~ Patience is a Virture...and REGAL! ~

Today, I'm forty-five minutes early to pick up my daughter from her orthodontics appointment...she informed me that they had cancelled her appointment and that I would have to call them to reschedule...I'm annoyed.  
Butterfly has waited 4 weeks since her last appointment to (possibly) have her braces removed.  We cannot make it back next week.  And on, and on, and on...go my thoughts & arguments (I can feel my blood start to boil).  Life is too busy right now...I don't have time for this nonsense.

Yesterday, at Little Lamb's dentist & retainer check, we waited 10 minutes (actually 20 minutes, because I was early)....I had to pick up my son from Mass...he was waiting for his ride.  Me!  I started to stress...

(Back to today) 
 Rather than getting in the car and driving home to my one million "things to do", I turned off the car's engine and made my way back to the orthodontics office.  I'm walking fast.  I'm walking with purpose.  My poor daughter is following me...trying to keep up.

I throw open the door and walk straight to the desk...they see me coming and guiltily cower.  All three of them.

(Side note:  I had gone to confession earlier this morning) 
I think my guardian angel, and grace from this morning's Mass & sacrament, took charge.  My  face actually broke into a sincere smile and out from my mouth came sweet salutations.  (I shocked them.  I shocked myself).

(The moral of the story)
We worked it out to get my sweet and patient Butterfly her long awaited ortho appointment, first thing tomorrow morning (or, day three at the dentist office); and, they apologized profusely and gave her complimentary tickets to the movie theatre...

The smile on her face made this mama very thankful that I had not given into my vice, that I had not taken the dark path.  Yet, it wasn't I, but God's good and amazing grace...
You see, patience really is a virtue.  And God is good.

~ 2nd Sunday in Advent ~

We light the 2nd candle...

This Sunday my son served as Episcopal Server for the Archbishop...so we attended Mass over at our Cathedral.

They have a beautiful shrine on display which they made for the patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe.  She's so lovely and the roses surrounding her were so vivid.  Her feast day is tomorrow, December 12.

I tried to take a picture from the other side of the nave (discreetly) with my phone...this is what I captured:  (wish I had a better camera, and that I had been closer - oh well.)

We arrived early, so we had the opportunity to listen to the choir warm their voices...absolutely glorious.

The Offertory Antiphon really raised one's thoughts heavenwards.
They chanted Deus tu convertens

(You will turn toward us, O God,)

This Advent Season, I am hoping to really focus on preparing my stubborn heart to receive the Infant Child, with a pure and clean heart instead of this heart of mine. 

Nativity of my childhood

My mother gave me the above nativity.  As a child, I would *play* with it...sometimes to the point that the figures would come off.  lol.  My mom must have glued those figures on a hundred times and I think she even did touch up paint on some of them.   The moss that was on the roof is no longer lush...and Joseph's staff is missing.  I don't remember her ever scolding me.  I love this nativity.

I have to stop myself from scolding Little Lamb when she wants to touch this nativity...I want to preserve it, but I remember how I loved to imagine myself in this place - and touch it I did!  It obviously survived me (and probably a few of my other six siblings).

At our Parish Advent Retreat this week, the Retreat Master said, "You don't lose your patience; it's not gone - You just need to cultivate it"  I seriously need to cultivate my patience.  :o)

Entrance Hymn:

"Behold, O Zion, God will come to save the nations of the earth.  Your hearts will quicken at the sound of his majestic, glorious voice. "  ~ J.S. Bach

~ Saints & Sickness ~

I was enjoying this lovely piece of art on display, while visiting our Cathedral last week.

I'm sharing it in honor of the recent All Saints Day, which took place at the beginning of this month, on November 1st.

It's like a sneak peek into heaven...
...a very nice family photo.


Here is a side shot, to show the *3-D* effect.


Isn't it wonderful? 

Speaking of saints...

I decided not to host the girls club at my home this year...our schedules are so overwhelmingly full; I wasn't sure if we could make any of the meetings. 
Thankfully, another mother will host and we will try to attend as many as we can.

Butterfly was asked to give the talk at the girls club, which was on Friday.  The subject was on the virtues of forgiveness and penance; and on friendship.  She also spoke on the Catechism:  Original Sin, Sin & Mankind, Venial & Mortal Sin. 

I am so proud of her leadership skills...

Well, my sore throat, from a couple days earlier, turned into a terrible cough and so I quarantined myself to my car and waited outside while the traditional mother/daughter tea took place.  I brought along some companions to help pass the time:

When I heard a little tap on the car door...my sweet and thoughtful daughter was delivering a treat to her *lonely sick mother* (minus the annoying cough, I was quite alright with the quiet reading time). 
Of course, I was happy to be the recipient of this saintly act of kindness:

She even remember to bring a napkin and fork...I'm feeling much better already. 
 0:o) 

~ 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

~ One Year, Today ~

Oh my!  I began this blog one year ago, today...wow, time sure does fly!  LOL!!  Seems like I just began blogging...and by the looks of my scanty entries, one might say that I have just begun! LOL!  I'm averaging less than, well, who's counting anyways!?
I have so many treasures that I want to share here, but no time to do so.  Oh well.  I'm living the moment and enjoying my children.  I'll continue to post when I can...

So a little post on our Rosebuds Girls club...

rosebuds for the Rosebuds

Butterfly gave the Virtue and Catechism Talks.  She did great!  The virtue was Charity and Kindness and the catechism was on Corporal and Spiritual Works.

And then we the girls had a cake decorating class...yummy fun!!

Butterfly's sweet creation

My favorite

Cupcakes, Cupcakes, Cupcakes!!!

~ Rose Buds ~

Rosebud's Girls Club is a club that I host at my home...the Coordinator and Leader is a wonderful, lovely, talented and generous woman ~ Lorelei  (thank you, Lorelei!)

Making a Crown of flowers for Our Lady ~ May

Making Place Setting cards ~ November

Gathering at Our Lady's Grotto ~ May Pilgrimage

Creating a delicious Parfait ~ when Mommies aren't able

Many, many Years ago, I coordinated the Little Flowers Girl's Club - hosting it in my home and then in my parish - as the group size grew and grew and then on to include both the Little Flowers Girls Club and Blue Knights Boys Club. 
It was a lot of fun and very worthwhile...but, it took lots of time... and lots of planning and...commitment.

I'm thankful for the Rosebuds, and Lorelei and the families that commit...

These girls are learning Leadership skills and forming Christian Virtues ~
          They are learning to be Responsible - Thinking and Acting in a Responsible way ~
                       And Having Fun while doing so....

Creating Friendships and Sodality.

Rosebuds is based on and inspired by the Teachings of St. Josemaria Escriva, Founder of Opus Dei.