Catholic Exchange and Sarah's article

Run on over to Catholic Exchange to enjoy Sarah's "Season's of the Present Moment." While you're over there, check out the new look at Catholic Exchange!

The Rosary and our Mother in the month of May

Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering put together a very beautiful, colorful, and artistic description of the Rosary utilizing sentiments from various Blessed Mother loving contributors.

Sarah begins, "When she introduced the Loveliness Fairs for this spring, Colleen explained the Loveliness of Rosaries this way: Praying the rosary is that moment when we encounter our Sweet Mother on the journey and share a quiet conversation with her. In the month of Our Lady, let's share our stories of her rosary and how it has shaped and formed us on our journey. And let's share the simple loveliness of rosaries themselves.

The rosary has a special place in my life. I remember learning it, haltingly. It was as unfamiliar to me as a new Catholic as the controls of my parents' car was when I was a new driver. The prayers sat in my mouth, clogging my tongue and distracting me from the mysteries. The counting and figuring out the beads distracted me from the prayers. The mysteries loomed impossibly before me. It was all a nice theory, at first.

And then, having given it up, I was inspired to pray like the dickens for a miracle. I was doing a lot of driving back and forth to grad school, and the rosary became my companion on the late night drive home. I think now that Mary might have been there with me as I sobbed and cried, my heart splintering as I prayed and my appreciation for the mysteries - and Mary's role in leading me to Jesus - deepening.

We all have a different approach to the rosary, just as we have different ways of approaching so many things in life. And so, with this collection of posts, let's pause together between posts and reflect together on the mysteries that hold the rosary together. You don't have to be Catholic to do this. You don't have to be familiar with the prayers or comfortable with the set-up. You can just amble along with us. (More information about the mechanics of the rosary, as well as links to some great rosary resources, are at the end of this post.)

Think of it as a walk in the garden with your mother. Her arm is around your shoulders, and as you get more comfortable, maybe you slip your arm around her waist. There's warmth there, between your bodies. You're going to the same place, though she knows the way far better than you do..."(To see her lovely post you may click here.) However, I should forewarn you to be prepared to spend at least a few moments to pause, appreciate, ponder, and be uplifted!

The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home

From Sarah of Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering:

The Heart of Motherhood, by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

This book came in a brown paper package a few months ago, and I saved it to be my hospital book (though it nearly killed me to see it sitting there so patiently on my shelf, waiting for the baby right along with me). What a book to read during those first few days with my new baby! As I savored the excitement of my new daughter, feeling much the way I remember feeling on the Christmas mornings of my single-digit years, Donna’s book reminded me about the hard work and the bright rewards of motherhood. She doesn’t gloss over the difficulty, nor does she make light of the responsibility. In this book, she does what she does so well – she encourages all of us mothers.


In the past few months, I’ve gotten to know Donna a bit, through her two blogs and some emails we’ve exchanged, and reading this book was just like talking with Donna. Each chapter ends with prayer, the kind that you’ll want to copy into your prayer book or post on your bathroom mirror. I felt the same sort of comfort in reading this book that I feel when I’m having a cup of tea with a dear friend. So go and grab a copy of this book and a steaming cup of tea. Donna has some words of encouragement for you!

***

Thank you, Sarah! I'm so glad that you are reading The Heart of Motherhood at a time when things are so near your heart!

God bless!

Friends on Fridays!

Hello Everyone,


On Fridays, I occasionally feature works from fellow writers and bloggers. I invite you to submit pieces you have written or posts about mothering for "Friends on Friday." You can send them to: DMCooperOBoyle(at)aol(dot)com. Below is a piece from Sarah of Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering. Sarah shares her sentiments about her family, her mothering and her very new baby!

The Longest Days and Shortest Years

A week ago, I was ignoring the 90-degree weather and mooning over apples and longing for fresh, hot, homemade applesauce. In fact, I started to write down my memories of Grandma’s apple orchard and even considered snapping a picture of the old “Apple Acres” sign that hangs in my house.

And then, on Tuesday, my immediate interests changed a bit. I went from gratefully accepting my mother-in-law’s nesting help to being the mother bird. I went from that uncomfortable come-any-day-now feeling to bags under my eyes and joy in my arms. I went from pondering apples on trees to kissing apple cheeks.

In the midst of this week with the new baby, I’m getting a refresher on all those things that are so quickly forgotten: the frequency of things – feedings, diapers, sleep, repeat; the piercing bright-eyed looks; the tiny weight; the sound of my husband’s voice talking to a new daughter; the sweet smell of Dreft and clean baby and lotion; the feel of small fingers. Even though I knew about all these things, at some level, I still forgot – and it’s only been just over two years since I last walked in these shoes. I’m rediscovering all the things I never knew I should love about babies (having never been a baby person prior to the birth of my first daughter).

Though we’re getting out of the early babymoon phase and entering the twilight zone of sleepless nights and new routines, I can’t help but engrave a friend’s comment on my mind – “These are the longest days and shortest years of your life.” The reminder of the many blessings of my life is now in my arms. She’s here, with us. Apples just don’t matter, now that I have the sweet smell of Dreft and the baby that goes with it. I might feel a little beside-myself-with-exhaustion at times, and I might not get to all the things I’d like to get done. My time is not my own, in large part, and it’s so tempting to dwell on the limitations.

But in the midst of the long days are the short years. Already, the first baby is nearly three and a big sister. She’s jumped right out of the snuggle-and-sleep-in-my-arms phase into the do-it-by-MYSELF capabilities that will lead her right into the teen years and, too soon, adulthood. While I kiss the new baby, the feeling that this is all fleeting, temporary, gift is overwhelming. Just yesterday, it seems, my nieces were toddlers. Now they’re taking the Red Cross courses so they can babysit for me.

Yes, the days are long right now. But oh, the years are short!

***

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing!

Sarah had her baby!!

Sarah from Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering had her baby! You can peek at some of her photos of her little angel and her family here.

Beautiful Catholic Carnival at Sarah's...

Go on over to Sarah's place at "Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering" to see the beautiful Catholic Carnival that she has put together with the title, "Celebration of Life." I know what she's thinking about as she's soon to give birth! There are so many submissions and topics that you do NOT want to miss! You had better grab a cup of coffee or tea and plan to stay a while. :)

A Friday Surprise!

For this "Friends on Friday," I'd like to spotlight my friend, Sarah from "Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering!" Take a few moments to read this heartwarming story! I know that you will enjoy it. :) Happy Friday, Everyone! God bless you!


"Friday morning, I was dead set on going to Woody’s, and no one was going to hold me up. Fridays have been, for the last few weeks or so, a time when our office staff (all whopping three of us!) get lunch together. By lunchtime on Fridays of late, we’re ready to vent a little and laugh a little.


Friday was no different. It had been a week in September (which, I’m remembering now that I’m in the midst of it, is about the equivalent to a week in May), worthy of all the groans and sighs and rolling eyes I could give it. It doesn’t help that my patience level is challenged by the frequent rib cage punches I’m getting internally, I suppose, and that I’m about as pregnant as I can be. (I feel like I’m using that as an excuse a lot lately. But I also feel like some of my rollercoaster reactions to things are attributable to that. If not that, then I need to say some serious prayers for St. Dymphna’s intercession, because I’m losing my mind!)


I was ready to go to Woody’s. The ladies and I piled into a car, and we headed over to Nama Gloria’s to drop off Miss Muffet for her Friday with Nama (and, of course,
the Kitty of Infamous Patience, Sassy). Nama had a certain chatty look about her as she rocked on her dreamy porch under the shade of the front tree. I braced myself for a quick departure – I was HUNGRY and I wanted some barbeque pork in the worst way.


“Hey girls, come on in. I have a little project to show you on the back porch.” Ever the crafty person, Gloria is the sort of person I could just spend all day visiting with. I thought about just inviting her along to Woody’s as we walked through her house.


As she opened the screen door to her deck, she said, “Well, I guess we can all keep a secret,” and something like 23 women yelled “SURPRISE!” and I could only think, “Great, NOW it’s going to be a while before we get to Woody’s” and then..." ( Continued here.)

The Loveliness of Summer Reading Fair

Go on over to Sarah's at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering to read her beautiful post about summer reading which is a compilation of submissions about the subject. You'll get a little taste of a variety of summer reading sentiments. Summer is fleeting...go enjoy!

Friends on Friday: "To the arms of my Mother"

Our mother friend, Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering has shared her sentiments about her pregnancy with us...

The Worries, the Comfort, the Hope

At 19 weeks, I realize I should be a lot bigger than I am. I wasn't with my daughter, but everyone says that things are different with subsequent pregnancies. And things are different this time around. For one thing, I'm not sick. I have headaches here and there, but none of the hanging nausea that enveloped all nine months of my first pregnancy. From what my midwife says, things are going normally, great, fabulous.

I have to trust her.

But really, I have to trust God. I have to leave Him there in the driver's seat, even though I've been assailed, lately, with worries of a scary nature. I have to stand at the foot of the cross and thank God for putting me there. None of it's in my control, and really, would I want it to be?

The image of Mary that has spoken to me for quite some time now is Our Lady of Guadalupe. When I first felt drawn to this image, I didn't realize she was pregnant. There was just something about it that pulled me in. During my first pregnancy, I turned to Guadalupe a lot, and I asked her just to help me. Here's someone who understands fears, trials, hurdles. Here's a woman who has been there, done that.

So as people joke with me (and I know it's just joking) about how small I am, I try to remind myself that I'm a pretty small person anyway. I normally eat like a bird (meaning three times my weight) and burn it off flying around. I should be huge even without being pregnant. It's that metabolism I inherited from my mother (and my father too, I think). When I look for the belly, as I feel the tiny flutters and patterings that indicate a live person down there, and I have trouble finding it, I am sometimes tempted to cry (and, last week, in the shower, I did). I can't help but ask myself, "What if something's wrong? What if my baby is the one they're going to write inspirational articles about? What if I'm the one who's going to have to be strong and faithful and trusting?"

We've been praying for a healthy baby. Boy, girl - doesn't matter. All we pray for in our family is healthy. The heartbeat is strong, movements are good, and the ultrasound next week will probably reveal a normal little person in exactly the right stage of development.

And if not...if not, then we'll thank God for giving us a cross we're strong enough to carry, and we'll thank him for the love that will surround us and get us through it.

Easy to type here with a cheerful face. But I'm scared. I really am. I hear that's normal in pregnancy. And I can't help but think of the stories I've read lately, as I've been catching up on various blogs, about spiritual attacks. Maybe this is how my demons are getting me, planting ideas and nightmares in my hormone-induced mind.

So I turn, as I so often do, to the arms of my Mother, and I ask her to pray for me to her Son. I see her there, standing on the snake and full of life herself in the image of Guadalupe, and I know that I can do it, whatever "it" is, whatever is being asked.

*********************************************************************

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for sharing your beautiful heartfelt words with all of us about your little baby stirring in your womb and your mother's heart which yearns for protection and good health for the precious gift that God has blessed your family with.

May God bless you, your unborn baby, and your family with much love and peace. May Our Lady of Guadalupe watch over you with Her tender care as only She can.

God bless!

Friends on Friday

Our mother friend and blogger, Sarah from Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering is offering us some words to ponder today about cuddling our toddlers and children. She beautifully illustrates the sublime privilege of spending time with our little ones, cuddling and loving them before they grow up oh so fast!

Benefits of Cuddling with Toddlers

If it’s a half-hour before the alarm clock’s going off and you’re not ready for Noggin yet, there are worse things than letting her into your bed.
You never knew you needed so little pillow to fall asleep.

The Laws of Toddler Physics state that the toddler shall own twice as much blanket and pillow and bed space as the adult to whom she is closest.

That small head, nestled right under your chin with Einstein hair, will only be that small for approximately five more minutes.

Few things will make you as alert early in the morning as a razor-sharp knee or an oak foot in the small of your back or the top of your tummy.

Who needs an exercise regime? Keeping out of the path of her limbs will take off the pounds of five Der Dutchman donuts. Easily.

“Lub you, Mommy.”

The symphony of Someone’s snoring on the other side of the bed and Toddler’s almost-asleep breathing, punctuated with a few kicks from the one who can’t yet demand a place anywhere on the bed, is sweeter than anything composed by Beethoven.

Starting the week with cuddles never hurt anyone.

No one else in the house carries the particular aroma of being two. Whiff it in. Smile. Quick, before it’s gone.

It won’t be long and she won’t want me to cuddle with her. In any way. Ever.


(Incidentally, Sarah is expecting baby number two!)

********************************************************************
Dear Sarah,

You are so wise to reap the benefits for you and your children in your cuddling now while they are young. There will be a time when our young ones, as they are growing may pull away from our signs of affection for them; embarrassed in front of their peers or just much too busy for our hugs and kisses. We should give those hugs, caresses, and kisses to them anyway, being mindful of our timing, of course. But, don't worry, Sarah...you will get the hugs back later on when they are older, too! Thank you for your beautiful words that remind mothers to pause and live in the present moment to enjoy their precious gifts from God!

God bless!