Spring 2020 Daybook: Hiking & Books! Also COVID-19

Outside on our Turkey Ranch...

the Bradford Pear blossoms and tulips have already blown away but the Indian Blanket & irises appeared this week. We also have a mobility van for #catethegreat now parked on the driveway.

From the bookshelves...

I read two books this past winter that really spoke to my heart, Undone and Be Brave in the Scared. Both memoirs of moms with children with special needs. The grace-given yet hard-fought honest insights they each shared were really a balm to my momma heart.  And I also always enjoy anything of Christopher West's.

I’m currently reading a couple good books with the middle kids. One of the blessings of more family time during the Quarantine.

With our hands...

I prepared a web page concept for my consulting project with CCL/Live the Love, FAB Coaching. So excited- we did a soft launch of our fertility awareness coaching pilot program in the last couple weeks! In the kitchen, soup dinners have transitioned to grilling this early spring for my hungry brood.

All four big kids kids helped Jesse construct a room in our horse barn (that he is now living in to protect catethegreat, more on that later) and have started some woodworking projects of their own.  MI has been adding to his origami animal collection and MC has continued cross-stitching, moving on to patterns of saints.

In my head...

the life of Catherine of Siena as imagined by Louis de Wohl, in Lay Siege to Heaven which I just finished.  Also Life from Our Land, perfect for spring, and how to keep myself/us slowed down and outside on our land like we have been so much.

On my heart...

union with God and all I'm learning from some people in my life about that and from a book about St. Therese’s middle sister, called Leonie: A Difficult Life.  I read it with the pair above about special needs families. It fit there well as she was a difficult child emotionally. So, so real. A breath of fresh air when it comes to biographical writing about saintly lives and especially that family out of history.  God's faithfulness does not depend on our good or even best behavior.

Most recent road trip was...

finally back to the Wichita Mountains for an afternoon of hiking in gorgeous weather during the first week of this extended Spring Break!  And Cate’s first time to go! So beautiful- I had missed that geography so much.  We hope to get back there soon and more regularly.

Of holidays & holy days... 

Lent has been an exceptional one this year, hasn't it?  Much given up but much received in its place.  I have realized anew how distracted I can get, how hard it is to embrace the moments and savor them when we are always rushing on to the next thing.  But case in point- these photos from winter holidays & holy days I've never shared here or on Instagram.

Cate enjoying her work at PT in her birthday crown.

 Cate's first snow!  Several days off school that seem like ages ago and 

that haven't kept us from a good break for the Holy Triduum.

Sissy and Daddy headed to the annual Father-Daughter Dance in their Valentine Best.

 We had potato soup on St. Paddy’s Day and baked little loaves of bread on the Feast of St. Joe, the Holy Family’s “breadwinner.” It was our first attempt at gluten free from scratch and while they looked good... 

Made a baked oatmeal pan cake and waffles (here) for beloved 16 yr old healthiest-son’s b-day.

A Prayer...

from the priest and preacher to the papal household during the pontificate of JPII and on, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa:

Come, Holy Spirit.

Come now.

Come as You wish.

Fall 2019 Daybook- Marriage & NFP Edition

It’s ...

been cold already, with some rain, and windy during the past weeks but beautiful the last few weekends.  These pics below are of our last summer hurrah- Labor Day Weekend at Port A on the Gulf Coast of TX.  Fall is here now.

Cate's first time seeing and feeling the ocean (Gulf).

She loved playing in the water.

We went on an island hike.  Saw lots of nature.  Kids felt tortured.

Outside on our Turkey Ranch...

The ground is parched with dry grass and leaves blowing everywhere this fall. Our stock pond is the smallest (driest) I've ever seen it but I still love my frequent walks around it.  My husband is working to train our newest horse, a pony for Mary that she named S’mores.  I have such a love/hate relationship with the horses...  

From the bookshelves...

Marilyn Shannon’s Fertility, Cycles, & Nutrition.

I love this book and use it a lot personally and with students (because it’s practical yet thoroughly researched), recently gave one to a student couple as a wedding gift. Trouble shooting for irregular or erratic cycles. Time-tested and research-based nutrition advice, including a basic bread (machine) recipe.

With my hands...
Several loaves of my own (Cycle) Healthy Zucchini Bread made with half wheat flour, half sugar & local honey to sweeten, lots of fresh zucchini, half the oil, protein from yogurt & pecans, and ground flax. And it’s still moist and delicious. A favorite of my older boys- don’t tell them the full name.

In my head...
Our monthly Married Couples Group has been meeting for over a year and we are so grateful for that group of friends. We’re on our second good book- Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love by Edward Sri. Started with Forever by Jackie & Angel Francois.  Such a fun read with your spouse and to talk over with friends- one chapter had us all share our meeting/dating/engagement stories.  

On my heart...
Our NFP student couples, from our previous and current class series. Their openness and hard work has been inspiring.  Also, the "Ask Christopher West" podcast. I love the dynamic between the Wests.  Wendy West's gentle wisdom and love washes over me when I listen.  

Most recent road trip adventure...
the Fall Silobration in Waco with my mom and Cate.  Finally, Magnolia!  Fun but also very... sterile?...feeling to me.

I love, love, love this pic of catethegreat.

Of holidays and holy days... 

Mark's 11th birthday pool party.

And the big eleven year old as St. Augustine on All Saint's Day at school.  The Fifth Grade puts together a presentation for the entire school.

A Prayer for this Fall...
St. Therese's feast day is in the fall, Oct. 1.  As is John Paul the Great's, Oct. 22.

Merciful Father, in the name of our lovable Jesus, my Mother Mary, and all the Saints, I ask you to set me on fire with Your Spirit of Love and to grant me the grace of making you deeply loved.

~St. Therese

All Saints Day & Living the Church calendar in Oct., part 2

We will be celebrating the Feast of All Saints a day late, on the Feast of All Souls, with our Catholic homeschool group and a party.  We are excited because it has been a couple years since we dressed up & really celebrated All Saints in style.  All the kids intend to dress up as their patrons: St. Jude, Bl. Pope JPII, St. Mark, and the Blessed Mother Mary.  (We decided for Mary, that is that she would follow the theme. :) )  This will be after they dress up for Halloween as a convict, an Indian, a lion, & a pumpkin princess, respectively.  I'll try to post pics of both sets of costumes.

In the meantime, here's a sweet prayer our DRE used in the RCIC class for All Saints:

The saints were really amazing, God;
their love for you was great.
They prayed and preached and spread your word,
even when faced with hate.
Helping, sharing, spreading grace,
they'd give their last dime.
Now they're blessed with the joy of heaven
until the end of time.

But the saints were still just people, too;
they sometimes did things wrong.
They doubted, worried, and sinned at times,
and didn't always get along.
So maybe there's still hope for me,
to be a named saint, too.
Lord give me strength to try again,
so I can live with you.

Amen.

from Catholic Prayer Book for Children, edited by Julianne M. Will

Living the Church calendar: October, part 1

So, October started with a bang for us with the cold-from-hell-coupled-with-strep everyone being sick.  I do intend to regularly post helpful links to the year-long family liturgical calendar post (from our Prayer Book in progress) that I wrote earlier this school year...  New thoughts are in "October orange" along with my original post excerpted below.


October--
1. Feast of St. Therese

She is a special saint for me because she was introduced to me by two close friends in college who loved her and really lived/live her "Little Way."  Both claim her as special patronness because their middle names are Therese.  We all visited Lisieux together during our Rome semester and it was then that I learned there is so much more to this smart, strong, and holy woman than the sappy sweet ways we often refer to her.  The book below is  great for getting to know her in this way.  And while the website I linked to below does not mention the rose St. Therese sends to those who ask fo rher intercession, I have always found her to be generous in fulfilling that promise.
Start or finish the unique and beautiful Rose Novena of St. Therese, a favorite among Catholic women for generations, found in this prayer book. An atypical treatment of this young & innocent saint whose "Little Way" of spirituality is anything but sappy sweet & weak can be found in the book Shirt of Flame: A Year with St. Therese of Lisieux, by Heather King. 

2. Feast of the Guardian Angels
Another good day to bake an angel food cake to celebrate and give thanks for God's provision and protection for us in His angels.
I always buy boxed cake mixes- what can I say? They are good & cheap.

4. Feast of St. Francis Take your family pets to the "Blessing of the Animals" held at many parishes on this day, in honor of this saint of radical material & spiritual poverty who was so peaceful that it is said he could communicate with animals. Or bless your animals at home as a family with a simple spontaneous prayer.
We did bless our pets at home this year in three groups: inside pets: Jude's gerbil & mouse, outside pets (dog &cats), and farm animals: chickens & horses.  We used this blessing that I found on a holy card in an on-line Catholic shop (author not credited):

In your infinite wisdom, Lord God, when You created the Universe You blessed us with living creatures.  We especially thank You for giving us our pets who are our friends and who bring us so much joy in life.  Their presence very often helps us get through trying times.  Kindly bless my pet.  May my pet continue giving me joy and remind me of Your power.  May we realize that as our pets trust us to take care of them, so we should trust You to take care of us, and in taking care of them we share in Your love for all creatures.  Enlighten our minds to preserve all endangered species so that we may continue to appreciate all of Your creations.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

St. Francis patron of those who study & care for the earth, ecologists, pray for us!

Sneak peek at our Prayer Book...

*Susan and I continue to work on the Women's CRHP Prayer Book project that started as a little collection of favorite prayers.  Here is a preview of the section closest to my heart, "Prayer in Family Life," including SIMPLE ideas for living the Church year as a family.  This is similar to the "Dozen for Delight" ideas I've blogged about before but expanded upon here.

I will be posting monthly with text or links for the prayers, books, further ideas, & recipes mentioned in the Family Liturgical Calendar below.


V.  PRAYER IN FAMILY LIFE
Excerpts from Part 1: Prayers and Blessings for Families in all Ages & Stages--

How do we start really praying as a family?
By just starting... by just praying. Before meals, before bed, at the start of a new day are all times that prayer works and creates a moment of peace & strength. It doesn't have to be long or fancy, only desired as a means of being close to God. It doesn't even have to feel good- important relationships often feel like work.

A family prayer space-This is not necessary but often helpful. This does not have to be fancy either but should have at least one religious image, such as a crucifix or picture of the Holy Family. It could also be where the family Bible(s) and rosaries are kept. The space could be in a child's bedroom or at the table where meals are eaten.

Blessings-It is a special habit to bless children at night and before school or to least before special days and events. Simply trace a cross on your child's forehead and say "May God bless you, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Or "May God bless you, our Mother Mary intercede for you, your Guardian Angel protect you, and your patron saints pray for you!". Amen.

Prayer of Parents for Their Children-Lord, enlighten our children's minds so they will find the path you have marked out for them, for your glory and for their salvation and happiness. Support them with your strength, so that the ideals of your Kingdom will inspire their lives. Give us light so that we, their parents, can help them to recognize their Christian vocation and to follow it generously by cooperating with your inspirations. Amen.


Part II: Living the Church Year as a Family--- A Family Liturgical Calendar

January--
1. Feast of Mary, Mother of God/New Year's Day
Instead of typical New Year's resolutions, choose (with the help of the Holy Spirit) a virtue to work on during the next year by drawing one per family member. Use the theological virtues of faith, hope, & love. Or use the cardinal, human virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, & temperance. Or use both. Look them up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church on-line.

Epiphany-
This Feast of the Three Kings is usually celebrated two Sundays after Christmas, to remember the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem. (The first Sunday after Christmas is typically the Feast of the Holy Family.) Young children really enjoy making the three wise man of the family nativity set actually travel around the home during the time from Christmas to Easter, progressing in their journey to the manger a bit more each day.

Old Catholic traditions for this feast include baking a "King Cake," a cake with a tiny toy baby hidden inside and blessing the home for the new year. Use the House Blessing prayer found in this book and write this on the door in chalk: 20+C+M+B+__. C, M, and B are the first initials of the names of the three kings, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, respectively. The last blank is filled with the remaining numerals of the new year- 13 for 2013, for example.

February--
14. St. Valentine's Day
In addition to the other ways you celebrate this day of love, read the real story of today in the beautiful picture book all ages will enjoy: St. Valentine, by Robert Sabuda.

March--
17. St. Patrick's Day
Pray the Breastplate of St. Patrick in this book, as well as celebrate in your usual green-style. An Irish meal always includes potatoes, one easy but different favorite is potato soup. Mashed potatoes are even easier and both can be dyed green with a few drops of food coloring. (Why do young children enjoy eating green food so much?)

19. Feast of St. Joseph
Bake bread in honor of the "breadwinner" & protector of the Holy Family, an old Italian Catholic tradition. Use any favorite bread recipe and, if you can make the extra time to shape the dough into something symbolic like a communion host or shafts of wheat, you can even call it "St. Joseph Bread."

*LENT:
Start the family Lenten tradition of using a Lenten centerpiece, similar in idea to the Advent Wreath to help prepare for Easter. A desert scene, made of sand & rocks in a glass pie plate, reminds everyone of Jesus' 40 days in the desert. A crown of thorns, made of salt dough & toothpicks, is an activity for showing love to family members by removing one thorn for each act of love or sacrifice made for Christ. Empty it of thorns and wrap it in flowers by Easter.

Other traditional Lenten practices include praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. The Stations mark and help us to meditate on the steps along the path of Jesus' Passion, his suffering and death. One set of Stations is found in this book.

April--
**EASTER:
Remember to make Easter all about Jesus' Resurrection by including mostly faith-filled treats in Easter baskets: chocolate crosses, religious stickers, art supplies w/ a Resurrection coloring sheet, kids religious books, "Easter Story Cookies" & "Resurrection Eggs" all make for a more Christ-centered Easter celebration before or after Mass. The recipe and instructions for both can be found on the Catholic Icing website.

***Divine Mercy Sunday is always the first Sunday after Easter. Learn the story behind this popular devotion promoted by Blessed Pope John Paul II and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, both found in this book. Even use the iApp mentioned in the Resources section .

May--2nd Sunday/Mother's Day-
Include our heavenly mother, Mary, among the mothers you honor this month. One old tradition is to plant a "Mary Garden," flowers that are named after her and/or are in colors of white (for purity) or blue (her identifying color in Christian art). Another option is to include godmothers among the mothers you remember- have your children make cards for their godmothers or remember your own godchildren in a special way in your prayers this day. A Prayer for Godchildren is found in this book.

Pentecost Sunday-
This Sunday we remember the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and Mary. It is often called the birthday of the Church because the Apostles were changed and strengthened to go forth and preach the Gospel without fear. Celebrate with a birthday cake for the Church and start or finish a novena (nine days of prayer) to the Holy Spirit today. The Catholic tradition of novenas comes from this time when the Apostles waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit after Christ's Ascencion into Heaven. Use the Prayer to the Holy Spirit in this book and pray it for nine consecutive days. Or check out the Novena to the Holy Spirit and many others found on this website: http://www.resurrectionparish.us/novenas.htm

June--*Don't miss Sunday Mass during the summer- many great Sundays in the Church calendar are during the summer months. After Pentecost are Trinity Sunday and the Feast of Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ). The readings for Mass are especially interesting and related to each other and worth a few extra minutes in prayer.

11. Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus-
This is the annual feast day of our parish! Share the love of Jesus' Sacred Heart with our pastor, deacons, associates, and staff- thank them for their service with an e-mail or note. Attending daily Mass on First Fridays of the month is part of traditional devotion to our Lord, under the title of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (First Saturdays are reserved for Our Lady, under the title of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.) Read more about this devotion on-line.

12. Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary-
Pray at least one decade of the Rosary today! Want help? More on the Rosary can be found in the Traditional Prayers & Novenas section of this book.

3rd Sunday is Father's Day.
As with Mother's Day, remember to honor godfathers, priests, and even St. Joseph today, along with dads. A Child's Prayer for Parents is found at the beginning of the Prayer in Family Life section of this book.

July--
4th/Independence Day-
Don't forget to pray for our country today: for God's continued blessing on it; for the right to life of all human persons, especially in their most vulnerable stages; for our military & their families and for peace built on justice throughout the world; for the efforts of our Bishops to protect & promote religious freedom. Use the Prayer for Religious Freedom in this book.

14. Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Get outside to be close to God today, in honor of this holy woman called the "Lily of the Mohawks." She is the first Native American Indian to be declared a saint. Work in the garden or go for a walk or hike with your family today and enjoy our Creator latent in all of his creation.

26. Feast of Sts. Anne & Joachim
These are the grandparents of Jesus and parents of the Blessed Mother and patrons of Natural Family Planning or NFP. NFP Awareness Week is every year during the week of their feast. Learn more about it at www.live-the-love.org.

August--
15. Solemnity (or Solemn Feast) of the Assumption of Mary, a holy day of obligation (HDO)
Don't forget to get to Mass today. Most parishes add an extra Mass to the daily Mass schedule on HDOs and other churches located close to work or school are often a good option for HDOs during the week.

September--8. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This is the birthday of Mary. Young children enjoy making cards and a cake to celebrate, remembering her with a typical birthday celebration. Any feast of Mary is a good day to pray the Rosary, or at least a decade, for all of us.

27. St. Vincent de Paul
Remember this saint who loved and gave his life to the poor by doing something for the least among us. Collect and donate clothes or household items to the local St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store (or any other).

29. Feast of the Archangels
Haven't had enough cake already this month? Bake an angel food cake to celebrate this feast of these powerful angels mentioned in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Use the child-friendly version of the Prayer to St. Michael found in this book to ask his intercession in spiritual battles.

October--1. Feast of St. Therese
Start or finish the unique and beautiful Rose Novena of St. Therese, a favorite among Catholic women for generations, found in this prayer book. An atypical treatment of this young & innocent saint whose "Little Way" of spirituality is anything but sappy sweet & weak can be found in the book Shirt of Flame: A Year with St. Therese of Lisieux, by Heather King.

2. Feast of the Guardian Angels
Another good day to bake an angel food cake to celebrate and give thanks for God's provision and protection for us in His angels.

4. Feast of St. Francis
Take your family pets to the "Blessing of the Animals" held at many parishes on this day, in honor of this saint of radical material & spiritual poverty who was so peaceful that it is said he could communicate with animals. Or bless your animals at home as a family with a simple spontaneous prayer.

November--
1. All Saints
No celebration of the silly & "sinners" (witches, zombies) of Halloween is complete without celebration of the saints the next day! Little ones love dress-up and dressing up as a saint is a fun way for them to learn. Older children might enjoy crafting a costume of their favorite saint. (Great & easy saint costume ideas can be found on the Catholic Icing website.) All ages can create and pray a litany today. A litany is a prayer in "list" form, with a repeated response- like the intentions (also known as the Prayer of the Faithful) at Mass. This one asks all your family's favorite saints or patron/name saints to pray for you by simply naming the saint, then responding all together with "Pray for us!"

2. All Souls
Pray for all the deceased souls among your family and friends today and even for those whom you don't know. The traditional prayer is short and efficient: "May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

25. Feast of Christ the King
This is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time, before the Church's New Year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. Celebrate by literally crowning Christ the King of your heart and home. Children enjoy crafting crowns to place on a statue or image of Christ. They can decorate the crown with sequins and rhinestone jewels earned by doing acts of love for others that week.

December--
*ADVENT:
The traditional and beautiful way to mark the Advent season of waiting and preparing for Christmas is with an Advent wreath of evergreen and four candles, three purple and one light or rose pink. All kinds of materials work but the symbolism is even more rich with "real"materials, especially taper candles that burn down and create a clock of sorts marking the passing of the weeks. Light the same purple candle all of the first week, the first and another purple candle the second week, the same two purple and the rose candle for the third week, and all four candles during the last week. By the end, the first purple candle burned almost completely down contrasts with the much longer fourth purple one that remains mostly tall. Simply lighting the candle(s) for that week and singing the refrain from "O Come, Emmanuel" makes a short & beautiful prayer time each night.

Another way to focus on Advent as a time of waiting and preparing for Christmas is to save singing carols and most decorating until closer to Chrstmas. Only put out nativity scenes but leave the manger empty & awaiting the arrival of the Christ Child, until after Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. (Also hold back the Three Kings for a later arrival in Bethlehem.) Children enjoy slowly filling the manger with "straw" (paper or real grasses) for Baby Jesus earned by good deeds and acts of love. Start the tradition of putting up your Christmas tree and other decorations on the 3rd Sunday ofAdvent, also called Gaudete Sunday or the Joyful Sunday. This Sunday marks the half-way point to Christmas and is distinguished by the rose candle.

6. Feast of St. Nick
St. Nicholas is the original Santa Claus and a Bishop from the early Church, during the time of the Roman empire. Fill childrens' shoes or stockings with chocolate "coins" in honor of his anonymous generosity to those in need, especially children. It is said he saved three young Christian sisters from enslavement by dropping three sacks of coins, one for each, down the chimney of their family home.

8. Solemnity (or Solemn Feast) of the Immaculate Conception, another Holy Day of Obligation (HDO)- Don't forget to schedule time to get to Mass today.

12. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe-
This favorite image and feast of Mary can be marked with a Mexican food feast and by praying the Rosary. The children's cartoon video called "Juan Diego: Messenger of Guadalupe," produced by CCC, is an excellent retelling of the story of the apparitions of St. Juan Diego and the healing that the love of the Blessed Mother brought to the troubled land that is now Mexico, during the time the Spaniards conquered the Natives originally living there.

**CHRISTMAS:
After Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, place Baby Jesus in the manger prepared for him and have the Kings set out on their journey to Bethlehem (which may only be a trip across the living room). Allow young children to move the Kings to a different or closer spot each day, as they follow the Star to Bethlehem and arrive at your nativity on Epiphany.

So beautiful I had to share

Vlad.  Our family and the big boys' Conquest Club in San Antonio prayed & prayed for this little boy and we raised & donated the first few hundred dollars in his adoption account with Reece's Rainbow.  I listed him as a prayer of thanksgiving in the sidebar here when I found out from the amazing AMT that he was to be adopted.  This is the link to Vlad's new family's blog.  So, so beautiful.  God is so good, so faithful.  You have to see for yourself.

The story of him in our lives started w/ me looking over the Reece's Rainbow website, talking to God and praying about international adoption.  I have always felt a call to adoption since I was a much younger single woman and Jesse & I talked about it before we married.  But I, we have always felt a call to domestic, foster adoption.  (We fostered two sisters during Jesse's residency who were with us for 2 months over the holidays in 2006/2007, our own "hosting" experience now that I think about it.  They returned to biological family- but that is another story for another night.)  Anyway, I was thinking & praying a lot about international adoption (b/c I had multiple friends interested in it that I wanted to really support & b/c of non-profit work AMT was leading us to do) and asking God to help me really understand that call.  From my own limited perspective, I just couldn't see how families could fall in love w/ a photo of a kiddo across the world and know God's will, God's plan from the beginning.  Not that I didn't believe them, but I wanted to truly understand it.  Well, God answered my prayer.  I truly fell in love w/ Vlad from 1 photo and, most amazingly, so did my husband.  At the time, we thought he looked like such a Gorley!  And we seriously considered adopting him but pretty quickly discerned that that wasn't God's will.  Both of us felt the same way and felt sad but at peace.  We kept praying for Vlad & donated some money ourselves and then the boys' Conquest Club did the same.  We lost a baby to miscarriage and knew that what we wanted, what it seemed God wanted for our family was for us to have another of our own biological children.  Then we conceived Mary.  And Vlad's family found him & committed to adopting him the month she was born.  And again, here he is now: http://bigvandlittlesy.blogspot.com/. 

Praise God.  Thank you for Vlad.  Thank you for Mary.

B/c I'm busy tweaking next month's original school plans...

"Help us, O God, to enter into the secret of childhood so that we may know, love, and serve the child in accordance with the laws of thy justice and following thy holy will."

Maria Montessori

Meditation on Zacchaeus

This was our meditation for our Team Holy Hour in November. The text was the Gospel for that day, Luke 19: 1-10. Maybe you can use it for your personal daily meditation or your team can use it this month. Hope it serves as an aid to your prayer!


Text: Again, text was Luke 19:1-10.

Acts of faith, hope & love: Father, we believe in You and in your love. We hope in You and trust confidently in your promises. We love You and thank You for your great love that calls us to yourself, to your presence in the Eucharist, and to your Word that instructs our hearts.

Petition: Our petition is for that deeper conversion of heart that we need to be united w/ You always.

Fruit: We ask for the fruit that, by your grace, we have hearts like Zacchaeus- open to seeing You, quick to give to You, detached from all that crowds You out of our hearts and lives.

1) Zacchaeus.
The Gospel tell us he was the chief tax collector. So, not only was he a Jew working for the Romans, collecting from his own people & probably skimming off the top as was common, but he was even the head of the tax collectors w/ even more authority to lord over people and even more responsibility. How he must have needed to know You, your peace, your strength, Lord! At the same time, we see how unconditionally you love us all, Lord! From the greatest of sinners to the holiest of saints, to all those lukewarm in between. How much you love each of us.

Why does Luke tell us Zacchaeus was "short in stature?" Luke the physician naturally notices the physical details but he also notes it so that we can understand why Zacchaeus had climbed the tree.

2) The sycamore tree.
In the beginning, Zacchaeus only climbed up out of curiosity: he was "seeking to see who Jesus was." So, he climbed the tree for a better view. Even if he was not motivated by the slightest bit of faith, Zacchaeus was intellectually honest. He knew there was a reason to be curious about this man Jesus. And he didn't care what others thought about him, whether he made a spectacle of himself responding to that nudge of his intellect or conscience to figure out just a little more about You, Lord. Here Zacchaeus is an example for me to follow.

3) The Lord.
Then, You looked up at him, Jesus, and called him to yourself & gave him your very self all at the same time. That changed everything for him, Lord- one look, one call from You! How you speak with authority to our hearts b/c You are the Author of Love! I remember those moments in my life when you've done the same to me...as a young girl, when your call first penetrated my heart...all the love you've showered on me throughout my life- even in the midst of hard times, you've always been there w/ me, reminding me I'm never alone...and now as a married woman, You love me through my husband everyday in all the ways he provides for me and for our family, in all the ways he cares for me. Help me, Lord, to see your glances of love throughout my life now during this meditation and later throughout my day, when I'm tempted to feel alone or discouraged, when I'm tempted to feel overwhelmed.

4) Myself.
Above all, Lord, help me to respond to your calls like Zacchaeus did to the one call that changed his life! Help me to give back to You w/out counting the cost, to journey forward with You w/out looking back. Like You tell us: the one who looks back, who takes her hand off the plow, isn't worthy of the mission b/c the mission requires all our heart, mind, and soul. To plant lasting seeds for You- deeply, in straight rows, in well-prepared & well cared for soil- is an awesome call. It is the call of an apostle, the call of all your baptized daughters and sons.

I believe in that call and want to answer it for You, with You, Lord. Show me how I can give you my whole heart and my whole self, like Zacchaeus, Lord. Show me.

Why practicing law is like learning a foreign language...and a piece of every lawyer's vocation

Not just because there is an entire legal vocabulary, often Latin, to learn and apply.

Practicing law (or any profession/science-art) for that matter is like learning a foreign language b/c you know you're making progress when you begin to think in the new language, to process in the new language, to make the new language a part of your life, rather than something grafted on for a certain number of required hours.

The past couple weeks have included some firsts for me professionally, including my first client dying (as in one I knew b/f the family came to us at a death for probate). She was a cancer patient, already undergoing experimental treatment when she came to us for a will just a few months ago. Another client is the daughter of another cancer victim, really struggling to accept her mom's death and work w/ me to complete the probate of her mom's estate. (Both these clients' situations lended to increased anxiety for me when my own mom was admitted to the hospital last week, although she has now returned home w/ a treatable diagnosis, thanks be to God and modern medicine.) These clients have given me food for spiritual reflection and crept into my prayers, in a way different from the often rote prayer I pray for all my clients. Bless them and all their loved ones, my Lord. And make me your instrument in their lives, if it be your will.

Vacation...Holiday...Holy Days

From Fr. Richard Veras, "The Importance of Vacation Time," as printed in Magnificant this month.

"This summer look forward to your vacation not as a moment to go away from something, but as a time to go closer to Someone. The One who is behind all that you experience on your vacation is the one who promises to be with you always, even after you have returned to your ordinary routine....May our vacation days not merely be empty of labor, but full of true joy. May we take full advantage of the free time given us to encounter the love, truth, and beauty of Christ in the myriad of ways he comes to us. May we look forward to the unexpected ways he will show himself to us in this privileged time, and may we find ourselves re-created so that our belonging to Christ may help to renew the face of the earth."

This reflection echoes the prayer on my heart for this time, as I enjoy my rest in and with Him (probably neglecting the discipline of my prayer life too much!), and begin looking to a new school year again w/ my children and including my apostolate duties that I have taken a much-needed break from the last 6 weeks.