Back Home Again in Indiana

Just returned from my "Back Home Again In Indiana" trip.

What a wonderful time we had with all our family.

We miss being with our family and it was a joy to see our kids having such a great time with their cousins.

My sister-in-law, Anne and her husband, Ed hosted a wonderful family reunion at their mini-farm. Annie has a way of making everyone feel so warm and welcomed in her home.

My husband, kids, and I stayed with my sister-in-law, Margaret and her husband, Jim. They, too, have a wonderful way of making you feel as if you belong right there with them.

Some may call it Hoosier Hospitality; however, with Jim and Margaret I call it goodness.

Both Jim and Margaret, are saints in the making. They both work so hard to be good people and to raise their children with a strong faith, but with goodness that will enable them to embrace the virtue of kindness.

Their children A.J. (my godson) and M.E. have wonderful examples set for them by their parents. I am continously amazed at how well Margaret and Jim work at making each day a day that really matters and counts when it comes to their daily lives of living so that they make a difference in the world.

They are a beautiful family to watch, to learn from, and to be with.

"Back Home in Indiana"

Cathy at Bit of Blarney has tagged me for the Quirky MEME.

This sounds like a lot of fun and so hear it goes.

1. I like to be alone with my family a lot and be removed from the world. When I have had to much stimulation from the world, I like to retreat with my family to the confines of my home.

2. I don't like to watch t.v., but occassionally will watch DVD's.

3. I like to dress my children better than myself. What's up with that??? I need to rethink that one.

4. I could not live without my day planner. I would be lost.

5. I like to have the utensils in the dishwasher to be organized. All the forks go one slot, all the spoons in another slot, all the knives in the last slot. I know it sounds crazy, but it is easier for my four eyar old to put the utensils up after the dishwasher is clean.

6. I like my closet and the closets in my children's rooms to be organized by color.

The rules:1. Link the person who tagged you.2. Mention the rules on your blog.3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

I tag: anyone who wants to do it!! Thank you!!!!!!

Urgent Need for Prayer Warriors!!!

My dear Prayer Warriors,

I know I ask for many prayer request from each of you and I know it can be burdensome at times to pray for some many; however, I feel that God would not direct the needs of others for prayers in my path if I were not to reach out and pray for them. I also feel He is calling me to ask my fellow Prayer Warriors to do the same. With that said, I would like to ask you to pray for Teena.

She is a middle-aged woman who has recently been diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer that is not operable at this time.

I receive this prayer request from my friend, Dawn. Dawn is very close to this child of God. Dawn in an email told me the following,"she is a kind and gentle spirit. She is also very private and most likely feels the worst part of her illness is that she has to put people out that want to help her."

Dawn also mentioned that Teena has bore many crosses throughout her life since childhood into her adulthood. She has spent most of her life taking care of others and this has left very little time for her to care for herself.

She has in the past 6-8 months lost her husband and her baby grandson. Dawn states that despite her losses she has a very strong faith in God.

She is currently she is receiving chemotherapy to shrink or contain her tumors.

I ask if you can, please spread the word so that other can pray for Teena as well.

Thank you so much and blessed be God Forever!!

JMJ

St. Maximilian Kolbe

St. Maximilian Kolbe is was an extraordinary man who the world could learn a lot from. Even though I never had the pleasure of meeting this man, I feel as if I have always known him.

Today, he is celebrated by the Catholic Church. He is also celebrated in our home, not only for the wonderful man he was, but for the fact that my oldest son chose Maximilian Kolbe as his confirmation name after reading about him.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe was born January 8, 1894 and died August 14, 1941.

He is considered the "Apostle of Consecration to Mary."

Pope John Paul II declare him the "Patron Saint of our Difficult Century."

He was a Franciscan Priest and founded the Militia Immaculata (http://www.kolbenet.com/pages/library/militia_immaculata.html; follow this link to find out more about the Militia).

Saint Kolbe was arrested in 1941 and sent to Auschwitz. During his time there, he took the place of Fraciszek Gajowniczek who was picked to be placed in Block 13. A place prisoners were put to starve to death.

After 3 weeks, Kolbe and three others were still alive. He was then murdered by a fatal injection of carbolic acid.

He was a fervent advocate to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He once said, "If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion."

I agree Saint Maximilian!! We are blessed to be able to receive Jesus each time we are at the altar.

This man is truly a man who knew how to love his neighbor and knew how to trust in God.

I look forward to the day that I can meet him in the Heavenly Kingdom of Our Lord.

In the mean time, it will continue to be an honor to study, to read, and learn more about this wonderful man who made this world a better place by following Christ's example.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ who said, "greater love than this no man has that a man lay down his life for his friends," through the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose life illustrated such love, we beseech You to grant us our petitions .....(mention them here).
Through the Knights of the Immaculata movement, which Maximilian founded, he spread a fervent devotion to Our Lady throughout the world. He gave up his life for a total stranger and loved his persecutors, giving us all an example of unselfish love for all men --- a love which was inspired by true devotion to Mary.
Grant O Lord Jesus, that we too may give ourselves entirely without reserve to the love and service of our Heavenly Queen in order to better love and serve our fellowman in imitation of your humble servant, Maximilian. Amen.
(Say 3 Hail Marys and a Glory be....)

Prayers for Injustice!

Today, I found out shocking news from a friend. Her husband has been wrongly arrested and charged with a felony. In order to help my friend and her family maintain some privacy, I will refrain from giving names and details.

I just ask that you pray for this family. I know this family well and know that my friend's husband has been wrongly charged with something he did not do.

He is a good man, a good husband, and a wonderful father.

I ask that each of you reading this say a rosary for this family.

They are good Catholics who work hard to raise their children in the Faith and to make the world a better place.

My friend's husband has one of the hardest jobs that many would not do. He keeps the world a safer place with what he does.

This is a good vs. evil situation with my friends husband being the good.

This will be a trying time for this family and so your prayers are needed.

Pray that they will stay strong through this and turn to Our Lord for His much needed support.

Dennis Wholey:
Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian.

I found this quote after talking with my friend on the phone. I plan to share it with her the next time we talk.

How true this statement is!!

I offer up this prayer

In Time of Need

Heavenly Father,in the present need of my friend and her husband ,help them to believe that you are aware of their anxiety and will do what is best for them. Give them the strength to trust you and put the present and future in your hands.Grant this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Blessed be God Forever!

JMJ

Olympics!!

Congratulations to Mary Beth Dunnichay and Haley Ishimatsu in their 5th place finish in the Women's 10 meter Synchronized Diving at the Olympics!!!

These two young women (and when I say young I mean very young; Mary Beth is the youngest member of the entire USA Olympic Team at 15 years old and Haley is only 5 months older than Mary Beth).

Both girls are from my home state of Indiana and Mary Beth is from my home town of Elwood. She is the daughter of Ned and Marian Dunnichay. Her Aunt Angie was features on my website as my first Awesome Person Award after donating a kidney to our former high school English teacher.

We have been fortunate to know this family and all their extended family for many years.

For my Catholic friends, a side note is that the Dunnichay family and the Melvin family (her mother's family) are Catholics and attend St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Elwood.

In fact, Mary Beth's great uncle is a priest.

With that said, please say a "Hail Mary" for Mary Beth and her family while they are in China.

Also, please say a rosary for China that their position on Human Rights may become better.

Congratulations Mary Beth!!

May you continue to share your gift that God has given you with the world and may you continue to be successful!

Blessed be God Forever!

JMJ

Prayer

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?

--Corrie Ten Boom

I know this quote just stopped me and my tracks as it made me think-- do I use prayer was my steering wheel or is it my spare tire? I think that it is easy to use it as a spare tire; however, I feel there is much more comfort and direction in life it is our steering wheel.

Today, I will review my prayer life and see where I stand compared to this quote.

If I fall short, I will work hard each day to make prayer my steering wheel and not my spare tire.

Wow! This quote has really got me thinking and I hope it inspires you to think as well.

Blessed Be God Forever!!

JMJ

Prayer requests!!

Please follow the link below for prayers being requested for my very dear friend and fellow blogger, Kathy. Her requests are for her gram and a mom, Julie with six kids. I know I can count on my fellow prayer warriors to come to these with requests with full hearts and be willing to ask Our Lord for His ear.

Blessed be God Forever!

http://kathleenmiller.typepad.com/the_daily_grotto/2008/08/another-urgent-prayer-request.html

confession

Confession is a beautiful act of great love. Only in confession can we go as sinners with sin and come out as sinners without sin.

Confession is nothing but humility in action.

---Blessed Mother Teresa

If you haven't been to confession in a while. I pray that you will be encouraged by Our Lord to return to the confession to seek His unconditional love, His warmth, and His forgiveness.

Blessed Be God Forever!

Prayer

Don't let a day go by without praying a little! Prayer is a duty, but it is also a joy because it is a dialogue with God through Jesus Christ.

--Pope John Paul II

Memorial Mass for Melissa today in PA

In Pennsylvania today, there was a Memorial Mass held at St. Jude's Catholic Church for Melissa.

I spoke with Patti (her mother) and she said it was a beautiful Mass and the church once again was filled with many sunflowers and much love.

Patti said over 150 people attended the memorial.

What a wonderful tribute to this amazing young woman.

I wish I could have been there to be part of this, but we (as a family) were there in spirit.

We kept Melissa's family in our prayers as we thought of them today.

Again, a huge thank you to all of you prayer warriors that prayed for her. Many people have said that they could not believe that our prayers were not answered.

I can only reply with,"They were in many more ways that we can understand and in many more ways we have yet to discover."

God is so good and He does take good care of us.

Blessed be God Forever!