In this post I am trying out my new iPad that my husband got for me for our 10th anniversary. What an amazing device! Our wedding was on August 25. What an awesome day that was! Over dinner we were remembering our happy memories of which there are so many. God has blessed us in so many ways and for that we are truly grateful. We look forward to many more happy years to come raising our children and serving God as best we can.
My posts have been few and far between this summer mainly because I have been so sick with this new little one I carry these days. School has also started so that has been another adjustment for our family. We had a wonderful vacation that started with a brief visit to West Chester,PA. We were able to see some of our friends and that was such a great beginning to our vacation. Then we were off to Ocean City, MD for a week. We met up with my parents and my brother and we all had a great time together. We had good weather and the children loved the beach. I will post pictures soon!

News

We have wonderful news these days we are expecting a new baby!  We are so excited and happy for this blessing.  Expected due date is March 14, 2010.  Another March baby!  God is good.  Babies are so wonderful.  I have been feeling sick and fatigued though I look forward to feeling better soon.

My Summer with Therese of Lisieux

I have started my next book "Story of a Soul, the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux" and have come across a goldmine just in the first pages of what Therese is writing and wanted to share them as best I can.

She starts her writing about herself by opening the Gospel and she says: "my eyes fell on these words: "And going up a mountain he called to him men of his own choosing, and they came to him" (St. Mark, 3:13) This is the mystery of my vocation, my whole life, and especially the mystery of the privileges Jesus showered on my soul.  He does not call those who are worthy but those whom He pleases or as St. Paul says: God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and he will show pity to whom he will show pity.  So then there is question not of him who wills nor of him who runs,but of God showing mercy" (Ep. to the Rom.,9:15,16)
She goes on to say: "I wondered for a long time why God has preferences, why all souls don't receive an equal amount of graces. I was surprised when I saw Him shower His extraordinary favors on saints who had offended Him, for instace, St. Paul and St. Augustine, and whom He forced, so to speak, to accept His graces.
Jesus deigned to teach me this mystery. He set before me the book of nature; I understood how all the flowers He has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the Lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy.  I understood that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers.
And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus' garden. He willed to create great souls comparable to Lilies and roses, but He has created smaller ones and these must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God's glances when He looks down at his feet.  Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be."
Wow, how beautiful and articulate.  What a treasure this book it to us who read it.  All of this in only the first pages!  I hope this inspires you to read more about St. Therese and that she touches your life in a postive way.  God bless.

Summer reading

I have just finished a book written by Dorothy Scallan called "The Whole World Will Love Me".  What a wonderful book!  It is about St. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face.  One of the things  I really liked about the book was it's focus on the second part of her name which highlights her devotion to the image of our Lord on Veronica's veil.  I learned so much about the life of St. Therese and I feel that I will reread this book again and again.  I was so interested in the story I am sure that I missed some very profound meditations that deserve futher thought and consideration.  Here is a poem written by Therese while she was a Carmelite Nun that really shows her love for and devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus.

Living On Love

Jesus, Your ineffable image

Is the star which guides my steps.

Ah, You know, Your sweet Face

Is for me Heaven on earth.

My love discovers the charms

Of Your Face adorned with tears.

I smile through my own tears

when I contemplate Your sorrows.

Oh to console You I want

to live unknown on earth!

Your beauty, which You know how to veil,

Discloses for me all it's mystery.

I would like to fly away to You!

Your Face in my only homeland.

It's my kingdom of love.

It's my cheerful meadow.

Each day, my sweet sun.

It's the Lily of the Valley

whose mysterious perfume

Consoles my exiled soul,

Making it taste the peace of Heaven.

It's my Rest, my Sweetness

And my melodious Lyre

Your Face, O my Sweet Savior,

Is the Divine Bouquet of Myrrh

I want to keep on my heart!

Your Face is my only wealth.

I ask for nothing more.

Hiding myself in it umceasingly.

I will resemble You, Jesus

Leave in me, the Divine Impress

Of Your features filled with sweetness,

And soon I'll become holy.

I shall draw hearts to You.

So that I may gather

A beautiful golden harvest,

Deign to set me aflame with Your Fire.

With Your adorned mouth,

Give me soon the Eternal Kiss!

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!