Sunrise Inspiration

"Oh, Sunlight!  The most precious

 gold found on Earth"

Roman Payne

Sunrise for me is the most beautiful hope for the Day!  It begins in hope and becomes what we make it.  This to me is inspiring.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

 

Hope Is Paramount

 The end is unknown

When the future is clouded

Hope is paramount

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!!  

 

 

Hope In Sunrise

On days like today

Cloudy, gloomy and frigid

One seeks rays of hope

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Please visit recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

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Oh! The Rainbow!

Niagara Falls

Rainbows offer hope

The color is beyond compare

In all their glory

~~~~~~~

A few years ago we made an autumn trip to upstate New York and Niagara Falls.  It was just incredible!  The color was exquisite and the Falls were incredible.  I'd return in a heartbeat.  It's just not on the schedule this year!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Please visit recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

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Glorious Sunrise

Sunrise sunset, sunrise sunset, 

Swiftly fly the days,

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,

Blossom even as they gaze.

Sunrise sunset, sunrise sunset,

Swiftly fly the years,

One season following another,

Laden with happiness and tears.

by 

Jerry Bock and Sheldon Hamick

~~~~~~~

I awoke this morning to a beautiful sunrise!  Sunrises always fill  me with such wonder and awe.  And when I see one it gives me such hope.

~~~~~~~

Sun begins to glow

So early in the morning

It lifts up the soul

Happiness and joy

From the Creator's palate

Offer quiet morn

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks to be God,

Cathy

Please visit recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

O Spring

Hope springs eternal

And Spring comes to those who hope

And roses will bloom

There’s one certainty

Whether sunshine or in rain

It’s always welcomed

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

The Road Less Traveled

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

“May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
 May your heart be as light as a song.
 May each day bring you bright, happy hours.
That stay with you all the year long.”

Took a walk the other day when the weather was unseasonably warm, and reveled in the glory of  God's creation.  I didn't see any snakes, deer, little foxes.  There were no croaking frogs or chirping locust.  Yet in all the silence I heard and felt the "breath of God!"  I was not alone.  Maybe I realized this more that day because I had no time constraints and no particular place to be, but it was a joyful moment on this "road less traveled" with a beloved companion.

~~~~~~

Though the road be long

And the journey's end unknown

Steadfastly go on

Revel in  the breeze

With your silent companion

Experience hope

~~^j^~~

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Lenten Retreat at The Woods

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN

Starting tomorrow I will be on retreat at Saint Mary-or-the-Woods.  The Sisters of Providence have been in Indiana since 1842 when Saint Mother Theodore Guerin set foot in these lovely woods.  The Woods is a place of serenity, peace and quiet.  Yes, and it is the campus of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.  It is an amazing place and I am so excited to be able to spend time there with the sisters and other associates. 

I will make my retreat in HOPE.  I'm not sure what I am hoping for but then that is the reason I am making a retreat.  I pray the Holy Spirit will guide me and that I have the willingness to listen.

"But our hope is in the providence of God

which has protected us until the present, 

and which will provide, somehow,

for our future needs. . ."

Saint Mother Theodore

~~~~~~~

Hope is in the Spirit

Companion on the journey

He is counselor

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Awaiting Sping

A hush is over everything,

Silent as women waiting for the 

spring.

~~Sara Teasdale~~

As the air begins to warm and we enter the month of March, I am thrilled in the anticipation of Spring.  You want to go out and do some spring cleaning in the garden, rake the leaves from between the daffodils so that their beds are clear.  

It won't be long before the trees are covered in their coats of green and the bird nests are safely hidden out of sight.  Oh my, and it's just around the corner! 

~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

 I'm here to play and invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  Should be fun!

I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!

Hibiscus Beauty

Earlier in the spring I was sure this hibiscus bush was dead.  We had such a hard winter and my knowledge of the  hibiscus being nil is was sure there was no hope for it.  Well, as you can see I was wrong.  There was nothing but dead branches and so I cut them to the ground.  Soon, to my surprise and delight, green leaves started to sprout.  Oh, my goodness, I am grateful for the resilience of the hibiscus.  Beautiful, though it is, it is strong and sturdy. 

~~~~~~~

What a beautiful star I have found in the center of this blossom.  Nature's beauty is indispensable in the light of hope.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

I will also be joining Laura at I Heart Macro to day too.  Why not stop by and enjoy!

Hope in Time of Change

Know it's been a long time since I have offered A Bit of the Blarney.  I have had so much going on that the computer has not been part of the plan.  But now, times have changed.  

Changes come in so many ways and the last 6 months have offered many opportunities  for change.  I have learned a great deal about change of late.  

So what has changed?  I have retired.  Yes, indeed, and that is a change.  Friends have asked me what my plans are for retirement?  My answer, "I don't have any plans."  The truth is my plans include just trying to adjust.  I have time to spend doing things I've wanted to do and yet it will have to wait...

Well, because we are moving...not far, but moving nonetheless.  And considering the season it will take some time to get organized.  Those who know me know that organization is something in which I have limited skill.  So, the reason for "hope."  I think that just getting the house decorated will be the first thing I will work to achieve at this early time in my retirement.  

Thanks be to God!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Cathy  

Sunset on the Ohio

There is something about a sunset that inspires hope.  In its beauty we anticipate the glory of the new day to come.  I have much for which I am to be grateful and in reflection it has been a glorious day!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

  Today's link to Provident God.

Hoping for Sunlight

Saint Gregory Hall

Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Unlike this Sunday with no sun, only ice and sleet, last weekend was like a refreshing preview of Spring.  There is hope that his weather will not cause problems, but reflecting on this morning's Gospel reading [Matthew 6: 24-34], I should not worry but trust in the Providence of Almighty God.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Pleases stop by and visit Karen at Sunlit Sunday and offer your bit of sunshine today.
  

  Today's link to Provident God.

Hoping for Sunshne

It has been gray and gloomy here for so long that any bit of sunshine is cherished. While I sit here the song we sang as kids has come to mind.

"Sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
'Til you take my sunshine away."

And who can forget John Denver's Sunshine On My Shoulders?

So to all who have the sunshine enjoy and cherish it!  For us who are still waiting for it, find a song to sing that will brighten you day.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Pleases stop by and visit Karen at Sunlit Sunday and offer your bit of sunshine today.
  

  Today's link to Provident God.

Haiku My Heart and Share the Joy in HOPE

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.
And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as
celebrating the beauty in
a diamond thats name is
HOPE

Hope Diamond Taken at the Smithsonian, 2007

I must be open to it!

    ~~~~

          With FAITH we learn trust        

HOPE gives life to tomorrow
But LOVE brings us peace
~~~~~~

So, trust in tomorrow gives rise to hope for peace.
At least that's my HOPE.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Mosaic Monday

I always feel at home at The Woods.  I'm greeted with hugs and smiles.  The sisters and my friends are alway happy to see me.  Walks and treasured time the Associates allow me to become centered again in my faith.  I become renewed and refreshed.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   And though I have nothing to offer at  Macro Monday  Lisa has a wonderful time planned for you.  The pictures all are an inspiration!

Haiku My Heart

Lonely waterlily

So beautiful and fragile

Hope for the future

Tomorrow two young men will be ordained here in the diocese of Evansville.  Much like this poor waterlily in a pond that needs tending, these young men will be entering into a life of servitude where tending the garden of souls may be fragile, but oh what hope there is in the future.   They must never relinquish that hope.  Pray with me for them and all those how have answered the call to serve in the order of  Melchizedek.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Haiku My Heart

Clear Creek Canyon, Colorado

Spring in the Canyon

The waters from the High Country

Renewing our hope.

Hope in all beauty

Hope in all things mystical

Holy and divine.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Mosaic Monday~!Macro Monday

~~~~~~~~

And the rebirth of beauty


~~~^j^~~~ 
Thanks be to God!
Cathy

Now please visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

Travel Journal Day 2

“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints” ~Wilfred Peterson 

Left this evening after work on the first leg of the journey to Mom's in Montana.  We'll be stopping in St. Louis and stay the night at Rhonda and John's house.  Family is such a treasure.  Because there ave been some highway closing along the route this year because of all the rain an flooding along the Missouri River we called to see if  they knew of any routes to take that would have less delays.  John told us of a route  he had taken recently and then invited us to leave early, spend the night there and in so doing we will arrive at Mom's a day earlier than we had anticipated.  

And to add to the days treasures I found this quote by Saint Brigid of Ireland...

"I would like the angels of heaven to be among us.  I would like an abundance of peace.  I would like full vessels of charity.  I would like rich treasures of mercy.  I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.  I would like Jesus to be present."

And so I wish all these things on this journey!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God