Regency Ball 2009!!!!

Well, we had a blast, that's all I can say! We got there half hour late (6:30), and danced for four straight hours. We got home around 12:30 and immediately proceeded to drop into bed with a contented smile. I must admit though, that I have been limping painfully around the house for two days now......I'm not used to dancing. And yes, I actually loaded the pictures onto the computer and I am actually posting them. Ain't ya'll proud of me? :P So, here are the pics (sorry of they aren't that great). Enjoy! Oh wait!!! before you look at the pics I have a funny story to tell that only LOTR fans will get. We all kept joking that Danny and David (my bros) would be dancing and then at intermission they would have this conversation:

David (in Gimli voice): Danny, two already! *looks proud of himself*

Danny: *grins* I'm on seventeen!

David: What?! I'm not going to be outdone by an officer!(Danny had a military coat on) *runs off to find girls to dance with*

Lol!!! Okay, now you can look at the pics.


Handsome gents, no?

I love you Mom and Dad!! Or rather Mother and Father. ;)

*gasps and drools* I looooove this girl's hair!!! It reminds so much of Eowyn's hair!


I had so much fun doing Hannah's hair! In case you can't see it that well, she has half her hair in a bun with mini flowers surrounding it, six tiny, looped braids, and the other half of her hair curled. Not bad, eh?


Ah! I have been wanting to do her hair for so long!!!! I was so excited to actually be able to transform Cinderella into the Princess (because she never let's me touch her hair).

Didn't it come out nice?



Brothers and sisters

Family picture

Danny and Hannah

My personal favorite: Mom and me. *big grin* (I love that I looks so much older in this one. Hehehe!)

"Wha...oh." lol!

Don't worry, we weren't dancing with ghosts of the past.....the camera was being being stupid.

"I could have danced all night! I could have danced all night! And still have begged for........

.........oh." Well, I guess I wasn't begging for more, but I sure had fun!

An Outrage!!!

I can't beleive it! I just can't beleive it!.......okay, I can beleive it. :P Read this email and please participate!

Like many of you, we received the news last Friday that President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame this May.

In addition to delivering the address, the President will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. In short, one of our nation’s premier Catholic institutions will honor the President, and hold out him as an example to its students as someone worthy of emulation!

Given President Obama’s utterly shameful record on life, how could a Catholic university honor him?

The University could have politely and quietly told the White House that their standing invitation to the President of the United States was not available this year. Better yet, they could have said that while they would welcome his contributions to the public debate over how to solve our economic crisis, his regrettable policies in favor of a culture of death make it impossible for them to welcome him.

Notre Dame has regrettably hosted pro-abortion speakers in the past, but President Obama is a champion of the abortion cause. Sadly, it is now indisputable that our President has become the world’s leading promoter of abortion, embryo-killing cloning and research, taxpayer-funded abortion, and a vigorous opponent of conscience protections for medical professionals. His campaign promises to find ‘common ground’ have sadly been ignored, or perhaps were simply lies. And this Administration has only just begun.

Is there anything a president could do that would disqualify him or her from delivering such a prestigious address?

If there is such a threshold, Barack Obama has not disqualified himself with Notre Dame officials.

And so we must act.

We have spoken with professors, students, and leaders at Notre Dame over the past 48 hours and have concluded that a massive protest will be practically difficult, and even counterproductive. The University has a right as a private school to prevent all protestors from entering campus, and could legally arrest those who violate this rule. Secondly, a protest could create exactly the wrong impression.

Therefore, we are recommending four courses of action.

1) CatholicVote.org has partnered with the Cardinal Newman Society, a dynamic organization dedicated to the renewal of Catholic higher education in establishing www.NotreDameScandal.com. Together our aim is to collect thousands of signatures and present them to University officials. Sign the petition now.

2) Contact Notre Dame and charitably express your outrage. CatholicVote.org is large enough to have a major impact, and we urge you to contact Notre Dame President Father Jenkins at (574) 631-5000.

3) Join your fellow CatholicVote.org members in a prayer of reparation on May 17 from 2-4 PM. We encourage you to organize local groups to pray for mercy for the decision by Notre Dame, but also for our nation for continuing to permit the tragedy of abortion.
***If you live in the Midwest, or near Notre Dame University, we invite you to personally join us in prayer at the Grotto on the campus of Notre Dame from 2-4 PM on May 17, where we will be joined by several Notre Dame professors, alumni, and current students. The gathering will be a peaceful and prayerful.

4) Please forward this message to your family and friends. Let them know about Notre Dame's decision to honor the most pro-abortion President in American history. We must not remain silent over this scandal!

Sincerely,
Brian Burch, President
CatholicVote.org

Is that awful or what? One of my mom's dreams was to go to a Notre Dame Football game, after reading this email that dream went up in smoke......a smoke of rage!

Happy Birthday!

To my dear brother, Gaby!!! Happy 8th b-day to our little hyper, joyful, future priest! ;) We all love you soooo much!

Ain't he cute?

*sings* I've been tagged again!

I love these things! I have to list 25 things about myself. Here I go!

1. I'm a Catholic and proud of it!

2. I'm pro-life

3. I'm an inch taller than my mom, two inches taller than my sis, and and inch+ shorter than my younger brother >:(

4. I'm a brunette

5. I looooove LOTR (big duh!)

6. I'm married to Prince Caspian (alright not IRL, but still)

7. I love archery

8. wish I was an expert archer and swordsman

9. love Pirates of the Caribbean

10. am the oldest of the kids in my fam

11. home schooled and in 11th grade

12. am very impatient

13. I'm sinner not a saint (okay, everyone is a sinner but it's something to put down)

14. I like to sew

15. going to a Regency ball this month

16. I hate Seton tests (I have yet to meet someone who does like them)

17. want to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville

18. miss my summer camp and the girls there

19. love wearing long flowing skirts

20. wish medieval dresses would come into style

21. hates it when my bro pulls my hair

22. my favorite food is Chinese

23. my great-grandfather was the president of Mexico.........for one day. :P

24. several of my uncles are involved with the movie business

25. my Uncle Danny was the editor of Chicken Little and played the voice of Fish-Out-of-Water (random I know)

Ta-da! So, I now tag Lady Rose, Lanta, Lizzy, and anyone else who wants to do this. ;)

Profound Statements

My dad got these in an email and I just had to share them. They are so funny, but so true!

1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.
-- John Adams

2. If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.
--Mark Twain

3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.
--Mark Twain

4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle .
-- Winston Churchill

5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
-- George Bernard Shaw

6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-- G. Gordon Liddy

7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
-- James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-- Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University

9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-- P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-- Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-- Ronald Reagan (1986)

12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-- Will Rogers

13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!
-- P.J. O'Rourke

14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire (1764)

15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-- Pericles (430 B.C.)

16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-- Mark Twain (1866)

17. Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-- Anonymous

18. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-- Ronald Reagan

19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-- Winston Churchill

20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-- Mark Twain

21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

22. There is no distinctly native American criminal class...save Congress.
-- Mark Twain

23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)

24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-- Thomas Jefferson

The man of many voices!

Okay, here is my bother who imitates the voices of (in order) Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Will Turner, Legolus, Peter Pevensie, Prince Caspian, Barbossa, Miraz, Gollum, a pirate from Pirates of the Carribean: The Black Pearl, Bilbo, Gandolf, Gimli, and Gandolf again.

Here is the script just in case you can't understand what he saying.

Porky: Welcome to my humble abode.

Daffey: And happy birthday you sucker!

Will: My name is not sucker!

Legolus: It's Legolus, son of Bootstrap Bill (I told him to say Thranduil!!). His blood runs in my veins.

Peter: What are you doing here? You're supposed to be opening your presents.

Caspian: No! Tonight I want the truth.....did you steal my birthday cake?!

Barbossa: First - this is for you Theresa (he was talking about the hat) - the return of your cake was not part of our agreement nor our negotiations, so we must do nothin'. Second, you must be a pirate to have that cake and your not. And thirdly, you could consider this a Corporal Work of Mercy considern' we're hungry. Your not welcome aboard the Black Lollipop, Miss Caspian.

Miraz: I liked it better in my room.

Gollum: Your room stinkses! No fish! Gollum! Gollum! Give it to us raw and wriiiiiigly!

Pirate: You sir!

Bilbo: Uh, right!

Pirate: You stole the cake didn't you!

Bilbo:Of course I did! Almost as old as I am. What say we eat it all, right?

Gandolf: Just tea thank you.

Bilbo: Oh, right.

Gimli: Ech, tea! Give us roaring fire, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone. Beer enough to make you float! (that wasn't too good. He's done better with that line.)

Gandolf: Just tea thank you.

Gimli: Humbug.

Danny: Bye!

Although I wasn't tagged for this, I was jealous and decided to do it on my own. *big grin*


7 things I'd like to do before I die:
1. finally graduate from high school!
2. Get married
3. Have children
4. vacation to New Zealand and Hawaii
5. take voice lessons
6. live in Middle Earth (okay, I know I will never be able to do this one, but it would still be nice)


7 things I cannot do well:
1. Wait (I am soooo not patient)
2. concentrate on my school work
3. Control my temper :)
4. Exercise (okay, I can, I just don't' LIKE to).
5. write creative/fun posts
6. I don't know
7. what else. ;)



7 favorite movies
1. Lord of the Rings (duh!)
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
4. Night at the Museum
5. National Treasure movies
6. Pirates of the Caribbean
7. Star Wars
and some others:
8. Boy's Town
9. Cyrano de Bergerac (sp?)
10. Captain Courageous

7 movies I despise:
1. Gigantor (old, old, old, kid show that my brothers used to watch aaaaall the time)
2. Bionicles (another fav of my bros)
3. Becoming Jane
4. The Never Ending Story
5. The Tick
6. How Green was my Valley
7. uh......Bob the Builder?

7 things I say often:
1. "Oh! Blow up!" :P
2. "Want pwetty dwess!" (this won't make sense to you because is a joke between me and my brother)
3. "Caspian is not a girl!" =P
4. "I love LOTR"
5. "I am obsessed with LOTR"
6. "I love the Fellowship guys"
7. "Boromir and his whole family are jerks!"

7 things I'd like in a husband:
1. a strong Catholic faith and love for Christ
2. Taller than me
3. Older than me
4. handsome (duh)
5. Wise
6. Fun loving
7. Hard working

7 favorite books and authors:
1. Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman
2. Black as Night by Regina Doman
3. Waking Rose by Regina Doman
4. The Fellowship by J. R. R. Tolkien
5. The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas
6. An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
7. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

7 places or things I'd rather be/be doing right now:
1. Middle-earth (I WANT TO LIVE THERE!!!)
2. Heaven
3. Learning archery
4. Learning sword fighting
5. Narnia
6. visiting family in CA
7. Disneyland!!

7 Fictional Characters you'd like to be:
1. Arwen
2. Eowyn
3. Susan Pevensie
4. Blanche or Rose Briar
5. One of Aragorn and Arwen's daughters
6. Lizzy Bennett
7. uh.....Padme?

7 fictional characters I'd hate to be:
1. Gollum
2. Saruman
3. Grima Wormtongue
4. Mrs. Bennett
5. Davy Jones
6. Boromir
7. the Emperor from Star Wars

7 favorite fictional characters:
1. Legolas
2. Blache
3. Rose Brier
4. Pippin
5. Merry
6. Fish
7. Bear
and.....
8. Eowyn
9. Arwen
10. Susan Pevensie
11. Caspian
12. Aragorn
13. Frodo
14. Sam

There they are!

And herby tag anyone else who wants to do this! ;)

~Turwethiel Merilwen

Benedict XVI Tells Youth: Church Counts On You

Urges Them to Be Envoys of God's Love

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 4, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is encouraging young people to pray and live the sacraments, so as to be witnesses of hope and joy in a world that counts on them.

The Pope affirmed this in a message published today for the 24th World Youth Day, which will take place April 5, Palm Sunday, on a diocesan level. The event theme is: "We Have Set Our Hope on the Living God."

He told the young people that "we are journeying towards the international gathering due to take place in Madrid in 2011," reminding them that this youth day is one in a series of three, for which we are on "a path of preparation together."

Recalling the 2008 youth gathering in Sydney, the Pontiff reminded the young people, "I urged you to let yourselves be shaped by [the Holy Spirit] in order to be messengers of divine love, capable of building a future of hope for all humanity."

He added: "Youth is a special time of hope because it looks to the future with a whole range of expectations. When we are young we cherish ideals, dreams and plans. Youth is the time when decisive choices concerning the rest of our lives come to fruition."

We ask ourselves, he noted, "Where can I obtain and how can I keep alive the flame of hope burning in my heart?"

The Holy Father observed, "Experience shows that personal qualities and material goods are not enough to guarantee the hope which the human spirit is constantly seeking."

This great hope, he affirmed, "can only be God, who encompasses the whole of reality and who can bestow upon us what we, by ourselves, cannot attain."

Societal needs

Benedict XVI told the youth: "My dear young friends, I have in mind so many of your contemporaries who have been wounded by life. They often suffer from personal immaturity caused by dysfunctional family situations, by permissive and libertarian elements in their education, and by difficult and traumatic experience."

He added: "Yet, even for those who find themselves in difficult situations, having been led astray by bad role models, the desire for true love and authentic happiness is not extinguished.

"But how can we speak of this hope to those young people? We know that it is in God alone that a human person finds true fulfillment.

"The main task for us all is that of a new evangelization aimed at helping younger generations to rediscover the true face of God, who is Love."

Paul the Apostle

Referring to St. Paul's example of virtue, the Pope said that "hope is not simply an ideal or sentiment, but a living person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

He continued, "If we are not alone, if he is with us, even more, if he is our present and our future, why be afraid? [...]

"Just as he once encountered the young Paul, Jesus also wants to encounter each one of you, my dear young people. Indeed, even before we desire it, such an encounter is ardently desired by Jesus Christ.

"But perhaps some of you might ask me: How can I meet him today? Or rather, in what way does he approach me?"

The answer, said the Pontiff, is in prayer. He said, "When we express our faith in prayer, we find him even in times of darkness because he offers himself to us."

He exhorted the youth, "Make space for prayer in your lives!"

Finding Christ

The Holy Father pointed out: "There are experiences, groups and movements, encounters and courses in which to learn to pray and thus grow in the experience of faith.

"Take part in your parish liturgies and be abundantly nourished by the Word of God and your active participation in the sacraments."

He said, "If you find your sustenance in Christ, my dear young people, and if you live profoundly in him as did the Apostle Paul, you will not be able to resist speaking about him and making him known and loved by many of your friends and contemporaries."

Benedict XVI emphasized: "The Church depends on you for this demanding mission. Do not be discouraged by the difficulties and trials you encounter.

"Be patient and persevering so as to overcome the natural youthful tendency to rush ahead and to want everything immediately."

He added, "Following in the footsteps of the people of hope -- composed of prophets and saints of every age -- we continue to advance toward the fulfillment of the Kingdom, and on this spiritual path we are accompanied by the Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope."

CALLING ALL CATHOLIC YOUTH! CALLING ALL CATHOLIC YOUTH!

Attention all Catholic youth from The Age of Reason to 20 years old! I have a special post just for you, so sit down, listen up, and pay attention! ;)

We are the future of the Catholic Church!........Did you know that? We have a problem, though. We aren't living our faith enough! Face it, most of the Catholic youth are not serious about their faith; they have to be dragged to Church; unless, of course, it is to get a free meal or doughnuts in the Hall. *rolls eyes*

WE NEED A REVIVAL OF CATHOLIC YOUTH! If we do not wake up and take on the responsibilities and pride of being Catholic, there will be practically no members left! We need action! WAKE UUUUP!!!!

One of our old parish pastors said in his Christmas sermon, "I see all the CEO's are here."
Everyone looks around puzzled.
"That means Christmas, Easter, and Other holiday goers."
Everyone in the Church started laughing, because it is so true! On the big days (not Sundays), the Church is overflowing with people! It's ridiculous. Don't be a CEO!!!

BE CATHOLIC TO THE MAX!!! What does that mean? Well, that means you try to live your faith everyday in thought, word, and deed. You don't have to be dragged to Mass, but want to go, even everyday, because you know the value of it; you KNOW your faith and are ready to defend it (1Peter 3:15), you are active in pro-life activities, you pray (and know) the Rosary, the Angelus, the Chaplet, and other traditional Catholic prayers, and so on.

We are soldiers of Christ's army, fighting a vicious and bloody spiritual battle. We have to be ready. We must be ready! Think of it this way, you are a soldier in boot camp, for training. You learn about your enemy(Satan and Co.), your weapons and armor (the sacraments, graces, etc.)and how to fight. After boot camp you're made a Knight or Shieldmaiden in the General's (Christ's) Army; this would be the sacrament of Confirmation. We have to fight the good fight, everyday, and we cannot fail our General.

So, here is my plea to you:

#1-Wake up and join the war! Jesus wants you!

#2-If you have already enlisted (meaning you already consider yourself Catholic to the Max) start recruiting other youth!

#3-BE Catholic, don't just say you are Catholic.

#4-Make this your motto: 1 Peter 3:15 "Always be prepared to make a defence to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you..." Basically, be ready to defend your faith.

#5-Remember that you have to answer to God at the end of your life. Are you going to have to face God and tell him that you deserted, or that you fought bravely, and honorably, to the end?

God Bless,
Victoria Rose Philomena Martin de Porres

The Shire and Hobbits

I am feeling in a a very LOTR mood because I have been listening to LOTR music for two days now. I keep listening to the Shire music and....I can't explain it. I get this feeling whenever I hear that music, or even the word Shire or Hobbits, that I can't explain. So here are some words that come to mind when I hear it:

Shire and Hobbits
happiness
peaceful
sweetness
joy
innocence
lush green
rippling, clear creeks
children
laughter
sweet music
indescribable feeling of happiness that brings tears to my eyes

Does that sound weird?

Obama seeks to take away religious rights of doctors and health care providers who refuse to perform abortions

Here is another one! Please help and do your part!

Urgent: send your e-mail to the White House today!
March 3, 2009
Dear Michael,
According to several news agencies, President Barack Obama will rescind the "conscience rule" that protects health workers who refuse to participate in abortions or other medical procedures that go against their moral and religious beliefs. If the rule is rescinded, doctors, nurses and other health care workers could lose their jobs or be punished professionally for adhering to their sincerely held religious convictions. Obama's proposal would take away their religious freedom.

The current rule empowers federal health officials to cut off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, clinic, health plan, doctor's office or other entity if it does not accommodate employees who exercise their right of conscience. It applies to more than 584,000 health care facilities.

The Obama administration is doing the bidding of pro-abortion advocacy groups who seek to penalize health care providers who refuse to participate in abortions.

According to The Washington Post, Obama administration officials stressed that the proposal will be subject to 30 days of public comment. That is why it is so very important for you to let the White House hear from you today.

Take Action!
Send your e-mail to President Obama opposing his plan to rescind the "conscience rule."

Forward this to family and friends and ask them to do the same.
Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would you consider making a small tax-deductible contribution to help us continue?
Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon,
Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people as possible by forwarding it to your entire e-mail list of family and friends.

This is my 100th post!!!! YEEEES!!!! I was going to do a special post for my 100th post, but I think I like having something somewhat pro-life for that. :) *goes off to party*

Happy Belated Birthday to...

...Claire!!! Happy 21st Birthday Claire, I love you!

(I just love this picture of us! :))

...and Megan!!! I hope your day was filled with many blessing m'dear!!!

With love,

Victoria