Little Flowers Girls' Club(R)

Welcome New Blogger!

2011-11-30T20:10:00.000-05:00

Michele R. is a bride of 15 years to the incredible man she once swore she’d convert to her Southern Baptist faith. A Catholic convert of 16 years, she is a homeschooling mother of a girl-boy-girl-boy foursome, ages 11 to 3 and is expecting the family's "tiebreaker" in May 2012. In her pre-mama days she was a public school art teacher for elementary and middle grades, and currently fills her need to create by living vicariously through crafting blogs.

Michele was blessed to be the “craft mama” for her local Little Flowers Girls’ Club for 3 years. While taking a craft-leader sabbatical, she still scours the internet seeking crafts to enhance this beautiful program.

Please visit her blog: www.lfcrafts.blogspot.com

Craft Plans and Ideas for Wreath IV

2011-09-29T05:06:00.001-04:00

I am getting ready to host our first meeting for the year and have been busy creating our plans for the year. Here are the links to all the crafts that I have either found or created for my Little Flowers Girls' Club to make as we work our way through Wreath IV:

"Wisdom of the Saints" Journal

St. Catherine of Alexandria Holy Water Fonts

IHS Candle Craft

Starlight Cookies
*We will adapt this idea from over at Catholic Cuisine for our 4th meeting, for the gift of "Counsel" (following recipes!). I purchased a light blue cloud fabric for the jars, tying in the color/jewel of "aquamarine" and the symbol of "clouds."

Woven Crosses and/or Marian Banner - Fluer de Lys
*These craft kits will be ordered from Illuminated Ink! Either one of these would work perfectly for St. Joan of Arc and the Gift of Fortitude.

St. Therese Sacrifice Beads

Spiritual Bouquets and/or Marian May Baskets
*I love these little printable cards for Spiritual Bouquets and these Marian May Baskets! The girls will make the Spiritual Bouquets to give to their own Fathers and our local priests, as suggested in one of the Member's Guide assignments for this last meeting.

St. Therese, the Little Flower, Pray for us!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights-News-Sept---Discounts.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=BKd8Sirw9TM

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Click here for the September Newsletter and discounts from Behold Publications, LLC:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights-News-Sept---Discounts.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=BKd8Sirw9TM

The Flowers of Wreath III Cupcakes

2011-09-13T17:58:00.001-04:00

First of all, I would like to thank Joan and Rachel for inviting me to be a contributor here at the Little Flowers Girls' Club blog! For the past three years I have been leading a Little Flowers Girls' Club for my girls and some of their friends. It has been such a rewarding experience and my girls have absolutley loved being Little Flowers.

In addition to the suggestions in the Leader's Manuals, I started creating a series of Notebook Pages to go along with each virtue/saint, and also have really enjoyed coming up with snacks (or "Catholic Cuisine!") that tied in the Saint and/or Flower for each meeting.

This past year, for Wreath III, I ended up sticking with a flower theme, and was able to come up with a cupcake for each of the 9 meetings. Sometimes I would have all the supplies ready for the girls to decorate their own cupcakes (which the girls loved) and other times I had the cupcakes pre-decorated. I've posted about them in my individual posts about each meeting, but I thought I would consolidate them all into one post as well, to share with you all here. Now to finish up my plans for Wreath IV before our first meeting later this month!

Meeting One :: Mary & Martha, Eutrapelia, Dandelion

Dandelion Cupcakes
Our Complete Meeting for Eutrapelia

Pumpkin Cupcakes topped with Cream Cheese Frosting

and decorated as Common Dandelions

Served with "Dandelion Yellow" Punch

Meeting Two :: Ruth & Naomi, Friendliness, Morning Glory

Morning Glory Cupcakes

Our Complete Meeting for Friendliness

Cupcakes decorated with white icing, Blue and Yellow Sparkle Decorating Gel, and yellow Skittles

Meeting Three :: St. Margaret of Scotland, Initiative, Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susan Cupcakes

Our Complete Meeting for Initiative

Orange Muffins topped with Cream Cheese Frosting, to be decorated by the Little Flowers with homemade Black Eyed Susan Chocolates (using this candy mold and candy melts) and the options of green mint meltaways, green color mist and/or green glitter gel.

Meeting Four :: St. Zita or Proverbs 31 Woman, Orderliness, Cranberry

Cranberry Cupcakes
Our Complete Meeting for Orderliness

To make these delicious cupcakes, I used a package of Yellow Cake Mix, replacing the water with Orange Juice and added 1 cup of frozen cranberries and 1 cup of white chocolate chips. We topped them with some Cream Cheese Frosting, homemade Sugared Cranberries (Craisins would be a simple alternative), and served them with Sparkling Cranberry Juice.

Meeting Five :: St. Felicity and Her Seven Sons, Self-Control, Amaryllis

Pink Amaryllis Cupcakes
Our Complete Meeting for Self-Control

I started with Pink Cupcakes, with the help of a Strawberry Cake Mix, topped with Frosting. Using this Lily Mold I then topped the cupcakes with Pink (the color for this virtue) Amaryllis Flowers (the flower for this virtue) homemade with Pink and Yellow Candy Melts.

Meeting Six :: St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Mother, Responsibility, Mum

Mum Cupcakes
Our Complete Meeting for Responsibility

These cupcakes were inspired by a recipe in What's New, Cupcake?: Ingeniously Simple Designs for Every Occasion. They would be great to make this coming weekend for Mother's Day, anytime this month for our Blessed Mother during her month of May, or in July for the feast of St. Anne. I posted the directions over at Catholic Cuisine!

Meeting Seven :: St. Bathildis, Patience, Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley Cupcakes

Our Complete Meeting for Patience

Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes, decorated with White Chocolate Chips and green frosting or Sparkle Gel.

Meeting Eight :: Mary Mother of God, Cheerfulness, Blue Phlox

Blue Phlox Cupcakes

Our Complete Meeting for Cheerfulness

I wasn't sure how I was going to decorate the cupcakes this month. . . After looking at various images online of Blue Phlox Flowers I ended up making a little bit of blue frosting. Using a round frosting tip, I put five drops (my kids said they looked like hershey kisses) on each cupcake, then, using the tip of a knife, I pulled the frosting drops towards the center, creating the flowers. I am a total amateur at this sort of thing, but I thought they turned out nicely!

The Blue is for Our Blessed Mother and the Five Petals represent the five dimensions of Cheerfulness: Marian, Courageous, Heroic, Consistent, and Contagious.

Meeting Nine :: St. Julie Billiart, Fortitude, Hyacinth

Pink Hyacinth Cupcakes

Our Complete Meeting for Fortitude

When I was looking for ideas, Charlotte mentioned that Pink Popcorn came to mind. I thought that was a perfect idea, but since I didn't have all the ingredients I opted to make the pink hyacinths using some pink Smooth & Melty Petite Mints (I had purchased a few bags at 75% off in January from Hickory Farms and had one left) along with a little green frosting for the leaves. I also sprayed the white base frosting with a little green, before adding the candies. I thought they turned out cute, and they were very yummy despite the fact that my six year old pointed out that "the chocolate cake even looks like dirt!"

You can view all of my posts for Wreath III here.

St. Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus,

Pray for Us!

Welcome Jessica from Shower of Roses!

2011-08-26T15:58:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to announce a few more regular bloggers that have been added to our Little Flowers blog! Jessica from Shower of Roses blog has agreed to share with all of you her wonderful ideas for your Little Flowers Girls' Club. A link to her blog is to the right.

Here is a brief biography:

Jessica is a Roman Catholic, Wife, and Home-Educating Mother to her 6 children ages 1-11, with two more blessings in heaven and another baby due to arrive this coming January 1st. She was Home-Educated herself, along with her 11 younger siblings, before attending Christendom College for one year. Jessica started leading a Little Flowers Girls' Club 3 years ago so that her daughters would have the opportunity to participate in Little Flowers, and has been blogging meetings at Shower of Roses. Jessica is also the founder and administrator of Catholic Cuisine, a group blog she created to share recipes for celebrating the feasts and seasons of the liturgical year.

Welcome Jessica! Can't wait to see what you have planned for this year!

Jessica and her Little Flowers at their Mother/Daughter Tea

From Our Apostolate to Yours!

2011-08-18T15:12:00.000-04:00

Behold Publications/Ecce Homo Press: Our Family Apostolate Serving Your Apostolate

About 13 years ago, we began a family publishing house to bring fun and solidly Catholic books to youth. Since the very first book, the publishing business has encompassed the whole family. Since we homeschool, we were able to integrate real life production and business tools into our everyday lessons. Whether it was lessons on design and editing or sewing and embroidery, our children have grown up with Behold Publications as an intricate part of their lives. We have tested products that we offer, modeled them for the catalog and website, and suggested new items that would be popular for Catholic kids.

Many of the items we offer are specially made product just for our Catholic Clubs. We sew about 2000 sashes for each of our new Little Flower girls, design, sew and embroider hundreds of bandanas, as well as the aprons, totes, Little Flower doll outfits and the t-shirts. We also design, cut and laminate the thousands of holy cards we sell each year. The children help with sewing, bagging, laminating, assembling, and filling orders.

Until two years ago, we operated our apostolate out of the house. Every September, our air hockey table became our shipping center. The front porch became a sea of red, white and blue packages waiting for the postal service to pick them up. The phone rang at all hours, even getting calls at midnight from Australia! Then, our oldest son, Joe, graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville and began to work for us full time. Because I finally had a full time employee, we were able then move out of the house into a small office and warehouse. Here, Joe holds down the fort, taking calls, filling orders and editing and designing books and other items. With Joe taking care of the office, I am able to homeschool the children and work from home on the computer or the sewing machine. I usually go into the office for a few hours several days a week.

Our apostolate is still a way of life, even if we don't have sashes, boxes and books in every nook and cranny of the house. Everyone is still involved in making it all work. The children are involved in the receiving end of the apostolate by being involved in Little Flowers, Blue Knights, Hospitality and Honor Guard clubs through our local homeschool group.

We hope that as you begin your new year in your clubs, that we can partner with you in a successful and wonderful year! Please pray for our family apostolate and we will keep yours in our daily prayers, too. God bless you in your work for His work!

Joan Stromberg, wife of Bob for 27+ years. Mom to: Joe, Elizabeth, Mick, Mary, John, Maggie, Theresa, Mark, Cecelia and Thomas.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/4-Days-Left---30-off--Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=pu5Ta4yigwE

2011-06-26T07:24:00.000-04:00

Great deal this month! Get $30 off for EVERY $100 you order! Order early for Fall clubs and save big! click here to view deal:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/4-Days-Left---30-off--Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=pu5Ta4yigwE

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights-News---June-Discounts.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=6HGr9iWgCVU

2011-06-14T07:02:00.000-04:00

Click here for the June newsletter and discounts!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights-News---June-Discounts.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=6HGr9iWgCVU

May Catholic Clubs Newsletter!

2011-05-17T10:32:00.000-04:00

This month's newsletter is a little different. Click through to find out why....

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights-News---May-Discounts.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=DCxp5fAILR4

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/50--OFF-ALL-BOOKS--Celebrate-Bl--JP2-.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=NRzs2tK3lDo

2011-04-28T16:07:00.000-04:00

We began our family publishing apostolate/business at the inspiration of Pope John Paul II's call for a New Evangelization. Help us celebrate his Beatification on Divine Mercy Sunday! Click through for a special offer:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/50--OFF-ALL-BOOKS--Celebrate-Bl--JP2-.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=NRzs2tK3lDo

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights-News---April-Discounts.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=qPnRRSQeE5s

2011-04-14T16:55:00.000-04:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights-News---April-Discounts.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=qPnRRSQeE5s

Seeking Finer Fields: Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T08:06:00.000-04:00

Seeking Finer Fields: Happy Saint Patrick's Day!: "Our Saint Patrick drew rave reviews from the crowd and loved his role, in spite of wearing a refurbished tablecloth and a four-pound bra..."

Link to LF March Newsletter & Coupons

2011-03-16T15:29:00.000-04:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Little-Flowers-Blue-Knights-News---March-Discounts.html?soid=1102382270107&aid=CQn7Azv0FBY

Living Lent Inside and Out

2011-03-09T11:59:00.000-05:00

Lent is upon us.

Once again, we have a chance as parents not only to teach our children but show our children what our faith means. While in it’s methods, Little Flowers (and all Behold the Child programs) want to teach our children the beauty of the truths of our faith, we also want to show them.

Lent is a wonderful time to show our children how to prepare themselves for Easter by our own actions. Unlike Advent, when the preparations for the feast have an inherent joy to them and the family gathers around the Advent wreath and manger on the mantle, Lent is often ‘done alone’ and we might not think about making it a family event.

We can take the verse of Matthew 6:6 to heart: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

It is from Matthew 6, in fact, that we get our Lenten admonitions to pray, sacrifice and tithe. And these admonitions even come with the familiar caveat: "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

This can make us feel that what we do for Lent we should do without anyone knowing - including our own family and children. However, we must keep this verse in proper context; while we do not want to announce in the streets what we are doing, we are required as parents to teach our children what Lent means. Teach them and show them. Let them see you pray, see you sacrifice and see you tithe. Let them see you doing all of this with a spirit of joy and happiness throughout Lent. Continuing with Matthew 6 we have "do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.”

Some suggestions:

*Make plans to take your group to the Stations of the Cross together.

*Show them the Liturgy of the Hours and teach them ‘how to pray’ it.

*Do a fundraising event or canned food drive for your church’s food pantry.

*Decide as a group to forgo TV or another child-appropriate sacrifice in unity with each other; perhaps gathering for a book club discussion (might we suggest one of “Glory of America” books) instead.

*Have a pizza party (cheese only) one Friday at a local senior citizens’ center or home and stay to play games or watch a movie with them.

The goal of these suggestions being to make Lent not so much what you are doing ‘in secret’ but what you are doing to bring Christ to all people.

If you have older children (over 12 yrs.), Lent might be a great time to introduce them to the Honor Guard. This program was developed with an apostolic zeal helping our children take their faith to the streets. Not in a manner to gain public acknowledgement but rather to help them in fulfilling the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20. The Honor Guard can be done by both boys and girls, you can even have them working together.

For these older children, Lent needs to become more than giving up candy and the computer. Helping them see that their faith requires action is vital not only for them but for the world. As you read Matthew 6 to your children to prepare them for Lent, be sure to read James 2 where they will be reminded, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Be assured of our prayers this Lent, may you and your families grow in love and in holiness.

The True Value of a Woman: Self-Esteem vs. Self-Worth

2011-02-12T15:36:00.000-05:00

Editor's note: This week, it was brought to the attention of the Little Flowers Leaders who are members of the Leader's Yahoogroup that Girl Scouts have recently released new educational material that brings their agenda to a whole new level. A 15-year old girl, herself a Girl Scout until these materials were released, is fighting the battle to make diocesan youth ministers and others aware of these new materials' anti-Catholic and anti-family bias. If you wish more on this topic, please sign onto the Leader's list here: www.eccehomopress.com/lfgc-support.html Scroll down and type your email into the yahoogroup box and search recent messages for details. As a result of this discussion, our Little Flower's creator, Rachel Watkins wanted to remind us of our Catholic doctrine and how important the Church's teaching is in analyzing the world around us and our unique and vital roles as women.

Like some of you, I was raised 'as one of the guys', having six brothers and my three sisters being much older. I found more comfort playing sports than shopping any day - still do - and my husband will attest that while I love cooking, the cleaning is whole 'nother story (as they say). When God called me to be a at-home mother, and homeschool to boot, I balked at the seemingly unimportance of these roles. I was giving up an exciting career and 'my own money' when God started calling me home and I didn't go easily. Needless to say, my dh and eleven kids have taught me a lot over that past 25+ years about the importance I hold in their lives. More importantly, Christ has affirmed time and again that my being home was the 'better part' for my life.

Along the way, I needed to learn (re-teach myself, so to speak) that there are many paths to holiness and many ways to transform the world. God was just asking me to embrace His plan over my own (always a good idea). The Church's document on women, Mulieras Dignitatem, states as much.

Therefore the Church gives thanks for each and every woman: for mothers, for sisters, for wives; for women consecrated to God in virginity; for women dedicated to the many human beings who await the gratuitous love of another person; for women who watch over the human persons in the family, which is the fundamental sign of the human community; for women who work professionally, and who at times are burdened by a great social responsibility; for "perfect"women and for "weak" women - for all women as they have come forth from the heart of God in all the beauty and richness of their femininity; as they have been embraced by his eternal love; as, together with men, they are pilgrims on this earth, which is the temporal "homeland" of all people and is transformed sometimes into a "valley of tears"; as they assume, together with men,a common responsibility for the destiny of humanity according to daily necessities and according to that definitive destiny which the human family has in God himself, in the bosom of the ineffable Trinity.

The Church gives thanks for all the manifestations of the feminine "genius" which have appeared in the course of history, in the midst of all peoples and nations; she gives thanks for all the charisms which the Holy Spirit distributes to women in the history of the People of God, for all the victories which she owes to their faith, hope and charity: she gives thanks for all the fruits of feminine holiness.

I love being called to discover my 'feminine genius' and am a bit humbled that I am called to help all of my daughters discover theirs. But, I will say, they won't be doing it in an organization that espouses openly mocking one of the sacraments of the Church as this play does.

The parents in the play were wrong to attempt to force their daughter into one path, this should not be overlooked or denied. But the play belittles women for whom these more 'traditional' roles are their vocation (not to mention really enjoyable). Rather than striving to place the onus of the situation Maria is enduring on the poor parenting skills or the lousy marriage, the author is using her play as an opportunity to bash the Catholic Church.

In particular was the author's decision to rewrite the vows of the sacrament so viciously:

(This is an exerpt of the play Simply Maria by Josephina Lopez that is referred to in the Girl Scout Junior Level Journeys book. --ed.) PRIEST. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here, under the Catholic church, in the holy house of God, to unite these two people in holy matrimony. Marriage is sacred. It is the unification of a man and a woman, their love and commitment, forever, and ever, and ever, no matter what! Well, then let's begin.María, do you accept José Juan Gonzalez García López as your lawfully wedded husband to love cherish, serve, cook for, clean for, sacrifice for, have his children, keep house, love him, even if he beats you, commits adultery, gets drunk, rapes you, lawfully, denies your identity, money, and in return ask for nothing? (MARIA thinks about it and then turns to her parents who mouth to her "I do.")"

The Church's view of marriage is nothing as suggested and it is offensive for someone to imply it does.

LFGC strives to be an organization that seeks the same thing for our daughters as described by Mulieras Dignitatem. We want our girls will discover their own 'fruits of feminine holiness'. We want to be a part of helping that garden (or perhaps we should say orchard) grow.

Our daughters will be one day have a chance to change the world. Perhaps some will do it as St. Therese of Lisieux did - without leaving the convent and dying before she was 30 yrs. old, they may be called by being more like St. Margaret of Scotland who transformed a country while finding time for 8 kids or perhaps as Dorothy Day who taught us the dignity of the forgotten!

However, most of our daughters will do it anonymously as we are doing it - - one carpool at a time, one box of macaroni and cheese at a time or one paycheck at a time. What we do in our homes is no less valid to God as what occurs in a public arena - holiness is not reserved to any single person, place or time. We can affect change in our world and God expects us to! I am grateful to the Holy Spirit that LFGC can be a part of it for your family - for as long as we are needed.

God Bless,
Rachel Watkins

Wreath I Virtue Stories now available on the Kindle!

2011-02-09T16:30:00.000-05:00

Another of our book is now being offered for the Kindle e-book reader from Amazon. Little Flowers Wreath I Virtue Stories is now available on Kindle! Get it at a special Kindle price of $4.95! The Kindle version includes a special interactive table of contents. Get yours today!

New Little Flowers Embroidered Hoodie!

2011-02-02T15:08:00.000-05:00

For a limited time only, beautiful, snugly, embroidered Little Flowers Hoodies are available for only $22/each! Hurry, supplies are limited! Order for your daughter or your whole club today!

http://www.littleflowersgirlsclub.com/

Dressing Up Your Marriage!

2011-01-20T14:11:00.000-05:00

In this little newsletter you have come to expect a bit of insight into how to run your club, ideas on games and suggestions for activities. We hope you will be pleased to know that this newsletter is focusing on you! Well, YOU, by way of your marriage.

We want to encourage you to make sure in juggling schooling, carpooling, and activities you don’t let the ball that is your marriage get dropped or neglected. Your marriage is the foundation of your family and therefore vital to the formation and raising of your children. While we would say our clubs (all of them) are great (and they are), we would be remiss if we didn’t remind you and encourage you to make sure you are taking time to keep your sacrament of marriage as healthy as possible.

It is an interesting phenomenon within Catholic families that they will make sure to get to the Sacrament of the Mass every Sunday (and usually more often with many families) and the Sacrament of Confession monthly but parents balk when it comes to getting out on a date!

Consider the preparations you went through the last time one of your children first received a sacrament. You ensured they attended every meeting necessary, you went over their books and materials and, for sure, they had something wonderful to wear. This same dedication however falters a bit, for all of us, as receiving Communion or Confession becomes a more common event.

We can all become so familiar with receiving the sacraments that we don’t pay as much attention. Some Catholics even fulfill the old adage of “familiarity breeds contempt”. For these families they can barely seem to get out of bed before heading to Mass, much wear clothes fit for a King. I know I have fallen into judgment when I see people in communion line who seem to have forgotten they are at Mass! “Don’t they know they are receiving a sacrament!," I can wonder.

However, while we could not imagine ourselves ever taking those sacraments for granted, are we as dedicated to keeping the sacrament of our marriage as alive, vital and important to our lives? Have we become so familiar with our marriage sacrament that we are attending to it as if we were attending Mass in pajamas?

Our bishops have recognized this reality and have dedicated this year of catechesis to “Matrimony: Sacrament of Enduring Love”. They are also encouraging us to give time to our marriages through World Marriage Day and National Week of Marriage, USA. You can get more information on these efforts at http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-012.shtml

We gain grace every time we take part in the sacraments of our Church and our marriage is no different. From our catechism (#1641) we can know: "By reason of their state in life and of their order, [Christian spouses] have their own special gifts in the People of God." This grace proper to the sacrament of Matrimony is intended to perfect the couple's love and to strengthen their indissoluble unity. By this grace they "help one another to attain holiness in their married life and in welcoming and educating their children."

When your children’s enthusiasm for the Eucharist and Confession wanes we all strive to remind them of the graces they gain. We tell them - repeatedly if necessary - these sacraments are both necessary for their salvation and key to achieving it. Not only that, we will tell them, receipt of both of those sacraments makes life on earth easier as well. The same is true for our marriage.

Our marriages not only help us attain holiness but also make life here on earth both easier and, hopefully, a whole lot more fun! This year we want to encourage you to make time for you and your marriage. Make date night a priority - even if it takes place in your own home due to lack of a babysitter or money. Look into good books on marriage (I might suggest my friends and radio hosts - Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak as a good first stop - www.exceptionalmarriages.com).

Other couples give high marks to Marriage Encounter or their diocese marriage retreats as a yearly necessity. See what is available in your area to help you have a better marriage than you do, and be ready to admit that everyone can have a better marriage! Commit to reading a well-recommended book or just making time to talk about something other than the kids and the bills!

Consider these efforts for your marriage a vital part of your children’s formation. Remember they will base their ideas of a spouse and marriage on what they see at home - help them to see only good things. With excitement over the upcoming “Princesses You Can Believe In” series, we might say working on your marriage is like teaching your kids “Happily Ever After” is not just in fairy tales!

By focusing on the importance of marriage it is not our intention to make anyone who is a single parent to feel like a second-class citizen and not vital to your child's formation. Having single parents in my family (Rachel's), I've seen first-hand both the struggles and successes in families led by a mother (my sister) or father (my brother) alone.

Insuring you have time to restore yourself is perhaps even more vital when you are working alone. Our encouragement to families to build up their marriages should never be interrepted as a criticism for those who aren't married. Parents are key to a child'd formation regardless as you will remain a reflection of God's love. Strive to make time regularly to both form yourself and restore yourself so you are better prepared to face the battles and struggles of life.

Example of a wonderful local Little Flowers group!

2010-12-13T13:48:00.001-05:00

Here's a great example of the possibilities of what you can do with your local Little Flowers group. This group, located in Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Sterling Heights, MI, pushes the program to its full potential by including an online calender, registration, FAQ, and list of materials needed to participate. Perhaps the best bit of initiative they take, though, is the way they break the program down into different age groups that are each named after a flower. All-in-all, this is a great model for how a group can get the most out of the Little Flowers program! Check it out, and maybe glean some good ideas from it for your own group.

Interested in sharing with others how your group is run? Do you have a unique and/or creative twist that you have added to the LFGC program? Send your links, photos, and/or descriptions to us, or post them in the comment section of this blog and we will share them here, on our Facebook page, and wherever else other Little Flower groups can see them!

Little Flowers: Starting Early or Waiting?

2010-12-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

In some recent emails from the Little Flower’s Leaders Loop (not a member yet? here’s how - ), there was some inquiry into the advantages, if any, of starting LF early. I wanted to take a quick moment to address that via the newsletter so that everyone, regardless of program, might know our view and reasoning.

Teaching our children about the faith is an obligation we have as parents. Our catechism begins to teach us about this as it discusses the Ten Commandments and “Honor Your Parents” (#2197 and following). The Church has spoken about this reality in numerous documents including Quadragesimo Anno, (1931, Pope Pius XI) and Rappresentatni in Terra by Pope Pius XI and Gravissimum Educationis, of Pope Paul VI and more recently the words of John Paul ll. The Church is clear - we are the parents and the responsibility relies on us. And those of us here have proven we take this responsibility very seriously.

However, the manner with which we pass along the faith need not always be so serious. I, myself, have strived to provide a proper balance between the real jubilation and fun our faith provides with the appropriate seriousness of the content. Piety and reverence are virtues we learn but everyone also knows of my love for eutrapelia and joy.

With all of that in mind, it is easy to jump right into teaching the faith as soon as possible. Teaching our children the faith can really be a good deal of fun for both us and ourselves. It is great being a Catholic so why hold back?

I am humbled and pleased families are eager to get started with any of the programs we have. I take it as an unexpected compliment some families with three and four year olds want to get started. They have a “Right Now!”, “I’m not waiting”, “Let’s jump right in!” mentality that is contagious BUT....

Of course, there is a ‘but’. Our Church wisely teaches about the ‘age of reason’ and this might need to be applied here. Our children are our greatest treasure and every treasure requires a level of protection. While there is nothing harmful within any of the programs; there does exist a real risk that too soon might really be ‘too soon’ and therefore not be beneficial.

Teaching the faith to your children is necessary but how you do it and with what programs, books and materials is vital. Not every program is well suited for a three year old or, on the other hand, with a fourteen year old. The progression of both intelligence and ability must be honored in our children. A fourteen year old will not learn much from a program designed for pre-schoolers and neither does a three year old learn from a program designed and written for a five year old (and older) child.

As I wrote in the Leader’s Loop:

“I will voice my concerns about starting LF too early. While introducing saint's lives, virtues and more is very important for all ages, we need to realize there are many concepts that are more challenging for younger children to handle and comprehend. Now, granted, there are children who are reading and writing at young ages but the spiritual aspects remaining challenging - even for us as adults! There is a cognitive and intellectual development of our children we need to respect and accept. Too much, too soon can result in frustration for both the child and the mom.

The other reality - faced by other groups - is the fact that by starting younger, some get tired of doing it (bored or a 'been there, done that attitude) by the time they can really begin to both understand it and appreciate it.

I am humbled by Moms such as yourself so eager to get their children started on the path of holiness but I feel that is best to take a small wait in introducing LF to such a young girl - this coming from a mom of 7 girls! Starting off on introducing your daughter to saint's stories and working on practicing the virtues appropriate for a 3 year old is a great foundation and LF will be a wonderful addition once she is older and better able to understand the concepts. Once she is older she is more fully able to really participate by both being able to read the materials on her own as well as do the activities more independently.

Each family will make their own decision but using other materials, developed with a preschooler in mind, would be my recommendation and waiting for LF until they are older.”

I hope this clarifies our position on this. I honor every parents right and obligation to teach the faith to their children and welcome each and every opportunity to have our programs be a part of this formation.

Finally, in the midst of this season of Thanksgiving I want to take a moment to say “Thank You” to all of you. Thank you for letting us into your homes, schools and home school groups. Thank you for letting us help you raise the next generation of saints, the next leaders who will both bring Christ’s Kingdom here on earth but celebrate it for all eternity in heaven.

This year has been a challenge for all us for many reasons even without the added challenge of the economy. The perseverance and dedication of many of the families of Behold the Child, Ecce Homo Press, Little Flowers, Blue Knights, the Hospitality families, Honor Guard and more is encouraging. When I remember all of you in my prayers the words that most often come to my heart as “well done, good and faithful servants!” Thank you!

Two recommended preschool materials might include:

The Catholic Children’s Treasure Box series published by the Maryknoll Sisters in the 1950’s now reprinted and available from many sources.

Rosemarie Gortler has written a lovely series of small books for preschoolers including “Little Acts of Grace”. These are perfect preschooler books and also available from many sources.

Join us on Facebook!

2010-11-23T11:03:00.002-05:00

Do you love Little Flowers Girls' Club or any of the other great products offered by Behold Publications? Show your support for us on Facebook by clicking here!

Catholic Kids Christmas Dream Shop!

2010-11-15T10:06:00.001-05:00

Catholic Kids Christmas Dream Shop! via #constantcontact

The Little Flowers characters in Virtue Stories, Wreath I come alive on Christmas morning for your Little Flower! Read about how sisters Mary Rose (brunette), Maggie (blonde) and Theresa (auburn), put into practice in everyday life what they learn as a Little Flower. Go to www.littleflowersgirlsclub.com for special bundle prices that include books and dolls as well as a Christmas book bundle for boys!

http://www.littleflowersgirlsclub.com/

The Soul's Toolbox

2010-10-21T11:32:00.000-04:00

Why we teach virtue in the first place OR rather, “What’s in it for me?”
There can be times in our lives when we scratch our heads and wonder aloud - Why are we even doing this?? The ‘this’ of the moment might be anything from doing laundry for the umpteenth time to homeschooling to even going to Sunday Mass.
Honestly, much of what we do is out of necessity. The laundry, housekeeping and cooking we do is necessary for our existence. We need good food, a clean house and clean clothes to be healthy. Happily, we have a good deal of latitude in how we do these tasks. For some families a good meal is around a table with fine china, cloth napkins and the finest of French cuisine. For other families it is with paper plates and napkins and the only French item on their table is the French dressing for the iceberg salad and French fries. But both meals begin with prayer, both meals include the parents listening, laughing and sharing in the stories and the family. Both are therefore healthy - if not from a dietary standpoint then surely from a spiritual and psychological one.
For other things we may have less latitude. While we may wonder why we go to Church or strive to be both holy ourselves and raise holy children, we know we do so to honor the God who made us. It is for Him alone we do all we do. We are responding to the call He has made since the beginning of time. We are restless until we rest in Him as St. Ignatius reminds us.
Virtue education is one aspect of loving God. In in our attempt to be holy as He is holy we can take His holiness apart as it were, piece by piece, and strive to be holy one piece, one virtue at a time. We learn about faith in order to be more faithful. We strive for obedience as we know being fully obedient is what Christ himself did - even unto death.
But there are times in our regular life of dinner and dishes, clothes and commutes we may wonder how virtues serve us. Why are we doing this in the first place? Sure, it makes us more polite and nicer to be around, but it is really necessary? And, if you are familiar with the movie, “Field of Dreams”, we can wonder as did the main character, Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner), “What’s in it for me?”
In replacing his corn field with a baseball field, Ray witnesses ‘everyone else’ benefiting from his hard work but he is left feeling unappreciated and forgotten. He has put his family on the line, worked endlessly for a ‘crazy dream’ (according to mocking neighbors and family members) and he is thinking it was all for nothing. Or at least all for everyone else but him. “What’s in it for me”, he wonders out loud.
We can feel that way as parents and teachers of the faith. Why are we working so hard to teach our children; model holiness and live a virtuous life? What’s in it for me? Why am I working so hard with no obvious benefit for myself. This past summer into the fall, that often rhetorical question was answered, very literally, for me.
Over the past few months, we have had a few brushes with scary health issues. As a result, we endured the spiritual challenges that always accompany health problems. In addition, we had a frightening accident involving our youngest child. However, throughout all of them, though I felt tested and strained to my limit, I did not fall. Of course, I wondered about God’s plan and wisdom. I spent more than a few nights even arguing with Him and complaining about how strong He thought I was. But, I did not leave His side. I remained. Why? Honestly, it was because of the foundation of virtues I had within me.
I found myself - almost literally - pulling fortitude and perseverance from my soul’s toolbox. During the struggles of the summer, I relied on the faith and hope I knew so well to get me through the dark of night. I had learned the words of these virtues. However, over the past few months I have found myself, very literally, being forced to live what I learned.
I knew courage and now I was living it. What joy that brought to my life. What peace I had knowing friendships I had fostered were there to support me. A foundation in virtue gave me what I needed most to get through some really rough months.
This is why we do what we do. What is in it for us? In teaching our children the virtues, we are not only teaching them - piece by piece, bit by bit - how to be more like Christ we are giving them tools they will rely on their entire life. We are helping them not only face life’s challenges but come out the other side stronger. Virtue education now is, of course, helpful as our children do become more charitable, better friends and siblings. But, these virtues may come to best serve them when they have left your home and are living in their own.
In teaching them, we are also teaching ourselves. This hard work helps us as we find ourselves using what we have shared to be better friends and parents ourselves. And, more likely than not, life provides ample opportunities to put what we teach into practice.
In the fictional story and film, Ray built his field to see ballplayers ‘return’ to play, eventually his own estranged father. At the end of the movie, he sees ‘what’s in it for him’. In our real lives, we build a life of virtue for our children and ourselves awaiting Christ’s return. And in the process, I guarantee, you will find what you get is what you, yourself, need to make it until He does. Virtues are not just for our children but also (sometimes more so) for us.
So, you can stop wondering if teaching virtues matters. It does and you’ll either see it in your kids or rely on it yourself every day - I know from real life experiences. Now, if someone would like to convince me about a few household tasks I’ve been told are necessary (such as ironing sheets!), I’m waiting!
God Bless,
Rachel Watkins

September Newsletter

2010-09-21T07:44:00.001-04:00

Here is the link to the September newsletter and discount coupons. Features include an inspiring message from the creator of Little Flowers Girls' Club, frequently asked questions, items shared by other Little Flowers groups and much more!

http://conta.cc/9k1hKz

Happy September!

2010-09-17T12:05:00.000-04:00

Happy September! Happy new school year and happiest of all we have new children, new meetings and new opportunities to share Christ and the Church. I love September. I love new pencils, empty notebooks needed to be filled and the cool air and leaves falling. I also will admit I love it because it is my birthday month!

In light of our commitment to help you be the best leaders you can be, we’ve decided to tackle the great outdoors for a few newsletters to help you get out and enjoy God’s creation - especially as the weather cools down but doesn’t get too cold.

Exploring the great outdoors is something all of us should do regardless of our love for dirt, trees and animals. This might be a struggle as we might feel more comfortable in our homes. Let’s be honest, we’re unlikely to get bitten by a bug, catch a rash from a simple plant or sweat and get dirty inside our clean and bugfree homes. But let’s also be honest while we don’t like the bites and the rashes; getting sweaty and dirty, especially with our children, is almost always more fun than sitting inside watching another movie.

We were born in a garden after all. Not us specifically but our first parents, Adam and Eve, were born in the garden designed by God himself. The first two chapter of the Bible are all about the great outdoors He was making for us to enjoy: “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.” (Gen. 1:31).

For us though, we may have discovered is not all good - be it those aforementioned bugs and rashes or allergies and unfamiliarity. In addition to these issues comes the very real struggle we have in today’s culture to balance our enjoyment and celebration of the great outdoors with the increased worship of the environment. I do not dismiss this concern lightly. My own husband, whose expertise and work is in environmental policy, faces this balance every day. Our care for the earth - which God has commanded - is important but we must never value the earth and the environment more than every soul which inhabits it.

But, let’s not get worried about those complicated discussions and just plan on getting our children and ourselves outside a bit more. From nature we can witness and learn so many of the virtues we hope to teach. From the patience and diligence of a gardener striving for a good harvest to the joy and eutrapelia of just being outside in the fresh air and sunshine. With every Little Flower virtue comes a flower and how wonderful if, sometimes, the girls might be able to see some of these flowers growing naturally. For the other groups, be it Blue Knights, Hospitality, or Honor Badge, being outside is always good for them - body and soul.

Getting outside can be as easy as making use of your back deck for snack or your back yard for games. It can be done by the teaching of faith in a garden full of sunflowers or learning industry through the clearing of a yard for an elderly neighbor. It can be the exploration of the outdoors through a more social outing to a local park.

A few simple suggestions:
*Know your local parks - local, state and federally sponsored. Planning on having a meeting at one of these locations or plan a get together outside of meeting times. Letting the girls get a bit dirty and sweaty together will surely build some new memories that just can’t be made in a living room or church meeting room.

*Ask a parent to take charge of your ‘Head Outdoors’ plans. They could make plans for outings, see what programs might be available (hopefully free) at local parks, farmer’s markets, orchards, etc. Consider planning a field trip every other month or so as it might fit into your planned activities.

*Check out the Charlotte Mason approach to education. If one of your families is utilizing this method of home education you will probably discover a wealth of information on exploring the outdoors as it is seen as vital aspect in the Mason approach.

*Check the library for books to help you out. In light of the previous warning about the current rise in worshipping creation rather than the Creator, newer books are more likely to take this tone. Be wary as you read. If you see either overt or subtle suggestions in opposition to the Church’s teaching in regard to life consider finding another title.

Two books I’ve found helpful:
“Sharing Nature with Children” by Joseph Cornell. This is a classic nature awareness book and as such has undergone a resurgence in popularity. I have NOT read the new 20th Anniversary edition and expect it to have more political commentary regarding the environment. However, the 1979 edition which I have and use, does not contain anything I could fault. It is a collection of games and ideas for bringing nature to your children in an easy manner. One of my favorite games is the Micro-Hike. You need just a few lengths of string/yarn and a simple magnifying glass for each child. Stake out a circle with the string on the ground and let them investigate. They may find some insects or just explore the intricacies of how grass grows. A simple activity which gives glory to God for the detail with which He created the earth.
“The Kid’s Nature Book” by Susan Milford. It is a 365 indoor/outdoor nature exploration book with simple ideas for letting kids explore nature. With so many ideas you will surely find a dozen or so ideas that might be able to be included in your program. Some are a bit more complicated (yet tasty) such as making applesauce but others are as easy as watching the clouds overhead. The book is listed by months and days which make it very easy to take advantage of the change of seasons.

Both of these are available from Amazon used - the Milford book can be found for as little as .67, while the Campell book (an 1989 version) is $3.50.

*Finally, explore creation through Scripture and the Saints. From the Book of Job we have God’s reply beginning with chapter 38 wherein God speaks to Job of sea, the snow, the mountain goats and the great leviathan. We also have the Psalms. Walking through a local park while reciting Psalm 23 or a reading of Psalm 104 “Praise of God the Creator” reminds us that earth is God’s creation after all. While from St. Francis of Assisi (adopted by many including non-Catholics as patron saint of the environment) we have his powerful Canticle of Creation.

While it may seem the secular world has commandeered the very earth from our grasp we must let that occur. The earth was created for us by God - for our use and our enjoyment. Do not feel you must hide inside for fear of being seen as a Gaia (earth) worshipper but head outside and see God in all you see. Enjoy your local environment a bit more this year and celebrate what God made for you. Granted this earth is merely our temporary home, but as our home we should our best to both know it and understand it. You - and your children - will be glad you did.

God Bless,

Rachel Watkins

New Parish Group?

2010-09-04T08:58:00.000-04:00

Are you thinking about starting a Little Flowers Girls Club at your parish? Would you like to present it to your pastor or religious education coordinator? We have a FREE CD just for parish presentations you can request by sending an email to: EcceHomoPr@aol.com. Please include your parish name, your name and address you wish to have the CD sent.

The CD includes samples of all our products including pages of the Little Flowers, Blue Knights, Hospitality and Honor Guard programs. It includes a copy of our catalog, brochures and a powerpoint to present to the parish, with an overview of the programs and how to get them started in your parish. All this is FREE and you don't have to order a thing before seeing the material. Get yours today!

September...Ready or Not, Here it Comes!

2010-08-16T13:48:00.000-04:00

As summer is winding down, vacations all but over; we are looking at our calendars and realizing September is coming - wether we like it or not! I, myself, had resisted putting September on my wall calendar in my kitchen. It is a wipe-on/wipe-off calendar that holds four months. Over the past four months I have wiped off May, June and July until August is all that remains. The other three months remained blank. I could not bring myself to put on September. September means a return to homeschooling, schedules and work I was not yet ready to face. I wanted to remain on vacation, sitting poolside and relaxing.

My lovely husband, Matthew, was finally able to convince me to place September on by reminding me my birthday is in September and he would provide no gifts unless I placed the month - and my birthday - on the calendar. Selfishly motivated, I quickly placed September, October and November (which is Matt’s birthday month) on the wall calendar. Seeing November up, I realized his motivation was probably more for himself than for me. He was ensuring we remember his day, but it was done. September was coming though I had tried to prevent it. Much like the Grinch and Christmas, the new school year was approaching with or without my participation. Fine, let it come but I don’t have to be happy about it!

Then comes the General Audience of Pope Benedict at Castel Gondalfo (8/10/10). The CNS article relates this:

“While most people today will not be called to be martyrs, he (Pope Benedict) said, "none of us is excluded from the divine call to holiness," which requires taking up one's own personal cross and following Christ every day.

In a world that seems driven by selfishness and individualism, Christians have as their top priority the task of letting their love for God and their neighbors grow greater every day, he said. This will transform not only one's own life, but will also transform the whole world.

"Let us ask God to set our hearts on fire so we can be capable of loving just like he loved every one of us," the pope said.”

The Pope, on vacation himself, was reminding me what I wanted to forget - I am called to pick up my cross, follow Christ and strive for holiness. Much as I wanted to avoid September, I realized I wanted to avoid my cross, the obligations and responsibilities of my life, even more. But to what end? Am I the Catholic I claim to be, the child of God I profess?

Then, while the summer has been good and setting aside the school books and school work wonderful, I cannot take a complete vacation from life. I have baptismal promises to fulfill, a Father in heaven looking down on me, Jesus Christ himself by my side within the sacraments to strengthen me and the Holy Spirit to guide me. For me, that includes facing September and homeschooling. With God’s everlasting presence, the holiness the Pope reminds of us is possible.

The Little Flowers Girls Club has that as its goal: helping us all towards holiness. It is meant to be a small way (as St. Therese herself said) towards the holiness we are called.

Holiness is not easy, acknowledged by the Holy Father as he related it to the martyrdom of St. Maximillian Kolbe and St. Therese of the Cross, in his general audience. Yet, it remains, our mission, holiness for ourselves, our families and our children.

I am humbled you have allowed us be a part of your desire for holiness. We hope our little way eases your way. We hope we are helping carry your cross throughout the school year.

Knowing all of you are out there striving for the same holiness I am, while also cooking meals, balancing carpools and finding date nights with our spouses makes it easier. We can feel lonely in our holiness but being a part of a group of others with either Little Flowers, Blue Knights, Little Women Hospitality, or the Honor Guard eases that loneliness. We have each other to rely on, to pray with and pray for.

All that we do here is a small attempt to be Simon of Cyrene - helping you carry your cross. With that in mind, we have got some great ideas for the new year. A new Wreath Four for Little Flowers is already in the works reflecting the reality some dioceses are having Confirmation for children younger than the 7-9th grade or higher the Wreath was initially written for. The new Wreath Four will present the awesome sacrament in a more age-appropriate manner in regard to both content and activities.

Our newsletter will be highlighting some ideas about introducing the great outdoors to our groups with outing suggestions, games and other ‘get out and get dirty’ ideas. This wonderful idea came from a LF leader, Lisa. Many thanks to her for the great idea (feel free to send your own to us, as well). In addition, we are editing the first of our “Princesses to You Can Believe In” series which will bring the story of St. Margaret of Scotland to life in a new way.

So, wether you are in a huge group balancing three levels or a mom at home with only your own children under your care, let us help you be holier. All we do here at Behold Publications has only one goal - bring Christ. Our purpose is, as the Pope reminded us while on his own vacation, to help “transform not only one's own life, but will also transform the whole world.”

I will be praying this new year in the words the Holy Father used, "Let us ask God to set our hearts on fire so we can be capable of loving just like he loved every one of us.”

If you’d like to hear the Holy Father’s address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJEZyXqbynU&feature=youtube_gdata

The Catholic News Service article: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1003256.htm
God bless, Rachel Watkins

Where everyone knows your name!

2010-04-25T13:08:00.002-04:00

One of my many flaws is my inability to remember names. I am very good at faces and will brighten when a familiar one comes into view but then I am hit by the reality that I cannot - for the life of me - remember their name!

This occurs at the grocery stores when I encounter people I see every Sunday at Mass and at conventions when I see people I have met once or twice in the past. In both places, I am rendered embarrassed.

The comic, Brian Regan, (www.brianregan.com) has a wonderful routine when he reveals this same flaw. He makes light of our habit of then resorting to nicknames - "Hey, Buck-A-R00!" It is one of those routines that you laugh at; not only because your recognize yourself in it but you realize others have done the same with you.

Memory experts will tell you to use imagery to help you remember someone's name (upon meeting me, for example, you might want to picture a sheep as 'Rachel' means 'ewe), or to use the new acquaintance's name repeatedly in the conversation. This latter technique can lead to an odd conversation as you keep dropping the name as often as you can in a conversation about the rising price of groceries. "So, Lucinda, have you found a good price for ground beef, Lucinda? Or, Lucinda, do you prefer chicken dishes??" Odd. And, try as I might, none of the advised strategies work for me. I am hopelessly name-impaired and probably always will be.

But names mean so much to us, don't they? I am quite attached to the spelling of my name - the biblical spelling - and get miffed when folks want to add that extra 'a' or if they mispronounce one of my children's names (it is Brigid not Bridget).

Names matter and how wonderful is it that our Lord knows us so well. From today's gospel - "My sheep hear my voice; I know them,"

God will neither forget our names, nor mispronounce it. He knows us so well which then requires our own response. In the gospel it is made clear - "and they follow me." We then are to know him and follow him. How well do we do this and with what passion and dedication? Do we need to use imagery? Do we need to repeat His name again and again so we don't forget?

Either technique works well with our God and He provides us the beautiful imagery Himself - He is a shepherd, He is a Father and we can remember His name every time we pray. Perhaps the familiar "Our Father who are in heaven" or perhaps the ancient - Te Deum - "You are God, we praise you; You are the Lord, we acclaim you; You are the Eternal Father: All creation worships you."

At your next LF meeting, make a point of calling each girl by her name, make a game of names or ask everyone to share how they got their name. Our names matter to us and they matter to God. He will call them when we finally meet - let us strive to live a life that ensures that we know Jesus' name so well, people might be tempted to think it is our own. What a joy to think that someone might forget I am 'Rachel, with no second 'a' and rather be reminded of our Lord and His love and mercy!

A Little Flower Welcome!

2010-04-19T08:08:00.000-04:00

I usually use this column to pass along a bit of wisdom or ideas that are easy to write about and convey. Not this month. This month I really want for all of us to examine our attitude toward true charity, hospitality and kindness towards others.

I was inspired to write about this after the recent national news of the tragic death of Phoebe Prince in Northhampton, MA. This beautiful 15 yr. old was pushed to suicide as a result of the on-going bullying by a group of fellow students at her high school.
While I know that none of our groups would ever accept or condone such awful behavior from our children, I am concerned that we aren’t always as welcoming to others as we ought to be.
We have all been the ‘new kid’ at some point in our lives. Whether we have memories from our childhood of arriving new to a school or neighborhood; or moving into a new parish as adults - we all know what it feels like to be unfamiliar and uncomfortable. It is not a pleasant feeling.
Hopefully, though, we can all follow up those uncomfortable feelings with a memory of a child or adult who reached out to us and welcomed us. Maybe it was the kid who showed you where the bathroom was at school or the new neighbor who gave you directions to the perfect park in town. Finding a new, trustworthy friend is an unforgettable and powerful feeling.
But being brave enough - yes, brave enough - to reach out to others is a rare quality. It is easier to remain with familiar friends. Reaching out, not knowing how you will be received, can be unsettling. No one wants to be rejected. However, we are called to a supernatural charity by God and our baptismal grace to see everyone as God does and treat them as His children. This grace should give us the security in knowing that God will be there.
In all Behold Christ groups and programs I would hope that anyone entering the room would perceive a welcome unlike any they have ever encountered. It would be so amazing if they join a group never feeling any discomfort or lack of embrace. Imagine the change that be started by our small actions of acceptance. While we are not called as the first Christians to sell all we own, we called to be ‘of one mind heart and mind’.
Examining yourself in regard to this is not easy. But it is important that we as adults are modeling to our young people a true hospitality that welcomes everyone regardless. Regardless of their income, their clothes, their abilities or their formation. If we are striving to be Christ, bring Christ and leave Christ everywhere we go, we must reflect His own actions.
Berated by the Pharisees for hanging out with the wrong crowd, Jesus was a victim of their bullying. They wanted their words, their rejection and their attitude to change how Jesus acted and treated others. It never did. Jesus continued to welcome everyone. While He did not accept obvious sin, I don’t imagine He checked their clothing labels or their ability to talk about the current hot trends. Jesus took people where they were and then gently led them to where they needed to be.
Jesus was also shut out. There were many who did not welcome Him. We do not know of how many times He reached out to someone who looked at His clothes or His background (“What good can come from Nazareth”) and decided that Jesus just wasn’t cool or didn’t fit in. How many people missed out on knowing Jesus directly because of perceptions and false ideals of what the Messiah is supposed to look like?
Take a moment to think of your own group. Are there families or young people still on the fringes hoping for someone to really welcome them? Is there a real attitude of complete welcome in the group or has an air of ‘in-crowd’ and ‘outsiders’ been allowed to set in?
On the other side, are the girls themselves being modeled and encouraged to be truly charitable and hospitable? There should be no acceptance or tolerance for unkind words or actions from any young people towards any others. As adults, you need to moderate this and be aware of what might be occurring. The stereotype of small groups of pointing, laughing ‘mean girls’ might come to mind but it is often more subtle than that. Often it can be nothing more than a refusal to let someone sit down in ‘their circle’ because of what they wear or what they say. Any subtle attempt to exclude anyone needs to be eliminated.
This is a painful column to write as I have such high hopes that every group is a perfect model of Christian charity and love. But knowing myself and my own faults, I know this is not true or reasonable. I also know, from my own memories, of what it feels like to be both excluded and to exclude; neither of which bring up good memories. As a result, I might be called a zealot on this mission to make sure everyone feels welcomed.
Let us just agree that it is reasonable and Catholic to expect every adult to be a model of real hospitality and good manners and then commit to teaching and forming our own children to do the same. I know we will never accept outright bullying, name calling or abuse by our members but I also hope we never accept the subtle ways we can cause pain and divisiveness by a refusal to see it or act upon it when we do. We need to both keep our ‘inner Pharisee’ in check and be brave enough to stand up to it when we see it displayed by others.
In striving to find some Scriptural support, I reread the very short 3rd Letter of John which speaks a hint of such dealings. Written to a specific person - Gaius - it is writing about the failure of another person, Diotrephes, to accept some of the newer Presybters. It is not known, from the scripture notes given what exactly was occurring but I couldn’t help but think of this column. One line - “I wrote to the Church, but Diotrephes, who loves to dominate, does not acknowledge us.” - rung in my ears. Let us pray no one would ever say that about any of us.
Let us display trustworthy friendship and true charity to all. Let us strive to become a memory of welcome to everyone we meet, but especially those for whom such a memory is only an unfilled hope!
-Rachel Watkins

Diocese of Fargo, ND

2010-03-25T09:46:00.000-04:00

Little Flowers and Blue Knights are mentioned as options under the Youth Programs for the diocese of Fargo. Check out this link:
http://www.fargodiocese.org/EducationFormation/Youth/Local&Regional.htm

I lost my glasses and found some perspective

2010-03-22T20:52:00.002-04:00

I have had my glasses for over a year now but continue to lose them regularly. I will admit that I don't like wearing glasses as they are an outward sign that I am getting older. When I was younger, I wanted to wear glasses like my best friend, Lorraine. She looked so much smarter and cooler in my eyes due to her glasses. She knew then, as I do now that wearing glasses is a struggle.

You need them to see clearly but you are weighed down both by the pressure they exert (however slightly) on your nose and ears and by the reality that they are there on your face - all the time. You seem to know you weren't born to wear these but they are result of our flawed bodies in a imperfect world.

So I spent last night and most of today without my glasses (hence my late post) and I really need my glasses to see clearly and go headache free. As a result, I was unable to do much of what I usually do and left to do only the essentials of my life. No late night post for you, no early morning e-mail check for me. I was left to keep my hands off the computer and eyes off of books. I could not do what was important!

I was left to do such things as dress my little ones and get my kids breakfast. I did laundry early and cleaned my room (hoping to find the glasses). I was reduced to a pre-computer life and I found myself out of sorts (which at times I took out on myself and my children with snippy answers and general grumpiness).

However, by mid-morning, I had to realize my mood was ruining everyone else's and I needed to make some apologies - to my children and to God. After that was done, I realized I getting quite a bit done despite impaired vision. In fact, I was doing the work I needed to do, really needed to do - the work God intended me to do. Perhaps, as my grandmother would say when things didn't go her way, God set some things aside so that what He wanted could happen without us (and our plans) getting in the way.

What God wanted this morning was children dressed and fed and household chores completed. Not that that doesn't occur every morning in my house but I usually do those mundane chores on my way to other 'more important' activities (those aforementioned emails and postings). Today, they were my only activity as I couldn't manage anything else with my fuzzy vision.

Taking care of my children should never what I do on the way to something else. As important as e-mail has become and as important as impacting on the world via the internet can be (just ask the Pope), our family is our first and foremost vocation and path to heaven.

I found my glasses - hence this post - but I am considering setting them aside each morning until after the important stuff is done. The e-mails can wait, a blog will still be there and a post can be delayed - a bowl of Cheerios and a Thomas the Tank Engine shirt might not!

Looking for an alternative to Girl Scouting? Look HERE!

2010-03-18T16:45:00.000-04:00

Recently, the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute recommended Little Flowers Girls' Clubs as a Catholic and family friendly alternative to Girl Scouts.

Want to find out how to find or start a Club in your area?

To find a club: check with your local parish or Catholic homeschooling support group. Each group is run independently and there is no national registration of groups.

To start a club: Check out the materials on the website: http://www.littleflowersgirlsclub.com/ and see what we have to offer to start your own club. It can be done at home, in parish, homeschool group or school! It is flexible, faith-filled and fun! Best of all, use the promo code: LEAD50 until March 31 and get all Leader's Manuals 1/2 price!

Don't forget to check us out on You Tube, also:

Are you asking for your inheritance now?

2010-03-14T21:20:00.003-04:00

Today's gospel is so familiar that I was taken off guard when, during Mass, I was struck by a new thought - am I asking God for my inheritance early?

The first son is so easy to 'not like'. He is eager to cast his father aside, run away from where he knows all is well, food is plentiful and life is good! He is not content to wait for his inheritance, he wants it NOW!

I have found, at times, that I am the first son who is standing at his father's feet with his hand out demanding his inheritance. I am not content to wait.

And what is our inheritance - heaven! Heaven!! That is what is waiting for us when we are done here. But, I want heaven now! Not only do I want it - I expect it!!

I want my life to be perfect, I want no more tears, no more illness, no more sorrow and I want it now! I refuse to accept, to believe that my expectation is not only as greedy as the son but impossible to grant. I am asking God for what I cannot have. What He cannot give because it is not for now, it is for later - forever! But, every day I demand it and every day I find ways to blame others (and God) when heaven is not here. And the results of my demands, my impatience for my inheritance is as awful for me and my family as it was for the son. Perhaps, even worse.

What does my impatience create? Stress and a lack of acceptance! I am short-tempered, harsh on myself and my family. I want heaven now and perfection now! In my greed for the future, I am missing out on the now, on what I am supposed to be doing right now. I am losing out on those 'immediate moments of holiness' that come along every moment, every day. So eager for what God has promised me for tomorrow, I am missing out on what He needs from me today!

Expecting my inheritance, heaven, now, demanding it now is a sign of disrespect for not only God but for all those around me. My inheritance is there - heaven is waiting.

Let us practice patience for ourselves and for our daughters by living a life that works hard on today knowing that our reward, our inheritance is waiting. Reminding ourselves of that truth, that reality will help us be more focused mothers and teachers. Let us keep our eyes on today and know that God has taken care of tomorrow!

No blogging due to snow - But let's talk about LOVE!

2010-02-14T22:21:00.003-05:00

We are still digging out from the four plus feet of snow here on the East Coast. This resulted in computer problems which have since been worked out.

And what a joy that I can post a bit of my nonsense on Valentine's Day when we celebrate love. Love for God, our Church, others and ourselves. Yes, ourselves. On a day when we tend to make sure everyone around us knows we love them, take some time to give yourself a little peptalk and love letter.

In today's culture, when family size is being debated on the cover of People magazine and public figures are publicly and unapologetically indiscrete our decision to be open to life and true to our vows and God's call can be difficult.

St. Valentine knew the power of a good letter (taking a page from Sts. Paul and Peter and the other NT writers) in encouraging his people onward during difficulties. Letters have power to build up or tear down. Take a moment to build yourself up.

Write yourself a love letter - tell yourself all that you do that make you proud. List your own accomplishments and celebrate being Catholic, faithful and proud of it.

While our family's have told us today, make time to tell yourself and set the letter aside so that you have it turn to when life gets you down.

And here's my love letter to you - thank you for carrying on. You all make me so proud of being involved in something so wonderful.

Another Therese, the Little Flower song!

2010-02-03T12:51:00.000-05:00

If you are not familiar with Nick Alexander, songwriter and comdedian, you should check out his stuff. It is great! My teens love it and so do I. Here is a song on St. Therese to the tune of "Electric Avenue." Too cute!

http://www.last.fm/music/Nick+Alexander/_/Therese+of+Lisieux

Click at the top right to hear the song.

God bless, Joan

We have our 'orders' (so to speak)....

2010-01-31T19:09:00.003-05:00

Little Flowers is constructed (in part) on the well-proven educational theory that you work on one thing at a time and then move on. We use this methodology in all subjects. For example, in math we learn what each number looks like and then how to count before we attempt fractions or higher math such as 'imaginary numbers' (how can numbers be imaginary, wonders this homeschooling mom). We do the same in teaching our LF's a life of virtue. One virtue at a time, giving it our full attention, one piece at a time and then moving on.

This excellent method of learning is not our idea - as with most/all good ideas - God had it first. Today's second reading - the familiar 1 Cor. 12:31-13:13 - the wedding reading we all know. Hearing it today, I was struck by God's methodology. He takes one virtue - Love and then lays out to us one piece at a time what we need to work on to master this virtue. What a good idea! ;-)

Perhaps we might consider this for ourselves - Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous.... and on and on. Perhaps if we take this virtue one piece at a time just as we ask our daughters with the virtues of LF we might find ourselves growing in love and how wonderful would that be? For we are reminded that while faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love!

Our order would be patience, kind, not jealous, not pompous, not inflated, not rude, do not seek your own interests, not quick-tempered, do not brood over injury, do not rejoice over wrongdoing, rejoice with the truth, bear all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Granted it is a list of 14 dimensions of the virtue to work on but we are up for the task as it is God's desire that we reflect Him in this love and while we are surely bound to slip up more than once (even in a given hour) we will prevail. For God assures us - Love never fails!

We will surely s

Cool little video on Blessed Margaret Pole

2010-01-28T14:55:00.002-05:00

It may make the girls go "oooh" when they mention how the headsman took 10 swipes at poor old Margaret's head, after all, we are talking Courage here (Wreath 2)but the visuals are nice.

http://bevansinc.blogspot.com/2009/12/beheading-of-margaret-pole.html

Margaret was Countess of Salisbury under Henry VIII and Mary Tudor's governess. She was beheaded while in her 70's after enduring prison for years. She was beheaded for being a Catholic in 1541. Her son was Cardinal Pole, the last Catholic archbishop of Canterbury.

New Year, New You!

2010-01-24T15:39:00.002-05:00

If you don't know it, we put out a monthly newsletter from Behold The Child. I encourage you to sign up (www.eccehomopress.com). Here's a bit of what I wrote for the newest issue:

It is customary to make resolutions during this first month of a new year. We stand, feet akimbo, hands firmly on our hips and declare “This year will be the best year ever!” We are sure of ourselves in January, everything is possible with a new calendar in front of us and the graces of Christmas full in our hearts.

It seems that everyone does this regardless of faith; it is human nature to want a new start, a chance for a do-over and the hope for a better tomorrow. There has been a good deal of press recently concerning Gretchen Rubin who undertook remaking her whole life in one year - one idea/resolution per month. The resulting book The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun is being lauded by the media as project we might all want to undertake. Perhaps.

I applaud her desire to find more happiness as I am a big fan of happiness. Joy is after all a virtue but I doubt my own ability to decide what to work on. However, inspired to a degree by the thought of having a happier life I decided that my own life could stand a makeover. However, not wanting to rely on myself (or just anyone else) as I began I wondered who could I turn to for a role model. Being a woman it was natural that I seek another woman; a woman I could trust who had already lived a life worth imitating. You all know who I found don’t you? Mary!

.........

Let our year begin with our first introduction to Mary in Scripture where we have her trust made so clear, so undeniable. Isn’t that how we want to approach this new year - trusting in God for all that God is asking? All the God wants of us? All that He needs from us? In Luke we witness her concern, her questions at the arrival of Gabriel, we are told she is troubled and she trusts God enough to voice it - “How can this be?”

That we may be so trusting. For God has much in store for us this year and we need to trust Him as it arrives. Trust that His plan is perfect and He only desires our good. We can voice our concerns as Mary does, we can wonder how it ‘can be’ but we will trust as Mary does.

If you want to read all of what I wrote, check out the website to sign up for the newsletter (which also includes some neat offers and other good stuff!).

(BTW - I have NOT read Ms. Rubin's book and therefore cannot recommend it but used it only as a reference to my own plan. I do plan on giving it a read when it becomes available at my public library and I'll let you know about it if you'd like. If anyone has read it and would like to share their thoughts - let us know!)

Ever Feel Embarrassed?

2010-01-18T09:04:00.004-05:00

Forgive the delay - my dh is out of town for work and that always throws off my days :-)

That being said, how I am feeling (really embarrassed) as a result having forgotten to post last night as I so adamantly promised I would is a perfect lead-in to my post. How nicely convenient! Enjoy -

I am amazed by God’s ability to drop the smallest of hints into our lives that have the potential of having a huge impact.

Today’s gospel (John 2: 1-11) and accompanying homily from my wonderful pastor, Fr. Joseph Piekarski, is a case in point. The gospel is the ever familiar Wedding Feast at Cana. I love that story, I love the fact that Jesus’ first miracle is at a wedding! His presence there not shows the importance of marriage to God but supports our Catholic teaching on marriage as a sacrament.

For me, it gives me a real rush of joy knowing that God loves marriage enough to make sure it is a visible part of Jesus’ ministry. This is hugely important; maybe more so now than ever before when marriage is coming under attack from every side. I can almost get giddy knowing that a wedding party was the site of Jesus’ first miracle. And not only a party, but making sure they had enough wine! God is returning to walk with the man and woman just as He did in the garden and He’s bringing drinks along with Him! How fun and way cool is that?!

My pastor’s homily on the subject was wonderful as usual - he was bringing up some fine points about marriage in particular and doing a great job. I, however, was a bit distracted as I was at Mass with my children but not with my husband who was away on business. My two year old was being particularly feisty and eager to climb over, under and around me, his siblings and the pews. I was starting to feel a bit self-conscious about his behavior.

I was doing my best to follow Fr. Joe when one small comment rang in my ears as if he was standing right next to me. “Remember,” he said, “our dear mother, Mary, never wants us to be embarrassed. Never. Just like she didn’t want her friends at the wedding to become embarrassed by the lack of wine. She asked her Son to help so they wouldn’t be embarrassed. Don’t forget that when you pray.”

That struck such a cord in my heart; especially as I was becoming increasingly embarrassed by Damian’s antics at my feet. Mary doesn’t want me to be embarrassed! What good news that was to hear - news I had never heard before! In all the homilies, talks and retreats I’ve heard that have discussed this miracle, that fact was never said. Or if it was, I didn’t hear it. But I heard it clearly this time and what balm it has been in just the few hours since.

Embarrassment is something I really struggle with. Despite my desire to be the center of attention I never want it if I am doing something foolish or degrading; none of us do. No one likes being embarrassed and we will go to great strides (sometimes even sinful ones) to avoid being made a fool or appearing like one. As a parent, this desire to avoid being seen as foolish extends even more so to my children. I will go to great strides to protect them from humiliation or feeling awkward.

And here, I have been assured and shown in the actions of Mary within the gospel, that she - as every good mother - feels the same way I do. She doesn’t want me to find myself in a bind and seeks through her prayers and intercessions to prevent that from happening. It is very reassuring to know that she ‘has my back’ as they say.

Now, I know that not all embarrassment can be prevented and I will surely do something this very week that will cause a red face for either myself or my children (mothers of teens often run that risk). But, more importantly, I need to differentiate between those things that are singularly embarrassing (such as slipping down the stairs) and not of real import and those that may appear to be a cause of embarrassment but are not.

For Mary (and her Son) would never ask us to do something that is deliberately embarrassing. We may think this isn’t true - as much of what we do can appear to be embarrassing. Think about this. Is it your commitment to homeschooling, a holy family life, modesty in dress and moderation in your activities or language that may sometimes make you feel a twinge of embarrassment? It can come when the stranger in the store asks, “Are they all yours?” or when the aunt keeps prodding you about “socialization”. This is especially true if we living our lives with little or no support from our family or friends.

All of we do may seem embarrassing but it is only because the world rejects it as important or worthy. But only the world thinks that way. Jesus, King of the Universe thinks what we are doing is not embarrassing at all, but truly fine, great, awesome and worthy of His grace.

So, the next time your toddler is crawling all over you at Mass or you get rolled eyes from the neighbor when you tell them your son cannot come over and watch a horror movie marathon with theirs, don’t get embarrassed. After all - what is rejected by the world is often what is best:

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us be glad and rejoice in it.”

Ps. 118:22 (quoted by Jesus in Mt. 21-42)

To Be Like Mary...

2010-01-10T21:02:00.002-05:00

While we are celebrating the Year for the Priests (have you downloaded your FREE info from us yet??), I am going to focus my year on trying to be more like Mary, the Mother of God.

She is after all our best role model after Christ and being that we are both women and mothers, I often find her a bit more accessible. I can find myself talking to her throughout my day, asking her to take my concerns to her Son. No one can refuse their mother can they?? As many have said before me - "Through Mary to Christ".

As I look at her life I am struck with both the simplicity of the lessons she offers and how deep we can take those lessons. The first lesson I need to take to heart is her obedient docility to what is being asked of her. She is asked by God, through an angel, which would certainly sway any answer I would give, but what she is asked would give anyone pause. She is asked to bear a child, a son though she 'knows no man'.

Yet, she says yes. Her fiat comes without pause and often my fiats, when they come, come haltingly, hesitatingly and not without demands and a good deal of whining.

This first month I will be striving to be more docile to the requests made of me - from God, from my husband and my children. While I will not concede to every and any request as my children, friends and even my spouse are not God or angels (such as the third request for another cookie), I can certainly say yes to many of their simple (and do-able) requests that are merely a delay to my plans or my idea of how the hour should go.

And Mary could say the same couldn't she? Surely, the arrival of the angel and his message isn't how she expected her hour, day or life to go and yet she said yes!

I am the handmaid of the Lord, she says. May I have the ability to repeat those same words more frequently than I do at this time.

Fun Website!

2010-01-07T09:53:00.004-05:00

Got a great email the other day from Vee who directed me to her website with tons of really cute saint and historical figure paper dolls for FREE! I'm hoping that Behold Publications can work with Vee to bring more creative stuff for Catholic kids in the future. Meanwhile, enjoy her site!

http://paperdali.blogspot.com/

The Feast of Epiphany

2010-01-03T21:05:00.003-05:00

While the date is Jan. 6th for many, we have celebrated it today. There is much for us to ponder with this feast - the star, the prophecies fulfilled, the death of the innocents, the length at which the magi went to be able to sit at the feet of a baby. For me, I would like to think for a moment for those left behind - who was taking care of the homes they left while they traveled to find God and bring Him treasures?

As a wife and mother, this is often the role I take in my marriage. My husband travels far each day for his work and the majority of my day is spent alone. I look after the children and home by myself; including not only the care and feeding but the teaching. It can be a lonely day - day after day.

There is also the concern I live with as he leaves. He drives to the train and takes that into DC where he then gets a subway. I am worried sometimes. One day this past fall there was a tragic subway accident. It was my dh's train and a quick telephone call reassured me that by God's plan he worked late that night and wasn't on it. I imagine the wives, children and families of the three kings worried as well. While I can be reassured by telephone calls, those of the magi could not - no technological support systems back then. They had to rely on knowing that the trip they undertook was also God's plan.

And that is what helps those of us at home do what we do - it is God's plan. Just as it was God's plan that the magi travel far from home to find Him in a stable, it was also His plan that there would be those who stayed behind. God's plan includes everyone - not just the ones who leave and go. While we remember the three in story, song and poem we might want to think about those that stayed. They are also a vital part of the story. Just as my husband reminds me daily that he could not do what he does without me at home - the three magi could not as well. They were strengthened on their journey with the knowledge that everything was being taken care of home by people who loved them enough to let them go.

Before I conclude, I want to make clear that I am not making a statement about mothers who work outside the home as I know well that now, more than ever, many moms are doing just that because they have to, it is necessary. No, I am merely striving to make the point that we can think that what we do - either at home or at a job - is insignificant to God's plan because we aren't doing something heroic, remarkable or worthy of a song. What we do can seem so pointless because it is so mundane.

In those moments, when we are wiping off peanut butter faces or sitting through one more committee meeting we must think of our own dear patron. St. Therese, the Little Flower, makes it clear that nothing is insignificant or small to God when it is done with love, with purpose and as a part of His plan.

As this new year begins, consider both offering up all you do, every small, trivial task to God for His purpose and also striving to see all that you do as a part of His plan. While on some days we might wish that God asks us to take a long trip to some exotic location, the reality of that actually occurring is unlikely. Don't waste time wishing you were on a trip you were never called to take. Enjoy and celebrate the trip you are taking right now. As this trip, commonly referred to as a family still has God at the end. What will you be bringing him?

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T14:07:00.002-05:00

One of my resolutions to be more consistent on my blogging. As you all know, I am not. In giving this some real prayer I have come to admit that I am not a super Mom despite my deep desire to be one. No, I am just a regular Mom who has failings, sins and a lousy memory.

With that in mind, I am committing to blogging every Sunday with a new piece for your consideration. I hope to write something what will give you pause for the week, something to take to prayer or back to your group. It might be a something I've read or come across of a spiritual nature or of a more human nature such as a new game or craft idea. In the end, I want to write pieces that will make your vocation easier and help you to be glad you are a mother, a Catholic and one of God's gardeners.

For that is what we all are after all - we are God's gardeners - assisting him in our own little plot of earth; not unlike Adam and Eve. He has given us a piece of Iowa, Michigan, Florida or (in my case) Maryland and we are being asked to take care of it and be good stewards.

And, just like Adam and Eve, there are snakes in our garden. We have to keep an eye out for them, know what they look like and refuse - REFUSE - to talk to them! When we see them and hear their whispers we don't ever think we can do conquer them on our own.

We need to call on Christ and ask Him - much like we do our husbands when it is a spider in the corner (or am I the only one who does this) - to please come over and crush its head! I hope I can offer you some encouragement, ideas and support for your gardening adventures and ask you to feel free to offer your own!

So, welcome to a new year. Look for a new post on every Sunday and let me know what you think!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

2009-12-17T14:03:00.002-05:00

I wish all of the Little Flowers a very Merry Christmas from the littlest of buds who are just starting out to the Master Gardener Moms who are holding down a family and a group. To all those out there who are praying for me and for this small apostolate.

To Joan and her family for keeping this going day to day.

And especially to YOU - the Mom who is striving to be holy when no one else seems to want to. and the Dad who works hard without complaint. Merry Christmas to YOU. May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph watch over you and give you what you need this Christmas for another year of family life, family fun and joy!

Wreath I Badges now Available!

2009-12-03T09:32:00.001-05:00

Thanks for everyone's patience on the manufacturing error that occurred with the Wreath I Patches. They are now on their way and we are once again taking orders for them. If you've have them backordered, they will be arriving soon.

As a big THANK YOU for your patience, those of you who had to wait for the patches to come in to order them, we are offering a whopping 50% discount on all shirts and totes just in time for Christmas! Just order your Wreath I badge online and enter the discount code BADGEHALF in the coupon area in your shopping cart and get your shirts and totes at HALF PRICE! This offer is good until December 15, 2009.

Valid on orders placed between December 3rd and December 15th online only. Offer cannot be applied to any other orders and must be placed online.

To order go to: www.eccehomopress.com

Reclaiming Christmas!

2009-11-18T07:32:00.001-05:00

We all know that Christmas is coming, after all, it is all over every box store out there from Wal-Mart to JC Penney’s. It seems that Thanksgiving is been completely obliterated by the push to get Christmas to us sooner but we all know they don’t want us to come and adore but come and spend. This year, I am going to join their ranks and push Advent and Christmas a bit early but an Advent and Christmas focused on Christ and His arrival to us as a baby. Consider utilizing this time of early advertising before Advent to get your Advent pulled together.
I remember thinking that God was quite wise when He gave us, as parents, a full nine months (give or take) to prepare for the arrival of our children. For some, this time was longer or shorter if an adoption was involved but, for the most part, we all have a good deal of time allotted to us to make sure that we have all we need for the newest arrival. It is a blessing for both us and the baby that they don't usually arrive in a day or even a week! If we apply this same analogy to Christmas we realize that we have known about its arrival for...well, really for our entire lives. We know it is coming, it comes every year after all, so why do we always seem to be so caught off guard?
For the first time, I suggest that perhaps Wal-Mart or whomever, might be onto something. I am suggesting that you don’t put off considering Christmas, perhaps even making any necessary purchases now before it gets ‘too late’. And too late is when what you need for Christmas Day overwhelms what you need to do before Christmas Day. In other word, are your worries for Christmas overwhelming your Advent?
By giving Christmas - the more secular aspects of it at least - some consideration before Advent arrives might allow you to give Advent the true time, consideration and devotion it deserves. In relating this back to the arrival of the baby, every pregnancy requires time to gather the necessary physical supplies and clothes that every baby requires regardless of family. But we also need to prayerfully consider what our baby requires as they join our family. Perhaps this can take place in our families in regard to Advent and Christmas.
You know you will get a tree and some presents, plan a meal and make travel plans; after all, every family will be doing that. Instead consider what will your family - with its own personal mission and vocation from God - do this Advent? This same attitude applies to your groups - what will they do to make the meetings that coincide with Advent more focused on Christ's arrival and their preparation? Planning a service project for the needy could be done now and not left to the night before. Perhaps helping the kids to bring Advent to their own families with the creation of a simple Advent paper ring with a simple activity each day. With this in mind, you may only need to unpack familiar favorites and replace the pink and purple candles but perhaps you want some ‘new ideas’ for Advent.
A quick search on the internet reveal some good places to start such as: www.holyheroes.com where you can sign up for a free Advent Adventure or be inspired by ideas at www.catholicmom.com or www.catholic.org. And you can always ask at your parish. It just might be that your own parish has a library of ideas or a staff person eager to share. Keeping in mind that Christmas is a time for giving, realize that your enthusiasm and need for a great Advent might give your pastor or DRE a much needed boost of enthusiasm for their vocation.
While I don’t want to hear any Christmas music - secular or otherwise - until Advent starts, and I am not suggesting we start decorating as the stores do, giving Advent and Christmas some thought and preparation before Advent arrives will surely make it easier to dedicate the season to Jesus who is, after all, the only reason to do it!

New Book Available NOW!

2009-10-29T19:29:00.002-04:00

The Wreath I Virtue Stories is now available! Full of adventures and valuable lessons, this book comtains stories of virtues as they apply to young girls' lives. There is a story for each virtue in Wreath I an deach is based on real events...allowing the girls to relate to them on a very real level! Each story ends with discussion questions. They can be read and discussed as a group or read simply for individual enjoyment!

Click here to order! SPECIAL OFFER just in time for Christmas ordering: Order a Little Flower Doll and get the Virtue Book for 1/2 price! These dolls correspond to the characters in the book: Maggie, Mary Rose and Teesa. Offer is good for online orders only and expires November 15, 2009. Enter coupon code: VIRTUEDOLL on checkout.

A Generation of Lydias?

2009-10-22T16:21:00.000-04:00

This past summer my dear husband, Matt conquered something I had not yet been successful in doing. He read “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. This accomplishment came as a result of his long commute for work (2+ hours each way by train) and the realization that despite my claim that I ‘love’ Jane Austen I had never read the book. He would read something that I had not read! Amazing!

Now, I have seen every movie of this wonderful story, with the Colin Firth version edging out the Kyra Knightley one slightly. I have seen the other Jane Austen treasures bought to screen, but am embarrassed to admit I had never read them, any of them, in their entirety. I have made attempts throughout my growing up years but always failed. I would give up on the language and the descriptions and came to decide that ‘classics’ weren’t for me!

If you will humor me, I would like to share an illustration of just how pathetic I was in this regard. During my 10th year of school I had Mrs. Higgins for English. Everyone has a “Mrs. Higgins” in their school memories. She was infamous in my high school for being demanding, critical and very out-of-date. She wore black on report card day and stood barely 5 ft. tall. She not only expected her students to read but went so far as to hand out a list of what you could read - nothing else was allowed when a “book report” was due, which was once a month. These reports were written during class time based on questions she distributed and were required to be at least 200 words. There would be no using CliffNotes or cheating here, you couldn’t pay anyone to write this paper for you. It was all your own work and your words. Getting an “A” in Mrs. Higgins’ class was a historic moment and cause for pride.

I, however, was excited to have her as a teacher and took her on as a challenge, after all, I was a voracious reader and got nothing but ‘A’s’ in English/Literature. I read 2-3 books a week and was a frequent ‘shopper’ at both our school and public library. When, during the first week of classes some 25+ years ago, she asked if anyone liked to read I quickly raised my hand. “What did I like to read”, she queried. “Anything but the classics” was my arrogant reply. I saw her brow furrow and felt the heat from her laser stare. “And what do you deem a classic?”, she demanded. “Anything written before I was born”, I replied and, yes, with all the disrespect and sarcasm you imagine. I am mortified by this memory and it came back to haunt me this past summer.

Once Matt began reading the saga of Elizabeth and Darcy, he wanted to share his insights and excitement. But my movie experience was nothing (as you all know) compared to the actual story. To be able to keep up the discussion and salvage my own pride, I had no choice - I had to read the book. As is always the case, it is not the movie and so much better than I imagined. I had much to learn from Miss Austen.

For our purposes here, I want to share about what I learned specifically from Lydia, the youngest of the five Bennett daughters. For those of you who have not read the book (or even seen the movie), she is described in the beginning of the book as such, “a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humored countenance; a favorite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal sprits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which with the attentions of the officers, to whom her uncles’ good dinners and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance.” She almost brings complete ruin upon the family when she elopes with the awful Mr. Wickham. Mr. Wickham, a long time acquaintance of Mr. Darcy, “has neither integrity nor honor. That he is as false and deceitful, as he is insinuating.”, who convinces Lydia to leave with him. Matthew and I are divided as to wether this was done by him with no intention of marriage but only in the hopes of gaining a mistress (Matt’s view and the correct one) or some dowry funds from Mr. Bennett (my more hopeful view).

Regardless, by the time the news of the elopement has reached the ears of Elizabeth, we discover that Lydia “has never been taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last half year, nay, for a twelvemonth, she has been given up to nothing but amusement and vanity. She has been allowed to dispose her time in the most idle and frivolous manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way.”

I myself read these words with deep embarrassment as those could have been used to describe me at that same age. Lydia was only 15! The age at which I found the reading of “Pride and Prejudice” just too much of a challenge and I let myself be content with mediocre, poorly written romances that were nothing but ‘amusement and vanity’. The age at which Mrs. Higgins took me on as a challenge and led me from shallow thoughts and books to deep reading that showed me the real power of words.

What are we doing for our girls - especially our older girls - are we raising a generation of Lydia’s?

If you are surprised at what I am writing, don’t be worried, I am as well. I am probably more known for my love of joy and eutrapelia than perhaps piety and perseverance. But I love those more ‘heady’ virtues as well. Every virtue is a necessary part of our characters and formation but we all know that some are easier to make our own that others. Such might be said of joy versus moderation which might have been Lydia's struggle. The challenge of us as mothers (and as Catholics) to make sure we are giving our daughters (and ourselves) appropriate challenges based on age, temperament and abilities to tackle the more challenging virtues and more difficult manners and personal habits.

There are any number of struggles to our faith and Christ’s Kingdom during these days and if our daughters are not taught by us; they will taught by someone else. Do not feel as if I am requiring reading of Jane Austen as Mrs. Higgins did (though it might not be a bad idea), but I would want us to remember the words of St. Paul, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Phil. 4:8.

Let us not leave our daughters to “ to adopt any opinions that came in her way” but teach them the skills necessary to listen, discern and learn what is true, for they themselves will be teaching others - either their own children or someone else’s possibly as a religious or a teacher.

And while Elizabeth and Darcy’s story has a happy ending, we know nothing of Lydia's which sometimes makes me pause. For while this ‘Lydia’ (me) turned out all right, and even managed to get an ‘A’ from Mrs. Higgins by the end of that year of school, I know other Lydia’s from my grade and past who did not have the same good fortune. Let us be committed to prevent such endings for our daughters and do what we must to ensure they have a better chance that poor Lydia ever did. Asking great things of our daughters and ourselves will be a struggle but have courage for "In Him who is the source of my strength, I have strength for everything!" (Phil. 4:13). Even the tough job of parenting!

(We have many opportunities here at EHP to challenge your girls beyond the ‘idle and frivolous’ wether it be through the Honor Guard or a new look at Little Flowers Wreath One which they might not have seen since they were 5 or 6 years old.)

Wreath I Patches

2009-10-07T15:34:00.002-04:00

Just got a call from Quiet Waters Productions, the great people who do the Little Flowers music and patches. They just got a new batch of Wreath I badges from the manufacturer, but they didn't fit together! The manufacturer had made the error and it will take some time to correct and re-produce the badges. They expect the new badges by the first of December.

If you have ordered Wreath I badges recently, they will be shipped when they come in. At present, we are not taking orders for Wreath I badges, except if you are ordering them in a Economy Member Pack or similar package deal. You can still order them this way, so that you will get the discounted bundled price. They will be shipped when they come in.

So sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.

God bless, Joan Stromberg, Ecce Homo Press

Is everyone equal?

2009-09-25T11:35:00.002-04:00

Yes! There is no doubt from what Christ says and what our Church teaches that we are all equal in God's eyes. We are made in His image and likeness and as such there is no difference between us.

But....we are all so different. Let us never equate difference with better or worse. A child is as vital to God as any adult (the simplest reason behind our Church's clear pro-life teachings) but a child is not an adult as there are clear differences - maturity, size and abilities can come to mind here.

But, both are capable of loving God, enjoying life and finding complete happiness to the best of their ability and capacity.

St. Therese speaks of this in Chapter Two - "I once told you how astonished I was that God does not give equal glory in heaven to all His chosen. I was afraid they were not all equally happy. You made me bring Daddy's big tumbler and put it by the side of my tiny thimble. You filled both of them with water and asked me which was fuller. I told you they were both full to the brim and that it was impossible to put more water in them than they can hold. And so, Mother darling, you made me understand that in heaven God will give His chosen their fitting glory adn that the last will have no reason to envy the first. By such means, you made me understand the most sublime mysteries and gave my soul its essential food."

There in a 'thimble', so to speak, is one of the many small truths of the Little Way. We will be full to the brim when we reach heaven if only we fulfill our purpose from God. We each have our own vocations, missions and roles to fill in His salvation plan. Don't shy away from yours, don't think it is more than you can do - be brave in His grace and know you can do it!

But also - pray to made into a rain barrel!! I do not want to be content to be a thimble full of water but pray that I may be made into a rain barrel or a vast sea full of Him and only Him!

The First Confession for the Little Flower

2009-09-20T21:14:00.002-04:00

In Chapter Two - St. Therese comments about her joy at confession - "What a wonderful memory I have of it!....I made my confession like a big girl and received his (Fr. Ducelier) blessing with great devotion, for you had told me that, at that moment, the tears of Jesus would cleanse my soul....I left the confessional happier and more lighthearted that I'd ever been before. After that I went to confession on every big feast day, and every time I went it was a real feast for me."

Her comment reminded me of an experience my own house. This past year, my 8 yr. old son received his First Confession. I prepared him as I had the previous children - we fulfilled the requirements of our parish and off we went as a family to celebrate this wonderful sacrament.

Seeing our children heading into the confessional can be a source of dread for us as parents' can't it? We wonder both how they will do but what they will say about us! What will Fr. now know about our family and ourselves from the honesty and innocence of our children? But you are also are concerned that you prepared your child well; after all we are not Pauline who prepared her younger sister.

I watched nervously as he walked in and then smiled with joy as he walked out - he with even a bigger smile! He slid up to me, gave me a hug, kneeled to say his penance and then gave me another hug! As he did so he whispered in my ear - "Mom, you forgot to tell me something!" My smile fell from my face, my heart dropped in my chest and I wondered what I could have missed, after all I'd done this 7 times before!! I turned to look at him and asked, "What did I forget??!"

He smiled and whispered, "You forgot to tell me how good I'd feel!"

Remember that! Both my Henry and St. Therese know that confession does 'feel' good. And there is nothing wrong with that! Allow our kids to get into feeling how good it is to talk to Jesus. Make it a committed part of your family schedules. While St. Therese made use of big feast days perhaps we might make it more frequently - as our kids are probably not a St. Therese and perhaps could use more regular opportunities for both the peace that confession brings and the grace it affords them.

Some families I know plan it once a month and finish off with a pizza party at home afterwards or a trip out for ice cream. Making it a reliable routine is one of the key building blocks for them to enter into their teens and adult lives.

And - don't think you're off the hook - you need to go as well surely as frequently as your children but probably (if you are like me) more often!!

Let Jesus' tears wash you clean and set you on the path again!!

New Year, New Group!

2009-09-19T14:37:00.001-04:00

I had a great talk recently with Michelle who is starting a new group. She has experience not only as a great Mom but also as a DRE. This experience has given her a good background to start a group and during our conversation I was reminded of some of the basic facts of 'group dynamics'. You will want to keep some of them in mind as this new year of meetings (Little Flowers, Blue Knights, Honor Guard or Little Women) begins.So while planning all manner of activities, crafts, outings and service projects, don't forget to keep safety of the group in mind. Wether you are meeting in a home, church facility or other space make sure to remember some basic facts:
-Consider creating an Emergency Contact Form or General Permission form no matter where you are meeting. While it is probably required if you are at a church/school location it also makes sense for a home meeting. Make sure you know each girl's name, full address and contact information. Have the home and cell #'s for both Mom and Dad. Even if a parent is attending the meetings, having the other's # will be helpful in case of an accident and the need arises to get a hold of them. Consider also having an additional emergency contact #. This might need to used if a parent isn't at the meeting and isn't answering their phone. -Make sure to know everyone's allergies - both food and otherwise - children and adults. This makes it easier when planning snacks (peanut allergies) or games (latex allergies - no balloons!). -Have a basic first aid kit ready at every meeting. Consider creating your own in a shoe box or purchase one ready-packed. Perhaps you have a parent/nurse or doctor who can be asked to do this for the group.
-If you are using a church facility, investigate what forms they may require for insurance purposes. Don't be afraid to ask and then be ready to comply. It makes a pastor's job easier when groups are ready to follow any diocesan requirements and this would include us. -Decide what method to use for contacting the group for meetings changes or cancellations. A good old-fashioned phone tree, internet group or e-mails - it doesn't matter - just make sure that everyone knows what method is being used and then commit to using it and checking it. Nothing is worse than thinking e-mails will be sent out and then discovering that someone doesn't have one!
Consider passing this task off to some of the older kids in the group. They might even decide to create a monthly newsletter (as Michelle's daughter is doing) to keep everyone up to date on what has taken place and what is being planned.In addition, please remember that no matter where you are meeting, be sure to include clean-up time into your meeting schedule. Every member should take an active part in making sure the meeting location is left as clean (or better!) than when they arrived. A sure way to keep a pastor or a parent happy is to regard the meeting place as 'special' and making sure it looks and remains that way!Finally, have a great year! Remember to let others (and us) know what is working and what isn't. We're all eager to learn from each others successes and failures! Be assured of our prayers!

What truths are outside of time??

2009-09-14T21:19:00.004-04:00

St. Therese writes, "God favored me by awakening my intelligence very early and by imprinting the happenings of my childhood so sharply on my memory that the things I am going to write about seem as if they took place yesterday."

While I am so very grateful that God gave this gift to St. Therese as the stories of her childhood play such a strong part in the saint she became, I do not have that gift. I have nothing to fear from my memories of my childhood - large, cradle-Catholic family - no real skeletons, some really funny stories but nothing compared with St. Therese. Realizing this, I started to take a look at those things that St. Therese writes about that might be able to find a place in my home.

To be clear, we are not called to 'be' anyone but ourselves before God - we all have our own vocations with our families and should never seek to 'be just like' anyone as that would not allow God to work with us and through us. But we can see good in other families or people and pray that what we witness might also fit into God's plan for us.

Two images struck a cord with me. The first one was from the introduction where Mr. Beevers speaks of the type of family they were. He speaks quite bluntly - "Louis and Zelie Martin concerned themselves with three things and three things only - the Church, their family and their work. Suitable recreation had, of course, its place in their lives, but no time was wasted in chasing so-called pleasures. Nowadays such a life seems to many far too narrow and circumscribed. Yet a life spent serving God and performing all the duties of one's state in life is immeasurably fuller, richer, and happier than one passed in worldly activities."

But let's us be careful as we read this for what it means and what it does not - for I wouldn't want any family reading this and saying that to be holy we need to live exactly as they did. You can't and you shouldn't. However, the Martins' have one thing that we can duplicate.

They clearly knew their vocation before God and what He was asking of them, calling them to and how to fulfill that. Are we as clear? Do we pray with our spouse for a clear vision of God's vocation for our family? Do we have a plan on how to fulfill this vocation or are our days flowing from one to another without any clear path?

The other image that struck a cord with me was her description of her love and relationship with her father. I was impressed as they naturally had a relationship that studies today have determined are essential. Several studies have recently supported that a healthy, loving relationship between a daughter and father are key to that daughter's success, strong sense of self and a protection against ever getting involved in risky behaviors. Dr. Meg Meeker has written an excellent book, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters that clearly speaks of this relationship. Matt had read this book over the past year and watching him put into place much of what Dr. Meeker speaks of is a real gift to me and to our seven daughters.

Our lives in the 21st century are not the lives of the Martins' but there are some truths that are outside of any calendar - a commitment to God and to our families should be seen an essential part of those transcendent truths.

The Story of a Soul

2009-09-10T21:53:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I am 'inspired' to re-read this wonderful book and use it as both a book club and source of 'food for thought' for this blog. In that we are both inspired by St. Therese's life it seems appropriate. Tonight, my first thoughts:

WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!??? It has been many years since I last read this book and what I remembered was not what I was reading. Isn't that the funny thing about good books, especially good, true, spiritually theologically sound books? You read them once and gain a lot, set them aside, live a few days, months or years and pick them up again. Due to the life you have lived, the maturity you have gained, the grace you are now open to and the work of the Holy Spirit you gain a whole lot more - new more! It works with the Bible and it works with this book.

I know the reasons - I'm older now and hopefully wiser than when I first read this book and when I read for the 2nd or 3rd time when writing LFGP. But reading it now, it seems like a new book - a book I feel I've never read. I like it!

Thoughts from Chapter One - at least as far as I could read before stopping because I was just overwhelmed...

1st paragraph, 2nd line - "Jesus made me realize that I should please Him by unquestioning obedience."

Here's where I first got into trouble....have I ever given Jesus unquestioning obedience? I have strived to be obedient to Him but it usually always comes with questions, sometimes alot of questions such as, "Are you crazy?" or "Surely, you can't mean...." or my favorite "Why??" I expect obedience from my children, unquestioning obedience for the most part as I'll allow them to ask appropriate questions about the why's if it will help them better understand or inspire them. But my questions to God are rarely of this nature - my questions are whiny and demanding. Explain yourself to me God!! Shades of Job. While I would love to see God, I don't want Him giving me the slapdown He gave Job!

4th paragraph - Here is the beginning of the LFGP when I first began to see it - "The splendour of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. I realised that if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness and there would be no wild flower to make the meadows gay."

Our daughters, young though they are, could be seen as the little violets who surely give God joy. And we all have much to give to God (and the world) even if we have a bit of wild flower in us and aren't as refined as the rose!

I read some of her early life but needed to pause in my reading...too much as they say to read in one reading...

More tomorrow night...

One last thought - did you realize that she gave herself the name "Little Flower"? I had forgotten that until re-reading it in the introduction. It made me wonder what name would I give myself in my relationship with God? Pathetic Weed came to my mind first but that certainly isn't as inspiring is it? :-) I'll give it some more thought and see I can't come up with something better!

Welcome to a new year of Little Flowers! Book Club, anyone?

2009-09-09T21:25:00.003-04:00

I will apologize for being neglectful of the blog this summer. The pool was too inviting, my children were too fun to be with and there was my 25th wedding anniversary to plan! All of this involved getting all 11 children home for a visit for the first time in almost 3 years....

So, I apologize for not being more active. In wanting to give this blog more commitment and quality I took this situation to adoration. I have discovered that time before the tabernacle can result in some amazingly good ideas. Jesus truly is interested in all the minute details of our lives and is eager to put His two cents into anything and everything - we just have to be willing to let Him.

As a result of this prayer time, I was inspired to offer this spot as a place for a little bit of a book club. A chance for me to read a good book and share my thoughts on it. I would like to read books that are helpful in learning about being a Catholic - but especially a Catholic wife and mother. You are welcome, most welcome to join me and offer your own insights or you can just read vicariously through me.

The first book? It seems obvious - The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux - The Story of a Soul. I'm using the John Beevers translation published by Image Doubleday in 1989. I have read this book before - several times. I read in preparation for the very beginning of Little Flowers and since as new wreaths have come about. But I was inspired to read it again. This time, I am going to read solely as a wife and mother. A woman looking for greater insight in being a better wife and mother.

I'll be posting some quotes from the book that strike a cord with me from the place I am at this time. As I said, I'd love some company for this journey so feel free to read along and let me know what you think of the book, what I write and more.

I'll be posting most evenings except on the weekend unless really inspired. I hope you can be inspired as well.

To Copy or Not to Copy

2009-09-04T15:08:00.001-04:00

It may seem odd to have an article about copyright issues under the title "living and learning the virtues," but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. When we teach children about virtues, they will learn best by our good example. All the saint stories, acts of virtue, memorized prayers and Bible verses will be lost if the parent gives a poor example when living out virtue.

Illegally photocopying material not only gives a bad example of moral virtue to children, it also prevents more good materials to be produced. It may seem a small thing to have a copy of an extra saint picture on hand or to copy a few pages here and there, but children see and follow our example. We need to be above repoach and models of virtue in their eyes.

Here are a few suggestions to make your life as a leader easier while keeping your virtue intact. 1) if you'd like another copy of a saint's picture, have the children trace it from the book. It will be their own work and can add to craft time. 2) If you have a new child join and they don't yet have a book, have another child share (thus practicing virtue). The new child can copy down the Bible verse and prayers, thus helping commit them to memory. 3) If you were delayed in ordering your books and are afraid they won't be there by the first meeting, plan something else or postpone the meeting. Remember, the program is flexible, so you don't have to do one virtue a month for nine months. It may sound like the perfect plan, but it's only an outline to help you. The first meeting is going to be hectic anyway. Plan a couple of ice breaker games, a short craft, and "getting to know you" activities. It will go much better than handing out loose sheets of photocopied materials. Also, I frequently get calls from leaders wanting me to read them the first lessons' materials so they can plan their meeting. They typically have been busy and forgotten to order the books ahead of time. To teach a lesson with no materials and little forsight does a disservice to the youth. Again, I urge you to postpone your meeting or organize something else until you can receive your materials. By the way, because I, too, am a busy mom, I am unable to read the lessons to each person who asks. Please forgive me.

As the publisher who has taken on the expense of printing this material, I am very grateful to all of you for your time and commitment to our youth. I strive to make the materials as user friendly as possible. I hope all of you have a wonderful year with your groups! God bless you in your work for His work!

Joy for the Asking, Joy for the Keeping

2009-08-17T11:11:00.002-04:00

Joy is a vital virtue for a healthy, holy life and that while asking for it might not be a problem on most days - keeping it is another! And reminding ourselves of its importance is key.

And like any other virtue is in the asking and practicing of it that we are able to not only keep it, but keep it well! Jesus reminds of this in Mt. 13:11.“To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
While there are those who will want to believe that this has to do with material goods - from a Catholic perspective we know it has to do with spiritual blessings. The more we practice virtue - faith, hope, love and joy - the more we gain - including the grace which gives us the ability to be more loving, faithful and joyful.

And, if we don’t practice them, so to speak, are we surprised when we don’t have them. This is a basic fact of life. Want muscles?? Exercise. We tell our children that they will know their multiplication facts if they practice them along with their Latin or Spanish verbs. The same is true of virtues - such as joy. If you want it - ask for it and put it into practice.

While we often substitute being happy (an emotion) for being joyful we are not thinking of the emotion but the virtue! For it is virtue we want is it not? It is virtue that will get us into heaven not feelings or emotions.

BUT, this is NOT to say that emotions are bad as they are a part of who we are as people, they are given to us by God however I think we can all agree that they aren’t the most reliable source of information and can often get us into trouble if we act on emotion only without giving some rational thought to our decisions.

Joy is a fruit - growing as a result of the seeds planted by the Holy Spirit. And just like any seed we can either help it grow and flourish or allow it to die. Our lives therefore need to be lived in such a manner that these fruits - joy for our purposes - to not only grow but flourish. Are we living in such a way that we give water and food to the seeds of joy in our lives?
Joy is also an effect of charity - charity being both the acts or feelings of a kindly manner towards others and any subsequent actions we take in their regard - we feel charitably towards those around us, we give charity to those in need and such like. But, charity is also specifically is the divine love, that is, to the love of God for man or the love of man for God. In this way charity is us loving God for His own sake and others account of God.

Joy as a virtue has a few criteria: it is all about the good, and is unrestrained - rejoice in the Lord, always, again I say rejoice, Paul tells us in Phillipians 4:4-5.

So, joy here is the delight our lives should take in knowing that God IS God and He is in control, our Creator, our Father, our source of salvation, He came as a baby, He died on the cross, rose from the dead, gave us the Holy Spirit and remains with us in the Eucharist - and on and on and on. The reasons we can be joyful in God is truly limitless but we still balk at Paul’s admonition to rejoice always.

And speaking of joy in mid-summer seems a bit odd. Joy is something we may only ponder during the Advent and Christmas season when we think angels, stable and Joy to the World! This very mindset is one of our problems with joy as joy needs to be a reality all year long.
It is a recurring theme for Jesus himself who tells us in John 15:
• 7. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
• 8. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
• 9. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
• 10. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
11. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
But, in reality, we may struggle to find joy in our lives and we would be hardpressed to say that our ‘joy is complete’!!

Now, the dictionary gives us a valid yet simple definition: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. We know what this means - the toddler loses all feelings of joy when a balloon breaks, while our teenagers lose all feelings of joy when a pimple makes an appearance.

This is not to say that these situations are not a cause for sadness and appropriate for the kids at their ages but we - as adults - need to be able to learn how to develop real joy and then learn how to keep it regardless of situation!
Remember our friend, St. Paul? We just spent a year celebrating him and his writings but let’s be honest - some of what he asks just downright impossible! Rejoice always!!? Our lives seem way too complicated and full of struggle to say we can rejoice always and that maintain that fullness of joy Jesus asks, doesn’t it? But, if He says it, the Holy Spirit provides it as a fruit and Paul, along with our Church, calls us to it, it must be do-able. God never promises what He doesn’t provide and never asks of us what we cannot achieve - so what’s the problem??

First - we need to stop allowing joy to remain either just a feeling that comes and goes based on our mood, emotions and yes - women - our month!! Second, we need to pull joy off the Christmas card and put it in our daily to do list.

As I mentioned before joy needs to be a reality that we know - know, deep and strong - that God is God and He loves us more than we can ever realize. The quote that comes from John is in the midst of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse. His lengthy talk with his disciples the eve before He is led off to torture and death. He manages to talk of JOY on the evening before He knows He is to die a most miserable death. If He can manage that, we need to manage to be joyful when our lives are a struggle.

If you need to take a look at the context of the quote on joy - other quotes in that same part of John’s gospel we hear Jesus tell us: Trust in God still and trust in me (14:1), Whatever you ask in my name I will do (14:13), Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me; and anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love Him and show myself to him. (14:21) and continues on for three more chapters. In John we have four chapters of Jesus outlining who we are - part of Him, we are branches to His vine, all that He is giving us - the Holy Spirit and all that He is preparing for us - there are many rooms in my Father’s house! How can we NOT be joyful!!

Joy is the knowledge and the feelings we then get, in knowing that everything is in God’s hands. He knows what He is doing, He does see you and does care - deeply - about what happens to you and your family.

So - we know there are infinite reasons to find and keep joy but we still may struggle. These struggles are often due to challenges with both our personality and our perspective.
Being able to find joy is more often than not, an aspect of our personality while keeping joy is most often linked to perspective.

Just a little bit about personalities. While we are all made in the image and likeness of God, we are not all the same. One could even joke that it seems that the nursery rhyme about girls being made of sugar and spice and boys made of snips and snails is true, while some of us are made from prickly pears and others made of whipped cream fighting hard to stand up.
The study of personality types is well-founded from the Greeks to Thomas Aquinas to, most recently, Art and Laraine Bennett. This is not so say personalities are the be all, end all and decide all about us, but they are a part of who we are. Our personalities can make finding and keeping joy relatively easy or extremely difficult.

There is no shame is admitting this. Some people struggle in asking for anything - much less virtues - and others find it hard to admit that they need to, while others seems to do both more easily.

However - being will to ask for what you lack is absolutely necessary for obtaining joy or any other virtue. There is the admonition to Know Thyself, Accept Thyself, Better Thyself. If you refuse to admit that you struggle with patience, for example, you are not going to pray for it which is what you need to do and what your spouse and children are hoping you WILL do.
We are all not given every gift, every virtue in equal proportion. This is not your fault but rather a flaw in the design if you will. It is how God made us, for His purpose and we must know it - accept and then work on the better-ing part. Reread the parable of the talents beginning in Matthew 25:14 if you need to remember this or Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 12:28 NIV
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues..

We are not all the same in God’s eyes and for His purpose.

If it is hard to find or see joy in your life - admit it. Ask for the joy you need. While some of us can find joy in almost any situation, others struggle seeing it on the best of days. Ask God to increase it and then rely on Him doing it. If we want to spin out joy as the fruit of the Holy Spirit analogy - some of us were given a watermelon of joy while others were given a lemon and we all know what we are asked to do with lemons - don’t we?? Start asking God to help you start making some lemonade!!

One way to increase your ability to see joy is to increase the amount of praising you do. Not just PRAY-ING but PRAISE-ING.

We all know that Catholics aren’t perfect, we’ve got flaws by the bucket load and one of our flaws is that we can become very routine in our prayer life. If you recognize that you can’t ‘see’ joy easily, add a dimension of praise to your prayer life. Praise is a time of prayer when you aren’t asking God for anything for you or others, just giving Him the praise that is due Him because He is God. Remember joy is a result of that love we have for God because He IS God - praise gives us the chance to both tell Him and remind ourselves.

In our Catholic faith we have some great canticles of praise - canticle of Zechariah, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people to set them free!” The Magnificat is another canticle of praise, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior!” As well as the Te Deum is an ancient prayer of praise - “You are God; we praise you: You are the Lord: we acclaim you.”

Praise is ancient from the Israelites who sang praise to God in the Psalms such as the calming, Ps. 23 “ The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” to Ps. 104, “Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory. “
This praising fulfills the first obligation in the acronym of JOY. Are you familiar with this? Joy standing for Jesus - Others - You. If we put our attentions in that order - taking care of Jesus and His needs first, then others and ourselves last - we will gain joy. Taking time, each day, to praise Jesus is a first great step to opening ourselves to seeing more joy in our lives and then keeping it there. Don’t let you pray time become just a recitation of a list of what God needs to do, or what you want Him to do but make sure to give ample time to just giving God what He is due - praise for all His wonderfulness.

The other aspect of asking for and finding joy is the need we all have to gain some perspective on life. You should neither expect life to be easy but it is also not - excuse my boldness - hell. Life is not easy, it is a challenge, but you are up for the task and have all you need. Life is after all our only path to heaven and as such it is a daily opportunity to know, love and serve God better. However, too often we can refuse to ask for joy because it just doesn’t seem to fit into our lives.
Joy seems impossible to have when the world is so out of whack. Do we even have a right to joy when there are decisions being made in Washington, DC that are in direct opposition to Jesus? We have friends who are struggling with jobs, sickness, we can see the evening news and see every reason NOT to be joyful, don’t we? But, we do have a right to joy. We have a right to joy of remembering that God is God and despite all that we endure, see, hear and experience He is returning.

Jesus himself knows that there are many forces out there ready to steal the gifts that He has given - including joy. In the Last Supper discourses He tells us - “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you” (15:18). He warns the disciples there of the deaths they will face because of Him. A life with Christ do not exclude us from sorrow and sadness - some would say it guarantees it. Even Paul who talks about rejoicing always will tells us in Romans 9:2 that his sorrow and anguish are unending! Do not feel you cannot ask for joy in midst of the sorrows of the world or your life but see joy as part of the strength you need to endure - for Jesus also says, “Be brave, for I have conquered the world.”

True joy is not asking you to pretend life is always easy but offers you the support you need to get through the difficulties that are bound to come! While I am an unabashed Pollyanna in real life - I know of which I speak - my life has had its own set of struggles just as yours has. There isn’t one among us here who hasn’t faced a struggle, endured a challenge or even perhaps faced death itself. Jesus knew this and gave us joy as a remedy to the sadness that is bound to come.
So, we have decided to ask for joy and are taking time to praise God in response for that gift but keeping it is an whole ‘nother problem. And, there is much more equality here - for while some of us find asking for and finding joy easier than others -- we all seem pretty good at losing it.
One of the first ways to keep joy is much like the finding of it - admission to yourself that joy is there regardless of your struggles.

Let us never think that anyone with more money, bigger house, better clothes, better kids, better anything has a guaranteed more joyful life - they might find it easier to pay their bills or look nicer going out but may face challenges we never will.
And, we must also admit that for most of the people outside the United States life is much, much more challenging than we will ever know. I say this not to dismiss your difficulties but to give us all a bit of perspective and strength. Keeping perspective on your life is vital to developing and keeping joy.

I have two suggestions here to help you gain some better perspective. Fulfilling the acronym of JOY -Jesus, Others, You - one is for someone else but one is for you.
We can truly gain strength and grace and keep joy for our own struggles if we join them with others. The majority of the world struggles with a poverty we will never know and the real threat of death not only from diseases we have cures for but war. With that in mind, gain some joy by thinking of others.

Concretely helping others in need - with prayers, time, talents or treasures - is a surefire way to keep you joyful. This goes back to the aspect of charity - the source of joy - that I spoke of in the beginning. Being good to others will bring you joy! Guaranteed.

One idea might be spiritual adoption. Throughout my life, I’ve had a love for ‘pagan babies’. Does anyone else remember that extremely politically incorrect name from Catholic elementary schools? In my own school, the boys and girls were forever in competition with each other for who could bring in enough pennies and nickels to adopt a pagan baby. As an adult and then parent I would think back on those days or see the info-mercials on the programs and wonder about doing it again. But, quite honestly, our budget is too tight for that. Then on one rather difficult day I was whining and complaining interiorly about how hard my life was, I had this blast of an image of a mother far away really, truly struggling. I saw no faces, heard no voices but I knew that no matter how hard my life was there was - as my mother used to say to me ‘starving children in China (or India, or even America). The thought and image of these mothers and their children took my breath away and I realized I have nothing to complain about!
On my worst days, when I really think I need to consider a different life I take a moment and say a pray for a mother far away who is not struggling with a child who can’t choose between grape and strawberry jelly but with a child who hasn’t had food in days. Remembering these families in faith who are really struggling can help us realize that allowing our joy to leak out due a toddler’s tantrum or a slow line of traffic shows a lack of perspective. Consider spiritually adopting another family - though you may never know their names and offer up your struggles for theirs. Doing so will bring you joy and them much needed support and grace.
Another concrete way to keep joy is remember why you should be joyful. This one is for you - finally, it is all about you! Take some time in the next few days (or at least before school starts) to make your own personal list of Reasons to be Joyful. While the virtue of joy which is often confused with the emotion of happiness and while they are not the same and not always interchangeable we all do it, don’t we??

They are linked in live aren’t they? When we are happy it is easier to see and feel joy isn’t it? And, honestly there is nothing wrong with that as it a part of who we are as people.
The list I am asking you to make is to take an assessment of who you are as a person - your personality and what makes you so happy that it sinks deep into your skin and into your very soul. That feeling of happiness that makes you think of God and His goodness and all He has done for you - the happy things in your life that lead you to the deepness of joy.

Remember, our feelings are a gift from God and we need to use them well. They can be abused or they can be used. Abusing our feelings is to allow them to control us or to ignore them in our lives. Using them well is allowing them to spur us on to action, or help us to stay in love.

So, put your emotions and feelings to good use and make a long list of everything that makes you feel joyful! Your marriage (I hope), your kids (even when they aren’t behaving), how about fresh baked cookies, an unexpected gift in the mail or news of a friend’s healing. You can begin with Jesus - start with being a Catholic. Make a list of the profoundness of the salvation story that inspires you. The Bible is written down for this very purpose - for reminding us of the how, who, what and why of our faith.

Be sure to include those things that are specific to you and what you like - waterfalls, working with wood or making a really nice quilt? Making such a personal list and looking at it, more than once in a while, adding to it on a regular basis will help you keep joy more on the surface of your soul and not so hidden down. This list might find a place on your fridge or in your prayer journal. A place where you can remember all the reasons you have to be joyful, all the reasons you can offer praise to God and helps you develop an eye out for the joy that is to come.
So - we’ve found joy - now comes the real work - keeping joy -

This is the real challenge isn’t it? Most of us wake up in relatively good moods - all is well and we are going to do remarkable things with our day - then, as the joke goes, the rest of the world wakes up. IF everyone would do as we say, IF God would just stop testing us, IF other people would just get out of our way everything would be just fine - our moods would remain joyful and all would be right with the world!!

BUT that is not how it goes is it? If our joy is lost - is it some one else’s fault or our own?
There are many ways to lose joy (or patience or peace) but there are some specific situations that might cause you to lose grip of joy specifically -
Joy once had is often lost through the deadly sin of envy.

Deadly sin reminder time - Envy "occurs when a person lacks another’s (perceived) superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it.”
This breaking of the 10th commandment makes us reluctant to see joy or be joyful when others have more than us, have good things happen to them or any other reason. To keep joy, keep a very close eye on your envy bone. If you find yourself envious of what others have or gain - take it to confession - again and again as necessary. Envy wants to steal your joy - to pluck this fruit from your tree so to speak. The snake in the garden again. Don’t let it happen.

One way to crush this snake is to go out of your way to offer congratulations for others’ good fortune. While it may not be possible to send out a card of congrats to the big lottery winner while you shred your losing ticket, you can offer up a prayer of thanksgiving on their behalf with the hope they spend the money well.

Another key to keeping joy is to guard it as you would your child’s innocence. In our current society, we know we need to be diligent in what our children see, hear and experience in order to help them remain as chaste and pure as God intends. This isn’t easy, is it but we wouldn’t hand over our children’s modesty or purity would we??

But, we can regularly hand over our joy - our feelings of contentment with the world and with God - to strangers on the street, the newscaster on the TV and the e-mail inbox.
Think about it - you receive a junk e-mail, you know the ones that demand you send this on to 10 friends, say this specific prayer 15 times or risk death itself if not the outrage of the Blessed Mother? What do you do? If you’re me, your heart sinks, you hate this, you are angry you received it and then you think God doesn’t work like this!!! But still, you wonder.....and you send it. This type of superstition, along with doomdays news casts are attempts to make you forget that God is in charge - and God is in charge - not you, not an e-mail and not a declaration from anyone about climate change.

Guard yourself. What occurs during your day that really feels like an attack to you? What are you sensitive to that goes deep past just your emotions and into your soul? Knowing we have different personalities, we also have different triggers in this regard.
Is the attack coming from the news, your emails, a certain friend or magazine? If you can determine what causes you to feel drained of all joy and avoid it. Don’t give in to it. Just as you wouldn’t allow your children to see an improper movie, don’t ever, ever send your joy into a situation where it couldn’t survive.

You also need to keep perspective on what you allow to take either your joy or even your happiness throughout the day. The best way to keep joy throughout the day is to have a plan to face the day. Just as I asked you to make the list of what makes you joyful - take a look at your typical day and see where your joy seems to leak out and wane.
Dinner time? Teaching Math? Calling in on your ailing mother? For most of us, we do pretty well until faced with a situation we don’t like but have to do anyway. Or we do pretty well until faced with a situation we didn’t have planned or BOTH! The bottom line is once more Jesus, Others, and You.

But we forget, often forget, that all we do - everytime we do it, we have the chance to do it for Christ. The fifteenth time we’ve tied a shoe, the fourth time we’ve cooked macaroni and cheese this week can all be for Christ if we so choose.

The homeschooling we do on a daily basis and the hours it takes are for Christ, for His Kingdom and the saints He has asked us to form. We can either allow all that we do to be a source of frustration or not.

Joy is not happiness but keeping joy - keeping Jesus front and center - does help in keeping you happy as well. So when I said that we need to put joy in our planner - do it. Write down joy every day - Jesus, Others and You and you’ll find yourself serving Christ - in your children - more and ‘those kids who keep interrupting you’ less. You will find you patient with your husband with whom you share a sacrament rather than upset with the guy who drops his socks on the floor.

You will discover that by focusing on all the reasons you have for real joy you’ll not be as prone to complaining, yelling and in general being less joyful. Joy - and all the other fruits of the Holy Spirit and virtues - don’t like being around the weeds of sin and if we focus more on the those they will begin to force the weeds out of our garden.

Pray to see and strive to see all that happens as from Christ and you will keep the joy you have. From the planned misery of the math test or dinner prep to the unexpected car trouble - each is a chance to either allow Jesus to work with us or do it alone. Keeping your joy means keeping Jesus first. Helping our children with math fulfills our duty before God, serving them dinner is a chance to serve Christ himself. Seemingly simple, seemingly so spiritual but so simply true!
Keeping Joy is most often the work of keeping Jesus first in our lives. This will not guarantee you perfect days, it will not guarantee you perfect kids or perfect anything. You will encounter moments of suffering, sorrow and sacrifice. You will be asked to do things you thought you’d never do, but do them you will!

Keeping joy will just help your days be easier in that you will begin to focus more on Christ and less on you and that is really what matters isn’t?

New Year of the Priest Incentive

2009-07-20T17:00:00.002-04:00

FOR ALL LITTLE FLOWERS GIRLS CLUB, BLUE KNIGHTS BOYS
CLUB, LITTLE WOMEN HOSPITALITY PROGRAM AND OUR LADY’S
HONOR GUARD PARTICIPANTS!
BY RACHEL WATKINS
Behold Children, Behold Christ programs celebrate “The Year of the Priest!”
It is truly fabulous that our Holy Father has given us such a wonderful year to celebrate! While many of us gained new knowledge of St. Paul and many graces from committing more time to studying his letters and life; the “Year of the Priest” seems much more approachable. I will admit that—having a brother who is a priest (currently serving as a military chaplain), as well as a son discerning the same vocation—I am more than a bit biased.
With this mandate from our Holy Father, we have created the following “bonus” activity. Not a virtue, but adding this to your program will certainly help the children grow in virtue as they discover the gift that the priesthood is to our faith and our families.
If you decide to take advantage of this, here is a new list of activities (there are 12 to chose from rather than the traditional 10 in honor of the 12 first priests/apostles), to complete it as you would any of the other virtues. Make a decision on what your member or group (based on age and ability as with all Behold Children, Behold Christ programs) can complete. The first three activities are * as it would be expected that all members would complete these.
Upon completion, you can receive a special recognition prayer card and a medal of St. John Vianney, the patron of the Year of the Priest, to commemorate your participation in this holy year. Also available at www.eccehomopress.com are award certificates, or if you prefer you can create something of your own.
The following can be downloaded as a .pdf from the www.eccehomopress.com website:
THE YEAR OF PRIEST
Memory verse: “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’” Jn. 2:5
1. *Memorize the verse above as a sign of your own respect and love for the priesthood. For while
they are not perfect, they are Christ for us here on earth.
2. * Commit to saying the Prayer for the Priest as suggested by our bishops during this year to
spiritually support all priests throughout the world. Perhaps you could add it to your family
rosary, say it together after your Sunday Mass, or after dinner each evening. You can find the
prayer at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website (http://www.usccb.org/
yearforpriests/pdf/Peoples%20Prayer%20for%20Priests%20(English).pdf)
3. *Send a letter of thanks to your parish priests thanking them for their commitment to your parish.
4. Contact your parish priest (or other priest you may know) and ask for permission to interview
him. Ask him about his ‘job’ and what he does. Ask about his vocation and how it came about.
What can you discover that you never knew about priests? After the interview, write up what you
discovered in the form of a newspaper column and give it to the priest as a thank you. Or you
could seek permission to create a display that could be exhibited at your parish. (This could be
done as a group if desired with each member asking questions.)
5. Contact your diocesan vocation office or military chaplain’s offices (www.milarch.org). Inquire
to see if there are any needs with which your group could assist them. Perhaps you could develop
a pen pal program, a fundraiser, or collection of needed supplies. If nothing is available, create a
spiritual bouquet and send it to the office (or seminary) requesting it be shared with those under
their care.
6. Ask your parents about the priests who married them and performed sacraments such as Baptism
or First Communion for your family. If possible, locate these priests and give them news of the
family and how you are doing. Thank them for helping your family in their faith journey. If this
is not possible, say a rosary in their honor and ask the Blessed Mother to grant them grace and
fidelity.
7. Choose one of the many saint priests. Read their biography and share it with your group. Having
an evening of discovery of the many priests who are also saints.
8. Priests give up a great deal of serve Christ and Christ alone. There have been priests who were
once doctors, scientists, and great athletes. Some of these men were able to continue their work
as priest while others gave everything up to follow Jesus. Investigate some of these extraordinary
men, and create a display honoring their work. Perhaps there is one such man in your own parish
or diocese?
9. There are many good movies that give tribute to the sacrifices and work of good priests (such as
The Scarlet and the Black or Boy’s Town). Have a movie night and watch one as a group.
Consider inviting your parish priests to enjoy it with you.
10. Using Catholic apologetic material or books, explore the scripture verses that show the
establishment of the priesthood in the Catholic Church. These include: Lk 16:24, 1 Cor. 4:15,
Mt. 19:12, Jn. 20:22-23, Acts 19:18, Mt. 16:18, and Lk. 22:23. Create an apologist’s brief in
defense of the priesthood to give to all the members of your group.
11. Priests come from families just like yours. Praying for an increase in vocations and a generosity
from many families is key. Many dioceses have Eucharistic adoration, contact those in charge
and inquire if time could be dedicated to praying for vocations. Help them advertise this addition
as a part of this year’s celebration. In addition, make a commitment as a family to pray for
vocations regularly during family prayer time.
12. Participate as a family or a group in one of the programs your own parish/diocese is doing to
honor this year. Send a thank you to the organizers of the event afterwards and let them know
you appreciate their service. OR Fulfill the necessary obligations to receive the indulgences
attached to this holy year as prescribed. You can find the list of indulgences on the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops website at http://www.usccb.org/yearforpriests/indulgences.shtml

Fundraising Opportunity

2009-07-03T16:02:00.000-04:00

We've just put up a new website to help your clubs afford to pay for books, badges, sashes and shirts.

Basically, all the information is on the new fundraising website: www.eccehomopress.com/Fundraising-Home.html

Here's how it is going to work:

1.) Register your group on the site's registration form.

2) Get a customer login and password by return email

3) pass the email with the customer login, password and fundraising website to club members, families and friends.

4.) When they purchase books from the fundraising website you earn 40% of that sale as a credit toward your club's purchases of supplies on the entire Ecce Homo Press website.

5. Once a month, you'll receive a gift certificate for 40% of your month's sales to use at www.eccehomopress.com

Please see the fundraising site for more details and information.

God bless you in your work for His work!
Joan Stromberg
www.eccehomopress.com

Group Service Project

2009-06-21T09:35:00.001-04:00

I loved reading this article about the Pittston, PA Little Flowers Girls' Club service project. Way to go girls! Click here to read the article: http://www.timesleader.com/pittstondispatch/news/Little_Flowers_girls_club_donates_to_Greater_Pittston_Kids_Closet_06-14-2009.html

Avoiding Burn-Out

2009-06-18T09:41:00.003-04:00

With summer upon us and many groups on ‘vacation,’ you may be looking back at the past year with relief that it is finally over, or anticipating next year with a sense of dread. If this is true for you, you may have a case of burnout. Whether it is family life, homeschooling, or Little Flowers/Blue Knights, burnout can be a real struggle. I know - I’ve been through it in all of this situations mentioned above at one point or another.

Burnout is described as physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. But even without Webster’s definition, we all know it when we see it in others but often don’t realize when it hits us - until it is too late.

But it can happen and sometimes does. I hope it offers you some comfort to know that burnout happens to the best (and worst) of us. I also hope it offers you additional comfort to know that burnout doesn’t have to happen. And lastly, if it should happen, it says nothing about who you are as a person (or Catholic). We are flawed people reaching out for the grace of God in all circumstances and sometimes our arms fall a bit short. We also need to realize Satan is never idle, and the stress and overwork that causes the burnout often has his dirty fingerprints all over it.

Through burnout Satan makes us feel either incompetent or inferior - two adjectives that should never be used when talking about a child of God. However, consider your own experience with burnout. Did you refuse to admit it could be happening to you and attempt to muscle through the difficulty with your sheer will and some extra prayer? Or did you crumble under it and refuse to undertake any similar work or activity again?

The first approach - muscling through - is the inferiority complex of burnout. You are only burning out because you don’t pray enough, pray the right prayer, or commit yourself to the right mix of prayer, sacrifice, and sacrament. In this model burnout doesn’t happen to ‘good’ Catholics so there must be something wrong with you.

The second approach - crumbling - is the incompetency complex. You obviously aren’t holy enough, fit enough, smart enough, or whatever enough to be doing this (whatever ‘this’ is!). You are not the person for the job and God will just have find someone else.

Neither of these are true. Burnout happens for many reasons as mentioned above - how do you define stress and overwork? I often call it - Life!

In the end, regardless of how burnout makes you feel, whatever brought you to burnout needs to be addressed. Burnout is not your ‘fault’ but perhaps you can put into place a few key resolutions to prevent it from happening again (or in the first place!).

Don’t go it alone. Take the advice of Christ himself who sent out his own disciples in pairs. When starting any group (either LF or BK), insist on help. Have a sign-up sheet at the first meetings of organization and insist that everyone find somewhere to help. It can be as simple as providing the snacks or picking up the craft supplies. While many groups run their meetings as drop-off meeting, it should be expected that one or two parents stay to help out. These parents need not be leaders, unless they want to, but having an extra set of hands and eyes is always welcome. There is a place for everyone to help; encourage their participation with reminders of the Christian call to helping. You are, after all, not even asking for their coat, just an hour or so of their time!

Accept the reality that others will help to the best of their ability and with their own strengths with no detrimental effect on the group. Allow other parents to bring their own talents and temperaments. They may be louder than you or more sedate. They may prefer to work straight from the book while you work more loosely. You may wish that every snack be homemade and they bring pretzels and juice boxes. The girls will gain a great deal from a variety of techniques and seeing others in action. It may not be way you like things to be done but it is not the “wrong way.” Accept gratefully and charitably the help that is offered with no criticisms, unless errors in Church teaching occur.

In a group setting, rules must be established addressing how inappropriate behavior or activity will be handled. Burnout often happens because of the stress from meetings that are not the places of fun and faith they ought to be. It can be awkward when you find yourself having to correct children that aren’t your own. Making it clear beforehand with all of the parents of what behaviors are expected can help prevent, reduce (and hopefully eliminate) any problems.
Feel free to step back from the guidelines for the programs and have meetings that are just fun and games. If you are feeling overwhelmed due to a belief you need to do every activity or every craft, the children are going to sense that. Scheduling an occasional meeting or gathering for a good movie, games, or a trip to a local zoo will be appreciated by everyone.

Finally (and firstly), be sure to dedicate your program, the families, and children involved to the protection and watchful eye of God. Whenever you are striving for holiness, Satan (as mentioned before) is surely twitching. Making sure to always pray before planning any meetings, starting any meeting, and ending every meeting will afford you the grace you need to run a program that is fun and inspiring for both the children and the adults involved!

Burnout is not inevitable but should not be unexpected. Putting into place some strong foundational expectations before meetings begin will help them from developing any stress fractures or crumbling all together.

God Bless,
Rachel Watkins

New England Conference

2009-05-29T13:07:00.002-04:00

Come visit Ecce Homo Press at the New England Catholic Homeschool Conference in Chicopee, MA on June 6th and save! Conference goers save 15% on all materials and get free shipping on supplies they wish shipped to their homes.

This conference is a perfect opportunity to check out new items, stock up for next year and get catalogs and materials to help build your club for the coming year.

If you plan on stocking up for the next year's clubs, just shoot me an email (eccehomopr@aol.com) and I'll make sure I have the supplies you need. See you in New England!

Hello Western New York!!

2009-05-15T11:12:00.003-04:00

Gonna shuffle my way to Buffalo this weekend for the Buffalo Catholic Home Schooling Conference at Christ the King Seminary. http://www.quietwatersproductions.com/index.cfm?load=event&event=109

If you are attending please stop and say hello!! I'll have more to write upon return - lots of stories to tell about recent Watkins' travels and more.

Be assured of our prayers!! God Bless!

Beautiful Sacred Heart tye-dye shirts

2009-05-14T12:14:00.002-04:00

This is from Lara in MO--Thanks for sharing, Lara!

Our Little Flowers tye dyed t-shirts with hearts this past Friday then I embelished them with fabric markers to make the hearts into Sacred Hearts. The backs will be Immaculate Hearts but I returned home from Michael’s with fabric markers to find out they were dried out and unusable L

We used directions and supplies from http://www.dharmatrading.com/ this kit: http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1966-AA.shtml?lnav=kits_starter_sets.html includes the book with instructions for doing a heart. VERY easy!!! We had kids from age 4- 13 and so far I have not heard of one that did not turn out. I used yellow, orange, and black fabric markers to embellish the Sacred Heart. I had a purple one to add a wound to the heart but that was one that was dried out. I will use purple to put dark roses on the Immaculate Hearts (you could use pink dye instead… do NOT let yourself be limited by our photos, I just used what was in the kit I received but the dyes are quite inexpensive once you have all the supplies. I found 2.5 gallon blue buckets for the soda ash bath at Walmart in the automotive dept. for $1.25 each).

I also have metallic silver fabric marker to put a sword piercing the Immaculate Hearts. I will try to post photos of that when they are complete.
+J.M.J.+,
Lara in MO

Mother's Day is Coming, I am heading North

2009-05-05T11:09:00.003-04:00

I am heading off this weekend to see my three older children, all pursuing/discerning religious life up in the New England area. Now, before I hear any 'aah, you must be so proud', which I am, there also comes a mistaken belief that this is somehow due to my parenting.

I want to make it perfectly clear here that Matt and I have always felt that the path our children are undertaking have been in spite of our parenting and not because of it. Honestly, just ask any of my kids.

But, I also know that Matt and I have done a few things that are worth sharing that might help you and your family:

-Give God permission - daily - to have full access to your children. This sounds so basic, but many parents are resistant to a religious vocation in their family. There may be many reasons for this but they need to be examined and set aside. God gave you your children and His plan for them - including religious life - is what will make them happy. Don't you want happy kids?

-Show a great love and respect for religious life in your home. Don't speak harshly or negatively about religious. This isn't to say that you and your spouse might have discussions about real situations and concerns about the leadership in your parish or other issues but not in front of the kids.

-See religious life as a viable vocation. You shouldn't/can't push your child into religious life as they will end up resenting you and the Church but you should certainly open the door as you are the only one who can. Middle school or high school guidance counselors aren't likely to bring it up on career day are they?

-Ask Mary and Joseph to help you raise your kids. They did a good job w/ their boy Jesus didn't they? You can trust them with your own.

There is an obvious need for vocations. God is still calling; He is just hoping someone will be listening and will answer "yes" when He calls.

So, I'm off. Look for a new post next week and I'll let you all know what a great time I had. God Bless, Rachel

Curbing our complaints

2009-05-01T15:32:00.003-04:00

Let's face it - we have little to complain about. I was pondering this reality as I was wiping up another mess, taking a child back to the doctor for a recheck on a broken elbow and wondering where was the best price for gas as it seems to be inching back up.

I found myself whining a bit - okay, a lot - when I heard God sigh. Not really, but figuratively. It was as if I could sense Him presence near me as I wiped and He was more than a little disappointed. In my ear, I could hear Him say - "So what?!" I sat back on my heels. Did I just hear what I thought I did? No words of comfort for my struggles, no sweet words of understanding just a shrug of the shoulders and a quite firm (yet, fatherly), "So what???"

I got it! So what, if I have all that and more. So what if I am being put out by these small tasks. Sure, they were drudgery and sure they were annoying but SO WHAT!

Now, I may have blogged about this already (and have forgotten) but if so, it only goes to show that I have yet to climb out of this current rut of sin I have found myself in. So, I will offer once again, the challenge to myself (and anyone else who wants to join me) that when life seems to be a struggle just step back, take another look and say - out loud - so what?!

If what you are going through truly matters, and it may very well, then take a minute to ask for the grace and understanding to tackle it. If it isn't a big deal, and often isn't, give yourself a shake by the collar and get to the job of life. But without the complaints, please. As I am sure now from my own experience that God would prefer not to hear them.

Gathering Together - Helping Together

2009-04-27T19:55:00.003-04:00

There is much to be said about the joy, fun and strength that can be had from gathering together. You can see why Jesus sent his first followers out in pairs. Everything is more enjoyable and more bearable when it is shared. As our mothers and grandmothers were quick to remind us - "Many hands make light the work!"

Such is true in life and in families, homeschooling and Little Flowers. While I realize many great families are doing LF on their own, there are some really neat groups out there. I had the chance to meet some of them in New Jersey this past weekend. They are so enthusiastic, generous and inspiring.

When LF first began over ten years ago, little did I imagine it would become what it has. Little Flowers also revealing the truth of the adage as it is also the work of many hands - from Joan Stromberg and Tracy Trembley to many others.

It has also been proven by the spiritual help given from the Holy Spirit to the Blessed Mother to St. Therese herself by way of inspiration and direction. There is also the watchful eye of God the loving Father. Proving once again - 'many hands make light the work' - even if those hands are heavenly hands never actually seen but felt. Hands and help felt strongly and powerfully, especially when time is spent with others who have the same love for Little Flowers.

Why don't we believe God??

2009-04-23T13:30:00.002-04:00

I have been very, very busy being a Mom lately. Last week I spent every day, yes - every day, every single day at the doctor's. With eight kids at home, all of whom displaying a new and different respiratory virus, I didn't want to take any chances. So, a few children at a time and finishing up with four on Friday - two for a first time, two for a recheck of their chest I put in more than my fair share of elevator miles. My kids had not been sick for over a year so we hadn't been in awhile and my doctor is great, patient and I love her.

But still.....there were twinges of sort of guilt about what I was doing. The back and forth driving, the parking as well as the relying on oldest daughter at home to help w/ babysitting. It was an exhausting week as it finally came to a close. As I was falling asleep on Friday, I couldn't help but wonder, "What did I get done this week???"

Great spiritual writers such as St. Francis de Sales would say I was being holy. His treasure "Conformity to God's Will" says as much. Other great works such as "Abandonment to Divine Providence" speak of the holiness of the moment. The saint who sweeps the floor of her hut because that is what needed at the moment and it is done well and with acceptance.

But I balk at that. I rarely think that what I do as a Mom is worthy of being called "holy" but I assured by God and great writers through the centuries that it is. Holiness is not perfection but being set aside for God and God's purpose. And what greater purpose is there of 'laying down one's life for another'? Even if that laying down is nothing more than driving a 15 passenger van back and forth, and back and forth to the doctor's, the pharmacy and then home.

Motherhood has many moments of such holiness. Perhaps they are small and hidden but they are there all the same. What I do will never garner the recognition that the work of Blessed Mother Teresa or Blessed Edith Stein but am I doing what I do for the world's accolades or God's smile of approval. "This is my daughter, with whom I am well pleased."

I hope that at some point during last week (and today for that matter), He gave St. Michael a nudge in the side and said, "See, that Rachel??? Boy, she is making me proud!"

The Gift of Catholic Woman and Mother

2009-04-22T15:32:00.001-04:00

Upon reading Mulieris Dignitatem , the urgent words I heard ringing in my ears, and soul, were not even in the document itself. But I could clearly hear the encouragement of its author, Pope John Paul II, who proclaimed to us, “Be Not Afraid!” and from Scripture, “If Christ is for us, who can be against us?” These words of encouragement support the tone of this document which should serve as clear outline of the mission God has asked of women.

When this letter was written, I was barely four years into my marriage and approaching my first year as a mother. I will sadly admit that I was not active enough in the Church to even know of its existence. But discovering it now, at its 20th anniversary, results in a poignancy I would not have appreciated had I read it back in 1988. Suffice it to say, I have grown in my acceptance and understanding of the wisdom of my Church, and having Mulieris Dignitatem now, brings more meaning and import than it would have at its first proclamation. For now I am the mother of 11, 7 of whom are daughters. While not neglecting the weight of this letter on my husband and sons, its obvious impact is on me and my daughters.

As is so often the case when it comes to the wisdom of the Church, the solutions often come before the problems are even seen. Over the past 20 years, our society has been assaulted in ways not seen by the Pope at the letter’s writing. There was no internet, cable television had fewer options and the arguments of today on stem cell research and same sex marriage may have taken place behind closed doors but not on the front page. This list could go on and on, but we all know the crusade we face as parents – especially as Catholic parents-- so it is not necessary to lament the problems. Within this letter comes the reminder and encouragement for us as women to know that we have all need for the battles ahead of us – we need not be afraid.

Within the document we see our role models, women who have come before us who have fought their battles and won. With their example, and their heavenly support, we can do the same. It is as if we walk in the same garden as Eve facing serpents with lies and temptations to trust the words of the world rather than the wisdom of the creator. In addition, we battle against centuries of individuals, societies and governments who would place women as second-class citizens incapable of being vital enough for basic rights much less roles of responsibility. But God sees not as man sees and knows we were created for His purpose and His purpose alone. We need to remember that. We can still believe that the battles we face as women, and in particular as mothers, are too much for us to handle. There are too many lies out there that are stronger than we are. We must believe and know that they are false. We need to reflect on the roles of women who encountered Jesus throughout His lifetime on earth and know that at any given moment we can be called to be as they were. We must not remain as Eve, believing the snake but take the promise of God that the serpent’s head would be crushed.

Throughout the document, we are told of the roles we are called to fulfill for God, but we also hear of His abiding and lasting trust in our ability to do it. He has not called women to missions impossible but to challenges we are capable of fulfilling with His grace and His guidance.

At any point in our lives – young or old – we are asked to fulfill God’s plan by taking an active part in it. We are not to shy away from it, believing our critics who see our tenderness as weakness and our femininity as detriment rather than a compliment. We are called to be mothers like His Mother, whether by birth or by action, to care for those around us. This should not be seen as a burden but as a sharing in creation with God himself, in a manner only we can accomplish. Only we can carry life and give birth and that capacity, even if it is not fulfilled biologically, accords us graces that men do not share. Our gifts from God are merely different but remain equal. Women are a specific creation of God not an afterthought.

We are called to serve others and sit at His knee. We are at times Mary and at times, Martha. We are his witness, like the woman at the well, telling all those around us about Jesus, who knows our lives and has the water of everlasting life. We are His herald, like the woman at the tomb, perhaps being as she was, the first one to announce to someone that “I have seen Him. He is alive’. And we are called to stand at the foot of His cross, sharing in the pain of others, willing to be with them as they carry their crosses, face their struggles, and, perhaps, even their death.

All of these can seem like too much for anyone to bear, but we are not alone. God is with us, and we must not be afraid. God has entrusted us with these roles, and He will not abandon us to attempt to complete them without His help. This trust rings so clearly throughout the document. It is what can give us the encouragement and strength we need when we face the challenges of being a mother in the 21st century. I have women in heaven praying for me and giving me support, including Eve who is looking down on us, pleading and begging with us not to take the same path that she did. It is if she is asking for my forgiveness. ‘I am sorry I lost the garden for you, don’t lose heaven as well,’ she begs. For within the roles I can be asked to do as a woman, especially as a mother, I am to point out the snakes hidden in the garden.

I will not be another Eve – I will not let the lies reach my ears and certainly not the ears of my children. My role as a woman today to be another-Eve in imitation of Mary. I need to see the temptations for what they are. I need to call lies – lies and truth – truth. I need to teach my children and those in my life to do the same. My encouragement from Mulieris Dignitatem is one of a battle cry tempered by a lullaby. I have been given a mission by God and I have the delicacy of my nature to fulfill it. I need to strive to be worthy of the trust God has in all women and teach my children to do the same.
God bless, Rachel Watkins

Are you near New Jersey???

2009-04-20T17:42:00.002-04:00

I am excited to attending the Chaplet Homeschooling Conference this weekend - the 25th - on behalf of Ecce Homo Press. If you are near the area, please make plans to come by and say hello!

I will also be attending the Quiet Waters event up in Buffalo, NY (we'll be having a small LF time set aside to meet and greet each other) and the Family Learning Center event in Lancaster, PA (I'll be speaking here as well as trying to arrange a LF event as part of the picnic on Friday).

I'm writing this on the fly, so specific websites aren't readily available but I'll post those tomorrow.

Walking w/ Jesus along the road to Emmaus

2009-04-15T20:25:00.002-04:00

I am always a little surprised by today's Gospel reading which begins:

Luke 24:13-35
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

They were walking away from Jerusalem! Away! After hearing about His resurrection they still had too many doubts, worries or concerns to stay. But Jesus would not let them get away that easily - He went after them, asking them questions to bring them back to the truths they just couldn't see. We don't know why they couldn't recognize Jesus, just as we don't know why Mary couldn't see Him at the tomb. We can be so surprised at their actions but why? Aren't we guilty of some of the same actions?

We walk away even when we know He is risen. We forget all we know as situations seems too overwhelming, too difficult to understand or handle. We walk away....

But He will not let us get away so easily and He shows us as He showed them:

With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

When you doubt, seek Him in the bread and wine. Seek Him in the Tabernacle and know that there your heart will burn with the truth He wishes to speak to you.

The Triduum in our house...

2009-04-09T18:59:00.002-04:00

Under normal circumstances our house has pretty specific Holy Week-Triduum activities. This year however, we are dealing with illness with 3-4 of my kids (depending on the day!). But, I would like to share what we will be trying to do - with at least a few of the kids who are healthy and what we have done in the past.

In addition to our parish activities, in our house we will say the Stations of the Cross as a family on Friday. Over the past few years I have had my kids illustrate the stations and we will hang those and use them for our focus. It is very neat seeing the 2-3 years of drawings I have saved. I can see both their progression as artists and in their understanding of each station. I allow for a pretty free hand in the art so we have some realists and some impressionists.

On Friday, we will enter silence in our home. We will drape our pictures and statues in black and try our best to be with Christ both at the cross and in the tomb. The older kids understand this better than the young ones so while we will do without any TV/computer/music for the older ones, I give the littles one a bit more latitude.

The older ones (12 and up) will watch "The Passion of the Christ" w/ Matt and I (probably on Friday). We allow for the hiding of the eyes during the tough parts, as I do that as well.

Throughout the three days - still trying to keep as silent as possible we will take turns - either together or alone - read all four of the tellings of the Passion. I usually read just one to the younger ones while the older ones read all four on their own over the three days. We'll then take some time to talk about it w/ them when the little one are asleep. Also on Saturday we make our best attempt at a family rosary focusing on the Sorrowful Mysteries - if weather permits we'll do it outside.

Our goal through all of this is to remind the children that while Jesus' crucifixion took place historically at a specific time and in a specific place on a spiritual and eternal level, the cross remains for all time until we reach heaven. Being with Jesus from the Last Supper until the stone is rolled away gives Him great comfort and us a great source of grace.

Be assured of my family's prayers this weekend. Enjoy Sunday!!

Holy Week is here!

2009-04-06T10:34:00.002-04:00

Every year I hope for a miracle. Every Easter I hope that this is the year when I will arise on Easter Sunday perfectly holy. Needless to say, that has never happened and I have no high hopes of it happening this year. Not that God can't do it but I have come to accept that He prefers to work slowly. I also have come to realize that what I want is work that takes no effort on my part!

While He is a God who can swiftly change the course of a river, He tends to work more carefully and delicately with a soul. He wants so much to change us. Not in a manner that makes us differently but in a manner that makes us more fully US. In the same way that a cocoon makes the caterpillar more fully what God intended it to be - a butterfly.

But that work takes a time doesn't it? Allow God the time He needs but also give Him permission to do it. Be willing to work with Him knowing that the end result is worth it.

Holy Week is Coming

2009-03-31T11:15:00.003-04:00

Just a bit of planning advice - in order to take full advantage of Holy Week why not make plans to get all the details and shopping done either this week or during the weekend.

Take a look at the wardrobes for you and the kids. Everyone have their clothes (including socks)? If you do Easter baskets have all the treats taken care of. Menu planned for Easter Sunday? Get the groceries now. Having everything laid out and ready to go. Plan who is getting a bath/shower and when. Who is cooking, hiding the eggs, driving to Gramma's. Be as detailed as you can. Let the older ones know what is expected of them and assign tasks.

Taking care of the worldly aspects of Easter allows us to focus on the spiritual aspects of Holy Week and Easter.

And in light of that - make some real plans for this year's Holy Week. Have you watched the Passion of the Christ? Done the Stations of the Cross as a family (either in your home or at Church)? What is being planned at your parish that you can take part in? While I love the pretty dresses and can't get enough chocolate in my life - I know that my Lenten practices were for nothing if I don't make it to the finish line at the Garden.

Let it be done....

2009-03-25T13:39:00.002-04:00

These words are both powerful and poignant. They are a challenge and a commitment. The challenge is ours - will we let God do what He wills? The commitment is God's - He will do what He has said.

No matter how impossible it may be - a virgin birth. No matter how difficult - save the world by the death of His only Son.

But we waver, we hesitate and we give conditions. Yes, Lord - your will BUT.....Yes, Lord, your will IF...Yes, Lord ONLY....

We need to strive every day to see all as His will - the good and the bad, the joys and the disappointments. Especially perhaps the disappointments.

Let it be done, Lord according to your will.

Just something to ponder this Lent...

2009-03-24T10:14:00.002-04:00

Like many of you, I find a great deal of solace and support from the publication, "Magnificat", www.magnificat.com.

The meditation from March 8th is from an ancient text called "Angl0-Saxon Spirituality" (c. 660-1066). It includes this amazing concept to ponder and wonder about.

"We all, good and evil, must look on our Lord on the Day of Judgement, but then there will be no person of the devil who will see any part of this glory and beauty. But sinful people will then have to see the wounds and sores on our Lord and the marks of the nails with which he was nailed onto the cross, and no part of the bliss about which I spoke earlier, because now here in the world they were more unthankful for his great humility that they should have been. Then Christ's saints will not be able to see any portion of the sores or the wounds on the lordly body, but there they will see on him the bliss and the beauty and the fairness, because here in the world they were thankful for his suffering and his humility with words and deeds."

I often wonder about Judgement Day. My children have asked about it. I've discussed it with my dh (dear husband) more than once. My concerns come from my own humanness that attempts to avoid confrontation at all cost. In my past, I especially struggled with trying to please people almost to the point of sinfulness - all to keep them happy.

I am stronger now but still struggle. This meditation gave me a very powerful imagery. A wonderful goal to strive for and prayer to make my own:

Dear Lord,

In your love and mercy, please show me now what I need to do to see you at the end of my life p in your glory not in pain. When you have called me home, let me see you in all your glory and majesty. Let not my sins reveal your injuries. May my life be a source of thankfulness for all you have done for me. Amen

Learning Joyfully

2009-03-20T22:28:00.000-04:00

It’s all about the program! Get through the virtues, complete the lists and move on! That is our challenge, that is our only goal.

No, not really. When Little Flowers began some 15+ years ago, I was looking for an opportunity for my daughters and their friends - the first Little Flowers - to get together outside of their schooling to have fun and socialize. Yes, socialize. While we can often dismiss this aspect of their formation when defending our choice to homeschool we can’t. When friends and family ask about socialization as they find out we homeschool, we are quick to comment education should not be about the friends and point out the great educational materials we’ve chosen.

If our children are in school, socialization is still an issue as while they may be around friends all day long, the school day isn’t always the best place to form healthy friendships to build. They spend the majority of their time in classes and can usually grab only a few minutes during lunch or recess (if they still even have that). These conversations have their own problems as they may find themselves with others who don’t share their faith, their beliefs or family ideals. They may find they are either uncomfortable with the conversations or defending themselves. Not good.

So, Little Flowers began as a chance for young girls to learn how to become friends, real friends who learn to build their relationships on a life of virtue and Catholic truths. With a life built on such strong a foundation as that, it will surely survive the storms that will come.

But how to do this? What can you do to help Little Flowers be more than another religion class (something we have been accused of being) or becoming just another talking, talking, talking time (something girls are often accused of)? I think we need to remember balance; proper moderation in all things and the importance of having the virtues being not only the lesson but life.

Covering the materials for each virtue will surely instruct the girls in its characteristics and its function. What charity is and how it should look, for example. But these lessons need to be reinforced and can be as they make a craft and participate in a game.

It is important to make the virtues are part of our conversations - complimenting the girls when they are kind, pointing out their generosity in sharing or courage in making a tough decision. Rather than using vague words such as ‘nice’ or ‘good’, using virute words helps them see virtues in action.

Another important place where virtue comes to life is in game playing. While games are not necessary for every meeting, we all know the girls (and us) love to play them. And while we might like to think that every virtue would lend itself to a specific game, we all know that is not actually practical. We don’t need to have a game about ‘industry’ for example, as all games require some effort to complete. We might not find a game perfectly illustrating piety but can know that every game is eutrapelia in action!

With this in mind, here are a few important things to keep in mind so that every game retains its capacity to teach cooperation, lend itself to joy and give everyone a chance to have fun. Every game has a chance for our daughters to learn healthy social skills in an atmosphere of Catholic truths. Catholics like to have fun, after all, we are just called to do it in a manner that never offends Christ.

On Choosing Pairs/Teams: Be both aware of friendships and cliques. Friendships are healthy, cliques are not. If you find some members always choosing the same friend to be with while ignoring others you will need to step in. There are many ways to choose teams/pairs from counting off, using birthdays, oldest with the youngest, drawing straws, same color shirts, etc. Please make an effort to allow every member the chance to be a leader, be first one picked, feel included and be a winner.

Attitude in Play: Charity must prevail in all things and games are no exceptions. No cheating is ever tolerated and poor winners and losers may need a lesson in fair play and justice. If you do not see charity and friendship displayed as you play, you might need to take a meeting to discuss this. Do not hesitate to remove a member from play who cannot display good sportsmanship and kindness. It is up the leaders of the group to ensure that rules of fair play are displayed at all times by all participants.

In order to help ensure that charity is maintained remind the members of the basic rules of fair play which would include the following:

1. Rules for the game will be set out clearly before the game and may not be changed during the game without full consent of all players and leaders.
2. Referees (or Adults in charge) have final say. No arguing with the ‘officials’.
3. Playing is more important than winning. Win or lose, I will treat myself and other with kindness and respect. Having fun and making friends is most important.
4. Never ridicule or speak harshly to any players.
5. Never intentionally hurt or exclude anyone.
6. No temper tantrums and no showing off.

Do not forget the power and joy of Free Play. Allow members time to create their own games. Encourage them, when practical, to bring their own jump ropes, skates or other portable game equipment and let them decide on their own games. Allowing them unstructured time to imagine their own play is as valid as planned games.

With so much of their time scheduled with school, lessons and other responsibilities many members do enjoy just sitting around and talking and sharing. As long as these conversations are wholesome they need not be discouraged. Gently monitoring of these conversations will help ensure they do not become gossip sessions or create an air of superiority or divisiveness.

While Little Flowers’ goal is to help our young ladies grow in virtue, let us remember that many of life’s greatest lessons do not happen as a result of a lecture but rather from an unplanned experience that became a cherished memory and a part of our character.

God Bless,
Rachel Watkins

Lent is here....how's it going for you?

2009-03-20T10:14:00.002-04:00

I have to admit that Lent has become a habit. A familiar comfortable habit that no longer causes me any discomfort. What I gave up isn't a struggle any longer and I have not been at all consistent in other resolutions. Yuck!

I have two choices - give up and just slide my way to Easter knowing that no one knows how lousy I've been - well, except for all of you. And God...

OR I can make a recommitment to Lent knowing that God allows for second chances (and third and fourth and five hundred and eleventh!).

I think you know which one I am going to choose. Feel free to make that choice with me. I am not assuming that you need to, but I also know I am not alone in being a slacker Catholic at times.

I am glad that confession is available at my church. :-)

Flowers in Bloom

2009-03-19T08:27:00.003-04:00

As Rachel said in a previous post, we recently met to plan some exciting new things for Little Flowers. Our daughters are both part of the same religious order in Rhode Island, so we met there, able to visit with them so that we two busy moms with 21 children between us could make the best use of our time. Rachel flew from Baltimore and I drove with two other children, including baby Thomas, from Kentucky. Driving home through Maryland and Virginia to visit relatives on beautiful early spring days, I was struck with the increased budding of flowers as we traveled south. In New England, all was still bare. While visiting Concord, MA, we saw syrup collectors on nearly every maple. Rhode Island was still brown and bare, too. Going through New Jersey, we began to see signs of life. Maryland actually boasted buds and a few brave early spring leaves poking through the earth. Virginia, however, was actually green. The daffodils, forsythia and hyacynth at my parents' home in Central Virginia were in full bloom. The bird feeders were crowded. Spring had actually come!
I began to think about you all in your Little Flowers year and how you have been working on virtues since September. All through the cold, dark winter, the girls have been learning about virtues, the saints, and their faith. Now, as the flowers poke through the ground, the trees begin to bud, and sun warms the body and soul, we can start to see the virtues growing like little flowers in our girls' lives. They begin to be excited about the next Little Flowers meeting, the next saint they will read about and the next virtue they'll practice. Finally, in May, they'll have an elegant Mother/Daughter Tea or May Procession to present their mothers and present to the Blessed Mother a symbol of the flowers that have grown in their hearts this year. What beautiful work God has done through all of you this year. Thank you for all your sacrifices for your girls and all those Little Flowers that are touched through your efforts. God bless, Joan

What is endless and what isn't

2009-03-18T13:37:00.002-04:00

There are some facts of life when it comes to large families. You will have a larger than average grocery bill, you will dream of driving a convertible but perhaps never own one and you will do a lot of laundry. A lot of laundry.

On a typical day I do at least three loads of laundry. I have scheduled my laundry so I do one bedroom at a time and take care of household laundry (towels, kitchen stuff) either in the over night loads or on Saturday. I strive to never do laundry on Sundays. It still seems like an endless job.

Today it seemed more endless than ever. One of my younger children had an accident in the middle of the night so I am also doing extra sheets and blankets, in addition to the scheduled laundry.

As I was folding I caught myself whining a bit - okay, more than a bit. I listened in as I complained about the amount of laundry, the lunch mess yet to be cleaned up and the dinner soon to be made. I groused about my oldest who seems to have caught, again, the stomach virus and is in bed trying not to vomit. The list of my complaints, my endless list of to do's kept piling up and up and up. My stress level increased. And while all of this was silently building in my brain I wanted to scream out loud - I have SOOO MUCH TO DO!!!

And then - like a bolt of lightning - came the thought - all that I do, all my tasks are done while He still hangs on the cross. During Lent we have been focusing on this - His time in the garden, His walk to Calvary, His death on the cross. A death that is played out all through history until He comes again. Talk about endless....

It is a part of the mystery of our faith that Christ is continually saving us. While He has risen from the dead and both rules over us and helps us from heaven, His saving death is still there on the cross on the hill in Jerusalem.

His act of salvation, his crucifixion remains to save us - save me and save all those yet to be born. That is an endless duty that He does with love.

This makes my folding the laundry - no matter how many loads - seem pretty pitiful.

May I look at my jobs as significant but pale in comparison of Christ's. May I offer all of my daily work up as a small contribution to His great and powerful work of eternity.

Some good things are coming...

2009-03-17T10:04:00.002-04:00

Really!! I had the absolute pleasure of having a wonderful weekend (and business meeting) w/ Joan this past weekend. We got to see our daughters, meet some wonderful LF moms from Ohio as well as make some plans for LF.

Keep your eyes out for a games book, the Honor Guard which will be a new format for older children (both LF and Blue Knights) to learn about making positive impacts on their families, their church and the world. We are working on some new books including "Princesses You Can Believe In" which will be a series of stories on the real princesses of the Catholic faith.

We are also working at being present at a few conferences this summer. I will post the info and dates when available so you might be able to come. We'd love to meet all of you!

In light of these new projects your prayers and support is needed. We always want to be sure that whatever we do is first and foremost God's will. We always want the LF garden to grow as the Master Gardener would like. May we never stray from His vision for the program and for our families.

Look for some great LF suggestions

2009-03-02T09:50:00.002-05:00

I am going to start posting some great ideas from the LF Leader's Loop and other sources to give good ideas about crafts and games. If you have some ideas that have worked well for your group of girls, let me know. Sharing our ideas will make all of our groups work better and give a universality (or catholicism) to Little Flowers.

I am also going to begin posting at night rather than the morning to make better use of my time.

God Bless,

Rachel

Understanding God's Will

2009-02-27T10:35:00.002-05:00

Knowing God's will is a complex theological issue debating for centuries. It is also as simple as smiling to those who pass our way.

My dh and I have been discussing knowing God's will - reading St. Alphonsus Ligouri's "Uniformity with God's Will" for Lent (available on-line at www.ccel.org). We were talking about how the path of knowing God's will goes from the broad to the delicate.

Early on in our marriage God had to use a broad brush with us as we came to know and understand the Church's teachings and His will. We had some really big stuff to bring into line - from understanding marriage as a sacrament to issues on family planning. Over the past two decades He has continually taken a brush to our lives helping us to become more and more subtle in our lives of holiness.

Much like our children - who first scribble with the fat crayons, move onto the standard Crayola and when ready we allow them markers. God has been painting the life He wants me to lead. At times I am a willing subject, others not so much.

The challenge with these delicate issues is that they can be a bit tricky. The reality is that while were is much we all need to consent to - the hierarchy of truths - there is latitude in the some o the small stuff. For example, while contraception is never right, TV might not always be always wrong.

Hearing God speak of the subtleties of our soul is not easy. We can hear the trumpets that blast in our heads with the 'big' stuff but the smaller stuff often comes with a whisper. Make time for silence in your life so you can hear God's whispers as He delicately creates you into His complete creation.

Today's Gospel is all you need....

2009-02-26T10:13:00.002-05:00

Luke 9: 22-25

Jesus said to his disciples, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose for forfeit himself?"

If we could only do this - pick up the cross He has given us and proceed up the road. We will fall - facing the rejection He himself endured. We will fall, again and again. But we will pick up and continue.

Living a life of virtue is a struggle. We know this. On many days we fall into bed battered and bruised from all the mistakes we will make, but still we walk.

The difference is loving the fight and never the fall. He knows we will fall and sends grace and the angels to watch over and protect us when we do. But He watches and sees if we will arise - that is our choice. Will we rise and try again or will we stay in the muck and refuse.

Let us give Him cause for joy and rise to walk again.

Ash Wednesday and a Restless Heart

2009-02-25T10:39:00.003-05:00

Today we begin our return to God. Turning from what distracts us from Him, His will and, in the end, our own joy.

This we need to remember - our joy, our deep interior joy comes only from doing His will and fulfilling our vocation as defined by Him. When we chose to ignore that, defy that or prevent it from happening we are in truth hurting ourselves. But this is hard to accept and believe, isn't it?

We 'think' that by doing what makes us happy, by keeping ourselves and our needs and desires met and fulfilled we will be happy. And we are - for brief moments - but then we ache again. This ache in our hearts, our souls and our minds comes from the prayer of St. Augustine's Confessions - "Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee".

Too often we create this restless heart ourselves. We know what we should do but refuse to do it. Let this Lent be one of seeking Him before ourselves, His will above our own and knowing that in doing so, we will be restless no longer.

Consider reading Uniformity with God's Will by St. Alphonus de Ligouri this Lent.

LOVE2LEARN BLOG: Catholics, Homeschooling, and Copyright Infringement

2009-02-23T11:40:00.000-05:00

Please remember that the Little Flowers Girls' Club is a trademarked name with copyrighted material. Purchases go to allowing more materials to be available. Here is a great link to finding out more about respecting copyrights and small publishers.

LOVE2LEARN BLOG: Catholics, Homeschooling, and Copyright Infringement

Two Items of Note

2009-02-23T09:04:00.004-05:00

1. Blessed Damian of Molokai is to be a saint! This a great news. He has always been a favorite saint of mine as I am of Belgian heritage (my Dad), my dh's middle name is Damian and my youngest son, Damian Joseph is named in this new saint's honor. His story is inspiring and encouraging especially now in our own hard times when we can feel that what God is asking of us is impossible. Please read (or re-read) his story for yourself and your children.

2. Today's gospel (Mark 9:14-29) could be our mantra on a daily basis - Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. For we do believe, don't we? But we also don't believe. This is a fight we struggle with every day. What we BELIEVE fighting against what we see and what we feel - our UNBELIEF. Perhaps we can ask Bl. Damian to help us stay where we believe and not linger in our areas of doubt.

Stretching ourselves

2009-02-20T08:38:00.002-05:00

Yesterday's post about the tough stuff we do as parents came from a comment I read in the newspaper. A parent was being interviewed and made the oft-heard comment, "I'd do anything for my kids, I'd die for my kids!"

I agree wholeheartedly but I had to wonder.....How many parents will say that are willing to die for their kids but wouldn't consider praying with their kids? How many parents will go to extreme means to give their kids anything they ask but won't take them to church? How many of us would buy our children whatever they want but can't seem to tell them about Jesus??

I know I use this path of questioning sometimes when I head off to confession. What was I willing to do for my kids over the past weeks/month and what wasn't I willing to do?? I have come to realize that when it comes to my kids it is truly a fight between the sins of commission and the sins of omission. The things I do -lose my patience, yell, grump and complain - and the things I didn't do - witness selflessness, offer to pray with them, show them Jesus fight for first on the list.

I am truly willing to die for my children but I struggle daily to die to myself for them.

God Bless,

Rachel

I wrote yesterday's blog - Rachel

2009-02-20T08:37:00.001-05:00

I will start signing my blogs so there is no confusion. While I took some of the compliments for myself, I understand the writer believed that Joan had wrote the post and I concur w/ all of her comments. Joan is truly worthy of all praise.

God Bless,

Rachel

When illness arrives...keeping both physically and spiritually healthy

2009-02-19T10:13:00.003-05:00

The stomach bug has arrived in our home - taking us out slowly, one at a time. This stealthy approach is probably better than everyone at the same time but I'm not sure. While the illness is of the 48 hr. nature - 48 x 10 people - is a lot of time.

We have reached the full week mark today with my last child down and out - he is nicknamed "Iron Man" for his ability to resist most of the colds, etc. that everyone else gets but this bug got to him as well. So, with Iron Man down, everyone has gotten it - for the first time.

With large families it is always a challenge to see if the illness will come around a 2nd (or 3rd) time to revisit. I pray not.

But we persevere with illness don't we? What we endure as parents always amazes me. I am not talking about the emotional stuff so much as the truly gross physical stuff - vomit, loose teeth, awful road rash from a bad fall from a bike. The stuff that would truly make me feel physically ill before I had kids, now is part and parcel of what I have to do. I have to do it.

How I wish I was as accepting of what is necessary for my holiness. While I wouldn't hesitate to do all that is necessary to help myself and my children be physically healthy, I balk at what will help me (and them) be spiritually healthy.

And honestly, it is more me than them. I have no problem encouraging, supporting, and enhancing their spiritual lives providing time and good books but don't always take the same care for myself.

This Lent I am praying about taking better care of me - not to the neglect of them - but realizing that while I certainly gain much from going the Stations of the Cross with them (at their level), I need to make sure I am challenging myself at an adult level in regard to spiritual growth. Making sure I'm not keeping my faith at the St. Joseph Catechism level but moving on into the adult one.

Lent is fast approaching....

2009-02-17T11:16:00.002-05:00

Only a week (and a day) away - are you ready?

Lent is one of those marvelously, awful times when we can want to do so much as there is so much to do - our faith has given us so many traditions to do ourselves, share with our children and enrich our family's life.

BUT we often attempt so much that halfway through Lent we end up frustrated and either do not complete anything or we finish it with anger and frustration. The "We will do the Stations of the Cross every Friday and you'll like it or else" conversations. Sound familiar??

This Lent, for my family, I am being more selective in what we do. I will not/cannot do it all so I am not going to try. This is not a case of good vs. good enough as that should not be your attitude when it comes to holiness, but rather a mindset of doing what we can and doing it well.

Perhaps you may will want to choose one small activity or prayer each day - perhaps the gospel or the psalm response from Mass and then perhaps one activity each week. Perhaps it will be the Stations of the Cross or perhaps not. There are many good resources out there - take the time now to find what you like and what will enrich you and your family's life.

At the end of Lent, the question will not be how much did you do but rather how did you grow in love of Christ and each other, and in holiness.

Basic Lesson Plan

2009-02-13T07:57:00.001-05:00

Here's a Basic Lesson Plan from Rachel Watkins....

A number of people have talked about the running of meetings. While LF doesn't have a specific 'way' of running meetings - we know you know your group and its needs better than us - here is a general outline that will probably work for every group:

Opening the Meeting:
Greeting all the girls (and moms) who are there. Give our special welcome to girls who you may not have seen in awhile or any new girls. Make sure everyone knows each other names.
Begin w/ a prayer. Using the Our Father, Hail Mary, the Acts of Faith, Hope and Love as well as asking St. Therese or the patron of the virtue to 'Pray for Us'.

If you want/need a quick and easy ice breaker for each meeting use a "Ball". Get a small ball - any size, any kind. Decide on a question for the meeting such as "What exciting happened in your family since we last saw each other?" or as simple as "What is your favorite color/season/movie/place to visit?" You start w/ answering the question and then toss the ball to someone else at the meeting. You may ask them to say their name (if they don't yet know all names) and then give their answer. This isn't a time for a long discussion on anything but just a quick warm-up. Often you might find a question that fits w/ the virtue - for example for obedience you could ask the challenging - "What is the hardest thing for you to do at your house?" You could remember their answers as you discuss the virtue as good examples.

Body of the Meeting:
Overview of the virtue. Given in language they can understand w/ examples of how they already do it and how they can do it in the future. Read the story of the saint and talk about how they lived out this virtue. Here you can also pick out one or more of the activities for the virtue and build your meeting from that. By doing one or more together as a group they are closer to 'earning' a petal. Almost every virtue lends itself to a skit - either made up on the spot (improv) or assigned at a previous meeting for a few girls to do.

Craft Time:
For some groups the hardest part as their girls aren't necessarily crafty. Don't worry. Consider doing some group crafts and doing crafts that are also a form of outreach. Giving the girls ample opportunity to take their 'faith on the road' helps fulfill Christ's call for us to 'tell the whole world'!

For example, does your parish have an outreach program? A local VA or Children's hospital? Talk to the coordinator and see if the girls could make cards to be taken to the homebound or those in hospitals. Perhaps you could make a small quantity of them to keep on hand, ask to be contacted whenever someone is in the hospital and you could mail one of the one's you've already made (love of neighbor or charity). The same could be done for a crisis pregnancy center - making knotted fleece blankets are so very easy and you could make one or two in group to send over (industry). Granted while it is very nice to have a craft tie in directly w/ a virtue that isn't always possible, and practicing love every meeting through the crafts is always good.

Snack Time:
Sharing this load is always easiest.

Game Time: Another area when you think you'd love to do a game linked to the virtue but again it isn't always possible. Learning and practicing fair play, sharing and celebrating joy and each other's skills and abilities is good. Remember that virtue builds on virtue. Your girls may have a favorite they want to play again and again or want to do something new every time. Relying on familiar favorites makes it easier on the mom in charge so don't dismiss that as a possibility. Or again - assign this job to a new girl each month - perhaps they can come w/ a family favorite (even a short, quick board game) to teach each other. The same goes for a song - it need not be specifically a religious song as everyone loves singing "Bingo" or "Down by the Bay".

Having fun as group, being with others who are striving to be holy is a good thing so don't overanalyze or worry to much!

God Bless,
Rachel Watkins

Today's gospel is a nice fit w/ yesterday's post....

2009-02-12T11:51:00.002-05:00

I've never liked today's gospel - it is from Mark 7:24-30 where the Syro-phoenician woman comes seeking a healing for her daughter and she is told, by Christ himself, that she is no more than a dog!!

How could Christ do this? Meek and mild??!! Ha! He's mean and nasty!

No, he's not. He is all-wise and knew that while the comment - the process of receiving the blessing, the healing - might not be comfortable it was necessary. Necessary for whom is under debate and discussion . Necessary for the woman to develop her persistence. Was it necessary for the listeners in the house who would expect Jesus to send her off as He is a Jew - imagine their amazement to see Him not only take her 'backtalk' but give her the healing she asked.

Was it merely necessary for us - the Christians of the 'future' who would debate and debate what it meant? I'm not sure.

All I know is that I remember this reading when I am praying for something from God - I don't give up and I'm known to give Him some backtalk. I also remember than my own pride often stands in my way of the blessings God wants to send. I need to be willing to humble myself and ask for what I want.....

Why do we think blessings are easy....

2009-02-11T12:24:00.002-05:00

The word 'blessing' brings forth pleasant thoughts doesn't it? The blessing of a new baby, the blessing of a healing, an answered prayer, or a new job. Blessings are good.

But let us be honest and readily admit that blessings are also hard. At times our best blessings come from some of our worst experiences. I have come to see that my MS is a blessing - of sorts. Matt's and mine early marriage struggles drove us to marriage counseling. The blessing of that time extends to this day.

Blessings are good, very good but please don't ever look at them as easy. The blessing of a large family certainly comes with a good deal of work - rarely seen as 'easy'. The hard work of raising good and holy kids is not easy but the blessings are seen when they go from your home to live good and holy lives.

Blessings are good but not always easy. So, when life becomes hard don't dismiss it as a punishment but take a moment to breathe and ask God to reveal the blessing He has hidden in the midst of the challenge.

I wrote my heart on Catholic Exchange

2009-02-09T15:55:00.002-05:00

I wrote a piece about being the mother of a religious that is posted on Catholic Exchange today. If you have the time read that instead of this. www.catholicexchange.com

Prayers and Love to Amy Welborn

2009-02-04T21:07:00.002-05:00

Please keep Catholic author/apologist Amy Welborn's family in your prayers. Her husband, Michael Dubruiel, was 49 and died while at the gym. Medical people attempted to resuscitate him but to no avail. They still have two young sons at home.

Danielle Bean has started a college fund for their boys via the Faith and Family website via Paypal.

Amy has asked that if you would like to support her, buying her husband's book would help - in particular - The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You by Michael Dubriel. You can find via Amazon or check your local Catholic bookstore. He had already committed that all monies from that book specifically would be placed in the boy's college fund.

Thank you!

It is February which means the mid-year blues have arrived.

2009-02-03T13:28:00.003-05:00

If you are a homeschooler (or not), February usually brings in the doldrums in life. If you believe in the ability of groundhogs to predict the weather you now know we have 6 more weeks of winter. It is cold, damp and muddy outside but robins and flowers are still a long way off.

In your house, you (or your children) are bored of what you started in September. Perhaps what you started is not longer working or hasn't every really worked. You are considering throwing in the towel.

Don't. This feeling you have is common and seasonal. If you look back you realize you've had it before (and you'll have it again next year).

Don't give up. You can both get through this and change this. If you are committed to making a program, menu, discipline technique work because you feel it is God's call then stick it out. Ask God for some additional grace to get through the gray days. But, if it is not a part of your family's vocation - pitch it!! Is it that important to continue to use a $15 book (or even a $100 book) if it makes you and/or your child miserable?

Do you need to stop some activities, change a schedule, rearrange something? Do it! Do not continue in misery, anger or frustration. Have the courage to say no to what is not good for you and your family. After all, that is as aspect of your role as a parent. It is not your vocation as a parent to just keep doing what is not working because you don't take the time or have the courage to stop.

Tho' the storms rage around us...

2009-02-02T11:22:00.002-05:00

The storm is coming, perhaps even here. I just want to send an encouraging thought.

That while the storm rages, wether the boat is overwhelmed and capsizes is not necessarily due to the ferocity of the waves but more so due to the actions of those inside the boat. Call out as the apostles did, Mk. 4:35-41, "Christ come to our aid." We can endure any storm, any challenge any struggle as long as we seek the help of God who rests by just waiting for our request.

Be assured that I am in the boat with you and seeking Christ as well.

Deciding for Joy

2009-01-28T09:36:00.003-05:00

It is not easy today is it? We all know families who are really struggling w/ money, jobs, illness and worry. Perhaps it is ourselves in the fight of our lives.

Seek out joy - if you can. I am not talking slapping on a smile and telling everyone all is well when it is obviously not. What I am talking about is deciding that no matter how awful it is around us, that God remains a loving, generous and merciful Father. This thought can allow joy to rise up in your soul to carry through the rough times. You have someone who loves you unconditionally no matter what circumstances whirl around you. God knows that the awfulness of your life at this time does not define you nor determine you. You are His child and as such there remains grace for the hard times and heaven as your final end.

I hope you find joy today.

Please read Catholic Exchange

2009-01-17T10:01:00.003-05:00

I have said before that www.catholicexchange.com is one of my favorite sites. Today is no different. Please take the time to read Fr. James Farfaglia on "Being a Professional Catholic". He both encourages us and admonishes us to the need to put as much effort into a relationship w/ Christ that we do in our professional careers or educational pursuits.

Imagine that world - what would a world of Catholics who actually lived out the Gospel look like? It would not be perfect as we are not perfect but it would certainly be better. And I am not just talking about the pretend Catholics such as politicians who are 'personally opposed to abortion but...." I am talking about me and you.

Give it some thought this weekend and take his advice.