Night Prayer

Hey God, thought I'd come over and hangout. How've You been? That good, huh? Well that's great. Me? Oh, I'm good. Especially since I've been hanging out with You. I really appreciate You letting me come over. I really feel good when I'm with You. Funny thing, we don't even have to be doing anything. Just being with You is fine with me. You too? Wow! Thanks.

(Originally written 18 March 2014 during my Night Prayer)

Getting Ready for LENT

I'm so excited for LENT 2014. God has been doing such GREAT things in my life and I can't wait to join in Her work. Though I have been working with God, well truth be told, and against God, Lent gives me the opportunity to put some practices in place that say, "Yes God I'm on board; I'm willing to do your will." And these are the practices I chose. Sure the Church puts in place a few things to get us started: prayer, fasting/abstinence, and alms-giving. How those things get lived out is totally up to the individual.

This year, not only am I giving up something, I'm also taking something on. WOW!! Here goes!!!
For all of my Candy Crush players out there, I'm giving up Candy Crush; Pet Rescue; Solitaire Blitz; Words with Friends; AND Pepper Panic Saga. Now this may not be much to many of you but it is way too much for me. In recent months I have found myself playing these games entirely too much. So, out they go. Does that leave anything? Sure it does: Criminal Case, Pyramid Solitaire Saga and Matching with Friends. These 3 games have limited playing time so I think I'll be okay with the amount of time playing computer games.

What am I taking on you ask? Several things: a 6-week daily retreat (Your Spiritual Garden: Tending to the Presence of God by Pegge Bernecker); morning and evening prayer; and daily Mass (at least 2 times a week). In my free time I will be writing my book and practicing Spanish.

Aren't you excited with me? Of course you are!!

How are you planning to participate in God's transformation of you?

Investing for the Future

I've been struggling with this term, Investing for the Future, for some time now. Especially when someone wants to spend money I don't think should be spent. I didn't know why it was a struggle, until now.

I find it hard to grasp the concept of spending one's few earned dollars on investing in stocks, property, gold, jewelry and the such, knowing the gain is elusive.

I do find it a worthy investment to take my few earned dollars and invest them in people. Cultivating relationships, creating bonds of friendship, mentoring while breaking bread or sipping coffee/tea.
Now that to me is true Investing for the Future.

All of us should take time to be "pastorally present" to one another. We don't have to do much. Just learning to be comfortable with one another will go a long way to healing our hurts.

Snow Day

I spent the 2013 Holiday Season eating well and watching a lot of movies. Once the new year arrived I was ready to get back on track: stop eating those pies and rolls I made, ease up on the Mickie watching, get back to my 4 times a week yoga.

Then,...snowmageddon 2014 happened and I found myself shoveling snow way too many times. Then the tempature dropped. Being in the house without the desserts had gotten me off to a good start.  So now I'm back to eating like I should. Shoveling snow took the place of yoga.

Hahah, but I'm still watching movies. I'll change that tomorrow.

What are you doing?

New Year. New Me. Not Really.

I often wonder why we go through the work of creating New Year Resolutions that we never seem to keep, instead of sticking with the the changes we make for Advent or Lent.

I mean, when will we learn that when we make resolutions not grounded in our faith, that we don't usually keep those things. Yet when we decide to make changes to be more conformed to Christ, those changes are more lasting.

So with the New Year just hours away, I must be honest with myself, I won't be making any sweeping changes. I'm going to be the same ole timone. Check with me again as Lent begins, then you'll find me working to be a new me, conforming myself to Christ, for the glory of God.

Peacefulness