I am back -at least I hope to be back- to the world of blogging. All of my energy has been spent trying to persevere in our quest to create/develope/manitain, good Catholic family life, amid all the disrruption and stress we have been enduring this past year. It seems that the good Lord has decided to bless us with a number of trials (by which I hope he means to increase our faith). So we have been in cacoon so to speak. I thank God that he has given me such a loving and devoted husband who is concerned for his family's temporal and spiritual welfare. We are a good team. Sometimes we get a bit malancholy over how much we have to learn though. So much that used to be routine in family life has been thrown out. What for many used to be "just the way things are" is now nearly forgotten. For those who were not fortunate enough to be raised in a traditional Catholic home, it is not as easy as doing what mom and dad always did. We eagerly dig through books, observe, and apply principles to discover how a Catholic family should live. Books like The Story of a Family, and other lives of the saints, are very helpful, but it isn't the same as having lived it. In Wisconsin we were blessed with the ability to observe many great Catholic families, and they were wonderful sources of friendship, inspiration and support. Now that we find ourselves in Florida, we know no large families (Catholic or otherwise).
What I long to give my children is a home where their hearts and minds are drawn to God. I want them to feel comfortable and safe. There should be a sense of order and calm. I want the children to feel inspired to learn and to create. Above all, I want them to be aware of God's divine providence, and that every fiber of our family life is touched with the light of eternity. Everything we do should be conciously ordered that we may be holy. Some days I think I am making progress, and some days all I can do is pray that God will help undo the damage done.
Venerable Zélie Martin pray for us!
