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Finer Femininity

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Finer Femininity

Category Archives: Smorgasbord ‘n Smidgens

Lenten Smidgens

01 Monday Mar 2021

Posted by Leanevdp in Lent, Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens

≈ 2 Comments

The Lenten Season

by Therese Mueller, Our Children’s Year of Grace, 1958

Daily Mass is the real “Lenten sacrifice,” and the studying of the daily Mass formula on the evening before is the best means to lead us the way the Church wants us to go. Work out together one or two thoughts that can be easily remembered the next morning and during the day.

Let us remember that the Church has two ideas woven into the Lenten liturgy: the preparation of the catechumens for baptism on Holy Saturday, and the reconciliation of sinners and their atonement. We prepare for the renewal of our baptism; we suffer with Christ for our sins; we are buried with him in penance so that we may rise with him to a new life in grace and glory.

The Sundays of Lent are meant by Mother Church as a pause on the hard way. They are a measure of relaxation and reward for our effort, in order to gather new strength for the coming week. Especially the “Midfast,” the Sunday Laetare, is full of joyous anticipation of a victorious Easter day, since in nature by that time the sun has already conquered the darkness and the cold, and spring has driven out winter. Let us foretaste the coming Feast, and let us rejoice that we have reached and conquered half of our steep way.

The Spirit of Lent

by Mary Reed Newland
The Year & Our Children: Catholic Family Celebrations for Every Season

The young and the old may not be bound by the fast, but they are bound by its spirit, each according to his capacity.

If we feel that it is unnatural to ask penances of children while they are still very young – penances within their reach – we forget that self-denial must be learned very young, that it is the forming of character, that the very grace of their Baptism flows from the Cross.

The end of the penitential seasons imposed by the Church is not mere performance.

The Church is a wise mother, who knows that the cutting away of self-will frees our souls for a more radiant love affair with Christ.

If we think of the penance without pondering its effect, we misunderstand it.

It is not over and done with the doing but will bear fruit, if it is done with the right spirit; not alone by the piling up of “treasure in Heaven” but by an increase in our taste for God, a change in the habits of our souls.

Our Lord tells us how to behave during Lent when He speaks to us in the Ash Wednesday Gospel (Matt. 6:16-21): When you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head and wash thy face, that thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, will repay thee.

Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth, where the rust and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in Heaven, where. neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.

So let us remember, when we choose something to give up: no moaning and groaning! Hypocrites (our Lord was talking about the Pharisees) make much of their performances because they want attention. That being their motive, He says, they already have their reward: attention.

There will be opportunities, before Lent is over, for us to attract attention; but so long as this is not our motive, we can accept and use whatever God permits to come to us.

A father will be asked by business associates why he, too, doesn’t order steak for lunch. One mother will be asked by fellow club-members why she doesn’t eat sandwiches and cake after their evening business meeting.

Some children will be asked why they say “No, thank you,” to proffered candies at school, to decline an invitation to a movie during Lent, or do not join with others to watch a television show.

These are the opportunities, with many more, to give reasons “for the faith that is in you.” It is as necessary to give an honest explanation if one is asked, as it is to keep quiet about it if one is not.

God chooses His own time and place to teach the lesson of good example; our part is merely the good example.

“Anoint thy head; wash thy face….” Be cheerful!

The Pharisees wore gloomy looks and long faces to indicate the great anguish their interior purifications cost them.

Not for us.

Our Lord suggests that we “anoint” our heads – that is, prepare ourselves as though we were going to a banquet.

Look cheery and bright even if it is Lent and we miss the between-meal snacks. Our Father in Heaven sees what it is costing us.

One of the Lenten resolves in our family was to omit from all conversation the familiar groan “I’m starving.”

Then He tells us to lay up our treasure in Heaven, because where your treasure is, there your heart is also.

The Second Sunday of Advent has just passed! There are approximately 30 more days left in Lent. I hope it is fruitful for all of us!

Maybe you are doing the Lenten Journal and working on the Crown of Thorns? Here are pictures and thoughts from a few years back….

Here, Rosie is preparing the Crown of Thorns made from unleavened bread dough. It will harden and the toothpicks (thorns) will be waiting to have a pretty silk flower topping it as the children do their sacrifices….

By Easter it will look lovely and the sacrifices the children made will live on forever….

We have no place to put a “bread” Crown of Thorns so we put the idea to paper. This is a big poster board that is mounted to the fridge. If it is a big sacrifice, the sharpies come out and a flower is drawn on a thorn. Three little sacrifices suffice for a flower, too.

Filling up! Interesting species of flowers, wouldn’t you say? What artists I have!

Virginia’s family also has a jar of beans. Every time a sacrifice is made a bean is put in the jar. At Easter, the beans will be replaced with jelly beans and divvied out between the kids.

This year, our friend from Minnesota, Paul, drew the Crown of Thorns for us. We are late getting started…..

Hopefully by the end of Lent, each thorn will have a flower drawn on it. One has to do 3 sacrifices to draw one flower.

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Make your kitchen a place of warmth! “Wherever I’ve lived, the kitchen has always seemed to be the place where warmth and love reign. Family and friends are drawn there like chickens to their roosts. Of all the rooms in our home, the kitchen is the place of comfort, the preferred gathering place for shared conversations and the teamwork of preparing good meals for and with each other.” – http://amzn.to/2ndp5bu Emilie Barnes (afflink)

Make a statement with this lovely and graceful “Bee Sweet” handcrafted apron….fully lined….made with care. Aprons tell a beautiful story…..a story of love and sacrifice….of baking bread and mopping floors, of planting seeds and household chores. Sadly, many women have tossed the aprons aside and donned their business attire. Wear your apron with joy….it is a symbol of Femininity….”Finer” Femininity! 🌺 💗 Available here.


I have prepared this Lenten journal to help you to keep on track. It is to assist you in keeping focused on making Lent a special time for your family. We do not have to do great things to influence those little people. No, we must do the small things in a great way…with love and consistency…

Timeless words from the pen of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen inspire the heart and imagination as readers embark on a Lenten journey toward a better understanding of their spiritual selves. Covering the traditional themes of Lent–sin and salvation, death and Resurrection, sorrow and hope, ashes and lilies–these 50 passages and accompanying mini-prayers offer readers a practical spiritual program as a retreat from the cares and concerns of a secular world view.
If you enjoyed learning about holiday traditions in The Christmas Book, you are sure to love its sequel, The Easter Book. Father Weiser has here applied his winning formula to an explanation of the fasts and feasts of the Lenten and Easter seasons with equally fascinating results.

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Tea Time With Finer Femininity and A Gallery!

19 Friday Feb 2021

Posted by Leanevdp in Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens, Tea-Time With FinerFem - Questions/My Answers

≈ 19 Comments

The following are answers to a few questions that I have received lately…

Question: Please, if you could give me some advice about the Internet in the home. We are careful what we allow the children to have access to but now that one of my children has reached 18, he wants his own laptop for studying, etc.

How much freedom do you allow as your children get older?

I am going to tell you what we do….

Our kids don’t have smart phones until they are married, as a general rule. Rosie has one. She is older than any of our other children have been as a single. She is devout and responsible…so she has one. She was not too hyped about it…which is a good indication she could handle it. She was stuck in her room, very sick and listened to audio books. Thus, the smart phone (for the audio books).

I am very much on top of who is looking at computers. The password is only known by me, my husband and Rosie. The computer is in a high traffic area. I don’t leave it open when I go out. The kids know they have to wait until I get home. They are not clamoring for it because their life hasn’t included it in everything.

We have been strict. And we call the shots when the kids are older but still living in the home. We aren’t apologetic about that. It’s the way it is. The internet is such a dangerous tool so we feel it is important enough to monitor things closely.

Our boys are wary of the computer. They know how quickly people can fall….especially boys…but girls, too. We just have one boy (Angelo) at home and he has written a journal for boys. He was on the laptop a lot while he was doing that. But I could see it at all times and I kept a close eye on things. Don’t ever just “trust” your son. As good as he may be, he is human, has curiosity…and it is just one click away. Covenant Eyes and other such monitoring software are valuable. We haven’t done this. I have chosen to watch things closely. But I do believe it would be a very good thing to have.

So, my advice is…be strict. If they have to use the computer then do be diligent…and make sure they are, too. It takes work but there is nothing more important than the souls of our children.

(I have seen many guys around these parts have flip phones. They don’t trust themselves with a smart phone. These guys run businesses, do Ebay or Craigslist and could really use a smart phone. The convenience is not worth it to them.

My married boys all have smart phones now. It is up to them and their wives to monitor things. And they do. They are not perfect but at least they were old enough to make these decisions before they had the world…good and bad….in the palm of their hands!)

Question: Do you have pdf’s or downloads available for your Boy’s and Girl’s Journals?

Not at the moment. I will work on this. I need to make them black and white first. I will put it up on the blog here when I have that accomplished. I will also get the Gratitude Journal so that you can buy the download. I know many of you are from out-of-country and shipping is expensive for the physical book.

Question: Do you have your taste and smell back after Covid?

Very slightly. And some days not at all. It has been over 3 months so I had a chat with our local Catholic doctor. He said that Covid can cause nerve damage in that area. When you have nerve damage, it can take a year to heal. One of the best things to do with when it comes to nerves, is to work the area. So that is what I am doing. It is called “Sniff Therapy”. I tell you this so you can pass it along to anyone who wants to try it. Here are the four “smells” that are recommended in this article. They sit by my computer and I try to do it twice a day. (Lemon, Rose, Eucalyptus, Clove, in that order.) We’ll see….

Question: Our country seems to becoming more and more Communist. As lay people taking care of our families, what can do we do?

Our family recently went to the Convent in Gower and spent some Days of Recollection there. The good priest gave a sermon on Sunday about being under the “Thumb of Communism” and what we can do. Here was the four things he said:

  1. Holy Mass
  2. Divine Office
  3. Holy Rosary
  4. Devotion to the Holy Face

I found that last one interesting. Father said it is a devotion especially for Communism. We got the book about the Holy Face Devotion, called The Golden Arrow and we will be reading it.

Here is a lovely prayer to the Holy Face from my Little Flower Prayerbook:

Prayer of St Therese to the Holy Face of Jesus

“O Jesus, who, in Thy cruel Passion didst become the ‘reproach of men and the Man of Sorrows,’ I worship Thy divine Face. Once it shone with the beauty and sweetness of the Divinity; but now, for my sake, it is become as ‘the face of a leper.’

Yet, in that disfigured Countenance, I recognize Thy infinite love, and I am consumed with the desire of making Thee loved by all mankind.

The tears that flowed so abundantly from Thy Eyes are to me as precious pearls that I delight to gather, that with their worth I may ransom the souls of poor sinners.

O Jesus, whose Face is the sole beauty that ravishes my heart, I may not see here below the sweetness of Thy glance, nor feel the ineffable tenderness of Thy kiss, I bow to Thy Will—but I pray Thee to imprint in me Thy divine likeness, and I implore Thee so to inflame me with Thy love, that it may quickly consume me, and that I may soon reach the vision of Thy glorious Face in heaven.”

Amen.

Question: I feel so inadequate. I feel like I am not doing enough. It really stresses me out because I see my kids growing up and I know what big things they will face. I have got to do more spiritually in order to equip them….but I am tired. I have several children and life is busy and hectic. Do you have any advice?

Yes, I do. First things first. Let’s make a TO-DO List. No, not one of those lists that are telling you to clean the refrigerator, mop the floor and go to the grocery store. No, this is a “First Things First” List. Here’s how it could look (or something like this):

Morning Prayers

Mercy Chaplet (Or some other prayer for mid-afternoon to bring the family together…not too long…maybe a special litany or a different chaplet)

Family Rosary

Night Prayers

There, that’s not too long, is it? Get these done daily and they will give you the grace to handle the rest of life. Here’s a post to help with your Morning and Night Prayers. And then make sure your kids are saying their own Morning and Night Prayers. Get a little booklet to help your kids along when they are real small.

Then do the best you can for the rest of the day. We must be diligent with our daily duties but the spiritual is the most important and if you get that done, you are doing good. Rely on God for the rest.

I know that sounds simplistic but simple is best…and will help us to maintain that peace that is so crucial in the business of raising children. Well, and crucial for our own well-being and peace of mind! At the end of a hectic day, when we think we have not accomplished much, if we can look at that spiritual list and they are all checked off, you have done much!

Question: I am very worried about my children growing up in the world and in our country with the way things are going. How do you deal with these kind of thoughts?

I am going to quote a dad to answer this question:

Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be.
God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident.
Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God.
Train them up in the authority of His Word.
Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control.
Empower them to know they can change the world.
Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do something about it.
Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan.
He knew Daniel could handle the lions den.
He knew David could handle Goliath.
He knew Esther could handle Haman.
He knew Peter could handle persecution.
He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life. He created them specifically for it!
Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose YOU to parent them! Teach them God’s love and to share it with everyone!
Rise up to the challenge.
Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers and Peters! 💪🏼
God isn’t scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world.
He has an army He’s raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth!!!
Don’t let YOUR fear steal the greatness God placed in them.
I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were born for such a time as this.

Just some thoughts from a dad who is rocking his sleeping baby and thinking about what a crazy day it has been in our country.

–Alex Cravens

And now…A GALLERY!

Christmas at Devin and Theresa’s
Their other grandma gives them pyjamas each year to celebrate!
Emma is helping with the baking.

Yum!
David and Margy
Ready for Midnight Mass

After Midnight Mass, a cozy small feast at home.
Dad either reads or gives his family a little talk before opening gifts.
Angelo likes his coat!

And his patriotic blanket!
Hannah’s new coat…
And my new doily made by Rosy!

Gemma did some String Art for Hannah….
Lots of hubbub

Lots of mess
Vin and Gin’s family open gifts.
Edward likes his patriotic blanket.

Angelo gave his nephews some caps….
Edward made his mom (Gin) this bench!
Lovely!

Some of Gin’s gifts.
Margy’s first Christmas away from home. She likes her gnomes!
David is enjoying his first Christmas as a husband!

Theresa and Devin got this beautiful picture of Father Kenneth Walker’s First Mass from Father’s brother.
Colin and Z’s little Christmas elves.
Zaelie

Jacob
Ethan
Grace

Isaac
And the miracle baby….Charlotte!
Colin and Z

Theresa and her girls
Crafty gift from Grandma (me)
Lots of fun

Hairdo by Rosie on Christmas Day
She does a lovely job!

Lord of the Rings Chess Set for Christmas
Mike reads to his family before opening gifts
Mike and Jeanette

Christmas Day and Father and Vin enjoy a pipe!
David and Margy
Angelo made the steel heart out of rebar and gave it to Dev and Theresa for Christmas

Singing on Christmas Day
Playing games
Watching a cartoon

Gin and Anne
Ernie doesn’t know how to smile for photos.
A good jab in the ribs gets the job done!

Margy shows off her matching socks and sweater.
My two older girls….Virginia and Theresa

Pipe smoking is in!
Jeanette and Gin
Coffee time for Z and Julianna

Margy and Gin
Praying at Gin’s in front of the stable
Excited for the new baby! Margy has been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes so she has to monitor her diet closely.

Benjamin loves to bake!
He’s a whiz at it!
The craft gift I give the grandkids each year is much appreciated!

Our Lady visits Vin and Gin’s home
Devin and Theresa

Baking salmon…
For a lovely family meal!
Another ‘do by Rosie

Angelo’s remote “thing” made a landing on my tea ring!
He thinks it’s funny

Looks like the tea ring turned out all right!
More singing
Gin’s kids after marking the doors at Epiphany

The new Monopoly card game that is a hit this year!
Crafts, crafts…
Little “chicken pox” Avila having some glue fun!

Toby and the girls are doing dishes!
Beautiful dresser redone by the girl’s best friend, Madeline.

Elias and Agnes (Ely has the reddest hair!)
Dad and daughter time….

One of my dear friends, Julie. She’s the mother of my son-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Theresa’s new hat made by Z!
Anne!

Praying at Colin and Z’s
Rosie continues to work on the Spiritual Christmas Crib
Father VanderPutten’s visit in September.

A good friend’s woodwork.
His name is Paul and he carved the crosier for the Abbess, Mother Cecilia at the convent in Gower, MO.

I have baristas for grandsons!
Benjamin does this for his mom.
Brendan does this for his mom.

Looks yummy!
Adrian likes to sleep Christmas…
So does his cat.

Cute, cute!
Cleaning up Christmas decorations
Gin made these for me. Aren’t they sweet?!

Gin made these two some new nightgowns!
New little bunnies….hubby’s latest venture!
Mike and Jeanette

Gin redid these chairs….
Aren’t they pretty now?!

Aren’t they pretty!
A cold day in Minnesota for skating!

We have not been eating gluten so… Lightly steamed zucchini is perfect for lasagna!
Yum!

Hannah bought this for a friend and is modeling it
Agnes and Jeanette

I was wore out after the kids’ trip to Minnesota! The roads were horrible on their way back. My blessed candle is wore out, too!
Father Adams is a lot of fun to play ping-pong with.
We have the table set up so we can practice for the tournament coming up!

Gin’s tutor, Judy Keyes, and Anne
Mrs. Keyes passes out some Valentine’s goodies to her students.

Gin made this dress for Emma
We have three deacons coming to help in the parish every weekend until ordinations this spring.

Two of them are twins. 🙂
Gin and girls
Gin and Anne

Vin and Gin
My Valentine’s bouquet from hubby and kids.
I know…I look tired and my hair is messy. Well…it’s real! 🙂

The kids went roller skating with the parish…a fun, family event!
Theresa is making soap now!
She is very excited!

Lavender

Peppermint, coffee.
Snow angels!
Ice fishing

Ashes….


 

 

 

A Book Giveaway!! ….and Notable Quotes

11 Thursday Feb 2021

Posted by Leanevdp in Inspiring Quotes, Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens

≈ 94 Comments

a Book Giveaway!!

Today, I’d like to offer you a Pre-Lenten Giveaway!!

The winner will receive these lovely books to add to your book collection!

You will get…

~My Life With Thomas Aquinas, Common Sense from St. Thomas Aquinas for Your Family…articles taken from the Integrity Magazine of the 1950’s.

~The Catholic Mother’s Traditional Lenten Journal to help keep you and your family on track this Lent.

~The Precious Blood and Mother Prayer Booklet, a little book full of beautiful prayers that I have used all through my married life…

Just leave a comment here, and your name will be added! It is always great to hear from you. 🙂

I will announce the winner next Thursday, February 18th!

Some inspiring quotes for your day….

“Happiness in marriage must be earned. It is something you must work out for yourself, chiefly by forgetting yourself and serving others. No marriage is a success unless less you make it so, and that takes persistent effort and, still more, a constant and humble reliance on God.” – Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik. The Catholic Family Handbook http://amzn.to/2rsThRU (afflink)

“It’s better to submit a thousand times to losing an argument than let children see a parent fail to exhibit the patience and consideration he’s trying to teach.” – Mary Reed Newland, How to Raise Good Catholic Children https://amzn.to/2v4Reaj (afflink)

Introduce your children into the family’s prayers at the earliest age possible. As often as possible, say morning and night prayers or the Rosary with your children. Train them to take part in prayers before and after meals. In time of danger or sorrow, resort to prayer as the first and most important source of help and consolation. -Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik. The Catholic Family Handbook http://amzn.to/2r8cxGP (afflink)

Since marriage is beautifully sacred, so should be the courtship that precedes it. Your courtship must be pure if it is to be happy; and pure and happy, it will provide the test of character that is necessary for a blessed and a happy marriage. -Fr. Lovasik, Clean Love in Courtship https://amzn.to/2JZBF8A (afflink)

“A desire to be beautiful is not unwomanly. A woman who is not beautiful cannot properly fill her place. But, mark you, true beauty is not of the face, but of the soul. There is a beauty so deep and lasting that it will shine out of the homeliest face and make it comely. This is the beauty to be first sought and admired. It is a quality of the mind and heart and is manifested in word and deed.” – Beautiful Girlhood, Mabel Hale http://amzn.to/2pOKmtj (afflink) Illustration by http://www.genevievegodboutillustration.com/

The thought of the Holy Family suggests the love of simplicity. Domestic and marital happiness are closely bound up with the simple but good things of your state of life. Seek your happiness within the range of your income and your social, domestic, and family circles, and you will spare yourself many heartaches. -Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik. The Catholic Family Handbook https://amzn.to/2JY52YS (afflink)

Love begets and elicits counter-love. It is easy for you to guide and train a child that sincerely and fondly loves you.
Enter into their interests, take part in their games and pastimes, as much as possible, and help them with their studies and other laudable efforts towards success. You will thus win their trust and confidence. -Fr. Fulgence Meyer, 1927

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Vintaj Wire Wrapped Rosaries! Lovely, Durable… Each link is handmade and wrapped around itself to ensure quality. Available here.




This booklet contains practical advice on the subjects of dating and choosing a spouse from the Catholic theological viewpoint. Father Lovasik points out clearly what one’s moral obligations are in this area, providing an invaluable aid to youthful readers. Additionally, he demonstrates that Catholic marriage is different from secular marriage and why it is important to choose a partner who is of the Catholic Faith if one would insure his or her personal happiness in marriage. With the rampant dangers to impurity today, with the lax moral standards of a large segment of our society, with divorce at epidemic levels, Clean Love in Courtship will be a welcome source of light and guidance to Catholics serious about their faith.

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A Frank, Yet Reverent Instruction on the Intimate Matters of Personal Life for Young Men. To our dear and noble Catholic youths who have preserved, or want to recover, their purity of heart, and are minded to retain it throughout life. For various reasons many good fathers of themselves are not able to give their sons this enlightenment on the mysteries of life properly and sufficiently. They may find this book helpful in the discharge of their parental responsibilities in so delicate a matter.

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Merry Christmas! 2020

24 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by Leanevdp in Advent/Christmas, Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens

≈ 11 Comments

Well, here we are, it is Christmas Eve. This year has been harder for most but we have still arrived at the same place as last year….awaiting the coming of Our Savior in anticipation and expectant joy!

The Advent season has quickly passed (seems quicker each year!), and we have had many, many joys along the way.

The girls have been practicing for choir and will be singing at Midnight Mass and at 9:00 a.m. High Mass. They will be tired but happy (unless they really mess up a song or two, in which case they will obsess for the day until their family comes over for dinner to distract them).

We have four children at home….Rosie, Hannah, Gemma and Angelo. They are busy and our lives are full.

Rosie (second from the left) is our “driven” daughter. She is always accomplishing something and can’t resist doing the next thing on her list even though she should be taking a break. She sings in the choir, is always baking something “Keto”, diligently looks after the yard (doing landscaping and cleaning it….urging her dad to get his “junk” out of it). She works for her sister, for an elderly lady and then paints with her dad and brothers 3 days a week. She struggles with headaches every day. We are still looking for answers for her health problems.

Hannah (to the right of the groom) is our mild-mannered, sensitive one. She is a teacher’s aid for her sister, Gin, who has a wonderful teacher/tutor come in to school her children. She does that 2 days a week and then works for her other sisters another day of the week. She finally got her license and bought a minivan from her brother. It was his work van (and looked like it) and the price was right. Hannah cleaned it up and bought sunflower (bright ones!) seat covers for it…now it feels like her own instead of an old paint van! She has taken up crocheting and is still diligently working on last-minute gifts for Christmas! She is sweet and kind and children love her.

Gemma (far right) is vivacious, precocious and has an excellent sense of humor…always making us laugh…when she isn’t making us cry! She loves to read books and to write letters. She takes violin and piano lessons. She is self-motivated and practices faithfully. She was VERY disappointed when their (hers and Hannah’s) Chartres Pilgrimage in France was canceled last May due to Covid. This year isn’t looking that great, either. She is our political activist and urges us regularly to pray, do sacrifices, go to rallies, etc., for the betterment of our great nation!

Angelo (back row, left) is our gem. He is inventive, good-natured, religious and just a great young man. Oh sure, he has his faults, but in general….what a guy! He is a leader when it comes to his nephews or anyone else that he feels he can influence for good. He published his own journal….The Squires of Don Bosco Journal…for his nephews and he keeps them on track. He is mechanically inclined and has a golf cart and a four wheeler that he bought (fixer uppers). He runs errands for me and for his sisters all the time. He usually does it without complaining…though he has his moments.  🙂   He is hoping to start his own lawn business in the spring.

Vincent (hubby) works very hard each day. He has always been a physically very hard worker and it is catching up to him but he does not complain. He remains in a good mood and tends to always look on the bright side of things. He has started to raise rabbits and is quite enamored with them right now. His little greenhouse has been converted to a rabbit haunt. He has hooked up all the waterers and has neat little cages built to separate them. It’s nice to see his excitement.

I am busy and love it. After my Covid, I have felt better than ever (though my taste and smell refuse to return). I am almost done a new Maglet…on parenting. I was hoping to get it done for Christmas but the virus knocked that out of me. I have been doing most of the cooking again, and I am, in general, enjoying it. I also have been on Keto with Rosie and I do Intermittent Fasting (although since I’ve been sick, I have slacked with that one…hoping to get back to it soon). I have lost 20 pounds and feel much better. I take care of my sister since Mom is gone. This is our first Christmas without her….

As you must know, one of my passions is this website. Thank you for your support, I truly hope your Christmas is a time of rejuvenation, peace and joy!

Below are photos of our couples. Colin & Z and Sep & Molly are not included. Hoping to post later….

Vin and Gin with Edward, Tony, Benjamin, Johnathan, Emma, Nathan, Juliette, Peter and Anne Marie

Devin and Theresa with Brendan, Sienna, Adrian, Avila and Adam

Dominic and Sarah with Rita, Augustine and Lucy

Mike and Jeanette with Agnes, Magdalene, Tobias and Elias

David and Margy (our newlyweds)

A Christmas Gallery….

Cookie time at Theresa’s
Grandma Rosalie is right in on the fun!

Some of the finished product….shortbread cookies!

Cookie time at Jeanette’s
Jeanette, Rosie and Margy
Wow! That’s a lot of cookies.

Margy
Cherry flips
Butterhorns

Thumb Prints
Theresa is helping decorate…the branch of lights is caught in her hair…haha
Lots of commotion!

Gemma does the ceiling decorations….
Then notices I’m taking a photo!
Our friend, Sam, is experimenting making his homemade gingerale with a hint of orange.

Cookie baking at home with good friends.
Peter didn’t know what he was in for.
He’s making the best of it.

And takes out his frustration by making a Monster Cookie to scare the kids….
Way to go Peter!

Virignia is packed up and ready to go to the rectory with her family to decorate for the priests!
Decorating at home
Peter and Paul, good friends.

Ernie is visiting from Idaho…and, as usual, causing problems.
Who invited him, anyway!?
Ceiling decorations…

Sunday night potluck

Chatting
Jeanette and Mike
Paul, Dev & Theresa

Dominic insists on doing the dishes!
Colin and Z
Dom and Sarah

The little children make balloon animals with Grandma Rosalie
And then they watch a Christmas cartoon.

Colin’s birthday lands on the 19th. In the past, because it is so close to Christmas, we have kind of forgotten his birthday. We make sure not to do it again!
My beautiful Christmas bouquet from Nettie and Mike.

The top of the piano
Our snowmen…

I bought these lovely homemade icon decorations this year.
Our tree
Gin’s decorations…

Her mantle…
Jeanette’s decorations
Her mess…

Her tree…
Her late risers….
Father Adams in his Santa mode…

Gin’s dresser…decked out for hubby.
Sweet little Anne Marie
Gin’s “fireplace”

Her living room
Yum!
Rosie continues to work on the Spiritual Christmas Crib.

So far…
Joseph and Mary
The donkey…

Provisions….
Bethlehem (drawn by a friend)
Might as well laugh than cry…. hehe

A neat closeup of the “Bethlehem Star” as Saturn and Jupiter pass each other on December 21st.
A photo of the star taken from Italy.
San Miguel de Allende – MEXICO

Prague at Christmas…..Infant of Prague, have mercy on us.
Mary Christ-Mass to all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chatting, a Gallery, Advent & the Stable

04 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by Leanevdp in Feast Days, Seasons, Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens

≈ 10 Comments

I hope you are all doing well and navigating, as well as keeping your chin up and your eyes on Our Lord, through these interesting times.

Hubby and I both had Covid. It wasn’t the worst flu we’ve had…mine was more long-lasting than Vincent’s. I was out of commission for two weeks and then took another week to get back to normal. I still don’t have much taste or smell but I feel very well. We’ve done our research and did lots of natural things for it. Like any bad flu, we are grateful to have it behind us…

Saturday, the Feast of St. Nicholas,  we will have a lovely event for the grandchildren. Angelo will head it up again. I will share pictures afterwards. Here’s a post on the St. Nicholas Day Puppet Show.

Advent has arrived and we took time to get our stable up on Saturday…so we were actually on time for the First Sunday of Advent! That’s what happens when you have older kids! 🙂 It was a grand time and I thought I would share with you the pictures, along with some other fun photos!

Here is a link for the wonderful Advent custom of the Spiritual Christmas Crib, in case you haven’t seen it or forgot about it!

And while you are at it you may want to look back at this post by Paula Rutherford and take a walk with her through Advent to Christmas!

Also, sign up for the Giveaway on this post.

giveaway

Click on the first picture to see the gallery:

Theresa’s family getting ready for the Pumpkin Carving Contest at the All Saints’ Day Party!
Brendan likes to hunt!
Cute owl by Sienna.

Little Avila has a nice entry for the contest! 🙂
And Adrian is ready with his!
Moving to Jeanette’s family… Here is Magdalene with her little pumpkin.

And Agnes’ pumpkin was scarred but she still used her artistic talent on it!
Gin’s Family…Juliette decided to do something different.
And here is Benjamin’s pumpkin.

We at home… Rosie is working on hers
Along with Angelo.
Getting close to done.

Here is Angelo’s..
And here is Rosie’s
Lovely! It says…”Stand for the flag, Kneel for the cross.”

Before the party, Theresa’s kids spend some time at the Graveyard with Grandma.
And Jeanette’s little family spent some time at the graveyard in the evening.
My sister had some special arrangements she wanted “planted” at her grave. Angelo did the work.

Hannah and Ely.
Haha…Theresa’s litte Adam is a jovial fellow. He is walking very well and he is only 8 1/2 months old!
Hannah made this neat hat for a Christmas gift.

It’s a hat AND a scarf combined!
Here’s another work of art she crocheted. Gemma is modeling.
Margy models it.

Margy (our newlywed) signs the cerificate of Enthronement of the Sacred Heart for their home.
David signs next.
Fr. Flood and Dave pose.

We had some help from good friends!

Hannah and Jeanette
Rosie and I went to the convent in Gower, MO for 3 Days of Recollection.
The priest is originally from our parish and is a monk at Clear Creek Monastery. He may have been filling in or on a retreat himself.

Beautiful statue of St. Scholastica at the convent chapel.
The grounds had many trails to walk on and we picked a weekend that turned out lovely. Needless to say, Rosie walked my legs off!

The grave of Sr. Wilhelmina…a truly inspiring nun!
Little soldier Toby….Jeanette’s little person.
Gemma is a political activist…haha. Her letter to our President….

We have 5 of our last children that have birthdays in Nov. within 5 days of each other.
This year they just wanted a ride in an airplane.
A kind “neighbor” granted their wish.

Rosie
Up in the air.
Magdalene got the first egg from the chickens!

Little Anne is as bright as a button.
Angelo’s gift from several of his siblings.
He was tickled.

We are very dry over here and one day the wind kicked up to 50 mph. A fire was accidentally started southwest of us.
We were warned that it was quickly coming our way and we had to evacuate.
I was still sick but we headed off in our vehicle to stay with my daughter. Hubby stayed behind.

If Vincent had not stayed home, we would have lost our home and our shop.
He was not feeling well, but kept putting out the fires that jumped the road and threatened to take our home and much more acreage.
These aerial pictures are from the Delia Fire District #5. The fire burned 3,000 acres!

Some of the family at our favorite Thrift Store/Coffee Shop.
Sienna’s birthday and she wanted a cheesecake for it.
Rosalie, Sienna and Theresa.

Brendan went searching in their big barn and look at what he found!
Oh yes….Thanksgiving turkey!
A lovely Thanksgiving Day!

David and Margy…baby due in April.
Jeanette and Elias (with his turkey hat on)
Gemma went out and picked the “weeds” to don the table.

Good times….good friends.
Sisters….
Wrestling.

Jeanette, Hannah, Margy
Mike with the turkey hat…
Sisters Rosalie and Becky (Rosalie is two of our sons-in-laws’ mother)

Colin, Z and Charlotte
Angelo loves to blacksmith. He made this knife, the handle and the leather sheath.
Some of his other creations.

Ready to take down the fall decorations and put up the stable.
A big job. The beginning…
Lots of BIG scenery props…

Bark off the trees
Oh yes…and the lovely green moss.

We have to spray this throughout the season to keep it green and fresh.
Lots of different finds out in nature.

While the kids were putting the scene together, I ran to our little town and met Devin and Theresa, Margy and David.
We chatted around the fire at the friendly Christmas Tree Farm. Then I bought a tree and brought it home.

Devin and Theresa at the Tree Farm.
MIke and Nettie got their huge 10 ft. tree there, too.
David and Margy.

Lots of pretty berries to add to the stable scene.
Rosie is putting up the lights.
Hannah is being weird.

Now Gemma is being dramatic.
Hannah


Gemma is weird, too. Must get it from their Dad. 🙂

Lots of mess.
Ummm…seriously, Angelo? Chainsaw in the house???

Cleaning up.

Lots of little nooks and crannies.

Done!
The scene is lit up!

Our Advent Tree
St. Nicholas is perched on the tree once again.
Devin and Theresa’s family doing their Stable Scene.

Adam is helping….
Lots of little elves.
Lovely! The scene will await the Baby Jesus.

Vin & Gin
Making popcorn bags for the grandchildren.
Made with good ingredients…they will taste delicious!

Sucanat and 100% maple syrup.
Grandsons…

Music….
Adam and David
Margy’s cute Advent “wreath”

Good idea if you like to keep the flames contained.
Gin’s Advent wreath

The start of Gin’s stable
Colin and Z’s lovely Stable Scene

Colin and Z’s Huck is very tired…
So are Hannah and Ely.

Mike and Jeanette’s very large tree!
Advent wreath and stable
Each new baby in Dev & Theresa’s family gets a hand-knitted stocking with their name on it….from Grandma Byrne.

Haha…Adam’s new stocking!
They are getting ready for St. Nicholas Day.
Theresa and kiddos and smiles!

Father Flood and the kids helped to finish Margy’s puzzle.
Couldn’t resist….


Happy Thanksgiving from Finer Femininity!

26 Thursday Nov 2020

Posted by Leanevdp in FF Tidbits, Seasons, Seasons, Feast Days, etc., Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens

≈ 5 Comments

May your Thanksgiving Day be filled with blessings! I am thankful for you, your prayers and support! ❤

Some inspirational quotes

Mothers,  on Thanksgiving, know how very special you are. You are the essence, the heart of your home. Your smile lightens the burdens, your words brighten the hearts of those who will be part of your festivities. The tone of this special family time is set by you! We, as mothers, are privileged to have such an important part in the making of our homes! May your day be filled with grace and love! ❤

This Thanksgiving let us offer up our little inconveniences, our stresses, our fatigue for those less fortunate than ourselves. And, on the flip side, let’s start becoming more aware of the little things and thanking God for them.

“After committing a fault of whatever kind, rather than withdrawing into ourselves indefinitely in discouragement and dwelling on the memory, we must immediately return to God with confidence and even thank Him for the good that His mercy will be able to draw out of this fault!

We must know that one of the weapons that the devil uses most commonly to prevent souls from advancing toward God is precisely to try to make them lose their peace and discourage them by the sight of their faults.”
Searching For and Maintaining Peace, Fr. Jacques Philippe https://amzn.to/2pSwDmQ (afflink)

Thank God for His many blessings. Make the most of each and every day. Enjoy the journey. The world will keep whizzing by but we must take time to smell the roses. Each day is a gift, each person in your life is special. Take nothing for granted.

“For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy!” ❤❤❤-St. Therese of Lisieux

Be attentive to the sacrifices your husband makes for the family. Each day he battles the world, the flesh and the devil out in the workforce for you. Don’t let that go unnoticed. Thank him often! Appreciate him. -Finer Femininity

Discussing the dynamics of Catholic family life…

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Chit-Chat with Finer Fem

14 Monday Sep 2020

Posted by Leanevdp in by Leane Vdp, FF Tidbits, Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens, Tea-Time With FinerFem - Questions/My Answers

≈ 4 Comments

The following are answers to a few questions that I have received lately…

(The post of Mom’s death is here.)

You mentioned in your post of your mother’s death that she died one hour away from First Saturday? What is the significance of that and what is the Sabbatine Privilege?

The Sabbatine Privilege 

Wearing the Scapular even extends to Purgatory.

The Sabbatine Privilege is based on the Papal Bull issued on March 3, 1322 by Pope John XXII. This Privilege was approved and confirmed by many popes including St. Pius V. It essentially says that those who wear the Scapular and fulfill two other conditions can obtain early liberation from Purgatory, through the special intercession of the Virgin Mary, on the day consecrated to her, Saturday.

The other two conditions are: 1) Observe chastity according to one’s state in life and 2) Recite the Little Office of Our Blessed Mother (the Rosary, with permission from a priest, can be substituted for the office).

Our Lady revealed to Venerable Dominic of Jesus and Mary: “Although many wear my Scapular, only a few fulfill conditions for the Sabbatine Privilege.” We maintain the majority don’t know them. It is an act of charity to make the Sabbatine Privilege known to all.

A soul from Purgatory was asked by a Sister: “What is the average stay of the souls in Purgatory?” The Poor Soul answered: “From thirty to forty years!” Can you see the importance of making Our Lady’s Privilege known – if you consider that the flames are the same as the fires of Hell!

In your post on your mom’s death, you laid your rings on her after she had passed. What was the reason for this?

We laid our rings on her so we could have something that touched her after her death.

Knowing my mom and who she was, what she stood for and the prayers she said, along with the Sabbatine Privilege, we were hopeful that she flew into the arms of Jesus and Mary. Therefore, we wanted something we wore all the time to be touched to her. If she is a saint in heaven, venerating that article brings blessings.

Keep in mind, we are not saying that we believe she is a saint…but we are hopeful. That being said, we will continue to pray for her and are having the Gregorian Masses said for her. (Don’t ever take it for granted that your loved one is in heaven, that’s a mistake you DON’T want to make. Continue to pray for them.)

What are the Gregorian Masses?

Gregorian Masses are a series of Holy Masses traditionally offered on 30 consecutive days as soon as possible after a person’s death. They are offered for an individual soul.

The custom of offering Gregorian Masses for a particular soul recognizes that few people are immediately ready for heaven after death, and that, through the infinite intercessory power of Christ’s sacrifice, made present in Holy Mass, a soul can be continually perfected in grace and enabled to enter finally into the union with the Most Holy Trinity – our God, Who is Love Itself.

History of Gregorian Masses

Gregorian Masses take their name from Saint Gregory the Great, who was sovereign Pontiff from 590 to 604. St. Gregory the Great contributed to the spread of the pious practice of having these Masses celebrated for the deliverance of the souls from purgatory. In his Dialogues, he tells us that he had Masses on thirty consecutive days offered for the repose of the soul of Justus, a monk who had died in the convent of St. Andrew in Rome. At the end of the thirtieth Mass, the deceased appeared to one of his fellow monks and announced that he had been delivered from the flames of Purgatory.

Where do you get them from…the Gregorian Masses?

We get ours from The Universal Living Rosary.

I have a question for you.  My Dad used to say of my Grandpa that he always “saw” him at a certain age no matter how old he got.  Do you have a special picture of your mom that she always looked that way to you?  Does she smile just right?  Do her eyes twinkle a little?  What color were her eyes?   Does she look like she can see exactly what you are thinking?  If you do, would you share it?  Those are the best pictures to show how someone was. 🙂
Here are some pictures of Mom as I remember her. She always struggled to lose weight and made the comment that she would finally lose weight when she was 90 years old and in her coffin. We loved her just the way she was, of course.
And she DID lose a lot of weight this past year…. (Her eyes were blue.)
Was your mom always Catholic? How did she survive the years when the Church became so liberal?
My mom was Catholic and was taught by the nuns. Her mom was a convert, her dad a staunch Catholic, though he did not talk about the Faith much, from what I gathered.
Dad and Mom fell away from the church for close to twenty-five years. When Mom made it back…through searching, because of her suffering…the Church had changed so much it was not recognizable from when her and dad left.
Mom persevered going to church and was ridiculed for receiving on the tongue, kneeling when receiving Communion, fully genuflecting, being reverent, etc.
She finally searched out a Traditional Mass…which was few and far between back then. She traveled far to go there….her family (all of us) thought she was nuts.
Through Mom’s reading of old Catholic books (discarded and bought from garage sales, etc.), spending two hours in prayer each morning (rising at 5am), wearing her scapular, etc., Mom became a solid Pillar of Faith. (Before she came back to the Church, she suffered much from depression, was on medication, and even went through”shock treatments” to try and help her ailments.)
The transformation was real and my brothers and I watched in awe (though not always supportive).
Mom’s faith and perseverance paid off. My dad died a holy death. There were signs and consolations after my two brothers’ deaths that we can have reasonable hope they made it.
My two other brothers in Canada are solid in the Faith. I love the faith and  pray to persevere always. My sister needs prayers but she is a prayerful person and, I believe, her journey will end well.
What greater gift can children have from their mother than the Faith that will lead them through life and past the threshold into Eternity?
Thanks, Mom.
“It follows that in helping your child to satisfy his basic emotional needs to love and be loved, you give something as necessary as food for his full development. So do not be beguiled by aspirations for a worldly career or by the desire to prove yourself as intelligent as men or as capable in affairs of the world as they. You can make your greatest contribution to your family as the heart of your home.” – Rev. George A. Kelly
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This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

Prayers for My Mom….The Closing of a Faith-Filled Life

30 Sunday Aug 2020

Posted by Leanevdp in Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens

≈ 23 Comments

Dear Friends,

This past Thursday my mom, for the second time, received the Last Rites and the Apostolic Blessing. She is failing quickly and we do not expect her to hang on much longer. We are so grateful for the comfort of the Sacraments when the most important event of life closes in.

This is not going to be easy. My mom has been so much a part of our lives…and we will miss her so.

I am reaching out to ask for prayers for her and for us. I have a couple mountains to climb after Mom is gone…and I feel like my mountain-climbing equipment is not up to par.

My sister, who lives with Mom, is disabled and has relied on my mom for spiritual, emotional and physical help. When Mom is gone, that void will be very big for her and I will need prayers to help me and her navigate.

But especially prayers for Mom. What a woman, what a Catholic example, what a warrior during a lifetime of hardship! She has been my rock…I have watched her closely through the years and hope to learn from her example.

Thank you so much for the prayers.

 

 

 

 

David and Margy’s Wedding….

09 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by Leanevdp in Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens

≈ 12 Comments

David and Margy’s special day turned out to be lovely in many ways. The weather was beautiful and it was a special miracle to have Rosie well enough to see everything through. We are grateful.

There are two videos after the gallery so come back and take a peek!

Click on the first picture to view the gallery….































 

 

 

Photos, Photos…. Pre-Wedding, God Bless the USA

06 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by Leanevdp in Smorgasbord 'n Smidgens

≈ 18 Comments

This week is going to be a photo week! I am going to post David and Margy’s wedding photos, hopefully soon.

Here are photos from before the wedding ceremony and the pictures of a “We Love Our Country” Rosary Rally we held in Topeka, KS.

After the gallery there is a few videos so come on back to the post!

Click on the first picture to view the gallery…

David and Margy with the flower girl baskets.
Vincent and Virginia work on the flowers.

The corsages and boutieneers (or however you spell that word)
Margy’s bouquet

Thursday evening found the girls gathered in my room ironing the wedding dress.
It was quite wrinkled and we tried steaming it with the hot shower in the bathroom. Didn’t work.
So…Maria, the seamstress, comes to the rescue and dares to put an iron to it!

It worked wonderfully!
Theresa is enjoying the comaraderie.

Margy and Jeanette look on… (and offer advice)
Doing Margy’s toenails.
Prayer the morning of the wedding…that all will go well, Rosie will handle the day and for blessings on David and Margy.

Dad chats with tired Margy.
Theresa gathers flowers from the gardens to decorate the cake.

A little solitaire to calm the nerves?
Wedding morning chatter.
The photographer, Joe, and Theresa. Adrian is there, too.