Lenten check up

So, how's lent going for you?  Have you kept up with your promises you made?  The things you gave up?  The "extras" you promised yourself you would do?

If you haven't, it's not too late!  Even if you have kept up with what you intended to do, but perhaps feel that maybe it "isn't enough" -- there's still time!  Add something else into the mix!

These forty days were meant to strengthen us as Catholics.  We give up in order to receive, we do extra in order to please God, and hopefully ourselves.  We want to do what is pleasing to God, even though sometimes it is hard!

I had the pleasure of attending "Cast Your Nets" last night in McCartyville.  This is an annual gathering of the youth from the northern part of our diocese, in an effort to foster vocations.  It's always fun to go to -- to see old friends and to see my kids make new ones.  There was prayer, and song, reconciliation, and, of course pizza.  Fun night.  My favorite part came last.  Mass.  Honestly, I'm not really a night time mass person -- I find I pay much better attention first thing in the morning, but I usually go to this mass because of the energy.  This year, Bishop Binzer was the presider.  I've really come to like this man.  He's fairly new to his position as Bishop (I think right at a year), but has come to fill the shoes perfectly.

His homily was spot on.  Firstly, his homilies are straight and to the point.  I like that!  He was discussing a couple of items with everyone in the congregation, but the one that struck me most was his talk about giving up and doing extra.  He mentioned that he gave up March Madness this year (hearing his schedule, I'm not sure he had a choice :) -- but I thought that was a fun thing to give up.  He also said he enjoys doing "extra things".  He didn't really say what he likes to do extra, but did mention taking time each day to write down (either on paper or electronically!) something that you are thankful for.  A word, a reading, a person, a song....whatever.  Big or small.  You may be thankful for the daffodil you saw when leaving your house in the morning.  Or that red light that you had to stop at, for it prevented you from being in an accident.  Whatever it is, write it down and be thankful for it.

And then, in two weeks on Easter Sunday, you will have a list of 14 things you are thankful for.  You can look back on them and review them.  Then start again!  But keep the old list.  Think of all the things you could come up with in a year.

I've been reading a lot about thankfulness lately.  It's an interesting thing.  If we center ourselves more on what we are thankful for, our lives as a whole begin to improve.  It's a fact.  When we dwell on the negative, it makes our lives way more negative.

So let's try this.  Can you do it for two weeks?  I can.  I've started my list on my iPhone.  (See?  I'm thankful I know how to make lists there!  LOL)

Have a great week everyone!

Pam

Lenten promises -- replacement!

Oh, lent......here we go again!!! 

Every year, we have the same discussion at our house:  what are you giving up for lent?  The older I've gotten, I've tried to not necessarily give something up as much as trying to do something to help me grow in my faith:  pray the rosary once a week, or go to mass one evening a week, etc., hoping that if I add something like that I will keep it up after lent is over.

For one reason or another, it really has never worked out well for me to do it that way.  So, this year I've taken on a new attitude.  Replacement.

Here's how my replacement theory works:  I've given up something (holy cow, I gave up Diet Coke -- aaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!).  Now, each day, when I want to have a Diet Coke (which is typically mid-afternoon and sometimes evening for me -- often if I'm driving I will get a large Diet Coke at McDonald's -- cause they are only a buck), I plan to replace that Diet Coke with something that will help my faith life.  So, in the time that it would take me to walk and get a can out of the refrigerator -- what can I do during that time that would help me grow closer to the Lord?   Say a prayer?  Say a decade of the rosary?  Pray for someone special?  Maybe I can take that time in the evening and spend a few extra minutes reading the bible, either by myself, with Jim, or with my kids.  Have a conversation with someone about our faith.  Anything to help me take that next step on my journey.

This thought was brought home to me tonight during mass.  This past Sunday, our mass was full of beautiful music, including a brass choir, which had some trumpeteering going on -- it was spectacular!  A celebration, of sorts.  An ending.  Before the beginning.  Of lent.  Of a time of simpleness.  Not "ordinary" time on the church calendar, but certainly ordinary time in our mass.  Nothing special on or around the altar.  Simple pewter communion cups, with simple bowls for the hosts.  No music for the recessional.  How can I "replace" that?  I've been thinking about that.  To replace, I will do what I used to do when I was a child during lent.  I will pray.  When I was little, I used to give up "watching" during lent.  I used to give up watching the communion line.  I would look down and pray.  No seeing who was in church, or what they were wearing, or what kind of shoes they had on.  Prayer.  In an effort to get my closer to Jesus, I chose this.

I'm choosing it again.  Very publicly this time!  I'm going to use my meditation time to do just that:  meditate.

I hope my replacement theory works.  I'll let you know.

In the meantime -- what is your lenten promise?  If you want to make it public, feel free below!!!  If you haven't made one yet, it's not too late.  You'll never regret it.  Do one thing, something, that will encourage you to stop and think of Jesus either when you do it (i.e. pray) or when you don't (i.e. Diet Coke).

Have a great lent, everyone!

Magnificat of Lima talk

Yesterday was a wonderful day on many counts.  I started the day by going to Lima, o go to a breakfast sponsored by the Magnificat group from Lima.  I wasn't really sure who they were, or what they stood for, but I knew they had asked my friend Kimi Bown to speak, so I knew they had to know what they were doing!!!  :)
Magnificat talk
When I left the house, it was just starting to snow.  I stopped at the bank on my way out of town and was told by the teller that hen she got up in the morning, nothing as happening outside, by the time she left for work, it was snowing a bit, and then, by 9 am, it was snowing pretty hard.  I guess if you live in Ohio, anything is possible!  :)

At any rate, I arrived at the meeting at 10 exactly (which is what time everything was to start).  I looked around and saw a table in the back with two empty seats -- I asked the women sitting at the table if I could sit with them and they said, "Of course!"  I don't usually have a problem striking up conversation with anyone, so we had a nice time chatting and getting to know one another.

First things first -- as everyone well knows, any meeting worth its salt includes food!!  :)  We were at the Old Barn Out Back, so the food was great!  We had breakfast -- which is one of my favorite meals, so it was fantastic!  I looked around for Kimi -- I didn't really want to talk to her beforehand, not knowing how nervous she was or anything.  I finally found her at the head table --looking extremely gorgeous!!!  I also spied her daughter, Natale, who, many moons ago, was in my American Girl club at the coffee shop!

After breakfast were a few of the "every day" things they do -- with prayer intentions, some singing, a little talking.  An then it was time for Kimi -- I was excited and nervous for her!

I have never heard her speak in public before -- but she did great!  She told us her "story" or witness talk, about how she really got involved in her faith -- in spite of many obstacles.  In fact, she told us how she grew in her faith -- in spite of (maybe because of!) many obstacles!!

I hope that some day you will get the opportunity to hear her speak -- she concluded her talk by introducing the entire audience to her nephew, Kaden (hope I spelled that right!), whom she (and many prayer warriors) saved from an abortion!!  Such a beautiful story -- I found my eyes welling up and feeling like an idiot because I couldn't see anyone else around me crying -- until I turned around and saw the woman beside me (who as behind me during the talk) with as many tears as I had.  Such a beautiful testimony!!!

I love watching women come together and support each other in their faith, along with supporting each other in general.  It's a beautiful gift!!!

We spent the balance of the day with our friends Joe and Melissa and their entire beautiful family -- I love how well our families get along.  Parks and all.  :)

Hope your week is fantastic!!!

Pam