{Not So} Wordless Wednesday—They're At It Again!

They're at it again. Playing in the Tupperware cabinet. The photo of girl twin sitting in a big bowl cracks me up. And did you see the princess headband on boy? They're so much fun (but sometimes they're a bit naughty, too =)

Happy Wednesday to you, dear friends, whether it's wordless or not!

A Rough Start

Our day started out rough. I was tired. I went to bed way too late for the time I need to rise. You see, it is in everyone's best interest if the mom of this family wakes up and gets ready (including coffee and prayer) before the kids. So, I did it anyway, despite my tiredness.

I appreciated this explanation of the act of rising being a mortification of sorts. I had not thought of it like that before, and actually thinking of my little, but at times hard, act as a mortification makes it even more desirable to strive for. Especially if you knew my temperament as well as I do =)

St. Josemaria Escriva said: The heroic minute. It is the time fixed for getting up. Without hesitation: a supernatural reflection and ... up! The heroic minute: here you have a mortification that strengthens your will and does no harm to your body.

So, I already was tired this morning when the clan trickled down from their cozy beds on the second floor. A fall chill was definitely in the house, and everyone was moving a little slowly. Thankfully, we didn't have to be anywhere until 9:15 a.m. The older girls have today off on this their school patron's feast day.

I've been bombarded with requests to get the fall clothes out, and today I agreed. But only after chores. Since we'd be at doctor's check-ups this a.m., I advised them to do chores before we left so we could do fall clothes this afternoon.

And that's when it all fell apart—tears, complaining, disobedience and more tears. "Can I please run away?" was the question running through my mind. But where would I go, really? My husband was going to work (lucky guy =) But this is my place. And of course I must remain ...

So what was happening to us at that moment this morning? Were the kids tired just like me? Were they cold? Were they lazy, resisting their chores? Or was our family actually being attacked, spiritually?

Perhaps, it was a combination of all of those possibilities, but since it happened and since we got through it, I've been contemplating the reality of the last possibility ...

It simply makes sense. It's the Feast of the Archangels. It's our school's patron's feast day. I had just read some beautiful prayers and reflections about St. Michael in the Magnificat. And this list of explanations doesn't even begin to consider my husband's recent powerful experience on a three-day silent men's retreat. Or my Catholic women's conference that fanned the flame of my faith. Or that we're striving for holiness in small ways, like praying the family rosary on Sunday night (and it went so well!)

As a friend reminded my recently, all of our sufferings and trials (no matter how big or how small) are part of the mystery and wisdom of the cross. I never was promised an easy journey, and I am pretty sure you know that, too. Look at where Jesus' journey led Him. To the cross. And just like He embraced His cross, He asks us to follow Him and embrace ours, too. We will be asked to do big things in our lives, but He will never ask us to do them on our own. With His grace and strength, we will have more than enough to be faithful to His requests. We cannot be perfect, but we can be faithful. And because of our faith we know the end result of choosing this path: Heaven and all its splendor! But first we must embrace our crosses of life, and walk this sometimes hard path to holiness. I think that's why it's called a mystery. To have the joy of the Lord, to feel the love of the Lord, to experience that burning desire for Him, even when life deals out the hard stuff ... According to the world, that is sheer madness! To God, it is the way. It is wisdom. It is power and truth.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God ... Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and wisdom of God. (1 Cor. 1:18-24)

But what can make an already challenging situation even more difficult is that the devil doesn't play fairly. As we strive for holiness and actually make steps toward virtue, he will try to pull us down. We will feel that attack in very blatant ways, and also in ways that are a bit more uncertain or unclear (like my morning example). We must not give in to his lies and tricks! We must persevere and plead St. Michael to defend us in battle ...

During the times when life seems hard, and maybe even unbearable, I am grateful for the reminder of all the ways the Lord provides us with help—His grace, His mercy, His love, His Mother, His Body and Blood, the prayers of the saints, the protection of the angels, the wisdom of the Church, supportive friends, our children and our spouses uniting together. We are not alone on this journey, and that gives me great hope and encouragement! I hope it does the same for you.

So, on this feast day, I pray that I may turn to the Lord in thanksgiving and also in petition. Cling to His promise. Pray to St. Michael to fight for me and my children. And ask the Blessed Mother to shelter us in the crook of her arm, as any loving mother would do for her children.

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O Lord, the angels' sheer delight!

Their life reflects your splendor bright;

As we today their praise declare,

May we their joy forever share.

Saint Michael, be our refuge here,

Preserve us from all useless fear;

Through you may God his peace bestow

On all the nations here below.

Saint Gabriel, be with us this day,

Reveal God's will to us, we pray;

As Mary once did answer you,

May our response be firm and true.

Saint Raphael, heal our sinful heart,

May God his grace to us impart,

And may you guide us on the way

That we may never go astray. Amen.

The Simple Woman's Daybook—September 28

For today ... Monday, September 28, 2009

Outside my window ... crisp and cool. It finally feels like fall. We've had a very warm, dry September. I am excited to finally wear jeans and sweaters!

I am thinking ... about the Catholic women's conference I attended on Saturday. Kimberly Hahn was the keynote speaker. She gave her conversion story, and she also talked about sharing God's love in all walks of life and living out the reality of being daughters of the King. She was amazing! She signed my book, too =) There also were breakout sessions, and one was by the author of this book. She gave a fantastic presentation about Eucharistic Adoration as well as the dignity of women ... Actually, three out of the five speakers mentioned Pope John Paul II's encyclical, Mulieris Dignitatem. I do not think that was coincidental. I think I will be adding it to my reading list soon ... or maybe now! I am still reflecting on all of the amazing information I received at this conference. I think I will be for awhile. It was such an uplifting, encouraging and challenging (in a good way) day!

I am thankful for ... a day out, to be with 280+ other Catholic women, to grow in our Catholic faith together!

From the kitchen ... I went grocery shopping, and my meals are planned. I am making tweaks to my fall menus to fit the realities of life. I made pumpkin bread and a fallish snack-mix last week, and I've had requests to make both again. Soon.

I am wearing ... jeans and a cowl-neck sweatshirt

I am reading ... Lifeline, Led by Faith and Grace and Gifted

I am hoping ... to apply some of the wonderful nuggets of wisdom I received this weekend into my real life

I am creating ... a pink scarf

I am hearing ... the humming of the computer and the clicking of keys. All's quiet in our house—at the moment.

Around the house ... things tend to get messier over the weekend. Plus, I wasn't here all day Saturday. It's not bad, but I will probably spend some time today tidying up. And starting the laundry routine all over again.

One of my favorite things ... fall. It's my favorite season. Colorful leaves; pumpkins; apple picking; sweaters and jeans; apple cider; fires in the fireplace; pumpkin bread; candy corn; my anniversary. It's the best!

A few plans for the rest of the week ... Irish dance lessons; feast of St. Michael the Archangel; Bible study; a liturgical tea in honor of the feast of St. Therese; apple picking

Here is a picture-thought I am sharing with you ...

From the archives ... This was last fall. In our backyard. Yes, we had a pumpkin patch. It was great! Every child in the neighborhood got a pumpkin from our patch last year—We harvested more than 20! We have grass now, which is probably better, especially when you're trying to sell your house, but having a pumpkin patch was a fabulous experience for our family.

For more daybooks, visit here.

A Hymn of Thanksgiving

The center of the spiritual life of Padre Pio was the Eucharistic Jesus. His devotion polarized around the tabernacle. Jesus, the Word Incarnate, was not distant in time and space to Padre Pio, but very close to him, living with him under the same roof, hidden under the eucharistic Species. Hour by hour, day and night, he would linger in conversation with the Divine Inhabitant of the tabernacle.

When asked where he could be found if he was not in his cell or in the confessional, he answered: "Come and look for me in the choir, in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament."

The sleepless nights, spent in prayer, were a preparation for Mass and union with Christ in Holy Communion. The days, lived in prayer, in the confessional, in his priestly ministry, were a hymn of thanksgiving. His thoughts, his looks, his sighs, were always for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, from whom he could not separate himself without suffering, as if attracted by a powerful magnet.

—Padre Alberto D’Apolito

St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)

Feast Day :: September 23

1887~1968

Every Holy Mass, heard with devotion, produces in our souls marvelous effects, abundant spiritual and material graces which we, ourselves, do not know ... It is easier for the earth to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! (St. Pio)

Here are two wonderful coloring pages for our children to do today. I wish there wasn't a long wait for this movie at blockbuster.com. Maybe it means that so many people are renting it. That would be good. But I was hoping to watch it this evening with my husband. Perhaps it's a sign that I should just purchase my own copy ... Here are two cappuccino recipes that would make great desserts for tonight ... I will remember them for next year, as I don't have the ingredients handy to make them right now.

Anyway, the most important thing we can do today is ask this holy saint to pray for us. That we, ourselves, may grow in holiness. That we may gain a little bit of wisdom and insight from him that will bring us closer to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

St. Padre Pio, ora pro nobis!

Fall Menus

I've been inspired recently to get back into menu planning. I've done it in the past, and I loosely did it this summer. But with the fall season upon us—you know the season that seems to pick up the pace a bit—I am trying to put forth a greater effort to plan things out. (Not only meals, but also chores, laundry, calendar items, including saying no to things ... You get the drift.)

In addition to dinner menus, I also am going to try, for the first time, creating breakfast and lunch menus, too. I've noticed that cold cereal is served on too many mornings, and with school, that can't be good for concentration. Packing lunches, too, can put me into a rut. So, I think this might be a good thing (as Martha says =) for me to try.

My breakfast and lunch menus are weekly, but I will repeat them for two weeks in a row. I have created two dinner menus so far, and I will create two more. Then, hopefully I can rotate a complete month of meals for the autumn months ahead. (I'm thinking September-November.)

I am hoping this will create less stress in the kitchen, as well as too many trips to a fast-food restaurant, because I wasn't prepared ...

Fall Menu, Part I

:: Breakfast ::

Sunday: cold cereal & fruit

Monday: oatmeal

Tuesday: pancakes & sausage

Wednesday: protein shakes & barley bars or muffins

Thursday: french toast/waffles & yogurt

Friday: breakfast sticks & fruit

Saturday: pancakes & sausage (double/freeze for Tuesday)

:: Lunch ::

Sunday: french toast/waffles (double for Thursday)

Monday: bento box idea (found here)

Tuesday: bagels with cream cheese

Wednesday: lunch box muffins

Thursday: pizza (bake the night before)

Friday: bagels with Laughing Cow

Saturday: macaroni & cheese

:: Dinner ::

Week 1:

Sunday: retro tuna; chips; veggies with dip

Monday: chili & corn bread

Tuesday: spaghetti & meatballs

Wednesday: "cigar" tortillas

Thursday: tacos

Friday: chicken skillet

Saturday: turkey with stuffing & gravy; pumpkin cheesecake bars

Week 2:

Sunday: slow-cooker lasagna

Monday: cheesy chicken, broccoli, rice

Tuesday: tacos

Wednesday: apple pancake souffle & bacon

Thursday: cheeseburger macaroni & broccoli

Friday: leftovers &/or sandwiches

Saturday: hamburger-stuffed potatoes; brownies with ice cream

Inspirational Resources:

IRL friend, Angie

Sarah

Barbara

Just in Time ...

This beautiful Chaplet, made lovingly by Barbara, arrived just in time for today, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. I actually received it a week or so ago. But the timing seems so perfect, as this entire month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.

I have not known of this Chaplet for very long. Maybe nine months or so. I first heard about it through this wonderful Catholic blog circle that I was just becoming acquainted with. Then when my mom was visiting for the summer, she asked me one day if I had ever heard of the Seven Sorrows Chaplet. I told her that I had and that I even knew someone who made them! So, I showed her Barbara's blog. She immediately decided to order one and chose dark purple beads. Then she turned to me and asked, "Well, don't you want one, too?" I took this question to be an invitation to pray, to grow closer to Our Lady and her Son. While I was taking forever to decide on a color, my mom started hearing more about the Chaplet ... It confirmed in her that this was indeed a prayer she needed to start praying—as if she was being told to pray the Chaplet, because she kept hearing about it in various non-related places. And she felt sure that I needed to start praying this Chaplet, too. And you all know, moms know best! =) I also picked dark purple for the beads. It seemed like just the right color for this particular Chaplet's focus ... And it will keep me connected to my mom, all the way down in Florida, to have matching beads with her.

Thanks again, Barbara! It is so lovely!

Another First Day

Today we started our Little Saints Preschool! It was a delightful day of learning about how she belongs to God and how she is so special to Him. She—or I or anyone—can never hear about God's love enough, can we? So, it was a good place to start. We read poems and stories and finger painted. Only one minor glitch: my tape recorder didn't work to record her unique voice. Ugh! Tell me that happens to you homeschool moms, too. I felt so bad! But I let her paint more in place of it, so hopefully it's all fine. I allotted one hour for everything, but it took us less than 45 minutes. I suppose some days will be longer and some will be shorter. She is so hungry to learn, that I hope she doesn't mind when the days are a bit shorter ... I suppose we can always paint some more ...

Be Bold in the Asking

Mary always points us to God, reminding us of God's infinite goodness. She helps us to open our hearts to God's ways, wherever those may lead us.

September 12 :: The Feast of the Most Holy Name

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This quote was e-mailed to me, and I just had to share it. Have a blessed day!

I want what is good for myself; I beg the same for you. Now there is no other way to bring this about than to ask the Virgin Mary constantly to come to you with her glorious Son. Be bold! Ask her to give you her Son, who in the blessed sacrament of the altar is truly food of your soul ... Readily will she give Him to you, still more readily will He come to you, giving you strength to make your way fearlessly through this dark world. In it large numbers of our enemies lie in wait, but they cannot reach us if they see us relying on such powerful help.

~ St. Cajetan

P.S. There is a coloring page here to celebrate today. I also liked how Regan's family made this glittery craft on Our Lady's birthday. Maybe we'll bring out the glitter today ... Also, here is a beautiful litany to perhaps add to a family prayer time ...

A Bit More on Liturgical Teas ...

Originally, I had the following paragraphs tagged onto the end of my post about Our Lady's birthday, but then I decided that I didn't want to clutter her special day with my ramblings. So, here is a bit about my journey with Liturgical Teas. And the journey really is just getting started ...

I first discovered the idea of Liturgical Teas when I started reading blogs written by Catholic moms in the early part of 2009. I had never heard of the idea until then. But I instantly loved the concept. I was just awe-struck with how many Catholic moms in Blogworld (and probably elsewhere =) are so faithful to making the Catholic faith come alive for their children. What a beautiful witness, even if it is only through photos and words on a computer screen! The joy and love is so obvious!

I did not do anything about this new-found concept (formally at least) until now. But I was immediately inspired to recognize and acknowledge more of the feast days the Church has given us to celebrate as a way of growing closer to the Lord. These days that honor Jesus' Mother who prays unceasingly for Her children; that honor the saints who we are called to imitate for they were very ordinary, normal folks who also led very holy and amazing lives; that honor the angels who protect and defend us. These days always turn our attention to God, Our Father and His Son Jesus through the Holy Spirit, and so of course they are cause for celebration!

I started printing out coloring pages and talking about feast days in our family's daily conversations and prayer times. We already had the tradition of celebrating the feast days of the patron saints after whom we were named. But as I became more aware of the awesome, rich liturgical life we can live in our home, I wanted to continue adding more and more simple, yet beautiful, celebrations into our family life.

Again, I plan on hosting a Liturgical Tea once a month with my older girls. I'm basing it on this schedule that I found that helped me recognize that a plan is really something I need in order for this to grow into a more intricate part of our days.

But even now that September's Liturgical Tea is over, I'm already thinking about the days ahead that are filled with beautiful feast days and how I can at least mention them to the kids ... Coloring pages, prayers, little ways ...

Lastly, on Tuesday, one more thing made the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary even more wonderful to celebrate: The girls' school incorporated this feast day into the first day of school by praying two decades of the Rosary at the end of the day and by sending some supplemental reading and prayer ideas home with each child! I am grateful that this particular school firmly believes and follows the Church's teaching that the parents are the first educators and the school is merely an extension of the home. This school lives out the liturgical year within the academic year, and that will only reinforce what I/we are striving to do at home to help our children become the little saints God desires them to be.

Thanks be to God!

And thanks to all of you who have inspired me with your Liturgical Tea ideas!

Happy Birthday to Our Lady!

Yesterday, the trio and I attended our very first Liturgical Tea! It was in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We began by reading a little about the feast day. Then, we prayed one decade of the Rosary together. My first grader led us. Then, we played Marian bingo! I got the idea here, but I made my own cards using this Web site and some religious stickers I just got here.

Afterward, we frosted mini white (purity) cupcakes with blue frosting for Our Lady. My four year old and I baked them that morning while the two older girls were at school. Then, we had blueberry smoothies in *tea* cups, of course, to round out our teatime fare.

I think our Liturgical Tea was a big hit. It was a fun time together, and it also was a special way to truly live out the liturgical year in our daily life at home. I plan on hosting one of these teas per month to honor a special day in our Catholic Church's liturgical year.

First Day of School

Spirit of Life, imprint upon their minds, in characters that can never be erased, the truth: that their apostolate will be successful only in the measure that they themselves live that supernatural inner life of which Thou art the sovereign principle and Jesus Christ the source.

~ The Soul of the Apostolate by Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard

Faithful in Small Things

Today is the anniversary of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta's entrance into Eternal Life :: August 26, 1910 ~ September 5, 1997

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Here are just a few quotes from Blessed Mother Teresa:

"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do ... but how much love we put in that action."

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."

"How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers."

"Communion with Christ gives us our strength, our joy and our love."

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Blessed Mother Teresa, pray for us!

St. Gregory the Great, Pray For Us

It is not by faith that you will come to know [God] but by love; not by mere conviction, but by action.

~St. Gregory the Great

St. Gregory the Great

Italy ~ 540-604

Pope and Doctor of the Church

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The feast day of St. Gregory the Great is also my husband's name day. So, it's an extra special day for us. We not only remember a wonderful pope, but we also ask his special prayers for the husband and dad of our family.

As a family, we have a tradition of celebrating the saint's feast day, after whom we are each named, in a special way. This usually includes a special breakfast or dessert, perhaps a coloring page or activity, and an added prayer of intercession to that saint on behalf of that family member.

Today, we are coloring this page. And we will have this simple dessert (the top one, and I'm not even going to look at the nutritional info. I really don't want to know). If I can find my Gregorian Chant CD, that would be fun to play, too. We have been wrapped up in back-to-school preparations this week, plus we have parent orientation tonight at our daughters' school, so I had to keep it extra simple. I know my husband won't mind, though. These ice cream bars are fantastic =) Plus, I was told today that my neighbor's mother thinks my husband is a "prince of a man." We've gotten to know her a bit over the past few years, and he was part of the crew that helped her move last night ... What a compliment, though! I was honored, to say the least.

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St. Gregory, ora pro nobis!

Queen for a Day

I'm always so honored when someone tags me for a meme or award ... That they'd even think of lil 'ol me, well, it just makes my day! So, I do try and answer them, even if it's not very timely ...

For this meme ...

1. List seven things that make you awe-summm!

2. Pass the award onto seven bloggers you read religiously.

3. Tag those seven bloggers.

My list of things that make me awe-summm:

1. I am created in the image and likeness of God.

2. I am loved unconditionally by Him, too.

3. I love being Catholic.

4. I made homemade chocolate waffles with real whipped cream for my 4-year-old daughter's birthday. Oh, and homemade frosting for the cupcakes, too. (At least my mom told me that I was awesome, after that day =)

5. I had five children in five years. (I don't think too many people can claim that!)

6. I am an at-home mother to all these children ... and I'm delighted to be so!

7. Even on bad days, I wouldn't trade this life for anything. To me, having that deep-rooted joy and hope is the essence of faith in God, and that is such an awesome gift!

Here are seven blogs that I read regularly ... Some I've read for awhile now, and some are fairly new to me. But all of them are really awe-summm:

1. Praying for Grace

2. Shepherding My Sheep

3. made for JOY (pretty new blogger but she's also a friend of mine IRL)

4. a place for everything

5. Totus Tuus Family & Catholic Homeschool

6. My Chocolate Heart

7. Amongst Lovely Things

Thanks, Christine, for tagging me! This was fun!