Some days God says

Hey! I’m real look at this!

12.18.2023

26⁰F cloudy NNW@21mph SR0732 SS1627

Morning Offering given

Village icy

The man sleeps

Coffee good

New week has begun. The Christmas frenzy is notably more intense. What a shame it is mostly the rush for physical things.

Slow yourself. Ponder your relationship to Christ. For he and his sacrifice for you are the only reason this holiday exists.

I am asking you to pray for an unnamed intention.

Know you are prayed for.

12.17.2023

35⁰F fog cloudy W@11mph SR0731 SS1626

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps draped in fog

Coffee not ready yet

The man sleeps

1st coat of paint on upstairs little bedroom walls. It’s amazing what a coat of paint can do to the looks of a room. How the paint covers over the imperfections, seeping into cracks and holes filling them in. Makes me think about baptism, confession, confirmation, and how it washes our soul clean. How, instead of covering us over and masking imperfections, it changes things. Jesus changes us, completely, changes us.

Chopper wanted to go out. He’s a good puppy. Did well crated last night. Not a peep out of him. The boy had uncrated, hence the cold, wet nose but not a sound. Good puppy.

Third Sunday of Advent.

we recognize the joyful anticipation of the season that will culminate in the birth of Christ on Christmas with the rose coloring.

Deepest sympathy to the Nelson family as they begin the journey of laying husband and father to rest.

Christmas letters written and being readied to send.

Know you are prayed for.

12.16.2023

36⁰F SE@7mph SR0730 SS1626

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

The man sleeps

Coffee hot

Whoa! Melch, I think we took the wrong turn. Aren’t those cranberries from Chilè? Unless, of course, we are in Wisconsin.

Ponder the fruit of the journey to Jesus.

Finally, the weekend has arrived. Long busy week it was.

Copywork finished last night. Need to check my datebook and find 2 young men to help me move books, trunks, etc. down from upstairs. Before 1st of year. Want to get the hallway area painted.

The boy is moving today.

Mass tonight St. John’s 8pm.

Know you are prayed for.

12.14.2023

24⁰F Clear SW@10mph SR0729 SS1624

Morning Offering given

Village waking

The man sleeps he should be with all the traveling he’s done.

Coffee good

Yesterday, I was in the local resale shop checking out. As I turned to leave a woman asked me if I was doing my traditional wisemen journey. In all honesty, I was not going to do it this year. I must tell you I have no clue who this woman was. If I should know her, I am sorry to say I do not remember her. But her firmness on the tradition was evident. So…

Gasp to Balt… what is taking that old man Melch so long? Look at him. He is picking his way thru this amethyst and pearl field like he’s never seen them before. It’s bad enough we got a late start. Now he is dillydalling. Melch to Gasp & Balt… relax, we are on the journey of a lifetime. one day you young guys will look back and realize you rushed thru life without seeing the most important things.

Pondering… what have I been in too much of a rush to see?

Feast Day of ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS

Time to write the Christmas Letter.

Know you are prayed for.

12.13.2023

14⁰F SW@8mph SR0728 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

The man sleeps

Coffee good

Lovely day yesterday with F. Must do that more often.

New read… Cathedral… Ben Hopkins (2020)

Another great bible study last evening. So enjoy attending. I think the draw for me is the discussion and perspective of others.

Feast Day of St Lucy (Santa Lucia)

Saint Lucy’s Prayer:
Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation — every corner of our day. Amen. https://gustavus.edu/events/stlucia/legend.php#:~:text=The%20Festival%20of%20St,and%20the%20incidents%20which%20followed.

Pondering… it is not success which counts with God, and still less human esteem. What matters with God is our intention of pleasing him and of working for His glory from the motive of pure love.

Looking forward to a productive day in the copy room.

Know you are prayed for.

12.12.2023

25⁰F WNW@13 mph SR0727 SS1624

Morning Offering given

Village awake and readying for work

The man off of to Indiana

Coffee good

Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today is fun day with my friend F.

Bible Study tonight. I’ll feel out of place as it has been a few weeks since I’ve been there. The man won’t be back yet, so I go alone.

Congrats to G&K on the birth of their son Hudson Thomas yesterday. Mom and baby are doing fine.

Ponder… part of my unhappiness is due to the way I react… much that happens is self created… nothing can work damage to me except myself.

Looking for a book to read. Any suggestions?

How’s your Advent progressing? Is it progressing, or has the hurry/business of the season got you in its clutches?

Week 9 of intermittent fasting is at full speed. I admit it is hard to pass by the holiday treats. The thought of just one bite (if allowed) will turn into I’ll do this after Christmas. That can not/ will not happen this time around. I have 891 hours of fasting in. May souls in Purgatory profit.

Cpap continues… New hose makes slight difference. Dry mouth still an issue. Have noticed better sleep over all.

Know you are prayed for.

12.04.2023

37⁰F cloudy Sw@11mph SR0743 SS1723

Morning Offering given

Deer Lodge is damp this morning

Will catch coffee later this morning

Lodging clean up underway. Washer is running. Suitcase ready for car.

It has been a very relaxing time here. Time is confusing… This place sits on the line.

I start pkg up at 0730. Then, a two hour drive to Dunnville, where I pick up 2 more. After that, 10.5 hrs to home. I will be glad to get there.

The man has been very busy moving the old office to the new. Lots of putaway work scheduled for Wednesday. How I got it all in the old office I’ll never know, it certainly fills the new one. Still have a few shelves to hang, some shim work & touch up painting to do and of course organizing and put away. Oh, and let’s not forget I’ll need to hang the artwork.

Today, we focus on the 1st week of Advent. You will find the 1st Sunday of Advent rosary link below.

Advent – Week One

Know you are prayed for.

“The Anchor”… the “hub” of all sanity

Who is yours?

Do you recognize it at such?

Are you grateful for it?

This past month, I have realized a friend of mine is the anchor in the midst of all chaos in her household.

She has weathered the storms of home renovation, ill husband, healing father, displaced sister-in-law, anxiety riddled daughter, distant son, and uninformed mother of the bride to be.

She has accepted what she has been handed, gingerly stepping thru the minefield of chaos with grace.

She has offered up her pain and shouldered her cross for her family’s wellbeing at the sacrifice of her own believing, no knowing it is for her belief in Christ that keeps her strong, willing, and able to continue on.

11.15.2023

40⁰F clear W@4mph SR0657 SS1637

Morning Offering given

Village waking

The man just left hosp run

Stomach feels better this morning. Thought it was flu yesterday, but today, I know it was something I ate the night before. Gall bladders or lack of them definitely react to grease.

Reflexology & chiropractic today.

Sending up & asking for prayers for Lavina. Cancer, having breathing issues this morning.

Intermittent Fasting continues week period 6. This is a slow weight loss program. Seldom do I feel hungry. I struggle with consuming enough water. I also struggle with getting enough activity. However, the weight continues to go down slowly but surely. The skin apron continues to thin. I wish it would leave the cushion on my behind but took that first. Sitting, not comfortable… hah, that’s so I walk more, right? Evil just evil.

Daily devotion… “The Shepards go to Bethlehem” Behold me, my God, most earnestly desirous of recollection myself in Thy presence; grant me the grace to understand the lessons Thou teaches, and to put them in practice. As fruit of these refections I resolve to follow unhesitatingly the prompting of grace, without giving time for other impressions to weaken my resolution and text me to draw back.

Anyone in need of these programs? Al-Anon is a “worldwide fellowship that offers a program of recovery for the families and friends of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholic recognizes the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help.” Alateen “is part of the Al-Anon fellowship designed for the younger relatives and friends of alcoholics through the teen years. ” https://al-anon.org/ Narcotics Anonymous https://m.na.org/

Know you are prayed for.