Novena to Sts. Joachim and Anne

The feast day of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus, is coming up on July 26th.  They experienced infertility and were childless for twenty years.  (Twenty!  That certainly puts my five years in perspective...)  Their community snubbed them because they thought barrenness was a punishment from God.  As if infertility isn't isolating enough already!  One day Joachim went to the temple with the desire to offer sacrifice but he was not allowed to because he had no children.  Filled with shame and grief, he went off to the wilderness for forty days to fast and pray (and complain to God about being childless) where an angel visited him and told him he would have a daughter.  Back at home, Anne was begging God for a child when an angel visited her too and gave her the same news.  She was forty years old when the Virgin Mary was born.

If you'd like to pray the novena below, it starts tomorrow and goes through the day before their feast day.  All those struggling with IF or miscarriage are in my prayers.

Good parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
grandparents of our Savior, Jesus Christ,

When life seems barren,
   help us to trust in God’s mercy.

When we are confused,
   help us to find the way to God.

When we are lost in the desert,
   lead us to those whom God has called us to love.

When our marriage seems lifeless,
   show us the eternal youth of the Lord.

When we are selfish,
   teach us to cling only to that which lasts.

When we are afraid,
   help us to trust in God.

When we are ashamed,
   remind us that we are God’s children.

When we sin,
   lead us to do God’s will.

You who know God’s will for husband and wife,
   help us to live chastely.

You who know God’s will for the family,
   keep all families close to you.

You who suffered without children,
   intercede for all infertile couples.

You who trusted in God’s will,
   help us to respect God’s gift of fertility.

You who gave birth to the Blessed Mother,
   inspire couples to be co-creators with God.

You who taught the Mother of God,
   teach us to nurture children in holy instruction.

You whose hearts trusted in God,
   hear our prayers for . . . (mention your requests here)

Pray with us for the ministry of Catholic family life.
Pray with us for the ministry of Natural Family Planning.
Pray with us for all who give their time, talent and treasure to this good work.

Hail Mary. . . Our Father. . . Glory Be to the Father. . .

God of our fathers, you gave Saints Anne and Joachim the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain the salvation you have promised to your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source:  USCCB website

Songs for rough days

Because I wanted them all in one place, I compiled a bunch of songs that can give a little comfort, encouragement, or perspective on the hard days, especially CD1 or any other day you're feeling down.

"By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North
"Why are you looking for love? Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?"


"Worn" by Tenth Avenue North
"Life just won’t let up and I know that you can give me rest, so I cry out with all that I have left."


"Hold My Heart" by Tenth Avenue North
"Could the Maker of the stars hear the sound of my breaking heart?"


"You Were on the Cross" by Matt Maher
"And where were You when all that I've hoped for, where You when all that
I've dreamed came crashing down in shambles around me? You were on the cross."


"Blessings" by Laura Story
"What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?"


"Even If" by Kutless
"You are God and we will bless You even if the healing doesn’t come."


"What Faith Can Do" by Kutless
"I've seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn't ever end
even when the sky is falling."


"While I'm Waiting" by John Waller
"I'm waiting on You, Lord though it is painful, but patiently, I will wait."


"If You Want Me To" by Ginny Owens
"I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
and I will go through the darkness if You want me to."


"Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns
"And every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand. You never left my side."


"Already There" by Casting Crowns
"From where I'm standing, Lord it's so hard for me to see where this is going
and where You're leading me."


"No One Else Knows" by Building 429
"When all I am is crying out, I hold it in and fake a smile, still I'm broken."


"Help Me Find It" by Sidewalk Prophets
"If there’s a road I should walk help me find it. If I need to be still give me peace for the moment."


"The Hurt and the Healer" by Mercy Me
"Pain so deep that I can hardly move; just keep my eyes completely fixed on You"


"Lay It Down" by Jaci Velasquez
"I know that you know that my heart is aching. I'm running out of tears and my will is breaking.
I don't think that I can carry the burden of it anymore."


"No Matter What" by Kerrie Roberts
"I know that You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not,
if not, I'll trust You, no matter what."


"Before the Morning" by Josh Wilson
"...'cause the pain you've been feeling can't compare to the joy that's coming"


"All I Can Say" by David Crowder Band
"I didn't know that that was You holding me. I didn't notice You were crying too."


"Need You Now" by Plumb
"How many times have you heard me cry out 'God please take this'?
How many times have you given me strength to just keep breathing?"


"Bring the Rain" by Mercy Me
"I am Yours regardless of the dark clouds that may loom above
because You are much greater than my pain."


"Carry Me" by Audrey Assad
"So, I choose to believe as I carry this cross, You'll carry me."


"Your Hands" by JJ Heller
"When my heart is breaking, I never leave Your hands."


"I Lift My Hands" by Chris Tomlin
"As I pour out my heart, these things I remember. You are faithful, God, forever."


"Tunnel" by Third Day
"You've got your disappointments and sorrows. You ought to share the weight of that load with me."


"Cry Out to Jesus" by Third Day
"When you're lonely and it feels like the whole world is falling on you,
you just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus."


"Never Alone" by Barlow Girl
"I cried out with no reply, and I can't feel You by my side. So I'll hold tight to what I know: 
You're here and I'm never alone."


"Blessed Be Your Name" by Tree63
"Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering.  Though there's pain in the offering, 
blessed be Your name."


"For the Moments I Feel Faint" by Relient K
"Never underestimate my Jesus. When the world around you crumbles, He will be strong."


"Safe" by Phil Wickham
"When everything is falling apart, you will be safe in His arms."


"Strong Enough" by Matthew West
"'Cause I'm broken down to nothing but I'm still holding on to the one thing.
You are God and you are strong when I am weak."


"Where I Belong" by Building 429
"So when the walls come falling down on me and when I'm lost in the current of a raging sea, 
I have this blessed assurance holding me."

Little happies - grocery store treats

Thanks to Stephanie at Blessed to Be who hosts this linkup to remind us of the small blessings in life.

During our early days of TTC I made changes to my diet to see if it would help improve fertility and later did a food intolerance test.  Currently I don't eat gluten, dairy, soy, or sugar in any form (corn syrup, etc.).  With a diet like that it can be hard to find pre-made foods that pass the ingredients list test and are appetizing.  Here are some of my favorite treats to buy from a grocery store:

--one--

Larabars -  They are really good, but they can get a bit pricey (more than $1 per bar if not on sale).  The main ingredient in each bar is dates, but you really don't taste the dates.  I am not a big fan of dates, but I love these.  They come in lots of flavors, many of which fit my diet limitations.  I have tried several different recipes to make them at home to reduce the cost.  My homemade chocolate version tastes pretty good (like slightly undercooked brownies), but nothing beats the originals.  I recently tried peanut butter & jelly (it's peanuts and cherries) and pecan pie.  Yum!!  Cherry pie and blueberry muffin are the best, in my opinion.  Last summer I tried to replicate both of those flavors in the kitchen without success, but I think my problem was using fruit that was fresh instead of dried, so I'll be trying again soon.  I'm drying cherries in the oven for this purpose as I type this.  :)

--two--

Izze - Growing up, having a soda (or pop, depending on where you're from) was only allowed on rare occasions, so I consider it a treat.  When I'm in the mood for a soda, I've found that Izze is a great substitute.  The cherry lime flavor is fairly sweet considering there are no sweeteners in it.  This particular flavor is produced in limited quantities, and it's really hard to find.  I found some the other week, and the grocery store employee stocking the shelf said they only receive small shipments of cherry lime once a year.  Peach and blueberry are my back up flavors.

--three--

Chocolate Super Cookies by Go Raw - Since I haven't eaten sugar in a while, I don't really have cravings for sweet things (at least not like I used to), but sometimes a cookie would just hit the spot.  I have tried to bake cookies without sweeteners (no honey or maple syrup either) but they just didn't taste right.  Then I discovered these cookies.  They're small and more like the consistency of chocolate crackers than cookies.  I've only had them once, and they did not last long.  I did not share them with DH.  ;)  Since then I have successfully made them from scratch, and the homemade version doesn't last long around here either.

--four--

Blue potato chips - When I visit my parents, my mom likes to have snacks around for me to eat besides fruit, carrot sticks, and nuts, so she will hunt around the special food section of a couple grocery stores looking for new things for me to try.  She found these blue potato chips. There is also a product by the same company which has both blue potato chips and (orange) sweet potato chips mixed in the same bag.  (I prefer the blue ones.)  They are addicting!




(I didn't receive any compensation from any of the above companies; I just like their products.)