That Time Of The Year...

It's that time of year again. It seems like the holidays get here faster and faster every year. My mom and dad both used to say how fast time goes by as you get older. They didn't even tell the half of it. It's actually faster than fast!

Already my employer has started cutting hours at work, and it is not a good time of the year for hours to get cut. Many of you know what I am talking about. Not just because of the holidays, but also with colder weather, and with winter soon starting in earnest, this is the time of the year when my expenses...and yours as well I am sure...tend to rise. A 30 hour work week just doesn't cut it.

So if you are thinking about buying some coffee, I'd appreciate it if you would click on my links (like the ones that follow) for Mystic Monk Coffee, and buy some coffee for yourself or for holiday gifts. Don't forget that they also have 5 pound bags available for your parish and office! It not only helps me out, but it helps support both the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming and their monastery. (Unfortunately, there is no commission for wholesale purchases, but there is for coffee subscriptions, tea subscriptions, etc.)

I'd also like to ask you to consider taking a look at the products I have available from Zazzle at "Faith of the Fathers Catholic Gifts". There are several poster prints, mousepads, mugs, and greeting cards available and all with a Catholic theme. New this year are some holiday poster prints and cards featuring wonderful art by James Tissot.

I'd like to thank all of you who have used my links to shop and buy, and for making donations via PayPal. I don't know who you all are, but God does, and I especially ask His blessings for you (as well as I do for all my blog visitors) in my prayers.

Thank you once again. May God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in Her care!

Need Your Prayers

I find myself still in need of your prayers for my needs. Please keep me and these blogs in your prayers.

Thank you all! May God bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

Urgent Help Needed For A Catholic Blogger And Friend

One of my good blogging friends, Lisa Graas, is in great need of your prayers and a financial boost if you will.

Lisa is the author of  the blog "Catholic Bandita", and is on twitter as @CatholicLisa. She always reminds us in her blog posts that our identity as Christians is, and should be in Christ, and nothing else.

Lisa and her children have been going through some difficult times...physically, financially... and I am sure the emotional strain is not easy either. I have been there myself. 

Some other blogging pals, including Sofia Guerra of the blog "Always Catholic", George Vogt of the blog "A Talking Donkey", and Father Z of "Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?" have all posted about Lisa's situation here... here... and here.

You can go to Lisa's blog here, and scrolling down, look on the left side for a PayPal Donate button similar to mine. It will say "Hit The Tip Jar".

We all are asking you to give of both your prayers and money to help out Lisa and her family at this time. Please.

May God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

Cataracts And No Insurance

Just a question for anyone who might know.

Are there any programs offering assistance for cataract surgery for people who have no insurance? Particularly in North Carolina (I live in western N.C.).I have cataracts in both eyes, and the left one is the worst of the two.

My eyesight is getting so bad, that I am afraid that in another year, I won't be able to drive any longer. And, if I can't drive, I can't work.

Leave any suggestions or ideas in the comments area, or send me an email at faithofthefathers@gmail.com.

Thanks!

A Little Boost

The last month found me short on work hours (I only got to work 3 days last week), and once again with too much month left at the end of the money.

I would greatly appreciate a little boost if possible, and as always, your prayers are greatly needed and valued.

Thank you!

Prayer Request For A New Job

As many regular readers know, the past few months have been a financial strain for myself as well as for many of you in this dreadful economy.

I have applied for a new job, as I was just made aware of an opportunity this past Friday. This would be a big improvement for me, and would be a tremendous help. It would also ensure that I have every Sunday off, and would be able to attend Mass every week.

A friend of mine who has been unemployed for awhile has also applied, as there are at least 3 openings.

So please say a prayer on our behalf, and for all affected by the current economic situation.

Thank you all, and may God bless you!

A Request

If you are able, I would appreciate any donation you might be able to make over the next couple of weeks. Thank you!

May God bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

A Personal Request

As many regular readers know, due to my employment changes, the last several months have been a financial burden on me, as well as many of you.

I have gone from 40 hours a week to about 28 a week (on a good week) and, as is the case for many of us, I end up with far too much month left at the end of the money. In fact, the day after my computer went down, I also had the experience of having my electric power shut off for the first time in my life. I had gotten paid that day, but it took all the money that I had to get the power turned back on later that night. The power company is requiring that I pay an additional amount as a “deposit” by my next pay day on May 24 (which is kind of funny as that is two days after my birthday).

So, I have added a “Tip Jar” over on the top right hand sidebar of each blog if anyone would like to give me a hand. The “Donate” button utilizes PayPal, which is familiar to most internet users. I appreciate what you can do, and I would especially appreciate your prayers more than anything!

Once again, I would like to thank all of you who have clicked the various ads that appear on these blogs, and for using my links to purchase Mystic Monk Coffee, and the products I have from Zazzle. If it hadn't been for the purchases of Mystic Monk Coffee that literally poured in after Christmas through March, I would not have been able to have made it through the winter.

Let me say, that I am embarrassed to post this, but I am to the point of not knowing what else I can do, except rely on God, who has seen me through many storms. God has been good to me, and has helped me out with so many trials that I can not begin to recount them all.

So, please keep me in your prayers. I appreciate that more than you could ever know!

May God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

Only One Man For President of the United States

I have been closely following the primary races for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. I have watched from Iowa through Florida, and have made my decision as to which candidate I will support.

I have watched as people have gone from supporting one candidate or another as their candidate either withdrew or was hounded out of the race.

I have watched as the two alleged front runners have abandoned a reasoned approach as to why they would be the best alternative to President Obama, and then allowed their campaigns to degenerate into the smoldering ruins of personal attacks and questionable tactics.

I have watched as the mainstream media has worked overtime in trying to tell us who the best nominee would be, when we all know where their loyalties apparently lie. They hope to convince the people that they know better than the people who the people's best choice would be.

I have considered what I want in a candidate, in a President for this country. I want a man who believes in God, country, and family. I want a man who will always put these first before himself. I want a man who embraces the concepts and the ideas of our nation's founders, as found in the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. I want a man who believe's it is the duty of the President to serve the people, and not the duty of the people to serve the President. I want a man who can bring back the pride of buying items that say "Made In The U.S.A.". I want a man who will reduce the burdens imposed on small business by the federal government so that jobs can be created. I want a man who understands and believes in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. I want a man who can reduce our national debt and our deficit. I want a man who believes in the rights of all Americans to lead a happy and frutiful existence, without undue burdens and constraints in the form of governmental mandates and repression of our liberties. I want a man who believes in America and Americans.

And that is why, I want Rick Santorum to be the next President of the United States of America!

My Computer Is Wheezing (Sidebar Poll)

OK...not really wheezing. 

It is beginning to give indications...strong indications...that it is on it's last legs. So to speak. It is beyond slow and uninstalling and re-installing the OS is not making any difference. It is maxed out on installed RAM ( a whopping 2 GB), and I have removed every unnecessary software and background programs that I can.

I can not complain, as this old Compaq has served me well over the last 7 plus years I have had it.

So, I would appreciate your participation in the poll on the upper right sidebar, by choosing which brand you would buy.

I didn't choose a Mac, because frankly, I can't afford it. I did include Compaq in the poll, simply because this one has been so reliable.

If you choose "other" or want to explain your choice, you can send me an email here. Please put "Computer Poll" as the subject.

Thanks!

Times Are Tough

Yes, times are tough. As if that's something we didn't all know already.  

It has especially hit home with me recently, as my hours at work are a long way from being full time now. I barely get 32-33 hours a week at my job, and my pay rate is not as much as it was.

I know that this is a dilemma being faced by many families and individuals around the country and around the world. I have cut back expenses everywhere I can, and don't know where else I can cut back. It's a good thing my internet is free... thanks to my landlady allowing me wireless access to her internet connection. That's all that allows me to continue these blogs.

So I am asking for your prayers for myself, and for the economic difficulties faced by so many others in these difficult times.

Thank you in advance.

May God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!