Sunday, January 27, 2013

St. Thomas Aquinas

Today is the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of my Church. Doctor of the Church, scholar, writer, and philosopher.I've only read snippets of his work...well, to be honest mostly I've just read assorted quotes.

This prayer attributed to him was in our bulletin today-

Student's Prayer

Creator of all things,
true source of light and wisdom,
origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate
the darkness of my understanding.
Take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.
Give me a keen understanding,
a retentive memory, and
the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent
of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

I think I will use this prayer next week for our opening prayer at bible study!

Oh, and as an aside, I went to the Teen Mass tonight, and enjoyed the music immensely. We sang a song that just stuck with me and I thought I would share it here-

More Like Falling in Love by Jason Gray

Saturday, January 12, 2013

The Polar Express!

On Christmas Eve, we drove up to Williams AZ to experience the joy and wonder that is The Polar Express. If you EVER get a chance to go on this wonderful family adventure to the North Pole, take it!


 Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studios, Snowkissed by Sherwood Studios, and Winter's Breath by Sherwood Studios
Alpha: A Royal Wedding BTB by Digi Cyber Scraps

 Kit: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

 Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studios and Winter's Breath by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

 Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studios and Winter's Breath by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

 Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studios and Winter's Breath by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

 Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studios and Winter's Breath by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

 Kit: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

 Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studio and Snowkissed by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studios, No Place Like Home by Sherwood Studios,  and Winter's Breath by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studio and Snowkissed by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script
 
 Kits: The Stars Above by Sherwood Studio, Winter's Breath by Sherwood Studios, and Snowkissed by Sherwood Studios
Font: Bickley Script

It was an amazing way to spend Christmas, and an adventure of a lifetime! It STILL makes me grin to think about it all!
 

 And now that 2012 is scrapped, I need a cover for my book~
Kit: This Is Me Add On by Cami Jo Designs
Word Art/Frames: Word art World by Jennifer

















The Last of the 2012 pages...Part Two! (Only one mre to go!)

Here's what little I did in November:

Are you tired of seeing cute piggy pictures? Me neither! :)



Kits: Kellie by Booland Designs and Thanksgiving Sampler by WinksArt
Fonts: Vinque and Edwardian Script ITC
Kit: Gather Together by Snips n Snails and Aimee Harrison Designs
Fonts: Edwardian Script and Graphite Std
(Info for Deep fryer pracitce page-
Kit:Autumn Moonlight by Nana's Digi Scraps
Font: MV Boli)
 
And then we get into December. Our special Christmas adventure deserves it's own post, but I'll put the rest of the pages here~
 
 Kit: Coming Home for Christmas Blog Hop
Font: Vinque
 Kit: Coming Home for Christmas Blog Hop
 Kit: Coming Home for Christmas Blog Hop
Font: Tekton Pro
 
 Kit: Coming Home for Christmas Blog Hop 
Font: Tekton Pro  Frame:Maf Genius Designs

 Kit: Coming Home for Christmas Blog Hop 
Font: Tekton Pro
 Kit: Coming Home for Christmas Blog Hop
 Font: Tekton Pro
 Kit: A Christmas to Remember by Mye De Leon
Font: Bradley Hand ITC
  Kit: A Christmas to Remember by Mye De Leon
Font: Bradley Hand ITC
 
 Kit: Winterbloom by Booland Designs
Font: Bradley Hand ITC
 Kit: All I Want for Christmas is You mini by Nibbles Skribbles
Font: Edwardian Script
 
Next up, our Christmas Eve at the North Pole!
 

The Last of the 2012 pages...Part One!

Alrighty folks, here's part one the last of the 2012 pics. I have vowed to stay more current in 2013, as well as making sure I'm crediting EVERYTHING. I always try to get the info into the metadata, and I'm going to do a better job of being more professional in the way I present things here going forward.

Without further ado, here's the rest of 2012!

From September:

 Kit: Simply Be by Scraps by Andrea
Fonts: Gig and Fine Hand

 Kit: Fondest Memories by Shabby Miss Jen
Font: Fine Hand

Kit: Celebrate by Sweet Digi Scraps
Font: Latha

From October:
Lots of pictures of Rooter!
 Kit: Refresh Two by Scrapgirls
Font: CK Stacatto

 Kit: Refresh Two by Scrapgirls
Font: Brittanic Bold
 Pictures from my trip to West Chicago to help my folks after their accident:

 Kit: Celebrate Good Times Collab- parts by Jen C Designs, Julie C, Piggyscrapps, and Nibbles Skribbles
Font: Kristen ITC
 Kit: Celebrate Good Times Collab- parts by Jen C Designs, Amber Shaw, Kimberkatt, Piggyscrapps, and Nibbles Skribbles
Font: Kristen ITC
 Kit: Celebrate Good Times Collab- parts by Kimberkatt, Piggyscrapps, and Shelly Marie Scraps
Font: Kristen ITC
 Kit: Celebrate Good Times Collab- parts by eqrAveziur, Scrappy Cocoa, and Digiliscious Designs
Font: Segoe Print
 Kit: Celebrate Good Times Collab- parts by Julie C, Piggyscrapps, and eqrAveziur
Font: Kristen ITC
 Kit: About Her by eqrAveziur
Alpha: Day by Day by Sherwood Studios (recolored)
Font: Caflisch Script Pro
 Kit: About Her by eqrAveziur
Font: Caflisch Script Pro

Next up, November and most of Christmas!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

There is power in the Faith

How many times have I heard the bible stories of people who were saved by their faith? The paralytic, the woman with the bleeding, and others and thought, "I wish I had that kind of faith?"

I DO have that kind of Faith!

As a priest reminded me in confession recently, there is POWER in our Faith. Power to overcome, power to see beyond ourselves and into Glory. We have but to USE the power of our Faith, to claim it through the Graces given us by Jesus in the Sacraments.

The power is there, it just takes work, sometimes more than others, to see it. First and foremost, it takes prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always.  
17 Pray without ceasing.  
18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

See how this goes back to my commitment to rejoice? Rejoicing and praying are so intertwined that one way to remember to rejoice in the Lord is to TALK to Him!

The power of my Faith is also fueled by the Sacraments, most especially Holy Communion and Reconciliation. I want to look fwrther into how ALL the sacraments affect my Faith and it's power in my life (A post for another time though).

My Faith is also fostered by community. Family and friends, and the Communion of Saints in both the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant. Asking for help, asking for prayers can be a source of power in my Faith as well.

This last reason is one of the many that I am so looking forward to starting our new bible study next week on The Year of Faith by Fr. Mitch Pacwa.

Lead on Holy Spirit, show us the way to the Father!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!

I will eventually do a large scrap page post with the rest of my pics from last year, but THIS post is for my fresh start for 2013!

My word for this year is 'Rejoice'! It seems like I'm always searching for joy in my life. I fight with depression, I struggle with my weight, and I'm overly anxious about things in general. For the least couple of years I've chosen a word to work on, and I thought this year I would choose joy as my word, but during Advent I came to realize that joy is a state of being, not an action. What I need to do this year then is to REJOICE!


Rejoice in suffering-
1 Peter 4:12-13
12Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.

Rejoice in my salvation-
Psalm 13:6
6But I trust in your mercy.
Grant my heart joy in your salvation,
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has dealt bountifully with me!
(another translation reads- But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.)

Rejoice always-
Phillipians 4:4-7
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! 5Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. 6Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 7Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

This year I will be looking for ways to rediscover my joy through the act of rejoicing.

Gaudete!