"LEAP THE FROG"

Keeping a steady watch over the tiny little violas planted in his garden.







TFT: "Grace and life,
Forgiveness of sin,
The defeat of death.
This is the hope Jesus gives.
This is the hope we need."
Max Lucado

SNOW DAY!

Early Sunday morning.
The tulips seem to have handled the snow just fine.
It does make an unusual combination, doesn't it?



TFT: "Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love." 2nd John 1:3

AGAINST ALL ODDS

These tiny little blossoms had to fight their way through layers of mulch to peek out from under an evergreen and find the sun.
But they made it!
Another lesson from the garden.
Have a nice weekend.

SAINT JOSEPH ALTAR III

In the center of the room a table is adorned with fine china, silver, crystal and linens.
Each year a different group of persons are honored and served the meal prepared by the various chefs on The Hill; each supplying one of their special dishes.

This year the choir of Saint Ambrose were occupying these seats of honor

And along one side of the room, a buffet line is set up where any and all can join in the feast.
Eight specialties plus a variety of desserts are in abundant supply.
There is no cost, but donations are requested.

It all looked and smelled so delicious.









And here is Chef Dominic and his beautiful wife, Jackie, serving up his famous Wedding Soup with, as always, great charm and enthusiasm.
Their restaurant is two doors down from my house and the aromas that come from there each evening will make your mouth water.

I love this place!

SAINT JOSEPH ALTAR II

Home baked goodies, and breaded, deep-fried vegetables (brocolli, cauliflower, eggplant etc.),
that were prepared in the school kitchen, fresh fruit and flowers are displayed for sale on this one of two side tables of the altar .





Cakes in the shape of a log are very much a part of the array of sweets.
Bread that has been blessed is in abundance as shown here on one of the additional tables set up along one side of the room.
More special treats that were prepared the week before.


More tomorrow

SAINT JOSEPH ALTAR

This was the 37th Annual Saint Joseph Altar ce;ebrated at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church across the street from my house.

It takes days and days of preparation and is a very special time in the life of the church.



I have helped every year since I moved here and it has been a wonderful experience and a great opportunity to meet so many of the ladies who grew up on The Hill.
Every year I get to hear more stories about life on The Hill and especially the preparation for this day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph and click on "Feast Days"

The large cakes are sold by silent auction. This one sold for $75.



More tomorrow.

A BOUQUET TO GREET PASSERSBY

Or to say, "Welcome, please stop and sit a while."

TFT: "Commitment without courage lacks strengh.
Courage without commitment lacks staying power."
Turning Point Ministries

AN END OF THE WEEK THOUGHT

" Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.: Jesus (John 14:27)

IN THE WINDOW

These little flowers are made of glass. Found them at The Garden giftshop and thought they would look pretty in my kitchen window.

Don't you think so too?

A PLACE TO REST

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and My burden is light." Jesus (Matthew 11: 28-30)

A BENEDICTION

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23

PROGRESS REPORT

Promise fulfilled.
See "A Promise"
under "Search Blog"
or go to
November 14,
2008

Keep checking back for further reports.

I think all 120 are coming up.

A gift from God indeed.

VOICES FROM THE PAST IV

"We have no government armed in power capable of contending with human passion unbridled by morality and religion.
Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people.
It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other." John Adams

VOICES FROM THE PAST III

"Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom." John Adams

VOICES FROM THE PAST II

"Society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases."
John Adams

VOICES FROM THE PAST

"All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation." John Adams

I suppose this is true....but I'm concerned that in these times perhaps added to the equation is a "want of honor and virtue".

FIRST BOUQUET OF THE YEAR

Hopefully the first of many.










TFT: "Men sigh for the wings of a dove, that they may fly away and find rest. But flying away will not help us. The kingdom of God is within you."
(emphasis the author's)
Henry Drummond

THINGS WE KNOW (BUT MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN) V

Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the cup- they all die. So do we.
And then....remember the Dick and Jane books and the first word you learned...the biggest word of all - LOOK !

Learned in kindergarten, " but if extrapolated into sophisticated adult terms and applied to your family life or your work or government or the world would hold true and clear and firm"....every time.
(from the website www.peace.ca/kindergarten.htm )

THINGS WE KNOW (BUT MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN) IV

Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together. *

Learned in kindergarten
*my personal favorite....even over milk and cookies! : )

THINGS WE KNOW (BUT MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN) III

Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat .
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

(Learned in kindergarten)

THINGS WE KNOW( BUT MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN)II

Share everything (see yesterday's blog) .
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.

From "All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindgarten" by Robert Fulghum

"Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand box at school."

THINGS WE KNOW (BUT MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN)

"Wealth isn't always measured in dollar signs.
We each have time, talent, and creativity, all of which can be powerful forces for positive change.

Share your blessings in whatever form they come and to whatever level you have been blessed."
Jon M. Huntsman of theHuntsman Cancer institute.

(determine the talent, take the time and be creative!)