Introducing Natasha Maria Rygiel
Born: September 18, 2006 8:33 am
See all new Natasha pictures here or flickr version here.
At 11:34pm my dear wife went into labour. This is promising to be a very interesting night!
Update:
Saturday morning we went to the hospital. The labour was still in its very early stages. We were told to walk for few hours and come back for re-assessment. We walked in Queens Park, visiting various University of Toronto buildings. We even managed to take some pictures (Sounds a lot more like a nice day in a park than birth labour).
After 3 hours we were re-assessed and sent back home. Early stage usually lasts a long time. The pain is bearable. We are however quite tired since we didn't sleep last night
Update:
It is Sunday morning(September 17), my wife has been in labour for over 30 hours now (Not much sleep in that time). The pain is now intensifying and we are anticipating moving into an active labour stage any time. Julia is still in good spirit and has officially became my hero. She is to be known from now on as Super Julia.
Update:
It is now 9:28 am on Sunday morning. The contractions have increased to 3-4 minutes apart. The pain is also going up. We've been advised by the hospital staff to stay at home for a bit longer. This is a very good sign that things are now going to progress much faster!
Update:
It is Sunday at 10:43 am. The pain is now quite heavy. The contractions are moving closer. We are off to the hospital!
Update:
It is 5:54 pm on Sunday. We were once again sent back home. This time even though the contractions are close together the cervix was only dilated 1 cm. We were told to wait for pain of such high intensity that Julia can't walk or talk. Oyyy!!
Over the last few hours this pain has been slowly coming. My poor Super hero wife.
Update:
Since last update Natasha was born. A healthy baby girl. Her birthday is September 18, 2006 at 8:33 am.
Natasha Maria Rygiel has been entrusted into loving protection of our Blessed Mother and her Son. May God continue to bless her. May she grow into a beautiful child of God.
The Muslim world is angered at what the Pope said when he delivered his speech at University of Regensburg. The Pope when speaking about the relationship between faith and reason commented briefly on unreasonableness of using violence as a means of spreading faith.
This is where the story becomes interesting. The Pope quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who happened to be critical of the Islamic concept of jihad (holy war). One quote seems to be particularly strong in its language against Islam. It is this quote that enraged the Muslim world.
Before conclusions can be made about the Pope's comments, the entire text of his speech should be read. Once that is done it is clear that the Pope's intention was not to speak about Islam but to point out that violence in the name of religion is wrong and unreasonable.
This overblown reaction to the Pope's speech does not help Muslims. It once again throws them in front of our eyes as fanatical. It seems that nothing negative can be said about Islam. There is a powerful spirit of hatred that is fuelled every time someone makes a comment about the Muslim faith. If Islam wants to be viewed as a tolerant and peacefully religion it must save itself from these fanatical tendencies fuelled by irresponsible corrupt leaders.
Lets hope that this situation will cool down. I fear that it will get worse before it will get better. I think we should all pray for the pope and his safety. I also pray that the Muslim community will one day be free from the fanatical corruption that is causing it so much damage.
This quote which appears just moments after the "inflammatory" remark sums up perfectly what the Pope was trying to say
"God is not pleased by blood, and not acting reasonably ("syn logo") is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats.... To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death...."
Pope, quoting emperor Manuel II in his speech.
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The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile? 'The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. The confiscation of goods? We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it. I have only contempt for the world's threats, I find its blessings laughable. I have no fear of poverty, no desire for wealth. I am not afraid of death nor do I long to live, except for your good. I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence.
Do you not hear the Lord saying: Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst? Will he be absent, then, when so many people united in love are gathered together? I have his promise; I am surely not going to rely on my own strength! I have what he has written; that is my staff, my security, my peaceful harbour. Let the world be in upheaval. I hold to his promise and read his message; that is my protecting wall and garrison. What message? Know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!
If Christ is with me, whom shall I fear? Though the waves and the sea and the anger of princes are roused against me, they are less to me than a spider's web. Indeed, unless you, my brothers, had detained me, I would have left this very day. For I always say "Lord, your will be done"; not what this fellow or that would have me do, but what you want me to do. That is my strong tower, my immovable rock, my staff that never gives way. If God wants something, let it be done! If he wants me to stay here, I am grateful. But wherever he wants me to be, I am no less grateful.
Yet where I am, there you are too, and where you are, I am. For we are a single body, and the body cannot be separated from the head nor the head from the body. Distance separates us, but love unites us, and death itself cannot divide us. For though my body die, my soul will live and be mindful of my people.
You are my fellow citizens, my fathers, my brothers, my sons, my limbs, my body. You are my light, sweeter to me than the visible light. For what can the rays of the sun bestow on me that is comparable to your love? The sun's light is useful in my earthly life, but your love is fashioning a crown for me in the life to come.
From: Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Reading, 2nd Reading for September 13th. Memorial of St John Chrysostom