Different Direction?  Update on prayer request.



     As learned yesterday night, Grandpa will not be getting a pace maker or surgery.  The tests they have run show that the arteries are not blocked in any way. 

     The only thing we are worried about now is a small blood spot on his brain.  Originally we thought it occurred when he had fallen, but now there is suspicion that the blood on the brain caused the heart incident. 

     Beings that nothing is wrong now and his heart is behaving normally, we think they will release him today after lunch.

     Please keep him in your prayers still, though.  I'll let you know if anything else comes up or if all goes as planned.

     Thank you for all of your prayers - they really are appreciated!

God Bless,

Chloe M. 

***Just heard - they ordered a MRI and are hoping to get results tonight. ***


 

UPDATE ON PRAYERS






     Quick update on some new information we got this morning.  The doctor thinks that Grandpa had an Adams-Stokes attack last night. 

     An Adams-Stokes attack consists of the heart dropping down to low beats per minute, and the lack of blood often causes fainting.  It can leave the patient feeling clammy, and forgetful of the situation.  Because the heart beat is irregular, and it can (and did) result in a heart block.  Grandpa's heart block is small enough that the doctors don't think it'll be an issue. 

     Here is what we have found out about Adams-Stokes:

There is collapse, usually without warning.

Loss of consciousness is usually between about 10 and 30 seconds.

Pallor, followed by flushing on recovery, can be reported.

Some seizure-like activity sometimes occurs if the attack is prolonged.  (this didn't occur in Grandpa)

If anyone manages to check the pulse during an episode, it will be slow, usually less than 40 beats per minute.

Typically, complete (third-degree) heart block is seen on the ECG during an attack but other ECG abnormalities such as tachy-brady syndrome have been reported

They are not posture-related.

     Adams-Stokes is usually experienced by older males who take medication for cholestreral or blood pressure (both of which Grandpa takes) and is easily treated with a pace-maker.

     We think they'll take him in for pace-maker surgery today, and I'll definatly keep all updated on the results of the surgery.

     I can't thank you all enough for your prayers.
God Bless!
Chloe M.   

UPDATE ON PRAYER REQUEST




  
     We have been texting back and forth with Mom, who is still at the hospital with Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.  She has told us that the doctor thinks all Grandpa will need is a pace maker and recovery time.  The surgery will probably be tomorrow. 

     He is suffering slight amnesia due to the fall.  He can't remember exactly what happened, but other than that he seems to be doing fine.

     Please keep us all in your prayers still.  I'll update the blog if we hear anything else - and tell you the results of tomorrows surgery.

     Thank you so much for all your prayers!  God bless you all.
Chloe M. 

PRAYER REQUEST

Just got news from my Grandma - when she got home from work tonight, Grandpa was passed out on the floor.  She called 911, and they came and saw his heart beat was at 50 bpm, and that his limbs were cold.  They were able to get him to talk.   They loaded him up on the ambulance and are taking him to the hospital right now.

PLEASE PRAY. 

I'll keep you updated. 

He can take your broken heart and put it all together.





     If you reflected on your life, I'm sure there are a lot of happy times.  New siblings, great test scores, college acceptance letters, first day on a great job, new pets, and weddings.  I'm sure there are also some bad times.  Deaths in the family, physical injuries, not getting on the team, being teased by someone you love, and sins you regret.

 If you put them all in one pile, there you have the story of your life.  Bad parts and good parts alike, they have formed and made and shaped you.  In the words of Cotton, they are the "fabric of our lives."  And what can

with this pile?  Sometimes it seems impossible to sort out and other times it seems like it is going to engulf us.  Yet God can work miracles out of our messes (thank goodness!)  All we have to do is give the pile over to him.

     Our kid's devotional tonight was saying that our lives are like one big quilt.  God puts together this quilt based on our life.  Everyone sins and everyone makes mistakes, but if we give God everything, He can make a beautiful quilt using all the fabric we give Him. 

     The material we give Him might not be the ideal material for what He had planned the quilt to look like.  Yet nothing is impossible for God! 

     This advent, don't let the season pass with the guilt of bad fabric on your conscience.  Make a point to go to confession and be free of the sin on your soul so that you can celebrate Christmas with the true joy of the knowledge that your soul is as white as the snow outside.

     God bless you all!

Chloe M. 

 

     

Consuming Fire







     "Mary by a singular privilege granted to no other saint, loved, and was always actually loving God, in every moment of her life, with such ardor, that St. Bernard declares, it required a continued miracle to preserve her life in the midst of such flames." -St. Alphonsus di Liguori, The Glories of Mary, (Tan Books: 1978), 411.

     In other words, the Blessed Mother was in a constant state of serving and loving God.  Likewise, God was in a constant state of loving Mary.  So it took a constant miracle for Mary to not simply be consumed by the fire of God's love!

     In   preparation in anticipation for the coming of Christ.  Let's not waste the time being consumed by material matters.

 

God Bless!

Chloe M. 

A Different Kind of King







     What kind of rulers, kings and people in control do you know of?  Ones that come to mind could be King Henry the Eighth, King Louis the Fourteenth,  Nero, Napoleon, Ivan the Terrible, etc.  The rulers we tend to remember are rulers who control everything and are sometimes not so great at their job.

     The idea of monarchy is foreign to Americans.  After all, we were founded on an overthrowing of monarchy in this nation.  So our thoughts of kings might not be so high.  What are your thoughts then, when we celebrate the feast of Christ the King?

      Are we ready to give Christ control of everything?  We might be wary of this after being burnt by the idea of kings.  Yet Christ isn't this kind of king.  He is a king of truth.  But in the words of Caesar, "What is truth?"
     We search and hunt and yearn for truth.  In the world we live in though, truth is sometimes far and in between.  Christ, though, is the ultimate truth and the ultimate King.  He doesn't abuse His people, He loves them.

     If Christ is truly the king, we must then be completely loyal subjects and give our WHOLE lives to Him. 

     Enjoy this last week before the season of Advent starts!  It's time to dedicate our lives to the King of kings.
God Bless!

Chloe M. 

   

Be Thankful for EVERYTHING




     Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope that you had an awesome time to spend with friends and family and just being thankful for everything that God has blessed you with.

     Just wanting to leave you with a quick post tonight - this week as been crazy, to put it lightly - I've been having to cover shifts at work for the holiday season, so by Sunday I will have worked forty hours.  In other words, I'm drained.  But, I am incredibly thankful for not one but two amazing jobs that I love.  Yet this forty hours has kicked me hard, and I have to go finish an essay on Jane Eyre. 
     Quick thought:  Today's Gospel reading had the ten lepers cured, but only one came back to thank Christ for the cure.  Ten percent.  How many times do we really truly thank God for the amazing things He does in our life....about ten percent?  This advent, let's work on bringing that percent up by a lot.
     Thank you Lord, for EVERYTHING.
God bless and have an awesome rest of your thanksgiving!

Chloe M. 

 Christian Cussing or Christians Cursing?




        Cussing....or Cursing?  Believe it or not, they are actually two different things.  I know there are a lot of Christians who cuss.  But did you know there are even more Christians who curse?  Including me!

     Let me explain.  When we cuss, we use $#%&# language.  When we curse, we take value away from something.  Cursing is the opposite of blessing (which means to build something up).  So when we curse things and people, we are verbally tearing them down.  That would include complaining about someone at work, or yelling at a sibling for something trivial.

     How about cussing?  In our family, we don't say "Shut up" or "Stupid" or "Dumb" when talking about a person.  Because it tears them down.  People we know think this is pretty weird, because when they say "Stupid" we automatically say. "Stop saying the bad S word!"  They do a double take and they say, "I didn't say that!"  To which we reply, "You say s-t-u-p-i-d (spelling it out)!"  They just sigh and shake their head.  Right Ria? :)  

     Cussing is a stumbling block for me.  I'm saddened when Christians cuss.  Why?  Because it doesn't make me think they are Christian in the best sense of the word.  That is not to say that Christians who cuss aren't Christians.  Nor is it to say that Christians are perfect.  It's to say that we are called to be different from this world and cussing is of the world.

     Advent is coming up!  How about we give up cussing AND cursing as a birthday gift for the Lord?  What do you say?  Join me?  Let me know in the comments below!
God Bless,

Chloe M. 

    



    

       From Ria's Blog

Sr. Elizabeth Ann, a Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist just sent out the following:

Last night, my sister told me that a good friend of hers just found out that the child she’s carrying is severely disabled, and her friend is beginning to think that abortion is the best option. Her friend doesn’t think she can handle parenting a disabled child, and, of course, her doctors & everyone else is recommending termination. Please pray that she will have all the grace, strength and courage she needs to choose life. These next two weeks are crucial, as she has to decide by the time the child is 18 weeks. If you have a prayer chain or other intercessors you can send this to, that would be much appreciated. Thank you and God bless you.

It Hurts My Heart

     No, I'm not going through a breakup.  (What, that's what you thought, wasn't it?).  I logged online today and was informed that Justin and Selena broke up.  Last week.  Yes, I told you that I'm behind.  My first thought was, "Criminy, you guys are only sixteen years old, really?"  Then I was informed that Justin Bieber was eighteen and Selena Gomez is twenty.  I'm more behind than I thought.

     But, seriously now, I am going to bring this around to something deep....or deep-ish.  I'm looking at people I know and they are going through breakups and it hurts my heart to watch them go through that pain.  And more than not, those people who I'm watching are having their hearts stomped on are my age....or younger.   You could chock this up that I am overly compassionate, which is true, but I don't think kids our age were intended to have our heart ripped out, repaired, ripped out, repaired, and then ripped out again eight times by age eighteen.

     Now I know that I'm "weird."  I go to Catholic conferences and my peers look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that I'm seventeen and a half and I have never been kissed and haven't ever gone on a date with a guy besides my dad.  You would think I had two heads.  Yet isn't this what we are called to?  Christ has some pretty crazy teachings in the world's eyes, yet He is completely sane and on top of sanity, He's completely God.  What seems weird and freakish in the world's eyes is completely normal and good in God's eyes.

     I have also observed that the girls who are on their fourth boyfriend in four years have low self worth.  This isn't always easy to see, girls are pretty good at putting on an appearance of normalcy when inside we're dying.  These girls put up with guys lying to her parents, throwing her under the bus, abusing her verbally, and just not treating her like she deserves to be treated.  Why?  Because she doesn't feel worth anything unless she has a guy telling her she is beautiful and his whole world.  Darling, as a sister in Christ, don't settle for this.  You have a man who is pining for your attention, who loves you more than the world and who died for love of you.  And He's sitting in the tabernacle waiting for you to come to Him.  Christ loves you so much and He doesn't want to see you in such pain.

     But we have to look at what we as girls are showing guys.  Are we constantly flirting with them?  Because this doesn't entice a guy.  For a little while, yes.  But when a guy realizes that he doesn't have to do anything to get your attention, your attention isn't special anymore.  Wouldn't it be more awesome to be pursued by a guy instead of pursing?  Wouldn't it be liberating and beautiful to know that a guy is thinking about how to get your attention than vice versa?  How can we experience this phenomena? 

Become a woman worth pursuing. 

     We have to, as women, have a sense of allure.  Not being "sexy" but being genuinely Beautiful!  This not only means wearing clothes that fit, not cling, but also translates into the way we talk, the way we walk, the way we act, even the way we dance.  We have to work on being ourselves and work on being attractive not only because of our physical beauty, but also because of our ability to show God's love to others. 
 
     Our love of Christ should be so deep that a man has to fall in love with God in order to fall in love with us.

     Let's not settle for breaking up and making up!  Let's work on falling in love with Christ mainly and then waiting on His divine plan with our love life. 
God bless you all!

Chloe M. 

Today I'm Thankful For....






     So someone mentioned to me the new movement to be thankful for something every day of November in preparation for Thanksgiving.  As you can see, I'm a little bit behind (per usual). 

     I just wanted to take today's post and thank my youth group.  If any of my anonymous readers are out there and you are in my youth group - you are such a blessing, you have no idea.  The highlight of my week is Bible study and getting to talk to you all for two straight hours.  I have so many awesome memories and inside jokes with all of you I couldn't even begin to list them.

     We have some fun trips behind us (Winter Jam 2012, March for Life 2011, Rally for Religious Freedom 2012, Stubenville 2012, NCYC 2008)  and so many fun ones ahead.  I can't wait to see the amazing things God will do with group - and I can tell you it's going to be BIG things! 

     The dads in our home school group get together for Dad's meetings on Thursday morning and are able to connect and touch base with each other faith-wise through text through the week.  Yesterday I got a text from a youth group member and we were able to talk about the humanity of Christ (you'll see more about that in an upcoming post).  I'll get e-mails from friends through the week and they'll make my day. 

     Guys, you seriously are such a blessing my life.  Thanks so much for the fun so far and I can't wait for the adventures ahead!
God Bless each of you!

Chloe M. 

    

Just For Laughs:  My Favorite Memes

Quotes on God's Plan for Us




- Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”


- Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”


- Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

- St. John Vianney "I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the cross than in serving the world and its pleasures." 
 

- St. Teresa of Avila "We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us." 
- Christopher West "God's plan remains God's plan despite our sin." 

 

Ignite the Fire
Making sure there are words to back up actions




     Lately, we've been talking a lot about a reigniting of dynamic Catholicism.  I've been saying that with the amazing numbers of Catholics in the United States, issues like pro-death politicians, the HHS Mandate, the constant talk of "free" contraception and general anti-Catholic bias in the media wouldn't even be issues.  So why are they?

     In the words of Matthew Kelly, "We are part of a Church where 'business as usual' is OK.  It's time to step up and say that it's not."  Where are the Catholics on fire for their faith?  Where are the sermons from the pulpit on Sunday mornings that Contraception, Cohabitation, Sterilization, and Homosexual active practices are intrinsically evil?  Aside from the few brave priests who aren't afraid of the effects that it will have on their parish numbers and finances, we are left with quiet homilies on subjects that although true, are small in comparison to the issues that the parish is going through.

     Where are the John Vianneys?  Where are the Padre Pios?  Where are those who are not afraid to tell their parishioners, as their shepherd, that they need to go to confession and here is the opportunity?  As parishioners, we need to raise the subject, but parish priests are the men who have given their entire lives to God and His people.  It's time to "Feed my lambs!"

     "Hard to swallow" homilies are what we need.  Catholics in America in general need a swift kick to the pants to wake us up about the issues that are tearing our belief apart!  It's time to put the beautiful and rich tradition and teachings into tangible action and let the world know  that Catholics aren't just another easy target.

     Thoughts?  Comment in the box below.
God bless,

Chloe M. 

Family Dynamics NOW
Enjoying the Blessings found in this moment.



        Today's the day.  After what seems like endless practicing and planning and e-mailing and calling, today is the day of my first college visit.  This is the day that I thought would never come and now that it is here, I'm filled with half-excitement and half-nervousness. 
        Today's the day.  After what seems like spending every day focusing on grades to impress colleges with a good GPA, and testing, and applications, and essays and recommendations letters, today is the day that I go to see if I am a good perspective student for a Catholic school.

        Today's the day.  Everything is a chain reaction from now, and before you know, I'll be filing for scholarships and looking at majors and deciding colleges and possibly moving into a dorm, and being dropped off for my first day of school for the very first time.
        Family dynamics are changing.  They started changing when I picked up a second part-time job and am away from the house everyday.  They'll continue changing as I work towards college and then eventually move out of the house that I have lived in for almost eighteen years. 

        Enjoy your family dynamics NOW.  Things will never be the same.  It is very slim chances that you will all be living under the same roof again.   You think you'll be glad to be out of it, but you'll miss it.  I'll miss coming home everyday and talking to my mom about work.  I'll miss bouncing apologetics and politics off my dad for his opinion.  I'll miss sitting around and talking with my next youngest sisters about clothes and Christmas plans, laughing at my even younger sisters about random memories, and I'll miss giving little boy's piggybacks and giving a little girl hugs and kisses everyday. 

        If you think I'm crazy, just wait.  It reminds me of a story that Bran Hansen posted on his blog on www.air1.com: 

   When you are going to have a baby, "This is going to be pretty exciting," you say.

They say, "You just wait."

"You just wait, because you won't be getting any sleep anymore, once that baby's born. It's all over. It gets harder. It gets worse."


Your baby is fun. You think it's hilarious, how he's amused by one particular stuffed dog above all other toys.

They say, "You just wait."

"Just wait, because when that kid is toddling around, pulling down the curtains, and getting into stuff, you can't look away for a second. It gets harder. It gets worse."


Your toddler is a blast. Everything is new and wonderful to him, from puppies to repeatedly crashing towers of blocks. He laughs every time, and wants you to "Do again!"

They say, "You just wait."

"Just wait, because when your kid starts really talking, you'll get tired of that sassy mouth. You'll wish he was still a year old. It gets harder. It gets worse."


Your elementary-age kid is an absolute joy. You can play take him swimming, play catch with him, and teach him hilarious end-zone dances to amuse your friends.

They say, "You just wait."

"Just wait until he's a teenager, because he'll learn how much he doesn't like you and won't want to have anything to do with you no matter what and he'll eat everything and you'll get very tired of him and want him out of the house as soon as possible. It gets worse."


Your teenager is fascinating. You can't get enough of him. He makes you laugh, because, well, you saddled him with your exact sense of humor. You get to play video games with him. He beats you at chess, sometimes twenty times in a row. He fills your home with music, first with a screeching sound, that, months later, becomes recognizably melodic, and then the sweetness of Bach on violin. He mows the lawn. Not always happily, but he mows the lawn. You catch him listening to your favorite bands in his room. He says things that you never thought about before. He grows taller than you.

They say, "You just wait."

"Just wait until he moves away, because your heart will break in two."



And... for once, the very first time, ever...

They're right.

Enjoy. Your. Family. Now.  Before you know it things will change.  Don't spend now worrying about the future.  Spend now enjoying the present.

God bless you all,

Chloe M.         

 Oh There's No Place Like Confession for the Holidays....
Buckle your seat belts, we're in for a ride.  Welcome to the holiday season 2012-2013.  It only gets crazier from here.  The countdown to Thanksgiving is nine days and counting.  Then we are on to Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years Eve.  Don't laugh, it's all coming and will be here before you know it.

        I know that my schedule gets so hectic.  I get snappy and rude to others, including my family, and that attitude ruins the season, which should be a focus on thankfullness, Christ, and Christ-like actions.  How can I return to grace and appreciation of the season?  Confession! 

     Father Z's blog had an awesome article on a priest and confession.  He says, "A priest became pastor of a smaller rural parish, of approximately 300 registered families. The first Sunday of Advent, he announced to the parish that he wanted no Christmas presents from the parish that year – no gifts of money, or food, or gift certificates. Instead, the present he wanted from his new parish was for every member of the parish to go to confession during Advent.
        To that end, he would add times for confessions during the week, bring in outside priests, and make the sacrament as available as possible.

He said that, during the four weeks of Advent, he initially tried keeping track of the numbers of penitents, but was only able to keep track of the numbers of those who had not been to confession in more than 20 years – nearly 200, in his small parish!
        Many of the penitents told him that the reason they had been away is because no priest had told them they should go, or even invited them to go. Because of one priest’s invitation, an entire small town grew in grace through the sacrament of confession."

        It's a busy time of the year, but let's make room for confession and returning to God's grace in the season of Christ's birth....and hey, let's make it our gift to our priests, too!
        God bless you all!

Chloe M. 

Putting on a Pretty Face

       When we look beautiful or handsome from the outside but not from the inside, something is off.  Our beauty should come from within, and reflect out, not vice versa.  This quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross sums this up beautifully:      
 
        “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”

        There is an artist in St. Louis who is doing phenomenal work right now - she's making portraits out of people with embroidery thread.  This is incredibly detailed portraits that she creates by sewing different threads together to create just the right coloration to make the portrait appear life-like.  The end result is amazingly breath-taking because of the sheer resemblance to the subject. 
But on the other side of the photos we see a whole different story...but perhaps more akin to reality.  

         

     The real question is which of these two above pictures do people see you as?  Do people see you as a beauty, but then your actions portray you as something less then beautiful?  Or do your beautiful actions shine through the exterior, and you are beautiful in your beautiful deeds?  Something to think about on your Sunday afternoon.
God bless!

Chloe M. 

   

Key Word:  Everything





        This weekend in the gospels there is a clear message.  We have to give God everything.  In the first reading, we see Elijah coming to a widow.  She doesn't have a husband to provide for her, and there is a drought.  When he comes to her, she was just gathering twigs for a fire to cook her last piece of bread on for her and her son's last meal before they died.  So Elijah tells her to bring him a cup of water and some bread.  Which sounds very arrogant, but Elijah knows what he is doing.  He is asking the widow to give all to get all in return.
        
        There is a story about a little girl and a little boy.  The little boy has a big bag of marbles and the little girl has a big bag of candy.  The little boy is hungry (when are boys NOT hungry?)  so he asks the little girl if she would like to trade bags the next day at school.  That night, the little boy took out the best marbles, the ones he liked the best, and hid them under his pillow.  He knew the little girl would never know.  The next morning, he traded her the remaining marbles for her bag of candy.  When he went to bed that night, he couldn't go to sleep because he kept wondering , "Did she hide her best candy from me?"

        We have to give God everything to get everything in return.  When we frantically clutch at our life dreams, we miss out on holding our hands open for God to pour graces into them. 

        Our God isn't like any other god.  Other gods in ancient stories ruled from the Heavens and were feared by all.  They didn't have any way to know what their mortal subjects were going through.  In the second reading this weekend we see that Christ has come down as our high priest to offer His own blood for sacrifice!   For Him, this sacrifice is personal.  So He knows what we are going through very well.

        Finally, in the Gospel reading there is the story of the rich people giving great amounts to tithe to upkeep the temple.  Then comes a widow who drops in two copper coins, which equaled up to a penny.  That was it.  Christ turns to His Apostles and tells them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury."  Which left the Apostles saying:

  

        It's a pretty hard concept to understand.  Because in our minds, more is more.  But in Christ's mind, your giving is only comparable to you - not others.  The time and talent and treasure that you tithe isn't good because it's more than so-and-so gives.  It's good because it's the first and best fruits of what YOU have...or it should be.

        Christ calls us to a strange path in the world's eyes.  We give Him everything, and He gives us everything in return.  This week I've really been struggling with giving over my vocation ALL the way to God.  I know if I give everything to Him, He's going to transform my life into things I never could have dreamed of.  But at the same time, in my foolish little mind I think that I have a better idea of what is best for me.  Yea, right.  So keep me in your prayers, if you think about it.

God Bless you all!

Chloe M.   

       

Wishing you were here

Last night, a seventeen year old girl in our town committed suicide.  She jumped off a bridge over our main highway and was struck by a car.  Because of the attention to the trauma instead of the road, there then was a three car accident. 

     I didn't know this when we were in dead stop traffic for twenty minutes last night because they closed off the highway completly.  But I knew something was wrong.  So I started to pray. 

     When my Dad came home last night, he told my mom about this, but I didn't hear until this morning.  I have no idea who this girl is, at least so far since no names have been put out.  But I feel empty. 

     If you had watched the movie To Save A Life, you know what I'm talking about.  All I've thought about is how this could have not happened.  In the comment section on our newspaper article online, someone said they went to school with her, and she was the friendliest and more popular girl that he knew.  So what happened?  We might never know, but I can assure you that her family, the driver of the car who she hit, her soul, and anyone affected by her death is in my prayers - can you keep them in yours? 

     If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please know that you are not alone.  People love you.  People care about you.  And if you are someone who needs to talk, talk to someone you trust about what you are going through.  It doesn't have to end like this. 

 

God Bless,

Chloe

Take A Moment to Pause....





     For the year of faith, I've decided to go to morning Mass once a week - on Thursdays.  I go to a local Catholic Church, which also has a Catholic school in conjunction with it.  Little did I know that Thursdays are School Masses. 

     I love the school Masses.  About a hundred kids from first to third grade sit in the first twenty pews and the rest of the morning Mass people sit behind them.  These kids are the cutest kids I have ever seen.  All in their school uniforms, they all walk in together with their rosaries and kneel down before Mass starts.  (Secretly, I'm also happy that I'm no longer winning the "Youngest-person-at-morning-Mass Award.)

     The kids are also in the choir, and then two of them do petitions.  This is where it gets good.

     A little boy comes up to say petitions.  Our first petition is for the newly re-elected President and Religious Freedom.  Our second petition is for the poor.  Our third petition? "For all the homeless animals.  That they can be adopted and live in homes."  Child, I want to hug you.  Why?

     Because I have been SO caught up in this election and then worried about my college application process (countdown: 6 days until music audition!) that I haven't stopped once for about three weeks now.  Every conversation that I have had has been about the future or how we are going to cope.

     Simple things like homeless animals make me stop.  Simple things in life are what grounds me.  And lately, I've been ignoring the simple things and focusing on the huge things.  Not that these big things aren't important, but I have to start from the ground up, not the opposite.  That, and I have the sudden urge to go adopt a baby homeless animal. 

God Bless you all,
Chloe M. 
    

We All Have Days Like This
Comment if you like this video!

Was This God's Plan?

     We were sitting around today and my little sister said: "It's OK, the election results are all part of God's plan."  Are they?

     Let's look at history.  Was it God's plan that Adam and Eve would sin?  No!  He planned a bountiful life filled with joy, happiness, and peace.  Adam and Eve then sinned and ruined that plan with their own. 

     Was it God's plan that Obama would win the second term?  I don't know.  I wouldn't think so - but God's ways are far above mine!

     Ultimately, God plan isn't bound by man's stupidity.  Can God work good out of this mess?  Yes!  Will man accept this working of good and use it to glorify God?  Who knows.  Given our record....
God Bless,
Chloe M.  

    

This Place is Trying to Break Our Belief





     I know.  It's depressing.  And infuriating.  And heart crushing.  And it makes you want to crawl into the fetal position and give up.  Don't.  
     It is hard to think "It doesn't matter who the president is, Christ is still king of kings."  It's challenging to think "I still respect this man because he is my president."  But we are Christians before we are Americans.  And this is not our home.

     It is easy to think "Let's just get out.  I'm sick of it."  And thoughts that come to mind are "Forget it.  This isn't even worth my time anymore."  But we are Christians.  And we have to work on practicing fortitude and perseverance.  

     It's a challenge to not think "I can't even stand with my fellow Christians, who voted for this man even though he doesn't even stand for common morals."  But we are Christians.  And the small, purer, remnant Church is stronger than churches full of people who are afraid to put words into action.

     Stay strong.  Our hope is in the Lord, who neither sleeps nor slumbers.  God isn't governed by poll numbers, electoral votes, or public opinion.  God is always there.  All we have to do is make Him our top priority in this life.


     Thoughts?  Comments?  PRAYERS!

God Bless,

Chloe M.  

Today We Vote - First as Catholics, Second as Americans. 







     Here we are.  After what seems like endless campaign mud-slinging, debates, accusations, insults, and injuries, today is November sixth.

     What does this mean?  It means that we, the American People, have been giving the immense blessing of the ability to vote.  Many men and women before us have died to give us this right.  Many men and women right now would die for this right.  Do we appreciate this? 

     We are Christians before we are Americans.  When we go to the voting place today, we are to vote to uphold Christian principles.  But what about the religion of the candidate? We have to look at the actions instead of the name. 

     Barack Obama is a nominal Protestant.  His family occasionally attends Church, he prays, and he professes a belief in Jesus Christ.  Yet his campaign and first four year term is riddled with abortion support, homosexual marriage support, attempts to tear apart religious freedom, and hatred of Israel.

     Mitt Romney is a Mormon.  His family and himself believe in the Book of Mormon, a literal gathering of the Israelite tribes, and through the atonement of Christ, all men are saved.  And His campaign has shown a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, and pro-Israel track record.

     There are other candidates, quietly campaigning in comparison to Romney and Obama, but they are there.  They, perhaps, are more nominally and action-wise lined up with Catholicism.  Yet they are unknown to the public sector and do not have a reasonable and logical chance at winning the presidency.  They have run their campaigns as an example and a witness to morality and justice. 

     Yet we are at a turning point in this country.  And one vote that is not for Romney is a vote for Obama.  We cannot afford Obama as a country right now.  We couldn't afford it in 2008, and our national debt levels speak that fact loud and clear.  If America chooses Obama for another four years, maybe we don't deserve the second chance we have been given. 
          What is a Catholic to do?  I believe the choice is clear.  Following the teachings of the Catholic Church, we vote to uphold and respect her in all that we do.  We vote for religious freedom.  We vote for traditional marriage.  We vote for life, beginning at conception and ending at natural death.  We vote for standing with Israel.  We vote for truthful economic rebuilding.  We vote for Mitt Romney because we vote for a brighter future than the one we are looking at now.

 God Bless,

Chloe M. 

Who am I? 
Are You Losing your Identity in the Search?





Lose yourself
     It is easy to lose ourselves.  Sometimes this is a good thing, other times, not so much.  For instance, when we lose ourselves and find our identity in God, good thing.  When we lose ourselves because we find our identity in something not of God, bad thing.
     A situation where this losing is rampant is in the dating world.  A young woman who finds her identity in her search for Mr. So-and-So, she can easily forget who she was before her search began.
     Fifteen years later, when she is Mrs. So-and-So, she has a chance to sit back and wonder who she is anymore.  She might not even recognize the person she has become. 
      How do we avoid this?  Simple.  Realize you are a complete person with or without a boy/girl friend standing by your side.


Battling Loneliness
     This is easy to say when you are in a good situation.  But saying you are a complete person is Christ sometimes can seem irrelevant as you sit in your room on Friday night, watching re-runs of reality TV shows and eating chocolate ice cream.
     Relationships are not bad.  They are good!  I wouldn't be here if my parents hadn't started a relationship.  But if the relationship gets top billing in your life instead of Christ, the relationship becomes a right thing in the wrong time, or even a wrong thing in the wrong time.
     Who is the main person in your life? Someone once said, "Christ should be the first person you talk to in the morning and the last person you talk to at night."  Everything comes together in your life when Christ gets top place. 

Look at the Reason
     The search for the perfect person is incredibly consuming.  It can easily take over everything in our lives.  When you feel your relationship with God moving further and further down your priority list, step back and take a look.
     Are you going to Church because a certain guy will be there?  Are you dressing in a different way because a certain girl might see you?  Are you getting interested in a certain topic because you are trying to get attention from someone?
     Christ. Alone. Satisfies.  Nothing else can come close, and everything else that you try to fill your life with won't fill the God-shaped whole in your heart that only one thing fits in.

If you are in a relationship right now that needs re-evaluating, look at this list from www.lifeteen.com :

Do you feel like you’re constantly trying to earn love?

Where do you find fulfillment?

Is your relationship leading you to Jesus? Are you leading the other person to Jesus?

Is love for God what drives you?

Do you recognize Christ in the other person? Is Christ recognizable in you?

Who is the first person you run to?

God bless you all!

Chloe M. 

THE POTHOLES OF LIFE

Found this on Spirit Daily this morning - couldn't help but share!

God Bless you all,

Chloe M. 

THE POTHOLES OF LIFE

 

If you read this blog, you'll love www.lifeteen.com.  If you've read this blog,
you have probably already noticed that I use
lifeteen as a resource.  They are a great orginzation that helps teens to hear Christ's voice in this crazy world we live in.

They are doing their annual fundraiser, so if you feel God moving you to do so, please visit this site: http://donate.lifeteen.com/fundraise?fcid=218731 to donate to them.  Any gift doubles up to $130,000.00 this year.

Thanks and God Bless!
Chloe M. 

Listening to Others
Develping ways to appreciate the other end of the conversation. 



     Sometimes we like to talk.  Believe me, I fall into this trap a lot.  We'll get excited about the topic and talk and talk about it.  It's great to be excited about something, but sometimes we have to listen.

     LISTENING MEANS NOT TALKING

     When we fail to listen, we miss exactly one half of the conversation - the part coming from the other person.  You'll find that listening opens up a whole new world.  You can be introduced to things you never knew and find out things about the people you talk at daily that you'd never know.

     LISTEN TO GOD, TOO

     Our prayer life is something else that benefits from opening our ears.  When we stop talking, we have to look into areas of our lives that we usually try to avoid fixing.  But prayerful silence will not leave you feeling lonely and sad.   Prayerful silence lets you experience the joy of hearing God.  


    LISTENING TO THE OPPOSITE SEX

     This is where listening can be a challenge.  But we can't group people into boxes.  I can't say "Guys just don't talk."  This is just too big of a generalization. Likewise, guys can't say, "Well, all the girls want to do is talk."  It's too broad of a statement.  It's like this list from lifeteen:

 

Guys, if a girl wants to talk that doesn’t make her “high maintenance.”

Ladies, a guy who’s unable to express his emotions doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s self-involved or that he doesn’t care.
Yes, women want to be listened to . . . but so do men!

Yes, women are often “better” at validating another’s feelings (i.e. nodding, affirming, repeating, agreeing, etc.) but much of that has to do with the way they socialize . . . just because many men don’t do that as naturally, it doesn’t mean they don’t care.

Yes, men often want to “fix” the problem, not just listen to it. Women want to fix it, too, but once they know that the man knows what the problem really is.

     HOW DO WE START TO LISTEN?

    The first way to start listening is to STOP.  When someone is talking to you, just stop and listen.  We oftentimes spend the time that another person is talking to formulate the answer that is going to make us sound the funniest, smartest, and best.  
     Another way to make sure your listening is to make eye contact with a person.  In this way you can see that they are talking to you and that they have something to say. 
     Ask questions.  When someone has finished their statement, only then say something that would relate back to the topic.  Asking questions like, "Hello! How are you?"  Open ended questions then call for an answer.  So LISTEN to the person's response.  Maybe they are going through some tough things and need a listening ear.  Maybe they are having an issue and need your advice.  You will not know unless you listen.

How do you listen to people?  Let me know in the comment box below!

God bless,
Chloe M.