Autumn Tea Leaf...My Cup Overflows

This picture reminds me of changes that have taken place in the past month and a half...it's a bit of a blur, but filled with goodness and blessings.

Even when the days seem to be made of struggles and uncertainties, we can rest assured that God has the overall plan in our best interest.

Upon returning from our trip to Japan, I visited my mother who had been admitted to the hospital...she had fallen and broken her hip and was now 'recovering' in a nursing/rehab center.  What was supposed to be a month long recovery to independence, turned into a nightmare.  Her health took a drastic turn and it seemed we would lose my mother.

Sparing the ugly details, I removed my mother from the 'care center' weeks early. I moved into her home, where I would become her full time caregiver and therapist.

My years as an Occupational Therapist paid off.  I could not only offer her professional treatment, but attentive and loving care 24/7 to bring her back from her torment.

Today, this first day of Harvest, she is walking outside with me and enjoying the crisp air and warm sun on her face.

It was not without pain, perseverance, sacrifice, humility and tears.

In the past month, my daughter has left for college.  This is her first year out of the house.  I haven't really had time to feel the emptiness of her presence in the rooms of our home.  Her beauty.  Her laugh.  Her smile.  Her loving and gentle hugs.

My beautiful Butterfly

I miss my Butterfly and my heart is mixed with so many emotions.

I am filled with excitement & happiness for her.  I know that she will grow in the Lord and strengthen her Faith.  She will gain wisdom and knowledge through life experiences and academia.  She will make life long friends and build upon her character.  She may meet her future husband, or learn what God is calling her to do...how to serve Him, now and in the future.  She is a precious child of God, and I love her to the heavens and beyond.

In a few days I will return home.  I will resume my full time position as wife, mother, and keeper of my home.

Soon, I will be reunited with my garden, and my silly and sassy dogs.  I will decorate my home with things of autumn.

I will praise Him with every detail in my life.

My time with my mother, and my father, has been such a blessing.  My cup surely overflows with God's good love.

God is so good.  

He allows us to know, love and serve Him through those around us.  

He is always giving us the opportunity to reap His Harvest!

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, 
for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, 
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever." 

~ Psalm 23:4-6

L.I.F.E.

L is for LIFE

Autumn Changes

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

This pretty white rose is from my the garden.  My mom is now taking great care of the plants.  She enjoys cutting the flowers and bringing them into the house.
I love that.

What a difference a little flower can make in a room.

~ Family ~

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

We have been enjoying some beautiful flowers, which were gifted to my parents...actually my dad recently suffered a serious and life-altering medical injury.  My mother's health declined shortly after my dad's month long hospital stay.

We moved both my parents into my home so that my family and I could care for them.

Journey to Lourdes: Part One

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

{pretty}

This is the beautiful day and scenery that greeted us as we entered Lourdes, France...

Bus Ride to Lourdes

~ Love is... ~

Butterfly created a Valentine for an assignment in her Spanish Class;

I thought it was lovely and very creative!
Can you see the message of Love...Charity...Caridad?

I thought I would create something for the day, too...

Blue Berry Muffins with Valentine Heart Icing...Healthy Heart with a taste of Sweetness.

Small things done with great LOVE

I added fresh blueberries, walnuts and Ghirardelli's 60% bittersweet cacao chips to the recipe...The muffins came out delicious!

The fresh roses were a gift, from my hubby...he always remembers. xoxoxox

For God so loVed the world

      That He gAve 

             his onLy begotten Son,

   that whosoEver

    believeth iN Him

     should noT

                  parIsh but have

       everlastiNg

                   lifE

~ John 3:16

A VERY BLESSED ST. VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL!

Valentine's Days of the past...
2012:  The Language of Love & St. Valentine's Day
2013:  My Love &  An Agreeably Argumentative Opinion
2014:  Happy St. Valentine's Day

~ The Gifts that Keep on Giving ~

I am still living Christmas.  I have not had a moment to journal about all the beautiful gifts of love that the Christmas Season brings.  

The Gifts of Love that keep on Giving!

I used one of my Christmas Gifts this morning, and I just had to share...

My Butterfly gifted me with so many wonderful tokens of charity and affection. 

~*~ Twelve Cooked Meals ~*~

~*~ Twenty-Four Cups of Hot Tea ~*~

~*~ Ten Bed Makings ~*~

~*~ Four Dog Washings ~*~

And if that wasn't enough LOVE, my sister in law made this absolutely beautiful Treasure and Memory Box for the family.

On the exterior, a collage of pictures of Christmas' Past.

In the interior are cards to Create Written Memories for each Christmas.

This has love written all over it...literally.

I am feeling overwhelmingly blessed these days and I am so thankful to God for all the blessings in my life.  My husband, my children, my family and my friends.  But I know that it is my Faith that brings me the most joy, and with the knowledge that I am loved bounteously by He that has made me.  He is the most perfect Gift, that gives - continuously.

+AMDG+

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him...There is no fear in love."

~ 1 John 4:15-16

~ Around the Home ~

I love to decorate for the Fourth of July.

We are a very patriotic family and celebrating the Fourth is always time spent with family and friends, usually with the same enthusiasm.

I fell very ill last week and have been slowly recovering.  My children, especially my Butterfly, have been nursing me back to health and taking very good care of me.  I am one, very blessed lady.

My husband gets good points, too.  He came home in the middle of the day/week to brighten up the "convalescent" room with a lovely bouquet of flowers. 

My decorating began, before I fell ill...and I am glad that I was able to get the Easter decorations down and the Fourth of July decor up before I became too sick to do anything.  

Some things old, some things new, some old things in new places.

Besides, I wanted to get things in place before the World Cup USA vs Portugal game.  We should have won that one.  Oh well.  I had both patroness set out, no surprise it ended in a tie.

Patroness of the Americas: Our Lady of Guadalupe
&
Patroness of Portugal:  Our Lady of Fatima
(Although I believe that both countries invoke The Blessed Virgin Mary - Immaculate Conception as their principle patroness).

Everyone brought lots of great dishes and we supplied some All American Hot Dogs and Portuguese Sausages...American...Portuguese...that was my husband's idea.  It was his and the teens party; I was just asked not to bring out the 'fancy' dishes and to use paper plates.  No dishes?  Why, sure.  You cook?  Oh-K.  No problema.  
We had some trimmings for the dogs & sausages and a few appetizers and snacks...and chili.  I love chili.  And I love it, even better, when someone else makes it.

Our friends baked and brought some fabulous homemade desserts...as well as a delicious store bought for two birthdays that we celebrated.  Happy 9th & 14th dear friends!

We can't forget the Red Velvet cake...

Just some things that have been happening around the home...

HAVE A BLESSED FOURTH OF JULY FOR THOSE THAT CELEBRATE 

&

A BLESSED SUMMER TO ALL!!!

Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network:  Family Journal Edition

~ The Fiat of Mary ~

Mary, you are the New Arc of the Covenant; the New Tabernacle.  Thank you for your fiat...your, Yes!

Her simple words, "I am the hand-maid of the Lord, let it be done to me, according to thy word." would allow for the dual nature of Christ to be fulfilled...He was to become true man and true God.

And so, here in our hand-maid house-hold, we humbly celebrate this most wonderful day.

An extremely easy celebratory meal that is pleasing to the palate, with a dessert that is sweet and simple.

We arranged some fresh flowers so that we can show honor & love to the Mother of God...

It was a beautiful day.  It even rained...a very much needed rain.

Deo gratias!

Luke 1: 26 - 38
26	In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27	to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28	And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"
29	But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
30	And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31	And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32	He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33	and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34	And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
35	And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36	And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37	For with God nothing will be impossible."
38	And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Credit

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Family Journal

~ March ~

~ Happy St. Valentine's Day ~

I was on time this year, when putting out my Valentine décor, because last year I was a little too early for some.

Planning ahead to make the actual day a little more special.  Nothing fancy, just thoughtful.   Enough to bring smiles and thanks of appreciation from my children.  I brought out items that I use every year, and even put out a few 'sweet' items.

Again, I was surprised with a bouquet of love gift from my husband.  :o)  Although, this year it also included Butterfly and Little Lamb.  So sweet.

The love bug infectiously caused a chain reaction and love notes began appearing...

Little Lamb worked on making the Valentine napkin holders found in the silk heart.

Before

After

She decorated short-bread cookies & pumpkin cupcakes; while the rest of us helped eat them.

So who was St. Valentine and why do we celebrate like we do?

St. Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269.  He is the patron saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, young people.
In 496 AD Pope Gelasius I marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of St. Valentine's martyrdom.  Archaeologists unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine was discovered. 

And Cupid?

He is one of the gods in Roman mythology; from the latin word cupido which translates to love & passion.  In our Western Culture he is symbol of love & romance. 
I think he is a little like Santa Claus...turning things towards commercialism and secularism.

St. Valentine's Day is about the life of a saint - a priest and martyr.  He was martyred for marrying Christian couples and for not acknowledging the Roman emperor as a living deity.  I can see how the meaning of Valentine's Day took a change to celebrate romance - especially in married couples. 
So, do you celebrate St. Valentine's Day...and how?

Which reminds me, St. Patrick's Day will soon be here...

Hoping you had a LOVEly St. Valentine's Day


Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network ~ Family Journal

~ Charity ~

I would love to write an entire post on LOVE.  However, since I have absolutely no time...I will leave just a few words and a picture or two.

So, as I get ready for this beautiful weekend (my First Holy Communion class will receive Our Lord in the Eucharist), I leave a quick picture of one of the many events that have been taking place in our very blessed lives...

One of my First Communion students was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, that is inoperable.  He is a sweet, sweet boy.  His family generates love by their very presence...
I am not just saying that.  It is the absolute TRUTH.

So many lives have been touched by this little boy's suffering...Christ suffered and touched many lives as well...

Our pastor arranged to have him receive his First Holy Communion early...I arranged a reception to celebrate the glorious union.  Many families helped decorate, make flower arrangements, prepare the food...

His classmates were all present to kneel with him; his family, siblings, grandparents, uncles & aunts, and his church family were there as well.

 

Additionally, many of us families came together to put on a Family Dinner to raise funds for his medical expenses...it SOLD OUT.  Here is a tiny peek...

I placed Our Lady of Lourdes prayer on the program

Right now, he and his parents are in Lourdes, France. 

 

Please, I ask you, pray for a miracle. 

God's will be done.

~ Another Reason... ~

Why I home school...

This morning, I discovered this on the inside cover of one of Little Lamb's workbooks.
:o)  Made my day!

So, on those challenging days (when I'm pulling my hair out)...I need to remember these moments.

~ Labor of Love ~

Pope John Paul II Rose

One of my favorite things to do is to be in my garden, to work in my garden - I don't even mind pulling weeds.  Honostly.

Pulling weeds is actually very therapeutic.  I'm removing something potentially harmful from something that I care about and love and want to make sure that it (my garden) grows and thrives and becomes the best and most beautiful that it can be...
 

Similarily, keeping potentially harmful things away from our children, teaching them to recognize things that are not so good, things that can limit them, things that may bring them distress - pulling weeds is a constant battle.

 You have to be diligent, attentive, persistant.  You need to have PERSEVERANCE (good tools are helpful as well).

I guess weeds can even be a little helpful, in some odd ways.  For instance, when I pull up a weed, the ground beneath is moist & workable (because it's been stealing the water from the plants nearby).  Now your ready to use the ground for good.

There are plenty of "weeds" in the world - giving us the opportunity to teach our children virtues, allowing them to see and discern right from wrong, good from bad, recognizing dangers, temptations, evils...The tools of prayer & the sacraments are essential.                                       " I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are evil, and thou hast tried them, who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars"  ~ Revelation 2:2

Gardening takes WORK - But the benefits are beautiful...and soooo worth it.

When the blooms come, you know all your hard work has paid off.  Now you can sit and enjoy the work of love...

"For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered, and do minister to the saints."   ~ Hebrews 6:10

~ The Giving Tree ~

 When I think of the Giving Tree...I think of my Grandfather. In his magnificent garden, there was a beautiful, tall, strong and "giving" avocado tree. It would produce perfectly delicious fruit - in abundance - a wonderful harvest for all the family. What a treasure. What a gift.

Growing up, we would climb this monsterous & beautiful avocado tree, playing around it's enormeous trunk and towering branches...fallen leaves to kick through and step on, in play ...
Over the many years, or rather decades, the strong tree continued to give - Oh, the wonderful and loving memories...almost every Sunday, after Mass, we would stop at the cemetery to visit and sometimes bring flowers to my maternal grandparents, and then off to visit my paternal grandparents...spending the afternoon playing in the garden that housed the big giving tree.

At 106 yrs, 8 mos, my grandfather passed into eternal rest. He was stong and giving to the end.
Four priests, a deacon, family from four states and many friends attended the Rosary, Vigil, Funeral Mass and Burial. He is survived by his six children, 21 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great grandchildren - his fruits - Blest Are They.

In Loving Memory...

"My life is in your hands, Lord.
In your hands is my whole existence.
One must die to live,
In trust, I place my whole self into your hands.
If the grain of wheat does not die,
it will only remain a grain of wheat,
But if it dies, it will give generously
A new fruit that will not die.
One must die to live,
In trust, I place my whole self into your hands."

~ Closing Song for Vigil:  Entre Tus Manos - Ray Repp (c) 1966, 2001