My Daybook :: November 25, 2013

by | Nov 25, 2013 | Daybook, Giveaway, Roses from St. Therese, St. Catherine of Alexandria | 72 comments

Outside my window… 
It has been a beautiful day.  The sun will be setting soon and I probably should be making dinner, but since the baby toddler is still napping and the rest of the kids are outside playing I decided to pop in here instead!

I am thinking…        
about my babies in heaven.

I am thankful… 
for God’s grace and the uncountable number of blessings He has sent my way.  God is Good, all the time!

Learning all the time 
our thanksgiving break has arrived.  I’ll be doing some Math lessons with the younger ones, since they fell a little behind during their trip to see their grandparents, but other than that we are all very excited to have the week off our “official” lessons.  Of course, that doesn’t mean the learning stops… just that it is a lot more fun! 😉

Celebrating the liturgical year 
today is the feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria.  Since she is the patron for one of our daughters we also celebrate a name-day today!

Catherine of Alexandria from Lives and Legends of Saints

From the kitchen… 
a heart shaped cake.  It is perfect for today in so many different ways.

Spice Cake, Heart Shaped Pan, Dusted with Powdered Sugar

I am working on… 
cleaning and organizing our home…  Rose’s Godparents and their six children (including our newest goddaughter!) will be spending Thanksgiving with us this year and they arrive tomorrow night!  We are all so excited!

I am creating… 
a meal plan for the next few days.

I am going… 
to run to the store tonight or tomorrow… I ordered some fudge from my friend Jacinta that I need to pick up and also forgot to by sweet potatoes!  (Note: Jacinta is offering 10% off through November with the code TISTHESEASON!  It’s the perfect time to place an order for Christmas – it is amazing fudge!)

I am praying… 
the Act of Resignation to the Will of God from Mother Love   Such a beautiful prayer and there is a partial indulgence attached when united to performing your duties or bearing the trial of life.

May the most just, most high, and most amiable will of God be done in all things, be praised and magnified forever! 

I am reading… 
a new Advent and Christmas book that arrived in my mailbox today.   I was actually sent two copies – one to review and one to giveaway!  I hope you all aren’t sick of the giveaways yet! 😉

Pondering these words…
from today’s Quiet Moment in Catholic Digest:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” 
Proverbs 3:5-6

Around the house… 

still so much to do to prepare for company and dinner will not make itself, so I had better get going… But I do have a review and giveaway to post first!

One of my favorite things…  
the surprises (I like to think of them as little gifts from heaven) that always arrive on November 24-25th!  Last year it was a St. Christopher picture book.  This year it was a stunning St. Therese Rosary from Gail Giron Designs!   I agreed to review one of her products and host a giveaway months ago and just love that it happened to arrive today, and is covered with roses!  Thank you Gail!

The pictures don’t even do justice to this gorgeous St. Therese Rosary!   It is made with Rhodochrosite, Solid Bronze Medals and Roses, Faceted Crystals and all wire-wrapped for longevity.

My husband actually met Gail when he was on a fire assignment in Colorado last year and was admiring her rosaries after Mass!  Gail said this rosary she choose to send as a sample was very similar to the one he was looking at back then.  The quality and craftsmanship is simply outstanding!
Gail has a number of items available in her Etsy shop and also accepts custom orders.  In fact my mom, after seeing Gail’s new ad in the sidebar, had me help her order three of the bracelets to give my sisters as Christmas gifts.  After they arrived, my mom mentioned that she wasn’t sure she’d be able to part with all of them!  Since then she has placed a second order for a forth bracelet, and still hopes to order a couple more… I have a lot of sisters! 😉   Keep scrolling down to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a bracelet of your own! 
This week’s plans…

  • Spend lots of time with friends and family! I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving and Blessed First Sunday of Advent!  (Just in case I am not able to make it back to the computer this week… We’ll see!) 

A Giveaway…

Gail Giron Design has generously offered to send a lovely Rose Bracelet to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses!
Please visit Gail Giron Design’s Blog, Etsy Shop and Facebook Page
You can enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below: 

72 Comments

  1. Nope

    Ooo, the rosary is beautiful…I lost two babies. One was on November 27th…11 years ago and it was hard….still is!!

    Reply
  2. Lauren

    So beautiful…praying for you during this time.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous

    That rosary is so beautiful… Thank you for hosting the bracelet giveaway!

    Reply
  4. Beth

    Thanks for linking to your beautiful 2009 post.I'll be remembering you and your family at adoration this evening.

    Reply
  5. Anonymous

    Beautiful post! Thank you!! I will also be keeping Gail's shop in mind for some of my own Christmas shopping!

    Reply
  6. Beth

    That's a great idea- I was thinking of how nice it would be to buy for my Godmother.

    Reply
  7. Sophie

    beautiful, thank you for a chance to win. Christ's peace be with you!

    Reply
  8. Emily

    That is beautiful!

    Reply
  9. Christine M.

    Beautiful products! I will keep your family in my prayers. We lost two babies… one in November. I hope you have a happy, blessed Thanksgiving. Great news! My boys get to serve a Latin Mass once a week during Advent. Deo gratias. Hoping we can continue it after Advent as well.

    Reply
  10. Monica

    What beautiful products!

    Reply
  11. noreen

    How lovely Jessica! Enjoy your Thanksgiving with your family. May God bless you and your family.

    Reply
  12. Melanie

    That is such a pretty bracelet!! I love the rosary, too. Praying for you as you mourn the loss of your children. God bless!

    Reply
  13. Anonymous

    Thank you, once again, for your innermost thoughts. It does touch many. I, too, lost a little one from a miscarriage and feel the sorrow. At the same time, the joy it is to have my three wonderful children whom I love so much. God bless you and your family during this Thanksgiving holiday. So very much to be thankful for.
    Laura.
    [email protected]

    Reply
  14. Angie W

    I'd love to win one!!!

    Reply
  15. Erin

    What a beautiful bracelet! Prayers for you as you are missing your babies today.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I hope you enjoy your company! Thank you for this give away chance- i really like the rosaries and bracelets and will have to take a look at her etsy store. I said an extra prayer for you today as you mourn the loss of your children… i, too, lost a daughter shortly after her birth to Anencephaly. She was baptized and is now our little saint in heaven. I thank God for giving our Anna Marie to us as it helped to strengthen our faith. We pray to her daily and am thankful to have an intercessor to help the rest of our family to get to heaven. God is good. You are a blessing to many and i am thankful to you for your blog and wonderful example that has truly helped my family live a more liturgical life. thank you for sharing with all of us! God bless you.
    Yours in Christ, through our lady, Dawn
    [email protected]

    Reply
  17. Shaina

    Gorgeous rosary!
    I miss the pink rosary I had. Sadly, our dog thought it was mighty tasty.

    Reply
  18. Anonymous

    How lovely! The rosary is just beautiful. I will have to go to her etsy site and look at what she has.

    You are in my prayers as you remember your children. May Our Lady lay a comforting hand on your shoulder.

    F. Thomas
    [email protected]

    Reply
  19. Margaret in Minnesota

    A rose rosary! Isn't that perfect? A rose bracelet would be just as lovely.

    {Speaking of which, our Baby Rose was the first we lost. We include her in our family prayers every night, along with Baby Francis, Baby Lucy and Baby Thomas. Imagine the reunion in heaven, Jessica!}

    Reply
  20. Ashley W.

    You and yours are always in my prayers!

    Reply
  21. Katie V.

    Thanks for the giveaway! (We like them;)) What a beautiful rosary! Prayers for you and your little ones!

    Reply
  22. Mom2Seven

    Happy Thanksgiving, Jessica. We have six little ones in Heaven that my heart aches for, but I am comforted to know their sweet souls are with Our Lord and Our Lady. +JMJ+

    Reply
  23. Anonymous

    Jessica,

    We have 7 on earth and 5 in heaven. God bless your beautiful family. I just love reading your blog!

    Barbara Ann
    [email protected]

    Reply
  24. patty v

    Thank you for all you do!!! You are such an inspiration to those of us who did not grow up celebrating these wonderful feasts.

    Patty V
    [email protected]

    Reply
  25. Grace Hincapie

    What a stunning rosary! And the bracelet is lovely.

    Reply
  26. Anonymous

    What a gorgeous rosary!

    My heart is with you in these difficult days. My heart is broken with yours but I like to think our babies are looking down on us from heaven comforting us with their prayers.

    Reply
  27. Mimi G.

    Thanks for the giveaway! May you, your family and friends have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  28. JenniferM

    Beautiful rosary! Gail's work is very nice.

    Reply
  29. Sue

    Ooooh! I have been looking for good handmade rosary sites ever since I got a birth announcement from a niece yesterday!! She is the wife of my husband's blood nephew, and the only other member of his family that is Catholic (or, any kind of Christian at all), so I really want to send her a baby rosary. I am so glad to see a recommended site with such gorgeous work!

    Reply
  30. Sleen

    Stunning rosaries! The bracelets are just lovely, too. What a wonderful giveaway!!!

    Reply
  31. Allison

    What a beautiful rosary! Thanks for the great giveaway!

    Reply
  32. Anonymous

    Oh, how lovely! The rosary and bracelet are stunning!

    Reply
  33. Julie

    Lovely rosary and bracelet! I hope you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  34. Anonymous

    What a beautiful rosary and bracelet! Thank you for the giveaway and the inspiration you share with us. Happy Thanksgiving.

    Reply
  35. Katie

    That bracelet is beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  36. Anonymous

    Exquisite!

    Reply
  37. Melanie

    Absolutely gorgeous rosaries and bracelets! I think I'll be watching her etsy shop for another St. Therese one. Although I could place a special order… maybe I could nudge my hubby for Christmas…

    Reply
  38. Gae

    Dear Jessica,
    As we have just lost our baby in the last couple of weeks I grieve with you.
    We lost our other precious darling over 21 years ago now and it still makes me sad.
    I would so love to win this as I feel we would benefit so much from it
    Blessings
    Gae

    Reply
  39. Jessica

    Happy Thanksgiving to your beautiful family!

    Reply
  40. Casey

    That rosary is stunning!

    Reply
  41. Pamela

    Praying for you at this time Jessica, I to remember the loose of our little one almost daily. A mothers love never ends, praying you have a wonderful Thanksgiving:)
    The rosary is so beautiful, thank you for the giveaway!

    Reply
  42. Mary S.

    Love it!! Thank you for the opportunity learn more about these beautiful products!

    Reply
  43. Nora

    Beautiful!

    Reply
  44. Tina Marie

    The loss of a little one is such a difficult thing. I am always at a loss for words. I will pray for you. I have suffered miscarriages and know that the hurt always remains and our beloved are never forgotten. Thank you for the giveaway. God bless.

    Reply
  45. 9peasMom

    This is a lovely giveaway, such a beautiful Rosary. I'm praying for you as you go through the memories and heartache.

    Reply
  46. Amy

    Such a beautiful giveaway! Do count me in. I will be praying for you and your family at this time, mixed with joy of the holidays and sorrow of loss. God bless you all.

    Reply
  47. Anonymous

    A beautiful bracelet. Sending a prayer for you today
    ~Ruth Anne

    Reply
  48. Anonymous

    What a beautiful rosary and bracelet! Praying for you and your family!

    Jennifer I.

    Reply
  49. Jess

    Beautiful gifts! I'd love to win.

    Reply
  50. kSm

    What a generous giveaway. I would give this bracelet to my son's godmother as a Christmas gift. I think she would appreciate it 🙂

    Reply
  51. Jean

    Praying for you. No mattter how hard I try the pain is there. Your babies and ours are celebrating in heaven…it's all that gets me through sometimes.

    Reply
  52. Amy

    So Beautiful!

    Reply
  53. montanamama90

    You are such an inspiration, a strong woman in the face of sorrow! Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  54. Emily

    Che bella!

    Reply
  55. Megan

    So beautiful! Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply
  56. Unknown

    Just beautiful!

    Reply
  57. Lorie

    I have a daughter Savanna Rose so this would be great for her if we win!

    Reply
  58. Anonymous

    This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing all that you do. You constantly amaze and inspire me. 🙂
    Donna Marie
    child of mary 2002 at yahoo {dot} com

    Reply
  59. Lenetta

    Thank you for the chance, it is lovely!

    Reply
  60. Shannon

    Beautiful bracelet! Praying for you during these difficult days! :'(

    Reply
  61. Anonymous

    Such beautiful Rosaries!!!

    Thank you!
    Jennifer

    Reply
  62. AmaniS

    The rosary looks great on the blog, so it must be gorgeous in person.

    Reply
  63. Stephanie H

    Beautiful. My daughters were hovering over my shoulder picking their favorites!

    Reply
  64. Elizabeth

    So beautiful and would live a chance to win.
    Thanks and God bless!
    Elizabeth

    Reply
  65. Unknown

    Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  66. Karen

    That rosary is so pretty. I love the colors of the beads.

    Reply
  67. Anonymous

    Beautiful! I would love to win this for my older sister!!! Thank you so much!!!!!

    Reply
  68. Anonymous

    This would be a beautiful Christmas gift. Thank you!

    Reply

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Prayer of Mothers

Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.


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Sean & Jessica, Captain-24, Ranger-22, Twinkle Toes-21, Chiquita-19, Snuggles-17, Rose-14, Bud-12, Grace-7 and Joy-5 (blog nicknames)

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Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

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