The Call

Here is our latest parish newsletter, "The Call." It's one of the many things I spend my days doing as director of stewardship.

http://www.stpetercatholicchurch.com/images/TheCall.pdf

Re-arranging

Saturday was a busy day at our house. After working in the morning at church, husband in the garden me with the food pantry, we had lunch, rested a bit and then, full speed ahead to changing the house around a bit. What fun, re-decorating without spending money. We did the breakfast nook, family room, and living room. I also put the unattractive bookcase in my sewing room/office where no one will really see it and took a favorite server out of the dining room into the breakfast nook so I can see it.
The whole house looks different and a bit more cozy.
We even moved the pictures around since they were off the walls due to the recent painting my husband did while I was on retreat.
The next thing I need to do is buy or sew some coverings for the family room couches.

Tips for a Better Life

courtesy of a friend

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, and almonds
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am
thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Things to Remember from My Retreat

Peace, fullness, gratitude
Liminal Spaces
Quiet
Child of God
Being not Doing
I like myself
The person I am is good.
Confidence
Promise
My Rule of Life to develop

Research Help

I an currently working on a Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry. I am writing a paper about lay ministry in parishes. I am broadly defining lay ministers as any person involved in parish ministry.
If you would like to participate, please answer the following questions:

What have been significant conversion experiences in your faith life?
As a person who ministers to others in your faith community, what is your experience of Church?
What do you want or need from your community to be better equipped to work in your particular ministry?

Thanks and blessings for helping me out with this!

A Gift

My retreat last week was a gift and a blessing. There were only six women and our retreat director. Each day we had two brief talks and a mediation prayer time in the evening. We could attend Mass at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast was on our own and then each day we had lunch at noon and dinner at 6:00 p.m. I had so much quiet time! I only used my phone once a day to call my husband.
On Tuesday I felt ready to come home, but of course did not. The rest of the week allowed me to really reflect on my spiritual journey, how I arrived where I am today, and what path I will choose next.
I had so much time to pray and write. I have a few poems I will post in the next few days. I had never been on a retreat this long, and though I know for many people, especially moms, it is not possible, it was worth it. Of course, I am in a position that I can leave my home for that long and it's not a problem. If you can manage it, do it.
A gift, that's the only word for it. Thanks be to God for supplying me with what I needed and when I needed it.

Retreat, RETREAT!

I am a bit excited. Today I am going on a five day retreat at our local retreat center, Our Lady of Florida. This is literally a dream come true. I have been searching all over Florida to find a retreat and finally there is one right in my own backyard. I am leaving to have a late lunch/early dinner with my husband and then he will drop me off at the retreat center and there I will remain until Friday afternoon. See you next weekend! Peace.

Four, Four, Four Meme

A) Four places that I go to over and over:
Work
Church
Library
Starbuck's

B) Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
Husband
Rosemary
Mona
Mom

C) My favorite 4 places to eat:
Home
CR Chicks
Tabica Grill
Tricia's house

D) Four places I would rather be right now:
Camping
Italy
the Mountains
White water rafting

E) Four people I think will respond:
Monica
can't think of anyone else


F) Four TV shows I watch all the time:
Monk (on DVD)
Law and Order
Numbers
Women's Murder Club

G) Four words that best describe you:
Catholic
Hard worker
Fun
Intelligent

H) Four favorite "old school" Hollywood Actors/Actresses:
No one, sorry

I)Four favorite "old school" television game shows:
not a game show type person


J)Four favorite "old school" television shows:
My Three Sons
Brady Bunch
The Nanny (I don't think that's the name, but it had a little girl named Buffy and a butler,help, my brain is gone!)
Hazel

K) List four things you liked best about Christmas when you were a child:
Decorating the tree
looking at all the decorated houses
Christmas Eve dinner with all the family
putting the creche under the tree and seeing Baby Jesus there Christmas morning
L) List four things you liked best about Halloween when you were a child:
Being able to roam the neighborhood trick or treating
making up the candy bags for other kids
coming up with a costume
school party
M) List four things you did not like about growing up:
being the oldest
going to school
my brother and sister
no privacy
N) List four events that impacted your life (can by anytime throughout your lifetime):
getting married
having children
moving away from home
going to college

Found!

It was under a stack of magazines on my dresser. Thanks Tony!