Here's a picture of our Jesse Tree. The kids put it together with a branch they found in the yard. We printed out the symbols and made our own ornaments. We want real ornaments next year so we will be on the lookout for ornaments all year long. This is a beautiful devotion during Advent. We read each Scripture selection as we place the ornament on the tree. It's wonderful.
You can find the patterns and Scripture verses here.
Post six things you are thankful for and pass it on to others.
1. My Lord and My God for the joys and trials
2. My Guardian angel for keeping me out of too much trouble and keeping me alive.
3. My husband for loving me and telling me about it
4. My children for their innocence and goodness
5. My mom and dad for their guidance and wisdom
6. My brothers and sisters for continuing to make me laugh and cry and miss them like crazy every day. Who ever thought that I would miss my childhood torturers? ;)
so if you have read this and haven't done it yet, you're tagged!
If you haven't seen the movie Fireproof and you are married, I highly recommend it. As married couples we all have those desert moments. Your marriage is dry, there doesn't seem to be an oasis in sight and you just don't have the energy to keep looking for one. Maybe your spouse is not as responsive as you'd like. If you've ever used a cordless phone you might understand ..if you don't recharge it, it will shut down. Just like that phone, a marriage can and will shut down if both spouses don't take the time to recharge it.
You are moving along with your daily duties and responsibilities..your spouse is moving as well. Then a harsh word is spoken or a disagreement arises and the flood gates are opened. How long has it been since we had a chat about something other than the bills and the schedule? When did we last spend time together alone? Or go on a date? When was the last time we re-energized our marriage? You find that your battery has been slowing down for a long time and it has finally stopped. That harsh word, the aggravation or frustration you feel because your spouse has not come home on time for dinner or has put work before family. These are the alarms that go off just before the marriage shuts down. Just as the cordless phone beeps at you before it shuts off.
Well, in the movie, Kirk Cameron plays a man whose marriage is in peril, he is challenged to take The Love Dare. And now you can take it as well. Husband or Wife. Even if your marriage is at it's best I challenge you to take The Love Dare and refresh, reinvigorate and renew your marriage this Advent season.
The Love Dare
This morning while taking my morning stroll on the treadmill, I turned on EWTN. Dr. Dolores Grier was giving a talk about abortion and how we can find in Mary's actions at The Annunciation and The Visitation a model for assisting our friends who find themselves contemplating abortion.
I won't recount the entire talk here, if you can catch it on a re-run I recommend it.
However, Dr. Grier mentioned something in the last 5 minutes of her talk. She asked what we are doing as Christians, as Catholics to end abortion. Of course, she talked about writing and visiting your congressman, getting involved in the March for Life and so on. But she also mentioned Fasting. I don't know about you, but this has always been a particularly difficult act of piety for me. When I make the decision to fast for any reason, it's like I hit the ol' Screwtapes fire alarm. I can see him and his minions (like a fire department) the bell goes off.."DAWN WANTS TO FAST! DAWN WANTS TO FAST! QUICK MAN THE HUNGER PANGS! READY..READY..NOW!" That's usually when I find myself eating something. Dangit.
Okay, so back to Dr. Grier, she asked us to Fast for only 4 hours on Fridays. From 8-12. I almost started running on the treadmill, I got so excited. (Almost...whew)This might be something I can do. I am going to try it this Friday. Now, I know ol' Screwtape is ready and waiting but I hope with your prayers, your help and your participation we can beat him down and keep him down.
If you'd like to join in on the fast please leave a comment so we can pray for you and with you. Say a prayer before and after for the unborn, whatever prayer you wish and also one for those that are fasting with you. Together we can make a difference.
****UPDATE: I will post a reminder on Friday for all those who wish to fast with me on Friday. It is a complete fast, from food and drink. 4 hours. Thanks SC Mom for bringing up St. Therese...I have been working towards learning her little way and this is just another opportunity to exercise it. The Holy Spirit will be with us as our hearts are turned towards heaven in prayer for the unborn.
Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...
You Are a Bette!
You are a Bette -- "I must be strong"
Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.
How to Get Along with Me
* * Stand up for yourself... and me.
* * Be confident, strong, and direct.
* * Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.
* * Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender,
vulnerable side.
* * Give me space to be alone.
* * Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.
* * I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal
attack.
* * When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I
am.
What I Like About Being a Bette
* * being independent and self-reliant
* * being able to take charge and meet challenges head on
* * being courageous, straightforward, and honest
* * getting all the enjoyment I can out of life
* * supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me
* * upholding just causes
What's Hard About Being a Bette
* * overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend
to
* * being restless and impatient with others' incompetence
* * sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it
* * never forgetting injuries or injustices
* * putting too much pressure on myself
* * getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things
don't go right
Bettes as Children Often
* * are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit
* * are sometimes loners
* * seize control so they won't be controlled
* * figure out others' weaknesses
* * attack verbally or physically when provoked
* * take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest,
or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings
Bettes as Parents
* * are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted
* * are sometimes overprotective
* * can be demanding, controlling, and rigid
Funny thing is, I didn't feel like a Jackie or a Marilyn. The descriptions are pretty good..who makes up these tests? Psych majors?
I read this on one of the yahoo groups I am part of. It's a good reminder this Advent Season to think of others instead of ourselves.The Empty Basket
On March 9, 2007, I was in the supermarket in a rush to pick up six items I needed.
In a hurry, I enter the express lane; in front of me is a woman with one item, a bag of four pears. The cashier weighs them and the price comes up on the register. The woman looks at the price and questions the cashier because she had weighed them at the produce section and they weighed under a pound; here the pears weighed 1.44 pounds. The woman does not know what to do and just stands there. I am now getting agitated because at this point it appears she is giving the cashier a hard time over this minute item. The cashier again showed her the weight and price and asked her if shew anted to call the head cashier. She hesitated, just standing there. Finally in a harsh voice I said, "What IS the problem?" She said, "I need four pears to feed four people." At this point, I just wanted to cash out and leave so I told the cashier, "I will pay her bill" and took out cash from my wallet and paid the cashier. The woman said "No, I can't let you do that; I'm so embarrassed." I told her, "That's OK, I will pay the bill for you." She thanked me and when she was about to leave, she said, "Now I have enough to pay for my tea." She turned and left with her little bag of pears - fading out of sight.
I paid for my six items, got into my car and as I was starting to drive away, it all sank in. There it was; I didn't even see it. It became apparent to me, this woman did not have enough money to pay for what little she needed. All she had was one dollar. The pears were 99 cents a pound. While I was waiting in line for this woman in her indecision, she was looking at the items I was going to purchase. I now see she wished she could afford some of the groceries I had in my basket. There amongst them, was a box of tea that cost one dollar. I heard a voice in my heart, replaying what she had said, "Now I have enough to pay for my tea."
I saw this woman, but didn't see her. Where was I, not to see her dilemma? What was I thinking? On this day my compassionate heart failed me: I was too concerned and preoccupied with my own self. I should have done more, but didn't. I should have and would have - bu my impatience blinded my patience. A woman needed a loaf, and I gave her crumbs. An empty basket that could have been filled, but I was too busy filling my own basket instead of another.
n the days and weeks to follow, one word highlighted my thoughts: PATIENCE. How many times has this happened to others: caught in line, behind someone with some type of problem, something to detain us from our destination? What is it that makes us so impatient, so important, that we shut out those around us in need? I am very sad how this happened to me, but like a thief in the night, it found me, in an unguarded moment.
Each moment we have, possesses excitement to the next; each breath forecasts the potential for great things, great openings. For it is the hope of today which hangs for tomorrow. Every moment is a gift to the heart and soul, to excel in goodness and
grace. It is in St. Mark 6: 35 - 44, we find Jesus with such a dilemma, to feed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. It is here after the Lord’s blessing, the five loaves and two fish are distributed among the five thousand people — feeding all. After they had eaten, twelve baskets of scraps of bread and pieces of fish were collected.
My prayer is to find this woman again, or someone like her, to offer my assistance to fill an empty basket, an empty heart, an empty life of despair. I will wait for her, and with patience, I will find her. For what I have, is not what I need — but the need that I have, is to fill an empty basket.
Robert J. Varrick
June 29, 2007
The Principal took time out this weekend to teach the boys how to change the oil in the van. Although I was a bit nervous about them going under the car, he reassured me that he had set the blocks and jacks perfectly. It's still scary to watch your kiddo crawl under a 2 ton vehicle on blocks. For some odd reason, I don't get nervous when The Principal crawls under the same 2 ton vehicle. Go figure.
