Friday, March 21, 2008

Good Friday

For me Good Friday has always been both the saddest and happiest day of the year.
At church today we will read the Passion of Christ and the entire assembly will participate. Then Father and the alter boys will bring down our rather large crucifix and place it at the front of the church. One by one each person in the church will line up and kiss the feet of Christ on that crucifix. Every year without fail I want to weep and wail like the woman at Calvary did. I want to stomp my feet and fall prostrate in front of His most holy cross and cry out, " Why Lord why did they have to do this to you? Please let me wipe your face as Veronica did. Let me pull you down from that cross and wrap you in my arms like your sweet mother did." Alas, this was Gods will. That one should die for the sake of many.
Christ has given us all a most precious gift. This is a gift like no other we will receive. Like no gift could ever compare too. His love for us is boundless. His desire to rest next to Him in heaven for all eternity made His passion worth all of our sinful souls. Come to Christ today. Rest in His unending love. Find comfort in the peace that only He can offer.

May the Peace of Christ be with you and may you take the time today to walk with Christ to Calvary.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Holy Thursday



Tonight we will attend Holy Thursday Mass. In the Catholic Church the priest will commonly wash the feet of 12 volunteers to re enact Christ washing the feet of His apostles. I have seen this done many times since my conversion to the church. At first it seemed odd and uncomfortable. As my faith has grown, I have learned to better appreciate where
Christ was coming from and what he was preparing his followers for. I am in awe of his love for them and for us.

The institution of the Most Holy Eucharist is however the main attraction of the night. In our church we believe that Christ was literally telling his friends that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have life with in them. When I converted to the faith this was a sticking point for me at first. Its when I realized how appalled they were at his words that I seen he truly meant what he said. They actually left him there. Christ would not relent. He wouldn't explain his analogy like he had before in other teachings. There was no story to teach the lesson here. It is what it is. God has no boundaries. There is nothing he can not do. Why then could he not do this?

The sacrament of The Eucharist is the most beloved of all our Sacraments. (gift from Christ) It is in this sacrament that Christ feeds our bodies. He becomes a literal part of our physical beings not just a spiritual part. The spiritual connection to Our Lord is found all around us. In our prayers, the wind, the flowers, the faces of our loved ones. The Eucharist is the only time he comes to us Body and Soul.

Heavenly Father,

I thank you for this most precious gift of your Son. I pray that I will be made worthy to receive Him in the most Holy Eucharist. That in receiving Him I will be molded into what you want me to be. That I will be transformed into a light of Your love to this world. It is my prayer Lord that I will be worthy of the promises of Christ and one day kiss Your feet in heaven and fall before Your glory for all eternity.

In the name of The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit,

Amen

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Miracles do happen







A miracle occured in our home last night.




Easter Eggs were decorated before Easter. Thanks to my mom kits and eggs were bought and plain old white eggs became beautiful works of art. Now Holy Week can proceed into the Easter Sunday it should be. Thanks be to God.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Its a cold, cold day


I live in Michigan. The saying here is," If you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes." This winter truer words could not be said. Yesterday it was a high of like 48 degrees. I woke up to melted snow and and bare flower beds. Oh, spring fever resides in my heart. So I went outside to visit all of my flower beds and see what they are doing. I however decided to do that today when the temperature has dropped to 25 degrees. All things are frozen, and I pregnant and clumsy fell on the ice in my yard. Ouch!!! No worries though baby and I are fine. Any way I took some pictures of my sleeping garden and will share them and a warm cup of love my husband made for me last week.



Sunday, March 2, 2008

Why Homeschool? II

I of course would have to say my main reason for home schooling was Gods insistent calling. There are many more however. One giant reason for us to come back to homeschooling was my children's frustration with the amount of time lost to them each day. Between transporting them to and from school, then the long day at school and the homework that followed. We never had time to relax or play or to simply have time with each other. Devin my oldest said to me, "Mom we never have time to play." They would get home, change, do their homework, eat, and maybe have a half hour of playtime before bed. If it was bath night that was gone too. I am sure if any of you have children at school this is a familiar scenario to you. Our frustration was most pronounced because we knew what a home school day entails. Of course the day for a Kinder garter is much shorter than a third grader. However my kids still have recess, lunch , music, gym, and all basic subjects between 9 am and 2:30 pm. Scheduling has become our saving grace and if they don't finish a subject within the allotted time frame they have homework that eats into their free time. It has proven to be an effective schedule that all of us have thrived under.
I read a book that was a great help to me many years ago however it wasn't until this year I found a effective way of executing it. A Mothers Rule of Life by Holly Pierot

http://mothersruleoflife.com