Jesus' Baptism Reflections

Preparing for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is tomorrow...I was reading the Bible this morning and a passage hit me strongly. It was Mark 1:7-13. It states that immediately afterward John baptized Jesus did He, driven by the Holy Spirit, go into the wilderness (desert). How many times have we just had an amazing experience of Jesus' love in the sacraments (for me, esp. the Holy Mass or confession) and its as if satan is waiting for us outside the doors to devour us. We become prey to silly ol' satan. He sees us from afar because we are glowing with the love of Jesus. Just outside those doors do we start getting mad at the tons of traffic just leaving Church or snap at our children in the van.Or as soon as we get home do we blow up at our loved ones- just those sins we asked forgiveness for?! Satan knows our weaknesses and he will go ahead and tempt us. No doubt. Just as he tempted Jesus for 40 days, he will do the same to us.
These awesome sacraments also give us much power and strength to resist nasty satan. Lord, help us to never think that these sacraments cannot help us and sustain us. Help us to believe in the power of the sacraments, Lord Jesus.
I am meditating on a book called The Better Part- its a great resource for Christian prayer and in it, it highlights that in this passage that Jesus was his Father's "beloved Son" on whom the Father's "favor rests".
"Up to thispoint of baptism, Jesus had done nothing extraordinary- no miracles, no great speeches, no massive conversions. He had spent 30 years living in a hut in Nazareth, helping his foster-dad in the carpentry shop and doing chores and errands for his mother. And yes, the Father's favor rests on him; the father is well pleased with Him. Why? Because Jesus has been doing what God asked him to do, and he has been doing it with love" (page 344).

This really struick me in a new way b/c at times I can (proudly unfortunatly) say that I am doing God's will. Hey, I am home with the children. I am loving my husband. I am teaching our children at home. I am raising them. I am doing the duties of a housewife, a mother and caring for my children. But, am I doing it all with LOVE?
I thought of song by Marie Bellett- www.mariebellet.com. She is a singer song writer and mom of many boys-8 and 1 girl; and uses her songs to sing about motherhood! There is one specific song of hers that I listen to so much my children sing along with me... Ay Yi Yi. I cannot find the lyrics of it right now but it is an awesome reminder to do all things with great LOVE.
Lord, teach me to love You, love those You gave me, love who I am (imperfections and all), and put Your Great LOVE into all I do. All I do is for You, Lord. I am Your instrument.
God bless,
Mary

Take it or leave it

My hubby is urging me to post this:

I am starting a homeschool neighborhood- anyone want to move here and join in?!

Yes, I know it is only January. We have not even hit the worst of them all- February!

Boy, I cannot wait till Springtime!

God bless,
Mary

O.M. Gosh.

Oh. My. Gosh.
Kid #5 is just so almost 2 years old.
How can someone so very little make such a huge mess?
He has only been up for an hour and a half and we had Mister tornado and hurricane hit us already.
Guess my plans for today is official.
Where's the broom, vacuum and mop? Any maids want work today?

It's a good thing you are so very cute and cuddly, Mister cheerio child #5.
God bless,
Mary

On my mind

Here is a passage that I keep thinking about today:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you.” John 14:27

Interesting how the world describes peace as...

and how our Lord Jesus Christ says it is.

Let us always strive for His peace-it's everything and it's everlasting.

God bless,

Mary

Wednesday's Why

Why is it that when a mom does not see or hear her children playing (in other words QUIET) she immediately drops everything she is doing and finds something like this...

(do you see their toes?)

Those are not MY boys. Nope. Noway. No.

Not. My. Boys.

Did those army cargo pants throw you off? I thought not.

(not sure why I cannot get my pic upright...but you get the point)

Now if I can only find my nail polish remover...

God bless,

Mary

Where have I been?

Not that I am your best bud or anything...but in case you were wondering where I've been...
Does having surgery to take one's gall bladder out count?
How about finding out there was 30-40 stones in that stinker?!
Or how about seeing this
doing some of this and this






Happy 5th Birthday Kid #3!!! We love you! You have such a talent of building and hope you enjoy your REAL tools- just like Dad! So, go ahead and make that bed you've been talking about, like forever! You sure are ONE OF A KIND! God bless you!

and lots of this and more of this

and this (how adorable, huh? The sweet girl, not the doll, but she's okay, I guess.)


What? You have yet to meet "Baby Kelly"??? She is Kid #4's right hand dollie. Attached at the hip. Totally. And totally cute too. Amazing how those instincts kick in so young. You're gonna be one good momma, Kid #4! :)

God bless,
Mary

Happy New Year 2009!

Happy New year 2009!

I can't help but be like everyone else who takes the New Year seriously. That means looking back at 2008-and asking many questions...What did I do? What is my best accomplishment? What is my biggest disappointment? What could I have done better?

And to look ahead at the ever popular...What is my resolution for 2009?

I don't know about you but I do tend to shudder at these questions. When I can get some time to actually think without being interrupted is a great way to start, wouldn't you say?! But, even though I do not have this solitude that I often crave, I have to admit, these questions linger in my mind.

So, what is your resolution for 2009? Is it tangible, real or an ideal, far out there that you may not reach? Over the years, I have learned to be real with what I can and cannot do. Not that I am any good at this...yet...but I said that I am learning!

My resolution list (yes, a list- I am a big 'to do list' person) may consist in what the rest of the world has too- watching what I eat, loose weight, blah blah blah. But, I am also going to try my best to stick with my prayer life daily but be flexible and to be okay with that too! To see my day, my whole day, as a potential prayer. To see that it is not just a quick prayer to start my day and boom- I am done. But to extend it to different prayers throughout the day- The Anima Christi, The Angelus, and a Prayer for Vocations, the Rosary etc... Also, I am going to try my best at getting to daily mass more often during the week. I thank God that we have an early 7am mass in town, which is very helpful- as long as my little ones cooperate for Mommy to get out to that mass :) Thirdly, I am going to try to be more attentive to each of my 6 little blessings and especially to my biggest blessing-my husband, and to be thankful for each and every day with them. Life is hard, life is busy, life is chaotic. We need to remember to make it a point to appreciate and learn to love deeply those closest to us, those precious souls God placed in our lives is for a reason.

I am sure there is more to come as I keep thinking about 2009! In the mean time, GOD BLESS THE USA and may God bless you,

Mary