7 quick prayer requests and the promotion of a great blogger

1. I would ask your prayers for some friends this Lent; namely, Kristen, Jan, Joyce, and Mary; each who are going through particularly tough ordeals and would greatly appreciate them.









2. For all priests, certainly, but in particular, Father M., Father C., and Father K.

3. For the Holy Father and the process soon to be underway, the speculations of which are already driving me crazy.







4. For Father MacRae, of this wonderful blog, who has been nominated for Best Catholic Blog, through About.com. If you would like to help him out, you can vote for These Stone Walls, here.

5. For my son, Daniel, who was unjustly fired from his long-time job.

6. For Chuck, my ex-father-in-law, and much-loved grandfather to Meghann, who is in his last time on this earth. And a special request I have asked God on his and the family's behalf. He has been suffering with Alzheimer's for many years.
















7. Finally, I would ask your prayers for me, and all my intentions. I have not been able to get completely well ever since getting the flu/cold/virus/something -- some six weeks ago.I get a little better and then, down I go. It gives me something to add to my prayers, for sure, but also detracts from my ability to function. I am limping along, but my limper is getting worn out. As well as my patience. And today, added on, is a nice migraine. Sooo much to add to my prayers.

Just to put things in perspective, and to humble myself after complaining of my headache, and other things today,

I want to thank Manny, who posted a lovely memorial of a fellow blogger, Ros, who touched many with her sweetness. He included this song and video from The Passion of  the Christ, that Ros loved, and now, so do I. I listen and watch every day, and want to watch the movie again during Lent. So, Ros, your legacy of sweetness and devotion lives on. Thank you. :)

keep it down to a dull roar!

I am blessed to be at home today, and alone for a few hours. I am sitting here doing this because I have sixty-four  (or was it seventy eight?)  things to do before my daughter and her family arrive here Sunday for a short but much looked forward to Thanksgiving visit. Rest assured that the blog following that will be loaded with pictures.

But before that happens.........(drum roll).............I am finally going to start receiving spiritual direction again! It's been since Father Terry was still with us. Wow. And along with that, a bit of an overdue confession. (since Father Check left us, but in a different way.) Yes, I know we are not supposed to have favorites when it comes to confession, but..really now...fess up, you know we all do. It wasn't the only reason I haven't gone, but it was a pretty big part. So today I was sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, doing some preparation for the confession, and realized a couple things. One is that it has been six months since I have gone. That's the longest stretch since I have been Catholic. another is that it is significantly harder to examine a six month conscience. Oh, yes, of course I have been "keeping track", but it's the nuances that escape me after a certain period of time goes by.  That time period is pretty short. So after this, boy, every two weeks? Well at least once a month.

Something else became pretty clear, or unclear really. As I was praying and sitting quietly, the racket in my mind was just deafening! So to speak. If there could be silent decibels, these were on the hearing loss scale. If the Lord spoke to me, I sure didn't hear Him!  Think along the lines of a train passing two feet away. I am accustomed to my usual wandering mind, but this was something else. I even sat a little extra long (for me) to try and wait it out. No.








I am sure God did whatever work He wanted anyway. I have always found that if I take steps to progress in my spiritual life, I experience opposition. Hopefully, the step I am about to take will bear fruit.