grateful – Make Me Great Again

Admiration for Single Parents

042012_Disney_Channel_Premieres_Animated_Series_GoofTroop_TDID To all those single or almost single parents out there; I admire you. I wish I could give you the break you so rightfully deserve.

There have been days, like today, where from the time the kids get up to the time they go to bed it is all on me. They have to be in different places and I have to get them there. I also think they know Daddy isn’t going to be around because man are they acting up.
I keep my cool through most of it but by the time dinner is over (I let them pick the dinner to try to make it special) I am at my wit’s end and barely hanging on. I tell myself just a little longer. I can do this.

It is only one day. By the time they wake up daddy will be back and can help me out again. I am lucky it is only one day. I can’t imagine surviving more than one. Yet, there are moms and dads out there that have to. They have to go day in and day out without the support of their spouse or the other parent. My prayers go out to you all.

So the next time you are on the verge of losing it, wanting to give up or feeling alone, know that prayers are being sent your way. You are not alone. Step back, take 5 deep breaths, say a prayer or go stick your face in a pillow and scream. Whatever will help you get through this moment. You can get through it. Heck, post on here and if I see it or others see it we can cheer you on.

Creating Lasting Memories

family time

Well I have been on a bit of a whirl wind for about 2 weeks now. Last week I went with my parents to the west coast to see my niece receive her first communion and perform in a play. I haven’t seen my parents since November so it really meant a lot to be able to travel with them. I also haven’t been to the west coast to see my two brothers and their families for almost 20 years. It was wonderful.

I got to see where both my brothers are living. I went to the Museum that my baby brother works for and it was absolutely amazing. I am so proud of him. His longtime girlfriend is working at the airport we arrived at so she greeted us and showed us around a little. We got to meet some of her family and share a meal together. Seeing the love they have for my brother meant a lot. They were wonderful.

Then we attended the first communion of my oldest brother’s daughter. We were in the very front and got to see everything. The church was beautiful and the priests were AWESOME!! It was just great. We then celebrated at my sister-in-law’s house. Later that day we saw my niece perform in the Jungle Book at a local playhouse. Again we sat in the front row and she was GREAT!! It meant so much to be able to see where she is growing up and how wonderful my brother and sister-in-law are doing at raising such a special young lady.

First-Comm

To end the amazing trip my two brothers and I took our Mom and Dad out to breakfast on Mother’s Day. I don’t remember the last Mother’s Day I got to spend with my mom. While I missed celebrating with my husband, kids and in-laws it was a day I will never forget. We did a lot of reminiscing.

When I got back it was go, go, go time. I had to get ready for my son’s first communion which was that coming weekend. How time flies.

So this past weekend almost all of the rest of the family came and stayed at our house Saturday to Sunday. Saturday we decided to celebrate my dad’s upcoming birthday since we were all together. Wow, it had been a while since we were together. It was really nice.

Sunday was beautiful. My son received the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time!! The dinner after was delicious too.

Whether or not we get to be with our loved ones on certain holidays we have to learn to cherish the time we do have together. I have learned that my Mother’s Day celebration may or may not be on the day that everyone else is celebrating and that is ok. Anytime we can bring our families together should be a celebration and a cherished time. I know for our family we do not get to be together very often but when we are it creates lasting memories.

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I am so grateful for all those I have in my life and I will take from these two past weeks this; time together is precious. Each loved one is special to me and those moments together are just as special. I will hold on to the memories created from our time together and look forward to the next. We won’t have these opportunities forever.

My Pilgrimage to Italy

With the celebration of Thanksgiving tomorrow, I wanted to stop to talk about my pilgrimage to Italy.

It started off with me just wanting to take my husband to Italy to show him where I had been when I was in high school and for us to celebrate our anniversary. It was just going to be a trip for the two of us. As the planning went on I realized the trip had the potential to be so much more. I dreaded telling my husband that we would be going to church every day but when I did tell him, he simply said that if that’s what I wanted he was ok with it. Really?
Then the word pilgrimage kept coming up when the trip was talked about. I was going on a pilgrimage but what is it? Well a pilgrimage is simply a religious journey. Father Colin advised us to pray in preparation for our voyage. I never knew what a profound trip it truly would be.
It began with our amazing seats at the Papal Audience which before this trip I didn’t even know what it was. We were so close to Pope Francis it was UNBELIEVABLE. As I have stated, I think he is just what our church needs right now and it was such an honor to be so close. Then we got to experience mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Who can say that?

However, it wasn’t until we got to the outskirts of Assisi that I would truly be moved. We visited the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. We started off with mass and then after we got to tour. In the center of the church is Porziuncola which is where St. Francis understood his vocation and began the Franciscan Order. It is also where St. Clare was converted and started the Order of the Poor Clares.

St. Mary of the Angels

When I entered Porziuncola I felt a feeling come over my whole body and tears were coming out of my eyes. I wasn’t sad and I wasn’t happy but the tears were coming. We then went to the chapel of the Transito. It is the cell where Francis died. On an altar encased in glass is his rope belt which looks to have blood on it. I could barely catch my breath in there. I left with the same overwhelming feeling I had in the Porziuncola. I was moved beyond words and had no clue why.

Porziuncola

That feeling was with me the whole time we were in Assisi. I felt a connection I couldn’t explain. When I got home and told my mother about it she wasn’t surprised at all. I asked why and she told me that my grandmother felt a connection with St. Francis. I always thought my mom did too.

After being back I received a picture of Pope Francis from one of my fellow pilgrimages and that feeling was right there again.

That was part of my experienced on our pilgrimage. I went on this journey being open to whatever would happen and I guess you could say I was touched. I think a lot of people’s experiences with religion has to do with your openness. When you allow yourself to be open to possibilities, the possibilities may be endless.

So this Thanksgiving I am feeling so blessed to have been given this opportunity and I hope it keeps the fire lit in me. I wish all pilgrimages a life changing journey. To those that I was blessed to meet on my journey I hope the fire stays lit in you also. Thank you all for an experience of a lifetime!

Did you have a life changing experience on a pilgrimage or a story to share? Tell me about it.

How Precious Life Is

This week I have been debating on what to write about. My youngest child turned 5 today so that is exciting news. I had thought about fitting that in but I also received devastating news a few weeks ago and then again this past Sunday.

On Sept 29th, a woman that I went to high school with (Vicky Tully) and her 20 year old daughter Liz Tully were involved in a head on collision with a FED EX truck in the middle of the afternoon. Vicky and the driver of the other vehicle (Kevin Frank) died at the scene and Liz was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Liz fought for almost 2 weeks for her life and on Oct 12th she passed away. I felt the need to write about this also.

So I have decided to incorporate both.

As my youngest child continues to grow up I find myself more times than not wanting to add to our family. The desire comes and goes but I found myself in the most recent weeks with a hard time ignoring the desire of wanting another child.

I always wanted four children. I am not sure why but that is the number I came up with at a very young age and it’s always stuck. My husband had always wanted four also. That is until his baby girl was born and then he felt complete. I still don’t feel complete at times. I want to be complete but I feel like there is a missing link and I am not sure why. So time and time again I think about the possibility of another child.

Then it seems something happens to remind me of what I have. This heartbreaking tragedy that the Tully’s and Mr. Frank’s family are going through changed it for me. I found myself on Sunday fighting back the tears. I have been keeping my husband up to date on the accident and broke the news of Liz’s passing on Sunday. I told him also how I had thought about asking him to really consider another child but after the most recent news I was grateful for the family I did have.

God has blessed me in more ways than I can count. I try to always remember to thank him for all that I have. Yet, here I am wanting more. What right do I have to ask for more when so many are losing those they love? We are all very healthy with no major medical issues. Shouldn’t that be enough? The answer is yes. If God wanted me to add to the family he would see to it that it happened. Whether or not that does ever happen I am grateful. I will cherish what I do have and continue to work on making it the best life for us I can.

This quote always impacts me. We really need to focus on today because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

As you go through your day please keep the Tully and Frank families in your prayers and all those who have lost loved ones.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.