The Less I Have...

When I was younger (say, 15 - 20 years ago...) my thought was that the less I had, the more I WANTED.... 20 years ago, my husband and I were still newlyweds and had no children of our own. He had two children from a previous marriage, that we saw every other weekend and for longer periods of time during the summer and holidays. We both worked for humble incomes, had horrible spending habits, and even though we made PLENTY to sustain our home, more often we often came up short... We wanted MORE...

As years went by, because of a windfall of money paid out to my husband for a job related injury, we purchased a good car and opened our own business. We worked long and hard to build up and promote our business and were able to do quite well, as far as income... It was our out go that still had some BIG kinks in it... and as our business grew so did our expenses, but even THAT didn't seem to curb our STILL horrible spending habits... We managed to become well known in our community for our business, and lots of customers that we gained the confidence of, sending more and more people our way. We had it made... but after 10 years, the business was wavering, as we grew tired and depressed from the long hours and weeks. It seemed like LOTS of money was always flowing in to the office but there was still nothing, really to show for it... We struggled with our marriage, my step son was living with us, but we barely saw him unless it was at the office, I was pregnant with our second son and SO tired of the chaos that self employment brought. Payroll started cutting in to our own expenses and we played a lot of "money musical chairs" and robbing Peter to pay Paul, so to speak... We KNEW we wanted MORE...

My step-son turned 18 and moved on to seek his own fortune and our lives continued to struggle. After 10 years, unable to go any further we called it quits on the business... with no real plan in mind, we closed the doors and filed bankruptcy... financially and emotionally... That's when I learned I was pregnant with #3... I wanted more, but not necessarily more children....

With both of us out of work, Despite the nausea and exhaustion from pregnancy, I went to work as a substitute school teacher while my husband looked for full time employment. We had no choice... Our family of 4 1/2 was learning to live on less than $900 a month, with $550 of it going to pay the rent each month, I was at least grateful we were no longer going IN the hole with payroll and other business expenses... We went without a lot of the things that we had grown so used to having... cable, cell phones, credit cards, vacations, new clothes, eating out... You might think that I look back on that time as a time of dread that I wouldn't wish on anyone... But for me, it was a wonderful turning point... I think it's the time that instead of wanting "more" I began to realize how much I "had" already... It's the point in time where I realized the difference between "want" and "need"...

It was still another 8 years, and two children before we were able to crawl our way out of that hole and actually buy a home of our own, 21 years after we were married. Lots of frustrations and road blocks along the way... But here we are... Though I really don't want to go back to that time in our lives, I wouldn't change it for anything... It taught me life lessons that has made us stronger for it. You know how the saying goes, "that which doesn't kill you can only make you stronger"?... It really did! The lessons we learned about our lives, our life style, what's really important, all came in to focus during that time! Among other things, it made our marriage stronger. And THAT is priceless... Especially in this day and age of broken families... I am SO thankful for my marriage and family, despite the other "stuff" that we may or may not have...

Now, don't get me wrong... Everything hasn't been "peaches and roses" since that time... I still go through my struggles with "want" and "need"... but they seem fewer and further between, now... I remember seeing something when we were in our lowest time about "When you find out that God is all you have left, you figure out that God is all you need..." So true... I couldn't have come through without Him...

I remember these events now, contemplating the number of friends, family, acquaintances, etc., currently going through rough marriages... Some are struggling to stay together, some have already split, some speak of it as if there is no other option... It all breaks my heart... And there are lots of different reasons for the troubles. Some are pretty serious and not all are about money or finance... though money and finance is one of the BIGGEST reasons couples/families split up... But after 22 years and 5 children with my spouse I feel like we have gotten through some very stressful situations and I look back at our rougher areas with gratitude and the maturity that the years have brought.... I always seemed to be JUST where God wanted me to be... I have replaced "WANTING more", with realizing "HOW MUCH" we really already have and clinging to those blessings when the waters get rough, again... and they do, and they will... Squeeze your family tight.... and if you can't do that right now, then pray for them. Pray for healing in your own soul, mind and spirit, then pray the same for your family. Then offer your sufferings for other broken families. The numbers are epidemic...

Walk for Life, West Coast

And, for those of us here on the West Coast we have this. I would love to attend, but am just not able to at this time... : ( Be assured of prayers for all those that do attend!

"It's Gonna Happen.. Like it or Not..."

The ANNOYING words spoken by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome in the "Yes on 8" campaign commercial.

If you're not familiar with it, 'yes on 8' will keep traditional marriage between one man and one woman. For those of you here in California, you know last May, four California Supreme Court judges took it upon themselves to disregard the California voters voice for traditional marriage, making same-sex marriage legal. As we gather momentum toward the November 4 elections, the campaigning is heating up and the commercials are hitting the airwaves. Surprisingly, up to this point, I have seen MORE 'yes on 8' commercials than contrary... though the anti-family sect is definitely making their presence known... Even within our own Diocese there's been a recent "coming out" of a Catholic priest who, following his Sunday mass last week decided to purposefully invite the media to witness his closing thoughts and opposition to Proposition 8 to his congregation...*sigh*... applauded by some, others leaving in tears... It is so sad when even within the Church there is SUCH confusion...

This morning I woke to find a story of California's Creative Arts Charter School based out of San Francisco taking 18 FIRST graders on a "field trip" to witness their lesbian teacher's "wedding" to her same-sex partner... I just wonder how many "traditional wedding" field trips this class has taken or will take?... Are we really THAT hard up for educational material that we have to stoop to taking "wedding" field trips?... It is just yet another attempt by the secular agenda to FORCE their views upon our most innocent, our children. Indoctrination at it's worst... But THIS is not only what's "gonna happen", as we are hauntingly reminded of by SF Mayor Newsome in the "Yes on 8" campaign ad... apparently THIS is what is ALREADY HAPPENING... Is it getting so bad that even a word like "reproduction" becomes a "discriminatory word" that needs to be eradicated?... unfortunately, some say "yes"...


Right now, I feel my children are relatively safe... We home school... but I can already tell that it won't be long before even that becomes more and more threatened by the liberal agenda wanting to get their hands in and on our children, filling their minds with all things "open"... We must protect our children! I have my "Yes on 8" yard sign posted, and happily, have seen several posted in and around our neighborhood. But sadly, because I have a 12 1/2 year old son, he has been MUCH MORE aware of the upcoming election issues than the younger ones and has asked many questions, so we have had to discuss some of these issues that I wish we really didn't need to... But even he understands that two roosters can't lay an egg and two hens can't make a baby chick, so either pairing will eventually die out...


Most of all we must continue to pray for our broken land. Traditional marriage isn't about "taking rights" from anyone, but for preserving that which was established from the beginning as God meant it to be... The Church STILL teaches that compassion and human dignity should be given to any and all men/women, despite their state in life. We just can't make marriage what it is not. Cling to your Faith and cherish it. Pass it on to your children as well as you can... It is the BEST defense that we all have as the fires are turned up and the water starts to get warmer...


I wish I could find WHO said, "the only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." The WORST thing we could do, especially now, is "nothing". A few days ago I blogged about at least one California Bishop who is certainly DOING his part.... Holy Family, pray for us!

A Visit with Sr. CM...

Well, we had dinner at my sisters last night and a nice visit with Sr. Catherine Marie... all too short, and wishing we had more time... but as it goes, when you only get home to visit every 2 to 3 years, EVERYBODY wants a chance to see and visit with you! It was SO GOOD to see her, again! She is as beautiful and vibrant as all the pictures and letters have indicated... She spoke very excitedly about all the new people she met on her trip home. No doubt she turned more than a few heads... : ) At least in THESE parts, a nun in FULL habit is a rarity... she was laughing about all the questions and comments people make. Everything from what she wears to what she eats and why... and how one couple on one of her connecting flights made their relief clear as they borded and saw her seated... "Look, honey! See who's flying with us? Nothing to worry about!" : D

I'm hoping that I will get at least one more chance to stop and visit before she returns to Michigan. It will be another 3 years before she returns home... :( During that time, though, she will be busy with finishing school and her teaching degree, and then student teaching. The Sisters have 2 local elementary schools (K-8) that they teach at, and are in the process of building a highschool that they hope to be opening in the Fall of 2009. She told me that she doesn't have a preference right now as to what grade she teaches, though she likes things about both age groups. She commented that for the "sake of the elementary kids education" she should maybe teach highschool, as she tends to feed off of the younger kids energy and would be happy to teach PE and recess all day long! lol!! So, time will tell... she told me that after she has completed her degree, the door is open as to where they may send her... She may stay close to the convent in Michigan, or they have 4 other mission schools in California, Florida, South Carolina and Arizona, right now, with possibilities of opening more in Texas and/or Wyoming.. Lucky them! : )

Catholic Commercials Seem to be Working!

Great News!! Yesterday's Zenit issue posted an article by David Hartline that says that the commercials sponsored by the Catholics Come Home Network are working! According to the article:

"PHOENIX, Arizona, JULY 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- For many who have left the Catholic Church, there
is often a great desire to come home. However, fear and guilt often lead many to
put off the gnawing decision to return to the Church. Not knowing where to turn,
many who were once faithful feel lost and ashamed.Tom Peterson, founder of
Catholicscomehome.org, has found television and the Internet to be just the
place to reach out to those wishing to come back to the Church.Earlier this year
Peterson tested his methods and ideas using an advertising campaign geared
toward the 3.5 million who live in the Diocese of Phoenix.More than 6,000 people
inquired and came back to the Church via the Catholicscomehome.org Web site, and
many more came back to Catholicism by reporting directly to a parish near their
home. One priest reported that 16 people came to him for confession after they
saw the television ad.“One of the biggest surprises for us was the amount of
inquiries from those who are not Catholic," said Peterson. "About one quarter of
those expressing an interest in the Catholic Church are from those who have seen
our commercials or visited our Web site and want to better understand the
Catholic Church, or have actually made the decision to become
Catholic.”

Reasons

When sorting out what caused many to leave the Church, Peterson
said “about 90% of those who left the Church can’t give a good reason."He also
explained that many can't express why they want to come back. Many simply say
they felt something was missing."They often want to come home but don’t know
how. They feel uncomfortable about coming back and don’t know what to do -- when
to sit and when to stand, and what to pray. We try to ease those fears and
remind them of God’s desire to see them come home,” the director said.Once they
come back to Church, he added, they feel renewed. “They experience the Eucharist
again and the power of confession. They feel their hunger for the truth has been
met and a feeling of joy overcomes them."When asked why he thought his brief
television commercials had such an impact, Peterson said: “Our commercials are a
basic reminder of who we are, the Church Jesus founded, the Church that Jesus
entrusted to Peter and every pope who followed him."We are the Church that gave
the world the Bible. When we quickly explain these facts and use the Bible to do
it, people really respond. They admit that either they never really knew this or
simply forget."

To read more, including testimonies, please see the article at the above link.

If you haven't seen the commercial yet, I have had it posted at the bottom of my blog for a while, now. I think it's a great and non-threatening way to encourage people to take another look at what the Catholic Church REALLY is about. I look forward to seeing more commercials produced!