Salvation Sunday: Vote Your Values--Catholics Need To Vote For Mullen in Senate District 22

Fellow Catholics. There's only ONE choice for us in the Senate District 22 race. That choice is Jeff Mullen.

I was raised a Democrat in a small farming community in West Central Iowa. My parents were raised in very devout Catholic homes. The Kennedy family was viewed as role models (why, I'm not quite sure), but JFK was the first Catholic President. My mom and dad both talk about how the Nuns (Catholic school) came into the classrooms crying to inform the students about his assassination.

My brother and I were raised in a devout Catholic home as well. Mom was in the Ladies Guild, Dad sang in the Choir and quite often served as Lector. We practically had to have a sick note from the Pope to miss Mass on Sunday. But when I got to voting age, I was troubled. I had always been a "Democrat", and registered as such when I turned 18, but I had trouble with the issue of abortion.

As a Catholic, I always believed that life begins at conception. Abortion was just wrong. The Bible tells us "Thou shall not kill", and believing that life begins at conception, that would be murder, right? Having looked closer at the two parties, I eventually switched my party affiliation to Republican while in College. After graduation, I worked for Republicans and even rose through the ranks of the Polk County GOP to be elected Co-Chair at the ripe old age of 25.

In November, my husband, 3 boys ages 6, 3 and 1 and I moved to Waukee. The Senate District 22 race was in my home district and I took an interest in it, after all, I had a bit of a history in the race. Back in 2004, I had helped Pat Ward in her special election to get her elected to the Iowa Senate. I was excited to see what I thought was a strong, Conservative woman in the Iowa Senate and I hoped she would show the Ol' Boys Club that us girls could run along with the big boys. I was, however, disappointed in her performance. She didn't turn out to be the leader I thought she could be. I thought she'd be the one to stand up against Gronstal. The one who would stand up for ALL women's rights, those with AND who had yet to obtain a birth certificate.

On Friday, Jeff Mullen was considered a "candidate we find sufficiently meet our judgment criteria reflecting ability, sincerity and responsiveness in support of our Pro-Life legislative priorities" from the Iowa Right to Life. I've had a few sit down meetings with Candidate Mullen and I believe that he will be the candidate who protects life.

I urge Catholics residing in Senate District 22 to take a good look at this issue. As a Catholic, it is a core belief of ours to protect life. Candidate Mullen will do so. In my opinion, Pat Ward has failed at this issue. We as Catholics have the responsibility to stand up for life. We have the responsibility to vote for those who will protect life.

On Tuesday, I'll be voting for Jeff Mullen (www.jeffmullen.com ), not just for me, but for all of my boys, including my son who is due in August. Candidate Mullen will be a great voice for all of Senate District 22, including those who are not yet born. 

 

 

*Note: This blog post was originally published on the Waukee Patch but has since vanished on their website. 

Salvation Sunday: God Created It All

This weekend I went back to my parents house for a visit. I love visiting home. I love visiting the farm and I love sharing it with my husband and boys. And I love showing them my past.

I also love the quiet of the farm. The peace. The open space. This IS God's Country.

And I love St. Patrick's Church. We visited it again today (and I became the mayor on Foursquare).

It's really beautiful. And God created it all.


Please view the petition and sign it if you agree.

Shuffle Saturday: Save St. Patrick's Church

This past Tuesday, I ventured back with my boys to Glidden to visit St. Patrick's Church on Cedar. It is at risk of being demolished. While it isn't an active parish, they still occasionally have Mass there. And my dad always makes sure to sing at Mass, even if it means he has to schedule a day off of work. It's that important to our family.

Why? Because it's where our ancestors worshiped. It's where our ancestors are buried. It's our roots.

It's a beautiful Church, isn't it?

And it was great to see my boys, Sean and Liam, exploring the grave site of his Great Great Great Grandfather Michael, who came from Ireland.

It almost looks like Liam is praying, doesn't it? I wouldn't be surprised if he was.

My boys have learned a lot about saving history. They've learned a lot about their past. They know they're Catholic. They know they come from a farm family. They love their Irish heritage and they love St. Patrick's Church.

If you're interested in helping the cause, please feel free to sign the petition to Save St. Patrick's Church. Thank you!!

Salvation Sunday: Saving Our Roots

Earlier this year you heard me talking about Saving the barn. And we did it. While the barn was sold to a private church (for $1) and moved, it was not destroyed. Now the school looks so generic. Almost like the office building just across the street. The one defining unique building is gone, but not lost to history.

In an interview the night they were moving the barn, a reporter asked me "If your group hadn't stepped in, do you think we'd be here today?" I responded, "No. I think it was our involvement and with the help of the power of the press, we exposed the Community to the injustice that was being done by the School Board.

Now that the barn has been saved, I have turned my attention to St. Patrick's Church. You can read the blog here. I posted about how St. Patrick's Church always recharges my spirit right here on Mommy's Recess. The Bishop has written a letter about the future of the Church. I hope that I can do the Church the same preservation I gave the barn. I've even contacted some of my "barn folk" to see if they'd be interested in helping us out.

Whether it's a barn or a Church, it's my roots. And I'm determined to save them. I'm a Catholic girl where my farming roots run deep. Our history must be preserved.

Salvation Sunday: We're Still Here

We're still here. And unless Macho Man Randy Savage was the only person to be raptured, the group who sold all of their belongings to buy air time to tell people about the rapture were wrong.

And I kind of feel sad for them. I feel sad that they were duped into a belief that was so very wrong. Sad that they threw away their whole life for something someone made them believe. Sad that they effected so many family members, more than they realize, by their decisions.

But it happens often. And not just in these rapture groups. We had it happen in our family. A beloved family member that everyone put their faith, trust and respect in, ran off with a belief and destroyed more than one marriage, more than one family, more than one business.

Because of this family member's selfish ways, marriages are irrevocably broken, feelings are more than hurt and the rest of the family is left with explaining the behavior of the one who made the choices...we're left to explain something we don't quite understand ourselves...and the hardest part is explaining it to the kids.

My five year old asked, "Well, did she say she was sorry?" No, she did not. Because she believes her decision was right. But he knows better. He sees it. And it's hard to explain it in terms he understands.

So what can we do for those who turn their backs on family, friends and even their faith?

We can pray. We can let them know how their choices and decisions make us feel but we cannot make them understand how their single decision has created such a ripple effect in the lives of others. It is for THEM to find out and learn how they've damaged friendships and families.

If they learn from it, it's not a mistake. People grow and people change. Beliefs are hard to change. If someone believes something, it's hard to change it. But hopefully with prayer, thought and reflection; they can come to learn how their selfish actions effect others.

Believe what you want. Worship what you choose. But remember that your decisions not only effect you but those around you. Those who love and support you. No man is an island.

In my religion, I have been praying to St. Monica for my family member. St. Monica is the patron saint of those who have difficult marriages, disappointing children, victims of adultery or unfaithfulness, victims of (verbal) abuse, and conversion of relatives.

The prayer is as follows:

Blessed Monica, mother of St. Augustine, we give thanks to our Father in heaven Who looked with mercy upon your tears over your wayward son. His conversion and heroic sanctification were the fruit of your prayers. Dear St. Monica, we now ask you to pray with us for all those sons and daughters that have wandered away from God, and to add your prayers to those of all mothers who are worried over their children. Pray also for us that, following your example, we may, in the company of our children, one day enjoy the eternal vision of our Father in heaven. Amen.