Falling on His Grace

As of April 1, there are 14 months left until Andy's graduation! As spring approaches, the time left seems much more tolerable than ever before. Perhaps that's because longer days and warmth, and being outside, bring a feeling of hope. Perhaps it's because I know that next spring is when he will be graduating, and so I can feel us closing in on one more year. Perhaps it's because 14 months sounds like a much shorter time than 20 months. Or perhaps it's that I had given up complaining, especially about work and related tiredness, for Lent. Whatever the reason, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Obviously, this is all pending Andy finding a job. But I am hopeful that accounting jobs will be more prevalent than many other fields' jobs. I also told my work that I will be cutting down to part time in August. I had been hoping to wait a little longer to tell them, but they were thinking of changing my schedule so that I can help out in another ...

Happy Easter to all! I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Easter! I find myself more amazed this year by all that Christ has done for us than I have been in the past and feel very blessed by that realization. I imagine what it may have been like seeing that empty tomb or walking to Emmaus before realizing that Jesus had actually risen from the dead. We take it for granted now, which decreases the amazement and wonder we feel when we think of the Resurrection. Jesus' disciples had put all their eggs in one basket, so to speak. They had given up everything to follow this man who they believed would do something wonderful for the Jewish community and build a strong earthly kingdom for them. Instead, their fearless and humble leader was put to death - and death on the cross of all things. They were likely incredulous and heartbroken. Jesus' death seemingly signified loss of everything they had built their lives and their hope around. What would they do now? Would they also b...

Blaise this morning: "My friend Jake fell down the stairs when he was a baby. And he hurt his eye [puts his finger in his eye], and he hurt his nose [squishes his nose inward], and he hurt his knee [points to his knee]. And he got really mad [makes an angry face, squinting his eyes]." Me: "Oh no. Is he ok now?" Blaise: "No, he's still mad."

This the new abortion "super center" in Houston Texas. It is a 78,000 square foot building complete with a surgical center for performance of late-term abortions. Apparently, if this national health care plan passes, more funding, $11 billion over 5 years, will be given for more "community health centers" such as this one. Please call or email your senators and representatives, especially if they are "on the fence" about this health care plan. One way to do this is on NCHLA's (National Committee for a Human Life Amendment) website: http://actions.nchla.org/link/target/nchla/FMb69zy9.aspx. And pray! Mary says that prayer and fasting can stop wars and save lives.

"Wake up, O man - it was for you that God was made man! Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. For you, I say, was God made man. Eternal death would have awaited you had he not been born in time. Never would you be freed from your sinful flesh, had he not taken to himself the likeness of sinful flesh. Everlasting would be your misery, had he not performed this act of mercy. You would not have come to life again had he not come to die your death. You would have broken down, had he not come to help you. You would have perished, had he not come. Let us joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption." -St. Augustine

Andy got a sticker today for a homework assignment in which he earned a 6/6 - the only 6/6 in his university financial accounting class. As strange as a sticker on a college-level homework assignment seems to my husband and I, the funniest things is, Andy says, this teacher is what you may picture when you think of a university-level accounting teacher - monotone and very dry sense of humor. A cute little smiley-face sticker seems out of character in that case. But perhaps it puts a smile on his face in the midst of grading some very numerical and perhaps boring homework assignments. It certainly put a smile on our faces!

I have heard about perseverance in two different contexts this week. A dear priest whose Mass we were able to attend this weekend, spoke of perseverance in his homily. Life, he said, is full of ups and downs. Sometimes life is "fun." Other times it seems to be a drag and full of misery. We would love to stay in those fun and carefree moments and spend our lives there, but like Peter, James, and John who wanted to stay at the sight of the Transfiguration, we must also leave the mountain and return to life and usual and will also need to face pain and trials again. But it is those moments that need to carry us through the difficult times. We need to remember the times of joy and the times in which we feel we can reach out and touch God when we are facing despair. A reflection I read about the healing of Jairus' young daughter (Luke 8:40-56) in The Better Part (John Bartunek, LC) states "...faith perseveres when confronted with obstacles. When Jairus' servants...