voca-the call

I have been thinking about my vocation as a wife and mother. A few years ago, I was involved in every aspect of church activities. I was an officer in the Altar Society from 1995-2003; I taught sunday school from 1995-2003; I either taught or ran the kitchen at every vacation bible school from 1995-2008, usually with 1 other parent,and a nun. I also worked every funeral dinner for years.

After Lukes' death my health was in a very precarious state, the following pregnancy was extremely high risk, and i spent 7 weeks in the hospital. It took a very long time for me to recover from the ordeal, I planned church events, and dinners from my hospital bed, and faxed lists to people. In the fall of 2003, when they were lining up teachers for the classes,I was once again receiving a lot of pressure to teach, and do my best for the church.

Fr. Matthew called me over to the rectory, I thought oh no, what have I done now. In his own plain-spoken, inimitable way he explained that God had called me to be a wife and mother, and that call had to come first. He pointed out that none of the women that were so eager to put me in charge of things had 7 young children. He flat out forbid me from teaching, holding an office or volunteering for anything without his approval. He explained when my health was in jeopardy how many volunteered to look after my childen or feed my family, who would look after them if i died....

Fr. Matthew said the church has been here for 2000 years, and when my family was raised there would stillbe plenty of work for me to do. Ihave made my focus, my home and family. We do not attend sunday school, put I do give religous instruction to my children using the Baltimore Catechism, the saints of the day, and of course holy scripture. i feel they are receiving a very solid education.

I have tried to live up to Gods' call on my life, and last year, I realised, my ministry is right here in my home, not only to my children, but to all the teenagers that have come through my door in need of an adult to listen to them and give them a hug and a hot meal. Many children call me Mom, not only the ones I have given birth to. Maybe that is what God intended all along...I have never turned one of them away from my table or my home ,I just listen and love them.

Thank you Fr. Matthew for caring enough about me to point out my true vocation to me...Thank you for giving so much of yourself to the church all these years, I have been honored to know you , and I am so greatful to you for the 60 years you have served God and his Church so faithfully.

Last June after 10 years at our parish Fr. Matthew returned to the monastery, he was the very young age of 86, and Fr. Adrian became our new parish priest. At the meeting in August to plan the new religous education program,I attended and offered my opinions, several people nominated me to teach again, I politely declined, after everyone left Fr. Adrian said you are extremely qualified to teach, why aren't you sharing this gift with the church? I explained my reasons, and Fr. Matthews talk with me..he said Fr. Matthew is a very wise and holy priest....

Last month Fr. Matthew celebrated his 87th birthdy, and 60th jubilee as a priest. The Archbishop of okc, and Bishop of Tulsa concelebrated the Mass in his honor. This humble man from Lawton, Oklahoma has touched many lives...My 2 youngest sons each carrry one of his names. He has asked all the children what is God calling you to do? And so I ask what has God called you to do? Are you listening? I hope I am!!!!

advent

I have been doing the daily advent readings out of The Living Word magazine which I really enjoy, but yesterday I started a new book called the O antiphons. Father Matthew gave it to me a few years ago, and I love it.

Dec. 17 O Sapientia ~O wisdom O Holy word of God
Dec. 18 O Adonai~O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel
Dec. 19 O Radix Jesse~ O flower of Jesse's stem
Dec. 20, O Clavis David~O key of David,O royal power of Israel
Dec. 21 O Oriens~O /radiant dawn, O splendor of eternal light
Dec. 22 O Rex Gentium~O King of all the nations
Dec. 23 O Emmanuel~ O Emmanuel king and lawgiver
In reverse order they spell out Ero cras, or tomorrow I will be there.

This is just a brief outline of the antiphons, and the scriptures from Isaiah and the full readings can be found on line. Thank you Father Matthew for helping me stay focused on waiting for the Lord.

A new patron saint

Dear Fr. Matthew called to check on me today. He said he was feeling a bit concerned, and wanted to check in. He asked had I heard back from the Dr. about all my lab work, how was I feeling?

Well, the labwork came back showing I have an auto-immune disease. My Dr. doesn't know what it is , and is referring me to a rheumatoligist. I have been trying to stay positive,but today was just a bad day. No sleep, lots of pain, and then the last straw of finding out I won't be able to get a Dr.s appt. until Jan. or Feb.. It just took the wind out of my sails.

I was so angry. I have so much to do everyday. I have a 2 year old, and 9month old at home, plus Ashley in the wheelchair again. I can't even lift her wheelchair right now. Everyday, I have littleones to feed, bathe, dress, diapers,pottytraining,cooking,cleaning, and I can barely move some mornings. It takes all Gods' grace to get me through the things I have to do, and there is always so much more that needs to be done.

Fr. Matthew said I think perhaps, you need a new patron saint. You may have completely worn yours out. After all, more things happen to you than anybody I have ever known. I asked if he had any suggestions. St. Margaret Mary and St. Lydia may be tired of such hard work all the time. Are there any saints out there that want to intercede for a wife, mother of 9 in this world, and 3 in heaven, a very hard worker, who spiritually wants to know, love, and serve God. Physically needs a little help and a lot of prayers. You saints mull it over and get back to me.

Chivalry is not dead

Fr. Matthew called today to check on me. I haven't seen him since he went to live at the Monastery in June. He has been a great blessing to me, and my whole family. He was our parish priest for 10 1/2 years. He baptised 4 babies, buried1, and married my oldest son. He has a dry sense of humor , stands just over 5 feet tall and is 86 years old.

His greatest fear in returning to the monastery was that they would take his car away. He was overjoyed to find a parking space with his name on it right in front. Age has its privliges.

He asked lots of questions, he wanted to know everything that had been happening in our lives lately. I gave him a complete run down . Including the family members that had been down with the dreaded stomach virus. Kyle, Andrew, Ben, Connor, Christian , and last but not least Alexandra who spent 2 days projectile vomiting. I think priests need a peek at large family life.

He told me "God must love you very much" . I said what are you talking about. He said things always happen to the people God loves very much , and something, everything is always happening to you!!!!! I couldn't argue with that one and soon our conversation turned to farm life.

He was raised on a poultry ranch , and likes to talk about the chickens, and hear my stories about the turkey thinking he's a rooster. I was explaing to him why I had been feeding, and putting the chickens up at night since it is Connors' job(The crazy chickens were roosting on my front porch ). I felt so sorry for him. First the staph infection in his arm, then the yucky stomach virus. After I put the chickens up Billy the goat went berserk!!!!! He thought I had food or scraps , and trapped me in an area without a stick, or a bat, or a gun. He was jumping and bucking , I had never seen him so crazy. He rammed me twice in the stomach. He hit me so hard, he knocked me up over a hedge, and into the gazebo about 5 feet. He broke the skin on my stomach and leg. I have welts and bruises everywhere. The children heard me screaming and ran to my rescue. I said get your Daddy, and tell him to bring the gun this time. He came out and chased his wretched goat away, but wouldn't shoot him.

Dear Fr. Matthew said that goat is a menace, and serves no useful purpose. If, I still lived down there I'd bring my gun over and take care of that goat. He said now my dear , you and the children lure that goat into the back pasture, and shoot it. It has become far to dangerous. And what will I tell the husband, that happens to like the goat? He said tell him bad news dear, I was shooting into the back pasture, and the goat ran into my bullet.