Pentecost in 2 Minutes... Awesome Video

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May God continue to send blessings your way.
Mom_of_Six

Jesus, I trust in You!

Prayers of Thanksgiving for Baby Mackensie

Here is the note I received this morning regarding Baby Mackensie:

THE POWER OF PRAYER gave baby Mackenzie a CT scan with everything normal and a blood test that showd all levels have gone up "on their own" so the doctor said.  Sooo she will not have to get that 2nd round of blood after all unless the levels fall again.  I can't tell you how much it means to me to have you all as friends!!!!  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for praying for Mackenzie and for all the prayers for my brother!!!  
It will be a very good night to sleep tonight!!!

Thanking God for his generous blessings on my family!!

Our Beautiful Blessed Mother, thank you for interceding for us on behalf of little Mackensie.  May her life and her parent's lives be a beautiful reflection of your love for your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.  

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever.

Amen. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You!

Blessed Mother Mary, be our mother too.

Amen

mom_of_six

Prayers Needed for a Newborn

Dear Reader,

    I was contacted today and asked for prayers for a little newborn baby girl, Mackensie.  She is in the NICU and in need of your prayers.  She is in need of blood and today while they were trying to administer a blood transfusion, there was a 'malfunction' and she wasn't able to receive it.  Please help me storm Heaven with prayers for this little one.  If it be God's will, she will be healed and be well enough to go home with her new parents.

    

Oh Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your powerful name, 

the protection of the living and the salvation of the dying.

Purest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips.

Delay not, Blessed Lady, to rescue me whenever I call on you.

In my temptations, in my needs, I will never cease to call on you, 

ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary. 

What a consolation, what sweetness, what confidence fills my soul 

when I utter your sacred name or even only think of you! I thank the Lord 

for having given you so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. 

But I will not be content with merely uttering your name. 

Let my love for you prompt me ever to hail you Mother of Perpetual Help. 

Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for me and grant me the favor I confidently ask of you.

To pray for the healing of Baby Mackensie that she may fully recover.

Hail Mary, full of Grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners,

Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen

Hail Mary, full of Grace.Sa

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners,

Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen

Hail Mary, full of Grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners,

Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You!

Blessed Mother Mary, be our mother too.

Amen.

Peace and all good, dear reader.

mom_of_six

Our May Crowning - May 1, 2012

Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

Old Calendar: St. Joseph the Worker; St. Peregrine, priest & religious (Hist)O God, Creator of all things, who laid down for the human race the law of work, graciously grant that by the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage we may complete the works you set us to do and attain the rewards you promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Our family was chosen to crown the Blessed Mother during Mass tonight.  Four of our six children were able to be with us.  Our oldest lives 1 1/2 hours away and our son is finishing up his freshman year in college.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers as he discerns a vocation to the Priesthood.  

My fourth grade class will be crowning our Blessed Mother on Thursday.  The children have been practicing their speaking parts and songs.  Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You!Blessed Mother Mary, be our mother too!Amen.
Mom_of_SixJesus, I trust in You!

Power of Prayer - Powerful Video

This is an awesome video that was posted from our Diocesan Web site.  

Remember to pause the playlist on the right sidebar before you play the video.

Peace and all good,

mom_of_six

Jesus, I trust in You!

Father Blahnik Ordination

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How Beautiful            by Twila Paris


How beautiful the hands that served
The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross

How beautiful, how beautiful
How beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sin and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That chose to forgive and never despise

How beautiful, how beautiful
How beautiful is the body of Christ

And as He laid down His life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as he died
Willing to pay the price
Willing to pay the price

How beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her groom with His light in her eyes
How beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure lives so that others may live

How beautiful, how beautiful
How beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth

How beautiful, how beautiful
How beautiful is the body of Christ
Pray for our Priests!

mom_of_six
Jesus, I trust in You!

How Beautiful!

Pray for a Special Intention

I write to you today to ask you to pray for my son for a special intention.  He is discerning a vocation and will be meeting with our Diocese's Vocational Director over dinner tomorrow evening.  We pray for God's will, always.  
Please add him to your prayers.  
Peace and all good,
Mom_of_Six


Jesus, I trust in You! 

The Triduum

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Our beautiful Blessed Mother and Our Savior, Jesus.  

Have a very Blessed Easter!

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

The Divine Mercy Novena

The Divine Mercy Novena

Nine days of prayer in anticipation of the Feast Day of 

The Divine Mercy, April 15, 2012

 "By this Novena (of Chaplets), I will grant every possible grace to souls."    Jesus to St. Faustina.

For each of the nine days, our Lord gave Saint Faustina a different intention:

All mankind, especially sinners; the souls of priests and religious; all devout and faithful souls; those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Jesus; the souls who have separated themselves from the Church; the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children; the souls who especially venerate and glorify His mercy; the souls detained in purgatory; and souls who have become lukewarm.

"I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they have need of in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death."

If you need to learn how to pray the Chaplet, please follow this link to the Marians of the Immaculate Conception Website.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

___________________________________________________________________

First Day:      Good Friday,  April 6, 2012

Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen. 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

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Second Day:   April 7, 2012

Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard—upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

---

*In the original text, St. Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use. 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

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Third Day:  April 8, 2012

Today bring to Me ALL DEVOUT AND FAITHFUL SOULS, and immerse then in the ocean of My mercy. The souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness. 

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wonderous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely. 

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen. 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

__________________________________________________________________________

Fourth Day:  April 9, 2012

Today bring to Me THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD* AND THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW ME. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. 

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

---

*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology. 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

_________________________________________________________________________

Fifth Day:  April 10, 2012

Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM MY CHURCH,* and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion.

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

---

*Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

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Sixth Day:  April 11, 2012

Today bring to Me THE MEEK AND HUMBLE SOULS AND THE SOULS OF LITTLE CHILDREN, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen. 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

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Seventh Day:  April 12, 2012

Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ESPECIALLY VENERATE AND GLORIFY MY MERCY,* and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

---

*The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit," we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren. 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

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Eighth Day:  April 13, 2012

Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice. 

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated. 

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen. 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

_________________________________________________________________________

Ninth Day:  April 14, 2012

Today bring to Me SOULS WHO HAVE BECOME LUKEWARM,* and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

---

*To understand who are the souls designated for this day, and who in the Diary are called 'lukewarm,' but are also compared to ice and to corpses, we would do well to take note of the definition that the Savior Himself gave to them when speaking to St. Faustina about them on one occasion: There are souls who thwart My efforts (1682). Souls without love or devotion, souls full of egoism and selfishness, proud and arrogant souls full of deceit and hypocrisy, lukewarm souls who have just enough warmth to keep themselves alive: My Heart cannot bear this. All the graces that I pour out upon them flow off them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them because they are neither good nor bad (1702). 

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

____________________________________________________________________________

Sunday April 15, 2012    Feast of the Divine Mercy

http://thedivinemercy.org/mercysunday/dms.php

Nine-Days Novena to St. Joseph

Are you in need of prayer?  Begin today a nine day novena to St. Joseph.  If you start today the ninth day will conclude on his Feast.  

NINE-DAYS NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH
(Note: This prayer was found in the 50th year of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sometime during the 16th century, it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. It is said that whoever shall read this prayer or take it with them, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in battle.)
Say this prayer for nine days for anything you may desire. Then let go and let God. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.
O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen
O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Mention your intention)

May this Lent draw you closer to Jesus.  
Mary
Jesus, I trust in You!

Total Consecration

St. Louis de Montfort's Way:
Total Consecration

Last year I had intended to begin my journey toward Consecration.  This year I have decided to take the journey toward our Blessed Mother's arms.  She always leads you to her Son.  If you want to read about it... today is a good day to start!  

Great site for information on Total Consecration

Total Consecration to Mary

May Lent draw you closer to our beautiful Jesus.  

Peace and all good,

mom_of_six

Jesus, I trust in You!

Urgent Prayers Needed

Dear Beautiful Reader,
I was sent an email today from a fellow Secular Franciscan.  She is in need of urgent prayer.  Please read the note below...

Sharen H, who has a history of cancer and had a double mastectomy a
couple years ago, had four biopsies done a week and a half ago, and the
 results showed cancer in all of them. She called today from Mayo Clinic
 where she has gone for a second opinion as her oncologist here didn't give
 her much hope.  She is asking for our prayers for healing and strength.

I have sent her a personal note back telling her I would 'pass-in-on' and spread the word of the need of prayer. 
Please all Sharen to your prayers tonight.  I will have my family prayer our Rosary with an intention for Sharen.  
Tomorrow... my classroom children will begin their prayers.  


Thank you,


Mary
mom_of_six 

I stumbled upon this video from one of my facebook friends.  I wanted to share it with you.
Enjoy the video.  It is powerful.
(Once again... remember to pause the playlist on the right sidebar before playing the video.  I need to either figure out how to better use the playlist or take it off of this blog.  Sometimes it is frustrating to go through the extra step of pausing it.)

Prayers of Thanksgiving for Sami to be home from the hospital.  She is, however, still heading to Duke to help with the very painful, multiple blood clots in her arms.  She is 22 years old and on top of many health issues, has just been diagnosed with Addisons Disease.  Please add her name to your prayers.

Peace and all good,
mom_of_six

Jesus, I trust in You!

John Paul II - Totus Tuus

Remember to pause the music on the right side of the posts before you play this video.  I just discovered that the subtitles are too small to read on some monitors.  Here is a link to the video so that you can go full screen and be able to read the subtitles:   Click here...John Paul II - Totus Tuus

I stumbled upon this amazing video.  It is subtitled and moves along quickly.  A beautiful reminder for us in this Christmas season.  

Peace and all good,

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

Merry Christmas Hazel

I met Hazel last night.  

My children play the cello and viola and were asked to play for the residents of an elderly care facility.  The children played beautifully and the residents were all singing along with smiles on their faces.  

My husband and I were sitting in the back just watching it all.  He would lean into me and point out residents who were especially enjoying the music.  It was a beautiful evening.  

I noticed a wheelchair up in the front by the children.  There was a very small, petite woman in the chair.  I thought she was sleeping because her head was bent down low over her lap.  Eventually I realized that she wasn't sleeping, she was writing.  She had a notebook in her hand and a red pen.  She was furiously writing while listening to the songs.  I say furiously because she wrote so much and so fast that she quickly filled the pages and turned the notebook over to begin a new page.

The concert ended and the residents began to leave their places.  

Everyone was standing up and moving at the same time.  

It was then, through the noise, that we heard someone pleading for help.

It seemed as though everyone FROZE and time stood still.  I looked around and saw a wheel chair tipped forward.  It was the little writer.  She had leaned too far forward and tumbled out of her wheelchair.  

I'm not sure why I remember this, but everyone backed away from her.  This next part was slow motion for me.  

My husband pushed me from the back and said, "Move!"

I moved.  

We had to make our way from the back of the large reception room, but we were the first ones to reach her.  My husband was on one side of her and I was on the other side.  The poor dear had her legs all tangled in the chair.  We were able to release her legs and I cradled her head until we were able to find a scarf to roll and tuck under her small neck.  

She patted my hand.  

She comforted me.

She told me her name was Hazel and that she was 95 years old.  She wanted me to make sure her notebook and pen were not lost.  I assured her that I had her things.

I will admit that I wanted to know what was written in the notebook.

I will admit to you that I took a chance and while holding her head in the elbow of my right arm... I reached out and opened her notebook.  

I opened it... but I couldn't make myself read the writings.  They were hers and even though I really wanted to read what she had been writing, the words were hers alone.  

Thank you God for guiding me to do the right thing with Hazel.  It would have been different had I asked her if I could read her notebook.  Maybe I would have asked her, but she was so comfortable resting in my arm that I thought she would drift off to sleep.  

I held her until the responders came to help.  

Please pray for Hazel this Christmas.  My school children are now on Christmas break so I cannot tell them this story and ask for their prayers.  She was alone so please pray for her to be comforted by His Holy arms. 

I asked my girls if they prayed for Hazel last night.  My 11 year old said, "I did.  AND I asked Mr. R. to pray for her too."  

Once again, a child has helped guide me.

So...

Mr. R??  I'm asking you to pray for her too.  I miss your waving welcome from across the street from school and everyday at 4:30ish I still go to the window 'expecting' to see you walking across the street.  You who shined Christ so beautifully, please pray with us for Hazel.  

We believe in the Communion of Saints.  

Our God is an awesome and amazing God.

Peace and all good,

Mary

mom_of_six

Jesus, I trust in You!

Classroom Advent Gift

Classroom Advent Gift to Parents

We completed our project yesterday.

I was completely exhausted.  (actually I am STILL exhausted... )

Take a look:

Maybe this one will show you a better look at how MANY we created...

26 Nativity sets were finished yesterday and are now waiting to be wrapped in tissue paper and sent home for parents to enjoy this Christmas.

BTW... my classroom children are continuing prayers for Sarah and John, baby Caseson, Mr. R., Linda's family, and my brother-in-law.  Their compassion for others inspires me everyday.  

Peace and all good,

Mary

mom_of_six

Jesus, I trust in You!

Mr. R.

Christmas Tulips for Mr. R.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. 

Amen.

Mr. R. went home to be with God on Thursday, December 13, 2011.

He will forever be a part of my life and I am forever grateful 

to him for the countless lessons he taught me and

my children.

Jesus, I trust in You!

Mary

mom_of_six

Singing for Mr. R.

Jesus, I trust in You!

I was invited to the nursing home where Mr. R. is now calling home.  The children in the preschool and fifth grades were traveling to his new home to sing Christmas carols to the residents.  The principal and I headed over early to make sure everything was set for the children and Mr. R. was ready to accept visitors.  We entered the elevator to travel to the second floor and waited for the doors to open.
We were repeating his room number so we would be able to find Mr. R's room.  230...203...230...
We didn't want to waste any time in finding him.  The children were in the bus and on the way and we wanted to be sure to check if he was ready for us.
The elevator door opened and we stepped out.
Mr. R. was sitting in a wheelchair waiting for us!  He was smiling at us!  It was a beautiful gift, indeed!

We pushed his wheelchair into a small reception area and waited for the children to arrive.  Several other residents were gathered to listen to the children's songs too.  They sang for him and he waved his arms in time to the music.  It was beautiful!

The children finished their last song and walked to the elevator doors to head back to the bus.
We pushed Mr. R. back to his room and sat to chat with him for a bit before we had to head back to school to finish our day.
He shared with us a picture of Our Blessed Mother that he had taped to his dresser mirror.  He told us the world needs Fatima.
We asked him if he enjoyed Thanksgiving and being able to travel out and see his own home again.  He replied, "I am home."
He was getting tired and we asked him if he wanted to rest.  He motioned toward his bed.  We helped him out of his wheelchair and scooped his legs up in our arms and gently laid them on his bed.  We undid his velcro shoe straps and covered him with his blankets.
He laid back, smiled, and said, "I am so blessed."

He was starting to doze off so I said, "Have a beautiful day, Mr. R."
He replied, "It already has been."

We turned to leave the small room.  He had already begun to drift off to sleep.  I turned to look back at him one more time.  As I did, I lifted my right hand and waved to him.
He looked at me and slowly raised his hand.
He waved back at me.

Mary
Jesus, I trust in You!
Here are two links to previous posts:
How I got to know Mr. R.

Mr. R. Christmas 2010

One last gift from Mr. R.

On the day I heard that Mr. R. had suffered another painful heart attack... something inside of me was a bit restless.  I climbed up the 4 flights of stairs to my classroom and sat at my desk.  I couldn't concentrate or even begin to think of starting to grade the stack of papers that was waiting for me in a pile.
Then I remembered that the school secretary had mentioned to me a few months back that she had uncovered a case of statues that Mr. R. had given to the school.  She didn't know anything more about the closed box.  She had no idea which Saint was in the box.
When I remembered the box, I immediately got up and started my way down the stairs that I had just climbed. I went into the office and asked the school secretary if I could have the key to the closet where she had told me the box of statues had been stored.  She was curious about why I wanted to get the box.  She shared with me that the box had been in the closet for over 5 or 6 years...maybe even longer.
I told her that I felt that Mr. R. had given the statues to the children to enjoy and remind them of Jesus and I didn't like that they were stored in a box where no one could see them.
I wanted them out and on every floor in the school.

We really didn't know which Saint would make an appearance when we opened the box.
I felt like I was a little girl again on Christmas Day and my father was standing beside me waiting for me to open a gift from him.
We  s l o w l y opened the box.  The statues were all individually packaged in styrafoam containers to protect them from damage.  Both Sue and I uttered a little impatient huff when we saw the white packages.  (Yes, I'll admit that fact.  Remember, I said I felt like a child on Christmas morning again.)
We lifted one of the packages out of the box and slit the tape surrounding the white box with our fingernails.  We opened the box and there was St. Joseph holding the Christ Child, staring right up at us.

I have St. Joseph sitting on our class Gratitude Table out in the hallway.  He is out there for all of the children to see and think about our beautiful Jesus.

It was when I sat at my computer later in the day to write about St. Joseph that I discovered that he is the Patron Saint of departing souls.  Our amazing Mr. R., our classroom to sidewalk 'waving' friend, was in hospice care and still sharing his love of Jesus with us.  When the time comes for Mr. R. to journey to his eternal home,  may St. Joseph take him to see his precious Jesus.

Here is a link to read about our last Christmas experience with Mr. R.:
Mr. R Christmas Story 2010

Shine Jesus to everyone you meet.  You might never know how your actions or words touch someone who is waiting to hear the Good News of our Precious Jesus.  Find your 'gifts' that are hidden on top shelves in closets.  Open them and share God's unending love.

Mary
mom_of_six

Jesus, I trust in You!