discomfort and delayed gratification

Here we go! We are embarking on repainting our first floor. Our landlord doesn't have the time, nor the inclination to paint while tenants are residing here, but he did provide most of the paint and materials. I was able to prevail upon him for a hint of color (pale trim) for our all stark white walls. We have been here six years and it just was getting dirty and beat up looking. We will also be refinishing the wood floors. So--pray for us! It is fun, mostly, except when it isn't. And it is hard having everything out of place and moving things around. Especially when there are many people--but yes, I am putting them to work whenever possible! Our living and dining rooms are old fashioned plaster, which means spackling and sanding, which also means having to wait a day for all that to dry...sigh.

                     
  Here is the before. 

     
  

  yes, that is a child sleeping on the couch.








 I finally admitted to myself that we will not be able to go anywhere this summer. It was hard because I really feel we should try to get to my brother's in North Carolina as much as we can. We had a wonderful time last year! Ah well, but it doesn't seem to be within our power this year. We'll see if God decides differently, but for now I am trying to accept it. Maybe in the Spring.


Here are a few random family shots I like. No special reason.

Rachael. Turning 18 in a few days. Where did the time go?

                     my grandson--growing up....sigh. :)

Well, I just trust God that any difficulties, large or small, in time, untangle and get worked out, our life being right now much like the Drawer of Cords.  Like you, our family is in need of prayer for many individual and woven together needs. 


All the many cares of life that seem a bit insurmountable--I cast them on the Lord, because He cares for us. With the help of the saints and angels, and the special care of the Holy Spirit, we go forward!





I have been praying this prayer each morning--since reading the wonderful book, In The School of the Holy Spirit, by none other than, Jacques Phillipe.

Cardinal Mercier's
Prayer To The Holy Spirit

I am going to reveal to you a secret of sanctity and happiness. For five minutes every day quiet your imagination, close your eyes to everything visible and your ears to all external sounds and withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptized soul which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. There, speak to the Holy Spirit and say:

"O Holy Spirit
soul of my soul
I adore you.
Enlighten
guide,
strengthen and console me.
Tell me what I ought to do
and command me to do it.
I promise to submit to everything
that you ask of me
and to accept all
that you allow to happen to me.
Just show me what is your will."

If you do this, your life will be happy and serene. Even in the midst of troubles you will experience great consolation, for grace will be given to strengthen and help you to cope with every difficulty. 

 

 

I'll let you know what the results are! I fully trust there will be some.

Now I have to get to my exercising and painting.

Peace, 

 Kelly

+JMJ+

prayer request

I would kindly ask you to remember my daughter Corrie in your prayers. She was hospitalized last night. I am asking Ven. Solanus Casey's intercession for her complete healing.

a special intention

I would ask any who are inclined to do so to please say a prayer for my very special intention.

This is a photo from the Carmelite monastery. I still plan to talk about my experience there, I just need to chew on it a bit more.

Thank you for you kind prayer support.

Kelly

heavy as a hundred bowling balls

There is a lot to pray for in our world right now. I guess that is always a true statement, but you probably know what I mean. Sometimes I really feel the weight. The state of our country, the many situations in my own family that I carry around in my heart continually, the grave situations of some of our blog-friends right now...I just walk around saying the name of Jesus all day long.

 Bob and I are going to the March for Life on Monday. I am going to be one of the Silent No More group that walks with my "I regret my abortion" sign. Then on the steps of the Supreme Court, we will give our short testimonies, one by one. ( I recently got my hair cut, and joked with the hairdresser about trying to look decent for the you tube videos that inevitably come out after). See,  I just have to find humor somewhere, or the heaviness might crush us all!

Really, I ask for your prayer support for my family. There is always that line of doing/praying and trusting, that changes all the time, and I have a hard time keeping up.
Also for our trip to DC on Monday, and for all who are on the front lines of this battle. That the world would recognize the fifty million lost lives, and those who are planning to have their babies join that statistic.


Lord Jesus, look on us with mercy, and help us find our way.

~intermission~

Well, I now have a cold. It is not at the top level of Things that Bring Suffering to Humanity; but up there in terms of Things that Annoy the Heck Out of Me. So I am using this reasoning to write just whatever comes to mind right now, as I am doubtful that my pounding head will think in an organized enough fashion to provide the next installment of Salvation History.

I have been technically awake since 6:30 AM. I think I started coming out of the fog around noon. At this rate, I should have both shoes on by dinnertime. I thought Day-Quil was non drowsy? I am doing a little better now, though; debating between trying to keep my exercise program going and taking a nap. Or reading a little more of The 33 Doctors of the Church. Which could possibly lead to that nap. No, I really am interested in the book!  I just tend to read in bed. Really!

Today, since I am having one of those not -getting- much- accomplished days, it has made me think again about what drives me and why. Really, I think I should be content, and even thrilled that I have the opportunity to do less and even nap if I want! But there is that inner gremlin that is not happy if I haven't been busy every minute and especially if there is no physical evidence that I have done anything. You are all witnesses that I have at least sat and typed this.

One of my inner longings is to be able to explore and pursue contemplative prayer. Given the paragraph above, it seems pretty funny!  Kind of like Moses with his speech impediment and all. Only I want to do this. Hopefully, I won't feel as though I have to clean the whole house before I can begin each time. I can see two possible outcomes; 1. I will give up, or 2. I will have a really clean house. It is terrible having the two drives...one to sit and pray and read and write; and the other- to be up and moving. Right now I am eyeing the floor that needs vacuuming and the dishes in the sink.

It's no coincidence that my birthday falls on the feast of Saint Martha. In my heart, I'm all with Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, and just being, listening and absorbing. But my outsides are Martha, itching to move and Do Stuff.  Unless we're talking about the hours after dinner! By then, both Martha and Mary have got up and gone home. I dislike having to go out of the house in the evenings. Any of the things that force me out at that time are met with considerable grumbling. Fun things, good things, spiritual things, doesn't matter. If  I have to, once I get wherever I am going, all is fine. It's just the comfortable evening time, the after dinner cup of coffee and promise of possible dessert, the waning of the sun and the pleasant evening air--all give me feet covered in glue if disturbed.

Crossword puzzle anyone?