Category Archives: Prayers

7QT Return, Ta DAAA!

With my whole social network fasting apparently I have more time to blog…who knew??? So, I’m jumping back in with the tried and true at Conversion Diary with Jen and her peeps…of course, I’m not #1 like Grace, but she’s a new mom again and clearly not sleeping anyway…so go check ’em all out…

1. Fresh into Lent, folks…Fresh. Into. Lent. You know what that means, right? All those sacrifices and desires to help more, pray more, do more, etc are FRESH and “technically” two days in we should be going strong. Ammiright?? Riiiiight, so remember…no meat today. And if perhaps, halfway through that double with cheese you remember “ACK…it’s Friday!!!”, just start over. We are imperfect people, God knows this. His joy is in our TRYING to do better. And when we screw up, dust ourselves off and try again….that’s what we can choose to do. So, in the classic words of Dori from Finding Nemo…”just keep swimming”!

2. What did you give up for Lent? Perhaps you are instead focusing on praying and have some plans of monastic retreat or super fasting to add some oomph to your prayer life, or maybe working in the soup kitchen or homeless shelter….what’s the plan, Stan? I gave up Facebook and Twitter. It’s quite freeing and I actually look forward to this each Lent. Now, you might say, but “Tracy, your blog shows up on Twitter?” Yes, it’s set that way automatic, but I am not CHECKING said Twitter account.

3. Did you get your ashes? We did. I must say it was practically WW3 getting there. A serious force of crazy, crappy, grumpy, tempers came over our household IMMEDIATELY prior to leaving. We persevered anyway and let me say, people….GOD prevailed. Oh yes he did defuse that 13 yo, 15 yo and 2 young ladies who readied themselves in their Mass finery only to see EVERY to the ONE was in their regular clothes (including yours truly, fresh off the JOB train in her scrubs). Hubs took everyone home after the distribution of ashes and I stayed to wait for our 7th grader to take him home after his RE class. We came home to fish and chips awaiting. (AKA, fish sticks and fries) God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good.

4. Ash Wednesday I also went to Adoration (a weekly Lenten practice for me this year). Unknowingly, I arrived during the church’s Mass celebration, therefore the Eucharist was not in the chapel, but in the church. ENNYWAY….I still prayed the Rosary and intentions and fully enjoyed my quiet time. If you have noise in your life (you don’t need to be a parent for this) you should take time to go to Adoration…shoot, even if you’re not Catholic….just go…it is AWESOME. Peace, quiet. Total gift. I’d live there if I could. Really. Logistically though, just not going to work.

5. Saved me some cash this week. Went in to quit the gym, just not feeling it, and I’ve been working out at home (not this week so much…but mostly-ish) but they love me so much they comped me 2 months and lowered my monthly rate to $5. Sheesh, alright. I’ll come back. $5, c’mon. Who CAN say no to that???

6. Along with my social fasting, weekly Adoration visit and prayer intentions….I am also trying to focus on some spiritual reading. This week I finished C.S. Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters”…wow. wow. wow. If you haven’t read it….do it. Next up…”Visions of the Children” by Janice Connell. And continued reading of Saint Faustina’s Diary (although that is taking YEARS. Literally. YEARS!! tremendously rich reading. small bites only)

7. Finally, if you read yesterday’s post on our little Romeo and his Valentine’s flower promise…I’ll tell you how it went: He made his first deposit to his math teacher (who, although killing him, has been incredibly helpful and challenging) and from then on out had “hordes” of ladies following him around for roses. He had them labeled and did have a couple extra (to which I was also a recipient….smart boy!)…but he admitted at dinner that it was an impossible task to please all the ladies on Valentine’s Day. Not to mention expensive. He’s a mess that one. A sweet mess. **For all you Bachelor fans out there….I asked him if he was prepping to do a teen Bachelor and he was unaware of the show/concept etc….PHew. I don’t watch either, but have the gist of it from some of you…who will remain nameless for the obvi reasons.

Have a great week y’all and enjoy the weekend!!! We won’t be shoveling snow…thank you, JESUS…but will be wearing jeans and hoodies this weekend here in Central FLA. Brrr. High of 50ish tomorrow. Yikes!! 😉

It’s almost here…..

The hole in the roof

3 Replies

This is a repost from my former blog (no longer available…thanks to apple’s “re-do” and nixing their blog template…whatever. It is from 2 years ago and this gospel is truly one of my favorites. I’ve been blessed with tremendous friends (and family) and though distance separates me from my besties, I am fortunate to have a few where I am now. However, the friends you raise your babies with, the friends who hold your hand and let you soak their shoulders with your tears during your darkest days, the friends who speak the truth when it’s the last thing you want to hear, the friends who watch your children, feed you, clean your house and drive with you through a most difficult season in your life……those friends have a forever place in your heart. Today’s gospel reading makes me think that the paralytic’s friends hold a forever place in his heart.

This morning’s Gospel Reading is from the book of Mark, Chapter 2. The story of the paralytic who is lowered through the roof by his friends in order that he could be healed by Jesus. I’ve heard the story many times and today I am struck by so many details.

The crowd was so big the friends could not get close to Jesus. So, I wonder, “How did they get on the roof?” If the crowd was so large, did they go to a nearby house and “roof hop” until they were on the right one? Many of the houses of that time would have been close together. Was it right next door or 4 houses down?

And their friend, who was paralyzed. They bring him along the entire way, on a mat. What is that mat like? An oversize sling? A makeshift stretcher with poles to help carry? Is he holding on for dear life or resting in the anticipation that he just KNOWS these friends are doing him the favor of a lifetime? Because if he eventually comes DOWN through a roof, he clearly has gone UP on a ladder or stairset and that can’t be easy on anyone, much less a paralytic on a mat.

And the hole itself. The above image is how I imagine the roof to be. Now is that roof really strong enough for FOUR men AND their paralyzed friend to stand on while they MAKE A HOLE THROUGH IT?!?!?!? I mean it is basically sticks thatched together for crying out loud! And then……..the lowering of the friend! OH MY!!! The mess that clearly made. Was Jesus right under it while straw and roof bits were sprinkling down on him, in his hair or eyes? Did He calmly continue along with his healing and then just greet the paralyzed man or did He stop and watch the situation play out silently cheering them on in their plan?

How about the people around Jesus waiting for healing of their own? Clearly there were many, because the men could not get through. Were they put out? Thinking, “Hey! We were here first!” Grumbling amongst themselves? Or were they in awe of such a crazy plan and kicking themselves that they had not come up with it themselves?

It’s just an amazing story. And I think of all my friends who have led me through impossible situations, making a hole where there seemed to be no way in and showing me Jesus. So patiently waiting. So ready to heal. And I am overwhelmed with gratitude and tears at the lengths they have gone through to get me here. And I am up from my own mat, in sight of all the people and we can all praise God, “We have never seen anything like this.” Mark 2:12b

Because sometimes we have to make the extraordinary effort to reach Him. The One who heals. The One who patiently waits. The One who applauds the hole in the roof, mess and all. And sometimes we get there with the extraordinary measures of those special friends He brings into our lives. The ones who have carried you through the crowds. Up the ladder. Cleared a path, and lowered you through the roof, right to the feet of Jesus. WOW.

What a way to start the day. Praise God for His patience. Praise God for His Love! Praise God for the friends He brings to our lives. Praise God for every day we have the opportunity to live out our lives glorifying Him.

Starting over on a Tuesday…

2 Replies

That is so wrong!! Everyone knows all new things start on Mondays. Yet, we bring in 2013 on a Tuesday this year thus causing a conundrum of when to begin new habits, etc, etc, etc….Tuesday or the following Monday? In all reality, it doesn’t really matter, does it? Today is January 1, 2013, like it or not and the day will come and go whether we have “New Year’s Resolutions” or not; so….no time like the present, eh?

Last year, my plan for 2012 was:

Eat healthier/exercise more….pretty much #1 on the list EVERY year and one year I will actually succeed. “You never fail until you stop trying” Albert Einstein And try, try again I will. In reality, I did succeed at this, I’ve made MUCH healthier choices in my diet and have tried many new exercises, just haven’t succeeded in actually losing weight–however, I never said losing weight was my goal. I shall mark this up to a success.
Have more Quiet time. My quiet time has evolved. Hubby and I have been reading the Catechism with Flock Note and discussing it every few weeks. I’ve been to Adoration more frequently and my spiritual reading has picked up with Choosing Joy by Dan Lord and Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Both books are great for one chapter at a time to mull over and ponder. I shall mark this up in the success column as well.
Finances. Clueing in Hubby and getting on the same page. Done. While we haven’t climbed completely out of the hole yet, we’ve stopped (so far…) the continued addition to debt and have begun backing up the train with a good plan to head into 2013. Aaaaaand a 3rd success. Of course, we will continue this journey together and I’m sure Dave Ramsey will be involved at some point (I hear what he’s saying but I just don’t know if I’m ready to jump in just yet), or not, Hubby’s pretty good at $stuff, either way…2012 was a good start, 2013 will be solid…I feel it.

Mentally, I really thought 2012 was a big fat FAIL on the resolutions, however, looking back I see that I actually succeeded in what I set out to do. Sweet.

Heading into 2013 I’ve been mulling over my Goals/Resolutions/Plan for a couple of days and have also come across a few great ideas I may incorporate into reaching my own success in 2013.

Jennifer Fulwiler gives an analytical view of reviewing one’s “areas for improvement” and how to problem solve those areas. I honestly never gave it a thought as to WHY I might not be succeeding in certain areas. Seems so logical, I’m a little embarrassed. Only a little though.

Jon Acuff gives a man’s view (but truly EVERYone can use this method) of breaking the year into smaller bites and attacking each goal one at a time within those small bites. Brilliant and so realistic…I CAN do anything for 52 days.

Ann Voskamp challenges us to look for the Joy in everything and TO WRITE. IT. DOWN. Finding 1000 Joys in 2013. Even a chance to win a camera at the end of the year. More importantly, Ann tells us that in focusing our eyes and heart on Joy we are certain to reap the rewards of:

1. a relative absence of stress and depression. (Woods et al., 2008)

2. progress towards important personal goals (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

3. higher levels of determination and energy (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

4. closer relationships and desire to build stronger relationships (Algoe and Haidt, 2009)

5. Increased happiness…. by 25% — (Who wouldn’t want 25% more happiness!) (McCullough et al., 2002)

After all that…what are YOUR resolutions? Or do you just opt out and chalk it up to another day on the calendar?

As for me, my focuses for this year are:

Losing weight. Hubby has agreed to help me and so with his help, our P90X library and various other weights and miscellanea I’m ready. I mean, sheesh, the baby will be 10 this year for crying out loud!!
Spiritually to be more Joy-focused and applying it to how I live my life, my marriage, my parenting and so on.
Learn to use my REAL camera more efficiently and Photoshop Elements…which has been on my computer for 2 years and I still don’t have a CLUE what to do with it. It’s time. I love my iPhone but my real camera rocks.

Blessings and a Happy New Year to you and yours!

Sunday, Funday, Fashion..

7 Replies

December 23 and you know what that means: It’s Christmas Adam. Yep. My sweet Baptist friend, Lea refers to today as “Christmas Adam”, because Adam came before Eve and because she’s married to Adam. chuckle, chuckle, snort. She’s silly that Lea, you can read more from her HERE…

Really, though….It’s What I wore Sunday over @ Fine Linen and Purple with Emily and Kendra, Vol 10 for them, Vol 6 for moi. Without further blabber….

Attempting the “Grace Face“…fail. But funny…

Head to toe, looksie..

A whole DOLLAR I tell you!!!

The things you find in your pockets of your beloved long sweater from last year!!

Winning!!

favorite ring, EVER…aside from the wedding set, of course…..Matchy necklace and earbobs and most versatile bracelet!

10 & 2….nice hand placement, Son. Hubby’s so calm, meanwhile I am praying fervently….in my head.

Big boy driving the WHOLE FAM DAMILY TO MASS!! I sat in the waaay back. Daddy rode shotgun. He did well. I zipped my lips. Still not so used to this….

Attempting the duck face and peace fingers. I hear they’re all the rage, yo. Real talk. Oh how I love to embarrass my chillies….

And when I got home. Comfy clothes. It’s coooooold here today, ladies. That’s right. A high of 60. Brrrrr. I know. I’ll never make it in the great white North. Nothing like squashing Hubby’s dream of moving to New Hampshire…..

***Deets on the threads: Dress Kohl’s(seen before, however, I’m too lazy to link, feel free to browse the archives), boots, Kohl’s; Sweater, yes…Kohl’s. Jewelry: Lia Sophia, also seen before. Post Mass look, Old Navy bootie/slipper things, sweats, Target, Sweater, Kohl’s…..alllllll are many moons old thus not to be concerned with the whole “who wore it best” issue.

Now go on with your 4th Sunday of Advent and Merry, Merry Christmas!!

making the trek

Trekking through life: Faith, family, friends and a whole lot of coffee!