7 Quick Takes

1.  It's Friday again, yea!  Adoration all day in our chapel.  Mass always has more people on a Friday morning too.  We'll be there later tonight to pray.  Not sure if an hour is enough time with all there is to pray for and about lately.

2.  Sometimes I want life to be easier when we want to change paths or make changes with things they are not working right.  This morning our laptop was not connecting to our wireless, so I restarted and all fixed.  Why can't life be like that?

3.  14 days!!!! yes, in exactly two weeks from today Elisa is coming home.  I can't wait to see her and put my arms around her.  I can't imagine how happy John will be since he hasn't seen her in a year.  Skype is great, but it's not the same as being with someone in person.

4.  Finally went walking this morning after way too long.  It seems as if John's accident threw us into a life tailspin.  I've realized in the last few days that taking care of myself is not optional.  This summer has been one of inertia for me and this weekend that will be changing. It's time.  I'm boring myself with my lack of participation.

5.  My work schedule has changed for the summer.  I will go into the office 3 days, a little longer than usual and then work from home the rest of the week.  Our office is so quiet, I think we have maybe ten calls a day.  Some days, I have no emails in my inbox.  I'll save on gas and miles.  My plan is to prep my upcoming Bible study, outline RCIA, and learn the middle school Theology of the Body program with John.  That should keep me busy.  I am also working on a whole family catechesis program on the upcoming Year of Faith.

6.  Tentative vacation plans to visit our son in Atlanta.  He reminded me last night about the really high temps there, but I think it would be great for the four of us to spend time together.  

7.  I have a better perspective on things from the beginning of the week.  I keep repeating out VBS catch phrase, Trust God! whenever I am despairing, it helps.  My new haircut is a mood lifter as well.  

For more Quick Takes, saunter over to Conversion Diary.

When Worlds Collide

Many years ago that was a Life Night title about the sacraments of initiation and God's grace.  I remember putting that night on for our group back in the day.
This weekend, my worlds collided and it left me an emotional rag, all wrung out and in need of grace.  We had a men's  Cursillo retreat and John was on the team and I helped out, mainly in the kitchen and praying in the chapel.  What collided were my past and present worlds and I have no idea what is next.  In the life night, there is a skit, based on the very old chocolate bar and peanut butter commercial bumping into each other and making a peanut butter cup.

 I am not feeling anything like a peanut butter cup, more like a melted ice cream that needs to be mopped up!    I realized how much has changed since we parted ways and how much has not changed.  It was a series of events of many different people succumbing to sin and they all came together and created a disaster.  I am not exaggerating, it was a disaster.  People lost friendships, faith, a place to worship, and jobs.  We were scattered and divided like the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel, a diaspora that left many of us searching for a place to worship and belong again.
My anger is directed not only at the people who abused their power, but also at people who called me a friend and then kept things from me, harming not only me but other people as well.  I am also angry with myself, wondering how much i just refused to see or if I could have handled things differently and somehow prevented certain outcomes.
This weekend brought people together, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, to pray for others. I was so humbled when I saw this the tears began and I could not stop.  (Aside, there were NO tissues, in a chapel during a retreat, did I mention it was a men's weekend, yea, really)  I spent all night controlling myself.  I had to, it was not my weekend, I was there to serve, not heal.  The outpouring of grace was for others, not me.  So I kept at my tasks and eventually went home. I spent Sunday helping, praying and taking care of non retreat stuff.  Today I am still trying to process my feelings, especially my anger.
I keep praying and asking God to take it from me, by his grace I have more peace today then the last few weeks, but still fear is present as I work through some hurt and pain.
At the end of the day, the worlds that collided still brought all of us to the same place we began, worshiping together and journeying together in our faith.  If anyone can take all this mess and make it while again, it is Christ - I'm counting on him!

7 Quick Takes

1.  Summer in Florida means high temps and rain almost every day.  This helps keep the humidity high.  Lovely really.

2.  Really want to watch/listen to this with my full attention.

3.  This looks like it may be an interesting site, (in)courage.

4.  Retreat weekend!   It is the men's Cursillo weekend in our diocese this weekend.  It began last night, our bishop came to the send off, which was nice.  My husband is serving on the team.  Last night a few of the women went out after the sendoff to catch up, it was great to visit with everyone. The Steubenville Florida conference is also going on this weekend for high school students.  So, if you find yourself in need of some prayer intentions, there's two for you!

5.  Best news this month - our daughter is coming home from Australia on July 13.  She will return via New Zealand and  New York, stopping in both places until she lands back here.  No idea what happens next for her, but something will open up, I'm sure.

6.  Our son has moved to Atlanta for work.  Not sure how long he'll be there but if he stays put for another month or so we plan on going to visit him when our daughter gets home.  We haven't had a family vacation in quite a few years, so I hope it happens.

7.  A VBS picture, in the garden of Gethsemane with me as Mary Magdalene.  

For more Quick Takes go on over to Conversion Diary!

Lift the City - a Catholic Eucharistic flash mob

Bears repeating

What I learned from a Muslim about Eucharistic Adoration

I'm here

Well, I'm not really here since I've been spending most of my time here or should I say there?  I don't know, all I know is that I need to TRUST GOD!

It has been super busy getting ready for SKY and all the passengers and flight crew.  Everyone is having a great time and learning as well.  I was a bit hesitant about the experiments, but the kids said it is their favorite station.  Of course, yesterday we played with blow dryers and today we had exploding canisters, so really, it's no wonder they love it.

I will say though, that Jello is not a good idea.  I had forgotten why until the Diner leader said we had to go to plan B.  So, note to self, no more jello!

Tired from all the fun.  Tomorrow Mary Magdalene will be making an appearance to tell the story of Jesus's arrest and trial.  She better go get some rest.

7 Quick Takes

You know want to read some more of these from other people!

1.  The white flies are not going away.  I dislike them tremendously.  They are in my office, in my car, around all the plants and trees, and just being plain pesky.  This morning they were sprayed so they will die but now I think the we will all die from all the insecticide and the white flies will live, one day taking over the earth.  Whenever someone comes to my door, I make them come in immediately and not stand in my doorway, so the dang flies stay out.  It's not working.  Yucky flies!

2.  It's First Friday so we have Adoration here until noon.  I will have the honor of reposing Jesus at that time.  I have a sticky note in front of my face so I don't forget. I'll go pray and then do my job.

3.  A new sister is coming to the parish.  She is coming today to see the convent, which is being refurbished and to meet us.  We are not sure what she will be doing here, but I think we'll be able to come with a good plan.

4. Our son is moving again; this time to Atlanta.  So far int he last year he has lived in East Hampton, NY; West Palm Beach, FL; Winter Park, FL; and on the road again.  It is actually northwest of Atlanta, I can't remember the name of the city..  If my sister still lived there, they'd be neighbors, but alas, she lives in New York now.  He is leaving next week.

5.  I was up visiting said son last week.  While he was at work I did some shopping and bought a new sweater. It's just perfect and I am sure keeping his living room chair quite cozy.  I hope I can convince him to mail it to me before he moves or I'll never see it again.

6.  This has been a very rough week, lots of changes in my personal life.  I was "talking" to our daughter the other night and she was very upset about her brother moving, moaning that she'll never see him again and there were too many changes in life.  I of course gave her this to ponder, "change is the only constant."

7.  Quote on my wall: