Wordless Wednesday ~ Pretty Acorn Caps

A fun and easy craft ~ makes a pretty centerpiece.

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Blessed With Rest ~ Vol. 2

One little project I've been working on -as I sit - is organizing all of our holy cards. I have sweet memories of Buck at two years old asking me, "Who's today's saint, mama?" We'd go and look at the church calendar, figure it out, read about them, and light our candle accordingly. I'd also display a holy card of the saint if we had one.

If your home is anything like ours, you have holy cards hiding all over the place. I've been wanting to have these organized by month to make finding the day's saint or feast day card a lot quicker. Then I had the idea of sorting and storing them in a box right under our liturgical candles. Since I'm still not back to shopping, I just used supplies we had around the house.. an old index card box, some card stock, the church calendar, some saint books, and of course - all of our beautiful holy cards.

First, I made dividers for the months out of card stock. I labeled them accordingly and using the church calendar and saint books, I began to sort each card into its correct slot.

Once I had gone through all of the holy cards, I pulled out October's and arranged them in date order. This really helped me to see which cards we had and also the ones I'd like to add. It has been so nice to open the box and easily pull out the holy card for the day. I hope this simple little project will help you to be more organized and to enjoy living the liturgical year as much as we do.

A little side note:
I must admit that I'm beginning to become restless in my recovery. It's been five weeks now and I'm so ready to be back to normal. It quickly becomes depressing to see your loved ones overtired from doing your share of the work for so long. I am doing a little more this week and I'm thankful for that. I'm also persevering in prayer and am trying so hard to keep a grateful heart. Please continue to pray for us as we travel along the home stretch of my recovery!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Ladybug Fun

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Daybook Updates October 20

For Today...I'm a sugar addict. Yep, sugar's in my coffee this morning.

The House Cat's got a pulled tendon in her wrist. She'll wear a splint for the next couple of weeks. The kids ended up gettig the H1N1 flu mist yesterday. Hope it helps.

I'm pondering...Within the last few months - I need glasses to read, I found my first gray hair, and I had a hysterectomy. All at the young age of 36....

I'm happy to read.... In an absolutely stunning announcement on the morning of October 20, 2009, the Holy See has, by Apostolic Constitution, provided the canonical vehicle for Anglican Christians to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. (Here's the entire article from Catholic Online)

A Blessed Woman's Daybook

For Today

Monday October 19, 2009

Outside My Window...

The sun is shining and I can see a beautiful October sky. Makes me think of the poem, October's Bright Blue Weather, Snuggle Bug's studying in grammar.

I am trying...

Truvia in my coffee instead of sugar this morning. It's interesting...the sweetness hits you after you swallow. The aftertaste is much better than any other artificial sweetener I've tried. We'll see....

I am thankful for...

My morning at church yesterday. You can imagine how wonderful it was for me to be back at Mass yesterday. Father's homily was beautiful. The subject - having a servant's heart. It had to make my honey and the kids feel good for all of the serving they've been doing around here lately. Receiving Jesus in Holy Communion and visiting with our church family has definitely gotten my week off to a great start!

From the learning rooms...

The House Cat and Snuggle Bug finished up their 1st nine weeks work last week. Today I plan on spending time with them looking back over it and filling out their progress reports. This will help me a lot. I'm feeling a little out of touch with everything... There are also books on the floor - everywhere. Hopefully, with the help of some little hands, we can get those back to their homes today.

I'm creating...

New chore checklists for the kids. I received a note from the creators of this site. It looks to be a cool resource. I'm planning on adding a favorite homeschooling resource list to my sidebar soon.

I am hoping...

The House Cat's wrist is ok. She twisted it last Thursday and hasn't been able to use it since. It's her right one, so it's quite an offering for her not being able to write, play guitar, and type. Looks like we'll be seeing the doctor today for an x-ray.

From the kitchen...

We are still enjoying food so graciously prepared for us by friends. Lynn's idea of The Humble Servant Meal Train was truly divinely inspired. It is so wonderful to be a part of The Confraternity of Christian Mothers. I can't wait to be in the serving car of that train.

All in God's good time :)

I am reading...

The Duggar's 20 and Counting. I just had to borrow it from the library to see how they teach their kids to behave so well. A couple of things I've picked up on:

• The obedience game. For fun, see how quickly your children can obey your commands. Buck, can you walk to your room and come right back? Honeybee, can you go sit in your chair at the table, count to five, and come back to me? Snuggle Bug can you stand there and pat your head and rub your tummy 20 times and then sit down? You get the idea.
• Reading a daily proverb with your family to help all grow in virtue. Today is the 19th, so pick one of the verses from the 19th chapter to read, discuss, and ponder.

To Live the Liturgy

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Isaac Jogues and St. John de Brebeuf. Snuggle Bug shared with me that she recently read about these saints in her history book. "Those stories were great!" she said. We celebrate St. Paul of the Cross on Tuesday and St. John of Capistrano on Friday.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

I'll continue looking online at the different pumpkin patches around here and decide on one.

We are also looking forward to seeing some special friends from N.J. this week.

My Picture Thought....

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

7 Quick First Blogging Anniversary Takes

Had I not been Blessed with so much rest lately, I'm sure this day would have slipped by without notice. I've been labeling all of my old posts and was surprised to notice yesterday that I began blogging a year ago today! It's been nice to have the time to travel back through our last year together. I think back to a year ago and remember saying yes to another of God's callings. He has called me to do so many things I'd never dreamed of doing. I always feel inadequate but, know through Him I can answer His call. As always, I've been tremendously blessed in doing so.

So, I thought I'd share 7 ways my life has been wonderfully blessed this first year of blogging.

1. First of all, I must thank my dear friend Mary for telling me about Catholic Cuisine. This was my introduction into the world of blogging. Catholic Cuisine is a wonderful site to visit for recipes to use in celebrating the liturgical year.
2. I wondered who it was that came up with this site and was blessed to click over to Jessica at Shower of Roses. Boy did she open up a new world to me! She is full of inspiration and to think she's way across the country.
3. I also discovered another beautiful blog thanks to Catholic Cuisine. Wildflowers and Marbles is also a treasured site and she's actually here in Alabama! So many of Jennifer's post have been extremely helpful. Her morning basket, A Mother's Rule of Love seeking Harmony, and Pretty Notebook posts are few of my favorites.
4. I've read Real Learning by Elizabeth Foss several times and been blessed by it. Her blog In the Heart of My Home is another of my favorites. Serendipity, home of the Alphabet Path and much more, is also incredible!
5. I'm always on the look out for better ways to be organized. Dawn, By Sun and Candlelight, had a wonderful post on her file crate system and weekly folders. These are helping me to stay on track.
6. Participating in The Simple Woman's Day book helps me to appreciate all of the beautiful people and things around me that are so easily taken for granted. I'm so blessed by reading other day books. They are full of inspiration and comfort.
7. Last but not least, I'm so blessed to hear that so many people read and find my blog helpful. I give all of the glory to God. This is His doing and I pray that you may be blessed by it. Let me say, we are by far NOT a perfect family. We have our trials and imperfections like everyone else. I just choose not to share them here. I feel as though God wants me to share the "blessings" here. Please pray for us. God Bless You

Visit Conversion Diary for more quick takes.

St. Teresa of Avila, Suffering, and Being Blessed

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila. A great doctor of the church and no stranger to suffering and persevering.

Yesterday I printed off these paper dolls for Snuggle Bug and Honeybee to play with. To my surprise Buck wanted to play with them too. So, first thing this morning I came to the computer to find a priest for him to be. .



It reminds me of how he is such an answer to prayer. Our third pregnancy ended with a D&C. I can't call it a miscarriage because I wasn't having any problems until I went in for my 13 week check up. The doctor could not hear the heartbeat so he sent me over for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed there was no heartbeat. Needless to say I was devastated. In hindsight, I can see how God was using this experience to refine me. I can actually say I am thankful for it. However, at the time I wasn't. Can you believe I stopped going to Mass? My honey was so patient with me. He continued to go to Mass and prayed for me. We didn't want to chance going through that again so we weren't open to more children.

I was such a different person back then. God used this trial to bring me closer to Him. After a few months we started attending a new parish, our current one. We have been so blessed there and have grown so much stronger in our faith. I started turning away from worldly things and making more room for Christ in my life. The veil was lifted from our eyes and we realized what a mistake we were making not being open to life.

The House Cat and Snuggle Bug were so much smaller then. They enjoyed playing Mass. They had a problem though - they needed a priest. They began to pray for a baby brother.

God answered their prayers and sent us a little lad. He has filled my heart with such joy. We look at him and Honeybee and can't imagine life without them.

We are so thankful they do have a brother to play Mass with them now.

And maybe even a future priest?

Worldless Wednesday Roses from my Sweet Mama

St. Edward the Confessor and a History Lesson

There is a wonderful story about Saint Edward the Confessor in Once Upon a time Saints from Bethlehem Books. (I just love their books! They are such treasures.)

The story tells us of a wonderful king who loved and served his people for Christ. God healed the sick through his touch. St. John the Evangelist visited him and asked for money to buy sandals. King Edward gave him the only thing he had, a gold ring. Years later this ring was returned to him with the message of his approaching death. Before being taken to his eternal reward, King Edward finished building Westminster Abbey and was the first to be buried there.

It's interesting that we just finished watching A Man For All Seasons. With King Henry VIII's divorce and separation from the church, Westminster Abbey has become more of a historical place than religious.

Westminster Cathedral is the Roman Catholic Church. As I looked around this morning, I found a couple of interesting articles.

• On Monday evening of this week (6.30pm 12 October) the long awaited Relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux arrive at the Cathedral for the completion of their nationwide tour.
• In recent years, the relations between the churches in this country have become closer and warmer than perhaps ever before. The fact that the Anglican and Roman Catholic Bishops in England have been able to meet more than once for prayer and reflection, as well as for discussion of the challenges we share in witnessing to the Christian faith in our nation, is a welcome development, and a sign that we all recognise common challenges and a need to pray and act together. (May 2009)

Visit Waltzing Matilda for a coloring sheet of St. Edward.

Columbus Day-Book Entry

Captain Christopher Columbus' ensign (banner) pictured a cross and the crown-topped initials F (for King Ferdinand of Spain) and Y (for Queen Isabella of Spain).

For today ~

Monday October 12, 2009

Outside my window ~

The rain is trickling from the roof. My poor honey had to head out in a downpour this morning.

Around the house ~

The House Cat's sleeping in. I remember vividly not wanting to get up and head out to school on a rainy Monday morning. I am so thankful my kids don't have to! My other three blessings are watching Peep and giggling :)

Celebrating Columbus Day ~

Enchanted Learning and Apples For the Teacher have some fun activities for the kids. I printed out some mini-book work for Buck. They've already had fun coloring these pics online this morning. I also requested some books and a DVD from the library (this morning -better late than never.) I also found a poem we will read and I'll either have my big girls copy it or we'll do some dictation. I hope I didn't pack these lap books from last year away :/

To Live the Liturgy ~

This week we celebrate two great saints - Teresa of Avila and Ignatius of Antioch.

I requested St. Teresa's Interior Castle also this morning. I need to check EWTN's program guide to see if they will be airing St. Teresa of Avila this week.

How I'm Doing ~

So far I've only been out of the house once, for my two week follow up. Oh, how I miss Mass and our church family. I had hoped to be able to go yesterday but, I'm still too sore. I have had a lot of ups and downs over the past 3 1/2 weeks. The pain and soreness have been more than I was expecting. My sweet husband continues to remind me, "This was your 6th surgery in that same area and it's tired of being messed with!" I am improving daily - very slowly- at God's pace - not mine. I have had a new sense of peace these last few days. I am resolved to His time table and not my own. I'm feeling remarkably peaceful. I know a huge part of this has come from your prayers. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you and pray for God's peace and blessings upon you.

Looking ahead~

I'm afforded the opportunity to practice patience and self-discipline. We've already missed seeing the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and Little Children's Theater. I should call and see if I can transfer the tickets to sometime next year. I guess it couldn't hurt to try. Did you notice I said next year? Our home school group has gym day this week. Buck loves it so I'd better not mention it! I'd really love a family outing to the pumpkin patch. Maybe in a couple of weeks? I really want us to try our hand at Saint-O-Lanterns this year. On Nov.1 we have our home school faculty meeting followed by our All Saint's Party. The kids always have a blast at this! Lord willing, I'll be there!

Have a Blessed Week!

Visit Peggy for more daybook entries.

7 Quick Takes ~ Friday Oct. 8, 2009

I'm so excited to feel like using my camera again! Here are some sneak peeks into what's been going on around here:

1. A wonderful welcome home from the hospital. Three weeks ago now but, I still wanted to share!

2. Celebrating The Feast of the Holy Rosary. Beautifully set by Snuggle Bug.

3. A card for Mary by Snuggle Bug.

4. A drawing by Dad and Buck.

5. Respect ALL Life - No Matter How Small!


6. The House Cat in her element.

7. Our library basket.


Visit Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes.

Blessed With Rest Vol.1

Today I'd like to begin sharing with you some of the ways I have been beautifully blessed during this time in my life. It is a daily battle to keep the devil at bay and to keep an "Attitude of Gratitude." I am determined, through the grace of God, to keep a grateful heart. Of course, if it were up to me, I wouldn't have chosen to carry this cross. However, God knows what is best for me and all I want is to please Him and to get to Heaven!

With that being said, I hope to encourage those of you who are struggling in this life, to see all of the blessings around you. The devil truly has no room in a grateful heart!

Blessed With Rest ..... Vol. 1

~ My prayer life has increased. I keep a rosary on my nightstand and pray when I lie down to rest. I pray The Chaplet of Divine Mercy when I rest during the day and The Rosary when I lie down for the night. So many people have and continue to bring us meals, call to check on us and are praying for us. I am blessed to be able to pray for them as I rest. A friend at church once shared that she would add my husband to their prayers when he was having back surgery. She said she would pray a bead of her rosary just for him. I thought this was a beautiful idea. I had never heard of it before but, I find it a beautiful way to pray for so many intentions as I pray my rosary. I usually can make it through the chaplet without falling asleep. However, at night I have to ask my guardian angel to finish my rosary for me when I fall asleep :)

Speaking of the rosary - Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Snuggle Bug is planning a special table arrangement for supper tonight. She has Buck and Honeybee working on table decorations as I write :) I plan on reading to them about The Battle of Lepanto and this article from Catholic Online. We will probably watch The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima today and of course, PRAY THE ROSARY for peace in the world and other intentions. Have a blessed day!

Divine Mercy in My Soul

From Your open Heart, as from a pure fount, flows comfort to a repentant heart and soul . . .

- Diary; 1b

St. Faustina is well known throughout the world as the woman who communed with God and brought to others a deeper realization of His infinite mercy. She was born on August 25th, 1905, and at the age of seven received a definite call to a religious vocation. However, her parents refused her request to enter a convent at 18. From then on, she tried to ignore God's call, and forced her interests to center on the world. But when the suffering Christ appeared to her at a dance, He asked her, "How long shall I put up with you, and how long will you keep putting Me off?" The next day, she left her home for the city of Warsaw in search of a convent.

After more than a year, she was accepted into the order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. In that order she was to spend the rest of her life, physically and spiritually communing with the Lord.

During the next 13 years, she endured persistent illness (which became tuberculosis), and also the personal injuries from other sisters who scorned the idea that the Lord appeared and spoke to her. She battled severe attacks of despair and spiritual dryness, and the overwhelming fear that Christ had rejected her. It was during these years that she wrote her Diary, out of obedience to her confessor. Our Lord also ordered her, saying, " . . . be diligent in writing down every sentence . . . concerning My mercy, because this is meant for a great number of souls who will profit from it." Her Diary is a great eye-opener to Jesus' mercy, and His desire to enter souls and sanctify them. The way she participated in His grace, and persevered through her sin in the belief in His forgiveness is inspiring and encouraging.

Through all her suffering and doubt, Christ remained with her, and on October 5th, 1938, He took her to her eternal reward. Maria Faustina Kowalska was canonized on April 30th, 2000, by Pope John Paul II. Her feast is on October 5th.

- by the Housecat

My New Look

Hi everyone. I've been looking around at different blog templates/backgrounds for a while. Today I finally came across The Cutest Blog on the Block. They really do have a lot of FREE cute ways to spruce up or change your blog. It was relatively easy to change over to. I've enjoyed working on it. I'm still not 100% done but, I hope you like what I've come up with so far. Let me know what you think!

Lord, Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

On October 4, or another appropriate day, the household may join in the blessing of pets and other animals. The blessing takes place wherever the animals can be gathered. Stories about Saint Francis (Francis and the wolf at Gubbio, for example) could precede the blessing. more at Catholic Culture.

My Guardian Angel Watches Over Me

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Guardian Angels. I actually made it downstairs to the computer this morning. I am thrilled! It's amazing how much a change of rooms makes a difference. Oh, by the way, my 2 week check-up went well yesterday. I felt like I was on a date with my honey!

Anyway, we began our morning with one of our favorite CD's for the little ones. We are very blessed to actually know this family. They are just as sweet as they sound on the CD! I copied the angel activities from A Year With God and we enjoyed discussing the activities.

I'm still not in the kitchen -for a while- but, if I was, I'd definitely be making some type of angel hair pasta and angel food cake tonight :)

We have a wonderful catechist at our parish who shared this prayer with us:

Guardian Angel

Dear guardian angel, I love you. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful heavenly friend. I want to love you as much as you love me! Please stay near me and teach me to grow holy! My name is ___________ . I want to know your name. Please whisper your name in my ear and my mind. I have so many secrets to tell you. I want you to tell me heavenly mysteries. I want to learn to love you each day more and more! Oh beautiful angel, my guardian dear, stay with me and be my guide forever. Amen.

St. Therese ~ Pray For Us

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux. Jessica at Shower of Roses has so many wonderful ideas to celebrate this beautiful saint. This morning she posted a novena to St. Therese that starts today.

Start with:
Saint Therese, flower of Carmel, you said you would spend your heaven doing good upon the earth. Your trust in god was complete. Listen to my prayer; bring before God my special intention...Pray for me that I may have something of your confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God who you so ardently loved.Saint Therese, you kept your word to love God and to trust the world to that loving providence. Pray for us that we may be faithful to our commitment to love. May our lives, like yours, be able to touch the world and bring it to peace.

DAY ONE
Loving God, you blessed St. Therese with a capacity for a great love. Help us to believe in your unconditional love for each of us.

DAY TWO
Loving God, you loved St. Therese’s complete trust in your care. Help us to rely on your providential care for us in each circumstance of our lives.

DAY THREE
Loving God, you graced St. Therese with a capacity to see your hand in the ordinary routine of each day. Help us to be aware of your presence in the everyday events of our lives.

DAY FOUR
Loving God, you taught St. Therese how to find a direct way to you through the “little way” of humility and simplicity. Grant that we may never miss the grace there is in humble service to others in family and neighborhood.

DAY FIVE
Loving God, you graced St. Therese with the gift of forgiving others even when she felt hurt and betrayed. Help us to be able to forgive others who have wounded us, especially...

DAY SIX
Loving God, St. Therese experienced each day as a gift from You, as a time for loving and through others. May we, too, see each new day as a single moment of saying yes to Your will in our lives.

DAY SEVEN
Loving God, St. Therese offered to You her frailty and powerlessness. Help us to see in our weakness and our diminishments an opportunity for letting Your light and Your strength be all we need.

DAY EIGHT
Loving God, You shepherded St. Therese with a gracious love and made her a tower of strength to people who had lost faith in You. Help us to be unafraid to pray with confidence for the many in our culture who do not believe they can be loved.

DAY NINE
Loving God, St. Therese never doubted that her life had meaning. Help us to understand our possibilities for loving and blessing our children, our elderly parents, our neighbours in need, and for priests throughout the world.


To conclude this novena: Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.