Monday, November 24, 2008

I just checked Wikipedia for the official start date of winter. It says "the first day it gets cold." Winter is here!

I have so much to do this week that feel like I am just standing here spinning in circles. I have never been so far behind as I am this year. But I guess that's to be expected when you're trying to juggle 2 jobs, plus run a business. Next year should be much easier. The one saving grace this year is that Anna is hosting Thanksgiving. There is no way on earth I would be ready.

Our last craft show of the year is next Saturday. It would probably have been a good idea to skip that one. We probably won't schedule another craft show for Thanksgiving weekend. There is just too much else going on, and by then we are all ready for a break. We took this one because it is a fundraiser for a church youth group.

Our policy is to tithe ten percent of our proceeds to a worthy cause. This year, because we were so blessed, we were able to contribute to a family whose members include quintuplets. There are a total of 8 children in the family. One of our high school students took this family on as his Eagle Scout project. His goal - to raise enough money and help put an addition onto this family's home. After 2 years, the project is complete. Our donation was to help provide some of the odds and ends they would need.

The rest of the money will be going to the pastor of our church who is going to Haiti in a week or so. Haiti is one of the poorest countries on earth and THE poorest country in this hemisphere. As we heard in Father's homily on Sunday, the one thriving business in Haiti is the making and selling of cookies; cookies made of mud with a little oil and sugar mixed in. It is very hard to wrap one's mind around that kind of poverty. It makes me stop and think several times before complaining about petty annoyances in my life. In Sunday's homily, Fr. Kevin requested a second collection for next Sunday. He will take that money and distribute it directly to several agencies in Haiti. My hope is that Fr. Kevin will be awestruck at the generosity of our parishes.

Going for my walk. Update later - hopefully

Daily stats:
Type: walk/jog
Route: Leaton and back
Time: 24 minutes
Average heart rate: 121
Maximum heart rate: 132
Down .2 pounds from last Sunday

Word of the day:
Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs
Gospel
Lk 21:1-4
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
It's not only what you give, but the spirit in which it is given that is a blessing. Offerings bless the recipient, but offerings given cheerfully and with a grateful heart for the ability to do so, bless both the giver and the receiver. On the way to church yesterday, I happened to catch a message from Dr. David Jeremiah. He was speaking on the following passage from 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." When we give out of obligation, there is a tendency to rationalize and to minimize what we think we are required to give, but when we give from a grateful heart, the blessings are abundant and the feeling of well being spreads like ripples in a stream. It's what Christmas is supposed to be about. It's what life is supposed to be about.


God bless our troops - who serve us faithfully - let's remember them this Christmas and throughout the year!