Introducing Father Priest

We recently bought a picture missal for our little boy to begin following the mass and while he's still more interested in playing with cars, shouting and climbing over the pews, he does sometimes look at the pictures and he likes to point out the priest. Thinking about what other things we could do to help him participate a little in the mass, I thought that a priest doll could be a really fun tool and I realised that with a little ingenuity I could make one. So I did!

I made a mock up first to figure out the pattern (I made 3 practice heads before I decided on the final shape) he's still kicking around the house lovingly known as Father Priest mark 1. Then it was a case of cutting head and hands from an off white scrap of cotton and body legs and arms from a black wool skirt that had felted in the wash. A white collar and some facial features from felt completed the basic doll.

I had great fun making his vestments. In time I plan to make all the liturgical colours but so far we're just ready for ordinary time. I've made the white alb, green stole from some ribbon and the green chasuble (one fat quarter was the perfect fit 😄) all hand stitched because I love to make extra work for myself and hate lugging the sewing machine around the house. Next on the to do list: purple for Lent.

User feedback so far has ranged from "He's got a cute face" to "I don't want Farva Pwiest" via "he's a bright balloon." So I'm going to say mixed. The baby definitely likes him though - he giggles at him and then tries to eat his head.

Welcoming the New Year

We certainly aren't the only ones to have had a difficult year in 2016. We have been struggling with unemployment. In so many ways we have found ourselves discouraged over the past year. For me personally, this has been difficult to cope with spiritually. At various times I have felt disappointment, fear, a lack of faith and a failure of hope. It has been hard to keep praying.

When you are praying for the same intercession over such a long time, with no sign of an answer you start to question yourself, to doubt God's love. People tend to suggest that perhaps what you're asking for is not what God wills for you and for a while, I let that idea get to me. I could never believe though, that with two young children to care for that the Lord willed for us to be without the means to support ourselves. Didn't he say to us 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."? (Matt 7)
Didn't he give practical help to the blind and the lame? Hasn't he, through the intercessions of the saints, answered two thousand years worth of prayers and more? 

So at last I came to the realisation that I had only one choice: to believe. I had to know for sure that God would answer our prayers and trust in him to sustain us in our wait. 

At last, our prayers were answered, and in such a way that we could be in no doubt that God was in it. We will both go into the new year employed by the same University in roles that suit our backgrounds. My husband's job offer even came on the same day of his graduation - and his name day. 

I continue to pray, now that we can make a success of this opportunity we have been given. And to praise the Lord for his goodness, For the concern he shows for all his little ones, even in my own life. 

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour"