Gratitude

I believe in the virtues of trust and faith and that God has a plan, always.
Today, my husband came home with the his Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 teacher's guides. He has a job teaching at our local high school for the rest of this school year. I have questioned God's plan many a day and wondered when He was going to share the plan with me. It's been a long 22 months but we've stayed together and kept moving forward. I don't know what June will bring, but together we'll keep going forward.

Now, I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for his job, gratitude that we will celebrate 25 years together in 10 days, gratitude that our children are wonderful young adults, gratitude that trust and faith gives you strength to persevere, gratitude that God's plan is always there.

Interesting

A friend sent me this article from the National Review as to why people are reacting so strongly to Sarah Palin's son. How sad that many in our country think abortion is an answer.

Elections

Bishop's Statement from the Diocese of Palm Beach. This statement has raised many people's indignation at the Bishop telling us what to do. I keep reminding people that it is their responsibility to teach us what the Church teaches and to help us inform our consciences.
I keep praying people will remember that all the great social plans are useless if the right to human life is violated.

Football Season

I do not watch football. Ever. My husband watches football. Our daughter watches football. Our son watches football. Today, the Giants are on and son is at work and daughter is at school. I am sitting in the den, on the computer and my husband is calling our daughter and updating her on the game, just so he can share his misery with someone who understands. At times, I feel like a very, very bad wife. But then I realize, I just do not get football, at all. Sorry honey.

Sacraments

This week I begin teaching in our diocese's School of Christian Formation. I am teaching the Sacrament course beginning this Tuesday for six weeks. The first night is an overview on how the sacraments have evolved through our 2000 year history and discuss the three main categories: Initiation, Healing and Service. To prepare for the class I went back over my notes from when I took the class.
Favorite tidbit of information is this: God humbled himself, this humbling is called symkatabasis (Greek word). God humbled himself by becoming flesh, in the person of Christ, and so we are redeemable. I will not be using that word Tuesday night, but will indeed convey this fact.

Stewardship Conference

Chicago was great! The conference was very informative, affirming and convicting. I learned many new things and heard useful information. Most notable were the presentations on pastoral planning, assessing your stewardship efforts, and how to help lay witnesses prepare their talks. I was affirmed in belief that planning is important, that the Eucharist is our center, and that stewardship is really discipleship. I was convicted on the need for our parish to begin tithing and to educate more on the Eucharist.
That's the good news. The not so good, is that in addition to all the information, we brought home colds. I however, started taking various herbs and of course, Silver Shield and feel good. My pastor, takes nothing and is now coughing up a storm and thinks he's getting pink eye. Our other travelling companion, (a member of the stewardship council) has a stuffy nose and head.
I am preparing this week for our annual Cornucopia Ball but will post more of what I've learned soon.

Away

I'm off for a few days to the International Catholic Stewardship Conference in Chicago. I'll have plenty to update when I return.

Vineyards

We have had many Gospels in the past few weeks about vineyards. And today the first reading was also about a vineyard. I remember seeing vineyards in my dad's hometown in Italy some 30 years ago. Sitting there on the hillside, grapes that eventually became the wine that was served at table. So beautiful.
When I reflected on this gospel I thought more about fruit and producing good fruit than I did about the fact that everyone met their death at the hands of the tenants. It reminded me that God really does give us everything we need to do that he wants us to do. But there are two caveats;1. it must be his will and 2. we have to do the work. If we do the work and it is his will, then good fruit will be produced. Seems so simple. So, why isn't it simple in reality. Well, I think it's because often we don't discern properly about God's will. Or we decide that if God really wants this to happen, it will and don't put forth effort to move things along.
I am guilty of both at various times. Who isn't?

Website

As part of my job responsibilities I worked with a webmaster to design and complete our parish website. The staff thinks it is boring. Yes, that is the word used. So, they want to jazz it up. I'm asking you, who look at websites, what do you think about this website? I am not asking for praise or reassurance, just honest opinions of people who do not have feelings toward me or my work. Thanks for the input.

Our God is an Awesome God: Catholic Carnival 192

Our God is an Awesome God: Catholic Carnival 192