Who is that cutie?

GMAC wearing a friends glasses and hairband, striking a pose!

Do What You Already Know to Do

Years ago when I lived in NC and was finishing up my psychology degree I had to take a New Testament Class. I was the only Catholic in the class and the other students asked all kinds of question. Most of the questions led me to learn more about my Catholic Faith. The one thing that stands out most about that class is what the professor said we were discussing how to grow closer to God. "Do what you already know to do."
Growing up we used to pray the rosary as a family every night, and I was not practicing that at the time. I always had many reasons/excuses why I wasn't able to do pray the Rosary, but I knew in my heart that is what I had to do. It took may years until nightly Rosary became a part of my life.
We as a family have received so many Graces from this devotion.

Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary!

Blessings
--Mallu

Not Behaving

Yesterday Rose took away one of her schoolbooks from GMAC and told her" this is my school book you can't write in it." GMAC was not very happy.

Rose gave her a piece of paper to write in and GMAC started to write, and she was saying out loud what she was "writing."

"[Mystical Rose] ( she used her first, middle and last name) is not behaving, she doesn't get a lollipop......GMAC is behaving, and she gets a lolly pop."

She repeated this several times, with the cutest pout.

Free Family Organizer

My friend J. told me about an online organizer,and I want to share it with you.
http://www.cozi.com/
It's wonderful for families with crazy schedules. I also like the shopping list; I can add items on the list as Crucian Dad is heading to the store and he can look it up on his phone. It also has an i phone app!
Take a look.
-Mallu

Padre Pio

Today is Padre Pio's feast day. The first time I heard of him was back in 2000 when we lived in Turkey. One of the Italian priest we knew in Turkey actually witnessed Padre Pio bi-locate!
He was Canonization June 16, 2002, so his very first feast day was September 23rd 2002. This is was also the day we discovered that Mistical Rose had cancer. We asked Pader Pio to pray for her her. We are very blessed that she is still alive, healthy and strong. Praise GOD!

"Every Holy Mass, heard with devotion, produces in our souls marvelous effects, abundant spiritual and material graces which we, ourselves, do not know...It is easier for the earth to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!" Padre Pio

Chicken Curry South Indian Style

2lbs chicken cut into chunks
1 lg potatoes cubed
1 med onion sliced ( I like red onions)
2 jalapeno Peppers (more if you like it spicier)
3 cloves of garlic chopped
1 tsp julienned ginger
10 curry leaves
4 tsp oil
2 tsp garam masala

½ tsp turmeric
¾ tsp cayenne pepper
3 tsp coriander powder
4 cardamom pods
1 large tomatoe or 1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tsp salt or to your taste
1 cup coconut milk

· Heat oil in large pot
· Sauté onions, once they are starting to brown add garlic, ginger, pepper and curry leaves
· A minute later stir in all spices, stir well
· Add tomatoes, chicken and potatoes. Stir well
· Stir in salt and coconut milk
· Bring to a boil
· Cover and cook on med. Heat until potatoes are soft and the chicken is cooked.
· Stir occasionally
· Serve with hot rice.

I voted!!

I voted today!! So what's the big deal? Since Crucian Dad is in the Air Force we've always voted by absentee ballot in our state of residency. I now have a Maryland license so I registered to vote in the local election. Today was the first time I voted in person.

There is something more empowering to go to a voting booth and vote.

Hope you voted today.

-Mallu Mom

Peace

We are all missing U, but last night that feeling felt a whole lot deeper. I miss his smile, his hugs, his caring nature, and his wit; I miss my little boy. It's only been a week and a half since we left him, the thought of having to wait until December to see him again makes the pain feel a little sharper. To give myself some comfort I decided to write a few words about the peace I felt when we dropped him off.

I felt very much at peace as we left him on August 15th, you see its a very special day for us. Two years ago last August 15, on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary U and I consecrated ourselves to Jesus through Mary. U was almost twelve, and he read a story about St. Louis de Montfort and asked us to read it. AFter reading the book U wanted to consecrate himself and simultaneously,I was thinking of doing this devotion myself. I decided to do the consecration with U. Completing our 33 days of prayer and mediation was extremely difficult since Rose had a major surgery and was hospitalized for nine days. All we did, during that time was drive an hour to the hospital early in the morning, stay at the hospital with Rose and drive back another hour late at night. All with a nursing 4 month old in tow. With God's grace we did complete this devotion, and finished the final consecration at the the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Baltimore. We didn't' think we would make it to the Basilica on the 15 of August, since Rose had just come home from the hospital just a couple of days prior. She insisted we go and we did and it was a beautiful day, one of the mountain top moments.

Last year we were praying about buying our first house,we asked Our Lady for prayers. I promised her that if she would pray for us to find us a house before the Feast of the Assumption we would have a Mass offered at our house in her honor. Our Lady came through for us, we closed on the 10th ! We had the Mass at our home on August 15th, you can see the pictures from that day here.

Now a year later, we left U with on August 15th. He was suppose to fly out to the Minor Seminary on the 10th of August, but the Seminarians plans changed, and they were going camping on NY. So I asked if we can drive him up, and they were fine with that. They called us and asked if we wanted to join them on some pilgrimages and we did. We prayed with them, ate with them and just hung out. After the Mass of the Feast of the Assumption U and I reconsecrated our selves. I felt so much peace as we drove away, as if U is in the arms of Our Lady.
Lord help me remember the peace I felt as I miss my little boy.

Sending "U"off

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A new Chapter

Well it has happened!
We just returned from dropping "U" off with the Minor Seminary that he will be living with for the next few years and, God Willing, eventually become a priest in their religious Order.

We drove up to the Catskill Mountains where the boys were staying at a retreat center. We were able to spend a full day visiting the National Shrine of North American Martyrs. We also visited the Nation Shrine of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.

The day was AMAZING the mountain view was beautiful, gorgeous weather and we attended mass at the shrine. It was the feast day of Maximilian Kolbe and the father said in his homily that we must all seek out ways to sacrifice, even in little things. it made me think back to what a friend of our said in her blog(I'm paraphrasing) "how can we say that we love God with all of our heart if we are not willing to give him everything, even our own children." When Mallu and I talked about "U" going I mentioned the quote to her and she simply said "he was always God's to begin with; our kids don't belong to us."

After the shrine visits we followed the boys back to their retreat center where we meet a whole bunch of men from the major seminary. Seeing and talking with these faith filled men helped ease the heartache because I knew that my son was in good hands! The afternoon was spent relaxing with both of our boys playing in the pool with the minor seminarians.

Before dinner we joined all of the seminarians, minor and major, for Adoration and Vespers. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! I was able to be in a room full of people that were truly in love with Jesus.

During Adoration I prayed to Jesus asked him to watch over my son. I asked Our Lady to care for him.

After Adoration was dinner and some nice social time. Mallu and I really enjoyed talking to many of the seminarians, it was a great time.

By morning I really did not have any sadness or anxiousness. I truly feel this is where God wants "U" to be right now.