Even for non-Catholics
Today was rainy in Houston. Here are a few words that I found to be beautiful...
From Catholic Relief Services, "The Principles of Social Teaching"
DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
All humanity has been made in the image of god. Through our actions we must express that each person is precious and that the lives and welfare of all people are priorities.
COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION
Human beings are not only sacred, but social. How we participate in our family and community, from our daily actions to our policy decisions, affects each and every person.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We must take responsibility to protect the rights of all people. These rights include the right to life, food, shelter, education, and employment, along with political and cultural rights.
OPTION FOR THE POOR
As a community of faith, we have the obligation to reach out to those most in need. The Gospel specifically calls us to take action on behalf of the most vulnerable members of society.
DIGNITY OF WORK AND RIGHT OF WORKERS
The ability to work to earn a living is a right of all people.
All workers have a right to a fair wage, to organize themselves, and to work in good conditions.
SOLIDARITY
We are one human family, regardless of our differences. Answering the call to love our neighbors will promote a culture of respect and lead to peace in our communities around the world.
CARE FOR GOD'S CREATION
We are called to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us. Through protecting the environment in which we live, we respect the goodness of nature, a gift god has given.
This was an excerpt from a Catholic Relief Services bulletin, but even if you are not Catholic I truly believe that the themes ring true for anyone who is committed to social justice.
Last weekend we acknowledged the 30th anniversary of the military coup in Argentina. The word "desaparecidos" (meaning the "disappeared") didn't exist in the Spanish lexicon until this dirty war in the 70's. Casualty counts range from the conservative 10,000 to 30,000.
As a previous citizen of Buenos Aires, all I can say is that the wounds are still fresh. Even regarding an unrelated, but seriously important dispute over the Falkland Islands. (Las Islas Malvinas).
Enough reading, go rent that movie about Truman Capote...it just came out on dvd.
parents-to-be
My cousin Jamie and her husband Chris just announced that they're pregnant...
congratulations you guys!
Luck o' the Irish
I hope some of that luck wears off...that's a good lookin' hat dad!
the shamp ladies
Here are the Shamp ladies- Sally looks too young to answer to "grandma" already!
cute sibs
Kristen and Joe look super cute in this picture. Kristen is sportin' a new hair color and Joe just aced (read- scored the highest) on his paramedic exam!
happy st. pat's
Where is Darrell's green???
Andalucia
Our trip to Spain was better than I could have imagined. I posted a few pictures below, which chronicle our exploration of Andalucia in southern Spain. We started the trip in Valencia where Natalie lives. She took us to her favorite bodega where we had tapas and sangria...bienvenidos! The next day we set out for Granada, an adorable town with winding streets and the legendary Alhambra. Washington Irving (best known for his work "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow") did a piece on this enchanting place which I plan to read promptly. Please excuse the shameless alliteration :)
Dad successfully navigated the hectic city streets and microscopic parking garage spots with Aly as his navigator. The girl is good with a map. Sevilla was our next stop and Flamenco was on the agenda. H&M was also an obligatory pit stop as there isn't one in Valencia...Natalie was in heaven. We visited the grand cathedral where Christopher Columbus sleeps, took a carriage ride around the city and learned how to say icecream cone the local way.
Cordoba was up next, it was the smallest of the places we visited. We spend only one night there, but I could've spent a week. Dad had paella, but Natalie promised the best was yet to come. She was right.
Back in Valencia she took us to an amazing local joint for some insane paella. It was absolutely incredible and people were practically throwing punches to get a seat. Good thing we knew exactly when they opened (we'd been there 2 times prior trying to eat, but siesta threw a wrench in our plans). Even though I told Aly countless times throughout the trip that her purse was more "pickpocketable", it was Natalie who busted a woman in mid-grab as we walked to dinner one night.
The only kink in the trip was when dad and I missed our connecting flight in Madrid. We were given a seat on Iberia...MAJOR upgrade from American. On Iberia the movies are better (although I wouldn't know because I had three seats to sprawl in) and they serve pate with dinner!
Thank you Natalie for showing us the beautiful life you are leading in such an incredible country.
Thank you dad for organizing the trip and driving!!
Thank you Aly for being the best navigator as usual and for allowing me to live out of your suitcase!
Next up- corrective eye surgery next thursday. I won't be posting pictures of that ;)
The Great Mosque
The expansive interior of this structure gives the visitor an incredible perception of space where countless arches are supported by slender pillars. About 200 years after the christianization of the region, a cathedral was built inside the mosque. This makes for a fascinating fusion of Christian iconography within the walls of a Syrian-influenced masterpiece.
a stroll through the jewish quarter
Aly experimented with sepia tone during an afternoon walk in Granada...
granada
On our way home from an excellent dinner. The beef rivaled Argentine steak! Can you tell we're in a hurry to get out of the cold...
at the bodega
In Granada the tradition is to serve patrons free tapas with each drink they order. This little bodega was right below our hotel and we discovered the amazing Alhambra 1927 special reserve. Thus began our love of this beer in the green bottle (sans label).
la alhambra
The Alhambra is a palace constructed by the Nasrid dynasty and is said to be the most outstanding example of Islamic architecture surviving in the western world. It took us an entire morning to explore this expansive royal city, but the views were well worth it.
mosque
We saw some amazing mosques which is a testament to the influence of the Moors in Andalucia, the region of southern spain that we explored.
view of sevilla
This is a city view from the tower of the cathedral in Sevilla. It is the third largest cathedral in the world. Its designers' goal: "Let us erect a church so immense that everyone beholding it will take us for madmen."
flamenco
We took in a flamenco show while in Sevilla.
hola mamacita
We had so much fun visiting this bon boncita!
Dos panchotes
Here's a photo of dad and Paco. We met him in Sevilla and made fast friends...he's also pictured below at the end of our night on the town.
brrrr!
It was chilly in Sevilla and didn't really warm up until a few days before we flew home...
new friends
We met some very interesting folks sitting at a table adjacent to ours during an afternoon coffee break. We ended up spending the rest of the afternoon and night with them. Paco, being from Sevilla, was an awesome tour guide. He led us to a local brewery and then to an authentic spot where we had the best bocadillos (sandwiches) of the trip
