Book Review: Stories for the Homeschool Heart

Stories for the Homeschool Heart
Compiled and Edited by Patti Maguire Armstrong and Theresa A. Thomas
Waterford, MI: Bezalel Books, 2010

As the title suggests, “Stories for the Homeschool Heart: Heavenly Stories of Inspiration, Hope and Joy” is a compilation of stories by homeschoolers and friends of homeschoolers intended to bring support and encouragement to others traveling the homeschooling journey. Patti Maguire Armstrong and Theresa A. Thomas have done a commendable job putting together this treasure-trove of stories. Some of the featured writers include Armstrong and Thomas themselves as well as pro-life blogger and speaker Leticia Velasquez, Catholic Exchange editor Mary Kochan, author Nancy Carpentier Brown, creator of the Little Flower’s Girls Club Rachel Watkins, and author Elizabeth Foss. Divided by topic, the stories discuss things such as being called to homeschool (for most of us it comes as a surprise. God really had to hit me over the head with a 2 x 4 to get me to do it), lessons learned, faith, prayers answered, and the fact that learning never ends.

The section that spoke to me most was “It’s Not Always Easy.” I think sometimes homeschoolers try so hard to put a positive spin on homeschooling (and there are many positive things) that we hesitate to acknowledge all the hard days that can come along with the territory. It can be comforting to know that others struggle and yet manage to keep going. In particular, the section “A Word from your Father” featuring encouraging Bible verses is so helpful it should be taped onto every homeschoolers wall or refrigerator for a pick-me-up on tough days.

The writers of these stories are all incredibly faith-filled people whose life journeys have led them to homeschooling, some for a season, some for many years. The only caveat I would offer to readers of this book is that the vast majority of stories are from people with large families. As a Catholic homeschooling mother of two, I feel it is important to acknowledge that Catholic homeschooling families can come in all shapes and sizes. Overall, however, “Stories for the Homeschool Heart” is a great gift to the Catholic homeschooling community and I thank Armstrong and Thomas for bringing it to fruition.

Reviewed by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com

Amish Grace available on DVD September 14

This film based on the book "Amish Grace; How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy" premiered this Palm Sunday on the Lifetime Movie Channel. The audience of 4 million broke all previous records for the channel. Grace Hill Media informed me that 40% of the audience was Catholic. Now the DVD is being released and Catholics once again have a chance to 'vote with their feet" and buy a uniquely Christian family film.
See my review here;
They called themselves the ´plain people´ and are characterized by their distinctive lifestyle and dress. They are the Amish of Lancaster County, PA. Still living without electricity or motor vehicles, and within a closed community, the Amish attract a lot of attention from tourists who are curious about why they live without modern conveniences and dress in traditional garb. On October 2, 2006, in Nickel Mines, the Amish attracted an entirely different type of attention. Charles Carl Roberts, backed up his pickup truck to the the community´s one room schoolhouse where he proceeded to tie up and shoot 10 girls execution style, killing five, before taking his own life.

The innocence of the girls Charlie shot and his own admission that he was a sexual predator with intent to abuse again, held the world in the grip of horror. This was the third school shooting that first week of October 2006; however it stood apart from the others by its diabolical nature. The shooter had deliberately targeted the pacifist Amish community because their lack of technology meant that they were more vulnerable. He knew this because for years he had driven a milk truck, collecting milk from their farms. They trusted him and he betrayed their trust by shooting of their girls in a premeditated assault because as he stated in his suicide note, Charlie was mad at God for taking his newborn daughter who died 10 years earlier.

Rather than recoiling further from ´the English´, the Nickel Mines Amish community visited the home of Charlie Robert the afternoon after the murders, offering his widow Amy their condolences and telling her that they forgave her husband. It was an unprecedented act of mercy that left the local news team flummoxed. A reporter for the local news station is sent to cover the story and becomes involved in the life of Ida Graber, an Amish woman who is struggling to forgive her daughter´s killer.

At first she is curious about the true motives behind the extraordinary act of kindness on the part of the community elders which include Gideon, Ida´s husband. Because Ida has trouble accepting their actions, she suspects that they do not represent the wishes of the entire community, and that they are imposing the impossible upon their members. Ida has come to the end of her rope, and begs to be driven to her sister Emma´s home in Philadelphia, ending her marriage, since her husband will shun her, as her sister was shunned when she left the community to marry a non-Amish husband.
She forms a friendship with Ida, offering her a way out of the Amish community. Kimberly Williams-Paisley is Ida Graber, the Amish mother or a slain 14 year old whose crisis of faith is less than believable, a case of Hollywood trying to make sense out of a culture which mystifies them. Let the mystery stand, the Amish have their own reasons for remaining apart from the world, and the film does an admirable job revealing the true nature of the Amish.
Tammy Blanchard is passionate as Amy Roberts the widow of the murderer Charlie who was conducting a prayer meeting while her husband was shooting school children. She is s a good wife and mother, who is devastated by her husband´s crimes. She is profoundly moved by the compassionate visit of the Amish on the very day of the murder/suicide, and becomes a distant friend of the community as they rebuild the New Hope schoolhouse.
In the opening scene, the Amish community gathers for a Sunday service and the Deacon says than an English man asked him why they keep themselves separate. He explains, "We are separate, so that we do not stray. Someone who boasts that he is a Christian must walk in the path of Christ. Then he said to me, ´cqn you not walk In path of Christ and watch television too?´ (laughs) I said, well, would be quite the trick. How can we keep our minds on God if we are distracted by worldly pursuits? We cannot. We keep our lives simple so that our path to Heaven will be wide open for us. Let us lift our voices now in expectation in arrival in our true home".

The Heavenly-mindedness of the Amish is the inspiring theme of Amish Grace, and even the faith of a practicing Christian like Amy Roberts pales in comparison to the glowing example of faith in God and unquestioning obedience to His will seen in the Amish community.

No direct violence, nudity or strong language. Highly recommended for the whole family, since the shootings are not portrayed in the film and sexual abuse is not mentioned, however the discussion of murder may be frightening for younger children.

Eduardo Verastegui filming "Cristiada" with all star cast

When I interviewed Eduardo in August 2009, he said he was looking forward to working on a film about the brave priests in Mexico during the 1920's, called Cristeros, who became martyrs for the Faith.
He is now in Mexico, with Eva Longoria Parker,Peter O'Toole, and  Andy Garcia filming "Cristiada".

You can follow the progress of the film, at the film's blog here.

At father's urging, Estevez makes film he sees as metaphor for life

Actor and director Emilio Estevez reluctantly went to Spain to tell a story about how faith, hope and walking are all part of the American way of overcoming hard times.

The movie has "no nudity. There are no explosions. There are no car chases," said Estevez. "It's about people. It's about this community of broken souls. And there's a ton of humor in it."

Estevez told The Catholic Register, a Canadian weekly, that his new film "The Way" is about American spirituality. The story follows four characters walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, or the Way of St. James, through Spain.

"Americans are searching for something. The Camino serves as the ultimate metaphor for life," said Estevez

story

Excellent video makes an important point

Movie Review: Eat Pray Love

Julia Roberts is Liz Gilbert, a married woman who is unhappy in her marriage.  When she tells her husband, he literally begs her to try to work things out.  Despite his willingness to try, she decides to go travel and "find herself".   She has a brief affair with David Piccolo and that doesn't last, so she then goes to India, Rome and then back to India. She tries Hinduism in India, but the majority of the movie is watching Liz and her friends eat.  It's not pretty, in more ways than one.  

I found Julia's character Liz to be very selfish, and totally consumed with self-gratification.  She is clearly looking for happiness.  She strikes me as an obviously depressed person, full of self-pity.

I usually like Julia Roberts' movies, but it's been a while since I found a movie so tough to sit through; in fact, I made it about two thirds  through and left.  I couldn't take much more of watching people stuffing their faces  and feeling sorry for themselves.

One positive thing I could say about this movie is that it reminded me how glad I am that I'm Catholic.

One word: Disappointing.

Book Review: Breach of "Trust" by DiAnn Mills

Paige Rogers is a librarian in the small town of Split Creek, Oklahoma. What no one there knows is that she is a former CIA operative. She is one of two survivors of a failed mission which killed the rest of her team.  The other survivor is Daniel Keary, who she believes betrayed their team.  Unfortunately, Keary is about to be elected Governor of Oklahoma.

Paige has become  quite at home in Split Creek.  She has also become a Christian, trying to follow God's will for her.  She has also developed a relationship with Miles Laird, the local football coach.  He is also a Chrisian.   They both face each situation as a Christian.  Throughout the story, each of them is constantly praying for God's guidance and, more frequently, for others who need prayers.


When Paige is called back into service by the CIA, it is fascinating to see her struggle to reconcile the super CIA operative she was/is with the Christian she has become and is committed to being.  It  was refreshing to read a good mystery with two characters falling in love without hopping into bed right away.  Paige is also hesitant to get too close to anyone and  endangering them because of her past, and the threat it poses  to her  today.

The characters were particularly well-defined and integral to the story.  I enjoyed "Breach of Trust" tremendously and I am truly hoping it will one day be made into a movie. 

A Song that hurts

When a young woman with Down syndrome was features on "Family Guy", as a date for Peter Griffin's son, I was cautious. As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, I welcome media opportunities for our kids, the more people see individuals with Down syndrome leading normal lives, the more accepted they will be in society.
 We were big fans of the show "Life Goes On" starring Chris Burke, an actor with Down syndrome in the 90's,  before my daughter was born. Chris' character Corky was a happy, well adjusted teenager who just happened to have an extra chomosome. Sometimes Down syndrome was a issue, as when he wasn't able to play football with his Dad, due to his spinal instability, and Patti LuPone, as Corky's Mom, did a great job of sensitively discussing the pain of having restrictions put on his activities. This gave society a positive, yet realistic view of life with Down syndrome. And although, I don't like the downward trajectory of morality in the show"Secret Life of the American Teenager", I do appreciate the fact that Grace's adopted brother has Down syndrome. The more postiive TV and movie roles we can give to people with Down syndrome, the less strange they seem, and the less likely babies with Trisomy 21 will be aborted. The abortion rate is currently a tragic 90%.

Sadly, the Down syndrome community which has become more vocal in recent years, in defending the rights and dignity of people with Trisomy 21, dropped the ball over the recent episode of "Family Guy". Because the girl dating Peter Griffin's son was mocking Sarah Palin (she was the daughter of the Governor of Alaska) they seemed to feel awkward protesting her inclusion in the show. The Down syndrome community didn't support Palin, they are not pro-life and she seems to embarrass them. So, when the song "Down Syndrome Girl" denigrating young women with Down syndrome was nominated for an Emmy, the only protest the Down Syndrome Congress coud muster was to request that the  horrible song not be performed at the ceremony. Too little, too late.

Here are the song's despicable lyrics:

"And though her pretty face may seem a special person's wettest dream ...

"You must impress that ultra-boomin', all consumin', poorly-groomin' Down Syndrome girl ... You wanna take that little whore and spin her on the dancing floor ... My boy, between the two of us we'll get you on that shorty bus. ...

"Now go impress that super-thrilling, wish-fulfilling, YooHoo-spilling, ultra-swinging, boner-bringing ... as of Monday shoe lace-tying ... just a little crooked walking, coyly-pouting, booby-sprouting ... happiness and joy-creating, Down Syndrome girl."

No song with those degrading lyrics could be even considered for an award if it were about gays, or a religious, ethnic or racial group. Only vulnerable people who lack the ablility to stand up for themselves are subjected to this type of humiliation. I hope that young men who hear this song do not consider my beautful daughter an easy target, it is a sad fact that children with disabilies are already subjected to more sexual abuse than others.

If the Down syndrome advocacy community were pro-life as they should be (what kind of advocacy group stands by while 90% of babies with Ds are aborted?) they would be proud of Sarah Palin, her courageous choice to give birth to Trig while she was governor, and the positive publicity he has brought to those with an extra chomosome. When the National Down Syndrome Society, and the National Down Syndrome Congress came out with a document entitled, "Towards Concurrance" in 2008 which stated that they are NOT pro-life, their strength to defend the vulnerable was undermined, allowing such outrages to continue.We who know the blessings of loving someone with Down syndrome have formed two pro-lie Down syndrome advocacy groups: Keep Infants with Down Syndrome, (KIDS) and The International Down Syndrome Coalition for Life (IDSC for Life). Both groups support the right of children with Trisomy 21 to be born, and live with dignity. We disagreed with the character from the start, as it was merely a ruse to mock Sarah Palin and her son Trig.
Read a post a the blog The Statesman about the song here.

I Ain't Afraid O' No Ghosts: Reviewing "Holy Ghosts"

What many of the faithful thought was lost after these reforms [the Second Vatican Council, 1962-65] was a sense of the supernatural--of an unseen, invisible world, the world of spirit. This is not to say that spiritual matters were abandoned. Far from it, but as the Church shifted its focus in the latter years of the twentieth century, did belief in angelic and demonic forces have a place in the modern world any more? Did miracles really happen or could science explain them away? Or, for that matter, was heaven a real place or a state of mind? As these issues were debated over the next few decades, the idea of a spirit world for many people began to lose power. And, many critics believed, so did God.

In a sense, this is the true heart of Holy Ghosts by Gary Jansen. While on the surface it is the story of a decades-long haunting, underneath Jansen begins wondering whatever happened to what everyone used to "know" about the supernatural world existing alongside our own tangible one.

Jansen begins as a hard-headed skeptic who was trained in ignoring the odd noises and quirks of his childhood home. Doorbells that rang with no one there, the sound of smashing glass in the middle of the living room where there was no glass to be smashed, and creaking stairs that sounded as if someone were walking on them when no one was there ... these were all standard occurences as he grew up; as the family gave reasonable explanations, he accepted them and learned to do likewise. However, when he is living in that same house as a married man with a child, the oddities grow worse and eventually neither Jansen nor his wife can ignore them any more.

The lamp was off in the toy room, which was just beyond our dining room, but there was a soft blue glow from the computer screen illuminating the wall I stood up and slowly walked across the floor, and the church bells had been replaced by the sound of drums. And it was getting louder. I stepped inside the toy room, where there was music coming out of the speakers. iTunes was on, and metallic guitars were pumping to the beat. It took me a brief moment, but the song registered in my head. It was "Hells Bells" by AC/DC. I remembered leaving the computer on before I stared reading but I was positive there wasn't any music playing. The vocals kicked in and, as I stood there listening to the sound, I felt the electric surge that I had mostly only felt in Eddie's room roll over me as lead singer Brian Johnson intoned, "I'll give you black sensations up and down your spine. If you're into evil then you're a friend of mine."

"You've got to be s******g me," I said to myself. "There is no way this is happening." I switched off iTunes, shut down the computer, waked upstairs, and got into bed with Grace. Eddie was sleeping soundly next to her. I put my arm over the both of them and, for the first time since all of this began, I felt afraid.

There are more things revealed in that house than are dreamt of in their philosophy, until Jansen begins wondering what the Catholic Church teaches about angels, demons, ghosts, and spirits. He is surprised to learn that the Church takes these things seriously and does not treat them as products of imagination. As we watch Jansen strive to understand and rid his home of the often terrifying ghosts, we also travel with him on the journey of discovering what it means to acknowledge the unseen world of the supernatural.

I truly enjoyed this book, although I used very bad judgment in reading it before bedtime. I don't think it would have bothered me as much as it did, except for the fact that I have had two experiences with ghosts or spirits myself. This confirms one of Jansen's comments on the accompanying publicity materials, which is that it is very common for him to share his story only to have the listener pipe up with an experience of their own. Like synesthesia, this is something that people rarely speak of, but may experience a lot more than we are led to understand. Reading this made me think of my own experiences again and that was an uncomfortable thing indeed.

Jansen offers his story with no apologies for taking a rather unorthodox route in dealing with the problem. He lets us see his indecision, his questions, and the reason he ultimately chooses the path they took. A more orthodox Catholic, what Jansen might call a "good Catholic" probably would have gone to a priest at some point and asked for a rite of exorcism or some other sort of aid. It is difficult to say what one would do in such a situation until one is faced with it. Theories are very fine until one imagines facing a priest and talking about ghosts. So much depends on the personalities of the people and their preconceptions (yes, even priests have preconceptions.) I think that Jansen made the best decisions he could with the information he had at the time and, ultimately, that is what we all do when dealing with crisis situations, for better or worse. (For those who have come to me with "pastoral concerns": I don't advise taking Gary's route and would have gone to my local priest or some other Church official who would have done an exorcism or whatever was called for.)

My only quibble with the book is that occasionally Jansen uses language which, frankly, surprised me not so much because it was just this side of swearing, but because it felt at odds with the rest of the flow of the book. It was as if he were trying to push for "edgy" language, but honestly that was not needed. The story itself, told in all honesty, is edgy enough without those lapses which always took me out of the book and stopped me for a second before I would plunge back in.

Jansen's honest tale is one that I highly recommend. What I appreciate most is the way that he used his supernatural encounters as a springboard to look for what the Catholic faith teaches and for a way to incorporate it into his everyday life. This is how Catholics should live, no matter what we encounter, and Jansen gives us a fine example of it. As he points out, the Church is reacquainting us with some of the things that were inadvertently ignored or misplaced in the reforms after the Second Vatican Council. If we believe in God, then the Bible has much more to say about other supernatural beings. It is something worth pondering and Holy Ghosts is a well told tale that is a good reminder of those truths.

Book Review: "Where do Priests Come From?"

Where Do Priests Come From?

by Elizabeth Ficocelli
Waterford, MI: Bezalel Books, 2010

From a child's perspective, priests can sometimes seem very mysterious. After all, they dress differently and live differently and do different things than all of the other people in their lives. It can be hard to imagine that they were once little boys. Elizabeth Ficocelli has written a charming, informative book "Where do Priests Come From" which attempts to answer many of the questions children might have about priests and the lives they lead.

Ficocelli talks about how priests are called by God to the priesthood, how they may have dreamed of being an astronaut or a doctor or a fire-fighter, but one day they heard a quiet voice in the hearts inviting them to become a priest and they said "Yes." She discusses the discernment process and the time in seminary. She mentions the different types of priests and the vows they take. She mentions the long list of ways that they minister to other people, but also emphasizes that they are still people who also have a need to relax and enjoy hobbies. They also sometimes make mistakes and need to go to confession (this was the fact that my own two sons were most surprised by!)

This book is intended for young boys to encourage them to think about becoming a priest. As such, it is a great vocation tool. Ficocelli has done a wonderful job with this book. One can only hope that there will be a companion volume for girls: "Where Do Sisters Come From?"

Reviewed by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com