Burst of Color

A burst of color

Beautiful colors and hues

Sharing the same home

Lessons for us all

All need the same nourishment

No one more special

~~~^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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Letting go...

Relinquishing the Unused-

but–though-necessary!

This weekend is a good weekend to part with things unused and find it's never too late to learn a new lesson.

Visit Provident God to see what I have learned.  Wishing all well!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Stop by Leadkindlylight and the poem she offers by Patrick Brennan on Grace.

Novena for Life III

Quebec, 2003

Day Three
To Truth Through Amazement

Prayer
Father of life, unworthy though I am, implant within my heart an amazement that you have shared your life with me, and have destined me for eternal bliss.

A Reading from the First Letter of Saint John 1John 3:1-2
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

(silent reflection)

Prayer
God of all creation give me the grace to live this day as a prelude and a preparation for eternal life with you.

A Reflection by Pope John Paul II*
Revelation therefore introduces into our history a universal and ultimate truth which stirs the human mind to ceaseless effort; indeed, it impels reason continually to extend the range of its knowledge until is senses that it has done all in its power, leaving no stone unturned...The truth of Christian Revelation, found in Jesus of Nazareth, enables all men and women to embrace the "mystery" of their own life... Christian Revelation is the true lodestar of men and women as they strive to make their way amid the pressures of an immanentist habit of mind and the constriction of a technocratic logic. It is the ultimate possibility offered of love which began with creation. To those wishing to know the truth, if they can look beyond themselves and their own concerns, there is given the possibility of taking full and harmonious possession of their lives precisely by following the path of truth.

Our Father. . .
Hail Mary. . .
Glory Be. . .

*Pope John Paul II, Encyclical, Fides et Ration, nos, 14, 15.

~~~~~~~

"To those wishing to know the truth, if they can look beyond themselves and their own concerns, there is given the possibility of taking full and harmonious possession of their lives precisely by following the path of truth." As I read this, I was struck by the wealth of insight in these words. Imagine, Cathy. If you can be less selfish and more selfless you can follow the Way without those burdens that claim you when the "I" in you is overshadowed by concerns for the "other". The "truth" is I know and have experienced the "path of truth". But wanderlust causes me to roam and I have to stumble, twist an ankle or stub a toe in order to know I must find my way back to "the path." It doesn't take a rocket scientist to "read" this map.

Taking full and harmonious possession of my life means loving Him who made me and loving what he made, Me! Some days I am not so easy to love, by me or anyone else. Knowing that God always does, no matter what, is the hardest part of the concept to understand and yet since it is true I must glory in that and in turn love "me" as well. So it is that true self-love means giving up the "ego" as I envision it and accept the vision of Truth as it really is. God made me, God loves me, and I have been saved by His Son. Amen.

~~~~~~~
~Today I have again been amazed!~
Wishing you all an amazing day!
Thanks be to God.

The Resurrection

Yesterday I read a reflection in Mission 2000-Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way. I had started to write my reflection in my other blog/journal, Provident God, and found myself developing an analogy using the seasons of the year to compare the Resurrection. I was so tired at the end of the day that I had to stop and I realized that it will take more reflection than I thought. Indeed, Salvation through Resurrection is not that simple when really applied to my life. But I still think of life a Seasons through which we are traveling and through which we meet many changes and learn valuable lessons as we travel the road to OUR Resurrection. I guess this is a work in progress.

If you have any thoughts in this area please offer them.

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

Meet Dorothy Dale Kloss...Amazing!

Before I leave on another weekend adventure to visit the kids in INDY and share in the fun of Marianne's baby shower, I just had to share this with you all. Wishing you all a lighthearted, carefree weekend! And thanks, Mom, (she's 84) for this fun video!

Meet the Oldest Living Showgirl in the World!

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

Mayonnaise Jar and Two Beers...

Ireland 2007 - Guiness Barrell
Originally uploaded by adileo

When I read this I knew this had been "around the world" a zillion times. I am posting this for three reasons.

1. It was a gift from my friend Ruth. Thank you.

2. It is never too often to have a GOOD lesson reinforced.

3. I wanted to save it to my blog so it wouldn't get lost in our file cabinet. I'm saving it for posterity.


When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him..

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you..

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children.

Spend time with your parents.

Visit with grandparents.

Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your spouse out to dinner.

Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.

Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God

Aside: If ever in Dublin you must visit The Gravity Bar at the top of the Guiness Brewery. The view of the city is exquisite!!!!!

Picture Ireland 2007 - Guiness Barrell Originally uploaded by adileo

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What happens when you open you cellular phone bill and see a $4000.00 bill? No, not $40.00 or $400.00 bill but $4000.00. Well, today I opened our bill and saw just that. Now I know what it's like to have a PANIC ATTACK! You hyperventilate, sweat, your heart races and then you look at the clock to see what time it is...Still have time to get to the ~~~~~Store.

Warren, the manager, held HIS chest when he saw it! Then immediately got on the phone to speak to Corporate. Yes, I had been fraudulently charged for 7, yes 7, $600.00 phones. And from where, you may ask, were these phones purchased? Phoenix, AZ. I live in IN!

The company was very generous and kind. Calmed all my fears and will be investigating. Whe asked how often they had to investigate such things the young man simply said, "I have job security." How very sad! Not that he has job security...that there are that many dishonest people in the world.

This indeed was an eye-opening experience. And though I am laughing now, all I can say is,

"THANKS BE TO GOD!!!"

Picture by Mobigates

the lesson

the lesson
Originally uploaded by pioforsky

Five (5) lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor
gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one:

'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?'

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leavin g the last question
blank.... Jus t before class ended, one student asked if
the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

'Absolutely,' said the professor. 'In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are significant. They
deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say 'hello.'

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m. , an elderly African-American
woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had
broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally
unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s. The man
took her to safety, helped her get assistance and
put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his
address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a
knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
giant console color TV was delivered to his home.
A special note was attached..

It read:
'Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway
the other night. The rain drenched not only my
clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying
husband's bedside just before he passed away... God
bless you for help ing me and unselfishly serving
others.'

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked.

'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and
studied the coins in it.

'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing im patient.

'Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress
came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness. The doctor expl ained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, 'Yes I'll do it if it will
save her.' As the transfusion progressed, he lay in
bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away'.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her.

~~*~~

This is one of those emails you get from friends that you just have to send along. You needn't forward it if you don't want to. If you wish just link it if you so desire. I do believe the more who read this the more people will find a reason to see the value in one anther! Don't you?

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And for Sylvia who sent this to me I say,
"Thank you and thanks be to God!"

Meditation, Walking on Water With Jesus

Peter Walking On Water.
Originally uploaded by J.Rashid

From today's Magnificat.

May the Lord give us
all the courage that we need
to go the way he shepherds us.

That when he calls
we may go unfrightened.

If he bids us come to him
across the waters,
that unfrightened we may go

And if he bids us climb a hill
may we not notice that it is a hill,
mindful only of
the happiness of his company.

He made us for himself,
that we should travel with him
and see him at the last
in his unveiled beauty
in the abiding city where
he is light
and happiness
and endless home,

Father Bede Jarrett, O.P.

Father Jarrett (+ 1934) was a Dominican priest from England renowned for his preaching, his lectures,and many books on theology and spirituality.

~~~~~

Today is my Road to Providence Day. Pray we are blessed by the had of the Holy Spirit and we both have save travel.

~~~~~
Thanks be to God

The Cherry Tree Carol (Trad.) - José Feliciano

This is an excerpt from The Blue Book. It relates to one of the legends that surround the season of Christmas.

A legend or a fable is a story that doesn't pretend to be historical, but teaches a lesson. The events surrounding the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt gave rise to many legends.

The Legend of the Cherry Tree

Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem for the census.

Along the way,they passes a cherry orchard. The ;pregnant Mary asked her Husband to pick some cherries for her but Joseph told her to have the child's father do it. Then the child in Mary's womb moved. He spoke and told it to lower a branch toward Mary.

As Joseph Watched the miracle,he was sorry for his harsh words.

~~~~~~

How often do I behave as Joseph in this story? This story can be a reminder for me daily as I move among God's people. I am called to service. I can offer a reply like Joseph's or I can offer assistance. I am not to rely on someone else's generosity. I am to offer my own, whatever that may be. Or like Joseph God will remind me and I too will be humbled and feel remorse at my neglect. Stories like this are true lessons of real charity, love!

*
~*~
~*~*~
~*~*~*~
=
~~~~~~
Thanks be to God!!

The Simple Women's Daybook

This is the second week in a row! This may not happen too often, but I think this is the first time I've actually done consecutive "Daybooks". After you visit here please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman and journey along the path of life we all share.

1. Outside my window...there seems to be the makings of a cold, but sunny day.

2. I'm thinking...today really does seem like fall. Brrrrrr!

3. I'm thankful for...a glorious weekend in which I had time to spend with Laura, Kellie and Marianne.

4. I'm wearing... robe and slippers. (Yes, the very same.)

5. From the Kitchen...Baked macaroni and cheese for dinner.

6. I am creating...my next lesson for RCIA Wednesday night. (Actually, it's written, I'm just editing.)

7. I am reading...A mystery, The Missing Madonna by Sister Carol Anne O'Marie. I just discovered her and it's fun reading. (I just discovered the author...)

8 . I'm hoping...that this week will be quiet and uneventful.

9. I am hearing...the leaves falling to the ground as I walk outside with Duchess.

10. Around the house...The leaves have finally carpeted the yard and now it's time to mulch. And there is "glitter" on the grass this morning.

11. Few plans for the rest of the week...Spiritual Direction with Fr. Gene, get my annual mammogram (have you gotten yours?), give my RCIA presentation, and complete Bible Study. (OOPS! #6 is already out dated!)

12. One of my favorite things is...doing counted cross stitch and have had a few minutes to do that lately.

13. Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Family at Beni Hana.
It was such fun and
food was so good.

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

What's My Line?

I had my first meeting with Sr. Dorothy on Wednesday. We meet once a month as companions on the journey in my discernment in becoming a Provident Associate. This month's topic for discussion was "The Story." I read the story of St. Mother Theodore Gueren and the Sisters of Providence. Then I was asked to write my "story." And so I did.

Sr. and I met for lunch and then discussion. She asked me to read the story, instead of reading it herself. I thought I was being cute when I titled it "What's My Line?" after the old TV show of the 50's and 60's. Well, it soon became apparent that what I had written was not as humorous has I had tried to make it out to be. When I really "heard" the words I wrote, I couldn't hold back the tears. They flowed freely. After a bit she asked me why I thought I was crying. And as I reflected I told her it seemed I was crying because I missed the people and times I have already lived. Though not always perfect and without some ordeal, they were not bad times and the people who are now gone were good and had a profound impact on my life. They help mold me into who I am. They are the one's who lead me and guided in my faith. They loved me and cared not just for my physical well-being but also my spiritual health. It was truly a growing experience and I learned that my story really is important, if to no one but me.

Taking time to write your story is a worthwhile endeavor. It's not important that it be an in depth memoir. Certainly after the initial attempt you might want to write an autobiography. It's a worthwhile endeavor because it opens your soul and mind. It allows you to see the value in your life and how other have molded you into the person you are. Think about it and then do it.

On that note, because I see this as a gift to ME, I would direct you to the story Sojourner has to tell about her incredible life at A Journey Through His Garden. Please visit and read her essay. Thank you!

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

My Favorite School Teacher

When I think back on all the teachers who have influenced me the most in my life, I think of my third grade teacher, Miss Spalding, first. A little background. I spent 1st and 2nd grade at St. Mary's School. During the year I was in 2nd grade, parish boundaries changed to establish a new parish that would have to parochial school and we lived in the boundaries of the new parish. As a result the next school year, I would be attending public school. I really loved St. Mary's School and the sisters that taught there, especially Sister Michael Clair, a Sister of Saint Joseph.

This frightened child, shy and really knowing no one at the school, had to walk into this 3rd grade classroom without knowing a soul. Rumor had it that I was getting the meanest teacher in the school and if she would become angry with you that meant she didn't like you. This was who Miss Spalding was.

At that time I realized how gullible I really am...I can't change that. I still am. But then I believed everything I was told. Miss Spalding was indeed daunting. A large lady who carried herself with dignity. She had control and command of the class from the time she entered the room in the morning until we left in the afternoon.

Why was she so good? Because she cared. Reprimands were meant to encourage not demean. She didn't single anyone out. She had no "teacher's pet." All were treated fairly. She gave us lessons in art history. She taught us writing skills by allowing us to expand our imaginations. Art had purpose it wasn't used to kill time. "Times tables" were serious lessons not just something that had to be done. Spelling was not a necessary evil but a skill that was to be used in communication. She loved her work. And only after that year did I really come to appreciate how good she was to me.

My sister Rita had her in school as well. My brother Tom began his 3rd grade year with her but tragically she died and Tom did not have the benefits of all her talents and skills as a teacher. God blessed me with someone who knew the value of an education and took each of us individually to task so that we could be the best we could be. Miss Spalding really deserved an A+ from all her students...

~~~+~~~

For Miss Spalding and all dedicated
teachers,

Thanks be to God!!!

For more favorite teacher stories visit Catholic Teacher Musings.