A Lesson About Life

An elderly Cherokee man was teaching his grandchildren about life.
He said to them, "A fight is going on inside of me; it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.  One wolf is fear, anger, envy sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.  The other is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.  This same fight is going on inside of you and inside every other person too."  

The grandchildren thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"  

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

October: the Month of Miscarriage, Stillborn, and Infant Death

October 15th a day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death, which includes, however is not limited to, miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, and the death of a newborn.

Tonight, October 16th our Catholic Church celebrated our little saints in heaven, including our boys, "Darren" & "Baby Brooksie".  Darren left our home, but not our hearts, 11/18/2016.  The following month we lost a baby to miscarriage.  Even though we took nearly 2 years to name him, we officially named him this month: "Gerard". Gerard is the patron saint of unborn babies & expectant mothers.  

Every year our church celebrates this day.  I've never allowed myself to go, so this was our first as a family.  Last night at mass each family lit a candle and brought it forward for their babies.  It was a beautiful way to celebrate and grieve together.  

Father Chuck (father of 7 children himself) made these points in his homily: God's mercy is beyond our understanding.  Jesus tells us, "trust me."  Our Lord's ultimate goal is to bring us all home, some just make it home sooner than others.  

Helen Keller said, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart."

Until we meet again...

Letting Go

If you lend only when you expect to receive, what kind of graciousness is yours? For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting to receive something in return. But love your enemies and do good to them, and lend when there is nothing to expect in return. Then will your reward be great and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High. For He is kind towards the ungrateful and the wicked. 

»Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Don't be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back.

This passage came at just the right time. This summer I gave away a majority of my baby stuff to a friend who was surprised with a beautiful addition to their family and to the Pregnancy Lifecare Center. I did hold on to my cloth diapers (because they were SO expensive and also held sweet memories of diapering my babies) & strollers (because Felicity can still fit in them). When I found out two friends of mine were in need of some items I still possess I hesitated. These were mine, my memories, my just-in-case-there’s-another-one.  It’s hard. These are MINE. “No they’re not,” I hear in my mind. “They’re mine. I let you use them and now you share.” Is it God speaking or my guardian angel? Likely. But I bought them with my money. “I gave you the money,” I hear. OK God. You love a cheerful giver. But what if they don’t appreciate the gift? What if they’re misused or not use at all. “It’s just stuff. Gifts are given w/o strings attached.” 

Why let material possessions rot away for just-in-case when they could be used by some little bundle now?  I can always buy more if I need. Why not bless others? Thank you, God. Let me be a blessing to others are you are a blessing to me. 💗

Quote from Pope St. Gregory the Great

"When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice."

— Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Time Marches On

I work with people of all ages, and the conversations I have with them m got me thinking about ‘time’ and how fast or slow it goes.  To a child summer is SO LONG that they’re ready to go back to school.  In my minds eye I see a child, bursting with energy, running full speed ahead whilst time is dragging them down, holding them back as if a grandfather clock on a string, tied around the child’s middle.

To an elderly person the seasons and years go by so fast they can’t recall the year. This isn’t always due to dementia...sometimes it does go by so fast.  My minds eye again sees an elderly gentleman, cozy in a recliner, as a cartoon alarm clock like something you would see in Looney Toons show, bouncing around the room with its second hand spinning like a top.

So where is it, where we are actually living our timeline equally, marching at a steady pace neck and neck with our time clock?  While raising my young children many people tell me, “the days are long, but the years are short”. Or “these are the best years. Enjoy them!”  Are we so caught up in like and busyness that we forget to live, to pray, to just be?  I don’t know the answer. Maybe all my many questions will be answered when I get home someday, but then again once I get there will it matter?

What is Pride?

What is pride? It is the inordinate love of oneself at the expense of others and the exaggerated estimation of one's own learning and importance.

Well that's humbling!  Praise the Lord!

Felicity is Five and Feelin’ Fine

Gifts

The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts, rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them. - Pope Francis in Gaudete et Exscultate

Report card

No mosquitoes

School

:)

Goodbye chickens, hello play house

I'm rocking my babies and babies don't keep

New fireplace top created by my father-in-law

From chicken bath to head and chicks

Mother's Day card from number two

Words from a saint

If I had to advise parents, I should tell them to take great care about the people with whom their children associate. Much harm may result from bad company, and we are inclined by nature to follow what is worse rather than what is better. - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Miscarriage matters

https://thatsinappropriate.com/why-miscarriage-matters-when-youre-pro-life/

Jesus:

If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;