Chocolate Lesson

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Originally uploaded by henkle110936

Has anyone been to Hersey PA? It's a delightful town. It is also a town INFUSED with the smell of chocolate!

"No!" you say.

If you have never been there you really don't know what I mean. It smells wonderful!!!!! A "factory town" that smells GOOD!

I probably would never have gone to Hersey had our son, Wes, not taken a position there as an athletic trainer there. We helped him move from VA to PA and though he was there only a short time I wouldn't have missed that experience for the world.

So this lesson comes from the book I read earlier this month, The Chocolate Snowman Murders by JoAnna Carl.

The Chocolate Comes to the U.S.

The earliest chocolate manufacturer in what is today the United States is believed to have been an Irishman, John Hannon, who came to Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1765. although much information about Hannon remains unsubstantiated...he apparently had learned how to make chocolate in London. In Dorchester Hannon got financial backing from a man name James Baker.

Hannon's fate is a mystery. He was reportedly lost at sea...Leaving his company in the care of James Baker. Baker bought our Mrs. Hannon and thus was born Baker's Chocolate, a company that is still around. Today it's owned by Kraft Foods. (pg 80)

***

So now you know!

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

Editorial Comment: Proud to be Irish!

Picture originally uploaded by henkle110936

Humility

by Paul Cezanne

Walk Humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

Paul Cezanne ranks among the world's greatest artists. Yet he painted for 30 years before receiving any recognition. When an art dealer finally discovered him and exhibited his painting in Paris, Cezanne was overwhelmed. Entering the exhibition with his son, he could not believe what he saw.

"Look!" he said to his son, "I can't believe it! They've even framed my paintings!"

***

The true way to humility is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.

Phillips Brooks

(Reflection from Mission 2000, Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way)

~~~~~

This is a tremendous reflection. I am reminded frequently and often not to be too proud.
For pride is the antithesis of humility. I once had a conversation about the sin of pride with one of our parish priests many years ago. I was bemoaning the fact that it is hard to be humble. I didn't know what to say to someone who had praised me. I told him that I just said it was nothing because I didn't want to seem too proud.

He explained to me that what I had displayed instead of humility was false pride. He said humility is accepting recognition with simple gratitude (Thank You) and giving credit to those who assisted (Thanks be to God.) Saying it was "nothing" was denying the workI had done and the talent and gifts I had been given. He said that humility should not be boasting, just simple recognition on the part of the recipient. After that it was easier for me to ground myself. And gratitude comes easier when I don't have to bear the burden of pride by myself.

And so I want to share with you a person, who in my young life, was a model of humility. My dad's cousin was a social worker for the Denver Public Schools. For years she would made home visits and counsel the kids and families at risk. Every year at Christmas she would receive gifts from the children and every year she would personally write thank you notes and mail them to their homes. I told her once that I was really proud to be her cousin because of all the good work she did to help these children. I told her she showed me how important it was to care for others. What she said still rings true and should ring true in all our lives.

"I couldn't do any of it without the grace of God. I am frightened every day when I go to work. He gives me the strength to do it."

~~~^j^~~~
And so I say,
"Thanks be to God!"

The INs and OUTs

This is what my desk looked like last Monday. It has nothing to do with a cup of coffee and everything to do with ten(10) days vacation. Today WILL be different. I've been back at week and the IN is mostly OUT!

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

Estes Park, Colorado 7/2009

Marriage has three blessings: The first is children, to be received and raised for God's service. The second is the loyal faithfulness by which each serves the other. The third is the Sacrament of Matrimony, which signifies the inseparable union of Christ with His Church.

~~Saint Thomas Aquinas

Today we are married 41 years!!!

~~~^j^~~~
THANKS be to God!!!

Sunrise Over Carter Lake

Carter Lake, Colorado, 2009

At the risk of being accused of Photo Overkill, just one more. And I wanted to share this Bit-of-Wisdom by Saint Bonaventure.

If there is anyone who is not enlightened by the sublime magnificence of created things, he is blind. If there is anyone who, seeing all these works of God, does not praise Him, he is dumb. If there is anyone who, from so many signs, cannot perceive God, that man is foolish.

~~~^j^~~~

I must admit that I totally agree with the good saint.

Thanks be to God!

The Beauty Stays With You...

The Creator's art
In wonder and majesty
We are left in awe!

The Surrey With The Fringe On Top

Granddaughter, Kellie, is in the summer production of the Warrick County musical Oklahoma!!!! This is one of my FAVORITE musicals and as a child I loved to sing this song! Just the best rhythm and lyrics and fun to sing! What's your favorite song from Oklahoma?

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

One Word Meme

Art by Mary Engelbreit

THE ONE WORD MEME!

Lisa at Are We There Yet offered this challenge...And it was a challenge! ONE WORD! I could write a book re: some of these questions. And so for a "babbling brook" this will be a challenge! Enjoy!

>> Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It’s really hard to use only one-word answers. Be sure to tag the person who sent it to you!

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? short
3. Your mother?Loyce
4. Your father? William
5. Your favorite food? spaghetti
6. Your dream last night? hamburgers
7. Your favorite drink? tea
8. Your dream/goal? retirement
9. What room you are in? office
10. Your hobby? knitting
11. Your fear? drowning
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Newburgh
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren’t? patient
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. Wish list item? Prius
17. Where you grew up? Colorado
18. Last thing you did? read
19. What are you wearing? nightgown
20. Your TV? off
21. Your pets? two
22. Friends? dear
23. Your life? exciting
24. Your mood? sleepy
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Car? Camry
27. Something you’re not wearing? watch
28. Your favorite store? Kohls
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? good-byes
32. Who will resend this? readers
33. One place that I go to over and over? work
34. One person who emails me regularly? Kay
35. My favorite place to eat? Rafferti's

I am not passing this tag to anyone just as Lisa did not but if you feel like participating, feel free to do so. Just let me know so I can add your link and visit you.

Visit:
Marcy at Blessings Each Day
Melissa at Shabby Blue Bungalow
Lee at View from the Choir

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

Warm Hearts Blog Award

Eileen at Umma's World has generously offered me this award.

Created By Sandy at beachgirl77 this very beautiful Warm Hearts award is in memory of her son Jonny and it is a tribute to all the wonderful characteristics Jonny portrayed.

This award should be passed on to those who are bolstering, uplifting, reassuring, soothing, calming, cheering, consoling, and encouraging to those around them.

I feel privileged to have had this offered to me. It is my pleasure to offer this award to some who have touched me in every way nearly everyday.

Lisa at Are We There Yet

Bernie at On My Own

Therese at Aussie Coffee Shop

Marcie at Blessings Each Day...

Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings

Abbey at ABBEY'S ROAD

Wishing all who visit here today blessings, joy and love through God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who guides us.

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

As an aside, I am playing I Left My Heart In San Francisco because it was one of my dad's favorite songs.

A Study in Clouds

I just could no resist the wonder of these clouds. They had such character, depth, color. I cannot paint or draw well, so I am in awe of such beauty. This is only a few of the glorious pictures on the this palate in the sky. All this took place on the 4th of July as we drove across South Dakota.

Have a grand day!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!