Illuminated By Joy

J.M.J. *This post is part of Grim's lovely Remember, O Thou Man Lenten link up here .  (credit) "The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings." -St. Francis de Sales St. Francis de Sales is one of those saints who found me. I was struggling in life and God sent him my way through his beautiful spiritual readings and wonderful quotes. (If you've never read "Introduction to the Devout Life", you MUST!) He is a great friend of mine, even so much that I decorated my graduation cap with one of his quotes. :) Let's just say, I can always count on him to guide me ever closer to our loving Father!  In the last few weeks, the temptation to give up my Lenten resolutions has been so real...how I am ready to give up right now amidst struggles. A rough day of tea...

J.M.J. "Go and Fear Nothing, I Will Help You".  These are the words I read every morning as I look at a beautiful picture of Our Lady hanging above my dresser. Last May, I had the wonderful opportunity to complete my first pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin- the only approved Marian Apparition in the United States.  21 miles. Early morning wake up. Rain. No training. These four things rang in my mind at 5 am on the morning of the pilgrimage. Little did I know how much this pilgrimage would change my life, and increase my trust very deeply. Up to this point, I was on a roller coaster in discerning various things in my life. I had graduated with my AS degree, but I was in total confusion regarding transferring colleges. All of my friends were in a four year college, and here I was, juggling three daycare jobs and caring for over 30 children every day. The thought that "these jobs are putting me behind" was constantly in m...