A Mom Is Always A Mom

I just returned from Parent's Weekend at my son's college.  I must say, the university did a fabulous job planning many fun activities. For me, however, it was more about the hugs.  

It was all about checking on in and spending time with my son, rather than running around to all of the special events. (Though we did attend a few:) Let's face it, Moms worry about their kids and we never stop wanting the best for them, even when they leave home as adults.  I'd be the first to admit that sometimes I cling too tight...Especially when the distance is incredibly long!  I know in my head heart that Jesus has the wheel on this one but I still need an occasional visual check and tangible reassurance that my child is o.k., all these miles away. (Even if he's almost 19 years old)!  

I just had a few simple questions that I needed answers to.  Is that really too much for a Mom to ask?

1. Is my son really o.k., alive and well?

2. Is my son happy?

3. Is my son healthy?

At first glance, he looked really tired.  I heard about the tough academics and I saw, first hand, the physical effects.  Yet all the answers came out with a yes. Yes, he is alive and well.  Yes, he is healthy (though a bit thin) and YES, he is happy.  Best of all, I saw that he is not just artificially happy on the outside but deeply fulfilled on the inside.  In return, this makes a Mom unequivocally happy, right?  
I must say that I observed that this joy seems to be a common experience at a university that digs deep, beyond the surface of our shallow humanity.

This begins with the campus.....

It's a beautiful campus, don't get me wrong.  But it's not immediately pleasing to the visual expectations that the world might have. Although it does have this strong tower...

I found that exploring this particular university is a process of discovery.  Obviously, one does not come here for the beach or the mountain scenery...there is none of that. 

But there's something else that you find here, something beyond the beach and the mountains.  There's just something about being here that you can't put your finger on...something about peace...

...And there's something about the trees that help deliver it.

As I meandered down the lush green paths, framed by an assortment of branches, I felt protected.

If you really pay attention to the silence in your heart, it might seem that these woods have arms begging to embrace you...At the same time gently nudging you down mysterious walkways, leading you beyond yourself.  I wondered if the students here feel the same way...?

The students call the campus a "bubble" and I found it rightly so.

Maybe it's just me but despite the mystery, I found simple and purposeful beauty everywhere I looked...

At the heart of the campus, I found what I believe is the source of peace, the energy behind it, delivered by the trees of course...

The Lord of heaven and earth is exposed here every day, all day.

How can this place not be a bubble? 

Or a canopy of love?

That's my motherly opinion, anyway.
Note~BIG DISCLAIMER:

I'm also not naive enough to believe that it's a perfect fairy tale, here in this place.  Don't get me wrong, I understand that college kids are having all kinds of fun, day in and day out.  Yet a mighty force is still there, I just know it is.  It's boldly watching and waiting, strategically exposed by the trees.

And back to that strong tower...Oh how I've fallen in love with the tower.  Surely I'm one in a million who have done the same thing!

Seen from almost every nook and cranny of the campus, it is the beacon of light that shines over the heart.

It is there for all to see.

"...the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."~1 John 1:5

I'll admit there were moments when I forgot where I was...You could be anywhere, really.  Especially when it poured buckets of rain.
Take your pick...Texas or anywhere...Near a lamp post or lantern waste, maybe?

It doesn't really matter when you have a strong tower.

Some dear friends, whose daughter is now an alum from here, asked me to give the strong tower a hug for them.  I was happy to do as they wished!

Greeted by new friends and smiling faces, an army of angels encamped me!

I got to meet a dear bloggy friend for the 2nd time...This time around was super special as I got to meet her lovely children!  Patty, who blogs at Reasons for Chocolate, met me on campus and whisked me away for an authentic Texan lunch...Stuffed, fried, avocados, with tortilla soup:)  YUM!

Patty is a dear, just like you would imagine, and her children reminded me so much of my own.  They (all of them) truly blessed my whole afternoon!

Looking back on my trip, it's hard to believe that I fretted so much about coming back to Texas.  Traveling alone is what stressed me out.  I had been to campus once before in the secure company of a dear friend.  But I knew this time was meant to be different.  I needed to face things on my own, once and for all.  I have often wondered why the good Lord has brought our family full circle...Back to a large state that holds very traumatic memories, a place where my late, dear, husband was killed.  Texas state prisons hold the robbers who committed this horribly, random, crime.  The whole circle, bringing our son back here for college, is so mind boggling that only God could have designed such a plan...a plan for His peace.

Peace came right along, right here, in spite of my fretting, in spite of myself.  I give full credit to my local prayer warrior friends that I called upon before my departure.  I know, without a doubt, that I was carried on the wings of their prayers.  Truly, not an ounce of fear beheld me, not once! This is a miracle as I'm one who struggles with anxiety and PTSD. It was certainly amazing grace.

This statue of St. Michael stands at the entry to the Church of the Incarnation on campus.  On Saturday, the Feast of the Archangels, I found it fitting to pray in thanksgiving.

(September Magnificat, pg. 386)

"Give thanks to the Lord, all his hosts

his servants who do his will.

Give thanks to the Lord, all his works,

in every place where he rules.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord!"

In my last hours at the university, I strolled around campus while my son did some studying.  Popping into the Adoration Chapel,  I offered my prayers for all those who have prayed for me.  Last but not least, I entrusted my son to the great I Am.  In my foolishness, of course.  After all, it is I who had been the borrower all these years.  Our children are never ours to keep, they are His and we are the entrusted ones.  

Kneeling there, I left them there, all of my prayers.
College boy might just think he's the one that's "free"...but guess what?  So am I.  Not free of being a Mom, of course. (That job is never done) But free of the things that keep me from trust...Trust in the one who trusted me in the first place, the One who entrusts all Mothers (and Fathers) with His children.

One thing's for sure, I'll carry that strong tower in my heart, until we meet again.

I'll carry the mystery and possibilities of a future filled with promise.

I'll carry the little things in life that really matter, the things unseen by the human eye.

The treasures of blessed moments and time well spent.

There among the roses, kneels Our Lady, Queen of Angels, Mother of God.  Peeking through the branches, of the trees that deliver me, I smile.
No words spoken, no words needed.
A statue remains but a mother's heart still beats in us all...

She more than anyone else surely knows that a Mom is always a Mom.

It's beginning to feel a lot like...

Pumpkin Crayon Melt {Preschool Halloween Crafts}, shared by Laurie Turk on Tip Junkie

It's beginning to feel a lot like...Fall:)
This is on our "to do" list!
I'm linking it here since I'm not (yet) on Pinterest...

This And That...September Liturgical Highlights

It's hard to believe that September has flown by already...
Thought I'd share a few of my favorite liturgical things from the month:)

Happy Birthday Mama!  Mary's birthday was one of my favorite feast days this month.  Each year our Little Flowers and Blue Knight's group kicks off the school year with a picnic to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lady.  The highlight was having Father M. graciously stopped by to bless everyone.

One of the *new things* that we did this year was make a prayer box. Everyone wrote out their prayer intentions on slips of paper to place them in the box.  We got permission to place them on the altar for Our Lady's Intercession.  (The Mass for the Nativity of Our Lady was being held the next morning.)

It's a little dark but the children were placing their intentions at the foot of the altar.

Isn't this a cute photo (below)?  My friend's little one "running to Mama":)

Holy Name of Mary~  We said goodbye to one of our favorite priests on this feast day...Never an easy thing to do!  A group of our parish friends made dinner, hosted at our house.  I had NO napkin rings that weren't Christmas themed so this easy idea emerged under pressure:) It's an easy idea that could be used for any liturgical feast, tea, or party:)

Saintly Napkin Rings

I just took some wired ribbon and a photo of our parish Fatima shrine (changing the shape and size via my photo program) and printed on card stock...

Everything was connected by my trusty friend, the glue gun:)

I don't have the best precision when it comes to scissors but hey, it all worked out!

Exaltation of the Holy Cross:

Can I tell you how much we are loving American Heritage Girls? (AHG) A troop was recently started at our parish and it's been such a wonderful scouting program and Christian-based character development for girls.  Princess made these cupcakes on the Feast of the Holy Cross for our AHG National Day of Service, the next day.  If you don't know about the failings of Girl Scouts of America, please click this link and be informed.

The girls visited a home for the mentally disabled that had never had visitors!  That alone had a huge impact on our hearts...

Each girl made their own cupcakes based on the Free To Be A Blessing badge.

The remainder of the cupcakes were delivered to a home for abused children:)

It was a SWEET day on many levels...In fact, the Catholic News Service also featured a nice article in support of this American Heritage Girls National Day of Service...Thrilled to have great press from our faith:) I just can't say enough about American Heritage Girls and its positive program.  We simply love it!  

On the home front...I've been reflecting on how serving others really starts at home, the place where it's most difficult to serve. Sometimes it's easy to serve people outside our homes when we can step out and put on a happy face for a moment in time.  But when we really think about serving Jesus 24/7, day in an day out, by caring for our spouse and children or even extended family, it's just plain tough stuff.  As a parent, herein lies a serious challenge to care for the needy in our homes, each and every day.  I am reminded that an example of joyful service in my home begins with me.  Probably the biggest obstacle many parents face is being fully present with their families, not just being with them.  With all of the technological distractions, I know that I fail each day and I grow weary of my shortcomings.  Yet I try, try, again, keenly aware of my desire to be of better service to my family.

This beautiful sunrise on my morning jog reminded me of the beauty that God creates for us each day.  Through His gentle hand, we have the opportunity to see Him in all we do...And begin again, thanks to His loving grace.

*Hallelujah*

  I'm working on being patient with myself (which I am not good at) and finding peace while working from the inside out.   This daily online retreat from the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales is a gentle spiritual boost that speaks to me right now.  Check it out! You may also subscribe to the daily retreat via FB. They have Advent and Lenten online retreats as well:)
"He who is fretted with his own failings will not correct them.  All profitable correction comes from a calm, peaceful mind."
~St. Francis de Sales~

Tides of Life...Holding On, Letting Go.

I seem to be holding on to a lot of stuff lately.  Not stuff as in material things but stuff as in the trials of the heart.  I was reflecting on this as I took a little Labor Day jaunt to the lake with the 3 youngest kids and my parents.  It gave me time to think and pray (as dear husband and next oldest son worked at the fire department).  There I stood on this gorgeous beach, just holding on to all of my stuff, feeling stuck and rather stranded, to be honest.  Being a person of faith, you know with all your heart that your faith really is a stunning lake. In fact, it's down right glorious (just like this photo) but sometimes you're just stuck on the shore, despite the obvious beauty and blessings that scream out for you to notice and beckon you to embrace them.

I know I just need to let go and let God...Yet I stood here, like a stubborn rock, holding on to my sorrows for dear life.  I know that changes in life make me better and stronger but it's just plain hard to let go.  Inevitably, the tide rolled right over me... OF course it did!

  I was getting splashed and bumped around for awhile before I began to realize that standing on the shore is safe for awhile but sooner or later, it's time to let go.  It's time to let go; It's time to move forward with courage and trust.

 The unknown tries to get me.  Yet I know God has fabulous plans out there on the heavenly horizon... Just as St. Paul exhorted, it is also my inmost desire to "Be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong." (1 Cor. 16:13)

In the meantime, the good Lord is so patient.  He enamored me with the glory of His creation.  He wrapped me in His arms of loving beauty...God is always so good.

The once-in-a-blue-moon over the lake romanced the spirit of my soul.  It really was breath-taking!

My Dad brought his old kayak that hadn't been used for years.  I found it rather symbolic as we prepared to cast off from the shore.  There are some really great biblical references to boats but for some reason the gospel of Luke (5:33-39) hit home for me this week. Jesus tells the parable of the wineskins and how the new wine cannot be poured into the old wineskins, otherwise they will be ruined.  New wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.

Leaving the beach was a good step towards letting go. I was struck, though not surprised, at the the stillness of my spirit, the solitude, the peace.  As we paddled far from shore, I sensed the freedom of leaving all of my stuff behind. It was certainly a tangible reminder that letting go really does set us free...Free to become a fresh new wineskin, a new dwelling place for God's holy will in our lives.  (Not surprising, I always feel the same way after the Sacrament of Reconciliation).  

So now the problem was that we let go and we didn't want to come back!  Even the kids could have paddled around ALL day...You bet, they felt the protection of that peace!  In fact, my Dad noted that we "used the heck out of that old kayak!"  I guess we just kept going back for another piece of that peace:)  

We were able to walk to this quaint little church on Sunday...Another little piece of peace via the Holy Eucharist, the Bread of Life.

When all was said and done, I'd venture to say that there are no easy answers but there are answers. Moving forward to unchartered waters is just plain difficult but it is the answer and it's what we are called to do as Catholic Christians...The tides of our hearts ebb and flow as we continuously hold on and let go through our entire lives.  Pain is really just a small price to pay for the peace that God promises for following His plan, His Cross, His Salvation.   We can certainly stand at the shore and hold on tight for awhile but ultimately it really doesn't loose the bonds that tie us there.  The image of hopping in the boat and paddling into the arms of peace and love really does help me practice letting go of my stuff.  I don't know about you but I need the practice...I no sooner let go and I'm taking stuff right back.
 Starting today, what do you say...Let's sail away!

College to Catholic ABC's

...Needless to say, we've switched gears around here!  Our college boy is settled in, happy, and doing well.  Though my heart is still heavy, time marches on in a busy household.  As I struggle to catch the tail of change, I find refreshment in the simple tasks.  What more can I say, Catholic A, B, C's has a grip on me!

Our youngest was more than ready to start doing a pre-school curriculum this year.  We are using Lacy's Catholic 
A, B, C,'s Preschool Curriculum book (from Catholic Icing) and I am way over due in my promise to her that I would review this awesome book.  It really is awesome!  I am a visual learner, myself, so it certainly meets all of my needs...It's colorful, color-coded and filled with bright and beautiful photographs to exhibit each lesson.

The neat thing about this book is that Lacy has designed a section for use in a group, co-op, or classroom setting, as well as a separate section for individual use at home.  She has choreographed the time with a detailed teacher script which makes it super user-friendly!  With a lot going on in busy homes, she has made it easy to teach and experience this wondrous time with our pre-schoolers.

I also love that the crafts are simple and do-able for each letter of the alphabet.  I didn't even plan this craft for our first day but found we had all of the materials on hand.

A is for Angel:)

Each letter is beautifully designed to reflect an aspect of our faith in a way that little ones can easily understand, including a saint of the week and bible verse. Coupled with a small unit study that follows the liturgical year, the faith is certainly fully interwoven into this program!

In addition, Catholic A,B,C,'s encourages lots of hands-on learning through finger plays, songs, and snacks.  We made this "Ants On A Log" snack for the letter A.  (Pretzel rod with peanut butter and raisins) Did I mention that she has a whole section in the back of master copies? She has included many templates and coloring pages to enhance learning.

All the way around, it's a fabulous program!  Thank you, dear Lacy:)