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31 Days of reflections from a pregnant mama

by Filed Under: 31 Days, Pregnancy

31 Days of reflections from a pregnant mama - JOYfilledfamily

I knew that I wanted to follow along with the blog craze for October, 31 Days.

What’s 31 Days? Basically anyone can join in, just pick a topic and write about it every day for the month of October–we all come here and link up on October 1st. Think short posts with one point made each day.

~ The Nester

I just didn’t know what I would hone in on – my mind is going in a million directions. Sure, one would say that it’s probably due to the pregnancy hormones but the truth is, it’s my reality in or out of pregnancy.

My first desire was to use the 31 Days as a retreat and share my reflections. My next desire was to share my discernment journey. Another thought was to get my home in order and use the 31 Days as my accountability. There were many more desires that lingered. With all those thoughts, I had an overwhelming urge to do nothing. I resisted the urge and have moved forward – I fight my flesh to be all or nothing.

I will be participating in the 31 Days with my reflections, Reflections from a Pregnant Mom. In other words, I couldn’t narrow it down. I will most likely take inspiration from the other 31 Dayers that I’ll be following. Just to list a few:

My posts my get deep, personal, help me to prepare for the arrival of this new blessing, be random, or not be much of posts at all. Whatever the case may be, I pray that it all glorify God.

You are invited to follow along and leave comments if you so desire. 

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

P.S.  The pic of the pregnant mama was created at DesignHerGals.com, a place to create personalized stationary.  The pregnant mama is my ideal version of me during pregnancy.  I gave thanks that the site didn’t offer a preg option for their plus size gals.  I’ve decided to enjoy this version of me – ALL FOR!

Child Led Learning & A Treat for St. Jogues

by Filed Under: 09 September, 09 September Saints, Dessert, St. Jogues

Learning leads us to all sorts of adventures, sometimes planned but usually they’re stumbled upon. Today was one of those normal days for us, unplanned learning.

The day started with an introduction to the saint(s) of the day – St. Isaac Jogues, John DeBrebeuf, and their Companions. The littles quickly became fascinated by the life of Saint Jogues. The remaining day’s lessons quickly changed focus to that of the St. Jogues. I posted some resources here.

Isaac Jogues was one of the French Jesuits who came from France in the seventeenth century to bring the gift of Baptism and the Faith to the Indians in the New World. It would be hard to find in all the lives of the saints a story more filled with danger, terror and blazing love than that of these Jesuits.

It was snack time before we knew it but no one wanted to stop our discussion about the heroic martyr. We did some more reading about the Indians that St. Jogues evangelized, the Huron Indians. The Hurons were an Iroquois tribe of some thirty-five thousand Indians. We learned, among many interesting facts, that the Huron Indian’s primary food was corn. The corn was often altered with what the Hurons had available to them, meat, fruit, or beans. That gave Sweetie and Sparkle the idea that we should make something out of blueberries. Papi had cake on his mind since he is working on the letter C. Our snack/treat lesson supplement was set, blueberry cake.

Although agriculture was important in the economy of the Huron, it was not the only source of subsistence. Berries, particularly strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, were plentiful. Fruits were fried for winter use, to be used as preserves for the sick, to give taste to sagmite, and to put into the small cakes that were baked in the ashes. ~ An Ethnography of the Huron Indians, 1615-1649

Sparkles helped me scour online for a gluten-free blueberry cake recipe. We found our inspiration from the one and only, Paula Deen. She shared a delectable treat, Pineapple Blueberry Crunch Cake.


 The girls checked the pantry as I listed the ingredients and Papi prepped the cooking station. We had everything on hand!

Some slight modification were made and the girls went to work. (The boys were sidetracked by an invitation from Papa and Nana to go purchase new shoes.)


Be sure to check Catholic Cuisine if you’re up for making this next year or celebrating St. Jogues and the First American Martyrs Feast day in the NO Calendar, on Oct. 19.
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“My heart tells me that if I have the happiness of being employed in this mission, I shall go never to return; but I shall be happy if Our Lord will complete the sacrifice where He has begun it, and make the little blood I have shed in that land the pledge of what I would give from every vein of my body and my heart. In a word, this people is ‘a bloody spouse to me’—’in my blood have I espoused it to me.’ May our good Master, who has purchased them in His blood, open to them the door of His Gospel, as well as to the four allied nations near them. Adieu, dear Father; pray to Him to unite me inseparably to Him. ~ “ISAAC JOGUES, S.J.”

In His JOY,

St. Isaac Jogues

by Filed Under: 09 September, 09 September Saints, 10 October, 10 October Saints, Jesuit, Martyr, St. Isaac Jogues, St. Jogues

O God, You blessed the first fruits of the faith in the vast expanse of North America by the missionary labors and martyrdom of blessed Isaac, John, and their companions. May the harvest for Christ grow daily more abundant in the whole world through the intercession of these saints. Through our Lord .

martyrs_large1 SAINTS ISAAC JOGUES, JOHN DE BREBEUF, AND THEIR COMPANIONS
Martyrs

[IN ALL DIOCESES OF THE UNITED STATES]

EO Calendar – September 26 ~ NO Calendar – October 19

SAINTS CYPRIAN AND JUSTINA
Martyrs

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / RED
These eight French Jesuit missioners, the first canonized saints of the North American continent, labored and died among the most barbaric of red men in the most impenetrable fastnesses of the 17th-century New World. After struggling with unbelievable privations and hardships, they were severely tortured and martyred by the Iroquois Indians between the years 1642 and 1649. Fathers Isaac Jogues and Anthony Daniel and the two lay oblates, John Lalande and Rene Goupil, gave their lives in what is now New York State; Fathers John de Brebeuf, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, and Noel Chabanel in central Canada.

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St. Isaac Jogues Patron: Americas; Canada.

Symbols: men dressed in Jesuit black robes with crucifix in hands; IHS is the symbol for the Society of Jesus; red (color for martyrdom); red roses (symbol of martyrdom)

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“We consoled one another at this decree of Divine Providence and kept preparing ourselves for anything that God might ordain.” ~ St. Isaac Jogues

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Resources:isaacjogues

Audio –

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"My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings."  ~Saint Isaac Jogues

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Sancta Familia Academy 2012-13

by Filed Under: GFG, Homeschooling, Not Back to School Blog Hop

Our call is to make our home a place that radiates His PEACE & JOY!

kids on table 4x6 harry 69

Sancta Familia Academy 2012-2013

Rose – 12  *  Sparkles – 3-4  *  Sweetie – 2 * Papi – Pre-K  * Dragonfly – Recess Monitor

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kids in front of water 4x6 harry 69

Dad and I took the kids to the park for our school photos.  It took two hours for us to wrangle up the boys who seemed to have an aversion to the camera since it meant that they actually had to change out of their pjs.

The littles were rewarded with licorice and a trip to the playground while Rose’s photo session extended a bit longer since she’s a senior and we wanted to capture some special pics.

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SCHOOL elissa sitting on bench julia 78SCHOOL ella smililing sitting on chair full body julia 58SCHOOL lexi sitting on chair full body JULIA 58SCHOOL gian sitting on chair full body JULIA 78SCHOOL gio sitting on chair full body JULIA 78

Rose 17 – Sparkles 9 – Sweetie 7 – Papi 5 – Dragonfly 2

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DRAGONFLY collage

PAPI collage

SWEETIE collage

SPARKLES collage

ROSE collage

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kids on tree 4x6 harry 69

School pictures from 2011-12

School pictures from previous years.

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Christina, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Bernadette, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Out Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Clare, Our Lady of Lordes, St. John the Baptist, St. John, St. Paul, St. Matthew,  St. George,  St. Lawrence, St. Barbara, St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. John Chrysostom, St. Valentine of Rome ~ Orate pro nobis.

JOYfilledfamily GFG collage

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Not Back to School Blog Hop

I’m linking this post to the NOT Back-to-School Blog Hop.  Join the school fun!

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower

by Filed Under: 10 October, 10 October Saints, Novena, St. Therese

Patroness of the Missions & Missionaries

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NO Calendar: Oct. 1 – Memorial St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, virgin

EO Calendar: Oct. 3 – St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, virgin

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We are preparing for the feast day (in the EO calendar) of St. Therese of LIsieux, October 3.

We will start our novena on September 24 and end on October 2, the eve of St. Therese’s feast day.  We will continue to use the novena found at EWTN since we are particularly found of the daily mediations.

We will lead the littles in the twenty-four Glory Be to the Fathers Novena, also referred to as the Miraculous Rose Novena.

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Act of Oblation as Victim to God’s Merciful Love
(Composed by St. Thérèse)

In order that my life may be one act of perfect Love, I offer myself as a victim of holocaust to Thy merciful Love, imploring Thee to consume me unceasingly, and to allow the floods of infinite tenderness gathered up in Thee to overflow into my soul, so that I may become a very martyr to Thy Love, O my God.  May this martyrdom, after having prepared me to appear in Thy presence, free me from this life at the last and my soul take flight — without delay — into eternal embrace of ThereseHandsFoldColorThy Merciful Love.
O my Beloved!   I desire at every beat of my heart to renew this oblation an infinite number of times, ’till the shadows retire,’ and everlastingly I can tell Thee my love face to face.

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Daily Offering to God

(Number 10 in the collected prayers of St. Thérèse)

My God, I offer you all that I do today

for the intentions and the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I want to sanctify every beat of my heart,

my thoughts and my simplest works

by uniting them to his infinite merits.

I want to repair for my faults

by casting them into the furnace of his merciful love.

O my God!

I ask you for myself and for those dear to me

the grace to fulfil perfectly your holy will

and to accept for love of you

the joys and sorrows of this passing life,

so that one day we may be reunited in Heaven for all eternity.

Amen.

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Resources:

Info:st_therese

Prayers:

Misc.:

Audio & Video:

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st therese and holy family thumb

Blessed Occasion

by Filed Under: Carmelites, Carmels, Nuns, Religious Orders

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We are getting ready to depart for a blessed occasion – Solemn Pontifical Mass for the official opening of the Carmelite Monastery in Canyon.

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Rose had the opportunity to visit the Carmel earlier this month.  Sodality made a special visit and had the unique opportunity to speak with the Carmelites, removed from the grille.  They gave wonderful direction to the young ladies present, including Sparkles. 

We are blessed to be a part of this joyous occasion and look forward to sharing when we return.

I am offering the Mass for all the intentions that you have shared (via email, phone, or on your blog).

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

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The Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph can be traced back to a sixteenth century Spanish Carmelite Monastery founded by Saint Teresa of Jesus. Two daughter monasteries were established in Mexico. In 1927, the Community established a Carmel in California. Later, a monastery was founded in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was discerned that God was calling them to transfer to the Lincoln Diocese. The Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph near Agnew was dedicated and consecrated on December 14, 2001. The Carmelites devote their lives to prayer, strive to live a life hidden with Christ, and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.

San Gennaro

by Filed Under: 09 September, 09 September Saints, San Gennaro, St. Januarius

O God, Who gladden us by the annual festival of Your Martyrs Januarius and Companions, grant that we may be inspired by the example of those in whose merits we rejoice.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.

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januariu

SAINT JANUARIUS AND HIS COMPANIONS
Martyrs

EMBER WEDNESDAY IN SEPTEMBER

September 19


OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE

[1846 A.D.]

(Historical)

DOUBLE / RED
In the year 304 Januarius, bishop of Benevento, three deacons, a lector, and two laymen were beheaded at Pozzuoli, Italy, under Emperor Diocletian. The courage of Bishop Januarius in facing death brought about the conversion of many pagan onlookers. His body was eventually taken to Naples, of which city he has become the patron saint. According to reliable records, some of his blood preserved in a phial has miraculously liquefied at regular intervals during the past four hundred years.

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saintj30

Patron: patron of Naples, Italy; blood banks; volcanic eruptions.

Symbols: heated oven; two red vials on Bible; bishop’s mitre (headdress); palm frond (symbol of martrydom); crown (of martyrdom).

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Prayer to St. Januarius

O protector of your sheep, you laid down your life for them, giving your blood for the service of souls that all might witness the surpassing love of the Lord and the glory that awaits those who die in Him – pray for shepherds who feed their sheep, not lording it over them or seeking what gain they might find for themselves, taking the milk and wool of their flock and leaving them naked and lifeless…but living the call of Christ as you, dear shepherd, have done.  Pray those who govern God’s Church will be ready even to die for Him and the people they serve.  Let all be protected by the blood of the Lamb.

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Resources:

Video & Audio:

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Mattia-Preti-The-Martyrdom-of-Saint-Gennaro

San Gennaro, and his companions, pray for us!

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