Praise God!

It's been awhile since I took tome to consider the praises I need to offer to God in my life. So today I reflect on that.

1) I praise Him for this glorious summer. The weather has been magnificent.

2) I praise Him in the talent He allows me to see in my grandchildren.

3) I praise His holy name in the midst of all those who witness to me in my life.

4) I praise Him in the people he allows me to meet each and every day.

5) I praise Him for his generosity to me and my family.

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

Weekend of Sharing

God is watching!
July, 2009

Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope and endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.

Romans 12:12-13

It's the weekend. But this weekend is a special weekend. The fourth Saturday is always special because it is the day Ron and I volunteer at Mother Terese's Treasures, the parish thrift shop. We offer three hours to serve in whatever capacity is needed this ministry. Ron usually runs the register (penance for him as he'd rather do lifting and toting but on Saturday there isn't much of that) and I will sort and mark clothes and other items. The time we spend there is uplifting because I SERVE, We SERVE.

Every summer the St. John the Baptist Council of the Knights of Columbus sponsor a cookout for the kids at Gibault School near Terre Haute. Tomorrow is that Sunday. It is a pleasure to meet these special kids. I never know, and don't want to know what circumstances brought them to Gibault, but this is the last stop for many of these kids before they enter the prison system. It's amazing how gracious these young people (ages 7-high school) are and how sincere their gratitude is for this simple meal of hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato chips.

I pray that no child has to suffer ever. I often wonder why they must suffer. But if by offering time with these kids, letting them know they have value and are worthy of our time, we can keep any of them out of prison I say DO IT!

This is a grand weekend. Please enjoy yours!!!!!

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

Bad Haiku Friday

It's Friday it's TRUE!
I'm glad this week is tha-rough
Grand weekend to all!!!

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

Chocolate Lesson

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Originally uploaded by henkle110936

Has anyone been to Hersey PA? It's a delightful town. It is also a town INFUSED with the smell of chocolate!

"No!" you say.

If you have never been there you really don't know what I mean. It smells wonderful!!!!! A "factory town" that smells GOOD!

I probably would never have gone to Hersey had our son, Wes, not taken a position there as an athletic trainer there. We helped him move from VA to PA and though he was there only a short time I wouldn't have missed that experience for the world.

So this lesson comes from the book I read earlier this month, The Chocolate Snowman Murders by JoAnna Carl.

The Chocolate Comes to the U.S.

The earliest chocolate manufacturer in what is today the United States is believed to have been an Irishman, John Hannon, who came to Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1765. although much information about Hannon remains unsubstantiated...he apparently had learned how to make chocolate in London. In Dorchester Hannon got financial backing from a man name James Baker.

Hannon's fate is a mystery. He was reportedly lost at sea...Leaving his company in the care of James Baker. Baker bought our Mrs. Hannon and thus was born Baker's Chocolate, a company that is still around. Today it's owned by Kraft Foods. (pg 80)

***

So now you know!

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

Editorial Comment: Proud to be Irish!

Picture originally uploaded by henkle110936

Humility

by Paul Cezanne

Walk Humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

Paul Cezanne ranks among the world's greatest artists. Yet he painted for 30 years before receiving any recognition. When an art dealer finally discovered him and exhibited his painting in Paris, Cezanne was overwhelmed. Entering the exhibition with his son, he could not believe what he saw.

"Look!" he said to his son, "I can't believe it! They've even framed my paintings!"

***

The true way to humility is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.

Phillips Brooks

(Reflection from Mission 2000, Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way)

~~~~~

This is a tremendous reflection. I am reminded frequently and often not to be too proud.
For pride is the antithesis of humility. I once had a conversation about the sin of pride with one of our parish priests many years ago. I was bemoaning the fact that it is hard to be humble. I didn't know what to say to someone who had praised me. I told him that I just said it was nothing because I didn't want to seem too proud.

He explained to me that what I had displayed instead of humility was false pride. He said humility is accepting recognition with simple gratitude (Thank You) and giving credit to those who assisted (Thanks be to God.) Saying it was "nothing" was denying the workI had done and the talent and gifts I had been given. He said that humility should not be boasting, just simple recognition on the part of the recipient. After that it was easier for me to ground myself. And gratitude comes easier when I don't have to bear the burden of pride by myself.

And so I want to share with you a person, who in my young life, was a model of humility. My dad's cousin was a social worker for the Denver Public Schools. For years she would made home visits and counsel the kids and families at risk. Every year at Christmas she would receive gifts from the children and every year she would personally write thank you notes and mail them to their homes. I told her once that I was really proud to be her cousin because of all the good work she did to help these children. I told her she showed me how important it was to care for others. What she said still rings true and should ring true in all our lives.

"I couldn't do any of it without the grace of God. I am frightened every day when I go to work. He gives me the strength to do it."

~~~^j^~~~
And so I say,
"Thanks be to God!"

The INs and OUTs

This is what my desk looked like last Monday. It has nothing to do with a cup of coffee and everything to do with ten(10) days vacation. Today WILL be different. I've been back at week and the IN is mostly OUT!

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

Estes Park, Colorado 7/2009

Marriage has three blessings: The first is children, to be received and raised for God's service. The second is the loyal faithfulness by which each serves the other. The third is the Sacrament of Matrimony, which signifies the inseparable union of Christ with His Church.

~~Saint Thomas Aquinas

Today we are married 41 years!!!

~~~^j^~~~
THANKS be to God!!!

Sunrise Over Carter Lake

Carter Lake, Colorado, 2009

At the risk of being accused of Photo Overkill, just one more. And I wanted to share this Bit-of-Wisdom by Saint Bonaventure.

If there is anyone who is not enlightened by the sublime magnificence of created things, he is blind. If there is anyone who, seeing all these works of God, does not praise Him, he is dumb. If there is anyone who, from so many signs, cannot perceive God, that man is foolish.

~~~^j^~~~

I must admit that I totally agree with the good saint.

Thanks be to God!

The Beauty Stays With You...

The Creator's art
In wonder and majesty
We are left in awe!

The Surrey With The Fringe On Top

Granddaughter, Kellie, is in the summer production of the Warrick County musical Oklahoma!!!! This is one of my FAVORITE musicals and as a child I loved to sing this song! Just the best rhythm and lyrics and fun to sing! What's your favorite song from Oklahoma?

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!