Heirloom Rosaries

Life's Short

2011-11-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

I have neglected my blog. I guess I'm not a blogger, but I have to say something just so I know I'm still here.

Recently, one of our Basic Christian Community cell group members passed away from us to the Lord. He suffered from cancer. When I say I miss him, it doesn't convey the sense of loss. There's a big hole where he was.

And another woman who was a sister in law to two other members of our BCC group also passed away. We have been praying for her for 3 years. And, another young man, only 22, with a young wife and new baby is in the last stages of cancer. I've been reflecting on the shortness of life. It's so important to keep the long view when we're tempted to let our emotions take us over. Why waste our time on bitterness, fear and worry when the Lord is always near and loves us more than we can ever know. The Blessed Mother and Joseph didn't have it easy in their life on earth. There was hardship after hardship yet they were always provided for. Life is too short for feuds, worry, anger or fear. These things just bring us down. Our loving, real God has everything in His hands. Trust.

Trust

2011-08-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

We've been computer less for nearly two months. Our computer has been in and out of the shop and never could be completely fixed. By God's grace, Apple volunteered to give us a completely new computer! I didn't even ask (or even think to ask). So thank You, Lord!

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I wrote on this blog. I guess everything I have to say is said at our cell groups or RCIA. But what the Lord seems to be trying to teach me is about being honorable. When I lived in Pennsylvania, we lived near the Amish people. When anyone dealt with the Amish, you knew you would be dealing with someone who would be straight with you. It would be a top quality product at a fair price. We could trust their word. They were honorable. We're all called to be holy. It was a good reminder to read again the letters od Peter, James, and John.

Wouldn't it be a game changer if dealing with a Catholic automatically meant you could trust his or her actions to be fair and trustworthy? After all, it's now about us, it about living for the Glory of God.

Another thing he's been showing me is a way to die to self every day in a million small ways. If we offer up each and every little thing that doesn't go our way for some specific intention (or for the Glory of His Name), we make a beautiful gift of the moments of our day to Him who uses our big and little sacrifices in ways we can't understand right now. The suffering is momentary, but the beauty of the gift lives on.

God bless us all and help us to get there, forth sake of His Name.

Sleeping on the Job?

2010-10-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

So long since I posted. I've been tied up with my family some of which came for the whole summer. Such joy and certainly no time for sleeping on the job of being mom and grandma.

The Lord has continued to teach me what it means to follow Him. Obedience to each moment and a "yes" to all He asks. I feel the call to do away with excess and to stop "having and getting". Times might get rough for all of us but I know He has a plan and it's for our good. The ones who have should help those who are struggling.

My pledge to Him is to try to make my rosaries with care and at as low a price as I can. Silver has risen dramatically. I wish I could afford to give them away, but I just can't.

Let's pray for one another.

All is Well

2009-12-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

Last week, I had what felt like an explosion in my well ordered, peaceful life. I had a choice of doing what I knew was right or pleasing someone important to me in order to keep peace. I tried to get my mind around doing the thing that would keep peace between us, but the Lord had another plan. I did the right thing by God's design and, although the person went through a little melt down, it all came right in the end. I wish I didn't have to talk so cryptically but it has to do with spiritual direction and confidentiality. The point is, we worry and fret, but really, all is well. We think we have to fix the problem. But the Lord is with us. Right with us... By our side... Within us... and all is under His control. This morning in my prayer, I opened the Bible to 2 Cor:4:17-18. It says: "Yes, the troubles which are soon over, though they weigh little, train us for the carrying of a weight of eternal glory which is out of all proportion to them. And so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are invisible; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal." This tells me that ALL that happens is for our good and when we turn to Jesus (and our Blessed Mother, who so understands), we are building our future home in glory. Our focus needs to be what is happening in the Unseen.

When we leave things in the Lord's hands, He begins to work it all out. I believe this and have seen it over and over again. So why do I worry at all??

Speak Without Fear

2009-11-12T17:36:00.000-08:00

We went to the Marian Conference last weekend. So many inspiring stories of people encountering the Lord and His Mother. It was like going to the fountain for a long drink of refreshing water. My spirit was so stirred up. I came away from there with new resolve to speak out without fear. We have to share our experience of the Lord and the fruit of our prayer. So many souls going along their merry way without a thought for God and where they will wind up with their time on earth is over. One time the Lord seemed to say to me: "go and tell what the Lord has done for you". I guess that's the most effective way of sharing faith. Preaching at people sure doesn't do it, now does it?

Nice Surprise

2009-11-05T08:43:00.001-08:00

I just heard from an old customer from about 13 years ago. He was just a very young man back then, but now he has a family. His little girl seems to have memories from her time in heaven. Our soul came from God and we will, in a very short time (in the whole scheme of things), will return to Him. How are we spending our time on earth? I have to ask myself if I'm doing enough to further the Kingdom of God. Am I going out to proclaim it? Or am I watching those I love and others rush by without giving a God a glance.

How blessed is that little girl to have a father who recognizes what's happening and can guide her on her path.
I pray the Lord will show me how to serve Him this day.

Something the Blessed Mother taught me....

2009-10-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

She showed me why she is called Immaculate. She didn't tell me in words, but just impressions in my mind -- a kind of sure understanding. She's clean inside and out. No spot or blemish. No unkind thought or word. We, on the other hand, might seem very kind and loving to most people, but inside the stray unkind thought happens all too often. We may be striving to be like her, but we haven't quite made it (or as in my case, we are far from her perfection). When asked about those who believe in reincarnation, her response was: "they are mistaken". She didn't put them down or write them off, she just said: "they are mistaken".

How I Met the Blessed Mother

2009-10-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

I was on pilgrimage to Belgium and France. We were there for Fr. Damien's beatification. We were in an ancient monastery. It was just a ruin but it felt like a holy place. My group was sitting in the choir of the monastery singing praise songs and then they sang a Mary song. I got up and walked around. I said to the Blessed Mother "I don't know you, Mary. I don't have any mother feelings toward you. I wish I did, but I just don't." It came right from my heart. I felt her there just behind me and to the left side of me. I knew if I turned around I would see her. It felt like the world went away and it was just us. I heard her interiorly say, "You are my adopted daughter and my pupil." I felt her put her cape around me. I felt her touch on my shoulder. Then she was gone.

Later, I was telling the group's spiritual directors what happened. They became very excited and told that the Blessed Mother had put her mantle around me. It seemed more authentic to me when I described her "mantle" as her "cape". I didn't know the 'catholic language' for what happened to me.

When I came home, I remembered what she told me about my being her pupil. So I asked her to teach me who she is. And she began to do exactly that.

More later....

Amazing Times

2009-10-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

Are you fighting fear? I'm reminded that "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want...", and "anxiety is useless here, what is needed is trust". All is well; the Lord will not let us down and will not disappoint us in our trust.

I was thinking that Bartimaeus' attitude was all about his longing for the Lord's healing touch. He wanted to see! Lord, help me to see you. Increase my spiritual sight.

2009-10-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

For so long, I've been locked out of my blog and since I'm not too savy about computers, I didn't know what to do about it or even what to say if I did get on.

I've decided to just write down insights the Lord has given me and, of course the latest rosary I've made.

Right now, I'm off to Mass and will continue when I return.

2009-04-10T08:45:00.001-07:00

For some reason, I was locked out of my blog almost immediately after I put it up there. When someone made a comment, I was unable to answer or reply. If that was you, please accept my apologies. So, here we go. We start all over again.

To introduce myself: I am Pam, wife, mother, grandmother, RCIA Coordinator, rosary maker and spoiled child of God. I was born Pam Barrentine in Philadelphia. I went to the Lutheran church as a child, mostly on my own. God and I had a little relationship going. As I grew, He became less and less important in my life. Having 'fun' was the most important thing in my young adult life. That goal in life led me into an empty, sinful life. When I was 33 years old, I came to the end of my self and the Lord was waiting there. He literally touched me and I was changed. Since then, I have clung to Him every single day. I think the greatest gifts the Lord has given me is knowing that He loves me and knowing that I need Him. Even when I fell into sin again, I never stopped coming to Him in prayer. That was my salvation even during my weakness. He's kept me close to Him through it all and continues to do so. He has pulled me out of the miry clay and set my feet upon the Rock, in a big way, not once, but twice. He has washed me clean in His Blood.

I am a convert. I became Catholic by the Lord's guidance when I was 20 years old. I didn't fall in love with Him, as I said, until I was 33. He has led me into a great love and understanding of the Catholic Church. He has taught me the importance of being part of the Church -- the Body of Christ. There's safety and protection as well as sure guidance here in our Church. Especially in these uncertain times we are living in when the world has been turned upside down. Things that are Right are now old fashioned and wrong and not 'inclusive'. The sin of Adam, that of wanting to decide for himself what is right or wrong, is in full bloom. Society and the news media has bought into it hook, line and sinker. Christians are throwing up their hands in helplessness thinking we can't do anything about it. I keep reminding myself of this one totally important fact: GOD IS STILL GOD AND HE'S IN CHARGE. The evil people can do no more than work His will.

I started making rosaries about 1992, I think it was. At first, I just wanted my husband to have something beautiful and special. Then I started making them for my friends. Then people started wanting to buy what I made. It came to me that I should have a website. When I first put my website up (with grateful thanks to Catholic Online who made my first website and is still the host of it to this day), I was the only rosary site. Can you believe it? Now we are thousands! Dennis Chang, who made my current website, is another God given friend. If you ever need the best in websites, this is your man. He is, without exaggeration, the BEST. I've never met him in person, yet we've been friends for about 15 years. He knows everything about computers and is a strong Catholic. He keeps wanting to redo my website, but I already think it's beautiful.

I love to make beautiful rosaries. In the beginning, I was longing to make rosaries without counting the cost. And now, I have made many like that. I really don't like making rosaries out of plain metal because I know they won't last. People can buy many pretty rosaries that won't last, why pay for something handmade and one of a kind that won't really look as good as the ones you can buy for much less money in the store?

Those are my thoughts on this first offering. I pray for us all that we be kept carefully close to the Heart of Jesus.