Tag Archives: hope

Precious life

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Photo via Sometimes Martha, always Mary...whose POST gave peace in my heart in the midst of yesterday's tragedy.

Photo via Sometimes Martha, always Mary...whose POST gave me a slice of peace in my heart in the midst of yesterday’s tragedy.

I don’t know if I’ll write more or if this is it.

Yesterday’s news was incomprehensible.  I can’t imagine nor do I WANT to imagine.  When my mind starts to go there….it just can’t.  Can’t.

We live in a culture of death.  The media will feed on this for weeks.  Each story will bring new knowledge and grief.  Only time will bring healing.

Political agenda on guns?  Some will turn this into it.  The reality is:  You can’t legislate morality.  Stole that from my Hubby…he’s brilliant, BTW.

As for me, I went to Adoration at lunch yesterday.  Cried, prayed and cried some more. A pattern I’m certain to repeat in the coming days.  Lord, have mercy.

I hugged my kids and my Hubby.  Hard.  Long.  Even my 13 and 15 year olds did not pull away.

We let our son go skate with his friends.  We let our daughter go to her birthday party.  You have to live.

We watched Elf.  Our son ate spaghetti and syrup for dinner (in preparation for Elf).  I joined in with this gal and this gal as they hosted a “Twitter party” during Elf.  I made peppermint milkshakes and let everyone finish the leftover luncheon “Cherry Cheesecake Dip” (Pinterest WIN!!)  Laughing felt great.  Therapy.

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I texted with my mom and my sister.

I read the news sparingly.

Today.  I’m up.  I’ll walk.  I’ll pray. Hubby and I will decide how to proceed with broaching this topic with our kids.   We’ll make a more concentrated effort at living each day as a PRESENT.  We’ll live our lives with RESPECT to LIFE.  All life.  We will trust in God even when we don’t understand, even when we are furious, confused, scared and anxious.  Our children and our lives are not our own.  We belong to Him. Let us love one another.

Jesus, come quickly.  Until then,

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

 

 

The ADVENT of the holidays….

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It’s post Thanksgiving and a month of “Thankful Posts” on Facebook and elsewhere (I didn’t participate publicly because I felt it would stress me out….go figure….), but I AM so thankful for everything in my life, even the not-so-great stuff.  God is good and He uses every bit of it to make us stronger and bring us closer to Him.  Rarely does it feel “good” in the middle of our trials, in hindsight it often makes sense.

Among the many things I AM thankful for is the coming of Advent.  I love Christmas and I love Advent.  The only problem is….it goes so quickly!!!  So, I’ll do my best to enjoy each and every hectic moment of decorating, cookie making, gift buying, wrapping, delivering, cards, music and preparation for the coming of Our Lord.  It’s gonna be hard though.  At least we have the Powerball chaos to keep us busy….and yes, I already bought my ticket…just one.  $500 mill, yo….I’ll throw a dollar in…

One of the things during Advent that is crucial, for me, is receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  I generally don’t look forward to it, but always feel better after it.  The other day Dwija put this link up on the book of Faceand I can honestly “say” that I’ve NEVER received this message quite like this before.  Reconciliation from a priest’s perspective.  Click HERE to read the entire article.  It was interesting for me because in the back of my mind, I always wonder when I see the priest after reconciliation….”is he thinking about what I told him?”.  Yes,  apparently I think I’m that big of a deal that among ALL the confessions he hears that MINE would be the most riveting….nevermind the fact it’s essentially the same-ish every time…which is really not so good since I’m still struggling in the same areas…but that’s a different post altogether.  In spite of my rambling…read the article, it’s truly a blessing!!

 

 

What doesn’t kill us….

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Do you ever seem as though you can get so easily caught in a vortex of despair?  (Currently, I am fine…but lately there are many around me suffering and each challenge seems to bring forth a new and fresh hell for someone else).  There is so much suffering around ALL of us.  Each of us with our own drama and issues to deal with and then to meld together as we swim our way through.  Thus is life.  Fluid and changing.

John 16:33 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

One of my favorite lyrics (and all-time sayings) in Kelly Clarkson’s song…..”What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is so true; it’s not the trials we face….because we ALL have crosses to bear throughout our lives…it is how we deal with those trials and when we rise above…we are stronger.

Last night I read my friend Lea’s blog and she put up this great poem and even better pictures to remind me that we are not only made stronger by life’s trials but more beautiful.  Looking at the pictures of these beautiful ladies and friends and looking back on the years….it’s true.  

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat,

known suffering,

known struggle,

known loss,

and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation,

a sensitivity,

and an understanding of life

that fills them with compassion,

gentleness,

and a deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.”

 

                       Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004); psychiatrist, author

Final update…

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Well, 5 weeks and I made it through the Peak 313 Challenge.  It was a good jump-start to getting a little more disciplined and NOT getting sidelined by life with healthier eating and exercise habits.  For me, it’s more on the eating side, the exercise thing–I got it.  I just enjoy food.  I enjoy making it, serving it and fellowshipping with and around it.  I just need to make friends with it.  As my friend commented to me during this challenge, “I am eating for fuel…not just eating”.  True.

So, to report…the scale didn’t really budge much, which is disappointing and truth be told, can quite easily depress me into a return to emotional eating.  However…..my clothes are fitting looser and I have more energy, so I am motivated and encouraged to continue on with my journey…and if I’m making good choices and treating this body as the temple that it is and nothing changes on the scale then I’ll work on making peace with that, too.

And that’s OK.

Blessings!!

1Corinthians 6:19

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

When you can’t fix it….

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I came to a revelation of sorts yesterday while I was home with our sick kiddo.  First of all, I am not really a patient mother/wife/person when it comes to dealing with sick people,  perhaps it comes from dealing with sick people all day; I have no compassion.  It’s awful. I know.  I try to be kind, but it is forced.  The same thing happens if someone is going through a really difficult mental issue.  No compassion.  I try.  Again, it’s forced and impatient.  Last night, in talking with Hubby I realized that when it comes to my family and friends and their sickness and struggles I harden because I’m angry.  I’m not angry with THEM, I’m angry with the fact that there is NOTHING I can do to “fix it”.  I might be able to lessen the symptoms and make them more comfortable, however, for me…..that’s not enough, I want it fixed.  Over, done and move on. It is why I am calm in the middle of a crisis (mostly), I focus on the end, the solution and what I can do to get there.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with this information.  Mentally, I KNOW I can’t fix anything…and it is a work on growing my faith to do what I CAN do in loving on my friends and family during their times of sickness and struggle and to trust in Him, the Great Physician to take care of the rest.  So, I suppose now that I’ve identified my issue I can pray on it and listen for direction and perhaps maybe, just maybe, be a little more compassionate when those times come.

Mark 16:18 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”