As a follow up to Valentines Day, I received this from a friend on my email and isn’t it amazing how true the Spirit and message of this song really makes sence.
Gods Gift. 🙂
When we are young and first meet the one, we have a desperation to cultivate that special gift of love. We have to remember that even for 60 years marriage. the passion, the love and longing.
so, thanks Sue for this song link.
Hunter Hayes – I Want Crazy (Official Music Video)
Life can be a challenge and we all have them. I think that on this blog I have been led and guided by the Holy Spirit to write my life perspective.This process has been more intensity inspired than I had envisioned that it would be. You see, when I think of my life I see it naturally being, a son, a husband, a father, friend, and a cancer survivor in terms of my work I always was creative , I have a gourmet cooking degree and formal training in interior design, so, I cooked a whole lot for family and friends. Cooking became my hobby. Design became my passion. That aspect of my life to create beauty for others that God has shown me made me feel that the sky was the limit. The amount of options that I can come up with to satisfy my client was astounding. That was my personal gift from God. I see something that is not there, but in my minds eye it is right before me. God blessed me with with ability to bring that vision for them to fruition.
As I am writing I just got a word one again that I have heard before to explain the process that happens when a contact with a decorating client is established. So I will be talking about this soon.
The thing is , everyone one of us has our own gifts. I am just realizing that we can actually be capable of having more than one. As I am learning my old life does not have to define what I can achieve next. Different is not bad. Just a little scary I guess.
My mom always prayed for her children, my wife does the same for ours. Mothers are special gifts from God.
But, in the rhelm of seeing long term to where something like this blog would go, I had put limits on it. I had resistence and self doubt about doing this blog.
When I felt called to do this blog, I finally relented to do so. When I decided okay, I thought how long will the blog run for anyway. So, I was already looking at its quick end before I gave God his opportunity to have me serve him in the way he chose for me to . I will say this God has taken this blog to places I personally would not go. I am blessed with many friends and family who could attest to the fact that I just do not share this way with my physical voice.
This blog was to help others in order to give people hope for their tomorrow’s based on my today’s. What spills out daily onto this blog is as much of a surprise to me as it is to you. There are many times when I write something that is ready to be published and suddenly get a feeling to stop. I will then stop and pray before it gets published. This may take a week or more. The reason as I have come to understand is this, my voice through this writing is much stronger, much more articulate that my vocal voice. BTW, there are times when I do not publish a writing and erase the full blog because I felt that it was too much me and not enough God.
When I write My brain slows down and I think, evaluate and talk to God so that what is being said is 100 percent what I think that God wants presented. Like I say, that particular message may make sense to one person that God wants to see it and learn from it.
So yes, I too am always curious to see what will come out here. I am starting to believe that this blog is in fact something that is a positive in my life too.
Now, changing gears, I have been aware of the gentleman below Mr. Randy Travers for years. He is a country singer, and an actor.
LIKE ANYONE WHO IS PROCLAIMING JESUS, WE COME UNDER THE ATTACK OF EVIL THE devil DOES NOT WANT YOU TO SUCCEED. RANDY WAS UNDER AN ATTACK FOR SURE.
Listen to words of this song. It again illustrates how God is omni present in our lives we never know the reason something happens the whys and the how’s. God will take a situation and use it to take us all to a higher understanding of self, God and what he wants. Amen.
You can be 5 years old or 100 years old and God will use you where you are at to build you up and to build up your brothers and sisters.So we are in the school of life. 🙂
You want to make sure that you graduate with Honor and Respect all the while giving the glory to God. Amen
Mr. Travis has had a wonderful life but he has had his own difficulties surrounding alcohol. Every life has issues we are not perfect. And at times we are under spiritual attack.
What I did come to understand is that he has tried to reach beyond himself and has held onto his faith. God has been his rock.
I saw within the last year that he had taken a devastating stroke.
You might ask why would I put sad news about a person here on this blog?
That is a very easy question to answer. It’s easy, when I look at Randy, I see a man who has his own ministry. Bringing God and hope to others through lyrics, music, and song. True he cannot speak or sing currently but God has used him where he is at. What he has accomplished over his years is to bring love,faith and family to life for so many is pretty beautiful. He used his gift when he could. He witnessed Faith in the many movies that he acted in as well.
I know that he is still witnessing God even in his reduced capacity. Just look at how he presented at that award show. He is God strong and humble.
BTW, I walk a little better than Randy, but my left hand looks like his right hand so I get what it took for him to do what he did that night. I am blessed to have my voice still. And believe me you don’t want me to sing. 🙂 lol
We wake up again in Boston in a frozen winter wonderland . Or is it ? We have school’s closed ,roof collapses a failed transit system, ice damming on roofs causing interior water damage to many homes, sidewalks are not walkable parking lots have lost 1/2 of their parking spaces due to the large snow banks everywhere.
Having said that, we need to be grateful for the things we have, each one of us. This sudden snow scape that we are living in has it up side too. People are helping their neighbors in various ways and are pulling together to get through the moment we are living in. Mutual aide from surrounding states moved into Hanscom last night huge pieces of equipment to get the snow out of Boston and the surrounding communities.
And, we all have power in this terribly cold environment. We do have more snow coming but we will survive 🙂 SO, KEEP YOUR CHIN UP !
This writing today has been ebbing up for so long. I had written a little about this 4 years ago . But I cannot ignore it for one more moment. There Is one big fat trouble maker that is around messing with us all the time. That is the devil. He is such a nothing to me.
I have had such run in’s with him over the years of my life . We all have. Some , I brought on by my own actions. When I was younger I did not have a whole lot of the understading of the power that emotions and the words that we speak have in ours lives and others that we speak them too. Vengeance is not ours. Their is power in the spoken word. They can be good and they can be destructive.
People need to be aware of how devastating their words can be. That’s why we need to speak good all the time. It’s not being phony, it’s being loving. It’s not easy but it is a better way to live.
This point was brought to my attention recently once again when one of my good friends was recounting a terrible encounter with someone they knew. Where someone unleashed a huge amount of garbage, insanity and harmful words out of the clear blue. It was meant to devastate them .That’s evil for you. It was the devil as far as I am concerned. I really did not want to get involved but I just said it is what it is. I have known my friend for years a better person you could not find. I said to my friend we all have dealt with things like this in our lives at some point. I just counseled my friend that they needed to just be loving in prayer for that person and keep your distance to protect themself from a future assault. When people spew out hate ridiculously with n no foundation or reason then that issue is fully theirs so, you do not own it.
You see, this person who was under attack was very strong in faith so evil did not ruin their life, they were saddened for the offender that’s all. Plus the friend was no longer a friend.
I was watching Pope Francis not long ago talking about how the dev– is so jealous of the Saints and we are the future Saints by the way that we are called to live therefore it only makes since that we would be attacked. The dev– wants us devastated and feeling repressed. The greatest feeling is having God and his truth in your heart. Nothing can really bother you. Evil does not have any hold in your life.
He is bent on our destruction. Jesus saved us yes, but we need to continue to be saved. We need to stay close to God, and live the commandments to the best of our abilities.
You know they say THAT the dev– ‘s biggest success thus far in this world is that he HAS people thinking that he does not exist meanwhile he corrupts people into all different types of problems and situations. For me it was at its worst, his attack during the writings I did for the church. God was there with me but, fear was a factor for me.
I had my pastor come out and Bless my home, things settled down , my faith grew and I am careful what happenes in this house at all times there are portals that can be opened and evil that is just waiting to raise heck with you.
I do not fear the devi– I am done with that !
He has lurked around and manipulated so many people for so long. Degrading each generation slowly but surely. He has attacked the foundation of this country and our world in so many ways. Including the churches. The Popes have said it. Where their are people there is temptation. There is ego, Power, greed and selfishness, there is sin.
As I have said, it happens in every structure of society. From private, corporate entities, religions and churches , in the medical community as well. Any walk of life as a matter of fact. Where there are people there is brokeness.
Today, I will take on what has happened to my church, The Priest scandal. I remember how hard it was to find my feet with my church after this. I was disgusted. As a matter of fact I knew the 1st publicized settlement victim.
God Bless The Children
Back in the early 70,’s when I was a young alter boy myself at St. Agnes in Arlington this event occurred, I had arrived to church early and went into the waiting area outside of the inner Sacristy . Alter boys were never allowed in there and I just remember the quiet in the area, I was waiting for the priest to arrive to say mass. All of a sudden a boy came out of the inner sacistry and scurryed by. i said hello to him he barely acknowledged me and he left the church. Something was off. I could feel that as a 9 year old boy. But I would not , nor could I ever have imagined that day what happened on hallowed ground. About 18 years later it hit the newspaper, the Boston Globe and the television and I knew what had happened.
The Devil tempted this priest and he fell. The destruction that it has caused will take a very long time to recover. There are no words for what the children faced during this time. I am not a priest nor was I a victim of any clergy.
But, on a personal level I feel that every member of the Catholic church became a victim. First but foremost the abuse victims were horribly victimized and then all of innocent priests and clergy have suffered too.
I know a lot of wonderful priests and clergy who work very hard to be Christ and to bring his good news to this world. It was so hard for them to get up everyday and do their ministry work and be treated like they were all monsters. That took Faith and courage.
There were some priests who were totally innocent that were accused. They spent years in humble service but when lawyers are out getting dough for people, some people saw an opportunity to get money. So they accused and the Priest WAS removed from their ministry work and after intensive scrutiny and investigation they were cleared by Rome and the secular legal system. Where was the headline coverage of that? The devil working overtime for sure.
BTW, the abuse of children, elderly and all of us is happening in every structure of our society. No matter what faith or what political party you associate with.
Imagine if one of your family members, work colleagues, country club members were to perpetrate an act against a child does that mean that everyone connected to that organization is guilty?
Absolutely Not !
As I have said in the past, I could never be able to take this topic beyond what I just have. But, I don ‘ t have to either. I am not defending anyone who has hurt anyone including the priests they have been dealt with by our legal system And more importantly God will address them in due time.
It took me a long time to put my personal anger and disgust into a place where I could once again look at the beauty of my church.
I have to admit now that I love the traditions of my church and the sacraments. But I also acknowledge that their are many wonderful faiths with their own traditions. They are all seeking the same thing God.
In the case of my church, the biggest winner was the devil. He used some weak men and they abused innocent children and damaged the church here on Earth.
A lot of good people said I am not going to church anymore and cut themselves off from God in the Holy mass.
I have come to realize that I do not rely on an institution for my faith and relationship with God. I have personally learned that my church experience only enhances my faith walk. The traditions of my faith and church experience are important to me because my fellow parishioners rely on me as I rely on them. The church no matter what faith or denomination is its people. The same people that Jesus died on the cross for .
So, I am blessed that I have a great parish family, a Holy Priest who is always present and is doing God’s works for those that he is called to help.
But, I will say this too, I will never give up on God. I do not put my stock into any earthly institution. We are human so they too get corrupted and flawed. They are just people too.
So, I am just passing through this life on my way to the garden. 🙂
So, the devil looses because I am plugged into the source my God and he’s got me burning on all cylinders. 🙂
Yes, it’s true I disappeared from my school when I was in first grade. I remember the day very well. This event took place 46 years ago. It’s not often that I get to St. Agnes grammar school in Arlington. But when I drive by I look at where it all began back when I was a young child. It is amazing how our brain and memories call roll back time with such clarity.
I remember my biggest problem in school back when I was very young was that I was a compassionate and out going kid who had to learn to listen, follow instruction and quiet my mouth.
I was like this guy, not quite as bad but I see a lot of me there. Lol
Dennis the menace lol. Remember my wife still calls me a brat 🙂 life is good.
By the way I did not have a Mr. Wilson in my life his name was Mr. Hosford a wonderful man. He had a nice wife and no children. They were off the boat from Ireland with the thick Irish brogue.
I miss this generation of people a whole lot. They were simple living. They could be seen walking arms locked the mile or so down to church and as Mrs Hosford began to become frail Mr. Hosford would come outside with his wife their arms locked and slowly walk our neighborhood with her little hat on. He did not see her as old and frail ,Mary was still the bride that he married many years ago. Love is a beautiful thing. Like Corinthians 1 says, love bares all things.
Mr. Hosford had gorgeous flowers and said for Chri– sake an awful lot. My brothers and I were always fetching balls,friesbies, boomerang, bodies whatever from over his fence. He would say my panzies, my tulips my rose bushes. He liked us but it was hard living in a neighborhood that has 1million kids. My parents did what they could as did we but things still flew from one yard into the next.
I honesty loved my Catholic education and will never change my feelings on that. We’re the nuns or the system perfect ? No. They were human too. But they were committed to their students and service to God.
The commitment of our parents and society was different then too. The kids at school with us were at church with their families on Sundays too. There were no donut social gatherings either. Sunday’s we’re family church day, my dad got the newspaper on our way home and we spent the whole day together and had Sunday family dinner. That’s what most families did.
Fast forward 22 years ago and my kids were now beginning their education in the Catholic school system the teachers were good the nuns were nearly non existent. The parents early on had their children at the 9 am family mass and they had the donut social hour after. It was nice.
The years went by and the families just stopped going sports were the priority of the weekend schedule. It’s funny it’s not my place to judge what any one does. I kind of live my life and Don’t wrap myself up too much in anyone’s business. Life and decisions are a series of personal choices.
I am always amazed when people just speak to me and say I don’t go to church anymore. No one does. They are unsolicited comments made while just sitting amongst a group of my peers. My response is this, I do and my church is pretty packed. Since my diagnosis I think people are looking at me thinking why is he not freaking out? God, that’s why.
I am still trying to figure out my mind and emotions on so much.
I think that these beautiful people are on a journey just as I am they are just as loved and hold the same level of value to God. Those who wandered from their churches just because life’s drum beat beckoned them off to worldly things or getting up on Sunday morning was tough because they like to sleep in.
I again say, I am not judging I am simply relaying my truthful observation based on conversations and what I am witnessing with some very wonderful people.
Life will chew you up and spit you up if you let it. I for one will not allow that. My friends and future friends that are coming and talking to me because when they see me they are seeing a living mystery. A lot of these people all know what my diagnosis was.They all saw me 3 years ago May at a fundraiser that was held to benefit my family. They came and sat at my table 1 by 1 and we shared and they supported my family. My feeling is this. God has a plan that I am witnessing because that was God’s special plan for me in this life.
Okay, back on point. From a young age I was compelled to reach out. In kindergarten I attended the public school. It was 1/2 block from my home. There was only one kindergarten class there at the time. Well due to all of the children hitting the school system from large Catholic families. Lol they split the class into 2 and hired another teacher. Well I was moved to the overflow class with a lot of kids that were new to the neighborhood that I did not know. I remember a young oriental girl just crying and crying. I remembered the teacher trying to soothe her and actually was going to call her mother. When she got up I remember going to her and saying it was okay, and gave her some of my snack. She calmed down and she was fine after that at school she now had a friend as did I 🙂
Well Saint Agnes was next and I was a social kid who had to realize how to balance outreach and discipline. My little ministry at. Age 6-7 was getting me into trouble with the nuns. God bless them.
Well, the nuns had a huge amount of kids in their care and they ran a tight ship. All classes lined up in the school yard before schools first bell. We were to line up side by side in twos quietly. The nuns would come out at the bell and walk us in. It was a beautiful thing to see. This ritual was played out 3 times daily at opening bell, at mid morning recess and lastly at lunch time.
Well Danny just could not contain himself and was always yapping. Yapping to people in line to create dialogue. The nuns would give a warning and I still thought that I could get away with it.
This day was a spring day back in my 1st grade year, so I had been in school for at least 5 months by this time and I still had not assimilated into the school rule plan.
Well, this Spring day I decided to yap once again while in line after the lunch time recess.The ( teacher) nun SR.Mary Nagle said master R , WHAT did you do wrong ? I remember her face so clearly I said nothing. I felt my face turning red and steam coming out of my collar. I was so hot. She took me by the sleeve and pulled me up to the head of the line and sat me on the fire escape step and said you just sit here. I will be right back and you can tell me what you did wrong.
Well, the kids grade by grade marched by and I heard little snickers from the older kids like oh, your in big trouble. I felt such fear. So, I split I took off and walked home. I had never walked home before. My teacher apparently came right back out and I was long gone. The school went into search mode and my mother was called. My teacher was hysterical crying saying what if something happened to me. My mother was getting ready to jump in the car to go searching herself. As she opened the rear door of the house and looked down the street she saw a little figure coming along the sidewalk and sure enough it was me. She watched me from the window and grabbed the phone as she recounted the story to me. She told the school I was fine and we would see them tomorrow for the meeting.
I walked in the door and my mom greeted me and was so upset. I just remember her crying hugging me then she gave me a crack on the butt. It was well deserved and it was not abusive. It was a rare thing in my home but I needed to learn.
The next day I went for the family meeting about the incident and it was with my parents, my teacher and the principal. The teacher was so loving and the principal was very stern. ( good cop, bad cop ) I guess. They in concert with my mom and dad discussed the whole event with me explaining the wrong in it. I will never forget that my teacher Sr.Mary Angle said to me that she should not have left me unattended even for a moment. I learned my lesson finally. The principal did assign a punishment as well that I was expected to do it and I did. I swept the coat press closet out. It wasn’t a big thing but for a 1st grader it was but Sr. helped me. 🙂
Things to remember about 46 years ago was this. We did not have locked doors on our homes. We did not lock our cars. Children could ride bikes without disappearing. We could go down to the park and play for hours without our parents being concerned.
It was a very different day.
Well from that day forward I was getting a little more with the program and the school year was ending. It was decided that my behavior that year was not because of being naughty but was based in my maturity so it was suggested that it might be best for me to stay back and start new the next fall 1st grade class. The thing that I remember was that my mom and dad discussed this life event with me. It was my choice because the school did not say it was mandatory. I chose to stay behind. A lot of my neighborhood friends were coming in the Fall so I knew it would be okay. It was the best choice and I went on to a successful 8 years there with the class and appropriate age group.
My mom loved this song, it was her ringtone for many years 🙂
Plus, this song could be used for me too. Lol Not. !!! 🙂
I wrote a while back how I missed my black lab that passed away in Dec. I also lost my 14 year old fawn pug Jacob back in March 2014.
It is amazing how much we mourn our special friends. I was up early this morning and did my morning prayer ritual. I then worked on my blog post. I opened up the link on today’s blog for the soundtrack to meet joe black on my kindle. As I sat here in my chair I listen to the soundtrack and I closed my eyes and was just allowing my mind to wander. I was praying for many people and giving God thanks for everything I have. I opened my eyes as a beautiful orchestral part of the movie soundtrack played and I thought of Jacob my puggy wuggy and Jessica my black labbie.
My heart felt such joy and sorrow at the same time. I yearned to pat them and hug them. My pets to me are/ were part of my family. I truly counted on them as much as they counted on me.
When I got sick 3 years ago, they were here with me day in and day out. Jessy got a little more protective of me and my home. People knew that she was on duty. Taking care of her dad.
Jakey my little pug sat to the side of by chair just staring at me. I would reach down as I laid in my chair and he and Jessica would come up and they would love me. I was not alone I would pat them and talk to them. They were so good. I also realize that I cannot replace them. I am not able to take care of them properly anymore. Pups need attention, need someone to play with them and need exercise.
Well, a song from Joe Black soundtrack came on and I looked over to where Jessy used to lay and my heart began to weep again .
So for anyone who has lost a special friend like I had, I get it.
This video is like what Jessica was like just beautiful. A smart, loving and loyal friend.
The second link is to what my little English pug was like Jakey. Jake was a sturdy little dog, so loveable and was a kissing machine. He was Nick named sporty pug because he loved tennis balls and basket balls he was such a good boy.
My wife and I got our dogs and cat years ago primarily because we thought it would be great for our kids to have the responsibility of taking care of them. I believe that it was the number 1 best thing that we did for my young kids . We as a family learned many valuable lessons. I realized how much I loved and needed them too. I think they keep us young, and are psychologically very good for us. God gave us dominion over the animals and I believe that we truely benefit from having them with us in our lives.
I saw this movie a while back it is a pretty good movie and has a great sound track. So, if your stuck in the house. Look it up on Netflix or Youtube . Have fun in the snow 🙂
It is said that there are angels among us. They seemingly just show up and help us and then just disappear. We have all heard the stories.
I believe this , and know that they are helping us all.
I have a beautiful family relative who is quiet and does not take to flights of fancy. Back a few years ago she had a very bad medical crisis and was so in fear laying on the cement after a fall on her porch in the dead of winter. She could not get up and there was no one around the area , she clearly had broken something due to the pain that she was feeling. She was eventually heard or seen by a neighbor and they rushed her to the hospital. She needed to get into surgery right away. She was so afraid and was talking to God and their was a sudden warmth that she felt and she saw and felt the wings of an angel wrapping around her. She felt so comforted and peaceful .
Miracles happen everyday. Some big, some seemingly small but they are miracles nonetheless.
Brad Pitt plays the part of an angel on a mission of mercy.
This movie has a beautiful soundtrack
Meet Joe Black. very Good Movie, Great Soundtrack.
Part of life in New England is the winter Season. We New Englanders don’t mind the snow too much during the Christmas Season it is part of the beauty of the Season.
Fresh snow that falls onto the homes and landscape are so beautiful. On or about the middle of January we New Englanders start to get a little tired of the shorter days, the snow shoveling and for the hazard that ice presents to falling. I know personally that it just takes a slight glaze on the ground and my cane will slip and I could fall. So, I choose to protect myself and stay inside . I get a little cabin fever now and again. I am just awaiting Spring.
I have often said to my wife that I wish we could get out of dodge and get somewhere warm. I have even thought of moving to a warmer climate. The things that keep me here are these…
My family.
My doctors. Boston is so wonderful.
I love the change of Seasons.
My friends and my church community. I am not going to replicate my life elsewhere at this stage of my life with my limitation.
My life story is woven and the ties that bind me are here and they are what anchors my heart. I am at home here. Amen. Some people search their whole lives to find what I have here so I am grateful.
So, I will stay put. I will hopefully someday be able to get out of dodge for a week or so during the winter Season to recharge the battery. 🙂
In the meantime……
I heard today on the news that we are now only 40 days to SPRING and day light saving time, longer days.
So , as we sit this weekend Sunday through Monday as another possible foot of snow falls listen to the symphony of Spring and look forward to seeing the krokus. 🙂
Yesterday may not have been the day that you would have hoped it would be. You may have had problems with work,school, family or financial issues. You may have used your mouth as a hurtful weapon against a supposed friend, or someone did that to you. These things do happen.
What God calls us to do is this. Seek his forgiveness, seek his guidance and ask for his mercy and for him to bless you in your life.
We need to make amends to those we have hurt and seek help for those things that allowed us to lash out.
Each day is a new day a reset if you will where you can forgive yourself, give forgiveness to others and to heal who you are. We are all broken, we are all imperfect so it is called life. We are just called to work daily on being a better version of ourselves which in turn we then can have more harmonious daily lives being the blessing that we are called to be.
The next link is just incredible. I had never heard of this incredible singer yet I found it in a split second thanks to God and the Holy Spirit.
We are called to love because we are made from love by our CREATOR WHO IS LOVE. AMEN.
So, quiet yourself, turn up the speakers and watch Heaven open up . We are love and everything is well !! 🙂
Just Danny Speaks 