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striving to radiate Him always

Last Supper

by Filed Under: Crafts

last supper kitchen view crop I have been searching for the ideal picture, plaque….of the Last Supper.  I desired something in my price range and not too large.  I have limited wall space in my kitchen.  I’ve been searching the thrift stores and yard sales.

I saw a gorgeous painting of the Last Supper at Costco, last Thursday.  A traveling vendor was showcasing canvas artwork.  She had beautiful images of the Immaculate Heart and Sacred Heart.  I wish I could recall the vendor’s name.  The Last Supper image was too big and definitely out of my price range, $170.  Still, I was inspired.

I found a lovely image online when I got home.  I still can’t recall where I found it.  I’m almost positive that it came from one of the sources below.  I’ll be sure to update my source once I find it.

last supper image I printed the image and decoupaged it to a tile.  I used this technique minus the top coats.  I did not want my image to bleed and I wasn’t concerned about sealing the ink-jet image. 

last supper beforeThen I hot glued the tile into the roster frame. 

last supperPresto, my FREE image of the Last Supper.

Soccer Days

by Filed Under: GFG, Picture Recap, Sparkles, Sports, Sweetie

Sweetie and Sparkles started their soccer season.  They play for the same coach but on separate teams.  Their first games were on March 12, after the Nun Run.

3.12 sweetie's first soccer game   This was Sweetie’s first game, ever!  She was a bit nervous at the start of the game.  She plays on a co-ed team and holds her own.  She plays with strength and sheer determination.  Gotta love her wristband.

3.12 sparkles soccerSparkles was eager to join Coach E for a second year.  He is great with the kids and respects our family priorities.  Sparkles is the complete opposite of Sweetie (in many ways).  In terms of soccer, she plays with grace and a smile.  She loves to use her head.  She’s been working on scoring with headers.  She perfects every move I show her.  Sparkles didn’t play with her wristband because it was too big for her tiny self.

3.12 soccer days  Dragonfly was happy to be outdoors.  Papi was exhausted from his 1 mile run/walk.  Nana put him to bed while Papa kept company with Sparkles.  Rose relaxed since her game was canceled.  Dad enjoyed his seeds while he nursed his aching feet from the 10k.  I was still pumped about running with Team ALL FOR!

lena uop soccer 96-97Just for fun!  This is me at the end of my soccer career.  I hung up my dreams to serve my family.  Deo gratias!

Keeping It Real

by Filed Under: Home, Humility, Keeping it REAL, Organization 6 Comments

I was feeling guilty for not having posted before pics for my Lenten cleaning.  I struggle with doing it all.  My home is usually the first to go.  I try to do a quick clean in between nursing, homeschooling, cooking…but my home seldom stays this clean for longer than a few minutes, and it almost never gets this clean for regular company, only special guests.

It’s one of my many crosses. I strive to do better each day but often come up short.  I’m thankful that I have a husband who always lends a hand and lifts me up to try again.
Here it is, my late night act of humility…..
keeping it real

Top 10 Facts About My Love and Me

by Filed Under: Birthday, Dad, Marriage

i was inspired to do this post by betty beguiles.  it’s the perfect birthday reflection for me!
ALL FOR!
~~~
LOVE 
1.
my husband and i have been together for longer than we’ve been apart.  we were high school sweethearts and have been together ever since, 19 years!
2.
because we’ve been together 19 years, we know every cross and weakness of one another.  we also know the great gifts that He has blessed the other with.
3.
we did not always practice our faith, despite the fact that we were both cradle Catholics and in a Catholic high school.  but one yes was our saving grace.  that yes turned 16 on tues.
4.
we have a secret longing to form a Catholic homestead community.
5.
he takes care of the bedtime time routine (while i’m pregnant or nursing). i’ve been pregnant or nursing perpetually for roughly the past 7 years.  : ) 
6.

he gives a blessing to me and the children every morning and night.
7.
we have three angels in heaven and long to be untied with them.
8.
we have been stripped of our material wealth and health.  we trust that He is refining us.
9.
we are in our final year of LMC formation and God willing, we will be starting a local community.
The spirit of the LMC is one of total abandonment to God’s holy will, child-like trust in His Fatherly care and readiness for service in profound humility after the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Slaves to Jesus through Mary. 
10.
we trust that we were designed for each other and we give thanks to the Good Lord for bringing us together and offering us the graces to persevere through our own failings — to lead us to a life that glorifies Him.

“To me Jesus is the Life I want to live, the Light I want to reflect, the Way to the Father, the Love I want to express, the JOY I want to share, the Peace I want to sow around me.  Jesus is my everything.”  ~ Bl. Mother Teresa of  Calcutta
~~~
our song

Home Organization

by Filed Under: Home, Lent, Organization 4 Comments

It was part of our Lenten program, to have a Father over for dinner and to entertain friends that we have not seen in some time.  We hadn’t planned to have them all in the same visit.

One priest turned into two priests plus Sweetie’s Godfamily with five children.

Needless to say, we had a surge in our Lenten cleaning.

The pressure was on. We had less than a week’s notice.  And if that weren’t enough, Rose, my #1 helper was miserably ill.

Praise God, we were able to persevere.  With a couple of all nighters and a scurry in the eleventh hour, the house was ready for our special guests.

We are just about 50% done with our entire Lenten cleaning.

Here’s a peek at some of our progress, minus the before pictures. Let’s just say, I’m still working on humility.  : )

  entryway & hallwayJOYfilledfamily entry way

holy roomJOYfilledfamily holy room

schoolroom JOYfilledfamily school room

family roomJOYfilledfamily living room

kitchenJOYfilledfamily kitchen

high school schoolroom, craft room & office JOYfilledfamily high school space

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You can see more about our Lenten cleaning program resources here.

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I have also been watching some great Women of Grace episodes on the topic of organization.  I listed the links below.

Women of Grace Shows on Organization: 

Possessed by the Mess: Clean Up and Clean Out with guest Dale O’Leary – Some time ago we aired a program called “Saver, Collector, Hoarder – Which One Are You?” The viewer response was overwhelming and we just knew it was important to revisit this topic in more detail. Our guest is going to tell us why saving is not a virtue, and why, in fact, it could be detrimental to your soul. But she is also going to give us a four step spiritual approach to cleaning up and cleaning out.

Getting Organized and Staying that Way – Getting organized is one thing. Staying that way is quite another. How do we put our homes in right order and maintain a predictable environment for our family – one that yields security, hominess, comfort, and peace? Today’s guest has the answers for us. She is a professional organizer who has helped many people find the way to the joy that comes from a well-ordered home.

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Here is an examination of Conscience for home cleaning, created by Dale O’Leary.

Possessed by the Mess

Getting the Heart Ready to Unload the House

Step 1: Examination of Conscience

  • Have I desired things that I didn’t really need?
  • Have I bought items I’ve never used?
  • Have I coveted things that belong to another?
  • Have I envied those who have more than me?
  • Do I trust God to meet my needs?
  • Have I failed to return items I have borrowed?

 

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Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.  ~ St. Benedict

Blessed Sixteen

by Filed Under: Birthday, Rose, Rose GFG

Rose's pic

Rose

Fiori Principessa

caring, sweet, humble, generous, big sissy, slave to Jesus through Mary, reliable, trustworthy, beautiful, self-less, athletic, crafty,  JOYfilled, Mary’s flower, Jesus’s Princess…

Yes Day

by Filed Under: 03 March, Annunciation, Picture Recap

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a beautiful feast day that is also known as YES Day in our home.

We usually start the day with Mass and a renewal of our vows of Total Consecration to Mary.  Last year didn’t go as planned.  This year was almost a repeat.  Rose, Papi and Sparkles were all sick.  In addition, I was becoming preoccupied with prepping for a special dinner with Father M & Father Louis Baudon de Mony.  Dad was running on 3 hours of sleep.  The trials were building up.

Praise God that we did not let these very small obstacles steal our joy. 

We did not get to attend Mass but we did complete a renewal of vows in our home as a family. 

We were also able to keep our tradition — our simple way to celebrate the big feast day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Dad and I say yes all day to all reasonable requests.  The children are also encouraged to say a profound and JOYfilled yes to all requests asked of them.  In addition, the children must give all praise to God for the granting of their requests.

Let’s just say there was plenty of praise giving happening in our home.  Deo gratias!

clip_image001

This was my yes to dad.  He asked me to turn my Marian ParFIAT into a Marian SmoothYES with whip cream on top, of course.  And If you give a dad some whip cream, he’ll find some kids to spray.

Notice that my littles already had a popsicle, a result of dad’s earlier yes.

ALL FOR!

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Filed Under: 03 March, Annunciation, Marian

"Ecce ancilla Domini; fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum." ~ Luke 1:38

Annunciation BVM  THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

New Calendar – Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
FIRST CLASS / WHITE
Every year this feast recalls anew Mary’s reply to God’s angelic messenger: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word." Every work of the Creator is called to perfection, and perfection consists in obedience. The heavens and the earth inevitably announce the glory of God, but to human beings alone God granted a free will to serve Him. At the Annunciation, the obedience of Mary brought Christ down on earth to save fallen humanity. we, too, are called upon to co-operate with the Creator. The glory of God awaits our human word of obedient consent.

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Colloquy:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Not only is God the Son with you, to whom you gave your blood, but also God the Holy Spirit, by means of whose operation you conceived, and also God the Father, who generated from all eternity Him whom you conceived. The Father, who gives you His Son, is with you; the Son is with you, who, wishing to accomplish a prodigious mystery, conceals Himself in. your maternal bosom without violating your virginal integrity; the Holy Spirit is with you, who, together with the Father and the Son, sanctifies you. God is truly with you" (St. Bernard).  

"0 Mary, my sweet love, you opened to the eternal Divinity the door of your will, and the Word immediately became incarnate within you. BY THIS YOU TEACH ME THAT GOD,  WHO CREATED ME WITHOUT MY HELP, WILL NOT SAVE ME WITHOUT IT…but knocks at the door of my will and waits for me to open it to Him.  (St. Catherine of Siena) 

O Mother Mary, I beg you to teach me and help me always to open wide the door of my soul to every divine appeal, to every solicitation of grace. At each manifestation of the divine will, may I repeat with you a humble, prompt, " Ecce, fiat!"

~ Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen OCD (Divine Intimacy)

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"Like Mary, let us be full of zeal to go in haste to give Jesus to others. She was full of grace when, at the annunciation, she received Jesus. Like her, we too become full of grace every time we receive Holy Communion. It is the same Jesus whom she received and whom we receive at Mass. As soon as we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, let us go in haste to give Him to our sisters, to our poor, to the sick, to the dying, to the lepers, to the unwanted, and the unloved. By this we make Jesus present in the world today." ~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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RESOURCES:

 

 

 

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"O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen" (Memorare).

St. Gabriel the Archangel

by Filed Under: 03 March, 03 March Saints, 09 September, 09 September Saints, Archangels, St. Gabriel

image

SAINT GABRIEL
Archangel

"Man of God" or "God Has Shown Himself Mightily."

Traditional Calendar – March 24 ~ New Calendar – September 29

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
Gabriel the Archangel announced to Daniel the time of the coming of the Messias (Dan. 9:21), and to Zachary the future birth of the Precursor of the Word Incarnate (Luke 1:10). Then came the sublime message to Mary at Nazareth and the God-inspired salutation, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28).
In the "Hail Mary," the words of the Angel of the Annunciation have been repeated through the centuries by countless millions of human beings. Thrice daily the church bells ring the "Angelus" to recall through the ages how the strong angel who stands before God bowed in reverence to a humble Jewish virgin, soon to become the Mother of Christ and the Queen of heaven and earth.

 

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Novena for the Annunciation

O most holy Virgin Mary, to whom God sent the Angel Gabriel to announce that you should be the mother of His Only-Begotten Son, pray for us who have recourse to you. Holy, lovely Mary We give our all to you What is past and present, And the future, too. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

300 days. Plenary, under usual conditions, if said daily for a month. S. Pen., Nov. 8, 1934.

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HYMN I
Let us all exult with joyous hearts,
and strike the tuneful lyre;
’tis the great Gabriel that comes
in all his brightness from the high heavens.
This is the feast of the glorious Virgin’s messenger,
and with him comes the whole host of Angels,
singing in varied hymns
the praise of Christ.
Let our choir, therefore,
sing the praises of Gabriel the prince,
for he is one of the seven that stand
before the Lord and do His biddings.
Gabriel cheerfully descends whithersoever God wills,
for he is the messenger of Heaven,
nay the mediator that reveals to the world
the secret decrees of the omnipotent God.
Be thou, O Gabriel, we beseech thee,
messenger to us of the special gift of eternal peace,
wherewith we may finally reach Heaven,
and everlastingly rejoice.
May the Godhead ever blessed of
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Whose glory is proclaimed through the whole world,
grant us this our prayer. Amen.

~~~

RESOURCES:

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Pray, O Gabriel, for the Church militant, and defend her against the attacks of hell. The times are evil; the spirits of malice are let loose, nor can we make stand against them, unless with God’s help. It is by His holy angels that He gives victory to His bride. Be thou, O strength of God! foremost in the ranks. Drive heresy back, keep schism down, foil the false wisdom of men, frustrate the policy of the world, arouse the well-minded from apathy; that over the earth He has redeemed, and that we may sing together with thee and the whole angelic choir: ‘Glory be to God, peace to men!’

~ Dom Prosper Gueranger

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