Saturday, July 30, 2016

So Touched

My friend, Kay, is so thoughtful.  She edits my books which is a huge thing to do for a friend. On Friday I texted her husband's phone (she let her daughter use her phone in between jobs.)

She called me right back because her husband, like Pat, has a flip phone. Remember when you had to hit a key three times to get the third letter? No way was she texting on that dinosaur!




Anyway, they were home so we drove over to see them. Right after I looked at her darling blueberry rocks that she had painted she went into the garage and brought one out she had painted for me!



My book that we are working on right now is called 'New Beginnings' and we just moved to our condo in December. In addition we actually do think this new home is a little piece of heaven.

Thank you dear friend.

Monday, July 25, 2016

New Baby

                               Congratulations
                            Liz, Joe and Margot

                                    Welcome
                                  Sylvie Rose




Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Agree with most of it!


With reservation, I love this quote. It really is true that everything has the possibility of being a part of changing me. It's up to me to make the choices, but the opportunities are all around us.

The reservation I have is that Jesus didn't 'need' Judas. Jesus could have gotten to the cross without his betrayal. Judas chose his path all on his own.

Friday, July 15, 2016

What I do when tragedy strikes - all too often now


I quoted part of this homily on Facebook when Stephanie Gunther asked for suggestions in the light of what is happening in our world to be able to continue on and do something.  I always turn to Bishop Ken when I am lost.  His sister gave his homilies to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and they are published at this link:
Genesis 18:20-32
Col 2:12-14
Luke 11:1-13

Bishop Untener's Homily

Luke probably put together in one place some teachings about prayer that Jesus spoke on different occasions. As a result, this relatively long Gospel passage about prayer is one of the most beautiful texts in all the Gospels. First of all, Jesus teaches his disciples – and us – how he prays. That would be something like having the world’s finest chef come into our kitchen and take some time with us to explain some of the things he does to produce gourmet food. Imagine. Jesus teaching us how he prays.
Then Jesus tells us that God always, always answers our prayer. He doesn’t hedge on this. He doesn’t waffle. With complete certitude he says that God always, always answers our prayer. Jesus not only states this flatly, but then backs it up with two parables.
So there’s no room for doubt about prayer. We have it straight from Jesus. And what we have is this: Prayer always – always – has an effect, and it is always a good effect.
Even though Jesus is as clear as clear can be on this, I’m not sure we fully believe it. We live in a sophisticated society, and we have learned much about "causality" – what makes things happen. Chemistry, technology, the psychosocial sciences have taught us a great deal about cause and effect. God doesn’t make it rain. Meteorologists can explain what causes rain – on the plain in Spain or anywhere in the world. Technologists can explain how we can send a message to someone halfway around the world. Psychologists can explain what it takes to change a person’s behavior.
As a result, I think we have sort of de-valued the causality of prayer. We still believe it’s a good thing to do – to pray – but it’s hit and miss. Now and then it might have an effect on the people we’re praying for, or situations we’re praying for, but most of the time it doesn’t. We pray sort of the same way we play the Lotto. We hope to hit it, even for a small pay-off, but we know that most of the time we don’t hit it.
Now face that off against the clear words of Jesus: "Ask and you will receive; seek and you fill find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." It’s as clear as clear can be. But in practice, based on our own experience, it doesn’t seem to work that way. Sometimes it works, but most of the time it doesn’t. Let’s see if we can figure this out.
When we pray for someone or something, we shine upon that person or that situation, the love of God. We direct the love of God upon that someone or something in a special way. And God’s love always has an effect, a good effect. It’s like the sun. The sun has power within it, and when the rays of the sun are directed upon someone or something, they always have an effect.
I came across a story, a true story, that isn’t sensational, but it’s striking, and it makes you think. There was a fellow sent to save a failing hotel. The situation was so bad that he decided upon desperate measures. Each night he drove to a hill overlooking the hotel. He parked, sat in the car, and prayed for twenty minutes. He looked at the lighted windows and prayed for the hotel guests who were in those rooms. He prayed for the employees and their families. He prayed for himself. Gradually, changes started to take place in the hotel. A new spirit radiated from its employees. A new warmth greeted each new guest. A new hope permeated the operation. Within a year, the hotel was back on its feet.
When we doubt the effectiveness of prayer, we don’t underestimate the power of God. We underestimate our own power. You see, we have God’s life within us. We all know that, and we have no trouble believing it. This means that God’s love is within us. What we do when we pray is direct God’s love in a special way on a particular person or a particular situation. We’re more powerful than we think we are. We have the power to bless another person with God’s love. When we do that, something happens. Something good happens. God’s love always, always has a good effect. It may not be exactly the result we want in exactly the way we want it. But it brings about a result, and always, always a good result.
So, when we pray, we know that something good happens. What father or mother would give their son or daughter a snake if they asked for a fish? Or a scorpion if they asked for an egg? Well then, if that’s how we act with our limited ability to love, imagine how God acts – God who is infinite love.
There’s one more part to this. Our prayer not only brings about a good effect in the person or situation we’re praying for. It also produces a good effect upon us. We become more aware of the presence of God within us, around us. We become more aware of God’s love within us, around us. It makes us more loving. And we draw closer to our loving God.
Prayer is a great gift. It’s there for the asking. And it always has a good effect on others, and upon us.
I pray that you and I will appreciate this gift more fully, and make use of it even more often than perhaps we have done up till now.
Originally given on July 29, 2001

Friday, July 8, 2016

WooHoo!

New Beginnings is coming out of the printer as I type this post!  It will be on its way to my sister, Jane, for the final edit.

I had such a writer's block after we moved.  I just couldn't work on the book.  At times I felt I would not publish this book this year.  It would have been the first time not to publish one and it scared me.  But inspiration hit and I worked until it was done.

The trip to Tulsa for my niece's wedding made it possible to work with my first editor, my cousin Mary Lynn.  But with my good luck my sister, Kathy was with us too.  Mary Lynn and Kathy read each of the chapters silently and then they discussed them in the back seat.  They made changes and handed them to me to work on in the front seat.

Then when I got home from Tulsa I worked on it a bit more - I read it through again - made changes on the pages and then typed them in - making changes as I typed.

Then I took it to my best friend, Kay.  She read through the book - then began again and made changes.  There were so many comments on her typed excel sheets (filled with changes) that said, I'm a bit confused here....

So I made all of her changes.  Today I searched on the word 'very' - oh my goodness do I use that word a lot!  So I took out many of them and some of them I put in a synonym for it.

So - Jane - here it comes!

Friday, July 1, 2016

Such an emotional week

Our sweet Liliana became ill while in Croatia. She is the daughter of Mike and Ksenija and granddaughter of Jim and Cindy. Mike and Ksenija took her to Croatia to be Baptised in the same church they were married in.

Instead Lilliana became lethargic and wouldn't eat. They took her to the hospital. That was Sunday. On Wednesday they Baptised her in the hospital. Today she is going to medvac to Germany.

Mike has been talking with the American Embassy in Croatia and Germany. Dr. Ling a US specialist recommended the move.

We have been blessed with so many caring friends and family. Prayers are being said all day and intother the night by so many people. Friends have shared posts and people we don't even know are praying.

Please continue she is very ill.