As much as we ALL want to be supermom, superdad, super everything, we really can’t do it all. Not on our own. In fact we are the most productive and successful when we receive a helping hand, thought, word. Today’s video reflection on the USSCB site was dead on. The Hubs was up before me and told me about it (I generally just do the Daily Readings and occasionally the podcast reflection), so I watched for myself. On the mark. Completely.
Happy Humpday y’all!!!
Photo cred….Cake boss, of course!!
Because Pope Francis is so worthy of a Cake this BOSS!!! I’m sure he wouldn’t even mind if we called him “Buddy”. Ok. Maybe a little. But…yeah….Happy Anniversary, Pope Francis!
Pat Gohn has a podcast HOT off the press in celebration of Pope Francis’ One Year anniversary and you can download it HERE. You will probably recognize a few voices from the interwebz, including (ahem) me!
And so, in my own nod to Papa…here are my own personal top faves of his first year as Pope…in 7 QT style with Jen and crew!
1. The most humble and shocked beginning of this Pope who was so quietly in AWE of this role he now found himself in. That gentle wave. That face that was still processing….”ME?” “What?”. Just love it!! “hi.”
Credit where it’s due!
2. I was at work when the white smoke puffed. Where were you?
More photo cred and instructions on making your own white smoke 😉
3. Giving an impromptu and brief Catholic history lesson to my Baptist co-worker on the hows and the whys of electing a “Pope”. Me, of all people. My apologetics BFF would have been proud!!
4. The complete silence in the crowd of well-wishers present for Pope Francis’ first prayer and speech to the world. Goosebumps at the silence of all those people. Be still my heart. Be. Still.
5. The way the Pope walks the talk. He lives his Jesuit calling in his role as Pope. He DOES what Jesus would DO. He loves the poor, the sick, the maimed. When a child comes up on stage, he chuckles and carries on. He sets the example for ALL of us to love our neighbor. Over and over and over again.
6. He welcomes the world. He draws the world in by his genuine love and care for all. Regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, financial standing, felony record or sexual preference. We are called to love one another and he shows us time and again that this is possible even when we look at life differently from one another. Jesus loves us all and HE will sort it out in the end; he doesn’t need us to do it while we are here on earth. Pope Francis ain’t no gossip monger.
7. Pray for Pope Francis. For the world. For one another. Family. Friends. Co-workers. Neighbors. Let us all take the time to emulate this most approachable and loving Pope as we live our lives.
Credit: my twitter page. Don’t YOU follow Pope Francis?
Happy Friday y’all. My favorite day of the week—woot woot!!
Once upon a time, there was a couple who had been married a long time. Blessed with 4 children who were happy, healthy and going through the usual ups and downs of childhood. No complaints, just normal life. This couple was open to life. Even though they are both approaching mid 40s, they were healthy and open to God’s plan in regards to their family. Lo, and behold one day it happened. The woman suddenly and without warning re-gained her sense of smell during Mass whilst seated next to a woman who clearly hit the garlic rolls the night before,(heavy emphasis on garlic). Confused with this return of olfactory sensation and accompanying nausea, a quick count on the PeriodTrackerApp prompted a visit to the local CVS.
Confirmation post peeing on a stick. Twice. And the world began to spin.
Fast forward through the week of sudden shock and awe at this life turn of events as the couple quietly processes the news with prayers, trepidation, joy, laughter, wonder and trust. Clearly God has a plan here; who were they to question.
Then.
Just as the reality settled itself and planning stages were to begin: when to tell the kids, the family, friend, etc., doctor’s appointment, bedroom rearranging, financial rearrangement, etc, etc, etc.. The woman began to bleed.
And cramp.
And reality readjusted. And plans were undone. Tears were cried. A mental day was taken. And with Lent upon them, they clung to the promise that God’s plan is infinitely better than their own. Despite the temporary confusion and fog, He has great things in store. In addition to His promise of hope and plans and future, He has given this family, this couple a special soul to intercede on their behalf.
Thanks be to God.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
I’ve been MIA and so very hit or miss lately….life, ya know? Sorry. I’m preaching to the choir, I know.
It looks like our weekends are slowing down a leeeeeeetle bit here to a more manageable busy-ness which is good and gives me hope to recharge and reboot and refresh and all that because I needs me some down-time, people! Wahhhhh, cry me a river, I know. We are all busy. So. I am done complaining about that.
Here’s a few things my mind is juggling lately, good bad and ugly. Ok. NOT the really ugly, because I’ve already sent THAT email to a few people and I’m just not ready to go live with that. Yet. It is brewing though. It will probably be a total **it-storm when it happens, I’ll say that. Intrigued? Well, guess you’ll have to keep checking back in. wink-wink-wink
Goodnesssssss……all over the place. The busy-ness has been good stuff. Kids music stuff, going to All-county for two kiddos 2 weekends in a row. A certain almost-12 year old birthday coming up and a trip to Plato’s closet to feed her shopping desires and birthday gift!! Last minute visit from an old friend from Tally in town with her daughter’s volleyball tourney. (I didn’t get to visit with her but Hubby did and it does a soul good to have some quality friend time!) A coming visit from Hubby’s Alaskan cousin this weekend for the night. A total nut and very fun!! A great AA dinner party meeting Hubby’s AA friends. Always nice to put names with faces. Even nicer to hear the inspirational stories coming out of these people. My dear friend may (HOPEFULLY) be doing Apologetics classes for middle and high schoolers. Y’all she is DANGEROUSLY on fire and the most AMAZING teacher EVERRRRRR. I am completely committed to bugging her to YouTube the classes because this is something the Church needs…this area is so lacking. So offer up a prayer for her would ya? This cookie dough pie made by our 16 yo. Oh. MY. Deliciousness. **one special note: USE the blender/food processor for the beans. Makes allllllllll the difference in the world. Hubby and I are planning on renewing our vows this year. The big 2-0! Point of contention: our audience. Our church generally does this in front of the general Mass. All several HUNDREDS of people. Hubby is in favor of this venue. This gives me absolute palpitations and anxiety I cannot describe. I’m all for the quiet chapel route. Also, I know I will be bawling and this is not a good look for me. Let’s face it, half of our marriage was the “for worse” part and having come through that……..Phew! Good stuff, but man, oh, man……what a ride!!!
Badness: (I know, not a word, but in keeping with the theme)…..I didn’t get a job I applied for. Again. I DO have promises of other positions in the next few months, so we shall see….but disappointment, I’m really over you. Really. 16 yo broke his foot skateboarding. Not super bad, but definitely waylaid the skating for a while. Good stuff is coming out of that, though…..the ole stepping back and getting a bird’s eye view of friends, new likes and maturing. Colds. Several have blown through this house. 5 of 6 of us have had the flu shot, so holding steady there…… lastly, a friend of mine (son’s 5th grade teacher and the best EVER! and not just because she reads my blog) is suffering mightily these past couple years with a recurrence in her ovarian cancer. The past few months have been tremendously brutal. It’s heartbreaking and I’m so sad for her suffering and for her family and mad. Mad that the prayers I pray for her don’t fix anything. Mad that the dinner I’ll take her family won’t fix anything. Mad that God allows this. Mad. Mad. Mad. And this is so definitely going on my list of conversations God and I will have in heaven. Because I just don’t see the purpose of it. At all.
And on that total bummer note: let me offer up some fun times for you….There is going to be a little conference in Austin, TX this summer. A weekend of Catholic gal fun!! All the deets are here…… my pocketbook can’t swing this, but maybe yours can and I think it would absolutely be worth every second!!!!
Go on and have a super day. Providing you aren’t snowed in for the umpteenth time this winter. We’ll be scooting through the day in the humid 80s here….. tough. tough life it is.
Blessings!!
In my job as a CT Technologist I see a LOT of stuff. In my 22 years of working, I’ve learned to compartmentalize in order to keep my sanity. I’ve seen a lot and I see a LOT. The kind of stuff that regularly makes me shut up about my “little problems” and stuff that makes me say, “Gee, those are the same symptoms I’ve been having and holy……..”, stuff that makes me take a little more time with a patient, go the extra mile, give the extra smile and sometimes even the hug (although generally I save those for my 80-somethings who shamelessly flirt with me). You having a bad day? Come hang with me sometime, we’ll put that pity party to bed. Today was another day.
Today, we had a 51-year-old male newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. 51. 51!!!
A 53-year-old woman with a middle schooler and a high schooler with Stage 3 colon cancer.
And this morning, I learned that a sweet former acquaintance from the Junior League went home from work yesterday not feeling well and laid down for a bit. She never woke up. She leaves behind 3 boys and a husband and a river wide of mourning friends.
I was the early girl today at work and when I got home, my husband was already home. God knows what we need and when we need it. Today I needed his strong arms and shoulder to cry on.
People, get busy living.
making the trek 