Ken & Emily Behrle
 


 
 
Submitted by: Ken
 
 
 

The Assumption of Mary by Francesco Botticini (1446 - 1498)
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where we profess our belief in the Dogma that Mary was assumed into Heaven body and soul by the power of God. This is a Dogma of the faith and must be believed to be Catholic; it has been taught since the early Church to the present day with allusions in the Sacred Scriptures.

Solemnity: August 15

The Assumption has been believed and celebrated since the earliest times of Christianity. Today's feast was celebrated under various names (Commemoration, Dormition, Passing, Assumption) from at least the fifth or sixth century. Homilies concerning the Assumption go back to at least the Sixth Century. However, in order to make it a dogma of the faith meaning all Catholics must believe it, Pope Pius XII dogmatically declared Mary's Assumption into Heaven in 1950:

"... by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory" (Munificentissimus Deus)

The Eastern Churches (which are still in union with Rome) refer to today as the Dormition as opposed to the Assumption because they believe that Mary died and was then assumed into Heaven. As Roman Catholics in the Latin Rite, we are free to believe that Mary died and then was assumed into Heaven or that she didn't die but right before her death she was assumed into Heaven.
Some claim that the Assumption never happened because it is not in the Scriptures, but remember that the Bible deals with God not Mary. The Bible does not deal with the earthy end of any of the original disciples after the Gospel ends.

Remember, today is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning all Catholics must attend Mass.
 
Submitted by: Ken
 
 
 
Please pray for me this weekend, as I will be taking the Holy Trinity Youth Group to Springfield, MO for a Catholic Youth Conference!  It is a awesome, powerful weekend- but also one that is a lot of work!  Please pray for us as we travel, and that the Holy Spirit fills the hearts of the 4000 teens gathered!http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktqeyzxHgb1qatbc8o1_500.jpg
 
Submitted by: Ken
 
 
 
So it's been a crazy long time since I have written anything new here.  I guess that since I have been on Facebook, I just use that as my place to vent and share my life.  I don't even know who, if anyone still visits here anymore!  I know that at one point, about 4 years ago, this was actually a very heavily trafficed site- I was told by one person who creates websites that he is paid alot of money by companys to try to get people to come to their site, but we were getting more hits than they ever did.  At that point though, I was posting something new weekly- if not more often!  If you look in the archives, and type "K-Rant" you can find a lot of my old blogs...  Meanwhile, I guess since I am already here I will just go ahead and update you on life.. 
Busy.  Busy.  Busy.  Busy.  Life with 4 kids is crazy and hectic and awesome.  Emily is perpetually tired, but joyous (mostly).  I am always late for work because I am trying to get the kids ready for school.  I rush out the door to get to work, then I rush home to help with the family!  At the same time, I am doing as much extra work in the evenings as I can, which is great for our bottom line, but not always so great for the family.  It is a tough balancing act- and not one I always get right.  In addition to this, for those that don't know- I am now the Youth Minister at our church.  I have been involved with ministry work for almost 10 years now, but this is the first time I have ever been the "leader" of the group.  It is a challenging, exciting, and rewarding position, and it has been a blessing.  I was worried how it would affect our family, and how Em would do with it- but I have been very pleased to see that it has worked very well for us.  I have developed systems so it does not eat up too much time, and so I can better balance my life (mostly). 
That's about all for now... Mia is growing rapidly- it's true, once you have kids time speeds up.  Never would have believed it.  The older 3 seem so big now...
Well, now that I wrote something maybe this will get me back into the habit.  Eh, stay tuned.
 
Submitted by: Ken
 
 
 
In case you wanted to know...

I had been trying to get labor moving for a few weeks. I'd have contractions, sometime regularly and then they'd stop. It was very frustrating. It was hard to be patient and trust in God's timing. I also knew, though, that this was most likely the last time that my body was going to have a little one inside, so I was trying to enjoy and remember every hiccup, every kick in the ribs and enjoy the belly. The other symptoms I wasn't enjoying so much!
Then we get to the big day...
On the morning of Feb 25 I rolled out of bed and the baby dropped really low. I knew she couldn't, but it felt like she was going to fall out! I also started spotting. It just felt like "today is it". I went about my day as usual, nesting a bit in the kitchen and sitting in my favorite local coffee shop with my book while my kids were at school. It felt good to just be still. I then went to my OB appt in the afternoon and he told me I was favorable and 3 cm, 20 % and -2. We decided to strip. I then went to Cotton Babies for a few things and then to my Mom's to pick up the kids. It was about 4:15 when I left her house in SoCo. I started having contractions on the way home. I call Ken and tell him that my Mom had sent us home with dinner and could he please feed the kids so I can concentrate on getting labor moving. I get home around 5:00 and decide to go walking before it gets dark. The contractions grow closer together and stronger. I think I do about 2 miles. It's about 5:30 when I come back and contractions are about 4 min apart. I come home and Ken has a plate waiting for me, but I'm not hungry, feeling slightly nauseous, but drank lots of water and juice. I'm starting to find the kids irritating, so I know this is the real deal. I tell Ken I'm going to retreat into our room and would he please mind the kids for the rest of the evening including giving them a bath. He checks on me every 15 min or so. I try helping with the bedtime routine, but find it hard to keep it together. I liked spending that one last evening with my kids before we added a new family member. I take a really long shower and labor pretty much stops. It feels nice, but I knew I had to get out if we were to keep things moving. As soon as I'm dressed, things pick up again. Fast. Now I need Ken. He calls his Mom to take over kid duty so he can focus on me. He even suggests we go out to dinner! Not in my plans. He calls Dr. Dixon. I kiss the kids and tell them what's going on. The boys could care less, but Chloe gets really excited. Like with my labor with Ben, I'm not completely convinced that this is it. I was certain they'd send us home since I'd been having contractions for weeks and that this was the same thing, even though they were stronger. We arrive at the hospital around 9:15 and I'm excited when they tell me I'm 7 cm!! On the way to the hospital we had called our chiropractor who was going to help me through labor, Dr. Rachel. She arrives shortly after us. I'm given a hep lock (Dr. Dixon wanted a line open b/c of the post-delivery hemorrhage with Luke) and some brief monitoring and then I'm free to labor how I like. I "slow dance" on Ken, walk around and Dr Rachel suggests some squatting, so I lean on the bed. She wanted my water to break so things would speed up. I think the speed that things were moving was just fine! And I remember with Ben Dr. Dixon telling me that my bag of waters was acting like a cushion, keeping the contractions from being too painful. I didn't want them to get more painful! Dr. Rachel kept me hydrated and then gives me an adjustment, helping to move things along. She then helps with the pain. She certainly made it more bearable and helped me keep focus on the job I had to do. Ken was fantastic in helping me labor and I truly feel as if we labored together. This was the first time I didn't ask for pain relief. I didn't want it with the others, but still asked for it. I then had the urge to push. In the past Dr Dixon and nurses told me to go ahead. This time Dr. Rachel was telling me to wait. To let my body bring the baby down. It was hard to fight that urge and not listen to my body, but I'm glad I waited. And Ken was right there, gently in my face, helping me focus. Then after a few contractions I couldn't wait any longer. Dr. Dixon told me I could have this baby in whatever way I was most comfortable. I was in the bed from having been adjusted and didn't have the energy or leg strength to squat, which is what I knew was best. So, I raised up the head of the bed and laid on one side. No one holding my legs. No "purple pushing". No bed being broken down into a delivery table. He just sat at the foot of the bed and let me do my thing, quickly praying with us. I pushed once. My water broke and baby's head was brought down and I felt the "ring of fire". I quickly pushed through that pain and out came my beautiful baby princess at 10:29 PM! 5 hrs of labor! We then waited for the cord to stop pulsating before cutting and she latched on right away. All while this is going on, my sister-in-law, Ashley, is there snapping pictures. She was very professional and discreet about it. I was so glad she was there! About 20 min later I deliver the placenta and have only 2 small tears that need stitching. I feel as if because Dr. Rachel helped my prep my body for this big day, the wear on it is minimal. After about 1/2 hr of nursing the nursery staff comes in to asses her. No wheeling down the hall to the nursery! I get cleaned up and something to eat (so starving!) and we go to the postpartum side. Mia fully rooms in with us and even sleeps in bed with me, which they didn't support when I was there with Ben, but turned a blind eye to and just told me to be careful. I was slightly frustrated when they come to get her when the ped is there to see not only her, but other babies as well. I wish they would have gotten her when it was her turn. Dr Dixon and I made sure though that the nurses were hands off and were there only if we needed something. We then go home early Sat afternoon, stopping for lunch first at our favorite Mexican place. It was a great experience all around and I wouldn't change a thing!
And her name. She's named Maria after the Blessed Mother. We call her Mia because Mia is a form of Maria, not Mary, and we liked Mia. Yes, we know that Mia is a name all by itself, but we wanted to name her after the Mother of all Mothers, and we wouldn't be doing that by simply naming her Mia. Mackenzie is my Mother-in-law's Mom (Ken's Grandma's) maiden name.
To read the birth stories of my other children:
For Chloe "archive" "2004" "Oct" and scroll down
For Luke "archive" "2005" "Dec" and scroll down
 
Submitted by: Emily
 
 
 
   Family Prayer

            God made us a family.
            We need one another.
            We love one another.
            We forgive one another.
            We work together.
            We play together.
            We worship together.
            Together we use God's word.
            Together we grow in Christ.
            Together we love all people.
            Together we serve our God.
            Together we hope for heaven.
            These are our hopes and ideals.
            Help us to attain them,
            O God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

http://reflection2.blogetery.com/files/2008/09/family-prayer.jpg



 
Submitted by: Ken
 
 
 
If link had used a real boomerang in "Zelda"..from cracked.com
 
Submitted by: Ken
 
 
 
Emily, I love you!!

http://www.myjgd.com/jgdi/Holidays_ValentinePenguin-lilpenguinshop-2399298.gif
 
Submitted by: Ken
 
 
 

Read this story and then say Ew...

Restaurant promotes sex in its bathrooms

Mildred's Temple Kitchen invites diners to visit its unisex stalls for a little Valentine's Day loving

Published On Wed Feb 03 2010
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A hostess shows off a washroom at Mildred's, where sex is

By Amy Pataki Restaurant Critic

Mildred's Temple Kitchen is inviting customers to have sex in its bathrooms.

The Valentine's weekend promotion takes uncomfortable but electrifying sex from the close confines of an airplane and transfers it to the unisex stalls of the Hanna Ave. restaurant.

The Liberty Village restaurant proposes its modern bathrooms become one of the "101 places to have sex before you die."

Mildred's has always elicited a certain response. One customer, who didn't want to be named, remembers going to a wedding at the eatery's old location and seeing a copy of the Kama Sutra in the bathroom.

"They invite it," said the customer.

This time, the invitation is explicit. On its website, Mildred's asks: "Have you given any thought to moving beyond the bedroom?

"Check out Mildred's Sexy Bathrooms throughout the weekend of Big Love. You get the picture."

Actually, the picture is clouded by practicalities. Is the restaurant supplying condoms? What about the health risks of body fluids? And who's cleaning up?

"We've always had little trysts in our bathrooms," says chef/co-owner Donna Dooher, pointing to lingering weekday lunches as a popular time. "We're taking it to the next level on Valentine's weekend."

The restaurant's four bathrooms light up outside when occupied. Staff have learned to watch the light flicker twice when two customers enter the same bathroom, usually a few minutes apart.

Toronto Public Health says as long as there's no sex in the kitchen and the restaurant keeps its washrooms clean and sanitized, it's not fussed. "As far as bodily fluids, it's pretty much similar to the other human functions going on in there," says Jim Chan, manager of the food safety program.

Dooher says customers must bring their own condoms but she's hiring a maid to tidy the washrooms that weekend. "She'll be there with her feather duster and cleaning supplies."

At least diners aren't encouraged to use furry handcuffs, part of a $55 "naughty love hamper," while at Mildred's. "Best to savour and enjoy (those) long after you leave the restaurant," the restaurant says.

apataki@thestar.ca

 
Submitted by: Ken
 
 
 
YOU KNOW WHAT I LIKE? STEALING STUFF AND PUTTING IT ON MY SITE.  ESPECIALLY FUNNY STUFF.

23 Situations About To Go Horribly Awry

By CRACKED Readers Feb 03, 2010 171,917 views
article image

Sometimes failure comes out of nowhere. Other times, you start to count the number of exclamation points you'll be using after FAIL even before anyone's run head first into a hilarious injury.

We asked you to show us some moments that are guaranteed to end badly. The winner is below, but first the runners up ...

#23.


by sonofpat

#22.


by PastaRecon

#21.


by Austin316

#20.


by SamLowery

#19.


by McBeefy

#18.


by thebluesader

#17.


by cazman

#16.


by scott_walker

#15.


by MRDUCKS

#14.


by McBeefy

#13.


by lokimotive

#12.


by hoomhum

#11.


by Happy Emo

#10.


by Gusmanio

#9.


by Cee-Ell

#8.


by pizzamogul

#7.


by misterq

#6.


by headbangking

#5.


by Brian_Cohen

#4.


by kunky

#3.


by

#2.


by Strange but Untrue

And the winner is ...


by braddas

 
Submitted by: Ken