Soulfull Weeks Sixteen and Seventeen

 

New Dawn Rose

I wanted to share with y'all a couple of photos of our New Dawn Rose.  It has been blooming profusely this spring.  Mr. Prayer Warrior has been training it to climb outside my art studio window (downstairs) and Shelley's bedroom window (upstairs).

Happy Friday, Friends!  First of all, I want to apologize for not posting last week.  It has been a difficult couple of weeks being an advocate for my mother.  The few times I had the chance to sit it my computer was to write letters of concern to the insurance company on her behalf.  After two rounds of appeals, I'm happy to say that we won!  I am so, so grateful for your prayers!  Whenever things have not gone well and we've suffered disappointment, within days and sometimes hours God provided a much better alternative.  God is so good!

Today is my birthday, and I'm sixty.  I am so happy to be here, y'all!  The very first thing this morning I am going to get my hair cut.  I can't get used to my dark, wavy, post-chemo hair.  Plus it's thick...I hardly recognize myself.  After that I'm going straight to Target because I need to purchase many things for furnishing my mother's new studio apartment.  We will be moving her things in tomorrow and Sunday, and hopefully, she will be moving in on Monday.  It's almost like moving a student into a dorm except we have to provide all the furniture, too.  Most of my mother's furniture is much too large in scale, so we're starting from scratch.  This afternoon, we will be going to my hometown to conduct business for Mom and to pack more of her clothes and a few personal items.  We will also begin the process of cleaning out because we will be renting her home (for now) to supplement her income.

Now on to our lessons.  I will briefly discuss each of them, and I'd love to read your comments about the lessons, too.

Week sixteen's lesson is entitled "Tree Hugger."  I enjoyed the lesson so much, and last week I actually read about (and watched a video) of how scientists at the University of Trinity in Dublin are using AI to give voice to a 200 year old tree.  Here is the LINK for an article if you're interested in reading about the project.  But the basic lesson last week is this:  We are part of a community, and let's allow others to see God's love through us as we soldier on through our days and weeks.  Farrell also shares her recipe for roasted chicken.  It is so easy to do, and sometimes when we need a comfort meal, I'll roast a chicken and serve it with rice, a green vegetable, and salad.

I'm fairly sure that most of you have roasted a chicken before.  But if not, it is much easier than one would think.

This is what my roasted chicken looks like.

You may read my post about it HERE.

Below is an older graphic for last week's scripture.  Clearly I posted it at some point during the fall.

If you're Episcopalian, then you recognize this because we hear it every Sunday before the offering.

For the lesson, Farrell used the ERV translation:

Live a life of love.

~Ephesians 5:2 (ERV)

Week seventeen's lesson is entitled "Cut a New Destiny."  Oh, how this lesson makes my very soul sing!  I love how Matisse did not let his circumstances squelch his creativity.  I personally love his collage artwork better than some of his paintings.  The lesson mentions his final commission, La Chapelle du Rosaire.

Please click on this LINK if you want to read more about this gorgeous chapel in Southern France.

Farrell concludes this lesson with another creative recipe she and her son developed during the COVID insanity.  Creativity can and will save your life and more importantly, your soul.  The reason that this lesson speaks to me is that my mother has given up.  It's heartbreaking because she was blessed with health and wealth, and she has thrown her blessings away with both arms.  I don't know if she can be helped or not; I can only pray for her at this point.

Did you try the Chicky Parmesan recipe?  I have not because I have not had time to cook hardly at all since we came home from our trip.  Once mom is moved in and settled, I will try this one and post about it.

Here is the scripture for this week's lesson:

Prayer Requests

• Kris's MIL took a horrible fall. She broke a lot of bones in her face and had to have many stitches. She has been in a lot of pain.  Pray that she will be amenable to having home healthcare so she can remain independent.
• Pray for Kitty's grandson Connor as he trains as a corrections officer.
• Pray for Carla that she will be able to effect real and meaningful change in her village.  She is serving on committees, and her village needs her conservative leadership!
• PRAISE:  Carla is getting a new family member!  She's getting a daughter-in-law (Sam proposed to Cate, and she said YES)!  
• Pray for Kitty's son Mike that he can find a job that uses his talents.  He is a very talented artist!
• Rita's daughters need our prayers.  One is finishing up her masters this semester, and the other is having an especially hard time balancing work/school/home life. Pray for God's strength, patience and guidance as they each navigate their own course.
• Please keep Rita's sister who moved to West Virginia in November in prayer as she's healing from knee replacement surgery.
• Please pray for Carla's friend C.M.H who has joined the United States Army. Carla and her family are so proud of him. He will be 23 in June, and he is a dear friend of her boys. He was in their homeschool group.  He will leave for basic training at Fort Jackson May 22. He is her son Atticus' best friend.  What is interesting about this... Carla's son Sam also did his basic at Fort Jackson.
• Pray for my mother, that she will be cooperative at the SNF.  
• Please pray for our blog friend Jenna Meon.  She is currently in rehabilitation for her walking.

Have a lovely weekend, Friends!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill