"It is the little things that make me happy" seems to be the mantra of my heart and soul these days.
A few weeks ago my husband asked me if I had tried a pretzel bagel from a new bagel shop that had opened in town. I love pretzels - always have since I was very young - and Ray knew that I would love this pretzel bagel.
Soon after our conversation, I was passing the bagel shop and I decided to drive through and try one. They were sold out. Then I tried again on another day and they had just sold 13 of their last pretzel bagels to a person that drove through a few minutes before me. I tried again on another day- and, much to my surprise (not) - no pretzel bagels left. I decided to ask to speak to the manager about the lack of pretzel bagel situation. He was a very pleasant guy and explained to me that I must be just hitting them at just the wrong time because they continually make fresh bagels every 3 hours so that they remain fresh and taste good. He felt badly that I had been through a few times and had not been able to procure a pretzel bagel, so he bought me the salt bagel that I ordered in its' stead. I felt badly about bothering the manager and then felt worse about him buying me that salt bagel to replace the pretzel bagel that they did not have. I thanked him and took the bagel with embarrassment and thanksgiving. It was such a small ridiculous desire. Then I silently prayed a Hail Mary for him as I drove away.
Last Friday was the Feast of the Visitation. It is one of my many favorite Feast days of the year and I decided to run over to St. John Neumann to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour. Before I got there, I thought that I would try that bagel shop again for a pretzel bagel. Voila! They had 5 pretzel bagels available! I requested one - toasted and buttered along with a nice hot cup of tea and went on my way! And it was delicious. So, I turned my thoughts and heart to God and I thanked Him for the Feast day and the bagel. I told Him that it was in the little things that made me happy. Then I went over to the church and prayed my holy hour content, peaceful, happy and full.
The next day, Saturday, my daughter, Kristin, and I were running around doing errands together. We decided to drive through Starbucks for a little pick-me-up half way through the running around. As I was driving into the parking lot, I was given in prayer that I was not to get my favorite drink from there - a chai latte with soy milk. I was really looking forward to that chai. But I was obedient to the inspiration and ordered a decaf latte to keep it simple. After I took a sip of the latte, I discovered that it was delicious and it really wasn't much of a sacrifice and I told that to God in silent prayer. I was somewhat apologetic as I was very much enjoying that decaf latte. And, immediately, I got back in prayer: "It is in the little things that make me happy". God has a wonderful sense of humor!
Yesterday I was watering my plants on my front porch. I have an herb garden on the side of my house but I decided to put a few in a pot and I love they way that it looks:
While I was watering it, something very teeny-tiny caught my eye...
It was a very tiny baby Praying Mantis sitting on a branch of the thyme! I usually do not love bugs - they creep me out. But a Praying Mantis is very different - they are amazing, remarkable, interesting creatures. I loved seeing this remarkable creature - it was so, so small - barely the size of my pinky nail. I could not help but think about how precious, how important something can be when it is small - a smile given to someone that needs it, a Hail Mary for someone's intentions, the sacrifice of a chai latte and even a very small, very tiny, baby Praying Mantis. Oh, and a pretzel bagel of course!
On this special Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and his Companions from Uganda, it is with much joy and great anticipation, that I am able to share that the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission Team has been invited and will be traveling to Mombasa and Uganda in mid-August to lead more Enthronement Missions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. God is very good! All the time!
The members of the Team that traveled last year, Father William Oruko, Lisa Morris, Theresa Eilerman, Judi Pedas, and Pamela Angawa (of Kisumu, Kenya), will be joined by our wonderful friend, Giannine Morris.
I have discerned through much prayer that I am not to travel with the team to Africa this year, but will accompany them on other pilgrimages in the future. It never occurred to me that I would not be traveling with them to Africa again. When we attempted to purchase the tickets for the trip, we had major issues finalizing the purchase and then each time we tried to repurchase, the price kept going up, and up, and up, and in the end, we still could not finalize the purchase. After not being able to purchase the tickets, we decided to take a break and have each one of us pray about it. It was during this time of prayer that I discerned that it was me - that I was not to go this time - that the timing of the trip was not right for me - but that there would be other pilgrimages that I would go on with the team in the future. I called Lisa, gave her the news and it was then that they were able to purchase and finalize the tickets.
Sometimes God's Will is hard to discern and sometimes it is even harder to accept. I am very sorry that I will not be traveling with the team. I will miss being with them and I will miss meeting up with friends that I made on our last trip there. However, I am at peace when I listen to what God wants me to do and, for the present, I have peace about not traveling with the team.
In honor of the Feast of Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs from Uganda, I thought that I would share this wonderful, inspiring video, presented by Father Robert Barron from the Word on Fire website:
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for us! Rosa Mystica, Pray for us!
Dearest Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, please pray for us! Please pray for the upcoming Enthronement Missions in Africa! Please pray for our Team traveling to Africa and for all of the pilgrims that will be attending the Missions!
It has been 6 months since we traveled to Nairobi. This short video clip, which was put together by Theresa, is a beautiful and prayerful remembrance of the Rosary Procession which opened the Mission as we consecrated the Mission to our Blessed Mother. The clip captures the true spirit of how the Mission, the pilgrims, the singing and the prayer actually was. I am unable to post the actual video to the blog. Please click on the link below to view the video:
A good friend, someone I love dearly, passed away just before the close of Easter Sunday. She was a gift of a person to all that knew her. She was a quiet, thoughtful, warm, gracious, joyful and most of all, a courageous and inspiring woman.
Karin was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer about 3 years ago. We met nine years ago when she and I went on a Cursillio retreat together. We also worked together on our parish council for a few years and would drive together when we would go on our annual retreat for council.
Karen had an open, honest and forthright way about her that I trusted and was drawn to. Interestingly enough, I would think of her as more of a sister than of a good friend. We did not spend a lot of time together but when we would see each other, it was as though no time had passed and we were just comfortable catching up and being in each other's company.
After Mass one Saturday morning last year, she sat with me and a few friends in the pew and told us that they had found liver mets. And then, on another Saturday morning (late spring or early summer), she told me that they had found a tumor in her brain by her pituitary gland. And, with all of this bad news, my heart would sink. And Karin just remained being Karin. She was always very upfront about the disease and honest about her feelings. And she had hope. And she fought the disease and we all prayed. She was remarkable through the whole process.
Several weeks ago Karin was admitted into the hospital because all of the tests indicated that her liver was failing. Steve, Karin's husband, sent close friends an amazing e-mail inviting each of us to come and visit her in the hospital. The first morning that she was in, Father Randy, an Associate Pastor from our parish, visited and anointed Karin. Each day, while she was in the hospital, I would bring Holy Communion to both she and Steve. Eventually, Karin was discharged from the hospital and sent home with Hospice. Karin's liver had stabilized and, shortly after they arrived home from the hospital, they took off for the beach to spend some time with their youngest daughter who was on spring break from her college. When they came home from the beach, I called Karen and she asked if I could visit with them the next morning and bring Communion.
When I arrived at Karin's home, I was happy to see that she looked well and was just herself. We spoke for a few minutes before we prayed and she told me that after they had come home from the beach she just kept feeling like she was missing something. After thinking about it, she realized that she was missing receiving Holy Communion. In her words, she said: "I was starving for Jesus!" That put a smile in my heart and tears in my eyes because I knew how incredibly blessed Karin was in her relationship with Jesus. I was so very happy for her.
It was such a gift for me to go to her home to give she and her husband Communion each morning. I would come in, we would pray, I would give Communion, we would end in prayer and I then I would tell them that I loved them and then quietly leave. It was a tremendous gift to me.
Easter Sunday morning I arrived at their home immediately after the 7:30 am Mass. Karen was resting comfortably in her bed and had a pretty green cap on her head. When I came into the room, she pulled the cap up a little, opened her eyes and smiled at me, and we began the prayers. She closed her eyes while we prayed and opened them when receiving Communion. After the closing prayer, she again closed her eyes and appeared to be resting. I leaned down to give her a kiss and she put her arm over my neck and held on for a second. I told her that I loved her and then I quietly left. I had no idea that I would not see her the next day but I know that she did.
Karin died at a much too early age - 53. But the joy of it is that she died on Easter Sunday. She left behind many friends, many wonderful memories for many people, and an amazing beautiful family - her husband, two daughters and a son. And Kirby and Huxley - two very precious dogs.
I am so very glad that Karin told me that she was "starving for Jesus". Each morning when I wake up, I take our dogs out and look up at the stars in the sky and think about Karin and what she said. I go in, pray my Office (Liturgy of the Hours) and my Lay Missionary of Charity prayers, drink my tea, take my shower and drive to Mass knowing that I, too, am so very, very blessed because I too, starve for Jesus.
Pange Lingua
Sing my tongue, the Savior's glory
of His flesh the mystery sing;
of the Blood, all price exceeding,
shed by our immortal King,
destined, for the world's redemption,
from a noble womb to spring.
Of a pure and spotless Virgin
born for us on earth below,
He, as Man, with Man conversing,
stayed the seeds of truth to sow;
the He closed in solemn order wondrously His life of woe.
