The Vibe from Mrs. V

We’re celebrating July 4th this week.

Summer sports stop for the week.

Summer Stretch did not meet this week.

The City of Plymouth did not meet for the summer program this week.

People are crossing the state line to purchase fireworks.

People are planning to go “up north.”

I always think with a thankful heart for the men who fought for our freedom. I especially think about my dad who fought in World War II.

My dad died three years ago this August.

During his last months he talked a lot about the war. He relived some of the awful experiences of war with me.

I hope that when we are all about celebrating this freedom, we remember the men like my dad. Because of the many men like my dad, we are able to worship as we choose. We are able to pray and not be afraid. We have our freedom because of the brave men who fought and those that died. Some were forever changed and not always for the better.

July fourth week is a big deal. Why else would cities cancel activities for the week and leave the soccer fields empty?

Let’s not forget the wonderful people that made this possible.

I love my Catholic faith. Because of people like my dad, I can celebrate it.

Thanks Dad. I love you.

I am behind on getting my blog updated….way behind. The last time I wrote it was about giving something up for Lent.

I challenged our children in the Faith Formation classes and the Families in the Family Faith Formation classes to collect money for the poor. Greg Scherer gave a great presentation on “Common Hope”, a village in Guatemala. We demonstrated the small homes they live in. The children went home with cups with labeled “Lent is a time for change, collect your loose change and make a difference for our friends in Guatemala.” We placed a big jug out to be filled.

People warned me and warned me not to leave the jug out, but for about eight years I have had jugs sitting out with money collecting for those that need. I trusted.

And then it happened.

About a week ago we noticed the VCR on the TV stand was gone…and then I noticed someone had taken our jug.

The jug was big.

The jug was heavy.

If you saw someone walking out with it, you would notice.

The VCR was new and was used in our classrooms. It had to of been unplugged in order to remove it.

They both were side by side.

When they took the jug, I wondered if they looked at the pictures that were hanging just above them - the pictures of the children.

The least we have ever collected just by our change has been a little over $2,000.00.

What a pity.

As a family, talk over what you think about this situation…

You may have put some money in our jug.

Now - it is gone.

How does that make you feel?

Will I or should I put it out next year?

I probably will. What do you think?

In His Love,

It’s Lent. We had a wonderful beginning of Lent with a prayer service on Ash Wednesday.

I actually enjoy Lent. It is a time to reflect, to change.

When I was a child it was all about giving up something. I was taught that when we gave something up, we were to fill the void with spirituality.

It was about prayer.

It was about fasting.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with “giving something up” for Lent. It taught me discipline.

When I was 49, I decided to run a marathon - my first and only. When training, I actually thanked my mom for making me give up something for Lent because I acquired discipline. I completed the marathon.

Whenever I’ve given something up for Lent, I’ve received so much more in return. It reminds me of when Solomon asked God for wisdom, and received so much more than he had asked for. Like a 40 day flood that ended with a rainbow and a promise; like the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness that ended at a beautiful land flowing with milk and honey.

40 years after I started giving something up for Lent, I trained and ran a successful marathon. Our 40 Lenten days will end with Jesus’ return to life; our sins forgiven and the promise of heaven. What more can we ask for?

Do yourself and your kids a favor…have them give something up and fill their time with Jesus.

I hope your Lent will be fulfilling and that on Easter you will be overwhelmed with singing Alleluias.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.”

I think the children that come here each week are getting it!

Teri Hetchler teaches a second grade Faith Formation class. The first part of the year was on the Old Testament. When Teri began her class last week she said, we are going to learn about the person Jesus. A little boy said, “Oh, now we are going to study the New Testament.”

See if you can answer this question a child asked Deacon Sam: “Can you live without God?”

When 5 year old Jackson was showing me what he circled in the toy magazine - what he wanted for Christmas; I asked “Do you think you are going to get all those toys? You know, Jesus only got three gifts, so don’t you think that is all we should get from Santa?” He very matter-of-factly said…
“That makes sense.”

Our children listen…they learn…they think and ask tough questions and when you tell them something, they simply say it makes sense.

Jesus went on and told us to be like the children. I think that means we should listen, learn, think, ask questions and have the faith of a child because then things will make sense.

During Jesus’ time, sheep farmers were seen by other people as low and of no value. Yet it was to these shepherds that the birth of Jesus was first announced in an amazing and dramatic way:

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)

Even though we celebrate a historical event on Christmas Day, its meaning does not rest in the past. Today is born our Savior. God is born this day in our hearts, to fill us with hope, to dignify the dimmest corners of our lives.

of God, the eternal Word, became flesh as Jesus the Christ. Our belief and actions bring Christmas to life. Whenever we give a gift of charity, sing of God’s goodness, or support the needy, we are the body of Christ, newly born, bringing life and redemption to a wary world.

Church attendance on Christmas is high, largely because it is social expectation. People come for different reasons. Some genuinely want to celebrate their faith. Others want their children to experience Christmas. Be prepared to offer hospitality to everyone who comes. Be church. Be joy. Be as welcoming to all as Jesus would, who came to save us all.

Make good family memories. Each Christmas I would have someone read from the Bible the Christmas story before we ate. I would carefully choose who it would be. Three years ago I chose my son, Jake, because he had just become a new father. I will never forget him standing there reading the Christmas story from his Bible. Now he lives it eternally with our God.

God bless all of you and have a very Merry Christmas.

I have been invited to my grand-daughter’s third birthday party. It is her first one with friends.

Ava and her mom decided to have a costume party for the big event. I thought that sounded like a lot of fun. So my search began - I need a costume.

I went to the store, 10-31. I did not have much luck. They did however have many costumes that were either too skimpy or scary for a three-year-old’s birthday party or a 60 year old grannie to wear. Why does a costume have to be skimpy or scary for any party?

Then I went on-line looking for either a cookie monster costume or a cow. The ones that were available were $449.00!?!? However, there were plenty of scary ones and oodles of skimpy ones that I could afford.

I went to discount stores and others - still lots of scary and skimpy costumes. No cookie monster. No cows. The party was coming up in four days!! I didn’t want to disappoint my granddaughter.

I was going to try one more – Target. I heard laughter coming out of the Halloween aisle. Teen age girls were trying on a chicken outfit and taking pictures of themselves with their cell phone. I asked if they were going to buy it. They said no because they couldn’t afford it. It was the only costume that wasn’t skimpy or scary. I looked at the price tag…it was a little pricy, and it was a man’s costume. I asked the girls if I bought it, would they borrow it? That way I could justify the price tag. They said yes. They were from Holy Name! We exchanged names and numbers. I left with a costume I could wear for this special party and hopefully one that the girls will borrow.

I left thinking how sad it is that our teens cannot find appropriate costumes to wear to their parties.

I thought Halloween was the Eve of All Saints. Where are the saints? Then I remembered. The saints are our kids and they will be at the Saint Museum after the 5:00 Mass Saturday October 27th and the 8:30 and 10:30 Mass Sunday the 28th. Come visit them and see what Halloween is really all about.

I know little about this game everyone plays weekly. They go online…they choose their players for the week. They watch football game after game. People spend a lot of time on Fantasy Football, choosing players to be on their team.

Last week in London they had their annual gorilla race. People dressed in gorilla costumes and raced down a very popular street. One gorilla had a Green Bay Packers jersey on. “They” say wherever you go you can find a Green Bay Packer fan. “They” say it with disgust. And people don’t like the Green Bay Packers. It is almost like people enjoy the dislike. Why I ask? The quarter back tithes…I like him. The city owns the team. I like that; no wonder the fans feel connected. Again I say the quarter back gives back to his community. They are on top…people hate it when they win.

Fall is here…football season has arrived. There is excitement - there is love - there is unwarranted hate.

Jesus chose twelve and one betrayed Him. There are eleven players on a football team.

I wonder if I lived back then if Jesus would have chosen me to be on His team. Jesus rode a donkey down a very popular street and they hail Him as their King. Days later they condemned Him. I wonder what it was like for Jesus when people booed Him. He was human - it must have felt terrible.

I know one thing for sure; I am on His team now. We have lots of teams on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings at Holy Name. The children come from different schools. They have the best quarter back…Jesus. Sometimes, being on Jesus’ team, you do get criticized - I know I have. So what? I know I am on the winning team. I hope I help the children realize the winning team.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone spent as much time getting ready for Jesus as they do for Fantasy Football?

The best thing to cheer about at a foot ball game is you almost always see someone hold up a sign:
John 3:16.

Cheer when you see the sign! You can be on His team.

I did it this summer… I thought outside the box and volunteered for Summer Stretch which is a wonderful middle school program….and you know what? I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the teens. They are coming into their own and were very respectful to me and everyone they encountered.

It’s funny - it seems every year we have problems getting enough catechists to teach middle school. Middle school students have opinions, they love to be challenged and you would find you can have some pretty interesting conversations with them.

Think outside the box. Volunteer to teach one of our middle school classes, especially if you are not a parent. You will find teens are pretty awesome. They just need people to care about them and their lives, and what better way than showing that to them by teaching about our faith?

I know one thing is for sure - next summer I am going to volunteer again for Summer Stretch.

Monday, July 30th: I am trying to get everything done I wanted to before reporting back to work on August 1st. July sure did fly by.

I talk to God quite a bit - all the time, no matter where I am. He is the one person I know listens to me.

I very simply said, ”Boy, God; I wish I had one more day at home.”

The next morning I got up early, determined to be at work on time. I arrived at work and said, “Good Morning” to everyone and mentioned that July sure went by fast, but here I am on August 1st. Jane and Judy laughed. “Diane, it is not August 1st, it is July 31st.”

I really thought they were kidding. Then Deacon Sam walked by, and I asked him what day it is. “August first and you are to report back to work.”

“No,” said Jane.

“No,” said Judy. ”Look at your calendar”.

To my surprise, it was July 31st.

I was so excited! What a gift God gave me. I asked for another day, and He handed it to me. I talked to God all the way home. “Thank you God, I promise to use this day wisely. I am so excited. Thank you so much!” I so appreciated this “extra” day.

I think about this often. The gift God gave me was always there. He didn’t add another day on everyone’s calendar just for me. He gave me what He gives me every day. This day was different for me because I appreciated it so much. I treated it as a gift from God, which made me ask myself, why I don’t appreciate God’s gifts more? I guess I take His gifts for granted. God loves each and every one of us, and God gives so freely. He is an awesome God. So - I now have July 31st on my calendar. Thank you, God.

I have the month of July off.  I have three grandchildren.  Two of them will be three soon and one will be six.  They can talk and we can have conversations, so I am especially looking forward to doing special outings with them.

My first outing I chose was taking all three to a movie! Yikes, three in car seats (they didn’t have those laws when my kids were young).

I was pretty excited to see a “G” rated movie.  I myself do not go to many movies.  I loaded them all in the car and off we went.  We were going to Ratatouille, which is a movie about a rat who knew how to cook.  Animated movie…just my style.

We made it with 100 other young children and sat down to watch a movie on a big screen. Not even five minutes into the movie, the cute animated rats with personality were in a home.  The woman in the home was frightened.  She got a big shot gun out and started shooting.  It made a lot of noise.  She shot at random into the ceiling, which resulted in huge bullet holes.  Lots of bullet holes.  Here I am with my three grandchildren who I don’t even let play with any sort of gun.  I never allowed play guns in my home.  The lady ran out of bullets and searched for another case of them!!  I am thinking, “Do I leave now?”  She found her case, refilled her shotgun and starting another round of shooting.  “OK, I think I better take the kids and go home.”  One cute, little rat (which resembled more of a mouse) was separated from his dad.  My grand kids were worried about that.  I am thinking to myself, “what ever happened to chasing them with a broom?  Do I leave?”  I thought this was rated for general audiences.

I decided to stay so the kids could see that the cute, little rat would be reunited with his dad.

They go on a chase…

A few minutes later a different lady is pointing a hand gun to her husband and he says, “You wouldn’t dare.”  I think, “Ok, that’s it.”  He kisses her and she drops the gun.  A kiss can do that?

We stayed.

The cute, little rat found his dad.

Did the shooting ruin the film for me?  Yes, it did.  Did it ruin it for my grandchildren?  The five year old said, “I didn’t like the part when the lady was shooting.”  The other two were too young… or were they?

We talk about planting seeds and teaching our children about our faith.  Every year we have over 100 adults and teens come to Holy Name for an hour a week to catechize our children.  Sometimes the catechists get frustrated and think they are not doing enough.  I tell them we plant the seeds.  So what kind of a seed was planted by bringing the children to this “G” rated movie?

This past Sunday, Father Paul talked about the devil.  He comes in many different disguises.  We may not recognize him; he may look tempting and good.  I thought about the movie and I thought the devil may even be rated “G”.  We are so afraid to talk about the devil and recognize that he is truly amongst us.  We even rate movies with violence “G”.

While at Greg and Rose Hegi’s for the fourth, I mentioned this experience to them.  Their daughter-in-law told me she goes to the Web for movie reviews by Christians.  Next time I will do that.

This week my outing with my grandchildren will be the Children’s Museum.  Curious George is there.  I pray I have made a good choice.

God bless you and your families.