April Showers bring May flowers

April was a hard, long month full of sadness and introspection. I mentioned the death of my great nephew - an infant not quite one. My husband's uncle/godfather passed away and so did my uncle. All three happened in a little over a week.

I am still struck by how sad I can be when I think of the loss of Baby Stephen and how his death affected all our lives. But I am also greatful for the time we had with him and would never ever trade that for anything. I feel the same about my own baby Luke.

Lent and then Easter were also a huge part of my April. Those 2 great seasons of the Church Year always bring their own sadness at my sin and personal responsibility in the suffering and death of Jesus. But then I remember that Easter follows Good Friday. Without the cross there can be no Easter. It is the same in my own life. Without the cross that I must pick up each day to follow my Lord and Saviour I will have no Easter, no Resurrection. In order to spend eternity with God I must embrace my cross.

I believe that into every life there will be little "May flowers" that will also happen. I am banking on them.

• The Pure Fashion Show is today - Tessa is a model. Her daddy will be walking with her in his tuxedo - be still my beating heart. And my sweet little girl Sylvia is making a guest appearance as a flower girl in the Bridal set. I cannot wait.
• Cassie will graduate in the top of her class. She is an amazing girl and I am very proud of her.
• Tessa, MollyK, Toria, Patrick and I all celebrate birthdays!
• Spring weather!
• Planting of my garden.
• Sophia will be 6 months - she gets more and more wonderful each day I adore my grandbaby!
• Mother's Day. Need I say more?
• Flowers, birds, new life everywhere.
• The Ft. Wayne Children's Zoo is open.
• My brother's wife is having a baby someday soon.

Thank You dear Lord Jesus for the flowers you put into my life!

I was inspired to make this list from the Inspired Room - she posted on 20 little happy things to celebrate in life (including a $100 gift certificate) I am also inspired by Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky.

Holy Week Suggestions

Tomorrow begins the Holiest of of Days - when we remember and observe Jesus Christ's Passion and Death.

How are you observing these days?

Might I offer some suggestions, many of which we do at our home.

1. One way we can prayerfully live the mystery of the salvation of mankind is by immersing ourselves in the gospels. I suggests reading the Passion of Our Lord during Holy Week in the following manner:

• Wednesday of Holy Week- the Passion according to St. Matthew
• Holy Thursday- the Passion according to St. Mark
• Good Friday- the Passion according to St. John
• Holy Saturday – the Passion according to St. Luke
  

2. Because it can be very challenging to enter into the spirit of the Triduum with the constant noise of our world around us, you may also voluntarily choose to abstain from media ( TV, radio, internet etc… unless the subject matter is related to the mysteries the Church is celebrating) from Holy Thursday until Easter Vigil, and avoid the distraction of social or entertainment engagements, to create a climate of quiet reflection in which it’s easier to hear God’s voice more clearly.

3. Find out when your Church is holding Holy Week services and attend all that you are able, bringing your children with you.

4. Fasting and abstaining from meat on Good Friday, in remembrance of Christ's suffering.

5. Not quitting your Lenten resolutions until Sunday, even though "technically" Lent ends on Wednesday.

6. Offer prayer for those entering the Church this Easter.

I pray that you have a Holy and Blessed week and that on Easter Sunday you will be filled with the joy and hope of our Risen Lord.

God Bless, Christy

Sunday Loophole

I wonder how many Catholics use what we refer to in my family as the Sunday Loophole during Lent? You know, you gave up chocolate or coffee or soda or some such thing but because Sunday is a feast day - a day in which many religious communities eat a little better - no fasting or abstaining on feast days - you go ahead and eat a weeks worth of chocolate, a 2 liter of soda, a pot of coffee - all beginning at 12:01am and ending at 11:59pm.
yea it is a loophole
yea we use it
yea it makes giving some things up bearable.
My kids are gonna have a much harder time becoming saints if we keep teaching them the "loopholes!"
So, if you saw I was on facebook and accepted some friend requests you now know why!
Hoping the rest of your lent is blessed.
Christy

Facebook Fasting

At first I thought I was the only one considering "fasting from facebook", then slowly a FB friend here and there said they would be too - so I didn't feel all alone. Then I was sent the link from a friend about an article the National Catholic Register ran about it. Now I know I am one of many who feel that it will be a sacrifice to give it up. It has only been 20 minutes since Lent began (it is now 12:20am - Ash Wednesday) and I already just want to pop in and respond to a friend request - I hope they don't think I am rude by not replying.

Lent

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday - how are you going to live this season?
I often struggle with this. Spending a lot of time discerning how I will spend the Lenten season, what will I give up? what will I add? Some years I do so much better than others. Last year I got to Holy Thursday and thought - " how did it go by so fast? and did I really grow in love and holiness?" I want this year to be different. I need my Lent to make a difference in my life. We all do. We live in such a secular-nonChristian world that we need to take a good look at our Catholic identity. Our Catholic faith and how we live it.

I will probably give up pop and between meal snacks and TV -these are my yearly sacrifices but I need to do more - daily mass, meditations, stop complaining, rid myself of excess in all areas - all things that I need to do anyways but the gift of Lent reminds me of them.

My plan is grand - but what is a plan if it isn't grand!

Lent

I want to recommend a great article about Lent here. An article by Theresa A. Thomas at Catholic Exchange. It talks about how to live simply during Lent following these five ideas:
First attain mastery over time.
Second, live more naturally - get up earlier, go to bed earlier.
Third recognise that less if often more.
Fourth decrease expenses.
Fifth embrace silence.

I feel the need to look at my lenten progress - which is minimal and see where and how I can implement these in my life. More so than just at lent, making them a more permanent life plan.

God Bless,
Christy