~Pope Francis
************ (Did you know the Pontiff has a Twitter page??)
Even though it was a lovely sunny Sunday, it was also a little sad. I took Mom and my sister, Jo, to the airport this morning for their flight back home. We had a very nice visit, but two weeks went pretty fast.
I was able to get back home in time to get to church for 9 o’clock Mass. Being Palm Sunday, we all gathered in the vestibule for the blessing of the palms and to process back inside, singing and commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusulem.
After Mass, off to the square for a yummy breakfast at Snug, sitting outside, bumping into friends, people watching, and enjoying the warmth of the day.
(Look at this empty chair. Very inviting. Come join me sometime.)
Then, I visited with my friends over at sweet Spot Bakery. Kaylyn asked me, “Why is there grass popping out of your purse, Miss Toni?” Her dad, Josh explained it was Palm Sunday. We chatted while I sipped iced tea and played Chopsticks on the piano with Kaylyn.
Does look kinda weird, doesn’t it? Stole this next picture from Mr. Josh’s Facebook page. I didn’t even notice him taking a picture. Too busy plunking at the piano.
Another sunny Sunday. I came home and went for a long glorious walk. I always appreciate the sun on my face, the breeze in my hair, and the beauty that surrounds my every step. I am blessed. HAPPY SUNDAY!
It was a beautiful sunny Saturday. Mom’s two week visit flew by like a soaring gray hawk in an azure blue sky. (Prose and melodrama.) So, what should we do on our last day? We decided that a nice lunch and a visit on the square would be nice. My favorite burger place in all McKinney is now, ONE AN ONLY BURGER on 380 and McDonald. So good, and the fries are amazing. A large order of fries can feed a small army.
Then, we went over and sat outside of Sweet Spot Bakery on the Square and we enjoyed some people watching and mounted police watching while soaking up the sunshine and atmosphere.
While we enjoyed the day, the mounted patrol passed right by us. The horses like to check and see if Miss Kathy is near the back door to give them an apple.
After a beautiful afternoon, it sadly was time to go home and get ready for the flight back to Chicago in the morning. But, it was a perfect ending to a perfect day. Hope the snow is gone by the time she gets back.
I’ll miss you Mom. You always say that I am your sunshine, but you are my sunshine too.
A picnic is more than eating a meal, it is a pleasurable sate of mind.”
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It was a nice sunny day. Perhaps a little cooler than a perfect picnic day, but the sun was shining. We bundled Mom up and walked to the park. Fortunately for me, there’s a little park is about twenty steps outside my front door. I grabbed a couple of chairs, some hot chocolate, and a piece of strawberry whipped cream cake. We had a book on tape to listen to, and enjoyed the fresh air for a while.
We’ve been sharing a lot of meals, laughter and quality time. Nothing beats a picnic in the park with the greatest mom in the world. “It’s a pleasurable state of mind.”
When you’re looking for a needle in a haystack, don’t afraid to burn the haystack to save yourself from spending half your life picking through strands of straw.”
― A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar
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We’re all looking for something, whether it be love, health, happiness, or financial security. Some are looking for peace of mind or peace of spirit. Personally, I’m looking for all of the above, BUT, most often, I’m just looking for a pair of glasses so I can see all the fine print that life throws at me every single day.
I don’t wear prescription glasses, just those cheap cheater glasses from the discount stores. It never fails though, as many pairs as I have scattered around the house or car, I can never find one when I need to read something.
So, the other day, when I was trying to read my email, I scoured the house for my glasses. Finally, I thought, “Hmmm? I think I have an emergency pair in my purse.” Well, I did.
I had six pairs in my purse! So, that’s where they all were.
“Hello! Is it me you’re looking for?” Theme song for today.
Don’t wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty.
~Lora Brody
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Yesterday, Mom and I stopped by McKinney Fire Station #5 with a dozen bunny Peep cupcakes and some brownies. I thought Mom would get a kick out of having her picture taken with a cute fireman. Well, turns out that they were having a training session with several stations. One of the visiting firemen from station #7 said, “Let me just grab one of these before they’re all gone.”
I just wanted a quick picture, but he insisted we go back to meet the other firemen and get a photo with the new shiny red fire engine in the back. They were so kind to Mom, even helping her walk down the long hall, then later one gentleman helped her into my car. We have the nicest firemen!
I’m always telling my mom about my many trips with cupcakes, brownies, or cookies to the fire station. Now, she got to see firsthand why I do this. Firemen and police officers are willing to risk their lives every day for us, the least I can to is bake a few cupcakes. Everyone likes to be appreciated.
Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them. ~Francesco Guicciardini
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Part two of “Meet Da Mamma” from Monday. We cleaned, cooked and baked for our gathering. I invited a few dear friends to stop by to meet my mom who was visiting from Chicago. It was an open house, so I didn’t get a chance to take a lot of pictures of friends coming and going. Plus, I was so busy socializing, I plum forgot.
One of my favorite things to make is my bunny cupcake made with marshmallow Peeps. They are so cute. I don’t think anyone actually ate any here, but everyone took some home to enjoy later or share with spouses or grandkids.
Aren’t they cute? They are little mini cupcakes, chocolate with a cherry from cherry pie filling inside and homemade cream cheese frosting. Yum!
Thanks for the visit, girls. Also a big thank you to all my other friends not in the photo. Mom enjoyed meeting all of you, or “y’all” as we say here in Texas. Love you guys!
Oh yes, there were lots of brownies!!! But, more on that tomorrow…
you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone.
And Jesus raised his eyes and said,
“Father, I thank you for hearing me.
I know that you always hear me;
but because of the crowd here I have said this,
that they may believe that you sent me.”
And when he had said this,
He cried out in a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out,…
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It was a cloudy morning. Mom went to Mass with me this morning, a special blessing to have Mom visiting with me for a couple of weeks. I call it “double teaming.” When she was back home in Chicago, I would call her every Sunday on my way to church, and say, “Pray for us sinners.” She would tell me, “You too.” So, we double teamed all those sinners together this morning, so look out.
I went for an afternoon walk, and while I was walking, I thought, “Darn, I forgot AGAIN!” I had downloaded an app on my phone that would track my walking two weeks ago. I kept forgetting to set it up. People always ask, how far do you walk? I really don’t know. I say “I walk about an hour to an hour and a half in the morning, and about an hour in the evening.” I was never really curious or felt a need to track it, but after about the fiftieth time someone asked, I started to wonder myself.
I estimated in my mind that an hour was maybe one or two miles, give or take. So, I figured that I walked maybe three or four miles a day. WELL!!!! Boy, did I underestimate myself. I set up the app when I walked this evening. The sun was out and it was a gorgeous night. After so many gloomy days, I was invigorated. My phone spoke to me after 15 minutes and told me I had walked a mile. What? By the time I finished my one hour, I was floored.
(I walked, not ran. Too old to run.)
I walked 1 hour and 6 minutes and walked 4.3 miles! I’ve been walking faithfully pretty much every single day for the past six months, usually twice a day. Of course, I missed 3 or 4 days during the ice storms, but still, that’s a lot of miles. Walking has always been my thing for years. I’ve been determined to walk every day, and also to write every day. I’ve always believed in myself, and if I make a promise, especially to myself, I keep it.
Toni Andrukaitis 