School starts tomorrow!

It seems like only yesterday... I was cleaning and closing up my fourth grade classroom. This is the message that one of my students left on my white board on the last day of school. I didn't realize that it was on the board until everyone was picked up by their parents and I went up the many steps to my third floor classroom alone and looked at the empty room.

Tomorrow starts a brand new year. I will have 23 children to meet and get to know. I am excited! I already know that I will not get too much sleep tonight. :)

I'm off to tuck in my children. We finished packing up all of their supplies this afternoon and they are all a bit anxious too. Have a beautiful evening.

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

What happened to our tomatoes this year?

Oh dear.

I have in my profile that I LOVE gardening... especially growing tomatoes. Well, I do love tomatoes, but this year I asked my husband if we could try something new.

First, I have to tell you that every Fall I have a horrible time sticking to our family budget when it comes to...

GOURDS!!

Yes, gourds. I don't know why I love them. You can't eat them. (at least I don't think you can)

I love all shapes of gourds. I put them in a basket on our dining room table and take a few into the classroom too. Well, when we were at the garden center buying our plants this past May, I saw gourd plants. I was very convincing to my wonderfully patient husband about how we needed to get a gourd plant to try to grow in our usually beautiful (almost entirely tomato) garden.

They were ONLY $0.39!

We bought two, small, barely 2" high plants.

CAN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

Those two, tiny plants have taken over the entire garden. They completely grew over our lovely (well I guess you'd have to 'think' lovely) tomato plants and even covered our cucumber trellis. I thought I would never hear the end of it from my husband. After all, there will be no tomatoes for his mother to can for our family this Fall. He has helped me harvest gourds four times now. I have laundry baskets completely full of gourds. I also have a basket already at school.

Is there a lesson here?

I learned something new about my husband after 22 years of marriage. He braves mosquitoes and gourd plant prickers to pick every single gourd for me. We wash them together at the sink and I see him smile as he watches me dry each and every single one with a towel before gently placing them in ANOTHER laundry basket. A continuing love story each and every day.

Next year's planting? Well, I'm not entirely convinced that gourds are not in my future. Maybe if I just plant ONE little, tiny plant?

Have a beautiful day in the LORD!

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

I forgot to remind you to push the pause button on the right side of the blog before you play the video. God bless!

Mary

Summer Chamber Music Recital

Our daughter, Maddie, is playing the cello. This piece was from the recital this morning. We are so proud of her and the hard work she has accomplished this summer. I apologize for the shaky video. It was taken with a hand held flip camera.

They are playing Hornpipe in F Major by Handel. Watermusic. A big thank you to her cello teacher, Nancy Kaphaem, for helping Maddie prepare for this Chamber Recital.

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

The Assumption of the Blessed Mother

August 15th - The Assumption of the Blessed Mother

Peter Paul Rubens, 1612.

Hail Mary,

full of grace,

the Lord is with thee;

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit

of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners, now

and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Mary, a humble woman of Nazareth trusted in God and His promise of salvation. She said, "Yes."

She said, "Yes" to God for the whole human race. She trusted Him. Today, we celebrate her beautiful, "Yes."

Say, "Yes."

Be open to where the Lord leads you to be. Use the talents that you have been so blessed with to spread His love everywhere you go. There are so many people who need to see Him. I tell my kids that sometimes just a smile will lead people to Christ. He loves you so much.

Try this with your kids...

You say, "Blessed Mother Mary" and teach your children to respond, "Be our Mother too!" Make everyday an occasion to love and honor our beautiful Mother in Heaven. She will always lead you to Jesus!

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

p.s. I request your prayers for my patience in a situation that requires more than I have to give. Patience and understanding too. I will need it as I continue through the month of September. Thank you my dear Reader. You are in my prayers as well.

Maybe I was wrong...

Catholic Church, contraception coverage collide
Diocese employees in state could face sanctions, termination

http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/100504294.html

Earlier I posted about contraception use by our brothers and sisters in the Faith. I stated that I believed ignorance was the greatest obstacle and reason for continued use of artificial birth control. I am dismayed by the comments offered online by the readers of this newspaper.

Everyone seems to only think of themselves. The 'me' complex maybe?
"I have a right... "
"No one is going to tell me... "
"It's my body... "
And on and on and on.

Then the cheap shots start too-- Cheap shots on the Church itself and our Religious and Priests. As I read the comments I kept thinking, "Where are all of the faithful? Where are the Catholic's comments?"
Then I had a 'crashing' thought. Are some of these comments written by our Catholic family? Reality (and saddness) tells me that many of them probably are written by them.

I don't know where to go with this post from here. I'm hesitant to continue to write and risk saying something that may be misconstrued by someone who is reading this. I also do not want to continue with my mixture of emotions ranging from disappointment, saddness and frustration to outright anger.
All of this is such a continuous uphill climb.

What will I do now?
The very thing that I will strongly encourage all of you to do.
We need to pray for Pope Benedict. We need to pray for our Bishops. We need to pray for our Priests. We need to pray for families.
Families need to place Christ first in their lives. Parents need to place their complete trust in God. Complete trust in everything.
Simply said... that includes the beautiful blessings of children.

There. Enough said about this.
I am off to start my day with my family. It is extremely hot here in Wisconsin today. The kids are waiting to go outside and swim in the pool. May your day be filled with beautiful family time too.

Mary
Jesus, I trust in You!
Immaculate Mother Mary, Be our Mother too!

So... What do you think?

I stumbled upon this quote by Blessed Mother Teresa this evening. Tell me what you think.

"I think the world today is upside down. Everybody seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater development and greater riches and so on. There is much suffering because there is so very little love in homes and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other; there is no time to enjoy each other. In the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world."

Blessed Mother Teresa

Have a beautiful evening.

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

Prayers requested please...

The following is from a site regarding the little three year old in my daughter Sophie's class. Please pray for this little love.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2010 2:13 AM, CDT

Elaina had a spinal tap with chemo today. She had more pain than usual and did not want to sit up on hte ride home. SHe also woke up from anesthesia faster than ever before. I was excited to sit in hte back seat with her since Rich was able to come with us this week. I worry about her so much! It is so hard not to. This week I received news that a fellow cander family with a 3 year old girl wit hte same diagnosis which was made on July 17t had passed away due to an infection. It scares me to think that she could have been that girl. So I ask for prayers to help keep away an infections. Elaina had a great weekend and was able to spend some time with friends again. It is so good for her spirit and for her brother and sister as well. I think sometimes that Rich is having a hard time with all of this. It is so hard to see your child in pain. It is even harder when there is nothing you can do to fix it. I ask for prayers for my family to stay strong and appreciate all of you in our lives. God Bless!

Thank you,

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

County Fair

Today was a long, long day! It was the rabbit judging day at our County Fair. I am so proud of my kids! Our 3rd born beautiful daughter did an awesome job in showmanship but this year she had some fierce competition. This was her first year in Senior Showmanship. Last year she took first but this year a healthy second. She understands where she forgot some knowledge on her breed. Way to go! (She showed our Netherland Dwarf rabbit that we rescued)

Our 4th daughter is in her last year of beginner showmanship. She 'borrowed' her sister Emily's rabbit, Ashton. He is a cute little American Fuzzy Lop. I could see her from the stands but couldn't hear what she was saying to the judge. Her mouth just kept moving and moving. :) She ended up taking the first blue ribbon and trophy!

Ashton also took a first blue for breed. Enjoy the pics!

It was an awesome, extremely HOT, fair day.

Peace,

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

Prayer to Saint Peregrine

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 the sick whom we entrust to you.
(Pause here and silently recall the names of the sick for whom you are praying)
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.

A friend of mine from a long time ago emailed me this morning. Sadness filled her letter. She is calling out for prayers and comfort. So much cancer. So much. Please place her husband, Vic, in your prayers. He had surgery on June 1st to remove his bladder, prostate, and lymph nodes. We may not be able to physically comfort or lessen pain from suffering... but we are all called to pray for others for their needs.

Thank you, dear reader. I remember you in my prayers daily.

Mary

Jesus, I trust in You!

"Let every action of mine be something beautiful for God." Blessed Mother Teresa