I received my ashes...

I received my ashes on Ash Wednesday.

The ashes marked me as one of Christ's own.

I carry that mark on my forehead,

but I let it lodge deep in my soul.

As these ashes are infused with the joy and the sorrow

that abide within the soul of my life,

I let the holiness of those ashes

smolder with all that resides within,

giving birth to something unadulterated,

something so full of Sacred grace,

that it can be offered as a fragrant offering

to the Lord of Heaven.

I am not marked for this Wednesday only.

I am not only marked for this Lenten season,

but it seems to be a marking

that I will carry

forever.

✙

also...

Lili Ruth got her ashes--

wish I had a picture.

This is her sorting rocks at Zamma's:

☆ Chloe is 13 ☆

"Where did you come from, baby dear?

Out of the everywhere into the here..."

February 16, 1997--Chloe's birthday

Quote by Khalil Gibran

✙Julia, Summer of 1953✙

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet,

and the winds long to play with your hair."

~Khalil Gibran

❤❤❤Happy Valentine's Day❤❤❤

Make a Smilebox greeting

Winter Wonderland

(I took this picture a few minutes later--after the sun was up. I didn't make any adjustments on either photo.)

STATUE OF RECONCILIATION

The statue is by Josefina de Vasconcellos who made it at the age of 90. It was donated to Coventry Cathedral (England) by Richard Branson on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II (1995).

"Essential to the work of reconciliation is a nonjudgmental presence. We are not sent to the world to judge, to condemn, to evaluate, to classify, or to label. When we walk around as if we have to make up our mind about people and tell them what is wrong with them and how they should change, we will only create more division."

Henri Nouwen

Wonder what was wrong with Mason?

Seems like a long time ago since he was 2 years old--what a sweet little boy he was! I love him so much!

Thursdays at Zamma's

(Pretty soon Miles is going to be bigger than Lili!)

4 month old smiles scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

When I started my experiment, I thought I would just do one page. Well, it wouldn't let me do just page 7, so I quickly filled in the other pictures. I really wanted the one page where all 3 of the babies were about 4 months old--I really like that page!

Blowing Bubbles

St. Teresa of Avila--The Interior Castle

"I thought of the soul as resembling a castle,

formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal,

and containing many rooms, just as in heaven there are many mansions.

If we reflect, sisters, we shall see that the soul of the just man is but a paradise, in which, God tells us, He takes His delight.

34Prov. viii. 31: ‘Deliciæ meæ esse cum filiis hominum.’

What, do you imagine, must that dwelling be in which a King so mighty, so wise, and so pure, containing in Himself all good, can delight to rest?

Nothing can be compared to the great beauty and capabilities of a soul; however keen our intellects may be, they are as unable to comprehend them as to comprehend God, for, as He has told us, He created us in His own image and likeness."

St. Teresa of Avila (1550-1582), The Interior Castle or The Mansions

HaPpY 4th BiRtHdAy, Miss Sophie!

Birthday dinner @ Sumo's

You were such a little bitty baby...

2 weeks old

two years old...

4 years old today!

little angels

"Hey, Zamma, look! I'm an angel!"

You sure are, Sweetie-Pie!

She enjoyed taking pictures of the other angel...

(Do angels really sometimes get diarrhea? I did not know that.)

Belleek Teapot - 1872 design - love it!

Look what Santa brought Granny...

A tricked out vintage Schwinn cruiser!!

(That's right--it is sparkly purple and orange!)

Christmas 2009

I'm officially ready for Christmas...

View from 18th floor room of The Westin (K.C.)

The mayor's 100' Christmas tree--

My Friend Darlene (1923 - 2009)

Imagine stepping onto a shore and finding it heaven.
Imagine taking hold of a hand and finding its God's hand.
Imagine breathing new air and finding its celestial.
Imagine feeling invigorated and finding it immortality.
Imagine passing from storm & tempest to an unknown calm.

Imagine waking and finding it home.