Celebrating the Sabbath:The Sunday Southern Seven

Hello Friends,

Happy Sabbath. I pray you are all enjoying the fabulous weather that has seemed to permeate itself across most of the country! It's hard to believe the month of March is almost over--thank Heavens, because I'm kind of ready for May (but I have to make it through April first). Anyways, here are 7 thought-bits that have been scanning this mind of mine....

#1). Did anyone else want to start singing this song during today's Gospel? (ps-we are doing the scrutinies at Mass so are on cycle A). I love this song. I love this band. In fact, there are top of my 'must see in concert' list. And can I just say Marcus Mumford, although is 2 years my junior, makes my sweet ol' heart go pitter-patter. Just sayin'...Enjoy!


#2). I been on this hummus kick lately. Like make a fresh batch just about every day, and devour it with cucumbers. No lie. Plus it's super easy to make and super healthy which are two 'thumbs up'. As I was eating some hummus tonight, I wondered if Jesus ate hummus? I mean He is from the middle east and supposedly the Blessed Mother was from around the area that is know today as Lebanon...so I wonder. I kind of like to think He did, but I guess just another thing I'll find out when I hopefully make it to Heaven one day.

#3). St. Pio (previously known as Padre Pio). Okay folks here it is: growing up my Mom would pray through his intercession before he was ever canonized. In fact, during his beatification and canonization process, I think my Mom may have contributed in some way, because I remember we had all these holy cards that were sent to us with relics on them. Yeah....I KNOW. I have no idea where they all went, but I still have one of them thanks be to God! I have a small little picture of him in my office and a parishioner started talking to me about her devotion to him and gave me A Man of Miracles: Padre Pio DVD. (NOTE: DO NOT WATCH ALONE AT NIGHT...it might freak you out a little bit). Anyways, I've also been reading a book about praying the Psalms with Padre Pio and it's fabulous. St. Pio Pray For Us! Amen!

#4). Way back in January I wrote this post THIS ONE and so far I'm down 15 pounds!! Yay! God is good and there's no way I could do this without Him. In fact, I had fun pulling out clothes I haven't worn in about 3 years. I've had my bad days don't get me wrong, but during those trial I remember I can do all things in HIM who strengthens me.

#5). I miss my family (shocking I know, but I really do). And I also need a good hair trim and a touch up to my highlights...(I figures while I was going all melancholic, I might as well get in my hair).

#6). No matter what I'm feeling this song always makes me smile. In fact, when I was little I thought it was about me because they mention the month of May, and well my birthday is May...hey now okay, I was like 4 or 5 (who am I kidding, I still like to think it's about me). Anyways, enjoy!




#7). So I've come to the realization that they may not have lilacs or peonies down in the South!! I know, how am I going to survive spring. These are two of my most favorite flowers ever....and this could be bad. So in the meantime, I'll just buy candles that resemble their fragrance and pray I find some ;0) I know there could be worse things.

Have a beautiful week!

Blog Tag...You're IT!!!

It's true 2 posts in one week, I know, I know... I can hardly contain myself either.

Anyways, my sweet friend Cynth over at Finding Great Joy tagged me, and well it's just fun, so I'm joining the bandwagon and will tag some of you too!

So Here's The Rules:

1. The first rule is to post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself then write 11 things about you/your life.
3. Answer the questions for you set in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter to tell them you have tagged them.

(I've always had a pizazz for life, and like to jazz things up a bit.)

1. I have professionally recorded on 3 albums all by the age of 15.
2. I jumped off of a cliff in the jungle into the amazon.
3. I used to pretend when I was little that I had my own cooking show and would make meals out of my Mom's hosta leaves, mud and my Dad's nails & screws.
4. I could eat my Grandma's mexican food and a fresh salad from her garden with homemade dressing just about every day of my life and never want for anything else.
5. I love old things, antiquing, refurbishing things.
   
6. I have this (at times terrible) pull to have to be different. It's innate. No matter what it is, if the majority of people are liking something, something internally on principle controls me to not like it even if I try. Seriously my body has a physical reaction to it....
   
7. If nostril flaring was a sport, I would be a champion.
8. I cry over everything. Sad, happy, beauty, anger, just for the heck of it. I cry...A LOT!
9. I love playing sports. Volleyball being my favorite. But love a good game of ultimate frisbee, baseball/softball.
10. I want to have a huge garden like my Mom and Grandparents used to have. We joke around that we were organic before organic was cool, and I'm grateful for that.
11. I can make that sound like Xena warrior princess.
    

Okay now here are some questions from Cynth:

1. Mini-van or other?
   Although I do love the space with mini vans and how many people and things you can fit in them; I think I may lean on the "other" and opt for good bad-a$$ gas-mileage SUV.
   
2. Favorite clothing item? A pretty dress that twirls when you spin and blows with the wind and is just stinkin' fabulous and you look smashing in it!
   
3. Best friend in the whole wide world? Why? Hmmmm... I have many different best friends but if I had to pick one I would say my sister Maria. We are both the middle children, so there's a mutual understanding between our hearts; but she has always challenged me by the radical witness of humility, truth and fun that she lives by. Plus she's always been there since before I can even remember.It's nice when you've never lived a day without your best friend! (PS-Today's her birthday too!)
   
4. Favorite movie? The Princess Bride. Inconceivable!!! And no more rhymes now I mean it...Anybody want a peanut....NO!!!! :)
   
5. Your favorite trait about yourself? I love that I love to laugh and cry, and feel things really deep. The beauty of life provokes my innermost being, and I love that about myself.
   
6. Best concert you've ever been to? oooooo tie between George Strait and Elton John. Two totally different performers, but both great shows!
   
7. Most difficult decision you've ever had to make? Hmmmm...I would have to say all of them in which my head and heart are saying two different things.Remember the crying thing...yeah talk about the rivers of tears flowing wild and free.
   
8. What did you want to be when you were little? A Mom or The Judds (with my sister Maria of course, we would be the sister version rather than the Mother and Daughter duo)
   
9. Favorite quote? "Life is beautiful."
   
10. Most expensive item [at the grocery store] that you have ever purchased?? With the exception of hard liquor; Saffron. Sister loves herself a good paella!
    
11. Best television series you have ever watched? LOST. No explanation, but you just need to watch it!
    

Okay... You've read it and now I'm tagging Maria, Jeanly, Katie B. (that's two tags for you),Mia and Kim.

And here's some questions for you ladies:

1. Most Memorable Moment
   
2. Favorite Childhood TV Show
3. Kitchen Item You Cannot Live Without
   
4. Favorite Saint.Why?
5. Top 5 Favorite Anthem Songs
6. Favorite Recipe
7. Favorite Lip Smackers Flavor
8. Dream Vacation
9. Coffee, Tea or Pop
   
10. Favorite CD that you can listen to the whole thing
11. If you could have an actress to play you in a movie, who would it be? Why?

And GO!!!!

Happy Tagging!

Celebrating the Sabbath:The Southern Sunday Seven

(Smile! God's doing wonderful things in your life! Just you wait and see...)

Hi Friends...

I had you going didn't I? And now a month later from my last post, I'm back again. How's your Lent going? Fruitful I hope. It's funny, but it seems some Lents really feel like 'Lent' and others, well not so much ( I think it has a lot to do with me and how disciplined I am). Anyways, I figured I would share with you 7 tools that God is allowing me to grow deeper through prayer during this season:

#1). David Crowder: How He Loves Us
I'm not sure if you have ever heard this song, but if not, take a listen. It's funny how quickly I can forget how much God loves me. Sometimes I find it's very easy to feel it and at other times I struggle with forgetting how abundant His love truly is, and think other things can fill this void--ugh original sin. But then again, He always is so good with giving me a reality check and bring me back to reality;)


#2). Hind's Feet on High Places by:Hannah Hurnard
It seriously feels like someone took my life and created an allegory out of it (well parts of my life and parts of the book). When I was last home, this book was lent to me by two of the most remarkable friends I have ever known. No lie, they themselves have been tried by the storms of life and just amaze me with the witness they set to the world. In no way do my struggles compare to theirs, but if you have ever struggled with sacrificing your wants/desires for God's will to be done...READ IT!!! Seriously. Plus!!!! Jesus is referred to as the Shepherd, and you know sister loves her Shepherd!!

#3). The Rosary.
We grew up praying the rosary. And sad to say, we couldn't say it fast enough, so we could turn on TGIF and eat our pizza on selected Friday nights. In high school, I would pray it on occasion, and in particular with my sister in the mornings on our way to school or work and most memorably, the two days I worked at detassling corn I prayed about 4 rosaries a day because the corn rows were so long (SHOUT OUT MIDWEST and yes I only lasted 2 days!!). In college, however things changed and I just started praying it more than I ever had which was probably twice-four times a week. Running before classes, going on rosary walks, praying them with friends, praying them before choir, etc. After college is when it hit me and began going in spurts of praying daily rosaries, but would somehow always miss a day, and forget all about it together. Anyways (I'm making my point, I promise), a few years back one of my aunts gave me this book on Marian apparitions and for about a week I would come home for lunch and devour the book until it was time to go back to work. And the message, the Rosary is a power tool. So pray it. Pray it when you don't know what to say, pray it when you don't know what to do, pray it just because, and you will see the graces fall abundantly from Heaven. 'Cause you know there's nothing more that our Blessed Momma wants then for her children to come to know her son.

#4). Silence.
I know. I know. But seriously, I somehow got in the habit of listening to music 24/7 right before Lent, and it was funny because I felt like I was in a funk and things were just a mess. And then once Lent hit, silence found me, and there was that peace that I knew. Don't get me wrong God speaks a lot to me through music, but if I don't have quiet time to process and listen, then I'm a lost lamb--no lie. And so it is in the quiet, that I can feel the presence of God through the sun shining on my face or the quietness of being still, or whatever. But silence, yes silence does my heart good.

#5). Fabulous conversations with my sisters.
You heard it once, you'll hear it now, and this won't be the last time I'll say it. But I love my sisters beyond no end. It's true and I miss them that much too! Whether it's the occasional text, short conversation, or long chat--I love talking to these fabulous women beyond all measure. In fact recently one of my sisters and I had a conversation on seeing the presence of God all around us--especially in little ones. I will go to the grave saying that kids are far more spiritually in tune with God than the majority of adults will ever be. I mean if you think about it, they just believe God will do what He says He will and no questions, no doubts, no explanation needed. My sister shared with me a conversation about "What will Jesus look like in Heaven? A baby, a boy, or a man like Daddy" which was sparked (unsolicited-mind you) by my inquisitive 4 year old nephew. Now my Sister, a wise and beautiful Momma, asked in return, "What do you want Jesus to look like in Heaven?" My 5yr. old niece responded "A baby so I can carry Him around" my 4 yr. old nephew responded "a boy, so we can play together" and my 2 yr. old nephew who wanted to also get in on the action said "a man like Daddy so He can carry me around." Moral of the story, I need to become more childlike in understanding God. If you were to say those answers to an adult they could go on and on about the possibilities of Jesus being all 3 ages in Heaven, but to these sweet little pumpkins, they KNEW that God is limitless and EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. I think a lot of times things become complicated in our lives because we put limits on God. Can you imagine a world where everyone sees God as a little one does? Let's start doing this, okay?

#6). The Bible.
The Word of God. Amen. Seriously. Do you ever get passages stuck in your head, and strike your heart so profoundly. Here's one that's been with me for the last few days:

²⁴ “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. ²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. ²⁸ Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. " -Ezekiel 36:24-28

#7). The Eucharist & Adoration.
For those who believe no explanation is needed. For those who do not believe, not explanation is possible.

Have a beautiful week! And remember, every Good Friday has an Easter Sunday...(sometimes it just lapse a few years)!