Being Catholic – Scarlett79

July 4, 2026July 4, 2026

Happy 4th of July

American flag with fireworks over festive backyard pond and people by bonfire

I love this country…I thank God everyday for allowing me to live in this Shining Star on the hill, The United States of America !!! Freedom is not free and so many have given their lives to give us this great gift of living in America.

I truly pray for all those who spread the negativity about America and try to change it to communism…I thank God for the bullet missing and giving us President Trump who truly loves this country. I know people who have escaped communism, and they know just how blessed they are to have made it to America…The question everyone needs to ask themselves is, ” Why does everyone want to live here? ” hmmmm… I see on the news every night people risking everything, including their life, to get to America.

Last night I watch President Trump’s speech where he said this country will never be a communist country….Thank you for protecting us from that. School’s really need to teach the ACCURATE History about the hero’s who made America the greatest place on earth.

Either you love America or you don’t. Like the saying goes, “Love it or guess what you can leave.” There is no other place that is greater than America !!!! America is not perfect, but it’s pretty close…

Freedom of Speech, Freedom to worship how I choose. LIFE, LIBERTY AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS…. Freedom is not free, we have to defend it with everything we have. Celebrate today and never take it for granted. Our Freedoms want to be taken away by people who hate us. It’s really is only a generation away and to me that is frightening…

H A P P Y 4TH !!!! Let’s get the party started for the next 250 years….

April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

AtoZ Blogging Challenge ‘ C ‘

I chose the picture Jesus (C)Christ with the crown of thorns b/c that was the one he was working on during lent…I have a couple more that I like better than that one.

The husband is an artist, not his day job…B/C a starving artist is a real thing and we are way past that point. He told me to be famous when you are an artist, death usually has to happen first so I think I’m happy just the way things are.

I’m the writer of the family and he’s the artist. He sells commercial title insurance for his day job. We’ve been together going on 50 years, 47 of them married. It wasn’t til Covid happened that I realized what a huge talent he had with painting and drawing. When we were raising our family, when it came to art things for the kiddos during their school years that was his job. Writing of course was my strong suit. It worked out well.

I might as well throw in a couple of pictures he has been working on during this Lenten Season…Haven’t quite found the best venue for selling them on, that too is in the works.

I’ll put up a couple of his Masterpiece works, as he really is quite talented !!!

Painter’s Store

It you look in the middle painting, he put himself in as one of the attendees…He’s the one with his hands folded 🙂 …

This is one of my favorite compilations … It’s his band ‘Elan’ which means, “With Eagerness of Spirit…”

Trust me, these are just a few of his paintings. He’s really an amazing Artist….

March 21, 2026April 18, 2026

Happy Heavenly Birthday Sean Patrick

It has taken me a long time to get to this point to be able to put music to this very special birthday…I’m glad I can do this for him b/c this is his day that he changed the world forever and he’s earned that…A Mother never forgets.

Happy Birthday Sean Patrick. Today would’ve been your 42nd birthday. I remember our short time together every year. I know you see your family down here and are looking after us all. We will all be together again someday, and I will get to hold you and tell you how much you taught me from our short time together. After you were born, you changed our world forever. You were here on this earth for only a short time but you were here for exactly how long you were suppose to be. God took you with him and now you are perfect.

Sean Patrick, March 21, 1984…He didn’t know how short his life was. He only knew he lived a perfect life because all he knew was that he was loved by his mom & dad. Blessings today on your heavenly birthday … You will never be forgotten because your birthday changed the world forever. It changed our world for good. Your family will always love you.

I remember the day after we lost you and waking up. It was over and I felt very empty. I got out of bed and I remember going and looking out the window down at all the people. I was so sad. Everyone was just walking so fast, going no where I thought. Really what was so important. I wanted the world to stop because my world had. I wanted to cry and yell at everyone. Why is life still going on? Everything looked so normal, but it wasn’t for me. Life can be so cruel sometime. I was 24 years old but my innocence was gone. When your baby dies a part of your soul goes with him, yet part of him stays with you. I would never again be that young mother who walked into the hospital that Sunday night.

Well it was time to move on now. I remember wanting to go home and be with my baby Michael Jr. and your dad. The hospital chaplain came into my room and said that they would take care of you and I did not have to worry about it, but I said I did. You were our baby and we would take care of the arrangements. Michael told me not to worry about anything and that he would handle the funeral arrangements. The same priest who married us come out to the gravesite. It was a cold, gray rainy March day. We buried you with your Grandpapa Frain. I didn’t have a lot of people there because I was too sad. It is hard to see a small little box that you know your baby was in. It was hard burying you and letting go. Saying goodbye was very hard.

I became an awesome mom that day. I learned not to take anything for granted ever. I learned about unconditional love, really. My faith in God grew strong and I learned how to accept his will. Maybe not agree with it, but accept it and know that someday I would understand it all. I learned how fragile life is and to appreciate all that I have. I went on to have 3 more children. I just gave my life to God, and let him handle it. It worked out exactly how it was suppose too. Blessings to all my family, we have an angel watching over all of us…

March 6, 2025

Thankful Thursday

It is a beautius day in the Midwest, which is unusual for Chicago…I’m not a huge fan of March, but I’ll take it. It ususally is, “Gluggaveour” which is an Icelandic word (n.) lit. “Window-Weather” ; a weather that looks so nice and picturesque through the window, until you’re actually outside in it; a weather best enjoyed only behind the window…” Too chilly for me today and I think it’s going to snow tomorrow. So I’m not going to venture out to far. No I mean serious snow, 5″ inches or so…

This word made it into my own personal thersaurus, the one I have made of words that I want to keep for my writing’s. Future references for me. Just through this little bit in to get my blog post going.

This Blog was really about things I’m thankful for. As I lay in bed last night, I was thinking about how grateful I am for being Catholic. Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. I went and got ashes. This now starts the season of Lent. The Catholic Religion is so rich in tradition I always get a bit choked up when I’m in church. I thought about my mom and my grandmama. They set such a great example of what it was to be Catholic. Mom use to talk about a happy death, which is also a promise of the Rosary. I never really understood that, I mean it’s death. What could be happy about that.

I’m going to put a song here b/c I absolutely love this prayer and would love to share this with you…Andrea Bocelli, “The Lord’s Prayer”

For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever. Amen

When mom died, she showed me exactly what a happy death was. She was absolutely angelic at her furneral. I understood what she was talking about. I will be eternally grateful for the gift she and my grandmama of being Catholic. They lived there life exactly how I can only hope to live mine. I thank her and my dear sweet grandmama for showing me how to live my Catholic religion.

Being Catholic is the best gift to have been given by my mom and for that I say, “Thank you, Mom. I hope I make you proud of my life as a Catholic.” I love my religion and I can only hope that I have passed that gift of being Catholic to my kids…

November 27, 2024November 27, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving…

Seeing how I canceled yesterday, so happy today is here !!! It worked out well. After canceling yesterday, the husband took me out and we celebrated us and our family w/a great steak dinner at Sullivan’s Steakhouse !!! I think from now on I’m going to cancel days that just bring me down. Thank goodness there aren’t too many of those.

I’m going to add some music along w/this post. I thought this song was appropriate as y’all are retired ballet dancer’s…. 😉 .

I have had a really great year celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary!!!! We went out to North Carolina/Outerbanks and celebrated our family. We are having our 9th grand baby in December !!! W O W. We are so blessed.

My goal for the trip was to get family pics in front of the Ocean, They turned out so great. I will share them with you #frainsthename…(That’s our special codename we use.) Missy came up with that. Don’t you just love it !!! I do 😉 … Enjoy our family pictures…

I love this one…

Here’s the rest of the fam…

A little factoid about the above family…They are all retired professional ballet Dancer’s having met on the company they all once dance for. I love it and all of them. Thank you for all for making this happen. Mom & Dad love y’all to the moon !!!! Happy Thanksgiving #frainsthename …

Same time next year ??? What do you think Y’all ….

November 5, 2024November 5, 2024

It’s Election Day

Just in case anyone may have forgotten what day it is 😉 … I’m going to start out by saying, (so you don’t have to waste your time reading this post) I’m going out to vote for President Trump. Of course I’m going to play this amazing song that he plays at all of his rally’s. It’s remastered with our awesome military who protects our freedom’s at home and abroad…

There are many reason’s I am voting for this man. The main one’s are he loves America and wants the best for this country. He is a strong leader and for God’s sake he took a bullet for us. I’ll save that for another post but we all know who did that I’m pretty sure. They’ve tried to jail him, take all his money away and even tried to take his life. OMG are you freaking kidding me.

Just a quick reminder too. The husband, even amidst all the things that life threw at us, has been preparing us for the day of being on a fixed income. We are not financially set, (i.e. he’s still working) but it’s just us now and we’re doing pretty good. I feel sorry for all who are just trying to live, raise a family, buy a home. If Trump wins, then you’ll be fine. He will get our country back on track. I have no idea if it goes the other way. I just remember the gas lines, hostages in Iran, blah, blah, blah. I’ve had to live through many crappy administrations. It’s called two roads, Easy or Hard. Voting does have consequences people so I hope you make the right choice.

I ask myself, “Why does he want this job???” He doesn’t need power or money or all of the brain damage that this job has. They have been so awful to this man, yet he power’s through all of it b/c he loves America. That’s why he’s getting my vote. G O T R U M P… I just hope that he is the leader God wants to carry on his plan for this once, “Shining City on the Hill. “

This man, this billionaire put on a McDonald’s apron and did the same job I had for my 1st job, a fry cook. He truly is the greatest politician, a loving father and really just the B E S T president I’ve seen in my lifetime…Win or lose, he has definitely made his mark on this Country. I’m voting today b/c it matters. Men have died to protect this freedom so I will not disrespect this country by not exercising this right and freedom. Another song associated with his campaign, which is an American Staple.

I think he’ll win b/c God spared his life for a reason. God always gets the last word. I just hope God’s plan spared him to be president to save this great country. If not, always remember that, “America, the Shining City on the Hill ” is greater and stronger than any person or political party. She is God’s gift to this world. G O T R U M P !!!!

God alway’s get the last word…America is God’s Country no matter what !!!

October 27, 2024

Happy Beautiful Song Lyric Sunday !!!

Going to jump in on this one. Thanks, Mr. Jim for a really great prompt. Today’s prompt is, ” Parent & Child ” I’m going to use one of my fav’s. The song is, ” The Prayer ” sung by Andrea Boncelli and Celine Dion …

It seems appropriate especially b/c it is Sunday after all. This song is about God The Father who looks after us all, as we are His children.

These are the lyrics. It’s just such a beautiful song I really don’t mind listening to it a 2nd time. Blessings to all this Sunday.

September 22, 2024December 7, 2024

Married 45 years…

Together for 48 years…We started dating when I was in high school. I was a Junior in high school and he was a cool, (very cool and good looking college boy at Northwestern University the, “Harvard,” of the Midwest 😉 ) which is most important to a 16 year old in high school. I’ll post my graduation picture …

No one believed that I was dating a college boy but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get out of high school and get away from all the nasty meangirls which there were plenty. I knew I wanted to marry and have a family. That was my dream coming from an Italian/Irish very large family. My immediate family was 4 girls which at one point in the year our ages are 1 year apart. My oldest 2 sister’s Mary & Kay are Irish Twins which mean they were born less than a year apart. Our birth years are 55/56/58/59…I’m the youngest of course. I post pics but it’s against my better judgement to but whatever…

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-yjdi2cRlyLbya-2YJFpQRKE5cyqmdS-/view?pli=1

This is one of my favorite songs and movies and every time I want to annoy the husband I sing this…So much fun being a Sadie, Sadie 😉 …

I got married pretty young…I had just turned 20 but never looked back and have been married now for 45 years !!! I knew from a very young age that my purpose in life was to be a homemaker, wife, and the greatest role of all a mother. I counted up the years I was pregnant and it came to a stunning 9 years !!! OMG, those were some of my happiest times when I was having babies … Michael Francis Jr./Sean Patrick (RIP) Elizabeth Ryan (Our only girl) Matthew James/Connor Timothy !!! 4 boys and 1 girl…

My mom & dad had 15 grand babies and I don’t even know how many great grandchildren there are. I just know we are having our 9th grand baby this December, OMG … This makes me so very happy.

I knew this was going to be my last as the body just couldn’t take anymore and I knew it. These babies were born naturally i.e. no epidural ( I thought I would die). The last two babies I said to my OB, I can’t do this again, please help. That’s when he suggested to have an epidural. Wasn’t sure but when real labor kicked in w/Matthew I said, “Get that Dr. in here and let’s do it !!!” I did not have little babies, my 1st was 9lbs. 12oz…My OB did not believe in CSections… Not fun, I needed the drugs !!! Still loved all of it and thanked God for his grace and blessing me with all these babies !!!

June 16, 2024June 16, 2024

Happy Father’s Day

I want to give a shout out to 3 amazing father’s I have had in my life. The first father was my husand. He has been such an awesome father, a great leader of our family. He is the captain of our ship and always put the family first.

I know it’s SLS but I’m going to put up this song for all of the amazing father’s and father’s to be in my life…

The lone daughter our own personal nurse !!!

The next amazing father I have had in my life is our youngest who just had his 2nd. He is now the father to our 2 youngest (#7 & 8) grand babies, Mz. Ruby and Mr. Samuel…He learned from the best !!!!

The 3rd amazing Father to Be is our Matthew who is expecting his 1st baby…So excited this will be our 9th grand baby !!!! Both expecting mom, Hannah & expecting dad, Matthew are retired professional Ballet Dancer’s, so one never knows…Could be in the DNA 😉 !!!

There are just know words as to how wonderful a man that he is…You are the best and you are so loved … Thank you so much for all you have given to our family. Oh and we are celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary this year in August !!!

I’ll close with this little bit of personal information on my husband and I don’t think he’ll mind. His father use to drop him at school in in the morning. It was a warm June morning, nothing unusual about the day. His dad was dropping him off at school and he was looking forward to the summer. When school was out, his older brother came to pick him up. When he got home, his dad wasn’t there. He died suddenly from an aneurysm/stroke. My husband was only 9 years old that day when he lost his dad. My husband is an amazing man … We all love you dad, “Happy Father’s Day” to the best…

May 19, 2024May 20, 2024

Song for a Sunday

I really love, love, love our generation’s picture… I’m so glad I got it. The hands are my Mom RIP, Momma (me), Lizzie, and our oldest grand daughter as she puts it Gabbieeeeee 😉 . (She’s 18, OMG)

Here are our beautiful grand daughter’s, Gabbieeeee and as we call them the little’s Ms. Olivia and Ms. Mariah. Aren’t they just adorable!!! We just have the best time and they just love coming over to Grandpapa’s & Grandmama’s house 😉 …

This was Ms. Gabbbieeeee at prom, is she just a beautiful young lady or what. We are just so proud of all of them …Good job Momma Lizzie 😉 …

I’m not going to put this in the SLS challenge but I just need to put this song up on my blog.. Not many will know exactly what this song means to me b/c they are too young, but a few will. Song for a Sunday and I hope you enjoy this song…

Commencing countdown, engines on … This is ground control, Houston I know we have a problem 😉 …

We just love the family and all the grandbaby’s … This is # 7 & # 8 and who know’s but # 9 may not be too far away 😉 . OMG I was hoping for some but I never expected 8 and who know’s how many more. I knew I would never come close to my extended family, but this many is more than I could ever hope for !!! We are truly blessed…More great adventures soon, so stay tuned 😉 …

These are just some of my cousin’s, there were a few not born yet … I pretty sure Grandmama & Grandpapa have got me beat. Italian/Irish Catholic enough said 😉 …

Our family comes from so many different places. I love y’all and I hope everyone is well. #……thename 😉 … I had such a great time with you, Valerie, Maggie and Cody … I’m still watching that video of me and Matthew dancing. You guys were my biggest fan’s and I love that. Thank you so much for making me feel so special and loved …

I was taking the picture…Fernando & Cody, Dad, Connor & Melissa (Baby Bump #2, Mr. Samuel) Valerie & Kirk 😉 . Had so much fun w/y’all !!! and I took a pretty good picture 😉 .

Oh what the heck, if you’ve gotten this far I might as well put the “Mother/Son” dance back up… I can’t watch that enough times 😉 . Thank You so much Matthew, you gave me my memory of a life time. I love you to the moon !!!!