Mosaic Monday

Grandpa and I get to babysit for Xavier today.  Yep, we still have it in us.  First, we all went for a walk after breakfast and Coco met her friend Potato.  The we all came back to play. . . He even helped Grandpa with his coin search.  Napping?  Yes, he's doing that now!!!  Success.  What fun we had!  And a great feeling of accomplishment for Grandma!

~~~^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!

Boys Day Out

Recently the boys were golfing together.  It has been a number of year since they've been able to play a round together.  Treasured memories here photographed by their dad.  Each of these young men were entrusted to Ron and me.  Will never ever fail to see the goodness of the creator in them.  They have given us wealth untold.

~~~^j^~~~  

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

And please visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.  

Travel Journal 8

“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

Yesterday was such a glorious in these beautiful rockies!!!   We had lunch with nieces and grand nephews and grand niece.  We met them in Estes Park.  Oh my what fun!  We ate and shopped, laughed and chatted. Oh, did I mention, they all drove 4 hours from Scottsbluff, NE for the visit?  It was such a privilege for us and What treasures they truly are!

Then last evening as we were sitting on the patio Mama Deer and Wee Fawn arrived for a visit.  I only wish I could share the pictures now but that will have to come at another time.  Mama is so beautiful and Fawn so precious.  They even allowed us to witness the nursing.  OH MY!

OH and lest I forget!  We had an adventure with a rattle snake...short lived for him as brave "Uncle N" valiantly rescued us!

Today we are off to Rocky Mountain National Park.  One of God's true works of art!  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

~~Bad Haiku Friday and Haiku My Heart~~Month of Thanksgiving~~

The water is so clear

It sparkles and enchants us

It's a liquid gem

Jewels in the drops

Water is so full of life

It's to be treasured!

And so it is today that I give thanks of the God-given gift of water.  Often a blessing but at times the cause of unhappiness when there is too little or too much.  Consider today how precious water is and how it impacts your life every day.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Please visit Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings the sponsor of Bad Haiku Friday.  Visit also Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart.  Tamara at Branch of Wisdom  is hosting A Month of Thanksgiving and I'm sure you will find some delightful and wonderful words of wisdom, praise and gratitude.  And when you have finished  just have the most wonderful Fall weekend wherever you are!

Bad Haiku Friday

Haiku My Heart

A Month of Thanksgiving

Precious Moments

Those Precious Moments

There is a wonderful lesson dealing with in loss at Martin Family Moments. Anyone visiting there can certainly put themselves in her place.

One summer's day many years ago the Boys were playing "crew sock football" in the house ("It wasn't the football, Mom.") while I was at work. They knocked one of my Precious Moments off the shelf and broke it. Older Sister patiently glued it back together. She did such a wonderful job that I didn't even notice it until I got a duplicate for Mother's Day and she showed me the difference. Of course, I was surprised, awed and completely taken aback! Had I known what had happened the day of the accident, I would have been most angry and an appropriate punishment would have been dealt out. But as it was, the wisdom of the eldest prevailed. She fixed it the best she could and then the rest of them set about making it right for a later date.

I learned much that day. First, my children are most resourceful. They are gifted in many ways. They were frightened at what might have happened to them if I knew what they had done. Most important of all to me was that they loved me enough to repair and replace what it was they thought I cherished. What they didn't know at the time was that on that day I became aware of what I truly cherish the most, God's wonderful presence in my life through them!!!

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

Training of Children, Job Description

The Keller Kids

I never fail to be surprised when I have been lead to a reflection. One that draws on so many memories, that there just doesn't seem to be enough time to take it all in. My children have been and still are a tremendous source of pride. I am surprised this time by a quote by Bishop Fulton Sheen.

Home life is the God-appointed training ground of human character, for from the home life of the child springs the maturity of manhood, either for good or for evil.

The Quotable Fulton Sheen

What is he saying? What he says to me is most important. My children have been given to me for the purpose of bringing them home to the Father. I have been charged with the training of these "special deliveries." Their father and I are charged with their care, nurturing and training. We are to be guides in the path of right and wrong.

These children are treasures! They have given us at times disappointment, anxiety, happiness, and joy. They are a never ending source of growth for me. They have brought me to maturity. I can only hope that the path we have traveled will bring us all to the same generous, compassionate, loving Father.

Now I have grandchildren. They, too are a source of pride and joy. But this time, I can only counsel, not mold or teach...Oh, my how difficult it is for me to keep my observations to myself sometimes. But step back I must for I am not the MOTHER this time.

I know you all have similar stories. Take time to reflect on those memories. They can be fulfilling. They may cause us to regret decisions we have made in the past. But if we can REALLY reflect on those times I truly believe you will be aware of the Holy Spirit's guidance. Though things don't always work out for us and our children the way we'd like, I know the source of strength of parenthood comes straight from the Wisdom of the Spirit!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Please visit NC Sue at IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING. She has a wonderful story about a "Cracked Pot." It is grand!!!

The Book of Wit 'n' Wisdom

The Book of Win 'n' Wisdom





Bia at La Dolce Vita: the sweet life with three sons asked recently about the Book of Wit 'n' Wisdom. Thought I would share it with you.

The Book of Wit 'n' Wisdom is a project I started about 10 yrs ago when our David married. It is an accumulation of shared stories, verse, Scripture, or advise given my family and friends to the Newly Weds. Everyone who wants can contribute and then I put the book together with pages of wit and wisdom by the "masters" and The Master. Since I first stated this project, it has been given to family and friends for weddings, anniversarys and birthdays. It's great fun for me and those who receive it seem to enjoy it. It used to be a surprise, but not any more...I suspect there would be disappointment if were not presented to the remaining members of the family who know of the tradition.

The explanation of the book is on the opening page.

The Book of Wit 'n' Wisdom is a Keller Family tradition based on the willingness of the Iris to always have advise to give, tales to tell or memories to share by family and friends for every occasion or celebration. The Keller Clan wishes [happiness to all in life's Adventure] full of tales with just enough Blarney to make them worth telling.

The books have ranged in size from the first one in 5x7 albums to Father Gene's regular sized album of the celebration of his 25th Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. They have all been a grand adventure for me as I get to participate in sharing of the family's "treasures" they wish to share.

Please feel free to begin your own projects for birthdays, Baptisms, Confirmations, or Graduation. Anytime you wish to celebrate Family and Friends and gather it together in one place as a lasting memory of those you love. A book much like one given us by our Creator Father in his Words of Wisdom in the Most Holy Bible, a book we have TREASURED for all time. His words are often found repeated in the pages of the Book of Wit 'n' Wisdom. Consider joining this adventure. It has certainly be worth the journey for me.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

I Have Been Blessed!

On my arrival home here at A Bit of the Blarney I find that I have been given the I Love Your Blog Award. So it is with gratitude that I accept this from Autumnrose at Christ's Rose and Kimberly and Our God Is An Awesome God. Thank you both so much. You are both dear and I do so love to visit with you

For the I Love your blog award there are rules. Here they are…you have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others!

• The questions are as follows:
  • Where is your cell phone? ~ purse
  • Where is your significant other? ~ eating
  • Your hair color? ~gray
    
  • Your mother? ~ alive
  • Your father? ~ deceased
  • Your favorite thing? ~ laughing
  • Your dream last night? ~ none
  • Your dream/goal? ~ retirement
  • The room you’re in? ~ office
  • Your hobby? ~ knitting
    
  • Your fear? ~ rejection
  • Where do you want to be in 6 years? ~ traveling
  • Where were you last night? ~ RCIA
  • What you’re not? ~ "old"
  • One of your wish-list items? ~DVD
  • Where you grew up? ~ Colorado
  • The last thing you did? ~ slept
  • What are you wearing? ~ robe
  • Your TV? ~ off
  • Your pet? ~Duchess
  • Your computer? ~well-used
  • Your mood? ~ sleepy
  • Missing someone? ~ no
  • Your car? ~ Camry
  • Something you’re not wearing But that you love to wear? ~ earrings
    
  • Favorite store? ~ Target
  • Your summer? ~ wonderful
  • Love someone? ~ husband
  • Your favorite color? ~green
  • When is the last time you laughed? ~ yesterday
  • Last time you cried? ~ yesterday

I now nominate Eileen at Eileen on him...at least I try!, Freddie at a friars style, Danette at A crocus in the Valley, Angie at Sonflower, The Dutchess, Isadora at Budapest Daily Photo and Joy at Made for Joy.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God

Stewardship

This article was in this months issue of Ligorian Magazine I found it to be a valuable lesson on what I place value. It is short and a good reflection if you are willing to take the time to reflect on what or in whom you place value. The title of the article is the "$ale-vation of Our Souls" by Father Byron Miller of New Orleans.

An economics textbook I used in college noted that money captivates people. It is the only commodity that has no value in and of itself--it will not feed, clothe, shelter, or entertain us. It has value only when we use it. . .

The wise, stammering old Benedictine monk in the best-selling book Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul by Tony Hendra says, "P-p-possessions are the extension of the self, you see. . .The more possessions, the less likely will be your release from the p-p-prison. in our community, property is forbidden because it gets in the way of love and trust between its members. if every man had his own private property, the community would just be a collection of individual p-p-prisons, wouldn't it?"

Have we become a collection of individuals in prison with cable television and Internet access in each cell? The christian community know detachment from possession is the "Get Out of Jail Free" card that releases us from the imprisonment. . .Hard earned riches and even those won rather freely are worthy blessing from God. In theory, no harm comes from owning things or from the pleasure derived from their ownership.

Then why did Christ freely adopt poverty and simplicity when, as the Son of God, he could have easily chosen a more lavish lifestyle? Christ associated with those who had means, but his message called them to use their means for a greater end. The rich man in the parable is not condemned because of his wealth nor because he dressed and ate well. (See Lk 16:19-31.) When John Paul II visited New York City in October, 1979, he stressed that the rich man was condemned because he ignored the beggar, Lazarus: Christ does not condemn the mere possession of material good, but he does have harsh words for those who use their possessions selfishly without caring about their neighbor who lacks life's necessities. In essence, the Pope was saying that those who know how to detach themselves from their possessions and their power so as to put them at the service of the needy are blessed.

Christ commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strenght; that we should also love with our pocketbooks is implied. The second commandment is to love others as much as we love ourselves. (See Jn 13:34.) Love of God and others becomes two side of the same coin, for when we love one another God dwells in us and God's love within us is perfected. (See 1 Jn 4:12) Those who adhere to Christ's commandment of love "are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mk 12:34). Conversely, love of mammon over God takes us away from the reign of God, as demonstrated by the young man who "went away grieving, for he had many possessions." (Mk10:22).

*****

Enough said! Thanks be to God.