Prophesies about things to come...

I have read a lot these past couple of months about prophecies and numerous Catholic visionaries that have prophesied about things to come, possibly in the near future. Though we obviously have heard of things like this over and over again throughout all of history, in the very least, I think it is of the utmost importance that we listen and take inventory of the state of our souls. I know it puts a little more fear of the Lord in me, and it prompts me to take a good look at myself, my life, and how I am (or am not) loving and serving Christ. So, I offer this website to check out, not to cause fear or sound fanatical, but rather as food for thought, and hopefully as a reminder that we do not belong to this world, and we should not live our lives as though this is our home. Rather, we are aliens in a foreign land, and we ought to live- unafraid, and unashamed- with this confidence, this conviction.

http://www.garabandal.org

Let's Play Ball !

I love being a mother. I also love when there are opportunities to also be one of the other things I love: a musician.
I've had some truly wonderful opportunities as a musician, especially here in Florida these past few years, thanks to a friend who has tipped me off to several sporting gigs and generously helped me get my foot in the door for numerous singing opportunities; and these have been some of the most fun gigs, especially because they serve multiple purposes: I get to sing, we get tickets to a sporting event (which makes Papa happy!), those tickets get us in for free (that makes us both happy!), and we get to do something fun and different as a family. This past weekend, I had the great privilege of getting to sing the National Anthem in Fort Myers for the Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins pre-season game. Mind you, the Red Sox just happens to be Papa's most favorite baseball team, and (even better!) they were playing my hometown team! This was my second time getting to do this, and last time we didn't really get very good pictures. So this time Papa was more intentional with his picture taking, especially to be able to share with our folks and to put in my music portfolio/resume. Anyway! Our little crew was led down to the field, and we hung out jut behind home plate, waiting for the signal to do the Anthem. I was sporting a cute little outfit....with a baby attached to my back, as I usually do whenever walking anywhere nowadays. When I was given the cue to grab the mic and head out to homeplate, Papa asked, "Are you going to sing with C on your back?" I hesitated for a second, then shrugged and said, "Sure, why not?" So... for your enjoyment, and as a tribute to the wonderful multi-task job description that comes with being a mother, here are the pictures of me, singing the National Anthem at the Red Sox/Twins game...with a sweet little head poking around me, and an itty bitty foot bouncing in rhythm!
"O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!"

A few of Papa's favorite Red Sox

Kevin Youkilis, Big Papi, Justin Masterson, and Dustin Pedroia . . .

Day 2 of "Grace in Small Things"

Today I found Grace in...

-My husband, my children, and my family
-Praying through the Stations of the Cross with my children
-A good cup of coffee (with cream and sugar!)
-Finding more opportunities to 'purge' a bit and learn a teeny tiny more detachment as we unpack
-Watching M show true kindness and compassion toward her brother, L, when he was upset over dropping and breaking his piggy bank

Day 1 of "Grace in Small Things"

Today's Graces I discovered in...

-My husband and my children and my family
-Hymns, and the incredible depth of their lyrics
-Coming home from choir tonight and being greeted at the door by my son with arms open wide, running full speed forward right at me, as though I'd been gone for much much longer than just 2 hours!
-My health and the health of my family
-A husband who works hard and enables me to stay home with our children
-Lent, and the richness of the Church's liturgical calendar... how it breathes life and meaning into everything!

Okay... not bad for a first day of doing this, eh?

First Confession

Our Sunday conversation must have sparked something in M, because this morning on our way to Mass she brought it up again...

M: Mama, can I go to Confession when we go to Church today?
Mama: Well... do you think you're ready? Do you feel that you have sins you need to be forgiven for?
M: Yes. I think I'm ready. I think I need some sins forgiven.
Mama: Like what, Sweetie?
M: Like, when I don't obey you or Papa...or when I'm not kind to my brother...or when I don't share... or when I'm not patient...or when I don't pay attention at Church...like those things.
Mama: Oh. Well...we'll talk with Father after Mass today and see what he thinks. Let's talk a little more about the Sacrament of Confession so you understand more what it's about.
M: Okay...cause I really want to go to Confession. So tell me.

(So, I talked with her again about what the Sacrament is first. Then I talked with her about the actual steps of making a good Confession. She listened intently. Then we got to Mass. I wondered if she would forget about it, but halfway through Mass, I noticed she was paying extra special attention and participating as best she could. As Mass was coming to an end she turned to me...)

M: Okay, Mama...let's go talk with Father about going to Confession. I really really want to go.
Mama: Sure...go ahead and say some prayers first, asking Jesus to help you have a good Confession.

Father has been holding daily Confession during all of Lent, and today it happened to be right after Mass. So we made our way over to the Chapel. I went in first, while a kind friend from Mass watched the kids. At the end of my Confession, I mentioned to Father that M would like to come in and make her Confession- would he be alright with that?
Father: Absolutely. Let her come in.
I opened the Confessional door, and M looked up eagerly at me.
M: Can I??
Mama: Father said 'Yes'. Do you want me to come in with you?
M nodded. So, in we went. M decided to sit on the other side of the screen rather than sitting face to face, across from Father.

She looked up at me nervously, and I whispered to her, reminding her how to start off her Confession...

M: Bless me, Father...this is my first Confession ever.
Father: Okay. And do you have some sins you would like to confess?
M: Yes.... (and she went through her own litany of sins that she had rattled off to me in the car earlier).
Father: Okay, very good, M. And are you really sorry for all these things?
M: Yes, I am.
Then Father proceeded to give her absolution, along with an appropriate penance ("Go and kneel for a few moments, and just look up and the face of Jesus on the crucifix and think about Jesus while you look at him.")
M thanked Father and we headed out of the Confessional. I told her that she could do her Penance right now, and I'd let her go ahead and kneel by herself to have some prayer time by herself. She knelt for about 3 minutes, looking up at Jesus' face and had her own little prayerful conversation with him, while I had my own penance nearby. I noticed her wiping her eyes while she knelt there... though I'm not sure if she was crying or not. She came over to me and asked me:
"Why was the screen down when I went into Confession?" I whispered a quick answer to her and then asked if she was done praying. "No, I have to ask Jesus one more question, then I"ll be done." When she finished her precious inquiry of our Lord (how I would have loved to see inside her mind at just that moment!), she got up with a huge smile and came over to me, patiently waiting to leave. When we got outside she actually started humming and dancing around outside.

M: You know, Mama- you were right! My heart and soul do feel beautiful now! I LOVE that I just made my first Confession! But- are you sure Jesus got every spot on my soul cleaned?
Mama: Oh yes, M.... AND He gives you special grace, too, when you go to Confession, to help you to work even harder at not sinning anymore!
M: Oh that's so good!!

Ah. To be in the presence of 'Little Saints', these beautiful little children, who are so full of faith, so full of eagerness... sometimes this gift overwhelms me. God is so good!

What if it misses a spot?

(After Mass this morning, we were having an intense discussion about Confession...)

M: So, when can I go to Confession?
Mama: When you think you're ready, we can talk to Father about it.
M: But how? How can my sins be forgiven? How can my soul be made clean?
Papa: That's the cool thing that happens when you go to Confession. It's called "absolution" of your sins.
M: What's 'absolution' mean?
Papa: After you've confessed your sins and are very sorry for anything you've done to make Jesus sad, Father will lay his hands on your head and, through Jesus, your sins will be forgiven....
Mama: ...and your soul will be totally clean!
M: But... what if it misses a spot?
:) Hmmmm. Looks like you'll have to ask your GodFather about that one!!
(Conversation continuing...)

M: So, Father is a man and he's a priest. How come girls can't be priests? Why can they only be nuns? (Note: During Mass today, M wrapped her sister's blanket around herself and whispered to us: "I'm practicing being a nun." And she kept it on her the entire Mass! After Mass she matter-of-factly told some friends of ours "I've already decided that I'm going to be a nun when I grow up and live my life for Jesus.")
Papa: Well, God made men and women different, and there are some very special jobs just for men, like being a priest, and some very special jobs just for women, like being mamas or being nuns.
M: Hmmm. But why? Why can't I ever be a priest? Why could only Liam do that in our family? Why???
Mama: Go ahead, Papa. :)
Papa: That is a question you should probably ask Father to get a better answer.
M: Okay. I have another question, though. How did Jesus rise from the dead?
Mama: Well, because He's God, and that's what he came down from heaven to do for u.
M: I know, I know. But HOW did he rise from the dead? HOW?!?
Mama: Babe, that's what you call a 'mystery'... it's just something I can't give you a good answer for, because I don't even understand it. But I believe it with all my heart, even though I don't know how to explain it, and didn't acutally see it myself.
M: Oh...like 'faith', right?
Mama: Exactly.