Happy Thanksgiving!

Will be enjoying family that begins arriving tomorrow, and so it is that I will be away until after Thanksgiving Day.  I am grateful for so many things, but one of the things I find I am very grateful for is the friendships I have developed over the last 3 years.  It's been a wonderful adventure.  One in which I find the anticipation of visits from you all and the thrills of visiting with you at your "homes"  just grand!    My very best wishes to you all!  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

~~Mosaic/Macro Monday~~Month of Thanksgiving~~

   

Saint Mary-of-the Woods



ON HOLY GROUND

View from the foothills in Colorado

June, 2010

The words escape me today.  I have just returned from the dedication of a new church.  St. Clements.  It  has a history of 130 years and now it has a new place of worship.  Participating in the celebration of this members of this church I was in awe of the two thousand years of tradition that was extended through the people of God at St. Clements. 

As the bishop blessed the water I was reminded of my baptism.  As he poured the chrism oil on the altar to anoint it, I was reminded that it becomes a symbol of Christ.  He anointed the walls that the church building would be given over entirely and forever to Christian worship.  And again I was reminded of my anointing, first at Baptism and then at  Confirmation, and my call to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.  And oh, the wonderful aroma of incense reminded me that sacrifices offered in this holy space ascends to God in heaven.  It is also a sign that our prayers rise up pleasing and acceptable to God in the sincerity of our praise and worship. 

With guest priests gathered around this newly anointed alter the bishop offered Mass for the first time.   The choir sang in exaltation and I thought, "Heaven!"  Believing that I am part of a glorious tradition with a legacy that transcends time and space,  I am so grateful to have had the privilege of witnessing this event.  To the People of St. Clements I say congratulation and well done.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God! 

And, oh, the words didn't escape me for long...I also thought I'd share with you other places  today I see as Holy Ground.

Now visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

If you would be kind enough to stop by Tamara's to offer your reason for thanks at Branch of Wisdom. She is hosting A Month of Thanksgiving I'm sure you will find some delightful and wonderful words of wisdom, praise and gratitude.

~~Bad Haiku Friday and Haiku My Heart~~Month of Thanksgiving~~

Duchess, Sam the Cat, and Cocoa

Knowing your own space

Important to discover

There's no conflict here

A lot can be learned from animals.  Certainly there might be conflict but soon they'll find their spot, relax and enjoy.  And it is important, too, learn to that you can be in a group and no one has to say anything.  Just sit and enjoy the quiet!

Thankful today for those quiet times with family and friends.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Please visit Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings the sponsor of Bad Haiku Friday.  Visit also Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart.  Tamara at Branch of Wisdom  is hosting A Month of Thanksgiving and I'm sure you will find some delightful and wonderful words of wisdom, praise and gratitude.  And when you have finished  just have the most wonderful Fall weekend wherever you are!

Bad Haiku Friday

Haiku My Heart

A Month of Thanksgiving

~~Multitasking Thursday~~

Today it seems I must multitask. Not necessarily an easy thing to do for me. But I will give it a try. For you see I have friends who have delightful ways to share who I am. Lisa at Are We There Yet, Ruth at Tea Talk and Tamara at Branch of Wisdom all have given me that opportunity today So let me begin.

There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea. 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Letters and Social Aims

I'm having...Peppermint tea this morning.  It's really refreshing to awaken to it aroma and taste after stepping into the chill of the house.


My teacup is...My special cup painted by a dear friend who has since gone home to be with the Father.  Every time I use it or look at it I'm reminded of her and what a lovely lady she was.

I'm feeling...oh, so grateful.  The colonoscopy I had yesterday was normal, no polyp this time.  I have to have another in 5 years though because I have a family history of colon polyps.


On my mind...Thanksgiving and the arrival of family for the celebration. 

~~~~~*~~~~

The Husband Edition

1.  Ron is the most thoughtful of men.  One of the most vivid memories for me, one of many, was when I had to be off my feet for 6 weeks because of a foot injury.  About midway into this recuperative period I remember him going off to work, soon after he had got the kids all ready and to school.  I thought it strange he didn't kiss me or say good-bye.  He just left.  I supposed he was so busy he just forgot.  About 30 minutes after he left he returned.  He said, "Come on we're going to Brown County.  You need to get out of the house."  So with my foot propped on pillows in the back seat he took me to Nashville IN.  We had a wonderful day and all because he knew I had to get out of the house.

2.  Ron is soooo smart.  He can do complicated math calculations in his head.  The irony in all this is he hates computers.  He rather do calculations on his slide rule that use the "thing."  See why he would rather be gold panning that sitting behind a desk?

3.  He is a wonderful father.  I know this because we have 5 beautiful children who will still call Dad just to talk or ask advise.  He's the role model they all look to when they have a problem or want support.  And he's always there for them.

And so there you have it! I have oh so much for which to be grateful.

Please visit all!!!   And then you can say...

~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God

~Adventure Tour Express~And a Month of Thanksgiving~

“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints” ~Wilfred Peterson

Yellowstone National Park Revisited

Lower Falls

Yellowstone River

Old Faithful Geyser

The Norris Basin...

in all its glory...

and desolation.

A Lone Bison

Rock Creek Lookout

The Bear Tooth Mountains

I am in awe of all God creations.  And I remember as I took these pictures how I  imagined what it must have been like to be the first human to have come upon this beauty with its colors, smells, and magnificent sounds.  What fear and trembling must have occurred when they first witnessed the eruption of a geyser?  What did they think when they saw the earth boil in those bubbling cauldrons?

As Mark Twain says of his travels,

"We had mighty good weather as a general 

thing, and nothing ever happened to us at all."

And Theodore Roosevelt said this, 

"There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Three Tetons; and our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children's children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred."

Oh!  I must go back!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Now please share your adventure, link it here so all can enjoy it with you!

Tamara at Branch of Wisdom is offering us the opportunity to daily give thanks for the gifts given us by God.   Please stop by her blog and read more about the specifics.