eternal rest grant unto them oh Lord...

I have a very special devotion to the Holy Souls in Purgatory and so these eight days of prayer and indulgences for them are quite near to my heart. Purgatory is a gift of God's unbounded love and mercy!

two pumpkins and a priest...

Last night we enjoyed having Fr. M, who is loved as part of our family, over to carve pumpkins.. roast the seeds (my first time doing that), have homemade apple crisp, and watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown... so much fun! 

for today...

"Lord grant me the love with which you want me to love you."

(St Josemaria Escriva The Forge #270)

fall fun...

We have been having a great time trying some new fall-ish traditions... here is one that is a definite keeper!(and likely won't be just a fall thing).... Homemade Apple Cider Doughnuts... I have never made doughnuts before but will be again...soon i am sure. 

DELICIOUS!

Sam I am....

I love my Sam!! Not only does he have eyes so deep I could swim in them all day... he also makes me laugh so hard some days. For some reason it always centers around religion questions. Here are some from the past:
When asked a series of catechism questions, getting them all right of course (he is pretty darn smart), I finally asked:


"Sam who were the first people on the earth?" very seriously he looked at me and said "Um duh mom... astronauts!" not only was i laughing but so were all the other kids.. too funny.


Then when going over creation recently, I began to explain that God creating means that he made everything out of nothing etc... and Sam stopped me and simply said "uh no mom..." (again with that "duh" tone to his voice) I said "yes Sam look right here in the book" (smart mother moment..not!) He just looked at me and said "um, mom.... Adam from dirt?!?!" 


Today he had his best one yet! We were reviewing our lesson on Adam and Eve.. Original Sin.. and such. I asked him the final question... "What promise did God make to Adam and Eve?" (of course i was looking for the answer a Savior) but true to form Sam looks at me and says "um, that he would give them some clothes?" That was it.. school was over. I couldn't even look at him without laughing! I love that kid!!!!

happy birthday to me....

My mother, who lives in Colorado, just sent me one of these for my birthday!! I have been wanted one, the real thing... a Le Creuset... for about ever. I am more than excited to use it tonight for the first time. Huge thanks to my mother.  

smiles all around...

Princesses #1 and #2.... all decked out for opening night! It was such a beautiful play and we had 115 in the audience the first night and about 70 on night 2. Included in that were some good friends of Rachel's who are evangelical protestants. She was happy they came and told me how she had a real sense of evangelization when telling them about it and asking them to come. Very proud of her on many many levels!


And not be be forgotten, Andrew played St Margaret's husband. He is a very good actor and it is always enjoyable to watch him getting into the characters. Both he and Rachel are planning to try out for a play at our community play house in November...The Magicians Nephew. Exciting!

Sam was the Flemish boy who turned St Margaret in the play. He was also a beggar and an "extra". I could look at his eyes all day!! Happy 6th birthday to him yesterday. We celebrated with some of his friends and their families last night. I am so thankful for this little guy in my life! Joy and suffering all at the same time.. reminds me always of the cross :)!

and away we go...

Introducing our St Margaret Clitherow.... aka Rachel who is 14 and plays the martyred saint in our play this weekend. My dear friend Linda spent many hours making this costume for her... while fighting bronchitis, having a new born, and to the sounds of my little ones and hers "having fun" (read here destroying her house top to bottom). We are grateful to her and cannot wait for the play!!

busy, busy, busy...

We had a great fall party with a lot (and I do mean A LOT) of friends. The weather threw us a curve ball but in the end it all worked out so very nicely. 
Now we just have play fever around here. Our neighborhood does a play every year and this weekend is the big night (two nights actually). The story is about St. Margaret Clitherow (see previous post about her life). So this week is costumes and finishing touches... plus a little bit of school here and there, my birthday, my Sam's birthday, two dance classes, a baseball skill night for Andrew... and much more that will come up I am sure of it! 

(image from ShabbyBlogsCrazyLife)

angel of God...

Happy Feast day to my Guardian Angel! Looking for images to post here there were so many that were angels protecting little children from bridges, dark woods, precipices, and the like. They were gently little images that gave a picture of serenity and peace. All of that being very beautiful of course, I have come to think rather that my angel has got to be/"look" (even though a pure spirit) much tougher than those images. My! what I have put my angel through in my life! God's love and mercy is so evident when thinking about the tremendous gift of our angels.."to light, to guard, to rule and to guide." 

"there's my therese..mommy" --my little emma therese today

"In times of aridity when I am incapable of praying, of practicing virtue, I seek little opportunities, mere trifles, to give pleasure to Jesus; for instance a smile, a pleasant word when inclined to be silent and to show weariness. If I find no opportunities, I at least tell Him again and again that I love Him; that is not difficult and it keeps alive the fire in my heart. Even though this fire of love might seem extinct I would still throw little straws upon the embers and I am certain it would rekindle."      (XVI letter to her sister Celine)

something new...

FOR TODAY:9-29-09
Outside my window...it is a chilly fallish night with a full, clear night of stars.
I am thinking...of a dear friend and praying for them
I am thankful for...the bonfire at a neighbors tonight and emma's sticky marshmallow mouth.
From the school room... it was a half day today because i had an early morning appointment...but still a good day...
From the kitchen...clean!
I am wearing...comfy clothes
I am creating...quiet so that i can sleep in peace
I am going...to bed very soon..early morning appointments mean early morning rising...
I am reading...a new book from a friend (priest) Wounds Healed by Love Alone (about St Therese)
I am hoping...to have a smooth day tomorrow
I am hearing...the silence of a busy day having been put to rest...
Around the house...everyone is sleeping
One of my favorite things...music
A few plans for the rest of the week: emma's feast day on Thursday, our youth group tomorrow night, and very cold weather coming...cold for me that is.


***this is something i came across poking around other blogs today and thought that is was a beautiful way to just simply reflect on the day or the moment...
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

defend us in battle...

O Jesu, lifespring of the soul, The Father’s power, and glory bright! Thee with the angels we extol; From Thee they draw their life and light.

Thy thousand thousand hosts are spread Embattled o‘er the azure sky; But Michael bears Thy standard dread, And lifts the mighty cries on high.

He in that sign the rebel powers did with their dragon prince expel; And hurl’d them from the heaven’s high towers Down like a thunderbolt to hell.

Grant us with Michael still, O Lord, against the Prince of Pride to fight; So may a crown be our reward, before the Lamb’s pure throne of light.

To God the Father glory be, and to his sole-begotten Son; The same, O Holy Ghost, to Thee, while everlasting ages run.

* Most glorious Prince, Michael the Archangel, be thou mindful of us; here, and in all places, pray for us to the Son of God most high.
(Te Splendor, The Raccolta)