I going to try again!!!

I'm determined to get this to work...It is just tooooo good!

The Wisdom in Hot Chocolate


~~~*~~~
Thanks be to God!

The Wisdom in Hot Chocolate

It never fails to amaze me! Wherever I least expect it I am sent a gift I must share with everyone!
This happened to me yesterday when Pat my best friend ever since grade school sent me this!! Please enjoy!

The Wisdom in Hot Chocolate

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~
Thanks be to God!

With Much Gratitude!

Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings kindly offered them this beautiful award. Though like all the others I'm not sure exactly what it says. It is still a delight to have gotten it.


I would like to offer this award to Bia, Danette, and Deborah.





Linda at ~~A Trucker's Wife~~ kindly gave me this award.
Those who know her, know how sensitive and generous she is.
If you've not met her please stop by and see her.

The rules for this award are:
1. Pick ten people and pass this award to them.
2. Then contact them and let them know that you have chosen them and their blog for the award.
3. Also link back to the person who gave you the award.

This task gets more difficult every time I do it.

Kimberly
Kathleen
Marie
Cy
Kaila
Tracy
Esther
Autumnrose
Dorothy
Easter

You all, each and everyone of you lift me up. You are joy to me. Thank you!!!!

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Thanks be to God!

Friend of the Soul

I have been trying to find a way to explain what the process of becoming an Associate of the Sisters of Providence is like and having a companion on the journey. Now I have only been on this journey for a short 4 weeks. This morning, however, I have found the most beautiful answer. The journey is made with a companion, a friend, who will journey and share the process with you. She will guide and advise.

My answer came in the the guise of a book suggested to me some months ago by Ann at Prayer, Poetry and Praise. But of course I only just picked it up to read it. So, if you will allow him, John O'Donohue will explain in the most beautiful of words what a "companion" is.

In Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas here is the idea of soul-love; the old Gaelic term for this is anam cara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and cara is the word for friend. So anam cara in the Celtic world was the "soul friend." In the early Celtic church, person who acted as a teacher, companion, or spiritual guide was called an anam cara. It originally referred to someone to whom you confess, revealing the hidden intimacies of your life. ...This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging. When you had an anam cara your friendship cut across all convention, morality, and category. You were joined in the ancient and eternal way with the "friend of your soul."

In everyone's life, there is great need for an anam cara, a soul friend. In this love, you are understood and you are without mask or pretension. The superficial and functional lies and half-truths of social acquaintance fall away, you can be as you really are. Love allows understanding to dawn, and understanding is precious. Where you are understood, you are at home. Anam Cara, A Book of Celtic Wisdom, by John O'Donohue, pg. 13-14.

Sister Dorothy has been my anam cara for a long time. But now there is a beautiful way of expressing it. Let it also be said that I find that after 40 years I can call Ron, my anam cara. For he was that before those who were to follow. I can say that my life has been blessed with a number of anam cara, but until today I had not had it so beautifully expressed to me.

So, to Ann I say thank you! Now that I have begun the book, I will surely finish it. To everyone, I wish you all the love of your anam cara.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Thanks be to God!

(My friend above is fondly named Father Thomas Daniel)

The Simple Women's Daybook

This is the second week in a row! This may not happen too often, but I think this is the first time I've actually done consecutive "Daybooks". After you visit here please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman and journey along the path of life we all share.

1. Outside my window...there seems to be the makings of a cold, but sunny day.

2. I'm thinking...today really does seem like fall. Brrrrrr!

3. I'm thankful for...a glorious weekend in which I had time to spend with Laura, Kellie and Marianne.

4. I'm wearing... robe and slippers. (Yes, the very same.)

5. From the Kitchen...Baked macaroni and cheese for dinner.

6. I am creating...my next lesson for RCIA Wednesday night. (Actually, it's written, I'm just editing.)

7. I am reading...A mystery, The Missing Madonna by Sister Carol Anne O'Marie. I just discovered her and it's fun reading. (I just discovered the author...)

8 . I'm hoping...that this week will be quiet and uneventful.

9. I am hearing...the leaves falling to the ground as I walk outside with Duchess.

10. Around the house...The leaves have finally carpeted the yard and now it's time to mulch. And there is "glitter" on the grass this morning.

11. Few plans for the rest of the week...Spiritual Direction with Fr. Gene, get my annual mammogram (have you gotten yours?), give my RCIA presentation, and complete Bible Study. (OOPS! #6 is already out dated!)

12. One of my favorite things is...doing counted cross stitch and have had a few minutes to do that lately.

13. Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Family at Beni Hana.
It was such fun and
food was so good.

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