Greetings!

I hope you all are doing well.  I have a quiet morning and wanted to write a little bit on what is going on in my home, heart and this crazy world we live in!  I am doing my first batch of laundry with my homemade laundry detergent. It smells good! Clint and I have enjoyed simplyfying things in our little home and going back to the old fashion ways.  Since December, we have started canning on the weekends.  There is something so sweet and peaceful about a hot kitchen full of boiling water and whistling pots. The kids play and check in at the kitchen counter from time to time to see what is going on.  Our sweet Clementine helps mama peel the blanched tomatoes while Daddy dices and places them in jars.  We have enjoyed going as a family to our local farmers market and stocking up on fresh local farm to table food and storing up delicious goods for the winter.  I am finding myself wanting to simplify more and more.  When you get a taste of peace in this unpeaceful world, you don't want to stop.  You keep digging for more and more ways to simplify and find peace.  Things around my home keep breaking for the best! Our living room TV just stopped working out of the blue one day and we got use to no noise in our living/kitchen area....so what did we do?  Yanked that sucker right our of our home and replaced it with a piano!  It was also very liberating to call up verizon and disconnect the cable!  Love it!  Now we go to our local library and rent simple sweet cartoons or movies or watch PBS with no commercials.  The kids curl up in our bedroom and watch a little TV from time to time but it doesn't rule our home.  AND...my email stopped working on my iphone out of the blue and I have to admit, I am in no hurry to get it fixed. Call us radical or just call us hungry and thirsty for peace.

Life with four little ones is hard but wonderful.  I am trying my best to be "present" to them at all times and not be distracted from needless or useless worries, phone conversations, or any other distractions that don't have value.  I believe our society is living in a state of distraction.  From all the technology that we are addicted to, there leaves no room for stillness in our hearts to hear God's voice. Since I have quietened my life, I have heard the Good Shepherd whisper in my heart from time to time.  One in which, I was lying on the sofa one afternoon resting my head while the kids played around me. (I stay exhausted...as all mothers do.) and a little voice said to me..."you see my precious daughter, just as you love watching your children rest, so do I, your Father, love to see you rest." This was so comforting to hear as we all feel that silly guilt when we rest or do something for ourselves. What the Lord said to me made such sense.  I find such peace in seeing my children rest or take a nap because they seldom do.  But when you see your child passed out from playing so hard, it makes a mother happy when you find them in a peaceful sleep. Thank you Jesus for telling me what all mothers yearn to hear.....we need to rest!

 I am finding I have more balance in my life by giving my entire self to my home and family than when I was scatter-brained trying to volunteer at church, on the computer answering emails or trying to have a phone conversation with a friend while your child is needing you or kids are fighting. My marriage has never been better (which all marriages go through seasons, mine included! :) and my kids have never been happier. I also find balance by rising early in the morning for prayer time, working-out while listening to wonderful podcasts such as Word-On-Fire or Radio Wave and fun dates with my husband as much as possible. Also gathering with faith filled friends from time to time. I find such joy and peace being a homemaker and raising these children.  We really don't need much in this life, just love and prayer.

So that is what is going in my life.  God continues to show me mercy, grace, love and peace.  He continues to remind me that this time is fleeting and to look for Him in all of the sweet sounds of children playing & laughing, laundry piles, the smell of rosemary, and the precious grins and giggles from a five month old angel.  The best part of my day is in the mornings when I pick up Callahan out of his crib.  That precious baby has brought nothing but God's love to my heart and heaven's abundant joy to this home!

I don't have time to write about what is going on in the world but I will say this....we need to be on our knees in prayer for our world, especially for our families to be guarded and guided in Truth.  The messages of Medjugorje are profound.  How blessed we are to be in this time where the Mother of God is bringing us closer to her Son and giving us guidance from Our Heavenly Father.  You can read the latest messages at www.mej.com .  Blessings to you all and the holy work you do!

Welcome Baby!

Gospel reading today John 4:5-42
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, `Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

Callahan Benedict Cooper arrived March 11th! He is such a perfect and precious gift from God and we are so excited to have him part of our family! Everything went beautifully, thanks be to God.  I am reminded with each kiss I give him and with each sweet embrace that these babies are truly God's greatest gift to us next to Jesus Himself.  Giving life is nothing short of a miracle and a taste of Heaven on earth.  I'm amazed once again though giving life to Callahan of how we mothers truly lay down our lives and we are told in scripture that this is the greatest love...."laying down our life for a friend". God's grace is abundant....He knows our hearts and what we need so well.  Miraculously the past two weeks, my early riser, Ben, has been sleeping in an extra hour and a half which gives me time to have my coffee and sit with Jesus.  We mothers are so thirsty for our spiritual drink from Heaven and I am so greatful I am receiving life giving water so I can give back to my family.  Sure, it would be easier to sleep one extra hour, but not worth it! The flowing "water at the well" that I receive from Heaven each morning is my juice to get through the day with three little ones and a newborn.  It is my only explanation for a peaceful transition of Callahan coming home. 
So we are reminded in today's gospel, that we are like the woman at the well.  Thirsty for the life giving water that only Jesus can provide for us.  We will thirst for this drink the rest of our lives.  As we weary mothers come to the water, Jesus will refresh us and quench our thirst so we can pour His abundant love and life giving water back into our families.

I don't know when the next time I will write.  My calling to write on this blog has come to end for the time being.  I am enjoying taking a break from technology...giving up my Iphone for lent has been complete freedom. I purposely haven't bought a new computer for my home because I like the peace too much.  I am enjoying the "quietness" of my home and relishing in this fleeting time of little footsteps and voices filling the air.  I hope you all are well.  If for some reason you are contemplating on having another baby, go for it!  You won't regret it one bit.  Giving life to these precious souls is the greatest accomplishment we can ever acheive in this short time on earth.  I am very content with the four wonderful children that God has gifted to us and looking forward to the next phase of raising these little ones and having fun! Blessings to you all.

"God in action is the service of the poor or the service in the family..." Blessed Mother Teresa

I just got a copy of the book Where There is Love, There is God- Mother Teresa by Brian Kolodiejchuk.
Mother Teresa's words are amazing. They are so simple yet so powerful.  I highly recommend this book....a great read before bedtime.  I am due with our fourth child in 10 days.  Although very excited, I am anxious and feeling a bit overwhelmed at the thought of having four children.  This feeling is so normal whether you are about to have your second, fourth or sixth I am sure.  Someone told me today not to worry about God's grace next week, because His grace is enough for today.  I will let you all know when this little guy arrives.  My doctor wants to induce but I have decided to let him enter into this world on God's time watch, not the world's timing.  Please keep me in your prayers.

Blessings to you all. 

Paralyzed

Gospel Reading Mark 2: 1-12
 Today's gospel reading talks about Jesus speaking in Capernaum and there were vast crowds and no room left to get into the building, not even in front of the door.  So the family of the paralyzed man cut a whole in the roof and lowered him down for Jesus to heal him.  As I read this, I am reminded how we can get paralyzed in our day to day living.  Paralyzed in our thinking, feelings, actions.  Sometimes it takes a big scare of child getting hurt or a loved one possibly diagnosed with a sickness/impairment that unparalyzes us.  This happened to me on Tuesday.  We had a a scare with our youngest 2 1/2 old daughter, Anna Claire.  I was on my knees (literally) throughout the day praying for God not to give us this cross we thought we had to face.  I wish I could go into more details but I don't have the time. To make a long story short, everything turned out okay.  All of the sudden, I was unparalyzed!  I thought back to the useless worry or complaints I had been having....moaning and groaning about my pregnancy or annoyed with children or feeling like I am trapped in my home with wild toddlers and no where to escape.  All of the sudden, I looked around after being unparalyzed and praised God for everything I had.  I knew at that moment how each and every day is a gift.  These children are such a gift.  My husband and marriage is such a gift. Our home is the perfect size.  Our bank account is just right.  My vericose veins are beautiful. At that moment I realized I have everything......I need NOTHING!  That absolutely nothing else matters in life then family and friends. 

After the grueling day I had on Tuesday, I thanked God for giving me such a day.  It was a healing moment in my life in a time that I really needed it.  The rest of this week, I have been overjoyed.  Loved on our children a little more, rested in my husbands arms, sat on the floor and played, baked cookies and just relished in my family's precesense. 
So today, whatever is paralyzing you, give it up to Jesus.  Look around and see that you have everything you have at this very moment in your life.  It can change in an instant.  As mothers, our hearts are wide open for heart break at any moment so relish in the mundane days of January tucked inside your home with children.  Read a book, watch a movie, bake something delicious to endulge in with your children.  Enjoy this time because you will never live this day again.  So "get up and walk" my friend. Look up to Heaven in praise and thanksgiving and become unparalyzed.
Blessings to you this Friday!

Our little "Soup Kitchen"

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!  I hope you all are beaming with the love of Christ in your hearts.  My first thought Christmas Morning was "Awe, He is finally here!".  All of the anticipation, expectation of the season can get the best of us but to know on Christmas morning that none of the shopping and craziness of the season matters anymore....the only thing that matters now is that baby Jesus was born to a poor family in Bethlehem.....and because of His Mother's "Yes" and His birth, we will live forever more.  

I have missed writing on this blog, but have enjoyed a quiet journey of growing our fourth child in my womb.  I am now seven months pregnant and my last trimester is always the hardest.  I am digging deep within and praying for strength to get through the next two months.  With each pain in my legs and stab in my back, I lift up prayers.  In the middle of the night when all I want to do is sleep because my body hurts so much, I rise with strength from the Lord to tend to the child crying out for me.  Each day has been a challenge of caring for three small children and another in my womb.  But with each day, I feel I have grown closer to the Lord.  I have cried out in pure exhaustion and have wondered why in the world we decided to be open to another baby.....all of the normal feelings a mother has through the suffering of caring for her flock.  In prayer this morning, I feel the Holy Spirit placed on my heart that this home and family is my "soup kitchen".  I pictured faithful people scooping up bowls of soup for the hungry and poor and then pictured me in constant (and I mean constant) service to my husband and children.  There is no need for we mothers to think we have to be out in the community serving others, our perfect service for the Lord is within our homes.  

The more I become closer to Jesus and desire nothing else but His holy will for my life, I realize that the road of His holy will is not easy.  We are reminded this Christmas Season of the hard road that Mary and Joseph had in following His will.  Aslo in the Passion, we see the hardest of roads taken by Christ Himself to follow God's holy will.  We live in a society where everyone is looking for a life of luxury and the easy way out, but I can almost guarantee you this life is not what Christ desires for us.  Sure, He wants us to be happy and live a good life but we are told in scripture that through suffering and hard times is where we grow the most in our Faith and where Jesus is closest to us. So no matter where you are in your life's journey, in the desert or in the rolling wheat fields, know that you are exactly where you are suppose to be at this very moment.  Also, the persecution we receive in following God's will can be hard to take.  I am so tired of the comments that come my way almost daily. "You are crazy! , Another, one? Seriously?" , "I have known you pregnant more than not pregant!", "Have  you lost your mind?", "Are these all yours?", "Don't you know how to prevent this from happening?"....and the jabs keep on a comin'!  My thought is that I only have four! These poor women who have 4+ children, I can't imagine what people have the nerve to say to them.  It is so sad we live in such a anti-life society.  Serving God and His kingdom can be hard to say the least, but know the reward is abundant after this short life on earth. It is through our service here on earth that merits our rewards in Heaven.

Off to take care of my flock!  Blessings to you all this Christmas Season and New Year! 

Feast Day Celebration and Blessing of Our Family Business

Clint's homemade pies were delicious.  We also had ham, roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls.  Why do people have everything catered these days?  Because it is easy....everyone is always looking for the easy way out.  Preparing food for others is one of the key ingredients to a blissful servants heart....a natural high from Heaven.  These simple ways of happiness are slowly being deminshed.  God is a simple God....the key to happiness is simple!

Deacon Pat with his helper, Ben. Maybe he'll be a priest someday! :) Ben loved holding the Holy Water!

Blessing of the bakers hands.  The work they do with their hands providing such sacred food, such as bread, is holy. Clint, my husband, is the third one from the left.

Mine and my sister's kids in front of the "alter".

Deacon Pat blessing the offices.

Blessing of the ovens.

The kids feasting on cokes and pie! :)

St. Elizabeth of Hungary- Patron Saint of Bread Bakers.  A daughter of a King who devoted her life to giving bread to the poor.

Blessing of the baker began outside. When then proceeded throughout the bakery where he blessed each room as well as the baking equipment.

Yesterday at our bakery we celebrated the Feast Day of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, the patron saint of bread bakers. We also had our Parish Deacon come and bless the bakery. What a wonderful day it was! Clint and I had so much fun preparing all of the food and sharing in this celebration with our employees, family and friends. The graces we received from this were astonishing. Things Clint had been worried about for the past three weeks happened to work themselves out and we got leads on two large accounts all after the blessing of the bakery! This is proof that all we have to do is ask for help and graces and Heaven will provide.

Our employees are mainly Hispanic. These people are Christ for me.  Their faith and devotion is so inspiring.They put together the most beautiful alter with flowers, candles and pictures of Jesus, the Blessed Mother and St. Elizabeth of Hungary. I cried when I saw it.....it was so beautiful and humbling. Employees who were off work yesterday, came and brought flowers for the alter and also eager to receive a blessing. We live in a world where speaking of religion in the workplace is considered a lawsuit threat. My theory is, if we can't share our faith values in the business God has provided for us, then what is it worth? We are to work for the Kingdom of God and sharing our faith and showing our dependence on prayers and intercession from Heaven is working for the Kingdom. You will see in one of the pictures where Deacon Pat blessed the hands of the bakers. I realized after seeing this picture that this might have been the only blessing some of the employees have ever received. It was also neat to see our children along with our nieces and nephews be able to participate in this ancient old tradition.  To see us sharing our faith with others is important for our children.  I can only imagine in the past how many families celebrated feast days and had their businesses blessed...mainly because faith was all they had. Why do people not do this anymore?  Are they too good?  Do they think they really don't "need" any special blessing and graces upon their work environment and employees?  Are they afraid of offending someone? All Clint and I have had the past seven years of being self-employed is our faith....nothing else.  There were many times that only God's hand saved our business.  Every morning I pray for our business and ask St. Elizabeth to pray for us and intercede for us and also special blessings over our employees.  Because of our dependence on faith, we feel it is necessary for a blessing over our business and employees.  This is not our business, but God's bakery. 

I feel it is time we start sharing our beliefs....whether it is politically correct or not.  Satan has slowly silenced us in this type of thinking....not wanting to "offend" anyone or push our beliefs on anyone.  NONSENSE!  If we can't share our faith in the workplace, then what are we working for? You might be surprised how well received and appreciated people might be once you start sharing your faith more.  And someday when you get to Heaven, you will meet that one person (or several) whose direction of  life was changed all because you stepped out in faith and spoke out.  It might have been that one blessing of hands that was an unseen ticket to heaven.

Hope you all are well! Blessings to you on this Thursday!

Our Short Life on Earth.....could end tomorrow. What would you change about your life?

ALL SOULS DAY
First Reading today Wisdom 3:1-9
"In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace." Wisdom 3:2-3

Today we are reminded in the book of wisdom that the greatest day of our life is the day we die.  We look at death as scary or unfortunate when in all actuality it is the beginning of our life. A friend of mine yesterday was delivering a meal to a young family who lost her husband/father at the age of 37 last week.  He died in his sleep of an anurism.  She said it was such reality of death when she pulled up to see his car parked in the driveway, his keys on the table and his shoes by the door.  She was reminded that when you leave this world you take nothing.....absolutely nothing.  Even though we all know this, it is a good reminder from time to time of what this life is truly for.  We run around day after day chasing our tails....worried about silly things and putting our thoughts towards things that truly DON"T matter in life.  Lately I have been consumed with the children's bedrooms.....where this new baby will sleep, what frilly bedding I am going to get my girls, ya-da,ya-da, ya-da.  Even though it is fun to think of these things and decorate our homes, etc., it is crucial that we continue to not dwell on these silly mind-blowing things of the world and keep a clear perspective.  This morning as I said my prayers, I thought to myself....."what truly matters in life?  If I knew I was to die tomorrow, what are the things I would change about my life as of right now?"  This is a brilliant question to ask yourself periodically to keep things in perspective and to discern God's Will for you and your family.  Lately, I have been really focused on praying for God's Will for our lives.  His Will is so much more than we can even ask for or dream of, yet, we tend to not let go of fear and choose our will instead. 

I just returned from a wonderful weekend at my family's ranch.  I am convinced that all that matters in life is being with family and perserving faith and heritage.  However, as much as I want to pack up tomorrow and move back to the land my family has been living on for the past 100 years, I am reminded that we are at the perfect place at the perfect time right now in God's design.  I am reminded that we think we are strictly here for our business and to make a living, but in Heaven's eyes it is a much different design.  We might be at the place we are right now in our lives for the 10 year old little girl across the street who is living with her Grandma because her mom was thrown into jail.  She knows nothing about Jesus or family life and we might be her only glimpse of hope at this moment in her life. Or we might be at the place we are right now because one employee gets a glimpse of the cross and picture of the Blessed Mother hanging in our bakery and yearns to come to know Jesus.  We don't know.....but all we do know is that life is short and if we are living for the things of the world, we might as well just pack up and go "home" now.  This is worthless living.  But if we are living for the Kingdom and seeing each and every day as value for Heaven's sake, then we are doing our job we came here to do on earth.  To live for Jesus and Jesus alone. 

So whereever you are in your life right now, take an evaluation.  What are you and your husband truly living for?  The next big break, raise, promotion, million dollar ticket?  Or are you living how and where God has truly called you to live?  If you knew you had two months to live, how would you change the direction of your life?  I am going to ponder on that one today.......
On another note, what beautiful intercessors we have in Heaven.....all of our loved ones who have gone before us.  Let us remember our dear loved ones today and all they did for us and taught us. Learn from them!  Also, GO VOTE!  This election is crucial in the state of our  nation.  It is our duty as a christian to vote today for the sake of our nation and our families.  Repulicans are in the light and Democrats are clearly taking a path of darkness.  VOTE FOR THE LIGHT.....the only hope we have for our Nation.

Medjugorje:
The Blessed Mother gives messages for the World on the 2nd and 25th of each month.  These messages are to bring our world back to her son.....this is the reason for her appartions.  These messages are for all faiths and religions.

Today's message, November 2, 2010:
“Dear children! With Motherly perseverance and love I am bringing you the light of life to destroy the darkness of death in you. Do not reject me, my children. Stop and look within yourselves and see how sinful you are. Be aware of your sins and pray for forgiveness. My children, you do not desire to accept that you are weak and little, but you can be strong and great by doing God’s will. Give me your cleansed hearts that I may illuminate them with the light of life, my Son. Thank You.”