Christmas Eve - Shelley and Friends

To send today's card: Christmas Eve

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Quote for the Day: And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger." LK 2:10 - 12

One more day till Christmas! Because today was Sunday I didn't do a lot for preparations .. hope to make up for that tomorrow! Certainly I don't have a choice if I want to get things done. But at least I had my mom over for dinner and that was lovely. On the way over I encouraged her to wear her mittens and we got to talking about mittens and she said, "We used to have someone in the family that liked to make mittens.... maybe it was your mother?" I didn't say anything.. because I knew my mother never made mittens. She embroidered... but did not knit or crochet.. so nope never mittens. I didn't explain to mom that she was my mother... after all why go there? Who cares about the little details like that?


Every night... yes even in the thick of preparing for Christmas.. Shelley gets a special grooming by her own private hairdresser, Sister Jane. Sister Jane was trained to be a beautician so she has to keep in practice you know!



After the grooming....when she is looking her best... then Sister Colleen and Sister Jane take her out for her last trip on the town..... or okay... her last little nightly jaunt to do her duty before a long winter's nap!

Tomorrow I hope to get some pictures of our Chapel and some of the Christmas Joy that is starting to seep through the cracks already! It is getting very close!

Blessings of Peace and Joy!
Sister Patricia

4th Sunday of Advent

To send today's card: O King of Nations

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Quote for the Day: O Emmanuel: “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” (7:14). Remember “Emmanuel” means “God is with us.” O Antiphons - FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

It's snowing! Lots of big fat flakes so we are back into winter wonderland. But the thing with big, fat snowflakes is that they have a tendency to turn into big fat wet flakes that sort of turn into rain. Which is what is forecast for tomorrow... rain and snow.... so.... maybe Santa should get out on his sleigh tonight before it melts?

I made headway on my "To Do" list in getting the chapel ready.... but I also got wounded. Not seriously mostly just enough to get me annoyed. I was pulling down the big creche from the top of a ladder and it was heavy and my fingers lost their grip and down it went. Slam... not before a brief stop on my leg - just to let me know it wasn't happy about coming down I guess. I didn't exactly swear but I did say something to the effect of "Why do we have to put this big heavy thing up so blooming high?"

I decided it needed to find a new home after Christmas. Something lower. You know like put the light things up high and the heavy things down low? Hell-o?

Then to make matters worse I noticed the other stable (the one we have been using for the last several years and is lighter and easier to handle) was right next to it. I then had to think. Do I want to use that one.... and put this heavy one back up there (not going to happen) or just go with my wounded victory of getting this one down? Such heavy decisions I have to make. I decided to go with the big one..

Can you tell I am not in a real thinking mode today? More like "just keep going . . . . you can get through this . . . . just put one step in front of the other . . . . "

I suppose I should be thinking along more spiritual lines.... but unfortunately...... I'm not..... do you think the Blessed Mother ever got a little out of sorts? She probably prayed a whole lot more than I do. That probably accounts for a lot. Sigh.

Oh well . . . . just a few more steps and it will be time for bed! Yeah. Two more days till Christmas.

Blessings of Peace and Joy!
Sister Patricia

O Radiant Dawn

To send today's card: O King of Nations

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Quote for the Day: O Rex Gentium: “O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.” Isaiah had prophesied, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (9:5), and “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (2:4) . O Antiphons - FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

Today was "clean" day in the chapel for me as I hope to bring out some of the first trimmings for Christmas tomorrow. So it was such exciting things as vacuuming and dusting. I would have taken a picture of that - but it was just too exciting to stop and go get a camera.

Early this morning before Mass I did sneak a quick snap of Sr. Rita Louise reading her advent meditation. One of our community Advent preparations (besides cleaning, cooking and trimming the halls with boughs of holly) was to have Advent sharing each day at our noon meal using the Advent reflections from these Advent booklets.



It's always surprising to see how many different ways the Spirit leads our meditations even though we all read the same thing. Sometimes they are similiar but most often they are quite unique and sharing them brings forth even more fruit!

Here is a picture of the Advent wreath which is in our chapel. It is not real big because our chapel is actually quite small... but it does bring forth a sense of growing anticipation as each week a new candle is lit.

In the Chapel everything gets a little dash of purple. I found these beautiful little candles holders several years ago and they are my great treasure for Advent and Lent.

Tonight I am totally exhausted but I feel good because I made definite headway in getting the chapel ready for the big day. One thing I did was to take a whole hour of time and plan out for each day what I need to do in order not to be frazzled and hazzled (new word but seems to fit don't don't you think?) for Midnight Mass. It really, really helps - now instead of just feeling that I have a ton of stuff to do - I have it all split out.. and I don't have to worry except for what I need to do today. Isn't it just amazing how long it takes for some of us to get organized?

I feel I am really making progress in this and that is good. Maybe reading all these organizing books and listening to Susan Rowland's seminar and reading her book.. is actually paying off!

One thing I do to keep me motivated - is break everything up into 30 minute bites. Than after every 30 minutes I get to do ten minutes of something different that I want to do! This may sound silly but what I really wanted to do was to clean up my bedroom which seems to have adopted many stray objects lately. I didn't feel justified in taking time from Chapel cleaning to do "self" clean.. but this way... I get both things done and I feel energized. My goal (this will also sound rather silly) is that on Christmas day I can just take an hour and just "sit" on my bed and enjoy being quiet and peaceful all by myself. Maybe take a nap.

I love taking naps. I have found I can take a ten or twenty nap at my desk by resting my head on the squisy mouse pad (it has one of those gel arm rest things) and it makes a totally perfect pillow. I feel a bit like romper room - but it works for me!

Only three more days tills Christmas!

Blessings of Peace and Joy!
Sister Patricia

Christmas Rush in the Monastery

To send today's card: O Radiant Dawn

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Quote for the Day: O Oriens: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.” (9:1). O Antiphons - FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

Today is the O Antiphon - O Radiant Dawn but it is also the feast of St Peter Canisisus Now I did not know anything about this St. Peter until I made a card for him last year. Then I learned a little bit. Still don't know very much.. but I love this quote of his that I used on his card.

"If you have too much to do, with God's help you will find time to do it all." St Peter Canisisus

Doesn't that just seem to be the all too perfect quote for getting ready for Christmas? Of course with me, I need it all year round.

Because we are so very close to Christmas - I will send out a Peace Card for Saturday and Sunday so you don't lose the build up with the O Antiphons. . . probably won't do the full JoyNotes though. "We'll see," as my mom would tell us when ever we wanted something but the outcome was unsure. It always seemed like a very unsatisfying answer.. but sometimes its the one that fits!

Just to share a bit of our pre-Christmas flurry (I'm sure you already have everything done and are just sitting back sipping apple cider and listening to Christmas carols) here are a few glimpses I just grabbed.



Sister Rita Louise in one of her mad dashes in and about the kitchen. Notice the drawers that all are pulled out? There is a reason for this... see next picture.



Here is innocent Shelley.. so sad.. no one is paying attention to her... and why she would never even think of jumping up on the counter and grabbing one of those Christmas cakes! The very idea!



Notice anything funny about this tree? Like some lights are not working? Like how come this tree that was supposed to save us hours and hours of time because it was all PRE-LIGHTED is taking hours and hours of time trying to figure out why its not "ALL" pre-lighted?

and finally,



This tree - IS ONE HUNDRED PER CENT PRE-LIGHTED! In fact its pretty much pre everything. Just take it out of its box, plug it into the wall and it lights up! Not only that.. it goes round and round. What more could you ask?

And less anyone should think we are NOT getting into the Christmas spirit - here is the last and final proof.

This little jewel of a clock - plays a little Christmas melody every hour on the hour. So far it's okay - because we are only in the dining room for a short period of time. I think we can survive this.

Tomorrow - I will share a bit of the more SPIRITUAL side of Christmas in the monastery. Though really, I think God is at work in every part of our Christmas preparations... the lights - the gift making, buying and wrapping...all the action and soon .....

THE BABY JESUS!

Blessings of Peace and Joy!
Sister Patricia

Root of Jesse - Christmas Elves

To send today's card: O Key of David

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Quote for the Day: O Clavis David: "O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.” Isaiah had prophesied, I will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open.” (22:22), and "His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.” (9:6). O Antiphons - FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

The Christmas countdown is definitely on. This means that whatever you "hoped" you might get done... don't even think it. Just stay cool and let it flow.

Today I did a wonderful interview with an author of a book called, "Breaking Free of the Web: Catholics and Internet Addiction" Was really good. Sister Patrice Klausing is one of the co-authors of the book and she covered a lot of interesting material - basically how to recognize when someone is getting dangerouly close to addiction, how to work to confront them, how to deal with it.. etc. It was only a half hour interview though and it seemed like we barely could touch the surface of the problem.

I keep telling myself that I am going to start posting these interviews - I think some of you would like them..... it's always the time factor though and the fact that the radio studio is on the fourth floor on a different computer and hard to scrunch everything in. Still - I am definitely going to do it.

Tonight though I'm zipping along and going to bed as soon as I can - things won't get any better on too little sleep.. I can vouch for that. The Grumpy Factor will be sooo out of control and I'll end up only getting coal for Christmas!

OH! I do have something funny to share! I got Elfed! Christmas Elves . The first one is me... the second one is my mom (who would have thought at 89 she could be such an elf?) and the other two - are Michelle ( the one responsible for this travesty) and her husband who was an innocent bystander and shall remain nameless. Thanks Michelle - I don't suppose they could come up with a version like... You got canonized or something like that? A little halo? A set of wings?



Blessings of Peace and Joy!
Sister Patricia

Holiday Eating Tips & The Cat and the Crow

To send today's card: O Root of Jesse

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Quote for the Day: O Radix Jesse: “O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.” Isaiah had prophesied, “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” (11:1), and A On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.” (11:10). Remember also that Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:1). O Antiphons - FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

Here is a cute video about a stray kitten that was adopted by a crow. Very, very cute. The Cat and the Crow

http://www.sonnyradio.com/catandcrow.html

Also - you may have read this.... last year (I think I did) but its so funny that when a friend shared it with me yesterday .. I decided not only was it worth a second read - it was even worth sharing! . Especially since so many good smells are coming from the kitchen these days.. one has to reassess things. I didn't write this of course.. but I agree with almost everything except the fruit cake part. I love Fruitcake!


HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas time!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano o ut of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday Party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at a ll cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips. Start over, but hurry -- January is just around the corner.

Blessings,
Sr. Patricia

P.S. Of course in the monastery we don't go to a lot of parties.. but its very funny. I'm sure if I did go to parties I would have to follow these tips very closely!

O Adonai - December 18

To send today's card: O Adonai

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Quote for the Day: O Adonai: “O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. ” Isaiah had prophesied, “But He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.” (11:4-5); and “Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic; yes the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will save us.” (33:22). O Antiphons - FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!



Christmas is a time when all the senses come into play... and surely delicious smells is one of the best signs that we are getting close to Jesus' birthday! Today Sister Rita Louise was baking coffee cakes. So far she hasn't had any accidents. They've all come out of the oven - just perfect. Sigh.

Even Shelley is reaping the benefits of Christmas smells. A friend came by this afternoon with a brightly wrapped package of homemade dog treats! So far nothing has appeared for the cat and the bird.... but they don't seem quite as food crazy as Shelley. The cat (Jeremiah) would of course never let on if he was... has to maintain that air of dignity don't you know ? And Pi... well Pi... he's suspicious of new food anyway - he wants to make sure its "Bird safe" before he will go over and investigate. I've been introducing him to oranges lately... and it helps if I eat my orange while he is eating his. Birds of a feather flock together applies to eating as well.

I read a neat thing today about the difference between making a New Year's Goal or a Resolution. This article was saying.. that we should make goals not resolutions - because we are more likely to keep them! Here is how the author explained it. A resolution is something specific and definite - that comes with a built in defeat factor if it doesn't work. For instance you might make a New Year's resolution to "lose ten pounds by exercising at the Gym three days a week. Well, you get started with it and then decide you don't like going to the gym... there goes that one. On the other hand if you made a resolution instead of definitely losing ten pounds but made a more general goal - of taking steps to get more exercise - than you can keep trying different activities till you hit on the one that does work for you.

Well, anyway I found it very good. Here's the link if you want to read the whole article. Goals versus Resolutions

http://stress.about.com/od/programsandpractices/a/goalsvsresoluts.htm

Blessings,
Sr. Patricia

O Wisdom - December 17

To send today's card: O Wisdom

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Quote for the Day: O Sapientia: ?O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.? Isaiah had prophesied, ?The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.? (11:2-3), and ?Wonderful is His counsel and great is His wisdom.? (28:29). O Antiphons - FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

My brother Tim sent a live Christmas tree to my mom. I was talking to him yesterday and he told about it. I thought to myself, "Hmmmm, I had better go over there and see what happened to that tree?"

Did she open it up? Did she give it away? Is it alive and well?




So Sister Colleen and Shelley volunteered to go with me to pay my mom a visit. When I got there I did not see a live tree anywhere. Hmmm...? Then I saw a long box about two feet long set against the wall. Unopened.



This could be it!
I went over and looked.
Yes indeedy.



She liked her tree!
She thought it was very cute!




She thought I should take it home with me.

I could tell she thought this would be a very, very good idea.

So we did.

We took mom back to the monastery for a visit and some dinner and took along her tree with us.

It looks very nice in our front entrance.

She thinks it looks very nice there.

We do too!

Thanks Tim!

Blessings,
Sr. Patricia

A bit mixed up... but life is

To send today's card: St John of the Cross

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Quote for the Day: And if tonight my soul may find her peace in sleep, and sink in good oblivion, and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created. D.H. Lawrence

Note: Yesterday - December 13th - I actually did plan on sending out the JoyNotes - but I spent so much time making two St. Lucy Cards that at 9:30 I just was too tired to keep moving.. So then I wrote the following this morning - but forgot to send it. Starting to crack up obviously. Anyway here is the message - and see if we do better next week.

To send card for the Feast of Saint Lucy

More St. Lucy Cards including the one with step by step instructions (and pictures) for making a Christmas Zito wreath.

Yesterday I got absolutely (well it seemed like it) nothing done. I was just too tired too function. Totally in "Dysfunction Junction." So last night when I started on the JoyNotes at 7:30 and it got to be 9:30 and I had hardly made a dent in the process - I decided this was just not going to work. So I closed down the shop and went to bed.

My mom always used to say (probably yours too) "Go to bed. Things will look better in the morning." And she is right... they look much rosier in the morning. I also found this quote that I have heard in various forms and probably said myself.. but here they have someone who is actually attributed to the quote.

No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap. ~Carrie Snow

Anyway.... I expect a little better action today! We just got back inside from our early morning "take the dog out and wake up - because its 26 degrees out there" walk. Very funny. Shelley has a pretty warm coat.. but when it is still dark and this cold she beats us back to the door. Brave dog.

Today's Peace card is why it took me two hours to get the Joy Notes started! I worked on making a card to tell you how to make your Zito Christmas wreath. Today is the day! The feast of St. Lucy. I also found a beautiful image of St. Lucy so had to make another card for her as well with that graphic. See... when you are tired you find all sorts of wonderful reasons why you should do "other stuff."

And in case you are reading this without the pictures... here is how to make the wreath.

To make your own Christmas Zito wreath find a simple round container and glue or tape (double-stick) a red, white and blue ribbon on the outside. Fill the container with dirt.

In the middle of the dirt place a big red candle with a Christmas ribbon around it tied into a bow.

Gently poke wheat berries into the dirt. Wheat berries can be found in health food stores.) Each day make sure the soil is kept warm and moist.The wheat will sprout within a day or two... each day you can watch it grow!

By December 25th the wheat will be tall enough to create a Christmas Zito Wreath!


Blessings,
Sr. Patricia

Our Lady of Guadalupe - Cleaning my Office

To send today's card: Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Quote for the Day: "I shall show my tender clemency for those who love and seek me, for all who implore my protection, who call on me in their labors and afflictions. Our Lady of Guadalupe

My Office after a day of cleaning.... you don't even want to know what it looked like before I started! Click to see larger images... maybe I'll have clean and improved ones at the end of the week. We can always hope!!

I spent a couple of hours today attacking my office. It was a counter-attack. Definitely. Because my office has been attacking me for the last several weeks and I simply had to go on the offensive and fight back. The battle is not over - but I certainly made progress. The crowning point of my major offensive was when I found a piece of paper with a set of weekly goals on it from last year. Last December as a matter of fact. The main goal that struck me was that I had "firmly" resolved to get my office clean by Christmas!

And you know what - I definitely remember achieving that goal. I had a beautiful clean office. Only it didn't last. Not even a week if I recall. Perhaps my next goal needs to be, "To keep a clean office!" Now that would be something to remember a year later!

My friend Barb came over to help me in the attack. I really didn't think that it would work to have someone help me to clean... after all how would they know what to do with stuff? But it was wonderful. She did all the filing which included making file labels. She even kept going while I was outside checking on my brother John who had come over to winterize our little pond "pump" house.

So now I am a firm believer in getting HELP when you have a mess that seems to be overwhelming.

Which by way as I think of it.... can also apply to our "Walk with God." Today was "Confession Day" in the monastery, Father Alberic gave us the opportunity to receive this sacrament after Mass. That is one thing that is really good about living in a monastery - spiritual exercises, daily prayer, adoration, confession, etc. are all scheduled in. This makes it much easier to maintain a religious life when the structure is already set up.... you don't have to go to extra lengths to fit time with God in... this actually was one of the main reasons that I decided to join the monastery. Knowing my own weaknesses and inability to stay the course on anything without help... I deliberately made the choice to put myself in a place where I could get the help to do that.

I did not enter the Monastery until I was 25 years old.... and up until that time - my life was a roller coaster of Spirituality. Some weeks I would be fervent... some months I would not.... some weeks I didn't even hardly think of God. I knew that this pattern would only continue (as fervently as I might think at any particular moment that I wouldn't) because basically I was and am a weak person.

I think all of us - whether in the Monastery or not - need to take advantage that a spiritual community offers us. Whether as member of a Church, a Bible study or spiritual group. As Christians we need always to belong to the "body" of Christ and accept help from one another in many areas... from cleaning our messes spiritually and otherwise - to working, celebrating, rejoicing, grieving... whatever. Don't do it alone...not only do you accomplish much more - with greater ease... it's also a lot more fun!

Blessings,
Sr. Patricia

Miracles big and small

To send today's card: 2nd Tuesday of Advent

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Quote for the Day: Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can. Lowell Thomas

Bit by bit the stories are coming in - I wanted to tell you.. that I have extended the date of submission to January 15th. As Christmas gets closer and closer and more and more things get packed into one's day - I decided I needed to do that.

Of course I hope you won't wait until January to send in your stories .. but if time gets away from you... there is a bit more time! One thing I am hoping to get more stories from religious priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. I value all the stories, I really do, but I hope that some of you who have committed to religious life more deeply will share an experience or two from your walk with God and prayer.

To get you started and to show they don't have to be super duper over the top stories I will share a memory of mine.

As many of you know, I've always been a little hung up on miracles. Nothing turns me off faster than someone saying, "Well, you know, God needed to use miracles in his day...because people didn't have the faith we have now!" Well, I may get some disagreement with this.. but from what I can see... there is certainly enough "lack of faith" in these times to sink a few battleships! And personally - I don't believe God ever made the decision... "That's it folks. I'm done with miracles. You're on your own. I've given you everything you need to make a go of it. Just swim now and you'll make the shore."

To that, I say, "Bah, humbug!" I believe God is as ready and willing to do miracles each and every day. And we don't have to deserve them either. Just a simple, "Ask and you shall receive" will be enough.

I also have no problem asking for miracles just for myself. I don't feel greedy at all... since God is the creator of everything I think we do more insult to his goodness and generosity by not asking! Years ago I wanted a little green parrot. I prayed every day. I went outside after dinner and walked in the garden and I often would tell whoever was listening, "Well, I'm going out to pray for my little green parrot." I would pray my rosary and look in all the trees and the sky for my little green parrot to show up.

This went on for two and a half years. Finally, the sisters decided if I wanted a parrot that bad, they would allow me to get one. So one day when we were out shopping and we had to get some supplies for the fish, I went over to the bird section of the pet store. There I found a little green parrot. He didn't look like much. He had been passed around from store to store because no one wanted to buy him. And each time he was moved he would get more unsettled, till finally he had started plucking out his own feathers.

When the clerk saw me looking at this little green parrot he said to me, "If you want to buy him, we will give you a very good price, because we think he needs to find a home soon as he is so stressed."

I walked quickly to the part of the store where Sr. Mary Rita was and told her about the little green parrot and the special price they would give me for him. She said, "Okay, you can get him!" So I did.

And guess how old Mikey was? Two and a half years old. The exact same length of time that I had been praying for him. For two and a half years my little Mikey had been in store after store with no one to take him home until he came to our home!

Mikey has gone to heaven now... and now I have my dear Pi (another answer to prayer), but I still remember how God answered my special prayer for a little green parrot.



Blessings,
Sr. Patricia

We have met the Enemy and the Enemy is us...

To send today's card: 2nd Monday of Advent

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Quote for the Day: Nobody has things just as he would like them. The thing to do is to make a success with what material I have. It is a sheer waste of time and soul-power to imagine what I would do if things were different. They are not different. Frank Crand

I set my timer for 30 minutes to work on the JoyNotes because I couldn't seem to get moving. I use a timer a lot for such occasions. It sort of forces me to at least try to accomplish something. My reward is I get to play a game of spider solitaire when the alarm goes. Yea.

Don't know exactly why I say yea though, as before I forced myself to knuckle down and get to busy, I had already played and lost three games. As a matter of fact I was rather feeling sorry for myself. Losing three games in a row sort of says something about one's ability at cards don't you think? I keep telling myself I will catch on to this.. but its not happening. Still, it seemed funner than doing the Joynotes!

I don't know why. JoyNotes are not bad to do. It's just the gettin going don't you know?

We got a little more snow today. Not much, just an inch I suppose but at least we are back in the Winter Wonderland getting close to Christmas sense. I really don't care for brown Christmases. Just not the way to do things when one lives in the North.

I was praying this morning about things I have to do and life in general and the word I seemed to get was "sabotage." The thought to go along with that was to spend some time this day, looking and praying at ways that I "self-sabotage" myself. You know the negative stuff that sort of filters down and settles and you let settle? The doubts, the procrastination, the building up of molehills into mountains and all that sort of thing.

I thought I should make a list and just look at it. Sort of like "we have met the enemy and the enemy is us." Not sure who said that. Snoopy or someone much more noble - ? Oh.. just googled it and it was Pogo - a cartoon character in the early 1970's.

Anyway the idea was to face the negatives and just sort of talk to them. You know, like, "Just how long do you intend to be staying around?" And their answer will probably be something snappy and rude like, "Just as long as you let us!"

Which of course puts the whole thing back into my court. If I am being my own worse enemy... just how long am I going to continue that and why?

No idea. If I get any break throughs I will let you know. The biggest thing I am working on is "Why can't I get moving on the new book? And why do I take on every new project that pops into my head so I have no time to work on the book? Huh? Hell-o? Is anybody home?"

Yea, the alarm went off a bit ago .... and it's time to play Spider Solitaire again!

Blessings,
Sr. Patricia

When it's smokin.. it's cookin...

To send today's card: Saint Ambrose

Send an Advent Card

Quote for the Day: “The Devil tempts that he may ruin and destroy; God tests that He may crown.” St. Ambrose

I set the fire alarm off with my cooking supper. Anyone hungry? Actually, nothing was burned, not really. Just brown as my mother would say. Fried potatoes and scrambled eggs... were delicious. Can I help if it smokes a little? Usually we close the door and open a window when I'm doing this.. but what the heck. At least we are not hooked up to the fire department - just nice little alarms that go off throughout the whole building that sound a bit like an air raid. Nothing to be worried about. Just a few flashing strobe lights in various places - a bit of pizzazz don't you know on an other wise very quiet evening.

Thankfully Pi had already gone to bed. Then again.... Pi loves noise! The more the better. He loves the vacuum cleaner - I think she thinks it is a cloud burst in the Amazon or something.. because she always spreads her wings out like she does when its shower time. Sometimes she likes to see if she can out shout the vacuum. I think she may actually do that. She can definitely get her point across when she needs to.

My big goal for this evening is to get more than six hours of sleep. That would be nice. Maybe I could think and make sense when I talk. Maybe I woudn't bite people's head off if they do something that I think is less than brilliant?

Yep, that's my big goal for this evening....

Blessings,
Sr. Patricia

JoyNotes - St. Nicholas - Shout Life

To send today's card: Saint Nicholas

Send an Advent Card

Quote for the Day: The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. Burton Hillis

Happy Feast of Saint Nicholas!

I'm in a very bad way tonight. Every little thing distracts me. First I have to go here.. then I have to go there.... sigh. I may never get this out before morning... if I don't settle myself down.

Jeremiah (cat) was in such a funny, funny pose tonight... he was laying on the couch like King Tut or something. I went to get my camera - but naturally he had moved. I took a picture anyway but his eyes didn't come out right... they make him look like a space cat from Planet Zulo or something so I decided not to share it. I think it would have affected his dignity and he's quite proud of his dignity you know.

We had lots of nice snow... but then we got lots of nice rain.... and it looks like we won't be getting any of the white stuff for at least a week. I hope we have a white Christmas. That always used to be a given but not so much anymore. Of course I used to live a little bit further north than Spokane - and we got lots of snow.

A friend today told me about a sort of Christian My space place called Shout Life So I decided to take a look and sign up and see how it goes. So far it seems nice... and you can also see how I was getting distracted by putting up my page!

Well, best get moving.... or it will be five o'clock in the morning and Sr. Colleen will be wanting me to go out with the dog and I never will have gone to bed. What a horrible thought.

Our Teleseminar tale of Woe

Hi Everyone,

It is after 9:00 and I just don't have the push right now to do the
JoyNotes....so I am going to be kind to myself .. and take a break.

Susan Rowland and I did our Teleseminar... and everything seemed to
be working on our end... except that nothing was working on the Web
site end. Twenty people or so were on the phone version.. but the
web site would not work for anyone! We had almost 500 people signed
up for the call through me and tons of others folks through Susan.
All in vain.... well, not totally you know.. but it seemed like it.

Sad... sad... sad....

Here is the letter I sent out to the friends who signed up for the
call.. and I want to share it with you.. and also the link to the
free audio. Maybe some of you will want to listen. I thought we did
pretty good! Guess I can say that since we don't have the actual
recording to prove us right or wrong!

To the wonderful friends who signed up for our free Teleseminar.


I am so sad that the web portion of our seminar did not work. Rats!
Not only that but it did not record either. Rats, again!

So that's the bad news. Got that taken care of. It was totally out
of our control - as most of you know... sometimes things work on
the internet and sometimes they don't. This was definitely one of
those sad "don't" times.

The good news.. or sort of good news is that Susan and I did a
complete audio practice of the call this morning. It came out so
good I remember thinking, "Gosh, this is scary! Does this mean the
actual one isn't going to work?" I do have a pessimistic streak in
me you know. Well that streak turned out to be right this time.

But .... we do have that recording.... and though every time you do
something it comes out a bit different.. it did come out! So there
is something... if you want to take a listen!

Free Recording

http://101prayer.com/clean

Susan also has her book available at a special discount which we
were going to offer in the program.... sigh...that's available on
the web site as well.

We apologize again for not being able to come through for you. And
a special greeting to the 20 or so friends who did join us on the
phone lines! At least we did not do it in vain!

Hope you enjoyed it!

God bless you all, each and every one. You are special!

Sister Patricia and Susan

Crazy Shelley or Crazy Sisters?

To send today's card: Saint Barbara

Quote for the Day: The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist. Pope St. Gregory the Great

All dressed up and nowhere to Go



Just so you know, other than Shelley's poor manners in gulping down other people's food now and then.... she actually does put up with quite a lot of our craziness as well! Sister Colleen decided to share her winter hat and scarf. The amazing thing is not so much that Shelley allowed her to do that .... she even allowed us to take her picture.

Oh, and just so you know it's not always Shelley! This evening at supper, Sister Rita Louise put out some of the food and Jeremiah (the cat) decided to test out the butter while no one was around.

Yesterday we had lots of snow. It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Today we had lots of rain. Up in the mountains they got 50 inches... glad we got our version in a more liquid state! Fifty inches in one day would be a bit much!

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia

P.S. There is still time to sign up for the free teleseminar I am doing with Susan Rowland today .. on "Making Room for God at Christmas - Cleaning out the Clutter." Here is the link to sign up.
Making Room for God .

6:00 pm Pacific Standard time
7:00 pm Mountain Standard time
8:00 pm Central Standard time
9:00 pm Eastern Standard time

Once you sign up - you can come back anytime and listen to the recording. So if you can't make the live call - you can always get the recording. You can also save it to your computer and pass it on to friends.
Making Room for God

http://101prayer.com/clean/

Funny Dog Story

To send today's card: Saint Francis Xavier

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

A lot of people know that email is my total downfall. I never seem to get to it. Maybe it's denial. So much of it.. how do you handle it? Most of the time I don't. I make a stab at answering a few - but the full load of it everyday... nope... just doesn't happen. I expect my purgatory will be taking care of all the emails I didn't take care of in my life. Woe

The thing is though. I love e-mail. I really do. It's just I don't have time to answer most of them and then I feel bad and then I decide the only way to deal with it is to play a game of spider solitaire. Chalk up another day in purgatory.

Oh... but now and then --- life breaks through and I get a wonderful email that I have to answer.. right this minute.. or at least share.... and here is one. It actually wasn't an email.. it was a comment on my blog (I copy the peace care text and put it on the blog.. so if you get this.. you also get what is in the blog.) Anyway this was in response to when I wrote about Shelley eating the peanut butter we were supposed to have for dinner We did by the way, have peanut butter... just not the serving she helped herself too!

This is from Diane - seems like it should be printed up in Reader's Digest or something.. just so funny!



It is not the owners it is the dog.



I have two cocker spaniels and two puppies who have not gone to their new homes yet. I, as well as my family members, have paid for as well as invested much time in training, however , as I was told on the last day of the last class, These wonderful animals are in fact animals. They like food and no matter how well trained they are, they will still like food.

A few years ago my son , who usually buys school lunches decided to pack a lunch because he did not like what was on the menu. We packed a roast beef sandwich and a few other items and he was on his way.

Later in the morning I got a call. It was my son asking if I would pack him another lunch and bring it to school. When I asked what happened to the lunch I previously packed (hoping that he gave it to a less fortunate child or something noble), I was told that I wouldn't believe him if he told me.

When I showed up at the school I got an explanation that , coming from my son, I probably would not have believed. It seemed that the local police department had brought in drug sniffing dogs to do locker checks. Another local police unit brought their dogs in to help be trained by the current service animals. As they approached my son's locker one novice dog became excited. He signaled that he detected something.

The no tolerance school cut my son's lock off, opened the locker allowing the dog access. Access to my son's lunch that is. (I guess this dog had a thing for Roast Beef ) He pulled the lunch bag out grabbed his sandwich and began to eat it (ziplock baggie and all)

The officer took the sandwich from the dog and examined it for drugs but only found roast beef and cheese. Another dog was brought to the locker and the locker searched but no drugs were present.

The embarrassed officer was very apologetic and immediately offered to pay for a new lock and a school lunch . We all had a big laugh. Amazingly this dog is now one of the top K9 s on the force. Just goes to show !


Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia

P.S. There is still time to sign up for the free teleseminar I am doing with Susan Rowland tomorrow .. on "Making Room for God at Christmas - Cleaning out the Clutter." Here is the link to sign up. Making Room for God .