Avocados make everything better
I made sandwiches as usual for lunch the other day but added some fresh avocado slices (slightly salted and limed of course) to mine. I didn’t get to eat it right away, also as usual, but it was well worth the wait.
What do you like to add to your sandwiches to make them extra special?
Tonight I thought it would be nice to join Soule Mama in her Friday ritual. “A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”
Share your Small Successes at Chocolate for Your Brain
1. Reorganized the ‘office/kids homework/art room’. Now better known as the ‘work room’. I think I will like this set up much better than using the kitchen table and having to constantly move things around for meal time and maybe it will extend the life of our kitchen table a little longer too. The only downside is the carpet in this room is now in danger of being further damaged and stained. Suggestions?
There was a big mess of office supplies etc hidden behind the door here but I found some unused boxes in the basement and this is much better. I have no idea why it took me this long to do that.
2. Cleaned my kitchen.
Now if only it could have stayed that clean. Oh well, at least you can tell I feed my family a lot of home-cooked meals!
3. Landscaped! Though I didn’t get to plant anything in the garden boxes this year I did get some front yard landscaping done!
I decided to try some hydrangeas in this sort of shady/partial sun corner. Hydrangeas, especially blue ones, are probably my favorite type of flower. I hope these will do well here!
I’m also excited that the hostas and Rose of Sharon are starting to bloom!
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| From blog |
Elizabeth couldn’t take it anymore. She opened the front door and escaped to the porch steps for some fresh air. Tears threatened to escape. Her heart was drowning in sadness and despair. “How can people be so cruel?” Elizabeth wondered. “Why is there so much bad stuff going on in the world today?”
Natural disasters were ripping through homes and lives; leaving families displaced and drowning in desolation. The atrocities of war in countries far from her were mounting in intensity and horridness and a battle of a whole different kind was in full force in her own country. At home and around the world, children and families were starving, and not just for food. Women were continuously abused and men were always finding a reason to keep killing each other. And on top of all that were all the personal trials she knew her friends and family had to endure. She thought of her friends that carried the everlasting pain of losing a child or those who suffered the anguish of infertility. There were so many who were sick and dying…
One friend in particular had recently received a horrible blow when his wife convinced herself that John didn’t love her anymore and so she had a baby with another man who she now lives with instead of the husband she vowed to love, honor, and cherish for the rest of their lives. Elizabeth and her family had grown close with these friends, John’s wife had become like a sister to her. Emily and Thomas looked at her like an aunt and were always excited to see her and Henry had just started saying her name. But she would probably never hear it now nor would Elizabeth and her family ever get to meet her baby. As much as it pained her to lose this friend and see her for who she really was, Elizabeth’s heart ached more for John. He knew he was not perfect and neither had their marriage been either but even though he had been shocked by betrayal and broken by his wife’s infidelity, he had been willing to fight for their love and their marriage, even if it meant being a father to a child that was not his. But his wife wouldn’t accept it and now he had to find a way to mourn his marriage and somehow go on with his life.
Elizabeth shook her head in dismay and confusion. She knew that the world was not all bad and that while people were capable of inflicting great pain onto others they were also capable of incredible acts of love. Still, today her heart was heavy and she was being dragged down by it all.
Just then, Emily bounded out the door and Elizabeth quickly wiped away the tears that had trickled down her face and tried to regain her composure. She took a deep breath and mustered up a weak smile. She watched her sprightly girl skip and jump around in the front yard for a while before she ran over and joined her mama on the porch steps and wrapped her dangly arms around her. Elizabeth tried to act normal but Emily was too perceptive and asked what was wrong. Elizabeth looked down at her beautiful daughter and into her big brown eyes. She was a girl full of life whose smile and freckles could light up any dark room and melt a heart of stone. Elizabeth wanted to protect her and keep her innocent and blissful forever. As her mother, she hoped no one would ever hurt her, physically or emotionally. But realistically, she knew no matter how hard she tried, she’d never be able to protect her from everything, even if she kept her locked up in a tall tower the rest of her life Emily would know suffering as it was an inescapable part of this world and eventually Emily too would be tempted to take a bite into the apple from the tree.
Elizabeth ran her fingers through Emily’s hair pensively and then sighed. “Oh I’m ok, honey. I’m just feeling a little sad because of the bad choices some people make that end up hurting others.” Emily’s eyes fell so Elizabeth quickly added, “But I’ll try not to stay sad too long and just pray for them instead.” This seemed to satisfy Emily enough and she got back up and started dancing around the yard again. Then she came back over and randomly started singing the words on their garden plaque from the Prayer of St. Francis.
The despair in Elizabeth’s heart released its tight grip as she listened to her daughter sing the words full of wisdom. St. Francis knew the answer to all the woes of the world was simply peace, not the world’s peace but the Peace of Christ. Feeling sad and angry were normal and natural emotions when confronted with trials and injustices. Nevertheless falling into despair and letting worry consume her would not bring Elizabeth or anyone around her any peace. This reminded her of the closing prayer in the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Emily stopped singing and sat still for a little bit and then looked at her mama inquisitively. “Mama, what is peace, anyway?” Elizabeth thought for a little bit before answering clumsily, “Well, it’s hmmm, it’s when there is no fighting or arguing…no, it’s more like…like if someone is in the eye of a hurricane.” Emily still looked puzzled. So Elizabeth thought a bit more. “Emily, peace is a gift from God that we receive when we give him our whole trust, when we surrender everything to him, even the hard things in our lives, and just trust.” Elizabeth saw the wheels turning in her little head. Her little girl was after all at the “age of reason” and had begun the transition from pure innocence to a fuller knowledge and responsibility of her life and of those around her.
Elizabeth sensed Emily’s inner discomfort at the thought of life being difficult, even with God’s gift of peace. “Emily, life is beautiful. The world God made for us is beautiful and we, people, are his greatest masterpiece. But he also gave us another little gift called “free will” which lets us decide if we will do something good or bad. He wants us to make good choices but knows we will sometimes make the wrong ones. And this is what makes life hard sometimes.” Emily understood and Elizabeth continued a bit further to drive back the conversation to peace.
“I like to think of it kind of like running a race, like when we were running together at that road race the other day, remember?” Emily nodded. “Well it wasn’t always easy; we got tired and our legs ached but we had to keep going if we wanted to get back to the finish line and be done. The other people running with us helped keep us going and those who were watching and clapping for us were like the saints in heaven who had already run the race and finished and now were helping us get there. And, even though we don’t see Jesus like we see each other, he is right here with us, running this race of life right along with us, even when it hurts and we have to just keep on going, he is here. And this gives us peace to keep going even when it’s not fun or easy.”
Emily seemed satisfied with this answer now. She rested her head on her mama’s arm and they sat there quietly for a moment digesting their conversation and feeling Christ’s peace seep into their souls. The sound of crying and screaming from inside the house broke the silence. Elizabeth planted a gentle kiss on Emily’s head, took a deep breath and then stepped back into the warzone inside to see what mischief Henry and Thomas had gotten themselves into now. Emily whizzed by her and returned to her book on the couch. Elizabeth smiled, knowing God had thrown her a lifeline and message of peace to her in that moment with her daughter. “The moment was over but the blessing was eternal.”
I whipped up this simple delight for Father’s Day and we all quite enjoyed it. It would also be a perfect accessory to a Fourth of July shin dig with some blueberries.
All you need is some Angles Food Cake or Pound Cake, some fresh strawberries, (blueberries), and chocolate chips and even pecans if you like.
For the whipped cream, I just poured some whipping cream into my Kitchen Aid Mixer bowl, added maybe 1 or 2 TB of sugar (sorry I didn’t measure) and whisked it on high until it was nice and fluffy!
I set out the cake, loaded on the strawberries, sprinkled on the chocolate chips (and pecans for mine!), scooped on the whipped cream and then drizzled some cajeta my Abue brought for me over the top!
It’s delicious and healthy (if you only look at the berries and pecans…) Even the baby can partake in this dessert.
More from Ginny Kubitz Moyer’s Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God
…many Catholics are not quite sure what to think of Marian apparitions. These miraculous visits often seem starkly at odds with the realities of daily life and with human knowledge of science and logic.
Church teaching helps clear up the confusion about how to integrate apparitions into our Catholic beliefs. Even those that have received the approval of the church-including Fatima, Lourdes and Guadalupe-are not considered to be binding elements of our faith…Individuals are free to believe in these Marian apparitions if they wish, says the church, but such belief is not a necessary component of a Catholic faith.
At the same time, it’s clear that these visitations have a deep emotional resonance with many Catholics…these stories touch the hearts of many Catholics because of what they say about Mary. This is not a woman who stays comfortably ensconced in heaven, watching from a distance, but one who ventures forth to meet us on our own turf. Her messages to pray for peace are reminders for us to return faith to the center of our busy, distracted lives. The apparitions are also consistent with her role as mother. Mary knows we need her help even when we aren’t aware of it ourselves. Like any good mother, she also knows just what to do to get our attention.
When I was a kid, I remember watching and reading about the stories of Fatima and Lourdes. Born in Mexico and raised by a Mexican mother, the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe was imprinted onto my soul at birth. I can’t remember a time when I did not know about Mary. She has always been a part of my life.
Still, I remember as a child wishing that I was Jacinta or Lucia and got to meet Mary while tending sheep on a grassy mountain side . Or, to have been Bernadette and seen Mary in a hole in a cave while picking firewood for my starving family! Now, it’s fun to watch my daughter and son pretend to be those children after watching those same movies and reading the same books about them.
I used to lay in bed at night hoping that Mary would come and visit me. I use to imagine her coming to me, though I’m not sure what we would have talked about…maybe nothing, it wouldn’t have mattered what we said really. It would have been enough just to sit on the lap that Jesus sat on and be held by the arms that embraced Jesus and to gaze up at the same beautiful face and loving eyes that Jesus looked up and into so many times.
The closest I’ve ever been to a Marian apparition is when I’ve visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. I can’t even put into words how amazing that was…to go there– where Mary was and see the image she left on Juan Diego’s Tilma still there…exactly as it was then….
The awesome thing about the Guadalupe apparition is that it is a miracle that just keeps on going as scientists study the image and discover just how deep this mystery goes.
Like Ginny said in her book, the church does not require anyone to believe in these apparitions. But I, for one, am incredibly thankful for them. Even though Mary has not visited me directly like she did with the Fatima and Lourdes children and Juan Diego and countless others, in a way I know God allowed her to visit them so that I too would receive the peace and love of her Son that she brought to them. I still wouldn’t mind chatting with Our Lady face to face but I know she hears my prayers and brings them to her Son for me. And one day, oh what a glorious day it will be to be, when I am welcomed into His Kingdom by His beautiful Queen.
I haven’t blogged as regularly as I’d like and so here are some random quick takes:
1. My 4 year old son loves to bring me ‘flowers’ from the garden. My husband told him he can pick as many yellow ‘flowers’ as he likes. This kid sure gets on my nerves sometimes but his sweetness balances it all out.
2. I bought this travel chess game case a few years ago hoping one day the kids would discover it and that day has come! They spent the first few weeks of summer break playing with the chess pieces most of the day.
3. Flip flops! I gave up on trying to find sandals that fit my children’s unusually extra narrow feet and went for the flip flops instead. So far they love them, hopefully their feet will not suffer too much from them!
4. My daughter helped me plant some pretty flowers in our pots and we’ve been working on some other front/side yard landscaping improvements. (pictures to come soon!)
5. The baby recently fell in love with bubbles! It’s been a great distraction/entertainment tool as long as someone is willing to sit with him so he doesn’t spill the whole bottle. Although, sadly, he did end up spilling this bottle on my blackberry 
shortly after this picture.
6. It’s a good thing he’s so cute or else…
7. Have I mentioned how much I love our hammock?
8. The older two kids went to their first VBS this week at our parish and loved it! I was slightly concerned how the 4 year old would do but after the first day he did great! Maybe he will be ready for preschool in the fall after all.
9. Since the older two were at VBS in the mornings all week, the baby and I got to hang out. After the last teething spell he’s been so wonderful. He lets me put him down and hold my hand while walking.
10. Still loves to be held by mama of course…
11. And even walks a little ahead of me sometimes!
12. I love the warmer weather but I could do without all the spiders! Stay outside where you belong if you want to live!
13. We celebrated my daughter’s ‘half’ birthday successfully thanks to fresh berries…
14. And Twister (I snagged this at a g-sale that morning and it sure came in handy!)
15. The baby has recently become intrigued with other babies and really likes this baby doll. He likes holding and patting the baby while he nurses.
16. My 4 year old thinks his hand is a tree and likes to stare at it and pretend all sorts of who knows what when he’s supposed to be eating.
I’ve really been enjoying Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart
In order to understand how fundamental it is for the development of the Christian life to strive to acquire and maintain peace of heart, the first thing of which we must be convinced is that all the good that we do comes from God and from Him alone: Apart from Me, you can do nothing, Jesus said (John 15:5).
We often have to experience failures, trials and humiliations, permitted by God, before this truth imposes itself on us, not only on an intellectual level, but as an experience of our entire being. God would spare us, if He could, all these trials, but they are necessary in order that we should be convinced of our complete powerlessness to do good by ourselves.
I struggle with maintaining peace, especially in the midst of highly stressful situations (which happen often around here!) And these words struck me hard. I try to do so much on my own. And then I get all stressed out when things don’t happen as I want them too. I hate stress I try hard to avoid it but then that turns into indecisiveness and agitation which just brings me back to stress and all other antonyms of peace. The more I struggle the harder it is for me to find peace. Like my wise friend, Mary, pointed out, it’s hard to just sit back give God our absolute trust and faith in prayer without feeling like we are doing nothing if we don’t do something to ‘fix’ things that are ‘broken’ in our lives or others lives . Yet, if I can just be still and listen and let the Holy Spirit breath in me and speak to me, then peace will come and then I can share this peace with others.
The more our soul is peaceful and tranquil, the more God is reflected in it, the more His image expresses itself in us, the more His grace acts through us. On the other hand, if our soul is agitated and troubled, the grace of God is able to act only with much greater difficulty. All the good that we can do is the Essential Good, which is God. The more our soul is peaceful, balanced and surrendered, the more this Good communicates itself to us and to others through us.
God is a God of peace. He…[is] in the whisper of a gentle breeze (cf. 1 Kings 19)!
…For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved; in quiet and in trust your strength lies…(Isaiah 30:15).
I pray you will have a peaceful night and a peaceful day. 
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