Cultural Mess

Some words to ponder from Matthew Kelly (Our Lives Change When Our Habits Change)

*just documenting for my own recollection :)

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers.
We spend more but have less.
We buy more but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families,
more conveniences but less time.
We have more degrees but less common sense,
more knowledge and less judgement.
More experts but more problems.
More medicine but less wellness.
We drink too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry too quickly.
Stay up too late, get up too tired.
Read too seldom, watch tv too much and pray too little.
We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values.
Learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life but not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbors.
We've conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air but polluted the soul.
Write more but learn less
We plan more but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush but not to wait.
We have higher incomes but lower morals.
More food but less appeasement.
More acquaintances but fewer friends
These are the times of world peace but domestic warfare
More leisure and less fun.
More kinds of food and less nutrition
These are the days of 2 incomes but more divorce.
Busier houses but broken homes.
These are the days  of quick trips, throw away bodies, one night stands and quick pills that do everything to quiet, cheer, to kill....

Truth in those word, yet I still cling to much HOPE!!

7 Quicks (V2)

Top 7 resources that helped my cradle catholic self (that knew very little about my faith ) come full circle!!

1.)  Lighthouse Catholic Media:
I randomly (hmmm, holy spirit much?) came across a Lighthouse CD that was in my dads office. The cd was just enough for me to dig deeper into more titles and speakers that were available.  I signed up for the cd of the month and purchased quite a few more titles. Today I count these as some of the greatest learning tools available. (As well as sanity savers of the plenty of hours in the kitchen and laundry room)!

2.)  Books!
Ummm, you should see my amazon wish list!  I am too cheap frugal to  buy books but whenever I come across a book I want to read I put it on my amazon "wish list" and then either save up my swagbucks, use paperbackswap.com or inter library loan to get them to devour read. It's funny because I would of never considered myself a "reader" before.  I guess I just never found a subject matter that held my attention.  I am certainly a "reader" now Maybe not quite a bibliophile like Brandon Vogt, but a definite, interested reader!

3.) Relevant Radio
Even though I don't usually get to listen at the times I would like to, Relevant Radio has played a  great part in increasing my knowledge of the faith.  I love to listen to it in the car in the many trips back and forth to drop off/pick up the kids at school or on my ipad as I'm working around the house.  Hey, they even just created an app for the andorid and I phones. 

4.) Blogs:
I kid that blogs are to our generations what soap operas were to my moms generation. Except in my case, faith filled, encouraging, inspiring and REAL.  I have loved reading the blogs and learning so many things through all the wise and wonderful women and men!  I celebrate, laugh, cry, learn and become addicted to you all.  What a community of bloggers!

5.) Facebook
I was one of the people who never wanted to get on facebook.  I knew that it would be a thief of joy for me and a tool to compare how cool and prosperous everyone else's life was!  How wrong I was. I absolutely love facebook.  Instead of the negative, I get to see and read so many things that I would not of known about.  Things like funny memes, relevant blog posts, cool you tube clips and I get to see what all the Catholic leaders that I admire are up to. So thanks to all my "friends" that have an open facebook page! (When I say friends, I mean the people who don't know I exist and whom I continue to stalk follow)

6.) Faithful
As an adult, I have realized that many, many of those I know, associate with, went to school with are just like me.  Disengaged in matters of faith and have been through a myriad of Catholic "tiers"; fallen-away, cultural, dissenting and finally, faithful. I have met some faithful in my recent encounters in real life and in blog-land.  I have tried to amend my ways to count myself as among them.  Truly, so holy and humble folks.  What great people we have to look up to.

7.)  Devotion
This is certainly not the least of importance, but honestly, it did come last for me. My heart was transformed and then my ways.  Isn't that the way it works?  I can not imagine my life with out the comforting, peaceful fruit of prayer.  My prayer life has shaped over the past few years into something that I know is as essential as air.  Things like daily rosary, weekly adoration, monthly confession, Saturday chaplet, Sunday mass and Eucharist or any of the combination or none depending on the day.  Strength and answers lie in these! 

So, So thankful for these resources(and many more).  What St. Augustine said was as true for me as others:
"our heart is restless until it rests in you" 

Always remember to visit Jen for all the great takes!

My Life's motto saved me today!

"None of us can do anything great on our own, but we can all do a small thing with great love."
-Mother Theresa


The day was filled with the very mundane.  I was not up for it. I was up for staying put. I could of rationalized and made a whole litany of excuses to do just that. But then, that phrase that I have deemed my whole life's motto, saved me.  I literally thought it in my head and it helped me push in to high gear.  (except in this case it wasn't "a" small thing, it was 8,000 small things) We all know the world would not of noticed if I ignored my responsibilities, but my family would of.  So I did all the mundane tasks that lay ahead for me for the day. I even did it with a cheerful heart certainly not because of me, but because I really can do small things with great love.  I just need a reminder every now and again!

Mass Journal: Week 1

A few weeks ago when I went to the Dynamic Catholic event, Matthew Kelly encouraged us to "take notes" at mass.  He is so sure this is a spiritual game changer that a mass journal was included in the price of the ticket.  This week was the first week I went to mass armed with my journal. 

I was unsure if I was going to be writing anything or not. I prayed and listened and guess what?  The holy spirit whispered.  You know how I knew it was what I was supposed to write down?  Cause I didn't like it! I wanted something more concrete.  An answer to some worries.  I got something I needed more.  Darn, maybe there will be something to this mass journal thing!

Mother tip (1)!

When you notice a missing sippy cup....go and FIND it.  Why? Because it is most likely under the couch, under a seat in the car, under a bed, behind a bookcase, or in the basement somewhere.  Let me share, you will eventually find it, but it sure won't look pretty nor will it smell pretty.  Yuk! No need to post a picture now, is there?

Your welcome for the most helpful tips!

It HAS to Happen.

What is IT?  Well, I'm going to jump on the whole foods eating thing.  I'm not really trying the whole30, but kind of.  Make sense? 

I got so sick in the month of January.  3 illnesses right in a row.  I started feeling anxiety and some serious blues.  I didn't feel good.  I felt tired and irritable and cranky.  I was very stressed.  I have to do something and this is what I am trying.  Paleo eating.  Meat and veggies some fruit, nuts and seeds.  It is hard and I do ok, but I am not totally rocking it like I should.  I'm pushing forward though because it has to happen.  I have to feel better. So I am reading a lot.  This time it is on whole foods diet.  I have mostly taken grains and dairy out of my diet, but will probably put them back in after 30 days.  I'm working on trying to get healthy.  I'm working.

Parenting Woes

Lets not rehash how hard of a time I am having with disciplining a very hard temperament.  Lets not get in to all the reasons I did not think this would be my issue in parenting because I've invested so much time and energy into "learning" all the tricks and advice any expert has ready to offer. Nah, lets skip over all that and talk about a bit of encouragement from today from:

Saint John Bosco

He insisted that hard to handle kids (he was a teacher among the hardest to teach) learned from encouragement.  That motherhood teaching is a joyous self-sacrifice and it is inevitably part of our profession.  Yes, it is.  Let me attest to that!

We will sacrifice in many areas...they include unrelenting high standards. Huh, I need to let things go?  He advised to listen carefully, be unhurried and very attentive. Huh, I need to focus on my primary job? This is hard for me. Do I need to hear this. Yes. My kiddo needs an incredible amount of attention.

He agreed that we as mothers (teachers) would need to expend a great deal of energy. It is necessary, (even when we are tired).  BUT there is a reason for all of our sacrifice. Tell me...tell me.

 It is the very reason we birthed these little people in the first place.  The salvation of these little souls.  So yes...our work comes with great sacrifice AND possibility for miracles.

St. John Bosco, Pray for us!

7 Quick Takes (V1)

So many, many things swirling in my brain, that yes, a quick takes is exactly what is in order:

1.) Parenting- I'm struggling so so so much with our 4 year old. Everything is a battle!! I am defeated and worn and need help! Any words of wisdom for a rough patch of parenting?

2.) Physical- I've been needing to get healthy for a while. It is about health and resetting hormones and trying to curb these food addictions and unhealthy habits. It is such a big challenge for me. I heard about the whole30 plan and need some encouragement and help with a plan to actually get this going. I need to do it!

3.) Finances - Have been a worry and stress for me (surprise, surprise) I have been racking my brain for ways to come up with ways that I can bring in some income. I have done ebay, craigslist, and another yard sale online site. I have a few other things to try, taskrabbit and amazon store. Here is the dilemma. This all creates extra "things" to do and distracts me from life. Need to pray and work this out.

4.) Busy bags- I really want to create some busy bags for our 15 month old! I should link up to Ana's v-day linky :)

5.) Party Planning - My sister Erin is really the party planner, but I'm helping her a bit. We are throwing 2 parties next month. A 60th b-day party and a baby shower for our sister in law. So much to do!

6.) Prayer - I miss my daily rosary and weekly adoration. When I miss something, its a good sign I need to make time for it.

7.) She is such a ray of sunshine in my day! I love 15 month olds!!

Join Jen and the others for some more quick takes!!

Passion and Purpose Event

This past weekend I had the opportunity to see the Matthew Kelly, Passion and Purpose event. I have heard Mathew Kelly before so much of it I had already heard. Here are some of the things that really stuck with me. The quote for CS Lewis screwtape letters: I couldn't find it but it referred to all the "noise". This was a comment before his time remember. Today we have TV's, radios, ipods, Cds, computers, ipads, smartphones and regular noise of people. It illustrated and reminded me of how bad I NEED adoration. It is important to my sould to quiet me heart and mind and sit in the presence of our Lord and discuss. It helps with my worries, fears and can solely make or break my week! Next, our culture has gotten really good at taking what is important and making it trivial and the opposite taking something trivial and making it important. I can think of 12 billion examples of this. Enough of this very accurate point. Also, Matthew challenged us to tell our story. We all have a story and mine is probably very similar to many of yours. Another challenge was to pick 1 of the 3 things that will help us develop into better christians. Read the gospels, attend regular confession or create and keep a mass journal for a year. The one that makes me most uncomfortable is the mass journal so yep, that is the discipline I've chosen to work on. Especially since I've got some big stuff (trying to ask myself if I'm making something trivial into important with that statment) on my heart. I'd love to be able to see how God is working, moving and shaping me.

One more thought from the Passion and Purpose event...

One of the reasons why I love being Catholic: The musician that was opening for the Mathew Kelly, Passion and Purpose event was Eliot Morris. During one of his performances he mentioned a bit about himself, his journey and his family. Eliot said "I have 5 kids" and the crowd broke out into applause. Only at a Catholic event would that happen, lol!! Celebrate life. The human dignity of each individual from conception to natural death. Its beautiful and true.