On Fire Yet So Tired

Have you ever felt so on fire with something dear to your heart yet so exhausted that you think you may just sleep the rest of your life away? Hmmmm, I don't know if that's even possible but this is how I feel lately. Being 38 weeks pregnant, caring for my three handsome boys, homeschooling and ministry work has started to take its toll on me. 

Yet amidst my tired and achy body I am on fire for Elizabeth Ministry work! If you've followed me, you know I lead this ministry at my parish. It's an amazingly beautiful ministry and I am so grateful to Jesus & Mary for guiding me to it. 

I've had so many spurts of spontaneous brainstorms of what we could do, how we could help parishioners, and what we can do differently to make the ministry really shine. Oh the possibilities!!!

So, while my body makes me rest before labor & delivery, I must keep these brainstorms as a day dream....until next year. ;)

Make it a faithful day!!!

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