One of the things I have grown to love about my iphone is the ability to download and listen to a "podcast". (Just think - five or so years ago the word "podcast" probably didn't even exist!)The other day I was browsing through the list of podcasts and came across one call "Stuff Catholics Should Know: Gossip". For some reason it attracted my attention and I listened - and LOVE IT!
(No, I'm not Catholic, but enjoy learning about it.)
For the first time I heard someone really break down and give a good definition to gossip. Through out the years I have struggled to come up with a good simple definition - I usually know when I hear gossip that what ever is being said is gossip, but have had a hard time explaining it in words.
This podcast guys (several priest in seminary) broke down gossip into three types: libel, slander, and distraction. Libel: printed lies about a person. Slander: verbal lies about a person. Distraction: anything said about a person that hurts their reputation.
That's the one I love! We all know lies about a person is gossip, but what about things that are true? One definition a few years ago was something along the lines of "words that you won't say in front of a person, but saying it behind their back." Which is true, but I really like this new one - if it hurts their reputation, then is it's gossip.
Simpler, I think. And I have to admit - convicting.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
No, the Other One
....let's see if I can blow some dust off this blog....
This is VBS week at our church. I had really planned not to teach, but I have a hard time saying no! The good news is that I'm teaching preschool games, so I only have four 15 minute classes over two hours. I can arrive late, teach, then leave early. I really like that part.
The other part I like are my helpers. My kids. All three of them. It's fun seeing how they interact with younger children - which, by the way, they all do really well. (I think Ben enjoys it because there's people smaller than him and for once he can be a big kid and be in charge!)
As a student just completed fifth grade, Benjamin is suppose to be actually in a class, but we are the bad parents and have given in and not making him. He figured out a while ago that VBS is mainly for the un-churched, the unsaved child. Which he is not. So. He is helping me along with Melissa and William. Last year he did not attend either because he had the chicken pox - yes, he had the vaccine...and this was actually his second case. My children can be over-achievers, you know. (At one point yesterday, he was complaining about something and I did threatened him to take him to the fifth grade class. He got over whatever it was and was good as gold from then on!)
Over all our four classes were great - we just played a hula-hoop game. One classes was large at 21 four years old - WOW! Those teachers have their work cut out for them! Several didn't want to play, one asked about the video games, another was ready for the food! Towards the end Melissa came up to me and said, "The one in the white shirt just called the one in the orange shirt the "b" word."
I just looked at her and said, "What? Butt?"
Melissa said, "Um...no the other "b" word."
Okay, then! Well now! Oh, the things they learn at VBS.....can I say again how much I'm glad I'm not stuck in THAT class ALL morning ALL week??!!!
This is VBS week at our church. I had really planned not to teach, but I have a hard time saying no! The good news is that I'm teaching preschool games, so I only have four 15 minute classes over two hours. I can arrive late, teach, then leave early. I really like that part.
The other part I like are my helpers. My kids. All three of them. It's fun seeing how they interact with younger children - which, by the way, they all do really well. (I think Ben enjoys it because there's people smaller than him and for once he can be a big kid and be in charge!)
As a student just completed fifth grade, Benjamin is suppose to be actually in a class, but we are the bad parents and have given in and not making him. He figured out a while ago that VBS is mainly for the un-churched, the unsaved child. Which he is not. So. He is helping me along with Melissa and William. Last year he did not attend either because he had the chicken pox - yes, he had the vaccine...and this was actually his second case. My children can be over-achievers, you know. (At one point yesterday, he was complaining about something and I did threatened him to take him to the fifth grade class. He got over whatever it was and was good as gold from then on!)
Over all our four classes were great - we just played a hula-hoop game. One classes was large at 21 four years old - WOW! Those teachers have their work cut out for them! Several didn't want to play, one asked about the video games, another was ready for the food! Towards the end Melissa came up to me and said, "The one in the white shirt just called the one in the orange shirt the "b" word."
I just looked at her and said, "What? Butt?"
Melissa said, "Um...no the other "b" word."
Okay, then! Well now! Oh, the things they learn at VBS.....can I say again how much I'm glad I'm not stuck in THAT class ALL morning ALL week??!!!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Dark Shadows the Movie
Well over a month ago ads for a movie called "Dark Shadows" started to air and Melissa & I just laughed over them. Especailly "Are you stoned?" asked by a teen. The response by Johnny Depps charatcer: "They tried to stone me. It did not work," said with an English accent.
We both wanted to see the movie! But then we saw it....
First mistake: Getting sucked in with ads.
Second mistake: Not doing any research on the movie. I had no clue until afterwards that it was a remake of some old TV show (and based on several friends' comments, a bad TV show at that).
Third mistake: Not reading the plugged-in review beforehand.
Fourth mistake: Taking my 13-yr old daughter to a movie I did not read the review on.
Yes, I knew it was PG-13 before I went, but I honestly thought it was because of the violence. After all, the main character was vampire. Vampires kill people - I get that, so, a PG-13 rating was no surprise.
About fifteen mintues into the show, the cussing started. I looked at Melissa and said, "Hmmmm. I think I should have read the review first...."
Then there was a s*x scene. Looked at Melissa again, "Hmm...yeah...I about to walk out....."
Then there was a second s*x scene. This time Melissa knew what was coming - it was time to go! She said,"I'll leave first - you follow a few minutes later so it doesn't look like we're walking out."
Sure. Whatever. But I wasn't going to sit through that show with my 13 yr old.
Many times during the beginning of the show several characters talked about the Johnny Depp character, Barnabas Collins, as a "good man" - loyal...family loving. He talked about finding his "one true love". But a good and loyal man doesn't not have s*x with anyone and everyone if you have a "one true love". I don't want my daughter to think it's okay to sleep around - even it's you just enjoy it as entertainment - not actually participating yourself.
Once again Hollywood missed the mark. They had the makings of a good movie! But they added useless language, senseless s*x scene, failed to develop real characters. I should not be surprised.
Hopefully, I won't be making the above mistakes agian.
We both wanted to see the movie! But then we saw it....
First mistake: Getting sucked in with ads.
Second mistake: Not doing any research on the movie. I had no clue until afterwards that it was a remake of some old TV show (and based on several friends' comments, a bad TV show at that).
Third mistake: Not reading the plugged-in review beforehand.
Fourth mistake: Taking my 13-yr old daughter to a movie I did not read the review on.
Yes, I knew it was PG-13 before I went, but I honestly thought it was because of the violence. After all, the main character was vampire. Vampires kill people - I get that, so, a PG-13 rating was no surprise.
About fifteen mintues into the show, the cussing started. I looked at Melissa and said, "Hmmmm. I think I should have read the review first...."
Then there was a s*x scene. Looked at Melissa again, "Hmm...yeah...I about to walk out....."
Then there was a second s*x scene. This time Melissa knew what was coming - it was time to go! She said,"I'll leave first - you follow a few minutes later so it doesn't look like we're walking out."
Sure. Whatever. But I wasn't going to sit through that show with my 13 yr old.
Many times during the beginning of the show several characters talked about the Johnny Depp character, Barnabas Collins, as a "good man" - loyal...family loving. He talked about finding his "one true love". But a good and loyal man doesn't not have s*x with anyone and everyone if you have a "one true love". I don't want my daughter to think it's okay to sleep around - even it's you just enjoy it as entertainment - not actually participating yourself.
Once again Hollywood missed the mark. They had the makings of a good movie! But they added useless language, senseless s*x scene, failed to develop real characters. I should not be surprised.
Hopefully, I won't be making the above mistakes agian.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
My Blog Life
It seems that blogging is getting harder and harder - for many reasons. Both of our computers are on their last leg and frankly, it's not fun to be on either one at times. Our lap-top no longer recognizes the battery, so it has to be plugged in at all times. It the cord gets pulled out as you are moving around, it totally shuts down with no warning. No fun at all.
Then finding time to get on the desk-top when the kids and Drew are home is, also, a challenge.Several All of my kids also like to read over my shoulder while I type. Which I find totally annoying.
But then there's the fact that they are teens now (while Ben may 11 and not 13 -he's still a teen in may ways) I feel like I need to respect their privacy more now than ever. Many times something funny or interesting happens, then one of them will turn to me - "Don't post this on facebook or the blog!"
Well, fine then!
So, I don't. They deserve their privacy...and the teen years can be so sensitive.
Life is going on....I hate to say the word "busy" - but it's full. School, work, soccer, church....all keep us hopping.
But I will try to make an attempt to keep posting...even it's it sporadically.
Then finding time to get on the desk-top when the kids and Drew are home is, also, a challenge.
But then there's the fact that they are teens now (while Ben may 11 and not 13 -he's still a teen in may ways) I feel like I need to respect their privacy more now than ever. Many times something funny or interesting happens, then one of them will turn to me - "Don't post this on facebook or the blog!"
Well, fine then!
So, I don't. They deserve their privacy...and the teen years can be so sensitive.
Life is going on....I hate to say the word "busy" - but it's full. School, work, soccer, church....all keep us hopping.
But I will try to make an attempt to keep posting...even it's it sporadically.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
National Day of Prayer
Today is the National Day of Prayer - I hope that you at least whispered a small prayer for our country.You can read more about the National Day of Prayer here.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Senior Projects
A ruling in our parish has made "senior projects" a requirement to graduation from high school. This morning I sat as a judge for one set of students at a local high school. What fun! I thought all seven students I saw did a great job! Of course, some better than others...but all had done work and seemed to have learned something along the way - which was the goal.
One girl ended up researching literacy and wrote a children's book - very creative! She also illustrated the book in water colors - she did a great job!
All seven talked about attending college in the fall - several wanted to be doctors....a few were clueless about college major, but all were ready to graduate high school.
One girl ended up researching literacy and wrote a children's book - very creative! She also illustrated the book in water colors - she did a great job!
All seven talked about attending college in the fall - several wanted to be doctors....a few were clueless about college major, but all were ready to graduate high school.
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