So, you guys have heard a lot about my life lately, and it's been really fun sharing the big events with my wonderful blog family.
But now it's time to hear about you!
I'm just curious...
What is going on in your life? Have you had any milestones lately? Are you celebrating any special blessings? Are you doing anything adventurous this summer? Have you lost a loved one that you would like us to pray for, or have you been struggling with something lately?
Fill us in! I'd love to share in your joy and also pray with you through your sorrows, and I know the rest of the readers would, too. Life is not meant to be walked alone, and I love getting to know you all better.
Lots of good, happy news over here!
ReplyDeleteA good high school friend of my husband's was just ordained a priest two weeks ago, so we got to see an ordination Mass! We also had to say goodbye him, as he was assigned to four (!) parishes pretty far away from us, after he had been assigned to our parish the past three years. So we will miss him, but getting to see everything that's happened the past few weeks has been really interesting.
Next month I'll also be running my first ever 5k race! I started running in March and fell in love with it. After I do this race I'm thinking I might train for a 10k..maybe one day work up to a half marathon? Pretty amazing considering in March I couldn't even run for 90 seconds without getting winded, haha!
I also started by own home childcare business, so I could quit the evening job that was taking me away from my family and be at home with my kids while still bringing in an income. I'm tired but I love it, and I can't help but feel it's good preparation for having more little ones of my own in the house. :)
22 weeks pregnant with a baby girl! :) Trying to stay off FB as much as possible, but feeling a little bit lonely and lost. Working really hard on my marriage, but frequently discouraged. Working with my son on massively expanding my garden (my fave thing in the world, other than my family!) Big, huge, intractable problems with extended family making us all very stressed and sad. :( Trying to come to a decision about whether or not to homeschool my middle son one more year. He is the only one who has ever been homeschooled, and that for just one year. It was very good for him, so I'm thinking he could use just one more year at home, but feeling some pressure to put him back in Catholic school. Overall, not our family's best summer, and everybody is feeling it. Actually, we've just had a really bad year. Casting about for ways to turn this thing around. :/ Thanks for asking, and so happy to see your family is having a spectacularly good year! Congrats on your new grandbaby, and having two daughters married to wonderful young men! Miss you and all the lovely Catholic women I got so used to hanging out with! <3
ReplyDelete- Lauren M
Lauren, you have been on my mind so much lately! Praying hard for you as you work on your marriage! God sees it all and you'll be rewarded for all your efforts, so don't be discouraged! You know I 'get it' as I also have to work on my own marriage....congratulations on your pregnancy, how exciting! Prayers for you--don't stay away from FB forever because I want to see pictures of your baby! :-)
DeleteUdnder the "joy" category", we went to Mass today. What's better than that? ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat is going on in your life?
ReplyDeleteIt's summer! All things "water" is the theme (ie., lakefront cabin, fun on the beach, walking the pier, swimming, etc. ... BEST).
My soul's best memories and most potent times of restoration are always tied to water.
Also water-related, I just finished up a great summer read. It's about the U.S. Coast Guard's most daring rescue. In this book, The Finest Hours, two 500ft long tankers split in half, just miles apart from each other, in a wicked winter nor'easter back in 1952. Imagine being on the Atlantic Ocean - snow, wind, rain, seawater, crashing down like a brick wall. Waves over 70ft high. Sheer walls of dark sea terror. Frigid temps. No power in half the ship. Waiting for when she finally gives up to the sea. It's gripping. The book tells of four Coasties who made the rescue mission and saved over 30 survivors in their small 36' wooden cutter, to one of the split tankers. Just unreal, these guys and their skill and bravery. Great homeschool lessons tied in there all around (history, virtue), for those that homeschool.
Are you celebrating any special blessings?
Yes- Mother Mary always comes through! For those seeking an answer to a special intention, I suggest including these novenas and chaplets:
Our Lady of Good Remedy
Our Lady of Good Success
Our Lady of the Brown Scapular (and I suggest wearing one, if you don't already)
the novena to My Mother, My Confidence.
And, of course, the rosary.
Prayed the following chaplets: Chaplet of St. Anthony that includes the Miraculous Repository of St. Bonaventure, Chaplet of the Little Flower, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Are you doing anything adventurous this summer?
On a June vacation, we took a lighthouse tour. That was fascinating. Learned the keeper's duties, toured each room of the small house/quarters, learned about their family life, their successes and struggles (can you say, "isolation"!) Ascending up the narrow, windy, iron staircase in the tower, no problem; coming down, not cool. Great homeschool field trip idea, too, if you can get to any coastline.
Hang in there. I know you're going through lots of emotional upheaval lately. I'll pray for you.
I'm 12 weeks pregnant! And although we are very excited, and beyond blessed, there is a lot of anxiety. Mostly, financial anxiety. I would love if you could pray for the health of this little baby, as well as my 3 year old twins and our marriage. Congratulations to you on your grandchild and two new sons.
ReplyDeleteIt's 25/75 in my little niche. The struggles are mostly financial but thanks to my husband's parents there isnt too much worry, just another lesson in asking for help when needed. New tires on our truck and external house painting at the end of the month.
ReplyDeleteThen Andrew my husband is finishing up his comprehensive exam for the diaconate...just one more paper to go and our scrutiny committee meeting was last week. 😃
Let's see my oldest son is finally swimming on his own and the next in line isnt too far behind. Yea! Lots of swimming going on this summer and a trip planned for August to head up north with my dad for some fishing. So excited, i dont get to see him too much.
Prayers needed for the last leg of our our journey towards my husband's possible ordination into the permanent diaconate....esp the morning of July 24th (meeting with the Most Rev. Bishop Olmsted) and the week of Oct. 19-24 (week long retreat for all those men being called forward; God willing all 8).
Last but certainly not least we are discerning if its time to add a new little one to our household. I tend to struggle when it comes to becoming pregnant and no doc has been able to pinpoint a cause as of yet. Exciting times for sure.
Congratulations on all of your milestones and will keep you in prayer as well.
I've enjoyed reading about all of the wonderful blessings in your family! We have baby boy #5 on the way! It looks like Zoë will not be getting any sisters soon. I am still working part-time and I'm feeling the weight of it. We could use some prayers for finances as well as for our marriage. It's amazing how much God has transformed things over the last 5 years, but certain demons keep trying to come back. By the grace of God we will shut them out for good.
ReplyDeleteAll of these people enjoying summer, do none of you live in Phoenix?! Anyhow, doing better than I ever had at keeping fear at bay, as I find myself unemployed again. My son will be turning 16 on the 16th, yay & sniffle.... My summer project is in finding answers. I have bumped into an elementary school friend, who was catechized as poorly as the rest of us during the 70's/80's, ends up we live 3 miles from each other (both of born & raised in CT until the late 90's). He hasn't been to Mass in a long while, but said he'd like to go with me. His questions are from the OT, and so far I have answered one of them and he was pleased enough. Although I have to find answers for the rest, pesky Old Testament... My quest is to find balance between not overtaking every conversation with Catholicism, while still keeping it there to try to bridge the chasm left from high school - he was labeled trouble for asking questions that the nuns couldn't answer. It's nice to have an indoor project for the remainder of summer. ;)
ReplyDeletep.s.(I think we need photos of some of these gardens, please & thank you!)
agh, I thought I checked for errors before hitting publish, SO sorry! I can't delete , fix & repost, can I?
DeleteAlso a wedding. And lots of grandbaby time!
ReplyDeleteWell, you already know my news but I will humor you anyway. :-) We moved to our new house and it's been quite the adventure. I'm learning what "doing without" means in a whole new way; it hasn't always been easy. Our new house is wonderful and bigger but in poor condition. Bad paint jobs, pee-stains on every carpet that had to be ripped out, holes in every room, including bathrooms and hallways...in some ways we feel like we're living in a haunted house, only because it looks like one yet it's been very peaceful here.
ReplyDeleteOur project list of to do's are about a mile long and every item is a priority. This where the "doing without" comes in. For instance, for most people, if you have a toilet that doesn't flush well and runs constantly it would be replaced immediately. However, at the same time, we need to save some money every month for a new door before winter sets in (and in MN, there is no telling when that might happen!) because our current door is rotting, thanks to the previous owners not putting a storm door on. And yet, we have been living on plywood floors for 2 months now and new flooring is a priority too. And so the list goes on and the "doing without" takes a lot of patience. Painting rooms a nice cheerful color is my way of coping as we wait for our updates and it's not too costly.
However, the kids are loving it here! I can even say that we don't miss our old comfortable home one bit despite the poverty here. We know this is a good home with great bones and will one day be a great home too. The neighbors are also very kind and good about pitching in to help whenever they see us busy with a project.
The rest of the summer will be spent in trying to get the yard in shape (lots of old and overgrown trees in our backyard) but also making sure we get to our county fair, do a little camping and we have a wedding to go to! There's always birthdays and having our first little get-together with friends in our new house. So far, a very pleasant but busy summer!
Reading every word and so grateful to be able to rejoice with you all, and then to know what to pray for. Keep 'em coming! I am loving this!
ReplyDeleteCrazy summer over here! We remotely closed on the sale of our house across the country last week, and we are closing on our new house in Montana at the end of July. I tried to convince my husband to move to Arizona, but we ended up in Montana instead ;). We are currently packing up our rental house in Washington. My husband takes the Bar at the end of July, and then we move to Montana two days after that. So I'm trying to juggle our four kids, pack the house, and get mountains of paperwork together while my husband studies 24/7.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't feel a lot like summer in that regard, but I am thankful to see how God has worked in our lives to bring us to this point. I would really appreciate prayers that my husband passes the bar -- Our lives and all the commitments and arrangements completely hinge on this! I can't wait to get back into a normal daily routine where meal planning and family activities are more central :).
Just got a well-deserved promotion at the homeless shelter where I work. Had a fabulous birthday party last night. Am making some progress on the book I'm writing (memoir).
ReplyDeleteWe find out this week whether baby #3 is a boy or girl! Prayers that we see a healthy and thriving baby would be appreciated! :) Headed to Disneyland in a few weeks with my whole side of the family...that place makes me happy and I love experiencing it through the eyes of my children. Prayers for my brother who is kind of wandering aimlessly through life at the moment, that he might find direction through the Lord. Thank you in advance...you all will be in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteI have to add that my other brother and his wife just told us last night that they are expecting their first baby about a month after we are due! So exciting! :)
DeleteOur fantastic, hard-working pastor, who's the sole pastor of our large parish, which also has a school, has help for the summer! A priest from another country is visiting for a couple of months. He's been here before, too.
ReplyDeleteI am helping spread the word about Napro Techonology, which is REAL "women's healthcare"; that is, not just throwing a pill at a woman with gynecological and/or reproductive problems and calling that cheap, lazy way out "healthcare," rather than taking the time and care to find and fix the cause of a woman's problems. Recently I attended a Catholic marriage prep class, conducted by a priest and open to anyone who wanted to learn about Catholic marriage, locally. It was done well, in-line with Church teaching, but with some gaps, especially with regards to infertility and assisted reproductive treatments. I told the priest I'd forward him information about NaPro, and he was appreciative because he had never heard of it.
I have good friends who check up on me, I am employed, well-fed and have a roof over my head. Thanks be to God.
On the downside, my sister, whom I had trusted most in this world, has managed my father's estate to her son's benefit for the past three years; lawyers are involved. (I appealed to my sister to avoid this, to no avail.) Mine is deferring fees at this point, as I can't pay him any more, but I must pay his fees eventually. If this isn't settled in my favor (three attorneys whose advice I sought before pursuing legal action had said I have a good case, but there are no guarantees in anything), I will likely be financially devastated for the rest of my life.
My 1+ year old car is having problems that the dealership can't figure out. Plus, the closest dealership is 100 miles away. Because of the reliability of this automaker (family and friends have sworn by their vehicles), I thought the distance wouldn't be a problem because I'd need to go only for regular servicing. HA HA HA. So I am hoping and and praying that the manufacturer and dealer will work with me without any problems on trading it in for another car, or that somehow I will be able to replace my car without further negatively hurting myself financially.
I need to find another job, but there are some major considerations, too long to get into here. There's a potential job looming that would be great in some aspects, very difficult in others. I've also found two other positions for which I will apply. Wherever I go next is where I hope to remain until I retire, and since I have no husband or anyone else to depend upon (not that I want to depend on anyone), I have to make the right decision. I pray desperately for God to make the right path, the right decision, unquestionably clear.
However, I feel as though I cannot make any major changes or financial commitments in my life until the legal dispute is settled, and hopefully (please God) in my favor. My life right now is so unsettled and vulnerable; I admit to being frightened and anxious, 24/7. As a Catholic, I'm not supposed to be so overcome with fear, but...things are the way they are.
I am praying to Mary, Undoer of Knots, and also Saint Rita regarding my car woes, and Saint Therese of the Child Jesus regarding the legal dispute, as well as Psalm 31.
I am enjoying reading others' good news here, and will add the intentions of those suffering from trials and tribulations to my Rosary. Welcome to the USS Job! ;-)
What's the make and MY of your vehicle? Warranty should cover some of the repairs, esp if it's newer off the line. Lots of dealerships have loaners they can set you up with, if they need your vehicle several days to do repairs.
DeleteGFNY- Regardless of the make or MY of your car, if the dealership cannot fix your vehicle, I have good news for you on this score. There are federal Lemon Laws in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteIf you purchased your vehicle under warranty (usually a 3/36 warranty), and try as they might, the dealership cannot fix your vehicle to vehicle standard, you can appeal to this law (no lawyers necessary, usually), and you will be compensated for every dime, if you're not compensated with a different vehicle.
You can breathe easier on that one. That's fixable with minimal worry. ;)
GFNY, you will be in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteI don't know details of all the legal and financial troubles, and I hope you are exaggerating when you say you will be financially ruined for the rest of your life if things don't work out. But If you really feel that way and jobs and legal things don't work out, you can file for bankruptcy if debt is the issue. I am a bankruptcy paralegal, and I see "financially ruined lives" all the time. This is obviously a last resort, but most people do recover from a bankruptcy filing (much faster than most people think!) and go on to lead normal financial lives. So I thought I would throw out a ray of hope there if things get really difficult! Only a lawyer could advise you on your situation and whether or not bankruptcy would be helpful, and I'll just pray that the lawsuits and job situation go well so that you don't have to worry about that :). So sorry about your stress -- I have seen many good people in tough spots, and I know it can be really hard there for a while.
This little community of ours is so supportive of one another! Elizabeth, I have another reader who would like to ask you a question privately. Could you email me at littlecatholicbubble@gmail.com if you get this? Thanks!
DeleteGod has REALLY been turning my life upside down and bringing many changes lately, both good and bad. I’m so grateful to have finally found a wonderful young man (well actually he’s 5 years older than me) with whom I have been in a serious relationship for the past 2.5 months. We’re already discerning marriage, although he’s right in the midst of considering moving 4 hours away for a new job in the coming months, so we’re trying to figure out how to make that work. Right now, he only lives 40 minutes away from me so we get to see each other a lot, which is wonderful, although I have fallen into a bit of a “boyfriend trap” where I want to spend as much time with him as possible and am struggling to find a better balance in my life.
ReplyDeleteOne of the interesting things about our relationship is that he’s been introducing me to other forms of the liturgy besides the Novus Ordo. So I’ve seen a Byzantine Catholic liturgy as well as the Latin mass. He’s not really a fan of Novus Ordo, even though he does play the organ for it at my parish, so that’s something else we’re trying to figure out. My biggest issue is that the liturgical calendars/mass readings differ between the 3 liturgies and I have a devotion to the Novus Ordo calendar/liturgy of the hours and I don’t want to have a biritual family, I’d like us all to be on the same page. Plus, he really is set on having a Latin mass wedding and I’m really set on having a Novus Ordo mass wedding (and my parents hate the Latin mass) soo yeah. It’s been an interesting experience being in a relationship to the say the least, but overall, I’m so happy and blessed by Mark, so praise God!
Also, I finally found a job (after a year of looking) as a receptionist at an elderly community. It doesn’t pay the best, but it’s a start in the right direction. My ultimate career goal is to be a pastor’s personal assistant or just work in a parish office.
Now just waiting to see where else God leads me and trying to trust in His will.
What a great way to share Leila! We are in the midst of lots of change in our family. We are switching to homeschooling this fall and also switched parishes, choosing a much more reverent Novus Ordo parish community and we feel like we are home. We are about to head out to Phoenix for a 10 day vacation with my family, I was raised there and was the only one to fly the coop about 13 years ago. While there my husband has some preliminary job interviews lined up as we believe we are being called to move closer to family and leave the Midwest. Prayers for our discernment are always welcome as we now have a high schooler to think about. We had our 6th baby 8 months ago and still feel like we are trying to find steady footing as this is truly the busiest we have ever been in our lives. It is also the happiest too! I continue to pray feverently for the conversion of souls in our world. That is about it in a nutshell! God's blessings to you all!
ReplyDeleteI am 26, oh wait, is it 27? weeks pregnant. :) Going through some struggles with my older kids, but it all was put into perspective last night when I found out a fellow mom in my homeschool group lost her precious two year old in a terrible household accident. Pray for their family, please.
ReplyDeleteAmy Caroline, I heard about that tragedy on one of my Catholic fb groups, and I am heartbroken!! I saw this on one of her friend's blogs:
ReplyDeleteO Tender Heart of Jesus, please have mercy on my dear friend's grieving heart! She has lost her child, and her soul is flooded with tears. And yet she knows that Thou hast not abandoned her. Thou art with her always. Thou hast triumphed over death, so that through Sanctifying Grace, death is not the end of life, but only the beginning of a life of eternal joy and peace. Help her, O Lord, in this time of sorrow, to find consolation in knowing her child is now a saint and enjoys the perfect happiness of living with Thee in Heaven.
O Mary, my Sorrowful Mother, who gazed in sorrow at the sight of thy Son dying on the Cross, please pray for my dear friend and her family in their time of grief. Help them to find peace and comfort in trusting in our merciful Father’s love. May this trial serve to strengthen the bond between their sorrowing hearts, to unite them even more closely to each other, and to deepen their faith and trust in God our Father. Though their sweet child is lost to them in this life, may they know the unutterable joy of meeting their child again in Heaven.
Blessed Zelie Martin, mother of St. Therese the Little Flower, you experienced profound grief when you held four of your children in your arms as they breathed their last breath. Assist my dear friend in her grief, for she too has lost a child. You knew deep sorrow, yet you never grew bitter or angry against God, but always trusted in His infinite mercy and love. Help her to trust Him too. Your faith assured you that your little ones were happy in Heaven, and you found consolation in knowing they were watching over your family and praying for you. Help her, too, to be strengthened by her Catholic Faith, and to find joy in knowing that her precious child is now enjoying the peace and joy of Heaven.
All ye heavenly Angels and Saints, pray for them! Pray for their grieving family! May they never forget to pray to the little member of their family who is watching over them from Heaven. Amen.
(prayer adapted from Prayer of a Bereaved Mother of a Baptized Baby)
Leila, I do not usually comment, but I have been reading your blog for couple of years already :-) I will write a different post to introduce myself a bit ( so I can also be a full member of the bubble) but I am just a bit shocked by the previous comment from Carissa Layton that could not leave me calm....Carissa, Sai Baba was one of the biggest guru and evil doing people in India for many years - all his power is from the evil one. He did big wonders and also his followers do but it is not by the power of the Holy Spirit, but the Evil Spirit...this is very serious and I have seen many people being mislead as they thought it might be right to do these things and that God is ok with that. Big NO...it devastated their lives completely and only prayers of deliverance would help...if you want to make sure your life is lead only by God, you would need to renounce all evil doing in your life and even to the point of a possibility of loosing your husband if it is God's will for you at this moment...and having your husband back under God's conditions in complete freedom, and not under a spell of a guru...
ReplyDeleteThank you for this! I deleted her comment as soon as I saw it, as I don't want any souls to be led away from God. Very dangerous. Thank you for this important warning, and I look forward to hearing more from you. :)
DeleteI too was concerned when I read the comment by Carissa Layton about Saibaba. Looks like the comment was removed.
ReplyDeleteI spent a lot of time hunched over my computer applying for jobs and wonder where I am going to live in the future if I don't have a job.
I mean I spend a lot of time applying for jobs. Still job searching.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I didn't know who saibaba is or was, but my instincts said not a Catholic saint. Looks like the Holy Spirit put a little warning bell in me because I obviously do NOT know everything about Catholicism or Christianity.
Mostly just getting excluded for different valid and invalid reasons. Offering criticism to criticizors. Reminding people that they shouldn't be too comfortable with themselves all the time. That god loves them despite the fact that glamorous pursuits and keeping to themselves isn't what He offers to His faithful. Basically we don't measure up, and he loves the alienated back more than the good sheep. Just trying to keep people mindful of who the boss is, what he has done, and how he hopes we can pay the favors forward, especially when it is difficult. Hoping people can be humble enough to not let themselves crowd God out.
ReplyDeleteWith your very impolite and incoherent history on this blog, Dellentie, I hope that in addition to constantly popping in randomly to remind people that they are awful and un-Christian that you are working on your own self, too. I actually asked what people were doing in their lives, not to hear how one feels oneself both heroic and unappreciated for vaguely and continually admonishing others.
DeleteYour admonitions might bear more fruit if they were (a) charitable and (b) coherent. So far, they are neither.
DeleteDear Dellentie, we have tried. But you continue to ignore the rules of this forum (no rambling insults and vague accusations that have no coherence. It's like if you went onto a cooking forum and tried to talk this way. They would be within their rights to set their boundaries with you (boundaries can be a charitable thing, no?). This is a forum where we discuss issues with an aim toward logic and clarity (you can see that on the "Please Read First" post, above, and it's spelled out on my sidebar). So, when you are continually unclear and rambling and rude on a forum for clarity and logical discussion, you will be asked to cease. Boundaries are important so that we can stick to the task at hand. I am sure there are many other blogs (millions, in fact) that will entertain your meanderings. This is simply not that forum. Thank you so much for understanding. And as for love, it means willing the good of the other. It is not good for you to continue on here, in a forum that is not a good fit for your thoughts. And of course all of the Catholics here (and I suspect the others as well), wish only the best for you. Many blessings and Godspeed!
DeleteForgive my typos! I know that a lack of a second parenthesis can set one's teeth on edge. I wish I had proofread, ha ha.
DeleteLeila did not say "no one can criticize." She simply asked that criticism be constructive, charitable, and coherent. So far, your "criticism" is neither.
DeleteIf you loathe this blog so much, I suggest you stop reading and commenting. Your life will be happier as a result.
Dellentie, I'm not exactly sure what your problem is, but I will not tolerate the incoherence and rudeness of your comments -- which also have no actual relevance to the topics that everyone else (even the atheists) are talking about.
DeleteBut this:
"That the sort of dialogs that should happen here."
Dellentie, I invite you to start your own blog and have those conversations there. Then you can ramble and emote all day long for your readers. Meanwhile, stop commenting here. I will delete any of your comments that come from from here on out.
I've hesitated posting here but since I do have a history here and randomly read the posts (congratulations Leila), in the interest of being less "anonymous" I'm commenting for better or worse. This year brought be unexpected personal heartbreak and tragedy, but suffice it to say, life goes on and I'm taking the bull by the horns. Onwards and upwards.
ReplyDeleteOn a happier note, I've been able to visit some dear friends this summer and met some of their kids for the first time. I've been schooled in the art of playing cars, tag, play-doh, pretend pony and dress-up. I've even been a recruit in potty training (gasp!) and introduced to the wonders of My Little Pony (didn't know it made a comeback). All of this reinforces my opinion that parenting really is the hardest job of all-there are no breaks!!!!! or, at least break is between 8pm-3am if you're lucky ; )
cheers,
gwen
Gwen, I am truly happy to hear from you! I am also incredibly sorry that you have suffered so much. My heart dropped to read that. :( Please know that despite some contentions, we all love you here. I know that I do.
DeleteAnd oh yes!! Parenting is a kick, isn't it??
Thanks Leila : )
DeleteMy oldest child celebrated her First Eucharist and Confirmation in May. What a blessed day that was!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, in June my husband lost his job. :( Prayers that he finds something new soon are appreciated... he's doing the SAHD thing right now and having a rough time of it. Prayers for our former daycare are appreciated as well, we had to leave them in the lurch and I feel awful about it.
In happier news, though, my 9-month-old son and I are flying to The Edel Gathering in less than two weeks! I've never been to Texas and am really looking forward to it. http://edelgathering.com/
JoAnna, is your husband an IT guy?
Deleteyes!
DeleteWhat part of the country?
DeletePhoenix metro area
DeleteArg. I'm sure he's tried LinkedIn and all that (?). There is usually a lot of remote opp and contract employment in his field. I will pray for you guys and keep an ear out 4sure
DeleteGwen, we are big MLP fans at our house! Princess Twilight Sparkle is my soul sister. ;)
ReplyDeleteJoAnna, I spent many an hour being "Twilight Sparkle" with the 4 year old who insisted on being "Rainbow Dash" and giving very thorough instructions on how to play pretend ponies, lol!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Leila on all your happy news. I'm sorry your daughters are moving away. When I married I moved 4 states away from my Mom and family. My mom and I talk almost every day. :) So... I hope you have a good calling plan.
ReplyDeleteHappy news: my husband and I bought our first house. We are settling in well and working on projects. We are also enjoying time at the YMCA pool. We will also be going on vacation later this month with my family to the beach. We are looking forward to sun, fun and food. We have several weddings to look forward to this fall.
I will be having another surgery (my 5th) later this summer for endometriosis. The date of surgery is TBD. My local NaPro Dr referred me to a specialist in another state. Please pray this will be successful to eliminate all endometriosis and we will be able to get pregnant? My faith is certainly being tested... I am having to cling to Jesus on the cross hour to hour some days.
The big doings in my neck of the woods was the birth of our son on the same day as Felicity! Then we celebrated our oldest's 6th birthday this past weekend. I know that's still young, but it's hard to believe how fast they 're growing up!
ReplyDeleteI'll second Being Refined's comment about the calling plan. It seems the further away I live from my mom the more I talk to her! :-) now that they are allowed to dial themselves, my older girls call her now, too! My poor mother probably walks around with a permanent crick in her neck from all the telephone time! ...not a bad problem to have overall.
Prayers for all of you going through challenging times!
Two Godsons graduated Summa from college, another Goddaughter got a full soccer scholarship to Grand Valley State, and my oldest Goddaughter turned 50!
ReplyDeleteNext week I am traveling to Tennessee to meet 3 bloggers who helped me during the years when I cared for my mother. It's time for a little payback and thanks.
Well, we had some heartbreak in the last month. We lost our first baby right after we found out I was pregnant. I'm still working through that and my fear of trying again. We could really use some prayers.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear all the happy news of the other bubble readers. It is wonderful to know these things are going on and it helps me remember there are all kind of seasons in life. And for those who are also struggling hopefully we'll all get to where we need to be.
I'll keep everyone and their intentions in my prayers.
I am so sorry to read of the losses and hardships that so many here have endured and continue to endure. I have prayed for you all in my Rosary. Thank you also for your prayers.
ReplyDeleteNubby, I looked up my state's lemon laws, and my car has to have the same problem at least a couple more times to qualify. I am praying that when I pick it up tomorrow, it will be fixed for good, and that at some point in the next month I can get rid of it. Elizabeth, thank you for your prayers and advice! There are several factors at play, so I'm being a realist.
Here's a car trouble tip: If you ever have a warning light show up on your control panel, take a photograph of your control panel with the light visible, AND make sure your odometer reading is visible in the same shot. For good measure, date and time stamp the photo. This will help in the event that, when you take your car for service, the light doesn't show up. Plus you are documenting the problem and the mileage.
Yes, there usually needs to be a consecutive number of tries at the same type of (mechanical) repair(s). I couldn't gather from your post how many times they'd tried to diagnose/fix it already, but wanted to let you know that there was some type of recourse you can take at the end of the day, and that you would not be left with that lack of quality.
DeleteYou'd be compensated for every dime you sunk into it, not just for the value of the vehicle at the time of claim. If you dropped $4,000 in repairs over several tries, and it turns out to be a lemon, you'd be compensated for that total amount. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, course. Just prayed for you- hope all is resolved swiftly and safely.
in a previous post I mentioned I have been a bubble reader for few years but never commented...I do not even remember how I came across with the bubble but I believe God lead me :-) I feel many of my desires are coming true in the past few months and am experiencing a lot of piece and joy in my heart... God is teaching me that He has His own timing for everything and that His timing is the best timing...For a big part of my life I struggled with this and I wanted to have everything under control and was very upset when things worked out differently (and most of the time they did)... I have still a long path to go to trust God more in His work and to depend on Him more but with His grace I am moving forward...From Sunday I have started a retreat to renew my Marian consecration (st. Louis de Monfort) to be ready for the 15th of August and for the first time I am going through the retreat with my boyfriend (as I started dating a very nice and religious guy two months ago) who takes the prayers seriously and I cannot thank God enough for sending me such a man :-) We are following the "33-days to Morning Glory" from Father Michael Gaitley - a guide to go through the preparation for the consecration and it is great, I recommend it to everyone
ReplyDeleteAll of you in struggles, please be sure of my prayers
Sister_Marta
Do not be concerned of the time I am publishing the post, I do not live in America :-)
DeleteWe just had baby #5 who could not be sweeter or calmer. Really needed as my husband has been feeling snowed under and compares us to every other family he knows that is smaller. He's not religious so not prone to offer it up or count his blessings. He accepts that we don't contracept but still has a contraceptive mentality you know? Marriage is not in a great place as he's been very withdrawn and super sensitive for the past year. When I try to communicate feelings he gets really upset so I havent' been communicating but he thinks everythign is fine in general. I don't feel like he wouldn't emotionally punish me for what I said if we saw a marriage counselor. Basically, I made my bed, he won't change, trying to improve upon myself but am very unhappy in my marriage at present with no one to talk to. I'm not going to leave him but I just do not respect him; I've read your marriage post and both books but the stuff in them I've tried and has not worked due to his narcisism. Part of raising our kids Catholic though he is not, we've surrounded ourselves with good Catholic families but I just end up feeling very jealous of the spiritual connection of those couples which isn't helping me appreciate the good things about them. Basically I don't know where to turn. Thank you for posting this for me to vent.
ReplyDeleteMonica, I completely understand where you're coming from. I am in somewhat of the same boat. I totally understand the jealousy you experience with seeing other holy and loving couples around you...not wanting to provoke self-pity from either of us, but just wanted you to know that you are not alone in this area! I have learned to look at it as a cross that can make a person holy; and through this suffering I'm beginning to see all the wonderful things in my husband, even if spirituality isn't his strength. He is a good and loving man, wonderful father. Does his best in all things (to his ability). Spirituality just doesn't come easy for him but I'm learning we all walk at different paces in this life. Try not to be discouraged that your husband lags behind but allow yourself to be his leader--and if not his leader, then his example. Venerable Elisabeth Lesuier is also a great inspiration, as her husband was an atheist who ridiculed her faith often, despite his love for her. http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Diary-Elisabeth-Leseur/dp/1928832482 Just wanted you to know that I do understand and will be remembering you in my prayers.
DeleteOh my goodness! So many things on your hearts!! I will pray for all of you and I know that many hundreds (thousands?) of others reading these comments will be praying, too. I wish I could take you all out for coffee (though I would be drinking tea)....
ReplyDeleteMy biggest issue is that the liturgical calendars/mass readings differ between the 3 liturgies and I have a devotion to the Novus Ordo calendar/liturgy of the hours and I don’t want to have a biritual family
ReplyDeleteI know I'm not welcome here and especially if I'm being difficult, but this is just precious. Ok. I'm outta here.
What I find "precious" Bill, is that you, a middle aged man is stalking a woman's blog when you've been asked by her several times to never comment here again. It's "precious" that you seem obsessed with Leila's blog. Obsessed with leaving rude comments. Obsessed with subscribing to the comments. Obsessed to the point that you felt so compelled to jump back into the conversation on a "What are you up to?" blog post where Leila asked everyone to share joys and hardships they are going through. You didn't leave anything about what you are going through or what you are up to which I am almost certain Leila would have appreciated. You just left a passive aggressive remark about someone else's life. I'm sad for you. And I'll pray for you, because by reading this comment I see you are still so very lost and so very sad.
ReplyDeleteI was actually going to send Leila an email because I know she was addicted to Facebook. I'm addicted to tweeter. I peddle my sarcasm to Muslims now. Can't help it. OCD.
ReplyDeleteBill, I'm thinking my "addictions" are not the same as yours, as I do not have OCD. I will pray for you, but C is right, that was a rude comment and it has nothing to do with the topic. Good luck with the Muslims, as I am sure they will be receptive to your arguments. Yes, that was sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteHi Leila…I know it has been awhile since I commented over here, but please know that I have always appreciated your support and encouragement over the years that we have known each other. My apologies for not commenting more often.
ReplyDeleteHmm…the big thing right now is the upcoming arrival of our baby girl. I am scheduled for a repeat c-section on 8/14, the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe. I am not worried about the c-section and my recovery from my first c-section (after 30 hours of labor) went well, so I only hope this one also goes smoothly.
However, I am freaked out about something happening before delivery. Cord accidents, placental abruptions, basically anything that I have no control over - you name it and I am worried about it. I guess with the history of having 4 1st trimester miscarriages has left me jaded and granted, I know the odds are very low, but nonetheless my anxiety seems to be at an all time high. But I have been trying to increase my prayer life and I saw a Divine Mercy Chaplet each night before bed and that helps to ease my mind at night.
Other than that, I love being home with Elizabeth (2 1/2). I work part-time a couple afternoons from home after my DH gets home doing bookkeeping for 2 local Catholic parishes. The hours are super flexible (5-10 hours per week for each) and I love the work.
All in all, things are good and we are excited to meet baby girl in a few weeks. God Bless you and your family. You are in my prayers!
working towards having the patience to have my 87 year old father live with me and the hubby and celebrating 8 years of marriage.
ReplyDeletePlease pray we have the strength to keep going.....oh wait....that probably isn't going to happen here...sad huh.
One extra paragraph some people might have added: "because it's sad, it should be punishable by law." "Not offering the 'right kind of prayers', determined ambiguously, is sad, and sad is the new criteria to use force, so pray for me with this particular formula, or else pay the fine." AmIright, AmIright??
ReplyDeleteNubby, what are you talking about? I am confused. What did I miss? I know you commented about car problems above.
Deletelol Lena - it was just a reply to alan's (cutesy?) faux-quasi-prayer request above, ending on an emotive note of feigned "sadness". I just took that thought process a few steps further, added a sprinkle of logical possibility, and came away with that
DeleteIt's so weird, I don't know why Alan's posts only occasionally show up in my email, so I didn't even know he had posted here.
DeleteHighlight so far is watching my 14 yr. old boy being confirmed. Alleluia! Next up a quick mom/son trip to NYC then all of us to Disney in a couple of weeks. Florida in August - we must be crazy!
ReplyDeleteWonderful summer even with husband's unexpected job loss. Having him home with us has been such a blessing (and makes my life so much easier!) so I'm keeping focused on the silver lining.
Ehm ... just arrived here. Don't know how. Just clicking away and here I am.
ReplyDeleteSo I'll say "Hello, and God bless".
ReplyDeleteLOL! Is it too late for me to respond? I've always wanted to write a Catholic pro-life novel. I've written two chapters so far. I also would love to write some e-books on amazing testimonials of praying the rosary. I'd include my story of praying the rosary for many years as a single before meeting my husband on Catholic Match.
Tip to Catholic singles: Pray the rosary especially the powerful 54 day rosary novena booklet available on amazon!
I'd love to write articles for a Catholic audience on this subject. Any advice on getting started? I always wanted to be a writer since I was eight years old. I'm 48 now. Any advice would be appreciated! Also any rosary testimonials can be sent over to the following email address: prayrosary4life@gmail.com
I have a very special devotion to the Blessed Mother and her rosary. I love Jesus and her so much!
Thank you!
Love,
Maria In Mass (Maria T. Newcomer on Facebook)