Happy Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux!

The rose project will have to wait because our little Luke is in and out of the doctor's office today with breathing treatments and a chest x-ray. He'll be OK, but he needs a little extra TLC. So, in the meantime, here's a quote from one of my favorite saints to ponder:

‎"Love consists in bearing w/ the faults of others, not being surprised at their weakness, in being edified by the smallest acts of virtue we see them practice" - St. Therese of Lisieux

I am also Pondering:

Moving all my blogging/ baby updates to this page. I have really loved babyhomepages for a lot of reasons, but this site is free and, at this point in our life, that is a very compelling reason. So far I've used this page mostly as a little journal where I write down thoughts (mostly spiritual) that I want to return to and I like having that space, but I guess I could consolidate. Some worries:

-I really like the "photo album" aspect of babyhomepages. I believe I would have to keep up this blog AND use some sort of site (i.e. picasa) to have the same effect?

-Another plus that builds on the last is that babyhomepages is one stop shopping, so to speak. I can upload photos, have the photo in album, relay stories, and have a guest book all in one place... Oh and I almost forgot, you can also buy prints from babyhomepages.

-Babyhomepages will send you a PDF of the entirety of your content for a minimal fee, which will then serve as my baby book/ memory book for the kids.

-I tried sites like picasa and (what's the name of that other one again?) and you can't upload multiple pics at a time... ughhh. Oh, and you only get a certain amount of space free and then have to start paying for it.

-Can you buy calendar/ albums/ prints from sites like picasa?

So, my question to you, dear readers ( I think there are about four of you ;), is how can I do all the things I listed above in an easy, one stop way with a blog. If I can't, I might just consider going with what we have for now (at least until we move). Also, do any of you like babyhomepages/ keep up with us through that site? Would any of you have a preference?

Ok, so, do any of you have any good advice/ info for me about this? I would really appreciate it and it would really help us make our decision over here. Thanks!

Today I am Pondering...

“This style of parenting drives us to our knees and so brings us closer to heaven. It forces us to die to self again and again to meet the needs of God’s little creatures. It’s immediately easier to shout and/or hit and abuse our authority to put out the fires of our day. We can stop the behavior through fear and punishment. But that doesn’t really require any heroic, saintly effort on our part, does it? Ultimately, it destroys the relationship with the child and it becomes for us the occasion of sin.”
Elizabeth Foss

Oh Lord give me the Grace! :)

St. Therese Novena

Five days ago I started praying this Novena for two special intentions. Before she died, St. Therese said, "My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death, I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses." I've heard from others who have prayed this novena that they received a rose during or at the end of the Novena as a sign . I thought that I would receive something (even in the form of a drawing or a card), but I thought it would maybe be towards the end of the Novena or on her Feast Day, which is October 1st. Well, since I've been praying it, I have received roses twice! She is a beautiful saint in her "little way" and I look forward to celebrating her feast day with my kids on October 1st (not sure what we're going to do yet, maybe make roses and give them to others). If you would like to learn more about St. Therese, you can read about her here.

Take Me Out to The Ball Game

Uncle Jim was in town and he treated us to a wonderful afternoon at the ball game. It was great to see him and "Uncle Adam" (as Kate says). As pictures attest, it was a great day! Thanks Uncle Jim! ( And we missed you Aunt Faye!)

Kate telling Uncle Adam secrets - she loves him!

Luke got to be a tired dude after awhile

A good time was had by all!

Jesus, I Trust In You!

Today I am pondering this:

"The moment you realize you are worrying, make very quickly an act of confidence: 'No, Jesus, You are there: nothing - nothing - happens, not a hair falls from our heads, without your permission. I have no right to worry.' Perhaps He is sleeping in the boat, but He is there. He is always there. He is all-powerful; nothing escapes His vigilance. He watches over each one of us 'as over the apple of His eye' He is all love, all tenderness. It is really an offense against Him when we worry voluntarily about anything. That is what causes Him pain. That is what wounds His Heart more than anything else."

-St. Therese of Lisieux from I Believe in Love by Father Jean C. J. d'Elbee

Often, I really struggle to believe this is true. But it is. God is here, right now, working. I'm quite sure that this will be be mantra in the year to come... Jesus I Trust in You!

It's A Big Week

It's a BIG week liturgically speaking as we celebrate the feast days of some of my all time favorite saints!

Monday the 9th: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

Tuesday the 10th: St. Lawrence

Wednesday the 11th: St. Clare (Kate's name sake - her middle name)

Thursday the 12^th: St. Jane de Chantal (I keep feeling called to her - it's probably time to pick up some of her writing)

Saturday the 14th: St. Maximilian Kolbe (this guy is amazing. I love him! Seriously love him!)

Sunday the 15^th: Solemnity of the Assumption

Later this month we celebrate the feasts of St. Monica (Friday the 27th) and Augustine (Saturday the 28th)!