Road Trip

Well, I'm off to Pennsylvania today. I found out yesterday that Dr. Stegman wants me to meet him in person for my consultation, instead of by phone. Apparently it will be a detailed consult. So now my mom and I will be off for our 6 hour drive to Harrisburg where we will stay the night at the luxurious Econo Lodge. My appointment is tomorrow at 1pm. Hopefully I will find out when the surgery might take place. Please say a prayer for us, that we may have a safe trip to and from, and that the appointment will be telling of what is to come.

A Day with Mom

On Saturday, my mom and I celebrated my birthday. She had asked me to come over Sat. morning and to bring my camera. She wouldn't tell me anything else. Mom knows how much I enjoy taking pictures, and she knew I had wanted to go to Lancaster to photograph the sites and old buildings downtown. So that's what we did.

First we went to Annie's Cheesecake and Tea Room for a spot of tea and some lunch. The food was very good and the atmosphere was so cute and cozy. We then decided to walk off our meal while photographing the sites downtown. We saw the mural of General Sherman as well as The Sherman House. We also saw that pink house above, that I always thought would be so neat to live in. The pink house is actually The Fairfield Heritage Association. We saw The Fairfield County Veteran's Memorial, and St. Mary's Catholic Church. The weather, by the way, was perfect. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Finally, we went to this huge antique store called The Olde Shoe Factory. There were no shoes at all. It was an old warehouse in which they kept the name from when it actually operated as a warehouse. There were 3 floors to look at. The 2nd level had the most antiques. The 3rd level was a flea market (not that interesting). By the time we left The Olde Shoe Factory, our feet were killing us (pun intended). But, of course we could make it through a couple more stores. We briefly went through JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, and finally TJ-Maxx. For my birthday, mom bought me some really pretty picture frames from TJ-Maxx. Then we finally took our tired selves home. Thanks mom, for a really wonderful day. Hope to do it again sometime soon.

Birthday Greetings

Hi everyone! Well today is my birthday! I am 28 years old. Nothing really exciting to report about today. It was gloomy and raining this morning, but is nice and sunny right now. Not too hot either.

Above are some pictures of an outing we had on Wednesday morning. I went with Erin and my brother-in-law's girlfriend, Ashley. We had a good time. Actually we went to Canal Winchester for an oil change, and while we were waiting we decided to walk around the town. We went to Harvest Moon first, where we sipped on some cool iced coffees. Then we went to a jewelry store to look around. Always a fun thing for girls to do. Then we went in the cutest shop called Victoria's Attic. It was full of fancy teapots, cups and saucers, teas and tea cozy's. So many beautiful and girly things. It was a very fun morning.

Later that afternoon, I went to pick up my brother-in-law from the hospital. One month ago from today, he fell out of a 40 foot tree. He had surgery on his back and a week later went to an in-patient rehabilitaion center for 4 weeks. He is 19 years old. He is doing very well mentally and physically, but he is paralyzed from the calves down. Please pray for him and especially for his increase of faith. I know so many of you are praying for him and we thank you very much for your continued support.

Hail Mary full of Grace....

Happy Father's Day

It is Father's Day evening at 11:35pm. What a busy day. I really wanted to post this excerpt earlier today, written by St. Thomas More to his children Margaret, Elizabeth, Cecily, and John. Since it's before midnight, it still counts!

"It is not so strange that I love you with my whole heart, for being a father is not a tie which can be ignored. Nature in her wisdom has attached the parent to the child and bound their minds together with a Herculean knot. Thence comes that tenderness of a loving heart that accustoms me to take you so often in my arms. That is why I regularly fed you cake and gave you ripe apples and fancy pears. That is why I used to dress you in silken garments and why I never could endure to hear you cry...Ah, brutal and unworthy to be called father is he who does not himself weep at the tears of his child...But now my love has grown so much that it seems to me I did not love you at all before."

Oh, how beautiful is a father's love! How beautiful is Our Heavenly Father's love. I sincerely hope you had a joyous Father's Day!

The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee. I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants.
Amen.
-- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
from the book Devotion To The Sacred Heart by Fr. John Croiset, S.J.

The Promises of the Sacred Heart
1. “I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.”
2. “I will establish peace in their homes.”
3. “I will comfort them in their afflictions.”
4. “I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death.”
5. “I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings.”
6. “Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.”
7. “Tepid souls shall grow fervent.”
8. “Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.”
9. “I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored.”
10. “I will give priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.”
11. “Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.”
12. “I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.”

My Hero

Little did my husband know that right after his parish council meeting last night, he would become a local hero. At about 9pm on June 14th 2007, Tim was walking into the rectory to visit with our pastor when he and Fr. Lutz heard a woman outside crying that her purse had been stolen. Tim immediately ran out the kitchen door to see Mary Groves, also Tim's barber, was crying that her purse had just been snatched. Tim started running in the direction of the thief. As he ran he saw three different eye witnesses who told him the direction the thief had run. The man had gone around the Church, behind the parish center, up the hill and across the train tracks. He thought he had safely evaded himself, and was going through the purse when out of the blue comes my husband yelling threats to the man. The criminal immediately picked up the purse and ran towards the direction of the Scioto River. Evidently there was a steep drop to the river bank where the man jumped into the river, about a 20 foot drop. Tim ran down that steep slope to the river's edge. The man yelled, "I'm sorry man, I'm sorry. I've got 7 kids at home!" Tim responded, "Yeah, well I'm sure that woman needs that money just as bad as you do!" After taking a wad of cash from the purse, the man threw the purse in Tim's direction. My husband took the purse and recovered a few items that were floating in the water, including Mary's checkbook. Tim did not end up going in the river, but knew the vicinity of the man. The cops had been called and were on their way to the river bank. The man evidently could not get across the river and was hiding in some brush along the river's edge. An off duty police officer, who was kayaking in the river, apprehended the man. Tim came out of the whole ordeal with only a few minor scratches on his legs from the brush he had run through. After the police came, Fr. Lutz called me and said, "I just want you to know that your husband is a hero!" He began to tell me the exciting story and that Tim was OK. After filling out a police report and doing an interview with both Channel 10 News and The Columbus Dispatch, my husband finally made it home at about 12:15am. He awoke at 7:30 this morning to go to work and continue being the hero that he's always been to me! To see the news report from Channel 10 News, click here. To also see the report from The Columbus Dispatch, click here.

Children

What a precious gift!

And God said, "Wait!"

I am sorry that I have not posted anything for several days. Today has been a very upsetting one for me, and the last few days I just haven't felt very inspired to write anything.

My life, right now, is revolving around this surgery that I need to have in order to conceive (I know God can work a miracle outside of this surgery, but there's been nothing thus far). The doctor's I have been dealing with keep putting my case on the back burner, and I am at my wits end. I have been waiting for surgery since Jan. 07'. Now they are telling me that the surgery might not take place until Oct. 07'. I am crushed.

Why does God continually test my patience? Can't I just have another cross, instead of this one? My hope is running dry at this point. I continue to pray, but feel that my prayers bear no fruit. I feel despair kicking in. Please pray for me and for my husband, who goes through this suffering silently.

Welcome to the World Baby Sophia

Here is the newest addition to the family. Meet my new niece, Sophia Grace. She was born today at Riverside Hospital, and I had the opportunity to witness her birth. Born to Jennifer and Greg Goers (my Brother and Sister-in-laws). This was my first opportunity to witness, in person, a new life being born into the world. Words cannot describe the overwhelming feelings that came over me during the birth. We laughed and cried all at the same time. I am still in awe over it all.

I myself have never had the experience of giving birth. My husband and I have been married for 3 years and have been trying to conceive the entire time. We are very fortunate to have Erin, but always pray that God will give us a little miracle of our own. It has been a long and hard road, which I am sure some of you can relate to. Tim and I were fortunate enough to get pregnant one time, but found out at about six weeks along that the baby was an ectopic pregnancy. We were devastated! Nevertheless, it was all apart of Gods great plan and we are so happy to know that our little Ambrose Mary is in Heaven right now praying for us. Our priest was there the night I had surgery, and as soon as the baby was removed the doctor immediately handed him over to Fr. Lutz to be baptized. I still think of my baby often and ask for his intersession, that God will give us more children. Please pray for us and for our new baby niece. -Pax et Bonum

Advice to Verse-Makers

It is not information

That causes inspiration.

There are no lambs and Marys

In any dictionaries;

And no beanstalks and Jacks

In any almanacs.

Beauty's a thing to earn

More than a thing to learn.

It comes from simply seeing

The sharp bright point of being,

Whose vein of gold is struck

By labor linked with luck.

And when a rapture fills

The auricles and ventricles

And give the mouth through art

Connection with the heart,

One can assign the season,

But never knows the reason.

By: Leonard Feeney

Obedience

Yesterday, my husband and I were sick with nauseous stomachs. My husband went to work, but was sent home by his boss. We both laid in bed for hours. I had planned on doing some catching up on my housework, but there was no way I was getting out of bed, unless to go to the bathroom. All day I felt depressed about my uselessness. Sometimes lazy days are OK, but when you accomplish absolutely nothing, you feel lousy. But today is a new day. My husband went back to work. Now I must fulfill the duties I had meant to do yesterday. Do I have to Lord?

Four years ago, I would have jumped at the chance to have my own house to clean, a families laundry to do, a child to school, animals to take care of, dinner to fix...etc. Now, four years later, it's all mine for the taking! So why don't I want that right now, at 9 o'clock on a Tuesday morning? Because I want instant gratification! I want to just snap my fingers like a Jeanie, and have a clean house, and clean laundry neatly folded and put away. Well, we all know Jeanie's are fiction, so that idea cannot work.

OK, so instant gratification won't work in this case. What else can I do to make this less tedious? I know, it's so obvious now! I'll just hire a maid! Wait, I don't have the money for a maid!

OK Lord, I know! I have known all along what I should do. I should Thank You Lord for my vocation that I, at one time begged for you to give me. Thank You Lord. I should do the work while offering my tiny cross up for You! I should think of the suffering You endured on the cross for me. I should work diligently in prayer, all the while thanking You for these little crosses in my life, so that I might one day enjoy the splendor of Heaven with You! Oh, Thank You Lord!

I guess if I think of it that way, maybe it doesn't seem so bad after all! In fact, I am actually looking forward to fulfilling my duties today. So long everyone, I must go and serve our Lord now!

Here are a few of inspirational quotes from The Way by: Josemaria Escriva

The enemy: "Will you obey, even in this ridiculous little detail?"
You with God's grace: " I will obey, even in this heroic little detail!"

How well you understand obedience when you write: "Always to obey is to be a martyr without dying!"

Don't put off your work until tomorrow.

Don't doubt it: your vocation is the greatest grace our Lord could have given you. Thank him for it.

A Note from Erin

Aww! This is my cat Re' Re'. He sleeps at the end of my bed almost every night. He is very lovable! As you can see, he likes basking in the sun. He also enjoys rough housing with our other cats, bathing them, and running around like the crazy cat he is. When we first went to look for a cat, we went to a local shelter. We found a black cat named Spot. They named him Spot because of a little white spot on his neck. As I was looking at the cats, I felt a little paw on my shoulder. I turned around and there was "Spot". I knew instantly he was the cat I wanted. I begged my parents to get him even though they where interested in another cat. They finally gave in and a couple of days later we brought him home. I love my cat Re' Re'!

More pictures...

More pictures for your pleasure!


Sisters of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles


Goldfish


Lovely Roses


Big Galoot!


Amazing Sunset


Comfortable Kitten


Creeping Phlox in my flower bed


View from my back door