Good news and weathering the storms

It's been an uppy-downy few days in the Little Hare household. Actually, more downy-uppy. Three days ago was one of those days from Hell that starts off with little irritations that just multiply and snowball all day as more frustrations join them and then towards the end of the day some actual disasters decide to pop along for good measure.

Since then it's been much better. The following day dawned bright and clear. I had an 'early' appointment in the hospital to find out the results from the operation I had last month. After the now-traditional long wait, (well, you'd miss it if they didn't do it to you, wouldn't you?) I was called into the room where the consultant was joined by two student doctors, one with a beard that couldn't hide his sweet innocent young face. Then I was told something definitely worth waiting for, namely, 'it's only good news.' Yippee! No sign of cancer! My scar had its photo taken and I glided out of the hospital on a cloud. Outside, the sky never seemed bluer, the sun shone and I made interior vows to change my ways and always be cheerful and kind and patient... until the needle veered off the record when a phone call from Lee brought me back to reality.

On the way back to the car I called into the Hospital chapel and found a little prayer card to Fr Patrick Peyton, aka the Rosary Priest from Co. Mayo. There was a prayer for his beatification on the prayer card, so I started praying it for the latest crisis. Fr Peyton was born in Co. Mayo, (where we spent a very happy week earlier this year) but he became famous all over the world and coined the phrase, 'the family that prays together, stays together'.

...

And we're off!

Well it was a bit of a palaver- the arrival of colder weather always makes leaving the house a big production- but we are all toastied up and off for a walk/snooze in the very fresh air.

A sunny start to the day here. Cold though, a real nip in the air now. Boots and cosy coat weather.

On this day in 2008, the parents of St Thérèse, Louis and Zélie Martin, were declared Blessed. They are the first spouses in the history of the Church to be proposed for sainthood as a couple and an example to all of us who choose married life.

Here is the prayer for their canonisation:

Prayer for the Canonisation of Louis and Zélie Martin and to obtain favours through their intercession:

God Our Father, I thank You for having given us Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Therese. United and faithful in marriage, they have left us an example of Christian living and evangelical virtue. In raising a large family through trials, suffering and bereavement, they put their trust in You and always sought Your will.

Deign, Lord, to make known your will in their regard and grant the favour I ask, in the hope that the father and mother of St. Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, may soon be canonised and thereby held up to the Universal Church as model for the families of our time. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen

(Here mention your request)

The 'Great' Southern Greenway?

We had endured a long and car-bound journey yesterday which resulted in disrupted sleep and a couple of crotchety youngsters this morning. So a walk in the fresh air was just the (railway) ticket this afternoon. Roo cycled and Poonch walked much of the way along the disused railway which apart from us and two dog walkers was still abandoned today in spite of the bright autumn sunshine.

This restored walkway/cycle track is perhaps a well-kept secret. Today was our first time to walk there, but we spent a half- afternoon looking for the start of the trail earlier this Summer. All there was to mark it was a pixie-sized sign with GSG hand-written on it on the grass verge opposite. Not sure why it isn't better sign-posted. Maybe it is a work in progress as it would be great if it could be as good as its Northern counterpart in Mayo. I have a feeling though that even if the will was there, the funds probably aren't anymore.

In a way though, it was nice to have it all to ourselves. (Especially when I was pedalling Roo's pint-sized bike like a mad thing.)

On a more positive note, I was pleased to come across some parenting tips from the Little Flower's mum Zélie, via Twitter.

She started praying for their holiness from the time she was pregnant. I especially love the prayer she taught them to say each morning:

My God, I give You my heart; please accept it that no creature, but You alone, my good Jesus, may possess it.

Sad tidings from the Abbey

I don't listen to the radio much these days at home (there's enough going on trying to listen to three little boys' goings-on). So in the car this morning, I was stunned when I heard the lead story on the 10am news... Very sad and shocking news from Holycross Abbey. The relic of the True Cross was stolen in broad daylight yesterday by some hoodlums driving a red VW Touareg. The Abbey is very close to my heart. My Mum goes to Mass every day there and Lee and I were married there by the lovely Fr Tom Breen, who spoke on the news tonight of his feelings of devastation at the theft. You can read more about it here.

Mellow Fruitfulness

This morning was bright and hopeful-looking so after pegging out some washing and 'sploring (aka digging in mud and examining minicreatures) Poonch and I took a stroll across the road with Granny's dog.
This used to be a daily occurrence, but has slipped down the agenda since Roo started school. Sadly we never picked any blackberries this year. Not one, never mind make jam. But we had a good look at all the colourful berries and other offerings of this marvellous season like the little musher-room above. I think St Francis would have approved.
It is lovely spending this time with our little middle piggy. He seemed a bit lost when his big bro first spread his wings but is definitely happier in himself this past few days.

Wheeeee!

Love this time of year for lots of reasons. One of them is the number of great Saints' days. Today is the wonderful Thérèse of Lisieux, who is very close to my heart. Then there's Sts Francis, Faustina and a couple of days ago, the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Padre Pio's around this time too.

The weather hasn't lived up to what we'd been promised, but we did get a leetle sun one day this week. The little Toot and I took advantage of it while his older brothers snoozed. Off to the swing where he whooshed and went whee to his heart's content. He gets such a kick out of it. Look at his little tooty feet revelling in the warmth!