Thanksgiving 2013

Warming up the house and baking pie #1 #pumpkinpie! Given was the 1st to arrive about 1:00 a.m. 

Car Nap

The best naps are in the driveway in the car after a long day at school, with a cool fall breeze blowing. #thisdaywillnevercomeagain 

Joyous Numbered Days

The joy of knowing your days are numbered seems like a very odd notion to those  that I have mentioned this sentiment to.  Their response is often to cut me off and say something like, “You shouldn't think that way!”  But I DO think that way and it gives me a sense of quiet purpose.

I have been thinking about this for some time now.  I suppose it comes along with age or as a result of losing my mother when I was only 19 years old, but even when I was younger I contemplated this idea much.

I don’t view it as negative but as liberating.  I do admit that there are times when it makes me feel a bit panicked knowing that there are so many dreamy endeavors that I have not yet experienced or even worse some that I have not even attempted!  They're not all dreamy, but important and consist of routine and simple tasks like organizing files and pictures for my children.

The list is long and even old.  

Some things on the list are entirely selfish like, visiting the Redwood forest, driving through a Sequoia tree, ( a picture I saw once in a grade school textbook) the Vatican, or viewing the lights in Marfa.

But some are simple like gracing a young couple in my family with a treat like filling their pantry to the brim or surprising family members with a dinner and a great bottle of wine,  or getting together with old friends, and even better with friends that also happen to be family.  The list is long and I don’t know if I will ever get it done, but it gives me purpose to think about doing so.

As Providence would have it, Sunday’s homily nudged me to write down what I have only been contemplating as of late.  

I am always struck by the heaviness of the weight we carry both physically and mentally, whenever I recall the days after the loss of a loved one.   There are two times in particular that come to mind when I think of how meaningless our worldly possessions are and how important the love we leave behind is.  The first was after my mother died and I walked into her closet and buried my face in her clothes.  The second was after my father-in-law died and I walked into his garage and looked around at the years of carefully collected and organized tools and gadgets. They left  for us memories and emotions  that can be brought to mind whenever we think of them.   However, they both left with nothing and they left light and unburdened.

I mention the above mostly for my own benefit as a try to prepare daily for the two most important times in my life.  Those times are the ‘now’ and at the ‘hour’ of my death.  

Living in the now has proven to be more difficult than it seems.  So I will  focus daily on that goal, that purpose, and trust that all the ‘NOWS’ will someday be enough for the ‘Last Hour.’

“Now and at the hour of my death.”  ( A Catholic Prayer)

I KNOW my days are numbered and there is joy and soft sadness in knowing that.

“I was not aware of the moment when I first crossed the threshold of this life.  What was the power that made me open out into this vast mystery like a bud in the forest at midnight?  When in the morning I looked  upon the light I felt in a moment that I was no stranger in this world, that the inscrutable without name and form had taken me in its arms in the form of my own mother. Even so, in death the same unknown will appear as ever known to me. And because I love this life, I know I shall love death as well.  The child cries out when from the right breast the mother takes it away to find in the very next moment its consolation in the left one.” ~ Rabindranath Tagore

A part of a favorite poem of mine first published in December 1912 in Poetry Magazine.

Thomas Merton wrote “Today will never come again.”

This sentiment brings to light the importance of Now!  Living in the now and appreciating every day given IS in part, my purpose.  

Humbly Seeking Purpose,

Peace and Justice

Solidarity

We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that if you want peace, work for justice.1 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict. ~ Seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching

Celebrating A Half Century (+playlist)

Salt dough map

The salt dough map of the original 13 colonies he started days ago is finally finished! He is meticulous. We start another project tomorrow. 

First day of Fall 2013

On this day in September a cool Fall breeze made it to the the Coastal Bend and filled my heart with sweet memories of past days in Central Texas. But these days in Corpus Christi will be the past someday as well, so I will enjoy them fully. 

Happy Birthday Bryden

Cafe con leche and Dell

I'm taking it easy this Sunday afternoon with cafe con leche and my new Dell All in One. The reward of getting my office in order! 

Acting and Trusting

As I prepare for the upcoming 2013-14 school year and the making ready for my own children & the children of others I am reminding myself daily of the following-  “Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.” 

― St. Ignatius of Loyola 

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Baking in August

I'm not sure why I decided to make a big batch of sweet dough in the hot month of August, but I did and it had it's rewards. I guess I just (kneaded) some aroma therapy. :-)

Office chaos conquered

I finally got this place in order! There is one more big box to go through, but I hid it! :-) I WILL get to it soon!

Office chaos

In order to create order chaos has to be made and confronted! I love this room in my house, but it needs to be conquered. This is one of my summer 2013 goals.

Team Citius

A win for 10 U Team Citius before the rain came. Game 5 and a win!

July 4th 2013

Celebrating 4th of July with these Mexican Americans! 

Week 4 day 1 Couch to 5k

I thought about using the rain today as an excuse not to do my workout. :-) I said to my 13 year old daughter, "I think it's going to rain again."  She replied, "Just do it!" So I did.  It rained a bit as the song 'Here comes the Rain Again' played, but I finished and smiled and I was glad I did. Thanks for the encouragement Noble! 

Summer

This day is way HOT!

Couch to 5k week 1

Couch to 5k

This was my view this eve  on my walk/jog today. Week 1 day 2, second attempt to work my way to a 5k run!  I was running against the wind that is coming from the South I think, but I am directionally challenged so I can't say for sure. One thing is for sure, I'm older now but I'm still running against the wind! #bobseger On the Corpus Christi Bay.

War on Clutter

I wore my camo today against my war on clutter!

Summertime

The Kinder Queens are done for the 2012/13 school year:-)! Pictured 4 of 7. We missed you today Ali, Berlinda, and Emily!

Of Love and other Demons

Once I started I could not stop until the end.  What an amazing author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. "The more transparent the writing, the more visible the poetry," he said. (Marquis)

It's been on our shelf for some time now, but this weekend fit.

Sunday morning rain is falling...

This rain makes my soul smile. 

Mother's Day 2013

To : Mom, From : Justice...
My 10 yr. old son's written words on Mother's Day 2013. My best Mother's Day gifts have always been hand -made and written by my sweet children.

Sup with family

Corpus Christi, Texas with family & friends

NJHS

Our Noble girl was inducted into National Junior Honor Society this evening. We are very proud of her .

Car fill up

Now every trip to the gas station can be full service with my Justice. :-)

Cinco de Mayo

A backyard fiesta with la familia :-)

Team Citius

Big League Dreams baseball fields in League City,Texas. Baseball with the Judge.

Take Shape For Life

Day 4 week 1- I'm eating six times a day and that's ok with me. I appreciate every bite or sip I take and I think that's a good attitude to have about food all the time.

Hay mas tiempo que vida

Lately I have been overwhelmed with the most disturbing thought.  I don't really mean disturbing in a negative way, but in an awakening of how profoundly true the one liner my Mother used to utter in a nonchalant way is.  "Hay mas tiempo que vida."  It stirs my heart and brings tears to my eyes when I say it in silence and I can't say it out loud.  Time is going by so fast and I find myself trying to force my mind to remember every precious event.  A simple sentiment I suppose, but when contemplated by a woman, namely me, who has lived a whole lifetime without the company of the mother who she quotes,  I can only resolve to live and love the rest of my life as well as I can.  I started a list when I turned 50, a list of things I have learned in my life so far, and while I know that I have a lot more to learn, the biggest lesson is that we do not know what tomorrow holds.  So, as novice as my writing is I will post anyway, because there really is more time than life.
My list of life lessons learned so far....View on my google doc by clicking the link...- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kzNuGb34_dcXaG8mcg0AYm8ebmC5FiOdTVFztYJaFA4/edit?usp=sharing

Patience for Judy

Patience is always a virtue to perfect in a hospital waiting room. This setting helps.

Spring Break 3/11/13

It's Monday & I don't have to get up early Tuesday morning. Bryden made supper & Brayde treated us to lunch. That's a great start to Spring Break week. Love to them both.