So… I’ve been up to something.

I have been making Rosaries! My shop ‘On the way to the garden’ is now open.

Please pop by and take a look.

 

A story of hope and healing.

 

This is such a beautiful story of hope and healing. 

Sharing for anyone who needs to hear it. 

A message of healing and hope and two videos

I will begin this post, by saying that I am pro life.

After some thought and prayer I’m deciding to share three videos here. 

There has been lots said over the last few days much of which has simply pushed people even further apart from one another.

I genuinely believe that most people on both sides come from a place of compassion even if their emphasis is different.

So, as far as the three videos go, one is an interview with an OB/GYN who used to perform abortions. Although she doesn’t anymore, she is very compassionate to women in crisis pregnancy situations and urges those of faith to be compassionate and gentle with the words they use when talking about this subject.

In the current cultural climate, abortion will be more prevalent and more normalised. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t create any less of an impact on a woman’s heart and soul. It’s a traumatic event. We need to be mindful in how we talk about abortion so that we don’t do further harm to women who have already been traumatised by abortion.

Yet it doesn’t serve anyone to shy away from the fact that abortion means the killing of a small human life. 

Abortion is a grave matter.

This doctor says the church must reflect Jesus and  be a place of love, support and redemption for everyone and not simply target specific people in specific situations. We are, after all sinners in need of a saviour. 

Here is the video. The main point of her talk comes at minute 19. I love what she says here about how the church should be a safe place. 

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This video is the story of three former Planned Parenthood employees who also experienced abortion themselves.

The third video I’m sharing is by a wonderful nun 

( Sister Emmanuelle Maillard) who herself has a wonderful story of redemption and healing. All her videos are beautiful but I particularly recommend one called ‘Peace like a River.’

Anyway, I digress. 

Sister Emmanuelle shares in the video I’m linking to,  how women who have been hurt by abortion can find healing by going to Mama Mary.

Here is the video.

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If you have had an abortion, I don’t judge you. Many years ago I nearly had an abortion. 

I was young, alone, homeless and afraid. I know there are many hard situations where it seems like there is no other way and so does God. He understands the torment you went through. He is above all things Mercy and Love. There is nothing and no one that He can’t redeem, no wound He cannot bind, and no pain He cannot heal if we surrender our lives to Him, and ask forgiveness.

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If you have had an abortion and are suffering with terrible pain, run into the loving arms of Mother Mary. She will help heal you.

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Mary, Mother of Our Lord, was a teenager when she found out she was pregnant. She risked being stoned and exiled yet she gave herself to God’s will and God protected her. Above all, she understands your fear and your suffering. 

If only everyone knew the protection and love of our Heavenly Mother. If only, in our suffering we hid ourselves in the folds of Her Mantle, we would understand the Love God  has for all His children both small and great, both born and unborn.

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Please know that God loves you so much. He only wants you to rest in His arms so  He can heal you of your pain. Go to Him. Pour out your heart to Him. 

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‘God is close to the broken hearted and will save the crushed in spirit.’ - Psalm 34

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If you know anyone experiencing a crisis pregnancy, throw open your arms and lives to that person, support them in any way you can. Love them, care for them and pray for them. 

I would also call on those of us who are pro life  to vote for policies and laws that offer more help and support to the vulnerable and poor in society including better access to healthcare, good, safe housing and  better provisions for maternity/ paternity leave. This kind of social/ family support has been shown to significantly lower abortion rates as it creates a culture in which vulnerable women feel supported.

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I’m sharing one more video here. 

This video is one of the most incredible, moving stories I’ve ever seen. 

I want to say, however, there  are parts of this video that could trigger someone who has been through an abortion as it explains in some detail, the procedure at one point in the video. 

Patricia’s testimony is one of incredible redemption and the infinite Divine Mercy of God’s  Love I feel compelled to share it. If you can watch it to the end, you will find such incredible HOPE.

A Prayer

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, 
to thee do we send up our sighs, 
mourning and weeping in this valley, of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us; 
and after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus;
O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Some thoughts on education from a Carmelite Priest.

 

Pere Jacques was a Carmelite Priest and "Martyr of Love" 1900 - 1946

I'm sharing some wonderful notes from my Carmelite group on this fascinating priest, who was headmaster of Le Petit College de Sainte Therese and who died at Mauthausen concentration camp on 2nd June 1945.

At a time when discipline was paramount and teaching was heavily didactic, that is, a matter of the teacher giving information and the pupil receiving it, Fr. Jacques approach to education was quite revolutionary. The teacher was not "to block the child's horizon by always walking in front of him." Instead he must " let the child go ahead, following him and only intervening discreetly when it is necessary, always with tact and discretion."

Such an approach issued from a belief that the child isn't an empty, passive vessel into which teachers pour knowledge; it rests on confidence that the children have an innate desire for, and a capacity to, learn an grow, that they are made to engage with the world in order to become what they are made to be.

Fr. Jacques did not derive his confidence from psychology so much as from his Christian understanding of the human person. 

He agreed with St. Thomas Aquinas that freedom is the great attribute of the human being made in the image of God. Education involved, therefore, enabling children to realise their true freedom, so they would not remain slaves to their own heredity or unexamined ideology. Fr. Jacque emphasized the importance of education in the formation of character.

Catholic thinking define education as "integral human development with a view to man's final end." That is man's final end is sanctity and union with God. It also emphasizes the role if education in producing citizens who will build a world in accordance with the highest human values, that is, values consistent with the Gospel.

In his "Mission statement for the college at Avon he states: " A Teacher is to awaken the child so that the child can realise fully all that God has in view for him, through the complete blossoming of his personality."

Some quotes from Fr. Jacque:

"The human soul, a flower more delicate and subtle than the most beautiful of flowers, needs calm, recollection, serenity if it is to bloom harmoniously."

" The true end of all human education must be: holiness."

"Make no mistake about it: holiness is even better than art or genius in bringing about the blossoming of our personality. Only the saints are truly free. Holiness and liberty go together."

"The most decisive victory will be won on the day that the educator makes his pupil see and enjoy the difference between joy and pleasure."

To succeed in this education of the children of God there is one essential condition: there must be an atmosphere of joy."

"Gentleness is the characteristic of all pedagogic activity, its the fundamental disposition, the permanent state of soul of the educator."

"Gentleness, true gentleness, strong and calm gentleness, can only dwell in a heart that is totally self-forgetful so that it thinks only of others, who has no greater happiness than to let all his time, all his strength, all his devotion be absorbed by those who need a word, some advice, some service, in short, a heart which keeps nothing for itself, but gives all it has and is, without reflecting on the importance of this gift."

The Real Influencers

 

I just want to say, never underestimate the effect your online presence has on others.

I was thinking about years ago when I first discovered blogging. I’d always liked to write and to share my thoughts on the internet seemed daunting. But, I was very lonely. I’d just moved to a new town and I didn’t know anyone. We were living in a bad area. Family was distant and I had three, soon to be four, then five little ones. I had only just embraced my faith in Jesus and I felt very alone in my journey as a Christian and a mother. The internet seemed to unlock a world to me. 

Then I found a group of women bloggers who were mothers and Christians. They posted about ordinary things, the things I was going through, mundane things, hard things, beautiful things. Their faith shone through their words, giving them strength. This overflowed off the page ( screen) and into my own ordinary world transfiguring it and showing me the profound meaning in it.

I was blessed by these women more than I can say. They inspired me, encouraged me, edified me, convicted me.

My children were blessed as my own journey of motherhood was blessed. I will always hold a special place in my heart for those women.

I dearly miss those humble, earthy, homely and homespun blogs although I find similar beautiful souls on Instagram, even if it is a little more fast paced.

A few years ago, I heard that one of these women passed away. I literally went into my bedroom and wept. I had never met or spoken to this sweet, Godly woman, but my children’s childhoods would not have been the same without her generous wisdom and quiet, strong faith. That is because she guided me, as a woman and a mother into the sacredness of my vocation and role. 

We are all influencers in our way. The effects of our lives will only be fully realised in eternity.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 

-Titus 2:3-5

( I just want to thank those who have commented recently. My laptop is not working properly and I’ve just changed my phone and for some reason my replies to your comments aren’t appearing in the blog. I’m really sorry. I think it will work better through my laptop once it’s fixed. I appreciate your kind comments so much) 

Values

If we equip a child, to be emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically strong, they will be okay.

If we only equip them academically, then regardless how good their grades and how many exams they get, they won’t be okay.

We must always be driven by our love rather than our fear.

What we value matters. Our values build the kind of world we inhabit and the world  our kids will inhabit.

Boo interviewed on Klan Kosova

 

Boo really enjoyed her interview on Klan Kosova this morning.

She sings her new song at the end of the interview,

To watch, please click the link below.

https://fb.watch/bYqedh8N2s/

Btw, I’m so sorry for not responding to comments. I’ve recently had to get a new phone and I’ve had some problems signing in to comment on blogger for some reason. I’m trying to sort it out.

I just want to say I appreciate all who take time to comment. Thank you so much.

I’m not ignoring you ❤️ 

Boo plays a traditional Albanian song on TV

 

Boo’s track ‘Don’t Give Up’ was chosen as track of the week and featured on Jack Rafferty’s late show.

If you’d like to hear her interview with Jack Rafferty you can copy and paste the link below into your browser.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0brtgmk 

Boo was also featured on ‘Good Morning Albania’

To watch, click the link below:

https://youtu.be/ksMpfFz8VwA

Her Dad is translating.

Boo sings a traditional Albanian song at minute 10:44

Interview tonight

 

Hey guys, just a quick post to say Boo is being interviewed by BBC introducing tonight.

We are really excited as they will be featuring her new song ‘Don’t Give Up’ 

All proceeds from this song will be donated to Ukraine Red Cross. 

Please tune in if you can xxx

How New Age Spirituality has influenced Culture and Why - Some thoughts and a video

I'm sharing, in this post, a fascinating and important talk on the roots and influence of New Age philosophy in all aspects of modern society and why people are turning away from Christianity.

Over the course of my lifetime (43) years I have seen a huge shift. People have overwhelmingly abandoned traditional Christianity and turned to atheism, agnostism, or new age spirituality. 

Why has this happened? 

I believe that a major sifting is happening. In the past, people ascribed to Christian beliefs  because the church was a force in the culture. There were social privileges that came with being a "good church going Christian" and social sanctions for not being one. People didn't necessarily have to really believe to gain access to these privileges, they only had to put on a good show which led to the kind of hypocrisy that scandalised many and that Jesus, more than anyone spent his life on earth decrying. Jesus hated hypocrisy.

These days the opposite is true. Indeed, to be a true Christian these days means being ostracised by polite society. Much of The Bible is considered either irrelevant, offensive to modern sensibilities or both. Religion is thought to be too controlling and outmoded or just a crutch for the weak. 

Behaviour that would have been considered shocking in the past is now acceptable. This has led many people  to freely indulge in all manner of activities that would have meant social exclusion in the past. This has prevented a lot of hypocrisy while also revealing the truth of people's hearts. 

When given the opportunity to live as we want without any negative social implications and indeed, even with social rewards, what will we do? This "free" cultural atmosphere reveals the truth of souls. 

What reveals truth? Revelation. I do believe that we are living in a time  that the book of Revelation, the final book of The Bible speaks about. This book is also called The Apocalypse. The Bible prophesies a great apostasy or turning away from the truth in the end days.

Yet, human beings haven't ever lived and cannot live without God. So to fill the need for God on their own terms, they invent their own. Spirituality has taken over from Christianity. This Spirituality doesn't depend on any absolute truths but relative ones which means everyone gets to make their own god or gods with their own attributes that fulfil all the particular specifications of the individual. These gods give no absolute commandments to protect and guide or free the soul from the limitations and bondage of self and sin.

In these self made, customised religions, there is no need for mystery because esoteric knowledge will be given to the initiated. There is no need for guidance or doctrine or the protection of the church because there is only love and light in the spiritual realms. There is no need to pray, because power is manifested from within if you are "enlightened." Eventually, the end result is that people become their own gods. But we cannot save ourselves. We cannot free ourselves from ourselves. We need a Saviour. We need God. 

This talk is particularly fascinating to me because it reflects some of my own journey from New Age philosophy, heavily influenced by Anthroposophy, to traditional Catholicism.

These new age philosophies influence music, media, films, fashion and much of modern culture. They are so powerful and able to move so freely because, those in positions of power, the elite, are steeped in them themselves through masonry and they infuse the culture with these beliefs as a form of social engineering. 

These new age philosophies which stem from masonic networks are infiltrating Christianity too now and getting mixed up in a modern form of Christianity which contains a lot of heresies. People don't understand the danger of heresy anymore. It sounds like such an outdated word. Yet one small heresy is akin to making the smallest engineering part of a ship a millimetre out of shape. It won't necessarily make an enormous difference at first, yet over the course of years and generations it will lead to major error and turn the course of the whole ship. 

Freemasonry influenced that period of history known as  "The Enlightenment" which attempted to de spiritualise humanity. Lucifer (one of the names of the adversary - Satan) is known as an angel of light. Yet the light or "knowledge" he gives is false, deceives, leads away from true light and leads to destruction of the soul.

The story of Adam and Eve eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil led them out of the garden of Eden where they could walk with God in truth, beauty, goodness and love to the hard world, where "the prince of this world" causes havoc and the mortal body dies.

But the soul is eternal and how we live in this temporal world effect our soul in very real ways. Jesus came to teach us these eternal truths, He came to guide us and to save us. He said: 

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." - John 10:27-28

"The Church is that within which is right order. Outside the puerilities and despairs, even in these, our earthly miseries, we always hear the distant something of an eternal music and smell a native air. Within that household, the human spirit has roof and hearth. Outside, it is the night." - Hilaire Belloc

The hardest homeschooling days - A Spiritual Journey

The hardest homeschooling days weren’t when they were little and every day was brimming full to overflowing with  laundry, dishes, sweet, early morning snuggles. The days when I was pregnant and heavy and carrying teething toddlers on my hips while working out geometry problems. The days of veggie sticks and cupcakes with sprinkles, dandelion posies in jam jars and wailing car journeys. The days of stolen moments to nap or write a few lines or knit a few rows. The days of giggling under blankets, sofa forts and tea parties on the living room floor. The days of aching loneliness and the sweetest consolation and moments of communion. Times where it felt like Jesus was actually walking beside me when I was afraid.

No, the hardest days came after these. 

As life became less brimming and overflowing I began to exhale. I began to forget the things that had given Grace to the grit of struggle.

I prayed less. I think that’s where it began.

Soon I stopped going to mass every week. I would go to the woods instead. I'd say things like, ‘I find my God in nature more than in church.’ I forgot the Grace of sacramental life. I forgot that the sacrifice comes before the blessing. 

Although I still find the beauty of the creator in His creation, I don’t idolise it. This world is not our soul’s true home. Ut Migraturus Habita.  

I started to read books on buddhism and the new age. They seemed so full of esoteric, knowledge, and secret patterns that connected all the dots in the universe, like how constellations connect stars. There were similes and symbols everywhere.  I went down ‘truther’ rabbit holes and got lost. I rediscovered astrology. I went to new age gatherings where women were goddesses. I stopped seeing deception for what it was, the antithesis of truth, the doorway to forgetfulness.

The word religion means to re/connect, to bring the fragmentary, the incomplete and the broken to wholeness, to holiness. To remember who we are. There is a touching and telling moment in  the story of the prodigal son. It comes after the son has squandered his Father’s inheritance and is sitting, starving among the pigs and their empty husks. It is a still life portrait of a worldly dream come to it’s natural conclusion. Yet it is in that moment of complete disillusionment with what the world offers that he remembers his Father’s house and ‘comes back to himself’. After ‘coming back to himself’, his true self, and identity as His Father's child, he musters the strength and clarity to return to his true home.

A half truth is a complete lie. We are made for the fullness of truth. And there can only be one truth. 

In the faith, the evil one is known by names that denote his character. He is known as lucifer, (the light bearer), devil, (accuser and deceiver), satan, ( adversary).

Here is a comprehensive list of names and their meanings taken directly from Biblical texts.

Satan can come dressed as an Angel of light. He is the deceiver. He is the father of lies.

During this time of wandering away I began to fall for many lies. The truth became tough to swallow. I began to think the laws of The Bible weren't a good fit for me. I began to take on the rules and belief system of the culture which says anything goes, mocks virtue and seeks to justify vice.

It was a tempting paradigm. The temporaral, physical self wants its immediate needs and desires, perspectives and opinions to be satiated, fulfilled and ratified even if they destroy its eternal soul.

Real, authentic compassion always tells the truth because, however hard, the truth is always the highest, purest, most beautiful and most loving path for our eternal souls. 

My children were watching my struggle.

They began to act out, they became confused, they began to question absolute truth too. 

My physical health deteriorated. I became ill with one thing after another.

I understood something was wrong. Like the prodigal son, I began to think of My Father's house. The days when I could just run into His arms like a child. To be under the authority of The Father is also to be under His protection. I began to pray again. I stopped hiding from the Bible and the condemnation I rightly felt when reading it.

At first it was like walking through a desert. I didn’t feel the consolation and close communion I had before. I felt far away and distant. I felt unworthy. This continued for many months.

I remembered Jacob who wrestled with the angel and wouldn't let Him go till he blessed him. 

Then I came across Chelsea's testimony and Jamies and Steven Bancarz. 

I prayed for delieverance with Derek Prince sermons. I made a choice. I chose Jesus over everything else. I chose Jesus over fear, resentment, pride and self sufficency.

One night, I felt like I was on fire. I had a terrible pain in my stomach. I knew that if I just got on my phone and watched some random video or scrolled through some pretty pictures I would find some relief, some numbing for the pain. But I just stayed still in the flames and waited. And waited. 

I waited on The Lord alone. I only wanted rescue from Him. It was like a complete surrender. 

Then I saw a vision of Our Lord on a throne. It was real. The room was dark but I saw this light shining through that dark, piercing it through, His feet were like bronze and His robes shone like precious, white gold, His face was partially hidden in a cloud. I felt his hand reach down and rest on my stomach. Suddenly, all the pain I'd experienced for the last few years vanished. The fire was utterly quenched and I felt perfect peace like I've never felt before in my life. 

After this I got into the Bible like I never had before. I knew that even if I didn't understand everything in it's pages, what was nessecary for my soul would be made clear. I became more humble. I realised how, despite all my book reading, I really understood less than I did when I was a simple, illiterate child. I became a child again.  I read and prayed. I went to confession. I went to mass. I began praying novenas and rosaries. I attended The Mass of The Ages, The Tridentine Mass. 

My children were watching. They were curious, they asked questions, they joined me.

They were upset we didn't do halloween the first year, but by the time the strange noises that had been scratching at the windows and in the attic ceased, they were convinced. They began to see the deception that runs like a string of fake, twinkly lights through the culture. They deceided they wanted The True Light and the peace that it offered.

They too began to pray more. We prayed together. We went to confession together. They read their bibles and learned to love them. They found peace. We, as a family found peace.

My physical health began to improve. But most importantly, my spirtual health returned.

No more panic attacks, no more light headedness, no more strange aches and pains and debilitating tiredness. No more low level depression in Autumn and Winter. 

The three years that followed this experience have been some of the most trying in some ways. Covid came, My father passed away, my mother began needing daily care. There were diagnosis and exams.  Our best friends moved away. Yet, despite this,  I haven't ever felt more peace. Jesus says His peace is a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace the world cannot give. This, I find to be completly true.

And so, I find myself somewhere near where I started. The place of overflowing sinks and cups. The place of grit and unfathomable Grace. The place of stillness in the surrender and peace is a person not a place.

I share this only becasue I feel led to. I share this only because perhaps someone needs these words. 

I am an introvert and it's not easy for me to open myself up but I do it as an act of obedience and love that it might touch some soul on a similar path.

This is just a chapter in a bigger story. I don't have the burden of writing my story, only of faithfully playing my own small role in it and retelling it as truthfully as I can. 

If I can do nothing more, at least I can do that.

There is no perfection this side of heaven, so don't imagine every day is easy. God never promised that we wouldn't have trials, only that He would be with us through them all, giving His Grace and strength to our surrender. 

And through Him these trials are redemptive and meaningful. A life-bestowing paradox. Gving is receiving, death is life,  the end is the begining and the stillness the dancing. 

Praying whomever reads this is enjoying a restful and restorative christmas-tide. 

With love,

Blessings to you and yours. xxx