Peace Lily

There is something so very beautiful yet simple about a Peace Lily.  It has beautiful blooms on strong stems.  It seems to have dignity.  It is a plant with a strong constitution.  How else could it survive in my house or any house for that matter when one forgets to water it?  But, it does.  It reminds me when its leaves fall limp, and they spring up again when fed just to say, "Thank you?"  It is so forgiving.  If real peace could be this simple.

~~~~~~

Peace Lily my friend
Offering so much beauty
Sadly less returned

What the remedy
I will show the tenderness
She truly deserves

~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

I'm joining Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

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

Butterflies and Flowers

Awoke this morning to 7 inches of snow in Indianapolis.  We drove 3 hours south and west, home to Newburgh to still frigid temperatures...I do wish it were spring!

So while waiting I'll just dream of those gorgeous blooms just waiting to "spring" forth!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

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

Spring's 'round the Corner

The years at the spring

And day's at morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearleld;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in his heaven-

All's right with the world!

~~Robert Browning~~

I know that Spring is still three weeks away and the change to daylight savings time is not for two weeks.  You can accuse me of pressing my luck.  So be it!!  Just remember!  The Feast of Saint Patrick falls between both...There is Hope for Spring!!!  

~~~~~~

Spring's 'round the corner

Goslings and ducklings are born

Softness in down

Little lambs and calves

Nourished by their mother's milk

Spring's 'round the corner

~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

I'm joining for the first time Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

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

Retreat Postscript

Today is the day after...I've been on a high.  Yes, a high.  The two days at Saint Meinrad Archabbey each year are something I really look forward to.  Most years the weather is conducive to long walks and quiet.  But this year there was ice, sleet and snow, there was no walk around the lake or reflection at the Grotto.  You know, I did have time for quiet alone at the Abby Church, the guest house chapel and sitting quietly in the reading room watching the snow/sleet and thanking God for the Monks and their hospitality!  Thanks, too, to St. Benedict and his Rule.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Sunset to Sunrise!

I have found when writing this post that sunrise and sunset are really treasured gifts.  It makes no difference whether it a sunrise or a sunset.  No difference because they are both glorious creations of God our Father.  And gratitude should be given at the beginning and the end of each day.

Sunrise and sunset

Beauty in reds and oranges

Glorious jewels

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

I'm joining for the first time Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

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

Ash Wednesday

Be sure that you first preach by the way you live.  If you do not people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head.  ~~St. Charles Borromeo

This Lent, as all that have gone before, is a journey to prepare us for the REAL celebration.  The celebration of our Redemption.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Cat Expression

Simba sits there watching.  Calmly staring without blinking at me.  What is he thinking?  Is he preparing to nap? Is he getting ready to scold me?  His sister is playing with  his favorite toy but  he is not deterred.  I continue to knit and he continues to stare.  This goes on for some time.  (Long enough to get a couple of pictures that are all the same pose.)  Then, just as suddenly as he took this pose, he rises, arches his back to stretch, meows, and leaps from the sofa and off he went.

Perhaps, I should consider this a lesson to me from the sage, Simba, a lesson in calm, peace and tranquility.  And maybe what he is saying to me with those eyes that look so very stern, "Hear what I am saying, be quiet and at peace.  Relax, life is good, remember what I say!!"

Simba is the sage

The cat that's full of wisdom

His eyes say, "listen."

Tranquility his

Calm and peace the lesson

He wants this for all

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

I'm joining for the first time Little Things Thursday.  Looks like fun.  Drop by for a visit!

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing all a Happy and Healthy 2015. My resolution for this new year is to remember daily the blessing I have been given and give thanks for them.  Blessings are never underrated!!!  Or at least they shouldn't be underrated.  

So I resolve to rise in the morning and thank God!  And I resolve to end my day thanking God for the day given me.

Best Wishes!!!!

Cathy

Celebrating 2014

It's nearly the end of 2014 and there is so much for which I am thankful.  This last winter was very cold, colder than normal, but that didn't dim the glory of the glorious sky.  

Spring brought the fun and excitement of traveling to Montana to visit Mom and attend my nieces graduation from Montana State University.  Oh, what a grand time we had.  There was the glory of spring flowers and the Montana skies.  Mom turned 89 in May and though she suffers from dementia she is so very healthy!  And she can still beat me at dominoes!!!!  Thanks be to God!

Our annual visit to Colorado to get our Rocky Mountain High... and no I don't need marijuana to get one.  We visited friends and family.  The "boys" played with the train and took some very realistic photos.  We had a friendly buck come as spend several hours with us and made himself at home.  Our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, as always, lifts the spirits.  And finally, our trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming to visit the railroad museum there was a high light for Ron as he was able to get pictures of a layout for his precious Argo Mill. 

Finally this year ends in celebration of life and family.  I retired the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and was surprised by Wes and Laura as they "crashed" the party at work and brought me to tears for their thoughtfulness.  I was also surprised by two special ladies, Christine and Jamie, with  whom I had the privilege to work.  Leaving Newburgh Family Physicians was hard.  I worked with an incredibly conscientious and compassionate doctor and a staff that has each and every patient at heart.  

Christmas brought the Keller Clan together.  I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to have all my children, their spouses and grandchildren all here!!!  Oh my what fun we had!!  We were able to have a family portrait taken for the first time in 10 years.  Time spent with family is always time well spent!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

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

Jingle Rail Christmas Collage

What fun we had yesterday at The Eitelljorg Museum in Indianapolis.  It is home to the holiday exhibit for Jingle Rails.

"The railroad changed the face of the West forever and Jingle Rails brings that story to life. The exhibit is a series of trestles, bridges, tunnels and trains that wind through detailed replicas of both the city of Indianapolis and Western landmarks. Eight trains wind through the elaborate landscape, including lighted passenger trains, trains with vintage posters and advertisements on their sides and freight trains."

Ron and Ainsley, Lindsey and Daniel had a grand time.  Well, so did I...The exhibit is made entirely of natural woods except, of course, for the rails and trains. There was the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Mt. Rushmore, and Aspen ski resort.  There was even the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde.  And who could leave out the city of Indianapolis and the State Fair Grounds.  All in all it was quite an experience.

  

~~~~~~

After lunch at Sanatorini's, a Greek restaurant in Indianapolis, we bid the kids and grandkids adieu and returned home last evening.  It was, indeed a wonderful holiday experience.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

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