So out if the evening routine I didn't post last night.
1. Aside from the irony of many people who complain about immigration populations ones packing out restaurants last night, I am thankful for queso dip on a friday night.
2.I am thankful to be healthy and be able to afford going to a gym that pushes me to be better.
May the fourth be with you! (And also with you).
I am thankful for today...
1. Chips and queso
2. When your coach says "Time to cool down and stretch" after a killer workout
3. Looking up Greek myths to make a pun in a terrible poem you are going to give a friend tomorrow.
4. For a washer and dryer that works, where so much of the world scrubs by hand still with water drawn from wells and streams, especially when all of your towels and towels for the dog are dirty.
5. For Lucasfilms and little girls growing up seeing strong female lead in Carrie Fisher.
My sweet friend has challenged me to do a gratitude journal and I will go into that in a bit why its so meaningful coming from her. But to get started here it goes.
1. I am grateful to my God who loves and cherishes me before I was born.
2. I am grateful for running water that is clean and purified unlike a large number of people on this earth.
3. I am grateful for ability on my phone or computer to be lifted up by friends through sharing of their lives.
4. I am grateful for a cat's purring, it just seems to slow my heart beat and blood pressure and stress.
5. I am greatful for a husband that cooks dinner and packs it for my lunch the next day. Helpmates and soulmates are hard to find.
More later but that is it for today.
Ellenhotch.isagenix.com
Darn where did my draft go?
Yesterday we all were about resolutions. Today two friends from church posted a link on facebook to a Catholic New Service blog by Cindy Wooden about a conversation the Pope had with Vatican employees and family that though aren't specific goals are great areas to look at (maybe on a daily basis) for self improvement.
VATICAN CITY — When Pope Francis met before Christmas with Vatican employees, mostly lay people with families, he asked them to do 10 things. The list sounded remarkably like suggestions for New Year’s resolutions:
– “Take care of your spiritual life, your relationship with God, because this is the backbone of everything we do and everything we are.”
– “Take care of your family life, giving your children and loved ones not just money, but most of all your time, attention and love.”
– “Take care of your relationships with others, transforming your faith into life and your words into good works, especially on behalf of the needy.”
– “Be careful how you speak, purify your tongue of offensive words, vulgarity and worldly decadence.”
– “Heal wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness, forgiving those who have hurt us and medicating the wounds we have caused others.”
– “Look after your work, doing it with enthusiasm, humility, competence, passion and with a spirit that knows how to thank the Lord.”
– “Be careful of envy, lust, hatred and negative feelings that devour our interior peace and transform us into destroyed and destructive people.”
– “Watch out for anger that can lead to vengeance; for laziness that leads to existential euthanasia; for pointing the finger at others, which leads to pride; and for complaining continually, which leads to desperation.”
– “Take care of brothers and sisters who are weaker … the elderly, the sick, the hungry, the homeless and strangers, because we will be judged on this.”
You can follow the Pope on twitter @Pontifex
These may not be something I can do daily but definitely a list to be a more thoughtful, caring, and less self centered person in the next year.
Humans need, crave ways of marking events, chances to refresh renew restart. Secularly or liturgically in most religions need chance for renewal. So resolutions or personal goals, whatever you want to call them, fits in nicely with the start of the church year of Advent and Christmas season. My goals for the year are to focus more on body, mind, and spirit. #1 keep improving on my health and fitness plans. (See my other blog for that.)
#2 Read more (less mindless time on the computer). We don't have cable and have reduced our TV consumption quite a bit over 2 years aside from occasional Netflix or Hulu binges. Time on the computer sort of took that vacuum spot for me. So I plan to be more purposeful of my time on the computer use some of that recovered time to read for pleasure or something brain-stimulating. Which should also help, if my spare time gets taken with reading for grad school, if I get accepted for a summer start date.
#3 Spirit Bible study & daily readings from church lectionary and prayer journal purchased earlier in the year. That will be evening reading. Also, last night in New years eve a friend from college invited me to be part of read bible in a year study/prayer group. It is through YouVersion bible app. Today was Genesis Ch 1-2 AND Luke Ch 1. I wanted to share my thoughts on Luke 1 here that I shared this morning with the group.
Catholics celebrate today as a Holy Day honoring Mary as Mother of God. That rang like a bell in today's reading of Luke 1. Mary's acceptance in the impossible from God juxtaposed with Zachariah's doubt and questioning of Elizabeth's pregnancy. When was the last time I opened myself up to just accept God's nudge, push, plan for me without questioning? Not only that but when was I in a state if quiet expectation to hear his nudge? I shouldn't need Gabriel to announce it to me. The other part that struck me was Elizabeth's joy. Mothers understand the amazing feeling when their baby moves for the first time in the womb or the "quickening." It is exciting and joyful. I want to recapture that feeling or leap with joy as John did in the presence of my Lord. Hopefully that joy can be captured and grown for me this year and fight rising tide of negativity in my life, stresses and the larger world around me. May God's grace and blessings flow on the members of this group this year.
So being more purposeful, and trying to focus on the big picture. I'm all about to do lists. Live by them. Google keep is my friend. But getting bogged down in my lists can be stressful and depressing at times when it gets overhwleming. Hopefully these 3 goals will alllieve some of that stress and focus on the small to the exclusion of the big picture.
For my kids I am asking them to read 20 to 30 minutes a day 5-10 of that related to their prayer book, Totally catholic kids catechism or saint of day story. Even if school doesn't require it. I'm trying g really hard to get them to balance from the video game creep. Here's hoping.
I know this blog isn't read by a large audience...if by anyone, but blessings for a new beginning for you and your families in the New Year. ❤ Ellen H.
I have a good friend who is a Jewish religious teacher at a private school. And one thing I notice beyond his outreach to other religious groups is he is always talking about Studying. I read "This is My God" this summer by Henry Wouk written in the 1950s as a good summary of Jewish religious practices. What struck me over and over was the emphasis on daily studying, (that and the cool festivals I was always curious about and some I had never heard of). Not just daily prayers, and meditations most of us Christians are used to talking about and rededicating ourselves, but study. Between that and some pointed pulling of different phrases in Mass the last few weeks, and taking my kids to the summer program of faith formation at our church, I have decided to start again with a study program. 
I admit it. I have a problem. I say yes often when I should say no. Maybe something is hard-wired into me, and alot of other moms. Especially mom, teacher, organization-types that say Yes before that little birdy says... "Isnt this too much?"
Hard words to follow in a busy world when laundry is calling and Cookie booths must be manned (or rather wo-manned). I guess, I should just try the best I can, and focus on details for this week and creating balance now, while keeping a vague eye on future events without over analyzing my to-do lists for 3 weeks from now.... Once again to give up that worry into someone elses hands, hard challenge to take up when "Super-busy moms" with badges are used to saying yes and making it perfect for everyone else....  |
| Tess at Y pool about to go down the slide. |
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| Daniel at his 1st communion in May |
and having the kids not fighting all day-- those are victories of this summer. Hebrews had it right, but it is darn hard to live by some days. 
(This is where it is at Amazon).
