The road to recovery is sublime...

As the sun was going down this evening on my way home from work, I noticed the glow of the trees in all their glory. It seemed their color alone could light the way. That, the Glory of God.

Tonight as Duchess and I went outside for a few minutes while she sniffed the fresh air and scouted the back yard, rising was not only the moon, but also Venus and Jupiter. That, the Glory of God!

Healing has come. The throat is less sore and the cough less frequent. Today the beginning of antibiotic therapy. That, the Glory of God.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

While it's been a while since I've done this I do visit those who contribute. So after you visit here please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman and journey along the path of life we all share.

So I begin.

1. I'm thinking...the trees still are in all their glory. God is allowing us to appreciate them a little longer this year..

2. From the Kitchen...and this morning it's hot oatmeal.

3. I am creating...and have nearly completed my presentation for RCIA Wednesday night.

4. I'm wearing... robe and slippers. (Some things never change.)

5. I am reading..."The Words we Pray" by Amy Welborn, again.

6. I'm hoping...I'm completely over this sore throat by Wednesday and tha I don't sound like an old fog horn. It is still sore and the cough is such a nuisance.

7. I am hearing...Duchess, the dog, snoring.

8. Around the house...There are signs that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

9. Few plans for the rest of the week...Get it readiness for my 1st meeting with Sister Dorothy and we journey the road to my becoming a Providence associate.

10. One of my favorite things is...the color of trees this time of year tha remind me that they are again preparing for a new resurrection in the Spring.

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

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

China Little Flower

This letter from Shannon at China Little Flower is just a reminder to all that we are entrusted with the care and nourishment of souls that cross our paths. In this month in which we give thanks for all our blessing. Please take time to investigate how you can personally become involved in the lives of those in most need. God will be good to you just as he has always been.

I received this gift from Esther. I am pleased she thinks this blog is HOT. So, I will pass it on to some other Hot Blogs. Thank you Esther!!!

1. Mike at This I Do
2. Angie at Sonflower
3. Joy at Norwich Daily Photo
4. Tracy at A Catholic Mom in Minnesota

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Thanks be to God!

A reason be to QUIET...

Well, wouldn't you know? The Feast of Saint Blase isn't until February 3. Can't remember the last time I had a sore throat like this. It feels like I had my tonsils removed all over again...Dr. Kris said the best thing to do is just rest my voice for the weekend as I have had this for about 4 days now and being quiet would help. (A boss's gentle way of saying,"Be still.") The cough medicine worked now if only the honey and lemon would do their part...

You all have a restful, holy weekend and perhaps by the time I am due to lector tomorrow, all will be "well."

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

Bad Haiku Friday

WHY?

It is a quandary
It's a mystery to me
Why some can't comment.

Of late I've gotten emails from friends, long-time blogging friends who tell me they are unable to leave a comment on my blog. I got another yesterday. I've worked again on the settings and tried to figure out why some can and others seem to have difficulty. As a system's check, would you just say, "Hi"? This boggles the mind, of which I seem to be missing the technical part. Thank you!

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And
Thanks be to God!

The Prayer

The topic this week...Prayer. There is much to learn and be taught about prayer. Interestingly, there is a lot written about prayer. So, while I have the chance, in preparation for my presentation I though I would share my wanderings with you.

In Catholicism for Dummies I found this.

We Are Family

In the Bible, a mother begged Jesus to drive a demon our of her daughter (Mark 7:25-30). The Church maintains that Jesus, being God and man, already knew that the daughter was plagued by a demon, so he didn't need the mother to tell him. But he allow and permitted the mother to get involved and ask for help on behalf fo her child.

Likewise, the Church believes that Jesus doesn't need the saints to tell him anything but he permits people to ask the saints to ask him for help. Why? Because humankind is all one family, all made in the image and likeness of God, all children of God, and all brothers and sisters in Christ, with Jesus being the brother. And the dead who should are with God are still part of the family of humankind and still connected to all on earth.

On the eve of a weekend when All Saints are honored and All Souls prayed for I offer this as reflection on Prayer. Wishing you all peace of mind and love of the Savior through prayer.

I would also ask for YOUR intercessory prayer for Evelyn Bethel, the is the mother of my friend Karen, as she undergoes surgery today to repair a broken hip. May God the Father , the Son and Holy Spirit be with them all especially the surgeons who perform the surgery!

~~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God

I Nearly Did It...

Yes I did. I set up another blog. Called it the Road to Providence. Worked on all the colors, fonts, gave it a "look". Then logic prevailed. (Anyone who knows me knows that that is not always the case. Usually it's emotions before logic) What in the world was I doing? I have difficulty managing this blog. What would I do with two? So I have decided if I wanted to share with you anything about my journey to becoming an associate of the Sisters of Providence I would use "Road to Providence" in the Title above...Certainly made sense to me!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to GOD!!!

OH!!!! Stop by A Catholic Mom in Minnesota today. She has a great list of Truths for "After the Election."

The Power Prayer

Next week the topic for RCIA is prayer. I'll be presenting the lesson. It is interesting, just as I was about to begin, that I was guided to this particular homily by St. Clement of Alexandria in the book Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians by Scott Hahn and Mike Aquilina. I must say that I am not really comfortable witnessing about prayer or even explaining what it is, as sometimes I'm not sure I can even say I know how to pray. This is a gift, I know, for why else would I be given this challenge. With all those who daily pray, how do you teach someone to pray, or even adequately explain what praying is?

Well, here is a partial answer given to the neophytes entrusted to St. Clement.

The Power of Prayer

Prayer doen't change God. He is enchanging and unchangeable. But it does change us, making us more like Him, and thus more able to accept His will, whatever it may be. Prayer makes us radiate goodness.

On the face of Moses there settles a kind of glorified hue, because of his righteous conduct and his constant conversation with God who spoke to him. So, too, a divine power of goodness clings to the righteous soul in contemplation, in prophecy, and in the act of governing. It impresses on the soul a kind of intellectual radiance, like a ray of the sun, as a visible sight of righteousness. It unites the soul with light, through unbroken love, which is God-bearing and borne by God. This is how someone who knows God grows in likeness to God the Savior, as far as human nature may, since he becomes perfect "as your heavenly Father is perfect"(Mt 4:48).

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There follows these instructions by the authors.

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Take It to Prayer

A divine power of goodness clings to the righteous soul in contemplation.

"If. . .the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its brightness, fading as this was, will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater Splendor?" (2 Cor 3:7-8). "All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image of glory to glory" (2 Cor 3:18 NAB).

Apply It to Your Life

Schedule Time for prayer each day. Make it the most important appointment on your calendar. Stick to it.

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And so there you have it. A short lesson in prayer. I'm still struggling with my prayer life. I don't know how to listen. My prayer is "Teach me to be QUIET!" Now I also pray that in the next several days the Holy Spirit will guide me to a lesson that will aid those who are seeking answers might be encouraged to amplify their prayer life.

Pray for ME!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

A Little Light Humor...

A friend sent this to me and I laughed out loud! Please enjoy Emily's contribution to today's A Bit of the Blarney! (Please feel free to substitute brunette, redhead, or gray hair for the coworker. )

Sick Leave

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss would not allow me to take leave. I thought that maybe if I acted 'Crazy' he would tell me to take a few days off. So, I hung upside-down from the ceiling and made funny noises. My co-worker (who's blonde) asked me what I was doing. I told her that I was pretending to be a light bulb, so that the Boss might think I was 'Crazy' and give me a few days off . A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked, 'What on earth are you doing?'

I told him I was a light bulb .

He said, 'You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple of days.'

I jumped down and walked out of the office.

When my co-worker (the blonde) followed me, the Boss asked her,'And where do you think you're going?! '

She said, 'I'm going home too. I can't work in the dark .'

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Thanks be to God!

Who Are the Poor?

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
September, 2007

It is clear to me that we all are being called in one way or another to help the poor. As the ranks of the unemployed grow, as many have lost their homes, and those who need health care have difficulty affording it, I ask what am I to do? Where should I go to help?

Henri J. M. Nouwen in the book Bread for the Journey offers some assistance.

Going to the Margins of the Church

Those who are marginal in the world are central in the Church, and that is how it is supposed to be! Thus we are called as members of the church to keep going to the margins of our society. The homeless, the starving, parentless children, people with AIDS, or emotionally disturbed brothers and sisters--they require our first attention.

We can trust that when we reach out with all our energy to the margins of our society we will discover that petty disagreements, fruitless debates, and paralyzing rivalries will recede and gradually vanish. The Church will always be renewed when our attention shifts from ourselves to those who need our care. The blessing of Jesus always comes to us through the poor. The most remarkable experience of those who work with the poor is that, in the end the poor give more than they receive. They give food to us.

In other words I cannot be complacent. I cannot be idle. I have an obligation to care for the poor wherever I find them. Working in conjunction with the Church I should be able to be of some use.

Praying the Holy Spirit will guide me in the direction that I can be of most use. Pray for me!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God