Resent Happenings

Hello friends!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, is having a Blessed Christmas Season and a Happy New Year's Day (also the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary)!

Life had been pretty wonderful lately.  I've been spending extra time with family and friends, enjoying the snow, working, reading a bit about the saints, and going to the movies.  I went to see Thor: The Dark World, Frozen, and The Hobbit, The Desolation of Smaug.  Thor was good!  Loki was awesome in it! lol  Frozen was amazing!  I'm a kid when it comes to movies and I'm proud of it.   It had such a sweet story.  And The Desolation of Smaug was simply awesome!  Even though Peter Jackson added a character that wasn't from the book (Tauriel), she was ok.  Three movies in one month...that was a first for me.

Lately, I've also been enjoying music, particularly movie soundtracks.  In my opinion, the music from the first Thor movie is the best movie music ever!  Frozen's music was good as well!  Here are some of my favorites:

From Thor:

From Frozen (I am sharing karaoke versions of two of the songs.  The lyrics might spoil the movie for those who have not seen the movie):

Ttfn!

God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

   A.M.D.G.                     J.M.J.             January 1, 2014

 

Now that Christmas Day has come this year

Keep in mind there are twelve days

To thank Him for your blessings

And to offer Him your praise. 

Happy Birthday Jesus!

May God bless you and yours during Christmastime

 and throughout the New Year!

And a Happy New Year!  

May God bless you abundantly this year and every year!

God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

Biking, Neighbor's Bar Mitzvah, and Cardinal Arinze

Hello readers,

How are you? 

Lately, I've been going on many bike rides (I'm trying to fit in as many as possible before the cold weather comes). 

On Saturday, I attended my neighbor's Bar Mitzvah (I have been his, and his brother's, babysitter for about 8 years).  It was an amazing experience.  In fact, what he read from the Torah was the beginning of one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament.  I am very proud of him.  He worked hard for four years preparing for this day (learning Hebrew) and I pray he will continue to grow closer to God.  The reception was fun as well!  I had a wonderful time socializing with the neighbors and I even danced with some of my younger neighbors.  They are all so fun to spend time with. 

Today, I also wanted to share these videos of Cardinal Arinze.  He is amazing!  He would make an excellent Pope!



God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

An Article on Modesty

My mother showed me this today.  I think it is well put and wanted to share it.  :)



This article is from the newsletter "Mother Love, A Newsletter To The Christian Mother" (VOL. 71, No. 3, Summer 2013) by the National Office of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers (www.capuchin.com). 

God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

Movies

Hey Readers!

Today, I want to share what has been on my mind lately.  I have been thinking much about movies and about when it is right or wrong to watch a movie with certain content.  I hate being so particular about what I watch, but I can't help it.  This is my strong opinion.  When a movie has any explicit sexual content (an intimate scene, certain jokes and conversations, bikini like outfits worn throughout most of the movie, nudity, or anything like that) I will not watch it.  The marital embrace is sacred and is not meant to be viewed for entertainment (it is seriously sinful for the actors and actresses to even act out those kind of scenes).  If something sinful or inappropriate needs to be in a movie for the sake of the story, it should at least be implied that it took place.  I also stay away from movies which use God's Name in vain and swear words too many times.  Before watching movies (at least R, PG-13, and sometimes even PG rated movies) I often visit a Christian movie review website (I highly recommend www.pluggedin.com).

There are a lot of bad movies out there, but there are also a lot of good ones.  Here are some movies I enjoy and would like to share.  They are not all perfect, but they're good.

The Avengers
The Captain America Trilogy

The Thor Trilogy

Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2
FlightPlan
Jack the Giant Slayer
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The Hobbit Movies
Emma (both versions are good, but my favorite is the BBC version)
Pride and Prejudice
North and South (BBC)
Wives and Daughters (BBC)
The Shop Around the Corner

The Sound of Music

Mom's Night Out

Forever Strong

Here are some with religious themes:

The Passion

God Is Not Dead

Son of God
For Greater Glory
October Baby
Bella
The Perfect Game
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

I Am David

Heaven is for Real

Courageous

Fireproof
War Room

And some of my favorite animated movies are:

The How to Train Your Dragon Trilogy

Despicable Me 1 and 2
Ratatoullie
The Emperor's New Groove
Frozen
Tangled

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 1 and 2

MegaMind
Tarzan
Wreck-It Ralph

I enjoy many of the animated Disney movies.

I will update this list occasionally.  There are more movies I enjoy, I just can't think of them all.

Also, I just want to warn you that the Christian movie review website I recommended (www.pluggedin.com) may seem strict to the extreme.  What I like about the website though is that I can read about was bothers me most in a particular movie (like sexual content) and I can decide for myself if I think it is worth watching. 

God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

Prayers for My Grandma

Hello!

On Friday, August 23, my grandma had a heart attack.  She will be released from the hospital tomorrow and will be living with my family and me.  She is doing fine, but her heart is failing and we are unsure how long she will be with us.  If you all could pray for her, my family and I would greatly appreciate it.  Thank you so very much.

God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

Prayer Request

Hello readers,

If you all could please pray for my "Special Intentions" I would really appreciate it.  Thank you!

Today, I would like to share one of my favorite Bible quotes. 

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope."      ~ Jeremiah 29:11


God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

Happy Independence Day!!!

I hope you all had a Happy Independence Day!!! 

Please remember to pray for all those who fought for our freedom during the War for Independence and for all those now who fight and have fought for our freedom and protection.  Pray for our Catholic Bishops and all those fighting for Religious Freedom.  We can join them by praying and taking action (www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/index.cfm). 

Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty

O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/fortnight-freedom-prayer-resources.cfm

God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

Children of Mary

On Saturday, June 29, my family and I went to visit the convent of a new order of nuns called the Children of Mary to volunteer.  It was an amazing experience!  We began our day with Holy Mass at 9am said by a wonderful priest who celebrates both the Roman and Byzantine Rites.  The Church was absolutely beautiful!  After Mass we sat for 20 minutes with our friends who we met there and had coffee.  Around 10:30am we began our work.  My sisters and I all helped weed the large garden.  My mom and little brother worked in the flower beds.  My dad helped build part of one of the nuns hermitages.  We ate lunch around 12:30pm and got back to work around 1:15ish.  My legs were so sore from being crouched down for such long periods of time, but I was happy to do all that work.  We worked until 5pm and attended evening prayer in the Church.  Right after, we ate dinner with the nuns and the other volunteers.  I truly enjoyed my conversations with the nuns.  They spoke all about how they came to realize their calling to the Religious Life.  Some of them were converts to the Catholic Faith.  I must say, converts to the Catholic Faith are some of the most devoted Catholics.  I truly admire them.  They were all so very friendly.  If you want to learn more about The Children of Mary, you can visit their website at www.childrenofmary.net. 

God bless you!

 ~ littleromanJMJ

My Life Dream

I have been contemplating what I want to do during my lifetime, hopefully in the near future.  My life dream is to marry a polite, hardworking, Catholic gentleman, live in a simple house, be a homeschool mom (to the best of my ability), raise a family to become saints, grow an herb and vegetable garden (not a small one, but not to big either), be involved at Church in some way aside from going to Mass and Confession, do fun family activities often (esp. hiking, biking, and traveling), and go on occasional trips to the movie theater and amusement park.  The simple things in life are the things that truly make me happiest.  Before, and if, I ever get married, I'd really like to visit one of my best friends in Hawaii.  And one day I would love to visit Rome (Germany, Switzerland, and New Zealand would be wonderful places to visit too, but that is a lot...who knows though)!  I feel God is calling me to the married life.  Please pray for me, that I make the right decisions in life and that I follow the Will of God if I am called to another vocation.  Making life decisions can be very stressful at times.   Feel free to share any of your life plans! :)

God bless!

 ~ littleromanJMJ