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Why the daily Rosary?

  • Our Lady has 117 titles. She selected this title at Fatima: "I am the Lady of the Rosary".
  • St. Francis de Sales said the greatest method of praying is - Pray the Rosary.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas preached 40 straight days in Rome, Italy on just the Hail Mary.
  • St. John Vianney, patron of priests, was seldom seen without a rosary in his hand.
  • "The rosary is the scourge of the devil" - Pope Adrian VI.
  • "The rosary is a treasure of graces" - Pope Paul V.
  • Padre Pio the stigmatic priest said: "The rosary is THE WEAPON"
  • Pope Leo XIII wrote 9 encyclicals on the rosary.
  • Pope John XXIII spoke 38 times about our Lady and the Rosary. He prayed 15 decades daily.
  • St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote: "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who so loves His Mother."
  • If you wish to obtain a favor: - Pray THE "54-day ROSARY NOVENA"

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July 22, 2008

On keeping all Fridays of the year penitential

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:


V. THE MANY FORMS OF PENANCE IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE


1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice.[36] These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).


Some ideas for doing penance on Fridays:

Fasting

• Fast with one full meal, no meat.

• Give up alcoholic beverages.

• Give up coffee.

• Give up all desserts.

• Fast from music, TV, Internet and phone time.


Prayer


• Pray the Rosary.

• Attend Holy Mass.

• Pray the Stations of the Cross.

• Do a Holy Hour.

• Meditate on the passion by reading the Gospels.

• Read a book on the Life of Christ. Some books you might want to read:


Life of Christ

Characters of the Passion: Lessons on Faith and Trust

The Agony of Jesus

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Passion of Jesus and Its Hidden Meaning

The School of Jesus Crucified: The Lessons of Calvary in Daily Catholic Life

July 20, 2008

Our newest flower bed

The Trinity garden

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July 18, 2008

Novena to St. Anne July 18th-26th

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Daily Prayer to St. Anne

O glorious St. Ann, you are filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present intention which I recommend to you in your special care.

Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me the grace one day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen.

Our Father, . . . Hail Mary . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Ann, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Ann, intercede for me.

First Day

Dear St. Ann, though I am but a prodigal child, I appeal to you and place myself under your great motherly care. Please listen to my prayers and grant my requests. See my contrite heart, and show me your unfailing goodness.

Deign to be my advocate and recommend me to God’s infinite mercy. Obtain for me forgiveness of my sins and the strength to begin a new life that will last forever.

Blessed St. Ann, I also beg of you the grace to love, to serve, and to honor your daughter, the most holy Virgin Mary. Please recommend me to her and pray to her for me. She refuses none your requests but welcomes with loving kindness all those for whom you intercede.

Good Jesus, be merciful to the faithful servants of Your grandmother St. Ann.

Second Day

From the depths of my heart, good St. Ann, I offer you my homage this day and ask you to shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care. You know, good mother, how much I love you, how gladly I serve you, how happy I am to praise you, how eager I am to call on you in time of distress.

Good St. Ann, be pleased to extend your helping hand in all my wants. Listen to my prayers, for I place my trust in your gracious bounty. Make all my thoughts and desires worthy and righteous.

Jesus, I thank You for all the graces which in Your infinite goodness You have lavished upon St. Ann; for having chosen her, among all women, to be Your grandmother on earth and exalted her in heaven with such great and miraculous powers. In the name of her merits, I humbly recommend myself to Your infinite mercy.

Third Day

Hail, good St. Ann, who first responded to the needs of Mary, Mother of our Savior and Queen of Angels. Hail to you and to your husband St. Joachim, who watched over her infancy, presented her to the Lord in the temple and, according to your promise, consecrated her to the service of God.

Hail St. Ann, good mother! I rejoice in the marvels you continually perform, because they encourage all to seek your intercession.

Good St. Ann, by the great power that God has given you, show yourself my mother, my consoler, my advocate. Reconcile me to the God I have so deeply offended. Console me in my trials; strengthen me in my struggles. Deliver me from danger in my time of need. Help me at the hour of death and open to me the gates of paradise.

Fourth Day

Good St. Ann, you offered your pure and holy daughter Mary in the temple with faith, piety and love. By the happiness which then filled your heart, I beg you to present me to your Grandson Jesus. Offered by you, I will be agreeable in His sight.

Kind St. Ann, take me forever under your protection. Deliver me from the temptations which continually assail me. Above all, attend me in my last hour. As I lie on my deathbed, be present with your daughter to console and strengthen me.

Holy Mary and good St. Ann, show yourselves to be mothers indeed by obtaining for me the grace of a good death. When my soul goes forth, lead it to God’s tribunal so that, by your powerful help and intercession, it may obtain a favorable judgment.

Fifth Day

Hail, all-powerful Lady. By God’s special favor, grant consolation to those who invoke you. Procure for them the eternal riches of heaven, and like a good mother, success in their temporal affairs as well.

Good St. Ann, obtain my deliverance from the punishment which my sins deserve. Obtain for me success in my temporal affairs; especially see to the salvation of my soul.

St. Ann, by your influence with Mary’s son Jesus, you have won the gift of conversion for many sinners. Will you then abandon me, who have chosen you as my mother? No, St. Ann. Your name alone, which signifies grace, assures me of the help of your prayers, and these prayers will surely procure pardon and mercy from Jesus. You will pray for me now and at the hour of my death.

Sixth Day

Good St. Ann, do not allow my soul, a masterpiece of God’s creative power, to be lost forever. Free my heart of pride, vanity, self-love. May I know myself as I really am and learn meekness and simplicity of heart.

God’s great love for me leaves me cold and unresponsive. I must reflect this love through works of mercy and charity toward my neighbor.

In your boundless charity, good St. Ann, help me to merit the glorious crown which is given to those who have fought the good fight against the world, the devil and the flesh. Assist me to preserve purity of heart and body. With Mary and her divine Son, protect me always.

Seventh Day

Once again, Good St. Ann, I choose you for my advocate before the throne of God. By the power and grace that God has placed in you, extend to me your helping hand. Renew my mind and my heart.

Dear St. Ann, I have unbounded confidence in your prayers. To your blessed hands I entrust my soul, my body and all my hopes for this world and the next. Direct my actions according to your goodness and wisdom. I place myself under your motherly care.

Receive me, good mother. Cover me with the mantle of your love. Look kindly on me. By your powerful intercession, may I obtain from God grace and mercy. Obtain for me remission for sin and release from the punishment my offenses have deserved. Pray that I may receive grace to lead a devout life on earth and that I may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.

Eighth Day

Hail, St. Ann! I rejoice at your exalted glory. You gave birth to Mary, whose divine Son brought salvation to our lost world by conquering death and restoring life and hope to sinners. Pray to Him who, for love of us, clothed Himself with human flesh in the chaste womb of your daughter.

Glorious St. Ann, with your blessed daughter, deliver me from everything that is displeasing in the sight of God. Pray to your gentle and powerful Grandson that He may cleanse my soul in His precious blood, that He may send His Holy Spirit to enlighten and direct me in all that I do, always obedient to His holy inspirations.

Good mother, keep a watchful eye on me. Help me bear all my crosses. Give me the fullness of your bounty and sustain me with courage.

Ninth Day

Good St. Ann, I have reached the end of this novena in your honor. I have asked and ask again. Good mother, let not your kind ear grow weary of my prayers, though I repeat them so often.

Bounteous Lady, implore for me from divine Providence all the help I need through life. May your generous hand bestow on me the material means to satisfy my own needs and to alleviate the plight of the poor.

Good St. Ann, fortify me by the sacraments of the Church at the hour of my death. Admit me into the company of the blessed in the kingdom of heaven, where I may praise and thank the adorable Trinity, your grandson Christ Jesus, your glorious daughter Mary, and yourself, dear St. Ann, through endless ages.

July 16, 2008

She always comes when we need her

Bm_copy_2Last week a friend asked me if I would like to have the Pilgrim Virgin come to our house for the week because she had to go out of town unexpectedly and there would not be anyone at her house to pray the rosary every day, so I agreed, although I hesitated at first. My initial reaction was, "Oh no. What is going to happen while she is here?" I always worry when she comes to visit. I'm afraid of what suffering might come. I have such little faith. We have had her many times and she always takes care of our needs. A year-and-half ago I was asked to have the Pilgrim Virgin statue for the weekend. This was right after I began a 54 day rosary novena and a Saint Therese Rose novena for a baby. Our little Maria Therese-Rose was born 10 months later.

Sadly, my father-in-law passed away at home yesterday due to complications from emphysema. Our dear heavenly mother knew she should be here this week. He had been sick for a while, so we began a novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel for him for a peaceful and holy death. We were on day seven of the novena. He died peacefully in his wife's arms.

July 14, 2008

Sunflowers from my little girl

Angela picked these beautiful sunflowers from the garden and brought them to me as a gift. I think they are my favorite flowers now.

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July 08, 2008

What a big girl!

My sweet little baby girl decided to pull herself up today. I was sitting on the blue chair watching a video with the kids and all of a sudden the baby pulled herself up right in front of me. She grabbed my skirt for support and got up to play with the toy. She is getting to be such a big girl.

Baby

July 07, 2008

Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel begins today

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First day

O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother!(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Second day

Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion. May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness.(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Third day

O Queen of Heaven, you gave us the Scapular as an outward sign by which we might be known as your faithful children. may we always wear it with honor by avoiding sin and imitating your virtues. Help us to be faithful to this desire of ours.(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Fourth day

When you gave us, Gracious Lady, the Scapular as our Habit, you called us to be not only servants, but also your own children. We ask you to gain for us from your Son the grace to live as you children in joy, peace and love. (pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Fifth day

O Mother of Fair Love, through your goodness, as your children, we are called to live in the spirit of Carmel. Help us to live in charity with one another, prayerful as Elijah of old, and mindful of our call to minister to God's people.
(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Sixth day

With loving provident care, O Mother Most Amiable, you covered us with your Scapular as a shield of defense against the evil one. Through your assistance, may we bravely struggle against the powers of evil, always open to your Son Jesus Christ.(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Seventh day

O Mary, Help of Christians, you assured us that wearing your Scapular worthily would keep us safe from harm. Protect us in both body and soul with your continual aid. may all that we do be pleasing to your Son and to you.(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Eigth day

You give us hope, O Mother of Mercy, that through your Scapular promise we might quickly pass through the fires of purgatory to the Kingdom of your Son. Be our comfort and our hope. Grant that our hope may not be in vain but that, ever faithful to your Son and to you, we may speedily enjoy after death the blessed company of Jesus and the saints.(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Ninth day

O Most Holy Mother of Mount Carmel, when asked by a saint to grant privileges to the family of Carmel, you gave assurance of your Motherly love and help to those faithful to you and to your Son.Behold us, your children. We glory in wearing your holy habit, which makes us members of your family of Carmel, through which we shall have your powerful protection in life, at death and even after death.
Look down with love, O Gate of Heaven, on all those now in their last agony!
Look down graciously, O Virgin, Flower of Carmel, on all those in need of help!
Look down mercifully, O Mother of our Savior, on all those who do not know that they are numbered among your children.
Look down tenderly, O Queen of All Saints, on the poor souls!
(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

July 02, 2008

8 months old today

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The Most Precious Blood of Jesus craft

Please stop by Anne's blog to see this beautiful craft for the month of the Most Precious blood of Jesus.

Wordless Wednesday- fruit from our garden

Blackberries

Blueberries

Peach

Grapes

July 01, 2008

Traditional feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

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July is the month of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, according to the Traditional Calendar of 1962 and previous, is the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. After Vatican II, this feast day was combined with Corpus Christi. In the 1969 Calendar, Corpus Christi is officially called the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

A Letter of Pope John XXIII on promoting devotion to the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ

Devotions to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus:

Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

Offering in Reparation to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

Recommended books:

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Agony of Jesus

On the Passion of Christ

The Pain of Christ and the Sorrow of God

Characters of the Passion: Lessons on Faith and Trust

Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

(The following is taken from Dom Prosper Guéranger's entry in The Liturgical Year for July 1, in Volume XII of the 1983 Marian House edition of the English translation by the Benedictines of Stanbrook.)

"John the Baptist has pointed out the Lamb, Peter has firmly established his throne, Paul has prepared the bride; their joint work, admirable in its unity, at once suggests the reason for their feasts occurring almost simultaneously in the cycle. The alliance being now secured, all three fall into shade; whilst the bride herself, raised up by them to such loftly heights, appears alone before us, holding in her hands the sacred cup of the nuptial-feast."

"This gives the key of today's solemnity, revealing how its appearance in the heavens of the holy liturgy at this particular season is replete with mystery. The Church, it is true, has already made known to the sons of the new covenant, in a much more solemn matter, the price of the Blood that redeemed them, its nutritive strength, and the adorng homage is its due. On Good Friday, earth and heaven beheld all sin drowned in the saving stream, whose eternal flood-gates at last gave way beneath the combined effort of man's violence and of the love of the divine Heart. The festival of Corpus Christi witnessed our prostrate worship before the altars whereon is perpetuated the Sacrifice of Calvary, and where the outpouring of the precious Blood affords drink to the humblest little ones, as well as to the mightiest potentates of earth, lowly bowed in adoration before it."

"How is it, then, that holy Church is now inviting all Christians to hail, in a particular manner, the stream of life ever gushing from the sacred fount? What else can this mean, but that the preceding solemnities have by no means exhausted the mystery? The peace which this Blood has made to reign in the high places as well as in the low; the impetus of its wave bearing back the sons of Adam from the yawning gulf, purified, renewed, and dazzling white in the radiance of their heavenly apparel; the sacred Table outspread before them on the waters' brink, and the chalice brimful of inebriation - all this preparation and display would be objectless, all these splendours would be incomprehensible, if man were not brought to see therein the wooings of a love that could never endure its advances to be outdone by the pretensions of any other. Therefore, the Blood of Jesus is set before our eyes at this moment as the Blood of the Testament; the pledge of the alliance proposed to us by God [Exodus 24: 8; Hebrews 9: 20]' the dower stipulated by eternal Wisdom for this divine union to which He is inviting all men, and its consummation in our soul which is being urged forward with such vehemence by the Holy Ghost."

"'Having therefore, brethren, a confidence in entering into the Holies by the Blood of Christ,' says the apostle, 'a new and living way which He hath dedicated for through the veil - that is to say, His flesh - let us draw near with a pure heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with clean water, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He is faithful that hath promised. Let us consider one another to provoke unto charity and to good works [Hebrews 10: 19-24]. And may the God of peace who brought again from the dead the great Pastor of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Blood of the everlasting Testament, fit you in all goodness, that you may do His will: doing in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom is glory forever and ever. Amen! [Hebrews 13: 20,21].'"

"Nor must we omit to mention here, that this feast is a monument of one of the most brilliant victories of holy Church in our own age. [Blessed Pope] Pius IX had been driven out from Rome in [November] 1848 by the triumphant revolution; but the following year, just about this season, his power was re-established. Under the aegis of the apostles on June 28 and the two following days, the eldest daughter of the Church [a former nickname for France], faithful to her past glories, swept the ramparts of the eternal city; and on July 2, Mary's festival [the feast of the Visitation on the traditional calendar], the victory was completed. Not long after this, a twofold decree notified to the city and the world the Pontiff's gratitude and the way in which he intended to perpetuate, in the sacred liturgy, the memory of these events."

"On August 10, from Gaeta itself [a town between Rome and Naples], the place of his exile in the evil day, [Blessed Pope] Pius IX, before returning to reassume the governments of his States, addressing himself to the invisible head of the Church, confided her in a special manner to His divine care, by the institution of this day's festival; reminding Him that it was for His Church that He had vouchsafed to shed all His precious Blood. Then, when the Pontiff re-entered his capital [on 12 April 1850, when he was finally assured that the French would not interfere in his affairs], turning to Mary, just as [Pope St.] Pius V and [Pope] Pius VIII had done under other circumstances, the Vicar of Christ solemnly attributed the honour of the recent victory to her who is ever the help of Christians; for on the feast of her Visitation it had been gained; and he now decreed that this said feast of July 2 should be raised from the rite of double major to that of second class throught the whole world [under the pre-1962 system of classifying feasts and holy days]. This was a prelude to the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which the immortal Pontiff had already projected, whereby the crushing of the serpent's head would be completed."

Precious Blood of Jesus, save us!
Sanguis Christi, inebria me!

June 30, 2008

The Simple Woman's Daybook- June 30th

Simplewomandaybooksmall_3_2Stop by Peggy's to see today's Simple Woman's Daybook posts.

Outside my window...beautiful blue skies.

I am thinking...about what to make for dinner.

I am thankful for...a well stocked refrigerator and freezer.

From the kitchen...still thinking :-)

I am creating...next year's 9th grade plans.

I am going...to make pumpkin muffins for breakfast tomorrow.

I am wearing...a red top and denim skirt.

I am reading...Little Therese and Purgatory: Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints to the kids.

I am hoping...my husband will be home by 6:00.

I am hearing... this song on the radio.

Around the house...2 nephews spending the week with us.

One of my favorite things...reading to the kids.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Mass and Holy hour on Friday morning.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...a priceless moment between sisters.

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June 27, 2008

Sled or baby pool?

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Photos taken by big sister Angela, age 5

June 24, 2008

Nativity of St. John the Baptist

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Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519 St. John the Baptist Oil on wood

Customs for celebrating the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (1st. class feast)

On the Feast of St. John, it is customary to gather the perennial herb "St. John's Wort" (Hypericum perforatum), named for our Saint. It's long been seen as a means to keep evil away, and since medieval times, the herb has been hung over doors, windows and icons (its genus name -- hypericum -- means "above a picture")

In addition to gathering St. John's wort, it's also customary to gather flowers to make wreaths to wear and to hang in your home or, especially, on the front door. In some places, such as Poland, some of these wreaths are floated down the river in honor of Christ's Baptism by St. John in the Jordan. Make a wreath of flowers that dry well, and hang in your home all year to be replaced next St. John's Day. Alternatively, flowers can be tied together in bunches with beautiful ribbons and hanged upside-down to decorate your home all year.

The temporal focal point of the festivities, though, is the building of fires outdoors in which to burn worn out sacramentals and to serve as a symbol of the one Christ Himself called "a burning and shining light" (John 5:35).

After the blessing, a decade of the Rosary is prayed while walking sunwise -- clockwise, not widdershins -- around the fire, the old Sacramentals are reverently burned, and then the party begins.

As to foods, it's customary to eat strawberries (Our Lady is said to accompany children who pick strawberries on this day). In addition, in Sweden pickled herring, boiled potatoes, sour cream, crisp bread, beer and schnapps are enjoyed, while in Spain they eat figs and a savory pie made with tuna. In Ireland, "goody" is another traditional food -- white bread broken in pieces and boiled with milk, sugar, and spices in a great pot over the fire.

To get more ideas on how to celebrate today, go here.

Updated Sidebars

Jajo_readingI've added all the books we are reading this year on the sidebars. We are having so much learning about many topics, especially the weather. The boys are fascinated with tornadoes and clouds. I have learned so much from them this year. I see clouds in a whole new way now. They are also enjoying all the books on germs. The kids thought You Wouldn't Want to Be Sick in the 16th Century! was hysterical. A little gross, but very funny and they enjoyed it a lot! Adrianna, Marygrace and Cecilia are reading about the Holocaust. Those books are on the left sidebar, right under the 4th of July books. I had some of those books from our Revolutionary War unit study last fall.

I find that I'm constantly putting more and more books on hold from the library. This past Spring we read all the gardening books and two of my favorite books were Katie and the Sunflowers by James Mayhew and Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt. Camille and the Sunflowers is about a boy meeting Vincent Van Gogh, so now we are going to do an Art appreciation study this summer as well. The art books are listed on the sidebar right under the Thunderstorms and Tornadoes. It's amazing how you can learn about one subject and that leads to something else. I am looking forward to learning about so many incredible artists. After reading Katie Meets The Impressionists to Angela yesterday, she asked me if we could go to the Art museum sometime. I'm hoping to take the kids to the National Gallery of Art this summer.

June 23, 2008

The Simple Woman's Daybook- June 23rd

Simplewomandaybooksmall_3_2Stop by Peggy's to see today's Simple Woman's Daybook posts.

Outside my window...bright blue skies.

I am thinking...about how crazy we are to get another pet :- )

I am thankful for...the baby's recovery.

From the kitchen....baked ham, rice and baked beans for lunch.

I am creating....this post. I'm not very creative at all!

I am going...to take my mom to Kohl's this morning.

I am wearing...a white top and a very colorful skirt.

I am reading...Little Therese to the children.

I am hoping...to buy some flowers for the garden today.

I am hearing... the baby nursing.

Around the house...a new puppy.

One of my favorite things...nursing my baby girl.

A few plans for the rest of the week...cleaning out the garage.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... Marygrace reading to Angela.

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June 21, 2008

I'm feeling better

Baby_2After not being able to keep the baby's fever down for three days, I took Maria to the Urgent Care on Wednesday and she was diagnosed with strep throat. Poor little baby! She was in so much pain and was not able to nurse much until Thursday. Her fever finally broke Thursday morning and she has been able to sleep well for the past two nights. Even though she was so sick, she tried so hard to be happy. She's such a content little baby and always has a smile for her daddy. We are so thankful for the many prayers said for her. I know St. Therese was interceding for our little flower. When I arrived at the Urgent Care, a half hour away, at 3:00 p.m. there was no one there, so she got seen right away. I didn't think I would be home before 7:00, but everything went extremely well and I was home by 4:30. Our 18 year old daughter even ordered dinner for the family and had it delivered by the time I arrived. We are truly blessed!

June 20, 2008

My heart is aching...

for my dear friend Jennifer. Please keep her and her beautiful family in your prayers.

Miscarriage prayer

My Lord, the baby is dead!

Why, my Lord—dare I ask why? It will not hear the whisper of the wind or see the beauty of its parents’ face—it will not see the beauty of Your creation or the flame of a sunrise. Why, my Lord?

“Why, My child—do you ask ‘why’? Well, I will tell you why.

You see, the child lives. Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before My throne. Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty—he sees My face. He was created and lived a short time so the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another. He was created for My joy and his parents’ merits. He has never seen pain or sin. He has never felt hunger or pain. I breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow and called it forth.”

I am humbled before you, my Lord, for questioning Your wisdom, goodness, and love. I speak as a fool—forgive me. I acknowledge Your sovereign rights over life and death. I thank You for the life that began for so short a time to enjoy so long an Eternity.                                                                                              --  Mother M. Angelica

June 18, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

Ceci

June 17, 2008

Dinner from our garden

Marinated Rosemary chicken. We seasoned the chicken with Rosemary, Oregano and Lemon Thyme from our herb garden.

Herbs  Chicken

Squash and Sweet Onions from the vegetable garden.

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Squash and Sweet Onions sauteed in butter.

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Delicious!!!

The Traditional Latin Mass

  • Traditiona Mass

July- month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

  • St. Albert the Great: “I place my trust in Thee, O adorable Blood …Fall, drop by drop, into the hearts that have wandered from Thee and soften their hardness. O adorable Blood of Jesus, wash our stains …Irrigate the Church … enrich her with souls that are holy, pure, and radiant with divine beauty.”