Vacation Bible School

We just finished our vacation bible school last week.  The children just loved it as usual.  Beebo came to me on Saturday morning to ask what shirt she should wear to bible camp that day.  She was so disappointed to find out that it was over, so cute!  I love that they have fun learning about the bible.  I love to see their excitement to start each day with the other children.  Little B was too young to join this year but she was happy to come along to drop off and pick up her older siblings as well as listen to the CD of bible camp songs.  What a blessing to us to have this wonderful activity for our children.  Thanks be to God.

Our baby is One already!

Happy Birthday Little Buddy!  He turned one on May 20th.  Here he is enjoying his special birthday cake.

Thy Will Be Done by Marie Bellet

It was an unexpected flood
That came to me today
Sometimes bad news follows good
And it's really hard to say
Thy will be done

So there's been a change in plans
What am I supposed to do?
When it is out of my hands
And I can't see my way through
When I can't say
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

Well I will go to the altar
And I'll say "Amen"
And I'll open my mouth
And I'll try again
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

Well it scares me so to think
What You can take away
But I know that if I ask
I'll have the grace to say
Thy will be done

Oh, the flesh and blood of life are yours for the taking
And my helpless human heart is yours for the breaking
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

It was an unexpected flood
That came to me today
Sometimes bad news follows good and it's really hard to say
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

We found out we were blessed with a new little one and miscarried him or her all within the same week.  It has been a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs.  The song I quoted here gives me comfort while facing this sad event in our lives.  Also, the words of a dear friend were like salve to my soul.  She said to pray to our Mother Mary to have clarity, for our Blessed Mother was never confused about what she was to do.  Original Sin makes us confused at times.  I took the advice and was wrapped in Our Blessed Lady's Mantle immediately.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful and generous friends who held us up in prayer and love during this difficult time.  We have another saint in heaven to pray and intercede for us.  What a wonderful reward for being open to life. God's will be done.

Motherhood

"But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." 1TIM 2:15

I attended a talk a couple of weeks ago, the topic was on Purgatory.   It was given by a very wonderful priest.  At the end of the talk he gave us a blessing.  In the blessing he said that God has given us the gift of mothering to help us work out our salvation. How beautiful that through my efforts to care for, teach and love my children I can possibly achieve heaven! God bless mothers!

Picture thoughts!

Beebo is 4!

Happy 8th birthday E!First haircut for Little Buddy!Happy 9th birthday, Froggy!2 year old B!

First Holy Communion Day.  God bless Little E!

Precious Babies

At a White House dinner party some years ago, 2 distinguished women were carrying on a conversation.  Everyone was listening to learn what they were talking about.  During the conversation, one woman asked the other a very simple question.  "Why do you think that in the USA, a country with all our liberties and freedoms, we have never elected a female president?"  The other woman, without looking up from her meal, calmly said, "Because you probably aborted her."
The woman who asked the question that day was then-first lady Hillary Clinton.  The woman who answered the question was Mother Teresa.

This story was told by Shawn Carney one of the co-founders of the 40 days for life campaign.  40 days for life has grown from the involvement of 60 churches is Texas in 2004 at the first 40 days for life to having the campaign in 305 cities in all 50 states, with 2,801 women have confirmed they chose life at the last moment as a result of the campaign.  There have been 5 abortion facilities close forever and there have been 350,000 people who have participated in this campaign.  32 abortion clinic workers who have spoke with campaign members and have left their jobs.  According to Carney, there are 3,000 pregnancy centers across the country and 1,500 abortion  facilities.  In the past 15 years 1/2 of all the abortion facilities in America have closed.  Still, 25% of all women between the ages of 18-25 will have an abortion. It is clear how effective this campaign has been and will continue to be in the future.  Keep joining activities for the 40 days for life and keep praying for those babies and their distressed mothers!  God bless

Litany of Humility

I have this posted in my kitchen but don't seem to look at it enough.  Lord help me to focus on Humility this week and going forward in my life.  This is for private devotion only.  I hope sharing it with you will help all of us!

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being esteemed,
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
That others may be esteemed more than I,
That in the opinion of the world, others may increase, and I may decrease,
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.  Amen.

Special Indulgence for the Year for Priests

Described in the Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary published in May 2009 The Holy Father has granted the gift of special Indulgences.
A Partial Indulgence is granted to all the faithful every time they devoutly recite 5 Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glorias, or another expressly approved prayer, in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to obtain that priests be preserved in purity and holiness of life.
This Decree is valid for the entire duration of the Year for Priests. (June 19, 2009-June 19, 2010)
This seems like a small thing to do for such wonderful benefits for us and our priests.  I did this today, will you?  Please do!
 Note: there were several other Indulgences granted for details look in the decree or in the Magnificat's Year for Priests Companion.