I have a LOT to smile about today!

I am blessed and highly favored!

I am so grateful to the Lord for everything he has blessed me with thus far – namely His love, my loving family, my career, a full kitchen, money in my wallet, love in my heart, the gift of prayer, etc.

I am thankful and God is pleased, for now! LOL

I am not without fault at all times, but what is important is I try, with my whole heart to be who God wants me to be, and that makes me happy.  My effort makes me happy.

To top it all off, I’ve lost almost 10 pounds and I wasn’t even trying!

Talk about icing on the cake.

Oh, and yesterday I went to the store to get a pair of black slacks for work, and it turns out the ones I found (for a good price no doubt) were also 50% off!

Those of you who know me and my frugalista ways know that made my day for sure!

With all my gushing, I am in no way implying that my life is perfect with no dark spots – there are some, there are issues, BUT – today they seems so small, and my blessings seem so big, and I feel in my heart that is the way it should be.

I believe we should see God above all those things and limit the power we hand over to the negative.

For today, I pray that all of you see God is bigger than your problems, and with His love and grace, all things negative can and will be conquered in His glorious name.

Amen!

May peace be with you,

So much has gone on that I haven’t even had a chance to *think* about blogging.

The biggest event in our lives right now is my oldest son has finally come back home to us!

I am so happy about this news, as I have spent so many years waiting on this time.

Praise God!

The situation started out rather messy, but I was determined to clean it up by being responsible and positive and I think I am succeeding.

Our family is finally complete, but not without some challenges.

The good part is that those challenges will be met by us as a complete family unit.

Today was his first day of school at his new school – he missed the bus this afternoon, but all is well.

He seems to like his new school.

His room is coming together nicely – it just needs to be organized and decorated – which is a task I can definitely handle, so we are going to tackle that this weekend.

We’ve got lots to do, but it is an exciting time – just in time for the holidays!

Hubby and I are picking up our new washer and dryer today and it has made my month!

For the past 5 months we have been lugging all of our clothes down to the Laundromat to wash and dry – notice I didn’t say fold; by the time we are finished washing and drying, we are READY to go!

Did I mention we did laundry with three of our kids in tow?

Can you imagine???

Hence my extreme joy at common household appliances right now.

I was so excited last night, I stayed up late and organized my laundry room and got it ready so that all we had to do was sit them in their spots and hook them up

Ah joy, I can do laundry at home now!

Feastday: October 31 994

Wolfgang (d. 994) + Bishop and reformer. Born in Swabia, Germany, he studied at Reichenau under the Benedictines and at Wurzburg before serving as a teacher in the cathedral school of Trier. He soon entered the Benedictines at Einsiedeln (964) and was appointed head of the monastery school, receiving ordination in 971. He then set out with a group of monks to preach among the Magyars of Hungary, but the following year (972) was named bishop of Regensburg by Emperor Otto II (r. 973-983). As bishop, he distinguished himself brilliantly for his reforming zeal and his skills as a statesman. He brought the clergy of the diocese into his reforms, restored monasteries, promoted education, preached enthusiastically, and was renowned for his charity and aid to the poor, receiving the title Eleemosynarius Major (Grand Almoner). He also served as tutor to Emperor Henry II (r. 1014-1024) while he was still king. Wolfgang died at Puppingen near Linz, Austria. He was canonized in 1052 by Pope St. Leo IX (r. 1049-1054). Feast day: October 31.

Feastday: October 30 1617

Confessor and Jay brother, also called Alonso. He was born in Segovia, Spain, on July 25, 1532, the son of a wealthy merchant, and was prepared for First Communion by Blessed Peter Favre, a friend of Alphonsus’ father. While studying with the Jesuits at Alcala, Alphonsus had to return home when his father died. In Segovia he took over the family business, was married, and had a son. That son died, as did two other children and then his wife. Alphonsus sold his business and applied to the Jesuits. His lack of education and his poor health, undermined by his austerities, made him less than desirable as a candidate for the religious life, but he was accepted as a lay brother by the Jesuits on January 31, 1571. He underwent novitiate training and was sent to Montesion College on the island of Majorca. There he labored as a hall porter for twenty-four years. Overlooked by some of the Jesuits in the house, Alphonsus exerted a wondrous influence on many. Not only the young students, such as St. Peter Claver, but local civic tad and social leaders came to his porter’s lodge for advice tad and direction. Obedience and penance were the hallmarks of his life, as well as his devotion to the Immaculate Conception. He experienced many spiritual consolations, and he wrote religious treatises, very simple in style but sound in doctrine. Alphonsus died after a long illness on October 31, 1617, and his funeral was attended by Church and government leaders. He was declared Venerable in 1626, and was named a patron of Majorca in 1633. Alphonsus was beatified in 1825 and canonized in September 1888 with St. Peter Claver.

Feastday: October 29

St. Narcissus Bishop of Jerusalem October 29 Second Century     St. Narcissus was born towards the close of the first century, and was almost fourscore years old when he was placed at the head of the church of Jerusalem, being the thirtieth bishop of that see. In 195, he and Theophilus, bishopof Caesarea in Palestine, presided in a council of the bishopsof Palestine held at Caesarea, about the time of celebrating Easter; in which it was decreed that this feast is to be kept always on a Sunday, and not with the Jewish passover. Eusebius assures us, that the Christians of Jerusalem preserved in his time the remembrance of several miracles which God had wrought by this holy bishop; one of which he relates as follows. One year on Easter-eve the deacons were unprovided with oil for the lamps in the church, necessary at the solemn divine office that day. Narcissus ordered those who had care of the lamps to bring him some water from the neighboring wells. This being done, he pronounced a devout prayer over the water; then bade them pour it into the lamps; which they did, and it was immediately converted into oil, to the great surprise of the faithful. Some of this miraculous oil was kept there as a memorial at the time when Eusebius wrote his history. The veneration of all good men for this holybishop could not shelter him from the malice of the wicked. Three incorrigible sinners, fearing his inflexible severity in the observance of ecclesiastical discipline, laid to his charge a detestable crime, which Eusebius does not specify. They confirmed their atrociouscalumny by dreadful oaths and imprecations; one wishing he might perish by fire, another, that he might be struck with a leprosy, and the third, that he might lose his sight, if what they alleged was not the truth. Notwithstanding these protestations, their accusation did not find credit; and, some time after, the divine vengeance pursued the calumniators. The first was burnt in his house, with his whole family, by an accidental fire in the night; the second was struck with a universal leprosy; and the third, terrified by these examples, confessed the conspiracy and slander, and by the abundance of tears which he continually shed for his sins, lost his sight before his death.     Narcissus, notwithstanding the slander had made no impression on the people to his disadvantage, could not stand the shock of the bold calumny, or rather made it an excuse for leaving Jerusalem, and spending some time in solitude, which had long been his wish. He spent several years undiscovered in his retreat, where he enjoyed all the happiness and advantage which a close conversation with God can bestow. That his church might not remain destitute of a pastor, the neighboring bishops of the province, after some time, placed in it Pius, and after him Germanion, who, dying in a short time, was succeeded by Gordius. While this last held the see, Narcissus appeared again like one from the dead. The whole body of the faithful, transported at the recovery of their holy pastor, whose innocence had been most authentically vindicated, conjured him to reassume the administration of the diocese. He acquiesced; but afterwards, bending under the weight of extreme old age, made St. Alexander his coadjutor. This primitive example authorizes the practice of coadjutorships; which, nevertheless, are not allowable by the canons except in cases of the perpetual inability of a bishop through age, incurable infirmity, or other impediment as Marianus Victorius observes in his notes upon St. Jerome. St. Narcissuscontinued to serve his flock, and even other churches, by his assiduous prayers and his earnest exhortations to unity and concord, as St. Alexander testifies in his letter to the Arsinoites in Egypt, where he says that Narcisus was at that time about one hundred and sixteen years old. The Roman Martyrology honors his memory on the 29th of October.     The pastors of the primitive church, animated with the spirit of the apostles were faithful imitators of their heroic virtues, discovering the same fervent zeal. the same contempt of the world, the same love of Christ. If we truly respect the church as the immaculate spouse of our Lord, we will incessantly pray for its exaltation and increase, and beseech the Almighty to give it pastors according to his own heart, like those who appeared in the infancy of Christianity. And, that no obstacle on our part may prevent the happy effects of their zeal, we should study to regulate our conduct by the holy maxims which they inculcate, we should regard them as the ministers of Christ; we should listen to them with docility and attention; we should make their faith the rule of ours, and shut our ears against the language of profane novelty. O! that we could once more see a return of those happy days when the pastor and the people had but one heart and one soul; when there was no diversity in our belief; when the faithful seemed only to vie with each other in their submission to the church, and in their desire of sanctification.

St. Jude, known as Thaddaeus, was a brother of St. James the Less, and a relative of Our Saviour. St. Jude was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus.
Ancient writers tell us that he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. According to Eusebius, he returned to Jerusalem in the year 62, and assisted at the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem.
He is an author of an epistle (letter) to the Churches of the East, particularly the Jewish converts, directed against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics. This Apostle is said to have suffered martyrdom in Armenia, which was then subject to Persia. The final conversion of the Armenian nation to Christianity did not take place until the third century of our era.
Jude was the one who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would not manifest Himself to the whole world after His resurrection. Little else is known of his life. Legend claims that he visited Beirut and Edessa; possibly martyred with St. Simon in Persia.
Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. Therefore, he is the patron saint of desperate cases and his feast day is October 28. Saint Jude is not the same person as Judas Iscariot who betrayed Our Lord and despaired because of his great sin and lack of trust in God’s mercy.

St. Frumentius

Feastday:

October 27 380

Called “Abuna” or “the father” of Ethiopia, sent to that land by St. Athanasius. Frumentius was born in Tyre, Lebanon. While on a voyage in the Red Sea with St. Aedesius, possibly his brother, only Frumentius and Aedesius survived the shipwreck. Taken to the Ethiopian royal court at Aksum, they soon attained high positions. Aedesius was royal cup bearer, and Fruementius was a secretary. They introduced Christianity to that land. When Abreha and Asbeha inherited the Ethiopian throne from their father, Frumentius went to Alexandria, Egypt, to ask St. Athanasius to send a missionary to Ethiopia. He was consecrated a bishop and converted many more upon his return to Aksum. Frumentius and Aedesius are considered the apostles of Ethiopia.

St. John Vianney School students sign up for Rachel’s Challenge, a national program based upon the life and writings of a 15–year–old girl, Rachel Joy Scott, the first person killed by two classmates at Columbine High School in 1999.

ORLANDO | The Oct. 16 kickoff presentation at St. John Vianney Catholic School for an anti-bullying program named for a Columbine shooting victim was at times sobering as well as humorous.

The Rachel’s Challenge program presented to middle school students emphasized four challenges: Treat others the way you want to be treated, dream big and believe in yourself, appreciate everyone, and choose positive words that build others up. Afterward, 200 students signed a banner indicating their willingness to actively promote changes in their school.

“Every school has bullying,” said Vice Principal Vicki Kuethe. “Unfortunately, no school is immune from cliques, lack of tolerance and acceptance. We want to teach our students how to be assertive and also to not participate in these kinds of activities.”

Rachel’s Challenge is a national program based upon the life and writings of a 15-year-old girl, Rachel Joy Scott, the first person killed by two classmates at Columbine High School in 1999. After her death, her family founded a nonprofit organization in her memory to promote a culture of compassion and kindness – ideals their daughter held dear.

The presentation included news footage from the day of the Columbine shooting, photos of Rachel, as well as testimonials from friends and family designed to have an emotional impact, as well as present the principles that form the basis for positive change.

“I thought the presentation was inspiring and touching, seeing someone just like me, so full of potential,” said eighth-grade student Gretchen Gutierrez. “It makes me think that we need to look at the big picture, step back, and realize what is really important in life, like friends and family, and not stress the insignificant things.”

In the video presentation, Rachel’s brother talked about the fight he had with his sister on the way to school the day she died, and how he learned the importance of choosing words carefully. The brother’s story made a big impact on seventh-grader Emily Ternent who said, “It was the last thing he ever said to her (Rachel). It makes you realize that you have to think about what you say before you say it. Some things you cannot do over.”

Following the presentation, 50 students attended a training session to teach them how to implement the program with students in the younger grades, as well as their peers. The elementary school program does not focus on the Columbine incident and, in fact, it is not referred to at all. The themes from Rachel’s Challenge will continue across the curriculum and throughout the school year.

In her essay titled “My Ethics, My Codes of Life,” Rachel wrote, “I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion that it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go”.

Integral to the Rachel’s Challenge program is starting a “chain reaction of kindness and compassion.” The students at St. John Vianney will make a visual chain as a reminder of the simple, deliberate acts of kindness that the program inspires. A paper link is added each time a student or teacher sees another student or teacher in a kind act. The act is recorded on the link so that by the end of the year, the connected can encircle the school.

Along with showing compassion and kindness in the school, there is a community service component to the program as well. The Chick-Fil-A store at 7415 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando has partnered with St. John Vianney Parish to promote a canned food drive to help supply a food pantry. Patrons will be able to fill out a link in the chain that will be added to the chain being made at the school.

The Rachel’s Challenge program was brought to St. John Vianney by Franciscan Sister Elizabeth Murphy, principal, who saw a banner at Howard Middle School and decided to bring the program to her school as an additional tool for its ongoing anti-bullying efforts.

“My hope (for the students) is that this will expand into their homes, the community and play fields, so that the chain can continue the compassion and kindness, that we build up rather than tear down,” Sister Murphy said.

Father Paul Henry, pastor of St. John Vianney Parish, said Rachel’s story is beautiful and “gives flesh and blood to the teachings of Christ.

“All of her principles were Christ-like – obviously influenced by her faith – to promote a community of love,” he said.

On the back of her dresser, Rachel traced her hand and wrote “This is the hand of Rachel Joy Scott and one day it will touch millions of people’s lives.” Indeed, by the end of this year, the Rachel’s Challenge program will have been presented live to about 14 million people.

JENNIFER POWERS | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

The following is an adaptation of an old Hebrew form of blessing.  I found this on: ForYourMarriage.org, where you can find the original article.

THE PROMISE

by Mary Jo Pedersen

On the day when your promise of commitment weighs heavily on your shoulders and you stoop beneath its burden, may the promise dance within you to strengthen you.

And when your embraces lose their warmth and become like rituals of duty, and the ghost of romance disappears behind a long day’s toil, may the promise wrap around you and hold you close and surround you with love from its Source.

When the bitter winds of change transform your early loveliness into roughened hands and smile lines, may there come across your faces an easy knowing, a comfortable peace, a deep rooted-ness that connects you to the eternal promise of Love Beyond All Imagining.

May the new life of creation be yours. May the comfort of the sunshine be yours. May the soft earth nourish you and make you strong for one another and for your children and restore your resolve for promising.

And so may a soaking rain work these words of promise and peace into you, protecting you from harm and harboring you in the presence of one another for eternity.