New website

Catholic Online hosted my website for about 20 years. They invited me to be hosted by them and actually made my first website. Dennis Chang made the subsequent one -- the one I had most of all these years. Until recently, that is. Catholic Online send an email that they longer be hosting websites. So, thanks be to God, and oh so providentially, a friend had offered to make a new website for me. He kept the look of my beautiful site designed by Dennis, but simplified it. Over the years it has become hopelessly complicated (my doing) and out of date. (Tech savvy, I'm not.). Anyway, this blog is changed over to the new blog on my new website. It will be kept up with more than before and used to show detail and what's new in my catalog. And, just in case anyone is actually reading this, I would love to share my joy at being asked by the US Government to make the gift that would be presented to Pope Francis on the occasion of his election. I made him a Koa rosary and I had a Koa box made as well. Check it all out on www.heirloomrosaries.com.

Life's Short

I have neglected my blog. I guess I'm not a blogger, but I have to say something just so I know I'm still here.

Recently, one of our Basic Christian Community cell group members passed away from us to the Lord. He suffered from cancer. When I say I miss him, it doesn't convey the sense of loss. There's a big hole where he was.

And another woman who was a sister in law to two other members of our BCC group also passed away. We have been praying for her for 3 years. And, another young man, only 22, with a young wife and new baby is in the last stages of cancer. I've been reflecting on the shortness of life. It's so important to keep the long view when we're tempted to let our emotions take us over. Why waste our time on bitterness, fear and worry when the Lord is always near and loves us more than we can ever know. The Blessed Mother and Joseph didn't have it easy in their life on earth. There was hardship after hardship yet they were always provided for. Life is too short for feuds, worry, anger or fear. These things just bring us down. Our loving, real God has everything in His hands. Trust.

Trust

We've been computer less for nearly two months. Our computer has been in and out of the shop and never could be completely fixed. By God's grace, Apple volunteered to give us a completely new computer! I didn't even ask (or even think to ask). So thank You, Lord!

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I wrote on this blog. I guess everything I have to say is said at our cell groups or RCIA. But what the Lord seems to be trying to teach me is about being honorable. When I lived in Pennsylvania, we lived near the Amish people. When anyone dealt with the Amish, you knew you would be dealing with someone who would be straight with you. It would be a top quality product at a fair price. We could trust their word. They were honorable. We're all called to be holy. It was a good reminder to read again the letters od Peter, James, and John.

Wouldn't it be a game changer if dealing with a Catholic automatically meant you could trust his or her actions to be fair and trustworthy? After all, it's now about us, it about living for the Glory of God.

Another thing he's been showing me is a way to die to self every day in a million small ways. If we offer up each and every little thing that doesn't go our way for some specific intention (or for the Glory of His Name), we make a beautiful gift of the moments of our day to Him who uses our big and little sacrifices in ways we can't understand right now. The suffering is momentary, but the beauty of the gift lives on.

God bless us all and help us to get there, forth sake of His Name.

Sleeping on the Job?

So long since I posted. I've been tied up with my family some of which came for the whole summer. Such joy and certainly no time for sleeping on the job of being mom and grandma.

The Lord has continued to teach me what it means to follow Him. Obedience to each moment and a "yes" to all He asks. I feel the call to do away with excess and to stop "having and getting". Times might get rough for all of us but I know He has a plan and it's for our good. The ones who have should help those who are struggling.

My pledge to Him is to try to make my rosaries with care and at as low a price as I can. Silver has risen dramatically. I wish I could afford to give them away, but I just can't.

Let's pray for one another.

All is Well

Last week, I had what felt like an explosion in my well ordered, peaceful life. I had a choice of doing what I knew was right or pleasing someone important to me in order to keep peace. I tried to get my mind around doing the thing that would keep peace between us, but the Lord had another plan. I did the right thing by God's design and, although the person went through a little melt down, it all came right in the end. I wish I didn't have to talk so cryptically but it has to do with spiritual direction and confidentiality. The point is, we worry and fret, but really, all is well. We think we have to fix the problem. But the Lord is with us. Right with us... By our side... Within us... and all is under His control. This morning in my prayer, I opened the Bible to 2 Cor:4:17-18. It says: "Yes, the troubles which are soon over, though they weigh little, train us for the carrying of a weight of eternal glory which is out of all proportion to them. And so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are invisible; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal." This tells me that ALL that happens is for our good and when we turn to Jesus (and our Blessed Mother, who so understands), we are building our future home in glory. Our focus needs to be what is happening in the Unseen.

When we leave things in the Lord's hands, He begins to work it all out. I believe this and have seen it over and over again. So why do I worry at all??

Speak Without Fear

We went to the Marian Conference last weekend. So many inspiring stories of people encountering the Lord and His Mother. It was like going to the fountain for a long drink of refreshing water. My spirit was so stirred up. I came away from there with new resolve to speak out without fear. We have to share our experience of the Lord and the fruit of our prayer. So many souls going along their merry way without a thought for God and where they will wind up with their time on earth is over. One time the Lord seemed to say to me: "go and tell what the Lord has done for you". I guess that's the most effective way of sharing faith. Preaching at people sure doesn't do it, now does it?

Nice Surprise

I just heard from an old customer from about 13 years ago. He was just a very young man back then, but now he has a family. His little girl seems to have memories from her time in heaven. Our soul came from God and we will, in a very short time (in the whole scheme of things), will return to Him. How are we spending our time on earth? I have to ask myself if I'm doing enough to further the Kingdom of God. Am I going out to proclaim it? Or am I watching those I love and others rush by without giving a God a glance.

How blessed is that little girl to have a father who recognizes what's happening and can guide her on her path.
I pray the Lord will show me how to serve Him this day.