Learning and Loving - Sunday, May 5, 2013

+ JMJ +

1.  Time for God:  Sunday Mass Homily 

Fr. Schierer shared this beautiful story about a Roman soldier, who had a pregnant wife.  Unfortunately, he had to go with the Roman army to a distant land.  At that time, Christianity was still outlawed.  But several Christian women came to help the Roman wife till she gave birth to their baby boy.  The wife was so moved by the kindness of the Christian women, that she asked that she and her baby be baptized.

In the meantime, the husband had also encountered Christians in his travels with the army.  He was amazed at their courage and peace in the face of persecution, and he asked them what was the source of their strength.

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The Christians shared their faith with him, but somehow he was not able to be baptized.  When he came home to his wife, he was overjoyed to see her and their baby son.  The wife was happy that her husband was back home, but nervous about telling him that they were Christians.  

When she showed their baby son to him, she summoned up the courage to tell him that he was baptized a Christian and so was she.  Upon hearing these words, the husband knelt before their baby and told her what he had learned from the Christians he had met, that their baby was a temple of the Holy Spirit, containing the one, true God.  

The wife rejoiced and the husband became Christian, too.

What a beautiful story!

2.  Play Session with Sled (40 minutes)

~ first with his Bionicles for 15 minutes in his room, then with his army soldiers and war-torn buildings that he and Muddee made out of boxes (a few years ago) for the rest of the time in the basement.

~ Summary of Sled's story:  the American soldiers had occupied the buildings in a town, but the British and German soldiers invaded the town and took over the buildings.  There were a lot of casualties on all sides.

3. Sports:  Track Practice (Muddee with NOVA AC)

~ Robs brought Muddee to track practice this afternoon.  They both got a good work-out.

4.  Time for our Marriage

~ Robs and I read John Gottman's Book, "The Relationship Cure," for 1/2 hour.

~ Good marriage tune-up!

5.  Family Time

a)  Robs and the boys played a short game of Badminton in the yard.

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b)  We all played the board game, Roundabout, for the first time, after dinner.  It's not the best game, but Sled won, followed by Robs.