Answering That Little Whisper...

So, for the past year or so there has been a little whispering heard in the back of my mind... it was always stirred up when I would talk to or hear of a friend, family member or acquaintance struggling with marriage... not getting married, but people already married and go through a rough time... some issues more serious than others, but struggles, none the less... and the ones that would talk to me, as I listened I would recall, "I remember going through something similar... I remember feeling that way... I remember thinking that..." Gosh, there were so many things that seemed SO serious at the time I was going through it... I was just "done"... I was tired and weary and felt lost, alone and helpless... SO MANY issues that my husband and I went through that I had NO clue of when we said our "I do's"...

I believe that part of why we are still together after almost 23 years of marriage is sheer stubbornness on both our parts... My own desire of not wanting to "fail" and my husband already having been married once before not wanting to "fail" again... But I also give credit to God and the graces we received in our Sacrament on our wedding day... But for the Grace of God go I... I look back now and see how unprepared we really were to get married... thought I don't know that any couple can be COMPLETELY prepared, I know that we could have been better prepared... if only I could share this information with other couples!

So! I finally took the prompting in my heart and made an appointment to meet with our associate pastor, a Retrovaille priest, to speak with him and ask his thoughts on a married couples mentoring group. I wanted to know what he thought about having hubby and I share our married experiences with other couples going through a rough time and maybe offering them some insight, hope and SUPPORT for their marriage... So many, today seem to be "counseled" in to trial separations or even immediate divorce so that they can "get out" and "get on" with their lives... but do they, really?... and what about children in the mix?... that makes these things even MORE complicated... Anyway, Father was THRILLED with the idea and sent me to speak with the Pastor of our parish... he too liked the idea and was ready and willing to offer support for such a program... My next step was to figure out the "how"...

Having directed an RCIA for 5 years, that was pretty much all I had to model any kind of program off of.... and I started to wonder, with a house hold and 5 homeschooling children in my care day to day, how much time was I willing to give to this venture?... Hubby was on board and supportive, but he works full time, as well... with some suggestions from friends I started to do some research, when I came across what seemed to be the perfect solution!

The Third Option is a program that has been put together for couples to mentor other couples! it is a multi-week program that can be started at intervals and replayed as needed. It specifically markets itself as being an option to couples wanting to SAVE their marriage but not live in misery... couples mentoring couples! My pastor agreed to order it for us and we can't wait to get it, look it through and get started! It seemed an answer to prayer! What struck me most, i think was when I read through how the idea came about for the creator of the program.... she, too was tired and heart broke over the stories of struggling couples looking for support and help in their marriage...

As a Catholic I believe that marriage is FOREVER.... I believe that our parishes across the country have been duped in to the "divorce and get over it and on with your life" lie, as a justifiable option... Not that there aren't instances where divorce/annulment is justifiable... I just think that it has run WAY out of control... When couples start to experience struggles they should be able to find help and support FOR THEIR MARRIAGE from the Church! While individual personalities are inevitable and we should stay true to ourselves, on our wedding days, the two become ONE.... It's tough learning to be a couple... you aren't always going to agree... But God gives us one another as a vocation and opportunity to ultimately draw ourselves and one another closer to Him. And when we learn this in our own marriages, I believe it's our duty to let other married couples know...

Next time you attend a wedding... a Catholic wedding, in particular, think about this... you were invited to witness this momentous event... to show your support... that support shouldn't end after the reception. Thank you, Jesus, for that little whisper you sent to me... I pray that this venture will produce "good fruit"...

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...

Mercy Hospital Centennial Celebration

The local city hospital, Mercy, was begun by the Sisters of Mercy 100 years ago. There have been newspaper, TV and bill-bard ads all over town for several months now. A Catholic can't help but feel proud of the accomplishment that the Sisters made, bringing the first hospital to the area to make good health care available to the people. That's right, Catholic NUNS did this : ) and if you've read my blog before, you know how I LOVE nuns! : )

But fast forward to present day and I have to wonder what the wonderful sisters that began this hospital would have to say... Don't get me wrong... Mercy Hospital has long been a friend of our family... It's where I and my siblings were all born. It's where my nursing Aunt worked her entire career. It's also where I had my last little one... not to mention the couple of times I've had to go for reasons other than pregnancy or childbirth...

As I mentioned, I had my last baby at Mercy Hospital almost 2 years ago. I did all my doctor visits, labs and exams at the hospital where my OBGYN has his practice. Mind you, I was 42 years old during my last pregnancy... but what saddend me most were what seemed like the ENDLESS opportunities for me to "choose" to terminate my pregnancy, without actually vocalizing the words.... The reasons were apparent... It seems it made no difference that I was at a "Catholic" hospital... I felt as though I was bombarded with "help" because of my "advanced" age for pregnancy. However, I think "we" showed them who was really in control : )

Despite my "advanced age" (which, by the way, is over 35, now!!) and thanks to my sweet Doctor, I had my healthiest pregnancy ever, keeping my blood pressure in check, thanks to the magic fish oil caplets, and the preeclampsia at bay. Despite the less than optimistic outlook that their "tests" and "numbers" showed them, I gave birth to a beautifully healthy baby boy, able to light up an entire room with his smile! But even if he was "less than perfect" by society's standards, it wouldn't have mattered because he was truly a gift, from the very beginning. God knows best and gave us this precious 5th soul to add to our family because we wouldn't have been "complete" without him! He was sent to us to teach us to love a little more, give a little more, forgive a little more, serve a little more, use a little more patience and complain a little less.... okay, probably a LOT less : ) and so it is with ALL life, both within the womb and out... Oh, but if hospitals, and medical professionals learned this valuable LIFE lesson that I'm sure the Sisters of Mercy knew and taught, wouldn't the world be a happier place?...

Never Give Up

This isn't the first time I've posted this amazing person! For a dose of inspiration that will really put things in to perspective take a few minutes to listen to Nick Vujicic and be inspired to KEEP going!

House Minority Leader John Boehner

I couldn't have said it better.... What has come of this country, and WHY do we have politicians that could give a rat's patoot about what the American people want?... I went to bed a bit sad last night... and if I could have stood to sit through and listen to Nancy, I might have heard Mr. Boehner... Thanks to my friend Cynthia for bringing it to my attention this morning... Perhaps the "good news" in all this is that perhaps even more Americans will wake up and take action.... just HOW MUCH damage can be done in 4 years?... We are finding out, and unfortunately, will continue to find out, even after his 4 years are up... I shudder to think... Not for myself, so much as for my children...They are the ones that will really "pay"... in more ways than one... "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord"... Joshua 24:15

What I've Been Trying to Tell People For Years...

It never fails to surprise or disappoint me, all at the same time... EVERY year local religious teachers are all abuzz about the upcoming "Religious" Education Conference (The "Catholic" part of the title was dropped years ago...) held down in the Anaheim Convention center, every year, hosted by their very own Archbishop Roger Cardinal Mahoney. And every year I try to explain to them that this isn't really a "good" thing and they should avoid it like the plague... Thank you to Michael Voris and Real Catholic TV. Perhaps THIS will help convince more parishes that this is NOT the conference that you want to send our Catholic Religious Educators to... Is it bad to be grateful that Cardinal Mahoney's retirement is imminent?... I am curious as to what will happen to his Conference then...?

How Calloused Does One Have to Be?...

I'm just wondering.... On one hand I think that the pro-life movement is gaining momentum by leaps and bounds, as more and more people become aware that that really is a life, a baby human, a beating heart inside the mother.... there are a lot of factors we can thank for that... answered prayer, former victims that are "Silent no more", advances in technology, etc... But sadly, the other side still exists... there ARE still those that fail/refuse to see the reality of killing the most innocent and vulnerable among us discounting it as a choice...

The latest outrage came from a new article written by abortion nurse turned pro-life advocate Jill Stanek . It was a about a young woman that decided to "demystify" others about what really takes place with an RU486 abortion by giving a play by play "tweet" about her own. I couldn't pull my eyes from it as I continued reading in disbelief.... But as Jill stated, I think the "lie" sold to this young woman about a "safe, easy at-home abortion" is really made evident... it wasn't easy at all... and the flip-ness of her attitude during the procedure that i got from her "tweets" was really an education for me as to the state of mind that these women have (it was just a lot of VERY uncomfortable cramping, and a heavy, heavy period that lasted WAY longer than she expected... and take notice of her final tweet...) It's sad, really... and it deepens my resolve to pray for them all the more...

"Remember the Marvels the Lord Has Done"...

This morning at Mass, Father asked us to, instead of dwelling on what is making us unhappy, or asking WHY we are put in this or that situation, to REMEMBER the Marvels the Lord has done in our lives... and in contemplating this, we can't just get stuck on remembering the BIG and standout happenings, but ALL the little miracles that He brings to our lives each day... Despite all the sadness, frustrations, set backs, disappointments that always seem SO horrible at the time I'm going through them, God has obviously carried us through... And after the fact, we can look back on those tough times and maybe even see a little more clearly the "why" of why God allowed us to go through them... it makes me more thankful for the blessings... and yes, I can even count the set backs as blessings... If we hadn't lost our business over 8 years ago, my husband would never had found the job that he has. If we hadn't lost almost everything we had as we struggled to find work and make ends meet with 2 kids, we probably wouldn't have learned to live on as little as we do today with 5 kids... even though my pregnancies have been struggles for me, physically and emotionally, to the point of despair and depression, feeling as though we couldn't possibly take care of another baby, God has always provided for our every need and then some...

That said, looking back on the hurdles we've jumped and the successes we've had (though, in many circles, we would not be what many would call "successful"....) what makes me most sad are broken families and the killing of innocent lives... and again, in many parts of society, these are things that are supposed to be mainstream and "okay"... both, in my opinion, cause destruction of souls... This video, though... this video, in a few short minutes gives me hope... I pray that more survivors, mothers, fathers and children, will be unafraid to step forward and tell their stories... putting a face to the injustices... EVERY saved child/mother/father/family is truly one of God's GREATEST Marvels.... Thanks to my friend Sarah for sharing it with me!


check out ThisisRyan.com

Oh! Is THAT How it Goes?....

I just love listening to my kids when they are playing "Mass." My second oldest son has always had a fasination with Mass and all that is going on in Church. So much so that he was trained to be an altar server at the age of six... and even now, at almost 11 years old, he likes to dress up in the mini priest robes that we bought him at the Catholic Family Conferance a few years ago and play "Mass". And as his little sisters grow older, they, too, love to play along, saying the readings, sitting in the pews, carrying up the gifts, etc... This evening after dinner, as they were playing and my husband and I sat in the dining room listening, smiling, we heard that it was time for the Gospel reading and they all rise up singing "Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ! King of endless stories!" good thing we were done eating and didn't have food in our mouths.... : )

How DARE Father Clarify Catholic teachings from the Pulpit!!

Wha?... Huh??!!! yup... so said a local "catholic" reporter, sharing in the local paper with an entire quarter page how he "stood up" to a local Catholic Priest... no.. not after Mass. Not in passing, but DURING.... a 7pm evening Latin Rite Mass, no less... Which, I think, makes the outburst all the more absurd... And his writing about it in the local rag only helped display the writer's ignorance to Catholic teaching and the role of our Priests. Mr. Gonzales uses much of the same rhetoric that "catholic" politicians, etc... use to support their spineless stance on abortion, so even though he claims to be "pro-life", his defence of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is no surprise...

God bless Fr. Ralph! A good, orthodox and honorable priest with local ties that has given countless hours of service to our community, especially in his most reverent offering of the Holy Mass...While I wasn't in attendance to this particular Mass, I have no doubt that he handled the situation with the utmost respect to Mr.Gonzales, while still holding fast to the Truths " that we have been taught"... (1 Thessalonians 2:15). Fr. Ralph is a Priest among priests when it comes to teaching. And teaching is EXACTLY what is suppose to be done from the pulpit! He is to shepherd the flock... and when the sheep start to stray, it is his JOB to call them back from danger. ESPECIALLY when their lives (souls) are at risk. This is what Mr. Gonzales clearly doesn't understand...

Fr. Ralph wasn't out in a political forum. He was Celebrating Mass at our Catholic Church. He was clarifying to those Catholics at Mass, that still might be distracted or sidetracked by "wolves in sheep's clothing"that the Church still teaches that abortion is wrong... It doesn't matter what political views you hold, or what party you belong to. If you choose to be Catholic (and that IS a choice...) than you must hold fast to what the Catholic Church teaches, and THIS IS IT. Your being Catholic, a part of The Church that Jesus gave us over 2000 years ago, should come first in our lives, and all else follows. If you want to be in a public or political spectrum, your first duty is to your Faith and beliefs... No need to shove anything down any one's throats, so to speak. No need to get on your soap box and preach to the world your "religion". You simply grow a back bone and stand firm and hold fast to that which you claim to believe and follow through in action. You see, not everyone that claims to be Catholic or even everyone that attends Sunday Mass regularly is necessarily BEING "Catholic" or in union with what the Church Teaches .... "Catholic" means "universal". what is taught and believed is what Jesus handed down to his apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit and has been taught in our Church for over 2000 years. The teachings haven't changed, despite what Mr. Gonzales or Nancy Pelosi claim, or what they claim that St.Thomas Aquinas confirms for them... Obviously, had St. Thomas had the technology or knowledge then, that is available now, his opinion on when life begins would have been made MUCH clearer. Reguardless he NEVER claims that abortion is okay...

Here is where so many get side tracked... We are Catholic... we are to be seen as the older sibling to all other Christian denominations, and much has been "given" to us, so much is expected. I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again... "Just BE Catholic..." This is what Fr. Ralph was challenging his congregation with at that Sunday evening Mass. Be not afraid to stand for Truth... If you want to claim to be Catholic than just BE Catholic.... Accept the FULLNESS and beauty that Our Mother Church offers without hesitation, fully trusting and relying on what God has given us, guided by the Holy Spirit. Don't apologize, don't justify, don't make excuses... and pray for Fr. Ralph... and all our priests... that they may grow ever stronger to speak and teach the Truth, boldly...

Perfection and The Unforgivable Sin...

I just love it when something that has puzzled me for some time is suddenly explained in a way that makes perfect sense!

Fr. Jude is a Dominican priest that comes to visit a local parish every year, sometimes a couple of times of year to give classes and help out. He has also been presiding over the early morning Masses since Ash Wednesday. I met Fr. Jude about 8 years ago, when I was still teaching RCIA at this particular parish and he so graciously spoke to my classes. Anyway, I've always liked his straight forward approach and his zeal for the Truth.

Yesterday morning Fr. explained that we should always forgive... He gave the example of the the rich man that asked Jesus how he may obtain eternal life (Matthew 19:15-16). Jesus tells the young man, if he wants to be "perfect" than he has to sell everything he has, give it to the poor and then follow Him... The young man walked away very sad "For he had many possessions..." Fr. Jude told us that in order to be "perfect" as God is perfect, we have to give in abundance to others as God gives to us... EVEN to those we may not feel deserve it... "But he doesn't work as hard as i do... He didn't earn it..." , or, "She doesn't even try to be nice....", etc... How often we, ourselves receive the grace and forgiveness of God when we may not deserve... It can be very difficult to give to those that our human brain tells us is not "deserving"... We have worked hard to get where we are and what we have, why shouldn't they?... We hold on to many "possessions" that really aren't going to matter when we stand before God...

Now THIS morning, Fr. Jude brought to light something that has always puzzled me and I've struggled to understand... The Bible tells us that there is nothing that God won't forgive... NO matter what we do, there is virtually NOTHING that we can't be forgiven by God.... but yet, the Bible also speaks of the "unforgivable sin"... blaspheming the Holy Spirit... it was a seeming contradiction to me... but the way the Father explained it this morning made perfect sense... When we come across people, or maybe when we ourselves say or even think "Oh, God can never forgive what I have done..." we are in essence saying that our sin is greater than God. And what is greater than God?... By saying that something is greater, I am making myself god... I am blaspheming the Holy Spirit....

So, we approach God with a repentant heart, acknowledging that He is greater than any sin I could ever commit, and receiving his abundant grace and forgiveness.... It brings to mind the differences between Peter and Jude. Jude felt he couldn't be forgiven for his transgression and gave in to despair, taking his own life... Peter felt repentance and sorrow for his rejecting Jesus and received His forgiveness and gathered back to the flock... ultimately becoming the shepherd of that flock...

I pray this day that you have the opportunity to approach Jesus with a repentant heart, and receive the Grace and Forgiveness of God. I, myself am headed back to the "box" tomorrow morning : )

Get Smarty....

So, the other day, the hubby and I and the kids were playing around on a site called "mixer" where hubby is able to somehow download free ring tones to our phones. Call me "cheap" but anything more than "FREE" for a ringtone, is too much... lol...

So, the kids are calling out different song tunes to see if daddy can find them on the site and download them to my oldest son's phone... Suddenly, the theme from the old "Get Smart" show popped in to my head and I asked hubby if he could find it to down load to my phone... a few minutes later it was done, and I was pleased : ) when my oldest son requested the same tone, dad told him "no. that's mom's ringtone. you can't have the same one..." I chimed in that we didn't need to be "twinsy's.... how UNcool is THAT?!" lol... yet my son continued to beg, "PLEASE Dad?... PUHLEEEEEEEEZE???? I want that ringtone! I like that ringtone! It doesn't matter if mom has the same one! I want THAT ONE.... PUHLEEEEEEEZE?.... PUHLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE?!!!" IN the middle of folding clothes I just sort of listened and chuckled to myself...

In the mean time my second oldest son had picked up my phone and was listening to the different ring tones, something he does from time to time, and I overhear my oldest asking him "Hey! Send me that ringtone from mom's phone... " My younger son says, "Okay, hold on..." and proceeds to push buttons, staring intently at the little phone screen... a few minutes later, my oldest gets the message, and it's some other tone that he didn't like and he gives a mean glare to my younger. "That's not what I wanted!" Delighted with his "trick" the younger again tells the older, "Okay, okay... I'll do it... hold on.... " again, looking intently at the screen and pushing buttons.... The message transfers and the oldest plays to hear some OTHER tone that wasn't what he wanted... the younger literally squeals in delight as he runs through the house the older in hot pursuit until the younger finally runs in to his room and shuts the door leaving the older outside the door growling that that ISN'T what he wanted and to send the right one ....

When the younger emerges a few minutes later, the older is again begging for him to just send the Get Smart ringtone from my phone to his and again, the younger pushes buttons and tells the older, "Okay, okay... for real this time... I'm sending the real thing...." Hubby is still on the computer, and I'm still folding clothes as everyone falls silent waiting for the message to transfer... moment's later, as the older opens the message we all wait and listen.... and there, over the phone we hear my younger sons shaking voice, "do do doooooo DO! do do dooooooo DO!" to the tune of Get Smart... Hubby and I both fell to the floor laughing! The oldest tried not to laugh and make it known he was mad, but he couldn't help it. Even HE couldn't keep a straight face.... The younger son went around the room serving up "high-fives"... lol

Yeesh! You'd think it was Lent!

....and to think I was SO READY for Lent to start! lol... Now, let's see... there have been the petty fights at my husband's workplace, that he'd really rather not be a part of.... and besides the usual end of the month, scraping the bottom of the barrel, I discovered Saturday morning that I forgot to register not one, but TWO payments in my check book, which resulted in THREE overdraft charges, so I rushed down to the bank to deposit the money I was able to scrape up (enough to cover everything... except the one check that was still out...) hoping to avoid a 4th overdraft charge (no such luck, the bank tells me.... gggrrrr...)

Then I was on the phone with our homeowners insurance broker trying to keep them from cancelling our policy because our roof didn't pass inspection, even though I told them that our roof was original when I found them during escrow... forwarding roofing contracts, trying to buy some time until we get our tax $$ back so we can get the work done, then opening our back curtains this morning to find our back yard fence completely flat from the rain and winds last night... now we knew why the dog didn't come right back in when she was let out to pee this morning... Welcome to home ownership!

Yet, amongst all this, Hubby and I have managed to get up and go to 6:30am mass every morning since Ash Wednesday. And just so I'm not the very WORST mom, I have even informed the kids that they will get up and go with us on Friday mornings : ). And as much as I am not a morning person, I have to say that it has made all of this much easier to handle, and I am so grateful for the quiet time with Jesus each morning to start my day...

That said, with everything going on in my own life, at Mass I can't help but put aside all my petty issues to lift up those who are really suffering, so much more than I.... I lift up those out of work, those without homes, or losing their homes, I pray for those with nothing to eat, I pray for all victims of abortion, I pray for the MANY broken families... the ones that I know of personally, and the many more that are out there... broken families break my heart....

Oh, I really do have so much to be thankful for... I really have been blessed in so many ways.... It is the season of Lent and I offer up all my little sufferings as I continue to wonder through the desert, searching to draw ever closer to Jesus, trying to understand, if even just a little bit, what it means to sacrifice for a greater good... Amen...

What's that smudge?

You know... I've attended Ash Wednesday Mass just about EVERY Ash Wednesday since I was born... and for as long as I can remember Ash Wednesday has ALWAYS been one of the most attended masses I've ever been to. Right up there with Christmas and Easter, literally millions of Catholics will flock to the Church to get their badge of "dirt" smudged on their forehead... and more recently I've even heard of non-Catholics doing their own form of beginning a Lenten season of fasting and alms giving in preparation for the coming of Easter...

I've heard all the lines from outsiders... "What's that on your forehead?" or "You got a little dirt, let me get that for ya...." etc... but it never seems to take much reminding for them to remember (even non-Catholics, mind you....) "Oh! yeah! It's Ash Wednesday!...

So tell me WHY was it SUCH a mystery as to the smudge of ashes on VP Joe Biden's forehead?... Really?... It's funny though... When talking about things like his spineless stance on abortion, people have no problem recalling that he's "catholic", but go figure... when he actually goes out of his way to "do" something "Catholic" the media doesn't have a clue...

FAT Tuesday...

Happy Fat Tuesday, everyone!

That said, I have to say that I am really looking forward to Lent this year.... with all the chaos of house hunting, moving, schooling, kids, life, etc... I am REALLY looking forward to de-cluttering life for a few weeks... slowing down a bit, re-prioritizing and remembering what's REALLY important... Giving up all the "little distractions" that keep me from focusing on Truth and spending more time with my Lord, my husband and my kids...

"But Lee" you say... "You homeschool! how or WHY would you want to spend MORE time with your kids?!... lol... " But that's just it... again, I get SO involved in getting their school put together, having them get their school done, getting chores done, etc...(all well and good goals... ) but we have lost some of the "fun" that homeschooling really should have... so, I've decided that I need to work on that.... Then we all are going to be taking a little more time to draw closer together in prayer and to Jesus, because I really think He's missed that from us... : )

So, I will be stopping in now and again, filling you all in on our journey through the desert as we kick off this Lenton Season... We will be attending early Mass tomorrow morning...

I am wishing you all a blessed and fulfilling Lent!