What’s All This Waiting Really For??

Each day for Advent our family reads a small thought provoking reflection, says a small prayer, and performs some action to help the kids get prepared for Christmas. It is perfect for Eliza because she is able to pay attention and understand what we are doing. Below is a small excerpt from what we read last night:

“Advent is a time each year to realize we are awaiting a grand guest. He will be just a baby, one who is totally dependent on us, but we have to be ready for the gift of his visit. He is trusting us to take care of him, and we want to do that to the best of our ability.”

When I think about Jesus I rarely think about Him as this innocent child that needs my help. It’s usually the other way around. I think of myself as bowing down kissing His feet and asking for His help. And the more I thought about the passage that we read last night, the more I realized that Advent is meant to be a time to prepare for baby Jesus. In fact, I think that if we all thought about Jesus as an innocent and needy baby more often our actions would be much kinder on a daily basis.


Just think about the way you feel when you hold a newborn. Whether that newborn is my own or not I know that I want to make that baby as comfortable and happy as possible while I’m holding him. If he begins to cry I do my best to comfort him. Jesus Christ, the newborn, needs our help to be “comfortable”. We have to be the people that Jesus Christ came to this Earth to save. Each and every one of our hearts house Jesus, and we must make our hearts clean and ready for His visit on Christmas.


Our duty goes above and beyond this though. That baby Jesus depends on us each and every day! We must stand against the social norms of our time and fight for a world that Jesus Christ died for. Let us remember as we wait eagerly for Christmas morning to wish ALL a Merry Christmas, be charitable, be prayerful, be thoughtful, and be better each and every day of this advent season. It is up to each and every one of us to change the world--and let it begin with me.

Don’t forget to count those blessings--especially the little ones!! J

Fingerprints of an Angel

This morning I woke up and took a look around at what needed to get done around the house. There seems to be thousands of things I could do all day long, but today I decided to tackle the fingerprints. Any mom understands what I am talking about. Just go to a house where little kids reside and you will see their loving marks all over everything from the walls to the kitchen appliances. As I began scrubbing down the different surfaces my mind began to wander. I try to say prayers for different people as I do house work, and it seemed fitting to pray for my children while I was cleaning their love marks.


It wasn’t too long ago that I wondered if I’d ever have fingerprints to clean up. I suffered a miscarriage on January 3, 2008. I cannot even begin to explain how horrendous it was. It was my first pregnancy and the emotions that came along with it were all over the place. I was so excited to be expecting, but that changed in a simple instant when I found out I lost her. Emily Marie Graefnitz is our little angel in heaven.

Today as I washed fingerprints away I began thinking about my sweet baby Emily. Eliza calls Emily her guardian angel, and in a way I think Emily is my guardian angel as well. Whenever I begin thinking about all this “work” my kids have made for me it takes just a simple thought about Emily to remind me how blessed I really am. I don’t think I’d be the mother I am today if it wasn’t for Emily.


There’s that old saying “everything happens for a reason”. I got that one A LOT after I lost Emily. I wanted to punch every person that said it to me--even though I know they meant well. I don’t like that saying to this day. There is no reason that a mother should ever lose a child. I think the saying should be “awful things happen to a lot of people, try to learn from those things and make the world a better place from those lessons.”


There are a lot of lessons that I learned from losing Emily, I could write pages and pages about those lessons. Emily continues to teach me to this day. I would love to wash Emily’s fingerprints off of my walls and kitchen appliances. Instead I get her angel fingerprints on my heart and it’s my job to live the lesson of losing her to make this world a better place.


The next time you get angry at your children or upset that they made another mess for you to clean up--stop and count your blessings. They might just have an angel whispering in their ear.


Emily Marie Graefnitz was celebrated each and every day she lived. Help me celebrate her life by giving your kids some extra love today.　

My Life: The Musical

Maybe it was the constant chatter and singing of Eliza on our drive to and from Indiana or maybe it is all the Christmas music beginning to play, but I feel like my life belongs in a musical right now. I used to think that musicals were so wild because whose life is actually like that?? Well, it seems like those people with toddlers are living the musical life day in and day out.


I guarantee that as most of my family is reading this post they are laughing out loud at MY LIFE as the musical. I have been asked by multiple siblings to stop singing during mass because my beautiful voice was giving them a headache. However, I get songs stuck in my head just as bad as the next person, and because I have a toddler living with me and a husband that enjoys modern music (aka: rap) I have a wild array of music floating around in my head. As my sister, Hannah, can tell you I don’t know the right words to ANY song, so I find myself making up words quite often.


Although, I’m not musically gifted I still turn to music for inspiration, for hope, for help, for joy, for prayer, and for relaxation.


My musical took an interesting turn today. This morning Jackson was getting tubes put in his ears. Brian decided to stay home with Eliza while I took Jackson to the operation on my own. After hours of no eating and a long day of traveling Jackson was a champ before surgery. He was laughing with the nurses and talking to the doctors. However, after the surgery he wasn’t so happy. Anesthesia does crazy things to little babies. They are so disoriented when they wake up that they are in a fit of rage for quite a while. Jackson sure was raging! My mothering skills were certainly tested as he half fell asleep and then began kicking and pushing off of me while yelling at the top of his lungs. It was at this point that I turned to music. I didn’t think the nurses would appreciate me breaking into song, so I just began to hum the first thing that popped into my head. Amazing Grace started pouring out and it didn’t calm Jackson down one bit, but it sure did help me! As he cried and struggled I just hummed louder. We both made it out alive. J


I guess my whole point with this post is that 2 year olds have some things pretty well figured out. I think all the songs they break into during the day are as much for fun as they are for calming. The next time you get into a stressful situation and can’t seem to escape try a quiet song. God loves listening to our songs almost as much as he loves listening to our prayers.


Remember to count your blessings--especially the small singing ones!! J
　

Excuses: Is it worth it??

Anyone that knows me knows that I have a pet-peeve list that could wrap around the world-- twice. My number one pet-peeve always seems to change. Family and friends often give me looks when I say “that is my number one pet-peeve”. Really my list probably shouldn’t be a list at all, it should just be everything that drives me crazy is number one. I used to let these little “pet-peeves” drive me crazy, but as I’ve gotten older I’m learning how to deal with them better. Unfortunately, this post is going to be a bit of a rant on a BIG pet-peeve of mine: excuses.


I’ve never been a fan of using excuses in any aspect of my life. Honestly, I never really saw the point. I’ve always figured I’ll either do or I wont, but I’m not going to make an excuse either way. I find that people come up with excuses for all areas of their life. People give excuses for not working out, excuses for binging on alcohol, excuses for skipping mass on Sunday, excuses for eating poorly, excuses, excuses, excuses, and more excuses. I JUST DON’T GET IT! What good are excuses anyway? They really don’t do anyone any good. The person making up the excuse is no better because of it, and the person they are telling the excuse to (even if it’s themselves) is no better off.


I know it comes like second nature to so many people, but have you ever stopped to think what your life might be like if you didn’t make an excuse for so many things? I’m going to take a BIG leap (haha) and guess that your life will only be better without the excuses. The next time you think about “getting out” of something with a lame excuse, stop yourself and really think if it’s worth it. Those little excuses that we tell ourselves each day are some of the worst offenders.


Start stepping up instead of making excuse after excuse. You could always take my crazy approach and go above and beyond when you feel like making an excuse. Often times while I’m exercising if I tell myself I can only do 5 more minutes, I’ll go 10 more minutes just to show myself. (weird, I know!)


So how does all of this tie in with God and religion? In the end isn’t an excuse just a lie? And weren’t we all taught that a lie is a sin? It’s time to cut those out of your life. Do you think Jesus made any excuses while he was on earth? In fact, he begged God to take the pain from him if it was possible, and then he still carried his cross, was nailed to it, and died for all of us and our sins.


We are all called to live as Jesus lived. It is impossible to be as perfect as he was, but it is possible to take little steps on that path. Excuses are just sin hurdles that we all need to jump over. Why not just remove the hurdle?


　
Don’t forget to count your blessings--especially the small ones!! J

The Marriage Comes First

Being a mom of two young children means that I am in demand pretty much all the time. It seems like when I sit down and think I need just ten minutes of quiet time the baby starts crying. Those evenings when I wish the kids would go to bed just a bit early are inevitably the nights that I am up 4 times. It’s not just me who is in demand though. Brian gets bombarded with requests from the moment he walks in the door. “Daddy come play in my room with me.” A very common phrase out of Eliza’s mouth is “Mommy, stop talking to daddy about his day I have something to say.”


It would be easy to let our children run the household, and I don’t mean that in the “let them go wild” sense. I mean it would be easy to let them guide our every conversation and our every activity. There are certainly those days where by the time our heads hit the pillows Brian and I have only spoken a few short sentences to each other, and then we’re usually too tired to talk much about “us”. However, I was given some great advice when Eliza was born. Someone told me to always make time for those date nights and for husband and wife time. As a young naïve mother I, of course, thought I had it all figured out and didn’t need those “date nights”. My romantic husband (cough, cough) would tell people we had a date every night after the kids go to bed.


I get it now though. We have to make time for our marriage and OUR relationship. That “date night” is just as important as the time we spend with our children. It is not a selfish thing to go out and enjoy my husbands company every once in a while. In fact, it’s the opposite of selfish, it’s necessary for our family to function at it’s best!

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church- for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

~Ephesians 5: 22-33

If our marriage struggles then our family struggles. Brian and I are responsible for showing our children what a marriage is at it’s core. We are responsible for showing them how to love and how to care. The greatest example of love in the bible, other than Jesus Christ giving his life for ours, was the example of marriage that Mary and Joseph had. How blessed we would all be if our marriage could even somewhat resemble that amazing marriage.


So, as the weekend draws near remember to take some time for your spouse. If you aren’t able to make it out for a date this weekend then take a mini-date in your bedroom after the kids are in bed. Re-connect if you need to. Try sacrificing just one time this weekend for your spouse. That might mean giving them a back rub when you’re exhausted or that might mean letting them sleep in a little extra. (notice mine all have to do with sleep…haha) Whatever it is that you do--do it with your whole heart, just as Christ would do.

Remember to count your blessings--especially the little ones!! :)

Faith-Based Diet and Exercise

Today I’m not going to write about a traditional faith-based item. Instead I’m going to write about diet and exercise. I state that this is not a traditional faith item because I believe most people don’t look at diet and exercise as having anything to do with faith. I believe that treating our body as a temple is just as important as our daily prayers . We were blessed with this one body, and it is our job to take care of it just as God would. That doesn’t mean I think it’s sinful to eat candy. However, I do believe it is sinful to treat our bodies like trash cans.


As you’ve probably read I’ve started eating a paleo lifestyle. This is day 11. The way this lifestyle is making me feel is what inspired me to write about it today. I have followed the lifestyle almost perfectly for 11 days. For those of you who don’t know what paleo is I’ll explain it briefly. When living a paleo lifestyle you eat no processed foods. That includes grains, legumes, condiments, pretty much anything that comes in a package with a nutrition label. Your diet is based around meats, veggies, fruit, some nuts, some healthy fats, and the occasional dark chocolate or red wine. Eating as organic as you can is strongly encouraged. The exercise portion of the lifestyle is very simple as well. You are encouraged to sprint one day a week, “lift” twice a week, and play the other 4 days. If you haven’t read about Paleo or Primal living I HIGHLY encourage you to take some time to read about it.


I know it’s a bit cliché but you really just have to try it to believe it. Some benefits that I have noticed from this lifestyle so far are:


* Weight loss ( 4 lbs. already)
* Improved mood
* Improved energy
* No more “fat” days ( all you women know what I’m talking about!!)
* My body isn’t run down after working out anymore, it’s revitalized and ready to go the next day
* I’ve tried so many new foods in the last 11 days


I’m only 11 days in and I already see all these benefits! As a wife and mother I believe it is my responsibility to show my family how to live a faithful life. Eating right, exercising, and treating my body like a temple is just one way I can lead by example.


Please talk to me about this new lifestyle if you have any questions! Do a google search and you will have a bunch of hits that you can look at for information. Isn’t it time to start honoring yourself the way God does?


Don’t forget to count your blessings--especially the little ones!! J

Call EVERYONE to Holiness

　

“You cannot please both God and the world at the same time. They are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions.”

~St. John Vianney

It is time we all start pleasing God! The crazy thing about Saint John Vianney’s statement is that we can please everyone around us if we choose to please God each and every day. By pleasing God our “world” can be pleased as well.


I have been thinking a lot about holiness the past week or so. Maybe my wheels got turning because of All Saints Day or maybe they got turning because it was such a challenging week last week. Regardless of the reason-- my thoughts have been surrounded by this idea of holiness.


St. Vianney notes how the world is utterly opposed to pleasing God in thoughts, desires, and actions. I believe it is our job to hold our “world” to a higher standard. We, of course, are supposed to strive for holiness each and every day. However, we MUST call those around us to holiness as well.


I’m so tired of this “don’t judge me” junk! What a person is really trying to say when they say that is don’t hold me to your standards. I live the way I do because I believe God calls me to live in such a way. He also calls us to show our neighbors the way. We may hurt some feelings along the way, but I’d much rather hurt someone’s feelings then remain silent.


Why are we so afraid of the confrontation? Didn’t Jesus deal with much worse each and every day of His life? If He was standing next to us each day would he not speak up at the things we are biting our tongues over? So if we’re really living by the coined phrase: WWJD, then shouldn’t we speak up??


Chances are you aren’t running into “major” injustices every day. But I guarantee you can think of a few times in the past day that you could have stepped in and said something. I’m simple saying for you to try saying something next time. God has this awesome way of giving us words in those situations. You don’t have to say much, and chances are the person will get offended, walk away, or worse. But you know they will be thinking about it later--and all God needs is that small opening to pour a little grace on that individual.
　


Paleo UpdateAfter a week I’ve lost a total of 3.5 lbs. I feel great!! I’m trying to experiment with some different recipes this week. Eliza and I made some paleo banana-nut bread this morning. She gobbled it up. I’ll admit that I’m missing my breads a bit this week, but I’m not “hungry” for them so it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.
I’m going to have to start getting more creative with workouts because of this crazy weather. Luckily, the weight workouts I’m able to do indoors with no equipment. I think I’m going to start waking up early and doing my walking and jogging before the kids get up. (I have to get used to the time change first!) Last week I did 2 weight workouts, 1 sprint workout, 1 easy run, 1 soccer game, 1 “fun” day with the kids (indoor workout in which I used the laundry basket to push the kids around among other fun moves), and 1 rest day. This week the only thing I’m going to change is to throw some intermittent fasting in. I’ll let you all know how I progress! J


Don’t forget to count your blessings--especially the small ones!!

Unashamed: Sunday Snippets-A Catholic Carnival

I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

 My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God’s hands. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, the bare minimum, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, frivolous living, selfish giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith. I lean on Christ’s presence. I love with patience, live by prayer, and labor with the power of God’s grace.
My face is set. My gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.


I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till he comes, give until I drop, speak out until all know, and work until he stops me. And when he returns his own, he will have no difficulty recognizing me. My banner is clear: I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.
- Unknown Author

Sunday- Snippets-- A Catholic Carnival

“The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.”

~Pope St. Gregory the Great

Do you every get overwhelmed? I think it’s safe to say that any normal person gets overwhelmed every once in a while. I had a good friend of mine tell me that I never look frazzled a couple weeks ago. The very next week she saw me at our kids story time at the library and said I looked tired and she’d never seen me look tired before. I guess I just do a good job of hiding it most of the time, but I get overwhelmed just like the rest of you. (Just ask my husband)

This past week has been particularly overwhelming. We celebrated two birthdays, finished getting Halloween costumes ready, had 3 get-togethers with friends, and dealt with a sick baby boy. So let’s just say that the lack of sleep mixed with all the happenings got to me a bit. I know I haven’t been the most pleasant person to be around the past couple of days either.

So this morning as I was saying my morning prayers, and looking for some inspiration to start the day off well, I came across the quote I posted at the top. So today, instead of being grouchy I decided I would just work as hard as I could and put a smile on my face. Every time I thought I was getting irritated with the kids I just asked for a little patience, and worked a little harder. I realized that sometimes it’s in the quiet times that you love your family the most.

Loving our children is one of the greatest gifts that we can give them as mothers. But let us remember that we love our children much more by our actions than by the words that we speak. The love that we have for our family should propel our work. Jesus loved us so much that he died for us. Even though Jesus spoke loving words every time he opened his mouth it was what He did while He lived on this earth that we remember and try to emulate. Be like Christ to your family! Sometimes they are the people that are hardest to be Christ-like to.
　
Don't forget to count your blessings--especially the small ones!! :)

Prayer and a little Paleo

　
　

“Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy.

 Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.”

~St. Ephraem

When I was in college my mom used to always end our correspondence with, “don’t forget your prayers”. A priest once told me that praying is just like talking to your best friend. Would you go a day without talking to your best friend? Then why would you go a day without talking to your Creator?

I fall back on prayer a lot. Even during times of my life when I felt like it was worthless and wasn’t helping me a bit, I just kept on praying. Why? I do it because of what St. Ephraem stated above. I have had my fair share of sadness and disappointments in life. I’m not going to tell you a sob story, and believe me I know there are a lot people who have had it worse, but nonetheless I’ve dealt with some stuff. As powerful as prayer has been to me during those tough times it’s during the day-to-day trials that I find I need prayer the most.

Sometimes I wonder how people who don’t pray or don’t believe in God get through a day!

Going into this season of “thankfulness” I encourage you to continue praying. Make sure that you have thankful prayers during the day. Say a prayer for someone you don’t usually pray for. Spend quiet time just listening to the Lord. Try going to adoration. Pray for wisdom, guidance, forgiveness, help, grace, patience, and pray for yourself. Prayer is a very powerful thing! Don’t underestimate it.

Don’t forget to count your blessings--especially the small ones!! J

P.S. I've been doing the paleo plan for 5 days now and LOVING it!! I have lost 3.5 lbs already...which is huge b/c I've been stuck at a plateau for a little while now. Plus, I feel great and I can't wait to continue trying everything that goes along with the paleo lifestyle. I feel like a whole new chapter is starting in my life.

PLAY DAY

We have had so much going on around here lately that we needed a play day. Today I woke up and didn’t do a thing other than play with my kids. Eliza and I started the day by watching some cartoons in my bed while we waited for Jackson to wake up. Then we all ate some breakfast and got ready for the day.

By 10:00 we were out the door and headed to the indoor play ground. It was a little chilly this morning, otherwise we would have gone to the outdoor playground. We spent all morning playing and having fun. We even packed a lunch and had a little picnic at the playground. It was just what we needed. By the time we headed home at 1:15 both kids were worn out! Jackson fell asleep in the car, and ended up sleeping until 3:30. Eliza was ready for her nap once we got home. She slept until 3:30 as well. Once they woke up we had a little snack and bundled up to go to the neighborhood park. We took the long way there and enjoyed the outdoors. We stopped at almost every house along the way so Eliza could investigate something new. By the time we made it home it was already time to get dinner started. It was a pretty perfect day!

Honestly, I wish this is how every day could be. Sometimes I think, “Is my house ever going to get clean and stay clean?” Or I think, “Yup, I’ll have more laundry to do tomorrow.” There’s even the weekly, “Ughh, it’s time to meal plan and grocery shop for next week.” Today, all I was thinking was “Man, soon these kids will be all grown up and we won’t have days like this!”

Being a mom is a tough balance. If all we did every day was play, play, play, then all the other area’s in life that we are responsible would suffer. Housework, laundry, cooking, paying bills, yard work, grocery shopping, all the errands we run, and all the other “little things” we do every day still NEED to be done. Being a mother is so much more then just playing with our kids, but having a play day every once in a while is SO important for mom and kid.

Growing up I can remember thinking, “Man, all dad does is come home from work and play with us, and mom is always working.” Now, obviously my dad did a whole lot more than just play with the kids and my mom did more than just “work around the house”, but those were the things I noticed. I’m not faulting either of my parents because I know my dad did work around the house and I know my mom spent time playing with us kids, but isn’t this how every household works? Why is it that the dad comes home and is the “big playmate”, while mom works?

If there is one thing I’ve learned while being a parent, it’s that I NEED to play with my kids as much as I can. God has loaned them to me. Who is a better playmate for my children then me? There is an old saying that teacher’s pass around: “Everything a child needs to know, he learns in kindergarten.” The lessons that a child learns while playing are so numerous. It’s an awesome gift to be able to be the first teacher to my children, and to teach them while we are having fun makes it that much better. Hopefully, as my kids grow up they can remember that the lessons they learned while playing with their parents were just as important as lessons learned at other times.
　
Don't forget to count your blessings--especially the small ones! :)

Purity in Marriage

Purity is essential to love. It is a virtue and must be practiced. As married people, our every word, our every touch must signify to our spouses that they are more to us than just bodies; they are precious and immortal souls belonging to God.

An absence of purity destroys our peace and makes it impossible to think of anyone but ourselves. Impurity has an obsessive, addictive quality that withers our sensitivity and empathy for others. ~Lisa Mladinich
I wish I could take credit for the words that Lisa wrote above. They are such perfect words for every married person to read. Lisa is a freelance Catholic writer that wrote those words in an article that I read this morning.

(http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Sexy-in-Context-Is-Holy-Lisa-Mladinich-11-02-2011.html)

It seems that in our world today purity is almost a taboo subject. Everywhere we turn we are being bombarded with sex, and not the good kind of sex. Everything from commercials to television shows to music is being sexualized in today’s culture. This is not a new thing, just like talking about purity is not a new thing. The big distinction that Lisa makes is that purity is not just for the unmarried. Purity is essential to love. Husband and wife have an obligation to be pure for God and for their spouse.

Marriage is the foundation of the family. The foundation needs to be built on rock and not on sand. Impure thoughts or actions are like quick sand for a marriage. I’d venture to guess that most married people don’t think about their own purity very often. When’s the last time you watch a sexualized television show or stopped to notice the attractive man on the magazine add? Why do we continue to watch stuff like that? Our society has normalized it. God has called each and every one of us to be better than that! You should have more respect for yourself and for your spouse. Shrugging it off and saying that it doesn’t affect you is not a proper response. Instead, evaluate what it has done to your mind and the pure thoughts that you should have about your husband/wife. An absence of purity makes it impossible to think of anyone but ourselves. Remaining pure is not a passive thing. Purity requires action. Our mission of purity does not end when we get married. We must continue to strive for purity in our daily lives. This is sometimes easier said then done. Especially in today’s society, although that is still no excuse.

We are called to be nothing but loving and selfless to our spouse. It’s easy to think of yourself and your needs, especially when we are surrounded by a culture that glorifies immediate gratification and the “feel good” attitude. We are called to rise above the norm. We are called to be like Christ to one another and especially like Christ to our spouse. Love your spouse the best you know how--remaining pure is a step to a fuller love.

Overwhelmed??

“The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.”

~Pope St. Gregory the Great

Do you every get overwhelmed? I think it’s safe to say that any normal person gets overwhelmed every once in a while. I had a good friend of mine tell me that I never look frazzled a couple weeks ago. The very next week she saw me at our kids story time at the library and said I looked tired and she’d never seen me look tired before. I guess I just do a good job of hiding it most of the time, but I get overwhelmed just like the rest of you. (Just ask my husband)

This past week has been particularly overwhelming. We celebrated two birthdays, finished getting Halloween costumes ready, had 3 get-togethers with friends, and dealt with a sick baby boy. So let’s just say that the lack of sleep mixed with all the happenings got to me a bit. I know I haven’t been the most pleasant person to be around the past couple of days either.

So this morning as I was saying my morning prayers, and looking for some inspiration to start the day off well, I came across the quote I posted at the top. So today, instead of being grouchy I decided I would just work as hard as I could and put a smile on my face. Every time I thought I was getting irritated with the kids I just asked for a little patience, and worked a little harder. I realized that sometimes it’s in the quiet times that you love your family the most.

Loving our children is one of the greatest gifts that we can give them as mothers. But let us remember that we love our children much more by our actions than by the words that we speak. The love that we have for our family should propel our work. Jesus loved us so much that he died for us. Even though Jesus spoke loving words every time he opened his mouth it was what He did while He lived on this earth that we remember and try to emulate. Be like Christ to your family! Sometimes they are the people that are hardest to be Christ-like to,especially on those days that we are overwhelmed the most.