Prom 2010:

Who says kids who are homeschooled don't get to go to prom?
This is my 17 year old who went to Prom with one of his oldest and dearest friends.
What a great time they had.
Thank God for good kids!!!

I was so excited, you would of thought I was going!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Memorial Day:

Meditation of the day: Imitation of Christ -

The Fourth Chapter
Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily (part one)

The Disciple

O LORD my God, favor Your servant with the blessings of Your sweetness that I may merit to approach Your magnificent Sacrament worthily and devoutly. Lift up my heart to You and take away from me this heavy indolence. Visit me with Your saving grace that I may in spirit taste Your sweetness which lies hidden in this Sacrament like water in the depths of a spring. Enlighten my eyes to behold this great Mystery, and give me strength to believe in it with firm faith.

For it is Your work, not the power of man, Your sacred institution, not his invention. No man is able of himself to comprehend and understand these things which surpass even the keen vision of angels. How, then, shall I, an unworthy sinner who am but dust and ashes, be able to fathom and understand so great a mystery?

O Lord, I come to You at Your command in simplicity of heart, in good, firm faith, with hope and reverence, and I truly believe that You are present here in this Sacrament, God and man. It is Your will that I receive You and unite myself to You in love. Wherefore, I beg Your mercy and ask that special grace be given me, that I may be wholly dissolved in You and filled with Your love, no longer to concern myself with exterior consolations. For this, the highest and most worthy Sacrament, is the health of soul and body, the cure of every spiritual weakness. In it my defects are remedied, my passions restrained, and temptations overcome or allayed. In it greater grace is infused, growing virtue is nourished, faith confirmed, hope strengthened, and charity fanned into flame.

read the rest here

Dear Lord, Help me always receive you worthily and often. Help my family desire to be with you in this amazing sacrament all the days of their lives!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

My Oldest Child Graduates from College!!!

This past Monday my oldest child graduated from college.

What a splendid day!!! We started out with breakfast with the social work majors than off to the graduation. I really didn't think I would be too emotional, but sitting there staring at her on the floor ready to process to receive her degree, as I nursed my eight month old---I started to tear up.

Boyfriend*Daughter*Son

Check out the red shoes

Proud Papa

Which one is the school mascot?

The family (minus Oldest son who is in the Seminary)

To My Dearest Daughter:

I am proud beyond words...I can't help but brag.

You have been homeschooled forever...

You have always loved reading and have read everything you could get your hands on...

You have worked since you were 11 saving and prudently spending your money...

You graduated early with great maturity and fervor...

You accomplished great academic strides at the community college...

You held down a job and kept great grades all during college...

You have been a great big sister and God Mother, always taking your siblings fun places...

You have proven yourself mature beyond your years...

You bought your own car, lap top, and phone...

You have chosen a nice young man to spend your time with...

You kept your faith as a priority all these years...

You have successfully learned how to manage your time, money, studies, and social life...

You pretty much handled all your bill's on your own these four years...

You were accepted into the advanced Master's one year program...

You graduated at 20 years of age with Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0!!!

You graduated DEBT FREE...

You diligently start your Master's program a week after graduating...

You are so special and I am so proud of you...

You are a great example to those who know you...

Wow, have you raised the bar for the next 11 kids!!!

I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I am living my baby you'll be!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Meditation of the day: Imitation of Christ-

The Third Chapter
It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often

The Disciple

BEHOLD, I come to You, Lord, that I may prosper by Your gift and be delighted at Your holy banquet which You, O God, in Your sweetness have prepared for Your poor. Behold, all that I can or ought to desire is in You. You are my salvation and my redemption, my hope and strength, my honor and glory.

Gladden, then, this day the soul of Your servant because I have raised my heart to You, O Lord Jesus. I long to receive You now, devoutly and reverently. I desire to bring You into my house that, with Zacheus, I may merit Your blessing and be numbered among the children of Abraham.

My soul longs for Your Body; my heart desires to be united with You. Give me Yourself—it is enough; for without You there is no consolation. Without You I cannot exist, without Your visitation I cannot live. I must often come to You, therefore, and receive the strength of my salvation lest, deprived of this heavenly food, I grow weak on the way. Once, most merciful Jesus, while preaching to the people and healing their many ills, You said: “I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.” Matt. 15:32. Deal with me likewise, You Who have left Yourself in this Sacrament for the consolation of the faithful. You are sweet refreshment to the soul, and he who eats You worthily will be a sharer in, and an heir to, eternal glory.

It is indeed necessary for me, who fall and sin so often, who so quickly become lax and weak, to renew, cleanse, and inflame myself through frequent prayer, confession, and the holy reception of Your Body, lest perhaps by abstaining too long, I fall away from my holy purpose. For from the days of his youth the senses of man are prone to evil, and unless divine aid strengthens him, he quickly falls deeper. But Holy Communion removes him from evil and confirms him in good.

If I am so often careless and lax when I celebrate or communicate, what would happen if I did not receive this remedy and seek so great a help? Although I am neither fit nor properly disposed to celebrate every day, yet I will do my best at proper times to receive the divine Mysteries and share in this great grace. This, indeed, is the one chief consolation of the faithful soul when separated from You by mortality, that often mindful of her God, she receives her Beloved with devout recollection.

Oh, wonderful condescension of Your affection toward us, that You, the Lord God, Creator and Giver of life to all, should see fit to come to a poor soul and to appease her hunger with all Your divinity and humanity! O happy mind and blessed soul which deserves to receive You, her Lord God, and in receiving You, is filled with spiritual joy! How great a Master she entertains, what a beloved guest she receives, how sweet a companion she welcomes, how true a friend she gains, how beautiful and noble is the spouse she embraces, beloved and desired above all things that can be loved and desired! Let heaven and earth and all their treasures stand silent before Your face, most sweetly Beloved, for whatever glory and beauty they have is of Your condescending bounty, and they cannot approach the beauty of Your name, Whose wisdom is untold.

I have been trying to go to daily mass since I was 16 years old. Of course there are times when it just doesn't work in my state in life. Those times that I do get there are amazing. There are times when I have brought all the kids and amazing isn't the word that I would use~stressful is more like it. Although what a great habit when it is part of our daily schedule.

This site has tons of great info.
I always tell the kids that when we receive Holy Communion it is like a little piece of heaven giving us the wisdom to make wise decisions.
God knows I need all the help I can get.

Here are some of the graces we get from frequent communion:
*removes the guilt of repented venial sins
*supernatural strength to resist temptation
*strengthening the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit
*gives us a spiritual joy

That is enough great reasons to get my lazy self out of the house and spend time with my best friend!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Free Homeschool Conference:

GO HERE FOR MORE INFO

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Where was this when I got married...