Live Mercy, Be Holy

This is the theme of this year's congress and it is very much words to live by. The music from the opening ceremony was specifically written for this event and is beautiful. We all went to several different sessions this morning so our lunch talk was very animated and showed our revived passion for our faith. Blessings to all. More tonight. 

LA Congress

We are once again given the blessing of attending the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, CA. Currently, we are waiting for the opening ceremony to begin. The arena is packed, noisy, and filled with the spirit. We have great hope and expectations for another energizing, love-filled experience at the Congress. We are surrounded by several members of our parish family and already enjoying those relationships. 

That's what it is all about, you know, relationships! Our relationship with each other and especially with our God! More on that kater. Until the next break...good morning and may God bless each of you.

January...Still Hangin' On

I don't know if anyone else noticed but January is taking a very long time. January seems to have been going on and on...for at least a year now. 

My sister, niece, and I got new tats on the 3rd of January in memory of our other sister who passed 2 years ago. They are sunflowers - her favorite flower - on our ankles. While it hurt some, it was a great time for us to honor Belinda. 

My tat is relatively all healed but yet it is still January! 

My co-worker and I have completed several items on our to-do list this month; however, while there are still many more projects left to complete, it is still January!

Our parish has been blessed with another deacon! We had one deacon newly ordained just last month. Then this month a transplanted deacon from Idaho had his paperwork finalized and began his deacon ministry at our parish. It was just a few short weeks ago that my dh was serving at all three weekend masses. Now he is only responsible for one. We have some additional "us" time which is lovely. However, this still January....

Don't get me wrong. Time usually seems to fly by...especially when it comes to birthdays...but January is simply dragging on and on like a bad movie.

Maybe there is a lesson to be learned from this....what could God be trying to tell this hard headed woman? 

Perhaps that each minute, each hour, each day, each week is important and we should cherish each and every one like it is our last!! 

Happy New Year - 2020

Well, Advent has come and gone - Christmas season is nearly done. I am very sad that I will soon have to take down my Christmas tree and box up the outdoor nativity scene. I did finally display it outside - as it was intended - as I have been very apprehensive about putting it out on our front deck. We have a Ring now - so that helped with my decision - but also I decided that it is a beautiful way to show what we believe is the reason for Christmas - Christ. Unfortunately, no one asked why the baby Jesus was not in resident in the manger until Christmas Day - I love to explain that to non-Catholics! I love the Catholic faith including all of the traditions that have been passed down through the centuries and everything that I've learned this past year.

I have stopped making new year's resolutions as such - they are pretty pointless and rarely ever amount to anything significant. My husband and I have begun a journey to healthier living/eating but it didn't begin in January but in October. Yes, we struggled through the holiday parties (didn't attend some just to keep away from the temptations) and attended those that we simply could not pass up. We also hosted Christmas Day dinner with the family and survived! Our secret you ask? To make a plan. Think about it prior to the event and figure out what you are going to eat or not eat. Our plan usually included eating on plan all day - eating what we liked at the party - and then returning to our regular eating habits the very next day. The biggest thing to remember is to not beat yourself up over what you ate - just start fresh after and don't look back. And besides a few bouts of minor stomach distress, I can say we came through it carrying less weight than we had coming into it.

The thing that I find absolutely amazing is that I have tried many times to loss weight and lately nothing has worked (not even initially). So I was pretty depressed and not physically feeling very good at all - this was my very heaviest weight ever. This protocol/plan works (I am not going to name names here but if you are interested, just ask me) - but it is expensive. For the first phase, you eat a lot of veggies, lean meat, and their packaged food. Decent food - we have transitioned into eating lots more veggies - which I am sure has really helped. But we have stopped consuming dairy, bread, some veggies, and all fruit (these will be reintroduced at a later date). I, thankfully, get a discount on this protocol which makes it at least a reasonable weekly amount. It just makes me sad that getting healthy and eating healthy (not just on this program but in general) is more expensive than eating fast food, junk food - basically sugar and carbs. There is something wrong with this scenario.

I was raised in the era where breakfast cereals were GRRRRREAT! and white bread was the best thing since.....well, white bread. My mother worked her entire adult life and raised my brother and I alone for a few years. It was easy and convenient to use packaged foods - and while she could cook liver and onions for my brother (he loved it - I hated it), she was no Julia Childs. We were raised on sugar and carbs. It is no wonder that our bodies end up craving these so much!

So that's what I am doing - not just for the new year but for the rest of my life. I am eating healthier, losing the excess weight (and I am feeling so much better). Soon I will be able to start more strenuous exercise - I am actually looking forward to that! Right now my caloric intake is not enough to do much more than a bit of walking. Some people are blessed with an amazing metabolism - some not so much. But each person can treat their body like a temple and do the best you can for it and to it.

May God bless you and your family this beautiful time of year - and Happy 2020!

Advent Day 12

We have made it halfway through Luke. We are only 12 days away from Christmas Eve. Chapter 12 of Luke gives us much to consider and think about. It talks about hypocrisy, the rich fool, why not to be anxious, and always to be watchful - like the faithful servant.

It also tells us to give alms and to stand up for our Father.  God, our father, loves us and will forgive much. However, he will not forgive blasphemies against the Holy Spirit.  Trust in God and the Holy Spirit to give you the words that you need at the hour that you need them.

Blessings to you and your families as we get ever closer to celebrating the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

Advent Day 11

Luke chapter 11 starts with Jesus teaching us the "Our Father". Teaching us how to pray. Then he tells us that we should pray often. He tells us that if we knock the door will open, if we ask we shall receive.

Jesus tells us many things in this chapter but one of my favorites is "blessed said rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"  I truly feel blessed by all the graces and gifts that I've been given by God. Me, a sinner. 

I hope you and yours are having a blessed Advent. Please remember to pray for all the families that have lost loved ones during this season and pray for the repose of the deceased. 

God's blessings to each and every one of you.

Advent Day 10

I have had a very long day - 12 hours at work starting at 2:30 am - but now needing to stay awake long enough so I get back on my regular sleep schedule. I have come to my husband's 4th RE class (4th graders). He is teaching them about Advent and especially the Advent wreath. It is very interesting and watching their faces is priceless. 

I did read Luke before the kids arrived and 

this chapter of Luke tells of Jesus sending out 70 men to spread the good news ahead of Him. 

I have nothing wise or intellectual here - sorry. My brain is getting a bit fuzzy so please excuse me. I will try to impart something sage next time! God bless you and your families!