Thankful Thursday and Plumbing Issues

To send this card: Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi

Quote for the Day: Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. Mother Teresa

Thankful Thursday

Okay, I am thankful that I didn't drown the Sacristy more than I did.

You see it started last evening. I was working in the Sacristy when I noticed the sink was clogging up. I came up with the brilliant solution of taking a hanger (untwisting it to make it a single rod) and then shove it down the drain to see if I could sort of unsnag whatever was clogging it up.

Well, it was just the most amazing thing! I wiggled and jiggled that hanger wire a bit and then all of a sudden whatever was clogging it was free! Really free. Free like it has not been for a long time. I was so proud of myself. Sr. Patricia the plumber was in business!

This morning when Sr. Rita Louise went to empty the trash from under my sink she came to inform me that there was a flood in the sacristy. The sink is leaking she said.

Hmmmm? How could that be? I went up to investigate. It seems that Sr. Patricia the plumber had sent the little innocent wire all the way through the rusted pipe. Yes, indeedy it unclogged everything. Never before had it been so unclogged. Sr. Patricia the plumber has been let go and the real plumber will show up on Friday.

Sister Colleen said, "Yeah, pipes do eventually rust like that, not much you can do but replace them." That was a very friendly thing to say. So I am thankful for Sisters who see practicality in situations and I am also thankful that we have a friend who is a plumber. A real plumber. The kind who knows what they are doing and has tools more sophiscated than straightened out hangers. Sigh.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

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Web Link for Wednesday -

To send this card: Come Holy Spirit

Quote for the Day: Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things. Henry Ward Beecher

Wednesday's Web Link

Today's link happened without even searching for it. It is a wonderful, wonderful (add a few more wonderful's to that) wonderful video. It is fifteen minutes long and can really be life changing if you take the time to watch and listen and then think and ponder.

I got the link by visiting a friends website daily blog. My friend Philippa had loaded up this YouTube video of the 2005 commencement speech at Standford University. It is really good or at least I shall say I found it really good and I think you will too.

Steve Job

Oh and guess what? My radio interview on KBVM - the Catholic radio station in Portland, Oregon with Dina Marie went really well. At least I had lots of fun doing it which for me means it went well. No idea what the listeners thought of it. When I get the CD of it I will share it with you.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

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Tasty Tuesday - Saint Rita of Cascia

To send this card: Saint Rita of Cascia

Quote for the Day: Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things. Henry Ward Beecher

Tasty Tuesday

Today I went to the dentist... was a pain free experience but still numbing. So my sister's Barb's tasty treat below sounds especially good. And she didn't even know about the dentist... amazing how God works all these things out!

I am getting very excited about going to the RBTE (Religious Trade Book Exhibit) in Chicago next week. I think it will be lots of fun. Not sure what it will be like but I'm sure it will be fun. At least that is what I am telling myself.

Today is one of those cold, gray days that should be in March not May. Maybe its one of those inbetween rainy days to bring out the May flowers.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

Our book on Reconciliation     Our Workbook for Confession

Tasty Tip of the Week

from Barbara George

Tasty Tip for Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Berrie Smoothie

Delicious breakfast replacement you can take on the run or sip at your desk on a busy morning. Simple substitutions can change the flavor and consistency of this drink but I tried to make a recipe that was low calorie and healthy.

½ cup plain low-fat or fat free yogurt (or Banilla yogurt-will be sweeter and creamier-yummm-but increases the calories).
½ cup 1% milk
1 medium banana
1 cup frozen berries (or fresh)
2 ice cubes
2 teaspoons honey
(optional- 1-2 tablespoons wheat bran)

Blend on high til smooth. This is not a really sweet drink. If you like it sweeter, add more honey or use the sweetened yogurt. My son added a tablespoon of strawberry jam to make his sweeter. Lots of options. If you make ahead, shake well before serving. Makes 3 cups. Serving size is 1 cup.

6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, 180 calories. More fiber if you add the bran but don’t make ahead of time that way.



Our book on Reconciliation     Our Workbook for Confession

Thankful Thursday - Dog, Cat and Bird Updates

To send this card: Saint Paschal Baylon

Quote for the Day: Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God. Robert Schuller

Thankful Thursday

Before I forget, after sending out yesterday's link to the Amazing Grace page I actually got an email from Sonny Melendrez the one who does the Sonny Radio. He said several hundred people visited the page from this link and he was very pleased. So much so that he actually made up a page just for the JoyNotes crowd. http://www.SonnyRadio.com/SonnyJoyBlog.html . So if you want you can take a look! Some very inspirational things to read, short and up, up uplifting.

Today was a nice day. Shelley went to doggy day care because the lawn and trees were being sprayed and fertilized. She came home exhausted so she must have had a good time. Pi is deep into nest building. About once a week I supply him (her?) with new nesting material and she is as happy as a clam.Jeremiah has decided he is definitely a sun cat. He lies in the window for hours... ahhh such a life.

Tomrrow we are all excited because Sr. Colleen will be coming back home. She has been gone for about ten days, first to a federation meeting and then as the official delegate for our federation to celebrate the consecration of the new Poor Clare Chapel in Montana. Shelley will be sooooo glad to see her come home too, because Sr. Colleen is the one who takes care of her the most.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

Our book on Reconciliation     Our Workbook for Confession

Wonderful Wednesday Changes to Wednesday's Web Link

To send this card: Saint Margaret of Cortona

Quote for the Day: A good plan implemented today is better than a perfect plan implemented tomorrow. George S. Patton

Wonderful Wednesday

Sorry but Tasty Tuesday bit the dust before it ever got off the ground. It was one of those nights where one little delay went into another one and soon it was so late, I once again said, "What the heck, I'm going to bed!" And that was the end of Tasty Tuesday.

Hopefully Wonderful Wednesday will get further down the road. Not sure how much further though. Maybe I need to change the focus of Wednesday from Wonderful to something more specific. Something that I can use as a jumping off point for what to write about as "wonderful" is a bit too huge!

How about Wednesday's Web Link! Think I will try that for a few times and see if it helps. Hmmm.. now to come up with a web link for you. oh hum de dum...

Amazing Grace http://www.sonnyradio.com/amazinggrace.html

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

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Miracle Monday - Radio, Forgivness Channel

To send this card: Saint Matthais

Quote for the Day: We must be ever thankful for small miracles, and ever hopeful for receiving greater ones. Elmer A. Shultz

Miracle Monday

Sometimes what I think is a miracle... is how Ijust go along and then all of a sudden realize that my prayers got answered for one thing or another and I never really noticed it happening. It's like one little thing builds on another and something comes in from this way and that way and pretty soon the thing you were hoping would change or happen did and you didn't even notice.

I'm thinking in particular how my work with radio is developing. First with a fifteen minute radio program on Radio Maria than a 30 minute program.. then doing an hour a week on a secular station here in Spokane, then four hours, then we have a whole station! Now I am starting to do more radio in other directions. Very amazing and pretty miraculous if you ask me!

This one book I am reading about Forgiveness -['Forgiveness for Good' by Dr. Fred Luskin] talks about having mental channels in our head. If we are mad at someone we spend a lot of time watching the grievance channel - if we are happy all our thoughts are focused on the happy channel. Whatever we choose to tune into - is what carries us through the day. Happiness or Anger, Sadness or Hope.

Kind of a neat thought. In a lot of ways its kind of like all the new mental imaging stuff that is everywhere except that I think the roots of it are described very clearly in the Old and New Testament and several other major religions as well. "As a man thinks in his heart so is he." I've always loved that quote since I was in high school. It gives me a sense of control and decision as to how to move through my life.

I also love the quote from Scripture "Surrender to God and He will do everything for you." Somehow I do think they both work together. Not sure exactly how.. but they seem to.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

Our book on Reconciliation     Our Workbook for Confession

Mother's Day and Radio Interview

To send this card: Mother's Day Card

More Cards for Mother's Day

Quote for the Day: I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. Abraham Lincoln

Friendship Friday

Many, many blessings, prayers and good wishes for all Mothers! You are saints and blesseds! Your reward in heaven will be great!

Okay here it is. My true measure of friendship for you. I am going to share the recording of my interview on the Florida Country radio station. Other than the fact that my voice sounds a bit thin because I was like uh.. you know, nervous... it's not too bad.

Of course it didn't hurt that Roger and Tom edited it pretty nicely! http://confession101.com/radio/flradio.mp3

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

Our book on Reconciliation     Our Workbook for Confession

Thankful Thursday - Heaven Kodak Moments

To send this card: Saint Catherine of Bologna

Cards for the Feast of the Ascension Thursday or Sunday

Quote for the Day: Holy Communion keeps me full of joy. Without the presence of our divine Master in my humble chapel, I should never have been able to continue to link my life with the lepers of Moloka'i. Blessed Damien Joseph De Veuster of Moloka'i

Thankful Thursday

Today is the feast of Saint Damien of Molokai. I tried to make a card but time didn't work out. Also I couldn't find a good picture. I wonder if he would mind sending me a picture from heaven?

Wouldn't that be nice if every once in a while the saints and those we love would just send us a few kodak shots? You know, "Here I am talking to Saint Peter on my first day in Heaven." and "Oh, these are some new friends I met today over lunch." (They have to have lunch.. I love lunch...Heaven surely must have a lunch place and a breakfast place and a dinner place and all the chocolate you can eat place.") don't you think?

Okay, I'm sure the joys of heaven would make eating seem terribly paltry but it is one of the things I am thankful for. A good apetite and food to eat. Thank you God!

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

Our book on Reconciliation     Our Workbook for Confession

Eat, Sleep and Laugh

To send this card: Saint Catherine of Bologna

Cards for the Feast of the Ascension Thursday or Sunday

Quote for the Day: The next best thing to winning is losing! At least you've been in the race. Nellie Hershey Tullis

Wonderful Wednesday

Thank you for your prayers for my radio interview. I think it went very well. I hope to get an mp3 of it soon and then I will share it with you.. warts and all. I do believe it shows the power of prayer!

Today was a beautiful warm sunny day and I had my mom over for dinner. She is just the most loveliest mom in the world and also the funniest. I don't know exactly what she said or did today that was so funny.. she was just being herself and that is a warm, funny, loving person. I do remember her once saying about my dad something to the effect that he might have a lot of faults but she didn't know how she could live with anyone who didn't have a sense of humor. In that they made a perfect pair.

I think I tend to agree with her. Lucky for me, all the sisters here have a good sense of humor. I used to have this quotation on our vocation page from Saint Theresa of Avila. I love it.

She who laughs, lasts." At least that was Saint Theresa's philosophy. Theresa, a Spanish nun who founded the reformed order of the Carmelites in 1562 used to look for novices who knew how to laugh, eat and sleep. She believed that.

if they ate heartily - they were healthy,

if they slept well - they were more than likely free of serious sin,

and if they laughed - they had the necessary disposition to survive a difficult life.

Sounds like good, solid advice to me!

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters


Today's JoyNotes

Our book on Reconciliation     Our Workbook for Confession

Miracle Monday - Radio - Steve Pomper Is There Anything Wrong Officer?

To send this card: Joy to My Heart

Quote for the Day: Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish. Ovid

Miracle Monday

Well Tuesday is my last day of the Radio Publicity Class. Boo hoo, boo hoo. It has been so much fun. I am hoping and praying I can continue on my own and actually get on some other radio stations. I've made the Blessed Mother my Publicity Agent so will see how much she is into this!

Today a class mate shared the results of his first interview! I thought it was really great. He is a Seattle Police Officer and he wrote a book called, 'Is There a Problem Officer?' . I thought he did really well on the interview and it was really interesting what he was talking about. Giving tickets from the Officer's point of view. One of the things that struck me was that an officer who has just pulled you over for a traffic violiation may have just come off minutes before from the emotional trauma of investigating a homicide - so comments like, "Gosh Officer, don't you have anything better to do than dish out tickets" really isn't the best way to make his day!

If you would like to listen to his interview, Steve Pomper The Beat not only will you like it but you will learn some very important things about how to react when you get a traffic ticket or more to the point.. how to react so you don't get one!

I think my miracle for Miracle Monday is just what a transforming wonder this radio class was. From thinking I absolutely could not do this.. (but why not try).... to actually already getting booked on two radio stations and eager to find more!

If anyone knows anyone who is in radio and might be open to a radio interview... My focus is, Finding Freedom through Forgiveness - in the home, office, world.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters

Today's JoyNotes

Our book on Reconciliation     Our Workbook for Confession

Back Online and News about Jasper (the fish)

To send this card: Saints Philip and James

Quote for the Day: Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence. Helen Keller

Thankful Thursday

Well, I'm thankful that the site is back up. Guess the powers at be were changing and moving things. All is well for now. Life always has its little surprises.

Last night I did another great interview with Fr. Jim Van Vurst, OFM and put it on the air tonight. I will try and get it online for tomorrow.

Today I had a wonderful interview with Jenifer and Greg Willits - the couple who are doing the "That Catholic Show." It was a very fun interview they are quite a dynamic couple - it will be fun to see where God takes them with their latest adventure of stepping out in faith. I think very far!

Greg knows all about putting up RSS feeds and stuff like that and he is going to tutor me through the maze of understanding. Soon I will be able to post some of our weekly radio shows on itunes! That will be neat. Our bishop also has been doing a biweekly radio program that I've wanted to get as a easy download - so will be glad to start climbing this new IPOD Mountain.

Oh and guess what. I thought I had lost my little koi fish, Jasper, because we all kept looking and looking in our pond and there was no sign of him but after a week of cleaning out algae (thanks Barb - see I told you she helps me with everything!) Jasper showed up! Whew!

Sister Rita Louise was the first to see him when she was out with Shelley. I was sitting here at my desk and I wondered why she came running back to the monastery so fast. "I've found Jasper," she exclaimed excitedly, "And he's alive!"

We held our own little Resurrection Party. He was lost but has been found!

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters

Today's JoyNotes

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