Excellent Blog Award

Thanks Tracy for nominating me for this blog award. Awards aside, I am just happy that anyone reads my blog so thank you for reading and leaving kind comments.

The instructions say to nominate 10 blogs. (I did 13...)These are blogs that I thoroughly enjoy for various reasons. Whether it is about food, family, or faith I try to check in and see what's happening in their part of the world at least every week. They are each excellent in their own way.

Aprovechar
Barren Wheatfield
Don Mills Diva
Ginger Lemon Girl
Gluten Free in Georgia and Florida
Just Bento
Kristiapplesauce
Living Out Loud
Martha Martha
Secret Agent Mama
Tracy's Simple Life
Vera Sytch's Posts
View from the Pews

I'm not sure if they read MY blog, but I sure enjoy theirs. I know some may not participate due to the format of their blogs...but that's ok. Like they say, the pleasure is in just being nominated. And they are still excellent.

Everyday Faith

My words made it into the church newsletter:

Every day that I take a step closer to God my faith grows.

Even the small steps and most of them are very small steps. But they count. I look back and I think of all the blessings I never thanked Him for and how little of my time I gave to Him. And He loved me anyway. And He waited. He waited for me to realize the richness of life when I put Him first.

A few years ago I started to recognize the difference between time spent with and without God. And it began to bother me that the time I spent with Him was so small compared to the rest of my day. I never thought I should just be praying and contemplating all day. But I wondered about the wasted hours. Often they were mindless activities seemingly harmless but for me, they were daily habits. I routinely incorporated time for these into my day like an appointment: watching a morning talk show, listening to the news, stopping for a coffee.

Did I have appointments with God? Did I have habits that included Him in my life? There were a few but they were nothing compared to the others.

So I started praying a little more and making a conscious choice about how I spent my time. At first it seemed less than inspirational, I will admit! But somewhere along the way there was a seed of joy that started to grow and I was actually happy thinking about this “God time”. It was like getting to see a friend.

I remember coming home from work and anticipating my prayer time! I used to come home and immediately put the TV on to watch reruns of shows I had already seen. And I justified it by saying it was my time to relax. Now the time I spent with God was the most relaxing time of my day even though it was still a fraction of my total day.

It really started with just a few extra minutes of prayer. Sometimes I just said the name of Jesus and thank you. I bought inspirational books to read, started a gratitude journal, read the Psalms and the daily mass readings, said The Rosary. Someone told me about Catholic web sites, radio and television, especially EWTN (The Eternal Word Television Network) I attend Eucharistic Adoration to be with Jesus. And most importantly receive The Eucharist at mass.

It all started with just a few minutes of prayer and putting God first. Life is still filled with challenges but I feel a quiet confidence that God is with me as I face them.

It’s everyday faith.

Africa

I am inspired by the blog of a missionary in South Africa. In addition to the work she is doing, she shares her struggles and emotions. Her blog is called kristiapplesauce.

Before my husband came to Canada from Scotland he lived and worked in South Africa. He said it was the most beautiful place he had ever been. He said he wanted to go back there someday. This is one of his pictures.When I picked out the headstone for his grave, they showed me granite from different parts of the world.

I picked the one from Africa.

Habits, Healthy Eating and Bento

I can be inspired by just a word or two. After a conversation with a friend a word stays in my mind. I read a blog, click on a link and that word opens up a new world.

During my last long distance phone call with Vacation Barb (my previously known as Toronto Barb friend) she said the word "habits". "Habits are the key...". She has developed amazing habits. Right now she is flying to Hawaii with her bike in a travel box. Cycling has become a habit for her. It is like her medicine or daily vitamin. Every time I see her she looks younger, healthier. It gives her the energy to work harder, grow her business and employ more people.

She says she is inspired by my new gym and rehab regime. But she has been inspiring me for years.

Along with exercising I am making healthy food choices. I'm not saying diet. After years of yoyo dieting and the damage done by wheat and food allergies I want to come to some understanding with food. We have to learn to get along and live together. And I'll be doing most of the work in this relationship.

My new word is Bento. Through the world of blogs I have found the Bento box lunch. Bento boxes are a Japanese style lunch often made to be aesthetically appealing. I am now excited to make my lunch everyday. I am excited to see what beauty I can pack into a container. Until I have some blog worthy pictures these are the blogs that are inspiring me: Just Bento, Lunch in a box and Cooking Cute.

I made a birthday Bento for D.L.P. (Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great day off!). She says I should blog about it to share this healthy way of eating. And it is very healthy. It is about colour, freshness, balance. There are even government guidelines for a healthy Bento in Japan: 2 parts rice, 1 part protein and 1 part veg.

I like the definition of inspire : to affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence. Inspire is to be "in spirit". Inspiration makes me excited about my world and the gift of this life. So when a word stays with me, I pay attention. Habits, healthy eating, Bento. These are the words that inspire me today.

January Hibernation/Inspiration...

I haven't posted for a while. January is a hard month for me and anything I thought of posting sounded really negative and not so inspirational. My theory? My people are from the Mediterranean and I haven't acclimatized yet....somebody tell me again why they left??

Oh yea...a better life...yada yada...

It's cold here. There's no sun. Actually today it IS sunny but it's cold sun. See what I mean? Negative. I've been sick but I won't give you the details. It wasn't pretty. There were witnesses and they would concur.

So what am I going to do to get through this month? This is my plan: go to the gym, go to the bakery, watch videos, listen to net radio. What would I like to do? Go someplace warm and sunny with a pool.

I have a LONG way to go towards fitness but I have to tell you it really is true. It feels good to exercise. I go after work in the middle of the night. Sometimes its raining, sometimes its snowing and always I am tired. But after 30 minutes on the bike I walk better, sleep better and have less joint pain.

The Bakery is one of my weekly stops. Unlimited refill coffee cup and lessons in life. Oh and gluten free goodies. I am in love with the GF flax bread. The Baker went global. He appeared on a local radio call in show that is available on the net. He's a natural radio personality, a font of food info and when he's on again I will blog it so EVERYONE can hear My Baker.

I invested $3.97 in a DVD with old black and white TV shows from the 50's and 60's. 15 hours of viewing entertainment from a simpler time. I could critique the slowness, the silly jokes, the stereotypes but I enjoy it too much.

My radio doesn't get good reception so I am so glad that all my favs are on the net: Joyce Meyer, Relevant Radio, the CBC. I WILL be a better person.

And on a happy note we have a new addition to the family. Gracie Lou is a 120 lb St Bernard/Bull Mastiff. I'm not a dog person but I like this one. She has a sweet disposition and is really quite lovable. Pictures soon. (Be nice...she's sensitive about her size...)

What inspires you in January?

(The pic above is the place my people left...)

A New Year A New Friend

I had slept in and had minutes to get to my rehab appointment. No time for my morning tea.

Afterwards, sitting in my car, finally drinking my first cup of the day, I saw her. Walking in the bitter wind, coming from far down the street with only a short jacket and no hat to protect her from the cold. I could tell her legs were weakening. I could tell they weren't strong. She walked like me. She stopped to rest and wipe her nose then resumed the arduous task.

Her clothes were new, her hair was neat and nice. But the cold was beating her back. I knew that I couldn't do that walk. And I wondered how could she? And how could I offer help?

I slowly pulled up beside her and asked if she needed a ride, said it's too cold to be walking, asked if I could help. She said I was an angel, she hadn't known it was so cold out, didn't know if she could make it home.

Where do you live?

Near the church she answered.

That's my church I said.

She was many blocks from home and I still don't know how she managed the walk. She called me her angel again and said her legs were about to give out. I said I couldn't drive away without offering help. I said I have trouble walking too and I could tell her legs weren't going to make it any further.

We found out so much about each other in just a few minutes. Both our husbands passed away within the same time about 11 years ago. She's from Hamilton, I'm from Toronto. She moved here after her stroke to be closer to her daughter. She had been to my church a few times but only when her sister visits on holidays. The last time she went she sat on the bench near the door and someone gave her a prayer book. She said whenever she is lonely she says that prayer and feels better. She said she doesn't know many people here, doesn't have many friends. Could we have tea together? Could we meet at church?

Yes, I said. And I'll be your friend.

Letting Go

Happy New Year

This is take stock time.

And I think, for me, it is letting go time.

There are many things that I've been holding onto and this is the year that I am going to let go.

I felt it in Advent when I was getting ready for Christmas and I feel it now that we have begun the New Year.

This blog started with words, has been transformed by words, the words that change the moments of my life. And the things that I want to let go of are represented by words.

Then what is left will be that which is most important.

Here are a few of the words:

stuff...that I don't need

fear...where there is fear there is no faith

worry....same as fear

friendship...that doesn't seem quite as friendly as I once thought

food...that doesn't make me feel healthy and good

habits...bad ones

pounds...like stuff in a way

books...that don't represent what I believe

There may be more but this is a good start.

Words for Frances

Even though I did not write these words, they are posted from the very depth of my heart.

May God Bless you in this New Year.

A fire burned brightly at your birth, a singular star in the heavens–passionate, deep, powerful, brilliant. I knew that day as I held you in my arms that God had poured out His blessings on earth, that greatness would surround you and accompany you all your days. Your journey has been often dark and difficult, pierced with pain, yet shining shards of glory have never ceased to burst forth from the forge of your suffering, transcending the darkness with light unparalleled.

You have since your first day been my pride and my precious one, filled with the power of life, a jewel of great brilliance and beauty. You grew and prospered, a bright star always in my heaven, leaping to heights unbounded with grace and elegance. If you could but know your own passion, your gifts, your beauty so deep and glorious, there would be no worlds you could not conquer, no universe beyond your grasp.

Yet I have bound this very power, as foolishly I neglected that which is precious in you for baser, empty baubles of no value. Would that I had power to change such a fate, bending backwards the hands of time to start anew, to be fresh in my awe and admiration of you and all you would become and ever be. Such gifts are not granted to man–but by God’s grace I have been given this gift: that you are still my prize, my jewel, the daughter whom I love and cherish. And from this day forward shall I ever treasure this priceless jewel, this gift of God in you.

Love,

Mumsy

(with thanks to Dr Bob for these brilliant words....)