The Significance of Motherhood

"Doing up cut fingers, kissing hurt places, and singing bedtime songs are small things by themselves; but they will inculcate a love for home and family that will last through life and help to keep America a land of homes.

Putting up the school lunch for the children or cooking a good meal for the family may seem very insignificant tasks as compared with giving a lecture, writing a book, or doing other things that have a larger audience; but I doubt very much if, in the ultimate reckoning they will count for as much...It belittles us to think of our daily tasks as small things, and if we continue to do so, it will in time make us small. It will narrow our horizon and make of our work just drudgery.

There are so many little things that are really very great, and when we learn to look beyond the insignificant-appearing acts themselves to their far-reaching consequences, we will 'despise not the day of small things.' We will feel an added dignity and poise from the fact that our everyday round of duties is as important as any other part of the work of the world.

And just as a little thread of gold, running through a fabric, brightens the whole garment, so women's work at home, while only the doing of little things, is like the golden gleam of sunlight that runs through and brightens all the fabric of civilization."

-Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Ozarks May, 1923

Hospitality from the Heart

How do you define hospitality? Do you have to throw a grand dinner party in order to show hospitality? Although throwing a grand party may show others hospitality, it is not particularly what the bible is instructing us to do when it tells to "practice hospitality". (Romans 12:13) I have read that entertaining brings the attention and honor to yourself, where as practicing hospitality points the glory and honor to God.

Entertaining can quickly turn into a very prideful occasion to say the least. We easily be discouraged as it quickly becomes a burden. I must say, I have been guilty of this, and not only does it take some of my fun away, but it changes the whole experience of my guest. Showing hospitality in the biblical sense does not entail cooking competitively to out-do yourself or someone else. Also, hospitality extends itself outside our closed circle of friends. As we read in the bible, we want to be kind to others that perhaps we know can not repay us for our efforts in return. We are told in Luke 14:12-15, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or relations or rich neighbors, in case they invite you back and so repay you. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled , the lame, the blind, then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you so you will be repaid when the upright rise again." In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us when we give someone something to eat or drink, "I tell you indeed, whenever you did this for one of those poorest brothers of mine, you did it for me!"In Hebrews 13:2, we read, "Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did it, and welcomed angels without knowing it." It certainly seems like extending ourselves in hospitality is something we need to be doing!

When the bible tells us show hospitality, it is actually is communicating to us to that we need to have the heart of a servant. When we set our sites on welcoming someone into our home, we should not have our hearts on impressing them, but spending time and talking with them. We are in a way ministering and demonstrating to them the Love of God. Our focus of our hearts should actually be on them. Perhaps we will be the only example of Christian hospitality that our friends may witness. My mom always was prepared for a spur-of-the moment guest. She always kept some homemade "goodies" in the freezer that she could quickly unthaw to serve a last-minute guest with some coffee or tea. Her guests were always delighted with her homemade pineapple squares or nut roll .

Now as the weather is getting warmer, I love to have people over for an impromptu fire complete with homemade smores and a few games of corn hole. Yes, its humble entertaining, but everyone from mom & dad down to the youngest child has a good time!

I would love to hear from some of you and what some good-old-fashioned hospitality is experienced in your home!

Are you Taking Advantage of Catholic Radio?

I want to tell you about something that has been such a tremendous blessing to us!! We now having Catholic Radio in our area. But, I did not realize I could have been listening to it all along on the Internet. Just go to LivingBreadRadio.com and click on the right hand corner to listen to the live radio programming. The line-up is terrific, Fr. Corapi, Johnette Benkovic, & Dr. Ray just to name a few. If you are not already listening to Catholic Radio, why not give it try today!!

St. Joseph Novena - Day One - Monday

I am going to begin a Novena to St. Joseph for a special intention. I am hoping that if I am accountable to this blog and come back every day, I will finish. I am great at starting, but not as as much at finishing.

To anyone who might not know, A novena is a 9 day prayer for a special occasion or intention. Why 9 days? The significance of 9 days is that when The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Disciples spent nine days in the Upper Room prayer beginning with the Ascension. One the ninth day, they were rewarded with the Pentecost.

St. Joseph the Worker's Feast Day is May 1st. He is the patron Saint of the home, family, and a happy death. If you would like to know more about the life of St. Joseph, below I have linked to a video of St. Joseph's life that I think you will enjoy:

Who Did You Have Breakfast With This Morning?

In John 21:12, After the Resurrection, Jesus said to his disciples, "Come, have breakfast". How blessed the disciples were to be able to have breakfast with Jesus, The Bread of Life. Believe it or not, we are able to do the same , by beginning the day reading the Scriptures. In the Byzantine Catholic Tradition, Cannon 27 says that we should read the Holy Scriptures at home at dawn. I am trying to make my this a resolution of mine, to begin the day with at least reading the Gospels for the Day, and the corresponding Psalm & Proverbs (today is the 22nd, so today I would read Proverb 22). It is so easy to get sidetracked and not start the day by doing this, but the fruit of this practice would benefit us throughout our day. There was a Saint of the Church who wrote, "Those who have been walking in a beautiful garden do not leave it willingly without taking away with them four or five flowers, in order to inhale their perfume and carry them about during the day."

The Custom Quill Mother's Day Giveaway!

Ladies, don't forget to enter The Custom Quill giveaway as noted below. The gift is a lovely matted perosonalized verse for mom,grandma, or a special Aunt for Mother's Day. The gift measures 8 x 10, there are two openings, one with the verse and one for any 3 1/2 x 5 inch picture of your choice. How to enter? Just become a fan on The Custom Quill on Facebook, but hurry up, contest ends at 6 p.m. on Friday, to be sure this gets to the lucky winner for Mother's Day. Also, there will Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, and Christmas Giveaways as well, this one entry will cover you for all!

Diane vs. the Deer

Today over breakfast, my dear (no pun intended) husband was reading the newspaper out loud, "Wow, look at this picture of this guys tulips, he has over 3,000 in bloom right now!" I stopped him right in tracks, "Please do not go on, I don't want to hear anymore about this guys beautiful tulips!".
This is very sore subject for me you see, all of the tulips that I have planted in front of our house were already reduced to little stubs, nibbled to death by visiting dear. It get's worse. . .

I love to garden and grow my own vegetables. For the past 20 years, I have had a garden, and have been to put up our home grown prouce to use in the winter. Expect for last year. . .


I was standing at the sink, cleaning up after breakfast and gazed out the window and my lovely garden, except I didn't see it. Wow, I thought, I never dreamed turning 40 would such a significant change in the way I would feel, but my eyes are already starting to go. I really did think it was time to schedule an eye appointment, I kid you not. Later that morning I went outside to tend to my garden as the kids were playing outside to find out, indeed, I could not see my garden because my garden was gone, nibbled to death by the pesty deer. Thats what I get I thought, it was just the past week I was all smug, that I had a fenced yard, and my neighbors did not. I was safe from the deer that was attacking their gardens. It served my right for my lack of humility, my garden was done and over for the rest of the year. I vowed then, in 2010 it would be different, it would be me against the deer, and this time I would win!


Tomorrow morning my youngest son and I are going to have a field trip to the local hardware store and see what kind of Fort Knox contraption I can invent to keep the deer out. I guees all was not totally a loss last year, I was a able to purchase produce from Ohio farmers at a local flea market and put them up for the winter. But it was not the same, not nearly as fullfilling as going to the back 40 and picking my own. I had high hopes of growing my own rasberries and blueberries as well. We have been paying to pick at local farms, but even that is quite expensive. I am putting that dream aside until I get my current problem figured out.


Do any of you ladies have any suggestions in keeping the deer away? I welcome any and all suggestions, for I am a desparate woman!! In any event, this saga will continue. . . .

Below is a favorite You Tube video of mine, it is on the of growing all of your food withing 100 feet from your door. I have not been able to do that, but do think it is a neat idea!

Sunday of The Myrrh-Bearing Women

In the Byzantine Church, this past Sunday, the second Sunday after Easter, is the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women. The Myrrh-bearing women served our Lord and his disiciples as they preached. These women helped with sick, the suffering, as well as the poor. As Christ suffered on the Cross, although the apostles scattered away in fear, the Myrrh-bearers stay with him along side the Blessed Virgin Mary. These women were the first to go to go to our Lord's tomb, to anoint him with myrrh. Their devotion was rewarded greatly, as they were the very first witnesses of the Resurrection when they found an empty tomb and the glorious news from the Angel.

Who were these myrrh-bearing woman? There were seven in all, the most famous woman we know today is Mary Magdalene. She was the woman our Lord cured from being "possessed by seven demons." The second myrrh-bearing woman Salome, who was the Mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Holy tradition tells us that she enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the family of Our Lady. The third woman is Mary, the Mother of James and Joses, the wife of Cleophas. Although she devoted many years in service to Christ, little is recorded about her. The fourth myrrh-bearing woman is Joanna, was the wife Chuza, Herod Antipas' steward. She greatly assisted the Apostle's during their first years of ministry. She was known to be a woman of courage. Our fifth lady was Susanna, a close friend of Mary Magdalene. She aided in the spreading the message of Salvation, as well as aiding in the serving of the "Communion Suppers", and ministering to the aged and the sick. Numbers 6 & 7, are the sisters of Lazarus, Mary & Martha. They dedicated their lives to spreading the new Faith.


Let us try to imitate the Holy Myrrh-bearers even today, with faithful and true love for our Lord, selfless service to Him, our families, and to the poor and suffering. So in the end, we to can be rewarded with the ultimate joy of the Resurrection!

Miracle of the Sun - Actual Footage from 1917

The Miracle of the Sun is a miraculous event that was witnessed by 30,000 to 100,000 people on October 13, 1917 in fields in Fatima, Portugal. The people had assembled in the fields to witness a miracle that the Portuguese secular newspapers had been making fun of for months. The claim of three shepherd children was that a miracle was going to occur at high-noon at that specific time at date, which was told to them by apparations of Our Lady.

Eye-witness statements said that heaavy rain poured then dark clouds broke and the sun appeared as spinning disc in the sky. It was said to be significantly less bright than normal, and it cast multicolored lights across the area. The sun was then reported to plunge towards the earth in a zigzag pattern, frightening those present who thought it surely meant the end of the world was before them. Some of those present stated that their cloths that were drenched from the rain became suddenly and completely dry. Reports stated that the event lasted about 10 minutes. The three children reported seeing visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus and St. Joseph blessing the people.

This event is known to all now as the Miracle of the Sun. Our Lady of Fatima, an apparition of our Blessed Virgin Mary to three young shepherd children in. The children reported that the Lady had promised them that on October 13th she would reveal her identity to them and provide a miracle to all would believe.

The above You Tube presentation is actual footage from this Miraculous event that we are blessed to have!!

Mother's Day Giveaway!!

Mother's Day Giveaway!!
Want a chance to win the most perfect gift for that special Grandma, Godmother, Aunt or Mother for Mother's Day? TheCustomQuill.com is giving a away one personalized gift of your choice to FREE. How do you enter for your chance to win? Just become a fan on Facebook, you can find the page by simply going to The Custom Quill and becoming a fan. These are terrifice gifts, they are personalized with the child's (or children's)name(s), and there is a spot for you to put in a 3 1/2 x 5" picture of your choice. When you are on the fan page on facebook, click on the Mother's Day pictures to look at the verses available. The lucky winner will be posted on the The Custom Quill's fan page a week before Mother's Day, Good Luck!


THE WINNER WAS POSTED ON THE CUSTOM QUILLS FACEBOOK PAGE, CONGRATUATIONS!!

The Challenges of Modesty When Shopping With A Teen

I went shopping with my soon to be 13 year old daughter for a dress that would be suitable for a Father-Daughter dance, as well as a few other upcoming occasions. I have to say, I would much rather go to the dentist. Has anyone seen sorts of "party dresses" that they have out nowadays? And of course "everyone is wearing them" is what I heard from my beloved daughter. "If I have to wear a little girl dress like I did last year, I will wear pants!" were the threats that came out of her mouth. As I stood there with the other moms and daughters came in and out of the dressing rooms twirling and showing off their favorites, none of the other moms were dismayed as I was that there was more skin than fabric showing, and why would be bare shoulders be the fashion statement one would want to make in the middle of winter. Am I really the only one that feels this way?

There is a line of children's clothing called Ooh! La La Couture that is being promoted by a young Disney star. This line has been likened to adult lingerie by some critics. The Emily Grace Collection is named after 8-year-old "Hannah Montana" star Emily Grace Reaves, who helps design the line. This is not what a mom want's to see!

Moms, we need to be strong in our stand that will be many times be counter-cultural. We need to protect our girls, we don't need our 12 years olds looking like they are 21. We should be ourselves role models for others in how to dress. It is so important that we be the change that we wish to see in the world! Here are some quotes from Scripture that point to the importance of modesty:

"In like manner women also in decent appare; adornig themselves with modesty and sobriety, not with plaited hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly attire, but as it becometh women profession godliness, with good works."
~Timothy 2"9-10

"But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patiences, begnignity, goodness, lonanimity, mildness, faith, modest, contincey, and chastity."
~Galatians 5:22-23

"You have heard tht it was said to the ancients, 'Thou shall not commit adultry.' But I say to you that anyone who so much looks with lust at a woman has alrady committed adultery with her in h is heart. "
~Matthew5:27-29

"Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Revelation 16:15).



Bl. Jacinta Marto (1908-1919) was one of the three childrent at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. She said,"Certain fashins will be introduced which will offent Our Lord very much. Persons who serve God must not follow the fashions. The Church does not have fasions; Our Lord is always the same. The sins of the world are very great."


Here are some websites that contain modest fashions, if anyone has any other favorites, please add them to the comments!

www.landsend.com
www.appleseeds.com
www.hannahlise.com
www.funkyfrum.com
www.tabeez.com