A link to A Motherhood Reflection

For Posterity, here is a link to an article I was interviewed for:
https://www.vermontcatholic.org/vermont/joy-of-motherhood/

A Mother's Day Reflection

A Mother's Day Reflection:

Today on Mother's Day, my heart overflows with gratitude for the gift of life I've been given.  So I have tried to find the words to say Thank you with my whole heart to the Mothers who have taught me to be a mother.

First, I must thank my Blessed Mother whose "Fiat" allows me a share in the life of Grace, a share in God's own Life which is greater than and more precious to me than any other gift and the source of all joy.

Next I thank my grandmothers - beautiful women through whom my parents received the gift of life and faith and whose unconditional love formed me in my earliest years.

My Mom's mother, my Memere, is looking down at my younger brother on the left side of the photo.

My dad'd mother, my Abuelita, is wearing a corsage at my wedding.

Next I thank my Mother, through whom I received the gift of life, and who's beautiful faith and generosity has so enriched my life.  I am so grateful for all the sacrifices you  have made for me and I strive to love my little ones as you love us!  I love you Mom!!

And to my Mother-in-Law whose love allowed me to be a mother through her son and whose friendship is a treasured gift.  I couldn't ask for a better Mother-in-law:-)  I love you!

I am also so grateful for all the love I have been surrounded by and the many other wonderful mothers whose example and love strengthens me in my vocation.  There are too many of you to begin to mention you one by one but each of you are cherished and loved.  My heart swells with gratitude for the many heroic women who have given of themselves so generously to their families always having room to love one more as well as to those who have chosen Spiritual Motherhood whose life of prayer strengthens me in my vocation!  You are my models in love and motherhood.

Some of the lessons in motherhood that I have learned from these amazing mothers are to love my children whole-heartedly and without reserve; yet, to teach them to be virtuous and love God first in a gentle but firm way.  To do whatever is necessary to be an advocate for the children God has entrusted me, praying always for the grace to do what is best for them.   To be diligent in serving my family, seeking always to create a loving home for them at the heart of which is an unconditional love.  To welcome guests to my home with joy and gratitude, inviting them to be "part of the family."   There are so many more lessons each of you have taught me but time and words fail me.  Though I often fall short of these ideals, I strive to live and love my family as I've seen each of you do. I thank you, with my whole heart for the love you've shown me and for teaching me how to be a mother.  My prayers and thoughts are with you especially on this Mother's Day!

The best gift you can give a child is a sibling!

This Christmas I took this sweet picture of my two oldest together under the Christmas tree and was reminded of what a blessing it has been to watch them grow up together. It really is true that the best gift you can give a child is a sibling as these pictures show. They are as different in personality as night and day but they are so happy together!

 

I can't believe how quickly the years have flown by!

Happy Pentecost Sunday!

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Pentecost Sunday is the "Birthday of the Church" when we're sent out to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. 

This Feast Day is the third most important feast in the Church (after Easter and Christmas) and has special significance to our family as the Holy Spirit has been guiding us in our journey of Faith.  Today in Pope Francis's homily  he spoke of the surprises of the Holy Spirit and that He calls us to strike out on new paths.  Truly this has been our family's experience especially the past few years and my own throughout my adult life:

"Newness always makes us a bit fearful, because we feel more secure if we have everything under control, if we are the ones who build, programme and plan our lives in accordance with our own ideas, our own comfort, our own preferences. This is also the case when it comes to God. Often we follow him, we accept him, but only up to a certain point. It is hard to abandon ourselves to him with complete trust, allowing the Holy Spirit to be the soul and guide of our lives in our every decision. We fear that God may force us to strike out on new paths and leave behind our all too narrow, closed and selfish horizons in order to become open to his own. Yet throughout the history of salvation, whenever God reveals himself, he brings newness and change, and demands our complete trust: Noah, mocked by all, builds an ark and is saved; Abram leaves his land with only a promise in hand; Moses stands up to the might of Pharaoh and leads his people to freedom; the apostles, huddled fearfully in the Upper Room, go forth with courage to proclaim the Gospel. This is not a question of novelty for noveltys sake, the search for something new to relieve our boredom, as is so often the case in our own day. The newness which God brings into our life is something that actually brings fulfilment, that gives true joy, true serenity, because God loves us and desires only our good. Let us ask ourselves: Are we open to Gods surprises? Or are we closed and fearful before the newness of the Holy Spirit? Do we have the courage to strike out along the new paths which Gods newness sets before us, or do we resist, barricaded in transient structures which have lost their capacity for openness to what is new?" (Pope Francis' Pentecost Sunday Homily- emphasis my own:-)

Praise God for the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Come Holy Spirit, fill the Hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy Love, Send forth Thy Spirit and we shall be created and Thou shalt renew the faith of the Earth.  

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Oh Spring, where art thou?

I looked out my window today and saw a wintry scene.  It's April 10th!

It is not the scene that I would have chosen to see today but I am grateful. 

There are so many times in my life that I have thought "I don't want to do this or go to this place" but God's plan for me included choosing things I would not have chosen otherwise. 

I am so glad that God's able to work past my blindness 

and sneak in through the small cracks I leave for His will.  

I would not have chosen to live in a cold climate 

but then I would never have met my wonderful husband and I can't imagine life without him or the beautiful children God has blessed us with.

I said I didn't want to move further north or to a place so far from an airport but God has enriched our lives with new friends and the joy of sharing our faith with others and growing to trust and abandon ourselves to His will.  No, on my own I would not choose many things that to me seem undesirable but by embracing God's plan in my life I have found joy and happiness as well as trials and growth beyond what I would have ever envisioned.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Snow and ice, bless the Lord!

An Ode to a Memorable Week

Twas the week before Christmas

and all through our house

No one was healthy (not even the mouse).

Amidst Christmas preparations, for a few days

the children did cough, sneeze and Cain raise

 

 When out of the sky

the snowflakes did fly

18 inches in 24 hour

 

the wet and heavy snow left us in the cold

for 2 days lacking heat and power

So four days before Christmas

like Nomads we were wandering

seeking lodging and heat, while pondering

the Holy Family's quest

as they sought some rest

to prepare for our Saviour's arrival

While looking for room at an "inn" we were grateful to find

welcome with friends who were quite kind

yet prayers we did request

and gratefully,

at their bequest

we were greeted with the return of electricity

With joy sincere,

thanks to the power company

we returned to our home triumphantly

to celebrate a birth like no other

One that gave us a heavenly brother

through Him we became adopted Sons

and gained a Holy Mother and Heavenly Father.

Merry 4th day of Christmas!

O Come, O Come Emmanuel!

Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!

This past weekend I was given an amazing gift - an early Christmas gift from our soon-to-be born Saviour to help me prepare my heart for His coming.

I was blessed to be able to attend an Advent retreat with 169 other mothers/ women who are living their vocation either in marriage or single life with the AMAZING and beautiful Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.

The theme running through the retreat was the Love of the Father for each of us as His Chosen and beloved daughter.  The structure was simple - a good mix of delicious food (prepared by the Sisters), fellowship with the Sisters and other mothers, reflective presentations (given by the Sisters, by a mother and a by beautiful and holy priest) and of course and most importantly - Prayer.

Fr. Aaron Kuhn (who preached the retreat) holding Thomas...he offered to hold him for me when he was a bit noisy during one of the talks given by the Sisters.

The retreat takes place in one of the Sister's schools in Ann Arbor, MI.  (The schools are filled with reminders of our beautiful Catholic faith and it is a joy to spend time there!) Those on retreat sleep on the floor of the classrooms and there are no showers and limited bathroom facilities.

Our sleeping space in front of the teacher's desk - Thomas loved the various Coat of Arms

 
The retreat is only 24 hours long but is amazingly powerful in its simplicity.  The heart of this retreat is the all night Eucharistic adoration.

The door of the 5th grade classroom where we slept had this beautiful stained glass window.

I personally spoke with women from Ohio, Virginia and Minnesota and the retreat itself was filled three weeks prior to the date because there was not enough floor space for more than 170 (and there was a waiting list). 

Among those 170 women were 12 nursing babies (ranging from 10 weeks to 10 months) and at least 9 infants in the womb and it was an Amazing retreat!  As Sister Joseph Andrew said, "Women desire to pray.".. and it is true - why else would so many women sleep on the floor, crowded into classrooms and take turns waking throughout the night to pray a holy hour with our Lord?  Because we desire that time with our Lord and Savior.  We long for that intimate time when we can open our hearts to the One for whom we are meant. 

At the beginning of the retreat each woman chose a title of Mary from an envelope stuffed with her different titles.  Throughout the retreat each woman kept this title to herself and pondered what this could mean in her life - what is it Mary was saying to each of us...in closing the women were invited to come up and share their title and the fruits of their reflections and their stories were profound and moving.  We were each in awe of the Lord's work in the lives of each woman and His great love for each of us in our struggles, joys and sorrows!

 I had been blessed to attend a retreat with the Sisters 10 years ago and the format was very similar.  I had not recently reflected upon my "Title of Mary" from that retreat and in fact could not at first remember it...but now 10 years later, it came back to me.  And I could write a story on how this title of Mary was a true answer to my then discernment of my vocation!  The Title I had chosen was "Mary, Mother of the Eucharist" and though Jesus did not call me to be His spouse in religious life - it was in and through the Eucharist that I came to know my husband and vocation.  So now 10 years later as I drew my next title of Mary "Queen of Martyrs," it is with trepidation as I wonder what more she is calling me to!  And yet again this title speaks to the joys and sufferings, the call to witness and die to self these past months and year have been for Phil and me and I am grateful for the graces of this retreat!


"For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  For it is God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death is at work in us, but life in you." (2 Cor. 4:5-12)

There is much more I could write about this amazing retreat and the many gifts I was given as well as the beautiful witness of the Sisters but alas, time is not on my side so I will post this little taste of heaven I was given and share it with all of you.

Sr. Maria Guadalupe who held Thomas for me while I went to confession and spent some time in adoration (he slept peacefully in her arms:-)

Know you are in my prayers this Advent season that Christ may truly transform your hearts as He comes to dwell in them this Christmas!

Photography from a child's Perspective

There is something about camera's that fascinate children.  Come to think about it, any electronic or other tool that we use on a regular basis seems to be an instant magnet for my children.  Lately I've been allowing William & Miriam to take a picture or two when I have my camera out an the pictures they take are fascinating.  Here are a few for your enjoyment:

  

Picture of Luke taken by Miriam

Close-up by Miriam

The Wood Stove by William

The couch by William

Taken by Miriam

Cars by Miriam

Dinosaur by Miriam

Race Car by Miriam

William's' Care Bear by Miriam

By Miriam

by Miriam



"I cut off your head Mom" by William

Gotta love the kids' view of the world!

Women of Christ Conference

I had the privilege of attending the third annual Women of Christ Conference in late January.The speakers included Immaculeé Ilibagiza who survived the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, Fr. Larry Richards and Helen Alvaré with Vicki Thorn as our Emcee. Immaculeé's presentation was amazing! Her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is palpable and very inspiring, and her story is one of amazing conversion that challenges anyone who desires to know God to go deeper.  I hope to read one of her books and learn more about her story.  Her second presentation on the approved only apparation of Mary in Africa - Kiboho, was an important message for today. The part that stuck in my memory was Mary's message to the people of Africa who were praying for the death of their corrupt and unjust president: "Do you know what can happen if he dies- pray rather for his conversion."(my paraphrase)The President's assasination was used to ignite the the hatred that spurred on the genocide causing the death of hundreds of thousands of people. How important prayer is and how important that we are known by our love.

Father Larry Richard's Presentation was great -  he's a blunt, "take me as I am" sort of Priest that isn't afraid to say it like it is.  His examination of conscience was great!  The beauty of our Catholic faith is that it liberates a person to truly be themselves and Father Larry is a great example of a man of faith who knows himself and has a great understanding of human nature.  His stories and examples were excellent.

Since I attended the conference with Luke, I definately didn't catch every part of the presentations.  The final presenter before Holy Mass, Helen Alvaré, was excellent in her no-nonsense, factual approach to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.  She spoke using concrete statistics bearing proof that when you break the natural law, you can't escape the natural consequences and that the Church's moral teachings are based in a true understanding of what is best for every human person.  I unfortunately missed most of her presentation due to a necessary diaper change but would love to hear her speak again.

It is an amazing experience to see over 2000 Chrisitan women coming together in one place to learn more about the beauty of the Catholic faith.  It's also a great blessing to have Eucharistic adoration available during the whole conference and the sacrament of Confession available as well.  I am always inspiried by how long the line gets for this beautiful sacrament!  The vendors and display tables with many great Catholic resources were great as well, it is helpful to see the many ministries and Catholic resources that are out there.

What a great blessing it was to attend this conference and though my state in life makes it difficult to attend every year - I look forward to the years I am able to be there.

Cafe Cana

The U.S. Bishops have been encouraging Married couples with their program "For Your Marriage" and as a response to this initiative the Green Bay Diocese piloted a program they developed called Cafe Cana.  This program is modelled on the very popular Theology on Tap which is geared to young adults. 

Our Parish, St. Peter's in Stevens Point picked up on this idea and we had over 60 people attend our first "Cafe Cana" night - the topic was "Men are like Waffles, Women like Spaghetti" and it was presented by Jeff and Alice Heinzen from the La Crosse Diocese (our Diocese) office of Marriage and family life. 

 It was a helpful presentation and here's a segment:

St. Peter's is planning to host future sessions and I'm looking forward to the next one.