Sharpen Your Sword

As a young teen, I remember my mom retelling her reading of a book on a saint being attacked by demons.  She was reading it late at night and my father was out of town.  A pretty great time to spook yourself out.  But, then the voice of Mary spoke to her heart, "What would you do if there were someone attacking your child?"  Of course, she would fight them.  She would go after them with the veracity of a wild animal....and in that moment, Mary said, "Aren't you my child?"

Mama's got our back.

Still, I've always been abjectly terrified by the idea of demons attacking me.  On the nights when the fear crept in, I would pray that I never face such trials.  I would pray, "God, I'm not strong enough for that."

Every now and then throughout my life, I've felt attacks pulling and pushing on my emotions, on my life.  No physical assaults, but there all the same.

At the beginning of October, I opened an Etsy shop that includes little knit roses for counting out the prayers of the rosary - especially helpful in the hard-to-pray categories of little fidgeters and older hands unable to hold small beads.

Before opening, I thought about how these would help more families bring a decade (or five!) into the realm of possible with family life.  I thought about little hands squishing the roses and proudly placing them in a basket or the family prayer space as each prayer was said.

I didn't think about how irritating lots of little hands holding roses and praying would be to the enemy.

I didn't think about how all those prayers - all those potential prayers coming from my knitting needles would be a declaration of war.

But, over the last month, my three year old has been plagued with nightmares.

My ten year old becomes anxious when she's not around others in our house.  The dog growls in strange moments.

There's been a lot of holy water and praying in these parts lately and things seem to have calmed down. (prayers appreciated though!)

After the first week, orders were really slow, and I started to doubt that my shop was such a good idea.

But it really came back to wanting these roses out there.  However many I sell, whatever profits or losses, I want little fingers to hold something soft and have sweet memories and attachments to the rosary.

This week, I've been working on a little bonus to toss in with the roses......and it's been a symphony of errors.

First, my printer decided to print everything in a lovely zebra pattern.

Then, I took the materials to my parents' house to print.  My computer wouldn't link up with the printer....the one that's it's been linked to for years.

After I was able to open the file on my dad's PC, I printed it out......then I noticed that everything had somehow shifted and the font was askew.  Awesome-sauce.

So, I'll keep plugging away.  One of these times, I'm going to get these cards to print right.  Until then, accept my slightly askew bonus with purchase of the roses - just as soon as I get them laminated.  What could possibly go wrong?  :-)

Now that I'm engaged in battle, it's time to sharpen my sword.  The battle has always been raging, but, now I'm paying attention.

If you'd like to sharpen your sword, take 20% off your order with the code MYSWORD20. 

Shop now.

Organic Mamas Shop: A Review and Coupon!

This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase through the link, I'll benefit.  I was provided with a Novena Bracelet to review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was lucky enough to review a Novena Bracelet from Organic Mamas Shop.  Let me start by saying, I'd previously purchased items from her shop, so I was really excited to share her shop with you, and more, provide you with a coupon code to get a beautiful item yourself!

I chose the Immaculate Conception Novena bracelet.  The cross and medal section clips and unclips in both the rosary and novena varieties to keep track of your prayer.  It's a beautiful way to stay on track with your nine days or five decades.

What I really love about these bracelets is the flexible fit.  I'm not typically a bracelet wearer.  I have a wide flat wrist and generally find bracelets too tight for comfort. 

The flexible wire fit of these bracelets makes the fit comfortable, even for stacking.

I wore the novena bracelet with my rosary bracelet and they both fit comfortably on my wrist - so if you're in the middle of a novena and don't want to leave the rosary at home, no choice necessary.

Sweet Pea (3) also took a turn wearing them both during mass this weekend.  They're sturdy enough that I don't mind letting her wear them and pull them on and off her arm.....especially when she doesn't find Father's homily quite as stimulating as the rest of us.

I bought these bracelets as Christmas presents for both my mother-in-law and my mom.  The novena bracelet is smaller than the rosary bracelet, and I think that would make it a great gift even for a first communicant. 

The shop isn't just bracelets.  Nursing necklaces, earrings, special decade first communion bracelets, and more!  My new favorite item is the Chews Life Rosary - great for teething and praying.

Photo courtesy of Organic Mamas Shop

Items are available in many different colors, and custom colors/orders are available as well. 

The best part?  Until July 5th, you can get 20% off using the coupon code ANNERY20.  Christmas is six months from tomorrow....no pressure :)

Shop away!