So many thoughts...

This weekend my daughter was off in our 15 passenger van to drive her friends to the BART station (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and then take that up to the city for the Walk for Life. I am at once elated at this generation of people who value life, and yet discouraged as FB friends express their dismay that these young people seen at the walk don't understand how hard fought this "right" for women is. They claim that without this "choice" women would be dying in illegal abortion clinics... it is their right to do with their body what they wish.

I wish these vocal FB women- ones who I suspect have not had an abortion (the women I know who have are usually very angry in their arguments or very sad)- would see the love of all life that we on the pro-life side, and especially these young people, have. Their love extends not only to the unborn, but to the mothers in crisis- the ones who have chosen abortion and the ones thinking about it. They have compassion for the hurt and loss these women feel.

I feel a special empathy for these women. As so many women that I know, I have had several miscarriages at all stages of development. I have held these little lost lives in my hand- each one different. Some looking like a little tadpole with arms just budding out, others more fully developed. Our little boy that we lost 7 years ago this month fit in the palm of my hand, yet he had all of his little parts- I even laughed a little after he was born when I realized that I really could tell he is a boy! His name is *Mathew by the way- spelled that way because my husband spelled it wrong, which also makes me laugh a little every time we visit the place he is buried. My compassion comes from understanding this loss. Some may say these women chose this- I say that they did not know. They couldn't have known. I can only imagine their suffering to be far greater than mine. And so, I feel a bond with them and a love and hope for healing.

This month is not only the month that we lost our little boy, but also the month that my husband and I celebrate our anniversary. As we approach our 32nd, I have been giving a lot of thought to our marriage. I would say that our marriage is successful in a very real way. I would attempt to glorify it, but on the off chance that one of my children read this, I'd be busted as being a fraud. We are the most human of couples- I always imagined reaching this point in life and having a deep rooted maturity. Not so, I regret to say. At our worst, we are no more mature than the average toddler. Fits are had, arguments take place, expectations rule the day... but we keep trying.

Years ago, my husband went to a mass that happened to have a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary. The husband was asked what the success to his marriage was due to. His answer was that couples are told that marriage is a 50/50 deal. He, on the other hand, felt that each person should give 100% to the marriage. That way, when one of the couple was not able to give his or her full portion, there is still enough to go around. Much of the success in our marriage comes, I believe, from my husband taking those words to heart. For so many years, through many trials and hardships, he has carried the 100% on his back- without complaint. Truly. And without keeping score. I am blessed.

Yup, that's us! :) 

*Mathew is a correct spelling- just not that way we had planned on spelling his name. :) 

My Pretty Table

I introduced my very pretty "freecycled" table in December. 

It is so nice to not have to move everything off the
kitchen table when we want to eat! 

For the feast of St. John Bosco and the month of The Holy Family 

(end of January/beginning of February). 

This week for St.Valentine's Day, the month of the Holy Family, and 

in honor of The 7 Sundays of St. Joseph (new to us). 

Erin brought home these balloons from the dollar store and
made a bouquet for us!

So cute!

Happy Feast Days! 

The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

For today, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, we are reading the last chapter of this book-

We actually read the entire book except the last chapter a while ago- something interrupted us (maybe advent?). Having read about St. Paul, his conversion, and his adventures in this book, it seems fitting to finish it today. 

Heard during the homily at mass today (paraphrased)- "You talk about your conversion that happened 20 or 30 years ago. How about today? Does your conversion show in your life today? In the way you act, speak, and live your life?" I am giving a pretty weak recap. Sometimes I wish I took notes during the homily. 

It did make me think though- I am a Catholic Christian living my conversion every day. Does it show? 

Celebrating Christmas With My Family on the Solemnity of Mary The Mother of God

What a day! 

Today was our family Christmas celebration with my side of the family. 

 When my niece (Julia 12yo) arrived for our family Christmas party today, 

she had these cookies that she made and decorated. We were all so impressed we probably took more pictures of it than we did of any of the kids! 

Before sitting down to eat lunch, I spent a few minutes 

with the kids in honor of this special day.

I had them light the candles (kids do love fire!)

  

We used this from Tiffany's blog as a jumping of point: 

The Fleur-de-lis with its three petals united by a single stem has embedded in its emblematic symbolism Mary’s own supernatural relationship to the Holy Trinity:

Mary is the daughter of the father,

the Mother of the Son,

And the bride of the Holy Spirit.

(Magnificat, December 2010)

Beautiful.

The Fleur-de-lis is also considered a symbol of purity.

 I read this short page from Tomie de Paola's book,

"Mary The Mother of Jesus", to all of the cousins. 

Pointed out today on Waltzing Matilda's blog-
Our Blessed Mother's last documented words are 

"Do whatever He tells you." (from the above story) I just love that! 

 After we ate, we started partying! We don't do a gift exchange... we play DOO-DOO!! 

 Each player is given six cards. They keep the same six cards the whole game- mix matched card decks can be dealt as long as a player does not have two of the exact same card. Between rounds, to mix it up, the "caller" will randomly tell all the players to pass a card to the player on his left. Other than that, the the players keep their cards- no new hands are dealt.

Then the caller (using a complete card deck) calls the cards one at a time. In bingo like fashion, the players turn over the card if they have the one called. 

When a player has turned over all six of his cards he jumps up and yells 

"DOO-DOO!" and goes to the prize table to pick a present.

hubby calling cards

  The caller designates the number of winners per round- one time hubby set five winners, but three people won on the same card, so that round had 7 winners. 

Sometimes we play until everyone has won a prize in a round. 

The rounds can be mixed up- sometimes the caller will do "colors". When the caller picks a card, he tells just the color. The players turn over one card of that color. Suit can be done as well. But, only one card is ever turned over on a call. 

When the game is over, the fun really begins. Each player gets to pick a certain number of prizes (4 today) to put in his/her gift bag. Those prizes are "keepers". 

The rest are set on the table for trades. 

The players, in turns, get to choose any other player's prize to trade with (trades go in "keeper" bag). After each player does this, the kids all trade among themselves. The cutest part is the kids often "gift" other people their prizes. My Goddaughter won and gifted me a lovely photo ornament. My son traded a prize for an oven mitt that I wanted! 

Whew! We all had such a great time. 

 We took this picture after one daughter had gone home and before another daughter arrived, so this is part of the group. All 3 of my brother's boys, all 5 of my sister's children, 5 of my children, and 2 of my grandchildren. 

 Daughter holding her nephew with her son laying on the couch. 

 And, no Christmas party is complete without "Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus". We also have a Christmas birthday boy, so we sung to him and he blew out the candles. 

From Gardenia at My Little Flower and prayed today at our house before grace: 

Dear Blessed Mary, Guide us through this new year, daily, 

and lead us always to your Son, Our Lord. 

Thanking God for family and for the good weather that allowed room to enjoy them all!! That it was a bright warm day, even here in sunny CA, is miraculous. I really wanted to host my family, but our little 960 sq. ft. house would have been bursting at the seams with all (28 total) of us. I am so grateful to have the blessing of this day together!

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From last year. Thank you, again, Tiffany! Decorated the table, now off to make the brownies.

St. John Bosco

It was not quite the relaxing day we had planned, but...

Mark made yummy cookie dough (Bachelor Buttons from Catholic Cuisine).

 The boys colored pictures and set the table.

James rolled the cookie dough into balls (like the balls that St. John Bosco used to juggle), rolled them in sugar, and cooked them.

Paul juggled. I have no idea why I have the camera sideways!

And I made a yummy stuffed bell pepper dinner (also from Catholic Cuisine) for the adults. The kids made their own pizzas.

We read about St. John Bosco in Stories of the Saints (CHC) and watched half of the movie, St. John Bosco: Mission to Love (it is a long movie!). 

Novena in Honor of St. John Bosco

Father and Teacher of the Young

In need of special help, I appeal with confidence to you, Saint John Bosco, for I require not only spiritual graces, but also temporal ones, and particularly...

(add your personal intentions here)

May you, who on earth had such great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to

Mary Help of Christians, and who always had compassion for those who were suffering,

obtain from Jesus and His Heavenly Mother the grace I now request, and also a sincere

resignation to the Will of God.

(Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Saint Agnes::January 21

I am thankful to Family at the Foot of the Cross for the timely post on this special day, and Catholic Icing for the St. Agnes archives!

 I had planned to set some time aside to honor St. Agnes, but when I woke up this morning and saw (on other more prepared blogger's posts) that today was in fact THE feast day, I was completely unprepared.  We sort of did a scramble to put a few things together.

 Mark colored this stunning page from Waltzing Matilda...

 and made these yummy brownies.

James and Paul pulled together the holy card crafts. We listened about St. Agnes at saint of the day while we prepared dinner, and then later dad read more about her from our saint book.

Nico, my darling grandson, joined us for our celebration-- his contribution, besides being adorable, was pulling the entire table runner over after dinner!! Thank goodness the candle was not still lit! :)

This day is additionally special as my grandmother's middle name was Agnes- being from the big Irish Catholic family, I am sure she was named after this special saint. I am glad we were able to take at least a few minutes today to learn more about this saint and celebrate her short, faithful life.

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I am so thankful to those bloggers out there who share particularly "doable" ideas.

At the last minute today, I visited "Family at the Foot of the Cross" and found this brownie idea. I did not have a brownie mix (found a super simple recipe on the Internet) or the pearl dust (we used powder sugar) that are called for, and my Fleur-de-lis did not come out perfectly, but we were happy with it just the same. This flower represents purity, but this post at Family at the Foot of the Cross gives a beautiful explanation of the symbolism as it relates to this special day.

I also had a beautiful representation of Mary from a Christmas card to put on (mod podge) our white candle for our feast day table setting:

To end our day, this from Marian Devotions in the Domestic Church:

Many North American families continue a custom brought from the "Old Country" of blessing the family on January 1. The father makes the Sign of the Cross on the foreheads of his wife, children, and other relatives living in the home, saying: May God bless you and keep you safe in the coming year.


We did not have time to do this project that was on our "list", but will work on it this week:

Decorate Mary candle to be used on all Marian Feast Days for the year. (I want to find a taller one than we have for today's feast day table)

Wishing you a Happy, Holy New Year!

Reading in Preparation for January 1st

January first is the day we honor Mary in her role as the Mother of God. This week's reading from Tomie dePaola unit study is a great, low key way to prepare for that day.
An Integrated Literature Unit for Advent and Christmas by Elizabeth Foss

Week Four:

Mary, The Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola

The Donkey's Dream by Helen Barbara Berger

Hark! A Christmas Sampler:
“The Donkey’s Song”
“The Legend of the Rosemary”