SAVED BY GRACE

by-grace-of-god: “I wasn’t there,” Birk explained in a radio...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:39:49 -0400

“I wasn’t there,” Birk explained in a radio interview. “I would say this, I would say that I have great respect for the office of the presidency, but about five or six weeks ago, our president made a comment in a speech and he said, ‘God bless Planned Parenthood.’

“Planned Parenthood performs about 330,000 abortions a year. I am Catholic, I am active in the pro-life movement and I just felt like I couldn’t deal with that. I couldn’t endorse that in any way.”

Birk continued: “For God to bless a place where they’re ending 330,000 lives a year? I just chose not to attend.”

loveforalamb: One of my drawings for the summer “Give me an...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:39:03 -0400

loveforalamb:

One of my drawings for the summer

“Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world.”
Pope Blessed Pius IX

You are so talented, sweet girl!

Letting Go

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:37:45 -0400

I was talking with a friend of mine from high school and she kept talking about “her plan” and she was concerned I didn’t have one…

Then I realized, I don’t. God does, and I just float along the Holy Spirit.

When we let go of our plans, we let go of stress and worries. When follow God’s plan… we find happiness… love… and Christ.

What’s stopping you?

We're More Than Flesh and Bone: When You Pray The Rosary...

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:59:08 -0400

We're More Than Flesh and Bone: When You Pray The Rosary...:

pilgrimofsjg:

When you pray the Holy Rosary you are praying with others on Earth and in Heaven. I came to this realization this morning at Adoration. With each decade I slowly became aware of the multitude of voices praying with me.
I know, these words sound flowery. I didn’t physically…

Photo

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:55:31 -0400

"You were made for more than you’ve settled for."

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:55:24 -0400

“You were made for more than you’ve settled for.”

- Craig Groeschel (via littlethingsaboutgod)

ranga-sauce: #this movie is traumatic how dare they label it a...

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:55:12 -0400

ranga-sauce:

#this movie is traumatic how dare they label it a family movie

Favorite movie.

Enchanted (2007)

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:54:30 -0400

Enchanted (2007)

Photo

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:38:17 -0400

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:34:47 -0400

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

- Hebrews 10:23 (via a-restless-wind)

"Stop being tormented by everyone else’s reaction to you."

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:09:52 -0400

“Stop being tormented by everyone else’s reaction to you.”

- Joyce Meyer (via blissandblood)

catholicninja: Daughters of St. Paul renewing their vows on St....

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:08:14 -0400

catholicninja:

Daughters of St. Paul renewing their vows on St. Valentine’s Day

"I beg You, Divine Jesus, humble me every time I dare to raise myself above others. But oh, how weak..."

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:21:24 -0400

“I beg You, Divine Jesus, humble me every time I dare to raise myself above others. But oh, how weak I am! In the morning I endeavour to be humble and, at night, I acknowledge prideful sins. Seeing me as I am, I’m tempted to despair, but I know that despair is also pride. Therefore, I want to place my hope entirely in You, my God.”

- Saint Therese of Lisieux (via timetogab)

spiritualinspiration: Every day that we are given is a precious...

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:19:45 -0400

spiritualinspiration:

Every day that we are given is a precious gift from Almighty God. We should wake up every morning with a grateful attitude, full of faith and expectancy for what the Lord has in store. Sure, you may be facing some challenges in your every day life, or maybe things aren’t going the way you planned, but remember, each new day is a chance to stand strong in the midst of adversity and see the faithfulness of God. Every new day is an opportunity to praise and thank Him; to magnify your God instead of magnifying your problems. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Be glad that God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Be glad that God has given you a sound, healthy mind. Rejoice that He is making a way where there seems to be no way! As you focus on the gift of every day and rejoice in what God has done in your life, you will begin to experience His increase and blessings. You’ll rise up higher and set the course to live in victory all the days of your life!

therothwoman: A message from Prince Harry at the CHIME for...

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:05:35 -0400

therothwoman:

A message from Prince Harry at the CHIME for Change concert. (x)

Dear men,

This is an actual real-life honest-to-god prince talking here. So listen up.

I find it's gross that you refer to people with disabilities as mentally the age of an x year old. That's really not okay to do at all - it implies that the person you're talking about has stopped developing and is normally based on the ability to communicate (which is not really what makes someone one age or another). You should know to avoid ableism if you're in a position where you're working with people with disabilities. Educate yourself.

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 07:22:13 -0400

I’m sorry that you find that gross, but it seems that you read my message wrong. That is how people refer to their developmental status. Since they develop at a slower rate, they are not developmentally at the age they truly are. However, to place them in the right group of children - we need to determine their developmental and mental age. Their developmental and mental age has been determined by their parents and a professional - this is done for schooling. Neither of my children with down syndrome could function in the age group that their physical age matches, because they have a developmental delay disorder. It does not imply they have stopped developing and I never said they are unable to communicate - it implies they develop slower. It is not ableism - which is defined as discrimination in favor of the able-bodied. We are not favoring the “able-bodied,” we are integrating our children with disabilities into a camp which is primarily “able-bodied.” In fact, we’re really favoring our children with disabilities.

catholicknight: Beautiful. THAT’S a procession.

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:00:38 -0400

catholicknight:

Beautiful. THAT’S a procession.

90% of children prenatally diagnosed with down syndrome are aborted.

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:56:00 -0400

This sits on my heart every single day that I go to work. When I get to spend time with some of the most beautiful children I have ever been with in my life…

I’ve gone from being a camper, to a volunteer, and eventually a counselor at the same summer camp my entire life. This summer is different - I took a leap of faith and put a whole lot of trust in God and tried something different. I am now a “Therapeutic Recreational Specialist - TRS” (pronounnced “triss”) at a brand new summer camp.

I have a passion for working with kids. God has blessed me with the grace of patience, understanding, and the innocent heart of a child. I’ve been working with children ever since I became a “Junior” in Girl Scouts and started helping little Daisies earn their petals. Since then, I’ve worked with a lot of different kids - ranging from some of the smartest, the sweetest, the poorest, the angriest, to the unloved, regretted, and forgotten… but I’ve never personally worked with children with disabilities.

As a TRS, not only am I in charge of watching over an age group, I also tend to the needs to children with disabilities. So far, this summer (4 days in and going strong) - I have worked with a darling 11 year old, named Bethany, and an adventurous 7 year old named Joey. Going into this week, I was so nervous because I have very little experience working with special needs children - and never outside of a classroom.

Both Bethany and Joey have down syndrome.

Bethany is developmentally the age of an 8 year old, so that’s the group that she hangs out with. Apparently some of her classmates are at summer camp too, because on the first day that she walked through the door - she was greeted with hugs, and it melted my heart. Bethany is capable of doing almost everything an 8 year old can do, just at a little bit slower pace. My job is very minimal - I really only make sure she doesn’t wander too far when she’s picking daisies.

So, it brings me back to that statistic… 90% of children with down syndrome are aborted… Though Bethany develops at a slower rate, she is not a vegetable. She can run, play soccer, and she loves playing tag. She likes the same movies and songs as the other kids - she can even do the wobble. She does math and reads, goes to the bathroom by herself… Sure, she needs some assistance in some of the more complicated games, but overall she is one of the most loving and gracious gals I’ve ever met.

Then there’s Joey… he’s developmentally about the age of 4 and he’s more of a handful than Bethany. Then again, most 4 year olds are handful compared to 8 year olds. Joey also has down syndrome, and while that is a physical disability - it often comes with mental disabilities such as ADHD and ODD (both of which Joey has). So, Joey has what I like to call “episodes,” during which he doesn’t like to keep his hands to himself and he talks like a sailor… but after loving and calming words - he’s okay. He loves to clean up messes, play with legos, and show off his karate moves. He loves to give hugs to all the counselors and high-five his peers. Sure, his “episodes” may seem bad… but you can’t have a rainbow without the storm, right? Not to mention… I’ve seen some other children throw temper tantrums worse than his and they don’t have a disability.

So, that statistic… 90% of children like Bethany and Joey are aborted. Children that develop a little slower, but are so loving, caring, and fun… are being terminated because as a society we classify them as “unwanted” or “burdensome” - just like Hitler did during the Nazi regime.

This breaks my heart. I walk into work and am always greeted by a hug by both Bethany and Joey. They both know they are different, they both know that sometimes they need a little more help and attention - but they are both so grateful when people take the time to help them.

When I see Bethany running around with all the campers playing tag at the playground, I don’t think of her as someone with disabilities - I see a camper, just like the rest. When I see Joey building a tower taller than his fellow camper, Sean, and its collapses - they both crack up laughing and I cannot contain the bubble of laughter from my gut.

These children are full of JOY.

There’s a reason God gave them life.

WHO ARE WE to determine their value? WHO ARE WE to determine their quality of life? WHO ARE WE to say they’re better off dead?

HUMAN LIFE starts at fertilization. LIFE is valuable. And Bethany and Joey are just two smiling, loving reasons I am pro-life.

Photo

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:04:41 -0400

Giant Pandas - San Diego Zoo (x)

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:04:27 -0400

Giant Pandas - San Diego Zoo (x)