1 large grassy field, ½ dozen children, 2 or 3 small dogs, a pinch of brook, some pebbles, flowers.
Mix the children and dogs well together, stirring constantly. Pour the brook over the pebbles. Sprinkle the field with flowers. Spread a deep blue sky over all and bake in a hot sun. When brown, remove and set away to cool in a bath tub.
(I discovered this on a flyer at a printer's. No author credited but it's a keeper!)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Look for the miracles and small miracles count, too!
I was thinking about the state of the world one day. In a lot of ways it was a depressing thought. For a moment it seemed to me that we needed another Lourdes, a Fatima, a miracle or two to bring us reverently to our knees. Upon further reflection, I realized that even an extraordinary miracle would probably not be heeded by those who needed it’s revelations the most. In fact, the years have given us a multitude of miracles that stand tribute to our Faith yet, for some, the world continues in a spiritually downward spiral.
Then on even further contemplation, I realized that the world is full of miracles each and every day. It is the appreciation of the people that is lacking. We definitely do not have a deficiency when it comes to miraculous events!
Our daily miracles start early each morning. We wake up without mishap, healthy and able to pursue the challenges of a new day. The water runs hot and cold, we have food for breakfast and children to love. We have spent a secure night under the guardianship of our angels.
Each person’s day takes it own separate path. Some people experience more outward evidence of God’s continued power, some people quietly enjoy the serenity of it. Every 24 hours of our day are filled with strength, the expected, the hoped for, the unexpected, the longed for and the triumphant rewards of spiritual living. Mini and maxi-miracles color and encompass each moment of our lives.
A new baby is born, a child smiles, the car starts even when the mechanic feels there is no way it can make another trip. It is not just coincidence. These can be some of the miracles of our day.
There are many hectic moments when I watch the hands of the clock approach six in the evening. Suddenly, everything gets even more hectic and dinner isn’t ready. I turn it all over to our Blessed Mother, Mary, and somehow, things smooth out before my husband comes home. He thinks it is a miracle that I can cope with all I have to do. He is exactly right! It is a miracle.
We take so many blessings for granted yet continue to watch for something spectacular to happen in our life time. We want a Lanciano, another Eucharistic miracle even though dozens of them have occurred and endure to this day. We attend Mass as often as possible where we do witness a Eucharistic miracle every single time. Do you always take the time to consider it as such?
“Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.” (John Chapter 20, Verse 29)
Then on even further contemplation, I realized that the world is full of miracles each and every day. It is the appreciation of the people that is lacking. We definitely do not have a deficiency when it comes to miraculous events!
Our daily miracles start early each morning. We wake up without mishap, healthy and able to pursue the challenges of a new day. The water runs hot and cold, we have food for breakfast and children to love. We have spent a secure night under the guardianship of our angels.
Each person’s day takes it own separate path. Some people experience more outward evidence of God’s continued power, some people quietly enjoy the serenity of it. Every 24 hours of our day are filled with strength, the expected, the hoped for, the unexpected, the longed for and the triumphant rewards of spiritual living. Mini and maxi-miracles color and encompass each moment of our lives.
A new baby is born, a child smiles, the car starts even when the mechanic feels there is no way it can make another trip. It is not just coincidence. These can be some of the miracles of our day.
There are many hectic moments when I watch the hands of the clock approach six in the evening. Suddenly, everything gets even more hectic and dinner isn’t ready. I turn it all over to our Blessed Mother, Mary, and somehow, things smooth out before my husband comes home. He thinks it is a miracle that I can cope with all I have to do. He is exactly right! It is a miracle.
We take so many blessings for granted yet continue to watch for something spectacular to happen in our life time. We want a Lanciano, another Eucharistic miracle even though dozens of them have occurred and endure to this day. We attend Mass as often as possible where we do witness a Eucharistic miracle every single time. Do you always take the time to consider it as such?
“Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.” (John Chapter 20, Verse 29)
Every year I forget . . .
Although cold, crisp weather appeals to me the most, I have to admit that the shor
t span of really temperate weather that we call Spring here in California does have it's merits. I was reminded of this last night as I went to sleep.
We don't use our central air because of the high costs and our less than high budget. Since it was a bit warm, last night, my husband opened the windows and set up a couple of fans to meake it bearable. There was a slight breeze outside which accelerated the amount of fresh air that raced through our windows . . . along with the heady scent of the blossoms on our orange and lemon tree! The whole room was filled with the delicate smell and lulled me quickly to sleep. It wasn't bad waking up to it, again, this morning!
Heaven and the odor of sanctity are supposed to be a wonderfully, heavenly scent to our human senses. I certainly have to assume that orange blossoms have to play an important component in that ratio!
t span of really temperate weather that we call Spring here in California does have it's merits. I was reminded of this last night as I went to sleep.
We don't use our central air because of the high costs and our less than high budget. Since it was a bit warm, last night, my husband opened the windows and set up a couple of fans to meake it bearable. There was a slight breeze outside which accelerated the amount of fresh air that raced through our windows . . . along with the heady scent of the blossoms on our orange and lemon tree! The whole room was filled with the delicate smell and lulled me quickly to sleep. It wasn't bad waking up to it, again, this morning!
Heaven and the odor of sanctity are supposed to be a wonderfully, heavenly scent to our human senses. I certainly have to assume that orange blossoms have to play an important component in that ratio!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Too many scraps, not enought time!
Unless I live to be 200 years old, I'm afraid I will never get every saved scrap of fabric turned into a quilt in the life time I'm allotted! I started off the day cutting strips of scraps to form an extension on the border of a, what else, a scrap quilt! Well, I really got into the cutting and ended up dragging out two of my scrap boxes and cut and cut and cut today! I finally let go of some inch by inch pieces of material that I kept because they were SO pretty! Useless, mostly, but pretty. I actually got a box of fabric pieces sorted out and enough strips cut to begin the borders tomorrow.
I keep my cutting table, sewing machine, and ironing board a distance from each other so I HAVE to get up to access any of them. It keeps the circulation going as I would probably just sit the entire day entranced with dreams of quilts to be!
The house is picked up. My darling, youngest son pushed me out of the kitchen to do the dishes so I think I've earned some crocheting time in front of the television.
Interesting as snow is predicted on the east coast while we are facing temperatures going up to the 90's tomorrow. I'm a cold-weather person so I needn't make any statements on this forecast! It was a beautiful day, today. The wind blew away the smog and fog and the mountains all around us were very visable and gorgeous with their recent snow storms. Hard to comprehend the anguish going on in other parts of the world when you see such a peaceful sight.
I keep my cutting table, sewing machine, and ironing board a distance from each other so I HAVE to get up to access any of them. It keeps the circulation going as I would probably just sit the entire day entranced with dreams of quilts to be!
The house is picked up. My darling, youngest son pushed me out of the kitchen to do the dishes so I think I've earned some crocheting time in front of the television.
Interesting as snow is predicted on the east coast while we are facing temperatures going up to the 90's tomorrow. I'm a cold-weather person so I needn't make any statements on this forecast! It was a beautiful day, today. The wind blew away the smog and fog and the mountains all around us were very visable and gorgeous with their recent snow storms. Hard to comprehend the anguish going on in other parts of the world when you see such a peaceful sight.
Makes so much sense . . .
Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it we have always to combat with ourselves.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
What happened back then . . .
As interesting as it is to see what happened on a particular day in the past, I imagine each of us could easily draw up a history list of events that made history in our own time on earth. Just as an aside, I'm SO glad I wasn't born yesterday in 1842! OUCH!
1842: Anesthesia used during operation for the first time
1858: Pencil with eraser patented
1867: Alaska purchased by US for $7.2 million
1981: President Ronald Reagan, James Brady shot by John Hinkley, Jr in Washington, DC
1746:
Artist Francisco Goya born in Fuendetodos, Spain
1853:
Artist Vincent Van Gogh born in Groot-Zundert, The Netherlands
1930:
Teacher, director and actor, John Astin born in born in Baltimore, Maryland
1937:
Academy and Golden Globe Award winning actor, Warren Beatty born in Richmond, Virgina
1945:
Legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Eric Clapton born in Surrey, England
1842: Anesthesia used during operation for the first time
1858: Pencil with eraser patented
1867: Alaska purchased by US for $7.2 million
1981: President Ronald Reagan, James Brady shot by John Hinkley, Jr in Washington, DC
1746:
Artist Francisco Goya born in Fuendetodos, Spain
1853:
Artist Vincent Van Gogh born in Groot-Zundert, The Netherlands
1930:
Teacher, director and actor, John Astin born in born in Baltimore, Maryland
1937:
Academy and Golden Globe Award winning actor, Warren Beatty born in Richmond, Virgina
1945:
Legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Eric Clapton born in Surrey, England
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