"Veronica has gone to God."

These were the heartbreaking words that began the text I received yesterday afternoon, February 28, 2020, on the first Friday of Lent, from Veronica's younger sister Victoria. She went on to tell me that Veronica's death was beautiful. We were about to start praying the Stations of the Cross and followed it with another rosary for Veronica's sweet soul and for her suffering family. Veronica was such an incredible inspiration to me and we will all miss her dearly.

May the angels lead you into paradise,

may the martyrs receive you in your coming,

and may they guide you into the holy city, Jerusalem.

May the chorus of angels receive you

and with Lazarus once poor may you have eternal rest.

Visiting Veronica in the hospital to sing carols just before Christmas

I just got off the phone Dan Cools, Veronica's father, and he asked me to pass along the news of her death to you all and thank you again for your prayers and support.

Here is the update Dan shared over on their GoFundMe page:

Dear family, friends, benefactors and followers, 

Our dear Veronica passed away this Friday in her home with her family around her. When I last updated you we had begun weekly treatments in Bellevue. For two months (according to the lab test) it appeared we were making headway. Then the numbers began to change again. The cancer had begun to grow and paralyzed her from the waist down. After a hospital stay we took her home and did home hospice care. She was charitable as always, caring and sweet to the end. In the 18 months of her illness she never complained. She embraced the Catholic faith. Never doubting the value of suffering when offered to our Lord for the good of others and his church. She prayed for healing but always left it up to God’s will as Christ did on the cross. She received the sacraments regularly. She was given the apostolic blessing last Saturday. She was able to recieve the Eucharist daily for the last couple weeks including her last day. Her faith was tremendous. Her resignation to God’s will completely trusting and complete. Her faithfulness will surely be rewarded with an eternity in our Heavenly Father’s presence. We sincerely want to thank all of you for the gifts and prayers of support. Veronica often said the prayers are what carried her through. She offered her suffering for her benefactors. We ask you for your continued prayers while we go through our grieving at loosing her. She was a treasure God had given to us and has called back home. Yet we also rejoice as her race was run well and she fought the good fight. As our Lord has promised those are faithful to him and follow his way will have eternal life. 

God bless, Dan, Debra and family

They have not asked specifically online for help with the funeral expenses, but they would be very grateful if anyone would like to make a donation this Lent. You can still do so through GoFundMe or I can provide you with a mailing address if you'd like to send a check directly to the Cools. Together we can at least help lighten the financial burden on their family as they grieve this tremendous loss.

Please also continue to pray for Dan and Debra Cools, and their family, that God may pour His grace upon them in this time of sorrow. May God reward you abundantly!

Our girls with Victoria and Veronica Cools last summer

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let 

Perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Update: Veronica's Rosary & Funeral Mass Times and Other Information

Please Continue to Pray for Veronica Cools

Update from Veronica's Dad 🙏

"We are asking family, friends and benefactors to pray to Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen as he needs a miracle for canonization. Of course if it be God’s will."

PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN

Eternal Father, You alone grant us every blessing in Heaven and on earth, through the redemptive mission of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and by the working of the Holy Spirit. If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your servant, ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN, by granting the favor I now request through his prayerful intercession (mention your request). I make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

You can find my original blog post here.

You can also find updates (click the update tab) on Veronica at Supportful.

Please Join Me in Helping a Family in Need

Our girls with Victoria and Veronica Cools

Sometimes it feels like there is just too much suffering... I do hope to go back and share some of the more joyful moments we've had this past month, but first I have another serious prayer request for all my dedicated prayer warriors here at Shower of Roses. 

Shortly after moving from Oregon to Idaho we met Dan Cools and his youngest daughter Victoria at an event at our new parish. Our girls quickly became friends and we learned that his wife and second to youngest daughter, Veronica, were down in Mexico battling cancer... 

"Veronica was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in August of 2018. This aggressive cancer wrapped itself in and around her thigh bone with a high likelihood of mestastasis. Since hearing of the dreadful diagnosis, she has fought for her life. Over the course of an eight month period following diagnosis Veronica underwent extensive treatment, procedures, labs, scans, surgeries, including a full amputation of her leg."

Three months ago this beautiful, sweet and inspiring young lady was able to come home and we were blessed to meet her. Our four teens enjoyed spending time with the Cools girls over the summer and the above picture was taken at our boys' graduation party in July. 

Anyway... Despite all of their own challenges the Cools are so thoughtful and generous and insisted on dropping off dinner for our family the night I was in labor before delivering our little one! We were so glad they could join us the following week for the baby's baptism. At the baptism reception we were discussing plans for getting the girls together to celebrate Veronica's birthday, but unfortunately she received more devastating news the following day:  

"A PET scan was done and it was found that Veronica's cancer has aggressively returned. The cancer has metastasized to both lungs, her liver, some lymph nodes and a rib. The future is uncertain, but the family is holding tight to their faith and hope for a miracle."

Please, please pray for a miracle for this amazing girl...

In addition to our prayers, the Cools are also in need of our financial help and support. If you can help in any way, no matter how small, it would be greatly appreciated. Together we can at least help lighten the financial burden on this dear family.

"Expenses and bills don't stop arriving in the mailbox because of a cancer diagnosis, unfortunately. The Cools are again in addition to living expenses absorbing the cost for gas, lodging, and treatment expenses in Seattle which are coming to about $2400 a week."

Please visit Supportful to Make a Donation

Please pray for Veronica, and the whole Cools family, that God may continue to pour His grace upon them during this difficult time. May God reward you abundantly!

Prayer to Saint Peregrine

O great St. Peregrine, you have been called “The Mighty,” “The Wonder-Worker,” because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you.

For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fibre of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favoured with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of Veronica Cools whom we entrust to you. Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, ora pro nobis!

St. Camillus de Lellis, ora pro nobis!

St. Therese of Lisieux, ora pro nobis!

St. Peregrine Laziosi, ora pro nobis!

Update from Veronica's Dad: 
"We are asking family, friends and benefactors to pray to Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen as he needs a miracle for canonization. Of course if it be God’s will."

PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN

Eternal Father, You alone grant us every blessing in Heaven and on earth, through the redemptive mission of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and by the working of the Holy Spirit. If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your servant, ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN, by granting the favor I now request through his prayerful intercession (mention your request). I make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

+ Requiescat in Pace +

In your charity, would you please offer a prayer for the soul of my dear mother-in-law, Luz Beatriz Gordon, who passed away on Wednesday evening, August 28th, and for our whole Gordon family...

April 2018 - A couple photos from our trip to Arizona to introduce "Grace" to her grandmother.
It's been just over two years since my father-in-law passed away the day before I went into labor.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let 

Perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Prayers for the Murphy Family

🎶 Can the human heart refrain from partaking in her pain, In that Mother’s pain untold? 🎶 

On Friday night I posted over on Instagram: 

{We are praying for a special intention tonight 💔 sometimes the crosses given to those dear to us seem so heavy. I would be grateful if, in your charity, you would offer a prayer too} 

#thirdstation #jesusfallsthefirsttime #fourthstation #jesusmeetshisafflictedmother #fifthstation #simonhelpsjesuscarryhiscross #jesusitrustinyou #motherofsorrows #oropronobis

 Today I shared an update and wanted to post here on the blog too: 

Thank you for praying for the special intention I mentioned on Friday night. At that time I had no idea just how heavy the cross was going to be for my brother Brian and his family, and how scary and heart wrenching for all of us. 💔

This past Saturday, Brian and his wife Meagan were at the hospital preparing to deliver and say goodbye to their sweet baby girl, she was due to arrive next month but her precious heart stopped beating... Her sweet smiling face had already captured all of our hearts and she will be missed dearly. Millie Frances was born asleep Sunday morning. It was such an honor and blessing to be there when she arrived, hold her tiny little body, and kiss her beautiful forehead.🌹 

 

Meanwhile their three year old daughter, my niece Evie, was really sick too due to the flu combined with her bleeding disorder that left her with a nose bleed that just would not stop. My sister Mary and I called her doctor’s office and Brian left the hospital to meet Evie and I there Saturday afternoon. (At this point it had been bleeding for 24 hours.) The doctor sent her home following her labs, but by the middle of the night it had gotten even scarier and Mom (who had taken over watching the girls for the night) called Brian to come back and take her to the ER. Sunday morning, just after Evie had been given her first transfusion, stabilized, and admitted to the Pediatric NICU, I messaged my brother to hurry back to labor and delivery, Millie was about to be born. Evie had another scary day on Monday and needed another transfusion, but as of yesterday she is much better and is finally HOME! Thanks be to God! ❤️ 

Please, please, pray for healing, comfort, and peace for my brother Brian and his family. 

They have been through so much. 🙏🏻

+ Requiescat in Pace +

In paradisum deducant te angeli,

May the angels lead you into paradise,

 

in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres,

may the martyrs receive you in your coming,

et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.

and may they guide you into the holy city, Jerusalem.

 

Chorus angelorum te suscipiat,

May the chorus of angels receive you

et cum Lazaro quondam paupere

and with Lazarus once poor

aeternam habeas requiem.

may you have eternal rest

Please pray for the repose of the soul of James Patrick Gordon, Jr. I'm going to miss this amazing Irishman, inspirational father of five (a daughter, three priests, and my husband), and loving grandfather. He passed away much sooner than expected yesterday morning, June 6, 2017.

Update: There will be a wake at the funeral home 6 - 10 pm Sunday, June 11th and funeral mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Nogales, at 10 am Monday, June 12th. Please say a prayer for the safety of all those who are traveling to attend, including my husband and our five oldest children.

Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life with Like Mother, Like Daughter. ~

{pretty}

This pretty little ladybug wanted to come home with us from the nursery along with the Red Riding Hood (Penstemon schmidel) and Pincushion flowers (Scabiosa) we picked up for the garden. 

{happy}

I was so happy to complete Track C of Meet the Masters before the end of our school year!
(Our high schoolers needed to turn in one more artist unit study/project to earn their credit for art.)
The kids were very happy that I pulled out donuts to celebrate! 

{funny}

Bud: "What are you using the soap for?"

Ranger: "I'm washing the car." 

Bud: "(Ranger), what are you using the soap for?!" 

Ranger: "I'm washing the car!" 

Bud (yells): "Eeeerrrt!"

Dad: "(Bud), he is washing the dirt off of the the car with the soap."

Bud: "I want (Ranger) to tell meeeee!"

Ranger (laughing): "I'm washing the dirt off the car!"

Bud: "CHA-CHING!" 

{real}

Everything is fine now, but our week got off to a rather traumatic start, just after midnight on Sunday morning, with a call to 911... My husband was one of the three who were sick on Saturday. He spent most of the day on the couch. Late that night, while (attempting) to walk from the living room to the bedroom, he leaned against the foot of the bed, said he thought he was going to pass out, and immediately fell to the floor. I'd never seen someone pass out before. He was pale/ghostly white and non-responsive. His eyes were wide open but motionless. It scared me to death. I yelled for the boys to bring me the phone while I tried to revive him and get him to breathe. I thought he was dying... My heart still hurts from the stress and anxiety! Thankfully he regained consciousness while I was on the phone with emergency services and seemed to be ok, but when he started to look like he was going to pass out again in the morning I drove him to the hospital. The vasovagal response was most likely triggered by dehydration and the stomach issues we were fighting. They hooked him up to an IV and kept an eye on him for most of the day. He went back to work today. I'm so very grateful that everyone is finally feeling better!

Thank you all for the prayers last Saturday... 

I had no idea how much we were going to need them later that night! 

Praying for Lizz

Lent begins next week and I just picked up supplies for our annual Lenten Calendar. Every year we "Pray, Fast, and Give Alms" for various special intentions. This year I want to ask you all to consider joining us in remembering the Lovett family in your own prayers and sacrifices.

I have never met Lizz in person, but we live in the same archdiocese, have exchanged emails, and she is a friend of our youngest daughter's Godmother.  I can not even imagine the heavy cross she is currently carrying and how hard it must be when a mother has to say goodbye to her children.

Please pray for and consider supporting Lizz and her beautiful family!

A Little Request for Prayers & Car Seat Advice...

A picture from Bud's 4th Birthday Saturday night, posted to Instagram on Sunday:
Note to self: Next time DO NOT leave purse in car during high school hockey game, especially after getting paid for the month... Added to wish list: New drivers license, bank account, credit cards, replace shattered car window, new car seats, purse, wallet, chapel veils, favorite rosary, makeup, sunglasses, camera lens, and so much more... #workingondetachment #tryingnottoletitstealmyjoy

In addition to some last minute Christmas shopping (a little hard to do with all my credit cards cancelled... Thankfully most of it was completed before Advent while I was putting together the list of Christmas Gift Ideas!), writing Christmas Cards (might not happen now this year, at least not before Christmas), and mailing gifts to the rest of our Godchildren, there was so much I was hoping to blog about - two fun birthdays, more on the O Antiphons (the treats and chocolates have been a hit!), last minute Christmas preparations, and that post about the books on the boys' bookshelf that I started last year (you can find the girls books here) - but it is going to have to wait for now...

Instead I spent yesterday canceling our bank account and credit cards and itemizing the long list of things I had in my purse. My husband has been reminding me that my purse is NOT intended to be used as a safe or a suitcase! ;) My husband is right, I live out of that thing, especially lately with the boys' school and sports schedule! It is really weird to not have a purse anymore... Today we spent the morning at the DMV and bank, and are now waiting for a call to schedule the Suburban's window replacement and working with our home owner's insurance again - we are still recovering from a power surge last month that did lots of damage at home including killing the dryer. 

It's been such a huge hassle, but I keep reminding myself that it could have been so much worse... My family wasn't hurt and, even though some of the things I lost were special and not easily replaced, they are just things. I had been especially worried that my planner was in my purse, with our full schedule listed for the next few months, but thankfully I had forgotten to put it back when I took it out on Friday. (Thank you, Guardian Angel!) Nevertheless I did want to ask you to offer a little prayer for our family's safety and peace of mind.

One of the next things I need to do, now that we have access to our bank funds again, is purchase new car seats for our two youngest who just turned six and four this past week. It's been over four years since we have even looked at carseats and I was hoping some of you might have some suggestions/recommendations for us. The two carseats we have now were both gifts: a Britax (I'm not sure if it's the Roundabout or the Marathon and (I think) a pink Graco 3-in-1, both older versions of course.  I'm going to vacuum off the glass and look a little closer for the model numbers in the morning.

My question... If you had to go buy two new carseats with insurance to help cover the cost (they will pay the replacement value on new versions of the brands/models we have, we pay our deductibles and any excess if I choose different versions on all the items that were stolen) what would you choose?  I'm so tired right now and would love some help deciding if anyone has a favorite to suggest. Thank you in advance!

Christmas Giveaway Reminder & Prayer Request

I hope your Advent is off to a beautiful and blessed beginning as we prepare for Christmas!

Have you entered the "Sleighful of Giveaways" I am currently hosting here at Shower of Roses? I have 31 PRIZES to giveaway with a combined value of over $1,200! The giveaway will remain open through December 7th and the winners will be announced in the giveaway post on December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception!

For some reason Facebook has blocked the direct link to my Christmas Gift Ideas {Plus a Sleighful of Giveaways}... With the countless hours that post took to create, and Facebook usually being the most effective way I have to share posts, it's been a little frustrating that they are not allowing the link to be shared. I have tried to contact Facebook many times over the past couple days without any success. Oh well. I'm hoping that those of you who would like to share the link over at Facebook can share the link to this post instead? Thank you for your help and I apologize for the inconvenience!

UPDATE: Facebook has finally unblocked the link! Thank you all for your help! :)

May God reward you all for all the prayers for my mom! We appreciate them so much! Can I ask you for one more favor? Yesterday my mother-in-law was hospitalized and my father-in-law received his results from some recent tests. They both have serious medical conditions and are in need of urgent prayers. We are offering our St. Andrew Christmas Novena for my mom and my husband's parents. Could you please offer a prayer for Sean's parents too? Thank you! 

Enter the Giveaway Here: 

Christmas Gift Ideas {Plus a Sleighful of Giveaways}

{this moment}

Yesterday morning, after daily Mass, I had the privilege of getting to meet and hold a little miracle.

Patrick Gabriel Snodgrass, who many of you have been praying for since last Easter when his dear mama found out that he has trisomy 13, was born alive on August 8th at 5:51 AM weighing 7lb. 5oz and 18.5 inches long. He was baptized immediately after birth. You can see pictures of him with his family on his birthday over at Facebook.

Due to his health issues, he is not expected to be staying with his family on this side of heaven for very long. They don't even know if he will make it through the weekend.

Please pray for a miracle, but also for peace and acceptance of God's holy will for this amazing family who has already been through so much with the loss of their daughter Julianna last summer. 

May God reward you for your prayers!

A Special Prayer Request for the Snodgrass Family

Happy Easter!

I'm a little late in sharing this prayer request, but I wanted to take a moment and ask you all to please join us in praying, once again, for some friends of ours and their newest blessing who was recently diagnosed with Trisomy 13.

You may remember praying and/or donating funds for the Snodgrass family last summer when they lost their precious little Julianna in a tragic accident.

I've attached the prayer request and novena below. Thank you and may God bless you all!

+  +  +

Dearest Friends and Family,

As some of you may have heard, Renee and Gabe Snodgrass have been blessed with another pregnancy. Recently they have been informed that this child, Patrick Gabriel, has trisomy 13, a rare chromosomal disorder where the child has an extra chromosome #13. Individuals with this condition have physical and mental disabilities and usually only live for a few days or weeks, if at all. About 5-10% of these children live past the age of one.

We are reaching out to you to ask if you would please join us in a novena to pray for Patrick and the Snodgrass family. We feel called to ask for Blessed Margaret of Castello’s intercession. Blessed Margaret of Castello was born in 1287 to wealthy parents in a small town in Italy. Her parents were so excited to welcome this new life into the world, but when they found out she was hunch-backed, lame, and blind they imprisoned and abandoned her. She totally embraced her disabilities and suffering and trusted the Lord gave them to her for a reason. For her, she saw suffering as her pathway to heaven. Hence, she is often prayed to for healing for the discouraged, sick, unwanted, and abandoned as well as for discerning the will of God.

Her immense faith led to her beatification in 1609. More information about her can be found on the following website: Blessed Margaret of Costello.

We are going to start the attached 9-day novena on EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2015
(what a great day to ask for a miracle!) which will conclude on Blessed Margaret’s feast day, April 13th.

Hundreds of healings have been attributed to the intercession of Blessed Margaret of Castello. In order for Blessed Margaret to become canonized as a saint, she needs one more approved miracle. “An approved miracle has to be truly wondrous, incapable of a natural explanation, solely and verifiably entrusted to the saint’s intercession, and accurately documented with all the appropriate medical records and multiple attestations.” Supporting evidence for her canonization thus far are:

• Girl is cured at Blessed Margaret's funeral
• Her body is incorrupt
• She is declared blessed in 1609
• She needs one more miracle to be declared a saint

If the Lord wills it, we know, without a doubt, that He can heal Patrick. Let us come together and humbly submit our wills to the Lord to allow Him to be glorified.

Blessed Margaret of Castello Novena

Imploring Blessed Margaret of Castello’s Intercession

Even if my father and mother forsake me; the Lord will take me in.

Ps. 27:10

1st Day
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in embracing your life just as it was, you gave us an example of resignation to the will of God. In so accepting God’s will, you knew that you would grow in virtue, glorify God, save your own soul and help the souls of your neighbors. Obtain for me the grace to recognize the will of God in all that may happen to me in my life and so resign myself to it. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

2nd Day
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in reflecting so deeply upon the sufferings and death of our Crucified Lord, you learned courage and gained the grace to bear your own afflictions. Obtain for me the grace and courage that I so urgently need so as to be able to bear my infirmities and endure my afflictions in union with our suffering Savior. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

3rd Day
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, your love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was intense and enduring. It was here in intimacy with the Divine Presence that you found the spiritual strength to accept sufferings, to be cheerful, patient, and kindly towards others. Obtain for me the grace that I may draw from this same source, as from an inexhaustible font, the strength whereby I may be kind and understanding of everyone despite whatever pain or discomfort may come my way. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

4th Day
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, you unceasingly turned to God in prayer with confidence and trust in His fatherly love. It was only through continual prayer that you were enabled to accept your misfortunes, to be serene, patient and at peace. Obtain for me the grace to persevere in my prayer, confident that God will give me the help to carry whatever cross comes into my life. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

5th Day
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in imitation of the Child Jesus, who was subject to Mary and Joseph, you obeyed your father and mother, overlooking their unnatural harshness. Obtain for me that same attitude of obedience toward all those who have legitimate authority over me, most especially toward the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

6th Day
Oh Blessed Margaret of Castello, your miseries taught you better than any teacher the weakness and frailty of human nature. Obtain for me the grace to recognize my human limitations and to acknowledge my utter dependence upon God. Acquire for me that abandonment which leaves me completely at the mercy of God to do with me whatsoever He wills. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

7th Day
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, you could have so easily became discouraged and bitter; but, instead, you fixed your eyes on the suffering Christ and there you learned from Him the redemptive value of suffering: how to offer your pains and aches, in reparation for sin and for the salvation of souls. Obtain for me the grace to learn how to endure my sufferings with patience. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

8th Day
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, how it must have hurt when your parents abandoned you! Yet you learned from this that all earthly love and affection, even for those who are closest, must be sanctified. And so, despite everything, you continued to love your parents, but now you loved them in God. Obtain for me the grace that I might see all my human loves and affections in their proper perspective…in God and for God. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

9th Day
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, through your suffering and misfortune, you became sensitive to the sufferings of others. Your heart reached out to everyone in trouble: the sick, the hungry, the dying, prisoners. Obtain for me the grace to recognize Jesus in everyone with whom I come into contact, especially in the poor, the wretched, the unwanted! Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray (prayers in bold at the end of this post)

Prayers for Everyday

O God, by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind, being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows of this world, and reach the home of never ending light. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father.

O my God, I thank you for having given Blessed Margaret of Castello to the world as an example of the degree of holiness that can be attained by anyone who truly loves you, regardless of physical abnormalities. In today’s perverted culture, Margaret would have, most likely, never been born; death through abortion being preferable to life, especially life in an ugly, distorted, twisted body. But your ways are not the world’s ways…and so it was your will that Margaret would be born into the world with just such a malformed body. It is your way that uses our weakness to give testimony to your power. Margaret was born blind, so as to see you more clearly; a cripple, so as to lean on you completely; dwarfed in physical posture, so as to become a giant in the spiritual order; hunched-backed, so as to more perfectly resemble the twisted, crucified body of your Son. Margaret’s whole life was an enactment of the words expressed by Paul: So I shall be happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me and that is why I am content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:10).

I beseech you, O God, to grant, through the intercession of Blessed Margaret of Castello, that all the handicapped…and who among us is not?…all the rejected, all the unwanted of this world may make their weaknesses their own special boast so that your power may stay over them now and forever. Amen. Blessed Margaret of Castello, pray for us!

3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys

Update August 8, 2015: "All praise and glory be to God for the delivery of Patrick Gabriel Snodgrass today at 5:51 AM. He is 7lb. 5oz. 18.5 in. Please keep him and the whole family in your prayers."

Please Join Me in Helping a Family in Need

As you all know, on Sunday, July 13th, our friends lost their toddler, Julianna Snodgrass (the fourth of their five children), in a tragic accidental drowning while visiting family in California.

In addition to our prayers, the family is in need of our financial help and support. Julianna was air lifted to the hospital during the attempts to resuscitate so the medical bills will be extraordinary. With the funeral expenses on top of those and all of the grief too, this family will be suffering tremendously. 

If you can help in any way, no matter how small, it would be greatly appreciated. Together we can at least help lighten the financial burden on their family as they grieve this tremendous loss.

Please continue to pray for Gabe & Renee Snodgrass, and their family, that God may pour His grace upon them in this time of sorrow. May God reward you abundantly!

Please Visit GoFundMe to Make a Donation

Urgent Prayer Request

A dear friend of mine and her husband just found their two year old face down in a bucket of water, not breathing.  Her lips and fingers blue. Please pray that they can revive her. The little one is being air lifted to the hospital.

Please Pray. Thank you!

+ + +

Update: Thank you all for the prayers. The precious little one did not make it… I am so heartbroken for their family. Please continue to keep them in your prayers!

Update #2: We have set up a GoFundMe page here to help with the extraordinary medical and funeral expenses.

O Tender Heart of Jesus, please have mercy on my dear friend's grieving heart! She has lost her child, and her soul is flooded with tears. And yet she knows that Thou hast not abandoned her. Thou art with her always. Thou hast triumphed over death, so that through Sanctifying Grace, death is not the end of life, but only the beginning of a life of eternal joy and peace. Help her, O Lord, in this time of sorrow, to find consolation in knowing her child is now a saint and enjoys the perfect happiness of living with Thee in Heaven.

O Mary, my Sorrowful Mother, who gazed in sorrow at the sight of thy Son dying on the Cross, please pray for my dear friend and her family in their time of grief. Help them to find peace and comfort in trusting in our merciful Father’s love. May this trial serve to strengthen the bond between their sorrowing hearts, to unite them even more closely to each other, and to deepen their faith and trust in God our Father. Though their sweet child is lost to them in this life, may they know the unutterable joy of meeting their child again in Heaven.

Blessed Zelie Martin, mother of St. Therese the Little Flower, you experienced profound grief when you held four of your children in your arms as they breathed their last breath. Assist my dear friend in her grief, for she too has lost a child. You knew deep sorrow, yet you never grew bitter or angry against God, but always trusted in His infinite mercy and love. Help her to trust Him too. Your faith assured you that your little ones were happy in Heaven, and you found consolation in knowing they were watching over your family and praying for you. Help her, too, to be strengthened by her Catholic Faith, and to find joy in knowing that her precious child is now enjoying the peace and joy of Heaven.

All ye heavenly Angels and Saints, pray for them! Pray for their grieving family! May they never forget to pray to the little member of their family who is watching over them from Heaven. Amen.

(prayer adapted from Prayer of a Bereaved Mother of a Baptized Baby) 

Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live: And every one that liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever.

John 11:25-26

Please Pray

Please pray for the soul of Fr. Kenneth Walker, FSSP (pictures from his First Mass in 2012 here) who was shot and killed during a robbery at the Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission in Phoenix, AZ.  Please pray for the family of Fr. Walker.  Please pray for Fr. Joseph Terra, who is in critical condition but stable.  Please pray for all the families who attend Mater Misericordiae. Please pray for the safety of all FSSP priests.   (Update: Pray For The Priests of Mater Misericordiae in Phoenix on FSSP website)

Requiem aeternum dona ei Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. 

Requiescat in Pace. Sacerdos in Aeternum. Amen.

Prayers for a Friend

Lena from JOYfilled Family, an online friend and past contributor at Catholic Cuisine, is currently in need of prayers. Her family has found themselves in a very difficult situation.

In addition to keeping Lena's family in your prayers, you can read more about their current struggles and perhaps bless their family with a small gift via the Donation button over at Melody's blog. May God Reward you for your prayers and generosity! 

"Extend your mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His Mercy from us?" - Saint Vincent de Paul

A Prayer Request and Giveaway Winners

With all those fun giveaways last week, I had quite a few entry slips to cut and fold today!  It was actually just what I needed to help stop the tears and keep my mind off missing my babies...

Before the furlough, Sean was scheduled to take his vacation leave beginning today and had planned to take some of our children to visit his parents. (It has been 3 years since our last visit and they haven't met our youngest yet... We would have loved to all go, but we can't all fit in our mini-van - especially for this long of a drive - since we are one seat short, which is why it's been so long since our last visit.) We went back and forth over canceling the trip, but decided to not put the visit off any longer, especially with winter (hazardous driving conditions) coming.   He ended up taking the five youngest (he is a crazy brave man!) and I am home with just the older boys (it is so quiet here).  Could you please remember them in your prayers?

Anyways, on to the winners of the giveaways, before I start crying again...  

Mommyof3 is the winner of the Catholic Mosaic giveaway, sponsored by Krista, and offered on the feast of St. Jerome! 

Jacqui is the winner of the St. Therese the Little Flower Daily Journal offered on the feast of St. Therese! 

Marie is the winner of Angel in the Waters and Catholic Treasure Box Book 1 offered on the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels!

Julie is the winner of The Greatest of These is Love, sponsored by author Megan Therese Schuelke, and offered on the traditional feast of St. Therese!



Elm is the winner of Mama's Notebooks sponsored by Heather Wood, and also offered on the traditional feast of St. Therese!



Heather Wilson is the winner of Can you find Followers of Jesus? Introducing Your Child to Disciples, also sponsored by Krista, and offered on the Feast of St. Francis! 

Congratulations to you all and I will be contacting you soon for your mailing addresses!

(or if you see this first just email them to me at jessica.showerofroses(at)gmail(dot)com)

And thank you to Krista, Megan, and Heather for sponsoring some of the giveaways! 

I wish I could send each and every one of you a gift!  Your comments are always such a joy to read.  Thank you all for your kind words, prayers, and support!  I will offer up an extra rosary, on this beautiful feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, for all of you and your families!  

Please Pray for the Soul of Neumann Press Founder

In your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Dennis McCoy, founder of The Neumann Press.

Our family has been so blessed by the books from Neumann Press - the precious baby records (reprints of the one my husband had from his own childhood!), traditional coloring books our children love, the gorgeous hardcover copy of Sermons of the Curé of Ars we read often at dinner, and so many other inspiring and beautiful Catholic books they have reprinted. We've slowly been collecting them all to share with our children.

May God reward him greatly for his dedicated service in promoting and spreading the Catholic faith!

Réquiem ætérnam dona ei Dómine;

et lux perpétua lúceat ei.

Requiéscat in pace. Amen.

Jacob's Toy Box {A Review & Easter Give-away!}

I had been hoping to compile an updated list of Catholic Easter Basket Ideas and Easter Symbol themed gifts, but I haven't had a chance yet and Easter is quickly approaching!

I haven't finished my own Easter shopping quite yet, but I did want to share a precious little rag doll from Jacob's Toy Box that one of my little guys will discover in his Easter Basket this year:   Father Martin with his vestments and story.



Isn't he great?!  Not only is he soft and cuddly (um... can you say that about a priest doll?) - perfect for my little toddler - I love the traditional cassock (over pants) and vestments (including an Alb, Cincture, Maniple, Stole and Chasuble)!  Now I can't decide if he is going to end up in Snuggles or Bud's basket this year... And I'm sure Rose would love Sister Marie...  But, I did order Hand-painted Bookmarks of their Patron Saints for the 5 oldest, including Snuggles, and plan to complete a set of blocks for Rose (which I still need to get going on), so perhaps he should go to Bud...  What do you think?

Anyways, I've really enjoyed "meeting" Christine through our email correspondence, and wanted to share with you all, with Christine's permission, the beautiful yet heartbreaking story of how she named her business:

"I started this business last summer--2012. It has been a rough couple of years--In 2010 I was diagnosed with a terminal pregnancy--My daughter had trisomy 18-- a fatal chromosome defect. We found this out at 24 weeks, and of course we didn't terminate the pregnancy. She died at 27 weeks. Those were a few tough weeks. Knowing that the baby inside of me wouldn't live. After she died I started a home-based fresh flower business and it did pretty well.

Then, surprise! At the end of 2011 I found out I was pregnant again. We were so excited--but scared. (Back and 2009 I was told by a medical specialist that I would never be able to get pregnant again--I proved him wrong!) The OB doctor watched me like a hawk--everything was going smoothly. Then when I was 32 weeks had a stress test/ultrasound on a Wed.--Jacob, our son, looked fine. On Friday I only noticed a bit of movement in the morning. Called the doctor that night and he said not to worry. Things had looked fine a couple of days ago. Saturday morning I still had not felt him move. The OB had me come into the hospital. Jacob had died. They were unable to determine what caused his death--he looked perfect!

This experience made me want to focus even more on my family and doing flowers I felt was taking too much time away. But, I wanted to be doing something and have enjoyed crafts in the past. My husband, kids, and friends encouraged me to start making and selling these toys.--thus the birth of Jacob's Toy Box. By the way, we are a homeschooling family too. My oldest is a senior and my youngest in kindergarten. My husband and I have been married almost 20 years."

I was very touched by Christine's story, and my heart aches for her as I know all too well what it is like to lose babies...  What a special tribute she has created for her little son with Jacob's Toy Box!

She also had a story to share about my husband's brothers:

"Oh--just a funny story about one of your brother-in-laws--When Fr. J. G_____ was at our parish, I went into the confessional to receive the sacrament. The voice of the priest sort of sounded like our priest but not quite. I asked the priest "Are you Fr. G____?" His reply:"I am A Father G____."

Yes, there are a few of those "Father G's" around, which is another reason I am thrilled to have a "Priest" doll for my children!  Hmmmm... I might have to see if I can eventually order another with dark hair that we can name "Uncle Father" as our children affectionately call those three dear priests! ;)

I sure do love supporting Catholic businesses and families when we can.  Some of my favorite gifts for our children have either been handmade by creative and talented Catholics like Christine!    These gifts are treasures for sure, and things you just can't find at those big box stores or websites!

If any of you would like to place an order, you will need to do so no later than March 25th for Easter delivery!   These sweet dolls would also make excellent First Communion Gifts, in addition to the other suggestions I posted last year.

Christine has also generously offered to give a Brother Hubert Rag Doll and Brother Hubert and The Battle with the Goat to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses!   



He even has a tonsure!  I love it!!  He is definitely going on my "wishlist" for one of my little boys!

To enter this give-away:

Click on over to Jacob's Toy Box and check out all the adorable rag dolls created by Christine and then leave a comment on this post, telling me which is your favorite, before Midnight (PST) on Saturday, March 16th. Be sure to leave your email address, or have it linked in your profile, so that I am able to contact the winner.   I will update this post with the lucky winner on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day!

BONUS: Share this giveaway on either your own blog or Facebook page and come back and let me know that you did by leaving a second comment for an extra entry!  Like Shower of Roses and Jacob's Toy Box on Facebook for a third entry!   Be sure to leave a comment for each entry since they will be numbered for use with a random number generator to determine the winner.

And before you go, I wanted to add a little prayer request... Please click over to Kirsten's blog, Sonlight Garden, and let her know you are praying for a miracle for her own beautiful baby.

Praying for all Pregnant Women...

... especially Kelly and Jennifer!  Will you please join me? 

Full of confidence, I have recourse to thee, O holy Virgin and Martyr St. Margaret!  I implore thy powerful intercession with Jesus Christ and His Virgin-Mother for all women in the state of pregnancy. Intercede for them, that they may carefully preserve their babies from harm and, by their pious conduct, assiduous prayer, and the offering of good works to God, may obtain many graces for their souls.  

Have compassion especially on her who is now in the state to require thy loving assistance.  Espouse her cause. Obtain for her alleviation in her pains, comfort in her sufferings, and a living healthy child, for the glory of God and the joy of Holy Church. O most loving and thrice-blessed Martyr, thou who art so rich in merit, present to the Heavenly Father all the sufferings and tribulations thou didst endure for His love.  Unite all to the merits of Jesus Christ, to those of His Blessed Mother, and of all the saints in heaven.  Offer them for this poor, suffering mother, O thou who hast lent thy assistance to so many in similar need!  Obtain once more the favor of heaven for this mother and her unborn babe,  Oh, no, good St. Margaret, thou wilt not abandon us! Thou wilt obtain a favorable answer to our request, by thy intercession at the throne of Divine Mercy. We thank thee beforehand for all thy goodness.  In return for all the favors thou wilt obtain for thy clients, we offer thee all the praise and love given thee by saints and angels of heaven; but, above all, the love bestowed upon thee by Mary, the Virgin Mother, and by the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ Himself, as well as all that they will continue to shower upon thee for all eternity.  Amen.

~ Mother Love: A Manual for Christian Mothers (Available from Angelus Press and Amazon) 

Prayer to St. Margaret for a Woman in the Pangs of Childbirth