Christmas is fast approaching and I have SO much to do -- hence the not posting in like a week. Also, I've been feeling a lack of inspiration of late too and struggling with my depression some too. Sometimes when it rains, it pours...
All that said, I've got a post that's almost ready and will be posted on Saturday. I'm participating in an Advent Blog Hop and this is my contribution! I hope you'll enjoy it. I'm going to try to write a bit over the next couple of weeks, but I'll be with family some, so I might not have as much time for it.
Peace to all of you and yours!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
An Advent Giveaway!
I don't know if you're like me, but this time of year is crazy busy and I can definitely do with a little extra TLC. Sometimes you just want to chill out and get away from it all, but if you can't do that, the next best thing is to relax with a nice bath or something that smells nice.
Emily at Our Home.....Under Mary's Mantle is hosting a giveaway at her blog for a gorgeous looking spa set with a lavender and chamomile scent which is called Tranquility. The set is made by the good folks at Honeybird Farms in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.
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| Doesn't this just look wonderful? |
I've entered and am really hoping to win, but I'd love for any of the folks who read my blog to win too! The giveaway ends at 9pm Central tomorrow December 10th. Go check it out here!
Friday, December 5, 2014
Five Minute Friday: Dear
Note: This post is my weekly contribution to the Five Minute Friday community that is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Click here
for more information about Five Minute Friday and how you can get
involved! To link up with all the other entries for today's prompt word,
click here.
Dear Depression,
As of the turning of the calendar into December a few days ago, it has been an almost 22 month long journey through your dark abyss. When are you going to let me go? I know that I have a part in your staying, as the bulk of your grasp on me is to do with the things in my head, but I have put for monumental effort at expelling you and still, you barely seem to budge. I don't understand what I have done to deserve so long a sojourn through your clutches, but here I am nonetheless, and at this point, I have no hope that this will ever truly go back to a place of normalcy. I spoke with Pendragon this week about how I am grieving. I am grieving, you know. I am grieving the loss of everything that you have stolen from me.
****
Dear Depression,
As of the turning of the calendar into December a few days ago, it has been an almost 22 month long journey through your dark abyss. When are you going to let me go? I know that I have a part in your staying, as the bulk of your grasp on me is to do with the things in my head, but I have put for monumental effort at expelling you and still, you barely seem to budge. I don't understand what I have done to deserve so long a sojourn through your clutches, but here I am nonetheless, and at this point, I have no hope that this will ever truly go back to a place of normalcy. I spoke with Pendragon this week about how I am grieving. I am grieving, you know. I am grieving the loss of everything that you have stolen from me.
Just a quick update
I haven't posted anything in the last couple of days because I've been kinda horribly sick. It's just an upper respiratory infection, but it's a particularly nasty one that if left untreated, could become walking pneumonia. It made me feel a bit like this:
I've had no speaking voice for two days (other than a really sad sounding high pitched barky rasp) and started losing my voice about four days ago. All of this prompted me to go see a doctor yesterday where I got diagnosed, got some meds on board, and a prescription for more to take at home. Thankfully, that seems the injected meds I got yesterday and the one dose I took orally last night seem to be helping as I opened my mouth this morning and it still sounded raspy, but not nearly as bad. I still feel pretty weak and run down by this thing too, so I am trying to rest as much as possible, drink lots of fluids, and take my meds as prescribed.
It may be another couple of days before the fuzzy headed feeling that accompanies this kind of thing clears enough that I can write something meaningful, but I'll be back when I'm feeling better. Hope all of you have a wonderful Friday and a blessed weekend!
I've had no speaking voice for two days (other than a really sad sounding high pitched barky rasp) and started losing my voice about four days ago. All of this prompted me to go see a doctor yesterday where I got diagnosed, got some meds on board, and a prescription for more to take at home. Thankfully, that seems the injected meds I got yesterday and the one dose I took orally last night seem to be helping as I opened my mouth this morning and it still sounded raspy, but not nearly as bad. I still feel pretty weak and run down by this thing too, so I am trying to rest as much as possible, drink lots of fluids, and take my meds as prescribed.
It may be another couple of days before the fuzzy headed feeling that accompanies this kind of thing clears enough that I can write something meaningful, but I'll be back when I'm feeling better. Hope all of you have a wonderful Friday and a blessed weekend!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Pity -- Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see,and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.”
The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?”
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.
-- Matthew 15:29-37
Pity
During Advent, in the Catholic Church, the colour of choice is purple for the priest's vestments, altar cloths, three of the four candles on the Advent wreath, etc. The reason for this is that purple is a liturgical colour that represents healing, repentance, and mercy. It is the colour of the stole that a priest wears when he hears confessions or when he administers the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (which calls us to repent of sin, lean on the mercy of God, and be healed in spirit and body). It is also the colour of Lent for this reason. Advent and Lent are kind of sister seasons inasmuch as both are a preparation for a time of joyous celebration. These two seasons help us prepare our hearts for the two biggest Christian feasts of the year -- Christmas and Easter. A big part of this preparation of our hearts is to do things for others -- to be moved with pity for those in need -- and to do something to meet those needs.
The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?”
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.
-- Matthew 15:29-37
Pity
During Advent, in the Catholic Church, the colour of choice is purple for the priest's vestments, altar cloths, three of the four candles on the Advent wreath, etc. The reason for this is that purple is a liturgical colour that represents healing, repentance, and mercy. It is the colour of the stole that a priest wears when he hears confessions or when he administers the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (which calls us to repent of sin, lean on the mercy of God, and be healed in spirit and body). It is also the colour of Lent for this reason. Advent and Lent are kind of sister seasons inasmuch as both are a preparation for a time of joyous celebration. These two seasons help us prepare our hearts for the two biggest Christian feasts of the year -- Christmas and Easter. A big part of this preparation of our hearts is to do things for others -- to be moved with pity for those in need -- and to do something to meet those needs.
Reveal -- Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” -- Luke 10:21-24
Reveal
One of the biggest things about the days and weeks leading up to Christmas is that we are waiting to see what will be revealed when we open our presents on Christmas morning. When we pull back that paper, what will we see? Will it be something we've been hoping for or something we take one look at and want to return?
Revelation is a theme throughout scripture. In the Old Testament, God reveals Himself to Noah and gives him the instruction to build the ark that saves mankind and again through the covenant that he makes with Abraham and his descendants. He continues this revealing through the Messianic prophesies and in the ways He interacts with His people Israel. He reveals Himself to Moses through the burning bush and when He gives him the Ten Commandments and through the prophet Samuel who admonishes King David when he has sinned. He reveals Himself to King David when He gives him the instructions for building the temple and to David's son Solomon through a dream where He instructs Solomon to ask for whatever he wants.
Reveal
One of the biggest things about the days and weeks leading up to Christmas is that we are waiting to see what will be revealed when we open our presents on Christmas morning. When we pull back that paper, what will we see? Will it be something we've been hoping for or something we take one look at and want to return?
Revelation is a theme throughout scripture. In the Old Testament, God reveals Himself to Noah and gives him the instruction to build the ark that saves mankind and again through the covenant that he makes with Abraham and his descendants. He continues this revealing through the Messianic prophesies and in the ways He interacts with His people Israel. He reveals Himself to Moses through the burning bush and when He gives him the Ten Commandments and through the prophet Samuel who admonishes King David when he has sinned. He reveals Himself to King David when He gives him the instructions for building the temple and to David's son Solomon through a dream where He instructs Solomon to ask for whatever he wants.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Faith - Monday of the First Week of Advent
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.” -- Matthew 8:5-11
Faith
"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed."
What a faith filled statement to make! The centurion who approached Jesus that day showed great faith by recognizing his own unworthiness and yet having the boldness to lay bare his belief in Jesus' supreme worthiness. This statement is on of my favourite parts of this passage because it is both an admission of how wretchedly sinful we are, but also a confession of how perfect and merciful God is. At every Mass that is celebrated on any day, we speak these words just before receiving Jesus' Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. They are a little different, but still just as powerful. The words we say are, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."
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