Mother's Group Miracle

I must admit, since my mother's passing, I have been stretched on a number of levels. I have not hosted my Mother's Group since her passing. Even though I have hosted it for about 17-18 years, I couldn't muster the strength or enthusiasm to host it again.

I kept thinking, maybe the passing of my mom, would coincide with the end of my Mother's Group. In a peculiar way, almost to honour her passing. 

But, smack in the middle my heart the notion of hosting Mother's Group kept coming to the surface. It kept brewing, and then for 101 different reasons I would procrastinate hosting it.

On more than one occasion, the Holy Spirit prompted me to host  it again, 

but then some form of discouragement or exhaustion attached itself into my soul and I would fight off any holy inspirations. 

Then something happened. 

By the grace of God, a day or so ago,

I found out that Moira Noonan, author of;

Ransomed from Darkness: 

The New Age, Christian Faith and the Battle for Souls, 

was going to be in Toronto from California. 

Well, I  ended up having  dinner with Moira and a bunch of people on Saturday.

The Holy Spirit started a great work in me!

I couldn't help but wonder, 

Would she speak to our Mother's Group while she's here? 

Moira's book had an important impact on my faith journey a number of years ago. In fact, I wrote about a talk she gave in my book, Motherhood Matters. Look on page 118 in my book! Now, here she was right in front of me. I have heard her speak to audiences of well over 500 people. 

Guess what happened?

I was in the office today. 

Guess who walks in? 

Moira Noonan!

I was still resisting the promptings of the Holy Spirit -- 

who was strongly suggesting I ask her to speak at my Mother's Group. 

Then a small still voice reminded me that this Thursday is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

Well, before my mom passed away, she asked my sister and I to propagate the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Padre Pio and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

So, we started chatting, and I asked her about the possibility of giving a short talk at Mother's Group this Thursday. 

"On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe? Yes, I am available!"

She then put about 25 small pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe into my hands. Almost as if to seal the agreement.

How in the world can I resist THAT? 

I am calling this my Mother's Group Miracle. 

Only a a series of events orchestrated by some supernatural force could have put my Mother's Group back on the map, a miracle. 

Something bigger than me, grabbed me, pulled me out of my doldrums and commanded me to act despite all of my natural inclinations.

Can you say a little prayer for our meeting?

I have to do a lot to get ready! Please keep me in your prayers. 

This is my first Christmas without my mom, and I am nervous about it.

Did you see my piece in the Catholic Register?

http://www.catholicregister.org/columns/guest-columnists/item/17282-packing-up-family-memories

The Perfect Christmas Gift -- Big Hearted

Are you searching for the perfect Christmas gift?

Well, stop looking, because I have got one for you right here!

This past summer, I took a least a dozen books to my sister's cottage. I read five of them and one rose to the top, as my all time favourite!

Big Hearted, Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families, 

written and compiled by Patti Armstrong & Teresa Thomas,

published by Scepter Publishers, left my heart soaring to heaven, and begging for more.

The book nourished my soul, encouraged my sagging spirit and gave me confidence that yes, dynamic faithful Catholic families do exist and no, they are not normal, they are supernatural.   

The 136 page book has 16 authors! Why?

Because the book its a bouquet of unbelievably inspiring stories, written by Catholics who not only love the church, but they live out their Catholic faith, in ways that will humble, transform, challenge, inspire, console, edify and motivate the reader.

How about that for a ringing endorsement?

Believe me, I don't get paid for writing this blog or writing book reviews. I honestly want to get the word out about this book. You might be wondering, why....    I will get to that in a minute.

Now think about it, with Christmas around the corner, don't you think it is important to have little gifts around the house that you can give to people that unexpectedly God brings into your life?
I sometimes like to have chocolates and a variety of little things to help spread the joy of the season.

My mom repeatedly said, "When you are buying someone a gift, don't do it just to cross it off your list. Put a little bit of thought into it and a little bit of love, therein lies the perfect gift!"

Little Gifts with Love!

 What a perfect shopping mantra!

I have a secret to share..   I always pray to the Holy Spirit when shopping!

So, why did I love the book Big Hearted Families? 

Why do I think it is a perfect Christmas gift?

1. Because the book is a collection of short inspiring stories. You can read a little or a lot.

2. The book does not have a religious icon on the cover. 

Why did I like this? 

Well, it allows me to give the book to more people! Many folks are against religious books, but who can possibly be defensive against receiving a book on being Big Hearted?

3. The book is not loaded with quotes by saints, Papal encyclicals and Vatican documents.

What the book does, through the stories, is demonstrate the fruits of living an authentic Catholicity! The book is highly accessible, highly readable and unbelievably believable. This book is loaded with Catholics that are the real deal.  

4. I  love the titles and the topics of the stories too! 

Why Women Cook, From Riches to Rags, Not What We Planned, For Heaven Snakes, Christmas without Money, all stories that caught my attention. When I read The Most Successful Woman in the World, by Stacy Trasanocos, I really wanted to find this woman and have a cup of coffee with her!

5. I could tell you more.

   But then I would have to write a book about the book!    

   How smart would that be? 

Don't put the book on your list, buy the book right now! It's even available on Kindle, so you can treat yourself! Buy YOURSELF a gift !!! If you are a hard working Catholic mom, you deserve it!  CLICK HERE

If you want to visit Patti's website, you will find more treasures! http://www.pattimaguirearmstrong.com/ 

Now, I couldn't find Theresa Thomas' website, I think from the picture below, you will figure out why!

Ya think, maybe she's too busy? I personally think it's a miracle that she got involved int his project! 

I am friends with her on Facebook, so I have the great pleasure of seeing snapshots of her daily life!

The Secularization of Death

Gearing up for my first Christmas without my mom is heart wrenching. I have attended both a grief support group, and yesterday a session on, "Coping with Grief During the Holidays."

 Do you know what I have found REALLY strange?

In all of these sessions, the facilitators DID NOT mention God. Can you imagine, trying to navigate the reality of DEATH without FAITH?

Facilitators talked about a coping TOOL box; going for a walks, writing letters, making scrapbooks, hosting special memory sharing parties or doing yoga etc., as ways of coping. While all of these things can be good, in of themselves, I know it's taking a lot more than THAT, for me to acquire a supernatural confidence that I will, despite it all be able to celebrate Christmas, in spite of my mother's passing.

It seems to me, that in this day and age, everyone is AFRAID to talk openly about their FAITH, in fear of OFFENDING someone. Can you imagine that religious folks have now been put in a position, to be AFRAID to publicly talk about the very thing that is at the very CORE of their essence?

In an age, culture, and media environment, where everyone is so shamelessly open about everything, including their struggles with addictions, hoarding, same sex attractions, their issues in marriages, their divorces, their strategies in raising children, their financial struggles. For goodness sake, people are showcasing their entire lives, with details, that in my mind, should be private, not on national television.

Has anyone considered that perhaps I am offended by their behavior?  

Trying to find meaning in death, trying to suffer through the pain and agony of loosing a loved one without acknowledging and calling on Our Creator, really is insane, don't you think?

 At one point in yesterdays session, I just could not bear it any more, and I said, "It might be an idea to turn to whatever Faith tradition we are rooted in, looking for help. I am confident that the Faith that we were born into, has some tools that would give us supernatural strength for this journey."

I think everyone was stunned. I hate the word journey, but I felt compelled to use it to try to somehow fit in. We have done it folks, we have secularized death. Quite frankly, I think that is insane.

Today, more than ever, I am grateful for my mother's sacrifices, tears, prayers and determination to do all that she could to pass down the Catholic Faith. It is heartbreaking to think of all the millions of women who have forgotten that their primary duty is to do exactly that.

Thank you mom, for your prayers.

I ask all of you for your prayers during this Christmas season, because intercessory prayers are something I rely on....  

Consider reading this beautiful post here about a divine mission.

Michael Kors, Celine Dionne, Joel Osteen

This post is for all those who have launched a 'money attack' on the Catholic Church, or for all of those that have complained that too many homilies ask for money.

 Why don't we take target our

                           'money attack' elsewhere? 

Why just the Catholic Church?  Is there something I am missing? From what I have seen, the average Catholic family, throws in five bucks or a couple of loonies into the collection plate on Sundays, heck the average family movies night costs about $100. Going to mass, really is cheap in comparison and the benefits are divine. There are so many things that we buy that are grossly overpriced -- and we RARELY launch the 'money attack' in,fact we are PROUD that we can afford the THING.

Think about,  Micheal Kors, the American fashion designer has a net worth of ONE BILLION dollars. Where do you think he gets his money from? I took a look at his website and I could not believe the prices. Are these boots really worth a thousand dollars? Wouldn't it make more sense for someone to buy a $50 pair of boots and give the difference ($950) to feed the poor? 

Oh, in case you are more into being 'edgy' or want an 'unexpected mix that can't be tamed' (from the official MK website) you might want these $995 pink pumps! Who do you think is paying for Michael Kors' or paying for his lifestyle? 

Recently, a friend of mine told me she TREATED herself to a Michael Kors purse, because she was working hard and she felt she deserved it. I didn't have the heart, but in my mind, I really thought she was selling herself short. I couldn't help but wonder,

 "Do you really need that purse or boots with the famous MK logo to feel good about yourself?"

I couldn't help but think of all the GOOD that could have been done with that money! I don't know how much it costs to actually manufacture those purses or boots, something tells me, someone is making a pretty penny!

Oh, and then there is Celine Dionne's home in Florida, up on the market for a mere 72.5 million dollars. Do we criticize her, every time she bellows out a song (for her riches)?  Why is it that we jump all over the Catholic churh for just about anything, but don't think twice about other organizations through that same lens? Have you heard of Joel Osteen's recent move?

All, I am saying here folks, is THINK !!!  THINK !!! THINK !!!

****If you have enjoyed this post even just a LITTLE bit CLICK HERE and you will love the infographic.

It really is worth CLICKING HERE and looking at it.

Making a GUTSY phone call

One of my Facebook friends made a GUTSY phone call this morning. 




I wonder if you would have the courage to do this?
I am not sure I would. Can you please pray for her? 

Pray for the doctor she spoke to -- pray for ALL doctors!

Here's what she shared,

I just got off the phone with my Ob/Gyn. I needed to ask him in person if he performed abortions. First he asked me why I  wanted to know. Then he was stammering and finally said we offer abortions to our patients whose pregnancies hae genetic defects instead of shipping them out. I told him I thought he was Catholic. I tearfully whispered,

"It goes against our faith." There was silence. I'm heartbroken. 

Please pray for him and the other doctors in his practice.

Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious

I love using the summer months to get caught up on my reading. Going to my sister's cottage often turns into a bit of a retreat. This year I brought up a stack of books and ended up reading three of them!

The first book, Blessed Beautiful and Bodacious, written by Pat Gohn, caught my eye several months ago. The title itself caught me hook, line and sinker. I must admit, I picked it up and put it down several times. The distractions of the city life wouldn't let me get past the first chapter or two. When I was finally in the country, sitting in my Adirondack chair, staring at the lake, listening to the wind rustling through the trees, I was finally able to dig in and give the book the attention it deserved.

Right from the word get go, I was smitten by Pat's raw honesty. She is a woman who is no stranger to suffering and in writing about suffering so openly, she really gave me something to hang on to. Because honestly, sometimes I feel like I am the only one that has had to suffer! It is so sobering to read about another woman's struggles and to know that she has come out the other end, with her faith and spirits in tact.

I know, from having been interviewed by Pat on her Podcast, Among Women, that Pat herself is a dynamic and yes, bodacious woman. Not once have I have suspected that she had suffered so much. Her beautiful smile, her infectious laugh and her peaceful spirit, leave not a single trace of bitterness and resentment. The woman has left me inspired. When I grow up, I want to be more like her!

Being a Catholic author myself, I am always quite struck by women who have the courage to write about Our Lady, or quote from a papal encyclical or broach topics like the Theology of the Body.

I would never have the confidence to do that -- but Pat has it in spades. She heroically draws from a number of sources, especially Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women). Her suggested readings and resources, at the back of the book is certainly a section, that will make the book a worthwhile addition to any library. I must admit, I was disappointed not to find my book, Motherhood Matters, listed there. I kept looking and looking, the world of female Catholic authors is not that big. I guess the good Lord is wanting to keep me humble. No such luck. My loss.

Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious is a good and enjoyable read. It is accessible, written with humility, by a woman who is not a snob, but a woman who has an authentic and pure heart. If you like down to earth women, you will like this book.

I could relate to Pat in so many ways. Her old driven workaholic nature, the love of her guitar, her devotion to motherhood, her insights on the sacrament of Baptism and finally her determination to share the graces she had been entrusted with, all of those things really kept my attention and left me inspired.

There was a story in the book that brought me to tears (the beautiful kind). It is a story about two mother's groups called Mothers' Morning of Prayers. I would tell you all about it my friend, but instead I want you to get the book and read it yourself! You can get it right here! . 

Buy Her an Angel Today!

Do you ever think about how the Holy Spirit makes Himself known in your life? Sometimes I experience His presence  like a gentle breeze whistling through my soul, other times He brings a burst of joy or a flood of tears...   He really is delightful, surprising and astonishing at times! Yet other times I sense His instruction in the form of a foreboding warning, "Don't read that book, or go to that place." I have often been given such warnings that sometimes years later have been confirmed. It is sometimes what I like to call the gift of 'sensing.' Other's might call it intuition, but I like to call it a gift of the Holy Spirit.

I would like to officially declare my love of the Holy Spirit!

Yesterday, I had something remarkable happen and I am so happy to share the story with you! I see a number of professionals for a variety of issues and often times I see them regularly. One woman had a variety of angels in different places in her office. Every time I visited her office, I would take note and talk to her about different spiritual things. During one of my visits, I sensed that I should add to her collection and buy her one -- an angel. I see the woman on a regular basis, and the thought came and went, eventually I dismissed it as a case of my love of shopping and at times spending too much money! I decided while it was a nice idea, surely I couldn't buy something every time I had the idea! 

Then yesterday, 

something REMARKABLE happened.

I had the thought again, 

"Buy Vivienne an angel."

 Except this time, there was a sense of urgency about it.

I was scheduled to see Vivienne later that day and in between a variety of appointments, I went angel shopping. Again, I became dismissive about the command of buying her an angel. I saw one I liked, but then I put it down. I like to go to noon mass, and it was about to start, just across the street from the from the mall. I had the angel in my hand, and decided to put it down and forget the entire idea altogether. I rationalized myself out of the thought and went to mass. After mass, I became completely convicted and determined to get the angel I was holding earlier. I went back to the store. It had disappeared. I was a bit stunned, because this gift store with filled to the brim with dozens and dozens of statues. When I couldn't find it -- I sensed a battle going on. I did sense that Satan was interfering, so I rallied up some holy determination. I spoke to the sales clerk, she made it clear she hadn't sold it in the last hour. We rummaged through the store thoroughly and found another one of these angels in a remotely different spot. My heart sank when I noticed it was damaged and not fit for a gift. But from that statue, the clerk was able to get the serial number. My heart soared to heaven and back when she found a brand new one packaged still in the box. She wrapped it up for me and I was one happy camper! 

Here is the supernatural part. I headed off with angel in hand to my meeting with Vivienne. When I got there, I learned she wasn't there this particular day, which was highly unusual. We had a meeting. 

Through a series of coincidences, I ended up in Vivienne's office anyway.

I sensed something was off. I sensed something was wrong. 

I asked others in the office who maintained her confidentiality and simply said, 

"Vivienne will be back next week." 

I left my angel all wrapped up in her office, a gift for her return next week.

When I got back to my own office and checked my voicemail, I heard this message.

"Vivienne will not be available for your meeting tomorrow, she called in and has a family emergency"

I was struck by the series of events. How about you? 

Do you have a story to share? About the Holy Spirit?

Mother's Day! Celebrate a Different Way!

With Mother’s Day approaching, like any modern day mom, I am looking forward to celebrating the day. I must admit, I love breakfast in bed, I love receiving the gifts, the flowers, the homemade cards. I particularly enjoy enjoying relishing in the graces of the day. I must admit tho, my mind does go back to a different version of Mother’s Day. I have very fond and vivid memories of taking part in an annual Mother’s Day recital, hosted by my home parish, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, run by the Oblates of the Immaculate Mary in Toronto. 

 Sister Archangela, and a host of other Felician sisters, would orchestrate an event after mass that honoured the vocation of motherhood. Children would recite beautiful poems celebrating the tenderness and love of a mother, musicians would play songs on the depth of her love and prayers would be prayed to thank God for the gift of our mothers. Oh yes, and don’t forget the flowers, mothers were showered with flowers and often times a formal blessing by the pastor. 

It was no doubt a potently beautiful event that did not shy away from being religious, and I loved it! As a young girl, I was deeply moved by participating in these recitals, it stirred within my soul such gratitude and longing to become a mother. In the Polish culture, while I was growing up, mothers were revered, the vocation itself considered sublime.
  

There was sacredness in the celebrations of the day, and yes those celebrations were linked to Mary, the Mother of God. Each mother knew that she had a duty before God, not only to care for her children, but to pass down the Catholic faith.

As, I was raised, I knew becoming a mother, meant not only embracing a hearty list of things to do, to buy, to organize—it wasn’t only a photo opportunity of happy moments, becoming a mother involved an level of accountability before God Himself. 

It’s a stark contrast to secular Mother’s Day celebrations which at times to me, ring hollow. 

Very recently, my mom, from her death bed, announced,

 “The only thing, I have ever wanted was

 to succeed at passing down the Catholic

 faith. To have children, who practiced 

and lived their Catholic faith from the 

bottom of their hearts.”

It really did get me thinking. 

Can you imagine living with that goal as a desired end in mind? 

How different the world would be all Catholic mothers made passing down the Catholic faith as their life’s priority?

Imagine for just a second, if we all forgot all of the other things that seem to pull at us as mothers, what would our life look like?

I don't know if I am the only mom who thinks that sometimes the world is completely upside down. It appears that some mothers seem to make EVERYTHING else a priority in their lives. Honestly, it drives me crazy!

I was edified when a few days ago, a friend on Facebook, posted this as her status, 

"My number one goal as a mom is to do everything in my power to help my children get to Heaven. This ultimately, is all that matters. Pray for your children every day, teach them our beautiful Catholic faith, and help them develop a wonderful relationship with Jesus and His Blessed Mother. Your children will be eternally grateful."

It got me thinking maybe we should all consider hosting a Mother’s Day recital in our parish!

 This blog post was written in memory of my mom,

 Teresa Pilarski who passed away on April, 12, 2013.

Motherly Musing -- Morning Prayers!

I was talking to my mom yesterday and since she is quite frail, and her voice weak, I have found myself listening to her a little more carefully.

The strong, confident comanding voice is weakening, but on another level it has grown stronger.

She is spending much of her time praying. And, I know she will continue to evangelize until her very last breath. She has ALWAYS talked about matters of Faith to my sister and I, ever since I can remember!

That is just my mom.

I have been blessed with a mother of incredible Faith. She is a survivor of World War 11 -- She was 13 years old when her home was bombed in Warsaw, Poland.

Yesterday, as always, she spoke to me about the importance of morning prayers. I am a wife and mother and my own mother is still reminding me of the importance of devoting time to prayer first thing in the morning. I have very vivid memories growing up, with her bellowing voice,

"Did you say your morning prayers?"

Just like any kid, sometimes I said them, sometimes I didn't, most times I looked at the crucifix above my bed and did the sign of the cross.

I have very vivid memories of seeing both of my parents, at different times, getting on their knees and saying their morning prayers, leaning against their beds, first thing when they got up. Since my dad and often my mom, left the house at the crack of dawn to got to work, I knew they were rushed, but they never lacked the time to say their morning prayers.

Morning prayers shower us with graces first thing. Those prayers bring us into His presence and focus us on His Will.

Yesterday, February 17, 2013, my 86 year old mom was reminding me of the importance of saying your prayers before you leave your bedroom.

"Once you leave your bedroom, you are subject to distraction, the coffee maker, demands of your kids, light housekeeping, tidying, all pulls us away from the VERY FIRST THING we ought to be doing, saying our morning prayers!"

There was a time, that I neglected morning prayers. I remember a good speaker, talking about making a committment during Lent. He suggested making a small committment, but sticking to it. Something like saying your morning prayers!

Since then, it's been quite the journey, sometimes I have prayed too long first thing in the morning, other times I prayed kneeling with my toddlers before a crucifix we have hanging in our kitchen, now that they are teenagers, I find myself saying three short prayers in the car on the way to school.

At this point in my life, I now find myself saying my morning prayers twice! Once as soon as I get up, in my room. I love just saying the words, "Thank you Jesus, or Help me Jesus" to the beat of my heart. Don't ask me why, but for some crazy reason, I can hear my heart beat most times of the day!

But, it is my prayer, that I always remain a mother, who asks,

"Have you said your morning prayers?"

I found these quotes. I just had to share. 

"Above all, it is necessary to ask of God every morning the gift of perseverance, and to beg of the Blessed Virgin to obtain it for you, and particularly in the time of temptation, by invoking the name of Jesus and Mary as long as the temptation lasts. Happy the man who will continue to act in this manner, and shall be found so doing when Jesus Christ shall come to judge him. ‘Blessed is that servant, whom, when his Lord shall come, he shall find so doing’ (Matt. 24:46)."
— St. Alphonsus De Liguori

In order to succeed in it (prayer), it should be done when we first awaken, when our whole being
is calm and recollected. We need to make our meditation before anything else.
- Saint Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868)

S*E*C*R*E*T -- But it's GARBAGE

I was at Chapter's shopping the other day and noticed the cover of this book. 

I must admit it caught me eye.

I guess my Guardian Angel was watching over me because after reading this review, I am so happy that I did not pick it up.

Why is there so much garbage out there?This excellent blog post will give you some insight and truth about the motivations and sexual themes presented by the person who wrote this book.

http://everydayforlifecanada.blogspot.ca/2013/02/secret-just-another-shade-of-grey.html

Is your home a castle?

It's so funny.... I often come across couples who are procrastinating getting married, or procrastinating having children because they are saving to buy a house... or something... And I can't help but thinking they have it all backwards. God has given you a GIFT in your fiancee. God has given you a GIFT with your fertility. Why in the world want to delay getting married? Why would you want to delay having children? If you view them as a gift from God, wouldn't you want to embrace those spiritual gifts as a priority? I will never forget relishing in the grace that helped me see that my newborn daughter did not care about the size of my house, whether I owned it or not, all she cared about was having mommy hold her, feed her and love her! We rented for the first FIVE years in our marriage. We had both of our children in a rented house! Why do couples think that they have to have it ALL right away? There is no security except for God's mercy, His providence and care! A real castle is a home filled with love and tenderness, not equity and stuff. In fact, the stuff, and yes the BIG house CAN be a distraction to family life.

Retreat in the City

Before becoming a mom, I would go, quite regularly, on organized retreats, Catholic conferences or attend prayer groups on a regular night. 

But since having my children and dealing with my husband's travel schedule and my kids sports schedule and my own work schedule, 
I have had to become a little more creative in getting my Catholic spirituality nourished. 

I am not exactly sure when, but somewhere along the way, I started creating my own retreats, based on my own timetable , right in the middle of the city and my family life. 

I found that communing with God, doesn't really require a cabin in the woods, a long drive to a distant city or even a remote retreat center. I have found a way to retreat, right in my own neighborhood. These monthly retreats are incredibly convenient and besides that, the price is right. And guess what, graces really do abound.

I often hear women say they want to become more spiritual, so I thought sharing how I spend my retreat days might spark a little interest -- and intrigue other women to do the same, especially women who might not be able to get away from home.

CONFESSION & MASS on a WEEKDAY

My retreat day usually starts with a visit to my spiritual director for both spiritual direction and the sacrament of reconciliation. From that visit some type of theme usually does develop. This past visit my spiritual director asked me some thought provoking questions. One of them really got me thinking....

"Where does your self value come from?" 

He also asked me to reflect on the history of my relationship with God. Often, right after my meeting, I go to a near by park, a beautiful park and scribble notes from our meeting in my journal. It's not unusual for me to walk by the lake and pray the rosary and do the penance he recommended immediately after I have met with him. 

With my heart full of graces and inspirations, I head out to noon mass or if the Holy Spirit calls, I may go to mass at the airport at 1pm instead. It's not unusual for the Holy Spirit to give me a very specific instruction during mass. I was inspired to write a blog post entitled, Retreat in the City, immediately after mass. The title itself, an inspiration.

LUNCH

After all of this spiritual work, I stop for lunch and reflect on the inspirations and graces God has given me. 

I have loved having lunch on my own ever since I can remember!

This particular lunch I fell upon a magazine that is the bomb! I absolutely love it! very inspirational -- Where Women Create is a real joy and it focused my attention on my work and how God has given me all sorts of signal graces which have changed the course of my professional work... 

This particular issue is jam packed with women who have now challenged me NOT to be satisfied with what I have done so far...   but to keep seeking His Will and stretching myself for Him, through Him and with Him. 

Often times, when we look to women in our immediate surroundings, we may find women who are disgruntled with their work, don't expect much of themselves, or women who just don't believe in miracles and that God wants to work through them to touch other lives -- so, finding inspiration in other women who have listened to the promptings in their own hearts and followed their intuition to lead a creative life -- is something I love doing...

DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE

Whenever I have delivered seminars, I have often asked participants,

"What do you
 LOVE 
to do?" 

And then I coaxed or coached participants into actually dedicating some time to doing it. I am a big believer that if you love doing something, you are bringing more LOVE into the world. So, if you love baking bake, if you love dancing dance, if you love painting paint.

My retreat days, often include giving myself the permission to follow an inner surge to do something I love or something creative. This particular afternoon, I gave myself permission to take at least a dozen photographs of a couple of buildings that have always intrigued me. I gave myself permission to go and stare at them from different angles. I allowed myself to ask myself, why I liked them, how they affected me and just to stare at them.

It's funny, I stared at them from different angles, different places and just immersed myself in them. I have been wanting to do this for such a very long time, but I was always in a hurry to somewhere else.

Somewhere else, besides where God was calling me to, somewhere else besides the present moment, somewhere else besides relishing in the sun, the sky and the beauty and richness of living in the city I live in.

After awhile, it dawned on me, that there was a connection between the inspiration to write a Retreat in the City and the photographs. I hadn't planned it. It just ended up that way....

RESUMING DUTIES

On my retreat days, I give myself permission,

not to do housework, 
not to make dinner from scratch....   

I do go about fulfilling my duties -- but I try to stream line them by either cooking ahead of time, or cleaning in advance, so I can create a day in my life where I pay most of my attention to Him. 

I know it may sound selfish, but a reassuring thought is that many go away on retreats for several days and I doing this once a month as a way to refocus my efforts to discern His Will.

This particular day, I popped into the house served dinner, talking much less than I usually do which was in itself a miracle and then I left for the 24 hour chapel which is moments away from home.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

I am really blessed because I live 15 minutes away from three different Eucharistic Adoration Chapels. Isn't it marvelous how Jesus Christ Himself, makes Himself available to us 24/7? My retreat this time round ended with a Holy Hour. I will never forget the year where the Holy Spirit prompted me to do nine holy hours in nine consecutive days to help me map out what God wanted me to do the following year!  

I pray that you too will start the habit of a monthly day of retreat! This particular month, I was treated to some beautiful flowers and so far -- I have been able to keep them! 

I would love to hear about your retreat adventures and about the marvelous things that God is doing in your life!