Love Life Don't Just Live

We all die a little more each day;

So let us learn to laugh more and play.

Run in the fields with no shoes on!

Laugh with the kids more,

For their life's just begun.

Instead of thinking of what needs to be done,

Remember life's short.

Remember to have FUN!

Everyone has a job to do,

But leave work at work

And you'll be renewed!

You'll soon see what you need is right there...

In your heart.

Money is needed to pay your way.

Laughter is really needed each and every day.

To love is divine 

And soon we will see

That love is all we ever really need.

Faithful Mama 2-12-12

*I woke up with this poem in my head at 6am this morning and couldn't do anything till I wrote it down! Thank You Heavenly Father for giving this poem to me to share with others!!*

The Phone Only Challenge (Part 2)

For those of you who read my last blog, you know we went without all electronics aside from radio and phone *no text/apps/games on the phone* Many would think this is extreme parenting. We feel we made the right decision and with the silence in the home, prayer, and the Holy Spirit guiding Mr. Faithful and me as parents, we created the new rules of our home.

New Faithful Family Rules 

No video games Monday - Thursday. *exception during car rides*

•  Point chart implemented - Each Faithful Child gets 15 minutes Monday morning. For each good deed or chore he does he receives a minute. For each not so nice thing (ie hitting, not listening, ect.) he gets a minute taken away. On Friday morning each will have a total number of minutes from the week. Both will be allowed to play video games/computer games for the allotted time at appropriate intervals throughout the day depending on the number of minutes.

No Facebook for Mom & Dad Monday - Thursday. 

• Friday we will allow ourselves no more than 15 minutes of computer time while the kids are asleep (nap time or bedtime). Facebook has become too much of a problem for me personally. I want to help every person that writes something negative about their situation and it is consuming. To the point where I need to cut ties. Mr. Faithful is willing to participate in this rule for me *thanks honey!!*

Television time restricted 

• We, as of late, have been keeping the tv on even if we are not watching it. This creates so much unnecessary noise. Tv will be restricted to one movie (or two tv shows) in the am and the same in the pm. The less the better!

Saturday & Sunday Electronic Time Rules 

• 20 minutes of video games/computer time (both kids and parents) during the day.

 

 

 

These new guidelines we have created may sound drastic to some or still too much electronic time to others. But this seems to work for us. This past week has been a lot less stressful during the times we have kept the television and video games off. We have even created a new corner in our living room...

 

 

 

This is our new Prayer Corner. The Faithful Boys and I decided that we need more prayer time (who doesn't, right?!). We have had our Lady the Sacred Heart on top of the book shelf in this room *afraid the boys would break her!!* but something came over me and I felt the kids need to actually see it. We will add to this in time, but for now we have our rosaries, prayer books, a candle and statues of Mary, the Child Jesus, and St. Francis of Assisi there to help us offer prayers to our Heavenly Father. 

We are doing this for our boys...and each other. Our family is everything to us and we do this for them.

 There is a fine line between using technology for good and being consumed with it. Our family has an addiction. Our family, together only with God at the center, will overcome and become stronger without so much outside noise. With silence we can hear each other better. With silence we can listen to our true callings better. I thank our Heavenly Father for filling my husband and me with His Holy Spirit to guide us to be better parents for our Faithful Boys.

It all started with us falling in love because of God. We heed His call and He always provides. If there is something in your life you feel needs to change...go for it! With God, all is possible! Xoxo.

The Phone Only Challenge (Part 1)

So, Mr. Faithful and I have been discussing technology and how we are grateful for how we can do so many things in different ways with it these days compared to the horse and buggy way back when. It is amazing how God gives us these means to think of new ways to communicate! However, lately in our home, it has also become the topic in a discouraging way as well. Our Faithful boys (ages *almost* 5 and 3) love to play video games. We let them play learning games from sites we have found online (If you haven't checked out starfall.com for early learners do so!!) but they also love their Nintendo DS systems.

This part is difficult for us. Mr. Faithful LOVES video games. Before I met him, his time was consumed with work and video games. I slowly weaned him from the joystick (lol!). Now he is an outsider looking in on our children and sees himself mirrored into their gaming. He finds this unacceptable, as do I. No child should wake in the morning and ask to play the games. We limit the time they have with them. I time them at ten minutes each play time and they usually play roughly 4 times a day...so really they are playing about 40-45 minutes a day total. Not sure what the AAP would say about that, but oh well, we're always learning, right?!

After much discussion between my fabulous husband and me, we came up with The Phone Only Challenge. Maybe you need a change in your home too? Maybe too much time is committed to the latest season of Dancing With the Stars or Biggest Loser? Would your children rather stay indoors and play video games than run around outside (regardless of the temperature)? Maybe you should think about this too?

The Phone Only Challenge

RULES:

~No television

~no movies

~no video games

~no computer

~no facebook (gasp!!!)

~no texting

(and for me) no blogging!!!!

keep the radio blasting (dance party anyone?!)

Keep all electronics off (except phone calls for emergency)

Explore the world outside of the computer

if you have a question, find it in a book instead of google

learn about each other all over again

do some art projects and get messy, just to have fun and clean up together!

learn something new about your world without watching the 10:00 news

Now, I know this is a lot of "No" and not a lot of "Yes", but if you think about where our time goes, where does your time go? In our house we have let everything slip over the past year. I hate to admit this, but being humble and biting my pride is part of what God asks us to do to become closer to Him. I want to please my God and could honestly care less what the secular world thinks. Thanks be to God, Mr. Faithful follows when the Holy Spirit calls on him as a father, and he will agree with me, for our home, this is a necessary means to bring our family even closer to God and each other!

 

 

Our children mean everything to us. We are not doing this to take their joy away. We are doing this to put joy back into our lives and not become shackled to the misery that is a secular world. We live for Christ...not for Nintendo, or Facebook, or Joe Schmoe. Some may not agree with me and that is ok! Mr. Faithful and I are doing this for our family to better our children and to make them realize there is more to life than technology. For those that agree with me, STAND UP!! Take Monday, February 6, 2012 and log off of everything. Keep your phone on but do not text or play Hanging With Friends (or related games!). Be faithful friends and do what you feel is best for your families! This, my Faithful Friends, is what is best for my family! And we do it for not only God, but for our children. Xoxo.

  

With Age Comes.........Patience

As I am writing this I can hear my three Faithful Boys snoring away. I wonder what they are dreaming? I am grateful for this silence as it's never seeming quiet in my home. I have learned over the years to be quiet...now I'm not saying I am - trust me, I'm the first to admit I'm pretty loud!! But, in another sense, I have learned to bite my tongue. This is very hard for me at times because I am so darned hard headed (some have called me too opinionated, but I don't' think anyone can have too many opinions).

Those that know me could probably back me in saying I have changed as I age. But isn't that what life is all about? Trying to reach our best potential. I try my best to be a good Christian. And for me, to be silent and to have patience is what is necessary to reach my goal. What goals do you have? Are you aware of what needs to be done? Are you striving for that 'perfection'?

Sometimes we fall. Sometimes we become stuck in a rut and cannot get ourselves out...but when we have a community to pull us out, it makes life so much better! Who is your community?

God loves all of us. Whether we are Baptist, Muslim, Catholic, Atheist, or Agnostic. I am sure it hurts Him if we do not have our faith put in Him...but regardless of how we feel toward Him, He will ALWAYS love us no matter what. He is the reason why I strive for that 'perfection'. He is why I am more silent now. In my silence to the outside world, I am talking to my Heavenly Father! And now that I am more silent, I can listen better to the needs of others. It is amazing how God works!! If we were all just a little more silent...and a lot more patient.

A Time, Place, Event or Person - Do You Know You Are Called?

I attended my very first Mission over these last three days. It was AMAZING! This man, Fr. Tom, was phenomenal and drew in 700 people to our church. That means that many people WILLINGLY went to church to attend something other than Sunday mass!!!

We discussed the seven sacraments...

Baptism

Eucharist

Reconciliation

Confirmation

Vocation

Marriage

Anointing of the Sick

Do you know when you are being called to do something great? Maybe it's a feeling you're getting, a person continues to bug you about something, or you actually hear a voice in your head? God is calling me now, and He used that priest at the Mission. So many parts of the Catholic faith are misunderstood. There are stereotypes and prejudices that hinder even our own Catholics to truly be submerged in their faith!! I find this disturbing. If only we all open our minds to heavenly ways!

 

I've posted this picture before. Those of you who've been reading my blogs probably remember this. I took this picture at a place in Iowa called the Grotto. It's a fabulous place and unbelievably built by human hands...one pair of human hands. A priest, Father Dobberstein, was called by God to build it. He listened and it is utterly amazing. Here is the link if you choose to check it out: http://www.westbendgrotto.com/index.htm Any way, we are going to play can you find what's in this picture. Do you see Jesus anywhere in this picture? And I do not mean a statue. Really search for Him. He may be calling you.

This picture above is my oldest Faithful Boy taken last May. This was the day of my Grandmother's funeral that I could not attend. I decided to make that day a day of prayer, meditation and reflection in her honor. I took my Faithful Boys outside and they wanted to use the sidewalk chalk in the garage. My Faithful Boy, right before this was taken, tells me, "Mommy, I drew Gramma GG for you!" What do you see? I see that my son drew an angel. This tells me not only that my Grandmother is an angel in heaven, but also that my son, at four years old, listened to God and did what he knew he needed to do. I could not be more proud of my children, and this day will forever be a smile on my heart.

How does God call you? Are you listening? We all need to listen more. Maybe we need to be silent more and just listen. We sometimes forget that listening is more important than talking. I know I am bad with this. I am learning. We are always learning. As I get older I try to humble myself, I try to become more patient. 

When you read my stories, think of your own life. When have you had signs? Have you listened and followed, or ignored? What was that outcome? If we listen and follow, God will always provide. If we ignore, we may still eventually get to where we need to be...but it may be a rocky road to get there. I choose to follow God and His calling for me. How about you?

You've Got a Friend

As I came up with this title I am quickly escaping in the corners of my mind. I am sipping a great glass of Merlot, sitting in front of a fire and listening to James Taylor. Aaaaahhh, now that's relaxing to me! Yet, in reality, I am hearing my Faithful boys argue about who gets to fall down next and who gets to do the pushing...not even joking about that, they are seriously doing this. Oivay!

Everyone has stress. Everyone has trials and obstacles. You either tread the proverbial water or you sink. I'm a floater not a sinker, and I want you to stay afloat as well. Yes - I am talking to YOU!!

First, let me start with why I want to help. I am always allowing myself to be guided by the Holy Spirit. And my awesome Heavenly Father tells me to help by my words, and my works. 'What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill', and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.' (James 2:14-17...but please pick up a Bible and read the rest of that chapter 2!!!)

I have said before I have been blessed to feel God's unconditional love. I yearn for more!!! I want you all to feel that same feeling. I was watching a documentary the other night about natural beauty of the world and someone said that when God created the world, he forgot to give us the ability to describe some of the wonders with words...this is how I feel about being filled with the Holy Spirit - it is indescribable and awesome and fearless and love.

When we go through difficult times, we look to our family or perhaps our friends for support, which is great! We should live in a community of people we trust! Sometimes God works through those trusted people to help someone through difficult times. I feel I'm being driven to do just this right now. I hope the person this is intended for knows how much I love them and pray they can let go and allow God to fill them with the Holy Spirit.

One of my favorite pieces of scripture is this: 'No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.' (1 Corinthians 10:13) Oh how I love this quote! I take this as, God will test us to our limits of what we can handle, and when we allow Him control He will give us that relaxed feeling!! It's hard to offer your stress and worries to someone else. But when we really truly tell God, "I offer this up to You because I need it gone from my body." He will take it. God does not want to see us suffer. His only Son suffered and died for ALL of us (even those who choose not to believe it)...He doesn't want anymore suffering. But He also gave us choice and free will. It depends on us how we choose to use it. Offer your stress up. Say prayers, have a conversation with God, yell at Him if you need to! He will and does take it! He is our loving Father, He wants to see us happy and succeeding in life! And to be successful does not always have to be about money (just want to throw that in here).

Pray that you have the strength to overcome even the most difficult times. Leave it to God to lead you in the right direction even if it seems like it may be taking you upstream and against the current. Trust in Him that He will never let you falter if you keep your faith in Christ. Never feel abandoned because you are never alone.

"Make me know Your ways O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth, and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation, for You I wait all day long." (Psalms 25:4-5)

Make your day a faithful one and take some time to relax. Xoxo.

Take a Breath....Say a Prayer

We are going to start this new year, and this first post of the new year, off with a meditation.....

Breathe in.......breathe out.....breathe in........and out. Good! If you need to take a few more deep breaths, please do. When you fill your body with deep breath, all the bad stuff exits, and good comes in! Your blood pressure will lower, your digestive system will even relax!

And now that we are all a little more relaxed after those awesome breaths, let us begin with this:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for another year of life! We thank you for the blessings You bestow on us. We also thank You for the hardships we faced in the past year(s), because this is what creates a stronger bond with You. With this new year, dear Lord, we ask that You bless us with a stronger faith. We ask that You help us to fill others with the Holy Spirit. We ask that You guide each of us to what we are meant to do on this earth. As You sent Your only Son to die for our sins, a selfless act that no human man could ever endure willingly, we ask that You take our earthly fear away. Help us to see all human beings through Your eyes, so that we may love as you love us. So that we can have unconditional love for all. Through Christ we can conquer all that is Holy. Please help us to see what is right and just and to dismiss all that is not. In Christ Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I have been very lackadaisical with my faith as of late. I know I should be reading my scripture daily, and I have not been. I know I should be learning as well as teaching my Faithful Boys about each feast day and the saints, and I have not been. I am admitting I got caught up in earthly issues. The hustle and bustle of the season gets to a lot of us...and I was definitely caught up with too many earthly problems. But I am here, now, asking for forgiveness. I need to get back to Confession!!!!

I was on my way to Mama Faithful and Dadio's this morning and was just so consumed with frustration. I was ready to go, my boys took forever and a day to finish breakfast, get dressed, and then almost out the door, they had to go to the bathroom. I should not have been stressed about this, but I was. So, I prayed a rosary on the way to my parents' house. It's been a few weeks since I've done it. I meant every word of each prayer. In fact, the more I said, the more I meant. With each prayer, more stress melted away. With each prayer, I was climbing higher to Christ. By the time I got to their house, I was back!!! I felt like me again...I felt like Faithful Mama again!!!

There are times when we get caught in the monotony of the everyday. Same stuff, different day. There are also times when we get caught up in this earth. Worried about people; stressed about money; caught up in drama of some sort. What we all need to do is take a step back from ourselves and just do nothing but pray.

Grab your Bible......got it? Ok, follow these instructions...........

Hold it in your hands and close your eyes.
Say (out loud or in your mind) "God, please guide my fingers to what I need to read."
Then finger through (eyes still closed!!) and open to the page you are meant to see.
Read and thank our Heavenly Father!!

It truly is amazing what we are capable of when God is in control. Xoxo.