God Bless America


As I sit with family and friends on this Memorial Day, I think about how wonderful it is to know that because of those that served, we are able to have rights and protection. We are able to worship how we choose. We are able to have family gatherings and know we are safe.

We can thank God for our country. We do have our problems that need to be worked out, but when it comes to rights and freedoms, we lead the pack.

God Bless America!

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me and I'll proudly stand next to him to defend her still today, 'cuz there ain't no doubt I love this land, od bless the USA. -Lee Greenwood

Our Lady's May 25, 2010 Message

Message May 25, 2010

Our Lady's message given to Marija, as provided by the Information Center in Medjugorje.

“Dear children! God gave you the grace to live and to defend all the good that is in you and around you, and to inspire others to be better and holier; but Satan, too, does not sleep and through modernism diverts you and leads you to his way. Therefore, little children, in the love for my Immaculate Heart, love God above everything and live His commandments. In this way, your life will have meaning and peace will rule on earth. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

The Car

I need to say that I have a car that I like and enjoy driving. Now I have had other nice vehicles, but for some reason this one is "special".

I hate that I like this car because it is so not like me to enjoy an object this much.

I haven't had it long, about 6 months and I still enjoy looking at it, I know, that is very bad!

Well, to make a long story as short as possible - I was coming home from picking up my youngest daughter from practice about a month ago. A dog jetted across the road and unfortunately, he and my car did not get along - the worse being, the dog died on the scene.

It was dark and I was very shaken that I had killed someones dog and my daughter had seen it, I think that was the worse part.

Well, when I got home and in the yard light, I noticed the damage to my car. I was frustrated because I have a $750 deductible and that was what I was thinking about, fixing the car.

My car got fixed, good as new! My insurance company got me my deductible back.

I was in Minneapolis yesterday for about nine hours and my car was in a parking ramp. I hadn't even deposited the check from the insurance company yet.

I don't like to drive in large cities, so I asked my older daughter to drive home. There were 5 of us in the car. I got in on the passenger side and she got in on the drivers side. We were excited to head for home so we all filed in the car and off we went.

When she got on the highway she noticed a tiny piece of paper stuck under the wiper. We didn't think much of it as we thought it was someone advertising something and we were on the highway and couldn't stop anyway. We drove about 15 miles to where her car was parked. When she parked, she reached out and grabbed the tiny remnant of paper.

The look on her face told it all as she whipped her body around to look at the car.

"Mom, someone hit your car in the parking ramp!" She knew how much I "like" my car. I was nervous just parking in a parking ramp and I commented on it. I will park at the FAR end of a parking lot just so I don't get door jammed! In Minneapolis, especially on an event day, you are at the mercy of ramps.

Now I look at the car in a whole new way. Nothing that doesn't breath should be "liked" that much, ever.

I look at it as God smacking me back to reality! "It is only a car Cindy!" He would say!

Truly I thank God for this second incident with the car, for a few reasons.
The first being that the fellow that hit my car was nice enough to leave me a note and that it didn't blow away. Second, that I will never "like" anything that much that doesn't like you back!

Red Skelton had Knowledge and Foresight

Honor, Knowledge and Understanding - What great foresight Mr. Red Skelton, comedian, had so many years ago. Under God and Blessed by God always! AMEN

Obama Nominates Pro-Abortion Lesbian that has Never Been a Judge

Obama has once again slapped the face of God by nominating pro-abortion lesbian Elena Kagen, who favors legalized and taxpayer-funded abortion, as his nominee to replace retiring Justice John Stevens as "impartial guardian of the law" on the nation's highest court.

An Epinions article written in 2006 praises her as a “high-energy dean” and “a lesbian professor who has revitalized the community.”

We need prayers - lots of prayers!

Pray for this travesty to be overturned, pray to end abortion, pray for peace.

Mary Crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth

Rev 12: 1
"A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head."

Luke 1:28
"Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you."

Luke 1:42
"Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

On this Mother's Day we can honor Mother Mary in a special way by remembering the special gift that she gave to us by her "yes".

Hail Mary, Full of Grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners
now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Marian Apparitions in Garabandal, Spain 1961-1965

Our Loving Mother Mary appears at times to give us messages of urgency and love. Mary continues to appear in Medjugorje and other unconfirmed apparitions. We need to listen to the messages she brings to us.

Law of the Garbage Truck

(another great email forward worth sharing - author unknown)
Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.

As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and at times they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ..... Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!


Have A blessed, garbage-free day

We Falter, He Forgives

This morning I had a situation with my 18 year old daughter. She pulled a fast one on me. She told me she was going to her sisters house last night because she had to babysit for them this morning. At 6:30 am, my daughter who's house she was supposed to be at is calling me and telling me she can't get a hold of her sister and she was expected by 6:15 to babysit - she's not answering her phone.

Half asleep I said, "She went to your house last night...??? didn't she?" Well, I find out that she knew that her sister wasn't coming to her house and knew she went to Rochester instead but that she had promised the night before that she would be to her house by 6am.

Didn't happen. At this point, I am not quite sure what is going on but I knew Tina had to get to work because she is an RN - so I hopped in the car after packing a quick bag - forgot my toothbrush, not a good way to start the day - and drove to Farmington to watch the kids so she could leave for work.

I started calling everyone I could think of that may know where she was. No luck. Then panic set in! I knew she had met a new friend that stays in Rochester during the school week. I didn't know her phone number or where she lived. I had friends in Rochester looking for her. Her boyfriend didn't even know where she was.

Finally after prayers and panic - I called the Rochester police about 8am to have them look for her car. I am a mom, that's what we do - worry.

Of course at 8:15 she called me crying.... she had stayed up too late and over slept... a few other details I won't mention. I asked her if she was okay to drive - "yep", "Did you get assaulted?" "no" "Then get up here so I can get to work". I didn't want to listen to anything she had to say at that point. I was relieved to hear her voice but numb that she did something like this. This just wasn't like her.

I called the police and told them she was safe to stop the search.

I have 7 children, this is the first time I had to call the police... is that a good thing? or a bad thing? I am very mixed up emotionally.

She came in the door, I turned my grandchildren over to her and I left. I just told her I would discuss it with her tonight. I was afraid that if I started, it would turn into a shouting match.

I just thank God that she is fine and when I am not so angry at her, I will have the chance to hug her again.

Needless to say, she will be grounded. I haven't decided what the penalty will be yet - but I have time before she gets home tonight - she will be babysitting late.

She will be forgiven by me (punished, but forgiven). Do I still love her? Of course I do. That is unconditional love. The same love that God has for us - we falter and he forgives. Amen.

Our Lady's Message to Mirjana May 2, 2010

Our Lady's Message to Mirjana May 2, 2010
Medjugorje Message


"Dear children; Today, through me, the good Father calls you to, with your soul filled with love, set out on a spiritual visitation. Dear children, be filled with grace, sincerely repent for your sins and yearn for the good. Yearn also in the name of those who have not come to know the perfection of the good. You will be more pleasing to God. Thank you."

May - For Mother Mary

May is the month to honor mothers and especially our Mother Mary. Our Little Flowers group has a May crowning of Mary celebration and the following information is the program that we have used in the past.

During May, the Catholic Church traditionally honors Mary in a special way. For centuries, Mary has been a powerful presence in our Church and has inspired generations of believers.

Honoring Mary
Mary was a young Jewish woman who lived in Nazareth in what is now Israel. The early traditions of the Christian community named Mary’s parents Anne and Joachim. Because of Mary’s faithfulness as a Jewish woman, we can imagine that her parents were also devout Jews and raised their daughter in accordance with their faith. Their tender care and devotion helped Mary to grow into the confident, yet humble young woman who would say yes to God.

Because of the time and area in which Mary lived, we can make some pretty good guesses about what her life was like. Mary was probably a peasant. Life in a rural village of the Middle East such as Nazareth would have been filled with hard work.

During this time period, Mary’s homeland was occupied by the Romans. It was a difficult life under Roman rule, filled with violence and poverty. The Jews looked for a Messiah who would liberate them from the oppressive rule of Caesar. Mary notes the injustice of the world around her in her Magnificat when she recalls God’s promise to “[throw] down the rulers from their
thrones, but [lift] up the lowly.” (Luke 1:46–55)

Mary would have been about 15 years old when she received God’s message that she was to be the mother of the Messiah. She said yes to God and became pregnant with God’s Son. This posed quite a problem in Mary’s society. Because she was unmarried, she could have been killed as an
adulteress.

Mary’s complete trust in God, her faithfulness, and her acceptance of God’s plan are beautiful examples of how we are to respond to God’s word to each one of us. Jesus, help us to say yes to you.

An angel told Joseph that his betrothed Mary was pregnant with a child conceived through the Holy Spirit. Joseph listened to God’s messenger and did not leave Mary or shame her. Instead he married Mary and protected her.

Though Mary’s life is about to change dramatically, she still takes the time to celebrate with and help her dear friend Elizabeth. Jesus, help us to be as loving and generous as Mary is.

In the last month of her pregnancy, Mary and Joseph had to make a long and difficult journey to Bethlehem.

Mary and Joseph supported each other on this difficult journey and trusted in God that all would be well. Jesus, help us to support each other as a family even when things are tough.

Jesus is born.

The good news of the Savior’s birth was announced to humble shepherds and respected wise men alike. Jesus, thank you for coming to live among us and for teaching us that you came to
redeem all people and all of creation.

After Jesus was born, they became refugees, escaping to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod’s soldiers. They lived as refugees for a while until it was safe to return to their homeland and settle in Nazareth.

Mary and Joseph became refugees so that they could protect their son. Jesus, thank you for all the parents and people who sacrifice to protect and provide for us.

In this setting, Mary and Joseph raised Jesus to be a faithful Jew, aware of the injustices in the world, but believing in God’s justice, mercy, and love—believing that there is another way.

By doing so, they changed the world.

Adapted from ’Intergenerational Event—Mary Story Book’ Loyola Press


The May Crowning of Mary marks a new spiritual season.
Our Mary, Queen of Heaven and earth, lifts us out of the last long cold days of winter.
Mary firmly plants our hearts in the warm and promising soil of spring.
We will forever be grateful to Mary for bringing us her Son.
The maternal nurturing of our heavenly Mother is always with us.
May Crowning of Mary is the Catholic version of Mothers Day.
It is Mary's feminine presence and the safety of her motherhood that helps us grow.
Our hearts are full of love for our Mother in Heaven.
Mary brings us toward Jesus, for Jesus and with Jesus.
Through Mary Jesus was brought to us.
Mary was delivered up like an innocent, perfect spring flower to lighten our spirits, complete our senses, and bring the aroma of heaven to our world.
Mary welcomes our hearts into the eternal mystery of spring and growing things.
For these and other reasons, we honor Mary with a crown of flowers.

Thank you Mary for always being our Heavenly Mother.

Adapted from 'May Crowning, A Reflection on a Marian Celebration' - by Liz Kelly