Thursday, August 19, 2010

The kids got here about 7:15 and Grandpa had the pancakes going. It's fun having faces around the table again in the morning.

Today we had our first staff meeting of the year. It was also the first staff meeting with our new pastor. I had so many misgivings at the beginning of the transition (I don't deal well with change) but things are going very, very, well. This pastor is a very positive person. He likes to laugh a lot. Is in love with his ministry. All very good traits in a pastor. We haven't had one like that in a while. Our new pastor has plunged into the life of the community and there are very few people who don't know who he is. It's great!

During the meeting, Clay and Claire went to their mommy's friend's house. She has a daycare. I told them they would get a surprise if they behaved. Clay had a hard time at first (he's like his grandma and change is hard for him) but settled in for the morning. Claire was taking a nap when I got there to pick them up. Since they were good, we went to the Scripture Palace to get some stickers.

I poured some candles for an order and then snuggled with the kids while they watched Dora.

It was a fun day.

Word of the day:
Thursday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. John Eudes, Priest (1601-1680)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 22:1-14.

Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."

Monday, August 16, 2010

You know, I often wondered just how I was able to get so much done when I had 4 small kids. I did it all - I cooked and baked from scratch, I made all of their clothes, I shopped with coupons, and I ran a small business. Now I'm finding out. When you are working around kids, you need to be organized and flexible. The last few years I fell into a routine. That has been changed up - in a good way. I am much more focused on what I need to get done. Here is what today's schedule looks like:

I have Madison until around 5:00. She is helping me with,
laundry,
taxes,
cleaning,
bill paying
music organization (funeral tomorrow)
cookie baking (I made the dough on Saturday - planning ahead is a good thing.)

While Madison is napping I am making Christmas stockings.

Then the parish manager called about prayer quilts. So, tonight I will be making prayer quilt sandwiches.





 
Word of the day:
Monday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Stephen of Hungary (977-1038)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 19:16-22.

Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to him, "All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Word of the day:
Saturday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr (1894-1941
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 19:13-15.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Happy Friday the Thirteenth. I, personally, am not superstitious so I am planning to have a great day today. The house is totally in chaos due to a busy week so today I am going to spend the day cleaning because that is the kindest thing I can do for me. When the house is clean, life is better.  I am babystep cleaning today.

We received another stocking order and a candle order so I have my work cut out for me today.

VBS ended yesterday.  I am so glad it is behind me.  VBS is a total energy drain for me, but I think it is very important for the kids to have this experience.  There are so many bad influences in their lives these days that anything we can do to offset those bad influences, we need to do. As you can see, VBS was fun for kids of all ages; even older ones in long black robes.

Even Madison got into the act, spurred on by cousin Claire!

Friday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Radegundes, Queen of France (519-587)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 19:3-12.

Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?" He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss (her)?" He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery." (His) disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." He answered, "Not all can accept (this) word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Good grief! I don't remember a hotter, more humid summer. I can take a few days or even a week of hot - but hot and humid just zaps me out. We are on the third day of vacation bible school and it is going very well. The kids seem to like the music. I hear them singing it at the tops of their lungs as they leave. Tomorrow is the last day. It seems we just get into a really nice groove and then it ends. Clay and Claire have enjoyed it. The first day Clay wasn't liking it too much, the second day he said it was boring, but I took video. He didn't look bored to me.

Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Clare, Virgin (1194-1253), St. Philomena
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18:15-20.

If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, (amen,) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Monday nights are soapmaking nights. I didn't do it last week so last night I made a batch raspberry jasmine spice. All went well. To back up a little, when I make soap I use a Cold Process/Oven Process method. After putting the soap in the molds, I put it in a 170 degree oven for 2 hours. Normally I will set the oven to turn off after two hours and then I leave the mold in there overnight. This morning I got up to hear the timer beeping. My stove timer will beep every 2 minutes after the time is up. The stove had been beeping every 2 minutes all night long. I hadn't set the stove to turn off, I had only set the timer. So . . . the soap sat in a 170 degree oven - not 2 hours, but all night. But the soap looks fine!

I haven't gotten a lot of business stuff done this week due to VBS. Last night I received an order for 3 stockings from Etsy so I need to get those done and then next week, I get back on track with Moeggenborg Sugar Bush stuff.



Word of the day:
Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast
Today the Church celebrates : St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr († 258)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12:24-26.

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Today was a lazy day.  Normally we all get together on Saturdays or Sundays, but today everyone kind of went his own way.  Harold is in Canada and he is the ice cream instigator so we all saved some calories on this fine Sunday.  I came home from church and spent some time reading blogs.  Today there was a memorial service for our family doctor who died in the plane crash a few weeks ago.  I didn't know his family very well, and I knew there would be hundreds of people in a very small space, so I didn't go to the service. He was one excellent human being and he will be missed.

Anyway, I came home, laid down and didn't wake up until I heard Anna come in the back door.  She was dropping off some soap labels and some packing materials.  It was after 5:30 so I guess I needed the sleep.  I don't think I've been sleeping very well in this hot weather. 

We have Vacation Bible School this week and this year Clay and Claire are going.  They are really excited - so am I!  I took a walk down there tonight and Claire was hopping all over the place because she is so excited.

We have less than a month before we begin our fudge production for our fall and Christmas craft shows.  The summer has kind of sped by.

Word of the day:
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Dominic, Priest (1170-1221)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:32-48.

Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

It's a gorgeous day out today!
My plan today is to get some cleaning done as this house is driving me nuts!!!



Word of the day:
Saturday of the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Cajetan, Priest (1480-1547)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 17:14-20.

When they came to the crowd a man approached, knelt down before him, and said, "Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." Jesus said in reply, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him here to me." Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Friday, August 6, 2010

Finally, the heat and humidity have lifted. This is the warmest, most humid summer I can remember in quite a while.  Clayton is spending the day here to escape having to be at a garage sale all day.  He came armed with notebook and markers so I think he will be quite busy and I will end up with many, many, pieces of art work.

I spent last night making cookies and zucchini bread for Harold's big Canada Fly-in trip. I have plans to get ahead on the stocking production for this winter.  I have also been filling in the inventory for our fall shows.  It's always so hard to plan what to take.  Each show is unique and with a specific clientele.  For instance, I know that I won't be taking many candles to our St. Louis show because those ladies tend to buy the ornaments and lanterns.  That is where I will take my primitive lamps.

Today I will be doing some cleaning.  I ordered a new vacuum and it arrived yesterday.  It just seems that when the vacuum doesn't work, cleaning is pointless.  LOL!



Word of the day:
The Transfiguration of the Lord, feast
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9:28-36.

About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him." After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Happy St. John Vianney day to all of our priests:

I need to get motivated to get organized. I am getting things done, but not in an orderly way. Today, on a whim, I made seven grungy lamps.  I managed to burn my finger on the hot glue gun.  I love these lamps and I love making them - well, except when I burn my finger.

I also made a batch of Cinnamon Stick candles.  Our money resources are always low at this time of year and it's always a struggle to get the supplies we need for the fall shows.  We often have to wait until after the first show to pay ourselves back for ingredients and supplies.


I am continuing to try and get our supply of Christmas stocking bottoms ready for the orders for this fall.  When it's hot and humid like this, it is really hard to make myself go into my craft room to get them done.  So far we have 75 made.  That's about half of what we need.  I am now headed for the craft room.



Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. John Mary Vianney, Priest (1786-1859) - Memorial
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 15:21-28.

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Dr. James Keith Hall - The Morning Sun Obituaries: Serving Clare, Gratiot and Isabella counties

It's been a week since the plane crash and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that he is gone. He is one of the finest people I've ever known. Seems like we've lost a lot of people like that in the last few years.

"May the angels welcome you to Paradise. May the martyrs greet you on your way. May you see the face of the Lord this day, Alleluia! Alleluia!"

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Word of the day:
Friday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (406-450)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13:54-58.

He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

I finished the inventory list for our October shows. It's so hard to predict what people will want. It never fails that the one thing I don't bring is the one thing that someone is looking for. Oh well, if I had left something else home, that would be the thing everyone wanted. I just have to load up the things I like and hope that others will like it too. Now that I have the lists finished, I will start loading the cart drawers. Thinking a season ahead always makes time speed by. Sigh!

Word of the day:
Saint Martha - Memorial
Today the Church celebrates : St. Martha - Memorial
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 11:19-27.

And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (But) even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world."

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

First of all, Happy Birthday to my wonderful daughter-in-law, Kelli. I hope you have an awesome day.

Sighhhhhhhh - I do not do well with heat and humidity. We don't have air conditioning - except for one small unit in the front hall which cools the hallway, but not much else.

I've been working on Christmas stockings, and prayer quilts, but I can't be in the quilt room very long before I just can't take the heat. In another month, I start making the fudge for our fall craft shows. I'm pretty well caught up on soap. I do need to grunge some lamps and some jars.

Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : Sts. Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs (1st century), St. Victor, Pope and Martyr († 198)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13:44-46.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

Monday, July 26, 2010

It's just another slow summer Monday. My little buddy Madison is here and making me laugh with her antics. First she found the newspaper and tore that up into pieces to hand to me. Then she brought me a big bottle of 7-up. Now she is making her scary face that her Grandpa Fockler taught her.

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Poor little Madison was sorely in need of a nap. She was a little cranky pants because she wouldn't take a nap this morning. She practically fell asleep in the high chair. I tried to do the Super Nanny thing of putting her on the couch and then putting her back on the couch when she got off the couch. After 30 rounds of this, I just picked her up and rocked her to sleep. She slept in Grandpa's chair for about an hour.  Only a baby could sleep like this. 

Word of the day:
Monday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : Sts. Joachim & Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary - memorial
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13:31-35.

He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'" He spoke to them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation (of the world)."

Sunday, July 25, 2010

I have sadly neglected my blogs for the last couple of days. Part of this is due to being busy, but mostly it's because of all the tragedy in our area in the last few weeks. It culminated on Friday when a plane carrying 5 well-loved people in the community crashed over lake Michigan. I only knew one of them, but I knew OF the others. Dr. Hall was our family doctor. He retired recently from Family Practice. That actually meant that he went from working 80 hours plus a week to 50+ a week. He is (because I refuse to give up hope yet) one of the kindest and caring human beings I have ever known. I pray that all of the families involved in this tragedy find strength and courage to get through this awful time.

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In other news, the great dig has begun. Harold has broken ground on another of his lifelong dreams - a wood fired pizza oven. (We never hear about these lifelong dreams until about 5 minutes before he fulfills them.) I am attempting to upload a video, but our connection speed is that of a turtle this morning so we shall see.

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I had an interesting message from Facebook. It was from none other than the FLYLADY, Marla Cilley!!!! I had sent her a video of Madison dancing to a song written by her friend Eric Dodge. She messaged me to ask permission to share it with Eric and the world!!! Of course I wanted to say yes, but Madison is not my child so I told her I would check with Sam and Kelli.

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Word of the day:
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. James the Greater, Apostle - Feast
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 11:1-13.

He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,' and he says in reply from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

Thursday, July 22, 2010

It's a Thursday. That is usually my errand day, but I decided to get caught up on some things. I've cleaned the kitchen, and I've cleaned out the guest room. Well, it's not clean, but it IS inhabitable and I need for it to be inhabitable this weekend. I did some work on the prayer quilt. Got a stocking made. Need to make some room sprays. The Christmas tree spray in the front bathroom - while nice - is definitely out of season.

Word of the day:
Saint Mary Magdalene - Memorial
Today the Church celebrates : St. Mary Magdalene - Memorial
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20:1-2.11-18.

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and what he told her.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Wednesdays are catch-up days - catching up on the things I didn't get done on Mon and Tues. So, today I have bills, soapmaking, and jar candles. Yeah, I got a little behind.

Word of the day:
Wednesday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church (1559-1619)

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear."

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

And here we have the groundbreaking for the new pizza oven.

Word of the day:
Tuesday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Margaret of Antioch, Virgin and Martyr (3rd century), St. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12:46-50.

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. (Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.") But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Monday, July 19, 2010

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Word of the day:
Monday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : Servant of God Francis Garces and Companions, Martyrs (c. 1781)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12:38-42.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Things have settled down quite a bit after the major upheaval of transition. I never do well with transitions, and if there is someone in the mix who likes to incite drama, I do worse. I tend to react before taking complete stock of the situation. But, happy to say, things seem to be getting much better. There are some feathers to smooth, but I think it will happen.

After Mass, Anna and Melisa grilled our dinner outside. We had hamburgers, grilled pineapple, seasoned zucchini, and grilled potatoes. It was yummo!!

This evening we went out with Sam, Kelli, and Madison and had ice cream. Madison is so funny. She likes to show off how well she is walking and then she makes these scary sounds and makes us laugh.


Word of the day:
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10:38-42.

As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary (who) sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."

Saturday, July 17, 2010

The oppressive humidity seems to have lifted. Thanks be to God. I need to get moving. I have tons of stuff to do. This morning I received some very good news about a cottage industry bill that is being signed into law. Free enterprise - Good!!!
Word of the day:
Saturday of the Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Alexius, Confessor (+404), Bl. Pavol Gojdič, Basilian Bishop and Martyr (1888+1960)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12:14-21.

But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many (people) followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope."

Friday, July 16, 2010

I have been very lax about posting on this blog. It has been so darned humid that it takes all my energy just to get moving in the day. We have a fan in the basement that pulls up the cool air, and then we have a small room-sized air conditioner that cools the hallway and I pull that air in with another fan.

I have listed our stockings on Etsy and in a month and a half our ad will come out in Country Sampler. The downside to always thinking ahead to the next season is the perception that time is flying by. We have about half of our stockings ready. We have had some orders this summer which really surprises me.

Word of the day:
Friday of the Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12:1-8.

At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath." He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."

Monday, July 12, 2010

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Word of the day:
Monday of the Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. John Gualbert, Abbot (99-1073)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10:34-42.11:1.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household.' Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple--amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward." When Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

My whole craft room smells like cinnamon. I've been filling cinnamon coasters and I spilled one. Even though I vacuumed it up, I can still smell it and I'm sitting in the kitchen. Good thing I like cinnamon. :)

Headin' to Ohio for the Dickman family reunion.

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Word of the day:
Saturday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : Sts. Rufina & Secunda, Virgins and Martyrs (3rd century)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10:24-33.

No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter, Beeps . .  I mean, Melisa!  I hope she has a fabulous day!  Here is a video of her two little darlings.  This is why Grandmas laugh so much.

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Wednesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates : St. Pantaenus, Father of the Church, (+ c. 216), Bl. María Romero Meneses (1902-1977)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10:1-7.


Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

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