Spring!

Today I am remembering spring.... and all the hope and joy I felt as the earth sprang to life all around me. I found this image on one of my photo CDs, taken May 1, 2006, just over six months ago. Half way through the year again, and we are seeing the end of the growing season. Instead all around us in the northern hemisphere is the coming of dormancy. The body is fading, dying perhaps, but the spirit, the real life is only sleeping. It is an opportunity for more reflection.

"Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it."

Luke 17 (from the daily readings for today)

I wish you all a lovely Thanksgiving.

My "Boy"!

My "Boy"!
Originally uploaded by marylea.

Uploaded from my cameraphone, this shot was taken in August this year. He is such a happy dog!

We went for a bracing walk in the cold rain this morning, which he enjoyed. He helps me see the world with enthusiasm. He is so much fun!


Working here at home, cleaning, packing, organizing. An overcast day outside, but there is nothing dreary inside. We are so blessed.

Pope Benedict's Remarks

Celtic Cross
Originally uploaded by marylea.

If I have it right, the Pope quoted a medieval document, making the point that religious beliefs which lead to violence are misplaced. I can understand that some are offended by his reference. What I don't understand is that no one seems to find their reaction hypocritical and ironic. The visceral reaction by some within the Islamic community is the very thing which the Pope was saying is problematic. Violence will not solve our differences, although it will certainly punctuate them.

It doesn't make sense to me that voices of protest within Islam, who take offense at the Pope's remarks, can respond by calling the Pope Satan, burning his image in effigy, desicrating the American flag (the Pope is not American), torching churches in West Gaza, and vowing "war on the worshippers of the cross" (reference Reuter's news article 9/18), and then find it surprising that many in the Western world find their tactics unsavory, and misunderstand their religious views.

We are all hoping for a peaceful world in which to raise our children and live our faiths, respecting our differences. My prayer continues to be for peace. Those who speak and breathe violence do not represent the spirit of their faiths.

I love my Catholic faith and heritage. To disrespect the leader of our Church deeply offends me, and yet I am not inspired to speak of violence against them. I pray, instead for peace.

Psalm 120:2, 6
A Prayer for Deliverance

"Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue...Too long I have had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war."

Shades of Love

Shades of Love
Originally uploaded by marylea.

More beauty discovered in a garden. The original bloom is from a garden at the University of Dallas, Church of the Incarnation.

Blue and Red

Blue and Red
Originally uploaded by marylea.

These blue and red colors were vivid in my garden a couple weeks ago. Springtime and gardening rejuvinate my spirit after the long winter. Who doesn't like to see the flowers come up after the long months of winter subside?

Another month and Bethie will return home from India. We're counting the days. It isn't easy being in a foreign country, but she went to help and to learn. It will be good to welcome her home. "The Lord watches over the sojourners, he uphods the widow and the fatherlesss,..." Ps 146:9

Getting to know you...

So I have not been all that successful maintaining one blog, and here I find myself with two! Not sure if this will provide a nice opportunity for my alter ego, or if it will contain more of the drivel that runs through my mind daily, or if perchance, it may be enlightening on occasion, (if only for me!).

I started into this blog world at the constant urging of my youngest daughter, who has an active life in what they call the LJ (livejournal) crowd. So my "real" journal began there. (see my first LJ post here). It was a way for our family to stay connected, and in little ways, to share what we were doing when we were all so geographically dispersed. Now, here, at blogspot, I feel I have moved to another city, and must learn to navigate this website before I will feel "at home".

Happily, I ran into old friends yesterday, who are well connected in the blogspot community, and therefore I am making a foray here.

I have errands and chores to do today, and must to them get. I'll be back.

Considerate Listener

Considerate Listener
Originally uploaded by marylea.

Who doesn't like to be heard when something is on their mind?? Seamus listens to me, and considers my words. It's actually quite therapeutic to talk to him, since he does pay attention so well, and tilts his head at all the appropriate times.

"How did that make you feel?" "And then what happened??" "Do you want to throw the ball for me????!!!"

Seamus Rules!

Seamus Rules!
Originally uploaded by marylea.

There's nothing like a warm spring Sunday afternoon, and a little time outside playing fetch to get the kinks out! Seamus and I play ball whenever he can convince me to take a break from my other work. And he's pretty convincing...! :-)

Now I have another blog.

I don't really need another blog, but I needed an account to permit me to comment on one that was important. So now I have another blog. If only I had more to say...

;-)