Shaklee to the Rescue

My Shaklee did it again! Last week I helped Anne sort through a bunch of baby clothes. I brought home a shirt which I had purchased on clearance at Gymboree for Ariana which she had worn maybe once. It had a set-in stain, but I did not want to part with it because it was so cute. I decided to soak it overnight in a pail of water with my Shaklee Nature Bright, this time actually following the directions on the package. (Normally I just throw the Nature Bright into the washing machine and never bother to pre-soak.) Since I had to soak that shirt I threw a couple of my stained shirts into the pail as well. (I have a thing for splattering grease and sauce as I cook, and do not always use an apron, in case you are wondering! I also spill when I eat.) All came out spankin' clean. Great saves.

Spankin' clean for the next grandchild.

I finished all of my embroidered quilt squares. The fabric for  backing and latticing is washed and ready to press and cut. I will be tight on fabric, so I did not want to cut any before pressing. I am not looking forward to working with an 11 yard piece. I have already started embroidering the squares which Alice brought in for the next quilt. Something about them which makes me want to sit down and get them all done.

Two more quilts to bind for St. Anthony's. This time I am going to sew around the edge of the quilt before attaching the binding, to see if that eliminates stretch. I was very disappointed in the last binding I did, since the top fabric stretched in one direction, and the bottom in another. I am not sure why. Either one of the fabrics was a blend, or it was because the backing piece was cockeyed in the frame, or perhaps I was working in too crowded a space to support the weight of the quilt when I had it on the machine. I hope this one turns out better.

We completed our 33 Days to Morning Glory class at Holy Spirit. I had done my consecration to Mary privately a few years ago using St. Louis de Montfort's Preparation for Total Consecration. When this class came up, however, I decided I would go as a renewal. I am glad that I did. Fr. Gaitley's book combined Louis de Montfort, Maximillian Kolbe, Mother Teresa and John Paul II to give a fresh look at Marian consecration. His answers to practical questions, such as which prayers to use for the consecration, the annual renewal of consecration and attitude after consecration were helpful to me in living the consecration daily. He quoted Maximillian Kolbe as saying that the consecration involves an act of the will, not continuous 'thought, memory or sentiment...' Kolbe says that once we make our consecration we do not have to continually renew it, since once it is done, it is done, and we do not take it back. This was also affirmed in another way through my reading from the Opus Sanctorum Angelorum Formation Letters, which state that it would  be impossible to be always thinking of offering up the activities of the present moment: the morning offering is sufficient to include everything. I found comfort in Kolbe's saying that Mary works behind the scenes, as it were, directing our actions, inspiring us, multiplying our good and cleaning up our mess, even when we are not consiously thinking of her. Our part is to have fervent recourse to her. I know that I did not take in everything the book has to offer. I am sure I will want to re-read it in the future. I highly recommend it both to those who have already made their consecration, and those who wish to make it in the future. I am including a picture of the candle which we received on consecration day, as well as the creative name tag made by our group leader, Sarah Howard. She did a terrific job leading our group.