We took a trip to Chicago, Wisconsin and Michigan with our youngest son Caleb recently. We met up with some business associates and went to the Michigan lake house of our friends and mentors in business. We took a tour of the Notre Dame Stadium and rode bikes all over the campus. We also went on a pilgrimage to Queen of all Saints Basilica in Chicago where there were over 150 1st and 2nd class relics. They ranged from a piece of the crown of thorns to many of the apostles, a piece of the last supper table, and as many saints as you can think of. We were in awe. The Pope has designated many pilgrimage sites for this "Year of Faith". It lasts until November 24th. I recommend you find one near you LINK and make a pilgrimage. It is a wonderful thing to do as a family. Here in So Cal we have the missions. So come on pilgrims!

Below I have reposted a blog from www.curtisspolar.com.
Occasionally, my husband asks me to contribute to his blog.
I hope you like it.

The Blind Side

      Sometimes there can be some devestating blows that can originate from that mysterious place, that unknown territory that many refer to as our blind side.  We don't know what we dont know. For those of us who would like to think that we have it all figured out and we've got all the bases covered, let's set baseball aside and talk about another game....Football. In the 2013 NFL Draft, three out of the first four top picks were left tackles. A premier left tackle is a highly sought after asset on every roster. So much so, that they are generally the highest paid player after the quarterback. The left tackle's job is to protect that quarterback because as that quarter back is staring down the field he is in a vulnerable position and needs somebody protecting his blind side. Games can't be won with incompleted passes, lost yardage, or a sacked quarterback. The game of life is not much different.

Everyone has a blind side. Discovering what lurks there or what may be lacking there can mean the difference between victory and defeat in our relationships, that next job promotion, or any important endeavor we chose to take on.
Frequently, we are tackled by our own negative self-talk, baggage, and doubt and we are blind to the fact that our past is not our potential. Our potential exceeds our expectations. What we need is a means to draw out into the light the information needed to fill in the gaps. That 180 degree turn around can be found in little splashes of black ink on white pieces of paper that form words and are put into books. The Little bits of information that spark that life transformation can be found by reading. Make it a habit.
Another way to discover the unknown is by listening to audios because testimony is powerful and by hearing stories of others "aha" moments we may also find ours. When I listen, I like to think as if the speaker is my best friend trying to reveal a secret to me. The very best way to learn is to have these bits of information coming to us on an ongoing basis. Leadership subscriptions enable us to have these bits of life changing information spread out over time so we get an on going stream of books , CDs and seminars. Information taken in small pieces over time provide the best, most permanent results. The LIFE Leadership organization provides this life changing information and association.
Lastly, if we have the speed of trust with another person who is close to us they may hold the key to revealing things hidden there in those blind spots. A good mentor, like a good left tackle, is hard to find and valuable so when one is found cherish the time in that calendar. I want to make a shout out to Orrin and Laurie Woodward to say how much their time is appreciated and valued for revealing some of those blind spots in our lives and the vision they impart to us and the whole Life Leadership Organization. I want to share a different story about mentoring with you. My sister in law was one of the top real estate agents in the area a few years back. Her mentor charged $1000.00 a month and when the time came for the call, it was sometimes a short one. The mentor asked "Did you do what we agreed on last time?" If the answer was no then the call was over and the mentor replied."The advice is still the same." The next mentoring call was scheduled. My sister in law was hungry to be successful in her field so she was willing to do those things that stretched her and she trusted her mentor. This hunger and trust is what it will take for you and your mentor to not only tackle your blind spots, but also face the future and the unknown. I ran across a quote that said, "“Every age has its massive moral blind spots. We might not see them, but our children will.” - Bono, U2

Sometimes you may be the quarterback or somebody's left tackle. Whatever you do.....Play like a champion today.

Make sure you and your teammates get to the big playoff competition next month in Fresno, CA, Milwaukee, WI, or Ottawa, ON(Canada). Power Player Top Gun competition winners will be recognized. Who will get that cup?

God Bless,

Debbie Spolar

Many a cross we bear is of our own manufacture; we made it by our sins. But the cross which the Savior carried is not His, but ours. One beam in contradiction to another beam was the symbol of our will in contradiction to His own. To the women who met Him on the roadway, He said: "Weep not for me." To shed tears for the dying Savior is to lament the remedy; it were wiser to lament the sin that caused it. If innocence itself took a cross, then how shall we, who are guilty, complain against it?
---Fulton J. Sheen

When out of town recently, I heard a sermon about when Jesus asked the disciples,"Who do you say that I am?" St. Peter replies "You are the Christ, the son of the living God." Then in the next breath he takes control of the conversation to demand that they will defend Jesus and not let Jesus go to His cross.  In which Jesus replies,“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”The next thing you know is Jesus says" “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

The sermon I heard was a few days after a man walked a tightrope across a deep gorge at the Grand Canyon. What helps this man to keep from falling? A pole is held perpendicular to the body and grasped with both hands. This helps to decrease tipping and correct sway. The analogy is clear here. Let our hands be full full of the cross so we are more apt to stay on the straight and narrow and we are less tempted and less able to pick up the reins and steer ourselves in a direction away from the concerns of God and toward our merely human ones.

DISCIPLeINE

     This lenten season has been one that has been especially focused on discipline and on making more room for Jesus. My daughter, Jennifer, and I fasted for a week (liquids,juices) and she was a great inspiration and coach to me. I would like to say it was easy, but truth be told, I cried on day three! It got better from there.
     I have been reading the book "Lent and Easter Wisdom from Fulton J. Sheen" I have been sharing the daily reflections, scripture, prayers and spiritual-growth activities with the family at breakfast.  As a family, we have been going to daily mass Sunday through Friday). The discipline has been very good for me, as I usually don't get up until 9 or 10 and I have been wanting to get up earlier. Before Ash Wednesday, because of this wanting, I have set my alarm, but I hit snooze most of the time and justified that I stayed up late the night before, so I would just roll over and sometimes shut it off completely. This past six weeks has been especially easier to awaken and not to question if I feel like getting out of bed at 7 a.m. Although, I admit,  I am a little surprised at what a willing participant I have been, but then, I remember, I did pray for the Lord's help in leading a more disciplined life. Now, as I look back, my decision was made mid February and I can pat myself on the back, or I can see that He has made me a cheerful giver of this time reserved for Him. At the beginning of lent I heard a priest say that so many of us think of lent as a time of year we can't do this or we must give up something. We can choose to do it disinterested and mechanical or make it all about our will power or we can make it purposeful and intentional and re frame it as it should be and that is "Where is it that I am not living like you? and How do I not yet really know you?" Hence the purpose for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
     One more thing I am thankful for....The peaceful, willing, hearts of my children and grandson Frankie to get up and not complain. I, really, have not heard one complaint in six weeks. Wow! Them and me too? Believe in miracles!

Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have believed thy commandments. Psalm 118:66

I pray for His grace to be the disciplined disciple he wishes me to be.

God Bless,

Debbie  

Marriage, the symbol of the covenant God desires to have with His people.

I just can't help but share this commentary on last weeks Gospel. I got it from the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. We are focusing on two upcoming weddings in our family and I am so excited for these four sons and daughters of the King entering into that covenant relationship God desires to have with His people.  God Bless their dear hearts. :)


In the mass readings last week and the week before, the imagery was royal and filial - Jesus is the newborn king of the Jews who makes us co-heirs of Israel’s promise, beloved children of God. Last week in the Liturgy we went to a Baptism.

This week, we’re at a wedding.

We’re being shown another dimension of our relationship with God. If we’re sons and daughters of God, it’s because we’ve married into the family.


Have you ever wondered why the Bible begins and ends with a wedding - Adam and Eve’s in the garden and the marriage supper of the Lamb (compare Genesis 2:23-24 and Revelation 19:9; 21:9; 22:17)?
Throughout the Bible, marriage is the symbol of the covenant relationship God desires with His chosen people. He is the Groom, humanity His beloved and sought-after bride. We see this reflected beautifully in today’s First Reading.
When Israel breaks the covenant she is compared to an unfaithful spouse (see Jeremiah 2:20-36; 3:1-13). But God promises to take her back, to “espouse” her to Him forever in an everlasting covenant (see Hosea 2:18-22).
That’s why in today’s Gospel, Jesus performs His first public “sign”. Where does he perform it? At a wedding feast.
Jesus is the divine Bridegroom (see John 3:29), calling us to His royal wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14). By His New Covenant, He will become “one flesh” with all humanity in the Church (see Ephesians 5:21-33). By our Baptism, each of us has been betrothed to Christ as a bride to a Husband (see 2 Corinthians 11:2).
The new wine that Jesus pours out at today’s feast is the gift of the Holy Spirit given to His bride and body, the church. As the  Epistle says. This is the “salvation” announced to the “families of nations” in last week's Psalm.


God Bless you "Dear Hearts",
Debbie 

Going on Vocation in 2013

     In this, the new year of 2013, we have a hope, an excitement,and an anticipation of and new plans for the future. At our New Year's Eve get together, at about five minutes til midnight, my husband said a wonderful prayer. In addition to his words of praise and thanksgiving, he asked God to supply us with courage and strength to do His will and to unite and strengthen our families. Within the last month or so, two of our children became engaged and there was a beautiful mix of families at this years ringing in. In addition to the celebration of the new year, we are so full of joy to have two new families making two new beginnings together.

       Pope John Paul II said "The future of the world and of the Church passes through the family." At the center of the family is marriage. As two people enter into that union there is excitement and anticipation for the future. I have asked several couples who admit to having wonderful marriages that have lasted some fifty years or more “What's the secret?” None of them said, We just lucked out! Just as any business about to open wouldn't do so without a plan, a sports team wouldn't think of beginning without having a game plan, two people about to wed begin to plan for their lives together. They look at all the different components that make up married life, too many to mention here, but may include communication, expectation, your dreams for the future, resolving conflict, sex, intimacy,(two different things) financial planning and keeping prayer an important part of your marriage. I dusted off the “Perspective on Marriage” booklet that Curtis and I used in our marriage classes. Some comments we wrote in there made me laugh.. I must share one of Curt's expectations of me was to cook. I hear some of you laughing! Alright! So this year I will work harder to meet that one. I wasn't surprised to see that Curtis had met and exceeded all of my expectations. The very first exercise in the booklet was to explore each others personality traits. Something that we still love to share with people. We now recommend “Personality Plus” by Florence Littaure. This book has helped so many couples and families better understand each other. Here is a quote at the very end of that marriage booklet. “The couple who commit themselves to the long adventure of total love are a sign of faith and hope to all the community.”

      I was listening to a priest talk of the preparation he went through. First he earned a degree first, then learned 3 languages, went to school for 5 ½ more years and moved to another country and marriage preparation many times consists of a few days for a few weeks or a weekend seminar. More time often goes into planning a vacation than this vocation.

       I am so pleased to hear our newly engaged ones so enthusiastic about not only attending marriage classes, but also in their continuing effort to improve by reading. I am also so excited to be associated with so many people who commit to being lifelong learners in this LIFE business. May we all commit ourselves to that long adventure motivated by love as a sign of faith and hope to all the community. Happy New Year. Have a great 2013!

Debbie