Good GRIEF!!!

I have been really having a hard time getting over the loss of our baby...it isn't like me to be so sullen all the time. I try to shake it off. I have so very much to be thankful for and I have a wonderful husband and children who really need me to take care of them.

I went to the gym everyday last week and I started eating so much healthier. By Friday morning when I was at the gym I just about lost it. I was having a slow workout and I just couldn't stop thinking, "Why am I here? What am I doing? Just last month I couldn't stop smiling, I was so excited that my pregnancy was going so great! I ate everything all the time, I slept in, I took naps everyday, I went to bed early...now I get up at 4:45am to workout and am only eating healthy food...and I can't even make myself smile!"

Then came a busy weekend as I took my daughter and her friends away...now it is Monday again...this time I started my morning off with going to Adoration. I just sat in the chapel and cried. I am so glad that during this grief I can turn to my Lord and my husband...both who have been very patient with me! I got in the car to go home and thought...let me put on the christian radio station...that usually encourages me and makes me smile...so when I did, one of my favorite songs came on that really fit my situation perfect!

.

Newsboys Blessed Be Your Name Lyrics

Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
But my heart will choose to say
You give and take away
You give and take away
But my heart will choose to say

Blessed it be your of the lord
Blessed it be your name
Bless it be your name of the lord
Bless it be your glorious name

Blessed it be your name of the lord
Blessed it be your name
Blessed it be your name of the lord
Blessed it be your glorious name

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Listen up!

Hey to all you teenagers...especially mine...guard your precious purity with all your strength, heart, and mind!

If you think you "love" someone and want to give them your virginity than wait till the wedding vows have been spoken! There is no greater gift on your wedding night than giving your spouse this precious gift on the consummation of the covenant of your wedding.

If you can't sacrifice and hold off now, while your dating...what kind of sacrifices and commitment will you be able to make in the midst of growing together with all the stress marriage can bring? Marriage is a wonderful sacrament full of wonder and excitement...but believe me...in the midst of the diapers, dishes, bills, and broken down cars...it is tough.

Dating is boot camp for the most important job in life. If marriage is the vocation that you choose...practice virtue while your dating! Purity, self control, patience, wisdom, learning to listen, self sacrifice, suffering, giving, openness to life, immobility,  and hundreds of others! These are just ones I needed to work on this morning!

Trust me, I have never met a person on this wonderful earth who has regretted being a virgin on their wedding day! If it is too late, I believe God gives us a new beginning through confession. Secondary virginity is a very powerful tool also. God is a miracle worker and can pour graces down on anyone who is willing +

 2012 HOMESCHOOL PROM

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Meditation:

Being a mom to seven son's...yesterday's reading really hit home with me...

Reading 1 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31

It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested
and tortured with whips and scourges by the king,
to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.

Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother,
who saw her seven sons perish in a single day,
yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.
Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage,
she exhorted each of them
in the language of their ancestors with these words:
"I do not know how you came into existence in my womb;
it was not I who gave you the breath of life,
nor was it I who set in order
the elements of which each of you is composed.
Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe
who shapes each man's beginning,
as he brings about the origin of everything,
he, in his mercy,
will give you back both breath and life,
because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law."

Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words,
thought he was being ridiculed.
As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him,
not with mere words, but with promises on oath,
to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs:
he would make him his Friend
and entrust him with high office.
When the youth paid no attention to him at all,
the king appealed to the mother,
urging her to advise her boy to save his life.
After he had urged her for a long time,
she went through the motions of persuading her son.
In derision of the cruel tyrant,
she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language:
"Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months,
nursed you for three years, brought you up,
educated and supported you to your present age.
I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth
and see all that is in them;
then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things;
and in the same way the human race came into existence.
Do not be afraid of this executioner,
but be worthy of your brothers and accept death,
so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them."

She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said:
"What are you waiting for?
I will not obey the king's command.
I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses.
But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews,
will not escape the hands of God."

May I always be a good example to my children...Lord bless my sons (and all my children) to live a life dedicated to you!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Imatation of Christ Meditation...

It has been a real long time since I shared my meditation on The Imitation of Christ. It is the best devotional book to just pick up and read a little at a time. It really puts so many of my daily struggles and passions into perspective of what Christ expects of me. I thought I would try to finish up the book and share the rest of my thoughts. Here is the message on receiving communion worthily.

From Book Four: The Seventh Chapter: Blessed Sacrament:The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend

You can Read here: or Buy here:

The Voice of Christ

ABOVE all, God’s priest should approach the celebration and reception of this Sacrament with the deepest humility of heart and suppliant reverence, with complete faith and the pious intention of giving honor to God.

Carefully examine your conscience, then. Cleanse and purify it to the best of your power by true contrition and humble confession, that you may have no burden, know of no remorse, and thus be free to come near. Let the memory of all your sins grieve you, and especially lament and bewail your daily transgressions. Then if time permits, confess to God in the secret depths of your heart all the miseries your passions have caused.

Lament and grieve because you are still so worldly, so carnal, so passionate and unmortified, so full of roving lust, so careless in guarding the external senses, so often occupied in many vain fancies, so inclined to exterior things and so heedless of what lies within, so prone to laughter and dissipation and so indisposed to sorrow and tears, so inclined to ease and the pleasures of the flesh and so cool to austerity and zeal, so curious to hear what is new and to see the beautiful and so slow to embrace humiliation and dejection, so covetous of abundance, so niggardly in giving and so tenacious in keeping, so inconsiderate in speech, so reluctant in silence, so undisciplined in character, so disordered in action, so greedy at meals, so deaf to the Word of God, so prompt to rest and so slow to labor, so awake to empty conversation, so sleepy in keeping sacred vigils and so eager to end them, so wandering in your attention, so careless in saying the office, so lukewarm in celebrating, so heartless in receiving, so quickly distracted, so seldom fully recollected, so quickly moved to anger, so apt to take offense at others, so prone to judge, so severe in condemning, so happy in prosperity and so weak in adversity, so often making good resolutions and carrying so few of them into action.

When you have confessed and deplored these and other faults with sorrow and great displeasure because of your weakness, be firmly determined to amend your life day by day and to advance in goodness. Then, with complete resignation and with your entire will offer yourself upon the altar of your heart as an everlasting sacrifice to the honor of My name, by entrusting with faith both body and soul to My care, that thus you may be considered worthy to draw near and offer sacrifice to God and profitably receive the Sacrament of My Body. For there is no more worthy offering, no greater satisfaction for washing away sin than to offer yourself purely and entirely to God with the offering of the Body of Christ in Mass and Communion.

If a man does what he can and is truly penitent, however often he comes to Me for grace and pardon, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live”; Ezek. 33:11. I will no longer remember his sins, but all will be forgiven him.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Tips for disciplining children:

"Honor your Father and your Mother." (Exodus 20:12)

1.Do not over-react, the less emotion the better and the punishment needs to be proportional to the infraction.

2.United front- mom and dad must be on the same page and punishments should be discussed as a couple before announcing it to the child.

3.You need to make the children understand the gravity of the offense and why you are punishing them.

4.You need to determine what they most enjoy doing and use that as collateral (cell phones, video games, computer, facebook, ipod, dessert,…)

5.Disrespect can never be tolerated.

6.The punishment should be pro-active. Give them a book, an assignment or a chore so as to make good use of this time.

7.Unconditional love- no matter what happens, they still need to see that you love them.

God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

How to Talk to Your Kids About Life After High School ?:

Over at our local PATCH on line news they have asked this question:

How to Talk to Your Kids About Life After High School?

My short non preachy response is:

I have three children in the category. One is 21, graduating with her masters in May and getting married in August. My second will be 20 next month and is at the community college planning on transferring to MD next year. My third is 18 and also at the community college and transferring to Towson next year. My fourth child will be graduating this May and going to the community college also.

I think it depends on the direction they are going.

College: Make it a priority, don't miss a class. Do any extra credit available. Find study groups and like minded friends. Be diligent in your studies remembering that this is your main concern at this time in your life.

Work: Be the best you can be. Find something you shine at. Watch what you say and do at all times. Be kind and conscientious to your coworkers. If you don't have something to do during your scheduled work hours, find something to do or ask your supervisor for a job. Even if you are sweeping up floors...your time belongs to your job during work hours.

Dating: Even thou you are out of high school keep a balanced relationship with your girl friend/boy friend. Find fun inexpensive things to do. Like going for walks, to the park, downtown to site see, museums, or look your community for free activities or reasonably priced shows and events.

As a young adult never forget to give back to your community through volunteer work in something you are concerned about or passionate towards.

Of course don't forget to spend time with your family, especially your relatives and older members of your family. You will never regret the time spent with them and hearing the stories of how your family got started.

Trust me I could write a book on this and will post more advice about this later... like:

Frequent the sacraments as much as possible, pray daily, and KEEP THE FAITH!!!


THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Rules for IPOD:

Well, now that your 13...

Rules for iPod:
1. No internet
2. Only get iPod after jobs and school is done
3. One hour game time…we can discuss music use
4. Must check with dad before buying games/apps/music
5. IPod goes in parent’s room/on dock station at bedtime
6. No electronics at dinner time
7. Cannot walk around house with earphones on ignoring others or hide in your room.
8. Cannot bring it out of the house without permission
9. Please do not let siblings use it without our permission
10. If you disobey any of these rules your iPod will be
taken away.



SIGN HERE: __________________________________________

Password: _____________

  
THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

NOTE TO YOUTH:

The best wedding gift you can give to your spouse is your virginity!!!

Hold on to it...protect it...embrace it...guard it...appreciate it!!!

This is one of our favorite books...

The Joyful Mysteries of Life is a good place to start with your young girls...

Pray and ask God to protect your purity and watch out for what you see, hear, and do!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

PUSH:

No not advice for those in labor...

just a great reminder from a holy priest named Father Dan Leary.

P.U.S.H.= pray until something happens

THY WILL DONE!!! +JMJ+

Angels and Saints:

This mornings discussion about St Michael the Archangel.

Angels can be saints but saints can't be angels.

Many people say that their loved ones who have passed

are angels, this in incorrect.

If they are in heaven they are saints.

The church declares certain people saints

after much research.

See more info about Saints here.

Gotta go...my three year old just told me St Michael is hungry

and is feeding his statue some clementine's!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM YOUR SEVEN SONS

DADDY AND HIS DAUGHTERS

46 REASONS WHY I LOVE YOU:

1. I love that your forever my one and only
2. I love your cute face
3. I love your fathering
4. I love your balance
5. I love being married to you
6. I love you accepting me for my crazy self
7. I love your pessimistic personality…even if it annoys me at times
8. I love that you let me homeschool our kids
9. I love that you help me with the kids
10. I love the taste of the salt on your skin after running
11. I love waking up in the morning especially when you cuddle
12. I love when you work from home
13. I love your hair especially when it is short
14. I love you when you help me during labor, even when you got to hole Kolbe
15. I love how you think I am hot when I am pregnant
16. I love that you let me stay home with the kids
17. I love that you support my faith
18. I love how I feel safe in your arms
19. I love how you let me cuddle up next to you in the winter for warmth
20. I love your sardonic smile
21. I love that you don’t mind when I go shopping at the consignment shop
22. I love when you wear your running pants
23. I love you when you hold me after a good cry
24. I love that you balance our checkbook
25. I love to watch you sleep
26. I love that you let me text you at work 20 times a day
27. I love how you hold our babies on your chest
28. I love when you read to the kids
29. I love to rub your shoulders
30. I love to hug you from behind
31. I love that you think that I am the pick of the litter
32. I love when we pray together
33. I love that we are BFF’s
34. I love your gross toes
35. I love your warmth
36. I love when you teach me to do new things on the computer
37. I love that you think that I am more beautiful at 42 then at 16 when we met
38. I love how you are a hard worker
39. I love that you are a great parent to our teenagers
40. I love TTN
41. I love HT, HS, and any H day
42. I love that you are funny
43. I love that you help me when I am lost
44. I love that you are so smart
45. I love that you like to read
46. I love that I love your more today than the day we were married

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

It is TIME for change:

I got a new job...I get to write for a local PATCH news online. My latest was about advice for parents with little ones.

Let me know what you think...and feel free to link it if you want.

Giving advice is like running for public office: People can always dig up dirt about how you don't practice what you preach. Let me share some advice that has worked for me most of the time. I have to confess that I am far from a perfect wife and mother, so take this advice with a large grain of salt.

I am constantly asked how I accomplish anything with 12 kids. One of the main questions centers on bed time and getting a bit of time alone or as a couple. First of all, I had to come to grips with the fact that even though my kids seem needier, my first priority is my husband. I know it seems strange when the children are little and so needy, but the best thing you can do for your kids is to love your spouse. One thing that has helped my marriage and my parenting is to put the kids to bed early when they are young. read more here:

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Receiving Communion and Spiritual Communion

My meditation today from the Intimation of Christ.

The Sixth Chapter
An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion

The Disciple

WHEN I consider Your dignity, O Lord, and my own meanness, I become very much frightened and confused. For if I do not receive, I fly from Life, and if I intrude unworthily, I incur Your displeasure. What, then, shall I do, my God, my Helper and Adviser in necessity? Teach me the right way. Place before me some short exercise suitable for Holy Communion, for it is good to know in what manner I ought to make my heart ready devoutly and fervently for You, to receive Your Sacrament for the good of my soul, or even to celebrate so great and divine a sacrifice.

When you can't get to daily mass make a spiritual communion.

Act of Spiritual Communion
by St. Alphonsus Liguori (A.D. 1696-1787)

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present
in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though thou wert already there,
I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee;
permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee.

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+

Sex Education Resources:

Haven't really found anything that I love.

We use the Joyful Mysteries of Life for Elementary school and Middle School.
(each child is ready at a different time)
We use Real Love by Mary Beth Bonacci for High School and up.

Would love to hear of any that work for your family...

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Prayer of Abandonment...Or as I say..."THY WILL BE DONE!!! "

Saw this in the missal at mass this morning:

Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures -
I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.

This wonderful Prayer of Abandonment is written by Charles de Foucauld. More info here.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

We could always use some hired help...

Do you, like me, dream of the days when people had "hired help".
I do daily...ok hourly!!!

Then I remember my blessings:

Husband: Accountant, Handy man, Personal Trainer, Cook, Chauffeur, Grocery Shopper,etc...
Alex-20: Event Coordinator
Joshua-19: Grounds Keeper
Caleb-17: Chauffeur
Elizabeth-16: Maid
Barbara-14: Nanny
Joseph-12: Athletic Trainer
Robert-10: Chef
Dominic-8: Lawn Mower
Mary-7: Baby sitter
Cecilia-4: Laundry Helper
Eric-3: Energy Maker
Kolbe-1: Joy Provider

It's a good thing they work for free!!!

Keep Praying for this crazy family!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Meditation: THY WILL BE DONE!!!

From: THE GIFT OF FAITH by Father Tadeusz Dajczer (page 50 chapter two)

Maturity in faith means the willingness to give up to the Lord everything that He gives us, entrusting ourselves totally to Him.
We should not attach ourselves; not even to spiritual gifts, and not even to Holy Communion. God's will is the only one reality which one may attach oneself to, with out claiming it for oneself. Everything besides God's will is a gift and a means to reach the aim, but it is not the aim. If we claim the gift for ourselves, God will either destroy it or-through giving us the experience of suffering-show us that we have nothing to offer, that we are helpless and that it is God who gives us everything.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

I want to be more like Christ:

When it comes down to it...all in all...in my total sinfulness, pride, and selfishness...all I want in life is to do The Will of God!!! I want to be Christ's hands and feet, I want to have His heart and desires.

So with a little smile and a laugh I share this funny little email my cousin sent me:

An eye witness account from New York
City, on a cold day in December,
some years ago: A little boy,
about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the
roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering
with cold.

A lady approached the young boy and said,
'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!'

'I was asking God to give me a pair of
shoes,’ was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand, went into the store,
and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks
for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water
and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.

She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and,
removing her gloves, knelt down, washed
his little feet, and dried them with the towel.

By this time, the clerk had returned with
the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet,
she purchased him a pair of shoes.

She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him..
She patted him on the head and said, 'No doubt, you will be more
comfortable now.'
As she turned to go, the astonished kid
caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his
eyes, asked her.

'Are you God's wife?'

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Message to youth...

Guard your purity it is one of the greatest gifts that God has given you!!! Protect your eyes, ears, your heart, and the words you say.

Your virginity is the most precious gift you can give to your spouse on your wedding day and will always be a beautiful expression of your love for them and Christ.

Don't let Satan and the world convince you that you are not an amazing person. Make sure you don't buy into the view that it is ok because everyone is doing it and it is no big deal.

God has a special plan for each of you and you must stay close to HIM through prayer and the sacraments so to better hear HIS will for your life.

I love you and am praying for you all the time.

May you see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil, all the days of your life.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Imitation of Christ: Meditation of the day-

What a perfect meditation for the Year of the Priest that is ending soon.

The Fifth Chapter
The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood


The Voice of Christ

HAD you the purity of an angel and the sanctity of St. John the Baptist, you would not be worthy to receive or administer this Sacrament. It is not because of any human meriting that a man consecrates and administers the Sacrament of Christ, and receives the Bread of Angels for his food. Great is the Mystery and great the dignity of priests to whom is given that which has not been granted the angels. For priests alone, rightly ordained in the Church, have power to celebrate Mass and consecrate the Body of Christ.

The priest, indeed, is the minister of God, using the word of God according to His command and appointment. God, moreover, is there—the chief Author and invisible Worker to Whom all is subject as He wills, to Whom all are obedient as He commands.

In this most excellent Sacrament, therefore, you ought to believe in God rather than in your own senses or in any visible sign, and thus, with fear and reverence draw near to such a work as this. Look to yourself and see whose ministry has been given you through the imposition of the bishop’s hands.

Behold, you have been made a priest, consecrated to celebrate Mass! See to it now that you offer sacrifice to God faithfully and devoutly at proper times, and that you conduct yourself blamelessly. You have not made your burden lighter. Instead, you are now bound by stricter discipline and held to more perfect sanctity.

A priest ought to be adorned with all virtues and show the example of a good life to others. His way lies not among the vulgar and common habits of men but with the angels in heaven and the perfect men on earth. A priest clad in the sacred vestments acts in Christ’s place, that he may pray to God both for himself and for all people in a suppliant and humble manner. He has before and behind him the sign of the Lord’s cross that he may always remember the Passion of Christ. It is before him, on the chasuble, that he may look closely upon the footsteps of Christ and try to follow them fervently. It is behind him—he is signed with it—that he may gladly suffer for God any adversities inflicted by others.

He wears the cross before him that he may mourn his own sins, behind him, that in pity he may mourn the sins of others, and know that he is appointed to stand between God and the sinner, never to become weary of prayer and the holy offering until it is granted him to obtain grace and mercy.

When the priest celebrates Mass, he honors God, gladdens the angels, strengthens the Church, helps the living, brings rest to the departed, and wins for himself a share in all good things.

Dear Lord, Please bless and give an abundance of wisdom to our priest. Guide and direct them to minister to your flock.

***Prayer Request: Please pray for my son who is in the seminary.
That God will let him know what HIS WILL is
and he will be able to discern his future vocation.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+