Falling on His Grace

I read, on two different blogs, just now about Catholics/Christians being charged with acts of violence for informing and educating others on the truth. One was a story about two young men at the a Muslim festival. Find a great post about it here , at A Catholic Notebook. Another was an article I was directed to by another post on Creative Minority Report . Here is the http://lifenews.com/nat6740.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RealClearReligion+%28Real+Clear+Religion%29. Is this the beginning, or progression really, of something horribly ugly in our country? Of our being targeted like criminals for proclaiming the truth and trying to save souls? Where can we possibly begin to defend ourselves when we are defending ourselves against the government and the FBI? How far will the importance of truth deteriorate? And how far can the corruption of power take people? Do they really think they can play god and make the rules, watching us duck in the cor...

September 25, 2010 message to Marija “Dear children! Today I am with you and bless you all with my motherly blessing of peace, and I urge you to live your life of faith even more, because you are still weak and are not humble. I urge you, little children, to speak less and to work more on your personal conversion so that your witness may be fruitful. And may your life be unceasing prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call.” For a history and information about Our Lady's appearances in Medjugorje, I refer you to http://www.medjugorje.org/overview.htm.

Three and a half years ago, and prior to that, we had television - cable, I believe. Andy, having grown up with television being on constantly for background noise and the occasional actual sitting down to watch it, also had the television on far more than I preferred. While he was good about it for the kids' sake (who were 1 1/2 and a few months around the time we moved), it still bothered me to have the TV on while the boys were awake. When I agreed to move 1 1/2 hours away from the city where I had grown up, and away from family and friends, to a small town - which including my working and Andy's staying home with the boys - I told Andy we would not PAY for cable or satellite, even if that meant getting no television reception. Well, as it turns out, we live in a bit of a gully and cannot put an antenna up because we're renting. SO that means no reception! We bought a used entertainment center just so that we have doors covering our television set. We can watch movies bu...

I dream of being home with two boys who are better behaved versions of the ones I have, a baby in my arms or in my womb, and a more sensitive version of my husband. I dream of having love and joy spilling forth from my heart onto my children and my husband, of laughing and playing together, even among toys scattered on the floor. I dream of God being so evident in our family life that all know His presence as they enter our home. At times, I see shadows of that life. I see well-behaved boys. At times I'm wrapped in a spontaneous hug from my husband at just the right time. I had that moment of joy when I looked down at a positive pregnancy test 8 months ago. We have experienced joy, love, laughter together. We have caught glimpses of God's undeniable presence. But at times, like today, all that eludes me. At times, like this week, I am too tired and too overwhelmed to catch sight of the beauty around me. At times, the boys' misbehavior is overwhelming, and Andy is caught off...

I have known Andy just over 7 years, and we've been married nearly 6. He has told me throughout that time, albeit rarely, that his favorite desert is lemon meringue pie. Now, Andy is a man of few words most of the time, and a man of even fewer deserts. I mean, he doesn't like ice cream, chocolate, cookies, cake, or really any deserts... except lemon meringue pie. But in the last 7 years, do I remember him eating a slice of his favored desert? NO! Then, in one way or another, he mentioned the pie a month ago, and I have been looking for a chance to make it since then. My chance came this last Sunday. Andy's dad invited him to go golfing, and Andy offered to take Blaise with him. So they left at 12:30 Sunday for a very successful golfing expedition. As soon as they were out the door, and with Isaac in quiet time, I grabbed my food processor and my cookbook and set about making a crust for my treasured pie. I was off to a good start. This was the first good pie crust I had ev...

Today was one of those days that God must have been hitting me over the head. The question is, what is He trying to teach me? Perhaps that I need to hand over to Him my desire to have another child and the timing of that wonderful event. Today should have been my due date, I believe. I miscarried a child in early February. Also, today, I took a pregnancy test and found out I am not pregnant, though I thought I likely was. And today, my in-laws invited us over for dinner, and also invited my sister and brother-in-law, who are expecting their next baby, due tomorrow. And this week, Thursday, my miscarried baby will finally be buried along with other miscarried babies. I believe God is telling me, through this, that I'm not ready, and my family is not ready, to accept another child just yet. We have too many things to do, too many transitions, before we can accept another life. If I was to have a child right now or in May, it would be difficult - probably more difficult than I realize...

Or as a friend of mine would say, the length of one pregnancy. Both boys started school today: Blaise in kindergarten (all day!! Gosh, it feels like the day should be over by now!) and Isaac in preschool (he cried because he was scared when we dropped him off, but was so excited and proud of himself as he had gotten over his fear and enjoyed the first day by the time we picked him up). And Andy starts the fall semester tomorrow. As for me, I've been reading and rereading Hebrews 12: 1-13, especially verses 1-2, to get psyched up for this school year and the next 9 months of work: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God...