~ The Nativity of St. John the Baptist ~

Sundaes on Sunday

This is a favorite feast day for our family...





We thought we would celebrate the occasion with a few of our favorite things....ice cream, chocolate, and celebratory dishes (not so much the last item mentioned, but I'm trying to watch my sugar/fat intake - although they do add to the fun) :o)


Ordinarily the Church observes the day of a saint's death as his feast, because that day marks his entrance into heaven. To this rule there are two notable exceptions, the birthdays of Blessed Mary and of St. John the Baptist.

I cannot remember when this Feast day landed on a sundae Sunday.  Can you?



HAVE A BLESSED FEAST DAY....


St. John the Baptist...PRAY FOR US.

~ Come, Holy Spirit ~

Just a tiny peek into a very BIG day: Conductor's CONFIRMATION

Cake toppers ~ Hand-made with love

The entire day was energized and filled with all the wonderful emotions.  Joy.  Happiness.  (some happy tears)
Almost surreal, but most certainly ALIVE.  Powerful.  Euphoric.  Beautifully Amazing!!!!!

There are so many lovely elements to the Confirmation Mass. 
These young souls are indelibly sealed to the Holy Spirit ~ also know as the Sacrament of the Seal.  Receiving sanctifying grace...infused with sanctifying grace!

They become true soldiers of Christ!

Confirmation imparts the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit on them (us) ~ where Christ lives within us:
Wisdom
Understanding
Counsel
Fortitude
Knowledge
Piety
Fear of the Lord

Helping them (us) to live a Christian life, becoming the Church Militant - strengthening them (us) spiritually, so that they (we) may defend the Holy Church.

The Confirmand

The Confirmand and his sponsor!  (tears of joy & happiness here)

" (Confirmand's name) I sign thee with the sign + of the Cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation; in the Name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy + Spirit."

The Mass was said in Latin, so it went like this:

 "(Confirmand's name) signo te signo crucis + et confirmo te chrismate salutis, in nomine Patris + et Filii + et Spiritus + Sancti"

 

The "slap"

The Confirmation Slap:  Reminding them of the persecution they will have to suffer for Christ.









We celebrated with not one, but two receptions...why not!?  It was a pretty SPECIAL day!





Then why not make that two cakes...?

Cake #2

Can I hear three...?

 BTW, those are not ants on top of this beautiful round cake -

It was my sorry attempt to try and cover Conductor's name (LOL).

 I'm not too paint shop saavy (obviously). I couldn't figure out the "blurry" tool.



Amazingly delicious and expensive cake #3

The cake was beautiful, and tasted heavenly.  The cake toppers were created by Little Lamb and I...I found the creative idea here.    Caution:  scroll down to the bottom, the cake is named: "Crisma".  And beware to view some of the most beautiful designs, ever.  There were so many beautiful cake ideas it was really hard to choose - not to worry, because next year Butterfly will be Confirmed.  Except, I think I'll have just the one cake at home (lol).  The simplicity of this cake just struck me.  So sweet and simple.  It reminded me of the First Holy Communion cake at Little Lamb's reception.  Beyond Beautiful.

Cake #4

  OK. Four cakes and that's final!

I did mention that we had two receptions that I planned, remember?I will say that it was worth every ounce of energy and planning....and I would do it all over again!! (but maybe with one less cake - lol). The baker of this cake made a mistake and used blue icing, instead of red...so I place three fresh RED roses to rectify the error.  Three for the Holy Trinity.  (and I just love fresh flowers on cakes).

Dessert Table (like we needed one) :o)

"Veni, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora..."

Amen.

~ For the greater glory of God ~

Dusting off this  very old post from the vaults...

to join the O Most Sacred Heart: 

 

 

      June 15th, was the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

One of the works that gives me great joy and happiness (besides spending time with my children and family & working in my garden) is arranging flowers for the sanctuary at my parish. 

Flowers hand-made with love for Him!

Flowers on the High Altar

It's another labor of love -

It takes time and patience...

...Some creativity and vision...and a lot of prayers.  Prayers to St. Anne for her intercession and help, and prayers to the Holy Spirit for guidance and inspiration.  +AMDG+

On the High Altar, for Him

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam = For the greater glory of God






There is a group of terrific ladies that have been arranging flowers for the church for years...they are very talented and inspirational.

They create beautiful bouquets and arrangements, working quietly and diligently...

all for the greater glory of God.

At the foot of the cross altar

This week I arranged the flowers...using RED for the SACRED HEART, PURPLE for HIS MERCY on our sins and WHITE for his GOODNESS, GLORY and TRIUMPH.

+AMDG+

~ Signs of Summer ~

Bowl of Cherries

We are still wrapping things up here, as far as school goes...But a few summer activities & classes are already being enjoyed.
Conductor & Butterfly are taking a Philosophy class with the Dominicans; and Little Lamb is taking a Pottery class.  Conductor will work as a volunteer for the County Fair...(more on that later); and both he and Butterfly will start Reader's Theatre class next week.

Then next month gets REALLY busy...

Chocolate Mint

~ Forget-Me-Not ~

Little love notes....Every night, Little Lamb asks me to "tuck-tuck" her in bed...

Last night she left this little sticky note on my bedroom door...

Little Lambs Love Note

...L.O.V.E. that little girl (that little picture is her bed and my signal to "tuck-tuck" her in).  Too cute.

~ 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

~ Still Back-Blogged ~

Well, May has come and gone and I have sooo many things that I want to share here...

I think I will do a monthly blog, and just combine ALL the activities that go on around here.  Maybe next month...?

Today is our 22nd  Wedding Anniversary AND in just two days - On the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity - Conductor will be sealed with the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT during a Confirmation Mass.  Call me crazy but I'm organizing a small reception (most likely 150+ people) for our parish and then a family reception back at my home...while working on a few other projects (film on Adoration for our Diocese, programs for our upcoming Confirmation...) while major construction is going on outside the front entrance of our home...So, we are going to take a rain-check on tonights anniversary celebrations.  :o)

A quick peek at my First Holy Communion class cakes.  Love those cake toppers which I have used for the past several years.

Conductor made this cake topper for my First Communion children's cake - it's made of chocolate from a mold

Asparagus on the grill for the (post reception) BBQ gathering of some of the First Holy Communion children & their families - fun.fun.fun.  Played us some Corn Hole. 

BBQ Reception


OK.  Break's over.  Back to work!