A Grand Weekend (Part II)

Marianne's Bridal Shower

Thank you to all who prepared for and came to celebrate at Marianne's Bridal Shower. The company was grand, the food was great and the laughter and stories a delight. I had such a good time, as mothers are want to do!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

A Grand Weekend (Part I)

I had a wonderful day at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Autumn at "The Woods" is really beautiful. Orientation went well and Sister Dorothy and I had a grand visit. She continues her work with the poor in West Terre Haute as well as her prison ministry.

Mass that morning was truly grand as the congregation prayed for candidates and companions alike as we begin this year long journey towards my becoming an associate of the Sisters of Providence. It will be a challenging journey, but not one I take alone.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks Be To God!!!

A Busy Weekend Ahead

to travel
and get there safely
a real "trip"

This is the weekend I begin my journey as a candidate as an Associate of the Sisters of Providence. I will spend Saturday at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods with my companion Sister Dorothy Rasche and other candidates to hear what is expected of us on this journey. Pray for me!

Then I'm off to Indianapolis. Sunday is Marianne's bridal shower. I'm not quite sure how to get to Marianne's as Ron is the one who always drives. Pray for me!

It should be lots of fun as it is an "around the clock shower." We will celebrate at Wes and Annie's new house and co-hostess is her sister Laura. It'll be fun to see what her "day" will hold for her.

Then, I'd like to get home by 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening. Our parish mission starts Sunday night and I really would hate to miss "opening night." Fr. Dennis is the retreat master and he was wonderful at our women's retreat last winter at St. Meinrad Archabbey. Pray for me!

You all have a grand weekend and I'll pray for you!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

St. Therese of the Little Flower of Jesus

When it's your one of your namesakes feast day you find ways to celebrate. And so it is today, I celebrate the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux. First, I give thanks to my parents for choosing the name of a saint who truly is an example of determination and humility. And thanks be to God for her glorious creation!

Today I offer as I do every month the newsletter from China Little Flower. Shannon offers these words of Scripture for our reflection as we share in the work of the abandoned and neglected little ones.

Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." -Mt 19:14

Finally in the words of this dear follower of the Christ Child we hear...

Even a little child can scatter flowers, to scent the throne room with their fragrance; even a little child can sing in its shrill treble, the great canticle of Love. That will be my life: to scatter flowers~~to miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word, always doing the tiniest things right and doing it for love.

~~ St. Therese of Lisieux~

~

So, today, on this feast of the Little Flower, do some tiny things that will make a difference!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

It rained...

last night. For the first time since June we had a steady rain. So when I let Duchess out VERY early this morning I saw Sam resting on the moist ground, seemingly content and without worry.


I was reminded of the words of Isaiah.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing from which I sent it. (Isaiah 56: 10-11)

With the vision of a cat content with the wonder of his surrounding, as I see it, I felt a calm. God is Good. God is Wonderful. God is Kind. God is Gentle. God is Father. God is LOVE. What do I have to fear?

Have a wonderful day, resting in the Love of God!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

UPDATE

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!
Amen!

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

Well, I'm back again...

After three days, I have risen from the books and words. It has been a challenging and fruitful experience with tonight being the presentation. I just want to share one special tidbit I found along this journey.

The Christian mysteries are an indivisible
whole. If we become immersed in one, we are led
to all the others. Thus the way from Bethlehem
leads inevitably to Golgotha, from the crib to the
cross. When the blessed virgin brought the child
to the temple, Simeon prophesied that her soul
would be pierced by a sword, that this child was
set for the fall and resurrection of many, for
a sign that would be contradicted. His prophecy
announced the passion, the fight between light
and darkness that already showed itself before
the crib.

~Edith Stein~
+ Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross+

***+***

Thanks be to God!!

I'm back...

but will be spending the next 3 days completing my preparation for my first presentation in the inquiry phase of RCIA here at St. John the Baptist. I would ask you to pray and intercede for me with the Holy Spirit that the words these "young ones" hear will be the words of sincerity, wonder and understanding as I offer the "Practices of the Church" and "Mary and the Rosary." May his Spirit be what shines in these presentations and love of God be truly present to them all in the person of Jesus Christ.

~~~^j^~~~

Thank you all!!!
And thanks be to God!

Blustery Day?

I started this this movie clip as a whim, a bit of humor to add to the blog. That was about 10:00 a.m. and we didn't have any electricity. Looks like the joke was on me...Blustery day nothing!!! They were high winds, apparently up to 60 miles an hour. Whew! The storm not only took out the electricity, it took down many trees. Limbs and branches were everywhere. Little did we know we would be without electricity for three days. All because I wanted to dramatize the "Blowin' in the Wind." OH! By the way...we got not one drop of rain from this storm. Guess the wind was blowing so hard it blew the rain right on through.




At any rate it proved we had a new roof that could withstand the winds as there was no damage there and except for the inconvenience (and you know it is and inconvenience) of not having electricity for three days, we did not lose any trees and only a few small limbs. I'd have to say God had been gracious to us.

Will be going to INDY this weekend to help Wes and Annie move into their new house so if I seem gone it's because I'm movin' not cuz I'm lost.

God Bless you all for your concern!

~~~^j^~~~

And
Thanks be to God!!!