Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Top 'o the marnin' to all ye Irish (and Irish wannabees)
Today is the day in Michigan, tradition has it, for Mother Nature to be done with all of her winter shenanigans. But I do remember a day in May one year, when after Mass on a Saturday night, I looked out to see big fat snowflakes whirling in the air. Never a dull moment in the Mitten state.
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We are having a good syrup year. I think Harold said we had 70 gallons at last count.

I just got a call for samples of our Spring candle scents so I'll be venturing down to the dungeon later to put together a sample box.

Afternoon update:
I had a pretty productive day. I packaged some soap, made 2 batches of candles (country orange spice and blueberry), and a batch of soap. The soap gave me some trouble. I wanted to try and make a blueberry soap, but I don't have any blue soap dye. I decided to just make it plain. It is in the mold. It doesn't really smell like blueberry, but it smells very, very good - kind of like early morning in the country. Hard to explain, but it may just turn out to be my favorite. I put together the sample basket for the Walmart people (my sis-in-law works there and she was the one who called earlier). Now Walmart sells candles too, but her co-workers are asking for ours. I guess it's because - as one of my friends says - we don't skimp on the fragrance oil.

I forgot to mention that last night our Disciples in Mission group met. The closing prayer called for everyone to light a candle and to take it home with them. Good thing I am a candle maker, because I didn't really have time to go out and buy any. I made them a beautiful Lenten purple and scented them with Blackraspberry Vanilla. They smelled so good.

Word of the day:
Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent
Gospel
Mt 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."

Thoughts from the cornfield:
And have we ever truly forgiven even once, from the heart, if we still count the times?

God bless our troops!

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