All Purple for Little Josephine

...with a splash of lemon for her love of lemonade stands.  That is what we decided to do for this kind 6-year-old who spent her life loving everyone she met and being loved in return.  Josephine is shown in pictures with a beautiful smile that seems to let everyone know that all was going to be OK.  She was born with autism but she did not let that stop her from lighting up a room and showing that God has a plan for everyone's life.

She was known as "Joey" to family and friends, and she loved the color purple...a symbol of passion...Josephine had a passion for life.  In spite of her inability to speak, she showed her personality in her actions.  Josephine had turned seven just days before the shooting but had not celebrated with a party because she was waiting for the weekend.

Her family tells how they face the reality of her death knowing that she is at peace and without suffering....stating, "Our innocent, trusting little girl stared into the face of unimaginable evil and overcame it in Christ. She was not alone in her courage."  What a powerful witness of faith from Josephine's family.

The saint for today...St. John Neumann...had great faith in God as well.  He desperately wanted to be a priest, but surprisingly the countries of Europe were in no need of priests in the early 1800s.  He would spend many years seeking his place in God's plan as he felt the calling to serve the Lord.  He finally found this calling fulfilled in the United States, as he went to seminary in New York.  He would then travel around this area of our young country establishing churches and schools.  He later became a bishop leading his diocese in educational endeavors as well as their spiritual needs.  He worked very hard for the Lord...finally collapsing in the streets of Philadelphia in his desire to do the most in his short life of 48 years.

When I look at these two seemingly different lives of Josephine and John Neumann, I cannot help but see a very important similarity...their great love for God and the desire to do their most to spread the Love that can only exist through unconditional giving of oneself for that Love.  I pray that we might all find a way each day to share that same kind of love and faith to others.

Today is the TWELFTH day of Christmas!  The days went by so quickly!  The twelve drummers drumming bring us the rhythm that our lives should follow as we march onward as Christians....representing the 12 key points that are the core of Christian beliefs.

 I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
    the Maker of heaven and earth,
    and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
    the holy church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body;
    and the life everlasting.
Amen.

May we try to understand these teachings so we can lead a stronger witness in our lives...much as Josephine and St. John Neumann give as example in their lives.

Today we are home from our holiday trip...we enjoyed our time with family.  I have the joy of spending the morning at a class studying about the Vatican II Council, the Catechism and the Creed.  I thought it was a fitting topic for the day.  Amanda graciously volunteered to enjoy the morning with her brothers so I could attend this class.  I will try to update the post at the end of the day with all that I learn.

We will then spend the afternoon preparing for our Epiphany guests (more on this tomorrow!).  May God bless you as you go about your Saturday adventures.