Lent Begins Today

Desert Prayer

I am not asking you
to take this wilderness from me,
to remove this place of starkness
where I come to know
the wildness within me,
where I learn to call the names
of the ravenous beasts
that pace inside me,
to finger the brambles
that snake through my veins,
to taste the thirst
that tugs at my tongue.

But send me
tough angels,
sweet wine,
strong bread:
just enough.

(Prayer © Jan Richardson from In Wisdom’s Path.)

Mardi Gras

Hard to believe that the season of Lent is fast approaching. Back in the days of parochial school we spent Mardi Gras thinking of what to give up for Lent. I was always eager to give up vegetables, mom's corned beef and cabbage, and eating fish on Fridays. The good sisters pointed out in a very direct way that my understanding of Lenten sacrifice needed tweaking. Most kids gave up sweets and television but my parents did not seem really concerned about what, if anything, we gave up for Lent. Why was this? Because things were added rather than taken away - things like more chores, more time at Church, more time with extended family. This was way more difficult than simply giving something up. And besides, we never had very many sweets around the house anyway, and my father pretty much controlled what was on the television and it was never anything I wanted to watch. Yet, spending Lent in this way changed us in ways that lasted a lifetime, not just a season. The chores that were added brought fun along with them as we did things as a family - even squabbling about who had to do more was kind of fun. To this day my siblings and I reminisce about our shortcuts in doing chores and my personal favorite shortcut which I call "Irish dusting". Even attending weekday Mass during Lent in the evening provided an opportunity for a free family night out - when money is limited a night out is a night out! Yet the car rides to Mass during those late winter and early spring evenings wrapped us together in loving family moments. I think getting out during those evenings was especially nice for my mom who did not drive and was home alone all day while we were at school. Lent always provided us with what we needed to face our Good Fridays and celebrate our Easter Sundays, not through the ritual of giving up meaningless items of pleasure, but through time honored family traditions that transcended the ordinariness of daily life into daily life celebrations. I pray that Lent once again allows me the opportunity to transcend the ordinariness of my daily life into an appreciation of the daily miracles at hand, and that I spend this time facing my Good Fridays and celebrating my Easter Sundays!

A Life Lost Too Soon

Today, I went to Amy Wellborn's blog and I read that her beloved husband, Michael, passed away February 3rd. Please see this blog and read how a woman of great faith (and her husband, a man of great faith) deal with death. Beautiful!

Charlotte Was Both is Amy's blog.

She continues to be FOOD FOR MY SOUL!

Being Tagged in Facebook

Recently I was tagged in Facebook to list 25 Random Things about myself. Since I needed to spend the time making the list, I'll post it here as well.

1. My family is always number one on any list.
2. My husband is my best friend.
3. The greatest accomplishments of my life are my two sons.
4. My step-children became added blessings to an already blessed life.
5. My grandchildren (a.k.a. luvbugs) bring me joy beyond measure.
6. More grandchildren = more joy HINT HINT HINT!
7. Missing my parents is a daily occurrence.
8.Photos are most my valuable possessions.
9.Reading is candy for my brain.
10. The sisterhood of the traveling pajamas (you know who you are) brings lighthearted laughter to my world!
11. Existential salvation is the answer to "Who is saved?"
12. Sexual orientation is innate - case closed!! You are who you are.
13. Time does not heal all wounds - scar tissue does!
14.Perfection means being able to live each season in a different place: PA,FL,Canada, Italy!
15. Pets give us pure, unconditional love and inter-species love is not an evolutionary necessity and therefore (IMHO) proves God exists. Sorry scientist son, but I believe this wholeheartedly.
16. And yes, scientist son, I have doubts about the meaning of it all but that helps my faith grow.
17.I want to be the kind of mother-in-law that my mother-in-law is to me. She is the best!!
18. My favorite all time movies are Arthur & Dr. Zhivago.
19. My favorite all time books are Angela's Ashes & The River Why.
20. Yes, I write a sappy blog. Something I swore I would never do,and yet here I am with this list.
21. My education was hard earned and well worth it. I am an alumna of Kean U., Fairleigh Dickinson U. and Columbia U.
22. Forgiveness transcends bitterness.
23.Autumn is my favorite season.
24. Happiness is rooted in authenticity.
25. There's no place like home!