Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation
for the Cause of the Saints, has announced that the beatification of
the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, Louis Martin and Azelia Guérin,
will take place later this year!
Read more at Shower of Roses (where else for news such as this?)
So, it's an absolutely dreary, icy February day and I haul my sick self out of bed to lay on my keyboard and write an overdue column. When it's finished, I do what I do promptly every other Thursday before the office opens every other Friday. I email it to Ann, the managing editor at the Herald and ask her to let me know she got it. Ann is my friend. We've worked together long distance for fifteen years. I've trusted her with my heart my columns all that time. She knows me pretty well--she's probably the only person on the planet who has read every single column I've ever written. And I know her a little, too. I remember writing to her in the early morning just before I went to the emergency room when I thought I was miscarrying last time I was pregnant. And she wrote back and comforted me and promised her prayers. Then, she understood the bittersweet news when I relayed that there were two babies but just one heartbeat and she shared with me a little bit of her own sorrow. Ann is my age and has never been married. She is a wonderful, talented, woman of grace and God. On that day, I began to offer a prayer every time I sent a column that God would send someone her way.
Today, when she tells me she's received my column, she passes along some happy news! She's engaged! He's the associate publisher of the Florida Catholic (I'm afraid to ask what this means for us).She also tells me that she's in the running for a wedding photography prize package. Ann is used to being behind the camera. What a great gift it would be for her to spend her day being captured by someone else's professional camera. If you're a sucker for a love story, go read Ann's (written by the love of her life) and then scroll to the bottom and vote for "Ann and Chris."
This is a holy mission, a quest to find time and space for God.It is an imperative for authentic Catholic homemaking. This is a clearing of soul as I pursue a clearing of space. And time. Colleen captures it better than I do:
Over and over I have talked myself out of this being the problem. Overand over I have reasoned that I just needed more containers and bookshelves (stuff for my stuff). And over and over I have found myself lying in bed at night feeling like a total failure because of the state of my stuff. Even on a day when we have prayed together, learned together, played together, I can often find myself guilt-ridden at night because I was not able to manage my home as I think I should. If stuff is in the way of my experiencing God's love and mercy, it's definitely the problem. Read the rest here.
A visitor to my blog writes:
Dear Friend,
I really think you should stop reading my blog. Take some time to step back, with your husband, and discern whether or not God is calling you to educate your children at home. If indeed He is, then surround yourself only with things which encourage you, educate you, and build you up. Don't waste precious time reading blogs that cause you to compare yourself to someone else unfavorably and to ultimately become discouraged. Please remember, you cannot possibly know all the components of anyone else's life, whether online or in real life. God hasn't called you to be like anyone else. He's called you to be what He created you to be. If my blog or anyone else's blog or any kind of curriculum discourages you, don't go there. Find resources which can help you meet your needs. Time is too precious to waste on any input that is not useful to you. I've written about bad days and burnout and time management, but I might not be speaking your language. If not, don't read it. There are so many, many worthy ideas out there. Homeschooling doesn't look the same in every family. I encourage you to find the lifestyle to which God is calling your family. You can be assured of my prayers as you discern!
It's a perennial socialization question for homeschoolers everywhere. Here in Northern Virginia, it's been answered beautifully for years. We have a great prom! In case you are a local Catholic homeschooled teen and you haven't heard, this is your prom!(And even if you're not local, it's worth the trip;-) Here's the scoop:
Be sure and mark Saturday, April 26 (6:30-11:00) on your calendar!
This year we will again be having the Prom at the Knights of Columbus Barn,401 West Holly Avenue, Sterling, VA.The price will be $65.00 per person,with the first deposit of $30.00 is due NOW and the final payment of $35.00 due on Friday, March 14th. If you would like to attend please email either Mrs. Cunningham or Mrs. Jacobeen so we can reserve a spot for you. (The Barn requires 50% by mid February and the final amount one month prior, so these dates are necessary.)We have tried as hard as we could to keep the price down. The night will include photos (starting @ 6:30), a dinner buffet and dancing (via DJ), until 11:00 p.m. All homeschoolers are allowed to invite two guests of the same sex if they would like. If you are inviting a guest(s), please see that they understand and agree to our guidelines (included in this announcement). We are also including a Reservation Form to be used by everyone (guests included) and sent along with your first deposit. Please make checks payable to “Marsha Jacobeen”, and mail all forms and deposits to Mrs. Marsha Jacobeen @ 4330 Moylan Lane, Fairfax, VA;22033. Parents wishing to be chaperones are welcome Just let us know (modify the reservation form) and send in your deposits as well.
As a reminder, the CHSYA code of conduct states that “all CHSYA teens will treat each other with respect and dress appropriately.” All attendees should dress in keeping with the importance of this event. Boys should wear a jacket and tie, and girls should wear modest dresses (no spaghetti straps,no strapless gowns, dress length should be below the knee, nothing too tight.CHSYA members should make their guests aware of the guidelines for dress and conduct. Your signature verifies that you have read the guidelines and will adhere to them. Thank you!
If you are interested in being part of one of the following committees:decorations, flowers, dinner/dessert and music, please make a note of this
on your reservation form. We need both teens and parents to help.
Spread the word.... this is always a great event! This is your Prom! Let's keep the same quality and standards this year and make it a great celebration and wonderful memory!
Remember the $30.00 deposit gets mailed to Mrs. Marsha Jacobeen by February
15th (Yes, that's FIVE days ago--so please hurrry! We can't have a prom without you!). If you have questions, concerns, suggestions etc. call or email one of us – Mrs. Cunningham 703-352-3245 or ccunninghamspam15@cox.net and Mrs.
Jacobeen @703-378-2660 or bjacobeenspam@aol.com
(Remember to scrape the spam from the email addresses.)
We are looking forward to hearing from all of you with your reservations and offers to help.
Blessings,
Mrs. Maria Cunningham and Mrs. Marsha Jacobeen
Download reservation forms and information here: Download 2008_announcement1.doc
I'm Elizabeth. I'm a happy wife and the mother of nine children. I grab grace with both hands and write to encourage myself and others to seize and nurture the joy of every day. I blog here with my daughter, Mary Beth, a wholehearted young lady on the brink of adulthood.
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