Category Archives: Life

Theme Thursday: Black and White

Two posts in a row.  Two links in a row.  What the????  Yes, crazy.  I know.  I have a wee bit of extra time this morning since I am letting the girls sleep in and go to Popop’s to swim this morning and bring them to day camp after lunch.  Win-win for Mama!!

Black and white.  I love black and white.  It is so forgiving!!!  Mysterious.  Dramatic.  Stands out.  I don’t have enough time this morning to take a NEW B&W photo, but have included a favorite of mine for submission!

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There’s plenty more where this one came from, and likely way cooler over @ Cari’s.  You can link up your own sweet B&W!!!     And you can check the laundry barometer while you are there….almost $7500!!!!  Looks like Dwija is going to have a sweet REAL laundry room, mice and drying rack free!!!

5 Favorites of ADORATION

Joining in with Hallie and the lovely ladies all sharing their 5 faves this week…for a smile on your face, for some “GO GOD” in your heart, you really neeeeeed to visit and start with Hallie, K?  K.

5 Favorites @ Moxie Wife

5 Favorites @ Moxie Wife

This week I was able to head over to Adoration during lunch and as always it’s truly my favorite lunch spot.  Ever.  Really.  Here’s why.

5.  Like most of y’all, I live a pretty busy life.  Husband.  4 kiddos.  Full time out of the house job.  Ever searching for the always elusive “perfect” balance between family and work.  Adoration IS as close to “perfect” as my life gets.  The profound sense of peace, joy and love when I walk through the door instantly soothes my heart and mind of whatever is jumbling it up at that moment.  Perfection.

4.   I may not ALWAYS  get immediate answers, direction and resolution of any given life challenge, however, I’ve received clarity, wisdom and peace over the years in answer to prayers during Adoration with much fruit in return.  Just ask my friend; one day I called her after Adoration and told her I felt their family was to home school.  She laughed. (nervously I think, since this was an announcement straight out of the blue).  They start their 3rd (?) year homeschooling this year.  Adoration don’t lie.

3.  I like to pray for people.  God hasn’t seen fit to fill our bank accounts to overflowingness (one can still hope though….) and I can’t always help people materialistically, however, I.  CAN.  PRAY.  Countless friends and family over the years have been the recipients of my prayers, some known, some unknown (but God ALWAYS knows), I’ve even prayed much for this sweet lady and her unborn baby.  You can’t underestimate the power of prayer.  Ever.  You might be too tired, angry, hopeless to pray, but I’ll pray for you.  I know I’ve been the recipient of a jillion and ten prayers and if my own give back even a tenth of intercessory love…I’m in.  Anytime.  Just say the word.

2.  This world is a wild and rocking and crazy constantly go-go-go world.  Sometimes I just need to be still.  I have my morning quiet time with the Daily Readings and that is phenomenal.  Coffee.  Word.  Start the day.  But sometimes….I just need to be still, quiet and listen and thank God for everything I don’t always remember to thank Him for.  Sometimes I just need to be still.  To listen if He wants to talk to me.  and one time ……..

1.  ONE TIME…….I’m telling you…….the monstrance and altar moved.  Throughout my time at Adoration.  I thought I was tired and cleared my eyes, but it kept happening.  Finally I just watched.  It was weird.  It was goosebump-giving.  It was mind blowing and heart filling.  Afterward I texted two friends who also attend Adoration and asked them a vague “have you ever had weird things happen at Adoration?” .  In the end, I’m not sure WHAT it meant, but perhaps He just wanted to say, “Hey, thanks for coming….check this out….I love you….I’m with you….come on back again, my love!”  And so I do.

Now head on over to Hallie’s for more fun things!!

 

Father’s day project homerun!

Have you ever read “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman?  It is a fantastic book and has made a huge impact in our marriage.  The basis is that we all “speak” love in various ways and often our languages get mixed up as we likely do not speak love in the same manner, especially in marriage.  There is a quiz you can take with your significant other and see where you both lie; honestly it really cleared up a lot in the communication department once we began to translate each other’s languages.  (There is a book relating the same idea to kids as well).

Anyhoooo, Hubby’s main love language happens to be words of encouragement (whereas mine is gifts).  My friend Mary recently posted on Facebook about a sweet Mother’s day gift her daughter made for her for Mother’s day:  a jar decorated and filled with sweet notes for her to savor.  And so, I am mistress of stealing ideas and made this one my own for Hubby for Father’s Day.  A gift that spoke his love language, he loved it!   Feel free to steal it for your own!

Pasta jar.  Cleaned.  Scrapbook paper cut and glued with fancy ribbon to tie around top

Pasta jar. Cleaned. Scrapbook paper cut and glued with fancy ribbon to tie around top

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Printed and cut out a favorite photo, glued on top and filled jar with sweet notes from each kiddo!

Beautiful Mass. Beautiful Church.

With my extra time home this week, I was able to attend Daily Mass one day, a rare to never treat for me on a WEEKDAY!  I was running a little late to make our regular church Mass so I opted for the 30 minute later Mass at the church we attended when we first moved here.  It’s now a Basilica and is a lovely, old church with high ceilings, lovely stained glass, statues of various Saints, Blesseds, Christ, Mary and more.  The church commands reverence when you enter and the acoustics lend to a deep resounding message.  It was a blessing to start my day there the other day; I hope you enjoy the pictures and my effort to fluff up my iPhone camera with some editing.

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From the side street view. The upper cupola was destroyed during the 2004 hurricanes and replaced a few years and dollars later.

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Baptismal font. Not built into the floor like the one in N. Florida that my friend’s sweet son fell in after Mass one beach vacation. True story.

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Pews from the back, but LOOK at those columns and archways. Be still my heart, I could spend HOURS in here!!!

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The main aisle to the altar.

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One of the side alcoves and scenes: The Dream, The Exodus.

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The Holy Family statue and prayer candles, flanked by stunning stained glass.

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Jesus statue, prayer candles and more amazing stained glass.

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Another side alcove with the Ascension of Mary

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The Altar.

Friday Quickie x 7

Get your mind out of the gutter would you?  I’m just linking up to Jennifer Fulwiler and her amazing round-up of people sharing their top 7 thoughts/ideas/highlights of the week and since I’ve got time this week, I’ll share again.

  1. Home for the 4th day in a row status post tonsillectomy.  Oh, but it’s summer.  And there are children home.  All.  Day.  Long.  Not really, but sort of.  Enough that I wouldn’t call it a week of “quiet time”.  Not so much time to really get a lot “done”.  And yet…..it’s better than being at work!  So I’ll zip it.

    Sometimes you fall asleep with popsicle in hand after surgery

    Sometimes you fall asleep with popsicle in hand after surgery

  2. I did get a few things done this week.  My desk area is cleared off, bills are paid, laundry is done, sheets are changed and dinners have been cooked AND eaten prior to 7 p.m. more than a few times this week.
  3. The girls and I took my new-to-me sewing machine to my grandmother’s for a refresher lesson (it’s been at least 12 years since I last set that bobbin and thread and needle).  The girls enjoyed a ride in the neighbor’s golf car/cart thing and my grandmother and I figured that baby out.  It is now getting a good maintenance and I am armed, ARMED, I tell you with knowledge.  Pillows and curtains certain to be forthcoming….

    My grandmother is the BEST!  A true blessing in our family.

    My grandmother is the BEST! A true blessing in our family.

  4. My camera is back.  I haven’t used it yet.  I HAVE found some useful websites to explore and experiment with.  And I still have 2 days left of this medi-cation….(haha, I crack myself up!)grid
  5. Paid Sonic a visit.  Milkshakes and a sore tonsil area?  Yes, please.  ‘Twas a hot one and tasty they were.  On a sad note, I now have confirmation that milk is no longer my friend.  <sigh> at least  my hips will be thankful.IMG_4711
  6. Finished Hubby’s Father’s Day project, cards bought AND mailed and plans to visit with my step-dad and siblings on Sunday are cemented.  Days ahead of time.  Do you SEE how much my job gets in my way of getting stuff done????
  7. Made it to Daily Mass on Thursday at the church we first attended when we moved here.  It’s a Basilica now and it is just a stunning church.  My crappy iPhone pics do not do it justice, but I will try to doctor them up and present them in a separate post….it’s worthy.  Here’s a little sneaky peak ‘tho.

**as a bonus, I’ve talked to my BFF every day this week, had a text fest daily with several people without the threat of being fired and I’ve caught up with a few other friends by PHONE this week.  It’s a big week to connect, folks!  Big week!

While I choose my next book, y’all go visit Jen et al!

Blessings!