84 thoughts on “Introduction”

  1. Your last sentence is profound! Yes, surrender to God is the way to handle anything that happens to us. It’s the only way to know if we are in God’s will.
    This is the comment I couldn’t manage to leave on your Follow Frenzy.

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  2. Just wanted to let you know, I nominated you for an award on today’s post! It is because I enjoy your blog so much! You can delete this and God Bless, SR

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  3. I just discovered your blog…and I’m speechless! You speak so directly to my heart. I’m staying home to care for my eighty year old mother and my husband who has stroke related dementia. Just today some one told me that I was wasting my life, that I could be doing something important. I didn’t know how to explain so that she could understand. Right now, caring for my husband and mother is exactly what I am called to do. It is my vocation. It is my witness. Thank you so much for your openness and your loving heart.

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    1. Mother Teresa once said, ” You want to help to bring peace to the world? Go home and love your family.

      you have discovered the key to happiness, simply being in His will.

      love and prayers melanie 🙂

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      1. I love Jesus so much, he made sure the R A C came quickly to my call over my car with a flat tyre, this I found after being to church today, the frustrations of the week he knows were too much. A dear cat had to be put to sleep on Wednesday she was very old and had become ill, then Yesterday having to drive in the dark in very difficult weather conditions. Being of a nervous disposition, I was very anxious and grew angry when a motorist hooted at me on the road. I was wondering if the devil was trying to test me by having this recent and prolonged run of bad luck. But I am thankful I am well enough to drive any way, seeing as I have suffered from epilepsy. My prayers go out to all sufferers with this condition on th Myepilepsy web site and the British Epilepsy association. I often wonder if my late husband of whome I cared for in his final years is looking after me. I however must do God’s will.

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    3. Yours is such a beautiful witness Kari. Your actions will speak much louder than your words. Your selfless love for your mother and husband will leave an impression that will continue to speak to the heart of others who see your story. God will use you to reach those that have succumbed to the false messages of the world. You are a beautiful light that shines for His glory. Praying for you.

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    4. I understand completely. I am spending my life caring for my multiply disabled daughter whom I love with all of my heart. This is my vocation. To do little things with great love.

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  4. I found your blog through one of the LinkedIn groups! I am also a joyful mother of nine children. Mine are more spaced out then yours though. There’s 26 years between my first and last!

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    2. Hi Silvia,
      I’ve just come here from Melanie’s other blog, and it’s already getting to be a beautiful, beautiful Sunday, reading about loving your family as being a vocation. I’d love to hear how you cope with 9 kids. I love hearing about mums and kids. I have 5 but am almost always frazzled!

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      1. Melanie, you and I share a deep commitment to family and motherhood. We both understand how our spirituality and self are changed by motherhood. God bless you and keep you

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    1. Getting conected is the best thing I ever did when i started writing a blog about 22 months ago

      go to CatholicMom.com for great articles and connections – I just wrote and article on Sufferring- http://catholicmom.com/2013/12/16/shattered-and-reborn-with-the-christ-child/

      and I am the admin for-Association of Catholic Women Bloggers http://associationofcatholicwomenbloggers.blogspot.ca/
      want to be connected to us? I will send you an offer to be part of us if you want. Your articles would appear in the sidebar automatically and you could post articles

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  11. Pingback: Blog in a Blink: Best 13 of ’13 LINK-UP! | joy of nine9

  12. Hello there my friend! I would like to congratulate you…for I have nominated you for the “Superstar Blogger Award.” You can find the link to the page here; http://goodtimestories.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/the-superstar-blogger-award/
    Thanks for creating such a tremendous blog. I thought that it would be a good idea to give recognition to your page and allow other people to view and enjoy your site!! Once again…well done and congratulations!

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  14. I really appreciate you as a writer! I love the way the website looks too, what a great blog. I especially love the picture of St. Francis looking at the bird. What a tremendous blessing he is. I’m also blessed by the icon of Mother Mary, and her Immaculate Heart. Wow. I am more open to her than I used to be. I do ask her and St. Joseph to pray for me. I have not joined the Church yet but in many ways I think like a Catholic person does (at least from what I can tell). Your website is an encouragement to me in that way. Thanks.

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    1. thank-you..I just posted a comment asking if this static page works, if it communicates my spirituality or if I should just have pages listed up top but I think you just answered me..and I LOVE oth the image of St. Francis and the icon of Mary-thanks

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    2. Hi David,
      I too have never seen such a statue before, and it makes the saints so human, and not-so-out-of-reach for me. Very beautiful. I’m a cradle Catholic, but only in recent years, making some progress in understanding my faith. Like you too, only now discovering the joy of loving the Immaculate Heart. May God guide us both.

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  15. What a great blog, Melanie. I am a grandmother of nine and mother of four grown-up children. And I have returned to the Catholic Church following a horrendous divorce following 42 years of marriage. The priest helped me so much. He said I should get my marriage annulled because it never was a marriage. So glad I found your site. You will be used of God in many mighty ways. The best ways are the small ones. A gentle touch, a kind word, a smile when all else gone bizarre. Hugs and blessings are sent your way.

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    1. I also live in Canada…between brockville and smith falls, one hour south of ottawa, ontario
      yes, you are attached to my heart..which means that everytime i lift my heart to god, you are lifted up as well

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      1. I am in Manitoba. The land of 6 long months of winter. LOL But I love it anyway. That way, when spring arrives, I enjoy to the fullest.
        I must babysit my 2 grandchildren for the afternoon as of 10 minutes. Talk later and so good to meet you, Melanie.

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  17. The what Jesus did for me pic, Of Jesus reaching down pulling me out really spoke to me do you know where I can pay for a print of that amazing art?
    Thank you
    God Bless

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  18. Good to see a mom that is able to handle 9 kids, mine couldn’t. I was the last of 8 (actually 9 but the one born before me died in the womb I was told) and got abandoned right from the start. I was lucky enough to get a great foster home though so I grew up with a loving family after all. However it still leaves a scarf on my soul. Following with interest 🙂

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    1. and I will follow you with interest as well. Your blog has given me a brilliant idea..I am just now designing my own blogging award for both my blogs and YOU are the inspiration. It is called “a messenger of hope writing award”..”light one candle”

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  19. Praise Jesus for your witness. I am a mother of five… under five and a half so I treasure your words of wisdom. God bless you Melanie Jean. My children are my salvation too. By the way the life of St. Gianna is a great model for mothers. I recite her prayer daily. We need strong women of the Gospel!!

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  20. I can never figure out how to comment here (that being because I’m nearing 150 years old, give or take a few decades). I hope you see this, because I HAVE to tell you that I was at vigil Mass tonight when I had a “distraction.” It popped into my mind that it would be so nice if there were a nice, simple Catholic blog appreciation award, a no strings attached kind of thing. And then I came home and ta-daa! It has been done!! The timing takes my breath away! And what you have done is BEAUTIFUL! So we could just…. award it to someone if we want? ….Wonder if I could figure out how to do THAT. 🙂 (I am quite computer challenged, especially in WordPress.. I am in awe of people who can navigate it!!)

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    1. TOO FUNNY… I wanted to ask you what you thought of my image and explanation but then just went ahead,
      yes please give it freely to anyone you want. You could make a post saying I gave the award to you and then list who you want to pass it on to
      Just left click on the picture, right click copy URL and then in your images fill in the URL with a simple right click and there you are
      let me know if you have a problem

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  21. Did you paint that picture of Christ reaching into the water? Do you know who did if not you? I’d love to have this hanging in my home.

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  24. Melanie,

    Hi miss and thank you for continuing to share the love of my hero and our savior in the ever expanding digital landscape.

    My question is do you know the artist who painted Jesus reaching down into the brilliant blue water? With His glory in Gold on the other side of the water?

    Thank you Melanie.

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  26. Good Morning my friend, it is Monday and the beginning of a brand new week. Just stopped by to wish you a joyful, peaceful and blessed week as you walk into your Divine Destiny living FREE from the restraints of the world and doing the will of the Lord. Thank you for continuing to follow our ministry and bless my soul with your presence and knowing that I can come into your presence and always find refreshing words of wisdom and comfort. Enjoy your week in Jesus name…

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  27. Thank you for blogging about the joy of large families. Too often, my students(college) who are parents want more children, but are – I think- are bullied into stopping. I’ve actually had students who have been told by their doctor they have to get their tubes tied because a fourth pregnancy would be dangerous.

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  28. Melanie,
    Was checking out your site again today. I have been following you for awhile. My ministry has been expanded to health and wellness, was looking for another revenue source to fund my ministry work. It has been very successful. Would love to share with you and perhaps you or someone in your network of followers would be interested. Thanks, Peggy

    Additionally I am still an owner of the OneParish Catholic app., which is still expanding around the country. Thank you for the support on that business, as well.

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  32. I wanted to leave a comment to tell you that I just discovered your blog online, and I loved reading your story of how you completely surrendered yourself to God’s will and have embraced the call to raise a beautiful large family! You are a true inspiration! I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I admire you so much!!

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      1. I am the mother of nine children and now twenty one grandchildren and one grandchild. It seems to me that this vocation of love continues to reveal itself. When my grandson and his lovely wife ask me and his Grandad for advice in their own marriage, it helps me understand so much more how important family is.

        gramswisewords.blogspot.com

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  34. Hi Melanie Jean,
    My name is andrea bennett and a colleague of mine, Kim Fu, and I are working on a book about faith experiences. We’d love to interview you. Would you be able to get in touch at andreakathleenbennett [at] gmail [dot] com? Thanks!!

    Liked by 1 person

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