The Feast of the Holy Family

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. We had a nice couple of days, except for my being sick. Truly enjoyed having my 4 kids all together. 

Today, Sunday Dec 26th, is the Feast day of the Holy Family. As I listened to the readings at church today, I thought about my own kids and being a parent. Did Mary know, as the song says, all that her little baby was. Did Joseph realize the challenges ahead. They had already faced some big challenges. They had already witnessed some amazing things. 

A mother holds her newborn baby and has many dreams for her child. Happiness, someone in their life to love, and a full life. We want our children to be better than we are, to live longer and be more successful. We want them to be strong adults who can handle all this world can throw at them. We want them to be sensitive and loving. To give more than take, to laugh more than cry.

Mary holds baby Jesus in her arms and takes in all that is happening around them. The visits from the angels, visiting Elizabeth, Joseph standing by her, the visits by the Shepherds and the visits from the Magi. She must have had a idea that this was big. As she held Jesus did she worry for him, as a mother she would have? She had such devotion to God, did she let go and trust in her faith. She poured out her heart and full love to Christ. She gave up her life for His. As all mothers strive to do.

Joseph looks at Mary and does he realize all that is happening. My husband told me that as a new father, you are sometimes filled with amazement and worry. Did Joseph feel that? Did he wonder how he was going to protect and provide for them? He too had such devotion to God. Did he lean on that? As he got Mary to Bethlehem, as he stood by her in labor and thru delivery, and has he lead them safely to Egypt, did he lean on his faith in God? He is such a strong figure in my mind. Taking in the woman and her Child of God and giving up his own life for them. 

May the image of the Holy Family, their love and devotion for each other, guide us into the new year. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season Greetings. Whichever you prefer I wish you and your family all the best. I celebrate Christmas so I will stick with Merry Christmas.

As I sit here next to my lit tree I am reflecting on the story of Christmas. This year the spirit isn't as strong as years past, just have a lot going on. Christmas is still my favorite season.

I think about Mary, she said yes to God's will. Even though she could be shunned even stoned. She said "Thy will be done". I think about Joseph, a quiet strong good man. He could have turned Mary over to the authority, he could have divorced her, but instead he said yes. He stood by Mary protected her and the Christ child. He also risked being shunned or death. 

They created a strong God filled family for our Savior to be a part of. They didn't have money or material wealth, just love and faith. The message in that love and with that family is so powerful. I often pray for the strength and intercession of St Joseph for my family. Through the intercession of St Joseph I was able to forgive my father and pray for his soul.

The most important event at this first Christmas is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Think about this for a moment, God incarnate!! How amazing, how much love God must have for us to become one of us. The incarnate Christ was truly human and truly God. What a great mystery, incomprehensible but amazing. By becoming human God forever joined us to him in a most intimate way. The little babe in the manger offered so much hope and love. That is why the angels said "I bring you good tidings of great joy". The shepherds and the magi came to pay homage. This too is an awesome image and message. The wiseman from around the world and the simple shepherd together in worship. 

I pray that the babe in the manger may touch the lives of those reading this and many throughout the world. That His message of peace and love change the world even more than it already has.

Merry Christmas!!!

Compromise

Compromise is not a dirty word. We all have to live together. If we are truly the "United" states, not the divided states. We all come to the table with opinions, ideas and individual unique experiences. 

I know good people who are conservatives or Republican and I know good people who are liberals or Democrats. If we are reasonable and act like adults, we can sit down together to have reasonable conversations. 

There are people on both sides who take it over the top and make things challenging. I know liberals who are willing to tolerate anything but my Christian beliefs, that they refuse to talk about. I know conservatives who only watch fox news with their mistruths, lies and fear tactics. They don't realize they are being manipulated. It is unfortunate.

But for the most part I think most people believe in our sense of democracy and the right for everyone to have their own opinions. The democrats and republicans in congress were elected by the people of this country. So we have to work together.

We are more than the labels like democrat/republican or liberal/conservative. I have friends and family that think I am a crazy liberal. I also have friends and family that think I am conservative. It depends on the issue we are discussing. I am like a lot of others, my opinions vary. To be honest I do tend to vote democrat. But I do look at each candidate and issue individually.

Labels don't mean much to me. You can call me a moderate democrat, liberal conservative or conservative liberal. It doesn't matter.

The only labels I would use for me are; Christian, catholic, mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. I also don't mind being called Aunt, niece, and cousin(cuz). These are what matters, these are what I pray everyday to be better at. To love more, laugh lots and live everyday to fullest.

Life has a way of knocking you around sometimes!

Finally writing my blog. Life has a way of really pulling and tugging in ways you hadn't planned. We all have things that come up and distract you or completely spin you around from your original path. Sometimes in big ways sometimes in small ways.

Why, I wonder do things happen all at the same time? You know cars break down, but why not when you have extra money to fix it. Why does it break down at the worst possible moment. 

I planned for a few days of down time from a recent procedure. After that our calendar had just a few things. But then life throws in 2 vehicle breakdowns, 2 card numbers getting stolen and 2 wrestling events we didn't know about. Not to mention the regulars like a couple of social events, a birthday and Christmas stuff. 

What is one to do? Take it in stride, get through each thing on it's own. Have faith that things will work out. They always do. But sometimes that little voice says "yeh they usually do, which means you are due for one not to work out".  Then I wonder, what is the worst that could happen. We get so complacent, we don't like inconveniences. Is that the worse? Come on! In a world facing real life and death issues!

Given these things I am talking about are small things, they still bring stress. If we don't step back, that stress can cause a host of other problems. 

As we get caught up in the hurriedness of the season, remember stress is something we can choose to interfere with our life. When the stress gets to be to much, stop and take a step back. Identify where that stress is coming from. Use your support networks. Asking for help is not weak it is smart. In a  stressful world we all need help sometime. 

Liking yourself, even the parts that need improvement.

Okay finding a balance of liking yourself and who you are; and working on improving who you are. Where is the line? For this blog I am talking external. Internal would be a similar idea but for now I will talk about outside.

I have lost some weight and am leaner, stronger, and healthier. I know to be even healthier and look better, I need to lose 30 more. I try not obsess about this, just keep working on it. Slowly is ok, but sometimes I take a step backwards. When i do, I just refocus and start again.

But back to the point of finding the balance. I will never be a 20 year old again but I can be the best I can be right now. Most of you know I have had some plastic surgery. I prefer to call it reconstructive; putting things back together after years self inflicted abuse. Am I just rationalizing or trying to somehow say plastic surgery otherwise is a problem. I don't believe so, people are just trying to improve themselves. But it can be a problem, when overdone or becomes an obsession. Where is that line and who drew it?

My first procedure produced amazing results. It helped me see and show what I worked so hard to achieve. The next procedure well; I will let you know the results in a few months. How many procedures is to many? How much weight loss is to much? How much exercise is to much? I don't believe I am anywhere near to much for any of these. I exercise 4x a week. I have had 2 procedures.  But that is it for me. There are parts that I need to work and weight I need to lose. But I am who I am. I think I obsess more about what is to much than actually doing to much. 

It is interesting when people say "you have lost enough, you don't want to be too skinny". I am so far from being too skinny. I think people are just used to how you looked being heavier. There are real eating disorders out there and you can certainly be underweight. But according to every doctor I have ever seen I am still very much overweight. Again back to finding a balance of being healthy but not obsessing.

I will never be perfect in this life, so its time to accept that and enjoy who I am. While everyday working to improve inside and out.

Have a blesses advent season!

Merry Christmas!!! Or should I say " have a blessed advent"

We begin the Christmas Season, Advent. One of my favorite times of the year.
I love the two fold message, remembering the first coming of Christ and remembering that He will come again. Lots of prayers and readings, discussions and homilies on what it all means. Helps to keep us focused on the real meaning of the season.

This year we have a long advent season.  Because Christmas is on Sat., we get a full week for the last week of advent. 

What traditions does your family have for this season? Do you light an advent candle on Sundays? If you don't, this is a good year to start. You simply need 4 candles, 3 red and 1 pink. Just google advent prayers and you will find lots to choose from. Light one candle every Sunday. The pink one is lit second to last. It is a reminder that we are almost there. This is a great way to refocus on the season.

We remember John the Baptist, who preached repentance and preparing the way, up to his death. We remember that Christ will come like a thief in the night, we won't know when. We should always be ready. We hear of Mary's visit by the angel and her saying "yes" to the will of God. We hear of Joseph's angel visit and his saying "yes". Are we ready to say " yes, Lord, I hear you calling in the night". 

As the stores and the media puts all this pressure on us to buy the perfect gifts or have the best of this or that. That Christmas is about shopping, parties and eating,  advent can help us remember that these are just outward signs of our true joy in Christ. I do enjoy shopping and gifts and socializing, but I try to not get caught up in it and lose focus.

For me and other Catholics, maybe others too, Christmas doesn't end on Christmas day. That is the beginning of the Christmas season. Through mid January, we continue to talk about Christ's coming at the Nativity until His Baptism and the beginning of His public ministry. What a great time!

"Have a blesses advent, may Joy of the season be with you and yours!" 

   

Even now.....

"Even now, I swear I think of you and how I wished you knew."  One of my favorite songs from Barry Manilow. 

Got me to thinking about music and how much a part of my life it is. Songs can effect my mood or tap into how I am feeling. If you stop by my house on any given day, you can tell my mood by the music playing inside. Music can be very personal, one song can speak volumes to you but mean nothing to someone else. For instance, the song mentioned above, makes me think of lost loved ones. Particularly my sister whom I lost 21 yrs ago. I realize the song is about lost love. 

When Steve and I started dating in high school, we had our song. But actually we had our songs, we had about 10 songs that we loved and called our song. Anything from "key largo" to "two less lonely people". I remember as a teenager, I would lay in front of the stereo in the living room and just lose myself in all kinds of music.

Even now, I love to lose myself in music. There is nothing better than to get caught up in the music and the rhythm. For me it is a release. Whether I am exercising or out dancing or at a concert, there is something about losing yourself for a moment.

This certainly is a better way than with alcohol or any other crazy substance. 

I like all kinds of main stream music. Hardcore rock(with the screaming) and hardcore rap(with all the swearing), I don't care for. I am also not a fan of classical or opera. Furthermore I don't care for the Beatles, Beach boys or Taylor Swift. To much hype for me and not enough substance. I know I am weird, but like said music is very personal. If you like them good for you, I hope you enjoy whatever music moves you in heart, mind and body.

Music can spark memories, bring people together, promote a message(be it good or bad). There is nothing more frustrating than hearing a song with a phenomenal beat but terrible lyrics or message. It is unfortunate when an artist creates an awesome beat or rhythm but use the lyrics to be stupid.

There are some good pop with uplifting lyrics or great poetry. There is some great music out there in all genres and labels. Not to mention the independents and underground music. Mainstream radio is barely the tip of the iceberg. There are great classics from the all musicals times and eras. Latin music,country music and local bands are making great music. Find your passion and lose yourself. 


"It's only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn
The thunder before lightning, the breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?"
Pink's - Glitter in the air.