Mom needs to buy car, but doesn't have time.

My vehicle requirements were an SUV, safe, reliable, good gas mileage, 4-wheel drive, durable, not fancy and prefer a third back row if possible that would also fit in a parking spot downtown.

These were the car suggestions offered:

Ford Explorer

Ford Expedition Max

GMC Acadia

Chevy Tahoe

Chevy Traverse

Nissan Pathfinder

Yukon XL

Suburban

Toyota Highlander

Honda Pilot

Honda Odyssey mini-van

Subaru Ascent with bench seat

Volkswagen Atlas

Toyota Sienna

Buick Enclave

Jeep Cherokee

Kia Telluride

Lincoln Navigator

Costco has an auto program!

Services to purchase a car: Carvana and vroom and carmax

My favorite suggestion was to bring a lot of kids to the dealership because it would speed up the process naturally.

Many suggested to reach out to the car mom on Instagram as @the_car_mom https://www.thecarmomofficial.com/

St. Seraphim of Sarov, pray for us, eternal wisdom.

God thank You for this day. For this moment. I offer all of this to You.

I stumbled upon St. Seraphim of Sarov as I was looking for visions of Heaven and/or Eternity…

“What does it mean to work out our salvation? It means that among all the things that we see in cosmic existence, we choose what is pleasing to God and separate ourselves from what goes against God. Then, little by little, we see our life changing. But be patient. God can, of course, visit us and in an instant open our eyes to eternity. But usually it is a labor of several years.”

“The soul speaks and converses during prayer, but at the descent of the Holy Spirit we must remain in complete silence, in order to hear clearly and intelligibly all the words of eternal life which He will then deign to communicate.” Complete soberness of both soul and spirit, and chaste purity of body is required at the same time. God is a fire which consumes everything that is unclean.

“If you do not know God, it is impossible for love of Him to be awakened in you; and you cannot love God if you do not see Him. The vision of God comes from knowledge of Him; for contemplation of Him does not precede knowledge of Him.” - St. Seraphim

On Fasting - “One should not think about the doings of God when one’s stomach is full; on a full stomach there can be no vision of the Divine mysteries.”

This is a must read for all: Eternal Wisdom, the spiritual instructions of St. Seraphim

St. Seraphim of Sarov help us to acquire the Holy Spirit

we need less talking, more praying

After Father William visited us a few months ago @manyhailmarysatatime to pray the rosary, in the midst of the COVID19 shutdown he kept repeating, “we need more praying, less talking.”

Right now, more than ever, we need more praying. We need to be following God, not the media, not politics, not the news… God.

We need less talking, more praying.

Less scrolling, more praying.

Less arguing, more praying.

Less division, more uniting through praying.

Less time thinking of self, more time praying about how to give of our self.

Less time away from God, more time spent with God.

Jesus was surrounded by a sea of evil, hatred, violence, and lies.

His heart was broken and pierced, and he suffered more than anyone has ever suffered, but the wrong done to him did not penetrate him, because his heart was full of trust in his Father, abandonment, and loving self-offering.

We should follow in his steps…

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten. So, too, with our Lady at the foot of the Cross. She drank the cup of suffering, but her heart remained pure. It held no fear, no rebellion, no hatred, no despair, but only acceptance, forgiveness, and hope.

If the wrongs people commit do penetrate our hearts, that is because they find room there.

If our hearts are filled with total trust in God and love for Him and our neighbor, there is no room for evil, hurt or harm.

We must root ourselves in God through faith and prayer; not blaming others.

Excerpt from Father Jacques Phillipe’s book: “Interior Freedom”

God I give all to You. Help me to pray more, think less and embrace you always.

4 Helpful Prayer Habits suggested by Brother Lawrence

1 - See Jesus in everyone.  Don’t see them. See Jesus.  

2 - "Great fidelity to the practice of this presence and to the fostering of this awareness of God within" (Spiritual Maxims, chapter 6). It does not matter if at first we find the exercise of practicing God's presence in our everyday lives difficult. We can at any time turn our gaze inward to the Lord and this especially at times of difficulty or temptation. He assures us that if we are faithful to this practice during the day we will find it easier to recollect ourselves at the set time of prayer. 

3 - "Offer him your heart from time to time, during the day, while at work, at every possible moment" (Letter 2). This is an essential disposition of the human creature before God if God is to be allowed to do His work in the soul. This is also the most effective way of keeping the mind from wandering at the time of mental prayer. 

4 - "The habit of practicing the presence of God is only acquired with effort" (Spiritual Maxims, chapter 6). Br Lawrence acknowledges, with St Teresa of Avila, that the beginnings of the spiritual life are a lot of hard work, like the carrying of water laboriously in a bucket. Though there will be times of failure and falling away on account of human weakness, he advises simply returning to the practice of God's presence with the knowledge that God will forgive us for any neglect. Perseverance is required not only in the practice of God's presence but in response to that presence within whomever and whatever we encounter on the journey.

Broccoli Cheese Soup - Low carb Friendly

Ingredients (Pictured)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 onion chopped

• 3 large cloves garlic minced

• 3 cups chicken broth

• 3-4 cups of broccoli chopped

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 2 cups shredded cheese

• 1 teaspoon of blessed salt ;)

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil In a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is softened.

2. Add broccoli chopped.

3. Add the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream. Stir.

4. Bring to a boil. Once boiling turn down the heat to simmer and slowly adding the cheese, mixing as you add.

5. Some suggest adding xantham gum to the cheese and cream, but you don’t have to do this.

6. Stir until soup thickens.