Novena of the Divine Mercy

The Novena of the Divine mercy begins today. Thank you Dorry for reminding me as I wanted to start it. Here is the link to it. I will post the daily readings throughout the next eight days, but for today I simply provide the link as I have been ill all day with the flu.

There is an indulgence now associated with this novena. (The following is from this site.)

On 29 June 2002, the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See promulgated a decree creating new indulgences that may be gained by the faithful in connection with the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday. This decree grants a plenary indulgence to those who comply with all the conditions established, and a partial indulgence to those who incompletely fulfill the conditions.

Three conditions for the plenary indulgence

And so the Supreme Pontiff, motivated by an ardent desire to foster in Christians this devotion to Divine Mercy as much as possible in the hope of offering great spiritual fruit to the faithful, in the Audience granted on 13 June 2002, to those Responsible for the Apostolic Penitentiary, granted the following Indulgences:

a plenary indulgence, granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honour of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!");

A partial indulgence, granted to the faithful who, at least with a contrite heart, pray to the merciful Lord Jesus a legitimately approved invocation.

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Where did Jesus pass Holy Thursday night ...

... after he was dragged from the garden to before the high priest? According to one priest, whom I heard speaking on EWTN, we should read psalm 88 to find this answer as Jesus was apparently dumped into a cistern to be kept under guard until morning:

Psalm 88

1 O LORD, the God who saves me,
day and night I cry out before you.

² May my prayer come before you;
turn your ear to my cry.

³ For my soul is full of trouble
and my life draws near the grave.

⁴ I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am like a man without strength.

⁵ I am set apart with the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
who are cut off from your care.

⁶ You have put me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths.

⁷ Your wrath lies heavily upon me;
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
Selah

⁸ You have taken from me my closest friends
and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape;

⁹ my eyes are dim with grief.
I call to you, O LORD, every day;
I spread out my hands to you.

¹⁰ Do you show your wonders to the dead?
Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?
Selah

¹¹ Is your love declared in the grave,
your faithfulness in Destruction ?

¹² Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

¹³ But I cry to you for help, O LORD;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.

¹⁴ Why, O LORD, do you reject me
and hide your face from me?

¹⁵ From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death;
I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.

¹⁶ Your wrath has swept over me;
your terrors have destroyed me.

¹⁷ All day long they surround me like a flood;
they have completely engulfed me.

¹⁸ You have taken my companions and loved ones from me;
the darkness is my closest friend.

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URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FROM A FRIEND

This is an email I received today from a friend. I can not imagine the emotional pain her family is in. (I have removed the children's names and left only the first initial:

her request:

I am soliciting prayers for our foster son J.
He has been with us since he was 9 days old, and now he is 17
months old. We already have adopted his blood sibling
M. , and we have already adopted J in our hearts, if
not in the law. J is in danger of being repossessed. The
birth mother is out of the picture, but the judge seems
determined to give custody of the baby to the birth father. The
birth father is a single 58 year old man who has never raised a
child and who claims to be on call 24/7 for his job.

J has had 3 weeks of 8.15am to 4.15 pm visits twice per week with the
birth father. Beginning Wednesday, April 8, the baby will go to
the birth father on Wednesday morning and return to us on
Thursday evening. These overnight visits will continue through
May when the court will review the case again. If nothing
terrible has happened, we believe the visits will be extended
further.

Please pray for this baby and for a healing of this situation.
Please pray that J will go (selfishly, I say remain in) to
his true home. Please pray with Christian love for the birth
father, for the judge, and for all those involved in deciding the
fate of this child. Please just pray. This baby needs all the
prayers that people can offer up for him. He is nonverbal and
much too young to have any of this explained to him. Please pray
for our family that we can remain in the love and peace of the
Lord no matter what happens. Please feel free to pass this
request along to anyone who you think would be interested.

Thanks for praying.

Love, Ellen

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Brrrrr

Had to roll the thermostat up a notch or two, pull the down filled comforter back out from its summer's nesting spot, grab a long sleeved pajama top before crawling into bed last night. Winter's having one last stubborn fling before fleeing for the year. Guess I will also need to grab a pair of socks this morning after going barefoot in my sandals all last week.

Still - the dogwood is blooming as are the azaleas, so spring is definitely just around the corner.

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I just have to ask ...

... how is that little babies that are too small to crawl around, play in dirt or otherwise get dirty manage to get dirt under their toenails and fingernails? How is that possible?

... and how is it that I can be so clever, thinking of the most funny posts at 2 am and not remember a word, not a single word of my thoughts in the morning - except for my last thought before sleep; "I just have to remember that one!"

I just had to ask!

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Proud Madre and Padre

Our 22 year old son, Miguel, has joined the military and will start Military Prep School this coming August and then boot camp.

God be with him and I humbly ask that my readers please remember him in your prayers.

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An important Question

One of our sons, Noah, asked an important question on the drive home from Mass yesterday. "Why would Jesus cry out: My God, My God - why have you forsaken me!" from the cross. Surely God did not abandon Jesus, after all, Jesus IS God!"

His father tackled that by responding just about everything that Jesus said reflected the fact that Jesus was fulfilling the old testament and that Jesus' exclamation was from the Psalms but he could not remember exactly which Psalm it was. When we got home from church my husband did a little digging and discovered the quote came from Psalm 22.

Later that night we enjoyed the company of a seminarian for dinner along with our 23 yr old son, Jonathan, and his delightful girl friend, Alicia. The topic was brought up again and Don agreed the why have you forsaken me did indeed come from Psalm 22. However, he also added that while Jesus was quoting Old Testament he was also speaking His own words as God had forsaken Jesus, fully man, to His sufferings. Jesus while fully man was also fully God and always in the beatific Vision. Yet, He was abandoned to his sufferings, as in He completely felt all of the physical and mental anguish a man would feel in those horrific circumstances.

I am including Psalm 22 here so that others might read it and ponder these prophetic words.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.

3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.

4 In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

8 "He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.

10 From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.

14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.

16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

19 But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save [d] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

(Bible quote taken from Bible Gateway. )

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Beautiful...

I love pictures of babies and especially pictures of Mary holding the baby Jesus.

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Instring game!

As our van sped down the highway bringing us closer to our destination where we were to pick up some merchandise I suddenly spied a heron. It was gracefully afloat on a wind draft and gliding across the sky above the highway, heading for a spot of water on the other side of the road.

I called the kids attention to it and all necks craned to catch a glimpse of this beautiful bird before he made his landing in the small pond. This sparked, almost 14 yr old, Noah's imagination.
"Hey guys, let's all play a game. We will watch for things we think are interesting and call it out for everyone else to see. If at least three of us all think it's interesting than that person gets a point. I think Mummy should get the first point for an interesting thing to see!"

There was boisterous agreement and soon the air was rent with: "Hey I see a barn!" "I see a boat on a pole" and on and on. There was lots of voting and happily no arguments when some interesting things were rejected as too common.

Emma and Elsa were not quite grasping the concept of the game while they also struggled with the word interesting.

Emma would call out; "Hey I thought of something inter, instress, instring!" And Elsa was right behind her also calling out all kinds of insteressing ideas. Ultimately they settled on 'instring'.
Finally we explained one more time to Emma that we were not looking for instring ideas but rather instring things along the road - that she had to have seen.

There as a momentary pause in her particpation in the game until she called out excitidly: "Hey guys I just saw something instring in my mind!"

This was a very instring game indeed!


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April Fools

Have you ever tried to survive April Fools Day with nine children living at home and EIGHT of them old enough to play jokes.....

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unorignal thoughts

I had a light bulb moment today when I was struck by a very unoriginal thought. I have had this thought before but today it hit me a little harder than normal. The very simplicity of it really touched me and encouraged me. For the first time, I think, the reality that I could actually do this and make a difference in doing so sunk in.

So often I despair of my inability to make prayer more an active part of my life when, this morning, as I contemplated a chore I particularly dislike I realized what an opportunity I was missing. Here, staring in my face, was the perfect opportunity to worship God by cheerfully doing this hated job and doing so for love of Christ. I miss many opportunities through out the day to turn something, whether loved or hated, into a prayer offered up for my children, a friend in need, in reparation for the sin of the world as well as for the unborn.

I am trying to keep this thought in my heart and just finished folding a load of laundry as I pulled it from the dryer - simply offering up my physical action as a prayer for the reparation for the sins of the world while silently praying an Our Father.

I think maybe this time this unoriginal thought will actually stay with me. At least I hope it will.

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Puppy report

...midway through her shift Sargent in Charge of Puppy Boot Camp from 8 am to 9 am paused by my desk to make a progress report:

"Puppy report!" she said. "I am happy to announce that nine times out of ten puppy now goes in den when told to." She then went on to the dining table, happily able to enjoy breakfast while puppy quietly waited in his den for her.

Progress indeed - last week this type of action resulted in unhappy wales, whimpers and down right howling - making meals an ordeal for us all!

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baby joy

Warm fuzzy head heavy on my shoulder.
Soft body pressed against my chest.
Happy cooing in my ear.
Tiny feet planted firmly on my arm.
Perfectly shaped ears tempting nibbles and kisses
Is there anything better than that?


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Intriguing Post...

Okay, Okay - I know I'm cheating by linking to another blog for today's post BUT this is an intriguing post that catches you off guard with its thought provoking ending. To read Scribbit's post CLICK HERE.


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Double take at Bedtime...

I hurried up the stairs to get something from my room and as I passed by the bedroom door of Emma and Elsa , Emma sang out: "Nathaniel wants company, is that ok?"
"Umm, yeah." I mumbled.
But I did a double take as I heard her then call across her room"Hey, looks like you didn't need to hide!"


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Good Morning!

Hello everyone! I hope that those who prayed the Novena to Saint Joseph enjoyed the beautiful pictures for Saint Joseph and the child Jesus. There were a few that I especially love, in particular the one I saved for the last day of the novena.

As you know I was praying for the success of our new business, well here is an update as to where we are currently.

We showed our Internet Seminar to a director of a local non profit organization. The purpose of this nonprofit is to give free computers to people who can not otherwise afford them. Last year they gave 600 away and this year they already have about a thousand applications for more. He was so impressed with our demo that he wants to make the receiving of a free computer contingent on the clients taking our seminar. So he is going to look for grants that would allow his nonprofit to pay us to teach these seminars to his clients. We will also look for some grants ourselves. (I HATE writing grants but...)

We have hooked up with a fellow in Texas through Twitter who is doing the same thing and he has been giving us some advice too. We will show it soon to our priest with hopes of showing it to the Bishop and working through the church a well, as with the nonprofit mentioned up above.

Our church is going to let us use the church, at a very low cost, to teach my ESL classes two nights a week. Just waiting for the dates that a location on the church grounds will be available to put together a flyer for the church bulletin. So we are poised on the edge of things taking off. Can't be soon enough as our savings that we have been living off of for almost two years now are all but depleted. The next few weeks, until we actually see money coming in from these new prospects, are going to be stressful and I humbly ask for your prayers.

One: for the graces to trust in our Lord that all will go well and two: that we can actually get money rolling in so we can catch up with our bills and be able to, once again, pay them on time.

I will be very busy with the writing still left to do both for my classes and the seminar, but will try to keep up with the blog. However, you can also follow me on Twitter the next few weeks for continuous updates - to help fill in with what might be rather sporadic posting.

The puppy boot camp has not been as successful as it needs to be - largely because I have been distracted by work. But we will be refocusing this afternoon and reviewing what is going wrong and what we can do to improve in that area. The puppy has found a few favourite spots for napping that he will sadly outgrow - as in under my glider and on one of the dining room chairs. Before long the little fellow will not fit in either spot and will have to find new places to sleep. He does love the bed we made for him out of an old king sized pillow case and stuffing. We are enjoying him very much!

Cecilia is continuing to grow and loves to converse with us now. She is a doll and when I am feeling particularly stressed about the finances I just look at her and thank Jesus again for the gift of her life in our family and then attempt to put my complete trust in God - once more. It is truly a blessing to be given the privilege of another precious life to raise, as well as to watch the other children enjoy their baby sister. This morning I awoke to hear almost 4 yr old Elsa, who had joined us at about 4 am, talking to her baby sister who was just starting to awaken. "I love you Cecilia!" she crooned to her as she stroked her head. Just too precious and such a privilege to enjoy!

THANK YOU JESUS!

Now I must away to check on the two batches of Janet's Bread that Anna I have started. Many blessings to you all for blessed, peaceful weekend.

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Day Nine of Novena to St Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )

Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both!

(Image found here)

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Day eight of the Novena to St Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )


Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both!

(There is another novena to St Joseph with different daily readings found here. )

(Image found here)
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Day seven of the Novena to St Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )


Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both!

(Another novena to St Joseph with different daily readings can be found here.)

(image was found here)

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love...

Lydia LOVES her auntie....

We're just not so sure what auntie thinks of all the love!

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Day Six of the novena to Saint Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )


Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both.
(Another novena to St Joseph with different readings for each day can be found here.)

(Image found here)
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She's listening...

Today, as we drove to Charlotte, Elsa sat happily singing in her car seat:

"When I am in trouble God is with me" Over and over and over!

It sounded strangely familiar and suddenly I realized it was part of the refrain we were singing as our responsorial psalm yesterday in Mass. So even with all her jiggling, moving and whispering - she is actually listening. Amazing.
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Day Five of the novena to Saint Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )


Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both!

(Another novena to St Joseph with different reading for each day can be found here.)

(This image found here)

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Pray for Faith Hope....

You can not have a more positive prolife message than that of the pregnancy, birth and life of Faith Hope, who despite all odds is still alive. However, her life ON EARTH is coming to an end and she and her mummy, a single mum, could use our love, prayers and an abundance of graces as they face the calling of Faith back into our Lords arms.

Read her story here.





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Day Four of the novena to Saint Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )


Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both!

(Another novena with different readings for each day can be found here. )

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A Birthday this week...

You are still the thoughtful dreamy little girl who likes to make us laugh with your funny faces and you are still entertaining us with your hilarious cartoons.
We LOVE you Bethany Rose - whatever would we do without you.

Happy 11th Birthday Darling!

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Day Three Novena to St Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )


Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both!

(Another novena with different readings for each day can be found here. )

( Image found here)

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Can't wait

...for Guardian Angel House to be published this spring. Our daughter, Anna, read one of the drafts of this book and can not wait for it to be released either. However, one can already purchase it. If it is as good a read as Kathy Clark's first book, A Whisper In my Heart - it will be excellent. (I had a sneak peek too and it will be good- I promise!) To read my review of her first book click here. Meet Kathy here and read a little more about Guardian Angel House, a true story about a Catholic convent, one very special nun and two little frightened Jewish girls being hid amongst a group of Catholic girls.

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Day two of the St Joseph Novena....

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )


Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both!


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Awesome...

So proud of my 8 yr old! He washed and dried his clothes today, mind he washed & dried his leather belt with them but... I'm not going to complain. Now if I can just get him to fold and put them away....

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St Joseph's Feast day....

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

(My intention: That our business will be very successful and allow us to support ourselves well as well as the intentions of my readers. )


Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

Please join my family in our novena, either with your own intention or in support of ours or both!

(Note: This prayer was found in the 50th year of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In 1505, it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. It is said that whoever shall read this prayer or take it with them, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in battle. Found at this site.)

(image found at PRAYERFLOWERS)

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Puppy Schedule

Here is what our rigid Puppy Boot Camp Schedule looks like:

7 am - 8 am person who was on night watch feeds, waters puppy and takes out to pottie
8 - 9 ..........Bethany
9 - 10 ........Benjamin
10 - 11 ...... Bethany (10:30 Puppy has 2nd meal & walked)
11 - 12 ...... Noah
12 - 1 ........ Benjamin
1 - 2 .......... Anna
2 - 3 ......... Noah (2:30 Puppy has 3rd meal & walked)
3 - 4 .......... Bethany
4 - 5 ......... Benjamin (4:30 or 5 Puppy has last meal & walked)
5 - 6 ......... Noah
6 - 7 .......... Anna
7 - 8 .......... Mummy while older children help little ones get ready for bed
8 - 9 .......... Benjamin & Noah together
9 - until bedtime - person on night watch is responsible for puppy.

During the hour a person is assigned they are the puppy's shadow taking him out after eating or having water, a play time or a nap. Blaze has adjusted well to his crate at night time and is only slowly becoming acclimatized to being in the crate during our meals. He was not crate trained in his first home and had a small room to roam in during the day and night so I am amazed at how well he has adjusted to sleeping at night in the crate. God willing he will continue to do this well.

Night watch means that the puppy slept in his crate in that person's bedroom and s/he took puppy to the pottie during the night - on a pee pad by the front door.

Please keep Blaze in your prayers as well as us. We need a well behaved puppy but foremost we need to be successful in house breaking him. This means we must be very committed to his training.


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Puppy Boot Camp in Progress

Learning how to call the puppy... will he come to his name?

SUCCESS!!!

Continue to watch for puppy boot camp updates!

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My Apologies...

... but as director of the Puppy Boot Camp currently being run in my living room and dining room - I have found myself very busy, uh, directing children as they direct the puppy. Then there is the whole case of still caring for a new born. One of my best friends asked if I thought my Lent was not challenging enough yet? I think that was her way of subtly suggesting I am, ummm, LOCA!

So posting might be a bit sporadic between wiping up puddles directing puppy training, changing diapers, posting schedules for puppy walks, meals, etc

So pray for me, eh?


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And heeeeres...

... the newest member of our family.

BLAZE

This "wee" baby was carefully selected this weekend after much prayer. The really incredible thing is that our second oldest daughter delivered this puppy along with the rest of his litter and our fourth daughter, Anna, was also present at the birth.

We have been wanting a puppy for a while and we have been waiting for the right moment. While he is a young puppy he is WEANED! His first night here was pretty peaceful. He woke up a few times and was taken to the potty and settled down again. Please God he will do as well tonight.

We feel with our evening classes coming up - we need a dog in the house with our teenagers when they start to baby sit a couple nights a week. Look forward to many updates as this little fellow adjusts to life with a large family!



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If you think these...

are cute....





check them out here...




and here....

BUT she is quickly out growing them - WAAAH!!!

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The perfect day...

...for hot chocolate. After a whirlwind heat wave we are back in the throes of cold, windy, rain filled days with gloomy skies. So I pulled out a large pot today, added cocoa with 1/2 of the equal amount
of sugar. I like to add a touch of coffee but there was none at hand today. Poured in several cups of milk and heated it over a medium hot burner.

Served it up with animal crackers and enjoyed listening to lions, rhinoceros, and the like, drowning and then being rescued from mugs of steamy hot chocolate.

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Aditional Update on Timothy

... a friend of the family who was here when Timothy went home with his new family met the gentleman in our local Wal-mart and asked how things were going. It seems they are enjoying Timothy very much! That was so wonderful to hear.

There might not be much happening on my blog the next day or two. It is the last two days of our spring vacation and I have a few cleaning goals to accomplish that feel as impossible as climbing Mount Olympus. If anything there will be pictures posted... I have lots of them - just lacking the time to post them!

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Please pray for this little baby...

I have been following her story for some months now and more than once thought she was not going to make it! I will be adding her button on the side so you can peek in on her recovery now and then as well.

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Timothy...

Monday was D day for Timothy - to the shelter or not? Well - he did NOT go to the shelter, but neither did he stay here. He found a lovely home in the country on three acres with a couple who have raised motherless animals before.

We are missing him, but very happy he has a good home. Meanwhile we are making plans for the summer when we will try to find our furever friend and train him, or her, up into a wonderful companion. And, hopefully, the pup will have already been weaned - so no 3 hr round the clock feeding! Whew -now that we don't miss. Read more!

Evening thoughts...

Two boys, 8 & 12, playing chess.
A 13 yr old entertaining a 9 week old.
An older sister helping a younger one clean their bed off.
An almost 4 yr old asleep on Mummy's lap.
A 15 year old using her 30 minutes of Internet time.
An 18 yr old caring for her niece; many miles away from here.
A mother journaling, father working.
A peaceful night.

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Baby Cecilia is developing a routine...

... as in routinely filling her diaper to overflowing. She adds variety, though, as to what direction she leaks - up the back, down the leg - up the tummy. Read more!

Craving Equations...

One Craving for Banana Bread

Company's Coming Recipe Book

+ 45 minutes in the kitchen
---------------------------------
5 loaves in the oven (2 pineapple & 3 banana)


Craving satisfied!
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How do you know...

... there is a puppy in the house? When you hear Daddy say: "Hey don't forget to wash your hands before you pet the baby!"

Stay tuned to hear more about Timothy's future!
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A visitor comes to call

Yesterday I was called down from Mount Laundry by Emma who excitedly explained:

"I was sitting on the door step with Bethany and some girls stopped. They want to talk to YOU Mummy. They are at the door. I think they want directions. "

This statement was punctuated with Emma's excited arms waving about as she pointed here and there emphasizing where everyone was. I made my way to the door still folding a t-shirt.

I opened the door and found three girls on bicycles standing on the edge of our lawn. One of them held out a small puppy and asked:

"Would you like a puppy?"

Before I could firmly say "No - please take it back home.", the oldest one added:

"We found him up the road and we can't take him home 'cause we have two pit bulls."

"Yeah," added the younger girl "and they're gettin' real mean - one bit me yesterday"

The older one who then introduced herself as the mother of the other two stated;

"They sure is and they are only four months old! I wouldn't dare take this little one home to them."

Well - to be honest, I wouldn't have been taking a puppy, let alone my children, home to them either so I took a closer look at the puppy:

No Fleas
Clean Ears
Fat tummy
Willing to allow me to poke and prod...

"Well", I said hesitantly, " I can keep him here over night and then take him to the shelter.

So here he is - our temporary visitor:








This little fellow, who is currently being called Timothy, will be staying until Monday when the Shelter will then be able to take him. They have asked if we will keep him until then as they do not have sufficient staff to care for him - as he is not yet weaned. Oh LORD help us - that is more than enough time to ingratiate himself to us - we CAN NOT make that mistake again!

PS - to Pit Bull owners - I am not against Pit Bulls per say, but to have a member of this breed already showing signs of aggression towards my children is, in my opinion an ominous sign of the future. I was also attacked by a pit bull and badly bitten, at the age of five, so I have personal experience of how aggressive this breed can be if not properly raised and trained.

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A photo I was blessed to take...

Thank you Benjamin for showing me how to do the © sign! Now I need to add it to Bethany's photos.



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Some tall guys make some TALL snowmen!

Smoothing out his work.

A stake? Maybe through the heart? We are talking boys here.

Nope - a nose. What was I thinking?

Finishing touches.
(Sadly, when Emma decided that Benjamin's snowman needed a candy cane mouth too, he collapsed under her tender pressure on his face. He is but a memory now!)

Checking out his work.

Resting on his buddy.

Complete.

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Meenalu...

... your requested post on 'why not return to Canada' is coming!
Stay Tuned!

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If you are 12 and a boy...

... what is the most logical thing to do if you find a few rolls of plaster cast material? Why you immediately create a fake cast so you can try to fool your piano teacher into thinking you cannot play in the recital this spring.

After you get home from your cool joke - too late you learn that doctors apply a cotton wrap over the skin before applying the plaster. A very painful twenty minutes later you are not only sans the fake cast but also rid of most of the hair on your arm.

Lesson learned - don't try to trick your piano teacher with a fake cast!


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More pictures from our snow day

The Creation of a snowman.... by Emma.


Rolling... rolling... rolling!



Rolling some more.




And Nathaniel joins in too - rolling, rolling, rolling...




FINALLY!



Now for a few finishing touches....

Adding a candy cane for a mouth, emmm yum!

Now a nose!

Add a hat and we're done!

More snowmen to come. Stay Tuned!

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If you have a blank spot...

...on your prayer list please add me to it. I am struggling with a few things here and will be mentally on my knees quite a bit these next few days if not weeks! I could use ALL the graces that can be spared, so if you have time to slip me into your prayers - I cannot tell you how much I will appreciate it. Please also keep our 22 yr old son in your prayers as he discerns his future the next couple of days.

Thank you! Thank you, thank you in advance for all of your prayers.

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She's growing like a weed!

This adorable outfit had to be retired already!
The newborn stage is but a fleeting moment in a lifetime.
I am desperate to enjoy every moment of it.
Even now, as I type, Cecilia is resting on my lap on her boppy pillow.

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Are you a twitter?

If so, you really need to check out TweetCatholic.
BTW - do you know who are the three most followed Catholics on Twitter?
No?
Then check out TweetCatholic.
Did I say that TweetCatholic is Sweet?!

And if y'all not 'a twitter' - check it out anyway!

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Snow Day...

...and school is canceled. After all who could resist taking the day to enjoy this....

'Early Morning Sun' by Bethany Rose (10 yrs)

'Icicles' by Bethany Rose (10 yrs)

Enjoying the neighbours driveway!

(You know we are in the south when your neighbour is encouraging the kids to pile snow ONTO the driveway - instead of shoveling it off!) (photo by mum213 :)

I have 2 videos of the sliding - if only I could get the links to work. Maybe my jpgs are too large? Anyone have some ideas - if so could you comment or email me?

(Please, if anyone shares the photos by Bethany give her credit as they are her property! :-)

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A little change from puppy news...

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Today he comes!

Yes! Today the repairman comes to ... repair my dishwasher. Oh I hope it is something that can be repaired easily AND today! My beloved washer is but 6 months old. Surely we have not worn it out already? We are only running it twice a day! Maybe we should have gone with Maytag so that the repairman could stay... as bored as this guy looks!



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Storm prep

Flashlights ............................... check
Candles ..................................... check
Camp stove............................... check
Butane for stove....................... check
Safe place to use stove ............ check
Baby's laundry on ................... check
(Can't run out of jammies, eh?)
8 loaves of bread ...................... check
food heatable on camp stove... check
Prayers ....................................... check
Rain - lots of it .......................... check.
Wind ............................................ check
family dinner .............................. canceled :-(
Freezing rain............................. not yet
Snow........................................ nope - not yet either and praying it doesn't come nor the freezing rain and praying our preparations will enable Murphy's Law to come into play - in our favour!


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Joy of Joy!

There's a baby in the house and I've been sorting and folding her little socks.

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