Monday, March 19, 2012

A Just Man

 Honoring the Solemnity of St. Joseph, our family's patron saint.
“He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: ‘Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord’” (St. Bernardine of Siena).

St. Joseph was an ordinary manual laborer although descended from the royal house of David. In the designs of Providence he was destined to become the spouse of the Mother of God. His high privilege is expressed in a single phrase, "Foster-father of Jesus." About him Sacred Scripture has little more to say than that he was a just man-an expression which indicates how faithfully he fulfilled his high trust of protecting and guarding God's greatest treasures upon earth, Jesus and Mary.
- from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

We will be making "St. Joseph-pray for us" lilies today, thank you Lacy at Catholic Icing for this cute idea.


Thank you, heavenly Father for the unending grace you give...

The gift of St. Joseph, for his faithful trust, love and protection.

My husband's faith, trust, love and protection. I love this tireless, gives everything man, who loves, provides and protects us.

God & family filled weekend, just being together and connecting.

Organizing and spring cleaning, productive for the home, but even more fruitful in that it clears & settles my mind.

Settling into a good morning workout routine. Habits that are changing and feeling motivated to keep it going.

Coffee with my dear, sweet, trustworthy friend. Her honesty. Knowing I'm not alone with my thoughts. The big hug she gave me, the really tight, not letting go kind.

Finally feeling some peace about homeschooling after weeks of intensive prayer, research and reading.

That my daughter is coping better and gaining some confidence. We are talking, reading and praying and she is feeling just how much God loves her and trusting his plan.

My beautiful aunt & her prayers.

The grace of Lent


(gifts #422-431)
(gifts #432-518 Feb Joy dare)









Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Now That's Trust!

Feeling so incredibly grateful today for…well, everything. I just finished reading Kisses from Katie. Such a heartrending, amazing story of an affluent 18 year old girl who left her perfect suburban life for missionary work in Uganda. Katie finds abundant joy and love among the filth, disease and poverty of an African village. The world’s poorest of poor, and untouchable in the eyes of many, but Katie sees Jesus in their faces and God’s purpose for their lives. What amazing faith and trust in the Lord.

I will never look at the basic necessities of life the same…and I don’t want to. I take so much for granted in my abundant, very comfortable life. This book has given me so much to think about, pray about…

So grateful to God for what we consider the very basics of life…
A home that is sturdy, clean and comfortable.
Water… hot water, clean water
Healthy food
Healthy children
Medicine, doctors and hospitals, especially the ones who saved my dear son’s life
Soap
Diapers
School and teachers
Books, paper, pencils and crayons
Electricity
Beds & clean sheets
Stove & oven
Washer & dryer
Furniture
Paved roads & reliable car
And for…
My daughter who is making faithful, healthy choices
Beautiful spring weather
Spending time outdoors in the sun
Walks with my baby
New books for me and Alex today
Katie and all the missionaries who serve God’s people and make our fallen world a better place… just one person at a time.

(Gifts #400-421)














Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Glimpses of Spring

Crocus, daffodil and hyacinth greens peeking through the earth.

Children jumping, climbing and delighting in short sleeves.

A window flung open, new air blowing out the stale and stiff.

Joyfully welcoming this warm, windy March day. The first warm days of the season make me giddy with anticipation of spring. I look forward to that first day of work in garden, hands in soil, cultivating new life. Waiting for the greens to bud and flower. These longer, warmer days of spring, invite us outdoors to soak up His glory.

My lover speaks and says to me,
 “Arise, my friend, my beautiful one,
and come!
For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come!
-Song of Songs 2:10-13

Welcoming some new life in the soul today too. The Lenten journey continues, anticipating New Life in the Resurrection. This warm spring day during Lent feels like hope for the journey.

Winter has succumbed...at least for today.

Grateful today for this glimpse of spring...


And for...


Manicure day with the girls


How Anna talks with no teeth

No teeth, but such cute nails
And for...

~Watching them run, jump, and play, enjoying God's good earth.

~Wind and warmth.

~Gardens that need weeding and clearing, symbolic of Lent.

~Open windows and fresh air.

~Gospel of Matthew chapter 24 & 25, how studying His word always gives fresh insight and peace.

(Gifts #390-400)