WE HAD A COUPLE OF MY FAVOURITE AND MOST RECOGNIZED READINGS TODAY AT MASS : THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE PARABLE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BEING COMPARED TO THE MAN WHO SOWED GOOD SEED IN HIS FIELD ONLY TO BE THWARTED BY THE ENEMY WHO SOWED WEEDS ALL THROUGH THE WHEAT.
WE STRIVED TO SHARE THE SMALL , GOOD ‘SEEDS’ OF WISDOM AND FAITH WITH OUR FAMILY IN THE HOPES THAT THEY WOULD GROW UP TO DISPLAY STRONG ROOTED GOODNESS OF CHARACTER AS ADULTS. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO SEE OUR CHILDREN BECOME THESE GOOD AND KIND MEN AND WOMEN. AND THEY, IN TURN, ARE SHARING THEIR GIFTS OF KINDNESS WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND/OR FRIENDS.
THE ‘ENEMY’ CONTINUES TO TRY AND SOW WEEDS INTO OUR HARVEST BUT SOMEDAY THE HARVESTERS WILL COLLECT THE WEEDS AND TIE THEM INTO BUNDLES FOR BURNING. THE WHEAT WILL BE GATHERED INTO THE BARN . AND THERE WILL BE REJOICING!
I PRAY FOR YOUR CROPS TO BE HEALTHY , HAPPY , AND HEARTY .
I LOVE ALBERTA IN THE SUMMER…. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CANOLA FIELDS ARE IN THEIR BEST FINERY. THIS SIMPLE FLOWER PROVIDES THE OIL THAT HELPS US COOK DELICIOUS MEALS FOR OUR FAMILY.
TODAY I WENT FOR A DRIVE TO LOOK AT THE TURBULENT CLOUDS IN OUR GIANT ALBERTA SKIES AND I CAME ACROSS THIS LOVELY FIELD OF YELLOW.
THE LIGHT CHANGED CONSTANTLY AND WITH EVERY CLICK OF MY CAMERA I SEEMED TO GET A DIFFERENT FEEL IN THE PHOTOS. WHEN THE SUN HID BEHIND THE CLOUDS FOR A MOMENT AND I CAPTURED A PRETTY FLARE IN RAINBOW COLOURS.
I STOOD AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD , WIND MASSAGING MY SHOULDERS, SUN BEAMS SPINNING OVER THE FIELDS LIKE REFLECTIONS FROM A SLOW TURNING DISCO BALL . AND I MARVELLED AT THE BEAUTY BEFORE ME.
As for beauty, one of its most potent charms lies in its modest unconsciousness; it is greatly marred when accompanied by vanity.
THE ANGRY CLOUDS TRIED TO DRAW FOCUS FROM THE HAPPY YELLOW FLOWERS BELOW THEM BUT THEY ONLY COMPLIMENTED THE OVERALL PICTURE.
I WANT TO LET MY BEAUTY SHINE DESPITE THE DARK CLOUDS THAT HANG OVER MY HEAD .
EVERYDAY THE LATEST SCARY STATISTICS ARRIVE ON MY DOORSTEP TO BE READ WHEN I OPEN THE PAPER. SO MANY THINGS OF WHICH TO BRING US DOWN AND KEEP US AFRAID. BUT THERE IS ALSO SO MUCH BEAUTY IN US AND AROUND US.
LET YOUR SMILE SHINE TODAY LIKE A BRILLIANT CANOLA FIELD THAT PUSHES AWAY THE DARK CLOUDS ABOVE. SHARE A CHEERFUL GREETING WITH A (MASKED) STRANGER THAT YOU PASS ON THE SIDEWALK. BE KIND TO YOUR FAMILY. WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING POSITIVE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT.
PRESS ON THE LINK ABOVE TO HEAR ONE OF THE SONGS FROM MY NEWEST ALBUM,”WORDS ON A PAGE”.
I’VE BEEN GOING THROUGH A PERIOD OF ‘MORE THAN NORMAL’ PAIN IN MY BODY. IT MIGHT HAVE STARTED IN EARNEST WHEN I TRIPPED AND FELL ON OUR HARD, WOODEN KITCHEN FLOOR. BUT EITHER WAY IT IS CONTINUING AND I AM DOING ALL OF MY USUAL THINGS TO TRY AND HANDLE IT : READING ABOUT IT, STRETCHING, EXERCISING, MEDICATIONS AS NEEDED, ETC.
SO PAIN IS ON MY MIND A LOT. WE ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED A FORM OF IT OF COURSE. PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL IT WILL EMBRACE US WHETHER WE WANT IT TO OR NOT. BUT WHY IS IT HERE AT ALL?
I’M SURE THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT ON MORE STRESSES THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. MONEY, CLOSE QUARTERS, FEAR AMONG OTHER THINGS CAN BRING IT ON AND IT CAN MANIFEST IN OUR BODIES AS PHYSICAL PAIN.
I REMEMBER READING A BOOK BY C.S. LEWIS YEARS AGO CALLED THE PROBLEM WITH PAIN. HE SAYS IN THE CHAPTER ABOUT HUMAN PAIN…
The Christian doctrine of suffering explains, I believe, a very curious fact about the world we live in. The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world: but joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. We are never safe, but we have plenty of fun, and some ecstasy. It is not hard to see why. The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and oppose an obstacle to our return to God: a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bathe or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.
I TRY TO REMEMBER WHEN I EXPERIENCE SUFFERING THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND THAT MY SUFFERING CAN ACTUALLY HAVE MEANING. MY FAITH TELLS ME THAT I CAN ACTUALLY ‘OFFER UP’ MY SUFFERING FOR OTHERS. I TRY TO REMEMBER TO DO THIS. IT ALSO TELLS ME THAT SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE AN END TO IT AND I WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF HEAVEN WHERE THERE WILL BE NO MORE SUFFERING.
AND LIKE C.S. LEWIS SAYS , THERE ARE PLENTY OF WONDERFUL THINGS TO TAKE MY MIND OFF OF THE PAIN …LIKE THE LOVE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THE PERFUME OF FRESHLY CUT GRASS AS I WALK THROUGH THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, CREATING MUSIC OR ART, CUDDLES FROM MY GRANDCHILDREN , A RELAXING NIGHT OF WATCHING NETFLIX WITH A BOWL OF POPCORN ON MY LAP AND MY GUY BY MY SIDE…AND SO MUCH MORE!
LIFE IS SUCH A GIFT AND I WILL LOOK TO ALL THE GOOD THINGS AROUND ME TODAY AND TRY TO NOT DWELL ON THE PAIN WITHIN TOO MUCH.
BLESSING TO YOU! AND MAY YOU ALSO EXPERIENCE A ‘TOUCH OF FAITH’ .
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME MENTIONING THAT I HAVE THESE AMAZING BEST FRIENDS THAT I’VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.
ALTHOUGH ALL FOUR OF US LIVE IN DIFFERENT CITIES WE TRY AND GET TOGETHER ONCE A YEAR FOR A DELIGHTFUL, LAUGHTER AND FAITH-FILLED WEEKEND AWAY. THE PANDEMIC CANCELLED OUR FLIGHTS/PLANS FOR THIS YEAR BUT TO MY SURPRISE ZOOM HAS BEEN CONNECTING US MORE THAN WE EVER HAVE SINCE THOSE EARLY DAYS.
WE GET TOGETHER THIS WAY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS AND IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME OUT OF “COVID”.
IT IS SOMETHING WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY WEEK. WE SHARE STORIES ABOUT OUR LIVES , HEARTACHES , TRIUMPHS, AND LOTS OF LAUGHS TOO.
THESE INTELLIGENT, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN ARE SO INSPIRING TO ME. YESTERDAY , ONE OF MY FRIENDS TOLD ME AN INSPIRING STORY OF HER ‘NOT SO PROUD’ MOMENT AND THEN HER ( SHE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD) ACT OF REPARATION.
WE ALL REGULARLY FIND OURSELVES DOING (AND THINKING) THINGS THAT ARE NOT OF OUR BEST SELVES. MATTHEW KELLY SPEAKS ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE THE ‘BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES’. THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO BE BUT FAIL REGULARLY.
AND NOW THAT WE ARE MOSTLY QUARANTINED WITH OUR FAMILIES WE CAN REALLY GET ON EACH OTHER’S NERVES IF WE TRY…HA HA. (AND EVEN IF WE DON’T)
I THINK WE CAN ALL FIND OURSELVES COMPLAINING OR GETTING OUR TEMPERS UP MORE THAN USUAL IN THESE CONFINED SPACES. I TRY TO LOOK FOR THE HUMOUR IN MOST SITUATIONS TO DIFFUSE ANY ANGER BUILD UP AND I ALSO TRY TO LOOK AT EACH SITUATION THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE. IN THE MOMENT THAT CAN BE EXTREMELY HARD TO DO . BUT REMEMBERING THAT WE TRULY ARE IN THIS TOGETHER AND THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE HURT THE MOST ARE ALSO USUALLY THE PEOPLE WE LOVE THE MOST CAN REMIND US TO STRIVE FOR OUR BEST SELVES AT EVERY MOMENT.
LISTENING AND BREATHING BEFORE WE SPEAK IS A GOOD REMINDER TOO. WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING TO FIND OUR WAY THROUGH THESE FRUSTRATING TIMES. SOMETIMES THE SIMPLEST THINGS CAN BE THE TRUEST. LOVE IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER .
I HAVE WALKED AROUND MY NEIGHBOURHOOD SO MANY TIMES THAT I AM KIND OF TIRED OF THE SAME VIEWS…HA HA.
SO SOMETIMES NOW I JUMP IN MY CAR AND FIND ANOTHER NEIGHBOURHOOD TO WALK THROUGH JUST TO HELP ME TAKE MY MIND OFF OF THE WALKING (WHICH I FIND DIFFICULT) . I’M GENERALLY DOING MY DAILY PRAYERS IN MY HEAD AND WHEN THOSE ARE DONE MY WALK IS DONE. (I HAVE QUITE A FEW PRAYERS…HA HA…SO MY WALK IS USUALLY ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.)
ANYWAY, IT’S FUN TO WALK AROUND AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT HOMES AND FOLIAGE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU’LL SEE.
YESTERDAY I GOT THE CLOSEST I’VE EVER GOTTEN TO A MAGPIE (BIRD) WITHOUT IT IMMEDIATELY TAKING FLIGHT. SO I CAPTURED A FEW PHOTOS OF THIS GORGEOUS BUT ANNOYING BIRD.(THEY ARE KNOWN TO EAT THEIR OWN YOUNG AND THEY HAVE A TERRIBLE , LOUD ‘SCREECH’).I SAW A HUGE JACKRABBIT . THERE ARE USUALLY QUITE A FEW IN MY OWN AREA OF THE CITY TOO BUT THEY REFUSE TO POSE FOR A PHOTO. HA!
I SAW PEOPLE GARDENING, APPLIANCES BLOCKING A GARAGE, AND AN ACTUAL WEDDING BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK. SO I ASKED THE NEWLYWED COUPLE TO POSE FOR A PHOTO AND THEY WERE HAPPY TO OBLIGE.
TERRY AND I HAVE VISITED ELK ISLAND PARK MANY TIMES SINCE MOVING TO EDMONTON. IT TAKES ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR TO DRIVE THERE AND WE REALLY ENJOY THE JOURNEY.
IRONICALLY, THE PARK IS KNOWN FOR ITS BUFFALO SIGHTINGS..HA HA. USUALLY WE MIGHT SEE A LONE BUFFALO ABOUT 200 YARDS AWAY IF WE’RE LUCKY. WE DECIDED TO HAVE A WEDDING ANNIVERSARY PICNIC AT THE PARK AND IT WAS OUR FIRST SUNNY DAY IN A WEEK . PERFECT !
AS WE NEARED THE WATER WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW CARS IN THE ‘VIEWING LOOP’ . WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN THIS LOOP THROUGH THE NATURAL HABITAT PARK AND AGAIN WE MIGHT SEE A BUFFALO OR TWO A MILE AWAY.
BUT YESTERDAY ! WE MUST HAVE SEEN OVER 100 BUFFALO ! NOT ONLY DID WE SEE THEM IN THE DISTANCE BUT THEY WERE ON THE DIRT ROAD AND ALL AROUND OUR CARS . WOW! IT WAS THRILLING TO BE ABLE TO SEE SO MANY SO CLOSE UP. MANY OF THEM WERE WITH THEIR CALVES SO WE ALL HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL FOR A FEW REASONS . WE DIDN’T WANT TO STARTLE THE FAMILIES AND WE DIDN’T WANT THE MOTHERS TO BECOME SO PROTECTIVE THAT THEY WOULD RAM THE CARS WITH THEIR STRONG HORNS.
FOR SOME REASON EVERYONE IN THE HERD(S) SEEMED HAPPY TO LET US SLOWLY DRIVE BY AND TAKE THEIR PORTRAITS. IT WAS A MAGICAL START TO A WONDERFUL DAY OF CELEBRATING OUR LOVE.
P.S. THE LAST GUY IN THE PHOTOS ABOVE LOOKED LIKE HE (OR SHE!) HAD ON SOME SORT OF FASCINATOR FOR THE DAY. YOU NEEDN’T HAVE DRESSED UP FOR US… HA HA.
38 YEARS. THAT IS THE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WE ARE CELEBRATING TODAY . AND YES, OH HOW TIME FLIES!
I THINK ABOUT THE YOUNG, RED HEADED BOY I MET WHILE AUDITIONING FOR THE WINDSOR LIGHT OPERA AND THINKING HE WAS SO CUTE. HA HA. ( STILL IS WITH HIS SILVER LOCKS).
I THINK ABOUT LEAVING OUR FAMILIES TO MOVE OUT WEST AND HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO SAY GOOD-BYE ….BUT ALSO HOW EXCITING IT WAS TO SET OUT ON MY BRAND NEW ADVENTURE WITH TERRY.
OUR FIRST CAT, FINIAN, KEPT ME COMPANY WHILE MY YOUNG, LAWYER HUSBAND WORKED LONG LONG HOURS.
I REMEMBER HOW WE JOINED CALGARY THEATRE COMPANIES AND HAD TONS OF FUN ACTING AND SINGING WITH THEATRE 80, SHADOW THEATRE, STORYBOOK THEATRE…TO NAME BUT A FEW.
OUR FOUR CHILDREN SOON STARTED ARRIVING AND THE JOY THEY CONTINUE TO BRING US CANNOT BE COUNTED.
WHEN I STARTED TO HAVE CHRONIC PAIN FROM ARTHRITIS AND JOINTS STARTED GETTING REPLACED, TERRY WAS MY STRONGHOLD AND I CONTINUE TO COUNT ON HIM AS THE YEARS TICK BY….EACH ONE A JOY DESPITE THE PAIN.
AND NOW WE ARE GRANDPARENTS AND THE TIMING COULDN’T BE MORE PERFECT. WE ARE SEMI-RETIRED AND HAVE TIME TO ENJOY THESE (SOON TO BE) SIX LITTLE ONES UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. ( ALTHOUGH TEMPORARILY FROM A DISTANCE.)
I AM STILL VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH MY HUSBAND. EVERY MINUTE WITH THIS MAN IS A BLESSING TO ME.( NOT ALL PERFECT BUT PERFECT FOR GROWTH AND LESSONS LEARNED TOO).
JUST WATCH : WE WILL BE HAPPY TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS GOD WILLING !
P.S. I HAD A TON OF FUN TRYING TO FIND THINGS ON MY DAILY WALKS THAT LOOKED LIKE NUMBERS ON A CLOCK . AFTER I FOUND WHAT LOOKED LIKE A ’12’ IN TREE BARK I NEXT FOUND THAT BROKEN WATCH ON THE ROAD.
ALL THIS RAIN HAS HELPED SPROUT UP SOME WEE UMBRELLAS IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD.
ALTHOUGH THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WOULD PROBABLY BE THE FIRST TO GET RID OF THESE LITTLE FELLAS I ENJOY LOOKING AT THE BEAUTIFUL DETAIL AND INDIVIDUALITY OF EACH GROUPING I PASS AS I WALK.
WE ALL TRY TO REACH FOR THE STARS BUT SOMETIMES IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO NOTICE THE BEAUTY AT OUR FEET AND WITHIN OUR GRASP.
I DON’T LIKE TO EAT RAW MUSHROOMS BECAUSE OF THE TEXTURE BUT I LOVE THE SMELL AND TASTE OF THEM COOKED. I USED TO DRAW THEM ALL THE TIME AS A CHILD . I THOUGHT THEY LOOKED SO MAGICAL LIKE THIS ONE : THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN OUR LIVES. AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING THE WONDER IN OUR FORMER ‘TAKEN FOR GRANTED’ JOYS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
THE WORLD HAS FOREVER CHANGED. AND IF SOME OF THE MOMENTS WE ENJOYED FINALLY RETURN HOW MUCH MORE WILL WE APPRECIATE ….COFFEE WITH A FRIEND IN A CAFÉ? HUGGING OUR FAMILY WHENEVER WE WANT? AN INDOOR CONCERT OR CRUNCHING ON POPCORN IN A MOVIE THEATRE?
FOR NOW OUR WORLD IS SMALL. MOST OF US AREN’T TRAVELLING AND WE HAVE THE TIME TO NOTICE THE BEAUTIFUL DETAILS OF LIFE ALL AROUND US NOW: IN THIS PLACE WE LIVE…. IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, IN OUR HOMES.
LET’S OPEN OUR EYES TO THE BLESSINGS THAT COVID HAS TAUGHT US TO SEE AND APPRECIATE…LIKE THE MUSHROOM. MAGICAL!
AFTER MY SOURDOUGH ‘FAIL’ LAST MONTH I FINALLY FOUND THE COURAGE TO TRY MY HAND AT A COUPLE OF LOAVES OF WHOLE WHEAT BREAD. ALTHOUGH PREVIOUSLY I HAD WORKED FOR A WEEK TO ‘PROOF’ MY LEVIAN AND THEN SPENT ABOUT 14 HOURS FOLLOWING THE EXACT KNEADING/PROOFING/COOLING INSTRUCTIONS …MY SOURDOUGH DIDN’T RISE. (AT LEAST IT STILL MADE DELICIOUS, DENSE BREAD THAT TASTED AMAZING WITH STEW.)
THIS TIME THOUGH..AND WITH THIS DIFFERENT RECIPE…THE BROWN BREAD ONLY TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS TO PROOF IN BETWEEN KNEADING AND FINALLY BAKING SO IF IT WAS A FAIL I DIDN’T SPEND A WEEK WAITING TO FIND OUT..HA HA.
THERE IS SOMETHING SO SATISFYING IN WORKING WITH MY HANDS TO MASSAGE THE DOUGH AND ALMOST SCULPT THE FINISHED LOAVES. THE ENTIRE HOME SMELLS LIKE HEAVEN AND CUTTING INTO THE WARM BREAD IS ALSO AN EXCITING MOMENT. I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE BEAUTIFULLY FORMED INTERIOR.
I IMAGINE THAT’S WHAT GOD MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT WHEN HE CREATED HIS MASTERPIECES. HE FOLLOWED THE PERFECT RECIPE TO DESIGN US IN HIS OWN PURE IMAGE THEN HE ADDED JUST THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS (OUR HEARTS/SOULS…)TO PREPARE FOR OUR INCUBATION PERIOD. HOW MUCH JOY HE MUST FEEL WHEN WE ARE BORN AND HE SEES WHAT HE HAS CREATED …AND IT IS GOOD! I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE HAND OF GOD IN MY LIFE. I ONLY HOPE THAT I CAN ‘RISE TO THE OCCASION’ AND BECOME …’FOOD’ FOR OTHERS ON THEIR JOURNEY.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF MY FAVOURITE AND MOST RECOGNIZED READINGS TODAY AT MASS : THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE PARABLE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BEING COMPARED TO THE MAN WHO SOWED GOOD SEED IN HIS FIELD ONLY TO BE THWARTED BY THE ENEMY WHO SOWED WEEDS ALL THROUGH THE WHEAT.
GIGGLE GIGGLE. STOMP STOMP CRASH. JINGLE, KNOCK, CLICK CLACK, BANG! 
EVERY MINUTE WITH THIS MAN IS A BLESSING TO ME.( NOT ALL PERFECT BUT PERFECT FOR GROWTH AND LESSONS LEARNED TOO).
THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN OUR LIVES. AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING THE WONDER IN OUR FORMER ‘TAKEN FOR GRANTED’ JOYS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. 
