Sorry we are a couple days behind! It has been a little crazy over here in CFBC land! One of the 'kids' had a baby girl yesterday and she is still in the NICU! We have been tree trimming and fast food eating...so look for updated Advent Challenges later today! Thanks for understanding. God bless!
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The truth is, I don't know how many kids I have. Someone pointed out to me recently, that several of my kids are not 'my kids' at all. Technically, I guess it's true. I gave birth to six children. My youngest was supposed to be a twin, but the only evidence was an empty second embryonic sac on an early ultrasound. My oldest son is actually my stepson (although I've never like that term), but I married his dad when he was only five and I wrote it into my wedding vows that I would be a mother to him. I have never called him anything but my son. Then there are the others! A plethora of young people who have come in and out of our house on a daily basis. Some used to eat dinner with us almost every night. Others needed our support during a difficult time. Some moved into our home, all of them moved into our hearts. We call them our 'unofficial foster kids' for lack of a better way to explain that our bond is that of family, not friends. Sometimes we get our hearts broken and other times we are filled to overflowing with the joy they bring us. When our 'foster' son left with the army on deployment to Afghanistan, you couldn't tell my anguished mother's heart that there was no physical bond between us! Speaking of physical bonds; I thank God everyday for these kids and for their REAL parents who have shared them so graciously with us. If you ask my kids about the others, they will simply say, "Oh, that's my brother," or "That's my sister." My children have given up their privacy, sometimes shared their rooms and (often) their limited bathroom time to accommodate the kids we have brought into our home. They have even sacrificed their birth order on many occasions, so that we could include someone in our family. Can you imagine that one minute you are the oldest child at home and then in the next you have a 'sister or brother' above you? We believe it has taught them that we are blessed and we should share those blessings when we can. They know that hearts and families can grow to fit in all those who need them. I have never been a person who knows how to love by halves. I'm all in, all the time. Some of these additions to our family call me mom, some call me Cookie, but I guess I'll just keep on calling all of them 'my kids!' God bless. Advent Challenge Day 11 Acknowledge Someone who is Hurting The holidays are filled with music, lights and joy, but for some people those things are painful reminders of what they have lost. Consider how hard this time of year is for someone going through a divorce, death of a spouse or even the death of a child. Acknowledging someone's struggles by writing a letter of support, making a phone call or sending an encouraging gift can go far in holding a person up this time of year. The Christmas after my brother's death, someone sent my mom a picture of him (we didn't know existed) with a kind note. We appreciated it so much! The challenge is to reach out and support someone who is hurting during this time of year. God bless! Advent Challenge, Day 10 Pay it Forward I heard a beautiful story today about a young cashier who paid for a gentleman's groceries when he came up significantly short of funds. The most interesting part of the story is that another customer tried to pay the cashier back and she refused! My middle son is really good at recognizing needs of others and filling them. He is always the one who shovels the driveway and digs neighbors out of the snow without being asked. He gets this wonderful trait from his dad. So, the challenge today (as they say in an animated kids movie), "See a need, fill a need!" God bless! Advent Challenge Day 9 Repent and Confess During Advent we prepare ourselves for the (2nd) coming of Christ as we remember His birth. For some of us that "coming" will happen sooner than we expected. Stop and take time to really examine your conscience... What stands between you and God? Do give things more priority than God? Do you spend time reading scripture and studying your Faith? Have you injured your relationship with another person or with God in any way? Repent and Prepare the way of The Lord! Consider going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). Please consider returning completely to Christ. Come home!! Advent Challenge, Day 8 Show Your Gratitude Today, the challenge is to send a thank you for something that was unexpected or one that is long overdue. Some ideas include: Thanking a teacher that made a difference in your life. Write a thank you letter to a parent or grandparent who has influenced you, or post a "thank you" on a public organization's social media page expressing gratitude for great service or kindness. When we focus on the blessings others have bestowed in us our hearts grow to make room for Christ, even as we imitate His kindness! Who has shown Christ to you? God bless. Advent Challenge, Day 7 What is my Advent? Can you imagine the anticipation at the birth of Christ!! The star, wise men, Mary round with child... It must have been amazing! Anticipation is my favorite part of the Advent/Christmas Season. The songs, lights, heck, even the sappy Christmas movies help my anticipation grow. So what does Advent mean? Does it only happen in December? No! For Catholic Christians we live in Advent. Eagerly awaiting the second coming of Christ. We experience Advent every time we attend Mass. We await for the Lord first in His Word and then in the Consecration of the Eucharist. Today I will take time to remember that Advent is everyday for me. Will you? God bless! Advent Challenge, Day 6 Invite Jesus into Every Room of Your Home and Heart When we say that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of our lives, do we mean He is Lord of ALL of our areas of our lives? Do we say to God, "I will go to Mass on Sundays, but Holy Days aren't that important." Do we ask Him for the blessing of fertility and children and then reject the idea that the Church approved method of Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the right way to glorify God through our bodies and fertility? Do we profess that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and then deny Him by practicing lying, gossiping or cursing? If we truly love Christ we will let Him into our lives completely. He should be present at our kitchen table, our bedrooms and with our friends. Today, the challenge is to examine our lives and acknowledge what areas we may be holding back from the Lord. God bless! Advent Challenge, Day 5 Apology Accepted Do you ever give the non-apology apology? You know the one..."I'm sorry I used that tone of voice," or ,"I'm sorry you took that the wrong way." Today's challenge is to truly apologize (if a situation) calls for it. Acknowledge any wrongdoing and recognize that the other person felt injured. In my house we have a rule. If someone says, "I'm sorry," the response can NEVER be, It's okay." The response must be, "Thank you, I accept your apology." It's never okay to hurt someone and it's not okay to refuse a true apology. "Seven times seventy times." God bless. Advent Challenge, Day 4 Surprise Someone One of my favorite things about Christmas, is that random acts of kindness are not only accepted, they are encouraged! Today, surprise someone... Bring the bell ringer at the mall a cup of coffee, cook a meal for a neighbor or drop off some personal health care items at a military support foundation. Anything that helps another or brings a smile to a stranger's face will also light the path toward Christ. Prepare the way of the Lord by surprising someone today. God bless! |