Sunday Sermon, Sunset and Other Stuff

“I will do today that which is of today and pay no heed to the tomorrow; nor waste regrets on that which was yesterday.”

~Walter Russell

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Today’s Gospel was the story of how Simon Peter received his name from Jesus, the Rock. Peter would later become the Rock which Christianity was founded upon.

“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother and say to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ — which means the Christ- and he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’ — which means Rock.”

My take on it… Peter was chosen to lead the church and was given a new name and challenge, Sometimes you are chosen to step up. From the slightest calling to the most important ministry, heed the call.

The rest of my Sunday was calm and quiet. But, there’s always room for an evening walk and a beautiful sunset.

Another awesome painting in the sky… “This is the day the Lord has made..”

I am gonna keep practicing, too.

Frosty Friday:) Sunsets and Die Hard Dandelions

“Spectacular sunsets and amazing friends warm the heart and nourish the soul.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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The cold wind has been howling for days. I didn’t even venture out for a walk yesterday. It’s Texas, for goodness sake. what’s 5he deal? But today, I swore “hell or high water,” I was going out for my evening walk. Well, I didn’t have the high water, but it was colder than… (You know), and windy. I was all layered up with my fighting Illini hat and my Notre Dame winter coat and warm gloves. I literally had to hold on to my hat. But, I put in 2.4 miles and was rewarded with a series of beautiful sunset skies each time I made a loop around the pond.

Welcome to sunny Texas.

The sun slowly setting in the west.

The grass has gone dormant, the bare trees have lost all their leaves, but the die hard dandelions remain an inspiration of resilience and fortitude. I strive to be as beautiful and resilient as a dandelion in winter.

Happy Friday, my friends. CHEERS!!!!!

Saturday:) Stunning Sunsets and a Sentimental Elvis on the Shelvis

“I never tire on my journey when I am greeted each morning with a glorious sunrise and end the day with a stunning sunset.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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I’m sipping a cup of hot green tea, looking at photos, just reminiscing. What impresses me most (besides grand-babies ) is all the awesome sunset photos I have. I live in a beautiful neighborhood with wonderful friends and awesome sites to see.

Through the park, on my way to the pond.

The clouds were hiding the glowing orange sun. for a while.

I walked across the street to where the horses usually graze. They must have been inside watching TV or playing video games. Oh, maybe playing horse shoes in the barn.

The sun was slithering further down the horizon.

Almost gone!

A red-orange ribbon remains. Wouldn’t you love to see that every day? All these photos were taken on the same day, within half an hour, just stunning.

For today, I want to add a throwback Elvis from last year when I was visiting the family in Chicago. In honor of Christmas/Hanukkah…

Elvis on the Shelvis. Merry Chrismukkah, my friends,

Wednesday:) What a Wondrous World

“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.”

Sarah Ban Breathnach

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Wednesday is usually my What’s Cookin’, Words of Wisdom, or my Wondrous World. Since I really didn’t cook or bake today, nor do I feel very wise, so I’m going to share the Wondrous sights from my walk this glorious chilly evening, and a couple from the past few days. Every day is an adventure of sights and sounds.

I went to the grocery store today, and when I got home, I put the ice cream in the freezer then ran out the door for my walk to catch the sunset. I love my sunset walks. The beauty is breathtaking. (Or was that the cold air and fierce wind taking my breath away. Maybe both.)

Oh my! Look at this handsome fella grazing in the pasture, just a couple of blocks from my front door. So majestic.

Last night’s sky.

And this little fella followed me home. We both enjoyed our cool evening walk.

Now you see why I run out the door every evening, to see what Mother Nature will surprise me with.

Happy Wondrous Wednesday, my friends.

Sunday Sermon, Sunset, and Some Other Stuff

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Benjamin Franklin

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A cold and gloomy Sunday, but I’m nice and toasty, safe and warm inside. (Both home and heart.)

Another Sunday morning watching Mass in my pajamas. I’m getting spoiled.

Today’s Gospel…

Gospel

MK 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

My take on it… We never know when it’s our last day. Enjoy your life, savor every day, be your best, be kind, be generous, “be watchful.”

This evening, I bundled up and went out for my evening walk. The sky was spectacular and the clouds followed me as I walked. Each lap around the pond changed my perspective. It was beautiful.

Then, my Sunday FaceTime with the grand daughters. Always a highlight.

A beautiful blessed Sunday. I hope your day was just as special.

Happy Sunday, my friends.

Black Friday With a Holiday Black Russian Friday Twist

“Is it just me, or does Black Friday have a totally different vibe this year? Maybe we should call it “BLEAK FRIDAY.”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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I was out shopping the Black Friday sales all day today! Well, not really. But, I was out in my back yard sitting in a chair looking at all the on-line sales. I ordered a ton of stuff. Well, not really. I bought one gift card for my daughter-in-law. I did get a lot of exercise today. I was doing a ton of squats. Well, not really. I was doing DIDDLY SQUAT most of the day.

I did go in the garage to look for my Christmas decorations. I haven’t been home here in Texas for Christmas in five years. I’m usually back home in Chicago with family, but not this Crazy Covid Christmas. Man, where did I put all that stuff?

So, now I have my tree all up and decorated. I spent the whole day working so hard.

Well, not really. This is a tiny two foot table top tree that I plugged in to see if it worked. Remember, I was busy doing diddly squats most the day.

I did manage to create a big mess, and found that most the pre-lit or wound up lights on my tree and garland were only half working. So, I just left the pile there.

As is my custom, I did go out for a nice evening walk to catch the sunset. OK! I don’t feel too guilty and unaccomplished. I walked three mikes today. But, you can see why I love my walks.

NOW… it is my Black Friday Black Russian Friday. Wow! That only happens once a year. Cheers, my friends.

Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday and Some Tacos

“Tacos are like what the voices of a hundred angels singing Bob Dylan while sitting on rainbows and playing banjos would taste like if that sound were edible.”

― Isabel Quintero

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I am thankful for so many things, but my family is at the top of the list. My little granddaughters FaceTimed and said “Happy Thanksgiving.” It’s so wonderful to watch them grow before my eyes, even if from long distance. My son and daughter-in-law are so sweet to call all the time.

My son Matt in California called and we talked for almost an hour. I talked to both of my sisters, and I called my Tia’s. (Aunts) Two out of three answered, and we had a nice talk. I had a nice chat with my old friend Debbie.(Don’t tell her that I said she was old.) Another nice call to my sister-in-law Ann. Then, there were a lot of texts and emails from friends and family.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to be thankful and keep in touch with people to let them know how thankful you are to have them in your life. (You know who you are.❤️)

My neighbor and friend, Mr. Mike texted that he was going to drop of a plate of snacks, and just knock on the door and leave. That was nice. He knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

When I talked to my sister Jo Ann, I told her I was going to carry on the tradition that she and Mom had of having tacos for Thanksgiving. I found some shredded beef and avocado in the freezer. I had my Bernard’s salsa, tortillas, black beans, cheese, and lettuce.

Oh my. Fresh pan fried tacos right out of the skillet. Too good.

Then, the end to a perfect day. A beautiful two mile evening walk, catching the sunset at its finest.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.

Saturday:) Some More Spectacular Skies and Sunsets

“I think of the sky as God’s awesome easel where He paints a spectacular sky every single day.”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Today, the sky was cloudy with a chance of pizza. Just kidding. I was thinking of that animated movie, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” But, there is a good chance of leftover pizza from last night for my dinner.

My Saturday sky…

A few skies from earlier in the week…

Now this one, tell me if you see the Pterodactyl in the clouds, or is it a Velociraptor? Maybe an Eoraptor, but definitely some kind of Raptor. What do you think? You decide.

See it?

Oh my goodness, the night sky with the pale moon and stars against the midnight blue backdrop. Just WOW!

Masterpieces and magnificence in the sky.

Happy Saturday, my friends. I hope you look up in the sky now and then, pause, and see the awesome painting in the sky.

Sunday Sermon:)A Sunset and Some Other Stuff

“Never despise the talents you have. It is by them that you will do something that has not yet come into existence until you were born.”

― Israelmore Ayivor

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A beautiful sunny and cool Sunday morning. Feels like fall. A good day to watch Mass in my pajamas.

Today’s Gospel…

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

“A man going on a journey

called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–

to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five.

Likewise, the one who received two made another two. 

But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground

and buried his master’s money. “After a long time

the master of those servants came back

and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. 

Come, share your master’s joy.’Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.

Come, share your master’s joy.’Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant

and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back. ‘His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has,

more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”

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My take on it… We are all given “talents” that should not be buried and wasted. Take your God given talents and share them, grow them, and be the best you can be. “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich.” Rich doesn’t always mean money, property and stuff.

The sun is setting even earlier with this goofy Daylight Saving time now, so I scurried out at little after 5pm to catch the glory of the sunset. Always a picture perfect painting in the sky.

After I got home, I was delighted with a FaceTime call from the grandchildren, always a highlight. Especially since they called yesterday, too. A double delight. I miss these little angels.

Happy Sunday, my friends.

Wednesday:) What Special Day Is It Today? 11-11

“To reach the future, man needs to be clever and more important than this he must be lucky!”

― Mehmet Murat ildan

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Today is Veterans Day, and most people were thinking about the veterans in their lives, past and present. The words sacrifice, commitment, and honor come to mind when I think about Veteran’s Day. My father served in WWII and was stationed in the steamy jungles of the Philippines. A big thank you to all who served.

Elijah Armenta~ watercolor painting by his “amazing” daughter, yours truly. A composite painting of the Philippine Islands with a layer of palm trees over that, then Sergeant Armenta.

While I was scrolling through Facebook this morning, admiring all the veteran salutes, I caught a live streaming Empath Soul Mastery video hosted by Kathryn Malek. She commented that today was 11-11 and those are very lucky numbers. Well, the broadcast started at 11 am Central time, so I commented when it was 11:11 am. Pretty cool. Very lucky numbers, plus I was listening and learning about strengthening and self-caring for empaths. I used to think empaths were goofy strange people, maybe real, maybe not. But then I learned that some people just feel and sense more than others, and are very sensitive to the world around them. It’s very interesting. I learn more all the time.

I took a screen shot on my phone at 11:11 on this beautiful 11-11-2020 day. Cool!

It was a good lucky day. Lucky to be alive, healthy, happy, with great friends and a fantastic family.

And look at this spectacular sunset…