Why is it that we call the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday" and everyone who was so busy being thankful the day before runs out to consume, consume, consume?

Do people flock to Mass on Good Friday to mourn the death of Jesus?

Doesn't this seemed wrong that we will shop and celebrate "Black Friday" and give so little thought to Good Friday; the day Our Lord died for our sins?

For me, Good Friday is more like Black Friday. I drape a black cloth in my home and outside on my porch.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that our society has turned a shopping event into something more important than the death of Jesus.

As we enter into Advent, may we all focus on the gift Our Father gave us--His Son.

As we progress through Advent, may we focus our hearts, souls, and minds on Jesus that as well come to Lent we will be able to see Good Friday as "Black Friday" and mourn for Our Lord so that on Easter Sunday we can Rejoice for the gift of the Resurrection.

Jesus died for our sins! Could we repay Him by making Him the center of our lives? Could we repay Him by working to save the unborn?

Blessed be God Forever!

Rosary!!!!!!

I am thankful for the life the God has given me.

I thankful for my husband, children, parents, brother, mother-in-law, sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, nieces, nephews, godchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends, and all friends.

I am thankful for my blogging buddies and all my friends who are brought to me through Christ.

I am thankful I can vote.

I am thankful for the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I am thankful for the freedom to worship in the Catholic Church.

I am thankful God called me to the Catholic Church.

I am thankful that I can receive Our Lord in the Eucharist.

I am thankful that I can visit Our Lord in the Blessed Tabernacle.

I am thankful that I can teach with the little knowledge I have the faith of the Catholic Church.

I am thankful that I can freely work to save the unborn.

I am thankful that I can freely write on my blog about protecting the unborn.

I am thankful that I can help try to make the world a better place.

I am thankful that I can work to better the social justice problems in our world.

I am thankful for my relationship with the Lord.

I am thankful for all the wonderful people God has put in my path.

I am thankful for the food, clothing, shelter, and many extras the Lord has given my family.

I am thankful for my husband's job.

I am thankful for our health.

I am thankful for the love I feel each day from many people.

I am thankful for each breathe I take.

I am thankful for the birds, the trees, the grass, the flowers, the clouds, the rain, the sunshine, the parks, our schools, and our world.

I am thankful for raindrops, snow, animals, my dog (Cissy), lakes, spiders, lady bugs, grass hoppers, and much more.

I have thankful for the stars.

I am thankful for being able to be thankful.

I am thankful for all the wonder blogs I read, learn from , and grow in faith from.

I am thankful for being able to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and our friends, the other Mike and Kathy Miller (from Seneca Falls).

I am thankful I have great kids who love God and take their faith seriously.

I am thankful that I am blessed with many good things in my life.

I am thankful for the times I must bear the cross since I know that it will only help me grow closer to Our Lord.

I am thankful for being me and for being a child of God.

I am thankful that I have people come and read my blog.

I am thankful that I can once again ask all of you to help save the unborn, to pray the rosary, and to help with social justice issues in this country.

I am thankful that I can ask you to pray for President Bush as he ends his term and to pray for President-elect Obama that he have a change of heart in regards to abortion.

I am thankful that I can stand outside Planned Parenthood and pray to end abortion.

I am thankful for all those who work so hard to stop abortion.

Blessed be God Forever!

Please pray your rosary today!

JMJ

Happy 11th Birthday to my dear Joseph!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY JOSPEH!

Today we celebrate my second youngest child, Jospeh's 11th Birthday.

Joseph is a joy and a great blessing in our lives.

He always makes us stop and listen to what other possibilites there are in life.

He is a talented musician, a good athlete, a hardworking student, and a compassionate young man.

He is also serves Our Lord at the altar with his brother.

He is my shining star and today, I thank God for his presence in my life.

I love you Joseph Hevron Burke!!

God bless you on your special day!

Blessed Be God Forever!

Failure is not the final word.

Love is the final word.

And love is the most living thing of all because love is of God.

--- George Wiegel

Love is the final word and I know that as long as we unite together and love each other, we will win the battle against this culture of death.

We will have the final word and we will show the world that God is love!

God's love should motivate us to make the world a better place and to start with the unborn.

Blessed be God forever and may you know that He loves you more than you will ever know!

Here is a link to the Westchester Institute and a great article that you want to take the time to read in regards to Obama and the pro-life forces. It is a good article and you should consider signing up for their newsletters.

Thank you and say your Rosary for the pro-life movement!

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

---MLK Jr.

and I may add that means in the womb as well!!!

If we don't show justice there, then where it there justice?

God bless you and may find it in your heart to fight for justice in the womb.

From there, fight for justice for those that you fought for while in the womb.

The pro-life fight does not stop once the babies are born.

We need to help these babies grow up to know the love, support, and kindness that helped them be born.

Be the person God intended for you to be and you will help make this world an awesome place.

Blessed be God Forever!

JMJ

Pray the Rosary!

The Blessed Mother is pro-life--she had Jesus, didn't she?

Thanks for stopping by!

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does!!

--Wm. James

You make a difference in how you treat others.

You make a difference on how your live your life.

You make a difference when you stand up for the defenseless.

You make a difference when you pray.

You make a difference when you hug your children.

You make a difference when you smile at a stranger.

You make a difference when you get up each and try to make the world a better place.

You make a difference by just being in this world.

You make a difference becasue God is good and He is the creator of ALL!!!

You make a difference because you believe God is calling you to love his people.

You make a difference so why not inspire others to do the same?

Why not try to help save the unborn??

This will make a huge difference!

Blessed be God Forever!

JMJ

Don't forget to say your rosary!

Book Review: Graced and Gifted: Biblical Wisdom for the Homemakers Heart By Kimberly Hahn

Grace and Gifted:

Biblical Wisdom for the Homemakers Heart

By Kimberly Hahn

Being a book reviewer for The Catholic Company, I am blessed with being able to read Catholic material that relates to my life.

My latest book review touches the core of my heart since my vocations of motherhood and marriage are my paths to the Lord.

Kimberly Hahn reminds me that my work as a Homemaker has extraordinary grace available to me through the sacraments.

I have always thought of my vocation as Holy, but never related them to the sacraments.

God calls us to be that woman. She also shows her readers how to apply the Proverbs 31 woman's wisdom, grace, and gentleness into our own lives as well care for our families.

She also discusses the importance of Prayer, Person, Partner, Parent, and Provider and how they relate to the sacraments. I was simply amazed at how she was able to connect the mundane work that I do each and every day with the sacraments. I was felt a new sense of joy when I thought of my chores and duties at home as a fulfillment of the sacraments. This really brought about a new way of thinking for me.

Kimberly states,"It's a joy to know that even though you walk your own path, you do not walk alone." So many mothers/wives feel this way. They are walking there path and no one is there to support them. However, we do have Our Lord and the sacraments to support us.

Kimberly's book encourages to respond to our Lord with, "Yes, Lord, for you I will ..." When you realize that you are working for the Lord by taking care of your family, you have a new joy put into your work.

Kimberly writes that ordinary work gives us extraordinary grace. We need to model after the Proverbs 31 woman by caring for the practical needs of our household, work with willing hands, realize our small efforts count, and to cook with the right attitude.

She encourages her readers to say to the Lord while they are cooking, "Lord, help me to bless my family with this meal."

I asked this of the Lord the first night I made a meal after reading Kimberly's words and I have to say it made me feel peaceful while cooking for my family rather than dreading preparing the meal.

Time is a gift--these minutes will never occur again writes Kimberly. She is right about this and so we must work hard to manage our time wisely to best serve the Lord and our families. Her book gives wonderful examples and ideas on how to do this.

Kimberly's book should be a gift that each young Catholic woman receives before her wedding day. It would help her set a strong foundation for her marriage, her faith life, and for her future .

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to put Christ back as the focus of their lives and to put joy back into the task of the everyday life stuff.

This review was written as part of the The Catholic Company product review program. Visit the Catholic Company to find out more information on Kimberly Hahn's book Graced and gifted: Biblical Wisdom for the Homemakers Heart.

Dr. Seus once said,"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

He is right; unless we care a whole awful lot about defeating abortion and loving our neighbors, things will not get better.

I encourage each of you today to get out there in the trenches and fight the pro-life fight. I encourage each of you to get out there and love your neighbor.

I encourage each of you to take pray up as your weapon to defeat the evils of this world.

I encourage each of you to start your day with prayer; pray without ceasing!

Blessed Be God Forever!

JMJ

Rosary-- Our Lady is waiting to help you take up the fight. Let her be your guide!

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant!

--- Martin Luther King Jr.

So it shall be with the pro-life movement!!! We may have a temporary set-back with President elect Obama, but we are right and so we will be stronger than evil at its glory!

This urgent prayer request has come to me by my dear friend Kathy over at the Daily Grotto--

We must pray hard for a 16 year old who is seeking an abortion in the next 2 weeks. Her mother has full knowledge and seems to be supportive. It seems it is the grandmother (a devout Catholic and a friend of Kathy's) who is trying to help her young granddaughter have a change of heart.

Thank you prayer warriors! I will keep you updated on how things go. Until then, don't stop praying!

Blessed be God forever!

JMJ

Rosary!!!

Below is the link to the article in the Catholic Courier in regards to Saturday's Pro-life event!

http://www.catholiccourier.com/tmp1.cfm?nid=78&articleid=104336&cfid=6628780&cftoken=63971838

Will the Real Feminists Please Stand Up?

Sue Wills, Esq. from the National Bishops Conference Washington D.C. to speak.
Feminists Choosing Life of New York sign by the famous statue.


I am shown in the center during the re-enactment. Our costumes were beautiful.

People lining up to sign the declaration despite the rain.

Everyone at the signing and the re-enactment.

Here I am standing in the rain thanking Christine for coming from 40 Days for Life that took place in Rochester, NY. I meet her the weekend before and she was there to support us. I was so happy to see her there. She really is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Statue in Seneca Falls, NY where Amelia Bloomer introduced Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This is also the site that the event took place.

What a wonderful day it turned out to be, despite the rain, on Saturday where Feminists Choosing Life of New York held the 160th Anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Rights for Women & Children.

The original document had 100 signers and we were blessed, despite the cold rain, to have over 100 signers for the latest update Declaration of Rights for Women & Children.

The day started early with the re-enactment of Amelia Bloomer (played by me) introducing Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Many braved the weather to sign the declaration and to watch the re-enactment.

We then moved in a procession of loudly honking horns (we wanted to make sure that NOW knew the pro-lifers were in town) to the Seneca Falls Library where we were treated to speakers and food.

Wendy McVeigh, Vice President, FCL spoke first and it was so wonderful to see a a beautiful young woman like Wendy with such a passion for life and the values of motherhood.

Next, Suzanne Schnittman, PhD who is professor on Women's History gave a delightful talk as if she were Elizabeth Cady Stanton's daughter. She was so fun to listen to and her body language made her even more fun.

Our last speaker was Sue Wills, Esq. from the National Bishops Conference, Pro life Activities.

Susan was a wealth of information to our group. She also had a wonderful sense of humor. She opened up for questions after her life affirming talk and was willing/able to discuss politics with our group.

I was able to speak with her later in the morning and felt I could have talked to her all day about pro-life issues.

She said one thing that has stuck with me since our meeting. Sue said,"I get paid to do what I love in the pro-life movement. You people do not get paid to do this. You volunteer. You are the true heroes."

Wow!! How humble she was!

It as an incredible day and provided me with much fire and enthusiasm that I needed after the election results earlier this week.

"When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit."

---

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

You can't really say much more than that. Elizabeth did a fine job pointing out reality.

I am so glad that God gave me the opportunity to participate in this event.

I also thank Kathy Peters for all she did to make the day wonderful. She is one awesome woman who is so positive, encouraging, and loving. She is one person who I hope to follow in the foot steps of during my pro-life journey.

Please consider doing your part in the pro-life movement. Pray for the pro-life movement, blog about it, volunteer, set-up programs, or whatever your talent is - use it to bring awareness to others that Life is a Gift from God. We do not have the right to choose who has life and who does not.

One more thing to consider: we must fight for the Right to Life for the unborn child and while we fight we must also work for the good of those unborn children once they are born. Those children become toddlers, preschoolers, school agers, teens, young adults, mature adults, elderly, etc.

Our support for life does not stop once we have worked to ensure the Right to Life. We must work at helping them have the basic needs, love, support, and to see God's kindness so that if they are ever faced with a decision to abort they will remember those who worked hard to help them have a better life and will say, "I will chose life, I will chose love." (Tom Booth).

I would also like to say to all my blogging buddies that you are all awesome and inspire me to work harder in the pro-life ring.

THANK YOU for your support, your love, and your encouragement.

You are all my shining starts.

Blessed be God Forever!

JMJ

Rosary- Our Lady is waiting to hear from you!

Life is life: born and unborn.

-Cindy Sheehan, May 4, 2006

That is the reality of God's Divine Work.

He created life!

No need to debate it! No need to fight it!

Remember, We did not invent God-

He invented us.

Lets start acting like the children of God instead of spoiled brats that think only of themselves!

Blessed Be God Forever!

"I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then."

Deut. 30:17

God is pro-life, are you?

What have you done today to help make the pro-life cause heard?

What have you done today to save the unborn baby?

Your prayers for the unborn baby and the pro-life cause would be a great first step.

Then would you please decide to get out in the trenches and join other pro-lifers to do God's work?

As Ablert Einstein said,"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."

Ask God what it is He is calling you to do to help the pro-life cause.

As we sang in Mass tonight, "Here I am, Lord; Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord; if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart."

Follow where the Lord wants you to go; His ways are the only ways worth living.

Blessed be God Forever!

Tomorrow, I will post about my absolutely wonderful and moving day as Amelia Bloomer, being part of the Feminist Choosing Life Conference, and listening to Susan Will from the USCB Pro-life Actitivies Office.

I will also post pictures!

JMJ

Rosary for Life!

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world---

Anne Frank

What are you waiting for?

Ask God for His guidance and to know His Will so that you have all the tools you need to get started on making the world a better place!

Blessed be God Forever!

" Pray without ceasing." (1 Thes. 5:17)

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter---

Martin Luther King Jr.

I will not become silent.

I will speak out!

I will shout!

I will scream!

I will let the world know abortion is murder!

I will also do this with great love and humbleness!

As Martin Luther King Jr. said," When you are right you cnnot be too radical; When you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative."

I am right and know in my heart the Lord has called me to fight this "Culture of Death."

I will also respect and pray for our 44th President of the United States, Barrack Obama.

I will follow the words of Lucy Larcom:

If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.

Blessed be God forever!

Here I am, Lord; I have come to do your Will.

Tonight, I must turn all over to my Lord and trust that He will guide me in what I am to do so that I may contribute in the fight to combat the "Culture of Death."

I will work until I am bone tired to fight the "Culture of Death."

I will work to teach my children over and over again with much love that only God's Will matters and we are to know, to love, and to serve Him.

I will lovingly teach my children that they cannot stand by and let the innocent be killed.

I will also lovingly teach my children that we will not be one issue Catholics.

We will place life at the top of our priority; however, we will work to improve social justice issues within our country.

I will do this, so help me God, with much love, prayers, and humbleness.

Thank you God for letting me live in a country where I have a right to vote. Thank you God for letting me live in a country where I have religious freedom and the freedom of speech.

Thank you good for letting me join you in fighting the "Culture of Death."

Let me be your eyes, your ears, your hands, your feet, your voice.

Let me be the voice of the unborn, the poor, the hungry, the lonely, and the those who need my suport.

Let me do your Will with love, with humbleness, and with your guidance.

Blessed be God Forever!

JMJ

Rosary now more than ever!

Abortion is Murder!!

I saw this on a website and wanted to repeat it:

A vote for Obama is a vote for dead children.

Will you be able to justify to these children on Judgement Day why you vote for a candidate that did not protect them from abortion??

Chose Life, Your mother did!!!

I will chose life!

Vote Pro-Life!!

I would like to see Obama tell Blessed Mother Teresa about what his first act as President of the United States would be.

I know that she would be horrified to hear about the Freedom of Choice Act. I know she would be saddened over the fact that Obama does not have the interest of the unborn in his heart.

Blessed Mother Teresa would be praying a lot for Obama.

She knew the value of life and she knew what true social justice was.

She lived with and served the poorest of the poor and she felt that abortion was murder. She felt that every person should have a chance at time.

Perhaps Obama, you should have found people like her to advise you on your policies.

Pray for those voting tomorrow that they will see Life as precious and will see Obama's life policies unbearable to live with.

Pray also for Obama that he will have a change of heart in regards to his extreme abortion views.

Please pray a rosary for life!

Blessed be God Forever!

JMJ

Rosary Time!

There is no time more needed than the present time to be praying to Our Lady for her intercession. Please say a rosary for Life!

Our Lady is waiting to hear from you!

Blessed be God Forever!

My All Saints Day with 40 Days for Life!

Picture above are a few of the wonderful people I prayed with during my time with 40 Days for Life.

I spent time on All Saints Day with a wonderful and devout crew of Catholics in front of the Planned Parenthood Abortion Mill in Rochester, NY.

It was a bit nippy, but while we were praying the rosary the sun came through and seemed to be God smiling on us.

I had the little ones with me and wish the older boys could have joined us as well, but schedules did not allow it.

The people praying at the vigil site were kind, generous, and so loving.

We prayed and prayed and prayed.

I have to say that when I drove by the Planned Parenthood Abortion Mill to get to the vigil, I felt evil itself lurking in the air.

My stomach turned when I thought about this being a place where babies are murdered and I , first as a Catholic- Second as a mother- and third as a registered nurse that I could not run in there and do something about it.

How heavy my heart felt!

I turned it over to God and joined by fellow pro-lifers in praying!

We briefly discussed our concerns in regards to the election, but I know that if the election does not turn its favor to LIFE that this will only urge all of us to work harder and to have a stronger faith in the Lord.

I want to thank the wonderful 40 Days for Life crew I meet on Sunday, to Jose for all his hard work for organizing, and David Bereit, National Campaign Director40 Days for Life for the amazing job that he did.

I hope next year to organize a 40 Days for Life in my community and I encourage each of you to consider doing the same.

A close and dear friend reminded me that it is one thing to say you are pro-life and do nothing and it is another to get out there in the trenches so you get dirty.

I think it is time for more of us to get dirty.

Blessed be God Forever!

JMJ

Why I do what I do!

I do what I do to help be a better person, to love my neighbor, to help the homeless, to feed to hungry, to give time to the lonely, to defend life because I love God.

I also do it because I love these four kids.

They make me each day want to be a better person.

Loving them tells my heart that I must work to make this world a better place.

Loving them tells me that I must teach them that loving God means being a servant and by being a servant, they are to take care of the vulnerable, the homeless, the hungry, the poor, the lonely, and to care about those that make the laws in our country and VOTE!!!!

I must make sure that I leave no doubt in their minds what the Catholic Church teaches so that they will never come to a time in their life when they must ponder who the best candidate may be.

They will already have it written on their hearts: the one that supports the right to life and social justice issues.

Loving these four kids makes it imperative that I teach them that the Right to Life is the foundation of all other rights and without the Right to Life no other right matters.

Blessed be God Forever!

JMj

Will the real feminists please stand up?

The statue above is in my Village of Seneca Falls.

It is a statue of Amelia Bloomer (center) introducing Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

These women are the foremothers for the Women's Right Movement.

For those of you who do not know, Seneca Falls is the home of Women's Rights and the National Women's Hall of Fame.

A surprising fact to most is that these women were pro-life.

Next weekend, I have been asked to help re-enact this historic meeting of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

I will play Amelia Bloomer and my good friend, Michelle will be playing Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

I am very excited about this because it means that I am recognized in my community as someone who is Pro-life; this is considered to be a bit radical in the community I live in.

It is not common to find like-minded people.

The re-enactment will be followed by a short conference defending life with pro-life speakers.

The exciting speaker (for me) will be Sue Wills, Esq. from the National Bishops Conference, Pro-life Activities.

We will also obtain 100 signatures on the New Declaration of Rights for Women & Children:160th Anniversary Declaration of Rights for Women and Children

Recalling 2008 marks the 160th anniversary of the Declaration of Sentiments written for the First Woman’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York as well as the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, Feminists Choosing Life of New York presents a compilation of human rights documents and pro-life feminist philosophies related to a consistent life ethic and wherein opposes abortion ,euthanasia, the death penalty and embryonic stem cell research as violations of basic human rights and,

It is the right and duty of every woman, equally with man, to promote every righteous cause by every righteous means, and especially in regard to her children and their security of life and happiness.[i]

Whereas the child by reason of his or her physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection before as well as after birth.[ii]

Whereas the woman, by reason of her child bearing capacity needs special safeguards and care thus seeks legal protection and accommodation for said capacity, in the home, workplace, and society[iii],

Therefore let it be hereby resolved that

"Every Human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall arbitrarily be deprived of his or her life”[iv]

Women and their children must not accept their current situation when they are deprived of special care and assistance they need[v]. (Art. 25).

Women must have full legal protection against those who take the life of her child.3

Women and children shall be free from violence at home and in public and be assured full legal protection against those who threaten the life of a woman or her children.3

Women and children must have full legal protection against all forms of non-consensual sex3.

Women and children shall have full access to affordable health care including pre and post natal care.3

Women and children must have full access to quality, affordable child-care and after-school care.3

Women and children must have access to affordable, appropriate campus housing for all parenting students.3

Sentences of death shall not be carried out on pregnant women.**** (International Convention of Civil and Political Rights.5 (Art. 5)
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.5(Art. 16)
[i] Declaration of Sentiments
[ii] UN Preamble Declaration of the Rights of the Child
[iii] Feminists Choosing Life of New York
[iv] Article 6: The American Declaration on the Rights of the Child
[v] Declaration of the Rights of the Child

NOW (National Organization of Women) will hold their convention at the Holiday Inn in Seneca Falls this same weekend and their BIGGEST agenda is pro-abortion/choice.

To counteract their pro-choice views, we will putting on this 160th Anniversary celebration to show that our feminist foremothers were pro-life and their strong commitment to Equal Rights for All Women and Children meant the unborn as well.

Please pray that in this town of pro-choicers that we will receive the support to show the world that pro-life is the only way to live!

Blessed be God Forever!

I'll take pictures and post them so you can see how things went!

JMJ

Rosary for Life!

We have saved a baby!

Great news my prayer warriors--

we have saved a baby!

My friends daughter has made the right choice on keeping her baby. Not sure if she will raise the baby or give it up for adoption, but she has chosen life for this little one.

Blessed be God forever!

Please pray that she will return to her Catholic faith and ask God for his guidance in her decision.

Please pray for me and my family as we attend the 40 Days for Life Vigil in Rochester, NY today in front of the Planned Parenthood.

We are so exicted to be praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ to stop Abortion!

Thank you again for your prayers!

Our Lady of Victory, Pray of Us!

JMJ

Don't forget your rosary!