Letter to the Editor

Lately, my husband and I have been praying and stewing a lot about the recent Health and Human Services mandate, which will require all businesses to offer insurance that would freely cover unethical things like contraception, sterilization, and even abortion in the form of the morning after pill and oral contraceptives that can cause abortions if conception takes place. Obviously, we are strongly opposed to this mandate, but we are struggling with what to do about it. The government seems so big, and we seem so small. Another Goliath versus David scenario, perhaps? So finally, I felt moved by the Holy Spirit to at least make my Catholic voice heard through letters to my local politicians and through an editorial, which got published last week. The name of our local newspaper is called the Independent Record, and what sparked the editorial was a question that that IR posted the previous week, asking the community what they thought about the Blunt Amendment, which would have overturned the HHS mandate. Below is my editorial, followed by some unexpected feedback I received from a person I admire very much indeed...


Last week’s "Independent Record" Question of the Week asked the community to share their views on how they felt about the Blunt Amendment being rejected in the Senate. The Blunt Amendment was put forth by Roy Blunt, a pro-life Republican senator from Missouri, and it would have overridden the Obama Administration's HHS contraception coverage mandate and allowed any employer to refuse to cover any kind of health care service by citing "moral reasons." The Amendment was rejected by a 51 to 48 vote in the Senate.

As a Catholic Christian, I was saddened that the Blunt Amendment was rejected. I strongly believe it is completely unethical and unconstitutional for a government to mandate that businesses and individuals violate their consciences. The HHS mandate would provide insurance coverage for not only birth control, but also the morning after pill and sterilization---none of those items are considered necessary "health care" in my mind. Also, many forms of birth control are abortifacients that take the lives of unborn babies. How appalling that our government would force businesses and insurance companies to provide something so evil for free! As Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the Senate floor before the Blunt Amendment vote. "This is just the beginning. If the government is allowed to tell people to buy health care, it won't stop there. I wonder what's next? This isn't about one particular religion -- it's about the right of any American to live out their faith without the government picking and choosing which doctrines they're allowed to follow."

Even though the Blunt Amendment failed, I continue to have hope in our nation’s leaders to correct the wrongs that the current administration has inflicted upon our country. I have even greater hope and trust in God’s patience and mercy. Therefore, I believe with much prayer and the voices of constitutionally-minded Christians who speak out, the HHS mandate will eventually be overturned. I am so proud of all the religious and political leaders who are boldly speaking up to protect our religious and constitutional freedoms. As Alexander Hamilton, one of our nation’s Founding Fathers, once said, “Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything.”



Not very often does a person receive much feedback from an editorial. You wonder to yourself whether or not anyone even read it, let alone was moved by it. You wonder if it was worth your time, energy, prayers, editing and re-editing. But something inside you tells you to write it anyway out of obedience—obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. So I wrote it. This time, however, I actually received some special feedback. I received a personal letter from my bishop. A letter of thanks. I was shocked, encouraged, and filled with profound thankfulness at having such a loving shepherd to lead the flock of this diocese. Here were his exact words:

Dear Maria,

I wish to thank you for the courageous letter you wrote to the Independent Record, published this morning, March 22nd, on the opening page. Your remarks were thoughtful, timely, and a strong public testimony to the mind and mission of the Catholic Church. I am both grateful and proud to know that you are a member of our Cathedral Parish. May the blessing of this Holy season be yours in abundance.

With warm personal regards, I am sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend George Leo Thomas
Bishop of Helena

I encourage all of you readers to find your voice about this issue too. Please write to your local newspaper and ask your politicians to stand up for religious freedom and the Constitutional rights. You may not receive a personal thank you note from your bishop, but I have a feeling God will send a grace-filled thank you hug to your heart.

A Few Gems

Today I stumbled across a few quotes that I felt were gems worth sharing:

This one I thought was perfect for us mothers who find it hard to set aside large chunks of time for prayer because it seems like our little ones are constantly in need of us... So instead we have to find ways to make our work a prayer:

"Whomever labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands."
~St. Benedict

This one just made me smile because I feel like I'm constantly trying to trade my cross in for a smaller, lighter weight one:

"Do not pray for lighter burdens; pray for a stronger back."
~St. Teresa of Avila

And this one by JPII was such a beautiful description of what makes the rosary such a powerful and personal prayer:

"The rosary is my favorite prayer. A marvelous prayer! Marvelous in its simplicity and its depth... Against the background of the words "Hail Mary" the principal events of the life of Jesus Christ pass before the eyes of the soul... At the same time our heart can embrace in the decades of the rosary all the events that make up the lives of individuals, families, nations, the Church, and all mankind, our personal concerns and those of our neighbor, especially those who are closest to us, who are dearest to us. Thus, the simple prayer of the rosary marks the rhythm of human life."
~Blessed Pope John Paul II (1978)

And lastly, in honor of holy St. Patrick, here is a small exerpt of his powerful (and lengthy) prayer that Catholics call St. Patrick's Breastplate:

"I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me.
God's host to save me."
~St. Patrick

May we carry the promises captured in these gems in our minds this week to give us encouragement and strength to carry our crosses and bring Christ to those we meet!

Thankful Thursday: Lenten Edition

This year I gave up spending time on the computer for Lent, except for a brief glance at my email before bed and some therapeutic blogging on Sundays, and it has proved to be the perfect sacrifice for me. I didn't realize how much time I spend surfing the net, checking and rechecking my email, and just plain wasting time. I am trying to use all that extra time tidying my house, as well as my soul. Lent is the perfect time for deep-cleaning those areas in my house that I tend to avoid like the plague. It is also the perfect time to do some soul searching for areas within that need to be scrubbed, reorganized or thrown-out altogether. God has gently been revealing those areas to me, giving me a whole new litany of thanks...

• learning I need to focus less on me, more on Him, and seek ways to be "little" like St. Therese


• Natey's wild, red, spiky hair after naptime


• the tangible graces in the Sacrament of Reconciliation; the gift of a holy priest giving Spirit-filled advice and God-given absolution


• the smell of white chili cooking in my kitchen


• the feel of needle and thread through fabric--the final stitches on a Mary quilt (finally made for our own wall this time)


• our one-year-old's terrifying T-rex sound that melts my heart


• the boys and I giving Mary a bouquet of roses each morning as we drive to school


• a blanket of snow, and warm blankets covering me in my bed


• the smell of Mop and Glow and knowing my floors are clean (if only for an instant)


• the Burger King play area (the place for the boys to get exercise in the winter)


• Paul training the boys to do dishes every night after dinner


• making a home-cooked meal everyone likes (french toast casserole...mmm!)


• morning stillness as I spend time with Paul and then with Jesus for prayertime


• our Christmas gift to each other finally arrived---a custom framed portrait of Jesus to grace our dining room, a reminder that He is with us always


• phone calls with friends (you know who you are!): my supply-line for joy each week


• Jenny's baby BOY growing beautifully, stretching her womb, her faith, her heart


• sleeping in a few extra minutes and listening to the sound of little people chattering with their daddy


• Michael reminding us to pray on the way to school


• pizza night with friends


• remembering the lost art of letter-writing and hoping it brings joy to the receiver (my grandma)


• nighttime prayer-picnic as a family


• Nathanael fully transitioned into one nap, giving mommy quiet time to pray and get things done in the afternoon


• Paul looking so fine in his leather flight-jacket


• fields of last year's golden wheat embraced by smokey blue, snow-capped mountains


• Bob Ward's end of the season ski sale: my first pair of new skis and boots!!!


• night skiing with my boys


• sun shining through stained glass


• Natey dancing circles in my kitchen


• setting up the tent in our living room for the boys' first sleep-over with a friend


• the simple joy of bowling


• praying the Stations of the Cross as a family


• little boys sticking to the their Lenten sacrifices (out-disciplining their mommy!)


• Paul and I consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary this Lent, using St. Louis de Montford's beautiful guide: "Total Consecration"

May your walk through the desert this Lent be filled with unexpected graces and deep cleaning too!

Big Smiles at Big Sky

Prior to Paul's snowboarding accident, we had already planned a trip to the Big Sky Resort to go skiing with some dear friends from South Dakota. After he broke his wrist we debated whether or not to cancel the trip, but we finally decided to go and not let his accident spoil our fun. I am SO GLAD we went! Paul was the best one-handed babysitter in the world, while the older boys and I skied on some of the best slopes in the world! It gently snowed the entire time we were there, which means: FRESH POWDER! Although all the fluffy snow was a bit intimidating to novice skiers like Jody and myself, it was still mounds of fun. But in total honesty, the best part for Jody and me was riding the lifts so that we could chat! :) Jody and I both love to talk...especially about theology, but also lighter issues too. I wish everyone in the world could meet Jody. Her journey towards Jesus is so inspiring, her red-headed feisty-ness is so engaging, and her candid wittiness is so hilarious you'll laugh until you cry. As fellow red-heads and wanna-be theologians, we were destined to be kindred spirits and I love every minute I get to spend with her, which unfortunately is far fewer than I wish. But alas, I'll be happy with what I get! :)

While at the Big Sky area we were able to pack in a lot of activities to make the vacation so memorable. On our way there, we stopped by the Museum of the Rockies to let the kids play and learn about all the prehistoric treasures in our state, one being the notorious T-Rex named "Big Mike" who stands guard at the entrance. Nathanael and Dominic loved the "Lewis and Clark Playroom," where they could pretend to fish, or set off geysers, or go make-believe camping. Joseph and Michael were old enough to read all the historical facts about the fossils and appreciate the less hands-on exhibits at the museum. It was very nice to have the opportunity to stretch our legs out before driving the rest of the way up the mountain to Big Sky.

At Big Sky, we were very blessed to stay at a condo belonging to some of our friends from church. It was gorgeous, and thankfully it was spacious enough to keep Nathanael and Dominic entertained while the older two boys and I went skiing at Big Sky with my friend Jody's family the next day. As I mentioned above, we had a blast at the ski hill. Compared to our tiny ski hill that we have near our town, Big Sky is really impressive. The lifts are amazing, with fancy bars that come down over your head to act as seat belts, and then on your lap is a beautiful fiberglass map of the ski hill so that you can pick which runs your are going to take while you sit on the lift---so cool! The only downer for the boys was that they were stuck with Jody and I, who are total chickens and only like staying on the well-groomed green runs. The boys would have been more than capable of going on the the black diamond runs due to their experience in the All-Mountain Ski Club this winter, but I was too protective to let them out of my sight until later in the day when they could go with Jody's oldest son. All in all, the day was a once in a lifetime experience that I will always treasure.

The following day, Jody's family was occupied with another guest who came to visit them at Big Sky, so the 3 older boys and I went to the other side of the mountain to try out the ski hill called Moonlight Basin. It, too, was way fancier and bigger than our local ski hill, but not quite as fancy (or expensive) as Big Sky. I think if we make it a tradition to go back to the Big Sky area every winter for skiing, we will choose Moonlight Basin because of the cheaper cost and the more rustic atmosphere compared to the more resorty feel of Big Sky. Dominic came skiing with us on this day, and I was so proud of myself for being confident enough on my skis to try teaching Dominic how to ski. Normally, I would make Paul do all the teaching because he is a way more experienced skier, but I didn't have a choice this time. Dominic did splendid! In less than a half an hour, he graduated from the bunny hill and started going on the green runs with me and the older boys. The highlight for him was going on the "Six Shooter" lift which can hold six skiers. He felt very brave and grown-up that day :) Joseph also displayed extreme bravery that day as he got totally plowed over by a 250 lb man on the slopes. We nicknamed the man, "Mr. Bumblebee," because he was wearing yellow and black and gave Joseph quite a sting. I truly thought I'd have to take him to the emergency room when I saw both pairs of skis and both sets of poles go flying. Thankfully, Joseph's helmet and his fast guardian angel protected him, and he bravely skied the rest of the day with no complaint except a slight headache.

The little vacation to Big Sky was truly a big blessing! I hope we can go again next year so that Paul can enjoy the slopes with us! Maybe he'll choose a pair of skies instead of the snowboard...but I doubt it. :}


Michael, Joseph, and Dominic standing in front of "Big Mike," a juvenile T-Rex





Dominic catching some trout at the Museum of the Rockies





Our boys posing near a momma triceratops and her sleeping baby





Nathanael's favorite part of the trip was having mac and cheese for nearly every meal!





Fresh powder...what a beautiful sight!





My beautiful friend Jody and I ready to hit the slopes and spend time catching up on each other's busy lives





Michael, Mr. Speedy on the slopes!





Joseph, Mr. Cool and Confident on the slopes!





It was so fun to chat and bond with Joseph and Michael on the ski lift. I love how skiing is a family sport!



Me and my big smile at Big Sky! :) I hope I get to ski a few more times this year before the snow melts!!!

Meet My Valentine...

This is my husband with his snowboard. He's my hot valentine.



He looks awesome on the ski hill zipping past the teenage boarders. Little do they know that he has salt and pepper hair under his helmet. Paul has been snowboarding since college, and I finally learned how to ski this year. Rarely do the two of us get to ski/snowboard together because one of us has to take care of the little tikes. But this weekend we had a rare treat. We hired a babysitter (shocking, I know!). So for one lovely hour we were able to be on the hill together, chatting on the chair lift, soaking in the sun and the snow-covered view, and then finishing our date with cheesy fries inside the lodge (that was my favorite part...the food inside the warm lodge is the real reason I ski). Anyway, it was grand. After our date, I went to pick up the little boys at the babysitter's, while Paul stayed with the big boys at the hill showing off his skills.

6 hours later...

This is my husband with his broken wrist, keeping it elevated to reduce the pain and swelling...ouch! He's still my hot valentine--even in a cast. He says he still wants to stick with snowboarding, but he probably won't attempt any more jumps at the ski hill's terrain park. I guess we'll have to wait until next season for another hot date at the hill.

He's so worth the wait...

But I hope he doesn't mind if I still have some cheesy fries at the lodge in the meantime. After all, my ski season isn't over yet! :)

The Rosary...a delight for all ages

Catholic mothers always hope and pray that their children grow up to love Jesus and his mother (because she will help them love Jesus more). So the other day when I caught Nathanael totally enamored with all the rosaries in our rosary basket, my heart beamed with joy and my feet ran for my camera. That sweet little boy played with those rosaries for over 30 minutes...pulling them out of the basket, putting them back in, wearing them, carrying them, simply delighted by them. It delighted me and reminded me why I love being a mother...why I love being Catholic.


"So many to choose...which one should I use?"


"I'll try this one...Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you..."


"Now you try it! If I can do it, you can do it!"


"Seriously, the rosary really comes in handy when you're in a pinch!"


"But don't be a closet Catholic...be proud of the rosary and pray it every day!"

Thankful Thursday: My Notebook Overflows

I found myself constantly reaching for my "thankful notebook" these past few weeks to keep track of my litany of thanks... Perhaps a habit of thankfulness is finally taking root in my soul!? I hope it is so.

• sun-glitter on mountain snow


• broken things getting fixed


• boys practicing piano, filling our home with Christmas music


• Wii family tournaments


• my boys choosing to love one another rather than self


• lost items found ("thank you St. Anthony!")


• Nathanael "dancing" (bobbing) to the hymns at church


• an 8 year old who still loves to snuggle and say "I love you"


• conquering my fear of the ski lift


• boys beating their pilot dad at dogfighting on the Wii


• the way Nathanael says "uh-oh" and "hello" and just loves to jabber


• homemade guacamole


• Wii dates with Paul once the boys are in bed


• Michael scribbling sins in his confession notebook nightly


• being asked to sponsor sweet Nadine for the sacrament of Confirmation


• watching Dominic's heart grow as he chooses to share


• ski boots that fit---ahhh, what a difference!


• Joseph being "cool" with his growing mop of hair


• Paul's salt and pepper hair---sexier than Richard Gear :)


• Dominic's 5-year-old fascination with the world, expressed in non-stop talking


• ski bum boys who could stay at the hill from morning til night


• cheesy fries and Pepsi at the ski hill


• Christmas lights wrapping our log bed with a warm glow


• getting my fingertips calloused to play praise and worship songs on the guitar with dear friends


• listening to Paul read the "Little House" series aloud to the boys before bed, all of them loving it


• a son learning the weight of a lie, the freedom of bringing it to light


• the gift of humiliation--the shortest road to humility