Outtakes

We carved a pumpkin yesterday. I was explaining to Paul the medieval origins of the jack-o-lantern, telling him they were meant to scare away the Devil, who would try to steal Jesus out of your heart. Paul, horrified, quickly exclaimed, "Jesus is safely in my heart!"

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Momma: "Do you know what ketchup is made of, Paul?"

Paul: "Love."

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Lucy hits Jane on the head with toy. Momma tells her to stop. Lucy, in a serious, questioning tone, "But why?"

Repeat scene about ten times a day.

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Today Jane, urged on by her big sister, was discovered playing in the toilet. Twice.

Racing Together

Yesterday I watched my younger sister and brother, Ruth and Luke, run the Marine Corps Marathon, a truly awe-inspiring experience. There were people from every walk of life imaginable, ranging from the comical to the heart-breaking, all pushing together through 26 miles to put one foot in front of another.

One man not only ran the marathon, but juggled the entire 26 miles as well. Among the participants were folks in giant, yellow banana costumes, a large, green frog, and the Nationals' mascot. One older gentleman, running in his 241st marathon, had nothing on except a tiny pair of running shorts. Not even shoes.

While there was plenty to amuse, there was even more to inspire. Several veterans, some of them well up in years, ran with large American flags. A handful of young veterans ran in their combat fatigues and boots in solidarity with their comrades deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I teared up as I saw parents laboring to push their handicap children, or t-shirts on runners who were racing to help find a cure to a disease that had claimed a loved one. And at the end of race, we saw a young man and woman squatting down recovering when he suddenly shifted onto one knee and pulled out a little black box. What a way to finish a race!

Still, nothing was more poignant to me than seeing my siblings push through the pain of banged-up knees to finish that long, long race. I saw a sister who wasn't going to let the tragedy of rape keep her from moving on with her life. The same determination and grit that got her across that finish line is what I have seen each day as she battles her fear and pain to find healing and peace. I saw a brother who had no intention of ever running a marathon at all, but who generously gave of his time and energy to become a running partner for his sister. He knew he couldn't take away her hurts, but he was ready to give whatever he could to help her fight.

As the oldest child, I'm used to doing everything first in the family. But yesterday I saw my little brother and sister do something I know I would never be able to do. Congratulations, Ruth and Luke!

Above: Mom and Rosemary pushing Ruth on at mile 17. Below: Luke gets a pep talk from Mom at mile 20.

Fashion Follies

While the McCain campaign may have spent a little too much on too many exclusive labels for Governor Palin, at least the personal assistants doing the buying know what they are doing. Palin looks fabulous - strong and professional, yet feminine.

We have quite a different situation at the Bremberg home. Style concepts like fit and coordination are sadly lacking around here. This morning I come down the stairs to the winning smiles and delicious dimples of Lucy and Jane...who are looking like fashion disasters.

My loving husband has generously gotten up early with the kids for over a year now. Being a wonderful husband and father, he would often dress the children before I was up. Bless his heart, he tried. After a few "incidents" I began to lay out the kids' clothes each night. The system has served us all well. So far, anyway.

This morning, though, I find Lucy in Jane's shirt and Jane in Lucy's, though they were both wearing their own pants. While Lucy's shirt generally fit Jane, though it was a bit blousy in the arms, Lucy was experiencing serious fit issues. It looked like she had on a floral Underarmor shirt that had shrunk in the wash. It created the illusion of a bigger beer belly than Homer Simpson.

Jane, on the other hand, was a victim of a fatal coordination mistake. Lucy's shirt, which Jane was now wearing, had a delicate horizontal stripe in a light dusty rose and beige, designed to match Lucy's khaki pants. Jane's pants, however, were chosen to match the hot pink flowers in her floral shirt. I think the combination of the Pepto-Bismol pants with the dusty rose stripe may have caused me lasting retina damage.

Sadly, Daddy isn't the fashion-challenged member of the household. As Aunt Ruth prepared to leave for work, I told her about the clothing confusion, thinking I was sharing in a little laugh at men's inability to dress themselves or anyone else. As I left the kitchen, I told her that I'd better go switch the girls' shirts. Ruth's response, "Oh, I though you had already changed them."

Do What Not to Wear's Stacy and Clinton take on entire households?

Praying this isn't true.

Drudge is reporting that a 20-year old female McCain supporter has been attacked in Pittsburg and a "B" carved into her face.

I'm surrounded by morons.

If you haven't heard by now, the latest news on the campaign trail is that the RNC has spent $150,000 for clothing, hair, and make-up for Sarah Palin and her family since her nomination. While I'm one of Palin's biggest fans, can I just say - I am so annoyed at the McCain campaign for this story! I'm a conservative, middle-class mom who supports Palin, mainly for her stance on social issues, but my gut-level, I-heart-Palin excitement comes from seeing a mom like me on the ticket. Earlier stories about her life as a middle class mom shopping at thrift store in Alaska almost made me tear up. Finally, a politician that not only shares my values, but my daily life, too.

Early on, though, I began to worry that the campaign was going to start dressing her in expensive labels. Living inside the DC Beltway with a husband that works in politics, I get to talk to campaign insiders from time to time. About a month ago, I was speaking with someone at a party who knows the personal assistants given to Palin by the campaigns - young ladies with expensive taste. I was not surprised when this story broke. I remember begging this person to tell her assistants NOT to dress her in big labels - or if they did to have her borrow them from their lavish wardrobes. The middle-class moms who have an affinity for Palin know what it is like to borrow from a friend's closet for a big event or comb through thrift stores and consignment shops for a good deal on labels. And if you absolutely have to buy clothes for Palin, go to Ann Taylor, not Barney's for goodness sake!

I know the media would have beaten Palin up for her "tacky, low-class" wardrobe. There would have been an avalanche of jokes about Wal-Mart moms. But you know what, that would be GOOD! Let the media beat her up for wearing cheap clothes. The middle-class voters the McCain campaign is trying to win over would have felt attacked themselves. Why chance upsetting these voters by spending twice their yearly salary on shoes and handbags to keep the media happy? Newsflash McCain campaign: The media is always, I mean, always going to hate this woman with a deadly hatred. So stop worrying about them. Let Palin be the authentic, middle-class mom that she is.

Unfortunately, the McCain campaign proves to me anew each day that it is being run by morons - which is really sad since the consequences of defeat are truly life-and-death for millions of innocent babies.

Socialist = Black?

Now I have heard it all. An editorial page columnist from the Kansas City Star has charged the McCain-Palin campaign for using the "old code word for black" - socialist - to insert race into the presidential campaign. I know that I when I think of Canada, Sweden, Norway, and all those socialist European nations, I immediately think "black!"

It seems like everyday a new word is discovered to be racist doublespeak. The list of banned words is getting pretty long for Senator McCain and Governor Palin. Before long they will limited to hand gestures at the podium if they want to avoid charges of racism.

2 Weeks Left

Lucy is busy campaigning, how about you?

Paul and the always present, but often elusive "Mike"

"My Gospel" Monday

As promised, I'll be posting portions of my father's book, My Gospel, each Monday for awhile. Today's passage is my personal favorite from the book. My father begins describing a new job he started in his early twenties not long after his conversion in which he worked with developmentally and physically disabled adults:

"The world of the mentally retarded was a whole new world for me. I had very little contact with mentally retarded people when I was growing up and I really didn't know what to expect. The first couple weeks of the job were difficult for me. It took a lot of patience and understanding to deal with the myriad of problems that occurred almost continually. Many of the clients seemed downright repulsive to me, and I wondered if I was suited to the work. Then something happened that changed everything.

Sandra was one of our clients. She was probably in her late thirties and had multiple mental and physical problems. She was very short, skinny, and terribly humpbacked. One hip was far higher than the other and she was walked with a terrible limp. Her face was contorted and twisted and her smile revealed very irregular teeth. When I looked at her I was repulsed because she was a tangled mess of humanity

But she was not repulsed by me. In fact, she liked me. Every morning after being dropped off by the bus, she would limp her way through the front door, come right to me, and give me a big hug saying, "Good morning, Henry." I always politely replied, but inside I was very uncomfortable. I felt like saying, "Someone get this freak off of me!" I know that sounds terrible, but that is how I felt at the time. I knew in my head I should love all people, but applying that concept in this situation just wasn't happening for me.

One evening I was reading a book about Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a person I admired very much. There I read about how Mother would instruct her sisters to treat the poor. She told them to observe how the priest at the alter treats the Sacred Host. How he lifts it carefully and holds it up with the greatest respect and reverence. He treats the host with so much love and reverence because it is the Body of Christ; it is Christ Himself. Today you sister will go out into the streets and you will find the sick and the dying, people with sores that smell awful, or are half-eaten by worms and covered with in filth and rags. You must pick up that man with the same love and reverence that the priest has when he picks up the Sacred Host at Mass, because you too are picking up the Body of Christ. In that man you are picking up Christ Himself because He said, "Whatever you do to the least of My brothers, you do to Me." So love that man the way you love Christ. Show that love in how you carry him, how you touch him, how you speak to him, and how you look at him, for in loving him you are loving God Himself.

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks! I closed the book and began to think about Sandra and all the other clients. I certainly was not treating her like I treated the Holy Eucharist. At that time in my life I was able to go to Mass every morning because my job didn't start until 9:00 a.m. Everyday I would go to Holy Communion and receive Jesus with all the love and reverence that my pitiful heart could muster. I had no difficulty believing that the Holy Eucharist was truly the Body and Blood of Christ.

Mother Teresa's Eucharistic analogy really pierced my mind and heart. From that moment the grace of God changed something inside of me. I think the Holy Spirit just poured the love of God into my heart. From that moment I had a completely different attitude towards Sandra and all the other clients. The next day they were all still teh same, but I was different.

When Sandra gave me her good-morning hug and greeting, I embraced her as if she were Jesus and will all the love in my heart. I held her as if I was holding the Sacred Host of Holy Communion. There are moments that can change a person forever, and that was certainly one ofor me. It's been thrity years since that tiny, twisted, disfigured little saint embraced me and gave me a heart transplant. Through Sandra, god took out my stony heart and gave me a new, soft, human heart. Even now as I write these words, the tears are streaming down my cheeks as I am overcome with emotion.

Sandra and all those other "special" people taught me so much during the for years that I worked at S&H Products. In their own way they taught me how to love unconditionally. What a great gift! What could be better!

In general, the world we live in does not recognize the tremendous contribution that the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled make to our society. By just being themselves, with all their incredible neediness, they demand our unconditional love. They drag it out of us every moment of the day. They make us all more human in the true sense of the word. That's why God allows these afflictions. So that He can bring even greater good from them, and that greater good is unconditional love.

Many people today want to look the other way when they encounter God's special ones. It's too painful to look at them. It's too much work to help them. It's just too demanding and all the efforts won't cure them anyway. Some want to use science to manipulate human genetics and reproduction in order to prevent them; others want to abort them. It's cheaper and easier they say. Still others want to warehouse them away from the mainstream of society. Out of sight, out of mind.

All of these attitudes indicate a fear of unconditional love, a love that responds simply because there's a need, and the one who is in need is Jesus. Dear Friend, do not be afraid of unconditional lvoe. Instead of running away from it, embrace it. Pull it close to yourself and you will be transformed. Open your heart to the unconditional love that Jesus has for you, and then you will be able to love others because of His love dwelling in you. You can't give what you don't have, and you can't give unconditional love if you haven't first recieved it from God.

Look at yourself; you're a very needy person in so many ways. Compared ot God you are small, twisted, disfigured, and completely helpless. And with all your sins, Jesus embraced His cross for you, so that you might live. That was His unconditional love for you. Now let His love for you flow out to others."

A Living Epistle

After over a year of hardwork, my dad, Henry Cordonnier, has written and published his first book, My Gospel, a story of his conversion and walk with the Lord over the years. While I may be a bit biased, I believe my dad has written a book that is a powerfully moving testament to the transforming power of God's love. You don't need to take my word for it, though. Here's some rave reviews from less-biased sources:

"Heeding St. Paul's words, Cordonnier has become a living epistle. My Gospel is the rollicking record of his deeply personal but never merely private encounter with the Spirit of the risen Christ. The story is delightful, energetic, warm with God's love, rich in exhortation, and disarming in its humor and straight-talk."

--Al Kresta, Host of Kresta in the Afternoon and President/CEO of Ave Maria Radio

"Everyone looking for spiritual guidance in today's world should expect My Gospel to help them on their way to Heaven. The author traces the work of the Spirit in his life and offers sage spiritual counsel to his readers in the mode of St. Francis de Sales. My Gospel is not a biography; rather it is a call to holiness."

--John Love, S.T.D., Assistant Professor of Systematics, Mount St. Mary Seminary

"Mr. Cordonnier's honesty and insight will surely challenge and inspire readers from all walks of life. The Gospel is presented not as a story from the distant past, but a living reality that can be seen and experienced in lives today."

--Brian Kissinger, Youth Minister and Franciscan University Youth Conference Speaker

For any of my readers interested in purchasing My Gospel, I've put a link to it on amazon.com on my sidebar. Also, the book's website will soon be up and running and will offer free access to the text of the book and an audio version as well. Finally, starting next week, I'll be excerpting some of my favorite passages from My Gospel here at Ordinary Time.

The View From My Deck - The Explanation

Here's the promised and overdue narrative to Paul and Lucy's new game.

The numerous papers strewn about the lower patio are painstakingly handwritten letters to, who else, Santa Claus. Clearly, Paul and Lucy feel it is never too early to start letting Santa know about their saint-like behavior. After writing these letters (and believe me the writing is an involved task, requiring extensive questioning of everyone in the house regarding their Christmas wishes, followed by labored agonizing over the best possible gifts), the letters are then "mailed" to Santa by throwing them off the deck toward the North Pole.

Paul commandeered the bottom part of my wine opener to use as a spyglass to monitor his letters progress.

Lucy keeps close watch for a possible Santa sighting while working hard to impress her physical therapist with her new balancing skills.

"Sorry, Mom, you'll have to have the much-needed glass of wine later. We have serious business to attend to here, and I need my equipment."

"Grandma, our patience and perseverance has paid off. Santa made a quick stop, and we put in a good word for everyone. It's shaping up to be the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!"

"I don't have much going on today."

This is the thought I tried to console myself with this morning as I awoke from a very restless night with Baby Jane (thanks to double ear infections!). "I'll be okay," I tell myself. "It's Thursday...a low-key day. I can take it easy and get a nap."

Then I sit down with my morning tea and plan the day. Hmmm...no meat in the house. Or milk. Or fruit. Time to make a grocery list. Better check the sales flyer for the grocery store. Make a menu. Sort through coupons.

My eyes are burning by now.

I plan ahead for the rest of the day. Besides grocery shopping, I only have to take the kids to gymnastics class, do two loads of laundry, plan out a lesson on the "Five Senses" for our homeschooling co-op with hands-on activities for preschoolers, cook dinner, and clean the deck and patio before it rains. Oh, and diaper, feed, entertain, and soothe three children who are three and under. And did I mention one of them has double ear infections?

But, you know, I don't have much going on today. I think I'm swimming in a river in Egypt.

Ground-breaking Political Analysis You Won't Find Anywhere Else

Speaking Out for Life

From Governor Sarah Palin's speech in yesterday in Johnstown, Pennsylvania:

“In this same spirit, as defenders of the culture of life, John McCain and I believe in the goodness and potential of every innocent life. I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves. And who is more vulnerable, or more innocent, than a child?

When I learned that my son Trig would have special needs, I had to prepare my heart for the challenges to come. At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength and understanding. But I can tell you a few things I’ve learned already.

Yes, every innocent life matters. Everyone belongs in the circle of protection. Every child has something to contribute to the world, if we give them that chance. There are the world’s standards of perfection … and then there are God’s, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake.

As for our beautiful baby boy, for Todd and me, he is only more precious because he is vulnerable. In some ways, I think we stand to learn more from him than he does from us. When we hold Trig and care for him, we don’t feel scared anymore. We feel blessed.

It’s hard to think of many issues that could possibly be more important than who is protected in law and who isn’t – who is granted life and who is denied it. So when our opponent, Senator Obama, speaks about questions of life, I listen very carefully.

I listened when he defended his unconditional support for unlimited abortions. He said that a woman shouldn’t have to be – quote – “punished with a baby.” He said that right here in Johnstown –“punished with a baby” – and it’s about time we called him on it. The more I hear from Senator Obama, the more I understand why he is so vague and evasive on the subject. Americans need to see his record for what it is. It’s not negative or mean-spirited to talk to about his record. Whatever party you belong to, there are facts you need to know.

Senator Obama has voted against bills to end partial-birth abortion. In the Illinois Senate, a bipartisan majority passed legislation against that practice. Senator Obama opposed that bill. He voted against it in committee, and voted “present” on the Senate floor. In that legislature, “present” is how you vote when you’re against something, but don’t want to be held to account.

Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat, described partial-birth abortion as “too close to infanticide.” Barack Obama thinks it’s a constitutional right, but he is wrong.

Most troubling, as a state senator, Barack Obama wouldn’t even stand up for the rights of infants born alive during an abortion. These infants – often babies with special needs – are simply left to die.

In 2002, Congress unanimously passed a federal law to require medical care for those babies who survive an abortion. They’re living, breathing babies, but Senator Obama describes them as “pre-viable.” This merciful law was called the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Illinois had a version of the same law. Obama voted against it.

Asked about this vote, Senator Obama assured a reporter that he’d have voted “yes” on that bill if it had contained language similar to the federal version of the Born Alive Act. There’s just one little problem with that story: the language of both the state and federal bills was identical. In short, Senator Obama is a politician who has long since left behind even the middle ground on the issue of life. He has sided with those who won’t even protect a child born alive. And this exposes the emptiness of his promises to move beyond the “old politics.”

In both parties, Americans have many concerns to be weighed in the votes they cast on November fourth. In times like these, with wars and a financial crisis, it’s easy to forget even as deep and abiding a concern as the right to life. And it seems our opponent hopes that you will forget. Like so much else in his agenda, he hopes you won’t notice how radical his ideas and record are until it’s too late.

But let there be no misunderstanding about the stakes.

A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for activist courts that will continue to smother the open and democratic debate we need on this issue, at both the state and federal level. A vote for Barack Obama would give the ultimate power over the issue of life to a politician who has never once done anything to protect the unborn. As Senator Obama told Pastor Rick Warren, it’s above his pay grade.

For a candidate who talks so often about “hope,” he offers no hope at all in meeting this great challenge to the conscience of America. There is a growing consensus in our country that we can overcome narrow partisanship on this issue, and bring all the resources of a generous country to the aid of both women in need and the child waiting to be born. We need more of the compassion and idealism that our opponent’s own party, at its best, once stood for. We need the clarity and conviction of leaders like the late Governor Bob Casey.

He represented a humanity that speaks to all of us – no matter what our party, our background, our faith, or our gender. And no matter your position on this sensitive subject, I hope that spirit will guide you on Election Day. I ask you to vote for McCain-Palin on the November fourth, and help us to bring this country together in the rational discussion of compassion and life.”

(HT: The Weekly Standard Online)

UPDATED: Testing Out Our New Webcam

Stay tuned for a ground-breaking interview on the upcoming presidential election with none other than our own Paul Stephen.

Update: Do to some complaints from readers, I'm providing the lyrics to Paul's song.

"My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do. (REPEAT several times.) The mountains are His, the rivers are His, the stars are His handiwork, too. My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!"

'Tis the Season...

to share some pithy Chesterton quotes on politics:

"When a politician is in opposition he is an expert on the means to some end; and when he is in office he is an expert on the obstacles to it."

"All government is an ugly necessity."

"It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged."

And sadly, one that most likely was true, but seems to be a passing reality:

"The unconscious democracy of America is a very fine thing. It is a true and deep and instinctive assumption of the equality of citizens, which even voting and elections have not destroyed."

And the show goes on...

Palin's excellent performance in last night's debate keeps McCain in the race. If she had done poorly, I felt it was pretty much over for McCain. But I didn't think she was going to do poorly. It's nice when your gut instincts are vindicated.

Some photos from my Palin Power Debate Party...

I'm glad I'm a mom that only had to prep for a party and not a debate!

My co-host and one beautiful lady, my sister Ruth.

A pretty candidate needs a pretty party.

A quick photo-op with the hubbie before he left this girls-only party.

Reinforcements - in case it went badly after all. Thankfully, I still have a very full fridge!