Category: Catholic Mom

Blessed Mary · Catholic Faith · Catholic Mom · Emily (Me) · Our Lady's Image · Saints

Celebrating International Women’s Day!

LadyEm634 Comments

Dear Ones,

If you know me, you know I love celebrations. But, I have to be honest, I grow tired of special days set aside for this and that. In my house we celebrate each other daily – I mean – maybe not with presents, etc. I hope you know what I mean. Sometimes my attitude about things doesn’t mesh with societal norms – but I have to be honest – I’m ok with that.

So many beautiful women have influenced my life. Truly – from my Grandmothers, Aunts, Cousins, Sisters,,, to many friends and acquaintances that have become family-like. I’m so thankful for each and every lesson, example, piece of advise, every book you have written, every way you have inspired me, etc. I just want to make sure you know I’m thankful for you all EVERY DAY, not just today.

With that, I actually did a google search wondering if others felt the same. There are so many reasons that the Catholic Church/Faith fits me so well. Check this out:

While the world may celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th every year, these saints prove that the Catholic Church celebrates women’s day every day of the year.  Check out these women and how they impacted the Church! 25 Women Saints Who Prove Every Day is Women’s Day!

Thank you EPIC PEW!!!

I’m not going to pontificate about being a woman/mom means to me… instead, I am going to leave you with a few quotes from my favorite Female Saints:

And Let us not forget our Blessed Mother, who taught us to Trust God, Say YES to Him, gave birth to Our Lord! There could be no better example on International Woman’s Day than a young, innocent girl who risked it all and gave us EVERYTHING! Amen!

Happy International Woman’s Day. Wherever you are – be blessed. If you have influenced me and I love you for it – I’m sure you know.

Love, Hugs, & Blessings,
LadyEm

Catholic Faith · Catholic Mom · Davis Family · Gospel Reflection · Quarantine2020

Gospel Reflection – Endless Eucharist

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Dear Ones,

Pretend, if you will, that today is January 5th and I remembered to post my Gospel Reflection. Sigh – clearly I did not. But First, a picture of my husband, in who’s honor I chose the January 5th Date. LOL We tried to make his 61st Birthday special and I think we succeeded. We ordered take away for dinner, had some neighbors stop by for a drink, and I made his favorite cheesecake. We are on lockdown, so the decor is brought to you by packing tape and streamers, and craft wax markers I knew I could clean off the windows – HA!

Here is the January 5th Reflection!

Daily Gospel Reflection – January 5th, 2020
Today’s Gospel: Mark 6:34-44 – Memorial of St. John Neumann

The Apostles were heading to a quiet retreat with Jesus to go over their mission work and discuss the murder of John the Baptist. When they saw the throngs of people waiting hear Jesus preach and to be served, how do you think they reacted? Sure, they knew that the people were hungry for the truth about who Jesus was and what He could do for them, but, disappointed at not being able to spend time with just Him, they probably thought “Please leave!” Sound familiar?

Jesus knew His Apostles were weary, and He had to have been grieving and in need of a break as well. However, the moment He saw the crowd of people, Jesus knew that He must lead these “lost sheep” and teach His Apostles to be shepherds…and so He taught us all. 

As evening fell, the Apostles became worried about food for the crowds. They were looking for a practical, worldly solution and Jesus found a heavenly solution. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, raised them into the air, and called on His Father, Our Almighty God, to ensure there was enough to eat. 

We all know the story about Jesus feeding five thousand, but do you understand what it means to us as Catholics? It’s an introduction to the Eucharist. The endless Body of Christ, that we partake in and which sustains us above all else. 

Jesus knows there are many lost souls in this chaotic world. Sometimes it’s me (you too I suspect). Yet He will stop every time and shepherd us back onto the path towards eternal life with Him, and He calls us to do the same for others. I cannot imagine a more perfect gift to us and am thankful for what this passage teaches us.

Ponder: When we are weary and in need of rest, we are often presented with arduous but godly work. We must learn to look to Jesus for a solution that He has gloriously placed within us: our gifts and talents. Think about how you have grown spiritually through serving His lost sheep, when all you want to do is rest.

Pray: Dear Lord, I praise You for bringing me through trials and tribulations that I can now help others through. Let me see You in others so I don’t miss an opportunity to serve Your lost sheep.

Anyway – Please subscribe to the Daily Gospel Reflections on Catholicmom.com and leave comments.

Also – Happy Feast of the Epiphany. I’m not a big fan of moving Feast Days to the nearest Sundays for convenience. We do so much for convenience, our Faith and important days should NOT cater to the “convenience” of society. My opinion. And so – today, on the 12th day of Christmas, I wanted to wish you a fantastic rest of your day and year.

May everyone seek our Lord, every day, as we use each day as a clean slate to start again.

Love, Hugs & Blessings,
Lady EM

Catholic Book Reviews · Catholic Faith · Catholic Mom · Emily (Me) · Equipping Catholic Families · Prayer Journal · Uncategorized

Book Review Wednesday – Prompt Me to Pray

LadyEm632 Comments

It is NO exaggeration to say that life is BUSY. Even in the midst of a COVID shut down here in Italy, I am still mom, wife, dog walker, animal feeder, PTSA President, friend, writer, paper crafter, family taxi, counselor, secretary, janitor, schedule coordinator, menu planner/shopper… you get what I mean – right?

I have told myself for years that God understands the busy-ness of motherhood and wifedom. God wants more from me (from you too) – and that is what this book will help each reader accomplish. Wherever you are in your prayer life, this book presents ideas and prompts to help you focus and grow your daily prayer into a better relationship with God. 

I purpose to read the Magnificat and pray Novenas, and Rosaries, etc. Many days, these things happen, but I will admit to you dear readers, that sometimes I get busy and forget….

Enter… Prompt Me to Pray

I have read many books about praying, but really, the tagline in that picture above, where it says “A Practical Plan for More Consistent Prayer from the Heart” – NAILED IT! Just saying.

This book encouraged me to start a prayer journal — not just writing out prayer requests for other people, but actually stopping to think about what I am asking, praying for and waiting on guidance. In essence, this prayer journal I am creating is like recording my conversation with God and the action plan He sets forth.

For some readers, this book presents a plan to find prompts and notice what prompts you (the reader) to pray throughout the day. I love that part, but I am already there. So when I told Monica I’d review this book, I thought – this is going to be my “dig deeper” resource. And it is. 

I am a prayer warrior. I constantly pray for other people. It’s a gift. But what I forget to do is purpose to pray for my needs, my family’s needs, our world, and every little thing.

I write down prayers for others, but I don’t take the time to write out my prayers for ME. And that, dear readers, is what is missing in my Prayer/Conversation with God. Yes, I pray for things I need. I’m human.  But I don’t converse the way Monica writes about in this book. And that has to change.

If you ask me who should read this book, I’d say anyone over the age of 11. I think it will appeal to teens learning to implement prayer journaling and purposeful praying into their everyday lives. Certainly would be a great book for Confirmandi to use.

Because of how the base chapel is run, I need to become the DRE (Director of Religious Ed) here at home. When I homeschooled, I was so good about it. Life has really overtaken us, and I am going to purpose to pray and use this lockdown the take back our Catholicity. I know that God will lead me. Pray for me, dear Readers.

I almost forgot. 

I am super excited about the Catholic Mom Bundle for Advent 2020. It can be overwhelming to even broach the thought of an organized and Liturgical Advent when you have littles. BUT – I promise you there is something in this bundle for everyone. For me, it’s the Prompt Me to Pray Advent eBook. It’s NOT available online yet, but is free with the purchase of this bundle, using Monica’s Affiliate Link.

This picture below is from Monica’s Website – Arma Dei – Equipping Catholic Families. The Affiliate Link mentioned is here – Catholic Mom Bundle Advent 2020

And don’t forget to check back on her website where I am sure the Prompt Me to Pray This Advent will eventually be sold as a standalone purchase, along with Prompt Me to Pray with the Saints !

Dear Ones, thank you for reading my post as always. May you find the path to God through Prayer – like the Saints did. Who is your favorite praying Saint? I mean – they all prayed, but we all have personal favorites. Let me know.

Love, Hugs & Blessings,
Lady Em

#catholicmom.com · Catholic Faith · Catholic Mom · Emily (Me) · Italy · Small Success Thursday

Small (BIG) Success Thursday

LadyEm632 Comments

Happy Thursday All.
Happy First day of Google School for our DODEA Kids.
Happy About to be locked down again in Italy.
Happy – Happy – Happy… Small Success Thursday!

While I am concentrating on my list of things to do… I want to be sure to praise God. I was writing my last Gospel Reflection for 2021 last week, and I have to say, as God does, he knew I was going to need to hold onto it. In this Gospel, Jesus was questioned by the Chief Priests and Elders. And they always asked him questions meant to usurp his authority. What I loved about it, was Jesus calmly asked them a question, to throw them off their game.

He was not mean spirited in any way, but you see… He knows, in our humanity, we often answer questions safely – even when we know the right answer. And our Catechism/Faith as we grow in Christ, challenges us to Answer the question LIVE the right way… Not the SAFE POPULAR way, but how our Lord has taught us. He cared deeply for their souls and wanted them to think.

In our world, living the right way… doing what we are supposed to, as long as we aren’t combative and aggressive and we lead with love, is intimidating, and yet freeing. And I believe when we speak up the right way about the awful things happening in our world, we are showing truth and love. We are doing it RIGHT!

So now, I shall tell you my Small *BIG* Successes. I’ve decided that they are all big.

My successes are as follows…

  1. Making a broader effort to get back to the Cathlicity that is missing in our home.
  2. Answering/Living the right way, in spite of judgment.
  3. Maintaining Sanity in the midst of what we know is coming.
  4. Ok – I can do four – I did this post. THIS is a miracle. But an advantage of being in Italy is it’s early in the states. ❤

I would encourage you all to tighten your inner circle. Remember Jesus had a small group of close companions. We must get smaller and stronger and in these times, pray harder.

I hope your Thursday’s are great.

Love, Hugs, & Encouragement!
LadyEm



Catholic Faith · Catholic Mom · Davis Family · Gospel Reflection · Italy

Blog Purpose & Gospel Reflection.

LadyEm632 Comments

Dear Ones,

If you are here reading, I implore you to stick around. I have a lot to say, about the world and life. I’m just trying to find my purpose in blogging.

When I started blogging in 2005/2006, I had one blog – a crafty blog. I was on design teams for stamp companies and paper crafted daily. Now my craft stuff sits quietly waiting for me to play (for the most part). Then, in 2006 I started a family blog to inform my husband and father, both in Iraq, on different bases, about my son and I and our lives because it was easier for them to read my blog, than it was to email or talk. When I started homeschooling, I regularly blogged about that, and also linked up with other Catholic moms. But the link ups have largely gone away and I missed them. Anyway… I changed blog names a few times and platforms too. And with all the changes in the past few years I’ve gotten myself confused about my blog purpose. I will be back. It may just all look different. I’ve merged my blogs now and I’m trying to come up with a balance and goal/purpose.

I’ll tell ya what though, for the past few years a constant has been writing Gospel Reflections for Catholicmom.com and I’m so thankful they keep inviting me back. Today, my Gospel Reflection on the Exaltation of the Cross, today’s Gospel in John 3:13-17 was published, and as I read it, I’m hopeful it will touch you. Here is the Gospel reading from the Magnificat.

Here is an excerpt of my reflection on their post:
Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today’s Gospel.

Reflection by Emily Davis

Today’s Gospel: John 3:13-17 – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus asks us to believe in something that we cannot possibly understand, except through our relationship with Him.

Shortly before I wrote this, my husband and I had the opportunity to chaperone a confirmation retreat. We live in Naples, Italy, and were at a beautiful, 1600-year-old monastery, run by the Order of Saint Brigit of Sweden. The grounds and buildings were spectacular, and the views of the Bay of Naples breathtaking. But my photographer’s eye kept landing on the cross at the end of the path. 

I could see the cross almost the entire time we were outside, and there was something comforting about knowing it was there. As I was editing my pictures, I noticed there were many of this cross, some in the distance as I was taking pictures of other things. A simple metal cross, on a large cement stand, right at the end of the intersection of the paths, before the wall that protects you from falling down a mountain. 

We are called to keep our eyes on Jesus on the cross, living in the knowledge that if we obey and him and live our lives in the ways of our Catholic faith, of the Church He founded, we will one day be reunited in Heaven. God answered so many personal prayers on this retreat, and in the weeks after. I’m rejuvenated by Our Lord’s love and the way He trusts me, in spite of my humanity, to have blind faith in Him and the lessons He teaches us by His example.

I also wanted to share with you, the cross I speak of in the text above. The old Monastery is now run by the Order of Saint Bridget. You can read more by clicking on the link attached to her name.

Thank you for reading my post. Thank you for cheering me on. I promise I’ll be back soon with some semblance of regular blogging. I am being called to write and craft again. Pray for me.

Also – please subscribe to the Gospel Reflections. So many people write them. I love the perspectives and thought-provoking posts. We are truly blessed as Catholics.

Blessed Week to All.

God is great ALL THE TIME! 
Love and Hugs,
LadyEm