"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."

-John Lennon

Growing Pains

Growing pain is the name we give the pain our children feel when they are little and their legs ache in the middle of the night from a hard days play. The pain they feel with the breakup of their first love. Or the disappointment that comes, when they find out that the hard work they put into a project just isn’t enough. But, growing pains do not end in adolescence. They carry on into adulthood and plague us at different stages of our lives.

There are times in our lives we can see change coming, other times we can be completely side swiped. When you go to bed the night before your wedding, you know tomorrow things will be different. You leave behind your single life, and begin a new life with your spouse. You know the day the test comes back positive, it marks a turning point in your life. A time that calls you to be more then who you were the day before. Whether we want it to or not, our life will not continue with the old status quo. Parents grow older, kids go through tough stages, friends move away, loved ones pass away. This is the flow of life. Our hard times may change us, but they do not define us.

When we are on the door step of change there can be a pang in your chest. These are the times that we reflect on where we have been, and where we want to be. Sometimes it is a matter of growing out of one person’s shadow, to move into place that you can claim for yourself. Mistakes can be made, some big, some small. Stretching beyond the old, into the new is not always a pleasant time. There is a commercial I like on TV. It is advertising for a business collage. The actress is wearing a fast food outfit and the announcer says “If you keep doing the same thing, what is going to change?” I don’t like to think of commercials as holding wisdom, but this one does. I turn my thoughts to that commercial when I find myself attacking problems with old habits that don’t give results.

Recently a friend sent me an article about Hillary Clinton visiting Our Lady of Guadalupe. From the questions Hillary asked, you could tell she did not know what to expect. She did not wake up that morning expecting to be face to face with a miracle. It occurred to me how much Mother Mary urns for us to come to her. To embrace her, and find comfort with her. She urges us to take up her cause, and fallow the path that God has laid before us. How will this change Hillary? I spent the day wondering….What would it be like if Hillary Clinton became a pro-life advocate? It seems it is not our choice to grow. Our choice is weather we grow closer to God. We are bound to stumble along the way. We have to try to be patient with ourselves and others. Growth can be painful , and it is not always easy. Change does not come in a day, a month, or a year… but a in a moment.

Sunday Fidgets - Pentecostal Birthday Cake

After church today we celebrated Pentecostal Sunday with a Red Velvet Birthday Cake. The boys helped me make it. We sang Happy Birthday to the Church. We enjoyed the cake. The boys, especially my Kindergartner, had a lot of great questions. They were very interested in this Holy Day. They asked about the Holy Spirit. Who is he, where is he, what does he do? Why was this the church's birthday? Why red? This could have been the most interactive, and constructive conversation about religion I have shared with my boys. I love moments like this. It was practically effortless, yet nothing short of amazing.

Endurance

"We should run the race that God sets before us with endurance."
I read this as I passed by the local church. It was posted on their outdoor sign.

It seems to go reinforce my "unexpected renewal" theme running through my life lately. So much in life depends on us to simply keep plugging away. It took me too many years to realize that the dependable employee, was the more valuable employee. A dependable employee with a good attitude? Invaluable. That same wisdom carries across the board in life.

On a more literal note. As I passed by, I also thought of the many 5Ks that benefit charities. What a great excuse to get moving, and donate to a good cause. There are so many to choose from. Hope to see you at one soon.

Starting spring with a Garden

Look closely and you can see the tiny tomato plants. It has rained for 4 days since I planted them. It has been a strange spring. It was so hot in April, now in May it has been chilly with a lot of rain.

Unexpected renewal

The running theme in my life is: Unexpected renewal.

The picture above is the perfect example. A tree fell on our swing set. At first my heart sank as I looked at the damage. My next thought was how we could rebuild. I am hoping we will be able to go to the lumber yard soon. With this unexpected destruction, we have the opportunity to replace it with something stronger and better.

Every spring I turn over the dirt in my garden to get rid of the weeds, and soften the ground. I throw aside the rocks, raked the rough ground until it was smooth. Then I add a little fertilizer, and finally plant the seedlings.

Sometimes God does the same in my life. Things get disturbed, and out of place. With work we smooth out the rough spots, throw out the distractions, then do the work that will ready ourselves for harvest. Sometimes you have to let go and let God.

Sunday Fidgets

Love one another.

I came to the computer to write a thank you note. I find myself editing old tid bits to share on Jumping Jelly Beans. What I really should be doing is going off to bed.

A while back a friend asked, "Would you still love to write, even if no one would read it?"

my answer, Apparently so. :)

The Servant Song

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing.
Dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

Sunday Fidgets

Sunday Fidgets on Friday?
John 6:1-15
I slipped into daily mass today. What a treat! I wish I could get there more often. Today Fr. John spoke to the 8 grade class which will be confirmed this Sunday. He spoke about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. How God gives each of us gifts to use. We should never question whether those gifts are good enough to share with others. God does not make mistakes, if he gave you a gift it was with the intention that you would use it. Don't be afraid you are not good enough, you are always good enough. Keep your intentions pure, and your faith in God. Like the little boy who offered up his fish, we should be willing to speak up, and share our gifts with others.
It was a shot in the arm for me.

"Every morning prepare your soul for a tranquil day"

- St. Francis de Sales

a trip to Botanical Garden

I had a great day with the boys! The weather has been amazing these last few weeks. After this long cold winter, we can really appreciate a beautiful spring day.

I took the boys for a long stroll through the Botanical Gardens. We saw a coco tree, banana tree, fish, turtles, sculptures, butterflies, and of course beautiful flowers. On the ride in I was a little worried it would be too tame for the boys. As we left John said, "What a great day! It was beautiful and fun."

At one point we took a detour. A short path, that was not stroller friendly. It led us to the edge of a large pond. The end of the path was lined with large flat rocks so you could stand close to the water, and enjoy a more private view of the garden. During this short detour, we found a turtle sunning itself on a rock, a goose begging for food, and another nice family. I am always surprised when those rocky, uneven paths lead to little gems.

Why do we boil and decorate eggs for Easter?

Eggs symbolize new life. At Easter we celebrate our new life in Christ. The egg has three parts, reminding us of the Trinity: the hard outer shell (God, our refuge); the egg white (Jesus, our purifier); and the yolk (the Holy Spirit, our nourishment).

"Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway."-Mary C. Crowley

Sunday Fidgets

The church was so full on Sunday. The only seats left were the little red stools in the back corner. The ones that are just the right size for a second grader. They are completely out of place. They don't match the decor, their size is awkward, and you can't see anything if you sit in them. There is probably a story that goes along with why they are in the corner. As I sat there I couldn't help but to think this is a taste of purgatory. Can you picture me? Sitting in "The seats of purgatory", listening to the mass. I was just happy I have a seat, in the warm church. I was happy I could listen, even if I couldn't see. However, I have to say I really wanted to be in the bench with a kneeler. I was secretly hoping the guy in the bench next to me would scoot over and make a little room.

The sermon was based on the first reading. "I am your Lord, and you are my people."

Note taken: That includes me and you no matter where we are.

40bags/40days

So here we are, the first week of Lent. Some of my friends are doing the 40 bags in 40 days. Removing the excess from their house one bag/day at a time. It is a double good. The house gets cleaner, and in the process it creates donations for others who are in need.

What ever you
Choose,
Do,
Let Go,
and Pray,
during Lent
may it bring peace.

Before and After

Yes, this is the same house. Before and After.

A friend of mine asked, "Do you think God sees the house we live in, the car we drive, the clothes we wear? Or does he just see our spirits, and how we interact with each other?"
I revisit that question often when money is tight, and choices have to be made. I also think of it when I go to confession. For some reason it came to me when I saw this house.

I wonder if God sees our souls similar to how my husband sees a house in need of repair. Full of possibilities. The top picture has been neglected. Literally the people who lived there, closed the door to the back room to hide the hole in the roof. The hole let in the weather, and a few squirrels. Eventually the neglect damaged the house. With a little vision and a lot of hard work, the house was repaired. When we go to confession we walk in damaged by our sins. With grace we leave renewed.

Don't close the door to try and hide something embarrassing or ugly. It costs less to keep up with repairs when they arise. Don't scare yourself out of reconciliation.

Happy Valentines Day

Still anticipating the Pinewood Derby....

The pinewood derby was rescheduled due to snow. We will race in March.