Happy Friday, Friends! How has your week been? My weekend started off lovely because I attended a creativity workshop last Saturday, and then I took my boy Westie to the vet because of a suspected ear infection. Not only did he have an ear infection, but he developed an eye ulcer from scratching his ear on the carpet. Finlay is on four meds plus two eye drop prescriptions and one eye lubricant three times daily. PLUS he now has to wear the Cone of Shame 24/7 until at least Tuesday. I haven't been able to see my mother all week. Hopefully Trip or Shelley will be able to spell me this afternoon so I can go and lay eyes on her.
This week's lesson was bittersweet. We have read a few excerpts about Farrell's friend Tallu and her battle with cancer throughout this book. She sounds like a lovely person who did care about things that truly matter. I loved the message from page 205:
We have to practice what we hope for. As if what we hope for might be possible.
One aspect of their friendship was the sharing and reading of poetry as spiritual practice. Farrell even shares a list of her favorites at the end. I was familiar with a few of the poems, and I hope to have a chance to look-up the rest soon. At the creativity workshop on Saturday, my art teacher Dori shared a wonderful poem by Native American poet Mary Standing Otter that I think is fitting for our lesson this week.
Someone
Right now there are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.
Someone you haven’t met yet is already dreaming of adoring you.
Someone is writing a book that you will read in the next two years that will change how you look at life.
Nuns in the Alps are in endless vigil, praying for the Holy Spirit to alight the hearts of all of God’s children.
A farmer is looking at his organic crops and whispering, “nourish them.”
Someone wants to kiss you, to hold you, to make tea for you.
Someone is willing to lend you money, wants to know what your favorite food is, and treat you to a movie.
Someone in your orbit has something immensely valuable to give you — for free.
Something is being invented this year that will change how your generation lives, communicates, heals and passes on.
The next great song is being rehearsed.
Thousands of people are in yoga classes right now intentionally sending light out from their heart chakras and wrapping it around the earth.
Millions of children are assuming that everything is amazing and will always be that way.
Someone is in profound pain, and a few months from now, they’ll be thriving like never before. From where they are, they just can’t see it .
Someone who is craving to be partnered, to be acknowledged, to arrive, will get precisely what they want — and even more. And because that gift will be so fantastical in it’s reach and sweetness, it will quite magically alter their memory of angsty longing and render it all “So worth the wait.”
Someone has recently cracked open their joyous, genuine nature because they did the hard work of hauling years of oppression off of their psyche — this luminous juju is floating in the ether, and is accessible to you.
Someone just this second wished for world peace, in earnest.
Some civil servant is making sure that you get your mail, and your garbage is picked up, that the trains are running on time, and that you are generally safe.
Someone is dedicating their days to protecting your civil liberties and clean drinking water.
Someone is regaining their sanity.
Someone is coming back from the dead.
Someone is genuinely forgiving the seemingly unforgivable.
Someone is curing the incurable.
You. Me. Some. One. Now.
~ Mary Standing Otter
Here is this week's scripture:
Prayer Requests
Please let me know if I have missed any updates or new requests.
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She was able to get chemo this week! Praise!
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. She is really declining.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery a couple of weeks ago. Pray for her speedy recovery.
- Pray for Jenna Meon.
- Pray that the peace will hold in the Middle East.
- Please pray for our Westie Finlay. He is my best little buddy, and never left my side during my cancer treatment.
Our local Fall Festival is Saturday. I doubt I will be able to go, but hopefully one of the other adults in the household can go and purchase a few pumpkins for the Trick-Or-Treaters next week.
Have a safe and happy weekend, Friends!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
It has been a rough week, Friends. Our Sweet Rita lost her sister, Jackie. She is the first sibling (I think out of seven) that she's lost. Rita's "Jenga Tower" was definitely shaken this week. Rita, I hope that you have been able to read this week's lesson. If not, it is waiting for you when you have the chance. I think it's a very apropos lesson for us when we experience loss.
I made the soup recipe early in the week, and I'm so glad that I did because the wheels came off our wagon later in the week. It was nice having something already cooked on those nights I was too tired to cook.
This is pretty much all of the ingredients for the soup. What's missing are the beans: I already had them cooking on the stove when I made this photo. I didn't use lentils like the recipe suggested. Instead I used some of the delicious Rancho Gordo beans I had on hand, the Santa Maria Pinquito Bean.
I also added beef Polska Kielbasa sausage to it as well.
Here is this week's Bible verse:
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She was denied chemotherapy for a second time this week due to low white blood cell count.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. She is really declining.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- A tragedy has hit a small town just 3 miles from Carla's home in Cameron. A young man shot up his girlfriend's family and while doing so recorded it LIVE on Snapchat!!! They live in such small towns, that this shakes our communities. The shooting took place in Barron, Wisconsin Wednesday at 2pm.
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery a couple of weeks ago. Pray for her speedy recovery.
- Pray for Jenna Meon.
- Pray that the peace will hold in the Middle East.
I hope all of you find a little bit of joy this weekend.
I love you all!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you've had peaceful week. This week's lesson was very peaceful, wasn't it! Entitled "Faith Gazing," Farrell talks about an outing to a remote beach with her family in 2016 to watch the Perseid meteor shower. She began the lesson with this quote from Barbara Taylor Brown. It's from the book I have pictured, above (An Altar in the World), and it was our book club selection this fall at my church. Here is the quote:
Earth is so thick with divine possibility that it is a wonder we can walk anywhere without cracking our shins on altars.
I enjoyed discussing this book with the ladies in our group, and one of my favorite chapters was the one entitled "The Practice of Walking on Earth" which focuses on groundedness. Barbara Taylor Brown writes quite a bit about walking in the book, whether it's walking in a labyrinth or out in nature. Getting out in nature is a healthy way to commune with God. It gets us off our devices, and it allows us to focus on God's creation. God speaks to us through his creation, and I can't think of a more pleasant way to ponder God's presence in our lives. Here is a favorite quote from this chapter:
It will help if you do not expect God to speak to you. Just give your full attention to where you are, for once. Walk as if your life depends on it...
This weekend, we are going to the lake for a much needed break. We are planning to spend lots of time outside in nature and taking several walks. It is my prayer for our little prayer warrior group that we will spend some time experiencing God and his creation this next week. We might not see a supernatural sign of God's presence, but hopefully autumn's beauty in our respective neighborhoods will encourage us and strengthen our faith that he truly has a loving plan in place for us all.
Here is this week's Bible verse:
Prayer Requests
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She had a bad fall, and broke a tooth, jaw, and nose. Please pray that she will monitor her strength, blood sugar, and blood pressure to help minimize her chance of falling.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Pray for one of my daughters. She is struggling spiritually right now.
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. Pray for God's will concerning her placement, whether she should stay in the facility she's in now, or whether we should pursue having her committed to a long-term mental health facility.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- A tragedy has hit a small town just 3 miles from Carla's home in Cameron. A young man shot up his girlfriend's family and while doing so recorded it LIVE on Snapchat!!! They live in such small towns, that this shakes our communities. The shooting took place in Barron, Wisconsin Wednesday at 2pm.
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery last week. Pray for her speedy recovery.
- Travel mercies for Rita's oldest daughter and sil. They are traveling overseas.
- Pray for Jenna Meon.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week!
Now go outside! ;P
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, and Welcome October! How was your week, Friends? I'm still spending lots of time taking care of my mother's business. It's a challenge, yet I'm thankful that I'm healthy enough to do all the things. So many people I know are having health problems, and I think stress is to blame for some of it.
I'm trying very hard to manage my stress level. What about you? Do you have any tips or tricks about stress management to share with us? I think hugs given and received help. I loved Farrell's story about Mikey's Deli on the Santa Monica Pier. Hugs are the best, and I am totally there for a café serving hugs.
This is a photo I took of the Santa Monica Pier on December 30, 2023.
I did not go to Mikey's Deli, and I hate I missed out on it!
Loving others and showing affection is so important in our world. Love overcomes hate, and it is a constant choice on our part. This week I read a devotion from Richard Rohr. This is what he said about making "a choice for love."
I'm giving you a new commandment so you'll know where I am, and who I am: "You must love one another."There is no other way we can know who God is---- or who we truly are--- but to love and be loved. Love is not something we decide to do now and then.Love is who we are. Our basic, foundational existence --- created in the image of the Trinity--- is love. Remember, Trinity is saying that God is not anisolated divine being. God is a quality of relationship itself, an event of communion, an infinite flow of outpouring.Love, like forgiveness, is a decision. It's a decision in our minds and in our hearts. And we better make it early in the day, because once we're given a few hours into low-level resentment, anger, or disappointment, it's too late. When we are not choosing love, we'll use any excuse to be unhappy or irritated.We have to recognize ahead of time when we are not living in love. This is surely why a morning prayer or practice is so important--- to allow us to choose to love each and every day.
Speaking of expressions of love.... I made the Moelluex au Chocolat recipe. Molluex means "soft" in English, and these soufflés are super soft and delicious. They are like a hug in a ramekin, I tell ya! They were easy, although the folding-in of the meringue was a bit slow and tedious, but OH! so worth it!
I enjoyed this lesson so much this week. What are your thoughts about the lesson?
Here is this week's Bible verse:
Prayer Requests
Our list is getting rather lengthy, but that is okay, y'all. It is a privilege to pray for you, your families, your communities, and our nation. Thank-you for being a prayer warrior!
- Please pray for our blog friend Emily (McGriff) and her husband Jim because they both have COVID. Emily's blog is The French Hutch.
- Please pray for our blog friend Jenna Meon. She is currently in rehabilitation for her walking. She is still struggling with her standing.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She had a bad fall, and broke a tooth, jaw, and nose. Please pray that she will monitor her strength, blood sugar, and blood pressure to help minimize her chance of falling.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Pray for the victims and families of the Minneapolis Annunciation Catholic Church who were attacked in an act of despicable hate by the young man this week. Please pray for the safety of our Christian children in this country.
- Please pray that the violence from trans activists will end, and that they will get the mental health help that they so desperately need.
- Pray for the victims of the Colorado school shooting.
- Pray for Charlie Kirk's family, friends, and our nation as we heal from his assassination.
- Pray for one of my daughters. She is struggling spiritually right now.
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. Pray for God's will concerning her placement, whether she should stay in the facility she's in now, or whether we should pursue having her committed to a long-term mental health facility.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- A tragedy has hit a small town just 3 miles from Carla's home in Cameron. A young man shot up his girlfriend's family and while doing so recorded it LIVE on Snapchat!!! They live in such small towns, that this shakes our communities. The shooting took place in Barron, Wisconsin Wednesday at 2pm.
- Rita's daughter Megan is having rotator cuff surgery this morning. Her prayer is for a successful outcome and speedy recovery.
- Travel mercies for Rita's oldest daughter and sil. They are traveling out of country today, and let's pray the government shutdown does not complicate their travels.
- I am having out-patient surgery this morning at 8:15 CDT. As always, y'all's prayers are appreciated!
I'm treating myself to a PSL after surgery this morning.
YUMMY!
I will have to put my feet up a little this weekend, and I'm planning to binge watch a few British TV shows and watch Cubs Baseball and Alabama football.
What are your plans?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
All of my heirloom roses are in bloom.
Happy Friday and autumn, Friends! I think Monday was officially the first day of autumn, and it has been slightly cooler here in Central Alabama. We've also had a few thunderstorms this week, including yesterday morning.
Didn't y'all love the lesson this week! I have seen beautiful examples of kintsugi in museums, and I think it is a lovely allegory for brokenness and healing. Here is an example I found on the internet, and if you haven't googled it yet, I suggest you do and look at more kintsugi pottery. I have included a link below the photo to a site that explains all about it.
I have been struggling with my mom's situation quite a bit lately. I have felt broken emotionally. This week she got a new roommate, and she is an angel. M is an artist, and she loves to color. She is trying to encourage Mom to color with her, but Mom doesn't want to do anything. While I was talking to M, I discovered that she is the sister-in-law of one of our sweet priests at St. Stephen's. Talk about a small world!
I don't see my mother ever getting better. She doesn't want to. She is giving up, and she isn't getting the help she needs for her mental illnesses. Her care has monopolized my week, and I even had to miss my art class on Wednesday. I take the class for my mental health, and I do hate to miss. So you can imagine how much this lesson has meant to me this week, and I loved the Litany for Healing. I think I might continue reading it every morning for the foreseeable future.
Speaking of mornings, I have found that I truly function better when I start my day in prayer and in God's word. On days when I have my time with God later in the day, my day seems off. I know someone who always has her devotion time after lunch, and that's what works best for her. I think it depends on when you are at your best, because I think it's important to give God your best when you can.
I also want to share with you a sweet morning meditation from Macrina Wiederkehr. She is reflecting on this verse from Psalm 143:
The angels came at dawn bringing news of God's faithful love.They woke me early for a change. They unplugged my ears so I could hear the glorioussong of the birds.They wiped the sleep out of my eyes so I could see the silhouette of trees celebrating the dawn and the first rays of sun shimmering through the clouds.My nose was then unclogged so the aroma of dawn ---- from crisp autumn leaves to fresh morning coffee---- could delight me.The air at the tip of my fingers reminded me of the gift of touch.My hand clasped around my coffee cup felt warm and welcoming.I began my "morning watch" (my morning prayer).The touch of my knees on the floor felt right. I knelt with joy.My heart, now fully awakened, sang praises to God's faithful love.Oh, Beloved One in the heavens and in my heart, always ---- always, please, send angels at dawn, for life is not always so good as it tasted this morning.~Macrina Wiederkehr
Prayer:
Please, God, send your angels to prepare me every morning for spiritual kintsugi. Please strengthen me and help me to do your will! Thank-you for these Christian women who are prayer warriors. As the Prayer Litany from our lesson says:
Allow me to see a glimmer of hope breaking through my darkness.
Show me the way.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen!
Here is this week's Bible verse:
Thoughts?
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for our blog friend Emily (McGriff) and her husband Jim because they both have COVID. Emily's blog is The French Hutch.
- Please pray for our blog friend Jenna Meon. She is currently in rehabilitation for her walking. She is still struggling with her standing.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She had a bad fall, and broke a tooth, jaw, and nose. Please pray that she will monitor her strength, blood sugar, and blood pressure to help minimize her chance of falling.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Pray for the victims and families of the Minneapolis Annunciation Catholic Church who were attacked in an act of despicable hate by the young man this week. Please pray for the safety of our Christian children in this country.
- Please pray that the violence from trans activists will end, and that they will get the mental health help that they so desperately need.
- Pray for the victims of the Colorado school shooting.
- Pray for Charlie Kirk's family, friends, and our nation as we heal from his assassination.
- Pray for one of my daughters. She is struggling spiritually right now.
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. Pray for God's will concerning her placement, whether she should stay in the facility she's in now, or whether we should pursue having her committed to a long-term mental health facility.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- A tragedy has hit a small town just 3 miles from Carla's home in Cameron. A young man shot up his girlfriend's family and while doing so recorded it LIVE on Snapchat!!! They live in such small towns, that this shakes our communities. The shooting took place in Barron, Wisconsin Wednesday at 2pm.
- Rita's daughter Megan is having rotator cuff surgery this morning. Her prayer is for a successful outcome and speedy recovery.
- Travel mercies for Rita's oldest daughter and sil. They are traveling out of country today, and let's pray the government shutdown does not complicate their travels.
- I am having out-patient surgery this morning at 8:15 CDT. As always, y'all's prayers are appreciated!
I am planning on giving myself a little break today. After I do a couple of hours of chores, I'm going to a favorite coffee shop of mine, order a PSL, and look at a few autumn-themed books.
What are your plans for the weekend?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends.
How was your week? Mine was okay. I'm happy and grateful I had this lesson to focus on because it helped me not dwell on the evil in our world; it allowed me to focus on creativity, what I have been doing creatively this week, and what I observed from others' lives concerning their creativity.
We are made in God's image, and our Holy Father is creative! So that means that we are also creative beings.
I have been blessed to know y'all through your blogs. Blogging is definitely a creative pursuit, isn't it! I have seen your lovely homes, recipes, gardens, projects, tablescapes, and blog posts. Y'all pursue creativity often, and I hope that this lesson encouraged you as it did me. I'm sure it probably did!
I thought it would be fun to share what we've done creatively this week. I hope you will share your list in comments. Below is my list:
Weekend: I met my mom's new roommate. She knew her old one twenty-four hours before she died. I can't make this up. Bad News Bears! Her new roommate Marcy loves to color and draw with colored pencils. She's trying to coerce my mom into coloring with her. I have gathered a few art supplies and coloring books to share with them.
Marcy loves floral coloring books, so I'm giving her this one.
Monday: I received the tags pictured at the top of this post from a favorite Etsy shop. I love making tag journals, but I do not sew. Sometimes I like to treat myself to pretty tags to add to the ones I make in my journals. I spent a few minutes Monday night pondering what to do with these.
Tuesday: I didn't do much creatively, but I did get coffee with a couple of HS friends at Barnes & Noble. One of them tells stories hilariously, and she made us laugh. Dawn is a creative storyteller! I also picked-up a new coloring book for Marcy.
Wednesday: I went to my art class. I started a new painting, another gargoyle from the Cologne Cathedral.
Thursday: Yesterday was the last day of our book club at church. We've been reading and discussing An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor. Our teacher is very creative, and she always gives us little things to add to our altar we created at home.
This is the altar I made in our kitchen overlooking our family room.
I just used a tiered server for mine. Most of the goodies are from our Book Club teacher.
The white vanilla scented candles are from a friend who's a Brewers fan. ;P
Last night, we went to an opening reception for an art exhibit at Canary Gallery in downtown Birmingham. The featured artist is my art teacher, Dori DeCamillis.
I tried to get creative with my photo taking. The Canary Gallery is a lovely space!
There are pops of canary yellow, including the chandelier and the front door.
So far, my week has included lots of creative pursuits. Early this morning, I'm going to get my hair cut, and then I'm coming home to gather books I've collected for my local library's books sale that will be next month. Shelley gets off work early, and she volunteered to help me. After that, I need to finish laundry and do a few other chores before the weekend.
Did any of you try the Live to One Hundred Salad? I did not simply because one of the few things Trip won't eat is sweet potatoes. I will make it the next time he's traveling for work because I love sweet potatoes.
Here is this week's Bible verse:
This is the day that the Lord has made;let us rejoice and be glad in it.~Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
Sorry if this post isn't my best. I did not sleep well Wednesday night due to lightning and thunder. Sally gets upset, and I have to give her a tranquilizer for her anxiety. I didn't sleep well last night, either.
Prayer Requests
- Please pray for our blog friend Emily (McGriff) and her husband Jim because they both have COVID. Emily's blog is The French Hutch.
- Please pray for our blog friend Jenna Meon. She is currently in rehabilitation for her walking. She is still struggling with her standing.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She had a bad fall, and broke a tooth, jaw, and nose. Please pray that she will monitor her strength, blood sugar, and blood pressure to help minimize her chance of falling.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Pray for the victims and families of the Minneapolis Annunciation Catholic Church who were attacked in an act of despicable hate by the young man this week. Please pray for the safety of our Christian children in this country.
- Please pray that the violence from trans activists will end, and that they will get the mental health help that they so desperately need.
- Pray for the victims of the Colorado school shooting.
- Pray for Charlie Kirk's family, friends, and our nation as we heal from his assassination.
- Pray for one of my daughters. She is struggling spiritually right now.
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. Pray for God's will concerning her placement, whether she should stay in the facility she's in now, or whether we should pursue having her committed to a long-term mental health facility.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
Yes, it is! I'm currently brewing PS coffee, and I'm making a large go-cup for the drive to the salon.
Have a blessed weekend. Friends!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Finlay and a "nerve plant"
I hope you are having a blessed Friday, Friends. Because we are blessed, aren't we! Christ won when he gave up his life on the cross for us, and when he defeated death. Everything going on right now is just the denouement. We are waiting for his return, and it will happen regardless of the enemy's little temper tantrums.
It has been a sad week for our country because one of our young Christian brothers was assassinated.
Charlie Kirk was assassinated because of his faith. He was assassinated because he was effective at witnessing to others, especially Gen Z on college campuses. He was assassinated because he was an effective and respectful debater. He was assassinated because he became the big brother to millions of young men whose voices and rights were restricted due to the Marxist takeover in our colleges and universities. Not only was he a forceful voice for them, he encouraged them to be bold in their beliefs and faith. He was assassinated because he was an encourager. He was assassinated because the Marxists cannot win a policy or value debate against anyone who understands natural rights, the Constitution of the United States, and our founding's Christian values.
I have been thinking about William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming" a lot lately. If you have a chance, I would encourage you to look it up and read it soon.
The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.~William Butler Yeats"Things Fall Apart"
I think this quote is so true, however Charlie Kirk was the exception. He was the best, and he had conviction AND courage. Courage is the virtue that supports all other virtues, and Charlie had enough courage for a large army. Now it's time for many, many others to stand in the breach. We must be committed to saving our Constitutional Republic and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The only way [they] could defeat Charlie Kirk was to assassinate him. Or so they thought....
Because now Charlie is in a position of influence that Marxists cannot possibly understand because they lack understanding of what it means to have eternal life. Like the quote from our lesson on page 178:
Resurrection is our thankful reality.
I am certain that the Marxists are plotting even more assassinations as they want to silence more effective communicators. My prayer is that the enemy's plans will be thwarted, and that God will use Charlie's assassination for good. I have faith that he will.
Because of Charlie's assassination, I have been spending time thinking about how I want to live the rest of my life with the time I have remaining. I have a few ideas, and I will share them soon.
Now on to our lesson...
I thought of y'all quite a bit this week because y'all are all much better gardeners than I am. I thought it was inspiring, and I'm so happy to have read it this week because nature is so healing. I especially loved Farrell's description of her "inner garden," on how its cultivation depends on discipline. It seems like the most important things in life depend on it. I also found this lesson encouraging, right when we needed it most. God wants to work a new thing in our lives, and he is "waiting at the garden gate for us." I want to let him in and lead me so I can better serve him and humanity.
Here are the Bible verses from this week.
Sorry I had Isaiah 43:18-19 on separate graphics ;P
Were you able to plant anything this week? I actually repotted the nerve plant at the top of the post because it had outgrown its 4" pot. I decided to plant a basil plant in the empty 4" pot because we go through a lot of it. I'm hoping I can keep it healthy! Here it is:
Also I was able to make the pesto from last week's lesson. It was delicious, and a huge hit with the family. I highly recommend it if you haven't tried it yet. Because there are only three of us, I froze half of it. A little goes a long way with pesto!
I still haven't made the granola, but maybe soon. I purchase the best granola at a local bakery, so I don't know if Farrell's recipe can beat it.
Prayer Requests
- Please pray for our blog friend Emily (McGriff) and her husband Jim because they both have COVID. Emily's blog is The French Hutch.
- Please pray for our blog friend Jenna Meon. She is currently in rehabilitation for her walking. She is still struggling with her standing.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Pray for the victims and families of the Minneapolis Annunciation Catholic Church who were attacked in an act of despicable hate by the young man this week. Please pray for the safety of our Christian children in this country.
- Please pray that the violence from trans activists will end, and that they will get the mental health help that they so desperately need.
- Pray for the victims of the Colorado school shooting.
- Pray for Charlie Kirk's family, friends, and our nation as we heal from his assassination.
- Pray for one of my daughters. She is struggling spiritually right now.
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
This quote is from the book A Secret Garden. My prayer for us is to let God in so he can work a new thing in our lives.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
