I will call this the first day of summer!

Memorial day weekend!

There are some days of the year that everytime they come around I think "weren't we just here?" or "how did we get here?". Memorial Day, Labor Day, Christmas and Easter are you usually those days (plus birthdays and snow storms). I start to think of how far we have come, how big the boys are and ways we spent these days in the past.  So here we are on the edge of summer (not real summer but more or less summer) Jack is a real solid 3 and Nicholas is 4, we have been married for 5 years and in this house for 6. How did we get here?

Anyway with it being a holiday weekend we started it out with a bang and knocked off one of my summer resolutions to go to the zoo. We went with our SHS buddies and had a really great time. I love my SHS girls. I am so proud of them.

Nicholas and Jack were good for the most part.

We fed goats and saw monkeys and turtles, giraffes and elephants. We ate lunch at a picnic table with our friends and played on the playground.

We rode the train with the Faircloths and Grandma. We stayed for a whole 4 hours. I think that is a record for us.

Now we are home taking naps. Dad is cutting the grass and mommy is considering a nap for herself.

Go tell John, it is summer again!

Todays Gospel

John 15: 18 - 21
18	"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
19	If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20	Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
21	But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.

"No one knows about that day or hour..."

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36

I think this whole rapture thing is making me want to take another look at revelations.

Although the world was predicted to end by very few it caught the attention of a bunch of people. We were able to celebrate a very happy birthday for Jackie. We went to Walk Now for Autism at Coney Island, then took some naps. We finished it up with dinner and ice cream over Nonna's house.  Not a bad day. The world didn't end for us. I don't think anyone knows when it actually will.

So we are spending this Sunday morning watching cartoons (Mickey Mouse Club House), playing with pirates, and wearing Santa Hats (we do this year round).

Go tell John, we are still here.

Today's GR

Luke 12: 22 - 31
22	And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.
23	For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24	Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
25	And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life?
26	If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
27	Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28	But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!
29	And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind.
30	For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them.
31	Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well.

Today's Gospel Reading

John 10: 1 - 10
1	"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber;
2	but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3	To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4	When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5	A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
6	This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7	So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8	All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them.
9	I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10	The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

There is no greater love...

I am reading a book right now called Beloved and Blessed by Kimberly Hahn. You might know her by her husband Scott Hahn he is also an author.  Anyway, I would recommend that any women newly married or engaged read this book.  If I had meditated on some of the scripture and Church's teachings in this book 4 or 5 years ago I think I would be much more content in my life right now and I know I would have made some different choices.

Anyway, so I am about half way through this book and I have been reflecting on some of the topics she reviews and one of them is that of today's gospel reading.  "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend" and later in the reading he says "be fruitful and multiply" what a great reminder of who we are as mothers. Our lives are a sacrifice to God we lay down our lives for our Children, not only in childbirth. Our children and our household are the greatest gift we can give the Church.

I love when the Gospel Readings speak directly to me and are relevant in my life right now.

So, go tell John. I am ready to live the Joy of Christ through these beautiful children.

Today's Gospel Reading

John 15: 9 - 17
9	As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.
10	If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
11	These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12	"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13	Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14	You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15	No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16	You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17	This I command you, to love one another.