Ah...the richness of the Catholic Church! Especially during THIS time of the year - the church prepares us for the season so wonderfully! I am getting more and more excited! Last weekend after Mass we chose a card off of the Angel tree. Since we had already bought and sent gifts for a friend of mine that lives out of state, we opted to choose a shut-in. We will visit them and take them a gift sometime during the holiday season here....how fun!

I found this quote online this morning, which I think is perfect for anyone who has experienced a loss or is struggling:

"The everlasting God has, in His wisdom, foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God." ~St. Francis DeSales