What I will be saying tomorrow

March 23 2012 Rally for Religious Freedom, Portland Maine


Allison Eddyblouin

Catholic Natural Family Planning teacher.



Do we have Freedom of Worship or Freedom of Religion? I am easily free to worship anywhere I want. But if my faith, the foundational tenants of the House of Worship I choose to attend, conflicts with the health care mandate, then my freedom ends. People of good faith are demanding from our government the freedom to spend their own money in ways that do not violate their faith. On all sides, we are being called to stand up and put our money where our mouth is. If you have serious objections to any religious teaching, Catholic or otherwise, then make the sacrifices you need to, to stand up for you beliefs and don’t work for such an organization. And equally, if we have strong beliefs that go against possible laws that our Government is decreeing, then we have no choice but to defy those laws, and to ask again and again that our rights be resopected

In the 1950’s and early 60’s the Old Order Amish in our country began fighting a battle against paying into social security insurance. The government had thought they found a way around this problem by asking the objecting Amish to open bank accounts from which the government could withdraw the amount due, rather than the Amish having to willingly pay into what was morally objectionable to them. This is similar to the exemption the government is trying to hand to religious institutions today. The Amish closed their bank accounts and the battle began.

We are not here today to fight Health Care, we are not here to fight women’s health, we are here to stand up for our right as American citizens to say that our faith calls us to a higher view of the human person: a view which prevents us from aiding the objectification of another. We are women and men, republicans, democrats, and independents. We are Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Other religions. To quote the petition sent to congress by the Amish:

"We do not want to be burdensome, but we do not want to lose our birthright to everlasting glory, therefore we must do all we can to live our faith!"

My Rosary Boot Camp

I made a commitment at the beginning of lent to pray my daily Rosary.  At first it was first thing in the morning--then the time moved around as necessary when I found I ran out of time before I had little ones gathering around me pleading to be fed.  For the most part I have been faithful to this commitment--and the few times I have not prayed my rosary have been useful in how they highlight how effective 20 minutes of prayer can be!

One day in particular stands out.  It must have been a Monday because I was praying the Joyful Mysteries.
  This one evening the focus of my meditation became my parenting, and the goals I have as a mother.  The first mystery is The Annunciation.  The joy and trepidation of learning that I am going to be a mother, for the first time, or again, and again....that is always such a wonderful and terrible and exciting moment.  As I meditated on Mary's "fiat" I thought about, just as she had small idea of all the suffering and joy that was to come, I too have little idea of the lives that my children will bring me along on and a passenger as I watch and experience their choices from the sidelines.

The second mystery in the Visitation, when Mary rushes off to help Elizabeth, who is pregnant in her old age.  I reflected on how many deep and spiritual friendships I have with beautiful women of faith as a result of the children I have.  Library story time, Mom prayer groups, La Leche League--so many venues particular to mothers that have blessed me immensely.  We cannot mother in a vacuum, and the womanly friendships I have are essential to my growth in holiness and parenting.

The Nativity--such a profound mystery at any time of year, but especially now as we prepare to immerse ourselves liturgically in the "Word Made Flesh."  This mystery reminds me of the commingled and reflective relationship we have with the infant King.  I see the reflection of my deep love for my own babies, and have deep love for God welling up in me as I gaze upon the helpless babe in the manger.  But I am also reminded that God Himself loves me even more deeply and unconditionally.  To think and meditate on my own belovedness gives me the strength to turn again to the world, to my family especially, with the love that can only come from this deep knowledge of my own dignity and worth--and indeed every one's on earth!

When Mary Catherine was born in New Mexico part of her Baptism ceremony was to lay her on the alter and dedicate her though pray to Jesus and Mary.  That brief physical separation--stepping back and looking upon my own baby on the alter--burned in my heart the reality of she and I both being at the mercy of God.  I can do nothing without first offering everything to God.  Knowing that He is there guiding and strengthening me in my mothering.  It's not all roses, but with prayer I can persevere in offering myself and my children, repeatedly, to Our Lord.

Any parent who has temporarily, or permanently lost a child knows what Mary and Joseph felt as they searched for their boy.  The Finding of Jesus in the temple reminds me not only of the joy of once again hugging the lost child, but also of the need for me to find the child Jesus every day of my life.  And this seeking and finding I prayerfully pass on to my own children. The childhood faith is so easy to nurture.  They are genuinely seeking and finding Jesus every day.  But as they grow I know they will have to make their own adult decision to find and follow Christ.  All I can hope to do is to be an example, offer other examples of faith in the people we spend time with, and pray pray pray!

And so my Rosary has blessed me.  Thank you Jesus, and Mother Mary!

An Autumn Adventure

On voting day the 5 youngers and I donned our blaze orange and walked the mile and a half down to our village center.  We played at the river [ark, stopped at the swimming hole to write letters, went to the town office to vote and play with the toy basket, then to the post office to pick up a BIG BOX from Nana and mail the letters we had just written.  What an adventure! 

Of course, then we had to walk back home!  Uphill!!  Blaise fell asleep.  The box moved from John Henry's shoulder, to Thalia's head, then her shoulder, then to in between Blaise and Weggie on the stroller.  Back on our little road it was just on top of Blaise, as Weggie decided (after the BIG HILL) that he could run around with his brothers!

The whole event took 3 hours.  Boy was it worth it!! 

I LOve This Poem

Spring and Fall


to a young child

MÁRGARÉT, áre you gríeving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leáves, líke the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Áh! ás the heart grows older 5
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you wíll weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name: 10
Sórrow’s spríngs áre the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It ís the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

A Moment

Last night we had a moment of timeless joy around the dinner table. It was also a great illustration of what happens when two graduates of St. John's College get married and decide to homeschool.

This is us around the kitchen table eating cookies--but you get the idea...

We cracked out the Herodotus. AH!! Book 6 paragraphs 94-104. I was reading aloud, and stopping frequently to discuss who was leading the Persians on the trek down to Athens. John had a map of ancient Greece handy. Thalia had her "Famous Men of Greece" out for cross referencing all the personages of note.

It was so much fun!!! I hope SOMEONE among our offspring go to SJC just for the fun of re-reading these Great Books!!

(Just so you don't think it's all perfect, the resident teen asked "WHY are we reading this?" in a very put off tone. She soon left the room to browse facebook while we were in nerdy bliss...)

Making a beautiful home

I'm busy unpacking, but want to share bits of my successes. (and Sondra's, since she was doing a lot of the design work yesterday!)




Here is our reading/prayer nook in our bedroom. Don't you just want to sit and relax over the Bible, or the latest Atlantic, or Runner's World?!


This is the dining room just before dinner last night. NB the sideboard with food. We need to loose the ladder and vacuum, but the candles add ambience, no? Nice books too!

This was Sondra's Baby--artfully placed pitchers above the cupboards. She forced me to give up the big black hole garbage can that I was really enjoying for the more understated kitchen garbage can--oh well. It does look better.

And this is what happens when you are so busy unpacking that you leave an open jam jar on the table with a toddler.

Hey, Peter

Blaise: Come over here! My mom has this cupboard, and if we open it there are treats inside!

P: Really? Let's see. OOO here is that little brown bottle. It smells good, but Eli says it tastes yucky! What's in this bag?

B: Sand! White sand!! Let's poor it out and play in it.

P: My hands are sandy, I hate that--I'll lick them WOW!! This sand tastes GREAT!!!

B: You're right!! Be really really quiet. The Mom's will never know! Just keep licking!