Our Lady

Love this beautiful adoration of Our Lady, our queen of Peace. I was on facebook and saw this lovely picture of her a friend had taken in Guatemala. photo taken by Anahata Katkin.

Matt Maher

I am not a huge listener of Christian Rock. I don't know why but I think sometimes it is because I haven't heard someone that moves me... until now! Matt Maher has an amazing voice with just as beautiful of a message.  My mom introduced me to him. Really it was my Uncle's stepson's that introduced us to him in a memorial video that they put together for their brother who died in Afghanistan. It was so touching and I cannot stop thinking about it. This is the song they played. Hopefully, it will touch your heart and you will pass it along. Many blessings to the Higgins Family. xo

click here to listen  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-he2DohfwWE

One little Rose

One Little Rose
I would rather have one little rose
from a garden of a friend
than to have the choicest flowers
when my stay on earth must end
I would rather have one pleasant word
in kindness said to me
than flattery when my heart is still
and life has ceased to be
I would rather have a loving smile
from friends i know are TRUE
than tears shed around my casket
when i bid this world adieubring all your flowers today
whether pink or white or red
I'd rather have one blossom now
than a basketful when i'm dead....

Mother Mary

I have sadly forgotten to post on this blog in awhile. I truly wish I had a good reason for my lack posting but there isn't one. Just summer came and swept me away with it. During the summer, I so often prayed and asked for Mother Mary's guidance. She is always there for us, never failing.  I am reminded of Mother Mary's guiding light in our life. It is everywhere...you just have to look for it! It is a true reflection of her Son's love for us. 

Miracle Icons

I love the juxtaposition of religious jewelry with funky materials. Miracle Icons creates these fabulous unisex pieces. 

A faithful confirmation!

I am so proud of my hubby, Chris, for being so dedicated to completing his confirmation classes. A truly faithful act! He was confirmed on Tuesday, with about 65 other candidates.  He never was confirmed when he was in eigth grade because his family moved. So he decided on his own to get confirmed. His faith is so strong and he is such a source of inspiration for me. I truly am so blessed to have him in my life. ..xoxo 

Totally Yours Marian Conference

After an amazing weekend at the Totally Yours, Marian Conference at the DuPage Expo with my girlfriends Lisa and Judy I had to post a few of the pictures that I snapped while we were there. We went to go see Immaculee Ilibagiza speak about her amazing experience of forgiveness and love in the midst of the Rwanda genocide.  Which was so beautiful and healing... but the best thing about seeing her speak is listening to her truly genuine and forgiving heart. Amazing! So many more speakers touched our hearts- I was so impressed by Hector Molina who spoke about Spirtual Warfare, he was incredible!  There were other moving speakers that shared their personal stories ; Zaid Jazrawi and Father Rick Wendell experiences were truly heartfelt transformations. The best part of the weekend was witnessing Brother Carmelo Cortez. It is so difficult to explain in this post but it was truly a blessed experience. I couldn't help but look around at those around me and I had to snap this photo of this precious person so deep in prayer. The other images are from my rosaries that were blessed in holy water and the rose petal that Brother Carmelo Cortez touched and became imprinted with Jesus on the cross. I truly recommend anyone to attend and be inspired! xoxo

Serving up love

I was crafting away and working on these garden markers. I think every garden and home needs spoonfuls of love, blessings and faith!

Mary Mary

Okay so my girlfriend, Maureen, was making a little joke about my Mary blog and posted this picture in her bathroom this weekend. I just love that everyone who went into her bathroom was probably wondering  what is going on...p.s. loving the double JC reference. 

Divine Mercy

Today, being divine mercy Sunday I am overwhelmed with God's infinite mercy and love.  I was thinking about how we forgive others today...is it heartfelt? Do we let it go once we forgive or are we holding onto the pain? I was thinking about this and one of my favorite authors came to mind, Immaculée Ilibagiza.  Immaculée shares her miraculous story of how she survived during the Rwanda genocide in 1994 when she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor’s house for 91 days! In this captivating and inspiring book, Immaculée shows us how to embrace the power of prayer, forge a profound and lasting relationship with God, and discover the importance of forgiveness and the meaning of truly unconditional love and understanding—through our darkest hours. I am reminded of how we are all capable, even thru the most horrific circumstances, to offer our forgiveness to others. And it is Jesus' immaculate heart that teaches us this!

Little Altars

I have been wanting to create a little altar space in our home but I had not found the right shadow box. So my sweet dad,  made me this wonderful shadow box from some old fencing. He backed it with a heavy duty piece of plywood and added a little shelf. My mom said that when she was little they use to have one up for the month of May. It was a place they could say the rosary and their prayers. I just love that idea. So I created a space of my own with a few prayer cards, rosary, some heart rocks, an angel, my moms Mary statue and some candles. I also placed a little box where I can write my prayer requests. Last night it all came together and I just love it! I feel like I will continue to add little touches here and there. But for right now, it is perfect!

the Prayer

Some songs come along that just leave you breathless. I love this song, the prayer. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmscFwj22vg

My favorite verse is the last one...

It's the faith

you light in us

I feel it will save us

so perfect on Good Friday. xoxo

Finding Grace

Whenever I am anxious or worried about something, which was the case today, I seem to always find comfort in the verse above. 

Grotto Mary

I just love this kooky Mary shadowbox found on etsy. I think I may have to try to recreate one. 

Finding Mary

So my honey just got back from his National Sales Meetings in Baltimore. And he was talking about my blogs to a buddy who happened to have this tattoo of Our Lady on his arm. Which, of course, I love that these guys were chatting about Mary at a sales meeting. She always finds her way into our hearts. I think it quite comical that I now have my husband looking for Mary. Thanks Stephen for sharing this photo!