Journaling! My New Hobby!

Good day, my friends!

I am so excited!  (Forgive me.....I am so easily pleased.) I think I am going to take up journaling as a new hobby. Not the blog-posting kind that I have done in the recent past (not too recent obviously) ......but real journaling with pen and notebooks.

Writing itself, is a longtime hobby.......but journaling, specifically, is my new concentration.

This is the inspiration for my new project:

Going through my mom's genealogy stuff, that she passed specifically to me before she passed away in December of 2014, gave me an inkling of what I am finding enjoyable to discover.....the handwritten letters from my grandparents, mother and great-aunt. All of those dates and names of people are only so interesting. The stories and handwritten accounts are much more meaningful.   It is one of my motivators for blogging......though it hasn't been enough of a motivator lately. Obviously. I think I am just not in the mood for sitting in front of a computer anymore......

I always feel like writing.....but now the desire is overwhelming. I don't mean to be full of myself, like what I have to say is important.....but I wish my relatives had left more writing behind for me. So I intend to leave some writing behind for my progeny. I am a storyteller. Not one of fiction, but of family stories and memories. With almost all of my kids grown-up (5 of 6 are 19 years and up!), I definitely should have more time to fit some writing in.....I think it will naturally improve my blogging as well......as is already evident in my two posts in one week. And as I reread this post for editing,  am reminded that my scrapbooking does the same......so I need to get all of this decluttering done at home so that I may get back to the scrapbooking. 

 

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I am all set to go!  I have purchased two books to use as a guide....and have picked up an old journal that I have used an average of once a year for about fourteen years. 

Last week, I got stuck with seven days off from work and nowhere to go. So, I took myself on an overnight solo shopping spree up to Medford, Oregon, a three-hour roundtrip. I made a list of stops and items needed;  I did so well!  I got almost everything I needed.....and most of it with good discounts. 

I spent my evening visiting Barnes & Nobles to see if they had any Five-Year Journals I could touch and possibly purchase. I liked the inside of a few, but not the outside. I had hoped to find the Book of Kells one offered on their webpage. But alas, no. 

There was one with awesome quotes inside.....but not a comforting cover. So I decided to just buy the one on Amazon that I had already picked as a back-up plan.   

And Hannah, my Maddelyn's college roommate, inspired me to put my own quotes in my Five Year Journal......

I think that is a great idea and I have already downloaded the Brainy Quote app to use. 

In the meantime, I was so awed with the amazing selection of journals in just one place!!  So many lovely choices!!  I wanted them all!  

I actually took photos to show my sister......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So beautiful, right??!!  And so many choices and styles to choose from!!! Extensive!

In the end, I resisted the temptation of purchasing a new journal......knowing that I had a few nice choices at home still. I soooo know where I am going to get the next journal that I need to purchase!!

I did allow myself to chose this specialized journal: LIST YOURSELF:  Listmaking as the Way to Self-discovery.....A Provocative, Probing, and Personal Expedition into Yoir Mind, Heart, and Soul by Iline Segalove and Paul Bob Velick

 

I don't feel I need much self-discovery through this book.... 

I just thought it would be a fun thing to leave behind so my grandkids and great-grandkids would know what I was thinking "back in the day". It would have been fun to have done this at age twenty and again now at age 52 (later this month). I think it will be good for those days when a prompt will be useful. Here are sample pages from this book, including the "how to use this book"............
 

  

      

 

 

  

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

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Now about this Five Year Journal.......

My daughter Maddelyn and her roommate Hannah were home for Spring break a few weeks ago. They are sophomores at the University of San Francisco. I saw them writing in their journals and was intrigued by the titles. Maddelyn let me read some of her entries..... She was 18 months into writing in hers. She started with her first week at college. This will be such a gift to herself and her progeny....to see what the young college student was thinking and doing. Even looking back just one year ago was fun.  It was sweet to see where I showed up in her story......  :)

I was about to say:  I wish that I had journaled more at that age......but I did!  Inadvertently!! Apparently I wrote a lot of handwritten letters to friends.....and one of them just sent me all of my letters. It is truly a treasure of my thoughts at that age.....and as a newly married girl. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
 

Anyway......as soon as I saw those books, I knew I wanted one of those journals!!  I could commit to a few lines a day. For five years. 😊

So, you write a few lines on each date of the year, for five years......so you will come back around to each page four more times after the first round through......clever.
 

Maddelyn received hers as a gift from her BFF from birth.....a beautiful Jane Austen book. I wanted it......but I will wait for next time. Here is the one that I picked up......a thought a day via Amazon

 

and the inside:

 

I have started on April 1st.......the month of my birth.......52 years on the 25th!
 

So I challenge all of you......encourage you..... to at least get one of those Five Year Journals. They look like fun!  And your kids will love them later. And maybe their kids' kids.

Let me know if you do!!

And finally, here is the regular journal, purchased and started when my 14 year old was an infant, 14 years ago......

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring & journaling blessings to all!

 

 

 

 

God bless,

 

                Chari

 

 

 



It's My 31st Anniversary as a Catholic!

It's not an April Fool's joke.  On April 1st, 1985, just 24 days before my 21st birthday, I was conditionally baptized into the Catholic Church........and made my First Confession and received my First Holy Communion on the same day.

BEST.  DAY.  EVER.

I know I mention this on this day each passing year.......but it is without question the Greatest Gift that I have ever received.  I thank God for this gift at every single mass that I attend. Every single mass.

I wish that I had time to tell my conversion story here today.....it's rather simple.......but time restraints are in effect. (Let me see if it is in my computer files.....hmmm, must have been on the last computer.......I will check the external hard drive later.....)


I did find a copy of it in my wedding scrapbook...though it might not be readable...

Let's just say:  God picked me.  He brought me here. I made no decision.....He just opened the doors and I walked through each one......no kicking and screaming.....just walked into my home.  And here I have been for 31 years.  Deo gratias.

For Lent, I have been reading Rediscover Catholicism:  A Spiritual Guide to Living With Passion & Purpose by Matthew Kelly. We picked it up at Saint Mary's in the Mountains Catholic Church in Virginia City, Nevada, where we were married the same year. I will keep reading through the Easter season until I am finished.



Today, I came across a few passages that were good to meditate on this anniversary date.....

On page 129:

      "The best thing that you can do for yourself is to become the-best-version-of yourself.  The best thing that you can do for your spouse, your children, your friends, your Church, your nation, and God is to become the-best-version-of yourself.

      "Catholicism is not a lifeless set of rules and regulations; it is a lifestyle.  Catholicism is a dynamic way of life designed by God to help you explore your incredible potential."


When I converted to Catholicism, my paternal grandfather asked why I would convert to such a "strict religion".  I told him that for the first time in my life (all 21 years of it!), I felt the most freedom that I had ever had. For the first time in my life, I knew what the boundaries were, where I was safe, and in the state of grace, and where it was dangerous.  Incredible freedom.  And still 31 years later, I say the same. 

And on page 128:

      "As we reflect on our brief and precious lives, let us also remember that they are but a transition to a long and blissful eternity.  Teresa of Avila encourages us. 'Remember that you have only one soul; that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone; and there is only one glory, which is eternal.  If you do this, there will be a great many things about which you care nothing.' "

Lastly on page 134:

       "My favorite passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church appears as the first line of the first chapter, and it reads, 'The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness her never stops searching for.' "

I have been so incredibly blessed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And that is all.

Happy Anniversary to me and God!


Easter Blessings to you,

                                 Chari

Annual Saint Joseph Rosary Novena to Begin on January 25th

 

 

 

Every year, on the email list Happy is the Husband, a private email list for Catholic wives, we lead two Rosary Novenas for our husbands and any other prayer intentions that we have.......

The first Rosary Novena of the year purposely ends on the vigil of St. Joseph's Feast Day.  

 

The second Rosary Novena of the year always begins on August 14th.  The intentional starting date leads us to the end of the novena just in time for the feast of the Holy Rosary in October.

The intentions are always for our husbands first....and any other special intentions.

     There are automatic daily reminders on Happy is the Husband email list.  It would be too much to place those reminders on the blog. Join the list now to get those reminders.  

    Please leave your intentions.....listed or  private.....or annonymous.......through

me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

++++++++++

     I always like to include more information about the Rosary Novena:

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all." 

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving." 

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info

For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a spouse....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound! Many times in ways you might least expect it. Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day.........the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget. And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in! If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....it is so worth it.

     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused. I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone. You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD. I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.

     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!  Please, please, please do leave your intentions with us.  Please share this link on your blogs, by email or facebook......or whatever.  Let's make this a big praying time.

It is also a good way to begin the new school semester.........


 Blessings,

          Chari & Willa

PS  If you read this blog post.....and you have a blog, would you mind directing others over to this post from your blog.......thanks!

Our Annual Summer Rosary Novena, 2015

Our Annual Summer Rosary Novena

Every year, on the email list Happy is the Husband, a private email list for Catholic wives, we lead two Rosary Novenas for our husbands and any other prayer intentions that we have.......

The first Rosary Novena of the year begins in late January, purposely ending on the vigil of St. Joseph's feast Day. 

The second Rosary Novena of the year, begins this coming week, on August 14th.  The intentional starting date leads us to the end of the novena just in time for the feast of the Holy Rosary in October.

The intentions are always for our husbands first....and any other special intentions.

     There are automatic daily reminders on Happy is the Husband email list.  It would be too much to place those reminders on the blog. Join the list now to get those reminders.  

    Please leave your intentions.....listed or private.....or annonymous.......through
me........even if you cannot pray the novena.......we can pray for you!

++++++++++

     I always like to include more information about the Rosary Novena:

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of
Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii
at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful
sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated
physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced
a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an
apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by
luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary.
The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments.
They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was
profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed
Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always
obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so
pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour
thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three
novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, " Whoever
desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of
the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days
in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in
thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary
from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the
second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on
the fourth day meditate again on the Joyful Mysteries; and so on throughout the
fifty-four days.

This is an old website, add the Luminous if you wish.

If you put "54 day rosary novena" into Google.........you will find some great
info

For those of you in unhappy marriages, or feeling desperate.......perhaps
for a conversion of a dh....or for a wayward child........this is a VERY efficacious prayer................the graces just abound! Many times in ways you might least expect it. Keep in mind that many people I know sometimes feel like things get worse when they start the Rosary novena....before they get better......we think it must be the Devil wanting to interfere with our prayers!

PLEASE consider joining us if you are feeling low.

We will offer it up for all of those on the happyisthehusband list, those reading this blog and others we know, for our vocations, our husbands and our marriages...............and our offspring!!

I know that many often feel bad if they forget to pray their rosary once starting the novena................here are my thoughts:

Just ask for the graces to remember to pray it every day...................the grace to pick yourself up and just join in when you DO remember. I ask my guardian angel to pray it with me, to remind
me........and, to pray it for me, if I should forget. And, if you do forget, those of us who do remember, have you covered......just jump back in! If I only forget one day, I sometimes try to make it up over the next day or so.

There are graces available to you from every rosary you DO say.....is so worth it.

     You can use an audio version of the rosary to help keep you focused. I have downloaded these from The Rosary Army to listen to on my iPhone. You can listen on your computer, your iPod or save to a CD. I use it when I work or drive if it looks like I will have trouble finding a time to stop and pray at home.

     Looking forward to praying with you and for you!  Please, please, please do leave your intentions with us.  Please share this link on your blogs, by email or facebook......or whatever.  Let's make this a big praying time.

It is also a good way to begin the new school season.....here in the US.  Or the Spring, there in Australia.  ;)

Blessings,

Chari & Willa

Four Medals. Twice.

 

 

 

         Three years ago, we did something that we never thought that we would do.........we sent our fifth child to the local high school......just so he could keep playing sports.

     Sports were that important to him.  He definitely had obvious talent.  From birth he has always needed to move, compete, touch.  Without the outlet of sports, he certainly would have struggled. In our small community, sports for kids aged 14 years and up were really only available at the local high school.  And even though our high school district is allowed by our state to allow homeschool kids to play sports, our school has continued to refuse.

     So, we placed Garrett in the Independent Study offered by the school.  The quality of the academics was much lower than our usual preferences, but in this case, it was something that we could work with.  He had a great independent study teacher. He was able to continue with his private piano lessons which counted towards his high school credits.

      Flash forward to this week: 

       He has now been attending the actual school building for the last year because the Independent Study program is limited here for higher maths and science labs.  He doesn't really like it.......but it is what needed to happen.

      He has played three years of Soccer, Basketball and Track......with two attempts at fitting Cross-Country in there.......even as a freshman, he excelled and got playing time in all sports.

      He moved to Varsity track during his freshman season and earned a spot at sectionals his first two years (the last step to go to state competition). He was moved up to the Varsity Basketball team as a sophomore. As a freshman, he started games on the Varsity soccer team. 

     One of the things I love about Garrett is how he takes his sports so seriously......like they are a job.  He gives 100% every game or event........and most practices.  He pays attention to eating well and right, getting appropriate rest and exercise and avoiding caffeine during times of serious focus.  He has really grown to own all of this.  And, he is wise enough to know that none of this is something he can be attached to for his adulthood........but he realizes the important lessons in always doing the best that you can and constantly trying to improve. 

     He started at the school so he could keep playing basketball, but found his true sports love is Pole Vault.  he has worked hard and close with his coach. He has practiced extra.  He has self-educated as well as attended a camp put on by a former Olympic Pole Vaulter.  He has recruited other athletes to jump....including one girl who has made it to state once.  He has become an "assistant" pole vault coach, especially for the Junior Varsity athletes.  Last week, I saw other student athletes perform their event and then respectfully turn to Garrett for advice and critique.  He has really risen to become a quiet leader in track.  And he is quite the encourager of his teammates.


     In his final year of school and competition, as a High School Junior, he has received All-League for Defense in soccer, All-League in basketball and probably the same this year in Track.  And he stays humble about these accolades.

     Speaking of track.........

             His junior year of Track Season is winding down.....though it kind of feels like it winds up till it suddenly just ends.

         Two weeks ago he won first places for four events: Pole-Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump and the 4X400 Relay.  Four medals.  And the chance to move on to the next level of competition.

          Last Friday, May 22nd, he did it again.  Four medals.  See picture above.  That was the Division meet. It earns him a chance to compete in all four events at the Northern California Sectionals meet........which is this Friday, May 29th.  This will be his third qualification to this meet........the last meet to attempt to qualify for State.  This year, there is a small chance that he might make it to State.  Small chance......but it is a chance. 

         We are very excited for his opportunities. And for his successes.  He has worked hard for them. He has got past several injuries over the years........to get to this point.

     This point......this meet........could well be the last sports event of his high school career.  He will be spending his final year of high school as a Rotary Exchange student in the country of Austria.

     Please pray that he does well at Friday's meet.  Please pray that the predicted high of 99* is predicted too high......and that there is at least a pleasant breeze.  :)

 

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Oh!  I almost for got to add the following.........

 

 

 

      Garrett may have won all of those medals.......and three first places in the meet before the four.......but the best reward may well have been two comments from a coach and a parent......

 

      The coach from another school who was running the Triple Jump event asked if I was Garrett's mom. When I answered yes, he let me know how much he liked and appreciated Garrett.  He told me that Garrett as respectful, helpful and enjoyable to converse with.  He said that Garrett was a very good boy.

 

 

     While sitting at the top of the stands, waiting for Garrett's 4X400 Relay Race, a mother who was sitting nearby, whose son was also on the 4X400 relay team, came over to share some positive comments with me about Garrett.  He had taken her Senior daughter to the prom a few weeks before.........and has been mentoring her younger son, a sophomore on the soccer and track teams.  She waxes on about what a wonderful young man Garrett is.......fun to talk to, so respectful......showed her nervous daughter a good time at prom, putting her at ease. And, "so thoughtful, a real gentleman"........." he brought flowers for me!"

 

 

    Yeah.  In spite of the fact that he challenges our parenting techniques at times........I am so grateful to know that out there in the world, he is a good guy, a "real gentleman".........respectful and "fun to talk to"...........proud of my young man.



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  Enjoy the photos...........


   The first four photos are of his long jump last week........the fourth photo shows him about to make a personal record.....one more foot longer than his previous personal record!

 

 

Running with the baton in the 4X400 relay........

 

 

 

 

Various Pole Vault photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jumping over The Mountain!

 

 

 

Below, a photo montage of several steps in a pole vault attempt of

on my 51st birthday, April 25th, in Klamath Falls at an Invitational meet.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May Blessings,

 

                Chari