This is it.

FAITHFUL.
This was the first white Christmas in the Triangle area of North Carolina since 1947.
Snow blankets and simplifies.
It changes what we see.
It changes what we do and how we do it.
In this area, a moderate amount has impact.
On Christmas day, it fosters peace.
Most likely there was no snow on that first Christmas,
but from the scriptures it seems that those whole dwelt under the blanket of night
possessed awareness that the world was about to change.
For Christmas this year I received a blanket. I am home.

Blessing of the Easter Baskets.

Over the years, I've always been amazed at what I manage to put together on Easter Saturday.
I have been attending the blessing of the Easter baskets for many years.
Some years I managed a few eggs , bread, and my "butter lamb" in a plastic basket.
Of late, with my mantra, "use what you have and what you know" , I am truly amazed at what I can put together.
My grandmother of Polish dissent was faithful to the traditions.
I have made some modern adaptations.
I emptied the basket that was sitting in my kitchen, I found the flowers left over from my anniversary party.
I didn't have any bread ready, but I added Pillsbury crescent rolls.
There was a ham, horseradish, wine, vinegar, the Lamb of butter, the eggs, the candle,oh, and a bag of pizza dough!
I had the names of all of my family on one egg.
I used the horseradish and eggs to make deviled eggs for the meal and we passed the plate wishing health and happiness.
The vinegar was used in the coleslaw.
I was a lovely meal with my husband and two of my sons.
The preparation set me in a spirit to contemplate what it must have been like for the women
who left Jesus in the tomb to go prepare for the passover.
This unthinkable horror had just befallen them,
and yet they return to faith and tradition,
to recall the Faithfulness of Yaweh,
to his chosen ones.
in this Holiest of Seasons,
Shalom.

From Thy Bounty,

Through Christ, our Lord and Savior,
the alpha and the omega,
Amen.
Alleluia! Alleluia.

See,Lord, Here I Am.

So many who need help.
They just can't,
I reach out my hand,
By God's grace alone,
it is enough.

And a Child Shall Lead......

With humble gratitude,
I reflect
on what a bumpy year this has been.
It began with the wounds of mourning the loss Andy with the first set of holidays.
The wounds were further assaulted with job losses, relationship changes, a traffic ticket, a war etc.

Through all of the worries, anxieties and sometimes even despair,
I forced on myself remembrance of those suffering far worse than I.
The people of Darfur, those in war torn countries, the hungry, those in intractable pain.
Most recently I heard a story of HIV positive Orphans in Vietnam who were denied
a much anticipated privilege of entering public school.
"I wanted to make friends," one child sadly stated.
A child wishing to make a friend in school- that can't happen?

A dear friend and her teenage daughter have met with some difficult changes this week.
I have held them constantly close in prayer. I asked for grace that in some way I be used as a vessel of comfort and light to them. I asked Andy in Heaven to pray and watch over this mother and daughter who were faithful to him in prayer while he lived with his illness.

Yesterday, I greeted the teenager with a hug- I asked God to relay all communication of heart that no words exist for.
I said,

"I've asked Andy to watch over you. It'll be OK. No one here has cancer."
And the beautiful girl replied in consolation to her mom,

"that's right mom, cancer would be a problem, this isn't a problem, it's a challenge,
we're going to be OK."

In seeking to be a vehicle of grace, grace was given to me through the mouth of a babe.
If she were my child, the pride of that moment would beat in my heart until the last breath.

Our Father in Heaven sent a smile of light upon us.
for she is His child and proud he must be.
No one on earth has suffered more than the One who leads us to the Father,
our savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
What have we to fear?
He's Always been Faithful to me.

Tomorrow is my birthday, I am blessed.
Once again, my cup runneth over.

Peace and All Good

Hear Me Now!

My soul is thirsting,
for you,
O Lord,
my God.

Offer it Up.

It sounds so trite,
yet truth be told,
it's really all you can do.
We all suffer.
Sometimes it's an actual physical ailment.
Sometimes it's a social ailment.
Sometimes it's a mental ailment.
As a God fearing woman ,
I assure you,
it is always a spiritual ailment.
In today's reading2 Cor 12:7-10,
St. Paul speaks of an evil,
a thorn in his side that is beating him.
He calls out to God three times for relief.
God replies,
"My grace shall suffice."
St. Paul rejoices that he may bind his suffering to that of Christ.
He is thankful for his suffering,
"for when in weakness, I am strong."
As for me,
I suffer in anxiety for the hardships of those I love.
I am learning to simply attend, and love, and bind my sufferings to those of Christ.
I must trust that the suffering of those whom I love is their opportunity for the
grace of binding suffering to the cross with the reward of all eternity in light.
How agonizing the suffering of Christ must have been for Mary.
Yet, in faith she attended to Him unto the end.
And so must I,
for when in weakness I am strong.
Almighty Father, grant me and mine faith and well being in this world, and eternity in joyful light at your footstool.
Amen.