The West of Ireland Covered in Snow

On November 21, the Feast of the Presentation of Mary, the west of Ireland was blanketed with snow. Some areas receiving 5 inches of snow. The timing of this snowfall seemed heaven-sent. Two mothers who were part of a large Consecration journey led by Fr. Marius O'Reilly of Cork. The 33 Day Consecration journey utilized the book Child Consecration: To Jesus through Mary—Following in the Spirit of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower. As the Feast of the Presentation fell on a school day, both mothers were wondering and praying how they could get their children to Mass and Confession on Consecration day. The blanket of snow answered those prayers. School was canceled this day only, but the roads were still passable, and both families were able to make their Consecration, attend Mass, and also go to Confession. 

The two pictures above were taken at the Knock shrine on November 21. Interestingly the prior year there had been no snow days in this region where school had been canceled. Such a snow fall in November in the west of Ireland is unusual. There was even enough snow to make a snowman.

The pictures below were shared by one of the families participating in the Consecration journey. A short testimony is provided below. For those interested in making this consecration journey, visit childconsecration.com

Our family were very blessed to be consecrated to Jesus through Mary using the Child Consecration, following the spirit of St Thérèse.
It is beautifully written in a way that is easy to understand for both adults and children.
The day of consecration for us was on the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple. It was a very appropriate feast day especially because our children were being consecrated so it was as if we (parents) were presenting our children to God at the temple also.
Providentially we had a snow day on November 21st (unusual for Ireland to get snow at that time of year) so schools were closed and we all got to Mass and confession on the day! (Karen Clancy)

Early Snow

 

Today we woke up to a surprise. Heavy snow was falling. While not unprecedented to have snow in October in Connecticut, it is still a bit surprising. Our harvesting is far from finished in the garden but these Juliet tomatoes surely are not happy about the cold snap and fresh show weighing down their branches already laden with tomatoes (see the picture above). The harvest has been so abundant this year, we have been hard pressed to get all the tomatoes in before the cold. Asher, one of our children, has been out picking red and even the green tomatoes . . . buckets full in fact. 

We have been trying something new this year. We have netted the plants and also created a brand new enclosure to keep all the unwanted squirrels at bay. This has helped tremendously. Yards are small where we live and a whole harvest can be taken by unwanted critters. This year, the squirrels have had to find something else to eat and we have been enjoying fresh tomato salads and a special tomato strata recipe we found in my grandmothers old cookbook. This has been perfect for those tomatoes that look a bit bruised or are soft but cooked taste great. 

As the month of the Rosary comes to a close this coating of white clean fresh snow is an inspiring sight. One's heart begins to think of the coming of Advent and also Christmas. Yes, the picture below was taken today. We keep this ornament in our window all year.

Our son Kostin has been splitting wood for the fires we look forward to having as the cold weather sets in. This is also the time when we begin to think of writing our Christmas cards to family and friends. This year we have our new Children's Rosary Christmas card. Abigail who has been illustrating our Christmas cards for the past 5 years did an amazing job again. Some say it is the best one yet. To purchase a box of 25 Christmas cards visit our Children's Rosary collection at the EWTN Religious Catalogue click HERE. This year's card is shown below.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

A Child's Cross Made of Out of Snow

More Snow

Please consider starting a Consecration to Jesus through Mary using our new book. To learn more click HERE.

A Novena of Thanksgiving Comes to a Close

Tomorrow will conclude our 9 day Novena of Masses in thanksgiving. This is something we do every year following the Anniversary of the Children's Rosary on April 10th. Leading up to the anniversary on April 10th a 9 day Novena of Masses was completed for the fulfillment of Our Lady's plans for the Children's Rosary.

The novena of Thanksgiving is always a very special part of the 18 days of Masses. It helps to center oneself in a spirit of simplicity and trust. In thanking God we acknowledge that He is in control and knows the best for us. He gives what we need. Our role is to trust in His Providence. A priest once shared some advice with me early when the Children's Rosary began. He advised to not get out ahead of the Spirit but be ready when the Holy Spirit opens the door. Thinking of his words we try to always allow God to lead us. In this way we can glorify God as all is unfolding according to His Will and not our own. There are things we would like to see happen but God knows the best of it. Today we woke up to a surprise. There was a layer of clean white snow outside. This winter we saw very little snow and to have so much fall in April was a surprise. Yet as I was reflecting on prior years when we had this novena I was reminded that we also had snowfalls during the days of the novena. 

My mother has always said of snow that it is the poor man's fertilizer. It helps the plants through the winter. More snow is a good thing for the following years growing season and harvest. Perhaps one could see this snow as a signal grace. Our days of prayer and especially those of thanksgiving help us to cultivate spiritual fruits in our soul. Tomorrow is the last day of Masses. Four Masses will be celebrated in Thanksgiving. May we unify our prayers with those Masses and take some moments to thank God for the many blessings he has given not only to the Children's Rosary but to each of us. No matter what trial we may be under right now with the Coronavirus, one can always find blessings in each moment. 

Thank you God. 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

How to Start a Children's Rosary
Children's Rosary Collection 

A Day of Incredible Blessings at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy

Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR NEW VIDEO:

A VIEW FROM HEAVEN 

UNA PERSPECTIVA DESDE EL CIELO

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org

Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

Pour plus d'informations sur le Rosaire des Enfants, visitez notre site Web:www.rosairedesenfants.org

First Snowfall This Year

This evening around 5 PM the snow began to fall. It has intensified and now all the roads have a layer of snow covering them. It is always particularly exciting to see the first snow each season. 

My kids took some pictures of our street and also looking up towards the sky. There is something majestic about a new layer of fresh snow covering everything. Some of the children who are part of the Children's Rosary never get to experience snow since they live in warm climates such as regions of Africa. We love to share these pictures as it is a witness of the beauty of God's creation and may bring smiles to some little ones' faces. 

Before the snow began, we were able to send out several boxes. One of the boxes went to Uruguay where there is interest in spreading the Children's Rosary in the city of Montevideo. Please keep these efforts in your prayers as many are trying to initiate groups in their parishes and schools.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Doing Less so You Can Do More

Nuestra Fe en Vivo interview

How to Start a Children's Rosary

Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR NEW VIDEO:

A VIEW FROM HEAVEN 

UNA PERSPECTIVA DESDE EL CIELO

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org
Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

Pour plus d'informations sur le Rosaire des Enfants, visitez notre site Web:www.rosairedesenfants.org

Recumbent Snowman

This weekend we had a snow storm and my husband took the kids out for some sledding. Over the years we have featured many snowmen that have resulted from the creativity of kids. Usually these snowmen are static...today was different. The kids had built a snowman which they took for a sled ride. My husband called him a "recumbent snowman".

Recently, I have been coming to understand that there is great grace that comes through just spending time as a family. Prayer has an important place but there must also be times when the family comes together to simply have fun. Last Monday my husband took a day off from work. The sole purpose was just for us to spend time as a family. He called it: Family Day. We spent the morning at a place where you can paint pottery. We worked on two projects. Alina and I worked on a platter together with the logo of the Children's Rosary. We plan to use it on the upcoming 7 year anniversary of the Children's Rosary. We have a breakfast planned at  our parish to celebrate the day and we hope to put food on it for the children. Together we also worked on a plate for Passover. In the afternoon we went bowling. Given my disability with my joints I could not bowl but I was happy to watch and cheer on the rest of the family. Later in the week, I happened to be looking at the calendar that was given out at Church. On February 12th it said Family Day  (British Columbia, Canada). That was the exact day we had our Family Day.  In seeing this on the calendar it was a confirmation of all that Our Lord and Our Lady seemed to be showing us. There is great grace available through just spending time together as a family.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
Find out ways to become involved and help the Children's Rosary

How to Start a Children's Rosary

Doing Less So You Can Do More

Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org
Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

A Child's Cross Made Out of Snow

Yesterday afternoon around 3PM we gathered to say the Rosary. Outside the wind howled and snow swirled. We were in the middle of the "bomb cyclone".  As we described yesterday, the size and severity of this storm were considerable. While the kids had spent some of the day outside, an idea came just before starting the Rosary. 

The idea was to make a large Cross on our front lawn out of snow. Kostin, our 13 year old son, was so excited by this idea he could barely last through the Rosary. Light would be going quickly as the days are short in the winter and the temperatures were dropping.  Both our boys headed out. Kostin told Asher he would need help.The vertical tower went up fast. Watching from the window and seeing the wind I began to think I was watching a Jenga game. One after another buckets of snow were pilled on top of one another reaching to almost 7 feet. A step stool was even brought out.  It was with the last bucket at around 7 feet tall that the whole column went tumbling down. Oh, I thought nice try. But this would not deter the two. 

They were quickly back to making their column again. Water was added which quickly froze to help provide strength. The snow was very dry and would not stick together so water was needed.  Asher our 10 year old came in to reveal his gloves which had been dipped in the water now had icicles at the tip. His poor fingers were so cold. Work continued. The center column seemed stable but there was the question of how to  add the cross portion. Different attempts were made. One attempt with sticks did not work and caused a destabilized of the column and collapse.
Then Kostin had a clever idea. He rebuilt the column up to the level of where he would have the cross begin and taking a board he stuck it in a bucket of snow. He did this on both ends making a dumbbell shape. Then the two boys tried to lift it. They struggled together in the wind. It was a mighty feat to raise it up high enough. And then it was there in place. There was excitement but within moments it was down again. The board now was taken up by Kostin who beat it into the snow. The attempts went on well after dark. It was hard to believe they could stand the cold. Yet they did. 

But as 7PM came, the troops were tired. There was only a heap of snow...no cross. I encouraged Kostin that the following day he could try again. Indeed, with the new day he asked to go out and try again. This time he went out alone. The wind was so cold. After a long time of working he came inside. He wanted to show us the Cross he had made. It stood beautifully in front of our house. The sign in our window was also visible that said Christ is Born. I could not get over how cold it was when I went outside and could not believe he had been out for so long. After Asher took a few pictures, Kostin went to work with a new idea. 

He wanted to add rays to the Cross. He used icicles that had formed on the side of our house to make the rays. Kostin came to call us out again to see the final creation. It was just noon on the First Friday of the Month which seemed appropriate. As we stood in front of the house looking at this Cross a car went by and beeped. It was the priest from the Church near our house. We screamed and pointed at the Cross. We were so excited for someone to see it. 

There had been so much work...so many failed attempts in the cold and wind but perseverance had payed off. There was a beautiful pure white Cross that stood despite the beating wind that blew against it. The Cross had glistening rays of ice that came forth from the Cross harkening to Easter only a few months away and also to the Mercy of Our Lord. We took a moment to Consecrate this Cross to Jesus through Mary. It was a gift from the heart given with love. We sprayed the Cross with holy water we had for blessing our house. We wanted it to be a blessed Cross that might touch hearts. We prayed before the Cross for our family but also for all the members of the Children's Rosary. You were with us during this project. We are so excited to share this Cross made out of snow with all of you.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Bomb Cyclone

Celebrating Christ's Birth
A Countryside Transformed through Prayer
Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org
Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

"Bomb Cyclone" Hits East Coast of the United States

For veterans of snow storms in the North East of the United States this week we have been hearing terms unfamiliar to us. My husband had to ask, "what is a Snow Bomb?" To which he was told it is a hurricane in a snow storm. The official meteorologic term they are using is  "Bomb Cyclone" which was the first I have heard of such things. Apparently it is a mid-latitude cyclone that intensifies rapidly. ... one expert was quoted as saying, "they just kind of explode". It has the effect of instantly appearing and getting very strong. So within the snow storm there can be some explosive events. They are predicting it could be one of the most intense bomb cyclones in the east coast in decades.  But whatever you call it the storm is here. High wind gusts and lots of snow are falling. 


Asher, our ten year old, was sent out for some documentation. See photos. The top picture is of our street. We should also mention it is bitterly cold, too. Asher showed me a very red finger that resulted after being exposed to the elements just long enough to capture some images. 

We also have a few pictures taken from inside our home looking out.  One of the effects of blustery winds is snow within our windows. We have old windows but I still never understood how snow gets inside a storm window. But such are some mysteries that for the moment remain unsolved.

If you are wondering what Kostin is doing? He is outside, too. He has not divulged what he is going to create...not sure if he knows yet.  The kids were able to make snow forts for protection with each hiding in their cavern of snow only popping up to hurl a snow ball at the other fort.

Snow storms of this magnitude are amazing to me. They bring a bustling society to a halt. Families stay home and try to stay warm. 

It also brings more time for quiet prayer. Keeping you all in prayer.
God bless you.

Your Friend in Christ,
Blythe


Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Have You Ever Been to Interior Alaska?

St. Francis Shelter
A Countryside Transformed through Prayer

Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org
Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

A Child's Nativity Made of Snow

Yesterday we had a beautiful blanket of snow cover our region. This morning as we walked home from Church our oldest son had an idea. This was taken from a post done earlier today:
The priest in his homily spoke of seeing a cave in Bethlehem on a recent trip to Israel. One similar possibly to the one Our Lord was born in. He gave us a vivid mental picture of this cave. Well Kostin was thinking about the cave and proclaimed during the walk that he was going to make a cave out of snow and the people inside out of snow, too. Not sure how that will work but stay tuned for pictures. 
Well here is the update:
The picture above was the finished product. We also include a picture at the bottom of the artist. We share these little experiences to celebrate the faith and creativity of children and also give glory to God. 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Doing Less So You Can do More

When the Impossible Becomes Possible
A Journey to Bring the Baby Jesus to the Children

Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org
Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

Beauty, Beauty Everywhere!

These are some images from our walk to Mass and the Children's Rosary at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish this morning in Connecticut USA. Snow fell yesterday and left a clean white cover over everything. 

We were out the door early and saw the sun rise as we walked. It was breathtaking. We were hurrying along as the snow makes things a bit slippery and we did not want to be late. 
But we had more time to take a few more pictures on the way home. This star caught my attention but Alina liked the Christmas tree with dollops of snow on each branch.

There is nothing like a fresh snowfall. Yesterday, I was speaking with a friend who was able to see snow falling for the first time. She is from Colombia. She was speaking to me in Spanish as she entered our back door... her face beaming. I could not understand everything she said but she used words that seemed to reference the Divine. Indeed, to see the beauty around us is to see the hand of God in our lives. 
This beauty was Divinely made for us and so there is much to take joy in. Gratitude wells in my heart after a morning with the children at the Children's Rosary, Mass and the beauty of the snow. 

Yesterday, I tried in my poor Spanish to share with our friend that even after seeing snow many times it stills brings a feeling of wonder and amazement. There is also something else that snow does...it slows everyone down and brings family home together. It also brings fun for the kids. Kostin just headed outside. He shared an idea he had on our walk back from the Church. The priest in his homily spoke of seeing a cave in Bethlehem on a recent trip to Israel. One similar possibly to the one Our Lord was born in. He gave us a vivid mental picture of this cave. Well Kostin was thinking about the cave and proclaimed during the walk that he was going to make a cave out of snow and the people inside out of snow, too. Not sure how that will work but stay tuned for pictures. 

This last picture at the bottom was the view from our back door as we set out this morning...sun just peeking on the horizon and the sky with hints of blue and purple. Yes there is beauty, beauty everywhere!

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Fruits from the Garden

When the Impossible Becomes Possible
A Journey to Bring the Baby Jesus to the Children

Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org
Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

Setting Out For the Children's Rosary

Snow is falling in the Northeast region of the Untied States today. The picture above was just taken as the kids set out to St. Peter Claver Church for the Children's Rosary today. Asher holds fresh roses for Our Lady. Kostin is carrying the Rosaries and books. The snow creates extra excitement for the walk to the Church. We hope you will unify prayers with the children as they pray today. The Rosary will begin at 3PM ET. Visit www.childrensrosary.org to see the meeting times in your local time zone. There is also a button called "Join in Prayer" which allows you to unify prayers and add your gold twinkling light to our View from Heaven map. You will see a blue flashing light in Connecticut at 3PM. This will be the kids praying at St. Peter Claver Church. There will also be a blue flashing light in Greenville, Texas USA where another Children's Rosary group will be meeting at 3PM ET.
Thank you all.

United in prayer.

Your Friend in Christ,

Blythe

Doing Less So You Can Do More

Last week we had an unexpected spring Nor'easter.  For those unfamiliar with the term Nor'easter, this means lots of snow and high winds. The Governor of Connecticut put a travel ban in place during the storm so only essential vehicles could be on the road.  Most people were therefore home from work.  But there was a wonderful blessing amidst the blanket of white...more time with family! 

Few people ventured out in the peak of the storm save for my husband and our three kids who thought there was nothing more fun then walking into town and exploring. Nothing was open...even the post office was closed.  With a vacant town and lots of snow there was so much fun to be had.  Konstantin thought it was a blast to slide down the stone wall that lines the stairs next to the library. I was inside for this adventure but I can just imagine it was pretty fun.  There was also the feet of climbing the tall mounds of snow created by the plows.  As we had an impressive 2 feet of snow fall there was lots of snow to move around.  The joy of playing in the snow would not end on day one.  Kids were off from school for TWO DAYS! 

Even that was not enough as this weekend more construction continued in our backyard.  Several fortifications were constructed. One in our front yard for protection from "invaders" two more fall back positions were created if retreat was needed.  Some of these walls took considerable effort to construct... one made of many show balls. Another was made with snow packed into buckets and then transferred to the wall.  The creation of forts and walls was only half the fun. Then there was a version of "Winter Olympics" that was also held...not your typical events one would see on TV.  
There was an original event created. This involved one child swinging on a swing while two other children threw snow balls trying to hit him.  In all, the snow this week brought a lot of wonderful memories. The creativity of children is remarkable. Very little was needed to enjoy each other. There was snow...yes but it was also the time spent as a family.  There is a battle these days to stay simple. To enjoy the simple things.  Our Lord gives us many gifts that bring joy but often there is so much going on that we miss them. 

Our family is a bit unique in that our children are growing up with one disabled parent who cannot drive. That means while dad is at work we can only go to places we can walk to in town. Lessons and activities are not possible. The result is more time at home together.  Yet, when I saw a phrase at a retreat recently suggesting we should do less so we can do more, the phrase rang true for us as we often cannot do very much but yet it seems we do a lot just being together.  

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Kids Will Be Kids
Resources to Start a Children's Rosary

A Child's Devotion to St. Joseph

Our middle son, Konstantin, has a strong devotion to St. Joseph.  This began as a small child.  When we met him in an orphanage in Kazakhstan at the age of 4, he had the name Konstantin which is the Russian form of Constantine.  We decided we would keep his birth name but chose a middle name for him.  The name my husband and I chose was Joseph (husband of Mary).  His sister who we also adopted we gave the middle name of Marie after the Blessed Mother.  

From a young age we shared with Konstantin the life of St. Joseph.  As early as we can remember he has always loved St. Joseph.  He even asked recently if when he is older could he choose St. Joseph as his Confirmation name even though his middle name is already Joseph.  Like St. Joseph, Konstantin has a love of working with his hands especially with wood.  He very much wanted to learn the skill of carpentry.  We hoped and prayed that we might meet someone to help mentor Konstantin with such a skill.  Last year something beautiful happened. We met a wonderful man who was a carpenter.  He providentially came to our home to meet the family of a priest that was visiting.  At the end of the lunch Konstantin looked at me and said he thought this was the man who might help him learn carpentry.  Indeed the match seemed Divinely ordained.  A wonderful friendship began and on the first day of the carpentry lesson we happened to be by the car of Konstantin's friend and mentor. His license plate read: St. Joe.  We were all surprised by such a signal grace.  One of the projects the two of them made together was a wooden tool box.  Today with the wonderful snow that fell this week Konstantin made a St. Joseph statue out of snow.  He even put his new tool belt on him.  March 19th is the Feast of St. Joseph.  Tonight I asked Konstantin why he likes St. Joseph so much. He said, "I like St Joseph because he protected the holy family and because I want to become a carpenter and he is the patron saint of carpenters." Seeing Konstantin leaning against his St. Joseph, one can see the beauty of a child's devotion to a Saint that has been asked to protect not only children but also families and even the Church.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
"What Do You Think About When You Say the Rosary?"
Resources to Start a Children's Rosary

Lots of Snow!

The past 5 days the Northeast of the United States has been getting LOTS OF SNOW!  This has been a delight for our kids who have spent the time making snow forts and of course a snowman.  This one has a Daniel Boone hat and a love of the Rosary.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Beauty