Something Fun

My partner Turner had this on her blog, and since it looked fun and I had nothing else to post, I thought I would do it as well!

1. Time: 4:42 pm

2. Name: Victoria

3. Nicknames: Vicki, Captain Coon Sparrow, Sleeping Beauty, Vicki Picky, Grumpy, Eeyore, Phonebook, and Dee-dee-toria (my brother's version of Victoria when he was little).

4. What is the most recent movie you've seen in the theater: Prince Caspian. Too bad there hasn't been anything appropriate to watch......I NEED SOMETHING NEW TO WATCH IN THE THEATER!!!

5. Eye color: Dark Brown

6. Place of birth: somewhere in CA

7. Favorite NEW foods: Same as Amanda... what in the world are NEW foods? I suppose food that was made today? As opposed to old food that was made a week ago? Well, in that case... the hot dogs we had about ten minutes ago.

8. Ever been to Africa: Nope. And I don't think I will ever want to....wouldn't mind dropping in on Narnia, though!

9. Been in a car accident?: No, thank goodness!

10. Croutons or bacon bits: Both!

11. Favorite day of the week: Any day that is not schedualed with school, going anywhere, and entertaining (we have been doing a lot of that latley!).

12. Favorite restaurants: any Chinese food resturant and Souplantation.

13. Favorite Flower: Hmm....roses, baby's breath, and a whole lot more!

14. Favorite sport to watch: Football. I never really know what is going on ,but I love it!

15. Favorite drink? Root beer, Dr. Pepper, and ice water.

16. Favorite ice cream: cookie dough and mint-chocolatechip!

17. Disney or Warner Brothers: Disney! They made all the old classics that I grew up with, not to mention making Narnia! Pirates! And National Treasure!

18. Favorite fast food restaurant: McDonald's (I love their "snack wraps" with crispy chicken and ranch!) and also Taco Bell!

19. What color is your bedroom carpet: UGLY!

20. Which store would you choose to Max out your credit card this week? I don't own one; however, if I was so gifted with one, it would be at either Kohl's or JCPenney's.

21. What do you do most often when you are bored? Sigh. Lay around. Perhaps sew. Read. Read. Read. Watch movies. Email.

22. Bedtime: never before 9 p.m.

23. Favorite TV shows: I Love Lucy and Hogan's Heroes

24. Person you are going to have dinner with: My family.

25. Favorite Car: Hummer, my dad's truck, and limo.

26. What are you listening to right now: Mom talking to Dad about CCD.

27. What is your favorite color: ummmm.......brown, yellow, and green, pink, and too many more to name!

28. How many pets do you have: 2 dogs, 3 cats, 30 chickens

29. What are you doing this weekend? Going to a retreat for the CCD teachers (I am teaching 3rd grade CCD this year).

30. Favorite book(s): An Old Fashoined Girl, Rose in Bloom, Little Women, Jane Eyre.

31. What is your middle name: Rose

32. Favorite music to listen to (artists, style, etc.): Country! Josh Turner, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, others whom I can't remember right now. Phantom of the Opera soundtrack, musical movie songs, and lots and lots more!

There you are folks!

My Fair Lady

For the benefit and pleasure of my dear partner Fox Turner, I present.....*drum roll*....My Fair Lady! Enjoy!

She came!

And a couple more pirates ta boot! We had a whole houseload of pirates and boy did we have fun!

Nothin' much

Yeah, yeah, I know I have been neglecting my blog. Sorry. Nothing much has been happening around here except mosquito bites. I look like I have the chicken pox on my feet and half way up my legs....and they itch like heck! Oh well, life goes on.

Okay, this is really random, but I was with my family going grocery shopping (my feet get so tired on those trips) and as we went down one of the isles, I spotted a very Narnian thing......Turkish Delight! I have never seen in the store before (I don't know why), and it made me feel like a little bit of Narnia was present. I know that sounds really weird but it's true! LOL!

My dear partner Fox Turner and I are going to be teaming up again! Only this time it will be in person. She and her family are coming up to pick peaches and they are going to visit my family and I while they are here. I can't wait!

So other than that and school nothing else is going on on this side of the screen. Hope you all enjoyed a great summer!

Feast of St. Philomena

Today, August 11th, is the feast of my Confirmation Saint: St. Philomena! Ok, I couldn't find a short story of this virgin saint, so buckle up for a loooong story.

The following is the account of the life of St. Philomena as taken from the official account of Fr. Di Lucia’s Relazione Istorici di Santa Filomena and subsequent annals.

My dear sister, I am the daughter of a Prince who governed a small state in Greece. My mother was also of royal blood. My parents were without children. They were idolaters. They continually offered sacrifices and prayers to their false gods. A doctor from Rome, named Publius, lived in the palace in the service of m father. This doctor professed Christianity. Seeing the affliction of my parents, by the impulse of the Holy Spirit, he spoke to them of Christianity and promised to pray for them if they consented to receive Baptism. The grace which accompanied his words enlightened their understanding and triumphed over their will. They became Christians and obtained the long desired happiness that Publius had assured them as the reward of their conversion. At the moment of my birth, they gave me the name of “Lumina”, an allusion to the light of Faith of which I had been, as it were, the fruit. The day of my Baptism they called me “Philomena”. Daughter of Light, because on that day I was born to the Faith. The affection which my parents bore me was so great that they would have me always with them.

It was on this account that they took me to Rome on a journey that my father was obliged to make on the occasion of an unjust war with which he was threatened by the haughty Diocletian. I was then thirteen years old. On our arrival in the capital of the world, we proceeded to the palace of the Emperor and were admitted for an audience. As soon as Diocletian saw me, his eyes were fixed upon me. He appeared to be prepossessed in this manner during the entire time that my father was stating with animated feelings everything that could serve for his defense. As soon as Father had ceased to speak, the Emperor desired him to be disturbed no longer, to banish all rear, to think only of living in happiness. These are the Emperor’s words, “I shall place at your disposal all the force of the Empire. I ask only one thing, that is the hand of your daughter.”

My father dazzled with an honor he was far from expecting, willingly acceded on the spot to the proposal of the Emperor. When we returned to our own dwelling, Father and Mother did all they could to induce me to yield to Diocletian’s wishes and to theirs. I cried. “Do you wish that for the love of a man I should break the promise I have made to Jesus Christ? My virginity belongs to Him. I can no longer dispose of it.”

“But you were young then, too young,” answered my father, “to have formed such an engagement.” He joined the most terrible threats to the command that he gave me to accept the hand of Diocletian. The grace of my God rendered me invincible. My father, not being able to make the Emperor relent, in order to disengage himself from the promise he had given, was obliged by Diocletian to bring me to the Imperial Chamber. I had to withstand for sometime beforehand a new attack from my father’s anger. My mother, uniting her efforts to his, endeavored to conquer my resolution. Caresses, threats, everything was employed to reduce me to compliance. At last I saw both of my parents fall at my knees and say to me with tears in their eyes, “My child, have pity on your father, your mother, your country, our country, our subjects.”

“No, no!” I answered. “My virginity, which I have vowed to God, comes before everything, before you, before my country. My kingdom is Heaven.”

My words plunged them into despair and they brought me before the Emperor who, on his part, did all in his power to win me. But his promises, his allurements, his threats, were equally useless. He then got into a violent fit of anger and, influenced by the devil, had me cast into one of the prisons of the palace, where I was loaded with chains. Thinking that pain and shame would weaken the courage with which my Divine Spouse inspired me, he came to see me every day. After several days, the Emperor issued an order for my chains to be loosed that I might take a small portion and bread and water. He renewed his attacks, some of which, if not for the grace of God, would have been fatal to purity. The defeats which he always experienced were for me to preludes to new tortures. Prayer supported me. I ceased not to recommend myself to Jesus and His most pure Mother.

My captivity lasted thirty-seven days. Then, in the midst of a heavenly light I saw Mary holding her Divine Son in her arms. “My daughter.” She said to me, “three days more of prison and after forty days you shall leave this state of pain.”

Such happy news renewed my courage to prepare for the frightful combat awaiting. The Queen of Heaven reminded me of the name I had received in Baptism saying, “You are Lumina, as your Spouse is called Light or Sun. Fear not, I will aid you. Now, nature, whose weakness asserts itself, is humbling you. In the moment of struggle, grace will come to you to lend its force. The angel who is mine also, Gabriel, whose name expresses force, will come to your succor. I will recommend you especially to his care.”

The vision disappeared leaving m prison scented with a fragrance like incense. I experienced a joy out of his world. Something indefinable. What the Queen of Angels had prepared for me was soon experienced. Diocletian, despairing of bending me, decided upon public chastisement to offend my virtue. He condemned me to be stripped and scourged like the Spouse I preferred to him. These were his horrifying words, “Since she is not ashamed to prefer to an Emperor like me, as malefactor condemned to an infamous death by his own people, she deserves that my justice shall treat her as he was treated.”

The prison guards hesitated to unclothe me entirely, but they did tie me to a column in the presence of the great men of the court. They lashed me with violence until I was bathed in blood. My whole body felt like one open wound but I did not faint. The tyrant had me dragged back to the dungeon expecting me to die. I hoped to join my heavenly Spouse. Two angels shining with light appeared to me in the darkness. They poured a soothing balm on my wounds, bestowing on me a vigor I did not have before the torture. When the Emperor was informed of the change that had come over me, he had me brought before him. He viewed me with a greedy desire and tried to persuade me that I owed my healing and regained vigor to Jupiter, another god, that he, the Emperor, had sent to me. He attempted to impress me with his belief that Jupiter desired me to be Empress of Rome. Joining to these seductive words promises of great honor, including the most flattering words. Diocletian tried to caress me. Fiendishly, he attempted to complete the work of Hell which he had begun. The Divine Spirit to whom I am indebted for constancy in preserving my purity seemed to fill me with light and knowledge. To all the proofs which I gave of the solidity of our Faith, neither Diocletian nor his own courtiers could find an answer.

Then the frenzied Emperor dashed at me, commanding a guard to chain an anchor around my neck and bury me deep in the waters of the Tiber. The order was executed. I was cast into the water, but God sent to me two angels who unfastened the anchor. It fell into the river mud where it remains, no doubt, to the present time. The angels transported me gently in full view of the multitude upon the riverbank. I came back unharmed, not even wet, after being plunged with the heavy anchor. When a cry of joy rose from the watchers on the shore, and so many embraced Christianity by proclaiming their belief in my God, Diocletian attributed my preservation to secret magic.

Then the Emperor had me dragged through the streets of Rome and shot with a shower of arrows. My blood flowed but I did not faint. Diocletian thought that I was dying and commanded the guards to carry me back to the dungeon. Heaven honored me with a new favor there. I fell into a sweet sleep. A second time the tyrant attempted to have me pierced with sharper darts. Again the archers bent their bows. The gathered all their strength but the arrows refused to second their intentions. The Emperor was present. In a rage, he called me a magician and, thinking that the action of the fire could destroy the enchantment, he ordered the darts to be made red in a furnace and directed against my heart. He was obeyed. But these darts, after having gone over a part of the space which they were to cross to come to me, took a quite contrary direction and returned to strike those by whom they had been hurled. Sic of the archers were killed by them. Several among the renounced paganism. The people began to render public testimony to the power of God that protected me.

These murmurs and the acclamations infuriated the tyrant. He determined to hasten my death by piercing my neck with a lance. My soul took flight towards my heavenly Spouse who placed me with the crown of virginity and the palm of martyrdom in a distinguished place among the elect. The day that was so happy for me and saw me enter into glory was Friday, the third hour after midday, the same hour that saw my Divine Mater expire.

St. Philomena, pray for us!

One last thing, starting today to the 13th is shooting star nights! The 12th is supposed to be the best day. My family likes to lay out on the trampoline with sleeping bags and watch them for hours. So, if you want to see a show, head on out tonight, and tomorrow night, and the night after that!

God bless!

Apology

Greetings friends,
I would like to apologize to everyone that has sent in a comment(s) and I have not replied to them. I often just have enough time to publish them, and then I have to run and do whatever it is I am supposed to be doing. I then forget who commented and where they commented! So, please do not take offence and continue to comment frequently because I love to find lots of comments awaiting to be published!
Truly yours,
Vicki

Fixed?

I fixed the link for the "Please Participate" post. Let me know if it still doesn't work.

Please Participate

Please take the time to look and participate in this. It is a threat to human life and we should do all that we can to make sure it doesn't happen. This was sent to us through a yahoo group we belong to.

Friends & family,
Raymond Arroyo on EWTN "World Over Live" has asked that we sign a petition addressed to the President of the Philippines and their House of Representatives. In 2 weeks they are voting on a bill (like in China) toward a TWO CHILD per family law. If this bill is signed, anyone, including priests, teachers, health care workers who protest it are subject to a heavy fine and six months in jail. Signatures from the USA count. Our tax payer money helps support this program. AMAZING The bill is backed by Planned Parenthood- a group in the UN and one other.To sign:
#1 www.filipinofamilyfund.org
#2 Link to the first listed 'Filipino Family Fund'
#3. On the left side - link to 'Sign the Petition' How long will it be before we are fighting this in our country.

God bless,

Vicki

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man must be seeking the Lord to find it.
-unknown

Back to normal

Alright, it is back to normal now....waaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! But, I plan to do a Narnia Week in December (the anniversary of when LWW came to theaters). What should I post about this month? Should I have a different theme every month? Or should I just give updates on myself and what is going on in my life? Leave a comment and let me know what your opinion is. God bless!

Yo ho, and a pirates life for me!

Ah think this clip sums up the week, 'cause Ah'm choked up right now wit the thought of leavin' ye all. So enjoy!



Farewell mates! See ye next year!

Wind in yer sails,
Captain Coon Sparrow

IT IS MINE!

All right ye scoundrelous dogs! Ah might as well tell ye both....meanin' Turner and Swann.....that ye both have been mistaken all along. Ah 'ave had the medallion the whole bloody time! And here it be *pulls medallion out from shirt*

*both reach for but Ah shove it back in shirt and slaps their hands with my sword* Naughty! *major sword fight commences* Wait a minute mates! Ah think we should explain to audience what be goin' on, ay? What say ye to that? *Turner and Swann agree* Well, ye see Elizabeth 'ere claimed she had the medallion first, but then bloody Will...I mean Fox...came along and stole it. Well, as it turns out, neither of them had the ruddy thing because Barbossa (that be my brother) just gave me the genuine one from the Isle de Muerta (how on earth do you spell the bloody island?!) just a fortnight ago, savvy? So, now that ye all get the picture *slowly starts backing up* Ye will excuse me. *takes off running leaving Turner and Swann in the dust...jumps on the Black Pearl and shouts out* Farewell ye unfortunate scallywags! Hahaha! What really matters is this....what a man can steal....and what a man can't steal. *heads out to sea* *turns face towards camera* Pirate! *theme song starts to play* Wait! I forgot me Cap'n mate! *grabs Fox and heads back to sea...theme songs continues*

Caption it!

Ahoy! It be Caption it day and it 'appens to land on Pirate Week! So here be three pictures for ye to caption. Oi hope ye come up wit some ruddy good ones!