New Year Blessings to All

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time for war,
And a time for peace.
--Ecclesiastes 3 The Holy Bible

The Holy Innocents (1st century)

The Holy Innocents were the children mentioned in Matthew 2:16-18. "When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

“Jesus has just been born"

Christmas. The carols sing Venite, venite, ``O come ye, O come ye.'' Let us go to him. He has just been born. After contemplating how Mary and Joseph care for the Child, I now dare to hint to you: Look at him again, gaze at him without ceasing. (The Forge, 549)

A decree of Caesar Augustus has been proclaimed, ordering the whole world to be enrolled. For this purpose, every person must go to the city of his ancestors. —Since Joseph is of the house and family of David, he goes with the Virgin Mary from Nazareth to the city called Bethlehem, in Judea (Luke 2:1-5).

And in Bethlehem is born our God: Jesus Christ! —There is no room at the inn: He is born in a stable. —And His Mother wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger.

Cold. —Poverty... —I am Joseph’s little servant. —How good Joseph is! —He treats me like a father. —He even forgives me if I take the Child in my arms and spend hour after hour saying sweet and loving things to Him!...

And I kiss Him —you kiss Him too! —and I rock Him in my arms, and I sing to Him, and I call Him King, Love, my God, my Only-one, my All!... How beautiful is the Child and how short the decade! (Holy Rosary, Third Joyful Mystery)

Courtesy of Opus Dei Daily Message

Christmas blessings

I won't be back until after the first of the year to blogging. May you and yours have a very merry and blessed Christmas season and new year ahead. God bless!

Noah Didn't Wait....re-visited

I thought I'd go ahead and re-post this particular piece; first, it has a beautiful wintry Noah and the Ark scene, and next, a kind person had left a comment regarding the reflection below, but they left it on one of my poetry friday posts that appeared above this original post in October. So, I'll include the comment along with this. Kind blessings to them. This "nugget" is certainly good food for thought. God bless!

Nugget: Noah Didn't Wait For His Ship To Come In - He Built One.

Seize the moment! "Miracles are coming by you or to you every day" (Oral Roberts). Today was once the future from which you expected so much in the past. Live for today.

Don't let what you have within your grasp today be missed entirely because only the future intrigued you and the past disheartened you. Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.

When can you live if not now? All the answers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today. The future that you long and dream for begins today. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."

The Bible says, "Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Ps. 90:12). Marie Edgeworth said, "There is no moment like the present. The man who will not execute his resolutions when they are fresh on him can have no hope from them afterwards; for they will be dissipated, lost, and perished in the hurry and scurry of the world, or sunk in the slough of indolence."

The regrets that most people experience in life come from failing to act when having an opportunity. Today, well lived, will prepare you for both the opportunities and obstacles of tomorrow.

Few know when to rise to the occasion. Most only know when to sit. Many spend too much time dreaming of the future, never realizing that a little of it arrives every day. I agree with Jonathan Swift when he said, "May you live all the days of your life."

Know the real value of today.



- John Mason, from the book
Conquering An Enemy Called Average

Comment from 12/18/06:
MM said:

Hello Denise,

We just wanted to thank you for posting a Nugget by author John Mason. We hope it has been a great encouragement and motivation to your readers. God bless you!

- Insight
www.freshword.com

Christmas here and there

A nice gift recommendation:

Beautiful hardbound pop-up book: The Nativity (Six Glorious Pop-up Scenes) by Francesca Crespi.

And don't forget to visit O Night Divine, a blog all about the celebration of all-things-Christmas by some great homeschooling moms.

Poetry Friday

Today for Poetry Friday I submit the song lyrics of Winter Wonderland. I love "old" songs as you know - circa 1930s in this case. This is one of my favorite holiday songs and even tho' there's no winter wonderland here in our part of Ohio quite yet, (moderate temps today and lots of sun!), this song will soon be very appropriate!

Winter Wonderland
By Dick Smith, Felix Bernard 1934


Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
in the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
we're happy tonight,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
as we go along,
walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
we'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
when you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
the plans that we've made,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
in the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
we're happy tonight,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
as we go along,
walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
and pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
until the alligators knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Walking in a winter wonderland,
walking in a winter wonderland.

To visit this song and hear it's tune, follow this LINK.

Thankful Thursday

Oops, almost forgot! Thank you, Cay, for reminding it's Thankful Thursday.

I am thankful for friends who let me have my hissy fits, and are still my friends :) I am very grateful also for the "kind" voices in my life; they have been a calming, reassuring and healing balm to the very depths of my soul lately. God bless you all. Even the smallest kindness is a great kindness indeed.

A Feast of Songs

I love great music, and the older the better! Ah, a great collection of festive holiday music from around the world, circa middle ages. It's truly enchanting (and it makes a great gift). To listen to each sample track, follow the LINK.

A Feast of Songs
Holiday Music from the Middle Ages

True Peace and Reconciliation

During this time of Advent preparation, much is said about Reconciliation; both formally speaking, as in the Sacrament of Confession, penance services and so forth, but also deeply and personally within, in those secret and perhaps restless interiors of ours that are in need of healing and peace and true reconciliation that is only facilitated by Our God and His mercy, graces and love toward us. Oswald Sobrino challenges and writes eloquently on just this subject in his recent post: The Placebo Approach.

Juan Diego

St. Juan Diego (1474-1548)Juan Diego was a Mexican farmer and weaver. The Blessed Mother appeared to him twice. When the local bishop asked him to prove it, he opened his cloak to reveal dozens of Castillian roses which could not be grown in Mexico, along with a glowing image of Our Lady emblazoned on the inside. Soon after, a church was built on the site where Our Lady appeared to him.

Beatitudes of Married Couples

This comes by way of my friend Esther.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO COMFORT EACH OTHER -- who provide a refuge and sanctuary from the chill winds of the world; whose marriage is a hearth from which comes peace, harmony, and warmth of soul and spirit.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER -- who listen to not only words, but non-verbal language of tone and expression; who listen to understand rather than to argue.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO SHOW AFFECTION -- who warm each other with their soothing touch; who remember that just as babies can die from lack of affection, so can marriages wither from a lack of closeness.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO RESPECT EACH OTHER -- who remember that the most important quality in marriage is to HONOR each other.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO CAN BE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS -- who remember that friendship can be a peaceful island, in a world of turmoil and strife; who can reflect upon the tranquility of future years shared with a true friend; who are not battling enemies under the same roof.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO ALLOW EACH OTHER TO BE UNIQUE -- who do not seek to force each other into a new mold that can only fit with much pain and discomfort; who accept the other as God made us.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO ARE OPEN WITH EACH OTHER -- who avoid secretness that causes suspicion and doubt; who trust and reveal themselves to each other even as a budding rose opens to reveal its beauty and fragrance.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO CHERISH THEIR UNION -- who let no one separate their togetherness, not another person, nor friend, nor worldly possessions.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO GIVE EACH OTHER APPROVAL -- who see that compliments encourage confidence in the other, while criticism divides; who do not point out the other's mistakes, for all too soon each will discover their own faults.

BLESSED ARE MARRIED COUPLES WHO LOVE ONE ANOTHER -- love is the river of life -- an eternal source of recreating one's self and each other. Above all else -- LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS CHRIST HAS LOVED US.

"Virgin and Child" by Sassoferrato (Giovanni Battista Salvi)

One of my favorite Madonna and child depictions. To find more, follow this LINK.

Christmas Song Meme, me-me-me-me.....

I was tagged with the Christmas Song Meme, by Esther. There are so many favorites, it was hard to stick to the limit! But here's my offering:

Name Your Favorite 5 Christmas Hymns

1. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. Cradle Song/Away in A Manger
4. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
5. Silent Night

Name Your 5 Favorite Other Christmas Songs

1. Go Tell it on the Mountain
2. Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland
3. White Christmas
4. I Wonder, as I Wander
5. The Holly and the Ivy

Name Your 5 Favorite Humorous Christmas Songs

1. It's Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas
2. I Want a Hippopatamus for Christmas
3. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
4. All I Want for Christmas is my two front teeth
5. Jingle Bell Rock

I tag the following bloggers:

Anyone who reads this and wants to join in the fun!

Confession 101

Check this out, a new publication called: Confession 101, by Sr. Patricia of the Franciscan Monastery of Saint Clare. To see the release of the book, follow this LINK. To view a video presentation of Sister, follow this LINK.