Many thankfuls!

                                     

Last week, my daughter and I were so fortunate to be able to visit her brother, my son in California! Because of working schedules it was just a 3 full day, 4 night trip. We packed a lot into those 3 days! My son is an excellent planner.  He had an itinerary with the places that we most wanted to see and do. I just have to say that God worked overtime designing the coastline! My favorite part of the trip other than being able to spend time with both of them, was driving with his convertible top down on the Pacific coast highway! The view was breathtaking! I am thankful for the treasured time and the beauty that we were able to view.

My daughter has spent the last several years working as an intern and volunteer for her local parish in Ohio.  She has wanted to be a youth minister for 6-7 years now.  She has prayed about it and so have many others.  Several weeks ago, a friend went on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. She took along prayer requests and left them there. One of my prayers that I asked for intercessory prayers from our Blessed Mother  Mary was for my daughter to be able to be in ministry full time. Last night, my daughter was offered her dream job as a young adult / middle school age minister at her local parish.  I am so thankful for answered prayers and having the Blessed Mother on our side! 

For my journey I am now at 466.85 miles to go! Walking a lot in California helped! 

Life is good because God is good! 

First steps

I am proud of the work so far this week. I am down a couple of pounds and taken some miles off my 500 goal. I have walked a little over 15 miles this month. With missing a couple of weeks before my head got in the game I have some miles to make up to stay on track.

I have to say that I am thankful for my job. The last several weeks have been tough with cuts to my job but I just heard yesterday that my friend is being cut to part time and lost her insurance. This is happening so often in my little corner of Ohio. I ask for prayers for all those who are worrying about their livelihoods.

Long time and new goals -actually old goals revisited

Last year I created a vision board. The vision board contains dreams and goals that I had hoped to accomplish the year of my 50. I missed the boat tremendously.

Starting my summer vacation off this year with a lot of down time and wasted time I decided that it was time to re-create and kick myself in the rear. I have so many things of which to be thankful for a great family a nice home and a job. I have my health which will start to go down hill if I don't start working on making my dreams and goals come true.

I am a person who needs accountability. So I'm going to tackle one of the goals on my vision board. You'll see the number 500. That is how many miles I wish to walk between now and next year at this time. Each week I will post update as to how I am progressing withmy goal. My second goal is each week again to remember to post the things that I am so thankful for.

A lot of this stems from a terrible tragedy this week to family member's brother. While the two were voting the boat experienced technical trouble. Unfortunately while attempting to fix the boat my cousin in law's brother drowned. While I'm sure he is in heaven with our Lord, his family is grieving. This really has me thinking that we need to try to make each and every day the best we can be. And a lot of that can be fostered by setting goals.

I hope you'll follow me in my journey.

Grateful for my Dad

This past weekend my dad called me early in the morning to ask if I had read the book, "Rediscovering Catholicism" . I told him that I have read portions of it but never sat down to read the book cover to cover. You could almost hear tears in his voice when he encouraged me to read the chapter about the grocery.
On the way to dinner on Saturday evening I picked up the book to take with me and I read the story. It was so touching and by the time I got to the restaurant I could not stop crying. This story describes a gentleman who met Mother Teresa while on a flight. He was fortunate enough to be seated beside her. Mother Theresa and her traveling companion held up their groceries and begin to pray the rosary on the flight. When the flight ended Mother Teresa questioned the gentleman about whether or not he prayed the rosary. She gave him her rosary and told him that now he would. The story goes on to explain that this rosary was passed around and lives were changed. While I believe in the power of Mary's intersession, I agree with the author that possibly lives were changed because of the renewed spirit. This renewed spirit only comes through prayer.
It took a while for the tears to stop flowing after I read this story. I am so thankful that my Dad was moved enough by the story to call and share with me. I am so thankful for the reminder of how prayer can truly renew our spirit.

Beware

I just wanted to make all of you aware that for some reason I have Spaanem coming up on my blog reading list. I am unable to get rid of it. I've attempted to contact blogger for support and have been unsuccessful. Please know that if any of the shows up on your blog in relation to mind it is not of my doing. If you have had this happen to you and have any experience on how to get rid of it I would be appreciative thank you and may God bless you!

Follow Me

This weekend I attended St. John's Catholic Church in Delphos Ohio. The homily brought back so many memories of a great song and musician. We were asked to remember the song "Follow Me" by John Denver as a conversation with God. I can't even think of anything else to add to this. I'm sharing it with you. I hope some of you will have a wonderful walk down memory lane as I did and also take a new meaning from this beautiful song.

John Denver — Follow Me

It's by far the hardest thing I've ever done
To be so in love with you and so alone

Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way and all around
Take my hand and say you'll follow me

It's long been on my mind
You know it's been a long, long time
I've tried to find the way that I can make you understand
The way I feel about you and just how much I need you
To be there where I can talk to you
When there's no one else around

Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way and all around
Take my hand and say you'll follow me

You see I'd like to share my life with you
And show you things I've seen
Places that I'm going to places where I've been
To have you there beside me and never be alone
And all the time that you're with me
We will be at home

Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way
Take my hand and I will follow you

Lyricsfreak.com © 2009

Life takes over!

It is been a long time since I've posted on here. It's not for lack of things to be grateful for. Just a few: My son is safely settled in California. We had a wonderful Easter with family. It was a little rough with this being the first holiday that my son was not home. But we were able to talk to him via FaceTime. Oh how wonderful is technology! I am managing to stay about three or four days ahead of all of my paperwork. I.
work in the schools and typically this is the roughest time of the year for end of the year paperwork.
What prompted me to post today was being at church last evening and witnessing a wonderful site. We had neat 80-year-old substitute minister. Watching him sing the Psalms of response with the cantor was touching. He had his eyes closed and was singing with every ounce of praise he had. What a great role model he is. That is my gratitude thought for the day. How blessed we all are to have mentors and models in our lives to help us lead prayerful and blessed lives.
I hope you all are enjoying a beautiful day. I'm thankful for the sun and 65° temperatures here in Ohio. I'm going out to work in the yard!