Dec. 28, 2008
My excellent pastor here in VA is two for two with his homilies on Christmas Eve and the Feast of the Holy Family. Although I am still homesick for TN, I have to admit that the pastor here is wonderful and the church is absolutely beautiful.
On Christmas Eve, in a packed church where seating was, shall we say, competitive, he talked about gifts. The difference between gifts and rewards is that gifts, of course, do not need to be earned. And in Christ we have the gift of God's pure love. But then he also talked about how sometimes we can be disappointed by gifts and added that sometimes children and grownups can focus more on life's disappointments than all of the wonderful gifts we receive from God, such as peace, love joy, etc. I wonder if he chose to mention that because he had spent the previous two evenings offering extra hours of confessions for the last-chancers among us. Anyway, it was spot on, for me at least.
And today, he spoke of the Holy Family and our own families. And he said that we all hope, in our earthly families, that each person reaches the potential that God has for us in this world. We hope that, we pray that and then we wait. Again, perfect homily for me to hear on this day as we prepare to begin a new year and we wait and hope to hear about hubby's potential new job or anything else for that matter.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
St. Therese of Lisieux
Dec. 24, 2008
Just a little Christmas Eve blogging here. I found a wonderful book for my daughter and I hope she likes it. It is called Olivia and the Little Way. I am a sponsor of Little Flowers Catholic Girls Club, which is a sort of Catholic, virtue-based type of Girl Scouts based on learning about the saints. The girls especially try to model themselves on St. Therese, the Little Flower. But they earn nine virtue petals per wreath for learning about a saint and the virtue and doing certain activities.
I happen to love St. Therese, myself, and have read her Story of a Soul several times. But this little book was written by a Catholic mom of boys who loves St. Therese and it is all about a little girl named Olivia who moves from Texas to Michigan and all of the adventures and trials she finds there. Thanks to her grandmother, she tries to handle these things by putting into practice the attitudes of St. Therese and doing little things with great love, rather than great things. But it is told pretty true to a kid's point of view so I hope my daughter, also named Olivia, will like it. I'll find out tomorrow. She asked for a Calvin and Hobbes book, so I hope she won't be terribly disappointed. I'm sure the skateboard will dispel any momentary disappointment she may feel:) and perhaps she'll give the book a chance.
Merry Christmas!
Just a little Christmas Eve blogging here. I found a wonderful book for my daughter and I hope she likes it. It is called Olivia and the Little Way. I am a sponsor of Little Flowers Catholic Girls Club, which is a sort of Catholic, virtue-based type of Girl Scouts based on learning about the saints. The girls especially try to model themselves on St. Therese, the Little Flower. But they earn nine virtue petals per wreath for learning about a saint and the virtue and doing certain activities.
I happen to love St. Therese, myself, and have read her Story of a Soul several times. But this little book was written by a Catholic mom of boys who loves St. Therese and it is all about a little girl named Olivia who moves from Texas to Michigan and all of the adventures and trials she finds there. Thanks to her grandmother, she tries to handle these things by putting into practice the attitudes of St. Therese and doing little things with great love, rather than great things. But it is told pretty true to a kid's point of view so I hope my daughter, also named Olivia, will like it. I'll find out tomorrow. She asked for a Calvin and Hobbes book, so I hope she won't be terribly disappointed. I'm sure the skateboard will dispel any momentary disappointment she may feel:) and perhaps she'll give the book a chance.
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 8, 2008
And another day
Dec. 8, 2008
The best part of today was going to Mass for Immaculate Conception. The church was beautiful and the priest was on target. Although Mary was conceived without sin, he said, her life was never any easier than ours is. After all, our Baptism washes away our original sin and we have all of the opportunities to receive God's grace in the sacraments. We can look to Mary as our model in saying "Yes" to God.
I know I receive God's grace, but I would love to receive some of his wisdom!
I am in a quandry. My husband's job goes from bad to worse. It pays well, yes, but the stress is tremendous and he is as unhappy as I've ever seen him. His only happiness is us - and food! And I am thinking of going back to work to lighten the financial load on him and allow him to take something less stressful. But I don't know what it would be as his job is so specialized. And I'm in that quandry. This is our third year of homeschooling and I don't want to just throw the kids back into school. And I'm not sure I would send them to public school - although would save money.
So, I don't know what to do and I need some guidance. Perhaps I will look to Mary and the book of Proverbs for that. I am extremely grateful to be a Catholic and to know that I have so many sources of guidance.
The best part of today was going to Mass for Immaculate Conception. The church was beautiful and the priest was on target. Although Mary was conceived without sin, he said, her life was never any easier than ours is. After all, our Baptism washes away our original sin and we have all of the opportunities to receive God's grace in the sacraments. We can look to Mary as our model in saying "Yes" to God.
I know I receive God's grace, but I would love to receive some of his wisdom!
I am in a quandry. My husband's job goes from bad to worse. It pays well, yes, but the stress is tremendous and he is as unhappy as I've ever seen him. His only happiness is us - and food! And I am thinking of going back to work to lighten the financial load on him and allow him to take something less stressful. But I don't know what it would be as his job is so specialized. And I'm in that quandry. This is our third year of homeschooling and I don't want to just throw the kids back into school. And I'm not sure I would send them to public school - although would save money.
So, I don't know what to do and I need some guidance. Perhaps I will look to Mary and the book of Proverbs for that. I am extremely grateful to be a Catholic and to know that I have so many sources of guidance.
Friday, December 5, 2008
still grateful
Dec. 5, 2008
I'm still grateful, in spite of the terrible news of layoffs today. What I am most grateful for is that my husband still has a job, although it is a very stressful one. I would be glad and grateful to go back to work myself to relieve some of this stress.
That said, I'm still grateful to still be able to homeschool my children. I see progress! I see a kid who can add, subtract, divide and multiply well. The same kid, after first grade, could not count back from 20. Just two years and a few months later, she has made tremendous progress.
I was grateful on Wednesday to be able to make cookies with my kids and practice the songs they will sing as part of the Christmas Choir for the Christmas Eve family Mass at our VA church.
And I'm grateful to have insurance that allows my husband to get a cardiology workup that shows he is in good shape. I am grateful to get flu shots for the kids and an eye exam for myself.
I am grateful to be finishing up the last of my Thanksgiving leftovers (more soup). And I'm grateful that I have discovered a Save-A-Lot in this VA town. We had one so close in our Tenn. home.
Obviously, I'm focused on finances. But I am grateful for other things as well. I am especially glad my 7-year-old son will receive his first Sacrament of Reconciliation tomorrow and that I will participate in the service by leading the Rosary for those waiting in the Church. We have more than 50 kids making First Reconciliation. Still getting used to the big church:).
God bless you all this season.
I'm still grateful, in spite of the terrible news of layoffs today. What I am most grateful for is that my husband still has a job, although it is a very stressful one. I would be glad and grateful to go back to work myself to relieve some of this stress.
That said, I'm still grateful to still be able to homeschool my children. I see progress! I see a kid who can add, subtract, divide and multiply well. The same kid, after first grade, could not count back from 20. Just two years and a few months later, she has made tremendous progress.
I was grateful on Wednesday to be able to make cookies with my kids and practice the songs they will sing as part of the Christmas Choir for the Christmas Eve family Mass at our VA church.
And I'm grateful to have insurance that allows my husband to get a cardiology workup that shows he is in good shape. I am grateful to get flu shots for the kids and an eye exam for myself.
I am grateful to be finishing up the last of my Thanksgiving leftovers (more soup). And I'm grateful that I have discovered a Save-A-Lot in this VA town. We had one so close in our Tenn. home.
Obviously, I'm focused on finances. But I am grateful for other things as well. I am especially glad my 7-year-old son will receive his first Sacrament of Reconciliation tomorrow and that I will participate in the service by leading the Rosary for those waiting in the Church. We have more than 50 kids making First Reconciliation. Still getting used to the big church:).
God bless you all this season.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
More thanks
Nov. 29, 2008
More things for which to be thankful:
Eggnog
The fact that Eggnog is not sold year-round (I love it!)
My old exercise bike
Walking with my sister-in-law over the holidays
A beautiful fall day in VA
My son's upcoming First Reconciliation (next Saturday)
Prayer and especially the Rosary'
More things for which to be thankful:
Eggnog
The fact that Eggnog is not sold year-round (I love it!)
My old exercise bike
Walking with my sister-in-law over the holidays
A beautiful fall day in VA
My son's upcoming First Reconciliation (next Saturday)
Prayer and especially the Rosary'
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Nov. 27, 2008
Thanksgiving
So many things to be grateful for this day.
Waaay too much food.
My family and their health
Visiting family
the Catholic Faith
Beautiful weather
Time for Leisure
Time for Work
Time for Prayer
Christmas Music
The Rosary
Coffee
Not so very profound. Maybe I don't need to be. Perhaps I should resume this blog just to write down a few things to be grateful for every day.
So many things to be grateful for this day.
Waaay too much food.
My family and their health
Visiting family
the Catholic Faith
Beautiful weather
Time for Leisure
Time for Work
Time for Prayer
Christmas Music
The Rosary
Coffee
Not so very profound. Maybe I don't need to be. Perhaps I should resume this blog just to write down a few things to be grateful for every day.
Friday, October 3, 2008
And so on....
Oct. 3, 2008
So I haven't written for a really long time now, and we have really just had a lot going on. Difficult job, the long-term craziness of moving. Finally getting settled after a year here. Actually, Oct.1 was the anniversary of our baptismal flood here at the house, which welcomed me to SW VA and left me without a kitchen floor for two months. Ironically, that is the feast of St. Therese, the Little Flower.
So here is a question, if there are any actual readers out there: Is it possible to be a good Catholic and vote for Obama? I mean, yes, I'm pro-life, of course. And I'm on a pro-life committee and I do work for it. But, honestly, I disagree with McCain on so many issues including the economy, health care and defense that I find it truly hard to vote for him , either. And I'm not sure Palin is the sharpest tool in the shed. I read some commentary, I think it was on catholicity.com, that said the writer knew of many good Catholics who are not voting at all or are throwing their vote away on a third party candidate because of discomfort with BOTH major candidates. It almost seems as if anyone who is pro-life is blinded by that fact to all other negatives of a pro-life candidate. And that doesn't seem smart either. Ah, well, better to be wise than to be smart. I should pray for wisdom.
So I haven't written for a really long time now, and we have really just had a lot going on. Difficult job, the long-term craziness of moving. Finally getting settled after a year here. Actually, Oct.1 was the anniversary of our baptismal flood here at the house, which welcomed me to SW VA and left me without a kitchen floor for two months. Ironically, that is the feast of St. Therese, the Little Flower.
So here is a question, if there are any actual readers out there: Is it possible to be a good Catholic and vote for Obama? I mean, yes, I'm pro-life, of course. And I'm on a pro-life committee and I do work for it. But, honestly, I disagree with McCain on so many issues including the economy, health care and defense that I find it truly hard to vote for him , either. And I'm not sure Palin is the sharpest tool in the shed. I read some commentary, I think it was on catholicity.com, that said the writer knew of many good Catholics who are not voting at all or are throwing their vote away on a third party candidate because of discomfort with BOTH major candidates. It almost seems as if anyone who is pro-life is blinded by that fact to all other negatives of a pro-life candidate. And that doesn't seem smart either. Ah, well, better to be wise than to be smart. I should pray for wisdom.
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