“Don’t count your dollars to see how rich you are. Count your memories. Count your friends. Count the hugs you get every day. Count what really matters.”
― Toni Sorenson
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I start out every day counting my blessings. There are so many, I sometimes lose count. I also journal every day and take pictures of just about everything. That’s a great way to count and recount your blessings.
A week in a peek…
Happy Monday, my friends.
“When the thing that your heart strongly loves to do is the thing world hungers and thirsts to see done, then that’s what you were called to do. You must never leave it undone!”
― Israelmore Ayivor
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Today, was the last day for Father Robert to say Masses before his new assignment at St. Williams in Greenville. His farewell homily was moving and I believe he sniffled a little, holding back some obvious emotions. I watched the streaming video on Facebook at 9am, and then watched the live streaming of Bishop Kelly and our own Father Don at 11 on television.
Father Robert will be greatly missed. It was sad that he couldn’t get a proper send off and farewell party.
Bishop Kelly celebrated Mass at 11, with Father Don giving the homily.
Today’s Gospel tells us how Jesus explains how we must live our lives…
“Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
MY take on it…. it’s not for us to seek a reward for the sake of a reward. Even a cup of cold water to someone in need, a selfless act of kindness, will be noted and worthy of a reward.
The Archdiocese of Dallas has allowed the opening of Sunday Masses now, with explicit safety instructions, of course. But, I still don’t feel comfortable attending with the possibility of large crowds. I’m not sure when or if we’ll ever get back to normal.
Well, a Sunday highlight is getting to FaceTime with my adorable granddaughters. I appreciate the technology that can keep us connected during these disconnected times.
Then, my evening walks to savor the sunsets are always uplifting. With the Sahara sands clouding up the skies the last few days, the sunsets have been most unusual to say the least. This was last night, rather a hazy eerie sky.
Happy Sunday, my friends.
“The very best adventures are not planned. They’re more like a phone call saying, “Put your shoes on, I’m picking you up in half an hour.”
~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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“Advice from a sunflower: Be bright, sunny and positive. Spread seeds of happiness. Rise, shine and hold your head high.”
~Unknown
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My dear friend Sherri Murphy is my, “Put your shoes on” kinda friend. Sherri called me today and asked if I wasn’t busy, maybe I’d like to go on adventure. I said, “Let me check my calendar. Hmm? I don’t have anything penciled in until late November.” I love adventures.
Her daughter told her about a magnificent field of sunflowers near Whitewright that wasn’t too far away, and was too beautiful to miss. So, I put my shoes on, and off we went. Kimmie was right.
These photos cannot capture the splendor of these amazing fields of sunflowers, as far as the eye could see. And, there was another field just a little further down the road. We had to stop and take some pictures, of course.
We saw a few other interesting sights along the way.
It was another wonderful impromptu day filled with surprises, sunflowers and lots of smiles. (And friendly goats.)
Happy Saturday, my friends.
“You gotta know when to be lazy. Done correctly, it’s an art form that benefits everyone.”
― Nicholas Sparks
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Well, another hazy lazy Friday. I did a little walking outside here and there. I got in about 3 1/2 miles, but don’t be impressed because I took a nap in between walks. Later, I drove over to the bank in the afternoon. It’s funny, I can walk into the bank with a mask on, reach into my purse, and no one bats an eye. Weird.
I’ve been kinda bummed because my firemen friends still aren’t able to accept homemade goodies and baked goods from Miss Toni, and they are looking so skinny and deprived. But, they are able to accept pre-packaged food or beverages. Last week, Tom Thumb had an awesome sale on Powerade drinks, the big bottles, but limit 10. I picked up 10 and Helene grabbed 10. I took mine over to my Station 9 and she took hers to Station 5.
The fire fighters are always appreciative. It’s not because of the items, but it feels great to feel appreciated. We have an awesome fire department.
The rest of my Friday was pretty lazy. But, guess what day it is? Yes, it’s Black Russian Friday. Cheers, my friends!
“Songs always sound so beautiful in another language, especially when your friends have no idea what your saying and where you messed up.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Just another Thursday, missing my karaoke friends, dancing, laughing, singing, and a few drinks to make the songs sound better, I like that one quote that said, “The more you drink, the better I sound.” Just sayin’, But, I do love to sing.
I remember the first time I sang this at the VFW. I asked Danny to play “Perfidia,”and I had no idea it was in Spanish until the words came up. Yikes! I just winged it, and a few people said, “I didn’t know you could sing in Spanish.” I replied, “Neither did I, and I’m sure you had no idea how bad I messed up.” It was fun, and I’ll keep working on it.
Our buddy Bob always sings a great song. A little “Peggy Sue” to get your toes a tappin’.
I hope you all (y’all) are hanging in there and keeping safe and healthy. Hugs. 🤗 Keep on singing and dancing.
“Once you’re on a roll, keep on rolling.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Last night, I shared a time-lapse video of painting yellow roses on a vase. Well, that was just one vase, and a couple of layers of paint. My goal was to complete six vases. I worked well into the wee hours of the morning, even adding the fine white veining in the leaves before hanging up my brush. Once I get on a roll, I keep rolling. Momentum is a good thing.
So today, I decided to strike while the iron was hot. Bad analogy. I don’t iron. I decided to keep on rolling while I was on a roll. I wanted to play around with a few more notecards and another quick video. Since my work table was already messy, might as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvfqR7bBcQA
Messin’ around with acrylic paint, pastel chalk, and markers. Well, I’m not quittin’ my day job. Wait! I don’t have a day job, never mind.just having fun.
“Being good is making it look easy, but getting good is never easy.”
― Jeffrey Fry
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A fairly lazy day today. It rained through the night and most the morning, bit there was a brief window where I ventured out for a short walk in the late afternoon, fearing another storm. But, it all cleared up by 6ish. I can only spend so many hours looking at Facebook and my emails. So, I went for my evening walk to catch the sunset. I ended up walking 4 miles. Nice!
Tuesdays, I like to share with you a cooking, baking, painting, or words of wisdom tip. Today, I decided to paint a little. Yep! Yellow roses. I was running low on my yellow rose vases.
I know, I know… I make it look easy, and the time-lapse makes it look fast, but, believe me, it is neither. But, I’ve been doing it a LONG time, so I’m faster than the average bear.
I think the hardest part of the painting process is putting down the first layer of paint, and then after that’s dry, going over with a second layer exactly on the same spot. That’s why I usually paint 5 or 6 at a time. By the time I finish the 6th vase with the first layer, the first one is dry enough to start the second layer and then the additional petals and leaves. (Now, I have to go upstairs and finish the other 5 vases before my paint dries up.) Oh yes, Folk Art Enamel Paint, made for glass and ceramics. In case you were wondering.
Well, if I make it look fast and easy, then I guess I must be…. wait for it….
AMAZING!!!!! Yep! I know, right?
“If you could walk a mile in my shoes you would say, ‘Wow! She is amazing and she has really big feet.’ ” (A little Monday humor.)
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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You know what? Life is pretty darn good. I haven’t been able to run around like a mad crazy woman like the old BQ days, Before Quarantine, but I’m slowly learning to cope and adjust. I find myself reading more, studying, walking, meditating, and learning about myself. And, I get to FaceTime with my family. It’s a good thing. Always look for the silver lining, the rainbow after the storm, the worm down at the bottle of the tequila bottle. (More humor.)
A week in a pretty darn good peek…
Happy Monday, my friends.
“To a father growing old, nothing is dearer than a daughter.
Euripides
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A double dose of watching Mass today. I woke up in time to watch 9am Mass at St. Gabriel and then 11 with the Bishops on TV.
Today’s Gospel was from Matthew
Gospel
Jesus said to the Twelve:
“Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known…
He goes on to say that if you acknowledge Me, I will acknowledge you to my Father. If you deny me, I will deny you to my Father.
My take on it… anything you do or say, even if you try to hide it, lie or keep secrets, eventually it will all come to light. Keep your faith in the Lord and He will keep His faith in you.
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Bishop Burns had a special blessing for Father’s Day, for all the men who are fathers, role models, and protectors.
Not all men are biological fathers, but do so much to help raise fine children. Not all biological fathers are role models. A true man is measured by his actions, not his DNA.
As you may know, I’ve been very blessed to have two fine sons. My oldest son, Joe, has two little girls and is the best father I’ve ever known. He adores his two little girls, and spends so much quality time with them. If a great father is measured by his actions, Joe qualifies for super dad of the year.
Happy Father’s Day Joe.
“A day spent without the sight or sound of beauty, the contemplation of mystery, or the search of truth or perfection is a poverty-stricken day; and a succession of such days is fatal to human life.”
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Last night, when I went for my late evening walk, the looming dark clouds were rolling in. It stormed during the night and through the early morning hours. The wind rattled the windows and thunder lit up the sky. Cool!
This morning, the sun was out, and the cooler temps busted out into the mid 90’s later. So, I took several shorter walks, and I’ll probably get out one more time before dark. Love my sunsets.
I stopped past Miss Bernadine’s house, and I gave St. Francis his mandatory pat on the head. Got to!
A couple of little butterflies fluttered around me on my evening walk. And, since I’ve been challenging myself lately, I tried
another challenge today. I finished a 5 Day Meditation/Writing Challenge. Then, I signed up for a Coursera on-line course offered by Yale called, The Science of Well-Being. It’s long and involved, but I’m up for the challenge, and part of the homework is challenging yourself.
Today, instead of my usual 2 or 3 mile walks, I decided to shoot for at least 10,000 steps. When I reached that goal, I walked a little more. Amazing! (Yes, I am,)
Then, a beautiful sunset to end my day.
Happy Saturday, my friends.
Toni Andrukaitis 