This banner is something I keep noticing on Hwy 14 as I enter Viroqua from the east.  It is time to stop lying; we “ARE NOT”  all immigrants!  

An “immigrant” is someone from ANOTHER country who has entered the USA legally with a visa/or by asylum.  They come through the front door.  They jumped through all the hoops and entered honestly.

An “illegal alien” is someone who has overstayed an expired visa, was denied asylum, or snuck into the country coming in secretly through the back door.  

A “naturalized citizen” is someone who was an immigrant, completed the process, took a test, learned English, swore allegiance to the USA, and applied for and received citizenship. 

A “citizen” is someone who is born in the USA to a citizen or naturalized citizen, and occasionally a visa/permanent visa holder.

Naturalized citizens and citizens hold the same rights and responsibilities.  Immigrants and illegal aliens do not have the same rights or responsibilities.

It is time to stop the lying and the nonsense about immigrants and citizens. 

My great-grandfather was a naturalized citizen. My grandmother, mother, and I are/were citizens.  We were NEVER immigrants.  Knowing the difference is extremely important.

Immigrants are welcome in the USA with open arms, as long as they come through the front door.

43°F S@6mph SR0550(0450) SS2009(1909)

Morning Offering given

Village silent and peaceful

Coffee strong

St. Florian demonstrates that we may find Christians devoted to God in every profession and walk of life. Lord, protect all those who serve in the military and help me to see Your face in everyone I meet.

Meditations for Each Day, pg. 173, The Imitation of Mary

Scripture Reading for Day 4 of Learning to Trust
Psalm 112:7 He shall not fear an ill report; his heart is steadfast, trusting the LORD.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each of them with six wings,^* were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”^d

Mornin! Early start today. Quick run to Boscobel to pick up a young man and take him to work. After which I will begin my normal Monday… Workshop workers, parts, copywork, laundry… at least on Mondays, I am predictable.
It was good to get back to Adoration yesterday… the two hours were restless ones, so much tumbling around in my head. It gave me space to just be there and sort thru. Worked on the lymphatic massage techniques I was given at the PT last Friday. I am hoping this will work well for me. Thus far, all I have are bright red hands and feet, numbness, cold to the touch legs, and pain in the leg. I feel like I spend all my time on this. The office is sort of back in order. At least it is functioning. Looking forward to this week. I ordered a new fountain pen and a bottle of ink. This morning, I found blotter paper for the antique blotter I found while thrifting in Pleasanton, TX. I’m hoping to learn calligraphy if my hands hold out.

Know you are prayed for.

49⁰F SSW@15mph SR0552(0452) SS 2008(19080

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful this Sunday morning

Coffee pod

Today we celebrate Rob S’s 1st communion in 1992

Sts. Phillip and James both taught and wrote about Jesus, so that we too may know Him. Jesus, I praise You always for men and women who made You known to the world. Let me never tire of learning about You.

Scripture Reading for Day 3 of Learning to Trust
Psalm 20:7-8 Now I know the LORD gives victory to his anointed.^b He will answer him from the holy heavens with a strong arm that brings victory. 8 Some rely on chariots, others on horses, but we on the name of the LORD our God.^c
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.^c

Meditations for Each Day, pg. 171, The Ascension of Jesus. After the resurrection, Jesus came to the disciples and continued to instruct them concerning the kingdom of God for the next 40 days. He told them he would send the Holy Spirt to give them the enlightenment and courage they would need to preach the Gospel. We can be so attached to things. Let us begin to detach from this world, readying ourselves to be with Jesus in Heaven.

Aren’t Sunday mornings awesome! Not only do we get to spend time with Jesus, but we also spend time with our parish family, catching up on what’s happened during the week. I’m printing out a few items that I plan to use in project. If I don’t do it now I will forget about the project.

I lit candles this morning for all Mothers who have children no longer practicing the faith. I ask Jesus to touch them and ask them to return to him. I lit candles for all the deceased that they may find their way to heaven sooner than later. I lit a candle for the ill as well.

Know you are prayed for.

31°F W@10mph SR0553(0453) SS2007(1907)

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee good

Today is my day to pray for the Catholic Motherhood
I am also offering prayers on the anniversary of Sessirae M’s 1st Communion in 2010

St. Wiborada reminds us that God does indeed move in gloriously mysterious ways. Father, I thank you for communicating with me in ways, both ordinary and extraordinary; help me to always listen.

Scripture Reading for Day 2 of Learning to Trust
Psalm 9:9-10 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.^c 11Those who know your name trust in you; you never forsake those who seek you, LORD.
Daniel 3:17-18 If our God, whom we serve, can save us^* from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! 18 But even if he will not, you should know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up.”

Meditations for Each Day, pg. 170, The Intercession of Our Lady
John 2:1-2 is an example of Mary taking something to Jesus with such confidence that he will do as she requested that she went ahead and gave the instruction “do whatever he tells you” to the attendants.

This afternoon, I will work during the funeral dinner of Ali Schmitz at St. John’s Summit. It has been a long time since anyone asked me to do anything there, or that I have even attended Mass there. This is a sorrow for me.

Copy jobs are in the works this morning. Although they will not be delivered until Monday. We have Adoration in Union Center in the morning @ 5. Then we will catch the 8AM Mass at St Mary’s Ridge on our way home. Breakfast at Bobby John’s is on the list. The man has KC work with the Tootsie Roll project. Awesome book sale at the Cashton Library over the weekend. Added quite a few books to the collection. I really do need to get things in order so that the bookcases aren’t such a mess.

Know you are prayed for.

29°F SSW@1mph SR0555(0455) SS2006(1906)

Morning Offering given

Village chilly

Coffee good

May Day History of May Day May Day, also known as Workers’ Day or International Workers’ Day, a day commemorating the historical struggles and achievements of workers and the labor movement, is celebrated in many countries on the 1st of May. In the United States and Canada, there is also a similar celebration, named Labor Day on the first Monday of September. In 1889, an international federation of socialist groups and trade unions designated May 1 as Pro-Workers Day, on the anniversary of the Haymarket Riots in Chicago (1886). Five years later, the President of the United States. Grover Cleveland, uncomfortable with the socialist roots of Workers’ Day, signed legislation making Labor Day celebrated in several states the first Monday in September, an official U.S. holiday. Period to honor workers, Canada followed soon after. In Europe, May 1st has historically been associated with pagan festivals in the countryside (see May Day), but its original meaning has gradually been replaced by a modern association with the labor movement. In the Soviet Union, leaders adopted the new holiday, believing it would encourage workers in Europe and the United States to unite against capitalism. The day has become an important holiday in the Soviet Union and the countries of the Eastern bloc, with prominent parades, including one on Moscow’s Red Square by heads of government and Communist Party authorities preside over, honor workers and demonstrate the military might of the Soviet Union. Moreover, Labor Day also officially became a holiday in 1933 after the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany. Ironically, Germany abolished free unions shortly after the establishment of the holiday, virtually destroying the German labor movement.

St. Peregrine Laziosi teaches us to turn the other cheek and its importance to repentance. Lord, help me to forgive those who hurt me and to seek opportunities to move others to forgiveness.
St Joseph the Worker St Jeremiah

From the Margins… St Nickolas of Flue… Each stage of life has its special duties; by accomplishing them, one may find happiness

Scripture Readings for Day 1 of Learning to Trust
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; 6In all your ways be mindful of him,and he will make straight your paths.
Exodus 23:25 You shall serve the LORD, your God; then he will bless your food and drink, and I will remove sickness from your midst;

Good Morning!
I’m thinking about Val today and how she used to make May Day baskets and hang them on my doorknob. It’s those little things that bring her to my mind.
I’m also contemplating the Exodus scripture verse above, reading the surrounding verses and thinking what a different world we would/could live in.

Question… do you use “CareCredit” to pay medical/veterinary bills? If so, know they are in the midst of a class-action lawsuit over predatory interest rates. Don’t get sucked in. This brings up the use of credit cards and their interest rates. These types of things just dig a deeper and deeper hole of debt. Take a few moments and calculate what you would pay in interest on the credit card (if you didn’t pay in full each month) and how nice that amount would look in your savings account at the end of the year. People get so caught up in the “have to have” mentality that they ruin their financial stability. My children got so tired of hearing… do you NEED that or WANT that? If you need it, we’ll get it. If you just want it, put it on your birthday/Christmas list or get a job and earn the money for it. I smiled last week when ds#4 said something about this as we chatted. Perhaps I should remind all of my children what a blessing they are/have been in my life.

Know you are prayed for.

30°F SSW0mph SR0556(0456 SS2004(1904)

Morning Offering given

Village waking

Coffee strong

Happy 35th Birthday, Dennis! Hope the day is awesome.
Happy 32nd to Anne

St Joseph Cootolengo shows us that we must support homeless shelters, group homes, and residences for the poor, ill, and troubled. Jesus, when I am afraid to get involved in helping the least of my brethren, remind me that to follow you I must aid them, all of them.

Scripture Readings for Day 30 in He is Risen
Revelation 5:11-13 I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless^* in number,^e 12and they cried out in a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.”
Proverb 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a wish fulfilled is a tree of life.^*

Meditations for Each Day, pg.167, The Divided Heart
To whom does your heart belong? The Devil?…have you allowed him to insinuate himself into your soul so that you have fallen under his tyranny and are trying to find happiness in the satisfaction of your lower impulses?… too much shopping, sex outside of marriage, smoking, drinking, cussing, lying… Even if we profess to belong to God we are so absorbed by work, ambition, and pleasure that we neglect God… we offer him our leavings instead of the best part of ourselves. God told us it was impossible to serve two masters… or perhaps, you don’t want anyone to tell you what to do, how to behave or think… believing if it is good for you, it is good.

Good Morning!
Deepest sympathy to the family who lost a loved one due to the car accident on Hwy 27 yesterday.
Early morning baby run… miscarriage… my heart hurts for this couple. They are in the area for a wedding and suffer this loss.
Tomorrow is May Day… is your basket ready?

Know you are prayed for.

45°F W@6mph SR0558(0458) SS2003(1903)

Morning Offering given

Village waking

Coffee okay

Happy Birthday to Lisa Barker
Happy Anniversary to Antonio & Angela Meza

Today is my day to pray for Catholic Motherhood. This community is an online group of Catholic Moms who have been gathering online and in person for many years. We discuss our faith, our family, and the difficulties of raising Catholic children in this age. We support each other with encouragement, honesty, and prayer. We do the best we are able to support the Magisterium of the Church, and we never lose hope for the future.

St Catherine of Siena teaches us that seeking God also involves seeking peace and unity in the Church. Almighty God, let me devote my mind to learning about You, my heart to loving You and Your people, and my body to serving You.

Scripture Readings for Day 29 of He is Risen
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 ^k So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 ^* And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
1 John 5:4 for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.^c

Take a moment to note the scripture that appears in the liturgy of the Church.

Meditations for Each Day, pg. 164, The Dignity and Responsibility of Being a Christian
By baptism, we become
•Sons of God
•Temples of the Holy Spirit
•Members of the Mystical Body of Jesus (which is the Church)
God’s grace raises us
•to the supernatural order and makes us
•sharers in the divine nature
In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit
•fortifies our faith
•gives us the strength to resist the temptations of the devil and fight like loyal soldiers
In the confessional, we find
• our plank of salvation in the shipwreck of sin
• we can recover our lost innocence and return to the grace and friendship of God
It is a great dignity to be a Christian. With that comes grave obligations. Make sure to examine yourself and see that you are fulfilling them.

Good Morning!
Today should be an easy day. The hope is to walk into the clinic and have them check the back pain. I didn’t get that accomplished yesterday.
3 copy jobs have been completed.

Know you are prayed for.

45°F WNW@14mph SR0559(0459) SS2002(1902)

Morning Offering given

Village damp

Coffee okay

St Pamphilus demonstrated that love of the poor and appreciation of Liturgy bring balance to our lives. We also look to St. Gianna and St. Louis de Montfort for direction. Beloved Lord, through our devotion to the Eucharist, may we bless the world and those in it.

Meditations for Each Day, pg. 163, The Word of God. After Holy Communion, the Word of God is the most nourishing food of the soul. Read the parable of the sower Luke 8:5-15. In this parable, Jesus tells us that the seed is the Word of God.

Scripture Reading for Day 28 of He is Risen
Psalm 118:6 The LORD is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me?^c
Romans 8:33-34 Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us.^z 34Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.^a

Good Morning!
Life resumes normalcy today. Is that really possible?
The backache continues. I have a doctor’s appointment on Fri. I hope I can make it till then.
Laundry completed. How can two old people have this much laundry? It breeds like rabbits.
Rained most of the day yesterday. I’m hoping to see drier weather today. The temps are still dipping down into the 30’s at night.
My honey-do list continues to grow… A/C units, remove porch panels, clean porch, remove back porch plastic, clean back porch, and reorganize. Patio, flowerbed borders, pond cleaning, raised bed cleaning, lawn mowing, and planters. The list goes on and on. Perhaps it is time to start hiring this done. Not to mention the kitchen needs to be finished… we are so close to done.
The plum tree is in full bloom. I see buds on the lilac shrubs. The bridal wreath is leafed out, and I know buds are forming.
Ebony’s fecal sample needs to be collected and submitted.
Need to pick up a copy job today, complete it, and return it.

Family History

Know you are prayed for.

53°F ESE@13mph SR0601(0501) SS2001(1901)

Morning Offering given

Village wet

Coffee strong

St. Zita (patroness of Domestic Workers) elevates the role of the servant and illustrates the connection between work and piety. Jesus, help me to be content with my roles as a worker and empathetic in all my dealings with other workers.

Scripture Readings Day 27 of He is Risen
Jonah 2:6 The waters surged around me up to my neck; the deep enveloped me; seaweed wrapped around my head.^e
John 23;30-31 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book.^s 31But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.^t

Meditation for Each Day pg. 161, “The Only Remedy for all Our Ills.”
Job tells us that life is a continuous battle if we consider only the material aspects. If we do God’s will, He will give us a little happiness and satisfaction in the present life. That we should not stop short of doing the will of God with resignation, but should aim at doing it from the motive of love. Then we will have peace both in joy and in sorrow. If we do it unwillingly, we can expect no reward and the weight of sin will be upon our shoulders.

We returned late afternoon. It is awesome to be home.
Laundry is in the works.
Copy work completed and ready to deliver.
Oil was changed in the SUV.
Journal updated.
Mail looked at.
Ebony is giving me the cold shoulder while letting me know she is not happy that we left her.
My back is killing me. Or perhaps it is the kidneys. I’m still pushing fluids, still retaining. Perhaps I can get squeezed in today.

Know you are prayed for.

53⁰F E@7mph SR0616(0516) SS2000(1900)

Morning Offering given

Kirksville waking

No Coffee

Almost home

will be there

late afternoon

Attended Mass last evening in Branson MO. It was a valid mass. For that I am grateful. Definitely a tourist town.

Know you are prayed for.