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!

Be with me Lord

The last couple of weeks have seemed exhausting. I am entering into one of the busiest seasons for my work. I have also been working extra at my casual pool jobs to earn money for my upcoming trip. Needless to say many days I feel tired and exhausted. Yesterday was no different. Adding to the exhaustion and worry was that phone call that parents dread. My child was in pain and hurting. His friend was in pain and hurting. When something like this happens with one of my children I picture scenes from the movie The Passion. I picture the agony on Mary's face as she watched her son on His path. I picture Mary on her knees wiping up His blood. Those images comfort me to know that I'm not alone in wanting to protect my adult children.
At church I began to pray for the intercession of the Holy Spirit to guard and protect my child and his friends.  I imagine a holy light coming down to surround and protect them. After hearing our
responsorial Psalm for the weekend, "Be with me Lord when I am in trouble", I said my prayers with more fervor. I prayed with myself in mind as well because my heart is in trouble observing and hearing my child's pain. At first it felt selfish. Then I remembered how God gave Mary comfort at the foot of the cross. He knows too my heart was hurting and will be with me.

What is your calling? I would love to hear your answers.

This past week I was asked to lead our Bible study group, while our leader was on vacation.  We are studying the Psalms of ascent, by Beth Moore. (For those of you who have completed the study it is a beautiful study for those of you who haven't encourage you to look at it.) Of course I said yes.
I spent hours reading and reviewing the homework to make for sure that I could effectively lead. I was not prepared however to respond to a major concern of one of our participants. She explained how she didn't know a loving God like we all do. She felt left out because a harsh upbringing left her to question a loving God.  She was overtaken with being unable to make peace with the mother that fostered this belief. I was fortunate that many women in our group spoke up to comfort her. Unfortunately this monopolized the Bible study. I was torn between offering comfort and staying on track with our projected work for the week. Needless to say, I left the study feeling like I was not the leader this group needed. I was ready to throw in the towel in case I was ever asked again to lead. I am just not cut out for it.
This week's readings focused on answering your calling.  From Isaiah, "Here I am Lord, send me". This really helped me to refocus on why we should answer a call. The purpose is for the glory of God not the glory of me. As I prepared to lead the study this past week, I'm not sure that that's what my focus was on.
So I ask myself, will I lead our group again if asked? The answer is yes. The answer will be yes to other opportunities to serve. My prayer will change. I will ask God to help me serve Him for His glory not my own.
What is your calling? How do you serve God? Are you willing to say "Hear I am Lord send me"?
I would love to hear your answers.
Many Blessings to you today!
Norma
P.S. I still consider my greatest calling is to be a good mother, especially now that my children are adults.

Journeys

This week I've taken a great deal Comfort from Psalm 121. We are studying this in our Bible study. We are working on Beth Moore's study of the Psalms of  Ascent. 

I lift my eyes to the hills where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you the Lord is your shade at your right hand, the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from harm- he will watch over your life;

 the Lord will watch your coming and going both now and forever more.

Over the next several weeks both of my children, Kate and Adam, will be going through their own journeys. Kate is taking the plunge and purchasing her first car. And Adam will be moving to California. After studying this Psalm over the last week I have really tried to keep the focus on the fact that the Lord, our God, will be watching over my children. I wish it were easy. It's not. 

Life is Truly about change and journeys.  I pray this week, that you will have comfort in your journeys. 

Please keep me in your prayers as well as I help my children with their journeys.