I am officially a DONA certified Doula

Habemus Papam! Pope Francis!

Yes I know you have seen these headlines all day. I told my children I had a feeling we would have a new Pope today. I am always getting these instincts. But It goes deeper. See today is 3-13-2013. The Blessed Mother has appeared on the 13th day many occasions.

 I was working out in my bedroom with my laptop on a "live feed" of the chimney waiting to see a sign, the white smoke.  What was interesting was the sea gulls a couple of them would perch atop the chimney. I took that as a sign , it was not a dove, but it was a white bird :). IT was around 1:45 pm. I told the children we would find out during the hour of mercy who the next Pope was......I just had that feeling. IT was a VERY strong feeling.

I had not watched the live coverage tuesday. But again it was so strong a feeling today to watch . I snapped pics from the live feed on my iphone.

I heard the cheers(latin) first and we knew it was time! The WHITE SMOKE! Praise be to God we had a Pope elected.
This was a excited day for me and my children. I am a convert. We converted in 2003. WE loved Blessed John Paul II. I also loved Pope Benedict. But not as much as Blessed JPII. So I had not paid attention as much when Pope Benedict was elected. I watched a little . But I was sad about Blessed JP II death.

My kids went nuts. We were all so excited. I do nto have cable Just internet and a internet ready DVD player that has a web browser. So I streamed EWTN in the living room, my lap top and my iphone!

 Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected our new Pope. He chose the name Pope Francis. I am sure we will learn much more about this man in the coming days. I wanted to add I spiritually adopted this priest to pray for during the conclave

Jorge Urosa Sabino, from Venezuela, born 28.8.1942.
He's been a Cardinal since 24.3.2006 and his function is: Archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela

 

 

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio  first appearance was that of a kind, humble man.He looks like my grandfather that passed away when I was 17!

 He bowed and asked the people to pray to God for him. Here are his first words:
First Words of Pope Francis

Thank you God for the many blessings of today. And God Bless Pope Francis!




                                                       One of the Sea gulls atop the chimney

                                         Nearing sunset

                                             WHITE SMOKE!

 

 

Here are some of the children in the living room!

                                                       The beautiful bells were ringing

                                                   Sebastian on an ipod

                                            Ethan in front of my laptop (my laptop feed was faster )

Ethan altar served with the Bishop

On Sunday night a special vigil prayer mass was planned to pray for the upcoming Conclave . Ethan volunteered to altar serve . His first mass with our Bishop Estevez .
Ethan processed in behind the Bishop , he would be holding his Crozier .

I was so proud yet nervous for him .
This photo I snapped with my iPhone .

I am a extra ordinary Eucharistic Minister

On February 24 I was officially commissioned as a extra ordinary Eucharistic Minister.
It is something I felt called to when I was in the hospital for over a month when I was pregnant with Sebastian, almost 4 years ago.
I had to beg it seemed to have the Eucharist brought to me ( and I was in a catholic hospital ) I was told their was a shortage of Eucharistic ministers . And we already know we have a shortage of catholic priests .
Some people I have heard do not feel we should have Eucharistic ministers . That the priests should be the only ones giving Holy Communion . I am not at all doing this to replace a priest .
Others also feel a female shouldn't be a Eucharistic minister . Bare with me a little .

I do understand this thought process . But as a female and a mother if many . I know how difficult it can be to get to mass when we have a sick baby or child . And as a nursing mom I could not , leave my baby . So I would miss mass . I have heard from many moms that struggle with this .

 Sure some moms pump and use bottles of breast milk . But me and many moms I know whom ecologically breastfeed and attachment parent this is not an option . Besides a sick little one needs momma and nursing is more than food , as we know its comfort .

I hope to reach out to the moms in my parish and let them know the homebound ministry is also available for them .
I know when a EM would visit me at the hospital and spend a few minutes praying with me is what got me thru that very difficult time. Us moms need that Grace .
It's not meant to replace the Mass at all . But I know way too many moms with several children close in age that had to miss mass .

I will also be bringing the Holy Eucharist to nursing homes and the sick .
So please pray for me.
 

Here a picture from the mass.

Wordless Wednesday (sort of)

(You will need to pause my music play list to hear)

 

Saints in the making

This story was on catholic exchange this morning. Grab a tissue. http://catholicexchange.com/saints-are-still-being-made-meet-chiara-corbella/

There is not much I can say that is not in the story. Except it makes me ponder my life and all I am dealing with.

It goes along with a sad weekend. I learned of a friend of mine's friend that suffered a stroke on friday. A 30 year old mother with 5 children! She died Sunday.Here is a link . http://hacklfamilyfund.com/

I am having a really difficult time lately trying to understand the 'greater good' in so many families that have been torn apart by death. Two other families I know lost their moms to cancer. One was  another homeschooling family in ga. I knew her personally , briefly thru homeschool baseball. I would chase then sit and nurse ethan. She sit and talk with me. . The other was a very dear friend of mine.

I miss her so much. I can not imagine the pain the children feel. I 'talk' to them on facebook sometimes. I know a few of them are struggling. They were homeschooled now this year are in public school. Their mom managed to homeschool them thru cancer treatments. IT was her deep passion. I understand why the dad enrolled them in public school. But it still makes me so sad.
I was with her when she discovered the lump. I do not think many if any others know this. We were a lot a like in our cooking and passion for natural and organic foods. Though I feel she was way more saintly than I was. I looked up to her . Our kids played together while we baked bread. I think about her everyday and pray for her to help me be the mother I am suppose to be. We first met in a natural foods store in jax. I am glad they opened a seperate location. But I sometimes go into the original location. And can see her standing by the bulk area where we first met. The last place I saw her alive was ironically my favorite place, the mission grounds, AKA our lady of la leche shrine grounds.

I met another sweet mom on Fb. Another catholic. Her husband was a police officer. He was killed in action a few months ago. She posts little notes to him on his page and hers. It makes me cry. I do not understand , why. He was a wonderful catholic husband and father. Taken too soon. Another family suffers. here is the fb page read here

Then there is my sweet neighbor. Her husband passed away right when Sebastian was born. They were never able to have children. She still mourns him. He was such a kind loving husband.

This leads me to my situation. While my husband is alive, as I have written many times, it is as if he died on iraq. I still mourn the life I had, the husband I had.  I know he is still alive , but chooses not to be a part of our lives. It is as if I am widow. It would be easier honestly if he had died in iraq. Atl least then the children would not feel as they do, abandoned.

I struggle every day with what I need to do. the life I had is gone. I have been a stay at home mom half my life. I never went to college. Now I am faced with going to school. I am still working on that. Another post  in the future.

I am thankful I am still alive , here with my children.I am not afraid of death. I know this earthly home is just a 'pit stop' to our heavenly home. But i do not want to leave my children , yet.....



Be thankful for all you have. HUG your children everyday. Love your neighbor.

Final Blessing from Pope Benedict