{pretty, happy, funny, real} ~ Saying Goodbye ~

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

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 {pretty}

 

We have had our share of pets. 
There are several "rules" that each child must achieve prior to getting their own pet.
1.  He/she must be at least 8 years old.
2.  He/she must be have good personal hygiene.
3.  He/she must be able to keep his/her room clean & tidy.
4.  He/she must do extra work around the house in order to "pay" (credit) for pet supplies.

I have always told my children that they need to be able to take care of themselves, before they can take care of another living thing.  Having good stewardship is important.  Everything belongs to God...even His little creatures.  Good stewardship encourages good virtues.

Another rule is, each child must gain responsibility through (proving they can) properly take care of another living thing.  So we start small; for example, a fish, (or a frog - which started out as a science experiment - over 5 or 6 years ago!)...then they can work their way up to a larger animal; like a guinea pig, or hamster.  (No birds or snakes - I draw the line there).

 

 

{happy}

 

 

Each of my children have shown good responsibility.  Do I still have to nag remind them about their duties & responsibilities - you bet!

 

But they have all learned good lessons along the way...and I have had plenty of opportunity to work on my patience.  O:o)

 

 

{funny}

 

 

Can you guess which dog is the alpha?

(hint:  it's the one with the toy, and the perky ears)

 

{real} 

 

This last part is a little sad.  Do not continue reading if you are faint of heart.

Butterfly lost her pet of nearly six years.  Princess was a guinea pig that was entirely sweet and cuddly.  She never bit or behaved wild or badly.  Princess was the perfect little pet.

 

I think we will all miss this little friend...

 

 Earlier today, Princess came out of her little house and laid down on her side.  Her eyes looked different...tired.

 

So, Butterfly gave her a nice warm bath and stroked her soft, silky fur...which Princess always enjoys and purrs with approval.

 

Several hours later, Princess, again, looked "different"...tired.

 

We knew it was just a matter of time.

 

So Butterfly placed Princess on her lap and stroked her gently...

 

There were some tears...we knew.

 

 Princess became more and more relaxed.

 

Her little breaths quickened, and she faintly squeaked a few last times.

 

 

It is always sad to loose a pet.  Even if it is the smallest of God's creatures.

They bring comfort when days aren't going so great...and they make us laugh with their silly antics.

 

 

Siblings are always there to give love and support.

Goodbye little friend. 

Thank you, God, for giving us these little creatures that make us smile and amuse us; that give us fond memories and help teach us to care for others...in so many ways.

"Ask the birds, ask the beasts and they will teach you."
~ Job 12: 7-10

“All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”
~ St. Francis of Assisi, Canticle of Creatures


“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

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~ The Assumption ~

On August 15th the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This day is also know as the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin...because her body did not know corruption after death.

Her body and soul were taken up into heaven. 

Although the Gospels say nothing about how long the Mother of God remained on earth after Christ's Ascension into heaven, the  foundation of the feast of the Assumption can be found in the sacred tradition of the Church. 

The Feast of the Dormition is one of the oldest of Marian feasts, beginning in Jerusalem shortly after the Council of Ephesus (431).  The Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God" is the title in the East, and "The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the title in the Western Church.

Holy Father Pius XII defined the dogma of the Assumption; solemnly proclaiming:  "By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own authority, we proclaim, declare and define as a truth revealed by God, that the Immaculate Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary, having ended the course of her life on earth, was taken body and soul into heavenly glory."

 

This Feast is associated with the old custom of the blessing of flowers and herbs.  In our parish, we bring them to our church to have them blessed.

At home, we haven't really had a tradition...well, besides attending Holy Mass.

Soooo, I was excited when this book arrived just a week or so earlier...

Listed under this feast day was this amazing exotic salad...MORACCAN SALAD!

This salad was both exquisite and refreshing!

Moroccan Salad for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

All the combined ingredients gives this dish a gorgeous presentation...and the taste...
both tangy and sweet, making it the perfect combination ~ very flavorful!

Per the Hand-Maid Household - A Feast, just is not a feast without DESSERT. 

We decided to make something super simple. 

Three ingredients.  No baking.  Using what we had on hand.

Little Lamb named them:  A Little Bit of Heaven

INGREDIENTS:
Pitted Dates
Shredded Coconut
Coconut Butter or Oil (we used coconut oil because it is what we had on hand.)

DIRECTIONS:
Smooth a little coconut oil on date.  Roll date in shredded coconut.  Enjoy. 

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

~ Luke 1:39-56

 

Almighty ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul into heavenly glory, grant we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

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