Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

Day 9: Pregnancy Loss ~ 31Days of reflections from a pregnant mama

October 15, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 31 Days, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, pro, Pro-Life Leave a Comment

There is plenty that I could write on this topic but nothing more powerful than the healing received through prayer.

My soul is deprived of peace,
I have forgotten what happiness is;
I tell myself my future is lost,
all that I hoped for from the Lord.

But I will call this to mind,
as my reason to have hope:
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,
his mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning,
so great is his faithfulness.
My portion is the Lord, says my soul;
therefore I will hope in him.
~ Lamentations 3:17-18, 21-24

I’m passing along a tradition that I just became aware of, Wave of Light: Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

A tradition on this day is that at 7:00 pm in each time zone a Wave of Light will move across the country, and the world. All families who have lost a baby either by pregnancy or infant death should light a candle and leave it burning for at least one hour. The wave of light will serve as a reminder that there are those of us who still remember – and those who have not suffered a loss pause to surround us in love.

My family will be lighting five candles this evening in honor of our blessings in heaven.

May my beloved children and saints; Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Teresa Agnes, and Maria Luisa ~ pray for us!

I was directed to this tradition via FB friends and Catholic Sistas.

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This is day 9 of my pregnancy reflections. I realize that I am a few days behind. I’m trying to own it and fight the urge to account my absence to placenta brain our sleep deprivation.

You can find the other posts of my 31 Days here.

Simple Costumes

October 15, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: All Saints Day, Costumes 3 Comments

Sparkles and Sweetie finished up the base of their costumes two weeks ago. Sparkles couldn’t wait to sew something after her first sewing project. Sweetie jumped on board.

I followed a simple tutorial for a tunic (Bible time costume) that I found on YouTube. My fabric is sheets from the thrift store.

The girls sewed their tunics and are gathering accessories. We hope to have every thing completed by the end of this week.

We opted to purchase the boy’s costumes this year. Originally, Papi wanted to be St. George and make Dragonfly the dragon. I almost went for it since Nana bought Dragonfly a darling dragon sweat suit like costume. Needless to say, I backed out of that idea – it just didn’t feel right having my lil’ guy representing the Devil. Good call, I know.

Dad spotted the perfect costumes at Costco. We couldn’t pass them up at $24 a piece! It’s all about simplicity in our house these days!

The boys have been wearing their costumes daily since September.

Day 8: Date Night ~ 31 Days of reflections from a pregnant mama

October 13, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 31 Days, Marriage, Pregnancy 2 Comments

Store up your love bank – take as many date nights as possible while you’re waiting for your new bundle of joy. Date nights will be few and far between for the first few months once the baby arrives.

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I needed this reminder today. Dad came home and said, “Let’s go out tonight.” I was still in my workout clothes from my 6am walk. My eyes were bloodshot and I politely declined his invitation so I could plop myself in bed. It took all about ten minutes for me to realize what I had just done – dissed my husband for no good reason. I give thanks for His grace to help me see things clearly – I have a husband who wants to be with me!

Deo gratias!!!

We had a short and sweet date night to the movies. We had plenty of conversation. Nonetheless, we’ll be certain to take our Date Night Questions the next time we go out.

Gift cards are one of the best gifts to give a couple with a handful of children. They make date nights an easy option without the guilt of spending money. Dad and I love gift cards!!!

~~~

This is day 8 of my pregnancy reflections. I realize that I am a few days behind, four days to be exact. I’m trying to own it and fight the urge to account my absence to placenta brain our sleep deprivation.

You can find the other posts of my 31 Days here.

Day 7: Simplicity ~ 31 Days of reflections for a pregnant mama

October 12, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 31 Days, Pregnancy, Simplicity 1 Comment

The call to simplify has intensified with each pregnancy and birth. Perhaps it’s because, with each pregnancy I gain a better understanding of how inapt I am – I can do nothing without Him. He calls me to a simplicity that helps me to embrace my weakness and depend on His strength. It’s a spiritual and physical simplicity.

My prayer life is far from glamorous or saint worthy. It’s merely what I can do, when I an do it, with enough sacrifice that causes discomfort but does not have me stray from my vocation – a wife and pregnant mama homeschooling and nurturing five blessings. I give thanks to God for leading me here since this hasn’t always been the case. I trust that a new season will come my way soon enough, His grace will lead me through anything that is asked of me. I seek to find peace and joy in the moment before me, the present.

We call races and generations Houses; and the Hebrews were wont to speak of the birth of children as “the building up of the house;” as it is written of the Jewish midwives in Egypt, that the Lord “made them houses;” Exod. i. 21. whereby we learn that a good house is not reared so much by the accumulation of worldly goods, as by the bringing up of children in the ways of holiness and of God; and to this end no labour or trouble must be spared, for children are the crown of their parents.

~ St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life (3.38)

My material life is less clear for me. I have a prompting and charism that I am drawn to but I am always in need of direction from my husband and spiritual director since I have the tendency to be too austere for family life with little ones. Below are some of the areas that I am currently working on.

Frugal Living

no superfluous spending – always discerning a purchase from a need or want
up-cycle household items or free items
thrift store shopping & craigslist bargains

ie; dressed the whole family at Easter for $38!!

never buy anything full price if a new item is, in fact, needed
homemade goods

homemade shampoo
homemade toothpaste
homemade laundry soap
homemade condiments
homemade cleaners

Clean Eating

no processed foods
no gluten

Schedule

daily schedule that revolves around prayer and the liturgical calendar – not academics and social calendar

Mass, parish functions, take precedence

extracurriculars are extremely limited

dinner most be together as a family (perfereably at home)
NO SUNDAY activities
all liturgical celebrations take precedent over any worldly activity, “PERIOD”
No money, no activity. We don’t break our budget or call on mammon to provide for our wants. We trust that God will provide for what He wills for us.

most extracurriculars have been replaced with an activity that can be done as a family
Dad’s work is flexible

allowing Him to be head of the household in a physical and spiritual sense.

always set time to serve the Church through our parish as well as time to help a sister or brother in Christ

Minimalist living

less stuff for me, means more room for Him and those that He has put before me
major purge is always taking place in my home

so much so that I have caught my two year old playing “…like mama” with a black garbage bag and all his toys.

the house is fully furnished but I remember the time when we moved into a new home with only one sofa and a dining set with four chairs. we often sat on the floor and had more room to roam in 1600sf than we ever had in 3200sf.
we’ve gradually downsized our living out of necessity and desire. we continue to downsize.
we’re scaling down our wardrobes and not storing quit as much for the different season.

I am far from my goal but I remain steadfast in my journey, praying that it lead my family home and be done all for His glory.

~~~

We all are inadequate to live the heroism of life in Christ, but God’s grace is sufficient to make His power perfect in us in our weakness ~2 Cor 12:9

~~~

This is day 7 of my pregnancy reflections. I realize that I am a few days behind, four days to be exact. I’m trying to own it and fight the urge to account my absence to placenta brain our sleep deprivation.

You can find the other posts of my 31 Days here.

Rose’s Senior Pictures

October 10, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Homeschooling, Rose, Rose GFG

The time has come, Rose is wrapping up her homeschool years. We decided to have some fun after our school photo session.

~~~

We remain steadfast in prayer as she continues to discern His holy will.

~~~

PRAYER FOR YOUTH TO BEG THE DIVINE DIRECTION 
IN THE CHOICE OF A STATE OF LIFE. 

O ALMIGHTY God! Whose wise and amiable prov- 
idence watches over every human event, deign to 
be my light and my counsel in all my undertakings, 
particularly in the choice of a state of life. I know 
that on this important step my sanctification and 
salvation may in a great measure depend. I know 
that I am incapable of discerning what may be best 
for me; therefore I cast myself into Thy arms, beseech- 
ing Thee, my God, Who hast sent me into this world 
only to love and serve Thee, to direct by Thy grace 
every moment and action of my life to the glorious 
end of my creation. I renounce most sincerely every 
other wish, than to fulfill Thy designs on my soul, 
whatever they may be; and I beseech Thee to give me 
the grace, by imbibing the true spirit of a Christian, 
to qualify myself for any state of life to which Thy 
adorable providence may call me. O my God! when- 
ever it may become my duty to make a choice, do Thou 
be my light and my counsel, and mercifully deign to 
make the way known to me wherein I should walk, for 
I have lifted up my soul to Thee. Preserve me from 
listening to the suggestions of my own self-love, or 
worldly prudence, in prejudice to Thy holy inspirations. 
Thy good Spirit lead me into the right way, and 
Thy adorable providence place me, not where I may 
be happiest, according to the world, but in that state 
in which I Shall love and serve Thee most perfectly, 
and meet with most abundant means for working out 
my salvation. This is all that I ask and all that I 
desire; for what would it avail me to gain the whole 
world, if, in the end, I were to lose my soul and to be 
so unfortunate as to prefer temporal advantages and 
worldly honors to the enjoyment of Thy divine presence 
in a happy eternity? 

Most holy Virgin Mary, take me under thy protection. 

My good angel guardian and patron saints, pray 
for me. Amen.

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