Focus on Love
 Gracious, loving God, help me to be more aware of the obstacles, cares, and
anxieties that limit my turning toward you. May I walk the daily path with you,
placing my focus on the ways to serve, love, honor, and adore you! Amen!
Have a wonderful day!!!

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Yesterday we celebrated with Jack as he received his first Communion. Uncle Jim, SJ, concelebrated the mass, and it was he who gave Jack Communion.....pretty special.
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Hmmmmmmmmm, maybe a connection?
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Soooooooooooo  devout
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A Giving Heart 04/26/2012
 
Our daughter  has recently become involved with the Make A Wish Foundation. Today she  received her first request ….. a little boy in the area she lives in, who is terminally ill,  has a wish for  a camper. The process involves meeting with the little boy and his family. 

When our daughter told her her 8 year old, Jack, his first response was "Mommy, let's give him our camper."  A giving heart knows no limits. 

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Meet Jack
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Post Title. 04/25/2012
 
This morning I was reading The Jesuit GUide to (almost) everything by Jim Martin, SJ. I came to a section that had an interesting group of questions on it…..and I thought they were excellent, so I want to share them with you. These are questions I have pondered before, and you may find they are ones you, too, have thought about. But it's good to hear them again.

1. Is there something you have always wanted to do, but never managed to do it?
2. If you had your life to live over again, what would you change?
3. What are your unfinished dreams?
4. If you only had a few months to live, how would you use the time?
5. If a significant amount of money came your way, how would you spend it?
6. If you were granted three wishes, what would they be?
7. Is there anyone or anything for whom you would literally give your life?

Interestingly enough I had answers for all of them without much pondering.  I think that re-thinking these questions was a good way to renew (in a manner of speaking) what is really important to me.

Try 
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Last night Jim and I attended Beauty and the Beast at the junior high where two of our grandchildren go to school.  Both of them were in the play....Jimmy as the baker/wolf/ensemble and Molly as the sundae/ensemble. As we watched them it brought back so many memories of our children in plays. I guess the saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree..." holds true. Their beautiful smiles, the gleam in their eyes as they sang, their stage presence, the pure excitement they exuded...all so awesome. And in those moments my heart was bursting with joy....for all that lies ahead for them, for the people they are and will become, for all they will accomplish in their lives.....etc, etc. And I said Thank you, Lord, for these blessings.

Who are the blessings in your lives?
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Take time to.... 04/18/2012
 
I was walking our dog this afternoon and happened to see a neighbor we have not seen in a long time. It was so delightful to talk with her. She has experienced a very painful illness this past year which now limits her activities. I was so glad to reconnect with her.
 
I got to thinking about the times when I have not stopped to talk with people because I was in a "rush." Have you ever done that before? We human beings are always in a "hurry,"aren't we? We never know how much those few moments can make to another human being. Sooooooooooo, take a moment or two to engage in a conversation with others. Chances are it will put a rainbow in their day!

B
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If you have read past blogs of mine, you will see that I have kind-of, sort-of become hooked on spinning  in my exercise regimen. It started out many months ago when I took a deep breath and planted myself in the BACK row of bikes…..the idea was to be able to make a fast getaway if I needed to. Well, I stayed for the 45 minute class, pretty darn proud of myself. This morning I took my 3rd spinning class this week. Each teacher uses different music (tho it is almost always LOUD!). They each have different techniques….different voices….different ways of sparring us on.  I should mention that I have now advanced to the third row from the front…..pretty impressive, huh? NOT! 

Today I had a teacher I had never had before…..a very fit man, muscles bulging out of his shirt…..and very obviously someone who loves to punish. (Well, ok, not really.) Actually he was a nice guy. But at 9:30 on this Saturday morning I didn't want any motivational anything! And since I am now in the third row, he could see my face clearly, so how could I make nasty faces his way? I couldn't! Rather, each time he said "ADD MORE RESISTANCE….remember this is YOUR RIDE" I wanted to tell him to what he could do with the resistance!  But I resisted (pun intended)…..and, besides, I was out of breath! So I closed my eyes and could just picture him with one of those official helmets on….and gloves so his hands would not get blistered from gripping the handlebars. Yeah, it was a pretty ugly picture going on in my head. In the end I finished the 45 minute class, drenched (I have never been one who perspires much-til spinning hit me). My face was quite red, almost matched my red hair. AND I thanked him for the great job he did while others were applauding. 

Good heavens, are we who exercise crazy masochists, I keep asking myself? I mean what in the world possesses me (or anyone ) to spin three days a week, or go to a ZUMBA class at 6:30 at night when the day has already been pretty active, or do a turbo kick class after an hour of a different aerobic exercise? Well, I could go on and on, but I won't bore you. In the end it makes me feel better and helps to justify popping a handful of chocolate chips  (alright, two handfuls) in my mouth.

 Do you feel like your world is spinnnnnnnnning? Hey, come join the rest of us …. really, it can be fun.
Have a great Saturday!
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Look how happy THIS spinner looks? ;)
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Gratitude 04/13/2012
 
I have so much to be grateful for today. The results of my annual mammogram are normal. I even hugged the nurse when she told me. After I left the hospital and was exiting via the parking garage, a lady apparently did not see me behind her. Well, she kind of put her foot to the gas and rammed (backed) into me. As I watched the steam pour out of the front of my car, I was exasperated to say the least. The young woman got out of her car and said "well, I didn't see you." There was the faintest tinge of "you shouldn't have been behind me" in her voice. But, clearly it was an accident. The damage to my 2010 nissan is $4600.00…..no light tap. 
So why am I grateful? Well, no one was hurt; the air bag never went off….thank goodness; my wonderful husband was there in a jiffy; the woman had full coverage and she admitted backing into me…..ok, I'm trying to think of something else but can't come up with it at the moment. Short one car, we will get a rental on Monday, and, with any luck, our car will be fixed in ten days.
This brings to mind the times in life when we are "stuck" in a situation we have no control over. How do we (re)act in the situation?
I was pretty annoyed initially, but I recovered quickly. I guess that is the key….how quickly can/do we recover from situations out of our control? Do we lose sleep over it…sometimes we do. But this pales in comparison to other events in our life. 
I wish you peace amidst the struggles…..
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Big Brother Love 04/12/2012
 
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Sweet lamb with her little red head wrapped up to protect the EEG leads and wires.
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Meggan had to have blood drawn today. And she had to be set up with leads all over her pretty little red head for a 24 hr EEG. Because her hair is so thick, they had to use a lot of "goop." Then she was able to pick out a special bandana (she picked the one that said LOVE all over it) and they wrapped her head in it. There is also a small "box" registering the brain waves on the top of her head, under the bandana. There are also leads on her tummy and chest as a continuous EKG is also being recorded. She has a fanny pack with a larger box.....she wears it all for 24 h rs to determine is she is having any seizures. This will tell the doctor if the medicine she is on is working.
But back to big brother love.......today when they got home, Jen and the kids went to the YMCA. They walked past a group of teenage girls who said "she looks like she has a bear on her head." No idea why they compared it to that, but, anyway, her sister who is just 5, repeated it...."Meg, did you hear what they said about you.....?" Jack, dear sweet Jack, looked at her and said "It's okay, Meggan, I'm your big brother and I will always protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you...." 
And this Nama said, "thank you, Lord!" (Good thing I wasn't there!!)
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