, whether they're true or not.  Also, I thought his discussion of Obama's meteoric rise to the White House was a bit soft on information or analysis.  Other than those issues, I would recommend this book strongly to all American citizens who want to understand our Country's last 20 years!




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Friday, February 19, 2010

Lent 2010: Fridays in Lent

Fridays of Lent are so much more than "suffering" through abstaining from meat (btw, we're having sweet potato soup for dinner -- don't tell the kids). 

We as Catholics are called to remember the AMAZING sacrifice Jesus made for us all.  One way we do that is by praying the Stations of the Cross.

Years ago (at least 5 or 6! man, I'm getting old), someone on 4real mentioned a Stations of the Cross box with items that would help the kids (and moms, too) remember each station in a very direct way.  Here's our Stations of the Cross that we prayed this morning, and the symbols we use.  We'll do this every Friday during Lent, both in the morning and then again at dinner with Dad.

Stations of the Cross

Station 1 --  Jesus is condemned to die
symbol --  string for binding his hands
We adore you o Christ, and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 2 – Jesus takes up his cross
symbol – a small wooden cross
We adore you o Christ, and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 3 -- Jesus falls for the first time
symbol -- a bandaid
We adore you o Christ, and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 4 -- Jesus meets his mother
symbol -- a rosary
We adore you o Christ, and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 5 -- Simon helps Jesus carry his cross
symbol -- a heart for charity
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 6 -- Veronica wipes the Holy Face
symbol -- cloth with the face of Jesus drawn on it
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 7 -- Jesus falls a second time
symbol -- a bandaid
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 8 -- Jesus comforts the weeping women of Jerusalem
symbol -- facial tissue
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 9 -- Jesus falls for the third time
symbol -- bandaid
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 10 -- Jesus is stripped of his garments
symbol -- piece of purple cloth
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Staton 11 -- Jesus is nailed to the cross
symbol -- large nail
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 12 -- Jesus dies on the Cross
symbol -- a crucifix
Kneel and Pause for a moment
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 13 -- Jesus is taken down from the Cross and laid in his mother's arms
symbol -- picture of the Pieta
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Station 14 -- Jesus is laid in the tomb
symbol -- rock
We adore you o Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Prayers for all your intentions this Lent 2010.  Please keep our family in your prayers, too.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Lent 2010 ... and so it begins ...

Today, Wednesday February 17th, starts the Lenten Season for the Catholic Church.  The kids and I will go to morning Mass before co-op and not only receive ashes but also Our Lord in the Eucharist:  what a great way to start our Lent!

One thing I'm doing is the Commissioned by Christ's Lenten Challenge ... I have the calendar as my computer desktop image so I remember each and every day to do more for God and His people (and ultimately, more for the good of me!). 

Since we homeschool, it's quite fun for me to "do" Lent with my kids -- lots of time to read and discuss, to pray and think, to love and learn ... all with a focus, not on the secular, but rather on the ultimate target: a good life that leads us to eternal life.
Prayers for one and all during this Lent ... and please pray for me and mine if you have a minute!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Unit Study: 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games .. a great idea!

HT: MaryM ... now here's a GREAT idea from "That Artist Woman" that incorporates drawing/sketching, creative game-playing and the Olympics all in one ... I've added it to our ever-growing Unit Study post but just thought I'd also mention it here. 

Looks like a wonderful Mardi Gras-day project (after the dentist visit of course).  What are you doing with the Olympics?



Friday, February 12, 2010

Birthdays: Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

Happy 201st Birthday, Mr. Lincoln ....
you don't look a day older than 56!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Unit Study: 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games

We'll be starting our unit on the Winter Olympics/Paralympics starting tomorrow with the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver.  Since the Olympics go from February 12-February 28, and the Paralympic Games go from March 12-March 21 ... we'll be quite busy immersing ourselves in the games: geography (where is each medalist's country or state, etc), math (charting the medals, graphing the times, estimating, etc), science of the Arctic region, snow  and climatology and meteorology of Vancouver area, history and culture of the Inuit, the Games, the medalists', story-writing and crafting, art studies and other things.

Here are a few of the resources we've compiled for our unit ... please feel free to comment if you have any others you've found ...
Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games' Unit Study Resources
Activities:
Books -- Winter Olympics:
Books -- Paralympics:
Books -- Vancouver and Canadian Inuit Culture:
Internet Sites:
Television:
Videos/DVDs:
We'll round out our school days with Lenten activities including as-often-as-possible-daily Mass and readings on Lent from the Saints.

Feast Day: Our Lady of Lourdes!

Enough with the snow ... let's party! 

We're on day seven of the Blizzard of 2010 ... no more snow in the forecast for today, but so much on the ground that we're still on snow days.  But that's ok, especially as today is an especially important feast day for me and mine:  the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Dh and I met at a school named Our Lady of Lourdes ... the family has taken two pilgrimages to visit the Shrine in Lourdes, France ... my maternal great-grandfather is from a small village just above Lourdes ... and whenever we really need to pull out the stops for a prayer intention, we often do a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes!


Hail Mary, poor and humble Woman, Blessed by the Most High! Virgin of hope, dawn of a new era, We join in your song of praise, to celebrate the Lord’s mercy, to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom and the full liberation of humanity.

Hail Mary, lowly handmaid of the Lord, Glorious Mother of Christ! Faithful Virgin, holy dwelling-place of the Word, Teach us to persevere in listening to the Word, and to be docile to the voice of the Spirit, attentive to his promptings in the depths of our conscience and to his manifestations in the events of history.

Hail Mary, Woman of sorrows, Mother of the living! Virgin spouse beneath the Cross, the new Eve, Be our guide along the paths of the world. Teach us to experience and to spread the love of Christ, to stand with you before the innumerable crosses on which your Son is still crucified.

Hail Mary, woman of faith, First of the disciples! Virgin Mother of the Church, help us always to account for the hope that is in us, with trust in human goodness and the Father’s love. Teach us to build up the world beginning from within: in the depths of silence and prayer, in the joy of fraternal love, in the unique fruitfulness of the Cross.

Holy Mary, Mother of believers, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Amen.

So, on this snow-day, we'll head to Mass this morning (maybe even get in some Confessions) and we'll make Clafouti tonight.  Clafouti is a wonderful custard/souffle kind of dessert that is made with cherries (which we don't have) so we'll make it with blueberries (which we do have ... and since blue is Our Lady's color, this is more appropriate anyway!).

Holy Mary, Mother of believers, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!