Better when we are together

Debbie's Birthday poem

The color white- pure love
God brought into this world
Another little beam of light
A precious baby girl

This fresh blue Color
is like a bubbling stream
moving from child to young woman
with grace and many prayers unseen
True blue in blessed devotion
Dedicated TO WORK to the end.
and settled down forever
with her true love, her husband - best friend.

Spring green brings shoots of newlife
children to love and keep
Hours of tireless devotion
food to prepare and floors to sweep

Alas Pink is the Joyful one
AS  you look back and say
My Lord we did  for 50 years
Thank you for showing me the way!

John of the Nugent and sister Kealey

followed a calling to our rugged shores.

Their hearts were aflame for what, they knew not

Trusting Grace would open our doors.

　

Indeed, they were welcomed, as always one is

to drink in our pubs and feast at our tables.

They liked what they ate and they drank but our best

and settled in quickly as soon as they were able.

　

They discovered among many traits of our nature,

in the East we are loving and somewhat peculiar.

Not unlike us, they were, from a family of many

And blended well with our "steeped" sense of humor.

　

Mention steeped... tea?, if you will, make it strong, keep it hot-

Share a tale, tell a joke; just be witty.

There were hikes, there were picnics in apple orchards

Did I mention the great days and great nights in our city?

Spirit moved them in their young hearts, Love did touch them,

did excite them, broke and healed them to be set free.

Many friendships, many blessings kept them busy, kept them going

I can never express my thanks enough for the gifts they have given me.

　

　

Now the day, it is upon us, sadly, we must lift our voices

"farewell to brother John and sister Kealey", they must depart

Nova Scotia will be different, will be missing you both dearly

But embracing every memory, every moment in our hearts!

　

　

　

Welcome Padre Marco

If given the utter joy to meet St. Francis- face to face;

To look upon his person and marvel at God's grace.

I 'd want to give him something... to honor with small notion,

Put a smile on his face and express my devotion.

I am sure that he'd be modest, may refuse a fancy token.

Shiny trinkets- just can't see it, understood with words unspoken,

I would want to give him something that would show my gratitude.

How he touched my life so sweetly, watching him, I understood.

All the sadness and pressure; once my life was full of pain.

That my childhood was so harsh and my youth so full of vain.

I was never quite as happy as I could have been, it's true.

Searching aimlessly for answers from a God I never knew.

Until one day I saw Francis hug a cross of Jesus Christ;

and it triggered every heartstring that connected me to life

Ever since that day I hunger for this Lord, that sweet embrace;

This is what I know I'll tell Him when we do come face to face.

I have no grand gift to give you, Padre Marco, I 'm alone.

In the spirit of the Drummer Boy, I offer you this poem.

That you came to Nova Scotia just to meet us, it's the best!

That we came this close to Francis, his successor, we are Blessed!!!

　

Thanks be to God!!

Parishioner of St Catherine's

Halifax , NS

August 28th , 2011

Before:

At that point in time, I went to church but dreaded the longer communion Sundays,

Divorced, had accomplished my goal in 5 years to own a house, nice car and be blonde with successful image/job.

But asked God everyday, what is the purpose of my life, so meaningless

May 1990, my younger sister died at home 6000 km away

went home to the funeral, met a man, he followed me back to BC we all moved back to NS, just live together, rocky relationship

Then:

In 1991 at a Lutheran church, One Sunday, Mary called me to Mejudgore indirectly through the pastor, in 3 days, I convinced the Air Canada to find me a seat in a booked flight/pilgrimage; found and learned the rosary prayer overnight, raised 1200 - 600 in Loonies; went as a hip and not so prudent blonde person -stranger to all,During an apparition at St James church I experienced a great white light of Holiness that revealed to me my true image, a sinful creature . I wept and wept on the ground where I knew I came from and went to confession I was directed as I had to talk to someone for forgiveness and came home and entered RCIA immediately with all 3 children, Received in Catholic Church Easter 1992.

Now:

Today I know that I will never be alone, as I feared all my life that I would have no one to love and love me back. That thinking led me down all the wrong roads! I gained a love for the Franciscans when God took me to Assisi, and to Rome,our home church and shared the suffering of his people in Auschwitz. I have reconciled relationships with family members, particularly my mother.

My two lovely daughters both have a sincere love for the Father and the Mother, My son married in the Catholic Church, suffered and was healed of cancer and he now has a beautiful little miracle baby boy. I am in formation as lay consecrated person in the world and 3rd order Franciscan . I have an ongoing relationship with a Father and Mother who are with me always. My only desire to grow in Holiness and serve my brothers and sisters for Him through Mary, my Holy Mother.

Rose Rain

God, we are weary and grieved. We were anticipating the birth of a child, but the promise of life was ended too soon. Our arms yearned to cradle new life, our mouths to sing soft lullabies. Our hearts ache from the emptiness and the silence. We are saddened and we are angry. We weep and we mourn. Weep with us, God, Creator of Life, for the life that could not be.
Source of healing, help us to find healing among those who care for us and those for whom we care. Shelter us under wings of love and help us to stand up again for life even as we mourn our loss.

A Year of Faith begins Mary and a look at what she pondered in her heart.

"and she pondered all these things in her heart"
"what am I  pondering in my heart"?
...perhaps to be the best version of myself...to be who God designed be to be...
I know I will need the courage and the faith of Our Lady and I  believe it was this pondering that enabled her to follow faithfully,  the path of her own journey.

Change is necessary, inside and out!

To complete the  journey, I will need all the help available.

I am choosing  a schedule, a plan!

Prayer, Pondering, Praise, Worship and Dicipline are my goals.

Health in  Spirit, Mind and Body
Better choices in conversation or none
More do than say
More listen than interrupt
More walk than sit
21 day Kickstart Vegan menu
Compassion for life, all life!
Awareness of the fragility that surrounds me.
The Grace to be still and know God is God and Jesus I trust you
Debts paid! Spending limited to food only as necessary.
Prudence in choices and lots of water!
Yes it will soon be January 2013!
Today is the the 28th of December!
3 Days!
In 3 days our Saviour brought us new life!
In 3 days I begin to seek that new life  by going a different route...