Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Not forgotten...

  Statistics show that ONE in FOUR women have had an abortion. I never forgot this statistic. And I also never forgot something a friend said when asked the question, "What do we do about it?" The answer for right now- since we obviously will not be changing legislators minds ANY time soon- is to minister to post-abortive men and women. From my own experiences with these women their pain is VERY real. The forgiveness is so hard and the healing is very slow.

So I wanted to  re-post these links. If you find yourself in this situation or know a woman (or MAN for sure). Here is my shabby attempt at ministering...                             

Rachel's Vineyard Post-abortive retreats (held all over the country, closest to LC is in Lafayette)
Recovery Resource
Silent No More Awareness Campaign
Project Rachel
... You are not forgotten, you are not alone.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Every Life Is Beautiful

Today is the 40th anniversary of Roe V. Wade. It has now also become a National Day of Thanksgiving to God for the gift of human life as well as a day of fasting, prayer and penance for the violence committed against human life. Please not the links at the bottom of this post if you are in need...

As I type this, I am thinking of my own little olive plants, whose lives have been gifts to us:



And never forgetting our two children in Heaven Andrew Thomas and Agnes Karolina. I am also grateful to  add our special little man to this list as well, at a quickly approaching T - 4 months.

I also must mention two lives who are such gifts and for whom I am so grateful that their birth mothers said yes... and whose adoptive mother continue to say yes every day.
                                     Our precious friend Gianna Lewis... John Paul's betrothed

               And our brother-in-law Ross, married to Elaine (or affectionately known as Aunt E)


                                                                Life is a precious gift.


And for anyone who may need it...
Recovery Resource
Silent No More Awareness Campaign
Project Rachel
... You are not forgotten, you are not alone.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Oh, Canada! (revised)

That's right... to Canada we go. I could use a little help, eh?

David and I will be traveling to Canada on February 14th -19th for a married couples retreat. We are part of a lay movement known as Domestic Church and will be providing a married couples retreat in Lake Charles over the summer for the members of DC here. (PS- let me know if you're interested in coming to a retreat or joining). At this point, the retreat we wish to facilitate is still written in Polish (click here if you're confused) because the Movement started there and we are going to experience the retreat... spoken in Polish... with translators (phew)... while in Canada.

Now while this IS a family retreat, we added up the logistics of our trip and measured them against how burdensome it would be to our sweet little olive plants: 1) Flying from LC to Houston to Buffalo 2) Driving from Buffalo to Toronto for 3 hours 3) Canada in the Wintertime... totally burdensome. So we are leaving our precious babies at home. I am pretty sad; 6 days is a very long time. I have actually never spent this much time away from my children. Deep Breaths.

So here's the big question... just how "bad" or "good" is Canada in the winter?

Is it this?
Or this?





And PS, we were told that we're also being taken to Niagara Falls upon arrival... apparently it's "right there."

Deep breaths, everyone, deep breaths.


Revised ed:

I remember someone's blog warned me against a restaurant that did bad business, and I feel the need to warn you against bad business as well.
 

 http://www.uspassportnow.com/ 

See this url? Don't forget it... and don't use it. I have to get a new passport with my married name. In the process of a google search for the proper website, this is the first one on the list. They're slogan is this:
Officially Authorized by the U.S. Department of State
To Expedite Your U.S. Passport (Non-Government Based Service)


 It is what it says it is- an expedited passport service, but is a superfluous expedited service. Basically, I was told by an agent that the "post office" (i.e. not their service) could not provide me with my passport in time (February 14), and that their service was the only way to do so (8 to 14 business days). So through their service, I paid $130 ($100 to expedite and $30 FEDEX shipping fee. And we could use no other form of shipping... only FedEx) to expedite the name change/new passport process, and then I was also required to send in the $170 fee along with the correct documentation in order to receive the passport. $170:  $110 for a new passport and $60 to expedite.   WAIT A SECOND .... 60 dollars to expedite? What was the other $100? 

So David called the post office and asked about their services(actual Govt. expedited service), and he was told that we would have my passport in 2 to 3 weeks with their expedited services (which the agent from the website told me was non-existent). That's plenty of time for us. So the agent  1) didn't have the right information to begin with or 2) gave me untrue information.

So what's the problem, Kate, just cancel.You see that it was non-govt based. Well, I did, but there is a $50 non-refundable fee that I "authorized" by clicking a check next to something in fine print. So when David asked to speak to a supervisor he was told that he could not. That he could only email a formal complaint. David (my knight) didn't give up and said something like, "So the person who answers these emails doesn't have a phone next to them in which to speak to me?" The answer was no no no.

Lesson: Some people are evil and drum up ways to make money. Some people just work for them. Don't shoot the messenger. So I will be praying that the two ladies we spoke with are able to find other jobs to support themselves and that the person who started and profits from US Passort Now has one serious conversion before he dies.I mean a serious one. I feel totally deceived, and I want to move out of this country where people can just make up businesses that exploit people for money. I'm thinking his thought process is this: Well most people will figure out that we're not totally necessary, so we'll make them pay us early on THAT way, we'll still get at least $50 out of them from some sort of non-refundable fee.

I will say what I said earlier in the post. Deep breaths, everyone, deep breaths... now on to confession.

Monday, January 14, 2013

A video that must be shown...

Though the March for Life means a week without having our husband/daddy home with us. This video makes me so so proud that David Dawson chooses to March for Life... 



We love you, Daddy, and we will be with you when you march!

For those of us who cannot travel to Washington DC, there  are chances in Lake Charles to show your support: Sunday at 12:30 at the Courthouse with speakers, rosary, and "march" to the Cathedral. And again the following Tues, January 22nd (the anniversary of Roe v. Wade) at the steps of the courthouse around 5:50 with speakers and such.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A few things to share... all of great importance!

Jacob Joseph is walking. It is only to entertain us and not because he actually chooses it as a mode of transportation. He loves to see us smile and will instruct us on how to show him that we are impressed. This means that we are to "ooh" or "yeah."


Though I choose not to display a picture to show this next bit of information...

It's a BOY!!
Baby Dawson is a boy. What does this mean? Therese remains our only daughter (on earth) and that David has three sons (on earth). I foresee many weekends that "the boys" take off to do... er... all the things that just boys go to do. It means that my precious Therese is even more special to me each time I think about this phenomenon... I totally thought it was a girl- like I would have bet money on it. Is this our last, you may ask? The answer is "I certainly hope not." If this statement needs further explanation... you'll just have to wait for another post. Sigh.

And the last bit I wish to share is that 
I'm going on a silent retreat (shhhh)

   David's Christmas gift to me is a 4 day silent retreat at St Charles Retreat Center in Moss Bluff. How does it work? I don't have a flippin' clue... never done one before. (I'll give those who know me well some time to chuckle at what a failure I may turn out to be in actually remaining silent for 4 days... done? Ok, I'll continue). I will be the ONLY retreatant at the center, and I will be making my own meals in a little kitchen area, I will have use of the entire property (to myself, remember) and will be able to meet with a priest for Mass and for spiritual direction, and I will have unlimited access to the adoration chapel!!!!! If you can imagine what this retreat will do for my spiritual life, my motherhood, and most importantly, my marriage. I can't wait. OH and maybe I should mention that I am ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED! I don't know if I'm going to be able to talk to myself? Sing? I mean... I have not the first idea. I am only to take with me (per David's instructions) to study/reflect: 1)Bible 2) Journal 3) Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Fr Michael Gaitley (read through half of it and will give it a second try this weekend). No phone, no computer, nada. David Dawson is a genius... and obviously has access to God's notebook as to what his wife is in DESPERATE need of.

So if you think of it, send me your prayer requests and I will CERTAINLY have the free time to pray for you.

See you later, blogging world. Going off to shut my mouth!!