04.04.2023 Voting Day in WI

38°F overcast E@20mph

Morning Offering given

Village quiet

Coffee passable

Today in WI we vote for supreme court judge. IMNSHO the only choice is Daniel Kelly the other person way too “woke” and liberal for me. Aside from that, way too much money is being thrown around on this election; as well as too many ugly/insinuating commercials, etc. WI needs to look at its laws and make changes. It is time to look at campaign rules and regulations and make changes there as well.

Remembering James F.H born on this day in 1881 may he RIP

The man is in IA this week.

My schedule is fairly easy.

Copywork completed

Beginning a new book today. Hopefully, it will be a good one. Need to run the finished ones back to the library when I go to vote this morning.

Let’s look at Peter & Judas today. Peter betrayed our Lord by denying he knew him. Judas betrayed our Lord by selling him out for monetary gain. Peter wept when he realized what he had done, he accepted Christ’s mercy and kept the faith. Judas realized what he did was wrong, and returned his monetary gain, but instead of seeking Christ’s mercy he ran away and killed himself. So they both betrayed Christ, both knew they had sinned, one sought mercy, and the other gave into despair killing himself. I have pondered this part of scripture for many years. Again and again I return to it wondering and thinking if only Judas…

But you see, each of us has to make that decision. Each of us must say our own “YES” to Christ and his mercy. It is not in anyone else’s hands. Each of us must make the decision to follow Christ, practice our faith, and become an intimate friend of Christ to reach eternal life. It is not enough to recognize we shoulda, coulda. We must repent, act, and sustain. Time is short.

Know you are prayed for.

04.03.2023

39°F overcast W@7mph

Morning Offering given

Village silent

Coffee good

Back into the routine today. Special school/Amish school will be out on the 28th, then my driving will lessen to things I select to do around the important issues of setting up a garage sale, sorting, and purging. I must get this done in April and May so that I can enjoy the rest of the summer.

Holy Week…it is here. How much do we (YOU) value Jesus? Will we spare no expense (financial, physical, etc) or are we pinching pennies and corners so it only costs the bare minimum?

Are you following Jesus, but holding back? Dig deep and figure out why.

Happy Birthday to Patrick S born on this day in 1988.

Remembering James T born on this day in 1919.

From the Margin“…Wisdom, Justice, Power, Mercy constant guardians of the Law. For those who don’t know me, I am a margin writer. I’ve added to many books with this poor habit. When I run across them I try to put them in my journal/blog, eventually, they should all end up in the same place. This particular one comes from my bday/anni/date book and was written down in Lincoln, NB while I was there for a CMOMC gather. I believe it was written on the state capitol building downtown.

Know you are prayed for.

Prayers…

For those who have gone before. May they RIP

Stopped at family plot on the way home. The stones have been raised and straightened. Now, they just need to settle a bit, and all will be well.

Giving thought to flowers. My m-i-l had such a green thumb. Two more cemeteries to check before spring gets away from me.

04.02.2023 Palm Sunday

29°F clear S@21mph

Morning Offering given

Lake is beautiful this morning

Woke to this view

Attended Mass last evening at St. Matthias in Cascade. Beautiful Church with, very interesting history.

This morning I ponder with help from WAU…Who is this who enters the city, meek and riding on an ass (Matt 21:5) Who is this, who consecrates bread and wine that becomes his Body & Blood, offering himself for our forgiveness (26:27-28) Who is this in the Garden of Gethsemane (26:39) Who is this who refuses to defend himself (26:63-65) Who is this who is mocked, spat upon, and hailed “King of the Jews” (27:29) Who is this, beaten, whipped, crucified, crying out, and giving up his spirit (27:46-50) Who is this battered body laid in a tomb (27:60) Jesus may I come to know you ever more deeply.

Tomorrow is my day to pray for those who belong to CmomC. This private online Catholic mom site began almost 25 yrs ago. We exist to support Catholic Motherhood. To be there for those Catholic Moms who need a place to unwind and refresh themselves. A place where they don’t have to justify their faith. https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/catholic_motherhood/

Know you are prayed for.

Windy on the lake…

Small waves ripple on the shoreline, security light flickers on and off, I can hear the wind in the trees.

A few Canadian geese flew off this morning. Leaving what looks to be small wood ducks riding the waves.

The shoreline has changed here this past year. It does not surprise me as there has been new construction as well.

My happy/ peaceful place has once again allowed me to finish projects in short order. The phone seems to ring less. The setting up of templates seems easier. The everyday world somehow melts into the background, and I find peace.

04.01.2023

33°F overcast windy NNW@23mph

Morning Offering given

Lake is rough and cold, few ducks

Coffee passable…I made it, good thing it’s only a 2-cup pot

Slept like the dead, thru wind, rain, thunder, and lightning

Canadian geese flying thru, noisy, beautiful in flight

New construction here on the lake, and although the houses are beautiful they are too close together now. I pulled the shades on that side. As usual, the lakehouse is peaceful. They’ve made a few changes,(added some incidentals) since we were last here. www.lakeviewlivingdelhi.com will take you there. We have never been disappointed. It has accommodated our entire family for the Christmas holiday and other family events.

Birthday greetings to my niece-in-law, Nicole.

Remembering Kimberly F, dd to my friend Barbara who passed this day in 1995. May she rest in peace.

We are entering into “Holy Week” Jesus calls “Return to me”

Joel 2: 12 Now therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning.  13 And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil.  14 Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? 

Extensive Examination of Conscience https://bulldogcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/a-detailed-catholic-examination-of-conscience-2nd-ed..pdf Trust me, it is freeing to do this.

Pray for those in the path of last night’s tornado in Iowa. There’s a real mess there, they are still without power.

Know you are prayed for.

DD#4’s moving day

May I say they made an excellent choice for a home. It has just the right amount of space for them, and the layout is very well done.

The weather has so far held out for the move. Temps in the 50s, with a nice breeze. Looks like storms will move in tonight, but by then, everything will be in the garage.

Had a chance to see the spot they have set aside for our use. Just the right size for us when we are here.

Hope to check out the Church on Sunday.

Thunderstorm/tornado warnings blasting over the phones. Raining but not windy yet. Sun trying to shine.

They have good friends. This house is teeming with help. They’ve been helping all day. I’m sure the neighborhood thinks they’ve been invaded.

Sirens are sounding, all to the basement. Could hear it go over, didn’t touch down but sure took the shingles off the roof. New homeowners, just got insurance today. Will have to make a claim tomorrow.

Off to the lake, our happy place “Lakeside Living” in Delhi, IA. I could live here year-round and be content and happy.

Tomorrow’s another day.

03.31.2023

41°F raining E@15mph

Morning Offering given

Village wet, with rain possibly continuing

Coffee, good

The man and the boy ready themselves to leave for the cornfields of Iowa. I have a few more things to complete before I go.

Happy Birthday, AJ, proud of the young man you are becoming

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Trudy. Miles may separate us but you are still in my heart.

Hmmm out like a lion, severer weather advisory posted. Spring is doin’ its thing I guess. May everyone stay safe.

Iowas bound today. Looking forward to the drive, I have something to listen to this trip.

Let’s talk about Jesus today. Specifically John, Chapter 10, 4th book of the New Testament. My go to bible for accuracy is the Douay-Rheims version of the Bible. My go to for daily reading is the New American Bible. I have many versions of the bible that I use for comparison of verse and meaning as well as bible references etc. I am by no means a bible scholar, I have many questions and am not afraid to ask them. I welcome questions and receive answers well. In fact, other than taking Fr. John Hardon’s Basic Catholic Catechism Course, Jeff Cavin’s The Great Adventure; A Journey Through the Bible, along with various and sundry bible studies and catechism courses, I have no training. Well, unless you count my Baptist g’ma expecting me to memorize verse, my Lutheran g’ma expecting me to know the rules and the release time Catholic nun who taught CCD during my high school day, that is.

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me.  15 As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep.

Luke 12: 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  7 Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.

The verse in John drew me in, at the request of my Baptist g’ma to learn scipture verse, that will comfort me for my entire life (as she put it) to the verse in Luke that Jesus spoke to me before I quit my job as a deputy sheriff when we were decerning if we should adopt children that were hard to place as siblings. I can positively say these two reading changed my life forever.

May you come to know Christ and allow him to change your life forever.

Know you are prayed for.

03.30.2023

13°F clear SE@13mph

Morning Offering give

Coffee is um…eye-opening to say the least

Another early day for me, looking forward to the evening with a few good friends and conversation.

Remember the old “Idol hands are the devil’s playground”?

Insinuating those who have nothing to do will participate in something that will get them into trouble.

Some have said this comes from scripture. IT DOES NOT. Proverbs 16:27 The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire. may have inspired St Jerome (4th century) to write “engage in some occupation, so that the devil may always find you busy.” which was repeated by Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales (where I believe made the saying popular) Thus far the only “The Living Bible” from Tindale 1971 comes up with the idea of idleness in its translation. 27 Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece. Be careful in your selection of a bible.

My point, yes, I am going to finally get to the point.

It is good to be idle as long as your responsibilities are taken care of. It is bad to be so busy you don’t have time to think, ponder, and enjoy what God has placed on earth for your enjoyment. It is dangerous to keep your children so busy they have no time to think, explore, play, or create. Our responsibility as a parent is to teach our children to use the virtues, talents, and gifts given to them. This will not happen if we keep them so busy they have no time to find out what their virtues, talents, and gifts are.

Know you are prayed for.