We Got Five New Saints!

*JMJ* On Sunday, May 3, 2009, at St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict the XVI announced five new saints! How exciting! Instead of me copying the words from the news article, you can read all about it right here @ USA Today newspaper to get all the details. http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-04-26-pope-saints_N.htm The article isn't that long. Also this is the month of May which is dedicated to our Blessed Virgin Mary. So please, don't forget to say your rosary every day. Especially during these trying times with the bad economy for which families are having a hard time and for the outbreak of the swine flu. For our troops to return safely to their families. And for the end of abortion. That is just a few reasons to pray your rosary daily. I'm sure you can add to that.

I Won An Award!

*JMJ* Thank you Michael for this award! Apparently this award is for showing great attitude or great gratitude! This is my very first award for this blog. I do appreciate it. You can read Michael's blog here at this link http://www.reachparadise.com/. He has a very nice blog indeed. You all are welcome to join me at my other two blogs as well if you like. Here our the links http://peekaboostreet.blogspot.com/ and http://grannyanniescrochetblog.blogspot.com/ Peek-A-Boo Street is more of my everyday blog and Granny Annie's Crochet blog is well....a crochet blog. I am suppose to pass this award on to ten of my blogging buddies but don't have much readership as of yet. But there are a few who do visit every now and then. So I will pass this award onto them if they so choose to pick it up and place it on their blog. But you have to show your love and link this award back to me if you place this award on your blog. Have a blessed day everyone and thanks again Michael for this award!

I'm Dying

*JMJ* Yep I'm dying. Not in a sense where I have a fatal illness at the moment or anything. But I'm dying. I'm 40 years old and I know that one day I'm going to die. No matter how well I take care of my body, I'm going to die. I thought of this post for awhile. It's kind of morbid. No one wants to talk about death. Especially their own. It's a post where you'd probably not want to read in a regular day to day blog. But.....this is my Catholic blog. =) This is why I started a Catholic blog. I can write about Catholicism. You don't have to visit or even look at my Catholic blog if you don't want to. I'm OK with that. It's who I am. Catholicism is so much apart of me, I can't deny it. Because if I did, I would be denying Christ. I live my life like I am dying. I know that sounds morbid. Like I have mentioned previously, I have been a Catholic for ten years now. And since then, I have really grasped the notion of having a purpose in this world that just belongs to me and no other. I know that because God created me. And we're all unique. Since that first Christmas that I became Catholic I realized that presents, snow and decorations wasn't the true meaning of Christmas. For the very first time I realized who John Paul ll was at the Midnight Mass on EWTN. I learned what "this" Rosary was and meant. When I stumbled into the Adoration Chapel and sat down (I was 30 at the time), I thought, "My gosh. This is what I've been looking for for the past 30 years of my life!" I was literally looking around and thinking....."Does anyone else know about this place?" Seriously. I had absolutely no clue. How did I find Christ? Who brought me to the place I was at? Why did I feel compelled to enter into the Catholic church after my grandmother had passed away? I have to be honest here. The R.C.I.A. was very difficult for me. There were time I would just cry because I could not grasp all this Catholic stuff. It was just so overwhelming. I just could not comprehend what in the heck this Mass "thing" was all about. Oh but I no. I know how I conjured up this force to keep moving forward. And let me let you in on a little secret. That's just it. It wasn't me who fell into this. Oh no. It was Christ's will. And I just happened to follow, by some miracle. Because trust me, it wasn't and easy road. I use to say all the time in prayer, "Christ, why do you want me to be Catholic. I'm such a lousy Catholic!" And I surely don't set a good example. And whom would I be a good example for? And who's steps would I foll0w? Just who was left in my life who hadn't already abandoned me? I had many adults who were older than I, who chose to turn their backs on me. That's the sad truth. But even with all that pain, it was not from me to find a "religion" to help me get through. Oh no. The faith that the Lord had given me to continue on with the Lord's plan, had nothing to do with with them. It had to do with Christ, and me being apart of the Lord's plan. I feel that those sad people have failed their test. Because if they did the Lord's will, then they would have never of turned their backs on me. Period. They are going to have to deal with the consequences of their actions. This isn't my religion. They don't have to make anything up to me. Oh no. They don't ever have to look me in the eye ever again and tell me that their sorry. Nope. I don't expect an apology from them. They can turn their backs on me. But I pray for those people that they don't turn their backs on the Lord. Because that is not good. Quite frankly, that can be dangerous. Also when I was becoming Catholic I would be arguing with the Blessed Virgin Mary to the confessional in my car! I would say to her...."Why do I have to do this? I'm just going to commit this sin again. This is so stupid. This is so dumb." I was like a little kid having a tantrum! I still have a hard time laughing about it all to this day! That was such a hard time in my life at the time. Because let me tell you, the Lord was laying it on thick. And I mean thick! He was letting me know about ALL of my lovely flaws and it was starting to get on my last nerve, let me tell you. Going back and forth to the confessional was a nightmare! Anyway moving along and getting to the point. It was by the grace of God that I became Catholic. I know from the bottom of my heart, that my faith is a gift from God. Because I could not continue on to this day, without Christ's plan for me. Every night when I lay my head down...."Lord did I do your will today and not my own?" I want to live every day for the Lord. I'm going to die one day! I'm going to be judged. The Lord is going to look into my pitiful eyes one day. My soul is going to be so bruised that I won't be able to look into the eyes of my Lord one day because of my sinfulness. But......wouldn't it be nice if the Lord said......."Every day of your life, you tried to do my will." Because folks, the end is coming. That's a sure fact. Are you preparing for your death? We don't know if we're going to live to be 100. I think the Lord has let me in on a little secret of my purpose in life. I am living my life by that little secret and the Lord hasn't stomped that notion out yet. I think I might be on to something. As long as I stay focused on the Lord's will. Period. The End.

Son's First Holy Communion

*JMJ* I've just been getting ready for my son's First Holy Communion. We're getting closer now. My son will be making this sacrament on May 17th. Oh my gosh, as a mother I'm getting so excited! I'm happy and thrilled and feeling all kinds of emotions. This is the day that I have been waiting for since my youngest son was born! And now the time is almost here. We're on our home stretch now. We still have so much work and preparation to do to but I can clearly see our goal is much closer now. Thank heavens! Last month we got my son's black dress shoes. Yesterday I found a pair of black slacks that fit him perfectly. We got him a long sleeve white shirt which is required of all the boys receiving their sacraments in our parish anyway. The director of the chatacism is going to sell white ties for $5 which are suppose to be really nice. White ties are required to. But no suit jacket can be worn. If he wears it to the church, he must remove the jacket when he is seated. Oh my gosh I'm getting so excited just thinking about this and sitting here writing about this. I can't wait for that day to come. I have to purchase a rosary and a little communion book for his pictures that I'm going to have done. As soon as I get his tie, I'll have to make the appointment for his photo shoot. See, just thinking of him getting his pictures taken is making me all giddy again and has me smiling from ear to ear. We have to go to another 4 hour workshop tomorrow afternoon for my son's First Holy Communion. And no it's not the last one either. We got one more to go to. The church does ask a lot of the families but I'll do whatever I have to do to get my son's First Holy Communion sacrament done. I don't care if I have to go on a week retreat, I'll do just that!!!! I was talking to some people and stating my opinion that this is going to be my son's most important day of his life. They were disagreeing with me and saying that when he gets married and has his own children, would be the most important day of his life. Ugh, disagree with them, as they disagree with me. But my point being...what could possibly be more important than the beginning of receiving Christ in the Eucharist for the rest of your life here on earth. What could be more important? What could you possibly compare, receiving Christ into your body, to anything else? To me, in my opinion, this will be and is the most important thing that will happen to him in his life. Yes marriages and children are wonderful and even important to. But not more important than this sacrament. I'm sorry. But I totally disagree, respectfully. =)

My Catholic Baby

I have three children. Their births were spaced apart. I have a daughter that I talked about and she is 22. I have a teenage son, and he is 16 3/4. My youngest son is 7 3/4. I call him my Catholic baby. I talked about my other two children so now I'm going to talk about my little guy. I call him my Catholic baby because he was my only child born after I had become Catholic. So he was my first baby to be baptized in the Catholic religion. My other two children completed their sacraments into the Catholic church also. The only sacrament that they missed was their baptism. They were baptized Lutheran. The Catholic church accepts the Lutheran baptism because we're only supposed to be baptized one time in our life. Also my first born daughter was a little late for her First Holy Communion. But it all got worked out. Like I said, their all up to date on their sacraments. I didn't think that my hubby and I would have anymore children. My second child was 9 1/2 years old when I got pregnant with my third child. I see how God surprised us! So that's why I call him my Catholic baby. The first night he was born I held him in my arms. All the visitors were gone. It was just me and this little baby I was holding who was just hours old. The room was dimmed and I could see the lights of the hospital through the window. The day was drawing to a close. I whispered in his little ear and recited the Our Father and the Hail Mary. I wanted to be the first person to recite these two most important prayers to him. Although I'm sure he already heard of them because he had just left heaven and entered into our lives. I thought, I have this baby that I can teach the Catholic religion to him from the get go. From birth. This child of mine is going to be a cradle Catholic. I could see God's hand in this plan. My son was 13 days old when I took him into the Adoration Chapel with me. I just wanted to thank the Lord before the Blessed Sacrament for a beautiful and healthy baby boy. I just felt so blessed. When he was still a baby I wanted him to go to a Catholic school when he reached kindergarten age. But that didn't pan out to be. But I thought that that was fine because I can still teach him Catholicism. I'm his mother. Secretly I began to wish for him to become a priest one day. I just thought that that would be so wonderful if my son became a priest! My son was around five when he came up to me and showed me a picture that he drew. He said "Look Mom." I almost fell out of my chair when I seen it. It was a picture he had drew of the crucified Jesus on the cross! It had the nails in it and everything. I just held him and hugged him. I always kept it in the back of my head that he might be a priest one day. To myself, I use to say "Oh he's going to be my little Catholic priest!" Some point after that, I told my son that he could be a priest one day if he'd like. Every once in awhile I'll ask him, "Are you going to be a priest one day or are you going to get married?" He tells me that he's going to live by himself with a family of dogs. I realized that he might not have a calling from the Lord to be a priest. And that's ok. I'm not going to push it. But I just wanted him to know that he could be a priest if he wanted to. I even told my other two children that to. They can enter into religious life, get married or live alone. Last year during Lent, my youngest son asked me out of the blue, if I would take him to the Stations of the cross up at our church. Just for a reminder, her was six when he asked me this. It's something I always wanted to do but never did. I just hugged him and told him, "Ok, we'll go." How could I look into his eyes and tell him no. A...I might be in a bit of trouble from the Man upstairs if I were to say no!!!! I know it sounds strange but my little Catholic baby, (now 7) always liked to stations of the cross. If I were looking at it in a book, he wanted to see and hear the prayers to. If I was watching it on EWTN, he would sit with me and watch it along side of me. This little child has always liked the stations of the cross. I wasn't quite sure how he'd react to the crucifixion part but he was ok with it. I just thought, well if he's ok with it, I'm ok with it. =) When we went last year to the Stations of the Cross, his chatism teacher came up to my son afterward and said how proud she was to see my son there. She said that he was the only one in her chatacism class that was there. She said that she was going to give him a little surprise at the next chatacism class just for him because he went. The chatacim teacher looked at me and said, this is wonderful that he is here. It starts with the parents inside the home. That just made me feel good. She's a very devoted Catholic. I see her in church all of the time. My son was even upset when she wasn't going to be his chatacism teacher anymore at the end of the school year. My son and I are planning on going to the Stations of the Cross this Friday evening. Maybe it will be the beginning of a little tradition that him and I do together. He's my little Catholic baby. The other day he told me that he remembered something that happened, when he was two. He said it was his birthday party and that he was flying through the hallway into the living room. I told my son that he was just probably dreaming that. He said, "No. I seen myself in the living room at my birthday party but I couldn't move my arms." I just sort of looked at him and said, "Maybe it was your guardian angel who carried you." But he didn't respond. Then I said, "Maybe it was the Blessed Virgin Mary who carried you." And he looked me square in the eyes and said, "Yeah, I think your right." ♥

After The Fast

*JMJ* Well I'm glad that that it over with. Whew that fasting is really hard. I was OK for most of the day yesterday but between 3 to 5 pm, it was not going to good for me. I finally did eat my one meal for the day at 5:30 pm. And that made me feel kind of sick after I ate because I didn't eat for the whole day. But it did give me enough energy to make it through the evening mass to receive my ashes. As soon as I came home from church I just went to bed and I was starting to feel hungry again. But I just closed my eyes and knew that when morning came, I could have my favorite bowl of cereal. When I woke up this morning I wasn't hungry. I even worked out before I ate breakfast. I did eat after my workout before I carried on with my day. It was so weird yesterday though. I just felt a peace with me all morning long. I also didn't get a headache which I usually do when I don't eat enough. I could really feel the Lord's presence yesterday. I even prayed and did some light housework and some blogging. That helped to occupy my mind away from my hunger pains. Now I'll have to do that again on Good Friday but that's not for several weeks away yet. I hope you all drew close to the Lord yesterday as it was the beginning of the Lenten season and continue to do so. I hope that this is your best Lent yet, as far as drawing closer to the Lord. God bless each and everyone of you!

Ash Wednesday, The First Day of Lent

Today Catholics celebrate ash Wednesday. It's the first day of Lent. The mardi gras celebrations are over. It's a day of fast and prayer. The whole Lenten season is a time for being sorry for our sinfulness. Not only our own but for the whole world's sinfulness as well. We pray that we want to be better Christians. We ask Jesus to help us change to be better follower's of Christ. It's also a time of alms giving. To help by giving money or giving your time to someone in need. And penance which is being sorry for your sins and going to confession. Don't forget that Catholics are obligated to make at least one confession a year. And you guessed it...we're to go during Lent. Also it's a day we get to go to mass and receive the ashes on our foreheads in the form of the cross. It's to remind us that we will all die one day. Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation. Which means you are not required to go to mass. But don't you want to? Why would you miss out on an opportunity to receive Jesus in the Eucharist? Plus it's just the perfect way to start Lent. Yes mass is in the evening and I'm starving at that point in the day. But I do it for the love of Jesus I guess. I always look around the church and think, are these people starving like I am or what? I usually leave my cross of ashes on till the next morning. I like to sleep with it on my forehead. I go to mass in the evening so my children can go after school. But what about you? Do you go get your ashes in the morning? Do you where your ashes wherever you go that day? The ashes that are used are blessed from the priest. Also the ashes come from the palms that were collected and then burned, from the previous year. I wish you all a prayerful Lenten season in hopes that everyone will draw closer to the Lord. "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return...."

Soon It Will Be Lent

*JMJ* I told you Lent was coming a few weeks ago and now it officially starts tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. Yep and we all know what that means. Fast. Ugh. It's so hard to fast. But because I have been watching what I've been eating this past year, I'm hoping it won't be so hard on me. I love to fast but then I hate to fast. Does that make any sense to anyone out there? I love this time in the church. Like I said in my previous post, It's a time I feel like I can really participate in the church. I don't like to fast because it's so hard to. I think if you don't fast, it's a mortal sin because it's something the church is asking us Catholics to do. But we are allowed to have one full meal during that day. We have to fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. Those are the only two days that the Catholic church tells us to fast. I think if your over 62 you don't have to fast. But check with your church for I'm not real sure on that age. I do know that you don't have to start fasting until your 18. But when your 14 you do have to abstain from meat. Also check with your church for these ages as well. Also on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday your not allowed to eat meat. The six Fridays during Lent your not allowed to eat meat either. I post a note, 'No meat' on the fridge on those days for a reminder. I usually won't work out on those days or do heavy housework. I have to preserve my energy the best I can. I don't do good on the days I have to fast. You are allowed to have coffee, hot tea and water. Your not allowed to have like a milk shake. Every time I fast I always say that I'm going to get myself up at 12:01 Thursday morning to eat! But that never happens. If I do wake up in the middle of the night I'm usually not hungry because I've been sleeping. But I always smile knowing that the fast is over and I'll be able to eat when I wake up. Yeah! I love that feeling when I know the fast is over and I did it, with the Lord's help of course. It's hard. It's really hard. I have to get my mind set on fasting for tomorrow. I struggle with not being able to eat. But don't fear because I have a yummy menu for Thursday's dinner. A whole baked chicken roasted in the oven with mashed potatoes, gravy and corn. Mmmmm. But do not forget. Today is Fat Tuesday. So remember to get your punchki's and we'll just have to worry about fasting tomorrow when Mardi Gras is officially over. God Bless you and good luck to you all during your fasting!

My Little Black Book

*JMJ* Yep I got my little black book for my Lenten reflections. You can get a blue one during Advent and a little white book follows after the little black book for the Easter season. I just love those little books. They do help you to pray daily to. It has neat little tid bits about Lent on the left side of the page. The right side is for some scripture taken from the bible. Then at the bottom of it, it leaves you with a time to reflect. You'll know what I mean if you get the book regularly. It says, 'Spend some quiet time with the Lord.' From here your suppose to say your own prayers. I do hope you all attain one of these little black books for Lent to help you stay close to the Lord during this Lenten season. I got mine! Every little thing that helps us Catholics to get geared up for Lent, is great. These books were written by Bishop Ken Untener. He passed away in 2004 but these little black books still get circulated by the editor by using the writings of Bishop Untener. As I am writing this post I'm now wondering if others from other states even get these little black books. So let me know. I'd love to hear from you. P.S. Today is shrove Tuesday. It's a day when Catholics eat pancakes to help them use up some dairy that is left over before they start there fasts tomorrow.

I Don't Have Time To Pray!

*JMJ* Sometimes my life goes haywire. I don't feel right inside. I feel like I'm being pulled in 1,000,000.00 different directions. I'm a housewife. I feel overwhelmed. I think how in the h*ll I'm I going to do all of this! How I'm I going to pull this off! How I'm I going to get this done! I have a full plate! And no one can take this full plate from me. It's mine. I start to panic. My life has become like a whirlwind. My life starts to snowball. I become so unfocused. I'm just trudging water to get the priorities done for the day. But I still don't feel right inside. But deep down I know what the problem is. I've been trying to get through all of these days on my own without God. I think, "Oh Gees, I don't have time to pray! I'm just to darn busy!" But deep down inside I know what the problem is. And it's a BIG problem!! I've pulled myself away from Christ in thinking that I can handle even my daily life without Him again. A quote from the bible comes to mind, but I don't know the exact quote on hand at the moment. It says something like, "Place your burden's on me and I will give you strength.". This especially comes to mind when I'm sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament at the adoration chapel. There have been many days when I go there that I can't even pray. I just say, "Here I am Lord. You called me to come and here I am." This miserable person that I am, I can't even muster a few words in prayer. I feel so tired. I feel so drained. But I give it all to my Lord Jesus Christ. My burdens and all my sorrows that I hold in the depths of my heart in front of the Blessed Sacrament. But most importantly Jesus is asking me to pray. He is asking me to draw myself to Him. To find strength in Him. To find comfort in Him. That He is the ONLY one who can bring focus to my life. But most importantly, He is the ONLY one who can give me peace for my soul, no matter how busy my life is. He lets me know in the depth of my heart that I am nothing without him. He reminds me that I need him. Even in my little ole daily life that is filled with so much stuff that I can't do it without him. He lets me know that if I tried to do it without him, that all my heavy labors would mean nothing to him. That even my heavy heart wouldn't mean anything if I don't offer it to him. (That is where I know that the Lord sees the truth.) I can't even hide my heavy sorrowful heart from Jesus, even if I wanted to. He won't let me! And he doesn't want me to. So here I go again. I'm reading my bible daily. I'm saying my rosary. I'm saying my St. Bridget prayer. I'm saying my personal prayers. I've always went to mass though. God never let me miss mass. When I arrive at church, I always say, "Thank you Jesus for bringing me here to mass." I do the same thing when I go before the Blessed Sacrament. I do believe it's the Holy Spirit moving me toward Mass and the Adoration Chapel. Because I'm so darn lazy, I can't see myself bringing myself to it week after week. But there is one word that stands out to me and that is PERSEVERANCE! I read it in the bible all the time. When I do pray, my life is completely transformed. It's like night and day! I don't know how and I don't understand it. But I will be going along with my daily chores. Or I will think, "How in the heck I'm I going to get all of this done today?" Then it will be noon. My prayers were said that morning. My chores some how, some way got finished earlier that I thought they would be done. I even find myself enjoying a cup of hot tea at noon. I'll just bow my head and say, "Thank you Jesus!!!! I don't know how all that stuff got done, but it got done." I don't remember where I read it before but it said something like, when you pray first, even if you don't think you have the time, you will come to find out that everything that needs to be done will get done. And I have found that out. I don't know how that is. It mystifies me. I can't make any sense out of it. But when I pray first, my day goes by more smoothly and some how, some way, all the important stuff gets done early in the day! That feeling of trudging water on a daily basis goes away. I don't understand it. Because if I do the same things the next day without saying my prayers, well lets just say it would end up being a horrible day. But when I do pray, I find that I have time to sit for a little while at mid day with a cup of hot tea in silence. And of course thanking the Lord. God Bless You! Please say your daily prayers! And you to will feel the peace of the Lord!

The Saint Bridget Prayer

*JMJ* When I was visiting the adoration chapel the other day, I seen this old man who I see in there all the time. The priest of our parish shared with us that someone had told him that he sits with the Lord for nine hours a day in the adoration chapel. I suspect it's this holy man because he's in the adoration chapel all the time. He was passing these booklets out to everyone who entered the chapel. I quickly browsed through it and it was one of those prayers that if you teach and pass the prayer along then you will get some help from heaven. The prayer looked familiar. I thanked the old man. He made copies for everyone to keep. It was the 15 prayers of St. Bridget. The Lord visited St. Bridget for one year and taught St. Bridget these prayers and asked her to pass them along to everyone. These 15 prayers are to be said every day for one year. It's sort of lengthy so I kind of put it in the back of my mind for a few days. Just a few weeks ago, I had started praying the stations of the cross again. And that to is a lengthy prayer. So I was like, there is no way I can start up with the St. Bridget prayers. I like the stations of the cross. Especially with Lent coming. One day I picked up the booklet and read the promises that come along with the St. Bridget prayers. But I just set it down again. Then again the other day I picked up the booklet again. I opened it and like the second or third page it said that this prayer could be said in place of the stations of the cross! I thought ok. God just gave me his answer! So now I'm into my second day of saying the 15 prayers of St. Bridget. It takes me 15 minutes to recite it. So about the same time it takes me to recite my rosary. I've also been reading my bible on a daily basis again! Ugh. I just got so much praying to get in, lol. I need more time in a day. Well that's another post, which I will right about soon. But anyway, I just hope that I can keep up with this St. Bridget prayer for a year. I know this sounds silly, but pray that I can keep up with my prayers, lol! I would hate to have said the St. Bridget prayers for 10 or 11 months and then stop! Oh no I would not want that to happen. So pray for me would you please, lol. It's lengthy but check it out! The 15 promises of this prayer is at the bottom of the webpage. http://www.wjpbr.com/bridget.html Also I will put a link to this webpage on my sidebar.

My Oldest Son

*JMJ* I to believe that my oldest son was visited by someone from heaven when he was a child. When my oldest son was two, he was into all of his shows. He liked Barney and all of those toddler shows. One day I needed to get my shower in so I told him to stay put in front of the t.v. I told him that I was going to take a really fast shower and that I'd be right out. He was in the living room watching t.v. on the floor. If you look to the right you can see the glass sliding door from where he was sitting. I hurried with my shower so that I could check on him. When I came out of the shower, my son was standing in the kitchen where the glass sliding door is. As soon as he saw me, he asked, "Who was that lady?" I said "What lady? What was she wearing?" He said, "She was wearing pink and red and had yellow hair with Power Ranger buttons all over it." I said where was she standing?" I thought he was going to tell me that she was standing right outside the glass door. But he said, "She was standing on that garage." Right over our privacy fence, directly behind us in the backyard, our neighbors garage is butted up right against our fence almost. So all you see is the roof top of their garage. I told my son that I didn't know who that was. "He looked at me and said it was an angel." What was weird to me is that I never talked to him about angels. He was only two years old. Then years later, after I became Catholic, I read about Our Lady's apparition in Pontmain, France in 1871. I almost dropped the book as I was reading it because there were so many similarities to what my son said he seen. In this apparition, Our Lady was being seen only by children and not the adults. Our Lady was seen in the sky above a rooftop. The apparition began in the evening on January 17, 1871. A little boy looked into the sky and seen a woman first. The woman appeared above a house across the road. She was a tall beautiful young lady of 18 years old. She was wearing a blue robe seeded with small gold stars. She wore a golden crown. She looked at the boy and smiled. When the boy called his brother and father over, only his brother could see the lady but not the father. After dinner, the family went back along with all the others who lived in town as the word spread. Still only the children were able to see and no adults. The children now seen a small red cross on her chest. The adults were praying furiously. In the mean time candles were lighting around the lady and stars were moving out of the sky surrounding the lady. There was a scroll under her with gold letters appearing. Every time the adults changed prayers, something different would happen in the apparition. One time it read, "But pray my children." The next time it read, "God will hear you in a short time." Then the children yelled out, "She's laughing!" Then the scroll read, "My Son." And then all the adults knew that it was The Blessed Virgin Mary that the children were seeing in the sky. The children said she was laughing, smiling and that she looked beautiful. After awhile the whole vision disappeared the children said. I left some of the story out obviously because this is a post and not a book. But perhaps my son seen the Blessed Virgin Mary. I know he seen someone from heaven. Whether it be an angel or Mother Mary. My son is a teenager today and when I ask him about it he says that he made that up. But he didn't. A two year old can't make up something like that, and talk about angels when he never knew about angels until that day. If you are interested in reading about the whole apparition, the book I read was, 'Key Apparitions of Mother Mary." And one of the stories in that book was about the apparitions of Pontmain, France. Obviously I couldn't add all the details here in this post but what an amazing apparition that was. Happy Lord's Day!

My Daughter's Baptism

*JMJ* I have three children. And I do believe that each have been visited from heaven by someone. I know this sounds kind of weird but let me explain. My daughter was baptized in the month of March when she was an infant. Every night after I put her to bed I would close her bedroom door because I use to smoke back then and I tried to keep the smoke away from her. On the night that she was baptized, I closed the door as usual. My daughter was baptized Lutheran. It was the only church that I could find at the time who would baptize her. I wasn't Catholic yet. Well the next morning I remember waking and her not waking me. She was just beginning to sleep through the night without having to be fed. So I hurried to check on her. When I opened her bedroom door, a rush and powering smell of flowers whiffed through my nose! It was like the windows were wide open but they haven't been. It was winter time. I never forgot that. I closed the door the next night. But the next morning the smell wasn't there. That over powering scent of flowers never returned. It only happened the night of my daughters baptism. Then later as I became Catholic I learned of St. Therese of the Little Flower. I even read the books and diary on her. Then my thought came back to what happened to my daughter the night when she was baptized. St. Therese could have been the one to visit her that night, maybe Saint Therese knew that one day my daughter would become Catholic. St. Therese is known for the rose flower. So is the Blessed Virgin Mary to. Or maybe it was my daughters guardian angel who was guarding, watching or visiting her that night. I don't know. But I know that I smelled a rush of flowers in the middle of winter in her closed bedroom for just that one time. My daughter picked St. Therese for her confirmation name when she made her confirmation. Either case, I don't know who it was visiting my daughter that night, but I do know for a fact, that it came from heaven and not of this world. And I have never forgotten that. I will never forget it. It never happened to my other children when they got baptized. I even checked the next morning after the first year anniversary of my daughters baptism. But that heavenly smell never returned. Who ever it was, I know that my daughter has that same special someone watching over her to this very day.

Doing Well

*JMJ* In my sidebar I have a prayer request list. I do believe in the power of prayer. I asked if you could pray for my father-in-law's continual recovery from his open heart surgery. Thanks to your prayers, he is doing well. So I will be removing him from my prayer request list. Also, my mother needed surgery. And she to is at home and recovering really well. And I'm sure she will be feeling herself real soon. My daughter on the other hand is still pregnant and having minor complications with her pregnancy so I ask that you would still pray for her. That she will be able to carry her pregnancy to full term with a good outcome with baby and mommy doing well. Thank you in advance. And thanks again to everyone who prayed for my father-in-law and my mother. God bless you all!

My 10th Anniversary

*JMJ* I just wanted to mention that my 10th anniversary of becoming a Catholic will be this 2009 Easter season. Actually during the Easter Vigil back in 1999 is when it took place. And what a gift the Lord will be blessing me this year as I celebrate my 10th year of becoming a Catholic. My 40th birthday will fall on Easter this year. But most importantly is that my son will also be making his First Holy Communion this spring. Another blessing that I will be having this spring is that my second grandson will be born within days apart of my son's First Holy Communion. I just feel like the Lord is really flooding me with such blessings as I celebrate my 10th year of being a Catholic this year. It does make me humble. There are a lot of great events that are going to take place this spring. But the way I look at it is this. It doesn't start with my birthday being on Easter or me celebrating my 10th year as being Catholic. It begins with the EUCHARIST. And then all the blessings trickle down from there. That's the way I see it. To me it's so easy to see that. I'm so happy that the Lord called me to Catholicism. And I'm so proud to be Catholic. I truly love my religion. And I pray that the Lord will keep me faithful to him, until I take my last breath. Blessings to you all. *Note- I just want to mention that I was baptized Catholic but finished my initiation as an adult. *Oh I almost forgot. It will also be ten years that my husband and I got married into the Catholic church. Shame on us, but my husband and I sometimes, ok well usually forget that date because we don't celebrate our anniversary on the date we got married into the church. We go by our original date. Which was ten years prior. That's probably why. I just had to come back to add this in. Have a blessed day!

Detroit's New Archbishop

*JMJ* This is Detroit's new Archbishop. Allen H. Vigneron. I got my Michigan Catholic Newspaper in the mail yesterday. It was the only piece of mail that I got. And this was the first page of the Michigan Catholic. I think this picture taken by Larry A. Peplin @ the Michigan Catholic Newspaper, says it all! How exciting! Just look at his face. You can click for a closer look. Have a blessed day!

It's Coming...

*JMJ* My favorite time in the church is coming. Lent. I just love Lent. I'm getting so excited about it. I just love, love, love it. I'm not really sure why I like this particular time in the liturgical year. Maybe it because I feel like I can really participate along with the church. I love all of the little rituals they do during the Lenten season. I'm even going to have my first Mardi Gras party this year. I'm really excited about that to! So let's see. I'm trying to point out just one thing that I love about Lent but there is so many things that I like. Lent last for I believe 42 days so it's a whole season in the church and they do so many different things that it's just to hard to pick out just one thing that I love about the Lenten season. But if I did have to pick out one thing...oh gosh this is going to be tough. I think it would be the part where we have to be repentant during the whole season of Lent. I just absolutely love that. The fact that we are being asked to draw closer and closer and closer yet to our Lord at that time. Through prayer, reading the bible, saying our rosaries, sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament, just closing your eyes and being with the Lord in quiet. The Lord who died on the cross for us. Oh going to confession, how could I forget that. I just love going to confession. Because we're being asked to repent for all of our sins. I will be touching on this Lenten season a lot here on my blog because of the love that I have for the season. The Easter season is more important then the Christmas season. Christmas we're celebrating Jesus' birthday. But Easter we get to celebrate the Lord's resurrection. But I'm not talking about that yet. I want to talk more about the Lenten season that leads up to the Easter season. I'm hoping that there are a more people out there who share my enthusiasm about Lent the way I do. I would love to talk to you. I got to go to bed. Tomorrow is Sunday, the Lord's day! I have to go to mass. I just love going to Mass. I don't understand how people could possibly find it boring. I just love Mass. ♥ Good night!

+... Not Just Another Rosary ...+

*JMJ* I just LOVE, LOVE, absolutely LOVE to go to the Catholic store. I am fortunate that I have a few around my area. If I get some extra money, I just love to go into the Catholic store, then any other store, and I am serious. I could spend all day just looking at everything. I would love to own my own Catholic store. I don't think I'd mind one bit having to spend the day working in a Catholic store! You might see it as a problem. But every time I walk into a Catholic store, hows a Catholic lady suppose to walk out without a new rosary. I just LOVE, LOVE absolutely love rosaries. And every time I go into a Catholic store, I try real hard to stay away from the rosaries but there I am, every time, looking at the rosaries. And there all so pretty. And then I think I just have to have one. Oh what's just one more rosary. So there I am. Before I can walk away, I already have a rosary in my hand to purchase. So as I'm walking out with my brand new rosary in my bag, I just can't wait to go home and recite my rosary on my new rosary beads. The priest told us to pray for our new Archbishop. See, now I'm glad that I've picked me up another rosary. Now I can pray for our new Archbishop on my new rosary beads. See how that worked out in my favor? =) This Catholic lady can never have enough rosary beads! I've taken a picture to show you my new rosary? Isn't it pretty? Now you can see how I just couldn't resist them. =)

New Beginnings

*JMJ* So we can all get into ruts where we're not doing the spiritual things that we should be doing. We've become lax or in a rut like they say. But what a great time to try and change that with just days into this brand new year. I don't know about you, but when my life is going awry, I get this feeling. My soul feels unsettled. It's not at peace. Then I know it's time to pull my self out of that rut with the help of the Lord and get back into the swing of things. And that means many different things. And what I mostly mean by that is pulling back toward the Lord. To think more of him because we love Him. Here are just some of the things that draw me closer to the Lord and feeds my soul so that it's back on fire with love for Him. I go to mass every Sunday but I will go a couple of times during the week. I'll go back and sit with the Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament if I've been neglecting to go. I'll try and recite my rosary every day again like I use to. I'll make time to pray for frequently. I'll just pick up my bible and go to my bookmark where I left off and start to read from that point on. It's as if God has been there waiting for me to pick up my bible again. Like my priest said in his homily the other weekend. You can't find good new in the news. But you can in the bible. I just love reading the bible so much. Or I will pick of a spiritual catholic book or a book on one of the saints. These are all ways that bring my closer to the Lord. And then my soul feels at peace and rested again. I feel more focused of what's important and why I'm alive and what I'm suppose to do. Because the world can put your mind in a whirl wind in so many directions. I can't live my life like that. I need peace. Even through difficult times. And I know that I can only get that by becoming closer to the Lord. But it's really not me. It's the Lord that's moving me to become closer to Him. So that is how I'm starting out this brand new year. To become closer to the Lord. He asks for perfection in all of us because he is perfect himself. We are all called to be Holy people. We all get off track sometimes. I know I do. I've mentioned this to my family before. When I was going through R.C.I.A. to become Catholic, and even to this day, I'll shake my head in prayer and say, "Lord, why did you call me to the Catholic religion. I make such a horrible Catholic!" I use to say, "Lord, don't use me for an example!" I have to laugh at myself and I do. I have to keep things light. So may we all grow closer to the Lord this year. What are some of the ways you get closer to the Lord? I'd love to hear your comments. God Bless!

Goodbye To Detroit's Archbishop

*JMJ* Soon us Detroiter's will be saying goodbye to our Archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida. He's retiring after being the Archbishop here in Detroit, Michigan for the past 18 years. He was one of the Archbishops to take place in voting for a new Pope, when Pope John Paul ll died. I was hoping that he would be elected to be the new Pope. Our Pope now, Pope Benedict xvi announced that our new Archbishop, Allen H. Vigneron is a native from Michigan. And his parents reside here also.

I have a funny little story I'd like to share with you about Archbishop Cardinal Maida. Well it's more about myself though. When I was going through the R.C.I.A. process to become Catholic, you have to go to what's called the Rite of Election at the head of your Archdiocese, toward the end of the program. The head of your Archdiocese is called the Mother church that looks after the little parishes in your area. The name of Detroit's Mother church is Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. So during the Rite of Election, it wasn't just my R.C.I.A. group from my parish there at the cathedral. There were many R.C.I.A. groups from all over my archdiocese there. During the Rite of Election, all the R.C.I.A. teachers will come forward and say the names of the people who are in their R.C.I.A. program. So it took awhile because there were so many names to be announced. But how exciting it was when I heard my name being said through the Mother church. Our names were being enrolled for the Easter Vigil Rite. Just thinking back on that time brings back such exciting memories.

So anyway I was sitting pretty close to the isle inside a pew. There were probably two people on my side. Before I go on any further, just keep in mind that I didn't know to much about the Catholic religion yet. I was still learning.

Well when I seen this priest (Archbishop Cardinal Maida) coming down the isle, I was just so excited! I mean he had on that hat (not sure of the name) and was holding that staff (sorry not sure what that's called either). He was shaking some peoples hands as he was walking down the isle. As he came closer to my pew, I leaned out and stuck my hand out for him to shake it. The two people next to me were probably like, "What's this ladies problem?" I was just so excited when Archbishop Cardinal Maida shook my hand. He looked very impressive decked out with everything. Meaning that fancy hat, the vestments, and the staff and all of that. I just got so caught up in the moment to say the least! Archbishop Cardinal Maida could see the enthusiasm on my face! What he was probably thinking was, "Lady, I'm not the Pope!" I'm laughing right now I write this. It was just so funny. I rushed home to tell my mother and father-in-law that I got to shake Archbishop Cardinal Maida's hand.

I will miss Archbishop Cardinal Maida though. They no longer will mention his name during mass. When I think of Michigan Catholic Newspaper, I will miss his editorials. I'll just miss seeing him around.

I'm praying that the Lord will continue to watch over Archbishop Cardinal Maida during this next segment of his life, as I'm sure the Lord will. We must also pray for our new Archbishop, Allen H. Vigneron as he carries out his new duties in being an Archbishop for Detroit, Michigan.

Detroit's New Archbishop

*JMJ* This is Bishop Allen Vigneron. He is 60 years old and he will be are next Archbishop for the Detroit's Archdiocese. I am just so excited about it. It's always nice to see what a new member of the community will bring to the community. He was serving as Bishop in Oakland, California. Bishop Allen Vigneron is from the Detroit area. He was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. His parents, now in their 90's live in St. Clair County. They still live in the same farmhouse the bishop was raised in. He was a former associate priest at Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in Harper Woods, Michigan. Bishop Allen Vigneron will be installed as Detroit's Archbishop on Wednesday, January 28, @ 2 0'clock p.m. It will be held at the Cathedral of The Most Blessed Sacrament. Bishop Allen Vigneron will be Detroit's 10th Bishop and Detroit's 5th Archbishop. Here is a short clip if you would like to watch it. Just click on the link below. http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-detroit-freep-008-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=985517052

Catholic Blog Directory

*JMJ* Yeah! I made it into the Hall of Fame!!! Well not exactly. But my blog did make it into the Catholic Blog Directory. If you'd like to see it, just go to this link and check it out. It's in alphabetical order. http://catholicblogs.blogspot.com/ And there as so many more good Catholic blogs to view in this directory. This woman I met (via e-mail) Andrea, compiles all these great Catholic blogs. And I just want to publicly thank her for her dedication to that. And I would would like to thank her again for adding my blog to the directory. In the directory, you will find blogs from priests, nuns and just laymen people like myself. I do hope you go and check it out! God bless you!

Happy Feast of the Holy Family

*JMJ* Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. As you know, my blog is dedicated to the Holy Family so I felt compelled to write in my blog today about this Feast day. I don't know if you have noticed, but I do begin each post with JMJ (Jesus, Mary, Joseph). Bishop Sheen use to begin his writings with that. I'm sure other holy people have done it but I haven't looked into that. I love Bishop Sheen by the way and I to hope for him to become a saint, soon. I've always had a strong devotion to the Holy Family since I became Catholic. Perhaps because I'm a Catholic mother and wife. I'm also a stay at home mom. I love my family and their happiness means everything to me. Our families are considered "little churches" in the Catholic faith. I have a Holy Family statue in my home where it is easily visible to me to see it everyday. My parents were also divorced and it completely destroyed my family. There is no good that comes from a divorce. And Satan will do his darnedest to destroy families, and especially Catholic families. I seen a bishop on EWTN. He said that he performed and exorcism once and that Satan spoke to him. Supposedly he said, "I am the Christ killer! And WHEREVER Christ is, I will try to kill Him!" When I heard that, I was like, "Come on! Bring it on! Show me what you got! If your going to try and destroy MY family, your going to have a fight!" I was a fairly new Catholic and very feisty and full of energy! And I felt like I had the strength to back it up, meaning the sacraments and but who else? Who would fight for us? Our heavenly mother, Mother Mary. I heard all you have to do is mention Mary on your lips and the enemy will flee because he can't stand the Blessed Virgin Mary. It hurts me to have to write that. All we need to do, is just ask for her help and protection and there she comes to aid us miserable sinners. Well folks, I try and make Christ the center of my family. Will the devil try to destroy my family? You bet he is doing everything in his power. Will he prevail? That is why I stay close to Jesus and Mary and Joseph and the sacraments. I pray that the Holy Family will watch over my family and ALL families! Like that saying goes. The family that prays together, stays together. So we all need to be diligent in watching and caring for our families because the devil is lurking to destroy ALL families. Because it reminds the devil of the Holy Family. The devil will look for the slightest weakness in an individual and just go for it. He will do whatever it takes to destroy that family. I have seen strong Catholic families destroyed and unravel in my lifetime. We all know, that 50% of marriages fail within three years of their marriage. It's so unusual for people to be married for 40 or 50 years anymore. Do I have an easy answer? No. But I think we can all agree that we need to guard our families and make our families our first priority. I seen this prayer on EWTN once. I love this prayer and I thought it was fitting for this post. Just a little note.Saint Anne is the Blessed Virgin Mother's, mother. Saint Anne, Bless My Family My family is the heart of my life. It is my little church. Saint Anne, guard the members of my family against all physical and spiritual danger. You lived in the presence of your husband Joachim and your little daughter Mary. Later, you welcomed your son-in-law, Saint Joseph, and above all your beloved grandson Jesus, our Savior. May your family inspire our families. May we remain united in a deep mutual love. If my family is broken by separation or divorce, remain for us the Saint of tenderness and lead us to God. Saint Anne, you were a spouse , a mother and a grandmother; bless all the members of my family. Keep us faithful to the Lord. May we remain attentive to the needs of other families. Protect all families. Amen *I'm not sure of the author to this prayer.

That Christmas Peace

*JMJ* That Christmas peace. How do you explain it? How do you describe it? Have you never felt it? Have you ever let a Christmas go by without searching for it? Have you ever gone to bed on Christmas Eve without trying to feel it? Can we make yourselves feel it? Or is it a gift to us from above? When you search for it...and then there it is. No matter where your at. It's that peace that envelopes you. That peace that surrounds you. That Christmas peace that comes upon you from above. And what joy it brings to ones heart searching for that Christmas peace. That quietness. That stillness. That enters your heart. The sweetness of it. The gentleness of it, like a little babe's tiny breath...yes it's that Christmas peace, that Jesus gives to those who seek. Thank you Jesus. And Happy Birthday Jesus. Thank you Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. May you all find that Christmas peace in your hearts this Christmas. Jesus, thank you for making it so easy for me to come to you, when you came into this world as a baby. Merry Christmas to you all.

Lighting of The Advent Wreath

*JMJ* Well as I mentioned in a previous post, my family was invited to light the fourth candle for the fourth Sunday of Advent at my parish this morning. As honored as I felt for the parish to think of my family for lighting the candle, that was a little uncomfortable for me. I was definitely out of my element and comfort zone. Yikes! There goes my new found confidence that I had mentioned in my previous post. It went straight out the window. I'm so shy. So it was really hard for me. My family walked up the center of the isle along with the procession. First the crucifix, then us, then the priest with the other two deacons followed. I was just so nervous. Then we had to be seated in the front pew where it was reserved for my family. Then the priest announced my family's name and invited us up to light the candles. I was grabbing onto that long match as hard as I could without it breaking so that no one would see my hand shaking. Then when we sat down I was so upset for the rest of the mass because when I looked over at the candles, I think one of the candles weren't lit. Oh well, I thought. To late to worry about it now. It was really uncomfortable to sit in the front pew to. I like to blend in with the crowd. I just felt so uptight throughout the whole mass. I can talk the talk, but can I walk the walk, lol. I have to also learn to loosen up and learn not to take things so seriously. I need to laugh at myself. Even while I'm at church to some extent. I mean you still have to act a certain way when your in the house of God. But I think you know what I'm trying to say. I shouldn't be so hard on myself when it comes to church. Don't get me wrong, I'm also not talking about not following the Catholic rules. I'd always try my best to obey them. But I mean to lighten up in the way that I don't have to be so perfect in church. I don't want to become...shall I say...stuffy. That candle not being lit really bothered me through out the whole mass and I had a hard time focusing on the mass but tried my best. As we left, I thanked the priest for the invitation of lighting the advent candles. As honored as I felt, I will be glad to sit amongst the other parishioners somewhere in the parish on Christmas, where I can just blend in with the others. That was really hard. I was really kind of surprised that I had such a difficult time doing that. It's just God Himself showing me, I still need to grow. Enjoy the Lord's day.