Thursday, February 18, 2010

JOSEPH Update

WOAH...

She got the part.

Jr. Israealite.

I can't believe it. I really can't. Not when all those kids tried out. And I am SO PROUD!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Lent



Prayer, fasting and almsgiving


The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The key to renewed appropriationof these practices is to see their link to baptismal renewal.
Prayer: More time given to prayer during Lent should draw us closer to the Lord. We might pray especially for the grace to live out our baptismal promises more fully. We might pray for the elect who will be baptized at Easter and support their conversion journey by our prayer. We might pray for all those who will celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with us during Lent that they will be truly renewed in their baptismal commitment.
Fasting: Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent. In fact, the paschal fast predates Lent as we know it. The early Church fasted intensely for two days before the celebration of the Easter Vigil. This fast was later extended and became a 40-day period of fasting leading up to Easter. Vatican II called us to renew the observance of the ancient paschal fast: "...let the paschal fast be kept sacred. Let it be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday and, where possible, prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the Resurrection may be attained with uplifted and clear mind" (Liturgy, # 110).
Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God. The first reading on the Friday after Ash Wednesday points out another important dimensionof fasting. The prophet Isaiah insists that fasting without changing our behavior is not pleasing to God. "This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own" (Is 58:6-7).
Fasting should be linked to our concern for those who are forced to fast by their poverty, those who suffer from theinjustices of our economic and political structures, those whoare in need for any reason. Thus fasting, too, is linked to living out our baptismal promises. By our Baptism, we are chargedwith the responsibility of showing Christ's love to the world, especially to those in need. Fasting can help us realize the suffering that so many people in our world experience every day, and it should lead us to greater efforts to alleviate that suffering.
Abstaining from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who could seldom afford meat for their meals. It can do the same today if we remember the purpose of abstinence and embrace it as a spiritual link to those whose diets are sparse and simple. That should be the goal we set for ourselves—a sparse and simple meal. Avoiding meat while eating lobster misses the whole point!
Almsgiving: It should be obvious at this point that almsgiving, the third traditional pillar, is linked to our baptismal commitment in the same way. It is a sign of our care for those in need and an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given to us. Works of charity and the promotion of justice are integral elements of the Christian way of life we began when we were baptized.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

i heart faces - Dance!

This was a very rare occurance when I caught my then 3-year-old daughter dancing as if no one was watching... priceless!



Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Chinese New Year

Camille did this drawing for Chinese New Year. Today is the first day of Chinese New Year. It's the year of the Tiger. I think the drawing is really terrific! Happy New Year everyone!


Thursday, February 11, 2010

100 Days of School

Today would have been Camille's 100th day of school. There would have been a celebration at school. We made a project over the weekend and turned it in on Monday. There would have been special activities, however, due to the record breaking snow storm we had yesterday, that dumped another 20" of snow on us, the second blizzard in last 4 days and the third huge storm of this winter which brings our total snow accumulation to well OVER 70" (with another storm predicted for this coming Monday) Camille is home and she is missing the 100th day of school.

If school re-opens tomorrow, and we hope it will, the class will have their Valentine's day celebration, since Valentine's day falls on a Sunday this year. I hope they will still take time to talk about the 100th day of school, but it won't be the same... since we've all spent it snowed in. :(

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Follow-up on "Joseph" Auditions

It was a mad house. 96 children auditioned for parts in the musical... that's 1/4 of the school's student population! Incredible! As a brand new parent, I was certainly not prepared for that kind of turn out. I had been told the musical is a "big deal" at the school, but this is a parochial school, not a school for the arts, so I just didn't understand the magnitude. There were 2 parts to the audition. In groups of 5 they took the kindergarteners, first graders and second graders off to sing. We were not allowed to watch the singing auditions. Then the singers came back and they practiced the dancing portion. Once they ran through the dance a few times without music, the did it a few times with music before the director came out to see them all dance. We were allowed to watch the dancing part of the auditions and, from what I could see, ALL the kids, were really great! Including down time, the audition took 2 hours, and Camille was in the first wave of kids to audition. I felt sorry for parents who had kids in separate waves. They were probably there all night.

So, I know the director can not take everyone. And I know she will take as many kids as she can fit on the stage. But based on what I saw at the auditions, I will be very surprised if Camille gets a part. She's very young, not a particularly great singer, and there was an awful lot of kids who had a lot of talent there that auditioned last night.

It's going to be a great musical, whether Camille participates, or spectates, we're very excited about it, either way.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Auditions Today!

Today is Camille's big audition for the St. Rose School musical. Since the school is kindergarten through eighth grade, the kindergartens are only eligible to audition for the part of "Junior Israelites" in the musical. The parts will be limited and "Junior Isrealites" are open to K-3rd, but Camille has been practicing the audition song "Any Dream Will Do" and the dance that goes along with it, so I think she has as good a shot as any.

The best thing about Camille is that she's never very upset when she aduditions and doesn't get a role. Maybe it's from the modeling and acting. Sometimes she lands a gig, sometimes she doesn't. She knows that's how things work. She tries her best and her attitude is usually, "That's okay, we'll get it next time!" I've been telling her that since she was very little. So we'll see how things go today and if, she gets a part, we'll be happy, and if she doesn't, we'll try again next year. We've already signed her up for re-enrollment at St. Rose.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Dancing With God


Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance . When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God, as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let's continue to pray for one another.

And I Hope You Dance!