Shower of Roses

Thursday, March 26, 2009

A Trip to the Park

Today we took a short day-trip to visit one of my dear friends, Juliana. She and I have been friends since I was a teenager. Back then, I use to make the 3 hour drive to the coast to visit her ALL THE TIME, especially in the summer! Now that we are both married with children, we aren't able to get together near as much, but we still try to once or twice a year. We have been talking about meeting half way (at a park) for months, but the weather and our schedules were not cooperating. We finally were able to make it work. It made for a busy day, since I also had Little Flowers this evening, but it was SO worth it!! It was great to be able to visit with Juliana, and our children had so much fun playing together.

(Can you tell that my boys *love* their new little league hats!?!)

Hopefully it won't be too long before we can get together again!!

I wasn't going to post these next three, but changed my mind. ;) Snuggles was running from me, and wouldn't look at me for anything! In the last picture you can see that he is trying his hardest not to smile!! He is so funny!

Well, time to get some sleep... Tomorrow is going to be another busy day including a field trip to the airport followed by baseball practice for the boys. I'm am really looking forward to the weekend, when (hopefully) I can start to catch up with everything that hasn't been getting done this week... Goodnight, God bless!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Love's Delay

The Lord is waiting to show you His favor. He yearns to have pity on you, and happy are all who wait on Him.

As you all know, I have a special devotion to our dear St. Therese. I pray for her intercession often, but only a few times have I asked for a particular favor through a novena. Each time she has answered my novenas and sent me roses.

This past September I prayed another novena to St. Therese leading up to her feast day. I was asking God to grant me a healthy baby and a safe delivery for our little one that was due to be born around June 13th of this year. I finished the novena, but I never did receive a rose. The only roses I saw were those that others told me they had received and those pictured here on my blog, which don't count, right? Where was my rose??

Shortly after, I stopped "looking" for roses and ended up forgetting about that particular novena I had prayed. One month later I found out that our little one had died. I lost our little Gabriel on November 24th, the very same day that I lost my first baby (he was born and baptized on the 24th and went to heaven on the 25th), and at the very same hospital, which I have avoided over the years as much as possible.

I don't believe in coincidences and knew, as hard as it was at the time, that God must have had His reasons. He did! I have already noticed so many blessings that have come from our little Gabriel's short life. I won't share them all here on my blog since they are so personal, but I do want to share a little story about that "forgotten" novena.

Last week, when I was packing for the drive to California for my Grandfather's funeral, I grabbed a few books to read on the way. One of the books I brought along was Archbishop Fulton Sheen's St. Therese - A Treasured Love Story. I had read this particular book last summer, during my children's swimming lessons, but remembering how inspired I was by it (and how distracted I was while reading!), I thought it would be nice to re-read some of it. I opened it up to Chapter 3: Saint Therese and the Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Perseverance, where I had left a bookmark, and read about "Love's Delay."

I wish I could share the whole chapter with you! Fulton Sheen talks about how love is not immediate, and that Scripture often tells us to "wait on the Lord."

But to keep to the point. Here all through Scripture is the delay of love. If you start with great success you may be like a skyrocket. Go up with a lot of fire and noise and come down like a stick. Some of the hardest and cruelest words in Scripture are, "You have already had your reward." You wanted something? You got it. That's all you'll ever have. So the Lord sometimes does not give us all that we want. But even when we so not receive it, we can find a divine answer as she [St. Therese] did.

Fulton Sheen reminds us that "God sometimes does say no in love's delays." He tells us that if we are praying for certain favors to be prepared for love's delay, but keep praying.

So, never give up on your prayer, because the petition that you seek is distinct from the prayer itself. All prayer is dependence. Prayer is love. And you will find that as you love more you will be seeking less and less material favors. Maybe God is answering your prayers without our knowing it very often. In the divine intent, the day that Pope Leo put his finger over the lips of that fourteen-and-a-half year old girl, God had already decided that she was going to enter Carmel. And I am sure that when Pope Leo went to Heaven, the one thing that he was most sorry for in his whole life was that he told that little girl to keep still. Here we are praying to the Little Flower and not to Leo XIII. What a lesson that is! I am sure a few readers have said a prayer to Leo XIII, as great as he was, and he controlled the life of the Little Flower. You see, everything changes in the mind of God.

I went on to read the following chapter as well titled St. Therese and the Power of Intercession. In this chapter Fulton Sheen mentions that there are "actually three wombs. One is the womb of nature by which we are born physically, the second is the womb of grace, and the third is the womb of eternity."

By this point I was thinking about Gabriel, and recalled my novena, last September, to St. Therese. Even though I didn't receive the exact results that I was intending, or receive a rose from St. Therese, God did answer my prayer. Through the conditional baptism that we were able to give Gabriel, we were blessed with a spiritually healthy baby. And what more could we, as parents, ask for our children than a safe delivery into eternity!?!

Anyhow, we arrived home from our trip Saturday night, just in time to celebrate Lætare Sunday. I didn't have much time to post, so I quickly updated and reposted my post from last year. Lætare Sunday is also known as "Rose Sunday" so wouldn't you know that St. Therese would choose that particular day, with my novena for Gabriel last September so fresh in my mind, to send me my rose!!!

That very day I received a comment from a fairly new visitor, who did not know that I had had a recent miscarriage:

Happy Catholic Mother's Day! I found a really cute rose bookmark with a sweet smiling baby on it. I don't know why I feel like you are meant to have it but I do. Since I can't shake that feeling I would love to actually get it to you:o) (maybe it is from St. Therese or something!!) If it is not too off the wall, you can send me your po box and I'll mail it right away. Thanks for your great blog! Praise God for you and your beautiful family.

I, in total awe of God's grace and love, emailed her back with my address and mentioned my novena for Gabriel. I logged in yesterday to find another email from her:

I've seen rose after rose and never thought--gee I should send this to Jessica--but the rose and the sweet smiling baby seemed just for you. I'm sort of in disbelief that I really just contacted someone I've never met and with such a story. I was so certain that I should get this to you that I practically tripped over my feet today to get your special letter in the mail.

I am now anxiously awaiting the arrival of my precious rose!!!! What great faith this new online friend must have, to recognize and act on a little prompting from God, like this!! I could hardly wait for hubby to get home yesterday to tell him this story, on his birthday and the traditional FEAST OF ST. GABRIEL!!!

God is good!

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Happy Birthday, To My Husband

Today was my hubby's 36th birthday! It is also the traditional feast of St. Gabriel, and the "nameday" of our precious little one that we lost this past November. I have an amazing story to share with you about that, but it will have to wait. Right now I want to share a few (36 to be exact) of the reasons I love my husband so much.

I love being married to a man who...

...loves God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength.
...is a practicing Catholic.
...is pro-life.
...is open to the gift of life.
...is such a great daddy.
...is a hard worker.
...does his very best to provide for us, so I can be a stay-at-home mom.
...~~insists~~ allows me to home educate our children.
...has beautiful eyes! He has passed them on to our children. I can't leave home without hearing, "What beautiful eyes!" :)
...is not afraid to get his hands dirty.
...looks so cute in his fire gear. ;)
...is a "strong silent type." He's the perfect balance to me, as I'm usually the talker.
...puts up with my whining and complaining.
...lets me stick my ice cold feet on him to warm them up.
...is logical...although, sometimes this drives me crazy.
...loves me without makeup.
...I can count on.
...is not afraid to stand up for what is right.
...is ferociously protective of his family.
...always puts his family first.
...loves me unconditionally.
...gives the best back rubs.
...takes such good care of me when I am sick.
...buys me flowers.
...secretly took dance classes when we were engaged since he knew how much I loved to dance.
...is a good listener.
...cleans the bathrooms so I won't have to!
...is always willing to help me around the house.
...drinks Guinness, of course!
...does (most) of his laundry so I won't get Poison Oak.
...loves my cooking.
...can always help me correct my grammar and spelling! ;)
...makes me laugh.
...is my best friend
...I can't imagine my life without.
...chose me.

Happy Birthday, Hubby, I love you!

Easter Hope Challenge 2009

A year ago I hosted an Easter Hope Challenge, for our dear friends the Hadley's, here at Shower of Roses. Since they are still in need of help, I have decided to host it once again this year.

The Hadley's have three children, two of whom have now been diagnosed with Niemann-Pick type C.

Niemann-Pick type C disease is an autosomal recessive disorder affecting lipid metabolism (the breakdown and use of fats and cholesterol in the body), in a way which causes harmful amounts of lipids to accumulate in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and brain.

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means two copies of the gene must be altered for a person to be affected by the disorder. Most often, the parents of a child with an autosomal recessive disorder are not affected but are carriers of one copy of the altered gene.

Type C is characterized by onset in childhood, although infant and adult onsets are possible. Other signs include severe liver disease, breathing difficulties, developmental delay, seizures, neuro-degeneration, increased muscle tone (dystonia), lack of coordination, problems with feeding, and an inability to move the eyes vertically.

The Hadley's have been faced with enormous medical costs. The drug (Zavesca) their children are currently on costs 9,000 per month each, and although it may allow them to "buy time" so that their "children may participate in future trials, and potential therapies," it is not a cure. As with anyone facing such a huge financial burden, they could use our help. On their website they say:

Many people have asked how they can help. Most importantly, we ask that friend’s and family keep our children and family in their daily prayers for we firmly believe “with God, all things are possible.” There is no greater value to us than the gift of prayer, but we face the reality that funding for medication, therapies, and potential research is extremely high.

So, I would like to ask you once again to remember Peyton and Kayla Hadley in your prayers. More specifically, we will be praying a Nine Day Novena (March 25th - April 2nd) for them at the request of their parents.

For those of you that can do more, I'd also like to ask you to consider a little extra Lenten alms giving, as we prepare for Easter and participate in the

Easter Hope Challenge!

It is simple and fun... Here is what you do:

1. I have added a Paypal "Donate" button to my sidebar. All I'm asking you to do is make a donation IN ANY AMOUNT that you can spare. You can donate one dollar, two dollars, five, ten, twenty or more. You decide. The dollar amount is entirely up to you.

2. Then, come back and leave your name in the comment box of this post for a chance to win your choice of one of three great prizes--the prize is my donation to the Easter Hope Challenge. (You do not need to leave the amount of your donation in the comment.)

(Basket is subject to availability--it will be your choice of the above or of three similar ones from Costco.)

Want to increase you chances of winning?? While every donation receives an entry, for each $25 increment donated another egg goes in the basket for you. For example, a donation of $1-$49 receives one entry, $50-$74 equals 2 entry's, etc. It's all up to you!! You can decide how much you want to donate, and if you win--you choose your prize!!

Last Easter we were able to give the Hadley's $3250!! Every little donation adds up, and it would be so nice to be able to do the same for them this Easter as well!!

The contest will be open for 2 weeks, and as the days go by, I will write the names that appear in the comment box on little pieces of paper and place them inside plastic Easter eggs. On Wednesday, April 8th, Chiquita will choose an egg from the basket, and reveal the winner. There will be ONE winner and that winner will choose ONE of the three great prize options above.

If you would like to participate but would rather not use paypal, email me (my address is listed in my profile) and I will be in touch.

All funds donated will be given to the Hadley's in the form of a check to be deposited to the Hadley Hope Fund at Liberty Bank. Hadley Hope Fund is a Federal 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. Donations will be used for medical expenses and to accelerate ethical scientific research for a cure for all afflicted with Niemann-Pick Type C Disease.

So, what are you waiting for? Help us spread a little EASTER Hope!

Praying for the Hadley's

Will you all please join me in praying a Nine Day Novena for the healing of Peyton and Kayla Hadley, at the request of their mother, my dear friend Laura. The novena will begin on March 25th and continue through April 2nd.

Please help us get the word out by posting this prayer request on your own blogs and/or emailing it to your friends and family... Let us beg heaven for a miracle for these two precious children!

Monday, March 23, 2009

A Resurrection Set for Easter

A few months ago I received an email from an online friend letting me know about a lovely Resurrection Set that was available at Autom. The set is made from resin and includes a figure of Christ, 6 witnesses, and the tomb. I really wanted to order it, but I just couldn't justify spending $41.94 (including shipping) for something we didn't really need...

Well, last week, a friend of mine was over visiting and I mentioned it to her. She had been thinking about purchasing a Resurrection Set that she had seen in the Oriental Trading catalog for less, and when we checked online it was the very same one I had been looking at, AND the price had dropped even more! We combined our orders to get free shipping and only had to spend $17.49 each!!

Anyhow, I just wanted to let you all know, in case you wanted to purchase one for your families. I think it will make a lovely addition to our Easter decorations this year!

A Springtime Quiz

I haven't posted a quiz in ages, but after seeing this one over at Dawn's, I thought it would be fun to play along! It is always interesting to see what your answers say about your personality, don't you think?

You Are Baseball Games

You like old fashioned things. You're one of those people who values tradition.

You enjoy a slow pace of life. You believe that life is all about enjoying every moment.

You love the changing of the seasons, and you look forward to what each season brings.

You are smart and a bit obsessive. You become very immersed in your interests.

What Part of Spring Are You?

This description does seem to fit, for the most part... I would have to agree that I *do* value traditions!! As for a slow pace of life, my life is anything but slow paced, though I often wish it would slow down a little bit... I do look forward to each new season. And, I can be a bit obsessive when it comes to the things in which I am interested. ;) As for baseball, my boys have practices twice a week right now. Then, starting in April, in addition to practice, they will have two games each week. Yes, it looks like my life this Spring IS going to be "Baseball Games"!

Let me know if you play along, I'd love to hear your results too!

Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference

The Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference, Nurturing Catholic Family Life, will be May 1-2, 2009 in Tukwila, WA (just south of Seattle).

Fr. Gerard Saguto, F.S.S.P. (who was ordained with one of my brother-in-laws and happened to be a fellow student at Christendom when I was there!) will be one of the speakers, giving a presentation on "Salt and Talent."

I can't wait to finally be able to meet Meredith, one of the very first Catholic bloggers/friends I met online!! =) She will be speaking as well, giving a presentation on "Nurturing Catholic Family Life by Living the Liturgical Year." Doesn't it sound wonderful?!

I am also looking forward to hearing Dr. Joan Cotter, author of Right Start Mathematics, speak about "How Children Learn Best — Keeping Brain Research in Mind" and "Why Mathematics Is Important for Our Children’s Futures". Math has been a challenge this year, so hopefully I will come how with some new tips that will help.

Other speakers include Fr. Jim Kelleher, S.O.L.T., Camille Pauley, Carrie Thienes, and more.

I'll be traveling to the conference with a friend of mine, and staying with another friend I haven't seen in forever! I can't wait!!! =) This year, I'll make sure not to leave any valuables in my car, since I learned my lesson last year!

If you'd like to attend, you can register online or by mail. They are offering a special discounted rate for the remainder of March in honor of St. Joseph, so be sure to register soon!

Will I be seeing any of you there??

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Lætare Sunday

Today is Lætare Sunday, the fourth Sunday during Lent, also known as Rose Sunday, and Mothering Sunday. As with other Sundays the name, Lætare, comes from the first words of the Introit, “Lætare Jeruselem” or "Rejoice O Jerusalem!" It is a day that we take a break from the otherwise penitential season of Lent, just like on Gaudete Sunday during Advent. We are reminded that our salvation is at hand, Christ will soon rise from the dead to free us from the slavery of sin, and this austere season of penance will soon be over!! It is also a good day to renew our dedication to this holy season, especially if our Lent hasn't been going quite as we had hoped.

At Mass, the priest may wear rose colored vestments. This custom originated since, as a symbol of joy and hope in the middle of this somber Season, popes used to carry a golden rose in their right hand when returning from the celebration of Mass on this day. In fact, back in 1051, Pope Leo IX called this custom an "ancient institution." Afterward, the pope would often give the rose to a church, shrine, city, or distinguished person as a token of esteem and paternal affection. It was from this tradition that today is sometimes called "Rose Sunday".

The other name for today is Mothering Sunday. It is called this partly because of the focus of the Mass on Jerusalem which is the mother church of Christendom, and is symbolic of the Church, our mother. Many customs have developed around this theme including: visiting your cathedral as the mother church of your diocese, visiting your own parish church where you were baptized or confirmed in (as your own mother church), or even visiting your actual mother and do something nice for her. It is actually very much like a Catholic Mother's Day!!

I read on Catholic Culture that Mothering Sunday "became a feast day for the mothers of families. All the children who were away from home went back on that day to visit their mothers, taking with them "a present of money, a trinket, or some nice eatable, and they are all anxious not to fail in this custom." The "nice eatable" was often a mothering cake. Exactly what this was made of seems uncertain, but at any rate it was highly ornamented and adorned." (Re-posted from last year...)

Last year my boys choose a Strawberry Cheesecake for me, which was delicious!! This year, since we spent yesterday traveling home from California and (once again) would not have time to bake a special cake, we picked up a couple Coffeecakes from my favorite childhood bakery before we left California yesterday!!!! We choose a Pineapple Coffeecake and a German Chocolate Coffee Cake. YUMMMM!!!! They look absolutely delicious, in addition to reminding me of so many joyous occasions from my childhood. Now, since we are home from Mass, I am off to brew a fresh pot of coffee, and to spend a nice, relaxing day at home with my family!

I hope you all have a very blessed Lætare Sunday!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Our Very First St. Joseph Altar

3D Cut & Color Virtual St. Joseph Altar

by Rascal (age 7)

As simple as it may be, our first ever St. Joseph Altar has been a hit! I am so glad we had a chance to put it together. Next year I am hoping that we can expand on this tradition, but this year the rest of our plans for the feast of St. Joseph will have to be put on hold until after we get home from my Grandfather's funeral. . . I had hoped to post some pictures of the progress Rascal has made with his St. Joseph Lap Book, but that will have to wait as well. Instead I will leave you with a little more information about the St. Joseph Altar, which is from Viva San Giuseppe by St. Joseph Guild:

The History of the Saint Joseph Altar

The people of Sicily prayed. For too long there had been no rain to nourish the crops that sustained life for most of the island. The dried out wheat stalks cracked beneath the feet of the poor farmers as they walked through their barren fields. Only a sea of dust and withered vines remained from what had once been row upon row of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. And so the people prayed. They pleaded to St. Joseph, their patron, for relief from the famine that gripped the island. At last the skies opened, sending down the life-giving water. The people rejoiced. Some time later, to show their gratitude, they prepared a table with a special assortment of foods they had harvested. After paying honor to St. Joseph, they distributed the food to the less fortunate. The first St. Joseph Altar set up on the Island of Sicily was a small one, of course. But as time went on and the tradition took hold, the flamboyant nature and creative spirit of the Italians caused the altars to grow larger and more ornate. Today, the artistic quality of the breads, cookies and pastries, which are baked in such shapes as chalices, staffs and pyramids, often rivals the exquisite flavor of the food offerings. Though Sicilian immigrants introduced the custom to America, the celebration is not confined to any nationality. Rather, it has become a public event which its devoted participants embrace for a host of private and personal reasons. The feast is alternately a source of petition and thanksgiving. Many families believe that having a St. Joseph Altar can bring good fortune. And it is common to hear stories about favors received (a loved one's recovery from an illness, for example), which are in turn attributed to the family's dedication to St. Joseph. But whatever the reasons people become involved. St. Joseph's Feast Day is a tradition that centers on the entire family. One of the special customs calls for the selection of children to portray members of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Angels and favorite saints may also be included in the ritual, which begins with the "saints" going door to door to seek aid until finally reaching the place where the altar is on display. After the Holy Family has eaten, guests may partake of the meal. Most of the foods presented on the altar are acquired through begging, a symbol gesture that represents what the poor of Sicily were forced to do. When the feast is over, the remaining food and whatever money has been contributed are given to the poor. Whether a St. Joseph Altar is an elaborate display at an elegant church or a humble table in a modest home, it is a reflection of deep devotion to St. Joseph, the patron of those in need—workers, travelers, the persecuted, the poor, the aged, the dying. And it is a custom that has enjoyed resurgence in recent years, as young and old have begun to rediscover their heritage. After many centuries, the St. Joseph Altar still serves as a reminder that those who have enjoyed some measure of good fortune must share it with those who have less.

Jenn has a great post over at Catholic Cuisine right now with Foods for the St. Joseph Altar, and be sure to check out The Virtual St. Joseph Altar as well! I hope you all have a blessed feast of St. Joseph!

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