Library Paranoia

After discussing this with a friend who has the same problem, I feel liberated to confess a little problem I have with getting library books turned back in on time. Every time we go to the library (which by the way is a lovely local library the kids love that even has a coffee shop), I feel like there are invisible alarms going off. "There she is again, the one who can never turn in library books on time. Doesn't she have a fine that is due as well?" We make a lot of contributions to the library through this process.

Of course, dear DEAR husband never turns anything in late and won't even go in the library with me, adding to the paranoia. The only time he will get involved is when he can't stand looking at the books piled up by the door to be returned and will actually take them and drop them in the box outside the library. He must think there are hidden alarms that will go off if he walks inside with MY late library books (not his). To be fair, I always have good intentions which is paving a nice road to **** for me in this matter. This is not something I do on purpose, it's just that well, when you have mittens and hats and scarves and coats and shoes flying all over every time we go out the door, the library books just get forgotten in the shuffle. During the summer, I have no excuse that I can think of right now. Maybe that would be a good science project for the kids. Do library books get returned in a more timely manner during the summer? I can see the poster board charts now.

Anyway, my husband's parents were visiting this week and his mom took our oldest daughter to the library to read some books and enjoy the coffee shop. I know, I know, a coffee shop isn't even enough to get me motivated to get the darn books in on time. But I digress. The good news is that all our overdue books were already turned in (by dear husband of course), but I still need to go in and pay the outstanding fine. Dear daughter was going to get a new library card (because she lost hers like 5 years ago, obviously on the same path as her dear DEAR mom). Usually to get a replacement card is $1.00, but by the time she went in they did not have any records of her ever having one, so she needed to start the process all over again, requiring parents to fill out and sign the application. They would not let her grandma access our records in order to protect us. I told DH's mom it was probably a good thing for her because it protected her from the invisible alarms that would have been activated had they opened up my library record (blush). I'm not sure if she was too amused by this ;).

So, what is the point of this post? Nothing really, except that I am failing as a mom to teach my kids responsibility. But we can have a sense of humor about it all, so that must count for something. Anyway, it is almost New Years, and I am not even going to attempt to make a New Years resolution about this. And I don't want to make light of a serious problem that I am sure is the subject of a Parenting magazine article somewhere, "How to raise responsible kids." This article is of course right next to one entitled "How to regulate your body's normal hormonal cycle and not produce any more citizens that cannot turn in library books on time."

May God's Love Be With You

Love this song covered by Michael Stipe and Coldplay (original is Joseph Arthur). Wanted to share the song with you. The video is a French film I have never seen (Les Quatre Cents Coups), but was widely acclaimed in 1959. I don't know if I would like the movie or not (maybe I'll try to watch it some time), but I love the song!!

O Emmanuel

O Rex Gentium

O Oriens

O Clavis David

O Radix Jesse

Wow. Just. Wow.

Here is the power Reid does not want taken from him:

FY11OmnibusEarmarkDatabase


On the upside: possibly a more spiritual post coming up because I can't stand to leave this blog on a negative political note.

If you abhor politics, move along, nothing to see here :)

A Mother's Love

One of my favorite books is the original Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I also like each of the Little Women films as well. One of the most moving scenes in the 1994 film version of Little Women is when Marmee March returns home from tending to her husband wounded in the Civil War to care for her dying daughter, Beth. Every time I watch this scene it brings tears to my eyes. After doing all that they thought was possible, the doctor says that there is nothing left to be done but call for the mother. When Marmee returns home, she runs to her daughter and says "Marmee's here" and begins immediately to care for her daughter as only a mother can. Miraculously, Beth survives because of her mother's loving touch and care for her. Although Beth is weakened by this illness and years later eventually dies, her mother's love carries her through the suffering she endures.

While watching this movie again recently, a realization came that this is just what our Mother Mary does for us when we are on the brink of death, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. When we call on her, she comes in immediately and knows exactly what is necessary to bring us to life in Christ again, even if we are on the brink of death. Let Mary care for you only as a Mother can and show you the way to the Father's Love.

Scroll to about 2:45 to get to the scene where Marmee returns to care for Beth:

Test Strips for Rwanda

H/T Therese at Aussie Coffee Shop

Advent Moment of the Day

H/T Rocco at Whispers in the Loggia :)

Tota Pulchra es Maria

H/T Joy at Crocheted Mantillas and Chapel Veils

Time for Executive Branch to Watch Schoolhouse Rock

Well, I've already posted about how Congress needs to watch Schoolhouse Rock or maybe read the Constitution. It looks as though the Executive Branch maybe needs to do the same (not that this is any newsflash):


White House wants Transfer Authority on Appropriations



H/T Ed Morissey at Hot Air

Sugary lemonade to cool a hot temper

Gee, all I need is to drink more sugary lemonade! Wow, now that's easy!


Note/Disclaimer: I do not know anything about the website linked above, so ignore any politically correct or ideological driven science reports you may see there.


On a more joyful note: Hope you are having a blessed Advent. This is our most favorite season of the year. The kids love doing Advent prayers (that is when I'm not losing my temper asking them to sit quietly ;) ). Now that we have begun doing the lego calendar (as of yesterday Dec 1st), they have some more motivation to listen to the Jesse Tree meditations and other Bible readings we do during Advent. We just need to figure out a schedule as to who gets to do the Bible reading, lead the song, hang up the Jesse tree ornament, build the lego, blow out the candle, etc.... Doing a chart seemed too contrived to me, but we may just have to do that, because when they all know their role, then they will actually prayerfully participate. Maybe we should include sugary lemonade for Mom in there just for good measure ;) Dad doesn't need the sugary lemonade, he just rolls with punches :)

A Blessed Advent to you!

20 Questions

Hi, here's a fun list of questions from Therese over at Aussie Coffee Shop. Join in if you'd like!

1. Sweet or Savoury? both, definitely have a sweet tooth, but have major cravings for savoury

2. Dresses or Jeans? Jeans (like dresses too, but definitely prefer jeans)

3. House or Apartment? House

4. Shop Online or Offline? Online

5. DVDs or Downloads? Both, mainly DVDs, but love Netflix instant view

6. Cocktails or Juice? Juice (I'm pregnant :) ), otherwise beer or wine, not really cocktails

7. Chocolate or Strawberry? CHOCOLATE

8. Laptop or PC? Prefer PC, but use laptop too

9. Magazines or Newspapers? Neither, books are my thing

10. Facebook or Twitter? Neither (blush)

11. CDs or MP3s? CDs but have itunes on our computer

12. Kids or Pets? Kids

13. Macaron or Cupcakes? Cupcakes

14. Walk or Run? Walk, although usually running late, so run (but not a runner, bad knees)

15. Breakfast in Bed or Breakfast Out? Breakfast in bed, definitely!!

16. Market or Supermarket? Supermarket, but would prefer market

17. Sourdough or Grainy? hmmm....either, both are great!

18. Heels or Flats? Flats, used to be heels, but not so coordinated anymore :)

19. Late nights or Not? Late nights when not pregnant

20. Coffee or Tea? Both! not a regular coffee drinker though, more with desserts, drink tea more regularly

Blues Traveler

Well, sometimes all I can do is post music. Here's Hook by Blues Traveler. I don't even know what the lyrics mean, I just have always liked this song:



Have a very Blessed Thanksgiving!

Wow, that was good!

A dear friend came over last night and we had the best tea EVER!!! It was from TEAVANA. We had strawberry lemonade pomegranate herbal tea, sweetened with german rock sugar. What a treat! If you have any tea lovers in your family, this might be the best Christmas present for them.

Gyro Bowl

Well, this is something new! I might possibly be tempted to get something like this if the person's voice who is talking on the video wasn't so darn cheerful about it all:



Here's what William Jacobson had to say about it:

My reaction to this device when I saw the advertisement on TV was not "how ingenious."

My reaction was, why don't you teach the $#@%! kid not to spill the $#@%! food bowl.

But then again, I'm old school. And lately I've been cranky.

He must not have four children under the age of 8 right now ;)

H/T Legal Insurrection

Thank you on this Veteran's Day!!

Happy Veterans Day and a very big thank you to all Veterans! May God bless you and your families and loved ones. Thank you for your sacrifice for all of us.

A tribute to Bataan Death March survivors from Minnesota National Guard:



H/T Michelle Malkin

Book Giveaway at Homestead Bread!

My friend Melanie is doing a book giveaway at her blog Homestead and Bread. The book is Little Star by Anthony deStefano. It looks like an awesome book! While you're there check out her wonderful recipes! Thanks Melanie :)

My Day Today

Me: "You sit on this couch (to DD1) and you sit on this couch (to DS1). Now, neither one of you can come off of these couches until you can have a civil conversation."

A few minutes later, DD1: "Mom, can we come off of the couch now? We're having a civil conversation! Ummm, except that it's more like a civil war! You said civil didn't you?"


Me thinks: Just keep smiling, just keep smiling!! Smiling, smiling! (Like Dory, just keep swimming!)

Hope you're having a wonderful Monday too!

In Defense of Purity

A friend sent me an article A Case for Purity: In Defense of Overprotective Parenting by April at Catholic Phoenix.

I highly recommend reading this article, it is wonderful and was very encouraging to me as I struggle with doubt about parenting in our oversexualized culture. Living an authentic Catholic faith is truly swimming upstream, and many times I am so exhausted with it all and with my own sinfulness that I just decide to quit paddling and go with the flow. I am so thankful for this article because it has encouraged me once again the absolute importance of protecting our children's purity. It really is an act of heroic faith to not give in to the ways of the world. Let us pray for eachother to stay the course. I hope this article is as encouraging to you as it is to me.

Have a wonderful Sunday. Praise God, our Almighty Creator!

H/T swissmiss

A Beauty Veiled

Yesterday, I posted a video of early life development that was amazing. And it is. But after Women's Holy Hour last night, I realized that there is no video, no ultrasound, no genetic biology explanation that can even come close to describing the beauty and mystery of God's creation. And certainly my own words cannot do this.

The sad part about it all is that the beauty and dignity of life is under attack in such a diabolical way right now in our world that it seems necessary to prove that life exists from the moment of conception. And I am so thankful for all the ultrasounds out there that have saved a child and his or her mother's life. I am also very thankful for the work at LiveAction.org to show people the truth about abortion and abortion providers. I am thankful for scientists who have uncovered genetic biology and can prove life begins at conception.

But most of all, and most importantly, I am thankful to You God, for giving us life, for the mystery of Your creation, a beautiful mystery that I know by faith. I pray for all of us who at times require proof of Your Majesty, Your Almighty Power. I pray for all of us who miss the beauty of keeping Your Mystery veiled. Have Mercy on us.

Thank You for the Mercy of being in Your Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, for veiling Yourself as the Eucharist so that we may dare to enter Your gaze as sinful as we are. In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen.

Psalm 139

Lord, You have probed me, You know me:
You know when I sit and stand;
You understand my thoughts from afar.
My travels and my rest You mark;
with all my ways You are familiar.

Even before a word is on my tongue,
Lord, You know it all.
Behind and before You encircle me
and rest Your Hand upon me.
Such knowledge is beyond me,
far too lofty for me to reach.

Where can I hide from Your Spirit?
From Your Presence, where can I flee?
If I ascend to the heavens, You are there.
If I lie down in Sheol, You are there too.
If I fly with the wings of dawn
and alight beyond the sea,
Even there Your Hand will guide me,
Your Right Hand hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely darkness shall hide me,
and night shall be my light"
Darkness is not dark for You,
and night shines as the day.
Darkness and light are but one.

You formed my inmost being;
You knit me in my mother's womb.
I praise You, so wonderfully You made me.
wonderful are Your works!
My very self You knew;
my bones were not hidden from You,
When I was being made in secret,
fashioned as in the depths of the earth.

Your Eyes foresaw my actions;
in Your book all are written down;
my days were shaped, before one came to be.

How precious to me are Your designs, O God;
how vast the sum of them!
Were I to count, they would outnumber the sands;
to finish, I would need eternity.
If only You would destroy the wicked, O God,
and the bloodthirsty would depart from me!
Deceitfully they invoke Your Name;
Your foes swear faithless oaths.
Do I not hate, Lord, those who hate You?
Those who rise against You, do I not loathe?
With fierce hatred I hate them,
enemies I count as my own.

Probe me, God, know my heart;
try me, know my concerns.
See if my way is crooked,
then lead me in the ancient paths.

Amazing Video of Early Life Development

Wow, this is amazing!



HT Creative Minority Report and LiveAction


Update: If you have trouble viewing the video, you can watch it at liveaction.org

Prayer Vigil for All Nascent Human Life

From LifeSiteNews:

By John-Henry Westen

VATICAN, October 29, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-life activists worldwide are pledging to promote Pope Benedict XVI's initiative to have all Catholic churches in the world to join him in celebrating a vigil for all nascent human life on November 27th, 2010. Moreover, a campaign to thank the Pope for the initiative is being promoted in seven languages.A new website has been launched "yes-for-benedict.net," where pro-life people can send a message to the pope in their own language.

The message states: "We express our sincere gratitude to you, Holy Father, for your leadership in this gravely needed initiative, and in the fight for life around the world. In prayer, we renew and redouble our efforts, trusting that the Author of Life will guide us toward victory in defending our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.

"On the evening of November 27, 2010 at the liturgical beginning of Advent - a time of joyful anticipation for the celebration of birth of Christ - His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate a prayer vigil in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican for the intention of all nascent human life. At the request of the Holy Father, a letter was sent to all the episcopal conferences of the Catholic Church this past June asking them to take part in this prayer and to organize prayer vigils at the beginning of Advent in all local churches.

"Let's do everything possible so that our parishes, communities, prayer groups and families join in this universal prayer for life, in communion with the Holy Father," said Lech Kowalewski, a national leader of the pro-life movement in Poland, who is also coordinating the "yes for Benedict" effort. "Personal prayer in union with the Church for the intention of defending preborn human life is our duty and raises great hope that with God's help the civilization of life and love will triumph.

"For details on how to join Pope Benedict in prayer during the Vigil for All Nascent Human Life, click here.

To sign on to the message of thanks to the Pope for instituting the vigil for life please click here.

The Catholicism Project

A sneak peak at Episode 1 of Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism Project will air Sunday, October 31 at 9:30am EST on WGN America (9:30am on Chicago WGN-9 affliate). I have so been looking forward to this series! Here's a trailer:



A story of Hope. A story of Beauty. A story of Love.

The Great Brainwashed

Katie Couric is having a great time touring "this great unwashed middle of the country" according to an interview with Howard Kurtz. I think when my husband and I are done raising our children, we will take a tour of the "great brainwashed" urban coastal areas of our country. ;)

H/T Allahpundit at HotAir


P.S. - Not that there's anything wrong with these urban coastal areas, just making a point :)

A Love Story

A Page is Turned by Bebo Norman

A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin
With a world to conquer at the age of ten
But as history unfolds and the storybook is told
He finds salvation but not at the hands of man

And the God of second chance
Picked him up and
He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him the one
To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come

A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl
With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled
By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow
With a careful cover of Love that will not fail

And the God of second chance
Picked her up and
He let her dance
Through a world that isn't kind
And all this time, preparing her the one
To hold her up when she comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And grown up tall, here you are
Your day has come

Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand
And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead
And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand
Just for her hand

A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife
And there is no secret to the source of this much life
When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again
Just a chance to somehow rise above this land
Where the God of second chance
Will pick them up and he'll let them dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, they're sharing with the One
That holds them up when they come undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And once again, here you stand
And once again, here you stand
Your day has come


This song always reminds me of the time several summers ago when we had just finished taking NFP classes (after over 9 years of marriage!) and went to a Theology of the Body seminar by Christopher West. Although we believed that we were following Church teaching for marriage before this, we realized through both the NFP class and Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body teaching that we really were not formed well in what the Church actually teaches and why.

I admit I was quite rebellious when we first were married back in 1998 (not really that long ago) about the Church's teaching on artificial contraception. And my husband went along with my rebelliousness. Sound a bit like Adam and Eve? I remember sitting in our Pre-Cana weekend with my arms folded and heart hardened to the Church's teaching on natural family planning.

After having our first child, I learned that birth control pills can actually be abortifacient and so we quit practicing artificial contraception. But it was not until nearly 6 years later, and 2 more children that we decided to go ahead and take Natural Family Planning courses and attend the Theology of the Body seminar. It was there that we learned the why behind the Church's teaching and where the scales were lifted to the beauty of sexuality within our marriage and God's plan for our family.

It was also at this time that God placed this song by Bebo Norman on my heart. It will always be a special song to both me and my husband. God lets us dance through this world that is not kind, but it is the careful cover of His Love that teaches us and guides us to Truth and beauty. And we found beauty in conceiving another child not long after that summer, our fourth, Sophia (Greek for wisdom). In a sacramental marriage, there is no secret to the source of this much life, where the grace that falls like rain, washes us again. It is God and His plan for us. And now we are expecting our fifth child next spring. Even though it is trying at times, and we fail often, God picks us back up and teaches us with every step where He wants us to go. And He holds us up when we come undone.

Thank You God for the chance again to somehow rise above this land and welcome another beautiful life to our family. Thank You for the gift of Confession and for giving us Your Sacred Heart in the Holy Eucharist. Let us never profane Your gift to us for temporal pleasure. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.

It's Not Me, It's You

Okay, I've admitted before that I am a bit of a political junkie. I try not to get too political on this blog, but sometimes I just can't help myself. I just read a really good take on what's going on in the political field right now. David Paul Kuhn hit the nail on the head about the desperate tone of politicians who are blaming voters rather than taking some responsibility for the mess we are in. Here's the money quote from the article in my opinion:

Democrats are failing to say the "buck stops here." They're passing the buck. And not often, but still too often, Democrats are now asking voters to take some of the blame. Presidents are expected to lead people out of the wilderness, not blame the public for being lost in the woods. Americans don't want to be lectured on how they got lost. They want a way out.

Of course, we all share some responsibility for the mess we are in, whether from our own irresponsibility, lack of engagement, apathy, or whatever the case may be. But when politicians start blaming the voter, you know they are in deep trouble. The way out is going to be tough, and we will not be out at the end of this next election, nor in the next. And one political party or another is not going to lead us out either. As Catholics, we must stand by Truth and live our faith unreservedly and with courage. The only way out is through God and Godly leadership.

Do go read Kuhn's post at RealClearPolitics

H/T HotAir

Into the Mystic - Van Morrison

Just because I love Van Morrison and am having writer's overload that translates into a block :) Have a great day!!!

Worlds Apart

Holy Mass - A Beautiful Collision

by malaroux at YouTube

IConfess

by donjojohannes at YouTube

Our Lady and the Chilean Miners

Our Lady and the Chilean Miners posted by Suzanne at Lear, Kent, Fool:

Today on Facebook, the group Stories for the Homeschool Heart posted the following about the significant dates concerning the trapped miners in Chile:

The miners were trapped on August 5 — Feast day of Our Lady of the Snows. They were found alive on August 22 — Feast of the Queenship of Mary. The rescue began right after midnight on October 13 — Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. There were 33 miners –the number of years that Jesus lived.

I also happened to notice a news story earlier today that said that a couple of the chief miners credit their safety to an unusual sighting of a white butterfly down in the mine. Because they stopped to look at it they didn’t drive into rockfalls triggered by the first cave-in. The butterfly is a traditional Christian symbol of the resurrection. In Spanish, butterfly is “mariposa,” derived from “la Santa Maria posa” meaning “the Virgin Mary alights/rests.”

I don’t know about you, but that all gives me chills!

It gives me chills too!!

Our Lady, Our Life

This past weekend, my husband and I traveled to Fargo, North Dakota for the Marian Eucharistic Congress. It was amazing! This was our first time to go to this particular Congress. I admit it was a bit overwhelming, in a really good way, but there were so many powerful talks that I am still reeling from it all. I would like to share most of what I learned there, but it will have to come in little pieces because it is a lot to process.

One of the speakers was Sr. M. Timothea Elliott, and she spoke eloquently about the way St. Luke "paints a vivid word picture of the Annunciation with with the Angel Gabriel and Mary in the foreground and a theological exposition of the Old Testament in the background", similar to the this beautiful painting by Fra Angelico "expressing the significance of the Annunciation in light of the Old Testament." Today, on this feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, let us remember as we pray each of the mysteries of the Rosary, the depth and riches of God's grace given to us throughout salvation history. And as we study and reflect upon God's word in Sacred Scripture, let us open our hearts to receive all God gives us, namely a beautiful Mother who leads us always to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Sr. Timothea Elliott shared this quote with us from St. Ephraim, Deacon and Doctor of the Church:

"Lord who can grasp all the wealth of just one of your words? What we understand is much less than we leave behind; like thirsty people who drink from a fountain. For your word, Lord, has many shades of meaning just as those who study it have many different points of view. The Lord has colored his word with many hues so that each person who studies it can see in it what he loves. He has hidden many treasures in his word so that each of us is enriched as we meditate on it.

The word of God is a tree of life that from all its parts offers you fruit that is blessed. It is like that rock opened in the desert that from all its parts gave forth a spiritual drink. He who comes into contact with some share of its treasure should not think that the only thing contained in the word is what he himself has found. He should realize that he has only been able to find that one thing from among many others. Nor, because only that one part has become his, should he say that the word is void and empty and look down on it. But because he could not exhaust it, he should give thanks for its riches. Be glad that you are overcome and do not be sad that it overcame you. The thirsty man rejoices when he drinks and he is not downcast because he cannot empty the fountain. Rather let the fountain quench your thirst than have your thirst quench the fountain. Because if your thirst is quenched and the fountain is not exhausted, you can drink from it again whenever you are thirsty. But if when your thirst is quenched and the fountain is also dried up, your victory will bode evil for you. So be grateful for what you have received and don't grumble about the abundance left behind. What you have received and what you have reached is your share. What remains is your heritage. What at one time you were unable to receive because of your weakness, you will be able to receive at other times if you persevere. Do not have the presumption to try to take in one draft what cannot be taken in one draft and do not abandon out of laziness what can only be taken little by little."

Intense

Okay, well, we have some good news! We are having another baby! The baby is due some time next May, so it is still really early. We would appreciate your prayers. This may be part of the reason for the lack of posts. Honestly, my intensity level has gone over the top and I have too many things that I want to write about and then it ends up that I can't write anything. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, being pregnant and blogging. Have never blogged while pregnant, so hang on, who knows what I'll write about!

Abandonment to Divine Providence

From Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade's Abandonment to Divine Providence (from the English translation of the tenth French Edition of Fr. de Caussade's (d. 1751) Abandon a la Providence Divine, edited by Fr. H. Ramiere, S.J. 1921)

The divine will is to the soul in all things its method, its rule, and its direct and safe way. It is an unalterable law which is of all times, of all places, and of all states. It is a straight line which the soul must follow with courage and fidelity, neither diverging to the right, nor to the left, nor overstepping the bounds. Whatever is over and above must be received passively, as it carries on its work in abandonment. In a word, the soul is active in all that the present duty requires, but passive and submissive in all the rest, about which there should be no self-will, but patient waiting for the divine motion.

O heavenly purity! O blessed annihilation! O unreserved submission! through you is God drawn into the centre of the heart. Let the faculties be then what they will, provided, Lord, that I possess You. Do what You will with this insignificant creature; whether it works, becomes inspired, or becomes the subject of Your impresssions, it is all one. All is yours, all is from You and for You. I have no longer anything to look after, anything to do. I have no hand in the arrangement of one single moment of my life, all is Yours. I ought neither to add to, nor to diminish anything, neither to seek after, nor to reflect upon, anything. It is for You to regulate everything. Direction, mortification, sanctity, perfection, and salvation area are all Your business, Lord; mine is to be satisfied with Your work, and not to appropriate any action, or any state, but to leave all to Your good pleasure. ~ a prayer of Fr. de Caussade

Prayer to the Angels

O Holy Angels, come to our aid.
St. Michael, come with legions of holy angels to
occupy and surround our homes, our vehicles,
and whatever place we and our loved ones may be.
Surround us with your heavenly protection, and
drive far from us Satan and every evil spirit or
influence. Free us from every curse and bondage,
along with their effects, we humbly pray.
St. Gabriel, give us the strength of God.
St. Raphael, heal our woundedness.
All you Angels of God, under your heavenly
Queen, help us, defend us, and rescue us from
the snares of Satan.

Amen.

Thanks Vincenzo!

A big thank you to Vincenzo for designing my new blog header! Isn't it awesome? I love the detail. Vincenzo is amazingly talented and has designed so many awesome blog headers. Go visit him at Sancte Pater or Amentior.

Clarity

For most of this year I have been asking the Holy Spirit for clarity. There are so many movements in my heart that it sometimes feels a bit muddled and hard to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading me. It used to be I could keep so many things in my head and multi-task the day away and be successful at the tasks at which I endeavored. Now, I have a hard time accomplishing one task and I find myself being quite forgetful and scatterbrained. Part of this may be age (I am only 39 though!), part may be having 4 young children to care for, and part of this may be God leading me to depend on Him rather than on myself. The muddled thoughts in my head truly affect my heart. My Spiritual Director told me once to ask God to sort it out for me. When I do that, it is much easier to live the vocation God is asking of me, a vocation as wife and mother.

One way God has been giving me clarity is by speaking to me about the same thing in many different ways. Don't you love it when God does that? He pours out His Love on us by speaking to us through different people, movies, songs, Bible studies, homilies, books, prayers and the list goes on and on. Well, God has been opening my eyes to how the Holy Spirit can help me with this clarity thing in so many different ways. Once I began praying for clarity, this is how it all started.

Some friends and I were discussing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit earlier this year, but I admit I did not know much about these gifts. Then not too long after that I kept encountering different places where God was teaching me about His gifts to us through the Holy Spirit. And I was intrigued and thought are these gifts for me too or only for the very holy? And, YES, of course they are, and they are for each one of us; we must be receptive to His grace and these gifts are ours. And we are all called to holiness.

Wisdom...

Understanding...

Counsel...

Courage...

Knowledge...

Piety...

Fear of the Lord....

Then I just happened to find a blog post about a novena to the Holy Spirit asking for these gifts. And so I went a little deeper... Then this summer when we were visiting friends in Montana, I went to a prayer group with my friend, and the priest spoke about the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit and how these gifts will help us live out the Virtues, and that when we are living out the Virtues, that is when we see the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And each one of the 7 gifts can help us to live out specific virtues, like courage may help with fortitude, counsel may help with prudence, and there is overlap too, but it all started to make sense. CLARITY!! I must say as soon as he began His talk, I was overcome by God's Love for me, by placing me at that place at that particular moment in time. My friend said that the priest usually never gives talks at this prayer group and that it was an unusual ocurrence.

When I see that God is speaking to me in a direct way like that it really makes me realize how He has His eye and heart on each one of us at all times. And He places on our hearts that which will guide us closer to Him. So, I went a little deeper..... and then I found out that the Mom's group that I belong to is doing a book study by Gina Loehr called Choosing Beauty, a book about living a life "infused with the virtues." CLARITY!! The Cardinal and Theological virtues...

Prudence...

Justice...

Fortitude...

Temperance...

Faith...

Hope...

Charity...

I remember many years ago doing a protestant Bible Study about the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I loved the Bible study, but was still was wondering why am I having such a hard time with so many of these Fruit of the Holy Spirit? Why do I not see this happening in my life? And now, CLARITY.

~ Charity ~ Joy ~ Peace ~ Patience ~ Kindness ~ Goodness ~ Generosity ~

~ Gentleness ~ Faithfulness ~ Modesty ~ Self-Control ~ Chastity ~

God has given me clarity and has opened an avenue in my heart to receive His gifts, to live His virtues, and to see His fruit. I still have a LONG way to go, but He has laid out a path and it is through His Holy Church. Praise be to God, I love You, and I love Your Holy Church. Mary, I give you my will, conform it to the will of Your Son. St. Joseph, protect us from the confusion of the world. In the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Boys and Sticks

One recent afternoon, as I was just sitting down to enjoy a nice cup of tea and some quiet time (ha!), I heard crying outside. As opposed to the early days when I would jump at the sound of any crying, now when I hear crying, I have to measure whether or not to respond and decide if I should get involved or let it work itself out. Anyway, this crying sounded pretty urgent, so I put my tea down and got up to go and see what was going on (that was my first mistake).

When I got outside, our 4 year old, who never whines (yeah right), was crying and saying,
"Mom, Joseph is trying to shoot me with that stick!" So I said, "Joseph, why don't you play like your hunting or something and you are trying to shoot animals with your stick rather than at people." So, he says, "Okay! Let's go hunting!" To which our 4 year old says, "Okay, I'll be the deer!"

Some days I wonder why I even try :)

Blues Friday

Just because I love the blues and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I grew up in Texas and was able to see him in concert in Dallas. This is him playing Jimi Hendrix' Little Wing in a Fender promotion. Too bad I was too young to appreciate what a guitar legend he was when I saw him live:

Forgiveness

Having recently read Pope Benedict XVI's Jesus of Nazareth, these words of the Holy Father still resonate deeply in my heart, and I want to share them with you. This is the part of the chapter where our Holy Father discusses the petition of "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" and how we encounter the mystery of the Cross of Christ in this petition (from Ch5 - The Lord's Prayer, pp 158-160, emphasis mine):

If we want to understand the petition fully and make it our own, we must go one step further and ask: What is forgiveness, really? What happens when forgiveness takes place? Guilt is a reality, an objective force; it has caused destruction that must be repaired. For this reason, forgiveness must be more than a matter of ignoring, of merely trying to forget. Guilt must be worked through, healed, and thus overcome. Forgiveness exacts a price- first of all from the person who forgives. He must overcome within himself the evil done to him; he must, as it were, burn it interiorly and in so doing renew himself. As a result, he also involves the other, the trespasser, in this process of transformation, of inner purification, and both parties, suffering all the way through and overcoming evil, are made new. At this point, we encounter the mystery of Christ's Cross. But the very first thing we encounter is the limit of our power to heal and to overcome evil. We encounter the superior power of evil, which we cannot master with our unaided powers. Reinhold Schneider says apropos of this that "evil lives in a thousand forms; it occupies the pinnacles of power...it bubbles up from the abyss. Love has just one form- your Son" (Das Vaterunser, p. 68).

The idea that God allowed the forgiveness of guilt, the healing of man from
within, to cost him the death of his Son has come to seem quite alien to us
today. That the Lord has "borne our diseases and taken upon himself sorrows,"
that"he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities,"
and that "with his wounds we are healed" (Is 53:4-6) no longer seems plausible
to us today. Militating against this, on one side, is the trivialization of evil
in which we take refuge, despite the fact that at the very same time we treat
the horrors of human history, especially of the most recent human history as an
irrefutable pretext for denying the existence of a good God and slandering his
creature man. But the understanding of the great mystery of expiation is
also blocked by our individualistic image of man. We can no longer grasp
substitution because we think that every man is ensconced in himself alone. The fact that all individual beings are deeply interwoven and that all are encompassed in turn by the being of the One, the Incarnate Son, is something we are no longer capable of seeing. When we come to speak of Christ's
Crucifixion, we will have to take up these issues again.

In the meantime, the idea of Cardinal John Henry Newman may suffice. Newman once said that while God could create the whole world out of nothing with just one word,
he could overcome men's guilt and suffering only by bringing himself into play,
by becoming in his Son a sufferer who carried this burden and overcame it
through his self-surrender. The overcoming of guilt has a price: We must
put our heart- or, better, our whole existence- on the line. And even this act
is insufficient; it can become effective only through communion with the One who bore the burdens of us all.

The petition for forgiveness is more than a moral exhortation- though it is that as well, and as such it challenges us anew every day. But, at its deepest core, it is- like the other petitions- a Christological prayer. It reminds us of he who allowed forgiveness to cost him descent into the hardship of human existence and death on the Cross. It calls us first and foremost to thankfulness for that, and then, with him, to work through and suffer through evil by means of love. And while we must acknowledge day by day how little our capacities suffice for that task, and how often we ourselves keep falling into guilt, this petition gives us the great consolation that our prayer is held safe within the power of his love- with which, through which, and in which it can still become a power of healing.

God, thank You for these words of the Holy Father. Please watch over him and protect him in his travels. Thank You for giving us a wise and holy shepherd. Jesus, thank You for Your Love and Mercy. Open our hearts to receive You and all You give us. Open our hearts to forgive as You forgive and to Love as You Love. In Your Holy Name, Amen.

Hail Holy Queen

How He Loves Us

Note: Original Post changed.

Oh my, so powerful:



Could listen to this over and over. Thank you God for good friends who pass this love along to us. In Your Name, Amen.

Thank you Adoring Angel!

This song reminds me of the powerful encounter we as Catholics have with Jesus at every Holy Mass, during Adoration of Him in the Blessed Sacrament, when we follow Him in Eucharistic Procession. He is with us always, but in these moments He is with us as Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

God's Love is so wondrous and amazing that He humbles Himself to come to us in a tangible, incarnate embrace every time we receive Him in Holy Communion. This music is beautiful and the Holy Spirit is obviously present in this place where she is singing, but wow, I am amazed at How He Loves Us in the Holy Eucharist and how Heaven's gates are opened for us at every Holy Mass.

P.S. - Just ignore the yelling at the end of the video ;)

Litany of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows

Posting this for Our Lady of Sorrows:

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of the Crucified, pray for us.
Sorrowful Mother, pray for us.
Mournful Mother, pray for us.
Sighing Mother, pray for us.
Afflicted Mother, pray for us.
Foresaken Mother, pray for us.
Desolate Mother, pray for us.
Mother most sad, pray for us.
Mother set around with anguish, pray for us.
Mother overwhelmed by grief, pray for us.
Mother transfixed by a sword, pray for us.
Mother crucified in thy heart, pray for us.
Mother bereaved of thy Son, pray for us.
Sighing Dove, pray for us.
Mother of Dolors, pray for us.
Fount of tears, pray for us.
Sea of bitterness, pray for us.
Field of tribulation, pray for us.
Mass of suffering, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Rock of constancy, pray for us.
Remedy in perplexity, pray for us.
Joy of the afflicted, pray for us.
Ark of the desolate, pray for us.
Refuge of the abandoned, pray for us.
Shiled of the oppressed, pray for us.
Conqueror of the incredulous, pray for us.
Solace of the wretched, pray for us.
Medicine of the sick, pray for us.
Help of the faint, pray for us.
Strength of the weak, pray for us.
Protectress of those who fight, pray for us.
Haven of the shipwrecked, pray for us.
Calmer of tempests, pray for us.
Companion of the sorrowful, pray for us.
Retreat of those who groan, pray for us.
Terror of the treacherous, pray for us.
Standard-bearer of the Martyrs, pray for us.
Treasure of the Faithful, pray for us.
Light of Confessors, pray for us.
Pearl of Virgins, pray for us.
Comfort of Widows, pray for us.
Joy of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen of thy Servants, pray for us.
Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled, pray for us.

Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray, --- O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end,
Amen.


The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

1. The Prophecy of Simeon
2. The Flight into Egypt
3. The Loss of Jesus in the Temple
4. Mary meets Jesus Carrying the Cross
5. The Crucifixion
6. Mary Receives the Dead Body of Her Son
7. The Burial of Her Son and Closing of the Tomb.

Consecration to Our Lady of Sorrows

Most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, Mary, would that I could be in Heaven, there to contemplate the honors rendered to thee by the Most Holy Trinity and by the whole Heavenly Court! But since I am still a pilgrim in this vale of tears, receive from me, thy unworthy servant and a poor sinner, the most sincere homage and the most perfect act of vassalage a human creature can offer thee.

In thy Immaculate Heart, pierced with so many swords of sorrow, I place today my poor soul forever; receive me as a partaker in thy dolors, and never suffer that I should depart from that Cross on which thy only begotten Son expired for me.

With thee, O Mary, I will endure all the sufferings, contradictions, infirmities, with which it will please thy Divine Son to visit me in this life. All of them I offer to thee, in memory of the Dolors which thou didst suffer during thy life, that every thought of my mind, every beating of my heart may henceforward be an act of compassion to thy Sorrows, and of complacency for the glory thou now enjoyest in Heaven.

Since then, O Dear Mother, I now compassionate thy Dolors, and rejoice in seeing thee glorified, do thou also have compassion on me, and reconcile me to thy Son Jesus, that I may become thy true and loyal son (daughter); come on my last day and assist me in my last agony, even as thou wert present at the Agony of thy Divine Son Jesus, that from this painful exile I may go to Heaven, there to be made partaker of thy glory.
Amen.

Two Hearts Beat As One

Guess I'm in a U2 mood this week! Enjoy.

The Day After

Twisted, gnarled, bloody
Confusion everywhere
Despair lurking
Panic
Pain
Confusion again....how could this happen?
How?
Why?
Why is He who was here with us gone?

This ugly wood is empty now, where is He?
Bloody, broken, pounded, crushed

Intense loss, grief, suffering
How can this be?
Where is His love?

Lost, alone, and scared.
Where is He?
Where is His love?

This is not beauty, this is death, where is my Lord?

Then She tells me, He is here, He has not gone.
His Love is eternal. We have no power to overcome this evil.
Only He can heal by His forgiveness.

He has given himself to this bloody death for you.
He has overcome your sin, your guilt.
He has overcome the the guilt of the sins of your fathers.

We weep here at His Cross, we cry out in anguish.
He has overcome all by His Love and Mercy.
This is Beauty, You O Lord, have ravished my heart
by Your Love and Mercy. Your Cross has set me free.

by ks

Spiritual Warfare

I like to share things I find that are helpful in my journey. Here is a 4 part series by Father John Bartunek that I have found at Catholic Spiritual Direction on Spiritual Warfare. It is very informative:

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare - Part I

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare - Part II

identifying the enemy

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare - Part III

what is the devil up to?

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare - Part IV

getting down to action

Food Meme

Vincenzo has tagged me for my very first meme, a Food Meme! OK, here goes:

1. What food, even if you were dying of starvation on a deserted island, would you refuse to eat?

Rocky mountain oysters, YUCK YUCK YUCK!!! I guess technically these would never be on a deserted ISLAND but just in case this is on my DO NOT EAT EVAH! list.

My dear husband told me to put "soylent green" but I did not want to go there.

2. What is your favorite frozen dinner entree? (Mushroom warning for Vincenzo)

3. What is your favorite beverage? Hands down:
4. What condiment do you use the most? My favorite barbeque sauce, of course:

5. If you were a vitamin/nutrient which one would you be and why? Because it's nature made, of course! Actually, it is the only supplement I take so that is why I picked it. Plus it's amber colored and transparent!
6. If you were about to be executed for crimes against humanity what would your last meal consist of? OK, well this is where I could not get a picture, because, well, the pictures on the internet could not do this meal justice, and a lot of them were stuffed and all fancy, and that is not what I want.

I thought about calling grandma and asking her to cook it and take a picture of it and email it to me, but I realized that she has yet to take that internet class from that dear man who lives down the road, and she would have a really really really hard time figuring out how to 1. download the photo 2. email it, oh wait, let's try that again: 1. take the picture. 2. download the photo. 3. get into Outlook and 4. email it. My grandma is the smartest person I know, but she cannot use a computer and readily admits it! I love you grandma. Please Aunt Gina, you can tell her that if you read this, because I am almost 100% certain she is not reading my blog :)

What I would want is my beloved grandma's fried pork chops and mashed potatoes with creamy milk gravy (which she taught me how to make, but I still can't get it just like hers) and homegrown green beans cooked all day long on the stove (YUMMY!). Plus, grandma would love me even if I was going to be executed for crimes against humanity.

And then, I would have the best tiramisu ever ever made with a good cup of coffee (Mystic Monk of course - "Certain to be enjoyed by even the youngest and most discerning coffee drinkers.") :
Followed by a glass of Moscato:
I tag the following awesome bloggers to continue this meme if they so choose to!

1. Style Attic (can't wait to see the colors and pictures you choose!)
2. Victor
3. Daily Grace
4. Mary333
5. Owen

Encouragement from Friends

It has been quite the week! We were traveling last weekend and did not get home until Tuesday evening, so it felt as though the week was half over before we actually got started. Needless to say, we did not get a lot of homeschooling done this week. We tried on Wednesday and it was an unmitigated disaster! I had been planning on posting all kinds of stuff about our homeschool, but after this week decided that we really don't have it all together and maybe we never will.

Despite being perpetually undone/works in progress/not quite there yet, God is good and He is right here along with us, encouraging us as we go, even when we fall flat, or when we mess up. We may have to do a homeschool starting do-over (even though technically we started last week). Things are so different this year. Last year we ordered our books the beginning of June, we started a whole 2 weeks earlier than the local public schools, and we had our Family Rule set, schedules organized. This year, we didn't order the curriculum until the week before we needed it, we started almost 2 weeks AFTER the local public school (still do not feel like we have officially started yet), we are living in a new home, I can't even find our calendar anymore, and we still have a lot of unpacking to do. Whew! And now there are two children to homeschool instead of one. God, help me to trust You and Your grace to get us back on track. Thank You for always being here to guide us and for never abandoning us. Help me in my discouragement, and thank You for friends to help me along the way. In Your Name, Amen.

Oh yes! About friends, what this post is supposed to be about ;) . Through all this, I have been a little discouraged about blogging and kind of running into a wall about if I should continue or not, but God has provided several things these past few weeks to encourage me to continue blogging.

One is Mary333 over at The Beautiful Gate recommended this blog as a new blog to come check out! There have been quite a few more visitors coming here this week and I so appreciate you coming by to see this blog! Thanks so much Mary for your kindness. Check out her blog too. It is one of my favorites, along with her other blogs which you will see links to when you go visit her. And while you're at it, check out another new blog Crooked Halo as well. She was also recommended by Mary333. I look forward to visiting her blog even more in the future.

Another thing that happened is Vincenzo tagged me for my very first meme! I must admit that I was kind of feeling left out of all these meme things going on in the blogosphere, so I am thankful for being tagged finally! Vincenzo is a lot of fun, and I love to read his blogs Sancte Pater and Amentior that he does with swissmiss and Cathy_of_Alex. This is a food meme, and I'm working on it, so look for my answers coming up!

Thank you friends for the encouragement. God Bless!

I Will Follow

Just because I really really like this song:



Gosh, can't believe how young they all look!

A Longing from Within

Recently I was discussing the Extraordinary Form of the Mass with a friend. And it is interesting that even though I have never been to a Traditional Latin Mass, I have been drawn to more traditional rites within the Catholic Church. This longing is not really from any kind of external influence, but more from a longing that God has placed within my heart. It is not that I am unhappy with the Mass that I attend now, far from it, but that I desire to search deeper into the mystery of the Holy Eucharist and His Great Love for us in the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Spirit works in amazing ways, and even though I know very little about the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, this desire has caused me to look deeper into our Catholic faith.

I was not raised as a Catholic or really with any type of faith upbringing. I am not sure if this is why God has placed this on my heart. I have really good friends on either side, some who prefer Mass as it is celebrated today, versus populum, toward the people, and in English and some who prefer the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Either form is heaven on earth, and God's miracle, not ours. He comes to us intimately during Holy Mass, and reverence for Him in the Eucharist intensifies my receptivity to His Loving Embrace.

It is with this longing for tradition that I read a post entitled "Why am I So 'Into' the Extraordinary Form of the Mass?" by Fr. Christopher Smith at The Chant Cafe. (H/T Carlos Antonio Palad at Rorate Coeli). Fr. Smith was raised as a Baptist and had a longing for liturgy which brought him to a vocation as a priest. Whichever Mass you attend, his story is amazing and brought tears to my eyes, particularly his description of his pilgrimage to Chartres (emphasis mine):

The day after I graduated, I went on the famous pilgrimage to Chartres. On the middle day of the pilgrimage, we stopped in the middle of the forest for Solemn High Mass of Pentecost. The sumptuous procession of clergy, the active participation of thousands of young people singing with one voice the Latin
chants of all ages, it was all a great respite from our grueling walk. And then, after the Offertory, it started to rain. I expected the stampede to find cover, the complaining, a total abandonment of what we were seeing. Nobody moved from the place, except the Scouts, who unfurled linen cloths in neat rows and held them like soldiers holding the flag over a casket.

Priests came with the Blessed Sacrament accompanied by scouts with gold and white umbrellas for the color of the Pope and the Sacred Host. And, as the rain drove down hard upon our faces and drowned out the singing, everyone knelt in the mud, clutching the linen cloths, and received their LORD and God on the tongue with great devotion and love.

This was the faith that I had been looking for my whole life. This was that beauty, ever ancient and ever new, which ravished my heart and gave me strength. There in the mud in the middle of a forest in France far from home, I knew that my vocation was to be a priest, to bring the LORD of faith and beauty to others like those priests who came to the adoring throngs covered in dirt and grime in body, but in grace and charity in soul. And that experience was during the extraordinary form of the Mass. Could I have had a similar or even the same experience in another form of the Mass, or even at some other time? Of course. But God chose that time to reveal Himself and His plan to me in a special way, and for that reason I will always be linked to the liturgy and the people who have sacrificed to encourage its celebration.

Read his entire post here. Fr. Smith celebrates both forms of the Roman Catholic Mass and I am so happy that he shared his journey with us. It is really beautiful.

Litany of Our Mother of Mothers

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Chaste daughter of the Father, pray for us.

Chaste spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.

Chaste mother of the Son of God, pray for us.

Vessel of election , pray for us.

Throne of the Divine Majesty, pray for us.

Tabernacle of the Divine Word, pray for us.

Chalice of the Divine Life, pray for us.

Mother of God, pray for us.

Mother of the Infant Christ, pray for us.

Consecration of womanhood, pray for us.

Hope of Christian womanhood, pray for us.

Model of Christian womanhood, pray for us.

Blessed in your motherhood, pray for us.

Inspiration of holy motherhood, pray for us.

Consolation of motherhood, pray for us.

Protector of motherhood, pray for us.

Blessing of all Christian motherhood, pray for us.

Exaltation of motherhood, pray for us.

Sanctification of motherhood, pray for us.

Queen of the Most Holy Family, pray for us.

Queen of chaste family life, pray for us.

Queen of mothers, pray for us.

Mother of happy delivery, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Let us pray:

Cherished Virgin, heaven's Queen, chosen before all women to be the Mother of the Son of God, Mary, my Mother, who in your maternity so sanctified the state of holy motherhood, imploringly I come to you; humbly I beseech you; confidently I trust in you. I know that, by your powerful intercession, you can help me in my need. In you I take refuge, dear Virgin. Poor and needy, I turn devoutly to you and place all confidently in your hands. Accept my humble trust, hear my petitions, and come to my aid, dear Mother of mothers.

V. Behold, the handmaid of the Lord;

R. Be it done to me according to Your Word.

Give a Little Bit

Heard this song this evening driving around. Haven't heard it in SO LONG. I love this song!

True Humility

It's still Sunday and I'm still taking a rest from my blogging break ;) And I have a thing about leaving this blog on a positive note. This is an amazing article that was originally in Our Sunday Visitor that touched my heart on many levels by Marcellino D'Ambrosio. Here are my favorite quotes from the article:

Humility does not mean looking down on oneself or thinking ill of oneself. It really means not thinking of oneself very much at all.

The humble are free to forget themselves because they are secure. They accept the fact that, as creatures, they are small, vulnerable, and not ultimately in control. But they know there is a Creator who is great, omnipotent, and totally in control. And they know that they’ve been made in the image and likeness of that Creator. That makes gives them a dignity that they don’t have to earn and can never be taken away. Though they’ve tarnished the divine likeness through sin, they know that the Creator came down from the heights of heaven to become human and fix what they couldn’t fix.

So when they mess up, the humble don’t have to cover up. They just say “please forgive me,” give thanks for God’s mercy, and move on. And when their creaturely limitations cause them to fail, they are not surprised. They realize that they are not God.

.
.
.

Humility opens the door to the hearts of others and to the heart of God.

Go read the entire article here.

Tomorrow we start school. Please pray for that to go well and for us to experience God's joy in our week. We will pray the same joy for you.


HT Vincenzo at Sancte Pater

Helplessly Hoping

Hi! Well, I had to get up early this morning to make bars for our Church picnic today which will happen right after Mass, so we are actually ahead of the game this morning and I have a little extra time! At least for now I do. Anyway, since it is Sunday, I decided to take a rest from my blogging break (yeah, I know, it's a stretch), but I'm hoping that writing about this will help me get this off of my mind! What do I need to get off of my mind, you say?

I cannot get this song out of my mind. It's a post from The Crescat and is a latin translation of Gather Us In. I am not even going to post the video here because I am having a hard enough time trying to get it out of my mind without having it on my blog too. I even forgot to grease the pan for my bars this morning because that song won't get out of my head. Since I am a convert, I just thought this was just a traditional Catholic hymn, but I do remember feeling kind of rich and haughty the first time I sang it (I don't think I am really rich and haughty but maybe I am and that's the whole point of the song???). Lord, make me rich in Your Spirit.

This may be one of your favorite songs, and that is fine, I am sure that there are songs I like that you would really dislike too. I've had to break out Nirvana to try to get it out of my head. I know, I know, Nirvana on a Sunday morning before Mass?? No wonder teens are angry listening to Smells Like Teen Spirit. Entertain us, entertain us..... What is wrong with me. Maybe I should take a cue from Terry and listen to Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (Helplessly Hoping is my favorite song, hence the post title). But what I really want to listen to is this. Maybe I should order that CD from Sanctamissa. I need to go find my Hours CD from St. John Vianney Seminary. I couldn't find a link for the CD, so if anyone has a link post it in the comments section.
Thanks for listening! Oh, I feel much better! (obscure monty python reference)

Pray for Joy

After yesterday's post here, I did not want to leave this blog on such a serious note. So just one more post (yeah right, you'll believe it when you see it). I wanted to post something light and funny, but just could not think of anything. So, dear reader, I am asking for a prayer request from you, lest I take myself too seriously. Educating our children is serious business, but, for us, homeschooling just does not work unless the kids can be kids and mom (that's me) has a sense of humor. Please pray for us to find and experience the God-given joy that is around us and somewhere within us. I don't want to sound too Pollyanna-ish, but I REALLY need to lighten up. Thank you for your prayers and know that I will be praying the same joy for you, dear reader.