Long over due update with multiple ramblings!

The last several months have an very busy. I'm so thankful for one of the best summers that I've had. I was able to visit my son in California , visit my friend's daughter in Nashville, visit relatives in New Jersey, visit my daughter several times in Columbus and watch my son childhood friend to get married!

My journey to 500 miles has not grown a lot but I'm thankful for the 58.27 that I have been able to walk. I truly believe that events and people are put in our lives for a reason. I just found a walking buddy to walk a couple mornings a week. This will definitely improve my health and help my walking journey. Also at work they have started a biggest loser contest. That will surely help with some accountability for this journey.

Several years ago I was able to participate in a  CRHP retreat process. In this process you attend a retreat and the following year you put a retreat on to help with the faith lives of others. as the years continue on your particular group also helps provide meals and care letters for others. I just wanted to share a little prayer square that I crocheted to give to the most recent retreat group:

The same prayer is for those of you reading! 

Blessings~

Norma

Dynamic Catholic

I just started reading a book called, "The 4 Signs of a Dynamic Catholic". I have barely gotten started but the book so far is very very good. One of the signs is prayer. It has really made me think that I need to dedicate more purposeful time to my prayer life. It also started me thinking on how to help others with their prayer life. We have an abundance of old T-shirts in our closets. I decided to make a prayer pillow. 

I will be giving this to my daughter to use for herself or give to a friend. I also have some other ideas that I found on Pinterest that I will be working on to share with you at a later time! 

Have a good week and pray!

Many Blessings!

~Norma

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!