A New Adventure

Imagine a co-worker calls you on your cell at work and tells you she has run out of gas. Imagine "Gasoline Annie" running home to get the gas can you know has gas in it. Then imagine it's a 5 gallon gas can. Next I want you to imagine two women, yes it takes two, putting the gasoline into the truck that had run out of gas. In all the time "Gasoline Allie" and I were filling her tank only one young man stopped to see if he could help. Of course we thanked him for stopping, but imagine only ONE! No one even stopped to see if they could call (I guess supposing everyone has a cell phone now). At any rate we both got to work safe and sound and only 1/2 hour late.

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Thanks be to God!!!!!

A Weekend of Family and Celebration!

We had glorious weather for the Easter Week gathering of some of the kids and grand kids. We were gathering at 2:00 p.m. for the meal and then just sit around and talk or nap. Anisley wanted know if we were going to eat at 2:00 what was this meal called. "You know the meal between breakfast and lunch is brunch. What do we call what we are doing?" (Sophisticated for seven, and I had no answer. "Lunner?) We we ate a grand meal, chatted, played euchre or, like I said, napped.

The kids ate and Sandy was waiting for the scraps to fall.

When all were finished there were few leftovers.

We played and ate and had a grand time.

Finally, before he fell asleep, Daniel had an opportunity to entertain Ainsley and me. By the way, Ainsley is the director in this production.



So I'm hoping your weekend was as much fun as mine, for tomorrow we start all over again.

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Thanks be to God!!!!!

Easter Continues!

Therefore we thank Thee for our little light, that is dappled
with shadow.
We thank Thee who has moved us to building, to finding
to forming at the ends of our fingers and the beams
of our eyes.
And when we have built an altar to the invisible Light,
we may set thereon the little light for which our bodily
vision is made.
And we thank Thee that darkness reminds us of light.
O Light Invisible, we give Thee thanks for Thy Great glory!
T. S. Eliot

Our celebration of Easter continues this week as the Kellers and Stauffers from INDY arrive and join us here with the Ackermans from across town. We will celebrate the Resurrection with food and family. And for entertainment we will attend the Spring Musical performed by the Students of Memorial High school.

There will be the usual ham, sweet potatoes, veggies and pie. We will chat and laugh and eat way too much. The kids will giggle, the dogs will beg at table and there will be meaningful and not so meaningful conversation.

Then it will be off to the high school for this year's performance of Annie. It is always a thrill to watch kids sing and dance and this year will be no different. Kellie is a sophomore and part of the cast (we have been entertained by the students here since Kellie began as a wee extra when she was 4). Neil her brother is an extra. What fun we will have.

The traditions of the Church allow us to celebrate this Holy Season for fifty days, not just one. We are to "party" through the Ascension of Our Lord and into Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit. We are to celebrate who we are!!!!! We are the Body of Christ!

So everyone!!!! Do it!!!! CELEBRATE!!!!! We do have a lot about which to rejoice. Continue to worship and commemorate Our Lord's glorious resurrection for this is our legacy! Alleluia! Alleluia!!!

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Thanks be to God!

Tea Talk

Tea is a cup of life.
~Author Unknown~

I'm having...Earl Gray tea this morning.

My teacup is...my "Tea is the cup of life" cup




I'm feeling...the excitement of going to the annual Right to Life Banquet here. There are nearly 2000 people who participate each year.

On my mind...anticipation of the arrival of the Kids and Grand Kids from INDY this weekend. It's the Spring Musical at Memorial High School and we're all going to see Kellie and Neil perform in ANNIE!

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Thanks be to God!!!

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house? Share a cup of tea with us.

Blogiversary~~~

I feel silly...I know you're saying, "Not you, Cathy!" But it's true. I've been so busy posting on this blog that I missed its Blogiversary. Yes, for three short years starting on March 31, 2007, I have been gathering with friends and neighbors here in Blogville to chat over the back fence, on your front porch or with a nice cup of tea (coffee). I have been welcomed, encouraged, and hugged. I have been left laughing and sometimes in tears. Not once have I felt neglected. Kind words have filled its pages.

For all who visit here,
whether you comment
or not I say,
"Thanks be to God!"
May you always be abundantly
BLESSED!

Signs of Spring~Mosaic Monday

Orange, yellow and pink

Purple, the colors of spring
Creation Glory!

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Thanks be to God!!!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

He Is Risen!!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Thanks be to God!

Good Friday

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Luke 23: 44-46

Waiting in Darkness

The darkness before Jesus died symbolizes the coming of the day of the Lord...This Iroquois prayer expresses the feeling of that moment:

We wait in the darkness!
Come, all ye who listen,
Help in our night journey;
Now no sun is shining;
Now no star is blowing;
Come show us the pathway;
The night is not friendly;
The moon has forgot us;
We walk in the darkness!
David Schiller, editor, The Little Book of Prayers, p. 322)

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Thanks be to God!

Join us today by saying the rosary between 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. as we pray for world peace. God bless you all!

Tea Talk

Strange how a teapot can represent
at the same time the comforts of
solitude and the pleasures of company.
~Author Unknown

I'm having...Irish Breakfast tea with just a bit of sweetener.

My teacup is...is part of a Chocolate Set hand painted by a former neighbor and given me by DH for my birthday and Christmas many years ago. Sipping from this cup brings a flood of memories.



I'm feeling...the anticipation of one who must get on with the day and finish it before I can participate in what I consider the most important part of this day, Mass celebrating Christ's institution of the Eucharist.

On my mind...Preparing to be in the proper frame of mind to celebrate these Holy Days!

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Thanks be to God!

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house? Share a cup of tea with us.

Deridens alium, non inderisus abibit...

Sanctuary, St. John the Baptist Church
3/28/2010

In my reading I sometimes go to the bookshelf and pick up a book I haven't perused in some time. Today I chose to open Latin Sayings for Spiritual Growth by Archabbot Lambert Reilly, O.S. B. from St. Meinrad Archabbey. What happened when I opened it was not so much surprising but relevant to the season of Holy Week.

If you are reflecting this week on the Passion of Our Lord then you will put yourself in the crowd. You will witness in the Holy Countenance the pain. You will hear the jeering crowd with its condemnation. You will see the sneering faces and the hear the verbal abuse of the Anointed One. I found this offering timely for me while on this journey and so I offer it for your reflection.

Deridens alium, non inderisus abibit
("The mocker doesn't go away unmocked")
Traditional

We live in an age of irony. Nothing, it seems is to be taken seriously, and certainly nothing is beyond the reach of mockery.

Satire and poking fun have their place, but when the tone of the ridicule and contempt hijacks an entire age and literally nothing is sacred, something is very wrong.

When we nurture the virtue of justice, we're aware that everything that God created has a divinely ordained purpose. We human beings may, in some ways, be ridiculous and hapless creatures, but when the laughter fades, here we stand: beloved children of God.

How do we deal with the flaws and foibles of those around us? Are they reasons for judgement or fun? Do we make any attempt to understand why people are the way they are or do we take the easy way out, blithely criticizing?

The question is, do we treat others as human beings or as objects for our amusement or sense of superiority?

And what happens the, when we look in the mirror? What has treating others unjustly, as less than human, done to our own humanity? (pp 170-171)

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I have wondered about those who stood at the foot of the cross and mocked Jesus, sneering and challenging him to save himself if he is God...When the earth quaked and the Temple veil is torn in half did they then realize he was the Messiah?

And so before I can pass judgment on these I must ask myself. "Do I, too, mock others for their beliefs, ridicule them for their traditions, treat them as less than myself because they don't "speak the language?" Why is it I become in sensed when I'm placing a call and am asked to choose #1 if I speak English and #2 if I speak another language. What in heaven's name causes me to be unkind? And why do I make remarks like, "If they live here they should learn the language." How do I know that they are not learning it? Who am I to judge. Why should the same offer of support be offered to them so that they might feel justified? Their life is certainly no less valuable in the eyes of God than mine! Shame on ME!

Jesus Christ did not die for those who spoke Aramaic. He didn't die for the Jewish people. We all know why and how he died. What we need to CONTINUE to learn is how I am to live the message for which he DID die, that we might live the Greatest Commandment. "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all our mind, and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10: 27) And then we must understand that when we live this law we too will find ourselves ridiculed, rebuffed, shunned, the brunt of jokes. I only pray that I will have the courage, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to deny the temptation to ridicule, humiliate, or injure others with my words. No unkind words came from the mouth of our Savior. They shouldn't come from mine either!

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Thanks be to God!