OUR LIFE HERE ON EARTH IS JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE

OUR LADY OF FATIMA
Gospel Reading today John 16:16-20
"A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me." John 16:16

Today in the gospel, we are reminded about how small are our lives here on earth. How many times a day do we tell our children... "In a little while!" or "Just a second, honey!" These times of chasing little ones and changing diapers are fleeting. Our time on earth is fleeting. So what are we doing to nourish the one thing that we will take with us when we die, our souls? In just a second or in a little while, our time on earth could be finished. Before we know it, our children will be raised and working on nourishing their own souls for eternity. One of the main things we are doing daily that is preparing us for eternity is raising children. This is probably (I would guess) one of the main points of our lives that we will discuss with Our Heavenly Father when we arrive in Heaven. What we did with this great task.....did we complain everday? Hand the task off to someone else? Wallow in self pity? Or did we rise up to the task at hand, get tough, grin and bear it? Did we savor the sweet moments of reading books, watch our children dance to their own music, laugh at their silly comments? Hold them and love them as the time was quickly passing away? By savoring this quick life on earth and being happy for what we have is nourishing our souls for Eternity. And when we are on our death bed, we will smile and say we gave it our all. We enjoyed the life God had given us. We raised our children to the best of our abilities and we loved our ever-changing, ever-evolving husband in the Sacrament of Marriage.

So today, take a deep breath and enjoy this quick second of having babies, raising children, caring for your home and loving your husband. In an instant, it could all be over. Blessings to you this Thursday.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA
In one month, my sister and two precious friends will be traveling across the world on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. For those of you who do not know what is going on in Medjugorje, it is a pure miracle in our midst. Words can not explain what is happening there but if you are interested in knowing, you can visit a website that tells all about it. www.medjugorje.com. This pilgrimage is about nourishment of the soul and preparing us for Eternity. Next to giving birth, this for me, is an experience of a lifetime. An experience in this quick second of life that will no doubt change my outlook on this short life on earth.
Today is the Feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. Medjugorje can not be approved by the church until the appartions are over. As Catholics, we do not "worship" Mary as so many mistakenly believe. We simply ask her to pray for us. She is our greatest advocate and prayer warrior we have. Just as she was chosen by God our Father to bring Jesus into the world for all of us to be saved, she is still constantly trying to bring the whole world to her Son to be saved. Her message in Medjugorje is prayer & conversion.

The Truth Will Set You Free!

Gospel Reading today John 16:12-15
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth." John 16:13

Oh, so much to say, so little time! Truth. How many of us truly yearn and search for the truth in our lives? How many of us have close friends who speak the truth? They are few and far between. I have been blessed with a wonderful friend for the past 3 years. She has six children and is truly the most holy woman that I know. She gives her life, literally, to her family. She is so devoted to Christ and lives to please Him, and Him alone. She is not only a dear friend, but a spiritual mentor. We couldn't be more opposite. She lives a very quiet life, doesn't turn to wine when she needs to take a "load off" and her phone hardly ever rings. I, on the other hand, like to be out and about, meet new people, one of my most favorite things is pouring a big glass of Sauvingnon Blanc, and I can be plain nutty and crazy from time to time! We are truly opposites but take the good from each other and implement it into our own lives. She helps me to quieten my life when it starts to get too crazy. She helps to redirect me when I start to get overwhelmed by too much volunteering at the church. She gives me tips on how to tame my very spirited children. (and i wonder where they get their spirit?!).

Yesterday, I stopped by her house, for my little weekly nourishment and asked her about my middle child wanting to wear a sassy swimsuit everyday and is that a problem? The last thing I want to do is promote promiscuity. She thought the swimsuit thing was fine and just a phase however she thought she should tell me something else. A couple of weeks ago her three year old daughter came over to our house for several hours to hang out with us and play. She went on to tell me for a week solid after that, AM was constantly whining and asking for things over and over while E was in the process of getting what she was asking for. She said it took them a week to get AM back to herself. Wow, talk about hearing something you don't want to hear! Taking a big breath and realizing your three year old daughter was a bad influence on another! But, I knew the moment she was telling me this, she was speaking the truth. I tend to get too distracted and let my middle one behave in such a way. I ignore the whines and tend to tune out alot. This is a problem that needs to be addressed and thanks to my truthful friend bringing it to my attention, I am eager and ready to nip this one in the bud.

So ofcourse all day yesterday I was bothered and then lashed out at my four year old son because his scream when he doesn't get a lego put on perfectly is the most annoying thing in the world. It presses a button of mine like no other. I yelled a very profane word (not the "S" word either...a word so horrible that it makes me feel better at the moment but so very terrible afterwards) in front of my 3 year old daughter and then wanted to go crawl in a whole. I beat myself up all day and went on a walk before dinner. I kept asking myself, "who says this word in front of their children?" I felt the Lord told me that none of us are perfect and to not be so hard on myself. And then, God gave me a great gift last night after dinner. I turned on my Johnny Cash Pandora (which by the way plays the best songs!)and sang from the top of my lungs while dancing at the kitchen sink doing dishes. A spark ignited and I heard a whisper in my heart...."see, Kim, this is the person that I created....Not, a quiet and perfectly well manored child, but one with spirit and a fiesty soul". I came back to myself last night at the kitchen sink and was reminded to not take life so dang seriously! To not be so hard on myself and to remember that some people, like my dear friend, will raise very quietly well mannered children because that is who she and her husband are and some will raise more spirited and onry children because that is who Clint and I are. I took a deep breath and felt like a load had been lifted.

So my point is this morning, truth will truly set you free. My dear friend spoke the truth to me yesterday and as hard as it was to hear I am so grateful. Starting today, we are going to work on this behavior problem. She has opened my eyes to ridding myself of distractions that keep me from giving my all to my family. The truth the Lord placed on my heart yesterday evening that He created us all very differently and we are not to change our core being. And also, that none of us are perfect and to remember to be light hearted and to not take life so seriously. I was also taught the lesson yesterday that we are to have friends who are truthful and we are to help each other raise disciples for Christ. I need her help just as much as maybe she needs my help from time to time, bringing different things to each other's attention.

Blessings to you all this Wednesday!

Fairy Tale on Earth or Fairy Tale for Eternity....which one do you long for?

"I have told you this, so that when the time comes for them to do these things, you will remember what I told you." John 16:4

So many of the things that happens to us in today's times were predicted two thousand years ago by Jesus himself. He tells us that we will be persecuted for following him and for living for the spirit and not for the things of this world. How many of you feel persecuted from time to time for following God's will? If you have more than three children, you are considered crazy in the world's eyes. If you feel the call to homeschool, you are considered plain nuts in the world's eyes. If you have bountiful joy for living your life as you pray without ceasing through spiritual music filling your home, a prayer candle lit in your window, reading spiritual literature to gain wisdom while your children play, you are considered "a bit too much" and need to simmer down with your faith journey. I have received persecution as well as have witnessed my sister and others receiving persecution and let me tell you...it ain't fun! We immediately start doubting ourselves, our lives and the person God has shaped and molded us to be. So if we arene't living for God, why are we living anyway? Yesterday for mother's day, all I wanted to do was lay in bed for two hours, read a book and watch a movie. The Holiday was on (if you haven't seen it it is great!) and I turned on the TV just in time to see the very beginning and I actually finished a movie for the first time in almost five years! Anyway, watching movies can be dangerous on the heart. As I was so intrigued by this love story, the home in LA and then the cottage in England, I started yearning for more and thinking my life wasn't as great. This is the danger of living for the world and not for the spirit. We start looking around us and seeing what others have and what we don't have. As I have three toddlers climbing all over me for 14 hours each day (I believe it is a form of being scourged at the pillar!), I look at the lives in the fairy tale movies and think how exhausting and somewhat mundane my life is! But, if we keep our minds focused on Christ and the life of He and his amazing mother who is now Queen of Heaven, our lives will look rich and glorious. Instead of feeling scouraged at the pillar with toddlers screaming in your ear, we feel blessed on mother's day that we hear those screams, for many mothers yesterday and every day long to hear those screams of their toddlers who went to Heaven earlier than they hoped.

So there you have it, my heart this morning. If you feel persecuted, know your not alone. And if you find yourself watching a movie, remember before you even start that it can be dangerous on the heart....even if it is rated PG! This is the world's way of sucking you into the lie that life is perfect. Just remind yourself how rich and beautiful your life is....God's plan for you is perfect and someday soon we will have the ultimate fairy tale for Eternity!
Blessings to you this Monday!

Heaven's Joy

Gospel reading today John 15:9-11
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11

Have you ever experienced joy from Heaven? It is like a natural high. I experienced this two days ago. I kept thinking....how in the world am I so joyful? I am doing laundry, pulling weeds, and changing diapers? I truly believe it is a gift from Heaven that showers upon us mothers for doing the work of Christ. I think I was also receiving such a gift because the Lord knew my spirit would be crushed the next day. I went from being blissfully happy on Tuesday to crying on Wednesday. Someone very dear to me hurt my spirit and I am currently working through it.

So today, be open to the happiness of perfection. I believe we receive this when we are in daily prayer, we notice God in the birds, the cloudless sky and crisp spring air. When we bathe in the beauty of the mundane and seek Wisdom while our children play by sitting and reading on the lives of the Saints, holiness of motherhood or most importantly daily scripture. God wants to give all of us this peaceful and perfect joy, all we have to do is be still, quiet and open to Heaven's graces.

Blessings to you this Thursday!

Who is your Gardener?

Gospel reading today John 15:1-8
"I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does not bear fruit, so it will be clean and bear more fruit." John 15:1-2

What a wonderful reading and perfect timing for gardening season. I find myself almost every day in the garden pulling weeds and finding such joy and excitement in my seeds sprouting! When we bought this "fixer-upper" five years ago, I didn't know the slightest thing about gardening. But because I was forced to learn, I have a new found passion for planning and caring for my flower and vegetable garden. We are told in today's gospel that our Father in heaven is the gardener, constantly breaking off our branches that do not bear fruit. He might do this by not answering a prayer that we think HAS to be answered our way. Or by hard times that we endure....this is the surest way He really prunes us. As we are are kicking and screaming not wanting to endure hard times, just as the rose bush looks better full with tons of thorns, the Gardener is the designer and care-giver. After the end of the day, He knows what is best for His garden.

So today, as you are frustrated with what you think are un-answered prayers, or you are struggling with a health promblem or physical ailment, or crying babies and onry toddlers, just think about Our Father pruning you to make you bear more fruit and become more beautiful. If we are open to God breaking off our branches and pruning us, our Garden will be more beautiful and full than we could ever imagine.

Blessings to you this Wednesday!

Finding Peace in this Noisy World

Gospel Reading today John 14:27-31
"Peace is what I leave you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world gives." John 14:27

Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John that His gift to us is Peace. Peace is God. God is Peace. So how do we find peace in today's noisy world? We have the TV blairing with news of car bombs and annoying cartoons. We have work out facilities that roar of treadmills and rock music with bigscreen TV's taking front and center. We have phones attached to our hips (literally) where anyone and everyone can reach us at any given time. We have the world at our fingertips through the internet. Noise, noise, noise. I am guilty of getting caught up in all of this noise....it is very easy to do. So how do we find peace amongst the noise? I really don't know the answer, but what I do know is that I had a breath of peace yesterday afternoon. Daily, I try to unplug the TV after morning cartoons and not let the kids watch it the rest of the day (alot of times that doesn't happen). Yesterday, I was drinking my afternoon coffee outside with relaxing instrumental christian music playing. I sat and read a book in a comfy chair on our deck under the trees. The kids were singing the alphabet and chasing each other around. We then built a hide-out underneath our brick oven and put a sign up that said "keep out", which they loved! As they were playing in their hide-out, I looked up at the sky and breathed in peace. My goal yesterday was to be "present" to my children which is sometimes really hard to do. Through making that effort of being present and not trying to get tons done around the house, phone calls made, emails checked, I found immense peace. This was an answer for me on finding peace. By living in the moment and not trying to put too much on us as mothers is key because the most important task at hand is being present to our children. In the grand scheme of things, the noise of to-do lists, laundry, closets, returned phone calls really do not matter. They will eventually get done and their will always be more to do. The one thing that truly matters is seeing the face of Christ in our families. Of teaching our children how to use their immaginations to play. Laughing and being silly with these precious souls.

So there you have it, my take on finding peace amongst the chaos and noise. Ofcourse my most peaceful time of the day is early in the morning when I drink my coffee and say my prayers.....that time is easy to find peace. But the challenge is finding peace amidst the noisy world. When you do, you are truly accepting God's gift of peace and the Kingdom of Heaven starts to descend upon you. Also, when you are trying to make a decision in your life, search for peace. For where there is peace, there is God.

Blessings to you this Tuesday!

Embrace this Miraculous Monday

Gospel Reading today John 14:6-14
"I am the way, the truth and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. Now that you know me, you will know my Father, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him. Phillip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, that is all we need." John 14:7-8

How amazing, in today's Gospel, that Phillip asked Jesus to show him the Father....that is all Phillip needed to believe. This is AFTER Jesus just proclaimed that He was the way, the truth and the life! Helllooo, Phillip? Are you listening? This reminds me of how ignorant and arrogant we are in today's society. We have proof of God being present everywhere around us.....in our children, in the beautiful spring days, in our giving neighbor who brings us fresh baked cookies, in our husbands who are a constant coduit of God's love through their service to our families. And yet, we are still looking for God! We have to have "proof" of His existence. Our children are the way, the truth and the life! As mothers, we are the way, the truth and the life for our children by performing acts of God's love to them everyday! And yet, mothers are still searching for Jesus outside the home because the home is too "boring" or they "just don't use their brains" when home with their children. We are constantly pulled in so many different directions "looking" for peace, joy, hope when usually it is right under our nose.

So today, as you think it is just an ordinary mundane Monday, (I'll admit, I have that feeling of dread today too..), embrace Jesus in your midst today and see him in your giggling children, sleepy eyes, whines and cries. If we do this, we will see the Kingdom of God at hand in our very own homes. You can't get any more NON-MUNDANE than that! Today, I am going to work on the HUGE pile of laundry that I have and just be present to my children. In these moments, I hope to feel the presence of Jesus and see His eyes twinkling in those precious little blue and brown eyes under my roof.

Blessings to you this Miraculous Monday!