tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25461385902509561992024-03-21T23:43:58.427-04:00Testify to LoveSeeking to testify to authentic love in every day life.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-77844710858941474512012-10-12T21:56:00.001-04:002012-10-12T21:56:27.396-04:00Preparing for Martyrdom...Are You Ready? Grab your rosaries.
Yesterday in Argentina dozens of Catholics gathered to encircle their parish to protect it from desecration during a national feminist conference (traditionally known for its desecration of Catholic churches). The Catholics prayed the rosary out loud while a mob of angry feminists yelled at, spat on, and spray painted them as they proceeded to desecrate the church! It is Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-26807758847090840282012-10-02T14:28:00.000-04:002012-10-02T14:34:14.244-04:00On Temptation (A Musical, by Yours Truly)WARNING: Some may find this post may be extremely corny. I'm just putting it all out there- not holding back to save my vanity.
Daily late night discussion are becoming a norm with my eldest daughter. In preparation for her reception of 2 Sacraments this coming year, she has been learning about sin and temptation. Let me tell you, the wheels in her brain are a-turning! The Church isn't Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-54421243326508071952012-09-23T20:38:00.000-04:002012-09-23T20:50:08.805-04:00Welcoming AutumnAbout 8 years ago this month, my husband and I went to our cousin's house for dinner. Nothing completely out of the ordinary there, we dined with them frequently back in those days when we both lived in the same state (as opposed to presently when we live 3 states apart). But that particular night was unique, and I always remember it because when I walked into their home I was met with an Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-75407260565578213282012-07-04T12:15:00.001-04:002012-07-04T12:15:51.671-04:00Mediocrity does not lead to growthA friend and I were speaking recently about a recent phenomenon that seems to have seeped into Catholic culture from the outside, caused by two ideals. The first: Our modern society is, unfortunately, largely relativistic. "What's right for you is right for you, but not for me" on moral matters. Explaining the many holes in this belief system is another post entirely.
The Second factor of Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-77867308100520056162012-05-27T21:01:00.000-04:002012-05-27T21:03:50.585-04:00A Special Mary's Month this yearEvery year our family has enjoyed practicing extra devotion to the Blessed Mother during the month of May. This year proved particularly special, and a quick overview will reveal why I haven't posted since April!
On May 2, we commemorated the one year anniversary of our 2nd daughter's emergency surgery, and the day that Mary revealed her presence to us. We celebrated this special day with a Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-83741746645280550242012-04-09T07:41:00.000-04:002012-04-09T07:41:00.057-04:00Thank the Lord for Noisy Kids and Dirty Dishes!I wish I had heard this song last week during one of my consecutive meltdowns! What beautiful words.
Renews a mother's perspective when she's focusing too much on the noise and the mess. And by "she" I mean "me."Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-57751514349874481842012-04-03T07:59:00.000-04:002012-04-03T07:59:32.255-04:008 Years Ago today...My Dear Husband,
Eight years ago today we made our vows before God and family.
My how we have grown (mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) in just 8 years! 8 years doesn't sound like a lot, but then again, when I think about how much we've been through, how much we've grown and changed, and how much has happened in our life together, it seems like it should be more! Here we are, about Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-18560305121247694652012-03-26T20:50:00.000-04:002012-03-26T20:50:46.441-04:00Finding the Balance of Online Time: a Discipline Desperately NeededIt has been several weeks since I last posted. Gosh time flies! I have not been able to for several reasons:
1) For lent I drastically reduced my allotted online time each day. This is a habit I hope will extend far past Lent as it has been very fruitful for me, my prayer life, and my family! Not to mention the house is a little cleaner, too. I do not allow myself to get on the computer in Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-39304069466871261902012-03-03T08:14:00.000-05:002012-03-03T08:14:03.606-05:00The Pondered LifeThere is so much noise in today's world. And I'm not just speaking of the life of an adult. Children now are hurried from one activity to another, with noise constantly in their ears. Music, TV, games, rushing from place to place. And the question arises, what are we depriving our children of?
God speaks to us in the silence. I've heard it said that the world SCREAMS at us, and the Holy Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-4036091318233323252012-02-24T14:33:00.000-05:002012-02-24T14:33:41.432-05:00The Unlikely ServantAt this point (30+ weeks) in each of my pregnancies I've always secretly wondered why people wouldn't offer to help me with my groceries. I mean, when a woman is THIS pregnant and looks like she's going to pop, and is surrounded by several other younguns, you'd think that would make people stop and offer a hand. A store staff person may offer to help, but you'd be amazed how many customers or Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-66035978614372339052012-02-13T21:18:00.000-05:002012-02-13T21:18:15.507-05:00Clicking around...Apparently "Women's Health" means NOT having babies. Contraception- COVERED! Pregnancy and Birth- nope, sorry, you have to pay for that.
15 Rules to Live By, courtesy of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
The Church has Always Been Right about Birth Control! Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-54359145307208512242012-02-13T07:58:00.001-05:002012-02-13T08:00:55.107-05:00If Only We All Had Such Generous Hearts...There once was a little girl who on her 6th birthday received $7 birthday money. She unhesitatingly gave 1 of those dollars to the Lord (her tithe). Then she received a duplicate gift with a gift receipt, which her mama told her they would go together to return it and she could use the money to get something else.
So one lovely Saturday, the whole family of five, and one on the way, piled inJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-76733530036583903392012-02-03T10:52:00.000-05:002012-02-03T10:52:08.725-05:00Happy Birthday, Princess!Six years ago today, we were blessed with the birth of our beautiful first child. To this day, she never ceases to amaze us! Happy Birthday, my Darling Girl!
(to explain the picture a bit: she is crazy about cooking, and so has finally received her first cookbook of her own, with a personalized apron and chef hat)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-17066338219415286482012-02-03T07:53:00.002-05:002012-02-03T10:15:33.256-05:00Birth: The Lord's Great Work Accomplished through a WomanYesterday I was blessed to observe my first birth since beginning my birth doula training. This makes 3 births (not my own) that I have observed in my adult life.
Over the course of several hours, I witnessed the woman go from gently rocking, to full out labor in the birth tub, with her loving husband right beside her every step of the way. He didn't stop once to take a drink of water for Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-31162552375864048992012-01-29T19:41:00.000-05:002012-01-29T19:41:14.871-05:00What to do when you feel discouragedThis post and video are too good not to share. Read the post, then watch the video at the end. The message is beyond powerful.
We are not called to win by perfect human standards, but we are called to finish the race. Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-71678874101105534092012-01-28T11:00:00.000-05:002012-01-28T11:00:05.866-05:00Measuring UpI wonder if it is a natural component of our humanism- that tendency to compare ourselves to others. Comparing isn't always bad, I think, if we use it as a motivation for setting reasonable goals for ourselves in areas we need to improve, and if it causes us to praise the good the Lord has done in others.
But when does comparing become a detriment to our mature self-improvement? When it getsJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-86992504252923183562012-01-15T06:39:00.001-05:002012-01-15T06:39:55.225-05:00The Lord works in Mysterious Ways...yet, if you're eyes are open, you may find those seemingly mysterious ways are more obvious! But often in our busy lives we walk with our eyes closed. Our mind is busy thinking of the next thing on our list (or the next 10 things on our list).
This is especially true in the life of a mother with young children. If we mother and wife and house keep with our spiritual eyes closed, though,Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-20471577625131824472012-01-09T18:53:00.021-05:002012-01-11T11:37:33.722-05:00Life goes on...and what a joy it is!A few glances down this post, and you'll see why I have not posted recently! We were away for part of the Christmas holiday. My husband was off grad school and we were soaking up all the wonderful extra time with him. I am so blessed by my amazing husband!
A few days before Christmas, during a play date, our middle daughter fell into the coffee table, and ended up with stitches at the ER. Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-64166439217224169862011-12-20T17:23:00.000-05:002011-12-20T17:23:53.922-05:00To fill the void....Books I'm reading.I have several posts brewing, but cannot post them until after the weekend;)
In the meantime, I thought I'd share what I'm reading right now:
1) The Life of Mary, as Seen by the Mystics- this is an excellent look into what very well could have been the life of Mary. It is "allowed" by the Catholic Church to believe it, since none of it contradicts what we know to be truth, but it is not Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-7109039596894772852011-12-12T11:10:00.000-05:002011-12-12T11:10:30.740-05:00Preparing our home for a Special GuestI love Advent! True it is a time of penance and sacrifice. For me each year Advent carries with it an opportunity to focus more intently on preparing my soul for Jesus, and I find the spirit and focus of penance and sacrifice that much more fulfilling. As I "clean house," removing the bits of dust and dirt from the corners of my soul, I find that I am also doing the same for our home, which isJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-81111714022996520812011-12-09T09:26:00.000-05:002011-12-09T09:26:40.332-05:00Prepare the Way of the Lord! Advent and Christmas traditions.As a child, Advent carried with it the excitement of waiting for Christmas (and lets be honest, for presents and for family time). But as an adult, this liturgical season has become my most favorite. Favorite, not because of holly and ivy, or decorations and treats, but favorite because it has become a time during which I really grow spiritually. Having children and desiring to build Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-22422634754954590062011-12-06T21:11:00.001-05:002011-12-06T21:15:20.394-05:00The truth is...The other day I was graced with a visit from a friend, a fellow mother with young children of her own. During the course of our conversation, this mother revealed to me that she struggles with feelings of insecurity. I listened intently to her speak. As she continued to confess her insecurities, especially around other women, I couldn't help but feel this great sense of admiration and respect Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-86275442339846947122011-11-24T20:14:00.000-05:002011-11-24T20:14:17.101-05:00The Latest Disease to Strike Us: Social MediaIt is hard to believe it has been over 2 months since I last posted. What can I say- life with my 3 little ones is just so wonderful I couldn't bare to miss a moment, even to step away and blog. Right now they are all 3 happily watching Thanksgiving Day football with their Daddy, and I am relaxing my full Thanksgiving stomach!
I have posted before concerning the matter of Facebook not truly Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-30612598524807321622011-09-21T09:23:00.000-04:002011-09-21T09:23:02.924-04:00Give kids A LOT of free time to foster creativityI think this mom hacked into my brain and discovered all my thoughts about children and school. I couldn't have said this better myself.
My "role" in all of this is to set up an environment that fosters and encourages creativity. A whole library of books, plenty of arts and craft supplies, wooden toys (that don't make noise and don't have batteries- these stifle creativity!), outside time, Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546138590250956199.post-78898022155439454812011-09-17T18:02:00.002-04:002011-09-18T13:45:22.054-04:00Now where'd that "peace" run off to?A couple weeks ago I wrote a post expressing a deep inner peace in which I had found myself encompassed. If you remember, I noted that I did not think it would, nor should, last very long. That peace that comes easy is a blessing, surely...or a glimpse, rather, of what we should be seeking ALL THE TIME, regardless of external circumstances or factors.
Well, at the time I wrote that post, Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128816490014124613noreply@blogger.com1