Summer book list!

As the summer comes, and school ends people begin to read more. I thought that I would put out a list of my favorite books so that all of you can find some good summer books!

1) The Giver by Lois Lowry.
                                        
The Giver is in my opinion one of the most pro-life books out there, even if Lois Lowry didn't mean to make it that way, it is. The Giver is followed by 3 other books, together a great series. The Giver is for ages 10 and up.

2) The Hero's guide to saving your  kingdom by Christopher Healy.
                                        
Like The Giver,  The Hero's guide to saving your kingdom is also a series of 3 books. I found this gem at the library and fell in love with it. I really hope that Christopher Healy decides to right more for the series. The Hero's guide to saving your kingdom is for ages 10 and up.

3) The Miraculous journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.
                                       
This has to be one of my favorite books, I read it when I was 7 and have probably read it at least 20 more times. The Miraculous journey of Edward Tulane is great for ages 7 and up.

4) The 13 1/2 lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers.
                                     
Not exactly a quick read at a whopping 704 pages. However the book is still exciting and fun for those who read it.  The 13 1/2 lives of Captain Bluebear is good for ages 12 and up.

5) Neil Flambe and the Marco Polo murders  by Kevin Sylvester.
                                            
There is a full series for the Neil Flambe books, a total of 6 books, my favorite, book number 5. The Neil Flambe books are great for cooks, and mystery lovers. Neil Flambe and the Marco Polo murders is for ages 10 and up.

6) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
                             
Most of us have seen the movies, but they don't really do the books justice.
( spoiler: the books are better!) I enjoyed reading these and was super sad when I finished the last book, Mockingjay. Because of the themes and situations I would put the ages at 13 and up.

7) Ella Enchanted by Gale Carson Levine.
                                  
A fun twist on a classic fairy tale, Ella Enchanted is fun and addictive.( Pick up the book, you may have a hard time putting it down!) The book is a million times better than the movie. Ella Enchanted is a good story for ages 8 and up.

8) Life's Greatest Lesson by Allen R. Hunt.
                                    
Life's Greatest Lesson is a Catholic book that is interesting and emotional.
I will be honest and admit that I cried while reading the book. The ages for this book is ages 13 and up.

I hope that this reading list will give you all a good list of books to read for the summer!

Whistle while you work,
                              Emma

Salvation Sunday: Christianity in Star Wars.

All good stories mirror the one great story, so Star Wars, ( a good story) mirrors Christianity. ( the one great story.) I'll give a few examples!

1) The Force.

                                        

The force is like the Holy Spirit, it ( He, the Holy Spirit) urges us to do good, and when we ignore the voice of the force or of the Holy Spirit, we turn to sin, or the Dark side.

2) The Jedi.

                              

Like priests and women of the religious life, the Jedi knights give there lives to the Light side, ( to God) serving and protecting those around them. Putting on the habit of their order they offer up all for their fellow Jedi, or priests/ religious sisters.

3) The Dark side.

                               

More commonly known as the Sith, the dark side is like us people overcome with sin, we have given up going to our fellow Jedi for forgiveness ( Confession) and we become selfish, wanting only for ourselves, whether it be power, or wealth.

4) Sacrificial love.

                               

Do we all remember this fine fellow? Well he gives up his life for both of his padawans, Obi wan, and Anakin. And what does Obi wan grow up to do?

                               

Giving his life for his padawan, Luke. Like priests these Jedi give their lives for those they love. And both of these, priests and Jedi, mirror Christ's sacrificial love for us on the Cross.

5) Darth Vader.

                               

Although we try and deny it, we are Darth Vader. We have all fallen away from the light at one time, but in the end we see how wrong we really were, and we try to make up for it, even though we must repent, in the process. Physically dying for Darth Vader, but for us, we must die to ourselves.

Whistle while you work,

                                 Emma

Things that Disney movies taught me.

As an avid Disney movie fan I have learned some great life lessons from Walt.
1) Disney taught me that water is sweet, but blood is always thicker, family comes before all else.
                            
2) We should be generous in our giving.
                            
3) Sometimes the only thing that a person needs is a little love and understanding.
                             
4) We should try hard to be brave.
                            
5) We should look more closely at who we are inside than outside.
                           
6) We sacrifice for those we love.
                          
                       
                           
 
                           

                            
 
                            
                           
whistle while you work,
                                 Emma

                           
                         

Salvation Sunday: The Ascension.

Today is the feast of The Ascension, Jesus going home to Heaven.
                                    
While I was at Mass today, I was struck by the end of the gospel " And then they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God." 
So the apostles left the Ascension full of joy and they went to the temple, a public place. But shortly after this, we find the apostles in an upstairs room with the doors locked, scared to even leave because the could be killed for their faith.
But God came to their aid and sent them the Holy Spirit.
                            
 I think that it goes to show that even though we may have God's zeal in us, we can still be scared to " leave the upper room." Often when asked about our faith we get scared and change the subject. Or when a tragedy happens in our lives, we feel like God has left us all alone.  In the times when we get scared, or feel alone, it should be that the first thing that we do is turn to God and ask that He send us someone to help, and if we ask, He will send us someone to help us.

Whistle while you work,
                                  Emma

The Joys of braces!

                                        
I have had braces for a few years now, and let me tell you, they have to be the most painful thing that I have ever gone through. Some people, ( People without braces) may think that braces are fun and colorful! Wrong! People with braces, hate braces for many reasons, here are a few.

You get food stuck in your braces, not a little, a lot!
                            
You can't eat a lot of candy.
                         
Can't eat these,
                         
Or these,
                         
None of these,
                           
Not even these, Or gum, or caramel, or peanut brittle! Yeah, braces are hard.

Lately I have had a wire that pokes out and rubs my cheek, making most eating hard and very painful!

One of the most annoying thing about braces is that every time that I go to the orthodontics they tell me, " This is the last time we put in a wire." Or " Only  4 more weeks!" And when I come back, I get a new wire and more than 4 weeks. I wait happily for the day that I will get them off. ( Hopefully very very soon!)

Whistle while you work,
                                 Emma

May the 4th.

Today is May the 4th, May the 4th be with you? So I thought that I should share some of  my favorite things about Star Wars.

                             
Yes, I firmly believe that Han shot first! ( Why wouldn't he have shot first?)
                                    
I love that although she is a princess, she can take care of herself, and she makes sure everybody knows.  She is a big part of the rebellion and she keeps a modest look ( In all but one movie, which I hate that George Lucas felt he had to put that in there) not to loose not to tight.
                                    
Lando Calrissian, I know that he is a traitor, ( he turns good in the end!) but man, I can't help but love this guy! He is so snazzy in his space cape! I liked Lando from the beginning and I will like Lando in the end!
                                      
Chewie! He is a fuzzy 7'6 wall of hair, need I say more?
                                      
Obi wan Kenobi, well, he is sarcastic, and yet very loving to those around him. *cough, cough* Anakin!
                               
You are lying if you say that this part in the movie didn't shatter your heart. No one can stand to see a brother fight his brother.
                           
If you read my earlier Star Wars post, you know that Qui gon Jinn is my favorite character. Why? I'm not exactly sure why, but I really like Liam Neeson's acting
( Qui gon Jinn, Aslan, Bad cop, and Jean val Jean.) Most people like Morgan Freeman's voice, me? Liam neeson.
Well I think that is about it, May the 4th be with you, and watch out for tomorrow, Revenge of the 5th!

Whistle while you work,
                               Emma
                                   

Salvation Sunday: Ireland's last seminary.

Just recently I was informed that Ireland is down to one seminary for the entire country.  As of this year, there will only be 70 seminarians in Ireland. So how did a Catholic country fall so far? It is hard to say for sure, but it is most likely due to the fact that the modern media has changed not only Ireland, but the world. The Catholic Church, the strongest organization on the world, is decreasing in size.  Today most people don't open their hearts up to God, and listen to what He has to say about their vocations. Asking God to open your heart to Him is easy. A seminarian friend of mine told me that when I pray, to ask God to take away the desires that I have put there, and to leave the desires that God has put there. For those that don't know what God wants their vocation to be, just add a simple prayer. " God, show me your way, help me make it my way."  Well, I think that about sums it up! Sorry it was such a short post! 

Whistle while you work,

                                 Emma