9 Years Old

It’s this sweet girl’s 9th birthday today! 

We had fun celebrating her birthday with breakfast for dinner and Rocky Road ice cream for dessert! 

These past nine years have been the best nine years of my life! 

I can’t imagine life without you, Faye! 

I love being your  godmother and I love watching you grow up! 

I am very impressed by your cursive handwriting and proud of the kind big sister you are to your brothers. 

In this picture of us together, one can’t see your butterfly wings you were wearing, but I know they are there and you are going to fly far in this life. 

You’re not afraid to spread your wings and fly. 

God has big plans for your life! 

“I am not afraid. I was born for this!” St. Joan of Arc 

Happy birthday, goddaughter! 

9 years ago 

Happy Heaven Birthday Grandma

Today would have been my Grandma Barb's 96th birthday! 

We finished decorating our house for Fall today and thought of Grandma. 

I have been thinking a lot about her lately. 

Grandma's favorite holiday was Halloween. 

She loved dressing up and handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. 

I remember shopping for Halloween masks with Grandma in Twin Falls. The Halloween masks were not for me but for Grandma, to add to her collection of Halloween masks. 

This was a strange favorite part about going to Grandma's house, looking through her Halloween masks. 

Grandma liked to have fun and always enjoyed a party.

She was the life of the party. 

I miss our lunch dates at seniors every Tuesday. 

I miss walking with her and her squeezing my hand. 

On our visits to Grandma and Grandpa's house, I could always count on Grandma waiting outside on the deck ready to greet us when we arrived. 

I remember running up the porch stairs as a kid to try to be the first one to hug Grandma. 

When we left to go back home, Grandma would again be on the deck waving goodbye. 

Until we see you again in Heaven, Grandma. 

Happy heavenly birthday! 

Behold this Heart

 Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. 

It's also my 8th anniversary of consecration to Mary! 

I wanted to blog on this special day but lacked inspiration. 

I opened my Magnificat book and read this morning's Gospel readings. In both Gospels listed for Mass, the word "Behold" stood out to me. 

Then I knew exactly how I wanted to blog today.

I am sharing with you this poem, "Behold this Heart" by Sr. Jordan Rose, S.V. 

Sr. Jordan wrote this poem based off of this painting. 

This painting was painted by our beautiful and talked friend Erin. I listed her website and pictures from her event with Sr. Jordan.

This painting touched my heart as I wrote and shared my Prayer for Hope. 

We didn't plan it that way, the Holy Spirit inspired both of us at different times in different places. 

I love this poem and this painting and wanted to share it with all of you. 

Thank you for sharing your beautiful artwork, Erin! 

Thank you Sr. Jordan for sharing your poem. 

Behold this Heart. 

The Greatest of These (Behold this Heart)

               By Sr. Jordan Rose S.V.

Burning

    Bleeding 

Broken

    Blooming 

Bearing and 

    Believing 

All things

Behold this    

    Heart 

Hear it 

    beat

at the 

    feet 

of her Son's 

    cross 

Pondering

Promises  

Proclaimed and 

Preserved 

    long--

        ago

 no 

    questions 

asked 

    this

her 

task 

to stand 

    in the 

darkness of faith 

    with Him 

Behold this 

    Heart 

Hoping

enduring

    all things

Even here

    Even now 

Fiat

    unto 

death

her every 

breath 

a 

song of 

silent 

surrender 

               to mystery 

Oh 

    blessed 

            is she

who believed

    Behold this 

    Heart 

Who believed

Behold this heart 

Not 

    resisting 

not 

    insisting 

On its own

    Way 

        will 

            plan

No 

    She stands 

for by the 

    cross of Jesus 

Stood

    His mother

            no other

place

    could bear

pulse

    of her

Burning

Bleeding

Broken

Blooming

    heart

Beating with His

    Beating with His

        Beating with His

to the

last

    at last

His hour

has come

    Woman

Behold your

    Son

She will not leave

    Him orphan

Behold this

    Heart

Her faith

    Her hope

        Her love

Oh

    the greatest of loves

remains

Proclaims

    This is my Beloved Son

No speech

    No word

No voice is heard

No sign

    of spirit

as dove

    but

Her love

    Never fails

For there is no fear

in love

Burning

Bleeding

Broken 

Blooming

    Bearing

        and

Believing

all things.

https://www.erinkmcatee.com/behold-this-heart

Disney's Lowest

Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

Part of the cross is living in a broken world. 

Yesterday I couldn't believe the article I read. 

https://www.oursundayvisitor.com/disney-has-reached-their-absolute-lowest-with-this-new-series/?fbclid=IwAR0Bx0GSU80nTErhLjgxoBFlUS14pK1PxLCVVeUR-kIrEsca0SuGGytk53g

This article just goes to prove how broken and far we have strayed. 

Happiness has turned to sorrow.

The Disney I knew as a kid, doesn't exist anymore. 

The magic was used for evil. 

A dream is a wish your heart makes and I wish things were different. 

This is not a happy ending. 

It is a realization between good and evil. 

Satan is staring us right in the face. 

Waiting for us to break. 

We must not break. 

Cling to the cross.

"Jesus Christ has taken the lead on the way of the cross. He has suffered first. He does not drive us toward suffering but shares it with us, wanting us to have life and to have it in abundance." ~ Pope John Paul II 

Artwork by Erin K. McAtee 

Totus Tuus

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. 

From the Magnificat,

"To say her name is to utter words of hope. This word of hope proclaims our salvation, for Mary was created to be the Mother of our Savior. She invites us to call upon her name frequently."

She is our Mother. 

She is worthy of our trust. 

"John Paul explains, “For it must be recognized that before anyone else it was God Himself, the Eternal Father, who entrusted Himself to the Virgin of Nazareth, giving her His own Son in the mystery of the Incarnation.” Mary surely marveled at this act of humility on God’s part." 33 Days to Morning Glory

Mary always directs us toward her Son.

 "Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves so that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally."

St. Francis of Assisi "Let the Whole of Mankind Tremble"  

Mary, my mother, I give myself totally to you as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all that I am and have, whatever most pleases you. Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for bringing the greatest possible glory to God. 33 Days to Morning Glory consecration prayer

Twenty-Grateful

These are our new friends S and R! 

They are friends with the Sisters of Life. 

The Sisters asked our family if the mother and daughter could come to Idaho and stay with our family for a week in the country and enjoy some fresh air.

We said "yes" and before we knew it they flew out West! 

We met R & S and instantly our hearts melted! 

They came here on Thursday, the day before my birthday. We took in the Idaho County Fair and introduced our friends and family to our new friends. 

This little girl loves animals and so does her mama! 

They came at the most perfect time with the Fair happening the week they were here. 

It was also a fun way to spend my birthday with friends and family.

Later that night we celebrated with Barbie GF chocolate cupcakes. 

Did I say Barbie? Yes. Yes, I did. 

28 is pretty great. 

The greatest gift from my birthday though was sharing it with our new friends. 

There is so much to be grateful for. 

So much I take for granted... 

Realizing that, changed my heart. 

Transformed my heart. 

There is always something to be grateful for. 

We are so grateful to our friends and family who helped us make this a comfortable and fun get away for S & R. 

Those six days made my heart grow and glow. 

On the night before they left I showed S my prayer corner. 

Sister Jordan loves and cares for S and had asked me to pray for S a year or two ago.

I had S's name written on a piece of paper hanging on my prayer board.

I told S my prayers would continue and now in a more deeper and personal way. 

Only God knew I would meet the mother and daughter I had been praying for. 

 

On the last day of the visit, a surprise gift from Monica Goeckner came before we left for the airport. 

Monica crocheted a Sister of Life doll for R. 

Her smile fills my heart every time! 

My heart didn't want to let go. 

It still doesn't. 

We will never forget the two of you. 

 I am asking my blog readers to please join me by praying for this mom and daughter. 

They're back in NY. 

S is going to school and R is in need of an opening at the daycare at the college.

I am grateful for your prayers! 

The Barbie cupcakes were fantastic. 

Big thanks to everyone who treated me like gold on my birthday! 

Thank you S for your permission to blog about our week together! 

Victory will Triumph

I haven't blogged in a hot minute. 

This summer flew by and was action packed!  

Lots of weddings, an engagement, trips and time spent with family and friends. 

All good things! 

It is already fair week and that means it is also my birthday week! 

I am looking forward to celebrating my birthday with my sister Nicole while she is home visiting.

Yesterday was the Solemnity of the Assumption.  

I wanted to share pictures of the Catholic Church, Maria Lanakila, in Lahaina, Maui.

I took a picture of the Our Lady of Lourdes statue outside the church when I visited in 2020. 

This Church was spared from the Maui fire! 

I have no doubt that the Blessed Mother protected this church. 

A miracle to recognize and give thanks for! 

However, the loss of this island is still very heartbreaking. 

Tragedy still lingers. 

I am reminded to pray,

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

The meaning of Maria Lanakila is Our Lady of Victory! 

Her Immaculate Heart will triumph! 

Carrying of the Cross 

Victory was won