~ Gifts ~

One source of enjoyment for me has been to arrange bouquets of flowers for the sanctuary at my parish.  I am learning that there are so many techniques and styles to floral design.  I am always inspired by the other ladies that help with the floral arrangements. We each have our own style...I can tell who's done the floral arrangements just by looking at them. 

I have been trying to remember to take photos of some of my finished arrangements.
Each arrangement is different.  Even when I use the same types of flowers, or maybe even the same colors; the arrangements always come out different or unique, in their own little way.  They are all so special.

A lot like people.  :o)

I have come to learn that arranging flowers is a type of art...and since I can't draw or paint...I think I have found something that I can design & produce.

By no means am I an expert at floral design.  But, I do have a great love for flowers, and, an even greater love for God. 
And since this is my little gift to Him, for His glory, I know he will take what I offer and, as little as it is, make it His.
God really knows how to make all things beautiful...

Besides, you can't really mess up flowers; they are just so beautiful - each and every one.  And when you put them together...an explosion of beautifulness!!

~ SEPTEMBER'S GIFT ~

I took these photos with my phone...so the quality is not that great, and because of my poor photography skills, they are not so clear; but they show the general flaws colors, and the concept comes through - good enough.

















~ OCTOBER'S GIFT ~

On the High Altar...at the foot of the cross.

And a couple from the side altars...

~ NOVEMBER'S GIFT ~

an explosion of beautifulness

~ A Thousand Words ~

You know what they say:

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...so, here are a couple thousand:

Treasures

Fragile Treasure

  Butterfly and I found this Robin's egg on our walk...so delicate and sweet.

 

~ Random Moments - October ~

Ever since our recent Lord of the Rings gathering,  I've started reading Peter Kreeft's "The Philosophy of Tolkien".  I love Kreeft's books.  I bought this particular book a while back, maybe even years ago, but it's just been sitting on my "book queue" aka bookcase. 

Good place to read books...

The LOTR revival has inspired me, as well as a new opportunity for my two teens to study The Hobbit - The Course, through Home school Connections. Also...

During this Year Of Faith, I've been trying to increase my reading time again...starting with my daily reading of the Catechism through this helpful tool:
READ THE CATECHISM IN A YEAR.  We are only on day 24, so if you haven't already started, you are not too far behind...truthfully, I'm catching up because I've missed a few readings.  That's ok.  Today is a new day!  :o)  Deo Gratias!

Moving right along...Here are a couple pictures from our recent trip to Disneyland -

It really was a fun time. I even had a moment of nostalgia, while we were walking through Fantasyland and saw all those strollers.  I remembered pushing around my oldest two in a stroller when they were little, ...Oh, God Bless All Mothers! 

cause of nostalgia...place of sweet memories

I truly enjoyed those moments...and I am truly enjoying these moments.  I feel so blessed!  Butterfly and I partnered up for some wild rides (I like the fast & exhilarating ones) while Daddy, Conductor and Little Lamb (either watched and prayed for us) or enjoyed the many other attractions.

cause of great discomfort...but so.much.fun.

It was also fun that we could all run together and enjoy some of the more *exhilarating* rides...even the one that I got soaked on...fully.and.totally.SOAKED.  Through and through.  I tell ya.  I literally had to go and change...I couldn't walk properly.  LOL.  We all had a good laugh...until I decided it was no longer funny.  :o)

On All Hollows Eve...I didn't really plan anything special.  But we decided to try and cut our pumpkins and toast some pumpkin seeds and make some pumpkin puree - for future pies and breads and things.
Of course we had to *brew* something up - Butterfly said we looked like three witches around a cauldron from The Black Cauldron - lol.  Except we were making something sweet.  Can you guess what this is?

Somehow I try and convince myself that this is a *healthier treat*...not as much sugar as most cookies, has rice cereal in it...blah, blah, blah.  And then I end up eating more that I should!  Tricked again!

A Treat that Tricks...Perfect for the occasion!

Trick or Treat?

Have a lovely November day...

and don't forget all about your...

~ p,h,f,r ~

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{pretty}

down in the church hall...relaxing break from setting up for a reception.

 

So picture PRETTY.  Butterfly is in her happy place; doing what she loves to do...read.

If she has a free moment, you can find her in a quiet nook somewhere...reading.

I love the way the sunlight has found its way to her corner...so pretty. 

 

{happy}

 

Lumpias definately make me HAPPY.  One of our fellow parishioners brought these to our recent Priesthood Sunday Reception.  Hand-Made with love...

Is your mouth watering, too?

 

{funny}
 

 

Last month, while visiting our local pumpkin patch & farm, this funny creature was all smiles for everyone that dared to cross over a bridge that led from the pumpkin patch to the farm animals...FUNNY, he never moved!  :o)

{real}
 

Now, this is REAL food.  Stuffed grape leaves; leaves home grown in the Sonoma Wine Country, and hand-made with love...
So.amazingly.delicious.

 Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment!

~ Heavenly Anniversary ~

Six years ago, Butterfly received her First Holy Communion...surrounded by the angels and saints in heaven...in a spiritual sodality here on earth.

So, out I bring the Communion candle, which we light at each meal. 

Over the many years, I've tried to stress this and to teach this simple acknowledgement to my First Communion students - to continue to celebrate the occasion of their First Holy Communion Anniversaries.  It is, at least, as special as a birthday.

First Holy Communion is such a beautiful and sacred event.  It's ONE of the seven sacraments!

celebratory cookies on vintage plate, given to me from my mother
(the plate, not the cookies) :o)

We celebrate our wedding anniversaries...and our ordinations...we should also celebrate (or at least graciously acknowledge in some way) our baptismal anniversaries; when we become a child of God. How special is that!?

As always, we start the celebration with Holy Mass.  Fitting, yes?

celestial occasion calls for a celestial offering...

 

Happy Heavenly Anniversary, Butterfly...

~ Priesthood Sunday ~

Yesterday was Priesthood Sunday. 

We organized a Priest Appreciation Potluck Dinner...in praising God for their courage and their generosity; it began with a Holy Mass to pray for our priests.

 

 

The numerous reasons for this celebration and acknowledgment should be obvious.  Simply put, without Priests - there are no sacraments. 

Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts
which we are about to recieve
from thy bounty
through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

 

Also, their presence and service are significant factors in the fostering of vocations.

And, without a priest, no parish is able to be a Eucharistic community.

It is important to reaffirm the importance of the priesthood of Jesus Christ and its central place in the life of our Church.  

Hand-Made with love...for our priests.

 

Let's show some appreciation...pray for our priests, everyday!

 

 

 

O Jesus, eternal Priest,

keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,

where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,

which daily touch Your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips,

daily purpled with your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,

sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let Your holy love surround them and

shield them from the world’s contagion.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit and

may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation

here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.

 

~ St. Therese of Lisieux

~ Sweep ~

Need I say more?!