Novena prayers

I had hoped to get this posted and sent out last night.  It didn’t happen quite like I had planned.

Please join me in praying for our priests and bishops.   They are in such need of our prayers right now.  The Church is under attack daily and our priests feel the brunt of it.  They need our spiritual support.  Please, if you feel compelled, pray in a special way for my parish priest and others in the diocese in which I live.  There is a particular attack in our diocese that we are trying to fight.  The only way to win this battle is through prayer. 

I will be starting a novena to St. John Vianney today.  It will end next Saturday, just in time for us to offer our Mass for the intentions of the novena.  St. John Vianney is such a beautiful example of the priesthood and our beautiful Holy Father gave us a great thing in dedicating this year to our priests, through St. John Vianney’s intercession.  I ask that you offer sacrifices during this nine days.  Go to confession.  Offer your Mass for the intentions of this novena.  I know our priests need our spiritual support, we must put on our armor and fight where and how we are able. 

First Day
St. John Vianney, Who Accepted the Cross
O holy priest of Ars, as a young seminarian you encountered many obstacles on the road to the Priesthood, but you realized that to suffer was to suffer with Christ on Calvary, and so, if following our Lord meant taking up His cross, you lovingly embraced it. Your motto in life became loving while suffering and suffering in order to love. You did not get discouraged, but your strong faith united you closer to Jesus every day of your life. Oh great St. John Vianney, you know what is needed for Father _____________________’s salvation–a strong faith able to accept the will of God in all things. To serve Christ, he too must take up his cross and follow Him. By your prayers, obtain for him a heart full of courage and strength. Obtain for Father _____________________ that same courage and strength to follow Jesus wholeheartedly even if it means following Him to Calvary. Intercede for him before the Lord that he may do the will of God, obey the commandments, and loyally love the Church, the Bride of Christ.

 Novena Prayer
O holy Priest of Ars, St. John Marie Vianney, you loved God and served Him faithfully as His Priest. Now you see God face to face in heaven. You never despaired but persevered in your faith until you died. Remember now the dangers, fears and anxieties that surround Father ___________________ and intercede for him in all his needs and troubles especially console him in his most difficult moments, grant him serenity in the midst of crisis, and protect him from evil. O St. John Vianney, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for Father ____________________ in a special way during this novena

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

summertime!

As I said in the last post, way back in JUNE, this is not a quiet season for our family!  Not that there ever is a quiet season, but this is quite busy!  It seems that in light of the activity I’ve taken a small blogging break, happens.

Life has been active and beautiful!  We’ve had fun with Fourth of July picnics and Summer Music Camp and the Midwest Catholic Family Conference (were you there???  Wasn’t it awesome?????  I have so much I want to say about it!  Another post, other news this time)

We have also had a summer full of surprises, both my sister and sister in law are pregnant with BOYS!! They’re due two weeks apart, around Thanksgiving. Busy fall! We got a surprise of our own the beginning of July. It seems as if we’ll be adding another little one to our family sometime in mid March! A positive pregnancy test isn’t usually a shock to us (NFP and all) but this time was a bit different. Just didn’t anticipate that one! We are so thrilled though. We told our children and they all shouted with joy (can I tell you how happy that makes me that my children rejoice at the news of a new member of the family???? Just LEAPS with joy!) We’ve been slow in making announcements because we just don’t need the attitude and comments that many people seem to think necessary (as if they were making some sort of PSA) when hearing the news of a new baby in an already large family. We are thrilled! We are so excited!! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of this new one, and yes, we’re completely aware of just how far away that really is!

So, that’s been our summer. I have diapers to change and lesson plans to write and a house to clean while I’m feeling somewhat human! More on the conference soon!

PEACE!!!!

lazy? I think not.

This season is supposedly slower.  Lazy. 

Remember that?

Sipping tea on the front porch, playing with lightening bugs and hollering to your neighbors across the way.

yeah.

Not happenin any more.

My boys just got back from scout camp today.  They’ve been gone since Wednesday afternoon.  Dad went with them because that’s what scout dads do.  He’s also a leader, and they like to see them at camp too. 

It was, from what I can gather, incredibly fun, despite the near record breaking heat (105 one of the days).  #4 had a blast, made a ton of friends with the staff .  One friend in particular was quite a score for him.  This staffer evidently taught the “outdoor cooking” class and was quite impressed with my son.  SO, every afternoon at 4 pm, when the rest of the kids not in this class were sweating or swimming or shooting or something else along those lines, my smart little man was making a great snack.  He made banana boats, pizza, quesadilla, and one more thing I can’t bring to mind right now.  Seriously, I knew the kid was brilliant, at six he knew who to make friends with!  Definitely ruled by his stomach!

#3 had a ball too, did wonderfully on his shooting, getting 48 out of 50 the first try.  He got to do so much and really enjoyed hanging out with his friends.  He seemed to have a blast.  When asked what his least favorite thing was about camp he was clear with his response of “absolutely nothing!” 

I am so glad they get to go to these things.  There is so much they get out of these summer camps that I didn’t get to experience as a child.  (Mom just doesn’t understand the need for summer camp) 

 I just need to figure out how to schedule it so everyone is out at once!  Then maybe I’d get to pack in more “lazy days” of summer and less “crazy days”

one thing

I love the sound of the slap of baby feet on a tile floor. 

You know he’s coming when you hear those steps come from carpet, across the tiled entry way.  He’s determined to  reach whatever destination he has his sights set on.  Nothing will get in his way.  If you look up you’ll notice that in addition to the sweet little slap slap slap of chubby baby feet, he’s also got his back straight, head up and arms straight and thrust backward, as if he’s ready to fly at any moment.   Often his most determined destination is mommy’s arms for a quick hug and kiss, then off again to conquer the world.

Motherhood is awesome.

gone

My beautiful oldest daughter is gone. 

Well, sort of.

Until Friday.

She’s at Scout camp this week, surely having a ball, making tons of new friends and doing cool things that she’ll want to somehow continue once she gets home. 

I knew I’d miss her.  Her sweet voice and cheerful countenance.  Her incredible willingness to jump in and help, even if she’s in the middle of something.

I just didn’t know it would be this much.  It feels like the whole family is out of sync.  I knew that I depended on her, too much sometimes, but I just didn’t realize HOW much until she’s not here.  And not just for the obvious “could you watch the younger ones while I run to the store” dependence, but the “hey, what would you like for dinner?” or “the boys are really driving me crazy right now”  kind of dependence.  I had this daughter of mine when I was just a girl myself and as she’s grown into the beautiful young woman she is I find myself thinking of her more and more as a friend.  We nearly grew up together, she and I, and I’ve not been a perfect mother.  I’ve apologized to her before about having to have been the first born.  I also thanked her for taking the role on with such grace.

In a few weeks my daughter #2 will be gone for a week at camp too.  I know I’ll miss her terribly.  I just don’t think I was ready for these children to grow up.  I know it’s happening, I’ve known that all along.  However, more and more I’m finding myself saying “but, but, wait… you can’t have already grown so much.  I wanted to do this and this and this with you.  I wanted to sew and sing and play and dance and dress up and play dolls and.. and… and…. and…..” I’m not ready for this.  Not ready for my little girls to be going off to camp.  Not ready for them to be in high school. 

Who said they could grow up?  Who gave time permission to take my babies and turn them into young ladies before I was ready?  When did this happen? 

I think it’s time to start taking some “girl time” just the three of us.  Before they grow up past wanting to be with me.  Time to snuggle and watch a musical (King and I anyone?) Maybe plan a manicure day or lunch out with just us.  I don’t know.  But my soul is urging me to take hold to something, anything, before they’ve grown completely and I feel as if I’ve missed it all, even while I was watching.

I’ve been so incredibly blessed with my girls.  I praise God everyday for allowing me to be their mom. 

It’s time I let them know that more often as well.

Before they’ve gone.

Well, just read my last post.  OOPS.  Sorry for not updating.

Amy did in fact have her baby.  An absolutely beautiful baby girl!

My weight loss is coming along quite nicely.  I’ve lost 8lbs so far (not counting this week) and my clothes are starting to fall off!  I’m not really wanting to go shopping, it seems like such a waste since I’ll be losing more weight and not fitting into them shortly.  I do, however, have to wear something.  We’ll see.  I guess if it gets to the point that they are actually falling off I’ll have to buy more or risk being terribly immodest.  Not something a mother of 6 could even begin to get away with, on any level. 

More to write about soon, I promise.  Right now I have to help determine noun types and chase babies and feed the world (or so it seems with the neighbor kids on summer break).

hodge podge

It’s been a bit since I posted, lots going on!  Trying to figure out what to blog about, soccer tournament?  School?  Motherhood?

First, I am asking for prayers for Amy.  She’s pregnant with her first little one and is now past her due date.  We all know that due dates are arbitrary, but we also all know how emotionally and physically attached we get to them!!  Add to that the fact that her husband is out of town on business regularly and you can imagine how desperately she wants the little one to come.  This week.  Tonight would be good.  (He’s home right now)  So if you an extra couple of minutes she would love for you to give a shout out to her little one’s guardian angel and ask him to let her know the eviction notice has been posted.

On another note, my wonderful, dear and incredible husband has officially graduated from college!!!!!!! With TWO associates degrees!!!!  It took six long years, but he did it and I couldn’t be more proud of him.  He doesn’t want a big fuss.  No announcements or anything (yep, I was a wee bit bummed about that one, but it’s not about me.  It’s him.  It really is.  I promise….)  It’s such an awesome thing for him to say that he’s a college graduate!!  Neither his parents nor his grandparents attended college.  He is the first! 

I have deeper, more detailed posts I’d like to make, but I’ve not eaten enough calories today (do you know how WEIRD that sounds to me???????  Seriously.) and I have to go eat something!

Peace

no more

I am worn out, but in a good way!  I started with a personal trainer a two weeks ago.  It’s been an amazing experience already.  I’m still not eating exactly what I should and I often forget to enter it into my log book, but I am so much  more conscious of what’s going in! 

The workouts have been intense, but I trust her to know what my body can take and to push me to that point and make me want to push even further.  Funny thing is, the more I am pushed the stronger I realize I am.  Not that I thought I was weak really, but I think I lost the confidence I had in myself.  She’s really making me realize what I am capable of and I am loving it!! 

I don’t know for sure what the breaking point was for me, the “a ha” moment.  I’ve been fat and had kids (not a pleasant experience I’ll have you know) so I’m not sure that was a motivating factor.  I’ve been painfully out of shape and just accepted that I would be the “fat friend”.    I would listen to my friends talk about other fat people and just quietly nod, all the while screaming inside that being fat doesn’t make anyone a bad mom, a crappy wife, a stupid person, or anything else.  Listening to excuses for bad behavior listed as ”well, they probably just don’t like fat people” hurt more than I can express, even when I wasn’t in the subject line.  Sometimes you sit and endure someone yipping about how easy it is to loose weight, just eat less.  It’s that simple.  Exercise.  No big deal.  Come on, you’re just lazy.  Always you know, even in friendly circumstances, that you are being judged by your weight.  Your children are being judged. 

I don’t know what finally broke. 

I don’t know what made me decide enough is enough.  I have too terrified of the gym, not knowing what to expect or what to do, to just jump in with both feet on that count (but hey, just exercise, right??)  I know there are countless diets out there, I could have just done one, but I did.  Repeatedly.  Life is not quiet and the diet would always crumble.  I would sit in tears every Tuesday night, watching Biggest Loser.  I would weep in understanding about where they are and how they got there.  Then, as the show progressed, I would weep in jealous agony over the fact that they were able to get help and overcome what is such a paralyzing situation.  

Finally the tears have turned.  I am no longer jealous.  I am working with someone who wants me to be healthy as much as I do and who is not making it so simple that I feel the fool for not “getting” it before now.  

I am tired.  I am sore.  I am even a small bit hungry.  BUT oh does it feel good.  My muscles are moving in ways they haven’t moved for years.  I am sleeping better than I have in forever.  I am still struggling.  I didn’t get fat because I understood portion control.   It’s hard for me to get to work out.  It’s very difficult to get the whole calorie thing, so many things that seem so little add up so quickly, but I’m learning and getting better.  Every day is better.  My appetite is changing.  I am changing.

I will not be the fat friend anymore.

soccer woes

Know what’s frustrating?? 

Signing your boys up for two specific teams because they practice at a church IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, both of them, at different levels, different teams, SAME TIME!!!  Talk about crazy convenient.  Which is important because when you have six children, four of which play sports or do something outside of sitting in front of a computer screen or television, you tend to get pulled in very, very different directions, opposite ends of town kind of different directions.  Did I mention that a trusted neighbor was the coach of one of said teams?  Yeah.  It’s a perfect scenario.

One boy happens to be the younger brother, shuffled around from this activity to the next, none of them his.  A younger brother with special needs, no less, so his parents waited until he was SIX before they signed him up for any kind of sport anything.  A younger brother who was and is so excited that he gets to finally do something that’s his, and not shared.  A younger brother whose parents have seen great strides made in confidence and control since signing up, even though he’s FAR from the best child on the team.  This brother looks forward to games and practices with such incredible anticipation, eagerly putting on gear and fixing water bottles and nearly leaping down the street toward his practice.

It’s that brother’s team that decides, when the coach is sick and can’t make it to practice one night (he also has a boy on each of the aforementioned teams), that they should have practice anyway.  But, lets not have it at the same place cause it’s just not as convenient for them (one child playing sports, one child.) lets have it clear across town.  And you know what else would be a good idea??????  Lets decide to make this the permanent practice spot without talking to the coach or any other parent that may not have made it to that practice because it didn’t work for them to drive that far.

Great.

 

Thanks.

 

Tomorrow night, when we are struggling, having to get older brother to practice, where it usually is, get older sister across town to a scrimmage and somehow Scouts at some point, we’ll be trying to get someone we know (anyone) to stay with older brother so we can get younger brother ACROSS town to his practice.  OR he just misses it. 

 

Thanks.

thrilled that you made that decision for our family.

Pray with me.

There are so many things to pray about right now. Right when I think maybe my prayer life is lacking so much. I talked with a dear friend today on the phone and she told me something she had heard from Fr. Corapi (of course it has to be brilliant then, right?) and it’s not something I’ve ever, in my life, heard.
The “911 prayer”. You say the “emergency” novena that Mother Teresa (?, if that’s not right, be kind in correction, please!) spoke of (your prayer request and the memorare, nine times in succession) one rosary and one chaplet of Divine Mercy. It’s reported to be most efficacious and, at the very least, helps you to concentrate on prayer and on what it is that you are praying for.

So, I’m asking for prayer people. There are so many things, people, weighing so heavily on my heart right now. The first is a precious unborn little boy that just needs his heart mended. His name is Matthew Karol. His prognosis is fatal without a miracle. Please pray for him. We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us! You can go herefor a special novena to John Paul II that we are praying just for little Matthew. There is a special button there as well that I can’t seem to get to post here. My blog inadequacy is showing.

I have a friend, a beautiful woman, inside and out. She was in a car accident a couple of years ago that left her with a significant brain injury. She has some significant memory loss that’s she’s worked quite hard to recover from. She’s been doing beautifully. It’s a difficult road but she’s been so brave and faithful and I greatly admire her. She’s started not feeling well. Lots of headaches, migraines and such. She’s been to the doc who found no great change in her brain. No stroke, no bleeding, nothing of that sort. Despite that, she’s lost most of her memory again. She’s got about month stored in her brain right now. She has to daily remind herself of her friends and family. She is having to reconstruct, again, who she is and what her life is/was. My heart is aching for her. She could use prayers for strength and courage and healing. Please, please pray for healing.

I think that’s all I’ll bombard you with right now. There are so many more, please remember to pray for all of the unborn, and their parents.

Please pray with me.