Independence Day

Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty

O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

June blooms

AMDG

Here’s your sign

Do you have something that you take as a sign from God or the angels or the saints?  Some people, after praying to St. Therese or to the Virgin Mary, look for a rose that their prayer has been answered, or at least heard.  For whatever reason, for me, it has always been a deer.

This morning when I walked Jack I wasn’t exactly praying.  More like grumbling my way through our walk.  The hairy beast woke me up at 6am and then again at 6:30 wanting his morning stroll.  So, when we finally made it out at about seven, I was feeling very put upon. 

Lately it seems everyone and everything wants a part of me, and wants or needs more than I sometimes have to give.  The gardens need tending, the curtains need sewing, bread needs to be baked, groceries need to be bought.  My current work contract is soon ending so I am on the job hunt once again.  That means many phone calls and interviews, even at times I find mighty inconvenient (like this evening??).  Jack wants what he wants when he wants it, not later, but now.  Even if it is 6am and I’m still trying to sleep.

All that, and more, was going through my head as we walked our neighborhood.  Instead of enjoying the sunshine and relatively cool temperatures, I was a bitchin’ and a moanin’, even if it was just to myself. 

As we headed toward home we came around a curve in the road and saw the most beautiful doe wandering in the shadows of the neighbor’s front yard.  We stopped and watched her and she looked at us curiously then wandered off.  It was beautiful and peaceful.

Here’s your sign!

AMDG

Life on Hold?

I remember way back when, when we were hoping and trying to have babies, how life seemed to be lived in two week increments – CD1 to peak to waiting, hoping for that BFP.  It often times seemed like life was on hold. I didn’t want to get a season pass to the local amusement park,  just in case.  I didn’t want to commit to vacation plans,  just in case.  I wouldn’t drink that glass of wine or beer, you’ve got it,  just in case.

Somewhere along the line I figured out that if I kept living life like that I was going to be missing a whole lot of it.  And if that BFP didn’t ever happen, and it didn’t, where would I be?  Probably wishing I had done things differently.  So we did.  We chose to live life boldly and appreciate the here and now.

What reminded me of this is the mess a of room that is our dining room, now “storage room”,  that currently holds all the displaced living room furniture.  Lamps and tables and boxes clutter the floor and make the room unusable for the time being.

It was so tempting to put off having company until the decorating was complete.  The house is a mess, don’t come over.  Had we did that, though, we would have missed an awesome visit with my cousins who were visiting from Florida.  We would have not had potato pancakes and fresh kilbasa with my in-laws.  We would still be waiting to catch up with friends.

We keep plugging away at the decorating.  I have been working on the curtains and we just found out that the carpeting will be installed tomorrow.  We’ll still have pictures to print and frame.  And I want to sew some new pillows for the couch and it will take a while.  But heck if I’m putting the rest of life on hold!

AMDG

Sew long

We're in the midst of a home redecorating project, one that should have been long done. I am trying to find something for which to be grateful during this long time of waiting.

I suppose the first is the most obvious. We are doing it. We are making that room, the living room, our own. No more of the previous owners' decorating choices, none of their color picks, grace the walls and soon the floors. We are doing it to our tastes and enjoying being creative in the decisions we are making.

It has taught me patience, more than I want at this time, but patience nonetheless. In March I ordered fabric for our new curtains and it should have arrived sometime mid-April. But, it apparently was on a slow boat from China (no, really it was) and got delayed in customs. So, it arrived in the middle of May, right about the same time I got my much mulch. Outdoor chores had to take priority. And then there was the carpet. Don't get me started. Not now. The carpet, that's a topic for whole other post.

Another post. This whole decorating project has given my slightly empty head much fodder for future posts. I suppose that, too, is something for which to be grateful.

AMDG

That's Why I Pray

I’m begging for forgiveness
I wanna make a difference even in the smallest way
I’m only one person, but I can feel it working
I believe in better days
That’s why I pray, yeah
That’s why I pray, yeah

AMDG

One Lovely Blog Award

Mary at St. Henry II gave me this award. What fun! I've enjoyed her blog for a while now and have been inspired by her choice to be a Prayer Warrior for Larisa. Thank you, Mary!

Here are the steps to follow after receiving this award:
· Share who gave it to you with a link back to their blog.
· Write down seven random facts about yourself.
· Give this award to fifteen other bloggers.
· Let them know they’ve won.
· Pop the award on your blog.


Seven random facts about me:

· I can't whistle, not one bit. When I try, it sounds like howling wind.

· I can't hula hoop either. This girl's hips just don't move that way!

· Many, many years ago I traveled to Russia and while in Moscow was detained by the police.

· In grade school I took guitar, flute and french horn lessons.  Unfortunately, I didn't stick with any of them.  I wish I had.

· The longest distance I've ever run is 20 miles.

·  I used to be terrified of speaking in public.  I got over it and even gave a speech in front of 500 people. 

· If I had to choose between chocolate and vanilla ice cream, I would choose vanilla, every single time.


I am giving this award to:

The Road Home

Perfect Power in Weakness

City Wife, Country Life

Life as Two

Catholic & Crunchy

Made for Another World

AMDG

Hospitality

Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.

Hebrews 13:2 

Saturday morning our neighbor next door called and invited us over for a swim in their pool and “happy hour.”  I had a commitment to do something early that afternoon so we decided Himself and I  would wander over there about 3:30 or so.  We didn’t do much swimming, but we sat and drank these tasty treats and talked about everything under the sun.  Topics included gardening, losing a parent, faith, politics, cooking and local restaurants, the dogs (of course), education, art, raising teenagers (they have 2) and the odd things boys that age like to do.  The hours flew by and I went home that evening feeling refreshed and relaxed. 

Kim has, on many occasions, issued a blanket invitation to come over and swim whenever we want.  We have never taken them up on it.  The next morning it hit me.  We often issue the same invitation to friends and family.  Stop over any time and we’ll sit on the patio and have a drink.  And, yet, with the exception of my in-laws, no one has really ever taken us up on that offer.  I suddenly understood all of Kim’s invitations.  They feel blessed with what they have and wish to share it, and the enjoyment it brings, with others. 

We live in a fairly rural area and enjoy an abundance of wildlife.  It brings us great joy to watch the bluebirds go in and out of the box building a nest or a gold finch take a bath in the pond or a snake slither along the garden wall.  We feel blessed and are grateful.  We want to share it.

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton

What a great gift it is to allow someone to take care of you.  Mary Magdalene washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 

Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.  Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:37-38)

I often pride myself on being a good hostess.  This weekend I learned that being receptive to and participating in someone else's hospitality is important as well.  Jim and Kim shared something that was important to them; something that brings them joy and happiness.  And for that I am grateful!

AMDG

Well dressed

I’ve always regarded nature as the clothing of God.

 - Alan Hovhaness

AMDG

Flag Day

June 14th is Flag Day.  I don't know why I remember it, but I do.  I love flying our flag and seeing others do so as well.  There is incredible importance and significance in that piece of fabric.  The fact is, it is not just a piece of fabric.  It encompasses everything it took to make this country what it is, or at least what it should be. 

If you do nothing else to celebrate this day, watch this video.  Red Skelton description of the pledge to our flag is timeless, and oh so true.

AMDG