Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Snow!


Sunday, December 23, 2007

Nathan at Niagra Falls Wednesday

He didn't know what to do with his hands.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Sweet ride


Oops, I missed New Picture of NRM Wednesday!

You couldn't get a very good look at NRM's moose hat in the video so here you go.

Friday, December 07, 2007

NRM's new toy


Nate takes his new toy for a ride.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Whoa!


This is how excited Nathan was when he saw all the huge inflatable Christmas decorations at Home Depot.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

End of drought



Ok, this drought of posts has gone on long enough. Let's aim for one a week, shall we? Let's make Wednesday new pic of Nate day. New quotes on Monday and Thursday (although I missed the Monday update this week). Maybe someday we'll throw in a video on Fridays. It's good to have lofty goals. So, you haven't seen this one yet have you?

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

A shout-out from our blog door...

Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther (1517)

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.

2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.

3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.

4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.

6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.

7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.

8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.

9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.

10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.

11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.

12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.

13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.

14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.

15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.

16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.

17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.

18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.

19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.

20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by himself.

21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;

22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.

23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.

24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.

25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.

26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.

27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].

28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.

29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.

30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.

31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.

32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.

33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;

34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.

35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.

36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.

37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.

38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.

39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.

40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].

41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.

42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.

43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;

44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.

45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.

46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.

47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.

48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.

49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.

50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.

51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.

52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.

53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.

54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.

55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.

56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.

57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.

58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.

59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.

60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ's merit, are that treasure;

61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.

62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.

63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.

64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.

65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.

66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.

67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.

68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.

69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.

70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.

71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!

72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!

73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.

74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.

75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.

76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.

77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.

78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.

79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.

80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.

81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.

82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."

83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"

84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"

85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"

86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"

87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?"

88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"

89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"

90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.

91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.

92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!

93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!

94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;

95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.
[Taken from a friend's blog who got it from Project Wittenberg]

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Posting Duran style...

I have seen the Durans post a few things with some success so I thought, since we no longer have a network to do these type things, I'd do the same.

Here it goes...I have a hefty handful of clean used cloth diaper covers...nothing fancy, but totally usable. They were given to me and I'd love to pass them on to someone who could use them. I wanted to throw it out here before I went to Freecycle. So, if you know anybody...

Sunday, October 21, 2007

For Nanty


Guess where we went!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Rejoicing with those who rejoice!


Little more than a week ago my sister became a blushing fiancee! We were happy to be able to join in the excitement of Derrel's well-conceived plan! The slideshow above includes some of the highlights...but excludes some pretty funny pictures of Derrel (by request) :) To get the full rendition of the serenading proposal and all the excitement to follow, check out The Road to Mr. and Mrs. Ebert.

Congratulations!! Derrel you've got yourself a winner!

Friday, September 07, 2007

Nate's First Birthday

Here's a giant slideshow to celebrate our new layout. [UPDATED with a slightly less-giant version.] There might be a few more tweaks coming but this takes advantage of the giant wide screens people are using nowadays.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

"Brandario"


Everyone knew it was coming but now it's official. Since they don't have a pedestal of their own on the internet (and, really, they should--blogger.com, check it out--or Tumblr, it's hip) we wanted to spread the news here!

If you hadn't heard already, Rosario Cortes and Brandon Kapeller are engaged to be married! Congratulations! We're very excited for you both!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

A Toddler?

Well, officially he must "toddle" to be considered "one who toddles" but by the one year mark our little man is no longer referred to as an infant. (for the record, I think this means that the poundage I have settling on my hips is no longer called "baby weight" either.) I digress. Well, our little guy is a year old today. And even though he won't think today as being any different than yesterday. Mommy is a little teary-eyed when recalling his debut (which is also no different than yesterday! What has happened to me?!).

Rodney and I had NO clue what we were praying for when we were considering the jump from two to three. With great excitement (and some rockin' role models), we considered the responsibility and changes that would be the most dramatic once we were parents. We tried not to sugar-coat some obvious practical realities that would indeed change our family dynamic. Less sleep, less spontaneity, less money (esp. staying home)...not earth-shattering changes...but...differences that would require some adjustments.

We did and do sleep less...especially when we are watching him sleep. (this is just silly...but we do it every night). For Pete's sake, I really miss the late evenings/early mornings when I could rock him close to my chest...now he is restless and wants to be on the move. We are a lot less spontaneous! Same songs, same storybooks, same routines, same games....and I must say "ma ma ma ma ma ma...." at least a hundred times everyday before breakfast in hopes of hearing the slightest repetition. And if Nattie does anything fun or sweet we practice all day so Papa can see it when he gets home! yea....spontaneous....we are not. Our days and nights are not ours any longer! And it couldn't be better!! Less money has only meant that our entertainment and fun are rolled up in our nights together. Seriously!

This last year for Rodney and I have been filled with unspeakable joy and excitement for the future of our little family and an overwhelming sense of gratitude to God for allowing us to have such an awesome and sweet gift. With pure elation we congratulate and share in the happiness of all (new and not) mommies and daddies who also know what a great blessing having a child is. And with the same excitement we look to our future...watching our little boy become a man and praying that God will continue to bless our family according to His will. (No, Christina, that isn't an announcement...not yet anyway.) ;)

Happy Birthday, Nathan. Your Mommy and Daddy love you so so so much. We want to shout it from all the corners of cyber-space!

Monday, August 13, 2007

C'mon!

At the current moment I am opening all my windows and doors letting in the 100 degree Sacramento "breezes" so that the smoke alarm won't screech and remind the neighbors that I CAN'T ROAST A CHICKEN. What does this bird require for Pete's sake?!? I own "The Joy of Cooking" among others, have access to thousands of recipes online, have had some organized "training" in culinary arts and I still can't get this stupid bird to look and BE delicious. My hubby, who fortunately enjoys cooking, is always having to come home to rescue my failed bird. 450 degrees for about 60-75 minutes....and it's still under cooked. Cooking it longer dries it out. Please (Sharon....Christina....anybody...) help! I want to conquer this foul fowl!

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Crawling! And other milestones only Mommies and Daddies care about

Well, ok. Milestones might be a touch dramatic for a few of these...but c'mon, a first is still a first, no? Let's call them moments of interest to few...

So after months of dragging his belly across the carpet, Nathan has started to crawl. And with some coaxing (and a steady line of O's) we have even crossed the hardwood floor! Which is awesome because now Mommy can take all the little heiny pictures his album is missing! Aside from that, he's building upper body strength by pulling himself up on stuff around the house.

For the grandmas and grandpas...

we liked our first go at real milk in our big boy cup and had PB & J sandwiches...well just the one so far.

Nathan remains a 21lb "good eater" and delights his papa by loving strange flavor combinations and Chinese/Korean food.

Monday, July 02, 2007

banana stains? What's in your arsenal?

Nobody told me that this perfect food would doom Nattie's outfits to the "outside clothes" heap. I have looked on the web for some tips on handling this deviously destructive fruit but alas have come up short....SHOUT hasn't worked nor has Spray N Wash. The web offers "cold glycerin water and a good scrubbing with the banana peel" but that hardly sounds like a solution to the BANANA problem. Am I crazy?

So please, if you can offer your tips I'd be so glad to bring these soiled jammies back into the circle of dressing. I know you mommies have got some experienced secrets out there...

Friday, June 15, 2007

We had a great time visiting with Nanty and Derrel last weekend. We got a chance to see the Sacramento Zoo and Nathan had a good time applauding the animals for sleeping and hiding from people. Our fearless navigators did, however, work us around to see some giraffes and monkeys moving about.
Here is some proof of our gallivanting...

Thursday, May 17, 2007

I wonder if Nate's old enough for this?

Actual train of thought in my brain within the last few days:

Sprinklers are like an erector set for grown ups . . . Except cooler because it's with water . . . pipes and connectors would be a good toy for kids . . . it would be cool if kids could hook up pipes in different ways and then run water through them . . . that wouldn't really work because it's too hard to keep the connections from leaking . . . I wonder if you could make some kind of toy with easy to make connections . . .
Ok, all of that is just normal random activity in my brain that was soon forgotten and would have stayed forgotten — until I saw this.

(Make sure you follow the link to where they found it to see the awesome video of it in action!)

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

forgive me...

BAM!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

4 pictures for the price of 1!



[UPDATE: Google just added an embeddable slideshow widget to Picasa (finally!) so I changed the not-very-good one used here before.]

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Do moments on this earth get more precious?


Watching Rodney and Nattie play has been one of my greatest joys these last eight months.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Some experiences come early

Friday, April 06, 2007

Too much fun!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Courtesy of my sister...



[Updated for a larger image!]

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Happy Birthday Nanty!


We love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Friday, March 16, 2007

A chick magnet!!



Grandma Craig knitted up some treasures too!

How fun is this!?!?!

Grandpa Craig built Nattie a shiny new wagon.....and they're off!

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

So, today Mom FINALLY let me feed myself!

MMMMMM.....eggs! Yummy!


Then Mommy thought a bath would be a good idea before Daddy came home.


Baths are fun...but kind of silly since I'll just be messy again!

Oh, the fun we have...



Tuesday, February 13, 2007

See!! It's not just you!!

He saves some real tears for mommy too!

Note on comments

Based on this post I'm turning off the word verification requirement. We'll see how it goes.

More evidence the press wants us (or at least Bush) to lose

Every day, Slate magazine has a column called "Today's Papers" which summarizes the top headlines from the top five newspapers in the country. I highly recommend it as a great way to get a quick overview of what's going on.

These are quotes from "Today's Papers" in the last four days (FOUR DAYS! Imagine all the things that aren't as obvious!).

The NYT goes inside with news that virtuoso U.S. envoy Christopher Hill is close to a deal on North Korea's nuclear program, swapping it for fuel and normalization talks. He sounds pretty confident, calling it "a Libya model," but he "wants to be careful about predicting success tomorrow." Just think: Bush's record on the Axis of Evil could be two down, one to go. (Saturday, 2/10)
Wow! That looks pretty promising. But of course it's Saturday, and no one will notice a bit of pro-Bush news on a Saturday. But then on Sunday, as most people settle into the morning with the Sunday paper, let's see what's going on in the world:
On the other axis of evil front, talks with North Korea have been extended after negotiators failed to reach an agreement over the energy aid North Korea would receive as compensation for closing its main nuclear reactor. (Sunday, 2/11)
Notice the emphasis on "failed to reach" by making that the link. That's Slate's spin but that story's from the Washington Post whereas the first was the New York Times.
The New York Times fronts the presentation, but leads with the apparent collapse of the North Korea talks. The main stumbling point appears to be North Korea's demands for large amounts of aid before it agrees to anything. (Monday, 2/12)
Ok, now it's Monday morning and people go back to work—unless you work for the state—and check in on the news and the NYT is making up for it's absent-minded pro-bush slip over the weekend. How did that Bush-lover get in the door, anyway? But wait, look what comes next!
The New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times lead, while the Wall Street Journal tops its world-wide newsbox, with word that negotiators from six countries reached a tentative agreement that could be the first step in getting North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program. Under terms of the agreement, which wasn't released but the papers all have sources, North Korea would be given energy assistance and aid in exchange for the closing down of its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon and readmitting nuclear inspectors into the country. Discussions about North Korea's existing nuclear weapons and fuel would be left for a later date. (Tuesday, 2/13)
"Uh, never mind." Things turned out fine after all! I guess they were too eager for something to go wrong to wait for TWO DAYS in the middle of years-long negotiations to give anything the administration does the benifit of the doubt.

Thursday, February 01, 2007


Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Rodney and I spent a great weekend visiting Nicole in DC. The weather was nicer than in Sacramento. In fact, we didn't even need a jacket most of the time! So here are some pictures of what we did and saw while we were there.

Monday, January 08, 2007

January already?!?!

Christmas was a blast! We had a full house--family, friends, the works! I'll post a quick collage of some of the highlights.



We even got to play with Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell over New Year's.



AND In addition to all that good stuff...we have some firsts too!! First solid foods! Yummy. Nathan has indulged in a number of different tastes now! Also, Nattie is now too big for his bath tub and he now takes his baths in his handy bath seat. He can now stand up on his own (well, not entirely on HIS own) and we are officially TEETHING. Drool, drool, drool! Everything is a chew-toy!

 

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