I asked him if he was shooting Margaret and he replied (with a smile I might add) “Uh huh!”

Now he is pretending to take food out of the lower oven. What a crazy kid!

No Rise Cinnamon Rolls

Time:

Prep – 10 minutes

Bake – 17 minutes

Dough

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 1 cup milk

• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 4-5 tablespoons of cinnamon (or to taste)

Directions

1. Grease an 8×8 pan.

2. Turn oven on to 400 degrees

Filling:

1.  Place butter into a microwaveable bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, to melt the butter. (Keep an eye on it, so that it doesn’t burn, it doesn’t have to be totally melted).

2. Add the sugar and cinnamon to the melted butter, stir. Set aside.

Dough:

1. Place the flour, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Cut the butter into small chunks and add to the bowl. Cut the butter in to the flour mixture until it looks like crumbs.

2. Making a well in the center, place the milk and stir until incorporated. This dough will be very sticky.

3. Turn the dough onto a well floured surface and knead a few times, to incorporate more flour (but don’t over do it). When the dough no longer sticks to your hands or the board, roll it out to be 10-12 inches wide and 15-18 inches long. Make sure that it is not sticking to your board or counter as you roll it out. If it seems to be sticking, lift up and add flour underneath.

4. Spread the cinnamon sugar mixture onto rolled out dough, leaving a 1/2 inch margin on one side of the long edge.

5.Starting with the long end that has the cinnamon mixture on it, slowly roll the dough, in a semi-tight roll.

6. When finished rolling, pinch the seam together and lay seam down. Using a sharp knife or a board scraper, cut into one inch pieces.

7. Place cut side down, side by side, in your greased pan.

8. Bake at 400 degrees for 17 minutes.

9. Test for doneness (Temp around 190 degrees or lightly golden)

Serve with butter and coffee.

Ron Paul 2012! Learn how he can still win here.

And, no, I will not back down in my support for Ron Paul, the only candidate who cares about the Constitution and Liberty.

Your Primary is on Tuesday and it is an open primary (meaning any registered voter can vote). This race isn’t over and Ron Paul wants your vote, so just do it, vote for the man who will defend the constitution and defend liberty in America. Go to his website, read and listen to what he has to say. Questions, ask me, I can help!

http://www.ronpaul2012.com/

We have added another member to our menagerie -

Libertas Ronda Paula

]]> http://blog.catholicmumma.net/2012/05/02/libertas/feed/ 0 http://blog.catholicmumma.net/2012/05/01/the-necessity-for-truth-a-guest-post/ http://blog.catholicmumma.net/2012/05/01/the-necessity-for-truth-a-guest-post/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 02:15:53 +0000 Beth http://blog.catholicmumma.net/?p=2637

The Necessity for Truth 

Stephen Smith

Greek Philosopher, Aristotle states that we, as rational human beings, are oriented toward the truth. In our modern day and age, it can be difficult at times to discern what this truth is. Our senses are being pulled in various ways, causing us to second-guess what we already know, the truth.

I recall one particular time when I had the opportunity to visit New York City. I was baffled and amazed at the motion that never seemed to stop. In my three days there, I do not think there was a moment when I didn’t hear someone scream, talk loudly, hear the sound of sirens or car horns. Being from a small town, this was quite the noisy experience. I don’t think I slept at all. My distinct memory as we boarded the bus and drove out of this city was heavenly: silence. Not a word was spoken. The hum of the engine was soothing, and the snoring passengers played a melody. I sat there, eyes closed, and thought.

It is in these moments of silence God comes to us. Although God is with us at all times, it is difficult to hear his whisper over the sounds of society. This is not to mean that we must extract ourselves from society in order to hear God’s call, rather we must find a place within society that we can see and hear God. My place, at that time, was on that bus.

I remember sitting in quite prayer, spending time with Our Lord. As in nature, we grow in silence. The sound of the trees growing, or the flowers blooming is not heard. For it is in peaceful silence they grown into the fullness of life. So it is with us, in silence, we are able to connect with our Lord, hearing His voice. It is in this that we grow. As the philosopher Aristotle states, we are indeed oriented to the truth. It is in silence, our conversations with God, that we come to know this truth. For it is God who is Truth.

We as Catholics are called to grow in this Truth. How then do we do that? Saint Jerome gives us great advice when he says: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” It is in our knowledge of God, given through the Church, that we come to know and love God. It is Holy Mother Church that brings us from the darkness into the Light of Christ. The truths the Church teaches, and has always taught are what gives us the ammo which we are called to use against the works of the devil. Knowledge of sin should make us desire to be sinless. Knowledge of faith should make us desire to be faithful. Knowledge of truth should make us desire the Truth. It is for this reason that we as Catholics cannot stand by and refuse to know. Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance can, and will lead us to the fires of Hell. Ignorance of God draws us away from God. Knowledge brings happiness, ignorance brings hurt.

So what then shall we do? The simple answer is to strive to learn the truth. The best and surest way to attain this truth is through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Our relationship with God has its foundation in prayer. Why then would we avoid the greatest and surest prayer? The Mass is God’s sacrifice of Himself for us. It is He who has opened the gates of Heaven. It is He who teaches us the Truth.

God has ordained the Church to to be the gateway for truth. It is through the Church that we come to know God. It is through the Church that the perfect prayer is prayed. It is through the Church that we are given the truth, leading our souls to heaven. It is for this reason that we must adhere to the teachings of the Church, for it is through the Church, that we come to know the Truth. Overseen by the power of the Holy Spirit, founded by Christ himself, we on earth are given a great gift in the Church. We must take advantage of it! It is through our obedience to the Church that we are obedient to God. It is through our love of the Church, that we love God. It is through our defense of the Church, that we defend God. It is through our work in the Church, that we become soldiers for Christ. Such a wonderful gift!

It is easy to say this, but unfortunately, as we well know, it can be more difficult to live. As stated previously, our senses are pulled in every direction. Society tells us that our wills are what determine our happiness. Although we have the gift of freewill, it is a gift given, in order to chose the Truth. It is a freedom for Truth, not a freedom from Truth.

It is for this reason that the Church asks us to look into our conscience when we make decisions, or support those who make decisions for us. Supporting something or someone who is, or teaches something contrary to the truth, makes us just as culpable. When the Church asks us to look into our conscience, we are to look into our conscience, oriented toward the truth, our Catholic conscience, not the conscience we think we have, which is oriented by society.

We know that through the sins of Adam and Eve that we are a fallen society. We have created a chasm between God and ourselves. It was through our desire to be free from God, that this has been done. Christ builds the bridge over the chasm, allowing us to return to the Light of God, the Light of Truth. It is in this truth that we see clearly. False truth is what leads us away from God. As we walk across this bridge, we are held back by a rope, tied around our waist. The other end of this rope is being pulled by the Fires of Hell. It is our decision whether or not to use the scissors of truth to cut the rope, allowing us to fall into the arms of our loving Savior.

We are called to be soldiers of Christ, to fight for this truth. The mark we receive at our Confirmation gives us the graces, and the power of the Holy Spirit needed. Our decision, our love of the Truth, our obedience to God through the Church is what will determine the fate of our souls. We must, therefore, be diligent in our actions, be faithful in our thoughts, and be truthful in our works.

However, today, a line was crossed. 

After Mass, while we were standing in front of the church, I was approached by a fellow parishioner and was told that I need to watch who I am associating with and called those of us who support Ron Paul rabble-rousers, he said a few other things as well, about how the Ron Paul people will betray me.

Excuse me? There is a time and a place for discussions about politics (and threats) but following Mass, while standing in sight of the Tabernacle, after receiving our Lord in the Eucharist is not that time.

Also, both my husband and I are Ron Paul supporters, so why did not he not speak with him as well? Why just approach me? Why not speak with the both of us? I honestly feel that there was some bullying tactics going on there.

If you want to discuss politics with me, ask me for my phone number, ask me to meet you for coffee, ask me if you can talk to me, but do not blindside me, while standing outside of the church (where we just received our Lord) and talk to me as if I am some sort of idiot for believing in liberty and supporting the candidate who will truly defend the Constitution of the United States.

I wrote this last night and for some reason it didn’t post when I hit publish. That is fine because it gives me a chance to add this part: 

I have never discussed politics with this man, nor anyone else, at church. This man has never said more than 10 words to me. Our formal introduction was at the District Convention for the Republican Party, we exchanged pleasantries and went on our way, we have never spoken at church.  I doubt he reads this blog and I know he can’t see what I put on Facebook.  Also, at the District Convention, it was pretty clear that we were Ron Paul supporters (who are following the Party rules). Why didn’t he approach us there? 

That all being said, I still support Ron Paul for president, but what’s more, I have guaranteed God given rights under the Constitution and I am not going to sit back and shut up while those rights are being taken away from me.  

Check this one out:

http://homeschoolgiveaways.com/2012/04/giveaway-memoria-press-famous-men-set/

In his homily, Father mentioned the lack of support for those discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. When we are told by a young man or woman that he or she are discerning a vocation, we need to offer our prayers and support. Entry to the seminary is not a life long commitment, it is a time of discernment, as is the entry to the convent. We mustn’t discourage those who are called to labor for the harvest.

Pray, pray with all your might for laborers!

“The discernment of a vocation is above all the fruit of an intimate dialogue between the Lord and his disciples. Young people, if they know how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God’s call.”

—Pope Benedict XVI, Response to questions by the bishops of the United States in Washington, D.C., April 16, 2008

I’m probably going to have to sit back and overcome my embarrassment of sitting around listening to songs and dreaming of my future love before I could even come up with that “one” song.

There were songs that were “our song” with previous boyfriends. There were songs in between boyfriends that tore my heart apart because I wanted a boy friend. Then there were the anger filled break up songs, because some guy had wronged me.

I seldom listen to the radio anymore, but if I happen across one of them, I either cringe, or a laugh, because my husband and our marriage is more amazing than I could ever have dreamed about while listening to one of those songs.

I’ve actually turned off the radio before out of sadness because of how much one of my previously beloved love songs fails to even come close to describing the real thing.