Welcome to the Pauline Year!!!

We are very excited about the Pauline Year starting. Imagine, Paul, such an amazing evangelizer that Roman guards were not allowed to watch him longer than 24 hours or they would be converted, was born 2000 years ago!

Yesterday, we watched the first Vespers from the Basilica of St Paul in Rome. I was touched by the ecumenical nature of the vespers, which Pope Benedict also commented on in his homily. Any and all Christians should know well the ministry of Paul spread Christianity far and wide. With brothers and sisters from the Eastern Church and Anglican church taking part in the service, it was truly showing the "catholicism" of Christianity.

I am starting the Pauline year by rereading one of my epistles, his letter to the Romans. Paul was one of the first to baptize Gentiles and it is because of this that today we have a German pope and that my Italian and Polish family is Catholic.

Paul, please pray for those of us in this world today, a world of ungodliness and secularism. Please pray we may evangelize to those whose hearts have not been opened to the word of God. Amen.

When Mom Gets Sick...

...in our home, the world does not stop. Daddy is a chef and a very good housekeeper, so for the most part, when I am sick (as I am today with something that seems as sinister as food poisoning, but I am more inclined to think might just be a really nasty virus) the order of our home is not thrown into chaos.

I know a lot of moms, particularly Catholic moms, who feel as though their presence alone is what keeps the home running. Don't get me wrong, as a Catholic mom myself, I almost feel like it would be a testament to me if the whole house crumbled because I took the day off. But what I really and truly think this becomes about (after the obvious boost to our egos) is undervaluing our husbands. When we fail to realize that Dad's can do some things we can very well, we fail to appreciate gifts they have. When we act as though Dad cannot take over even the simplest of chores in our stead, we ignore our very wedding vows that say "in sickness and in health, for better and for worse." Let me tell you, my mom worked night shifts and our dad did a lot of meals. Sure a lot of them were chicken nuggets and french fries (the freezer brand not McDonalds) but we all survived. And that wasn't every night. We had plenty of london broil with baked potatoes and other dishes that showed Dad knew his way around the kitchen. It made their marriage a true partnership.

Would I not want to stay home and prepare every meal for my family from scratch? Of course I would, but that's not the life my family lives right now. And for all those who are envious that I married a chef, try being at my home when I see what my children were dressed in for school...he still has his little quirks.

God Has a Plan

Wow, it seem soooo simple, yet is so difficult to comprehend.

I often wonder why God made us humans so stubborn, so silly that we cannot accept his grace.

Free will is a gift, but it is also a responsibility.

So, I am praying to accept God's plans for us whatever they maybe. I pray a lot harder for that now that Andy is no longer on Earth. I think Andy's intercession is helping me.

Not much to report as far as life goes. We are always day to day in all of our struggles. Tomorrow will bring yet another morning of getting babies diapers changed and dressed and getting them off to school. I am really trying hard to discern what is the best way to lead our family closer to God and into lives we can accept and are happy with. It is a struggle and right now, God's answer to us is to keep going day to day. That's God's will and we are accepting it, but not without some difficulty.