Heaven-not-Harvard

Vocation day

We were so blessed to attend vocations day at Franciscan University, where religious from all over the country gather to disperse information about their particulair order and charism.  All the religious are so welcoming to children, they give them candy, magnets, medals, holy cards,  and encouragement.  What a testament to the beauty of our church. 

We ran across 2 Sisters and a Priest from an Order we have spent much time with, so we had them out to our place, where we enjoyed a light dinner and Father blessed our home.

Then, be still my mother's heart, Father gave my little Liam the opportunity to serve at his first Holy Mass.

Mamas and cameras!
 
 
 

Most Holy Name of Mary

Let this name be the last word I utter, as it was the first name uttered, heralding in the incarnation; my saviour.

Sweet name of Mary be our aide, protect us from all harm, and bring us safely home to your arms.

Blessed Feast!

Remembering today......8 years later

This was forwarded to me....

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'   

 You say you will never forget where you were when
 you heard the news On  September 11, 2001.
 Neither will I.
 
 I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
 with a man who called his wife to  say 'Good-Bye.' I
 held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
 peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it  
 is OK..I am ready to go.'
 
 I was with his wife when he called as she fed
 breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
 tried to understand his words and as she realized  
 he wasn't coming home that night.
 
 I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
 woman cried out to Me for help.  'I have been
 knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
 'Of course I will show you the way home - only  
 believe in Me now.'
 
 I was at the base of the building with the Priest
 ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
 I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He  
 heard my voice and answered.
 
 I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
 with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
 were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the  
 believers there, comforting and assuring them that their  
 faith has saved them.
 
 I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan   .
 I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.  
 Did you sense Me?
 
 I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
 every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me  
 for the first time on the 86th floor.
 
 Some sought Me with their last breath.
 Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
 smoke and flames; 'Come to Me...this way... take  
 my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.  
 But, I was there.
 
 I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
 may not know why, but I do. However, if you were  
 there in that explosive moment in time, would you have  
 reached for Me?
 
 Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
 for you. But someday your journey will end. And I  
 will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
 be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
 'ready to go.'  
 
 I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.  
 
 God  
During the next 60 seconds, stop whatever you are
 doing, and take this opportunity.  (Literally it
 is only 1 minute.) All you have to do is the  
 following:
 
 Stop and think and appreciate God's power
 in your life, for doing what you know is pleasing to  
 Him. If you are not ashamed to do this, follow the  
 instructions. Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of Me, I will be  
 ashamed of you before My Father' 
 
  
    

Nativity of Our Lady

What a blessed day to start the new educational season.  New beginnings for us, on the day our Co Redeemer was born.

So on this Tuesday, (day dedicated to St Anne) let us remember Our Mother's birth and beg Good St Anne to remember all our needs, during her birthing of Mary. 

 

Don't forget tto stop by Charlottes for some amazing Marian coloring pages. 

Helping the Mitchells

My friend Colleen lost her infant son, this week to SIDS.  As you may imagine, this as been a very difficult death for me to hear about.  As, my heart breaks for my friend, I am once again truly blessed by those in the cyber world reaching out to help this dear family.

Maria is selling her lovely jewelry with proceeds going to the Mitchell family.  Ruth  has made an amazing rosary she is selling for the family.  Cay  is sponsoring a sale of Tastefully Simple treats, with proceeds going to defray funeral expenses, and Elizabeth is accepting paypal donations that are going to a Memorial fund in baby Bryce's name.  There is even an ebay auction for the family, check out these gorgeous cashmere socks. 

Colleen has blessed many of us over the years with her loving and gentle homeschooling advice and wisdom.  She is a devout Catholic raising her six boys to get to Heaven not Harvard, she is a pillar of our on line community.  Please if you are able visit one of the above links and share your tithing money with this very faithful family, in this great time of need.    

I am offering another St Anne necklace, like the one posted below this post, for sale, the proceeds will go to the Mitchells.  If you would prefer a different color just e-mail me, and I will make certain you get exactly as you like.

 

And, MOST importantly, please offer a prayer for this grieving family.

St Anne necklace by Siena for sale

My girls have been busy for awhile, making religious art jewelry and now we are going to offer some of these beautiful pieces for sale.  All pieces are made with glass beads, and each is unique.  All monies go to the girls. This necklace is 20.00, just email me if you are interested.

New must read for todays culture

 

“This is a book for people who have hope and for those who need hope.  I highly recommend Born to Love for those who are interested in following the teachings of the Gospel….” Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.

†††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††

Stirring up Controversy, Opening up Dialogue….

 

What will it be?

 

Well, Born to Love: Gay-Lesbian Identity, Relationships, and Marriage-Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Battle for Chaste Love, written by Father John R. Waiss, an Opus Dei priest - may do both!

 

Possessing an imprimatur and with a foreword written by Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., this book has the potential to help people seeking to understand and heal from the homosexual lifestyle/same-sex attraction.  And because of that, we expect it will stir up a little controversy!

 

Born to Love is a unique book in that it sticks to the teachings of the Catholic Church.  Stereotypically and culturally perceived as a negative, Born to Love turns all of that on its side.  Father Waiss shows through compassionate yet challenging dialogue that our identity isn't based upon our sexuality and even uses the format to delve into some of the relational traumas which lie at the root of homosexual identity.

 

In light of tall the rhetoric bouncing around the culture, this 318 page book is an important one to review and inform!

 

If you are interested in reviewing this book or hosting Father Waiss for a phone or in-studio interview, please contact Maria  at borntolovebook@gmail.com. 

 

The cost is $19.95 per book.

ISBN# 9781432742423

Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Publication Date: August 2009

Tasha Tudor day 2009

Stop by Storybook Woods to read about how you can honor this amazing woman today. 

Traditional feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa

 

In honor of todays feast, we have placed this image on our altar, along side fresh flowers and our mini vestments.  I would post a picture of our altar, but the camera is having "issues".

I asked the girls to google Polish recipes, they decided upon, perogies (helpful since I try to go meatless on Wednesdays) and Paczki .  Starch and more starch.....hmmmm  I thought this day was Polish not Irish.   ;-)

May Our Lady Bless us all.

Clamming for dinner

I think this was the high light of our trip, for me.  To go out everyday, dig for clams, take them back to the camp and steam them up.  If I lived near the sea, I would feast on shell fish daily, alas, I am where  I am, and I cherish the memories Our Lord allows my family to experience.

Francesca digging for steamers, this was not fruitful:(

 

But this was....

 

 

Our first clams, with many to follow, we had so many one evening we had to give away a shopping bag full to some sisters. Don't worry, we set the crab free, that was just Seamus' pet for the evening.

 

 

Lobster feasting

What a treat to be able to feast on fresh lobster. At 3.00 a piece right off the boat, who can resist.

Buying the lobsters

 

getting them ready for the pot.

 

watching them cook on the camp fire.

 

 

Nice and red, just the way we like them.  For 6.00 we had a fun and educational night!