Guess what

They (verbally) accepted the offer. No counter offers even.

New House?

We are putting an offer on a house. Please pray!

Fun Music Class today

I was a substitute teacher today for about 10 5-8 year-olds at our homeschool co-op. I taught music. Before you laugh, I didn't sing much. We had a lot of fun. We found out some interesting facts about Johann Sebastian Bach. I never realized how funny the name Bach is until I told several 5 and 6 year-olds his name and had chicken noises for the rest of the class period. But anyway, we read a picture book (fantastic series) called Bach's Goldberg Variations by Anna Hardwell Celenza that comes with a CD. We then used the CD to play musical chairs which sounds mundane but was fun because, if you don't know about Bach's Goldberg Variations, it has 30 variations (thus the name) on it's first aria. There are dances, and difficult pieces, and gigs, and cannons and even a musical riddle. So for each round of musical chairs we listened to a different type of music. The kids were very excited and even shared their favorite variation. I love it when ideas come together.
If you want to parts of the piece check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldberg_Variations#Variatio_1._a_1_Clav.

Who Cares?

“Too many Catholics just don’t really care. That’s the truth of it. If they cared, our political environment would be different. If 65 million Catholics really cared about their faith and cared about what it teaches, neither political party could ignore what we believe about justice for the poor, or the homeless, or immigrants, or the unborn child. If 65 million American Catholics really understood their faith, we wouldn’t need to waste each other’s time arguing about whether the legalized killing of an unborn child is somehow ‘balanced out’ or excused by three other good social policies.”
-- Archbishop Charles Chaput, March 21, 2009,delivering the keynote address at a conference marking the Year of St. Paul in Detroit.

Prayer on the Feast of St. Joseph

Seven Sorrows and Joys
of St. Joseph Chaplet

1. Prayer
(All) Jesus and Mary, Saint Joseph loved you without
bounds. He achieved a union with you that no other soul
has been privileged to achieve. Use me as your earthly
instrument to honor St. Joseph. I am reciting these
prayers in union with You and the Holy Spirit.
2. Petition
(All) Glorious St. Joseph, accept this novena as our
seed of faith in your powerful intercession with Almighty
God and His Immaculate Mother.We are confident that
God will multiply this seed of faith by helping us to fulfill
the responsibilities we have taken upon ourselves.We
pray that all the members of our families and loved ones
will be spiritually and physically protected and guided to
fulfill the vocations that God has predestined for them.
We pray that all of our enterprises will be successful, and
that our parish, diocese, and be protected from error. And particularly we pray that
God will grant us the favor we now ask of you, or if it is
His will, one that is better for us.
(Pause and silently make your request.)
Pray the Apostles’ Creed, one Our Father,
three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be for the
Holy Father’s intentions.

First Sorrow and Joy — The Incarnation
(Leader) St. Joseph, chaste spouse of the Immaculate
Mother of God, by the deep SORROW which pierced your
heart at the thought of quietly leaving Mary so that she
would not be punished by the law when found to be with
child; by the deep JOY that you felt when the angel
revealed to you in a dream the mystery of the Incarnation
of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, and your
vital role as the guardian of the Holy Family,
(All) St. Joseph, obtain for me, my family from the Hearts
of Jesus and Mary, the grace for surmounting all anxiety
and the grace of total and absolute trust in God. Win for
us from the Sacred Heart of Jesus the indestructible
peace of which He is the eternal source.
Pray one Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
(All) O My Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from
the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those
who are in most need of Your mercy.
[We make a spiritual communion to discern and do God’s Will in each
present moment as we say:]
(All) All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.

Second Sorrow and Joy — The Birth of Jesus
(Leader) St. Joseph, faithful guardian of Jesus, by
the bitter SORROW which your heart experienced in
seeing the Child Jesus lying in a manger, and by the deep
JOY which you did feel at seeing the Wise Men recognize
and adore Him as their God,
(All) Grant through your prayers that my conscience
and the consciences of all the members of my family purified
by your protection, may become sinless cribs, where the
Savior of the world may be received with love and
respect.
Pray one Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
(All) O My Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from
the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those
who are in most need of Your mercy.
[We make a spiritual communion to discern and do God’s Will in each
present moment as we say:]
(All) All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.

Third Sorrow and Joy — The Circumcision
(Leader) St. Joseph, by the SORROW with which
your heart was pierced at the sight of the blood which
flowed from the infant Jesus in the circumcision, and by
the JOY that filled your soul at the privilege of bestowing
the sacred and mysterious Name of Jesus,
(All) Intercede for us, that the merits of this Precious
Blood, poured out as a Seed-Sacrifice offering for our salvation,
may be applied to my family and all the members
so that the Divine Name of Jesus may be engraved forever in our hearts.
Pray one Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
(All) O My Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from
the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those
who are in most need of Your mercy.
[We make a spiritual communion to discern and do God’s Will in each
present moment as we say:]
(All) All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.

Fourth Sorrow and Joy — The Presentation
(Leader) St. Joseph, by your deep SORROW when
Simeon declared that the heart of Mary would be pierced
with the sword of sorrow at the time that her Divine Son
generously sacrificed Himself for our sins, and by your
JOY when Simeon added that the Seed-Sacrifice offering
of Jesus was to bear an abundant harvest of redeemed
souls,
(All) Obtain for me, my family, the grace to unite ourselves
with the sorrows of Mary and to share in the
salvation which Jesus brought to the earth.
Pray one Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
(All) O My Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from
the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those
who are in most need of Your mercy.
[We make a spiritual communion to discern and do God’s Will in each
present moment as we say:]
(All) All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.

Fifth Sorrow and Joy — The Flight into Egypt
(Leader) St. Joseph, by your SORROW when told to
flee into the foreign and hostile land of Egypt, and by
your JOY in seeing their satanic idols fall to the ground
as the Living God passed by,
(All) Grant that I, the members of my family, will not fear
to do God’s will, which is distinct for each one of us, and
will always trust in Him as the total source of both our
spiritual and material security.
Pray one Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
(All) O My Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from
the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those
who are in most need of Your mercy.
[We make a spiritual communion to discern and do God’s Will in each
present moment as we say:]
(All) All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.

Sixth Sorrow and Joy – The Return from Egypt
(Leader) St. Joseph, by the SORROW of your heart
caused by the fear of the son of Herod after your obedient
return from Egypt, and by your JOY in sharing the company
of Jesus and Mary at Nazareth,
(All) Grant for us that, freed from all fear, we may
enjoy the peace of a good conscience, live securely in
union with Jesus and Mary, and experience your assistance
at the hour of our death.
Pray one Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
(All) O My Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from
the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those
who are in most need of Your mercy.
[We make a spiritual communion to discern and do God’s Will in each
present moment as we say:]
(All) All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.

Seventh Sorrow and Joy – The Finding in the Temple
(Leader) St. Joseph, by the bitter SORROW with
which the loss of the Child Jesus crushed your heart, and
by the holy JOY which filled your soul in recovering your
treasure when you re-entered the Temple,
(All) I beg you not to permit me, any member of my
family to lose our Savior Jesus through sin. Yet, should this misfortune
befall any of us, grant that we may share your eagerness
in seeking him, and obtain for us the grace of finding
Him, and never losing Him again.
Pray one Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
(All) O My Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from
the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those
who are in most need of Your mercy.
(All) All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.
(Leader) Behold the faithful and prudent servant,
(All) Whom the Lord set over His house.

Glorious St. Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate
Virgin, obtain for me and all the members of my family
and loved ones, a confident, sinless, generous, and patient
heart, and perfect resignation to the Divine Will.
Be our guide, father, and model throughout life, that
we may merit a death like yours, in the arms of Jesus and
Mary.
Help us, St. Joseph, in our earthly strife, to fulfill our
responsibilities and ever to lead a pure and blameless life.
Heavenly Father, please ask the Holy Spirit, Who
resides in the innermost recesses of my soul, to help me
to call to mind all of my sins and faults. Help me to
detach myself from these faults and sins so that I can be
a useful instrument in the hands of the Most Holy
Family, to achieve Your distinctive plan for my life.

Erin Go Braugh

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the threeness,

Through the confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,

Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,

Through the strength of his descent for the Judgment Day.
I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.
I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of demons,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

Lenten reflection

This blog was started to keep friends and family updated on the kids and homeschooling and what the family is up to and it will continue to be that. However, I have found some help lately from reading the reflections of friends and sisters in Christ who have shared something on their blog. Someday, I might start might own blog that is just random thoughts by Jenni but for now here are my thoughts for today. So if you are following to find out how school went today read the next post I have something fun to share but...

Actually my refection for today is not really mine. every Lent I read the Sadness of Christ by St. Thomas Moore. I love it!!!! Here is what I just read during a 10 minute spiritual reading break. St. Thomas was talking about Judas taking the roman soldiers to the Garden and how he would have only taken them there if he was sure Jesus was going there which must have meant Jesus went there often in the night to pray because Judas was too much of a coward to do something like this if he wasn't sure. Then St. Thomas says, "He (Jesus) used to spend the night praying under the open sky while the hypocritical Pharisee was snoring away in his soft bed. How I wish that those of us who are prevented by our own laziness from imitating the illustrious example of our Savior might at least be willing to call to mind His all-night vigils when we turn over on the other side in our beds, half asleep, and that we might then, during the short time before we fall asleep again, offer Him thanks, condemn our slothfulness, and pray for an increase of grace."

Wow!!!!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

For Today...

Outside my window... Clear and Cold. I'll take sun any day though.



I am thinking... Occasionally (ok monthly) I don't like being a woman. Eve and I are definately having a chat some day.



From the learning rooms... School is going so well. RA reads like a pro for 4 and DG he impresses me daily. Praise God for kids who love to learn.



I am thankful for... my husband. He is jsut an amazing man and continues to blow me away.



From the kitchen... Chilli and this weather just go together.



I am wearing... A Frassati sweatshirt with a mispelled ROCK t-shirt underneath, new jeans and slippers. It is a comfy day.



I am reading... St. Patrick's Summer. It is a kids chapter book to teach catechesis. It is awesome!!!! I wish I had known about it before the talk I just gave.



I am hoping... that my husband doesn't stress too much about his job and the move.



I am creating... nothing. Not in a creative mode right now.



I am hearing... silence. I love my "me" time.



Around the house... My neighbors got burglarized today in broad daylight. Some neighbor I am. I am making sure everything is locked and hidden.



One of my favorite things... cuddling under a blanket and reading. I need to do more of this. If only I had a laptop.



A few plans for the rest of the week... working, laundry, having lunch with Gayle at mom of 3 crazy girls, laundry, spending time with the fam, laundry, a girls' afternoon, laundry, a fish fry, laundry, my husband working a lot, and... laundry!



Here is a picture though I am sharing with you...


Pikes Peak from the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs in December. I can't wait for views like this.

Happy Birthday

In honor of my beautiful sister on her birthday!

Monday Motivate Me

I have mentioned the blog Like A Warm Cup of Coffee now several times. http://likeawarmcupofcoffee.blogspot.com/
Every Monday she posts some amazing motivators. This week she shared a song and as lyrics often motivate me here is mine today. I often struggle with saying yes to God's will. That is why Mary plays such a big role in my life. This song was written about a miscarriage (and since I have had a few...) but I think it is appropriate for any trying time. Thy Will Be Done by Marie Bellet http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/mariebellet1-06.m3u
Lyrics:
It was an unexpected flood
That came to me today
Sometimed bad news follows good
And it's really hard to say
Thy will be done

So there’s been a change in plans
What am I supposed to do?
When it is out of my hands
And I can’t see my way through,
When I can’t say
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
I will go to the altar
And I’ll say, “Amen”
And I’ll open my mouth
And I’ll try again
Thy will be done…
Thy will be done…

Well, it scares me so to think
What you can take away…
But I know that if I ask
I will have the grace to say
Thy will be done…
Thy will be done…

Oh, the flesh and blood of life
are yours for the taking,
And my helpless human heart
is yours for the breaking
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

It was unexpected flood
that came to me today
Sometimes bad news follows good
And its really hard to say
Thy will be done…
Thy will be done…
Thy will be done

Legos at the Childrens Museum

Silly PG and his example

Ballet Class