Michael's Nerf Birthday Bash

Michael turned 8 this week (April 3rd to be exact) and chose a Nerf theme for his party. He wanted to have a big Nerf war with his best buddies, and they all had a blast playing "Capture the Rag" across the street at the baseball field. To make the war even more exciting, God caused snow to fall on the troops, adding a whole new level of manliness and determination to the game :) After the big battle, in which the Birthday Boy's team emerged victorious (how fitting), the boys returned for pizza, ice cream cake from Dairy Queen (I gave up baking for Lent), and the opening of presents. Michael received a few new Nerf guns, a Nerf football, the Military Combat DVD series from the History Channel, season 2 of MacGyver (OK, I admit I picked that gift), a die cast airplane, some fishing lures, and a very special St. Michael necklace from Grandma Theresa (which was the smallest but favorite gift of all). All in all, it was a boy's dream birthday come true. How Michael wishes every day could be so fun, and how glad I am that every day is not...a mother can only handle that much chaos and testosterone in her house once a year! :)

Michael, we love you more than all the Nerf darts in our house, minus the ones that our cat has eaten, times the number of Nerf guns we own, plus infinity...squared! Now that's a whole lot of love! :)

Michael with his "Nerf Master" ice cream cake from DQ...

Michael with "The Last Supper" puzzle from his friend Brendan...

Michael with a new N-Strike Nerf gun and some extra darts...

The Nerf war party after the "Capture the Rag" game was complete (notice that they don't seem to mind their frost burned cheeks one bit)...

Joseph and Michael getting all set up for the big battle...laying out all the guns with baggies filled with 10 of the correct darts for each gun (to keep the game fair, each soldier was given the same number of darts even though some guns hold more and some hold less...the boys thought of every detail)...

Michael proudly showing his new St. Michael medal, which he has been wearing faithfully and probably always will...

Dear St. Michael, please defend our Michael in battle until the real war is won and he joins you in Heaven to praise God with all the angels and saints forever!

Sleet Won't Stop Pro-Lifers

This past weekend marked the midway point in our 40 Days for Life campaign, and we celebrated in the sleet! Only the hardiest of pro-life souls were in attendance--over 50 total!--many of whom were families with little children who didn't seem to mind the snow and rain mix one bit. In fact, the puddles to splash in were the best part for my boys, keeping them happily (and soggily) entertained while the rest of us prayed, sang, and solemnly remembered those who have been hurt by abortion.

This midway event is called the "Candlelight Vigil" because we all held candles as we stood in prayerful vigil outside of Planned Parenthood. Statistically, 1 in every 5 babies in America is aborted, so at one point during the ceremony 1/5 of the people turned off their candles in remembrance of those babies who never even had the chance to shine in this world. It is a somber reality to think of the silent holocaust that is occurring around us daily, but at the same time, I am beginning to feel hope that the tide is turning and that more and more people are becoming aware of the truth that life exists in the womb, that those unborn lives have rights, and that abortion is harmful, not helpful, to women. People are realizing that being pro-choice is NOT being pro-women because the choice of abortion ultimately hurts women in one way or another---perhaps through depression, future infertility, or increased risk of breast cancer (just to name a few of the negative side-effects).

During our Candlelight Vigil we not only prayed for an end to abortion, but also for healing for those who have experienced abortion. One of the reasons I so strongly believe in the 40 Days for Life movement is because it doesn't just focus on saving the lives of babies, it focuses on sparing women from so many harmful side-effects, on helping people find God's healing if they made a choice that they now regret, and on calling upon God's power, not our own, to bring about a culture of life in our world. 40 Days for Life is not a protest, it's a prayer, and the prayers of thousands of participants all over the world are being answered in miraculous ways. For those reasons, and so many more, 40 Days for Life fills me with hope. May these pictures share some of that hope with you...and for more hope-filled stories go to: http://www.40daysforlife.com/.

Joseph watching the sleet fall upon us as we pray.

Ben, our campaign director, leading us all in prayer...

A moment of silence, remembering the lives lost to abortion, the hearts forever scarred...

My boys playing in the puddles, sending pine cones and rocks floating down the streams...

Two of the cutest pro-lifers on the block: Agnes and Grace...

My husband with Nathanael, the youngest pro-lifer at our event...

Dominic proudly letting his candle shine...

Michael proud to be pro-life and proud of his newly lost tooth...

Joseph sprinkled with sleet and looking so sweet...

All the vigilers marching around Planned Parenthood, surrounding the building with our prayers for healing, hope, and conversion.

4-Month Highlights

This month Nathanael turned 4 months old. He continues to be an easy, happy baby, bringing joy to everyone in our home. Everyone loves making him smile and giggle. He is starting to grab toys and loves to put everything in his mouth. He has even rolled over a few times. I just can't believe how quickly he is growing! He is still waking up 2 or more times a night, so we started giving him some rice cereal, in hopes that it would curb his hunger and encourage him to sleep longer...which so far has not been the case...drat. Nathanael was not too impressed with his first feeding of mush, thus most of it ended up on his face or bib. But now that I've given it to him a few times, he's starting to get the hang of it...and hopefully this will mean that he will soon get the hang of sleeping through the night too! Patron saint of sleep, whoever you are, pray for us! :)

Our handsome little dude at 4-months

Like father like son...both handsome as can be

"What on earth did you just put in my mouth???"

Michael was proud to be mommy's big helper and gave Nathanael his first feeding of rice cereal

"Aha! I stole the spoon. Now they can't feed me that nasty mush!"

Wanna Kiss?

Womb Now Empty

A poem I wrote for a friend who I am grieving with today, as she has grieved with me in the past (sadly, more than once for each of us). And for all mothers who have also borne the cross of miscarriage...

Womb Now Empty

Womb now empty
Eyes brimming full
Questions without answers
Why given then taken, tiny soul?

Emotions so myriad,
Heart too numb to share
Flee to an inner cloister
A few friends welcome there

Cradle to be barren
Tiny saint in heaven instead
Comforting is the thought
Still many tears are shed

Womb now empty
But heart stretching full
Soon in Heaven reunited
Mother and child, same goal

Small Steps This Lent

This Lent has been difficult but fruitful thus far. I gave up soda and fast food (a cold Coca Cola and some piping hot fries sound so good right now!), but God is using those small sacrifices to point to deeper vices that He is calling me to root out of my heart so that there is more room for Him. Trying to make myself decrease while letting Christ increase in me is a painful process. I fight it even though I know it's good for me. Lent reminds me that the cross leads to the crown. Crucifixion agony must come before resurrection joy. I want the crown and the joy without the scourging or the cross. But Christ clearly showed us that is not the way. Instead, we are to carry our crosses like He carried His.

This Lent I feel like God has placed upon my shoulder a cross with an inscription that reads: DFSAE (Detach from Self and Expectations). I don't like the cross He has chosen for me and I keep trying to give it back---even though I know it is but a twig compared to the crosses of so many others and a mere sliver compared to Christ's cross. Again and again God gently places it on my shoulder. Again and again I fall, I complain, I try to give it back. Again and again He tells me, "My child, this is the way to sanctification, get up, try again, trust Me because I love you." I search for a Simon to help me, and I realize God has given me many Simons. I am so blessed. But it is still hard. It's supposed to be. I pray that your Lent is as hard as it's supposed to be too.

Along with working on my own spiritual growth as I prepare for Easter, I have tried to adopt a few family practices to foster a fruitful Lent in my children's hearts. We made a "Cross of Small Sacrifices" which we taped to our door as a constant reminder to offer small sacrifices for our love of Jesus who offered the greatest sacrifice for love of us. The kids get to put a fun Christian sticker on the cross each time they make a sacrifice (I've even put a few stickers on there myself because the cross reminds me to sacrifice too!) On Easter morning, I will place the cross on our table and have it covered with candy to symbolize that our little sacrifices result it very sweet graces from above.

As a family, we are also trying to give away one item a day during Lent as a reminder to purge ourselves and our home of unnecesarry things---which also fosters the virtue of charity as we give to those in need. The older boys also brought home Rice Bowls for us to fill with money that will go to the poor people of the world. Hopefully, as the bowls fill with change, our hearts are being changed and filled with generosity. Other little things that we are doing include: Reciting the Stations of the Cross on Friday at our church, and adding a morning offering prayer at breakfast time to offer our day, our thoughts, and our lives to Jesus.

I also started a daily devotional book called "Small Steps for Catholic Moms," which is really helping me make small steps towards self-less-ness this Lent. Here are some Saint quotes from that book that are helping me to carry my cross. May they help you carry yours as well.


"Every man is on a cross. Some ask to be taken down like the thief on the left; others ask to be taken up like the thief on the right." ~Archbishop Fulton Sheen

"When we hear people talk of riches, honors, and amusements of the world, let us remember that all things have an end, and let us say: 'My God, I wish for Thee alone and nothing more.'" ~St. Alphonsus Liguori

"In detachment, the spirit finds quiet and repose for coveting nothing. Nothing wearies it by elation, and nothing oppresses it by dejection, because it stands in the center of its own humility." ~St. John of the Cross

"Let us detach ourselves in spirit from all that we see and cling to that which we believe. This is the cross which we must imprint on all our daily actions." ~St. Peter Damian

"Let nothing trouble you, let nothing make you afraid. All things pass away. God never changes. Patience obtains everything. God alone is enough." ~St. Teresa of Avila

"God hasn't called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful... I just take one day. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not come. We have only today to love Jesus." ~Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I pray that you are taking some small steps towards sanctification this Lenten season too!

Humble Celebration, Humble Saint

Yesterday was the beautiful feast of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. Our family celebrated by making "Sloppy Joe's" for supper (I hope St. Joe wasn't offended by our humorous attempt to honor him!), and we recited a couple of St. Joseph prayers at the beginning and end of our meal. It was a very humble celebration for one of the humblest saints I know. When I read about dear St. Joseph in Scripture I am always amazed at his complete obedience to the will of the Father and his profound humility. I feel like I am profoundly lacking in both of those virtues, so I am praying that St. Joseph will help foster those traits in my heart this year. There are many beautiful prayers to St. Joseph, but as I was trying to decide which one to include in this post, I came across a new one to the entire Holy Family that touched my heart. May it touch yours as well, and may the Holy Family always be close to your heart and guide you on your path towards holiness and heaven.

Prayer In Honor of the Holy Family

O most amiable Savior, having sanctified Your own chosen family by Your admirable virtues and by the example of Your domestic life; look graciously upon our family kneeling at Your feet, imploring Your grace. Remember that our family is also Your family because we have consecrated and offered ourselves to Your special service. Stand by us lovingly, defend us in dangers, aid us in adversities, and favor us with Your grace, so that we may constantly imitate Your Own Holy Family and may by fidelity to Your service and Your love merit one day to praise You forever in heaven.

O Mary, sweetest Mother, we implore your protection with full confidence that your Divine Son will hear our prayers through your powerful intercession.

O glorious Patriarch, St. Joseph, assist us with your fatherly love and lead us ever closer to your Son and Savior, Jesus Christ, day by day.

Pondering Life on 3-16

Today's date is 3-16, and the Christian radio station that I was listening to this morning reminded me to ponder the verse John 3:16...

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

I was reminded that we indeed have a loving Father, that we indeed have much to be thankful for if we accept the gift of eternal life which God offers daily. I was also reminded to give thanks for some wonderful news that I received yesterday---not as wonderful as "the Good News" of everlasting life, but extremely good news about a mother who chose life for her unborn child. Apparently there was a young mother who had just found out she was pregnant who was at our 40 Days for Life Kick Off event last week. She was considering abortion, but a friend of hers convinced her to come to this hope-filled, pro-life event. At our informational table the young woman picked up a business card for our local crisis pregnancy center. The following day she went there to have a free ultrasound, and by the end of the appointment she found the grace to accept the life in her womb that God had given her. Praise the Lord!

However, I also received an email yesterday from someone on our 40 Days for Life email list who begged for prayers for a friend of hers who is scheduled to have an abortion at our local Planned Parenthood this Friday. I offered to speak to the friend and suggested our local crisis pregnancy center that offers free ultrasounds. Please, please help me storm the heavens with prayers for this mother and her unborn child. May our prayers help to open her eyes to the gift of life that God has created in her womb, and perhaps even the gift of eternal life that God wants to offer her if she hasn't already accepted it. I pray that this young woman's heart is flooded with God's love; may she feel Jesus' gentle arms around her; may she feel the peace of the Holy Spirit within her, and may she have the courage to make the right choice.

So please pray with me on this day of 3-16 as you ponder the powerful words of John 3:16... pray in thanksgiving for the abortion-minded mother who chose life for her child last week, pray in thanksgiving for the gift of life eternal that God has given you, and pray in supplication for our Heavenly Father to save the lives of unborn children all over the world, especially the precious life in jeopardy that I mentioned above.