Thursday, March 26, 2015

Suffering and Hope

Some quotes and a song that have touched my heart recently:

To believe in suffering is pride: but to suffer, believing in God, is humility.  For pride may tell us that we are strong enough to suffer, that suffering is good for us because we are good.  Humility tells us that suffering is an evil which we must always expect to find in our lives because of the evil that is in ourselves.  But faith also knows that the mercy of God is given to those who seek him in suffering, and that by his grace we can overcome evil with good.  ~ Thomas Merton "No Man is an Island"

Be at Peace
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering, or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.
~ St. Francis de Sales

When I see that the burden is beyond my strength, I do not consider or analyze it or probe into it, but I run like a child to the Heart of Jesus and say only one word to Him: "You can do all things." And then I keep silent, because I know that Jesus Himself will intervene in the matter, and as for me, instead of tormenting myself, I use that time to love Him.  ~Diary of St. Faustina


And now for a song that I am singing today in all my everyday trials...


Thursday, March 19, 2015

{phfr} - Random AND a First Reconciliation

So while it seems I never blog anymore, I do periodically blog in my head, if that makes any sense.  It sort of works like this: I'm doing something fascinating (loading the dishwasher) and I think of something deep and philosophical (how the dirty dishes are sort of a reflection of our souls when they are stained with sin, and how after the dishwasher runs, they are nice and clean again, ie. confession).  I think to myself, I really should blog about that.  Then I think, well I don't really have very much to say on the subject, and besides I'm sure someone else has said as much and much more eloquently.  Also, It's just a very little blog and in the grand scheme of things is kind of pointless.  And besides, I haven't blogged in so long that I really should just post an update about all the goings on around here (Fritter received First Reconciliation!).  I can't randomly post deep thoughts after such a long (unintentional) blogging break.  But I really don't have the time to do a lengthy update right now, including uploading pictures.  And then someone spills milk and I have to go clean that up.

So...poor neglected blog.

I should just post whatever comes to mind on here and let it be all random-y.  We'll see how that works out.

{pretty}

For Lent I purchased the Passion Play over at Illuminated Ink, so we have been enjoying putting that together.  So far we have the top piece (The Last Supper) and one of three bottom pieces (The Agony in the Garden).  I've done the cutting because it's pretty precise, and the older two have done the coloring and putting together.  We listen to one of our  Music Masters CD (affiliate link) while doing it.  I call this a homeschool win.  I've got to call them when I see them, if you know what I mean.




{happy}
 

We took a two week break from school this month, which was sorely needed.  I did a little planning for next year, organized boxes of kids' clothes, and we went to the zoo three times.  Best spring break ever.  We are back at the books now but are taking three weeks off again, for Holy Week and Easter, while we go on a little road trip to Louisiana.

Sunflower and monkey's.  A perfect match.

Looking at lions.

Big lion.

Here kitty...

Nothing better than happy kids at the zoo.

{funny}

My little Froggy loves to curl up on my lap and look at The Truck Book.  He'll sit still for 10 minutes or so just flipping to random pages while saying "Oooh!  Aaaah!"




 {more pretty}

We've been taking lots of walks lately, because as everyone in Arizona knows, this is the best time of the year to live here.  Our neighborhood smells like heaven because the orange blossoms are in bloom and there are flowers everywhere.  Proof?  A picture from a random neighbors front yard on one of our walks:
 

Flowers everywhere.


I don't know what these things are but they remind of flies for fishing.

I love the vines on the wall of this yard.

{real}
 

And like I mentioned above, my oldest child, my first born son, received First Reconciliation this month.  When we came home, he went right to his calendar and wrote down the next time he wants to go for the rest of the calendar, this way he doesn't forget and neither do we.  He is looking forward to First Communion AND Confirmation next year. 


Keeping the light of Christ burning brightly.

 
Go visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more contentment!