Prayer needed

There is just no easy way to write this.  I've written this post and rewritten it for a few weeks now.  How can I put into words the fear and grief that sits in my heart?  How can I explain through this computer what this news means to my family?

I am screaming in silence.  Cancer!  My father in law has cancer.  I can't let my children see this fear yet.  I'm so sad that they have to face it soon themselves.  Allow me to be clear, I'm not afraid of death nor the death of my father-in-law.  But, I remember all too well what the lost of someone so close feels like.  It's a scary time for a child, I've lived through it twice as a child.  And it's tough to see those we love go and the missing that is left behind can ache.

My father-in-law is grand.  He is the only grandpa my children know and still fairly young.  He is strong in spirit and body.  A natural cook and book worm.  That man has a library of facts and equations within his brain.  And best of all he loves, loves, loves his grandbabies...all 11 of them.  11 grandchildren from just two children.  What a blessing.

After a period of being sick, he was diagnosed with Colon Cancer just two weeks ago.  Sadly, the cancer has already spread.  This has all been very quick, way too soon.  All we can do now is pray, spend time with one another and create some lasting memories.

Would you please keep him in your prayers?  Would you include my husband and sister-in-law in those prayers.  This is their dad, no more words needed I think.  My mother-in-law, they've been married some 45 years!  And of course for his grandchildren.

Lord Jesus Christ, You choose to share our human nature, to redeem all people, and to heal the sick. With this in mind I beg you to look with compassion on your humble servant  ------, support them with your power, comfort them with your protection, and give them the strength needed to fight against evil. Since you have given ------, a share in your own passion, help them to find hope in suffering, for you Jesus

St. Peregrine Laziosi, pray for us

St. Barbara, pray for us

St. Joseph, pray for us

St. Michael Archangel, pray for us

Mother Mary, pray for us

Beloved Jesus, hear our prayers

from darkness to Light

Dr. Bernard Nathanson

“He was like St. Paul, who was a great persecutor of the Church, yet when he saw the light of Christ, he was perhaps the greatest apostle for the Gospel. Dr. Nathanson was like that after his conversion. He went all around the world talking about the babies and the evils of abortion. Being his godmother was such an amazing thing, to see him come to Christ.”

~  pro-life activist Joan Andrews Bell

Truthfully, I didn't know who he was until I read the notice of his passing from an email.  But, I didn't get through but a few lines before I began to hurt for Dr. Nathanson.  The pain he describes is horrible. 

This man knew the hurt and evils of abortion from a unique perspective.  Abortion hurts!  It hurts the child, mother, father, extended family, and the doctors.  Dr. Nathanson came to regret his position and was haunted by the deeds of his own hands.  His conversion, both from abortionist to Pro LIFE advocate and from atheist to Catholicism should be read.  

LifeSiteNews

EWTN covering his conversion to Catholicism.  This is an excellent article.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

And let perpetual Light shine upon him

May the souls of the faithful departed

through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Amen.

*this moment*

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see

Happy St. Valentine's Day part 2

...and a very blessed and happy

St. Valentine's Day

 to all who come by for a visit

God bless!

Happy St. Valentine's Day

To you!

My husband,

best friend,

confidant,

motivator

and all of the more personal stuff that remains with me when we are apart

We thank you, O God, for the Love You have implanted in our hearts. May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feeling, and concerned for each other's needs and wishes. Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings. Increase our faith and trust in You and may Your Prudence guide our life and love. Bless our Marriage O God, with Peace and Happiness, and make our love fruitful for Your glory and our Joy both here and in eternity.

Amen

You know you're a homeschooler...

...when

the library no longer places your requested books on the hold shelf.  But instead, place the stack on a specially assigned spot on their desk...expecting my arrival at 'any' moment.

(I had to laugh when I saw it.  It took 3 kids and myself to carry them back to car the LOL)

If you're happy....

A post not to be missed by Ann Voskamp....

RIP Brian Jacques

"Matthias cut a comical little figure as he wobbled his way along the cloisters, with his large sandals flip-flopping and his tail peeping from beneath the baggy folds of an oversized novice's habit."



And so begins the tale of the novice little mouse, Matthias, his wise Father Abbot

Mortimer, Cornflower the pretty field mouse, and the horrible Cluny the Scourge.  What a treat these books have been to read.  My eldest, Lucy,  whizzed through them and Max prefers the read alongs.  He especially likes it when momma uses the voice for Cluny...snarls and all.

Tonight is a Redwall tribute 'read-a-thon'. 

A tribute for Mr. Brian Jacques who passed away on the evening of February 5th.

He left us with many tales to enjoy over and over again
Just so you know, the story line wouldn't be appropriate for the real young ones.  Max is 9 and we started reading them together last year. 

(I highly recommend the audio version to Redwall.  It's wonderful!)

Bent, blue, and sparkling

Snowflakes!

 

Lucy had to tug hers out of the jar

it's best to use the suggested WIDE mouth jars for this project...I just didn't have any around

It was a chemistry lesson

with fabulous results

*this moment*

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

(kids in the kitchen, working together...priceless)

Update on Hassan

Wonderful news!!!

The surgeons went in to drain what they visibly saw on last nights CT scan, only to be AMAZED that they no longer saw the cyst.  There was nothing there!

Praise God and thank you St. Blaise!

Hassan will be kept over night just for observation.  There will be another scan in the morning, just to make sure he is in the clear.

Thank you for praying. 

The family is quite relieved and so grateful :)

A Prayer Request

Asking for your prayers for a dear friend's 10 year old son, Hassan.  He was admitted last night into the hospital and will be in surgery today to remove an abscess from his neck/throat area. 

Since today is the feast day of St. Blaise, my friend and her family, are quite hopeful, and even joked a bit about "well if he's going to have surgery on his throat, can't think of a better day than today for it". 

We pray that the surgery is quick, successful and that he may quickly return home to his family healed and whole.

Saint Blaise, pray for us that we may not suffer from illnesses of the throat and pray that all who are suffering be healed by God's love. Amen

Candlemas Tea ~

Our tea didn't happen.  There were snowflakes to make and stories being read. 

By the time I saw the time, our tea time had longed pasted. 

Disappointment showed on little faces.

What was I to do?

There was batting practice for half the kids and dinner to make.

Papi took the older two to their practice and after the clean up from dinner.  Rose, Princess, and I had our 'Candlemas' tea after dinner treat.

for recipes and ideas visit Catholic Cuisine

frowns were turned upside down

and smiles were back on their face :)

Just like this momma likes it

Snowflakes for Southern Cali

Unless we take a drive up to the mountains we don't get the kind of weather that is currently hitting Texas.   But, we like the snow and more specifically, snowflakes.   It being winter and with the storms that we are seeing through out the states; a snowflake theme was just screaming for attention.

We happily obliged.

In our science basket we've been reading

     

 

For art

we allowed the talented Kathy Barbro to teach and inspire us.  We used her "snowflake resist watercolor" grid lesson.  So easy and cute!  

Then we had fun making our own snowflakes.

there are a few sites with the directions, here is one

The kids twisted and cut their 'snowflakes'

then with some boiling water and borax

a little bit of magic happens

tomorrow we get to see the results

very excited

On the feast of St. John Bosco

"When... stubbornness takes hold of one’s mind, how can sanctity ever flourish? Where humble obedience reigns, grace will triumph."- Don Bosco


St. John Bosco is one of those saints that attracts the attention of young boys and girls.  What I find most appealing about him is how his life is like that of many young people today.  Actually, we can be talking about the very same issues St. John Bosco saw and wrote about within the faces of our own youth today.

His approach was cleverly constructed by God...being able to touch and relate to a young boy for instance takes a gift.  Obviously St. John Bosco was charismatic, playful, intelligent but he used those gifts, bestowed by God to reach a section of our population so easily dismissed.  He believed that showing love to the boys in his care would be enough to touch their souls.  That giving a combination of knowledge, play, and guidance could, by the grace of God, turn a lost youth around.  He taught by religion, reason and kindness!

I spent quite a few years with the youth just like Father John's.  They were/are the abandoned and forgotten juveniles of the state system, either under the direct care of the foster care program or the probation system.  My focus was working with the girls more so than the boys.  These girls always tried to be so strong during the day, very tough to deal with.  But, at night all those walls came crumbling down. 

They would often cry themselves to sleep, that is when they slept.  But what I found during these nightly episodes was that they craved protection and guidance.  They wanted discipline and structure.  They yearned for knowledge, I mean they fought against it at first, but once the wall came down a bit they were wide eyed and enthusiastic for truth.  I wish I would have known more about St. John Bosco then, asking for his intercessions for these children.  Because they were children.  Perhaps a bit damaged, but they were created by God just as I was and my children. 

And St. John Bosco knew that too.

I'm no longer in that particular field, I do miss it, but I was given another job. To raise my own children; giving them the same education, direction, and love that St. John Bosco is remembered for.  I think of the kids I met and the many I got to know so well.  I pray for them.  Today, I'll be asking for St. John Bosco's intersessions for them too.

(Father John Bosco hearing the confessions of his boys)

I hope you all have (are having) a wonderful Monday!

Sites worth a click:

"it is interesting to observe how St. John Bosco was always aware of the problems of his times. He was not a saint living in the clouds, as sentimental hagiographies depict many saints. St. John Bosco knew the problems of his time and combated the enemies of the Church as they actually were."

~ source here

A post worth reading by Annie of Under Her Starry Mantle 

A biography of St. John Bosco here at ETWN and here

A recipe for tea here with Charlotte

A dinner plan: Catholic Cuisine

and a movie St. John Bosco: Mission to Love

A prayer for my girls...where ever they may be now and for all the youth we know

O glorious Saint John Bosco,

who in order to lead young people to the feet of the divine Master

and to mould them in the light of faith

and Christian morality didst heroically sacrifice thyself

to the very end of thy life

and didst set up a proper religious Institute destined to endure

and to bring to the farthest boundaries of the earth thy glorious work,

obtain also for us from Our Lord a holy love for young people

who are exposed to so many seductions

in order that we may generously spend ourselves in supporting them

against the snares of the devil,

in keeping them safe from the dangers of the world,

and in guiding them,

pure and holy,

in the path that leads to God.

Amen.