Friday, August 8, 2008
Going on vacation...Lucky you-Guest Blogger!!!
I am having a great friend and mentor Rachel Watkins post for me this week...she is the mother of 11 (who are these crazy people?) and homeschooler!!! She has written for Heart, Mind & Strength, Catholic Exchange, as well as others. She has agreed to share some of her "stuff" with us...enjoy your week with real writing!!!
IMITATION OF CHRIST: meditation of the day...
THOUGHTS ON DEATH (PART ONE) cheery subject...
VERY soon your life here will end; consider, then, what may be in store for you elsewhere. Today we live; tomorrow we die and are quickly forgotten. Oh, the dullness and hardness of a heart which looks only to the present instead of preparing for that which is to come!
Therefore, in every deed and every thought, act as though you were to die this very day. If you had a good conscience you would not fear death very much. It is better to avoid sin than to fear death. If you are not prepared today, how will you be prepared tomorrow? Tomorrow is an uncertain day; how do you know you will have a tomorrow? (nice topic...although it is important to embrace our days with the thoughts of urgency for fulfilling what Christ created us for)
What good is it to live a long life when we amend that life so little? Indeed, a long life does not always benefit us, but on the contrary, frequently adds to our guilt. Would that in this world we had lived well throughout one single day. Many count up the years they have spent in religion but find their lives made little holier. If it is so terrifying to die, it is nevertheless possible that to live longer is more dangerous. Blessed is he who keeps the moment of death ever before his eyes and prepares for it every day. (especially treating others as if it were the last time we were with him...makes dealing with toddlers & teenagers an entirely different program)
If you have ever seen a man die, remember that you, too, must go the same way. In the morning consider that you may not live till evening, and when evening comes do not dare to promise yourself the dawn. Be always ready, therefore, and so live that death will never take you unprepared. Many die suddenly and unexpectedly, for in the unexpected hour the Son of God will come. When that last moment arrives you will begin to have a quite different opinion of the life that is now entirely past and you will regret very much that you were so careless and remiss.
How happy and prudent is he who tries now in life to be what he wants to be found in death. Perfect contempt of the world, a lively desire to advance in virtue, a love for discipline, the works of penance, readiness to obey, self-denial, and the endurance of every hardship for the love of Christ, these will give a man great expectations of a happy death. (virtue, discipline, penance, obedience, self-denial, endurance: all for the love of Christ!!!)
VERY soon your life here will end; consider, then, what may be in store for you elsewhere. Today we live; tomorrow we die and are quickly forgotten. Oh, the dullness and hardness of a heart which looks only to the present instead of preparing for that which is to come!
Therefore, in every deed and every thought, act as though you were to die this very day. If you had a good conscience you would not fear death very much. It is better to avoid sin than to fear death. If you are not prepared today, how will you be prepared tomorrow? Tomorrow is an uncertain day; how do you know you will have a tomorrow? (nice topic...although it is important to embrace our days with the thoughts of urgency for fulfilling what Christ created us for)
What good is it to live a long life when we amend that life so little? Indeed, a long life does not always benefit us, but on the contrary, frequently adds to our guilt. Would that in this world we had lived well throughout one single day. Many count up the years they have spent in religion but find their lives made little holier. If it is so terrifying to die, it is nevertheless possible that to live longer is more dangerous. Blessed is he who keeps the moment of death ever before his eyes and prepares for it every day. (especially treating others as if it were the last time we were with him...makes dealing with toddlers & teenagers an entirely different program)
If you have ever seen a man die, remember that you, too, must go the same way. In the morning consider that you may not live till evening, and when evening comes do not dare to promise yourself the dawn. Be always ready, therefore, and so live that death will never take you unprepared. Many die suddenly and unexpectedly, for in the unexpected hour the Son of God will come. When that last moment arrives you will begin to have a quite different opinion of the life that is now entirely past and you will regret very much that you were so careless and remiss.
How happy and prudent is he who tries now in life to be what he wants to be found in death. Perfect contempt of the world, a lively desire to advance in virtue, a love for discipline, the works of penance, readiness to obey, self-denial, and the endurance of every hardship for the love of Christ, these will give a man great expectations of a happy death. (virtue, discipline, penance, obedience, self-denial, endurance: all for the love of Christ!!!)
Thursday, August 7, 2008
opps...I guess I should of been more specific...
4 year old: "Mom, why don't you let us get 'those' books out at the library?"
Mom: "Because, I don't like the way those charaters act in the stories."
Preteen walking by: "Oh, I always thought you were just being mean!"
I guess I need to clarify my reasoning to my children and take advantage of those "teachable moments."
Mom: "Because, I don't like the way those charaters act in the stories."
Preteen walking by: "Oh, I always thought you were just being mean!"
I guess I need to clarify my reasoning to my children and take advantage of those "teachable moments."
IMITATION OF CHRIST: meditation of the day...
THOUGHTS ON THE MISERY OF MAN (part three)
So long as we live in this fragile body, we can neither be free from sin nor live without weariness and sorrow. Gladly would we rest from all misery, but in losing innocence through sin we also lost true blessedness. Therefore, we must have patience and await the mercy of God until this iniquity passes, until mortality is swallowed up in life. (we can never be truly happy in this world)
How great is the frailty of human nature which is ever prone to evil! Today you confess your sins and tomorrow you again commit the sins which you confessed. One moment you resolve to be careful, and yet after an hour you act as though you had made no resolution. (the story of my life...another reason that frequent confession is necessary)
We have cause, therefore, because of our frailty and feebleness, to humble ourselves and never think anything great of ourselves. Through neglect we may quickly lose that which by God's grace we have acquired only through long, hard labor. (sounds familiar) What, eventually, will become of us who so quickly grow lukewarm? Woe to us if we presume to rest in peace and security when actually there is no true holiness in our lives. It would be beneficial for us, like good novices, to be instructed once more in the principles of a good life, to see if there be hope of amendment and greater spiritual progress in the future. (one of the reasons I home school)
So long as we live in this fragile body, we can neither be free from sin nor live without weariness and sorrow. Gladly would we rest from all misery, but in losing innocence through sin we also lost true blessedness. Therefore, we must have patience and await the mercy of God until this iniquity passes, until mortality is swallowed up in life. (we can never be truly happy in this world)
How great is the frailty of human nature which is ever prone to evil! Today you confess your sins and tomorrow you again commit the sins which you confessed. One moment you resolve to be careful, and yet after an hour you act as though you had made no resolution. (the story of my life...another reason that frequent confession is necessary)
We have cause, therefore, because of our frailty and feebleness, to humble ourselves and never think anything great of ourselves. Through neglect we may quickly lose that which by God's grace we have acquired only through long, hard labor. (sounds familiar) What, eventually, will become of us who so quickly grow lukewarm? Woe to us if we presume to rest in peace and security when actually there is no true holiness in our lives. It would be beneficial for us, like good novices, to be instructed once more in the principles of a good life, to see if there be hope of amendment and greater spiritual progress in the future. (one of the reasons I home school)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
I miss my little guys...
Two of my big kids work at a camp in the summer...today they took my three little boys with them. (10,8,6)
I miss them so much!!! The baby misses them...the 4 year old sister misses them...and the 2 year old little sister who shares a room with them really misses them!!!
I sent my daughter a text telling her "I miss my boys!!!" she sent one back..."act like a normal mom"...who me NORMAL? Never!!!
I am so grateful dear Lord for all of these children and the opportunity to homeschool them...help me not complain and appreciate the time I have with them.
Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+
I miss them so much!!! The baby misses them...the 4 year old sister misses them...and the 2 year old little sister who shares a room with them really misses them!!!
I sent my daughter a text telling her "I miss my boys!!!" she sent one back..."act like a normal mom"...who me NORMAL? Never!!!
I am so grateful dear Lord for all of these children and the opportunity to homeschool them...help me not complain and appreciate the time I have with them.
Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+
Meditation of the day...IMITATION OF CHRIST...
THOUGHTS ON THE MISERY OF MAN (part two)
But woe to those who know not their own misery, and greater woe to those who love this miserable and corruptible life. Some, indeed, can scarcely procure its necessities either by work or by begging; yet they love it so much that, if they could live here always, they would care nothing for the kingdom of God. (the world is telling us it is all about us and the present)
How foolish and faithless of heart are those who are so engrossed in earthly things as to relish nothing but what is carnal! Miserable men indeed, for in the end they will see to their sorrow how cheap and worthless was the thing they loved. (this is how I feel about my time
it is so precious, I hate finishing an activity or after watching a dumb show and thinking about how much of my time was just waisted. Dear Lord, help me be wise in the use of my time)
The saints of God and all devout friends of Christ did not look to what pleases the body nor to the things that are popular from time to time. Their whole hope and aim centered on the everlasting good. Their whole desire pointed upward to the lasting and invisible realm, lest the love of what is visible drag them down to lower things. (purity of intention!!!)
Do not lose heart, then, my brother, in pursuing your spiritual life. There is yet time, and your hour is not past. Why delay your purpose? Arise! Begin at once and say: "Now is the time to act, now is the time to fight, now is the proper time to amend." (hope is so inspiring!!!)
When you are troubled and afflicted, that is the time to gain merit. You must pass through water and fire before coming to rest. Unless you do violence to yourself you will not overcome vice. (if we could only remember this in the midst of suffering!!!)
Is it just me or is this getting tougher? Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+
But woe to those who know not their own misery, and greater woe to those who love this miserable and corruptible life. Some, indeed, can scarcely procure its necessities either by work or by begging; yet they love it so much that, if they could live here always, they would care nothing for the kingdom of God. (the world is telling us it is all about us and the present)
How foolish and faithless of heart are those who are so engrossed in earthly things as to relish nothing but what is carnal! Miserable men indeed, for in the end they will see to their sorrow how cheap and worthless was the thing they loved. (this is how I feel about my time
it is so precious, I hate finishing an activity or after watching a dumb show and thinking about how much of my time was just waisted. Dear Lord, help me be wise in the use of my time)
The saints of God and all devout friends of Christ did not look to what pleases the body nor to the things that are popular from time to time. Their whole hope and aim centered on the everlasting good. Their whole desire pointed upward to the lasting and invisible realm, lest the love of what is visible drag them down to lower things. (purity of intention!!!)
Do not lose heart, then, my brother, in pursuing your spiritual life. There is yet time, and your hour is not past. Why delay your purpose? Arise! Begin at once and say: "Now is the time to act, now is the time to fight, now is the proper time to amend." (hope is so inspiring!!!)
When you are troubled and afflicted, that is the time to gain merit. You must pass through water and fire before coming to rest. Unless you do violence to yourself you will not overcome vice. (if we could only remember this in the midst of suffering!!!)
Is it just me or is this getting tougher? Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Like I said...
We scored again...If you read yesterday I mentioned how people are always taking care of us!!! Well, I got a call from a special lady from the Catholic School in our area who wanted to share some goodies with us...(again) she is always helping us out some way!!! Here is what we got:Not to mention by the time I got home she said to come back by and pick up a couple buckets of KofC Chicken for the pool!!! Now you know why our kids like being from a big family!!! Popsicles for months!!! OK...it is nice to get some extra perks when you are in a big family...even if they are against my diet!!! Any yes, that is a full box of 5o candy bars in the picture...
How do these people expect me to ever lose weight???
Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+
Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+
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