Haiku My Heart: My Sweet-Heart

who are you 'xactly?

I think I like and trust you

shall we meet again?

latest addition

to my family of girls

she is my Sweet-Heart

Leannah's aunt Chrissy is the one holding her,

giving me opportunity to photograph 

this little dumpling.

linking with the 

greatest of pleasures

to Rebecca's

Haiku My Heart

gentle reminder: my give-away

featured on Nonnie's Observations

My Prayer for the Beginning of the Day

Please, Holy Mother of my Lord and Savior,

allow me to…

be an instrument of love today.

serve in spite of 

(or because of)

listlessness and physical pain,

have spiritual healing, 

with the purpose of

my forgiving others,

and my being forgiven.

Amen

Carpe Diem #380: Frozen Heart?

from Kristjaan Panneman's Carpe Diem Haiku-

lotus flowers

rising from the depths of the pond

everlasting love

and here is mine...

berries frozen

are they symbolic of my heart?

may His love enflame it

joining others at 

Carpe Diem

Weekend Reflections: Church Tiles

Just a week 

past Christmas season,

I offer this reflection.

linking to

James'

wonderful Weekend Reflections

Small Stones: Eucharist

 never too old to learn...

newest discovery-

Eucharist is Greek

for Thanksgiving!  

 so I give thanks

for the Eucharist,

our Lord's 

Body and Blood, 

given

for our salvation.

Mornings with Mary: Kissing the Face of God

Imagine such an awesome kiss,

being pressed on the face of our Savior!

What was Mary thinking as she

kissed and cuddled this Babe in her arms?

Would fear have entered into her mind,

or was there only the sheer delight

in holding her Divine Child?

We know that she pondered

all that the angel Gabriel announced to her

because the Bible tells us that.

But, in this moment,

did she just give thanks that

Jesus had arrived intact

with no harm done on their long journey

to Bethlehem?

I hope that she was only giving thanks,

unaware of all the trials 

she would suffer as the Mother of God.

Go here for how Weistling was inspired

to paint this exquisite art.

then join me in visiting

Rebecca's 

Mornings with Mary

Mornings with Mary: The Virgin Mother

 Beloved Mother,

we come to you with our prayers, 

help us be strengthened

to follow your Son 

in the way that you modeled,

with true deference.

linking to  

Mornings with Mary

hosted by the gracious

Rebecca 

Postcards from Paradise: Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,

no crib for His head,

the little Lord Jesus 

lay down His sweet head.

The stars in the sky

looked down where He lay.

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

A reminder from our parish priest: 

It is still the Christmas season

and will continue to be until next Sunday.

linking to 

the inimitable Rebecca

via

Postcards from Paradise

I thought that I was ready for the new year,

with my one word to be my centering for the year.

I also thought that my new medication 

for chronic depression was treating all my symptoms- 

fatigue, indecisiveness, trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

But, no!  One symptom remains, that of indecisiveness.

I discovered that whilst I was reading a blog post by someone 

whose writing talent I admire.  

Her post yesterday was entitled No Word, No Mantra.  

What, no one word? No mantra?  

Well, in reality, 

the only mantra I’ve ever uttered is “Let go, let God.”  

I used that to settle my brain from the teaching day 

in order to go to sleep.  

Other than that, I am not into yoga, zen

or whatever symbolizes meditation for people. 

 I struggle to be silent and just be.  

And any way, God seems to speak to me 

through magazine articles, 

words uttered on TV 

and synchronicity of conversations with others, 

especially during discussions at Bible Study.

So now what?  

Do I still pursue picking one word 

for what I hope for the year 2014?  

Oh, and what word had I chosen?  GRATITUDE.

 A satisfactory word, yes?   

Well, it fits in wonderfully 

with a practice I started yesterday, 

which is to pick one bit a day of what I call 

“Life’s Bits of Wonderfulness”.  

found on Facebook

            

So, out with ‘one word’ and in with a practice full of gratitude.

Are you making any resolutions, 

picking one word as your centering goal?

Pull up a chair, sit a while, 

and share with me, if you’re so inclined.

Happy 2nd day of our new year!

Bits and Pieces of Day One of the New Year, 2014

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

After I ventured out today, 

I made shopping stops at Dollar General 

to buy items that cost lower here than anywhere else, 

then Lowe’s for potting soil and sunflower seeds for the birds, 

lastly Walmart for a few groceries and nonfood items.

At home, I put things away

 and potted the cedar ‘tree’ gifted to me from Lowe’s.  

(The tree was the reason for the potting soil purchase.)  

Next, I cut an apple for my lunch.

Lastly, I tended to banking, 

read some blogs, then sat down for some serious chillin’!

My bit of gratitude: 

I’m grateful for all those ladies 

in Bible Study and Women at the Well 

who contribute to my spiritual welfare.

Thank you, ladies.  

May the new year shower blessings on you and your families! 

This image is a greeting card which I scanned,

then added text.