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