Lent – Page 11

Lenten Recap

April 10, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Easter, Lent, Picture Recap 6 Comments

I give thanks to the Good Lord for a blessed Lenten season full of loss, mercy, family time, and service.

My family adopted two quotes from Bl. Teresa of Calcutta as our Lenten motto.

Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen.

~~~

Do ordinary things with extraordinary love.

Here is a recap of some Lenten happenings in my family.

~~~

Shrove Tuesday 2.20

Visiting the elderly on Shrove Tuesday is a family tradition that was started some years ago with the prompting of a sister in Christ. My family shared this tradition with our parish community this year.

Park Days

kite flying and fence climbing

40 Days for Life

We prayed for the unborn babies and an end to abortion every Monday in front of the abortion clinic.

Family Start-Up 2.28

It’s official! We filed our paperwork for our start-up LLC. We have much more work ahead of us but we are all excited about the possibilities that await us as we grow this family business.

We pray that this business will lead us to financial freedom, be a source of income for our children in whatever vocation that they are called to, allow us to become providers for family as they enter full retirement, permit us to start a ministry, create jobs for families desiring to work out of their home, and fund the call that our Heavenly Father has placed on our heart – All for the greater glory of God.

Loss & Healing

Maria Louisa’s face was not seen but her love will remain forever imprinted on our hearts.

Dad and I were moved to share the reality of our five saints with the littles. For whatever reason, we did not find it fitting to do so earlier. We trust that our angels are not for us alone and we desire for all of our children to form bonds with all their siblings.

Maria Louisa has also led us to further discern something big that the Good Lord has been prompting us to. We pray to cooperate with His grace and move forward with unwavering faith – Ad Jesum per Mariam.

St. Patrick’s Day 3.17

no pictures since there were no free hands

Dad took the lead from Fr. L and helped to coordinate a parish clean-up day. The day started with a Solemn High Mass since St. Patrick’s day is a first class feast day in our diocese. Then the work began with many helping hands. The day ended with a BBQ potluck.

Hair Cut 3.20

I like my boys with long hair but couldn’t tell Papi no when he requested to “look like” dad.

Job Shadow 3.21

Rose participated in a job shadow with the HR department at the University of the Pacific (my alma-mater). She walked away with more than the average participant, the normal goodie bag with a shirt and a job offer.

Birthday Date Night 3.24

MarchBaby

Consecration Renewal 3.25

My family made our renewal on 3.25 (Feast of the Annunciation) since we knew that we would not be able to attend Mass on Monday (Feast of the Annunciation for 2012) as a family.

Passion Sunday 3.25

Potty 3.29

Dragonfly started using the potty, sporadically.

Uma 3.29

We got a new family member.

I really don’t know what I was thinking when I responded to the email.

I want to offer an 8 yr old AKC registered chocolate lab. She was spayed last week. She is very calm, does not bark much, and does not chew. She is housetrained, leash trained, fetches, swims, travels well, loves kids. She is really a great dog. Her one problem is that she does not get along with other dogs. I have had to keep her separate from my other dogs. She needs to be someone’s only dog.

This was not planned but she needed a new home and as it turns out, we needed her.

Confirmation 3.30.12

Confirmation was scheduled on my birthday this year. Dad gave me the ok to sign up to help with the reception since he knew that I desired to be serving on my birthday.

Rose and I were in charge of the cakes. We ordered them from Costco.

Rose and her confirmandi who chose St. Thecla as her patron.

Bishop Jamie Soto

Birthday Blessing 3.30

Rose and I received our birthday blessing by our spiritual director, Fr. M. A fun side note, Fr. M is the same age as Dad and I. In fact, is one day older than Dad.

Palm Sunday 4.1

Mass, Blessing of Palms, and Procession

Birthday Celebration 4.1

Rose and I celebrated with family on Sunday.

~~~

AD JESUM PER MARIAM

7 Day Challenge Wrap-up

April 9, 2012 by JOYfilledWELLNESS Filed Under: 7 Day Challenge, Lent Leave a Comment

Day 6 & Day 7: 7 Day Challenge

Both days were rather uneventful. I worked on getting enough calories by way of protein and veggies.

I enjoyed the challenge. It helped me to stay focused for the remainder of my Lenten program.

I plan to continue to the idea of a 7 day challenge as I move forward to restore my health.

This week will be my return to exercise. I must say, I’m a bit nervous. It’s been about a month since I did anything remotely close to exercise. As a result, my energy has increased along with my weight. I’m trying hard not to worry about the aesthetics. My scale will be officially purged from the house tomorrow, after I take my pre-work out stats.

I will be working solely on gaining strength until I get things under control and get the go ahead from my trainer.

May the Good Lord keep me in the race.

GO ALL OUT – ALL FOR!
I have NOT ARRIVED.
I am far from the finish line.
But I am on CHRIST’S TEAM.
His love ignites me.
…His power fuels me.
His mission compels me.
I AM COMMITTED to Christ
and to this race.

My MarchBaby

March 26, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Lent, Pro-Life, Rose, Rose GFG

My MarchBaby and I went to view OctoberBaby for our birthday ~~retreat~~ date night. We invited friends, another mother and her two teen daughters. Dad and I usually do not permit any social dates during Lent but we thought that this occasion and cause warranted an exception.

I opted for this simplified birthday retreat as soon as March rolled in. The budget was already stretched and a heavy heart was made.

It was much more than just a retreat. It was an almsgiving of sorts. Dad and I knew that we would eventually watch OctoberBaby but we wanted to make a difference. We wanted to send a message to the entertainment industry that there are people out there who want wholesome movies and are willing to support a prolife message.

October Baby jumped into the overall top 10 despite its screen count, taking in $1,718,427….The film’s total is actually now $1,917,869… -IndieWire.com

OctoberBaby is a powerful movie that hit me on many levels. It had a similar impact on Rose and her girlfriends. I encourage all teens, parents, youth ministers,…all prolifers to take the time and money to view this movie.

Kombucha Tea

March 20, 2012 by JOYfilledWELLNESS Filed Under: 7 Day Challenge, Clean Eating, Drink, Lent, Probiotic Leave a Comment

I’m grateful for a little blog encouragement. Michele introduced me to the 7 Day Challenge. I needed another re-start and have gladly accepted the challenge. I’ve applied to the challenge to my physical Lenten program.

Today was Day 1 for me since Monday was the feast of St. Joseph, also known as dad’s day in my home. I was called to a day of prayer and fasting for healing and reparation. I share that with others only to give glory to God. It is through fasting and prayer that I am brought closer to Him. His grace is poured over me at my times in the desert.

I have said it many times before, this journey that I have been brought to is much more than physical. I desire a complete healing if it is His will for me. Most of of all, I desire to completely and joyfully surrender to Him. I must keep my eyes on Him, for I can do nothing without His grace.

—

Up until now I have eliminated many items from my diet and that of my family’s. I have been gearing up to add nutrient dense items back into our diets. I’m fighting my nature and trying to take it slow. I don’t want to become overwhelmed or zap what little energy I currently have. Instead, I want to enjoy the process of restoring my health and patiently follow His lead. I do it all in prayer.

My most recent addition to my diet has been kombucha tea.

Kombucha is a living health drink made by fermenting tea and sugar with the kombucha culture. The result can taste like something between sparkling apple cider and champagne, depending on what kind of tea you use. It’s not what you’d imagine fermented tea to taste like.

Many of the benefits reported include improvements in energy levels, metabolic disorders, allergies, cancer, digestive problems, candidiasis, hypertension, HIV, chronic fatigue and arthritis. It ‘s also used externally for skin problems and as a hair wash among other things. ~ Seeds of Health

I started brewing kombucha at the start of Lent. I had planned for my kombucha to brew for 20-25 days but decided to cut it short in efforts to kick-start my Lenten program renewal – 7 day Challenge. My kombucha brewed for 15 days.

I started my kombucha with a scoby that was gifted to me by a friend from church. It’s been fun to have another family at my parish who gets what I am trying to do for myself and family. But I digress, I followed the recipe found at Cultures for Health and my team (Dad, Rose and I) watched their video – How to Make Kombucha Tea.

Little is needed to brew kombucha.

The process was much easier than I had anticipated.

I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of kombucha tea. It was not as vinegar-like as I had anticipated it to be. I will definitely be having a glass or more a day. As for my kids, the reviews are mixed.

Can you guess who likes it and who doesn’t?

Like: Sweetie – 6 and Dragonfly – 20 months

Dislike: Sparkles – 8

Tolerate: Rose – 16

Absentee: Papi – 4

(He is still dramatized by his bout with organic apple cider. I have the children drink small amounts of ACV on a regular and as-needed basis. Papi must have experienced temporary amnesia because he demanded that he be served more. Dad honored his request. Papi was thrilled that he was being allowed to have juice. He downed the ACV without a breath in his flurry of excitement. I’m not sure how long it will take for him to recover from that episode.)

I plan to add the kombucha tea to smoothies, dressings, and anything else that I can think of. I also, have plans to flavor my kombucha tea. My second batch is brewing as I type.

Prayer & Fasting

March 20, 2012 by JOYfilledWELLNESS Filed Under: Journal Entry, Lent, Miscarriage 2 Comments

I continue to fall and He lifts me up. I trust it is His will for me. It requires me to keep my eyes on Him. I can do nothing without His grace.

I have recently experienced another miscarriage. This is my second miscarriage in six months, fourth in two years. I continue to grieve and pray for a complete healing, Thy will be done. I will continue to journey down this path that He has led me, a healthier lifestyle that will help me to better live out my vocation.

I took some time “off.” I didn’t binge or completely deviate from eating healthy. Instead, I accepted what was before me and prayed that it would nourish me in the way that He desired.

I find myself right where I started, physically and spiritually. I am vulnerable and in great need of His grace.

Sept. 2011 – My flesh was weak and the trails continued. I was not able to make the necessary radical changes in my lifestyle. My sad normalcy continued. Eventually, my prayers were answered in the most undesirable way—I miscarried for the third time. My heart was broken and my womb ached. Still, I trusted that the Good Lord was leading me to something more. I prayed to surrender completely. I could not go on alone.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong. ~2Corinthians 12:9-10

I needed to be in full union with Our Lord. He called me to fully unite myself to Him. I sought direction and rallied my prayer warriors. I went forth to the desert to hear Him speak to me.

I will return to the desert, where He calls me and where I am able to hear Him most clearly. My flesh is weak and my stay will solely depend on His grace.

Please keep me in your prayers.

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

Lena

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