Month: June 2011

Quote of the Day

Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the following as her first essay when she was still a schoolgirl, and shared it in the book These Happy Golden Years. I think she had an excellent grasp of the good and bad of ambition, especially at such a young age!

“Ambition is necessary to accomplishment. Without an ambition to gain an end, nothing would be done. Without an ambition to excel others and to surpass one’s self there would be no superior merit. To win anything, we must have the ambition to do so.
Ambition is a good servant but a bad master. So long as we control our ambition, it is good, but if there is danger of our being ruled by it, then I would say in the words of Shakespeare, ‘Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. By that sin fell the angels.'”

Quote of the Day

“Yes, we’ve disagreed, even fought, but I would rather have someone who opposed me out of an honest belief in the rightness of his cause than someone who is always on my side because it was expected and required.” Mira Furlan as Delenn on Babylon 5

About The Athanasian Creed

From Lutheran Service Book:

“Early in the fourth century, a north African pastor named Arius began teaching that Jesus Christ was not truly God. The Church responded decisively in AD 325 with a statement of faith (The Nicene Creed), which confessed that Jesus is, in fact, true God. Toward the end of the fifth century, another creed was written that delved further into the mystery of the Trinity. Though attributed to Athanasius, a fourth-century opponent of Arius, this anonymous creed clearly came at a later stage in the debate.

The Athanasian Creed declared that its teachings concerning the Holy Trinity and our Lord’s incarnation are “the catholic faith.” In other words, that is what the true Church of all times and all places has confessed. More than fifteen centuries later, the Church continues to confess this truth, confident that the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has given Himself to our salvation.”

Quote of the Day–The Holy Trinity

On the Sunday of The Holy Trinity, we dust off the Athanasian Creed, which, although numbered as one of the three main Creeds of the Christian faith, is seldom used, probably due to its length. Verbosity aside, I find it to be a beautiful, full expression of what we believe. Just a reminder, catholic with a small “c” means universal, not Roman Catholic. Although, I’m guessing that they probably say this Creed on occasion, too, being part of the catholic church and all!

“Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith.
Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.
And the catholic faith is this,
that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.
For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another.
But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit:
and the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated;
the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite;
the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal.
And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal,
just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one Infinite.
In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty;
and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God;
and yet there are not three Gods, but one God.
So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord;
and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.
Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the catholic religion to say that there are three Gods or Lords.
The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone.
The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone.
The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.
Thus, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another;
but the whole three persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshipped.
Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.
But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man.
He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the substance of His mother in this age:
perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational soul and human flesh;
equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father with respect to His humanity.
Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:
one, however, not by the conversion of the divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the humanity into God;
one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ,
who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead,
ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds.
And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those have done evil into eternal fire.
This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.”

Gateway Grizzlies

On Monday, we went to a Gateway Grizzlies game. It was honor roll night, and Moose’s teacher had awarded him two tickets, (even though Early Childhood doesn’t actually have an honor roll), so we ordered some extras, and went to the ballpark. Grandpa and Grandma even got to come, making it a really special night.

I’d never been to a Grizzlies game before. Actually, I’ve never been to any minor league game before. Now, technically, the Grizzlies aren’t a “minor league” team, because they’re not affiliated with Major League Baseball–they’re a part of the Frontier League. I guess the best way to describe them would be as a club team–they’re professionals, but not what you usually think of when you think professional baseball players. But everything I’ve ever heard about minor league games fit our Grizzlies experience, so I’m equating the two.

W got to see the Grizzlies play the Normal CornBelters (no, I didn’t make that up!). It was a very fun experience. The park is small, and only seats about 6,000, so no matter where you sit, you’re close to the action. We had a good view of the game, and all of the other action, especially the opposition’s bullpen. And by bullpen, I mean players sitting directly in front of the stands, and warming up on the warning track.

In between innings, there were all kinds of ridiculous contests that were very fun to watch. The groundskeeper’s children racing around in human-sized hamster balls. Racing eyeballs. “Fights” involving giant boxing gloves. It was all hilarious, and to be perfectly honest, more fun than watching the actual game. Sorry Grizzlies. But the entertainment was really what made the game special.

The food at the park was also an experience. The Grizzlies are known for what they call “Baseball’s Best Burger.” Said burger is served not on a bun, but in a Krispy Kreme donut. I don’t care what they say, it’s gross–order at your own peril. On the other hand, they had funnel cake fries–delicious! They also serve brisket nachos (among other varieties), which we did not get to try, but I’m hoping to sample on our next visit. And the concessions are way cheaper than those at Busch Stadium, which almost makes up for the fact that you can’t bring any outside food into the ballpark.

Grizzlies games are also very child-friendly. The mascot, Izzy the Grizzlie, (you read that right), is constantly wandering the stands, and stops to pose with any child, (or more likely parent), who wants a photo. I should know–we took a lot of them! There’s a children’s play area in one corner of the ballpark, complete with batting cage, climbing equipment, and slides. There’s also a “kid’s parade” between innings, during which the children at the game are encouraged to parade around the park with Izzy, while chanting “Let’s Go Grizzlies!” Turkey and Bunny loved that!

Walking around the park with Moose before the game, I had the chance to look at all of the team logos for the Frontier League. This was one of my favorite parts of the night. As I wasn’t really familiar with the league, you can imagine how familiar I was with the teams in the league–in other words, not at all. In addition to the CornBelters, there are also Beach Bums, ThunderBolts, and Otters. My favorite, however, was the Joliet Slammers. I never would have gotten the joke if I hadn’t seen the logo–the name to me just implied grand slams. But, no, it’s a reference to the Joliet Correctional Center. Too funny!

It was a great night. We’re hoping to get to go back there later this season–it’s a fun, relatively inexpensive way to spend an evening as a family!

Float Fridays

We started a new summer tradition this year.

We’ve been enjoying different variations on the ice cream float. Root beer floats were our first choice, of course. But we’ve also had Coke floats (my favorite) and Vernors floats (it has to be Vernors; regular old ginger ale won’t do), and Ryan has tried some even more adventurous options, like Strawberry Crush and Sunkist Orange floats.

It’s a simple thing, but it’s also a fun thing to anticipate at the end of the week. We’re looking forward to trying out a few more flavors–right now, Dr. Pepper floats are the number one request!

A Surprise Visitor

When Turkey looked out the back window at lunchtime one day this week, he was greeted by this surprise visitor:

I’m going to assume that this is one of “our” baby birds…otherwise, it’s not a very good story! Anyway, Baby Robin let us get quite close to her, and I got a few good pictures. I found her spotted breast to be quite amusing–it gives her quite a tiger-y look–not what you expect from a tiny robin!

It was fun to see one of the babies almost two weeks after she left the nest–we had all been wondering just where they went, but at least now we know it wasn’t too far!

Flag Day

From The American Patriot’s Almanac:

“On June 14, 1777, during the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official national flag.

‘Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.’

Congress gave no further instruction as to exactly what the flag should look like, such as its dimensions or how the stars should be arranged. Consequently, early U.S. flags did not all look alike. Some flags had stars with six points, others with eight. Some flag makers sewed the stars in rows on the blue field, others in a circle or scattered without an organized pattern.

The first official, widespread observance of the flag’s birthday came on June 14, 1877, when the flag was one hundred years old. Over the next several years, many schools, veterans groups, and patriotic societies turned the day into a yearly celebration. Mayors and governors began to issue proclamations calling for parades and patriotic events on June 14.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day as an annual national celebration. In 1949 Congress and President Truman officially made June 14 a permanent yearly observance.

Quote of the Day–Flag Day

“This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours. It floats in majestic silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether in peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us–speaks to us of the past, of the men and women who went before us, and of the records they wrote upon it…From its birth until now it has witnessed a great history, has floated on high the symbol of great events, of a great plan of life worked out by a great people.” Woodrow Wilson, June 1917

“You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high-flying flag,
And forever in peace, may you wave;
You’re the emblem of
The land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘Neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or a brag;
But, should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.”