Home Stretch!

So here we are, within the last weeks of pregnancy 4! As of today we are only 20 days till the due date. How fast time flies!!!  Our Lady has been with me these last few months (noticeably so) just like she stayed with Elizabeth for her last trimester before giving birth to John the Baptist. As an Elizabeth Minister, this passage from the gospel of Luke is one of my favorites. I can just image how elated Elizabeth must have been to see her young cousin, and the first to understand how important Mary was as she carried our Savior in her virginal womb...Jesus' first tabernacle!!!

I am so excited to go through labor and experience the awesome miracle that God grants us!!! It is truly a gift and not a right to birth a child. So many don't understand the difference. Life is a precious gift given to each of us by our Heavenly Father! Thank You Christ Jesus for this incredible gift!!!!

So our three Faithful Boys really think this one is a girl. This whole pregnancy they all have said "She" and "Her" and "Sister" hmmmm I wonder if they are right?? We have not found out, same as each one. Mr. Faithful & I adore surprises and what better surprise than the gift of a son or daughter ?!?!!

Boy or girl this time? You decide! (This pic was taken at 35 weeks gestation!!)
Make it a faithful day!!

Back to {Home} School

Today was our official first day of the school year! It kicked off with a wonderful devotion to Jesus and Mary given by my three precious little boys, a morning offering and many prayer reviews. What better way to start the day than with prayer?! We are teaching 1st grade and preschool this year and boy, if the first day is a precursor for what this year will be we will have a blast!! I love how children LOVE to learn! I am blessed to have Mary's guidance as a mother; I'm definitely learning patience with this but it's totally worth it!!!

Are you happy with your child's schooling? Have you looked into options if you're not yet at the point of starting school?

Mr. Faithful and I have made a lot of dumb mistakes in our lives. This is one choice we KNOW we did right in making!!

St. Therese, the Littleflower, patroness of Little Ways Academy (our homeschool), please pray for us!!!

Happy 2013-2014 school year!! May all your children be blessed with however you choose to school your babes!!!!

Living Grace

Boy it's been a very long time since my last post! I slipped away from blogging and became consumed with the craziness of everyday life. Diving deeper into my faith and intimacy with my lover, Jesus Christ; becoming more of a trinity with my earthly lover, Mr. Faithful, and our Savior; homeschooling, quitting my job as a swim instructor, getting more active at my parish and lastly, becoming pregnant with baby # 4!

First and foremost, what a fabulous gift we've been given!! My husband and I are so blessed to introduce yet another miracle into this world!! We have fully accepted God's will for our marriage and family. Jesus, we trust in You!! Our newest addition will be born into this world sometime mid November!

Our first year of homeschooling was a HUGE success!! My son passed kindergarten with flying colors and I couldn't be more proud of him!! We have decided as a family that we will continue next school year, so we will have a 1st grader and a kindergartner here at home attending Little Ways Academy. Mr. Faithful and I are excited to attend our very first homeschool conference this summer.

Mr. Faithful and I have become more intimate with our prayer life. Wow how amazing it is to share an intimacy with my husband and share this with Jesus Christ! We are truly honoring our blessed sacrament of marriage and are always trying to fulfill our promise to God within our marriage. This is real marriage, this is what God has intended for us! Praise You God!!! We recently celebrated our 7th anniversary and couldn't be more joy filled in this life God's granted us together!

Along with our shared intimacy within our home, we both have become even more active in our parish. We absolutely feel driven to serve the Catholic Church and love our family there!

It's amazing how different life can be once you fully accept Jesus into your life. The trials and tribulations, the anxiety and stress all seem to fade once you set your eyes on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If only some of my family and friends knew what they are missing!!! Sure the obstacles are still there, the lack of finances and the bills, the screaming kids and frustrations, they're all still there...but they just don't seem as detrimental or stress filled as before. All I say when I'm feeling overwhelmed is, "Jesus, I trust in You." or I say a Hail Mary and ask her to place her patient heart in me. It truly works!!

I'm happy to live gracefully and joy filled in Jesus & Mary's loving arms so that my children will have nice thick and strong Catholic roots. I pray everyday that the Holy Spirit lead them, Mary holds their precious hands to guide them to her Son and that they each discover their vocations and follow that path!!

Make your life a faithful one!!

Beacon of Light

Off in the distance
I see such a light;
It's raining, pouring
With no end in sight.

The darkness
It swallows
Some people up whole.
Follow the glow.

Follow that glow!
That shimmering light.
It may seem sometimes
As no end in sight.

But be as it may
The path we each choose,
With Christ as our Savior,
We have nothing to lose.

The Beacon of Light -
The reason we breathe!
Give up the dark
To Jesus, bequeath!

For our futures,
No one will know
But right now,
These seeds we shall sow...

To raise up our children
Good and righteous
Show them that Beacon
Have them follow the brightness!

Faithful Mama 2012
Dedicated to the courageous children and their parents in Newtown, CT. I read a story of a 1st grader who protected his peers, guided them to safety, then was murdered. These beautiful babies are now in the arms of Jesus. What a tragedy it was but they now are all in Paradise. I grieve right along with these parents, grandparents and other family who've lost a loved one from tragedy. My prayers are with you all as a mother, sister, daughter, wife, aunt, friend and minister. Xoxo

Love Is a Psalm

Our love is a Psalm,
Much more than a song.
It is music to God's ears.

Undying love,
Unfailing trust,
To our Father up above.

Our love is a Psalm.
It is poetry,
It is patient, kind.

Our love will shine
Through the darkest of days
I'm so glad that you're mine.

And we are united as one for Him.

Our love, a vocation
It conquers tribulation.
Our love is a Psalm.

I love you dear,
Always and forever.

*Cleaning my husband's desk I found this poem I wrote him for our anniversary this year. Thought I'd post just to keep it on my blog since sometimes we lose papers. ;)

Faithful Mama written 6-16-12

I love you, Mr. Faithful and am so blessed that we have such a great vocation in the marriage covenant. Thanks be to God!!!

Adventures in Homeschooling: Are We Prepared?

We are T minus 5 days before our very first official day of kindergarten!
Are we ready? Am I ready?!?!

I think so. We decided to enroll oldest Faithful Boy (5.5 years old) into Seton Home Study, a Catholic kindergarten curriculum.

I've been reading and preparing his lessons and am LOVING the choice we made.
I know Mr. Faithful & I have been filled with the Holy Spirit; we chose to follow God's will for our family.

First page of the paperwork just happened to be about the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. If you have never read my blog, this woman is my patron saint. 

http://faithfulmamadiary.blogspot.com/2012/05/invoke-spirit-invade-my-heart.html?m=1 

I knew then that she helped us choose the perfect curriculum for our Faithful Family!!
The more I read the more at peace I am. No matter what kind of looks I get when I say, "He is in kindergarten, we homeschool." No matter how many people ask, "How is this going to work with the other two when you try to teach him?" 

I have TOTAL trust in my Heavenly Father that we will be successful this first year of homeschool.
Faithful Boys and I decided the name for our school is LITTLE WAYS ACADEMY; our school's patron saint is The Littleflower, St. Therese of Liseiux. Ironically her feast day is October 1st, which will be our very first day of school. 

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

We are on the right path to Christ, and Mr. Faithful and I feel we are raising our boys exactly how Jesus wants, to draw all of us closer to God. 

Share your school stories, inform others there IS a choice in schools for your children. Stand up for real choice!! But, most importantly, FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT!!! 

If you would have told me I'd be a homeschool mom just two years ago I'd have laughed in your face and told you you're crazy. Homeschool families are weirdos who's kids aren't well socialized. How can anyone learn anything outside a real classroom? 

*chuckling at my old ignorant self*

With God ANYTHING is possible. Without Him, nothing.

If you or someone you know are contemplating alternative schooling, please do your research. If you have that small voice or feeling inside you, that is God. Please heed His calling for you and your family. 

In Christ, Faithful Mama xoxo

Modern Day Crucifixion

Our faith is being tested. Satan and his evil army are simply able to twist and turn around easy targets and rip souls apart, hurt feelings, and separate Christians with a snap of their fingers (or with their pride, jealousy, or any other sin).

So many poor souls lost. Some have no idea they are.

I know that some people that read this do not share my beliefs...but you know what? That's OK! 

I am Faithful Mama. I am a devout Roman Catholic. You may be Baptist, Muslim, Non denominational, Mormon, agnostic, etc. For me...I was baptized as an infant into the Catholic Church. I was raised in the faith as my parents (thanks be to God) provided the spiritual nourishment to give me the strong roots I have today. I did fall away as I had my doubts (I call them my "dark ages"). I was called back home as I search for answers.

I know now that I am exactly where I need to be. Catholic Church is home on this earth.

But, who am I to say it's your home? 

I am no one.

You are better than me.

I know my faults. I am a sinner. However, through Reconciliation, I am forgiven by Christ Himself! (for scripture of this sacrament please read 2 Cor 5:11-21; John 20:19-23; Luke 10:13-16). I don't need to prove myself to anyone but Him. He is what matters most!

All the sacraments are a beautiful gift from God, yet so many quickly dismiss them.

Catholicism is my home!

May not be for you. Where has the Holy Spirit led you? Ask yourself. It's nice to assist others in their journey, but there is a fine line so do be careful how you tread on it. The devil is tricky and we all need to keep our focus on Jesus Christ; be aware of present evil in the most unsuspecting places. There are times when the Holy Spirit will use you as His instrument (what an honor!!) and when that happens, it's absolutely beautiful!!

I would never push my beliefs on anyone. I only share what I learn. Take it how you will. If you get offended, maybe you need to reevaluate your own beliefs.

I love learning of others' faith. I think it's remarkable that many of us are similar in how we treat others, yet, different beliefs. I feel like that is proof that our Heavenly Father has our goal in this world written on our hearts. God loves all His creations even if we deny Him. God wants all of us to be with Him. Some will never accept Him. So unfortunate for them; they have no idea what joy they are missing!!

Jesus has told us to love our enemies (Luke 6:27-36) and also not to judge others (Luke 6:37-42). 

I love everyone, even those that crucify me.

I try to be the best Christian I can be for my God.

That's all anyone of us can do, right?

If you have any questions about the Catholic faith, our beliefs, or why we do believe in what we do, please check out these sites before you assume you know:

http://www.catholic.org/

http://www.ewtn.com/

http://www.catholicapologetics.org/

Many have rallied against Catholicism. Most of those anti Catholics have no idea what we are all about. Sadly, some are fallen Catholics whom have been misguided and taught incorrectly. 

Peace in Catholicism. Peace in Christ!

Have a faithful day!!