It's not that I don't have anything to say...

it's just that I'm always not sure how to say it.

There are many rants that well up in my mind, or issues that come up that I have an opinion on, but I can't figure out how to express my opinions on them without seeming catty or bossy or just downright annoying.

I hate when people do the whole I-am-better-than-you-because-I-think-this-and-you-don't thing because I believe there's different opinions for everything (though the other person's opinion is generally wrong... ;)) and all opinions should be heard out and discussed.

Enough for being not sure about what to say.

I'll give you an update on life.

Our family went to Washington, DC this past week and it was fun, although very, very, very hot. It was 90+ degrees every day there. A girl passed out at Arlington cemetery cause it was so freaking hot out. But we managed to stay cool and not die. :)

We toured the Capitol, went to many, many museums, saw all the memorials and monuments, went to the zoo, walked around a LOT, went to Quanitco (insert Criminal Minds fangirl squee here) and saw the changing of the guard plus a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington cemetery.

It was a lot of fun, and there's still too much more to see in DC! I'll have to go back sometime again. :)

Girl Drama

OK, we are waiting again, so I will babble. Girl Drama, is this really necessary? They are such sweeties when babes, and something saturates theirs souls as puberty begins and monsters emerge. They are so beautiful to look at it takes you by surprise, budding young women whose heads can spin around. I have 5 sisters and I remember little drama while I was home, rumor has it the two youngest did battle for a while, but I had moved out by then.

Maybe my memory is flawed, wouldn't be the first time, but I don't recall PMS being allowed or tolerated, you were supposed to be at least civil to one another all the time. I am trying to recall what my mother did. She kicked us out of the house a lot, that would take care of some of the battles. We had to work at home or elsewhere, once again this gets us out of each others hair, or too tired to fight. I remember pouting and silent treatment, but usually you just found something to do, or a good book to read. Maybe the 3 year gap between me and the next girl had something to do with it, my usual family companion was my older brother. After the gap there are 5 girls crammed into 6 years. Heading to college at 18 I left the quintet, ages 9-15 home alone, with one younger brother, maybe he is a better person to ask about the presence of girl drama in that generation.

But I still need a fix, something to bring down the curtain on said behavior in this current crop of females. Withdrawal of all privileges doesn't do it, at times it seems to increase the drama. Maybe the work option is the way to go, then instead of sniping at one another I become the primary target, this would give them an enemy to unite against. We might get a little peace and I might get a clean house.

A Test?

"Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character hope, and hope does not disappoint" Romans 5:3-5

Sitting in church and this little gem was read, so affliction builds character which is suppose to bring hope, is this required or just one of the means to the end. And does it mean real affliction or does it also include minor annoying problems. Maybe that is the problem with hope and youth, they don't really need God, we have kept them safe, secure, fed, clothed, loved and they want for nothing, including God.

I do know that crisis' can be a faith building experience, they certainly get you back on the praying wagon. But is deep, unshakable faith, the kind that provides assurance, possible without struggle? I think of youth experiences and how most use familial love to build the emotional connections and steer teens to Christ, these last only a short while and without further nurturing lose their impact, it gets them started but something more is needed to sustain the faith. Must they face the devil, via affliction , loss, or some other devastation? We have tools, we have Eucharist, we have scripture, we have tradition, to nourish and build upon the early love fest, but can each of us also expect a "test."

Seems a bit frightening, the images are there, the potter molding, the smith purifying the gold, the narrow gate.

I know it is frighting, my sister just told me she has cancer...I don't like tests!