Back-ups And Blessings

We got backed-up last week...

Mostly due to one little soccer camp....But then again, there's just some weeks that it's just plain hard to keep up. Dear husband was away at work most of the week so it seems like the many household duties and tasks also add up and back-up while he is away for long stretches:(  On top of that, it was a busy weekend so the mountain has grown even bigger since then....Laundry Madonna, please pray for me!  Ok, so there's no such thing as a Laundry Madonna so it's just plain time to get to work.  The good Lord knows that the laundry is my nemesis so I shall call on His most Holy Name with each piece of laundry that I touch.  Jesus will give me the strength to bear the load with joy, oh yes he will.  Stay tuned for how many times I say His name today...Any guesses?

Before I get to work, it helps me to acknowledge blessings amidst the back-ups.  Last week we received 3 special deliveries that brightened our week.  It is always my hope and prayer to be vigilant about blogging, lest it grow to be a distraction from my family or vocational duties.  It's always a balance to keep things in check. This being said, the online faith, hope and charity has been invaluable...These blessings are a tribute to the friendships that are forged through God's grace.

One friend was so kind to share a few of her own treasures with our family. I have never met Gardenia but our bloggy friendship has blossomed into a great gift.  Her generosity has touched my heart in more ways than one.  I am blessed to share a love for the Lord and Our Blessed Mother with Gardenia, reflected in the treasures of our homes.  We were beyond blessed by her special delivery!

A soldier with Jesus..."That men may live."

Shared stickers and holy cards for our whole family...

Beautiful holy vases from her collection...I have admired these from across the miles!

And this gorgeous poster that Angel baby wants to hang in the girls' room!  

She asked me not to thank her but that's a difficult thing when a heart overflows with gratitude...Instead, I shall pray that God's blessings be returned to her and her family in abundance:) 

Another friend sent Princess a lovely First Communion gift.  Lena makes these herself and has a small Etsy shop.  Be sure to check out her tiled necklaces.  Isn't this one just perfectly pretty?  I just love Lena's grace-filled treasures!  Princess has a very grateful heart for her thoughtfulness and generosity:)  This is Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, who was Princess' First Communion Patron Saint...

 A final blessing was this pile of gently used clothes that another dear friend dropped off for our family.  In these tough economic times, we were thrilled to receive such abundance.  We will donate any unused items to our church yard sale coming up!

This is not to say that the material items were the main focus of our blessings last week.  We know full well that it's the precious-people-souls behind their actions that really matter, through the hand of God.  

That being said, it's off to work with Jesus to reduce the pile of mounting laundry.  Our days may be filled with back-ups... but the blessings always outweigh the burdens!