Septuagesima, plans and fish on Friday

Today, is Septuagesima-nine weeks before Easter. If Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, this period is a time of preparation for Lent. I’m starting to think, now, about my plan to make Lent meaningful. Like all plans it requires time, patience and thought. ~ Cathy of Alex

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If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. ~ Weight Watchers (I know!)

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Consider that in ages past, meat was a luxury. Meat carries with it the connotation of celebration and indulgence. Only in rich modern times has this notion faded. (Think Golden Arches...)

Also, one can consider that the fish, in ancient times, was (and remains) a symbol for Christ. Eating fish was a symbolic way of associating one's self with Christ in a Eucharistic sense.

At a time during the Roman Empire when Chrisitanity was illegal and Christians were put to death for practicing their faith, worship had to be held in secret places. A fish painted on the outside door of a house let Christians know that worship would be held inside.

Ever since, a fish has been one of the many symbols to remind Christians of Jesus. ~ notes from my RCIA manual.

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WIADFL - #2

WIADFL means...what I am doing for Lent. (Oh - stop groaning!)

I just ordered Ralph Martin's "Fulfillment of All Desire" and Laura and I are going to have our own online "book club" to discuss it. You are welcome to join us.

"What really holds us back from a wholehearted response to the call of Jesus, of Vatican II, of the repeated urgings of the Spirit, is not really the external circumstances of our lives, but the interior sluggishness of our hearts. We need to be clear that there will never be a better time or a better set of circumstances than now to respond wholeheartedly to the call to holiness. Who knows how much longer we'll be alive on this earth? We don't know how long we'll live or what the future holds. Now is the acceptable time."

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My Boys in Uniform!

Serious.

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This is more realistic LOL!

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Help me write an intercession

On weeknights at Mass we are allowed to offer intercessions after Father has finished. It's always the same people that pray the same things and they are all good - for mercy on the unborn, for an increase in vocations, etc.

However, I would like to pray for our soldiers. How can I phrase it 'correctly?'

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What I am doing for Lent - #1

I have had a copy of St. Therese of Lisieux's "Story of a Soul" for years. I have read bits and pieces of it. But THIS LENT I am reading it from cover to cover!

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Female altar servers - nope

Cardinal Arinze on female altar servers.

And on kneeling, kneelers, and altar rails.

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Got job?

Our local Pro-life educational society is looking to hire a part time (10 hours/week) manager that would work out of their home. I am SERIOUSLY considering applying for the job. However, they want the successful candidate to be extroverted and "be able to liaise effectively with clients, board & members, community organizations and general public."

I don't do well when confronted with opinions opposed to mine. I always think of the perfect comeback at 3:00 AM! I wish I was the master of the soundbite but God did not make me that way. I still wonder if I should apply though.

St. Joseph, patron of workers, pray for me.
St. Gianna, patron of Pro-life, pray for me.
St. Anthony, whose tongue was uncorrupted, so perfect were the words he spoke, pray for me.
St. John Chrysostom, patron of orators, pray for me.

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Crescat quote

Funny thing about kids....... you may never realize just how self serving your life really is until you have them. Faith is like that too. They both force you to acknowledge you are not the center of your own universe. Maybe that is why so many people hate them both.

- Kat (aka The Crescat)


I thought this was so profound I posted it as my "status" on facebook.

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The Nun's Story

Wow! You can watch "The Nun's Story" on youtube!

The book is much better than the movie, though.

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Aha! Ashes!

When you've been around the Catholic church all your life there are things that you do that you just don't question. One of them is receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday and having them placed on your forehead. I never really wondered why. But tonight I found out why! The ashes are smeared on our foreheads because the head is the seat of pride.

This is what happens when you try to help someone else learn more about the faith - you always end up learning something yourself!

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To mature....

In order to mature, in order to make real progress on the path leading from a superficial piety into profound oneness with God's will, man needs to be tried.

Pope Benedict XVI

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MY PHOTO - for Char

Char has a post up about bloggers who remain faceless.

Here I am.....

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Lent....!

LENT STARTS IN 3 WEEKS! GAH!

I haven't given much thought about what I am giving up, adding, changing, etc.

Now might be a good time to start planning!

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Trashing the poor and those that defend them

My husband works with a racist. Today they were having lunch in the coffee room and the TV was on. Naturally, Haiti is still the top story. This coworker announced that the Haitians didn't deserve our help and the money Canada is donating (government is matching donations to approved charities such as Red Cross) would be better spent in our own country. He then made a remark about the Canadian soldiers deployed to Haiti saying that it was good they had something to do because they are nothing but a bunch of lazy so-and-sos. My husband couldn't help himself - he told him to "F" off, that he had a boy over there and this coworker better watch his mouth. Of course the bully immediately began to backtrack saying that he didn't mean to paint Luke with the same brush.

God forgive me for the things I said when I heard that story.

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3D in-utero photos of new grandchild!!!!

And the anti-life camp would have you believe this little child is nothing more than this:

Veils at Mass

Mary Rose has an interesting post about covering her head in church. I am going to the TLM in March...better dig out my own mantilla.

This is NOT a photo of me but I do own an ivory veil just like this.

I got mine from this website.

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Sacramental Ministry

Since I am a visual and tactile person I lovelovelove religious medals and holy cards. I love the saints - Heaven's superheroes! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's St. Joseph of Cupertino!

Anyways...(I am a little excited this morning!)

This weekend we were dispensed from attending Mass because Father has gone north for a few days to say Mass for the people of three tiny First Nation villages and we have no replacement priest. I had the choice of attending either a communion service or a Holy Hour of Adoration for Priestly Vocations. I think y'all know which one I picked.

The Holy Hour wasn't totally silent which was fine. We had some intercessory prayers, sang "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" (one of my faves) and "Tantum Ergo," and prayed the Rosary. Each decade was led by a different person. Nobody was scheduled to say the decade - it was purely voluntary. If you started first everyone followed your lead.

There was a young mom with her son and daughter sitting in front of me. When we prayed the Rosary the little girl who was around 10 or 11 started the third decade. She had a clear voice and never stumbled once. It was beautiful!

I was so impressed with her I wanted to give her something. I had one holy card left in my wallett and wouldn't you know it - it was a picture of the Blessed Mother holding rosary beads!
After the service ended the little girl was getting her coat on. I tapped her on the shoulder and gave her the card and told her how well she did. I told her that every Hail Mary we pray is like giving the Virgin a rose. Her face was shining! She thanked me for the card and her mother, whose eyes were now full of tears, thanked me too.

I have given out many holy cards and medals in recent years but I think today was one of the most special.

Here's a copy of the card.

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Nikki, Haiti and prayers

I had a great conversation with Nikki tonight. She is so tender hearted and the images coming out of Haiti are so disturbing to her. She has an army friend, a nurse, who is now deployed there and she says it makes her feel "worthless" as she has no medical training and can only provide money to charity.

I reminded Nikki that she can indeed offer more help to Haiti and that it starts with the letter "p."

I told her all the ways that Catholics can pray. I have to admit as the list got longer and longer I was quite in awe of how many different ways we can pray. We can:

- offer up our sufferings, annoyances, work, etc.
- fast
- pray the Divine Mercy chaplet for the sick and the dying
- "put it on the paten" so that Haiti can be transformed with the bread and wine that become Jesus
- offer up our own Holy Communion

I reminded her to count her blessings, that God has put her in a safe place for a reason, and that she is to put her intellect, will and faith to good use serving Him and all people who suffer in whatever way He calls her. That made sense to her. I am still praying she is formally received into the Church but better her conversion be the kind that "sticks" than one based on emotions.

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How many post-abortive women do you know?

I read something today that has led me to pose these questions:

- How many post-abortive women do you personally know?

- How many are proud of their abortions & would choose abortion all over again?

- How many felt forced into their choice?

I personally know 5 women that have had abortions. I know of friends and sisters of friends who have had abortions. There may be more people I know that aborted but nobody is talking.

Two of the women I know had their mothers suggest abortion and/or drive them to the clinic. One friend of a friend was encouraged by her mother-in-law to abort.

None of them are proud of what they did - it's not like they are writing letters to the paper supporting abortion, picketing against the ProLife office, attacking us at Life Chain, or working at the local Women's Center (usually a clearing house for abortion referrals.) For the most part they have tried to get on with life as if nothing happened - which is the point of abortion for many people - trying to be "unpregnant" - which is a lie - once a mother, always a mother!

Most of them brought up the topic only once when they confided in me but did not want to speak of it again. One spoke of feeling relief but later wasn't sure she wanted to tell her fiancee suspecting he would think less of her and break up with her. Another one also expressed relief but eventually broke up with the father after having another child with him. One managed to keep the abortion hidden from her family but it has basically destroyed the father of the baby who did not want her to abort.

As for being forced to abort - I don't know about that. There was pressure, certainly. Sometimes it was "lifestyle issues". Two of the women were going to school full time, one aborted the baby because he was due the same time as her expensive wedding and one was "Miss _______" when she was in her late teens and she would have had to give up her crown in disgrace if she had starting sporting the telltale "bump" of pregnancy.

I think the saddest story has to be the one of a former friend. She got pregnant at 16 and her mother told her to abort (afraid of what the neighbours would say.) She got pregnant again at 18 and this time her mother told her to get married. A few years into the marriage my friend had an affair and a baby and was never sure who the father was. Then she had another affair and thought she might be pregnant and told me she'd abort if she was. It looks like she wasn't pregnant after all or had a miscarriage. She got a divorce, got pregnant and married the father of her new baby. She got pregnant again and had a miscarriage. Then when her youngest was about 4 she got pregnant again. Her reason for wanting to abort - she thought people would criticize her for having 4 children. I encouraged her to keep the baby, arguing that it's not like she would 4 kids under 6 year of age (her kids were 4, 8, and 12) but I see now that my reasoning was flawed and more pro-"choice" than Pro-Life. She did have the baby but our friendship was beyond repairing ( she accused me of not standing by her) and we went our separate ways.

What makes a person live their life like that? Fr. Pavone says, "when we go through an incident we don't understand we repeat it in an attempt to master it." Maybe the promiscuity was a result of the abortion? Maybe she felt unworthy to be a mother after the abortion? Whatever the case - this is a very sad but true story that is repeated all over the world every day. We've got to raise our daughters to "choose" better!

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Prayer of St. Gianna

In honor of March for Life

Jesus, I promise You to submit myself to all that You permit to befall me,make me only know Your will. My most sweet Jesus, infinitely merciful God, most tender Father of souls,and in a particular way of the most weak, most miserable, most infirmwhich You carry with special tenderness between Your divine arms,I come to You to ask You, through the love and merits of Your Sacred Heart,the grace to comprehend and to do always Your holy will,the grace to confide in You,the grace to rest securely through time and eternity in Your loving divine arms.

Haiti earthquake causes woman to leave voodoo.

Turmoil in Haiti turns woman away from voodoo. Read the story here.

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This is for Terry Nelson

We are the women in the red and pink hats. We are the ones enjoying life to the fullest, no matter where we are or what we are doing! We are the mothers, daughters and grandmothers, of society. Some may ask, "What do you do?" The answer is... We do exactly what we wish to do.

We are a network. When you belong to the RHS you are a vital part of an enormous nurturing network of women approaching 50 or beyond, who are joining red-gloved hands and spreading the joy and companionship we find within and among the chapters.

We are Ladies! In the Red Hat Society, we throw most "rules" to the wind, but we still remember our manners. When we gather in public, we believe in being courteous to each other and to those around us. After all, we are ladies and members of a group like no other.

Pink Hatters are a wonderful part of the Red Hat Society. Not yet 50, Pink Hatters are welcomed into many RHS chapters. Some even have their own chapters! Pink Hatters can be deemed Queen, (I know!) provided chapter members are in agreement, and must follow all Queen guidelines (the only difference being their dress; lavender and pink until their REDuation).

No offense if you are Red Hatter but the whole thing is madness if you ask me. I am all for women joining together in fun and friendship but there's too much ICK factor involved for me.

Scott Brown is the....

Better a protestant that is kinda soft on Pro Life than a crappy cafeteria Catholic who is a flaming Pro ABORT.

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May I never sink to this level.

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Prayer for the Election

I am not American but I have family in the States and also many American friends. I cannot vote in the election re: Massachusetts - but I can damn well pray!

Dear Lord, we pray the election has an outcome that is pleasing to You and which best serves the eternal and temporal interests of all Your children, particularly the unborn.

Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!

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Never done this before...

Outside my window...dark but not too cold.


I am thankful...my children are healthy.


I am wearing... track pants, t-shirt, fleece jacket, socks, Birkenstocks.

I am remembering...that Nikki was going to phone me back. Our call was interrupted by her mom phoning but I told her to talk to her momma and call me back later.


I am going...to visit my eldest son and my Nikki in March!


I am reading...bits and pieces - I am finding it very hard to concentrate. Things should improve by summer.


On my mind...Luke, always Luke.


Pondering these words..."Mom, pray for me."


From the kitchen....leftovers. Can't stand 'em but it's a sin to throw perfectly good food away!


Around the house...tidy today - but it's only Monday!


One of my favorite things...family photos. Yours, mine, it doesn't matter - I just love to see them!


From my picture album...a small hawk that came to visit us on the weekend. He eats little birds but they had all flown away.

Put them on the paten

This morning we went to Mass as usual. During the Offertory, as always, I prayed for our kids and as usual "put them on the paten." This morning I felt particularly discouraged though, especially about my stepson and his wife. I said to God, "what's the point?" But I did it anyways.

We got home and had lunch and then Hubby phoned his son. HOLY GUACAMOLE! Hubby asked what they were up to today and Guy told him they had just arrived home from Mass!!!Apparently they have been going for a few weeks. Hubby didn't even know what to say, he was SO stunned. These kids have RESISTED going to Mass for years and their 2 1/2 year old is STILL not baptized. However, something (I should say Someone!) has obviously been working on them!

PRAYER WORKS!!!!!!!

NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!

Missions, Mass and me

Starting next Sunday our priest will be away one weekend every two months to say Mass in 3 small mission stations. The people of these villages have been without the Sacraments for several years as their elderly priest had to leave due to old age and an injury he sustained. He served them faithfully for over 30 years.

As much as I will miss not having Mass 6 times a year I am overjoyed with Father's missionary zeal and that others will be able to receive the Sacraments again, even if it's sporadic. Father loves St. Therese of Lisieux and I am sure she is involved in this venture.

So next weekend I have four choices.

- I can drive a long way on a badly maintained road, that may or may not be ploughed if it snows, to go to Mass in a neighbouring town.

-I can stay home (we have been officially dispensed from our Sunday obligation next weekend as we are not getting a substitute priest.)

- I can attend a lay led Communion service.

-Or I can go to a Holy Hour dedicated to Vocations to the priesthood with distribution of Holy Communion at the end of the hour.

I will be attending the Holy Hour. It will start at 9:00 AM which is great because normally on Sunday I am just getting out of bed at that time so this is going to be an even bigger sacrifice.

What would you do?
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nooooo!

Beads FAIL

(the website calls them "Pink Pearl Cancer Rosary" -

that name is just sauteed in wrong sauce!)

Why, you ask? - here's why.

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RIP Sgt. Faught

Sgt. John Faught

Sgt. Faught taking part in a foot patrol with Afghan soldiers near the town of Nakhoney in the volatile Panjwaii district, about 15 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city, when the device detonated.

May the Angels lead you into paradise;

may the martyrs greet you at your arrival

and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem.

May the choir of Angels greet you

and like Lazarus,

who once was a poor man,

may you have eternal rest.

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One of my favorite blogs has put up some security measures. I hope the author will contact me so we can stay in touch.

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Guide to Giving

Doesn't take long to get info via the 'net about charities that claim to help people but offer contraceptives and/or abortion.

These guys will NOT get any money from me.

World Vision Canada - against abortion but will push all contraceptives.

Red Cross

Doctors Without Borders (should be "doctors without morals.")

Of course Unicef is totally out of the question.

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After a little more searching I ended up close to home with my beloved Chalice Catholic Sponsorship Program. I already support a little girl in Chile through them. When I googled "Chalice and abortion" even Lifesite News gave them the green light. (They were the ones who broke the story on Development and Peace last year that had the Canadian bishops scrambling.)

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Offering it up

I was at Mass tonight. It was the last night of the mission. I offered up my Holy Communion for the people of Haiti. If God could multiply the loaves and fishes and He could turn bread into Himself then I have to believe that he will take my puny offering and make it count.

Donate to the relief funds but above all - PRAY.

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Odd thoughts in the wake of the quake

Last night we watched the news. CNN - sheesh- they are nothing but repetitious fear mongers who love to stir the pot. CBC, leftist commies that they are, at least stayed calm and collected.

As I watched the devastation from the comfort and safety of my warm living room while I ate dinner (feeling much more than guilty) I had the oddest thought - I was almost glad Luke was in Afghanistan instead of possibly being called to help in the hell that is Haiti. How freaking weird is that?!

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Offensive headline

"Bodies pile up."

I hate that headline.

The people that died were someone's son or daughter, mother or father, sister or brother, not a pile of wood!

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Pray for Haiti

O Mother of Perpetual Help, Patroness of Haiti, with the greatest confidence we kneel before you to present ourselves before you in our many afflictions. We implore your help for us and for our neighbors suffering from the devastating earthquake and its aftermath, especially as we struggle to provide aid and support for the survivors. Trials and sorrows often depress us; misfortunes and privations bring misery into our lives, especially now when the poorest of the poor are afflicted so terribly; everywhere we meet the cross. Comforter of the Afflicted, beg your Son Jesus to strengthen us as we bear one another's burdens and to free us from our sufferings. Or if it be the will of God that we should suffer still longer, help us endure all with love and patience. May we follow the example of your Son, and through him, with him and in him commend ourselves to the care of our heavenly Father. Jesus and Mary I love you, save souls! Amen.

(This prayer was adapted from the regular novena prayer to OL of Perpetual Help, Patroness of Haiti.)

With thanks to Terry.
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Visiting

I am soooo excited!!! I am going to visit my eldest son in March for a few days. As long as he doesn't find himself a girlfriend in the next 2 months I get him all to myself for 4 whole days!
While I am visiting him I will be able to attend a Latin Mass - thanks be to God! Beautiful singing, Latin, Holy Communion on my knees - I am so looking forward to it!

Then it's on to visit Nikki for a few days! Shopping, a show, the movies, dinner out - girl stuff!

I am so very blessed.

Pray for Haiti.

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Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day:

"I'm the 13th child and when you're the 13th child you are very Pro Life!"
Expressed by Fr. Lucien Larre, the gem that is facilitating our parish mission this week.


Oh my gosh - I could write reams and reams about this mission! I was so dry over Advent and Christmas. I kept chalking it up to worry over Luke. Sometimes I just had to say to God - I cannot pray. I cannot pray the Rosary. I cannot pray the Divine Mercy chaplet. I cannot go to daily Mass and I cannot go to Adoration. I could barely blog and corresponding with friends via email - well, it didn't happen. I hoped Christmas would cheer me up but I just felt dull and listless.

I kept reminding myself that faith does not depend on my fickle feelings. I kept reminding myself that I just needed to get to Sunday Mass and ask others to pray for me and my family and sooner or later the sun (or the Son...) would break through. And of course - He has!

This is no "dark night of the soul" on the scale of Teresa of Avila or John of the Cross. It's just one of those speed bumps you hit occasionally. And it's not a bad thing - many of you prayed for me which I am sure pleased Our Lord. Also, as my mom used to say, you can't appreciate the good without the bad. Time enough for total happiness when (if!) I get to Heaven! And when you put it in the context of world events such as what is happening in Haiti - plunged into every darkness imaginable - then I better just take my lumps and get on with it.

I do give thanks for Fr. Larre - his talks have fanned the smoldering wick back into a bright flame.

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Insane Catholics - oh, this is sooo good!

HAHAHAHA! I just adore Char at Cheeky Pink Girl blog. Look what she's done now LOL!!!

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RIP

Miep Gies

RIP

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Our Lady of Olives

Image courtesy of Lola.

I attended the first session our parish mission this evening. More on that later but suffice it to say that the dry spell is over! In any case, afterwards I was chatting with the lady that runs the CWL counter and she had brought in some St. Michael medals! I have been searching in vain for one to give to Luke. You can order them online but by the time I pay freight from the States, customs, etc. - well, it's a million dollar medal! Not that Luke isn't worth it but there are other things I'd like to send him too. Anyways, Mary is selling little medals for a dollar each so I bought two extras.

On the back of the medal is an image of Our Lady of Olives. I like to think I know a lot about the Blessed Mother and the different images she appears under but I had never heard of this. I was going to forget about the medals and keep searching for one that just had St. Michael but something told me to get the medal with OLoO on it.

When I got home I googled OLoO and I was SO excited to find the following!

"I was recently introduced to the meaning of the medal of Our Lady of the Olives. It is supposed to protect individuals who wear the medal against lightning strikes. Through Our Lady's intercession, it is also supposed to aid a mother during childbirth if she wears the medal devoutly.

Here is a bit of the history of this sacramental:
In a pleasant valley of France there lies a little city where by the favor of God lightning never falls.This favor, unique in the world, dates back to the time when the church of Murat (Cantal) was burned by lightning except for a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. In 1493, and ever since, the town has been named Our Lady of Olives.

The Virgin Mary is the Olive recalled in the scriptures (Sirach 24.14).By virtue of the Medallion of Our Lady of Olives, the persons who carry it are preserved from lightning wherever they may be during a storm. It is a privilege attached to the medallion which bears the unique name in the annals of the church, "Our Lady of Olives."This marvelous way of being protected against lightning deserves to be known throughout the world and ought to be extended to the four corners of the universe.

The second privilege of the Medallion is to protect, in an unmistakable manner, women who are about to become mothers and to assist them in the hour of deliverance. Those who are afflicted with sickness, and who pray to the Divine Mother, are promptly relieved."

And then there's this...

According to this website the title "Our Lady of Olives" comes from the Bible and the symbolism of the Olive Tree in the Scriptures. Especially from the book of Sirach which speaks about Wisdom as a "fair olive tree in the field".

Our Lady of Olives is to be situated within the larger context of the biblical symbolism of the Olive tree. In the Bible, but also in patristic and medieval writings, the olive tree -- together with the vine and wheat ears -- was considered a symbol of heavenly blessings, prosperity and fecundity in times of peace. The olive tree is also a symbol of spiritual excellence and distinction such as reconciliation with God, rectitude and innocence as well as fruitfulness of good works. This symbolism applied to Mary is a sign of faithful and loving dedication to the Lord but also a symbol of Mary's strength, intercessory power and mercy.

I think I'll be buying a dozen more medals to give away!

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The Economy of Salvation

I am still walking around in a bit of a daze after Luke's confession that he and God "have become friends in the last few weeks." I have been feeling pretty dry lately and I wonder if the Divine Economy was hard at work in that time "withdrawing from my spiritual reserves" and "depositing them" in Luke's "bank. "

I sent him back to "the 'Stan" with Easter water and a Miraculous Medal, realizing full well that if these items are used as good luck charms they would offer nothing. However, used properly and reverently and as a reminder we have accepted Our Lady's offer of protection, then we are in good hands.

When I first returned to Holy Mother Church I was scared and I did not really know Jesus. I wanted so badly to receive Holy Communion but I could not. It seems the "men" of the Church (the priest, the Magisterium, even Jesus) were holding me at arms length until I cleaned up my act. But Mama Mary - she was there holding my hand (even if it was only spiritually!) The men had built the house (the church) but the Blessed Mother made it a home.

A few days ago, before Luke's revelation, I had placed a statue of the Virgin next to his official army portrait. I pondered many things while looking at my little tableau. I thought about naming Luke after the saint that wrote the Gospel that bears their shared name. I thought about St. Luke being a doctor and my Luke being a medic. I was comforted that the Virgin Mary and St. Luke were friends. I was also reassured that Mary knows exactly what I am going through right now because her own son was in danger many times. I have prayed for her continued intercession and protection.

A few days ago Nikki told me that a rocket had gone over Luke's head and later his ear was bleeding. Around that time I had read a quote from St. Padre Pio. He said, "Pray, hope and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer..Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God's heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should speak to Him only with your heart."

I took that quote to heart and prayed silently that Jesus would heal Luke's ear just like he healed the slave of the high priest when his ear was cut off in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Luke 22:50-51)

Don't be discouraged in your times of dryness. If you have ever prayed for the experience to thirst for souls or the opportunity to bring others to Christ - He is listening. It just won't happen in the way you think it will.

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Holy God, we praise Thy Name;

Lord of all, we bow before Thee!

All on earth Thy scepter claim,

All in heaven above adore Thee;

Infinite Thy vast domain,

Everlasting is Thy reign.

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I just opened an email from Luke. He asked me to pray for him. He said that he and God have become good friends in the last few weeks.

My mouth was hanging open about 4 feet.

The dark side of me is thinking, "there are no atheists in foxholes" and "I hope some kookoo born-again Christian hasn't got hold of him." The other side of me is thinking, "prayer works!"

Wow.

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From Campaign Life Coalition newsletter for January 2010...

"I think the focus for 2010 should be educating our youth on the dignity of their bodies; that is the dignity of each human person...We need to understand the sanctity of our own bodies before we can apply it to the unborn. The youth I've spent time with are hungering for a deeper understanding of what it means to be male and female."

Well said.

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One word comment

Let's see how forthcoming my blog buddies are. Leave a ONE word comment that you think best describes me. It can only be one word. No more than one word. Then copy & paste this post on your blog so I can leave a word about you. This should be interesting...

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Brother in Faith Award goes to....

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.....Mr. Terry Nelson!

PASS IT ON!

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Sisters in Faith Award!

Char at Cheeky Pink Girl blog (I just love that name!) has been kind enough to award me the "Sisters in Faith Award" !

I hearby pass along the award to.....

Cathy of Alex

Laura of North Carolina

Tara of Utah

And Terry of Minnesota gets his own special award........

Thanks again, Char!

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Tara's Statue

This is a statue that Tara just received.

I think it is absolutely gorgeous!

Read more about it here.

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Ella Mae Morse

Love LOVE LOVE this!

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Mopping

Here's a crazy question...how do you wash your floor? Currently I wash mine with a rag on my hands and knees (that is...when I get around to it.) This method is unsatisfactory. Yes, my floor is clean enough to eat off of when I am done but my knees and wrists can't handle it anymore.

I have used a sponge mop with the wringer-thingy, I have used a cotton yacht mop, I have used the disposable pads - nothing works to my satisfaction. Mostly all these methods do is push gray "stuff" into the corners.

I would like to try a steam clean mop - does anyone out there have one? What is your experience with it? Or am I just going to have sterlized gray stuff pushed into the corners?

Thanks.

Recapping the old year

Hubby and I were discussing 2009 last night.

Blessings of '09:
both of us employed
health for our families and ourselves
meeting new friends
having a good priest in our parish
having the Sacraments available to us
the announcement that a new grandchild will be born in June 2010!

Trials of '09:
the mouse invasion!
my step-daughter marrying outside the Church
our other children not practicing the faith either
being physically distant from our children and our families of origin
Afghanistan

Most of the trials will continue into 2010 although I do believe the battle with the mice has been won! We have to start somewhere!

What were your greatest blessings and trials of the previous year?

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The soldier stood and faced his God, which must always come to pass...
He hoped his shoes were shining just as much as his brass,
'Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you?
Have you turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said, 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't,..
Because those of us that carry guns, can't always be a Saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent, cause the streets are awfully rough

But I've never taken a penny, that wasn't mine to keep...
Though I've worked a lot of overtime, when the bills just got too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears

I know I don't deserve a place among the people here...
They never wanted me around, except to calm their fears.
If you have a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be too grand,
I never expected or had too much, but if you don't, I'll understand.

There was silence all around the Throne, where the Saints had often trod,
As the soldier waited quietly, for the judgement of his God.
Step forward now you soldier,
walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'

Author unknown.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Your mother would like to see you at her house today...that is, the Blessed Mother would like to see you in church today....well, what are you waiting for? Get going!
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My hope for all of you in 2010 is that you will come to know the Lord ever more deeply.
May God bless you richly in 2010,
Love, Angie xo