Answers (for Karyn and Lena)

Lena asked when there would be a new blog header.   The answer is now.   I have an idea in my mind, but haven't gotten it done yet.  This one will be up until I do, if it ever happens.

Let's start with Karyn's easy peasy ones:
And a more mundane question - I have been veiling at church. But when am I suppose to put the veil on and when do I take off? Like...do I only wear it in the sanctuary and take it right off as I leave? Is it okay to put it on and off in the van? I don't know anyone else who veils in order to ask. I know this has already been answered in the comments on another post, but I'll answer it, too.  I don't think there are any hard and fast rules.  My grandmother put hers on in the car so that she could get it perfect with the aid of a mirror.  I put mine on just before I enter the nave of the church. (Mostly because chasing my sons will cause it to fly right off of my head.) You are supposed to wear it the entire time you are in the presence of the Tabernacle.  That's Jesus in there! so we cover our heads in respect. Mine also comes off almost as soon as I leave the church itself.  I have to chase those boys again and I don't want it in the dirt.

Okay, last question - who is your patron (or favorite) saint? I see the three on the side here but I don't know if they're for specific causes (such as St. Aphonsus for your daughter) - but do you have a "go-to" saint?  My go to girl is St Rita of Cascia.  She's the patroness of impossible causes.  I love her, and she's helped to pray me out of many a tight spot.
St Catherine of Alexandria is my Confirmation saint.  She's a girl who was known for having a big mouth and talking herself into all kinds of trouble. :) Whenever I need to have a serious discussion with someone or stand up in front of a crowd for a talk, she's the girl I'm asking for help. I figure she knows what to ask for.
St Michael is there because I pray his prayer and ask for his intercession whenever I find myself in the midst of spiritual warfare or when I'm really afraid.  That's when an Angel with a sword is handy to have around


Woohoo, that was fun! Wish I had some "real life" Catholic moms around me to ask questions like that!It was fun!  Please ask anytime you want to know something (and this goes for anyone else, too.)




Now for the hard one:

Well...okay. I'm a more recent convert but I'm finding that I'm becoming more and more of a traditional Catholic, despite my RCIA training, lol. Anyway, what are some of the church teachings you struggle with the most? Maybe you obey them because they are the Church's teachings but you don't fully understand the reason for them and/or the teachings just go against your nature.

Let me start off by welcoming you to the Church!  My husband is a convert or 5 years and I see him becoming more traditional as well. I think it's normal to fall in love and be drawn ever closer.

It's no secret around here that the one I struggle the most with is the ban on contraception.  I understand banning those which are aboritfacients, but oh how I wish the others weren't there.  I don't want any more children.  As the mom of 7 I feel as if I am at my limit in terms of resources, time, patience, attention, etc.  I have pretty severe ADD and being unmedicated is a trial.  Knowing that a new baby means I'm on my own for the 9 months of pregnancy plus however long I'm nursing is not something I ever want to think about. Which makes the idea of a new baby exhausting to me.  Add onto that that my husband really doesn't want more and it is truly a struggle for both of us.  I recognize that most of my reasons for not wanting a #8 are selfish, but I often wonder if that's always a bad thing. 

We would joyfully welcome another baby just as we have all of our unplanned children, but it would be the struggle it always is in the beginning to find the joy and not the weariness.  God has already shown us many times that nothing we do to prevent them will stop what is His will.  When we began studying the Church's teachings, we recognized the wisdom and love of the ban on contraception.  I just wish it wasn't.  I wish I didn't agree with the Church, because it's a daily struggle against myself to follow her teachings.

Which is probably why it is good for me.  It reminds the control freak in me that I'm not in charge....ever.  It tells the selfish part of me to pipe down, and pushes me to grow to a better person ever closer to God.  That said, there are days when I wonder how long the sentence is in Purgatory for getting those tubes tied. 

(Not that I will....don't start lecturing me.)