Getting ready for Christmas...

S, my 7 yo daughter, does not believe in Santa Claus. Not the Christmas Marketing giant that has existed now for a very long time. A classic example of a legend being snagged and twisted to one's own ends. Where is the Santa that the NY Sun wrote about in their editorial in answer to young Virginia's question? Certainly not in the commercial mechanism that seems to run the holidays these days.

Everyday we see this image of a Jolly Old Man with a flowing white beard and a bright red suit. Is he truly Santa Claus? Not in my books. In my books he is the Grinch that stole Christmas. I will not perpetuate the story that Coke Cola created this particular image of Santa. This image of Santa Claus had been evolving for many years prior to Coke's media coup to boost soft drink sales in the winter. Yet this is the Santa that we know today.

What makes Christmas fun is the time spent with family, sharing and loving and laughing and crying (from laughing too hard...) That is where we find the true Christmas spirit. The "Christkindlein" - the Christ Child - AKA Kris Kringle (bet you didn't know that did you? lol) - the Love behind the true "Santa", accompanied by Saint Nicholas - AKA Santa Claus - the saintly man who provided needed gifts to families so that they could survive the hard times of his day. Can we truly say that there is anything we need in North America?

We have access to fertile land and clean water. We have materials to build shelter and to keep warm during the cold seasons or to protect us from the harshness of the sun in the hot seasons. We have, we have, we have... necessities, opportunities, and luxuries. We have so much that we forget what is most important - each other. This Christmas, take a moment and be present to your loved ones. Listen to your grand-mother's stories, find out what your kids are doing, forgive someone who hurt you, reach out to someone who is alone and remember... "Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that (commercial) curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond."

Wash, rince, repeat...

As a single mom to 4 kids, I am always running. Getting the kids ready for school, "did everyone brush their hair? Get back in here baby and put your boots on! There is snow outside!!" ; House work (loads of laundry, dishes, pet maintenance... budget planning, finding pennies for groceries...); Picking up the kids from school for Dr.'s apointments (Yes, you're getting your flu shot this year, if you hadn't been running IN the house you wouldn't have that goose egg on your head...); Constant head count (un, deux, trois, quatre...); Super in there somewhere... Did I forget something? Oh! Yes! Homework (times 4, good reading, look it up in the dictionary, who had the dictionary last? Where are all the pencils? Don't write too hard, someone broke the pencil sharpener...); Getting ready for bed (pyjamas? teeth? Who needs a shower? No it's not time to go outside, I know it's snowing... Did someone take the dog out for his business? Did the dog get supper? Is your clothes ready for tomorrow morning? Night night! Kiss, kiss... Did you remember to go pee before bed?) ....

Somewhere in there I get some sleep. I pay some bills. I eat. I dream of adult companionship beyond that of my parents and elderly relatives. I pray for a job. I sing in the choir. I go to mass. I say a prayer or two.

Then I do it all over again the next day.

Somedays, I'll admit, are a little rough around the edges. Most days though I get it done with healthy doses of love and compassion.

Isn't God wonderous? Yes He is.

Cancer and pregnancy

What was once thought impossible, here is proof that a mom to be can battle cancer and keep her baby...

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/story?id=3925550&page=1

Funny is...

finding your 5 year old raking the leaves OUT of the tree...

When you go from 4 to 1...

You can have a lot of interesting conversation... Like how big my baby is growing, and how after we make key-lime pie we should make pumkin pie, and how if I still wore size 6 my unerwear would burst.

Being grateful...

These last few months have been difficult - car wise. My 1992 Lumina Van is on its death throws, and I've been waiting for it to finally die. This week it did. After failing the inspection, I took it to my uncle who owns a body shop in town. He looked at it and found that the frame is now starting to rust out, at the point where my front driver side wheel attaches to the car. To repair it would cost more than what I payed for the car. I figured this was my 2 week warning. Find a new car in the next two weeks or we'll be dependent on taxis.

It turns out it was my 5 day warning. No. My wheel didn't fall off. My heater to defrost my front window broke, and now I'm driving in my own personal fog bank. You know those cartoons where it rains on one character in particular, and everyone else is walking around in the sunshine? That's what it felt like anyway. So for the last few days, I've been taking taxis. They are expensive. Consider that I have to work 4 hours a day just to afford going to work. We are not talking daycare. We are not talking about my lunch. We are not talking about make-up or hair products - since I work closely with the public.

I am grateful though. Grateful that I've had a working vehicle for the last three years. Grateful that I have the opportunity to go to work. Grateful that I have the opportunity to find a new vehicle for my family. Grateful that we haven't had an accident which could have been devestating. Grateful that we have been very blessed for so long.

Pray that we find the right vehicle for our family. Pray that we find it soon, and be grateful for what you have.

Lord give me strength!

Ok, here's a bit of family history...

I'm a divorced mom of 4. The dad was abusive and I left with the shirt on my back and a suitcase for the kids. We've been seperated now for 3 years, and the divorce & anullement finally happened last fall. He still tries to control me via the children/anything having to do with the children.

Today, 3 days before the start of summer vacation, he sends me an e-mail saying that we should send the kids to day camp which according to him would be cheaper than the $3.5k daycare will cost for the summer. At this point all daycares are filled with school children, and summer day camps are bursting at the seems.

Lord give me the strength I need to deal with this man, one of your children. Give me the words that I need so that these children you have put in my care will have their needs met. Give me the patience I lack so that I may not be bothered or stressed by this issue. Lord you have said that if a parent would not deny their child a request, how much more would our Father in Heaven be willing to help us. You have said that widows and children have a special place in your heart. I may not be a widow as such, but I am alone to raise these children - so I cry out to you for them. I ask you to listen to my prayer.

Thank You my Lord! I know that you have answered my prayer and that this will be resolved soon. Amen! Amen! Your glory shines in the face of children. Thank you for giving us the joy of them!

I waaaaaaant...

Aaah yes! The familiar sound of commercialism! It starts very young. Imagine my 5 year old cut her "crocks" to shreds because they weren't real "crocks" with the crocodile pictures on them... She figured that if she cut them, I would have to by her new "crocks".

Sorry dear... You'll have to make due with your sneakers for a while.

Father's day

Today is father's day...

Father, you send us so many blessings,
from the green mountains and the rivers blue,
to the trees and flowers of so many colours and hue.

Abba, you give us so much love,
from your care and attention so true,
to the freedom to live and to love You.

Papa, you show us such mercy,
our daring and brazeness can turn us away from You,
our inattention and foolhardiness make us forget You,
but through Jesus your son comes our salvation,
and so for this, we Thank Thee.


Happy Father's day to all the father's out there.

Lectio Divina

A simple prayer. One that I practiced regularly only a few years ago. The biggest part of this prayer is being present to the Word of God. To take a few moments of the day and read a short passage. Then a few moments to meditate on the Word that we have just read. We continue with Oratio - where we let our hearts speak to God, inspired by the Word that we have just read and the meditation we've just had. We finish with a contemplation. Taking a few moments to be present to God in the Word He has given us. What could be better?

I am weak though. Distractions abound and exhaustion overtakes me and the next thing I know, it has been seven years since I took the time to partake in this precious gift. I need to remind myself of the peace and the rest that I found in this 20 minute exercise.

How do I start this blog?

Well, I'm roman catholic. I'm also a mom. There are so many blessings in both of these things. I thought I would start this blog to discuss, think and ponder over only a few of the blessings that come from the roman catholic church and from being a mom. Time slips away so quickly, my first baby is already a pre-teen. My last baby will be starting school in the fall. Each day the children try my patience. Each day I find some grace to make it through. How many days have passed since my first baby has been born? How many graces have I accepted thankfully - yet I have forgotten about? So I'll start this simple blog to help remind me of some of these daily miracles.

Today has been simple enough. Mass this morning. The extra blessing of adoration for but a few moments at the end of mass. I wish that I could say that my children were darlings throughout the mass. The oldest two were a little distracted by the books, while the youngest two were distracted by each other. Yet here we were as a family, in The presence of our Lord and Saviour. As I knelt after the Eucharist, praying as I usually do - with my eyes closed, my heart soared and I started praying quietly in tongues. Then I heard my priest saying that we would have a few moments of adoration. Oh saving grace! How can I thank thee for the miracle of salvation? The Eucharist isn't just a symbol or a remembrance... It is the sharing of THE body and blood of Christ. The choir softly starts to sing "I exalt thee, I exalt thee, I exalt thee oh Lord!" My heart and lips sing the song with full meaning. Words fail to exclaim the song in my spirit as I adore my Lord. Yet these words are simple and carry my spirit towards my God. The church is reverently quiet, safe for the soft singing from the hearts in the congregation. Then as quickly as it started, my heart wanted to cry out. I opened my eyes to find that the priest has taken the Body of my God from the monstrance and is placing it into the tabernacle.

My miracle was simply that. I got a moment to meet my Lord, adore Him and exalt Him joyfully and heartily. Distractions may come and may go, yet the Lord Jesus is still present to us throughout. Will we still recognize Him in the rush of our daily lives?