Matthew Kelly and A Better Version of Myself

We came home last night, after hearing Matthew Kelly, invigorated and hope filled . When the lesson is offered in positive manner, when the instruction is given without condemnation and when you are sitting in the midst so many on the journey hanging on every word, it's hard not to come away with the intention of making every effort to, as Matthew said, "Become a better version of yourself."

He's right! I am too busy. And because of this busy-ness, I neglect ME!!! When I neglect ME then there are so many things that suffer. I was hearing last night that there are many positive ways for me to improve this "version" of me. I can only tell you that when I hear Matthew speak in a way that affirms I am important, then I WANT to do something about it. When I take care of me then I am able to care for others more efficiently and compassionately. It's not being selfish to want the best for yourself, for when you are at your best then you can offer the best to others!!!

It was truly a GRAND experience last night. I'll be back again tonight!!! Wishing you a wonderful day!! In the meantime you can visit his website, Matthew Kelly Foundation.

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

Matthew Kelly: Rediscovering Catholicism

I cannot tell you how excited I am that the next two days offer me an opportunity to experience the talents of Matthew Kelly. He is a wonderful speaker who can, with his enthusiasm, lift your spirits, and motivate you to be, as he says, "A better version of yourself." And so again, I will be privileged to hear his presentation tomorrow and Thursday nights here at St. John the Baptist Church!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Grandma Gretchen's First Annual Recipe Contest

I decided to enter a recipe contest. Yes, I did. I've never done this before. I've posted other recipes that I like but never was so bold as to post mine much less enter a contest with it. But this sounded like fun. So here is my entry.



New England Clam Chowder

5 medium potatoes
1 medium onion
2 cans of minced clams
2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

1 cube butter/margarine

1/2 cup flour
3 cups milk
2 cups whipping cream

Peel potatoes and dice into small cubes. Finely chop onion. Place in large pot with clam juice from minced clams. Add just enough water to cover potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.

Add minced clams, salt, pepper, milk and cream. Make roux from melted margarine and flour. Blend hot milk from chowder pot to roux to thin the roux's consistency and then while stirring over medium heat add roux to chowder. Continue to stir chowder until heated through. Do not bring to a boil. This should thicken the chowder to a velvety consistency.

Serve with salad and warm buttered French bread. May be topped with grated cheddar or Colby cheese if desired.

You can find the contest rules by visiting Spices and Stuff. The background for the contest can be found at My Wonderful Life. Think it over and go out on a limb! Who knows you may be the next chef featured on the Food Network!

Have a grand and glorious Autumn Day...I'm making clam chowder for dinner tonight!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Picture by doe-c-does

Word Verification...

Do you ever wonder if any of those words that are used for word verification are real? Well on occasion I have looked them up in the dictionary or tried to get away with one as a word while playing scrabble only to find it didn't exist and I couldn't fool anyone else by using it. I find that they just do not exist...I cant remember in the last 2 1/2 years getting a REAL word!

Well, much to my delight, this morning when I was commenting at Bernie's House I actually had a word I knew! Yes, indeed!

It put a smile on my face and will be reminded, when I have to spell a word verification 3 times to post my comment, that once upon a time I got a REAL WORD!!!

Have a grand day!!!

~~~^j^~~~
And thanks be to God!!!

The Eight Question MEME

Friend Jenny sent me this via email. I have shared this with all my email friends. Now, since it's been such a long time since I've done a MEME on my blog, I thought I would add it here today. And so we begin...

Six names you go by:

1. Cathy
2. Cat
3. Kate
4. Grandma
5. Mom
6. Catherine

Three things you are wearing right now:

1. Brown pants
2. white sweater
3. black socks/shoes

Three things you want very badly at the moment:

1. Hot tea
2. Visit with Mom
3. To shop for my dress for Jimmy and Kelly's wedding

Three things you did last night/yesterday

1. Went to Bible Study
2. Went to work
3. Did some laundry

Two things you ate today

1. English muffin
2. Hot tea

Two people you last talked to on the phone:

1. Marianne
2. Ron

Two things you are going to do tomorrow:

1. Work at Mother Teresa's Treasures
2. Finish laundry


Your three favorite beverages:
1. Hot tea
2. Fresca
3. Raspberry Iced Tea.

Here's what you're supposed to do. Copy and past the questions into your blog. Then delete my answers and type in your answers. Send this to 5 people and link the answers so that we can all enjoy the fun!

I invite:

Anita

Eileen

Bia

Queenmother Mama

Lisa

And two (2) for good measure

Abbey

Sue

Wishing all a grand Saturday!

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

Bad Haiku Friday

Root canal is done!!!! 'twas a breeze!!!!!

Thanks be to God!!!!!

A toothache is no fun
Neither is a root canal
But pain will be gone!


This is a smidge early but my appointment
for the root canal is at 6:50 a.m. CDT
tomorrow morning. Had to get this in
under the wire.

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

Countdown to Root Canal

In a little more that 24 hours I will have had my root canal and all will be better again...Anyone have a humorous story they will share about their dentist or experiences at the dentist to brighten my day? Please share! Laughter is so healing!!!!

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

Picture Puzzle Day

Washington, DC,
Fall, 2007

Picture was taken the weekend of the National Book Festival. It was a grand time as always. Washington, DC is one of my favorite places to visit!!!

Saw my dentist today. He put me on an antibiotic, gave me some pain medicine and made my appointment for my root canal on Friday!!! Whew. I'll be glad when it's done. It will be such a "pain reliever."

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

Here is the link to JigZone so you can create and submit your puzzle. And Mr. Linky is available below for you convenience so we can enjoy your puzzle.

You are invited to leave a comment, too. Please join in the fun!!! I can hardly wait to put YOUR puzzles together!

Toothache!

Ouch!!! I awoke with a toothache...This happened a few years ago and I ended up having a root-canal done. Will be making an appointment with Dr. Pitt ASAP!!!!!

You all have a grand day. Off to take some Advil!

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

Grandma's First Pictures

Click here to view these pictures larger

We had a grand visit!!! He, like all my grandchildren, is a treasure!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Announcing a New Arrival

Art by Mary Engelbreit

Announcing the arrival of

DANIEL LYNN STAUFFER

born

October 10, 2009 at 1:15 a.m. EDT

Weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces
22 inches in length

He and Mom are hail and hardy
though Mom is most tired.

We'll be off to INDY to see the wee one soon! Everyone have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God
and
for all your prayers!

On Waiting

Waiting
Looking forward
Contemplating results
Childlike anticipation and joy
Coming
~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God

Marianne is in hospital even as we speak. Please keep her and Daniel in your prayers. Oh, and don't forget Dad, Eric as well! He's in labor, too!

I am SOOOOO excited! Can you tell?

Lady In Waiting

This is dedicated to my daughter, Marianne. She is still a "Lady in Waiting." As she says, It's DD+5. And so Marianne this is for you!

Picture by Suzy Toronto

She Who I With Child

Some women are just made
for "birthin' babies,"
For others it's a sacrifice.
She Who Is With Child knows that
she is a co-creator with God.
The nausea come and goes...
The kicking may last all night...
The last months may be torture...
But then she hears that still small voice:
"I know it's not easy now,
But soon it will all be worth it."

The Sacred Sisterhood of Wonderful Wacky Women
By Suzy Toronto

~~~^j^~~~
And so it is
and
Thanks be to God!

Picture Puzzle Day

Glass Sculpture
Indianapolis Children's Museum

Taken at Christmas time last year, it reminds me of the fun we had with Rebecca, Ainsley, and Lindsey. They went down the slides and had their picture take with Santa. It was just the most fun! My goodness but it is nearly upon us again. The Children's Museum is just the most fun for the kids!!!

Ainsley and Lindsey with Santa

Rebecca and Marianne
with You-Know-Who
~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Here is the link to JigZone so you can create and submit your puzzle. And Mr. Linky is available below for you convenience so we can enjoy your puzzle.

You are invited to leave a comment, too. Please join in the fun!!! I can hardly wait to put YOUR puzzles together!

The Simple Women's Daybook

Weekends of late have been grand and glorious. Fall colors are showing and the glory of the rose is still apparent in the garden. The Mums are in bloom and the Cardinal is roosting in the Burning Bush. Oh my, what a fresh breeze is blowing.

~~Outside my window...it is early, but the mother cardinal is flitting about.

~~I am thinking...Will wee Daniel be born this week?

~~I am thankful for...challenges that keep me alert and open to change.

~~From the kitchen...leftovers. They are good at times.

~~I am wearing...my long-sleeved nightgown.

~~I am creating...nothing special. Only continuing to work on my x-stitch project.

~~I am going...to meet with Sr. Dorothy this Wednesday for spiritual direction.

~~I am reading...A Call To Joy by Matthew Kelly. I have read others of his but this is the first.
~~I am hoping...the weather continues to be so glorious.

~~I am hearing...Duchess barking.

~~Around the house...the gardens need pruning in preparation for winter, but when to do it?

~~One of my favorite things...grouping on Tuesday night! A time to gather and pray with friends.

~~A few plans for the rest of the week: 1) Work on my vacation journal (still);2) write my reflections for spiritual direction with Sr. Dorothy, and 3) Read the Bible Study lesson for Thursday,

~~Here is picture thought I am sharing...





After you visit here please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman and journey along the path of life we all share. It will always be a journey worth sharing!

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

Your Age by Chocolate Math

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

This is pretty neat.
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute .
Work this out as you read
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759...
If you haven't, add 1758

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2009) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.

Chocolate Calculator.

~~~^j^~~~

My Mom has done it again. The game/puzzle lady
sent this to me. I know some of you have already
seen this but it is fun all the same. And who can
deny the beautiful choco-pics?

Have a grand Sunday and
Thanks be to God!!!

Feast of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin

Art by Kim Harmless

Today is the feast of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. Canonized in October, 2006, she is foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

So today I would offer these words of Saint Mother Theodore as I anticipate becoming an Associate of the Sisters of Providence in November.

"Do not give way to
uneasiness about the future.
Put yourself gently into the
hands of Providence."

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