Dear Friends:
It’s been such a pleasure writing for you. Sharing our ups and downs, ins and outs…all the lovely joy and chaos of what makes this large Catholic family tick. It’s been lovely peeking into your window, as well. Connecting with other families sharing the same vision has been one of the unexpected pleasures of this venue.
Alas, I must say goodbye for a time…I’m not quite sure for how long. Catholic Family Vignettes will become a private blog, open by invitation only. If you’re a friend, family member or devoted reader, please email your request, if I should fail to send you an invitation. I regret the necessity of this action…there has been no single event that has led to this decision, just an increasing concern over just how much one should and should not reveal about those most precious to us, and most vulnerable…in my case, my dear children.
I will continue to write…I can’t imagine not. This blog is my journal. All the hopes, dreams, joys, stress, fear, faith and wonder of the past two years have been carefully chronicled here. I truly take great joy in having such a pleasant and easy to use resource for keeping these memories. But having to change names, dates and locations to protect my children and thus altering my “truth” has become exhausting. And while I’ve continued to beseech Heaven for assistance, I’m simply not vigilant enough.
Every Sunday, for many years now, I’ve knelt at the altar of Our Lady. This is what I pray:
“Blessed Mother…please help guard and preserve the innocence and purity of my children. Let me do nothing to damage that precious gift. Help me mother, to make my heart like yours. Help me to cultivate the same spirit of humility that you have. Help me to make my home like yours. May our family be like the Holy Family of Nazareth. Guard my heart and mind, Mother, that I might guard the hearts and minds of my children.”
“…guard and preserve the innocence and purity of my children…”
This request is both blessing and burden, for much is required to accomplish that end, in a world that values neither innocence nor purity. I need to spend more time focusing on their needs and our prayer life to accomplish this. Less time writing, more time reading. Less time speaking, more time listening. And all bathed in prayer…
For my dear, dear friends who remain in the blogosphere: Please, please don’t take my actions as condemnation of your own! There is no judgment here…this simply isn’t working for me and my family…at…this…time. I pray that each of you be blessed in all your efforts, that God guide all your endeavours, and that you experience only the good of this public venue.
Perhaps when I’ve stepped back for a bit, and have distanced myself from the public forum, my vision will clear. Until then…look for me in your combox and stats! I’ll still pop by from time to time to visit…and to seek a bit of encouragement myself!
May God bless and keep you,
P.S. The blog remains open until Monday, at which time I’ll mark it private.
What a beautiful farewell post. You will be missed and we will keep you and your precious ones in our prayers!
Thank you, Charlotte! You can be sure I’ll be visiting you regularly…God bless you for all your kind words and encouraging comments!
you will be sorely missed, by those who cannot access you at the touch of a button, but i respect your decision. and i hope that you will allow me to be one of your invited readers. i don’t know what i’d do without you! you have been SUCH an inspiration to me. God will bless you for all you’ve done. obviously He has given you the wisdom to put your duties first….and we loyal readers support you one million percent!!
hugs.
Yes, you will be missed!! This post was beautiful and thought provoking (as usual!), and I totally understand how you feel… I often feel the same way, and wonder how long it will be before I too come to this point! =) You will be in my prayers! God bless!!
I just wanted to say thank you for the encouragement your writing has offered me over the past year or so. Often times it has provided me with just the insight I need as I prepare for the vocation of marriage and, God-willing, motherhood. Thank you from both my fiance and I for all the information you have provided about the Tridentine Mass. We were inspired last summer to seek out a Latin Mass Apostolate near us and it has been such a blessing. Thank you for all of your writing. You will be missed. I will continue to pray for you and your dear family. May God bless you today and always
I agree with what Regan has said, especially with hoping that I can receive an invitation.
You are such a blessing and inspiration to me. In fact, you were one of the biggest encouragements I had to return to the Church.
I pray you will be truly blessed. Please don’t be a stranger!
~Kathy
Regan: you most certainly can be assured of an invitation! How much and how often you’ve cheered and comforted me with your wisdom and encouragement…
Jessica: I’ll be visiting you regularly!! You never cease to amaze me with your boundless energy, your beautiful way of expressing our lively Faith in the teaching of your children and in your daily life. You inspire me…
Sine: May God bless you in all you undertake, most especially the precious sacrament of matrimony. Your kind words touch my heart…
Kathy: how I’ve enjoyed our time in this public forum! You’re questions and concerns have always touched me and I pray that you continue to grow in love and faith for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. And yes…I’d be delighted to invite you…
I would miss my visits to you, Kimberely. Although we’ve never met, you’re encouragement and the words you write have been a “friend” to me.
Thank you for sharing with us. Your generousity is met on this end with prayers for you and your dear family combined with the hopes of staying in touch.
I ‘m not sure if I hit post before, but here it is again.
I am so sorry you will be leaving and would so much appreciate being able to visit your private blog for wisdom and encouragement. I have found much solace from your words and will be taking your prayer to the Blessed Mother for my own. It is so beautifully written, from the heart and that is what I have so loved about your blog.Please consider me for your private viewing,
May God Bless you and your family in this decison ad I pray you find peace in it as well.
Kimberly,
Your prayer to Our Lady is so poignant and beautiful!
I am really going to miss your blog.
I do hope that no suffering has befallen your sweet children
or family in connection with this venue; and that your decision
is merely based on discernment and need rather than
reaction to a certain event.
Your prayers, your musings, your photos, your thoughts have blessed me with each visit, and I thank you for all of those wonderful times.
May the Lord bless you and Our Lady watch over you as you continue to raise your family in His Name.
Peace and Joy,
Judy
http://benmakesten.blogspot.com/
May God bless you for your example and this beautiful post. I have been contemplating making my blog private or deleting it. You have given me food for thought.
I found your blog after much serching for something important to my heart several months ago. The Holy Spirit brought me here. I have never written to you, or commented, but quietly read – soaking up your wisdom, joyful spirit, and passionate love for our Lord. I am sorry to have to say goodbye to you and your lovely family, but understand why you are making this decision. Thank you for being so open to following our Lord. Your witness is such an inspiration to me, and my young growing family. All who have read about your family has undoubtedly been forever blessed and encouraged. Thank you!
AG: You’ve been such a good “web friend!” Thank you so much for your friendship, your encouragement and your good witness as a faithful Catholic. May you be blessed in everything you do!
Gae: Thank you for your kind comments. With so much on my plate right now, it’s a real comfort to know that this little slice of my time has been well spent. I’ll send you an invitation soon…
Judy: You have such a lovely family! It is such a delight when I realize so many others are traveling the same road as we. Thank you for your kind words and frequent visits…blessings to you now and always.
Christine:
Thank you for your many comments and kind words. May God bless and guide you in every undertaking.
Stephanie:
Your words touch my heart. Once again, the realization that this little slice of the internet was a place of rest and refreshment for the weary does give me comfort. I pray that my actions don’t seem selfish and hope one day to return…should God so will it. God bless you, now and always…
Kimberly
It has been a privilege to have been given a glimpse of your home. Thank you so much, I would be honoured if you would consider me for your private list.
God Bless
Would like to be considered for an invitation. I once had a Live Journal for years and got rid of it two years ago so I know what you mean.
Bless you and your family. Just thinking again of you. Yes, I’d love to keep up with the butterflies, fish, and the wonderful insights our precious Lord Jesus Christ bestows upon you!
Another hug for you and for your family. I believe Our Lady’s intercession has been fulfilled in many ways. The joy of the Lord is upon you.
Love these lines, “…in a world that values neither innocence nor purity. I need to spend more time focusing on their needs and our prayer life to accomplish this. Less time writing, more time reading. Less time speaking, more time listening. And all bathed in prayer…”
What a large amount of wisdom in so few words. In some ways, it’s the “priority list” I think we all struggle to maintain and keep; and fear admitting that we often struggle with. Your humility and words teach us well the things to remember. Thank You.
I know with complete certainty that you, dear Kimberly and the dear souls who follow your blog have truly brought blessings into my life through the prayers you offered for me. Though some may not be as clear, we will all see them clearly, when we reach the goal we are all striving for – our families, undivided, and in the glory of the Heavenly courts, to glorify, love and praise God for all eternity.
This past week, the news has come in on all my tests of the past months regarding my brain tumor. Your prayers have obtained for me a reprieve –it is stable and has not gotten larger. I can delay making any serious decisions and the need to research other options. Your prayers helped me to prepare for whatever would have happened and helped to be at peace with some of the decisions I had already made since January. The tumor is “alive” but just not growing. God has it all in hand and He’ll decide when and if it grows more. He is the Divine Physician.
Through your prayers, an unforeseen problem was discovered. It is on my tumor side but my understanding is they are not related. Again God will decide but I’m being told I will lose my sight, in that eye and there is nothing I can do about it. It will not happen quickly. Therefore, in God’s mercy, I will adjust to it as it happens. I suspect it will not always be easy but I have found peace with it. I know it is the power of all your prayers that have obtained for me this grace.
I do not know whom all you dear souls are who are praying for me but I ask God to bless each and everyone of you, for the kindness you have given me through your prayers. Thank you Kimberly, for spearheading this prayer campaign for me. I will be forever grateful. I’m glad my results arrived in time to update all of you.
Kimberly, I applauded your self-knowledge and the struggle it must have been for you to reach this decision. You have written a beautiful farewell. You are an inspiration and a beautiful woman –inside and out.
A private blog and an invitation, sounds interesting. Have no clue how something like this works but would be honored to be able to be part of it.
Keeping you and your most precious family in my heart and prayers.
Melissa
Kimberly, your blog has given me such inspiration and encouragement, and I thank you for sharing your experiences as a Catholic wife and mother with us. God bless your decision. May the Lord continue to pour His grace upon you and your entire family.
I am so sorry to see you go; I found your blog to be an inspiration and was looking forward to following your journey. Too bad I didn’t find you sooner. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.