Plan for Peace

Update: 3-23-22 Two days before an Act of Consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart    

Why 1917 is relevant in 2022 

The Pope is to consecrate Russia, Ukraine, the Church and all of humanity this Friday to Mary's Immaculate Heart.  In the Church calendar, March 25 is the Solemnity of the Annunciation.  When Mary gave her fiat and Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit within her womb (Jesus becoming Man-the Incarnation), He consecrated the world to Himself.  He came to fix the world He created that was destroyed by Original Sin.  

Although His death and resurrection broke the chains to Original Sin and we are now able to get to Heaven, we can still choose to sin and not follow Him. This sin is the cause of lack of peace in the world, in our families, and in our hearts.  We are surrounded or complicit with the errors of modernity, schism, heresy, vice, and impurity.  Our sins lead to chastisements.  

God has allowed the evil to happen in an attempt to call us back to Himself.  He has sent Mary to intercede on our behalf.  To call us back to her Son and live only for Him and to give no allegiance to anyone or anything else.  At Fatima, in 1917, Mary said that Russia would spread her errors across the world if the Pope AND the laity didn't do their part to promote peace.  What are the errors of Russia that Our Lady warned would spread throughout the world if her words were not heeded?  Well the communist manifesto summed up in a few words is remove God.  Something, if looked at in the eyes of faith, we can see in every aspect of our lives.  Without God, there can be no peace. 

I explain below, what has been asked of us by Our Lady.  We each have a  role in salvation history.  There truly is hope that this consecration on Friday will bring many graces and peace.  That God again will intervene on our behalf and save us from the havoc of our sinfulness.  Let us pray that hearts are converted and the evils of the world are undone.  True peace will be seen in the restoration of the world, politics, in the Church and in our lives in a dramatic way.  Let us not forget as outline below that we must do OUR part too! If the Fatima message is truly understood and humbly obeyed, it could be one of the most important days of our lives! Nothing is impossible with God!  

You can read the words of consecration here

I'm dusting off the ol' blog after nearly 5 years!  God seems to always tap on my shoulders when it comes to Our Lady of Fatima....that's what I've come here to write about today and that was my last post from 2017!

On March 1, the Ukranian Bishops asked the Pope to consecrate Russia to Mary's Immaculate Heart.  (Continue to read to understand how momentous this is).    Here is that request as translated by LifeSiteNews:

Holy Father! In these hours of immeasurable pain and terrible ordeal for our people, we, the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Ukraine, are spokesmen for the unceasing and heartfelt prayer, supported by our priests and consecrated persons, which comes to us from all Christian people that Your Holiness will consecrate our Motherland and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Responding to this prayer, we humbly ask Your Holiness to publicly perform the act of consecration to the Sacred Immaculate Heart of Mary of Ukraine and Russia, as requested by the Blessed Virgin in Fatima.

May the Mother of God, Queen of Peace, accept our prayer: Regina pacis, ora pro nobis!

This is not the only calling for the consecration to be done in recent years....U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke and supposedly Vladimir Putin have both asked our Pope to do the same.  Whether you pay attention to the signs of the times and approved Catholic prophecies or not, this brings again to the surface if Our Lady's (Mary, Mother of Jesus) request beginning in 1917 to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart has truly taken place AS she requested.  If done as she asked, she promised an Era of Peace for the world.  If not done accordingly, she warned that "Russia would spread its errors throughout the world, raising up wars and persecutions of the Church.  The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer and various nations will be annihilated."  She also told of another, worse war (WWII)  if man did not change his ways. 

 I'm not here to debate whether or not the request of Our Lady and the consecration has been fulfilled or done properly or not, but it is a reminder to the two-part call to all of us, Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  

1)  Have you heeded the Lord's call as His disciple?  "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom He loved, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son.  Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother."  And from that hour the disciple took her into his home." (Jn 19: 26-27) 

Christ, from the cross, gave all of us His mother.  What a noble act of love, to give up His own mother...to become our own. Have we accepted His gift and brought her into our homes?  into our lives?  Archbishop Sheen writes: " Here was a love that was strong enough to forget itself, in order that others might never want for love. He made the sacrifice of His mother so that...we might be nourished by her motherhood...the only real escape from the demands of the flesh to love...Mary is the refuge of sinners."  

Even Martin Luther (and other Protestant founders) was quite devoted to Our Lady. Luther was very outspoken about doctrines he opposed, but he did not deny the doctrines regarding Mary which keep with Catholic piety. Here are a few quotes he has on the prayer of the Hail Mary- which I note were spoken/written after 1517 and his 95 theses: 

Whoever possesses a good(firm)faith, says the Hail Mary without danger!  Whoever is weak in faith can utter no Hail Mary without danger to his salvation. (Sermon, March 11, 1523)

Our prayer should include the Mother of God...What the Hail Mary says is that all glory should be given to God, using these words: Hail Mary, full of grace.  The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus Christ, Amen!  You see that these words are not concerned with prayer, but purely with giving praise and honor.. .We can use the Hail Mary as a mediation in which we recite what grace God has given her.  Second, we should add a wish that everyone may know and respect her...He who has no faith is advised to refrain from saying the Hail Mary.  (Personal Prayer Book, 1522) 

These words lead me to my second reminder that we must do our part of prayer, penance, sacrifice, reparation, and consecration.

2) Have you heeded Our Mother's call?  Not only did she ask for the consecration of Russia, she also told the 3 children at Fatima in 1917 that "if people do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace."  Here is what she has asked each of us: 

    PRAYER: Each time she appeared to the children, she repeated her request that we pray the Rosary each day.  But how many of us know where our rosary is, let alone how to pray it? Considered Heaven's weapon, the Rosary is form of both vocal (consisting of the Our Father and the Hail Mary prayers) and mental (where one reflects on the lives of Jesus and Mary). To learn more about the rosary, the Brown Scapular, which Mary desires us to wear as a sign of our devotion, and the Fatima Messages in general, visit fatima.org. 

 

SACRIFICE/PENANCE/REPARATION: Mary told the 3 seers that Our Lord is much offended by sin and told them "people must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.  Telling them that she would later return to ask for a new devotion in reparation to save souls, she asked in 1925 that we make the 5 First Saturday Devotion.  How full are our churches on the mornings of First Saturday each month...if we are even able to find Mass available? Again to learn more about this devotion, visit fatima.org.  (Tomorrow is a First Saturday!)

She also told the 3 children to sacrifice for sinners for many souls to to hell. How many of us can fast from earthly pleasures, let alone handle a headache or suffer an inconvenience for the sake of others?  Do we make reparation for our sins and those of others or are we too busy working on gaining earthy possessions instead of spiritual treasures...only those can be taken with us when we die.  Many a hardened heart has been converted by example of virtue and a soul in love with the Lord.  

CONSECRATION: The plan for peace was a call for both public (see above pertaining to Russia) and personal consecration.  To consecrate (to make holy, dedicate to God) our lives to her Immaculate Heart shows that we willingly let the Mother of God become that gateway to Her Son as the Mediatrix of all grace!   Our allegiance should be none other than to God, with Mary leading us by the hand to her Son. 

No peace was evident in the most recent disease where fear ruled our lives and we were scared to lose our body, with little to no concern for our souls.  full trust in God's way give life to Him 

The peace that is promised would leave the world unrecognizable.  Can we agree that peace is missing in so many parts of our lives? The world is full of confusion and fear.  Whether it be the looming famine, current events of wars and rumors of wars.  What's real and what's just a false flag, lie, deception, fear mongering, distraction, propaganda, political agenda?  Who really is the enemy? What about the New World Order and the chaos it is already causing? Feared ruled our lives in the most recent disease and what it might do to the body.  Rights were taken away, lives turned upside down, families torn apart.  

 What about the fears that attack family life? Fear of what another child will do to our career, our bank account or our self image.  Fear of speaking the truth: that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman, that marital acts are sinful before marriage and with anyone one is not married to, that God didn't make a mistake in the gender He chose to give us,  that God deigned man to be the head of the home and woman the heart  where she helps her husband and raises the children in the faith instead of pawning them off for many hours of the day, that killing of the most innocent in the womb is murder no matter what stage after conception (currently in one state a bill is being pushed to allow a baby to be killed 28 days AFTER birth).  Not to mention the deluge of sinful influences the family is attacked by daily: drugs, porn, sex trafficking...

What about the ills that plague the Church? Sexual abuse is swept under the rug, but priests who have the courage to preach the truth are canceled.  Some spiritual leaders slyly give money to organizations that stand against what the Church teaches.  A watered down, make you feel good version of the faith is preached from the pulpit and in some cases, flat out heresies.  And let us not forget the shutting down of our sacraments because suddenly our bodies became more important than our souls in the midst of a so called pandemic.    

 Fortunately, Our Lady has promised that in the end, her Immaculate Heart would triumph.  Mary's requests is a message from Heaven for love for us!  The road to peace is all laid out for us.  Repent!  Make reparation!  Pray!  Consecrate yourself! 

We are at war; a spiritual war.  Do we know our enemy and what he is capable of?  Satan is a deceiver and lover of chaos. Our God is not a God of confusion or disorder.  Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His mother wants to lead us to Him.  What mother out of true love, would not warn her children and try to protect them at every level?  Do you choose Christ or chaos?  The plan for peace is so simple.  Can we not return our love to our Heavenly Mother?

If Christ should come on Earth some summer day

And walk unknown upon our busy street

I wonder how 'twould be if we should meet, 

And being God-if He would act that way.

Perhaps the kindest thing that He would do

Would be just to forget I failed to pray

And clasp my hand, forgivingly, and say,

"My child, I've heard My Mother speak of you." 

                Mrs. Frederick V. Murphy 

Mamma Mia (and yours!)

Saturday was the 100th anniversary of the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal.  Delivering a message of peace for all humanity, she revealed predictions about the fate of the world; all of which have come true.   Her message of hope is still relevant today:

•  Pray (the rosary) daily for peace in the world 

Our Lady of Fatima told the children that wars are punishment from God for sin.  She could no longer restrain the hand of her Son from sending just punishment to the world for its crimes.  World War I was raging when Mary appeared in 1917.  She warned that if her words were not heeded, another, more severe war would happen (WWII).

•  Make sacrifices (and pray) for the conversion of sinners

The children were shown a vision of Hell and told that many souls go here because they have no one to make reparation on their behalf.

• Repentance

"I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.  They must not continue to offend Our Lord, Who is already deeply offended." 

Based on the continuation of war around the world, it is easy to see that we have not fully embraced our Mother's words of warning.  In a society constantly attacking its very makeup, i.e. family life, it is so important to heed Our Lady's words.  I have chosen a few more key statements Mary revealed to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta:

• more souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason 

Can anyone deny the increase in immorality in the last century?  From the legalization of abortion, to widespread contraceptive use (many contraceptives are abortifacents), sex/human traffiking, pedophilia, pornography, the increase in prostitution, date rape drugs, casual hookups on college campuses and elsewhere...I could go on, but I'm getting disheartened thinking about the world my kids are surrounded by...

• many marriages are not good; they do not please Our Lord and are not of God 

  Sadly divorce rates are high,  gay "marriage" is accepted and safeguarded, sologamy is the new wedding trend, couples cohabitate, fornicate, intentionally sterilize, and loosely commit adultery.  Before 1930, all Protestant denominations agreed with the Catholic Church that contraception was morally evil.  Today, 98% of US women have used some sort of birth control in their lifetime. (I hope I read that statistic incorrectly because contraceptives are so harmful both physically (for the woman and her future children) and spiritually (big destroyer of relationships b/c it contradicts the marriage vows and violates the fruitful nature of love). We've also replaced God's command of  "be fruitful and multiply" with our contraceptive mentality that money, career, a new house, etc. are more important than [more] children. Often marriage is about "me" and not "we."

 "The final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family."  

• Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much  

Have you ever done a search of women's fashion from the 1900's to the 2000's??  I guess in the 100 plus years immodesty has been a gradual process, so we just don't recognize how exposed we really are. This story of St. Pope John XXII makes me chuckle every time: "Take an apple,"he told a skimpily clad lady who passed up the fruit course at the end of dinner.  "Eve didn't know how naked she was until she bit into the apple." 

Mary Our Mother

  To be a mother is more than just giving birth.  Its more than a name or a title.  To mother means to "bring up (a child) with care and affection".  It is wanting what is best for your child/ren according to God's design AND sacrificing yourself daily to help accomplish just that.  It is BEING and DOING.   Mary loves us so much, she has come back to earth to plead with us to stop offending Our Lord, to save our souls, and avoid eternal punishment.  As is evident in her apparitions throughout history, she will never stop doing; she will never stop fighting for us.  I see it as no coincidence that Mother's Day fell on the same weekend as this special anniversary of Mary's first apparition at Fatima. No matter if we are a birth mother, adoptive mother, or spiritual mother, how blessed we are to have Mary as our guide, our advocate, and our protector.

I encourage you to learn more about Our Lady of Fatima, her message, and the "Miracle of the Sun" that ended her 6 months of appearing to the 3 children.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.  Amen. 

Nine Years of Marriage: A Tribute to My Husband

Our attempted selfie

Yesterday was my anniversary.  I've been married 9 years.   Nine. Straight. Years. To the same person.   To someone who is the opposite sex, (because God made it that way) to compliment my femininity.  Someone I didn't live with before I was married.  Someone I didn't do the things that only married people can (with God's permission) do.  Someone God brought into my life, when I was wasn't sure exactly which was the right path I should be taking.  I've been married 9 years to someone I said "I do" with, for better or for worse.  Someone I've spent both the special moments, hard times, uncertain and fearful of the future situations, and silly, laughable occasions. 

So to commemorate 9 successful years of marriage, I've chosen 9 reasons why I think this marriage has lasted.  You often ask why I don't post anything on Facebook-you know-about how great a husband I have, or how wonderful a carpenter you are when you make yet another piece of furniture we need in the house, etc.  Well, I'm not one to make a show and I'm sure you understand a little better now that (2) of our children are the same way-we really don't enjoy the spotlight.  If I'm going to post something for the whole world to see, I feel more comfortable informing, making the world a better place by what I have to say or share.


So, honey, this is for you-you get the spotlight, you get the fame.

But, its also a little bit for me-I get to share with everyone how great you are and hope that others will learn from you about what marriage and love and sacrifice really are.  


1. You have a passion and love for life

So often, I can take life too serious and I need you to help me smile, be spontaneous and joke around.  You look for the best in others and get to know know others so well, you give them a suitable nickname.  You can make light even in the most stressful of situations. You know how to make people laugh,  roll their eyes, ease awkward moments, or bring a little joy when there is complete sadness or devastation all around.  I remember the puppies you bought when your cousin died and the funny memories you shared about your grandpa when he passed to make everyone laugh.  And I'm sure your family can't deny, that you had a part in the starting over after both fires of the business.  

2. You have a generous and loving heart

One of the first things I remember you telling me after we met
is the Christmas gifts you were going to give your family members. You are always ready to give of your time and your talent.  If you're not mowing our lawn, your mowing the neighbors, Father's, or the Church's.  When someone needs your help, you are there even if the other party always has an excuse to never come to help you. You don't expect payback and in fact one time you said to me that you would rather have someone not return you a favor instead of you having an obligation of owing someone for something.  That's living the Gospel, and that's what I consider a REAL man! 


3. You're a Great Dad

Tessa dancing with Daddy

First, I love how you are open to life and try to figure out what God's plan for children are in our marriage.  I love to hear the kids say, "Dad, let's play."  And you can be sure to be found wrestling on the floor, playing ball, giving piggy back rides, dancing to the music, or helping build something.   

Joanna and Dad

4. You teach me to love and to be grateful 
I'm not a touchy, feel y person.  I often put up a wall that sometimes is hard to break down.  But you have taught me to open up, to surrender to what God has in store, that its ok to be afraid of getting hurt by someone you love, but to hope for the best in another person. You have taught me to be thankful for life's wonderful gifts.    

5. You always have a wink or a kiss, or tell me you love me, or that I'm beautiful. . . 
even when I know I'm not.  Like when I haven't had a chance to shower for days or I've been up all night with a sick kid.  You can see past all that.  Even when I'm not the most lovable person, you bring me flowers or wine, or another surprise for no reason at all.  

6. You are loyal

I can always count on your help.  Early on in our marriage when you helped in the classroom to now with situations with the kids or events that take place in our lives.  You always step in to help, even when you don't want to.  Even when you shouldn't be the main one helping me, and even when no one else will. 


I truly admire your loyalty to those who are meant to protect and honor you, but instead call you names, talk behind your back, say you don't work hard enough, assume things that may or may not happen or be true, blame you for their faults or when things aren't going smoothly.  Not too long ago someone said something about you in front of others that was completely rude and inappropriate.  It upset you, but that same person, without apologizing, texted you the very next morning, asking you for a favor. You left earlier than normal before work, to help them out.  I don't know if I could be so Christian to do the same.   

7.  You are a hard worker/provider for the family
I know that when you come home from work, you'd much rather sit in the recliner, take a nap or watch a show.  But, almost always, you have more work-taking care of the animals, the yard, the garden, helping me in the kitchen or with the kids.  Or, you are off to another job just to make ends meet.  And its not because you want more money or think we need more money, but it's truly for the sake of the family, so I can stay home with kids.


And those times you come home from work and give foot rubs-knowing you won't get one in return-I hate feet! 

8.  You put God first
Not only do you go to Mass every Sunday, but you make sure we give God His share.  When money is tight and we're not sure how we're going to make ends meet, you never skimp on tithing.  I know I've said several times, that maybe we could not give as much and try to make it up the next time, but your answer was always, "no."  I know you have been overwhelmed at times with life and our situation and not know where to turn, but you ALWAYS have trust in His plans for us and try to help me to see as well.  By putting God first, it makes it easier for you to make people and family more important than things, your wants and desires, and "your" time.  

Advent Prayer Time

9.  You are Genuine
In a world where there's unceasing drama and people are continually two-faced (two of my biggest pet peeves), you are honest with me.  You don't sugar coat anything.  You can point out my weaknesses, but my gifts and talents as well. You are quick to give compliments and suggestions of how to make things better or become a better person.    

Dominic wants to be just like Dad

It's been a really long time since I've written a post and I can't think of a better reason than this to post another one.  I couldn't have asked for a better spouse to help me reach Heaven!  Thank you and I love you!  

Thank you for the latest project that I was a little insistful about, which you had very little time to complete and probably spent too much time on something for me instead of working.  I love it-it's one of my favorites!  Thank you!!

To Have Walked In the Midst of a Saint

This year I've been trying to choose a saint a month for the kids to learn about.

January was St. John Bosco        excerpts from Dominic's saint book


   February was the 3 children of Fatima         March was St. Joseph         coloring by Joanna



I am so excited about the saint I have chosen for April!  St. John Paul the Great.  Yes, you heard right!  This Sunday, April 27, Pope Francis will canonize his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.  Sunday also happens to be Divine Mercy Sunday, a day that PJPII "established" in 2000, died on it's vigil in 2005, and was beatified on this day in 2011. 

 Click here to read more about this Feast, why it was so special to PJPII and what you can do to receive His grace in a special way on that day.  

http://saintsresource.com/john-paul-ii-pope/

 Here are some activities I plan on doing with my 2 older kids to learn about this soon to be saint and His relation with Jesus:

• talking about forgiveness 
• this Divine Mercy Jesus craft  
• since my kids like dressing up and I got a super good deal on this felt at a garage sale today  (I know, I know-Divine Providence!) we will make this zuccetcho  (pope's hat) 
• coloring the Luminous Mysteries and talking about how the rosary and Mary lead the way to Jesus
• update 4/27-my children had fun coloring the Pope on this page
• making it a 3:00 habit to recite the Divine Mercy message given to St. Faustina from Jesus: "Jesus, I trust in you, have mercy on us and on the whole world."  
•  I'm sure they will also thoroughly enjoy a homemade Divine Mercy Sundae!

I look forward to reading or rereading various works written by this saint as well as new books that have come out recently about him.  I'd love to hear your recommendations! 

For those of you wondering why we put so much emphasis on saints, I'd like to compare this to remembering a loved one (whether one who has died or is still alive). Who wouldn't want to share the story a person they respect so much?  This might mean commemorating them with pictures, an item they used, enjoyed or gifted you or honoring them by telling stories and sharing memories.  So this week I've put pictures and other memorabilia of this man who has brought me closer to Christ to share with my family in a special place of honor.  

For you, dear reader, I go on in sharing with you why Pope John Paul II is dear to my heart. Often times, Rome seems so distant.  I remember being so impressed when a classmate of mine went to Denver in 1994 to see the Pope.  I couldn't believe that he actually came here.  I never imagined I'd have a similar opportunity to "meet" the Pope, but five years later I was able to go to St. Louis when he visited.  No words could fully describe the atmosphere of the huge Kiel Center filled with thousands of youth  and the celebration of Mass in the Trans World Dome of people all because of one man-one man so close to Christ. I do not remember the words he spoke nor a theme he inspired, but I do know the depth of his silence in prayer.  That spoke a thousand words-center your life on Christ.  He was so full of the Lord!  

Again, I had the chance to be in his presence in 2003 during a short college study/pilgrimage to Rome.   Here is my closest and best picture I took while attending a Wednesday Papal Audience.  

My two encounters with this man have made Rome not so far away, but at every doorstep in life-every Church, every person, every experience. It was here that the 4 marks of the Church (one, holy, catholic, apostolic) came to light for me.   Because it is here that Christ chose to establish His Church deep in history and tradition from the Apostles until now in the men we know as bishops.  If each person could have experienced the joy in being with this man, whether meeting him face to face, encountering his deep love for God through his many writings, or being revealed to him from one from the JPII Generation, I truly think this world would be a better place.  For me, being in his presence was a little glimpse of being in the presence of God.  

When I think of this man, I admire his great love for life-from conception to natural death and all stages in between.  I thank him for his love for family and human love in his gift of Theology of the Body.  I desire his great love for Mary, Christ's mother and ours and his gift to us in the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary.  I stand in awe for his love of God's mercy and forgiveness- considering the era he lived and served a midst and the wonderful example he gave us in forgiving the those who sought his life.  I marvel at his love for the Church-the number of saints he canonized and the precedence he set for us all in so many ways.  And most importantly, I want to share his love for Christ-how he lived and died the Gospel.   

When looking at some pictures of the Pope, Joanna wanted to know about him.  When told that he was in Heaven, she informed me she wanted to go see him.  I told her I did too.  Let us recall some of the very first words he spoke as Pope:  "Be not afraid, open wide the doors for Christ."  If we "arrange our life so that everything praises God", as he once said, then we, too, will be able to share the joy of Heaven.  And as my son said as he looked at a framed photograph I have of him while he is deep in prayer, "He looks so happy!"   

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By no means do I want to leave out another wonderful man who will also be canonized this Sunday-Pope John XXIII.  Here is a photo I took while in Rome.  His body had been recently exhumed in preparation for the process of to see if he should be indeed canonized.  As you can see, he is incorrupt.  To me, that speaks wonders of God's will.  God is good!  

Have a blessed and holy Divine Mercy Sunday!

#wishiwasthere

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/25/double-canonization-popes_n_5212103.html

I'm an Aunt!

The day my first nephew was born (3 months ago already!), it seemed like forever before my brother called to tell us his name and all the other fun details. I was super pumped-and it didn't help that I had to wait A WHOLE WEEK TO MEET HIM.  Until a few months ago, I couldn't quite explain that squeal of excitement (Kristen) or the leap thingy a midst a round of applause (Katie) when we announced our bun(s) warming in the oven.  But now that I'M an aunt, I know that feeling. That overly excited emotion you just can't fully explain-except with some gesture that all you non-aunts aren't quite able to figure out.  

I'm really looking forward to this new role I have.  I remember the fun times I had with my aunt who was the big sister I didn't have.  Some of my earliest memories are times spent with her.  (In fact, one of my very first words was "Ne Ne" for my Aunt Kendra.) Auntihood is a unique relationship-a motherlike bond with discipline on the down-low.  I mean being an aunt is kind of like being a mom-just with no strings attached.  You know-- 

no 2 a.m. mealtimes or diaper changes
no Two's Company when you need a bathroom break
no 4 handed typing, or cooking, or folding laundry. . .  
no one-handed pecking or cooking or laundry. . . while holding a babe
no wondering whatever happened to TGIF
no  puzzling over the fascination of trash cans, toilets, mud pies, and house plants

I could go on, but hey, I don't want to give Tony any ideas.  For now the only thing I have to worry about is giving lots of snuggles and what I shall be called. . . Aunt Danielle, or Aunt Nellie, or maybe Auntie Nell. . . .

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Tony, I promise we weren't trying to hurt you.  We were just getting you used to a wild bunch of cousins and  your future siblings. . . lots and lots of siblings!

                             Dominic, Tessa, Joanna, and Tony at Thanksgiving at Great-Grandmas

 Tony at Christmas 

    Tony, you have a special place in my heart.  You are perfect-just how God made you.  You have a good Mommy and Daddy who will raise you, not in the ways of this world, but in God's light so we can spend forever in eternity.  We pray for you every night in our "God Bless" prayers.  Remember those saints whom you were named after and follow in their footsteps.  I look forward to watching you grow-physically and spiritually in the years to come.  Your aunt loves you! 

To My Brother and Sister-In-Law: 

How to Raise a Child

Raising a child is not an easy task.   

Learn, love, forgive, and grow- now that's quite a feat  

whose secret recipe is hard to unmask. 

Advice you find from family and friends,  

the media, a book, or folks on the street  

about how to raise your child, or so its penned. 

But I've discovered the best aid around! 

Help you can seek day or night, in calm, storm or sleet; 

anytime and anywhere it can be found.  

 Inquire the best sippy or catechize birds 'n bees.  

Such a treasure shouldn't be put on the back seat.  

Where might be this place you ask?  Why, upon your knees! 

Congratulations on your new baby boy! He'll bring much love and hope and joy! 

Musings of a Mom: New Year's Resolution, Firsts At School, and More

Newsfeed: Someone told me its been awhile since they've seen a post.  Yes-it's been over 4 months!  My answer- I've been busy!  I could give you a whole list of things-you know the piles of dirty AND clean laundry, all the cooking, cleaning, nose wiping, diaper changing that I've been doing, but I'm sure every mom is in that same boat.  And besides, that just makes my life seem stressful, overwhelming, and each little detail just another chore.

I've been reflecting on the my New Year's Resolutions (the new church year started yesterday-the 1st day of Advent-in the Catholic Church). All these things I've been doing are more than just work. It's part of this totally awesome vocation I have called motherhood!  Raising saints for God-it's my ultimate call of duty.  Now that's busy like nobody's business!!  Not only is every detail-work and play-to be dedicated to them (and ultimately to God), but you're also working on attaining that sainthood yourself. 

So my new year's resolution is to first remember this responsibility as I arise each morning and second to ask for God's grace to fulfill it in a loving, cheerful, and totally surrendering fashion so that I might not loose sight of my mission.

I think it's time to change my voice mail message: "Hi, its Danielle.  I can't come to the phone right now; I'm busy raising saints.  Leave me a message and I'll get back to you when our halo shining lesson is finished!"  

The greatest honor God can do a soul is not to give it much, but ask much of it.

-St. Therese of Lisieux

And tell me, do you play with your children? Do you waste time with your children?  The free gift of a parent's time is so important.  
-recent words from Pope Francis

I'm Reading:  Patience and Humility by William Ullathorne (for advent)

From the Kitchen: Canning season is over and my kitchen counter top is a little less crowded.  I'll be honest, I don't particularly like to can food-it's not a simple task especially with little ones. Every winter, however, those long, hot summer and fall hours spent in the kitchen seem to dissipate when you see all the food lined in the pantry and freezers knowing that you won't have to buy 'that' or make 'this'.  

With 173 jars of pickles, saurerkraut, tomatoes, salsas, beans, peaches. . .and numerous ziplocs of various fruits and vegies in the freezer, I'm feeling like a squirrel with food all stored up for winter!  (Thanks mom for teaching me how to scavenger and prepare!)

Here's my last fresh produce from our garden-a batch of fresh salsa.  For some weird reason, I always get excited about eating the last of the tomatoes from the garden around Thanksgiving time.  We just finished it last night! 

The Kids:
Dominic

                                         Dominic's 1st day of Kindergarten

No, I didn't cry his first day-he was ready; I was ready.  After awhile it was getting pretty hectic in the mornings making him a snack and lunch for school, cooking breakfast, reminding him every 2 minutes to get ready for school, dressing the girls, not to mention getting myself at least out of my pj's.  I told him it was time to walk to school on his own. "Couldn't we just wait until I turn 6?" he asked. I knew he wasn't ready yet and told myself I could stick it out for a few more weeks.  
                           
                                                    Dominic (and mom) happy for his birthday

His first day to walk to school by himself he cried; I teared up watching him sniffle and then wipe away his tears.  But I knew I couldn't give in because then he'd never do it on his own. We talked about making sure we look both ways at the Church driveways.  We talked about his special friend that God gave just to him.  So you see, he really isn't walking to school on his own.  He's got a faithful friend EVERYDAY for the rest of his life. 

 And you know what, he hasn't cried or even bemoaned the fact that mom doesn't walk him to school.  Since then he seems to accomplish new things everyday: tying his own shoes, riding his bike without training wheels, reading books, and writing up a storm. 

Joanna
Putting her into words is not so easy.  Dominic calls her a "yak". She is shy if she doesn't know you, but look out if she does!  She is full of energy and spunk.   She's quick in defending herself and her 3 year old logic has caused some power struggles. Contentious is a good adjective for her.  

She has become my big helper now that Dominic is gone during the day.  She likes to vacuum and help fold washrags and socks.  I'm sure one of the highlights of her year was the gymnastics class she took.  She loved it-from getting to go somewhere (she's always asking), to exerting some of her energy, to gawking at the other girls there.  

                         Joanna is second from left in the back row  (thanks Dad for taking A picture)

She got her second haircut this fall, mainly to help manage her wound  (see previous post)  The scar where she received 4 staples is hardly noticeable and is well hidden by her hair. The wound that should have had staples caused a roller coaster ride.  It's looking much better, no longer hurts her, and we're praying that hair will grow once again.

                   
                                                               before her haircut
                               
                                                                                                    after haircut
                                               
Tessa
It's hard to believe Tessa is nearly a year old!  She loves to mimic, watch her big brother and sister, and join in on the fun.  She is a loving little gal-full of hugs and kisses-she'll even go up to her brother and sister to kiss them when they are crying.  She loves for you to play silly with her and her latest thing is to throw herself backwards when you are holding her if she thinks its play time.  She constantly pulls off her socks-what a game!

Her latest words are "uh oh"  and newest signs are "all done' and "bye".  Sign language for "more" just makes her laugh.  She loves singing time and prayer time.  Before bed, Dominic reads a short story from his early reader book, then Joanna gets her turn at "reading".  Last night, Tessa pulled down a magazine and was "talking" right along as if she knew what to do.  

Her other pasttimes include flushing the toilet (ummm, really anything that involves the toilet), getting into cabinets-favorites are the ones filled with games, underneath the kitchen sink, and her ultimate-getting in the coconut oil bucket that is supposed to be hidden!  She keeps me on my feet!

Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!

Look for my upcoming post: I'm An Aunt!  

Speak Lord: A Listening Lesson

Sometimes it takes a hit to the head to truly take a good look at what's going on in your life- literally.  I was a freshman in college, at an indoor track meet carrying my starting blocks toward the starting line when I was plowed over by another sprinter.  It knocked me out-concussion, bruises all over from such force and from the huge metal blocks landing on top of me, and a tooth they said I'd have to get pulled. I was told I was walking the wrong way around the track; that I wasn't paying attention, but I SWORE I was.  But you know what, I was walking the wrong way and I wasn't paying attention. . . to my life; to what God was calling me to do.  

Fast forward 12.5 years.  Loud crash.  Crying.  Search one room.  No kid.  Panic. Search second room.  Bench on top of daughter; lift it off her and ask if she's ok.  "Yes."  Lift her up. Blood. . .  and lots of it.  Things get a little crazy and time seems to stand still, but after a trip to the ER and 4 staples to the back of the head later, Joanna is her busy, boisterous self.  

That night, I tried putting all the events in order.  I can't remember exactly what I was doing at that moment, but I had planned to start cleaning my house that day for an upcoming party I'm hosting.  In the midst of me thinking if only I'd have. . . or thank goodness this. . . ., Psalm 46:10 kept coming to me. God was telling me over and over  "be still; be still; be still."  Be still and know that I am God."  

In the months leading up to the birth of Tessa as well as in labor, two bible verses soothed my soul: Jeremiah 29:11 and this one.  I found great comfort in contemplating God's words as well as listening to one of my very favorite songs: Be Still My Soul sung by Katie Gustafson.  Listen to the song here.  (My kids like to play it over and over for me-it's catching!)  

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I need reminders to keep on the right track or to find meaning in everyday life.  God is always speaking to us these same words He spoke to David long ago: "be still." Unfortunately for my daughter it again took a knock to the head for me to listen.  It seems our lives are anything but still.  When I'm busy, distracted, or overcommitted, I might miss God.  When I'm under pressure, anxious, or in a hurry I might not hear Him talking to me. 

Now I'm not saying this axcdent (as Joanna would say) wouldn't have happened if my long list of "things to do" wasn't on my mind, but it made me slow down and put things in perspective.  For God says in Matthew 6:34 "do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." Or like St. Martha whom the Lord tells, "you are anxious about many things, but only one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the better part." Jesus wasn't telling her not to serve Him, but that at that moment he was calling her to be with Him-worship and adore Him.  

                                         
                                                                 http://www.saintmarthachurch.org/saint_martha_biography.htm

The Martha and Mary story reminds me of the Benedictine motto: ora et labora  (pray and work).  This balanced way of living that St. Benedict, (whose feast we celebrated July 11th,) lived and taught isn't an obsolete practice, but something so needed in the modern world.  By giving God prayer time, He leads us into a deeper union with Him.  Fruits of prayer are peace and the capability to do His will for Him.  By putting God first, all else will be ordered in our lives: our work, play, relationships, etc.  In a disordered lifestyle where God is second, last, occasional, or not there at all, our lives are basically a downward spiral of overwhelming disasters.  As Celeste at Sacred Sharings for the Soul puts it, we create a god out of work and the fruits of this "devotion" are not able to sustain us or satisfy our needs. The often ignorant idea of what obedience to God entails or may ask of our lives can keep us prisoner to the world and unable to attain what we are truly striving for. It keeps us slaves to something that does not provide for what we truly need.     

                                          
                               http://hilltopshepherd.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/st-benedict-work-study-and-prayer-at-the-house/

 Sometimes (for me as a mom) it's easy to know the next task at hand: e.g. a crying, hungry baby, a dirty diaper, or the beans boiling over on the stove.  But at other times seeking God in our actions (simply the next task at hand or a major life decision) may seem blurry.  It takes discernment; prayerful discernment.  If we seek God in our work or ask God what He is calling us to do next, our work can become a form of prayer.  By embracing the Rule of St. Benedict, we can live a harmonious life of prayer and work so, as again Celeste writes, " that we are not slaves to our tasks, or victims of empty and burdensome rushed prayers."  

The Martha and Mary story also reminds me that I am most definitely a Martha!  I dislike last minute plans (in fact, at times, I loathe them!).  I am a planner, and although I know things rarely go as planned, I still like a schedule and a heads up of things that will be happening.  I've got a list-if not on paper, for sure in my head and usually both!  I'm also a perfectionist.  I've got it all fashioned how it "should" be and when its not I'm bound to be disappointed or in need of taking it all in.  It's hard for me to 'let go' and surrender.  Like Martha, I am anxious about many things, but even anxiousness and worries can be given to the Lord.  The rewards of putting our complete trust in Him are far greater than we can ever imagine!  I seek, (although not often enough) St. Martha's intercession to be still and to desire to do a wife's/mother's work with a joyful heart.  All things happen for a reason and God is shaping my heart by the circumstances in my life.  In prayer and work, I can experience peace and joy despite upset plans, deadlines, disappointments and the unexpected turn of events. 
   
And so to my guests for this Sunday:
*My floors may not be clean, but I did play catch in the rain with my husband and kids.
*I may not have dusted, but I was busy watching homemade confetti fireworks.  
*I may not have the laundry folded and put away, but we've been trying to "teach" the baby to crawl. 

Let us strive to be like Samuel who says, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening" (Samuel 3:10)  For knowing and doing God's will gains us a spirit of peace and joy beyond our wildest dreams.  It gives the hardest or most mundane tasks purpose.  And our actions become prayers themselves.  It's amazing that when we give all to God, He gives us much, much more!  If we fail to listen to God, we might just miss some of life's greatest moments.  I'm glad I didn't miss. . . 

celebrating Joanna's Baptism anniversary  (July 11),

making castles,

and making bubble mustaches.

                    

What is God saying to you?



http://sacredsharingsforthesoul.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-balance-of-st-benedictora-et-labora.html