Our Lady of Good Deliverance

Notre-Dame de Bonne Délivrance

Another title of Our Lady "Our Lady of Good Deliverance"  that I happened to stumble across this when I was reading the book I mentioned previous Sermons of St. Francis de Sales.  I really think Our Lady wants to be known by her multitudinous titles so let's please Our Mother!   

After a terrible and prolonged temptation to despair, caused by the discussions of the theologians of the day on the question of predestination, from which [St. Francis de Sales] was suddenly freed as he knelt before a miraculous image of Our Lady at St. Etienne-des-Grès (the one pictured above), he made a vow of chastity and consecrated himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Catholic Encyclopedia

True Friendship

I was reading from the Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady this morning.  Now that is a book that is on my must-have list.  If you question whether you have a true friendship, I don't mean friends, I mean that true, deep friendship of the saints.   Try measuring it up to this beautiful quote:

For if the bond of charity so bound and united the Christians of the early Church that St. Luke assures us that they were of one heart and one mind [Acts 4:32], with how much greater reason may we not say and believe that the Son and the Mother, Our Lord and Our Lady were only one soul and one life?...

But as to her soul, it was inseparably united to the soul, heart and body of her Son, so that the blows which the blessed body of the Savior received on the Cross caused no wound to the body of Our Lady, but they gave a mighty counter-blow to her soul, so that the prophecy of Simeon was verified. Love is accustomed to receive the counter blows of the afflictions of the beloved.
St. Francis de Sales

Hobbit Trailer 2

The second trailer for the hobbit is out!   HERE or HERE
Just one word:  CANTWAIT!

We have already started our Hobbit Fund, have you?  We are collecting our loose change that we'll cash in come December :)   (read: we are practicing the art of "expert treasure hunters" and raiding Aragorn's change box and the side pockets in his car...! That's a good place to start!)

Second Breakfast Invitation

JOIN US on Friday, September 21st @ 11am SHARP... wherever in the world you are... for Second Breakfast!

 

75 years ago on the 21st September, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was published for the very first time. To mark the glorious 75th anniversary, we’re inviting you to celebrate hobbit-style: with a scrumptious Second Breakfast!

Inspired by the ideals cherished by hobbits everywhere: camaraderie, companionship and, of course, a love of good food, The Hobbit Second Breakfast is your chance to pop the kettle on, sit down with friends, family or colleagues, and take a moment to eat, drink and be merry.

So wherever you are in the world at 11am (sharp) on 21st September, come and join us for a hobbit celebration. We’re looking forward to it!

Taken from ... so ...visit... Hobbit Second Breakfast for Details and Menu

In preparation:  the making of hobbit cloaks

 Galadriel

Eowyn

Here is our menu:
Lemon Poppy Seed Cakes RECIPE
Cranberry Scones RECIPE
Apple Tart RECIPE
Crusty Bloomer RECIPE email me  (crusty french baguette)
Butter, Jam & Honey
Granola
Fruit
Lemonade
Tea
Eggs
Cheese
Veggie Sausages (because it is Friday)
(on non-Fridays Hobbits will eat normal sausages, bacon and pork pies)

Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis

On this beautiful feast day I want to share a couple thoughts from our priest's Sunday homily.  The sermon was on humilty and that only those who are humble go to Heaven.  The world thinks humility is weakness and cowardice but true humility requires great heroism. 
The World:  "Be yourself!"
The Saint:  "Oh no! I don't want to be myself, I want to be another Christ!"

I just thought that was such an beautiful way to put it!  I might add, "why would I want to be myself"? Ugh!  St. Francis of Assisi was a perfect example of humility. I am currently and once again, reading The Perfect Joy of St. Francis.  There is a scene in it where he is trying to decide what he should do.  He was yearning to be drawn away from the world so totally that he was desiring to live the life of a hermit somewhere away from it all. But in his concern for his ever-growing community, he was not certain this is what God wanted of him.  St. Claire came to his mind and he decided to ask her as she contained in her a virtuous level of clarity of mind.  But when he went to leave to speak with her he stopped and said he could not go to her as she would dote on him.  hahaha Apparently, in his humility he did not wish to be thought of so highly so he sent one of his brothers.  That was my main point, about humility, but you probably want to know what she said, "Preach!"  :)

Newest Niece

My newest niece, Lily Dolores, was born on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.  Isn't she darling?

Wedding

Update:  Naughty blogger forgot to take a picture of the bride and groom together so said mother-of-the-groom helped me out. Love the look of love!  May God bless them with a beautiful marriage!

 

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 Aragorn and I were invited to a wedding.  I think one of the most beautiful moments of the day was seeing the groom waiting in happy anticipation of his bride.  Of course there were also many moments that brought tears to my eyes.

 A couple of the siblings. I know... gorgeous family!  I would like to put in a little proud "mama" moment.  The groom was in my first teaching class and this brother was one of my violin students.  Once a teacher always a teacher.

I cannot help commenting on the homily.  I was absolutely spiritually flabberghastedly delighted by it.  He spoke of the husband being willing to be nailed to the cross for his wife.  He mentioned the crucifix, sacrifice.  It was beautiful! I wish I had my homily notebook but I didn't and  of course we were trying to juggle Marigold who is the church terror of the universe. 

 Ok, now I thought the bridal car was pretty neat-o! 

 "Oh No! Not the gravy!" 

(let's see who gets that! :)

 After the wedding, we had a few hours to kill so we wandered a bit around town, got a small bite to eat to tide us over until dinner.  Then we wandered through the hotel where the reception was.  Going up the 5 flights via elevator and gazing over the edge is not my idea of a good time. I'm not sure there is anything much more nauseating than that unless perhaps it is roadkill.

 While I was taking the picture I was hollering (I wasn't really hollering but I was freaking out) "Don't drop the baby!!"  Aragorn of course thought it wildly funny. It wasn't.

 We went back to the car for a while as we were kinda tire.  This is Marigold marveling at the sunroof opening.  Then we all just sort of passed out. 

 Then was the lovely reception. These 2 pictures are of the candy buffet.  Incredible. Our table happened to be right next to it.  How convenient. 

 I never knew candy could be a work of art, but it really was.

 We sat at table 21, with a lovely group of people who were the blast from the past. It was a most enjoyable time catching up. One was also one of my students in my first teaching class.  It was so funny to be called "Miss Maher" again. It was so nice to see a couple of my "teachers pets" again!  Which I might add I now just have a room of teacher's pests. haha

 The food was delicious.  We had a stuffed chicken and what must have been steamed vegetables, salad, bread and what must have been homemade ice cream in 3 flavors (I know where are all the pictures of the food?!  I don't know didn't think of it til I was 1/2 way through and then I felt a 1/2 eaten plate would have been kind of vulgar)

 My choir counterpart is the mother of the groom.  She was radiantly beautiful.  Sanctifying Grace makes a beautiful face glow like an angel.  I think that summarizes the mother of the groom!

 We went posing as the "perfect" family in America.  HAHA I really wanted to put someone in a state of shock that we weren't there with just one child as we merely left the other 10 at home but when you go somewhere with 1 child there are no questions it's an accepted fact, you have your one child, you've got it all.  Unlike if you go with 2 and they say "are they ALL yours?"  or if you go with 11 and people can't take it in at all.  You can just feel the brain power getting to its max speed!

 Prior to leaving the girls primped Marigold

 

and braided her hair so nicely.

 

 Rupunzel, Rupunzel let down your long hair.

 I don't know, but I thought it was hilarious!

 And since I am wont to be rather drastic.   I will now make a drastic change in topic (I'm not one for starting all over just to change the subject, I'm the speedy blogger)

 We did end up with a few pumpkins but they were so absurdely small.  I think our biggest is only  about 150 pounds.  But we can thank the drought and vine bores and whatever else. However the cabbages went crazy big. 

 These are in our neighbor's garden which happens to be in perfect growing condition!

And while we were gone, Galadriel made a twin doll dress to match the one she made not that long ago.

 We had a calf born on Eowyn's birthday so it was named Emiline.

 I can't think of any greater honor than to have a calf named after me unless it was a pig or a chicken.

They waste no time getting up on all 4's.  Ain't she purdy?