Hi Rosie, here is an interactive calendar I found with BOTH New and Old Calendar dates. It lists the saints of the day which are linked to a snippet about who they are, including the dates they lived. Understand that if the saint existed before the rift between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox they will be recognized today by both camps. My saint is the Irish St. Brendan, who is BOTH a Roman Catholic & an Eastern Orthodox saint. http://pomog.org/orthodoxcalendar-en/

Do you happen to live near a university that has a marine biology dept? An aquarium? I had a similar assignment to your dd's but it was in high school, I had to research, tour, and report back on the University of Miami's Seaquarium/Marine Biology dept. Since I was the only one that showed up for the tour I got to walk through places folks usually dont get to see and get to ask all sorts of questions. I didnt become a marine biologist, but consider myself a good amateur. http://www.miamiseaquarium.com/AboutUs/History Click the educational programs link. Maybe you can get a hold of someone that may help you.

Today I can bring up the Social Group listing and see the home pages but cant read the discussions, looks like the old content is gone, too. Alas

Well, down for maintenance now, maybe it was premature to locked the interim social group threads.

Mr. Price can now double for the Pope, uncanny resemblance, your dd has a good eye.

Aimee, a different perspective on confession, the priest is God's agent on earth. It may help to know that God already knows your sins, so confession is like going to Father God to repent and be healed. Its between you and God, that is who is there in the confessional. That should help with clearing your conscience.

double post

I am so sorry, Little Nyssa, and I agree with your thoughts.

Thanks for the book recommendation

Exactly

The class I remember growing up was on a Saturday, interestingly most of the kids from my class in public school were also there. Nuns were teaching the class, and though I couldnt wait til Saturday to go to church school, the nuns were strict and the work was hard...I remember being reprimanded for not finishing assignments. My mom still has the class graduation picture, I was 8. It is what I learned there that has kept me close to God. Sad part is, when I was nine we moved away and my parents never went back to church. I went back when I was 18, but what I had known growing up had all changed. It was very discouraging, still is. If it had not changed, I would still be RC. Its the one big pet peeve I have about the protestant churches...CHANGE. It is one thing our RC friends can commiserate with me, one of them grew up Old Catholic - a separate group since Vatican I.

Sharing a resource I found because of listening to Relevant Radio, a pdf file with an outline for Brant Pitre's pocast, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist http://www.brantpitre.com/ Exactly the info we need to share with friends that are on the verge of retiring from the protestant world into nothingness(homegroups?) because they have been so anti-catholic their whole lives and just cant see the fullness of the faith yet.

I am glad you shared this. If it werent that we have close RC friends, I would not even consider trying anymore. My first try at RCIA was an eye-opening disappointment regarding 'the' mother parish in our area. So we ended up attending the other parish. But they were only offering adult confirmation in Spanish and frankly, after the interrogation on the phone before I even showed up to class made me reconsider. I guess its the up front people I am coming across in trying to get answers or even how, when to sign up for RCIA that is discouraging me. I feel like such a speck in the pews. In such a large parish how do you get attention of a priest?

Could y'all explain this sponsorship thing? I know about godparents for baptism, but am totally unfamiliar with sponsors for the process of confirmation or being received into the church. I know the EO has them, too, but knowing about them and understanding the why and what for eludes me. Maybe its from our journey through protestantism, where membership sometimes was just based on a smile and a handshake, that this detail about having someone guiding you through everything just doesnt want to click with me (or dh)?

Its 'pontificating'

Well, there is one more person praying for B16 that wasnt yesterday...dh took his rosary with him to work. I taught him the Hail Mary. To think when we got married he was totally anti-everything except the cultish church he grew up in. The Lord has softened his heart regarding all Christians esp. Catholics :)

Isnt it odd that he is stepping down, they usually stay pope for life? Will they be able to choose a new pope by Easter? I kind of look forward to that. Not having a pope for Easter would be unsettling.

Okay, I found it...here is a website that generates your Hobbit name, and Elvish name http://www.chriswetherell.com/hobbit/

Justamouse (or anyone else), how do you get those names like 'cottonheaded ninnymuggins'? I thought they were just automatic, but I see I must be a perpetual visitor (?)

Two of our favs are diced baked potatoes sauteed with onions, green peppers and jalapenos then wrapped up in a tortilla with refried beans and fresh salsa; and shredded carrots, peas, onions, corn, bean sprouts mixed with leftover rice and a beaten egg for a veggie patty-serve with soy sauce.

Fruits still have natural sugars. I was once hypoglycemic and got that under control to avoid full blown diabetes. I dont know glycemic levels of foods but I am sure you could look them up. Just wanted to comment that juicing gets whatever nutrients (and sugars) in foods more quickly into your bloodstream, great if you are trying to avoid a sugar crash...its better than sucking on hard candy like they tell diabetics to do. There are sites online with juicing recipes, my current fav is 4 carrots, 1 celery rib, one smallish apple - all organic. Makes a nice breakfast.

Just listened to the testimony of a former Baptist (Tim Staples) that converted to RC. Wow. We wake up listening to Relevant Radio and I listen to it throughout the day. I am inspired by this man urging to share your faith, not be afraid to tell people you are exploring the ancient faith. We have finally told all our friends. We didnt experience anything negative. In fact, one more couple is willing to go to church with us this Sunday. The husband was raised Catholic but stopped believing in God along the way, he did marry a Christian and he became a believer again. I pray I we have planted the seeds for them.

We used National Driver Training http://www.usdrivertraining.com for our two older kids. We are in TX where they also have Driver's Ed in a Box http://www.driveredinabox.com We started them when they were 16, got a permit, then trained them for two years, no problem getting drivers license (we were members of the Texas Home School Coalition). They are now 29 and 25...still good drivers! Our youngest turn 16 in Nov. finances have kept us from getting her started but we plan on going the same route

We got to march at a pro-life rally this past weekend at our state's capitol. Started off with mass at the cathedral there with our RC friends. I thought there would be more people at mass but there was a bigger church where mass was said by the bishop of our diocese. At least I got to here him speak at the rally. It was very positive. Sad that our local tv stations called it an anti-abortion rally...they are going to get a letter from me.

My dad was an avid gardener, he loved Pinetree Seeds, for the reasons stated here...few seeds/low price. He always got good service. He doesnt garden anymore so I inherited his stash of seeds :) I like http://www.cooksgarden.com/ I once purchased their started kit, seed starter trays, soil and seeds. It was wonderful. Never had any problems with them.