Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

A Phase Filled with Healing

October 6, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Fitness, Health 1 Comment

My last phase update was in May.

This phase extended far beyond beyond my expectations, in more ways than I can list. I prayed to grow spiritually and produce His fruits. He provided many opportunities to go to my knees and always reminded me that this is more of a spiritual journey than a physical one.

Here’s the quick run down of this phase.

weight loss
lost training partner due to injury (Rose)
lost 2 toe nails
injured ankle that took 2 months to heal
gained a training partner and friend–sister in Christ
weight gain
pregnancy
more weight gain
miscarriage
prayer & fasting
spiritual healing
detox
weight loss
complete food overhaul
major lifestyle changes
restored health and relief from long-time ailments (partially due to my new lifestyle change*)
lost training partner due to injury
inspired my Mom to get moving. She participated in the 5k on my race day.
ran a 1/2 marathon (barefoot)

Here’s a more detailed look at my accomplishments that the Good Lord has allowed.

Plan of Action:

put the focus on the journey (spiritual and physical fitness) not the end result (weight loss).

ditched the all or nothing attitude

took it one week at a time. focused on weekly goals so that I did not become discouraged.

Goals:

30 min exercise 3x 2x week in addition to my running program.

passed on the races and donated the entrance fees to worthy causes.

lost a total of 20lbs including all my gains and losses but I’m not anywhere near my goal weight. I still have 20lbs to go.

lost inches.

Diet:

*After prayer and discernment, I made a major overhaul in my (and my family’s) diet. I’ve adopted a no gluten, sugar, grains, legumes and dairy diet. I eat only meat, fish, fowl, vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers (with modifications, of course).

ate small meals throughout they day – before I got into hunger mode.

only water. 10-14+ glasses a day. – O.k., I did add the occasional coconut milk to the list.

In addition to the above, each day of sacrifice was dedicated to a specific intention – many of which were provided by fellow bloggers.

I’m still re-grouping at this time and I’m not sure where I’ll go from here. I pray to remain focused on my ultimate goal, to glorify Him!

~~~

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

~Proverbs 3:5-8

This is NOT Our Home

October 4, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Consolation, Home, Prayers

We have prayed to simplify all areas of our lives. The Good Lord has answered our prayers in ways that we did NOT desire. Yet, we remained steadfast in His providence and He has showered His mercy on us.

We have been brought, once again, to a place of physical and spiritual detachment. It has been met with an outpouring of charity from family, friends, and strangers.

Through it all we have been reminded that this is not our home.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever. ~ 1 John 2:15-17

Please keep my parents and the S & P families in your prayers. Their charity towards us was a sweet consolation that has brought us to our knees in thanksgiving. Our God is a faithful God, He will never abandoned us. Trust always in Him and be open to the gifts that He places right before you. They are often in disguise and found in the most unexpected places.

Sancta Familia ~ Ora pro nobis

Defend Us, St. Michael

September 29, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 09 September, 09 September Saints, Archangels, St. Michael

DEDICATION OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Traditional Calendar ~ Dedication of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel (Michaelmas Day)

New Calendar ~ Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE

This feast commemorates the dedication to St. Michael of an ancient church at Rome at a date earlier than the sixth century. St.Michael the Archangel is honored as the supreme guardian spirit of the universal Church. In heaven Michael led the good angels against Lucifer and his rebel angels. The fallen angels pursue on earth that same war against the Man-God Christ which they began in heaven. Therefore Michael continues to direct the battle against them here on earth. The standard-bearer of the Church, he introduces the departed souls of her children into God’s holy light (Offertory Hymn of Requiem Mass). He also presents our prayers to God (Incensation at High Mass), conquers demons (Prayers after Low Mass), and pleads for us sinners (Confiteor).

INTROIT Ps. 102:20

Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength who do His bidding, obeying the voice of His commands.

Ps. 102:1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all my being bless His holy name.

V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O God, who wondrously directs the services of angels and men, grant that our lives on earth may be guarded by the angels who stand ever before Your face ministering to You in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Apoc. 1:1-5

In those days, God gave unto him, to make known to his servants the things which must shortly come to pass: and signified, sending by his angel to his servant John, Who hath given testimony to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever he hath seen. Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy: and keepeth those things which are written in it. For the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace be unto you and peace, from him that is and that was and that is to come: and from the seven spirits which are before his throne: And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

GRADUAL Ps. 102:20, 1

Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength who do His bidding.

V. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all my being bless His holy name.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.

Holy archangel Michael, defend us in battle, that we may not perish in the dreaded judgment. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 18:1-10

At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: "Who, thinkest thou, is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus, calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them. And said: "Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. And if thy hand, or thy foot, scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Apoc. 8:3, 4

An angel stood before the altar, having a golden censer in his hand; and there was given to him much incense, and the smoke of the incense went up before God, alleluia!

SECRET

O Lord, graciously accept the Sacrifice of praise we offer You. May it bring us closer to our salvation through the angels’ prayers of intercession. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Dan. 3:58

All you angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, sing a hymn of praise and exalt Him above all forever.

POSTCOMMUNION

We rely on the prayers of the blessed archangel Michael, O Lord, that the Sacrament which we have received upon our lips may always remain in our hearts. Through our Lord . . .

~~~

Resources:

Little Flowers Housekeeping

September 29, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Little Flowers

The Little Flowers group that I lead is up to 36 members. Praise God! This is, by far, the most girls that I have been blessed with in my five years of leading LF.

Currently, my LF group is open to 5-8 year old girls. In the past, I did not have an age requirement. Another mom and I started a group for fellow homeschooling families. It was a Little Flower co-op of sorts.

LF Ice cream social. My youngest LF, Sweetie at 2. – LF May Tea. My oldest LF, Rose at 14.

I have posted some forms and ideas I use to help keep things organized and parents informed.

Please feel free to download and print any of the forms that may be of use to you.

~~~

I host a private blog and Yahoo email loop for my Little Flowers. Both sources allow me to better communicate with the families.

Registration Form – each family must complete this form prior to their first meeting

Info Sheet – includes gen info, schedule, contact info, agenda, meeting checklist and fee info.

Snack & Volunteer Sign-up – these forms are used for ea. family to sign up to help. This is not a requirement for participation in Little Flowers. **

Order Form – spreadsheet used to record orders for ea year.**

** I delegate these tasks to moms. I would not be able to do what I do without the help of dedicated moms.

~~~

Additional LF Forms:

(I’ll be certain to add more forms here as I stumble across them in my archives or create them.)

Just One Drop

September 24, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: {phfr}, Beach, Consolation, Missionaries of Charity, Picture Recap, Relic

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just one drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that one drop.” ~ Bl. Mother Teresa

~~~

Mother Teresa of Calcutta is a powerful intercessor for my family. The more our devotion grows to her and the MC way, the more we are drawn closer to Jesus Christ. It is not always easy to surrender on this journey that we are on but the Good Lord never fails to provide encouragement.

There is a quickening taking place in our hearts and home at this time. Praise God that He provided us with three (plus) back to back consolations within the same week.

The first consolation occurred on Thursday. It was followed, on Friday, by the second consolation, a glorious opportunity. Dad and I took the little’s for some service work when a priest (who knows of our devotion to Bl. Mother Teresa) eagerly pulled us aside. He invited us to take a moment to venerate a first class relic of Bl. Mother Teresa. We did not hesitate. (This was the second first class relic of a saint that was privately presented to me for veneration. The first occurred in early August. Rose and I were blessed with the opportunity to venerate a relic of Bl. Louis & Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse–Mother Teresa’s patron.) We prayed for the intercession of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta and for the graces from God to become a saint like Mother Teresa. We had a hard time leaving and desired to spend more time in the presence of Mother Teresa and Our Lord. We are still glowing from this experience.

The third consolation was the start of the finale. Dad and I used to take a monthly visit to the MC house in Pacifica. We would attend Adoration, recollection, receive spiritual direction and visit the Gift of Love (a home for the dying). On occasion we would take all the kids. Unfortunately, our visits have been limited due to our current situation. This weekend was really no different but we knew we had a choice to make. We were given the graces to say “yes” to a family visit and trust that He would take care of the details. We loaded up the car immediately when Dad arrived home from work and ventured off. We didn’t pre-pack or take the time to calculate for all of our potential needs. Yet, we were all at peace with our light load and early departure. We arrived to our destination after an event-free two hour car ride. (That, in itself, could have been a fourth consolation.) We entered for Adoration and Benediction. Sr. Joselia, M.C. visited with us prior to and post recollection. Her joy, encouragement, hospitality and love was another consolation that has helped sustain us to the present time. She radiated Christ just as Mother Teresa. We were filled spiritually.

We did not visit the Gift of Love since the baby was coming down with a cold and we didn’t want to put any of the residents at risk. We did, however, venture up the coast. Sr. Joselia, M.C. told us of a nice spot that is not heavily populated with surfers. She and the sisters have endearingly changed the name of the spot from Devil’s Slide to Angel’s Slide. It was indeed, the perfect spot for us. An angelic time was had by us all. It was a beautiful ending to a week of consolations.

We are indeed, only a drop in the ocean. We pray to become what He wills us to be

~~~

Burying bodies has become a beach tradition for us.

This was Dragonfly’s beach buddy.

Dragonfly was not fond of the sand or being too close the water. Dad found a solution, he brought the ocean to Dragonfly—Beach in a Bucket.

Someone wants to be just like dad!

Rose soaked in the fresh cool air.

As always, Dad created fun for us.

The little’s enjoyed dodging the waves while trying to fetch the kelp that dad would throw into the ocean.

Sparkles was the first to be caught by the waves.

Papi ran faster than lightning to avoid the waves. At one point he got caught by the wave. He was safe on the shore but fearful nonetheless. Upon realizing that he was safe, he professed to his big sis that he was swimming. This from the boy who won’t go in water deeper than 2 feet.

"Like Jesus we belong to the world living not for ourselves but for others. The joy of the Lord is our strength." ~ Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

~~~

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

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