Quotes to Ponder . . .

"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future."
-- Niels Bohr

"Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul."
-- Marilyn Monroe

"Democracy is a process by which the people are free to choose the man who will get the blame."
-- Laurence J. Peter

"The average man, who does not know what to do with his life, wants another one which will last forever."
-- Anatole France

Thoughts as Lent comes to an end for 2009 . . .

When I was growing up, the two high points of the year were Christmas and Easter. At that time Midnight Mass was offered at both Holy Days. These late night Masses seemed, to my youthful thinking, to be hurdles to the main events— Christmas presents and Easter candy.

Christmas always seemed the easiest to attain. The most we did was open Advent calendars and burn Advent candles during dinner time. A big return for little effort!

Now Easter was preceded by weeks and weeks of somber Lent. The usual meatless Fridays seemed even more meatless and we were urged to give up something. To my unformed mind, the return on Easter was very small in comparison to the ‘suffering' I had to endure!

Up until a few years ago, Lent still felt like a long, grey period of time. If you gave up something, it seemed even longer until you could indulge again. If you didn't follow through on a ‘give up' you felt guilty and Lent was still unending. I concentrated on what I had to do or couldn't have instead of looking forward to the ultimate reward of Easter. Although God offers us all the riches of Heaven, our human nature tends to tolerate hardships merely for the attainment of earthly goods.

I am slowly coming to the realization that Lent is not so much a time for giving up as for giving and forgiving. Lent should be a positive experience, building up to the hard to express but all too real joy of the Resurrection. The world, after all, waited centuries for the Coming yet we have trouble waiting out less than two months until Easter Sunday.

I looked up repent in the dictionary and discovered through it a viewpoint I had never taken into consideration. According to Webster's:

Repent — To turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life.

I can't find the negatives in this that are usually associated with  talking about Lent, repent, etc. It calls for avoiding sin and getting on with one's life to the betterment of it. You can accomplish this though extra sacrifice and doing without during the Lenten Season and this is good. It seems to me an even better approach to Lent would be extending happiness in anticipation of the miracle to come in addition to sacrifice. God gives us this chance each year. Are we building our place in Heaven or are we waiting for the perfect year in which to begin?

Christ walked on this very earth by His own free Will. He lived as a man knowing each step took Him closer to terrible suffering and death on the Cross. As I read though the Bible and listen to the readings on Sundays, I cannot find any negatives in Christ's journey on earth. He did it all for us without any thought for Himself. He gave up His life in order to give in to our need for Him. I am hoping this year that I tried for a Lent that made my sacrifices a joy, and my joy a potential path to Heaven.

Interesting find . . .

We prefer vitamins, healthy food, and exercise to using too many over-the-counter medications. People laugh at our pill cupboard as we do have an array of herbs and vitamins we have found helpful for our needs. I thought I'd share some of our favorite sources that offer good prices and quality items.

Our favorite source for vitamins, etc., is Puritan's Pride. You can search them out on-line just by using their name. They always have a sale going and if you have a question or concern, you can talk to a real person! I've compared prices and they beat the health stores and even Wal-Mart most every time.

We recently discovered Beeyoutiful.com which deals in homeopathic and more natural methods. In spite of the 'cute' name, we have now made Tummy Tune Up a staple in our home. It is a powerful acidolophilus that seems to work quickly for stomach upsets. The nice thing about this particular brand is that you don't need to keep it refrigerated like other types. Our other favorite is a Miracle Salve that is very pleasant to use and really helps with minor burns, scrapes, and itches.

Patience is not my favorite virtue . . .

Quilting has taught me patience in spite of my lazier inclinations. I do have to admit that I'm always looking for shortcuts. A great site for easier cutting and piecing can be found on the Quilt in a Day web page. Although there is a cost for some of the patterns, they also offer many free ones which include tips for faster cutting and sewing.

I tend to find a pattern I like in quilting and make several quilts with the basic plan before my husband suggests I (please!) try another one. Last month, it was the rail fence. I made four quilts with that pattern. Even I tired of it! My quilt du jour is an eight-point star. It is comprised mainly of triangles - my least favorite shape, however, About.Com's quilting site showed an easy way to get near-perfect ones every time. It met spouse approval as my husband declared that THIS quilt was staying with us!

I have never taken a quilting class so other people might be totally familiar with this method of piecing. That's okay, I'm still thrilled to have finally found it myself! You take two squares of fabric and line them together, right sides facing. Pin the fabric to stabilize. Using a ruler and a fabric marker, chalk, or pen, draw a line from one corner of the square diagonally to the other. Sew a quarter inch seam on each side of the line. Cut down the line (not either seam!), open up, press, and you have a square with two perfectly sewn together triangles.

I have fifteen squares pieced for my quilt. I probably need ten more to make a reasonably sized quilt for our bed. If it wasn't for the above-mentioned method and my rotary cutting board, my lack of patience might have slowed down the project! My husband once asked me what my favorite tasks were in quilting. I said they were finding a pattern, selecting the fabric, and the last stitch!

Ancient thought for the day . . .

"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities."
-- Sophocles

Quotes with meaning . . .

"The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet."
-- William Gibson

"The denunciation of the young is a necessary part of the hygiene of older people, and greatly assists in the circulation of their blood."
-- Logan Pearsall Smith

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."
-- Thomas Jefferson

Thoughts to Ponder . . .

Few people can see genius in someone who has offended them."
-- Robertson Davies

"For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three."
-- Alice Kahn

"There must be more to life than having everything."
-- Maurice Sendak