Nonnie's Observations

kitties' Paradise, the gift of feeling secure with one another sharing with  Rebecca's  Postcards from Paradise

A friend from church recommended  Thirty-Day Devotions for the Holy Souls by Susan Tassone to our group that is meeting Sunday mornings for a six-week period.  I immediately ordered it online, and boy, am I glad that I did.   Even though the book is not in sync with the season of Lent,  I felt that Day 25’s devotion about fasting  is an excellent message for all of us who are observing Lent. What follows are Tassone’s words verbatim- “We are all called to fast.   However, not all are called to fast in the same way.   We should seek God, ask His direction,  and then follow the impulses we sense coming from Him: Fast from bitterness- feast on forgiveness. Fast from self-concern- feast on compassion for others. Fast from personal anxiety- feast on eternal truth. Fast from anger- feast on patience. Fast from words that destroy- feast on words that build. Fast from discontent- feast on gratitude. Fast from discouragement- feast on hope.” I invite you...

The bells chime,  sounding Jesus’ invitation  to enter His abode  and spend some quiet time  with Him.   Who can turn away from that summons?   Is there anything more important  than time spent with our  Lord?   Would not time spent here provide grace enough  to make all actions weave together more effortlessly?   Of course, one does not need to enter a church  to meet with  Jesus,  but the environs of a church  provides us a place built  with the intentionality of being a haven for prayer.    Why not answer the call  the next time  you hear  the bells? linking to Rebecca's Postcards from Paradise

Away in a manger, no crib for His head, the little Lord Jesus  lay down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay. The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. A reminder from our parish priest:  It is still the Christmas season and will continue to be until next Sunday. linking to  the inimitable Rebecca via Postcards from Paradise

angels, are they not? behold the cherubs' slumber safely enfolded I figure that since Jax and Ting Ting are so much a part of my life, that surely God could deem their presence as close to being angels. linking to the supreme hostess Rebecca at Postcards from Paradise

Heavenly Father,  increase our faith in the Real Presence  of Your Son Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.  We are obliged to adore Him,  to give Him thanks and to make reparation for sins. We need your peace in our hearts and among nations. We need conversion from our sins  and the mercy of Your forgiveness.   May we obtain this through prayer  and our union with the Eucharistic Lord. Our parish has Eucharistic Adoration each second Sunday of the month and on the fourth Thursday of each month. The latter is through S.E.E.D. Seeking Evangelization through Eucharistic Devotion. Father Keane had been slated as the S.E.E.D. speaker for December. In his stead,  the Eucharistic Adoration  was dedicated to him and for his soul. linking to  our gracious hostess Rebecca at Postcards from Paradise

Bishop Emeritus Higi, Father Pogue (present pastor) and Father Bates Father Bates, Father Goth (pastor of St. Lawrence)  and Bishop Emeritus Higi Father John, previous long-time pastor of St. Francis, holds the church mortgage. It has been satisfied five years ahead of time. Bishop Emeritus Higi was bishop then and dedicated the church. With great glee, Father John sets the mortgage afire. linking to the radiant Rebecca's Postcards from Paradise

Having been recently certified to teach others how to massage their infants, Aunt Chrissie hones her technique by teaching her niece Charley how to massage her month old baby Leannah. could tiny baby Leannah be cheering here? answer, possibly! lots more going on besides a soothing massage, boosting muscle strength... Go here to view more benefits of massaging babies. more Postcards from Paradise hosted by the gracious Rebecca

 a dedication to the mem'ry of my mom from my hubs and me After Mass a few weeks ago, my former partner teacher told me that she has been repairing our song books by taping the covers to the insides of the well-worn books. She had run across a book with my dedication in it. (on the chapel side where I normally sit.)   In the ten years or more that I've sat there, I had not run across this particular hymnal, and consequently, I'd forgotten about it.  (Our parish members had helped with the big outlay of money for the new books by sponsoring a dedication slip.) So I opened and closed books for the hope  that I'd spot it.   Not successful that week.  But, of course, since I posted it, you can see I was finally fruitful in my seeking. I chose this photo with the hope that this ''postcard'  might be from Paradise! more Postcards from Paradise

dwarf pansies yellow, delightful, spreading cheer! correcting name violas they are still lovely! experience cheer at Rebecca's Postcard from Paradise Kay G. commented that  her husband called these violas. I checked on Google,  and it seems to be the correct name. Here is the site that was the most helpful to see the difference between violas and pansies. They both are members of the viola species.  Nothing like learning more, even from one's mistake!   So I repost these delightful little gems via ABC Wednesday !

tulips  SOOC  time for... The letter for this week is... 't' ! One of my favorite words that begins with 't' is my  terrific, titillating and tenacious Siamese kitty Ting Ting , but she is not the subject this week. I present my tulip images. tulips HDR edited on PicMonkey   Orton edit follow this link to SOOC Sunday venture over to Rebecca's Postcards from Paradise

Oh, lovely Lady of Guadalupe, we pray for your intercession of our petitions to your Son. Visit the spirit-filled Rebecca for other postcards from Paradise at Recuerda Mi Corazon . Our parish, St. Mary Church has been blessed to host A Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The story of Juan Diego and his meeting Our Lady can be found here . 

Entreaty to Mary oh, Mother Mary, show me the path to holiness, the one you traveled,  so long ago.   your faith was fervent,  you accepted as truth  the message  from the angel Gabriel, and kept straight your role of Virgin Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. be of assistance to me so I may become more steadfast in my belief,  to see my role of evangelizing the Gospel to those in need, be they family, friends or strangers. lend your hand to me when I waver so that I stay true to my God. Amen  linking to Rebecca's  Postcards from Paradise for the first time