Sunday Sermon and Some Other Stuff

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Stephen Grellet

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Words to live by from Mr. Grellet. I try to live by these wise words every day. We shall not pass this way again.

A beautiful but steamy Sunday. It is Texas, after all. I always look forward to my Sunday morning rituals, seeing friends, smiling faces, and the solemnity of the Catholic Mass. Very inspirational.

Today’s Gospel was the story of Jesus being questioned by His followers. They had trouble understanding His message…

⁶⁵ He went on, ‘This is why I told you that no one could come to me except by the gift of the Father.’⁶⁶ After this, many of his disciples went away and accompanied him no more.⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life,⁶⁹ and we believe; we have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.’

My take on it… sometimes traveling on the right path or knowing what to believe can be confusing. Faith in what you can’t see is the strongest purest faith.

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After Mass, a quick stop for coffee with Helene and Jerry. Plus, I had some of my famous “bad ass peanut butter brownies,” to give them.

The rest of my day was quiet and serene. The grandchildren called to FaceTime, and I went for a nice evening walk.

But yesterday, I did have a chance to stop at Fire Station 9 to drop off some brownies on our way to dinner. (Yes, more “bad ass brownies.) Sherri Murphy had picked me up, so she was kind enough to take a photo of me and a couple of the cute fire fighters. They always appreciate my visits.

Life is good! Happy Sunday.

Sunday:)No Sermon, But a Celebration

“Celebrate who you are in your deepest heart. Love yourself and the world will love you.”
― Amy Leigh Mercree

Luke 1:37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

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Six years ago today was the absolute worst, painful, devastating day of my entire life. Most of you already know the dreadful details and heart-break that began on this day in 2013. I won’t get into all the sordid details, but the short version is, I confronted my husband about his ongoing affair with the sleazy waitress at his country club. Then, after 43 years together, he chose to be with her. My spirit and heart were broken, but my faith never wavered. What you may not know is the miraculous events that followed. There were three, and only three, painful calendar dates that plagued my heart and soul. 7/11, 8/23, and 12/5. God changed all three of those dates into a celebration. This was no coincidence. Today, 7/11 is the first date, the first of three miracles.

That awful day is now a celebration. My son Joe got married on 7/11/2015, changing the previous painful memories into happy new ones. I gave a loving toast to the beautiful bride and handsome groom. I danced the mother/son dance, crying tears of joy and softly singing “Child of Mine,” in his ear. Now, the worst day of my life is a very special happy day. Happy Anniversary!

Today, I’m babysitting at my son’s house so he and his lovely wife could get away for a couple of days to celebrate their anniversary. Now, that “Child of Mine,” has two beautiful children of his own. I am so blessed. If someone asked me today if I could make a wish and change one single thing or event in my life, I would say…”I wouldn’t change a thing. If I did, I might not have had two wonderful sons, two beautiful granddaughters, a great family, and the most awesome friends in the world.

Thankful Thursday:) More Blessings Than I Can Count

“Sometimes we spend so much time and energy thinking about where we want to go that we don’t notice where we happen to be.”
― Dan Gutman

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I start out my day, every day, thinking of what I am thankful for and counting my blessings. It is said that you can wire or rewrite your brain to be happy if you do this. First thing, don’t even get out of bed, just think of all your blessings. Don’t let any negative thoughts or chores or work worries even slide in there.

This morning I was thankful for a cool cloudy day. I’m delighted that I have so many friends and family that I can depend on, but also, they can depend on me. I’m doggie sitting for Mr. Mike’s dog, Bella. Instead of feeling encumbered, I tell myself, “Now, you have to get your lazy butt up and walk the dog,” so it gets me moving. Then, several more walks during the day. Mr. Mike can count on me.

I wanted to go early vote for our local elections this afternoon, so I called Helene and asked her if she was going to vote and maybe we could grab some lunch.

We voted over at Fire station 5. It killed me not to take some treats for the firemen, but NO… not yet. Hey, we used a Q-tip to select each candidate. Cool!

After lunch, a stop at church for Adoration, pray the rosary, light a candle, and put a little something in the poor box. Also, a quick stop to visit Mr. Jerry.

I am so thankful for the faith that I grew up with. It really doesn’t matter what you call your religion or your church, but if you were raised to love and respect others, and that there’s a more powerful force out there besides our own selfish existence, well, that’s pretty awesome.

Feeling blessed and thankful.

Saturday:) Miracles and Anniversaries

“When God sends you a sign, you are blessed. When He sends you three, there’s no doubt in your mind that God performs miracles.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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(I share this miracle every year on this day. It’s the first of three, and everyone who has heard my trilogy of miracles will agree that only God could do this.)

Today is 7-11. July 11, 2013 was the worst, most painful and devastating day of my entire life. I will never forget that awful day, and all the tears, trauma, heartache, hospitalization, and betrayal that followed. That’s the day I confronted my now ex-husband about his affair with the waitress at his country club. We were married 39 years. But, there was so much more, and such unfathomable disgusting behavior that I can’t even begin to reveal. My heart was broken, and my life and my health was in turmoil. I said it was the “day that will live in infamy.” For two years, when I saw that day on the calendar, I cringed and I cried. Not any more. Now it’s a celebration.

Fast forward two years later…7-11-2015 was the day my son got married to the most beautiful and amazing girl of his dreams. That beautiful July 11th day, I danced at my son’s wedding and celebrated with friends and family. Now, this is a day of celebration and joy and love. They had no idea that this particular day was the worst day of my life, and was now transformed into a day to celebrate. BUT, God did.

Happy 5th Anniversary Joe and Lindsay!!! I love you “To the moon and back.”

It’s been five years now, and this beautiful couple has also blessed me with two beautiful granddaughters. Even more reason to celebrate. I love 7-11.

7-11-2015 A celebration and miracle.

More celebrations!

Look at this ever growing miracle!

Sunday Sermon and Other Stuff

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.

John Muir

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Another exciting and busy morning, rolling out of bed, walking ten steps into the family room, and watching Mass in my pajamas. So exhausting!

Today’s Gospel on this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ Sunday is from John 6:51-58.

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

My take on it… just like bread is a simple and basic way to sustain our bodies, the consecrated bread is a simple way to nourish our souls. Christ said that consuming the blessed bread and wine was the same as His flesh and blood, allowing us to live forever, instead of temporarily. A very difficult concept to comprehend, but true faith doesn’t require absolute comprehension.

The rest of my Sunday, I was busy doing squats… DIDDLY SQUATS! A very lazy day. Bit, the day is still young. Oops! No it isn’t. It’s after 7 pm. The day is done. But, I will get out for an evening walk shortly.

Happy Sunday, my friends.

Sunday Sermon and Some Other Stuff~ Quo Vadis

You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.

Maya Angelou

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Well, another Sunday going to church in my pajamas, tucked under my covers with a nice cup of green tea. I’m getting awfully lazy. It took me a few minutes to get the live streaming going because the Facebook page wasn’t working, so I had to get to the St. Gabriel website. I miss my greeting of friends, and hugs, and smiling children. I can’t imagine how long it will be until we can gather again.

Today’s Gospel was the story of Jesus joining some disciples on the road to Emmaus, but they didn’t look up nor recognize that it was Jesus. As they talked, Jesus asked about their discussion. They said that people were talking all about how Jesus was sentenced to death and crucified, yet two days later, the tomb was discovered empty.

When they got to the village, they asked the stranger to stay and eat with them…30 Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them.

31 And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight.

32 Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’

My take on it…. sometimes the truth or the obvious is right before our eyes and we don’t recognize it. Remain strong and faithful and all will be revealed to you.

Today, the theme of the Third Sunday of Easter is Quo Vadis, translating to where are you going? That’s a very good question, isn’t it? That’s a good question to ask ourselves today and every day. Where are YOU going on this journey we call life?

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After my tedious adventures of getting to church on time, I checked my emails and Facebook a little, then rolled over and went back to sleep. Now, that’s pretty lazy. I lolligaggled and dillidallied for a couple of more hours, then did my meditations before starting my day.

My goal was to try and get up, showered, hair washed, and dressed before 5 pm. 🤦‍♀️ Didn’t make it today! It was about 5:45 before I got those goals accomplished.

Then, the highlight of my Sunday, FaceTime with my grand babies.

I celebrated my Sunday later with a toast to good health and happiness for all. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere. CHEERS!!!!🍷

If you’re starting to worry about me drinking too much during these trying times, don’t worry too much, it was cranberry grape juice in one of my pretty hand-painted wine glasses. CHEERS!

Sunday Sermon and Some Other Stuff

“To believe with certainty we must begin with doubting.”

~Stanislaus I

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This morning I was able to sleep in a little because there was going to be a very special live streaming Divine Mercy Sunday Mass at 11 am at St. Gabriel. But, as is my custom, I still attended Mass in my jammies. The service was officiated by Dallas Archdiocese Bishops Burns and Kelly. Bishop Kelly was our original founding pastor at St. Gabriel back in 1996, so it was a special service.

Today’s Gospel was the “Doubting Thomas” story. The disciples were all locked away in a room after the resurrection, fearing for their lives. Jesus appeared before them saying, “Peace be with you, ” and showed them His wounds. Thomas was not with them, and when they told him that they saw Jesus, Thomas said he wouldn’t believe unless he could see and touch the wounds himself.

Eight days later, Jesus appeared in the closed room, and invited Thomas to touch the wounds so he could believe.

28 Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’

29 Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

My take on it… sometimes you have to believe in things that you can’t see or don’t have physical proof of. That’s what faith is. You can’t see the air, but you know it’s there and you breathe. You can’t see love, but you can feel it.

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Bishop Kelly gave a wonderful homily comparing how our situation today is similar to how the disciples were locked away in fear of the unknown, but they still had faith. We are locked away in our homes, uncertain of our future and our safety, so we must remain faithful. He also reminded us what Pope Francis said. During these difficult days, we need to help one another and the less fortunate.

“We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other,” he said during his homily in front of a rainy St. Peter’s Basilica, before an empty square and a single priests.

It was a beautiful Mass with a wonderful message and amazing singing.

Bishop Burns gave his final blessing to all.

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Then of course, the highlight of my Sunday is getting to FaceTime with my little granddaughters and watching them grow right before my eyes.

Sunday Sermon and Some Other Stuff

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

~ Mark Twain

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Today is the Fourth Sunday in Lent, it is the Second Sunday of watching Mass on my iPad, and the First Sunday of celebrating Mass with St. Gabriel under the covers in my pajamas. Very strange.

Today’s Gospel was the story of Jesus healing a man blind from birth. In those days, the blind and deaf were thought to have sinned or their parents had sinned, thus the punishment. Jesus disputed that idea and healed the blind man. The Pharisees and the Jews did not believe this miracle, and questioned the former blind man twice. The man was convinced that Jesus was the Son of Man sent by God.

Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.

We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes,

and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

The Pharisees still questioned this miracle.

Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

My take on it… Sometimes those supposedly wise or intelligent people who question everything unless it is proven to them, those are the ones who miss out on what is truly important. Blind faith is an appropriate concept. We don’t need concrete proof to believe in God. We just need faith.

I am thankful that we can continue celebrating the Mass together, thanks to Father Don and all the St. Gabriel staff.

During these stressful times of confinement and confusion, it’s good to focus on our blessings and not dwell on our hardships. “Instead of stressing, count your blessing.”

I spent a lot of time on the phone in a group FaceTime with my girlfriends, laughing and sharing stories. I checked in with friends and family, and my son and his little family sent lots of photos of the babies to keep grandma entertained.

Then, there was a lot of time on Facebook sharing uplifting stories, pictures, and funny jokes. Even if we can’t hold each other close in person, we can hold each other close in our hearts.

Be safe, healthy, and happy my friends, and most of all, be kind. If you are lucky enough to be confined with your family, hold them close and appreciate your blessings. “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

Happy Sunday. ❤️🙏

Sunday Sermon, or Lack There Of

“Panic causes tunnel vision. Calm acceptance of danger allows us to more easily assess the situation and see the options.”

~Simon Sinek

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My Sunday morning routine was all discombobulated today. I didn’t set my alarm for 7 am, and I stayed in bed most the morning, feeling kind of sad. St. Gabriel was not celebrating Masses, and will cancel until the end of March. The church is still open for individuals to pray or worship, weddings, funerals, etc., but no Masses. As I said yesterday, I never thought I’d live to see the day.

But, like many other churches and denominations, a celebration of the Mass was recorded on video to share with the parishioners. It’s still not the same.

Today’s Gospel was the story of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. Jews did not associate with Samaritans, but Jesus spoke with her and made her a believer….

13 Jesus replied: Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again;

14 but no one who drinks the water that I shall give will ever be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will become a spring of water within, welling up for eternal life.

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My take on it… faith and salvation are not narrow concepts, meant only for a particular group or religious belief. The earthly water we drink and the earthly food we eat will only sustain our bodies. All who believe in a supreme being, a creator, are sustained from within. In my book, which is pretty short, there are only two rules, Honor and love God, and honor and love your fellow man. All the rest falls under those two headings.

The rest of my Sunday was pretty much a blur. I only left the house to walk the dog a few times. I made a few phone calls, and then of course, the highlight of my day… FaceTime with the granddaughter. Gosh, they are getting bigger by the day. I guess the Chicago area is pretty much on lock down, too.

I just pray that we all survive this mass panic and confusion and illness. It would be nice to leave the world a better place than we found it for our future generations… like these little angels that God has blessed me with.

Happy Sunday my friends. Stay healthy, stay strong, and keep the faith.

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Sunday Sermon and Some Awesome Artists

“The artist has one function–to affirm and glorify life.”

— W. Edward Brown

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Woa! It was really hard waking up this morning with the time change. If you know me, you know I’m not a fan of change, much less one where I lose an hour of sleep. The 7 AM alarm was greeted with a few expletives. But, I rolled out of bed and looked forward to church, friends, and enjoying my day.

Today’s Gospel was the story of Jesus leading some disciples up the mountain where he was transfigured in a bright light, joined by Moses and Elijah. Later…

While he was still speaking, behold,

a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,

then from the cloud came a voice that said,

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;

listen to him.”

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate

and were very much afraid.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying,

“Rise, and do not be afraid.”

And when the disciples raised their eyes,

they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

My take on it… even though the disciples were afraid after witnessing and hearing such powerful and frightening things, Jesus comforted them and told them not to be afraid. I think we all, if we haven’t already, are going to experience confusing, overwhelming, or terrifying experiences in our lives. If we have faith, God will comfort us and tell us not to be afraid, and He will send us earthly angels, in disguise as family and friends to help us through our darkest hours. (Just my personal experience.)

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Now for the awesome artists and friends in my life. Yesterday, my friend and awesome author, Allison Bottke, invited me to go with her to the farmer’s market, shopping, and lunch. It was a great day for scooting around town. I love seeing my talented friends who work the market.

Alex and Minda Macias, very talented potters and terrific friends. The bowl that Alex is holding found a new home at my house.

Allison and I bought up the last of the mango pineapple y habañero salsa from Bernard’s Salsa. (Best salsa I’ve ever had.) My pantry is fully stocked now.

After the market, we stopped at Goodwill and did some power thrifting. We both found all kinds of treasures. Then, off for a late lunch. When I got home, I only had a little time before scooting off to The Cove for the Empty Bowls preview event. Several of my bowls were on display, and I took along a few blank bowls to paint while I visited.

Just when I think I’m pretty talented, I see the other magnificent bowls that will be auctioned or raffled off at the Empty Bowls Event on April 30th, then I am in awe.

As you can see, there is a lot of artistic talent right here in McKinney, and I am proud to know most of these artists and call them friends. How blessed am I?

It was a great weekend. I hope yours was too.