Thursday, December 30, 2010

December Birdsong




Sometimes, when I hear a bird singing in December, I
repeat to myself this poem by Oliver Herford.

I Heard a Bird Sing

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.
"We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,"
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

A Time To Remember

Just watched "A Time To Remember" on EWTN.
The movie was filmed in Deposit, New York.
My family spent several weeks there every summer
for many years; we had our own place outside of town
on Old Plank Road.
St Joseph's, the Church seen in the movie, is where I went to Mass.

Somehow, I've always missed the broadcasts of the movie from one year to the next, so I'm glad I finally got to see it. And, for the first time, my Mom watched EWTN!
Seeing the town, or, I should say, the Village of Deposit on film brought back so many memories for us.
"A Time To Remember", indeed!
















Books Read in the Past Week




"Looking in Junk Shops"
by John Bedford
{started last week, finished on Thursday}
[non-fiction]

"The Chalet School and Jo"
{started last week, finished on Monday}
"The Chalet Girls in Camp"
{read on Monday }
"The Exploits of the Chalet Girls"
{started on Monday, finished on Wednesday}
"The Chalet School and the Lintons"
{started on Wednesday, finished on Thursday}
[children's fiction]
by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer


"A Short History of the Honey Bee: Humans, Flowers, and Bees in the Eternal Chase for Honey"
{started on Tuesday. E-book}
by E. Readicker-Henderson (author)
and Ilona McCarty (photographer)
[non-fiction]

"Chris Turner, Magician"
by James T. Brady
{read on Thursday}
[children's fiction]

"A Christmas Carol"
by Charles Dickens
{read on Friday; my annual December 24th reading}
[fiction]

"Bequest of Wings:
A Family's Pleasures with Books"
by Annis Duff
{started on Friday}
[non-fiction]

"Little Women"
by Louisa May Alcott
{started on Saturday}
[fiction]
(I'm reading this book both off-line and
online. I have an oversized illustrated edition)

I'm reading LMA's books in order of publication,
just one a week in order to stretch them out.
Also, I am reading "Little Women" as it was
originally published, that is, as two separate
books.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Communicating with a Canadian Cat


This post is taken, slightly modified, from one of my old blogs.
More than 20 years ago, my mother, stepfather, grandmother, stepniece and I spent a few days in Toronto. On the first night, we saw a cat lying in a yard relaxing, not unlike the American kitties. Being a catlover, I greeted the cat, "Kitty kitty". The cat ignored me. I used all the usual terms of endearment people address to cats; no response. Finally it occurred to me that we were in Canada, and I said, "Meowez-vous français?"
And the cat looked up and meowed!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Books Read in the Past Week

Week of December 12-18, 2010

"Fifth Chinese Daughter"
{started last week, finished on Sunday}
"No Chinese Stranger"
{started on Sunday, finished on Wednesday}
[non-fiction; autobiography]
by Jade Snow Wong

"Scenarios 1:Truth or Dare"
by Nicole O'Dell
{read on Thursday}
[Christian fiction, (Protestant) teenagers]
(e-book)

"Looking in Junk Shops"
by John Bedford
{started on Thursday}
[non-fiction]

"The Trouble With Terry"
by Joan Lexau
{started on Friday, finished on Saturday}
[children's fiction]
(one of my childhood favorites)

"The Chalet School and Jo"
by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
{started on Saturday}
[children's fiction]

Thursday, December 16, 2010

My Collections

This post originally appeared, in slightly different form, in one of my old blogs.

I've been interested in collecting things ever since I read "Herbert", by Hazel Wilson. The first chapter was called "Herbert's Can Collection". That story got me started on my first collection: the LABELS from cans. Later on, I collected soda bottle caps, and then, obsolete words, which I copied into a notebook. That one didn't last long because of my handwriting problem. Another collection I had might best be called Chocolatenia, because it was made up of ads, wrappers, boxtops, ANYTHING to do with chocolate. (And WHY did I remind myself of chocolate NOW????) [This post was originally published during Lent!]
 I also enjoy reading about other people's collections,especially the more unusual ones. I'd sort of like an unusual collection of my own, but I'm not sure that I want to start yet another collection just for the sake of having an unusual collection.


Saturday, December 11, 2010

Books Read in the Past Week




"You English Words"
by John Moore
[non-fiction]
{started last week,finished on Saturday}


"The Summer of the Great-Grandmother"
by Madeleine L'Engle
[non-fiction, autobiography]
{started last week, finished on Sunday}


"Winding Valley Farm:
 Annie's Story"
[children's fiction]
(based on her mother's childhood)
{read on Sunday}
"Stairstep Farm:
Anna Rose's Story
[children's fiction]
(based on her own childhood)
{started on Sunday, finished on Monday}
"Willow Wind Farm:
   Betsy's Story "
{read on Monday}
"Betsy's Up-and-Down Year"
{read on Monday}
(two books about the author's niece)
by Anne Pellowski


"What Happened to Heather Hopkowitz?"
[Jewish fiction, teenagers]
by Charlotte Herman
{started on Monday, finished on Wednesday}


"Fifth Chinese Daughter"
[non-fiction; autobiography]
by Jade Snow Wong
{started on Wednesday}

Monday, December 6, 2010

Feast of St. Nicholas



I find it wonderfully appropriate that we celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas, known and loved by so many children as "Santa Claus", during Advent. It is as if the saint were telling us, "Remember why I come with presents on Christmas. It is to celebrate the birth of Our Lord."






Saturday, December 4, 2010

Through The Year With Mary


 I've just ordered this book by Karen Edmisten.   This will be my Daily Devotional book

for 2011.
Incidentally, I love Karen's book on the Rosary, and I love her blog!










Books Read in the Week of November 28th- December 4th

" "Black" Becomes a Rainbow: 
The Mother of a Baal Teshuvah Tells Her Story"
by Agi L. Bauer
[Jewish non-fiction]
{started last week, finished on Sunday}

"No Coins, Please"
by Gordon Korman
[children's fiction, humorous]
{started on Sunday, finished on Monday}

"You English Words"
by John Moore
[non-fiction]
{started on Monday, still reading}

"The Enchanted Circle"
by Libby Lazewnik
[Jewish fiction, teenagers]
{started on Monday, finished on Tuesday}

"The Summer of the Great-Grandmother"
by Madeleine L'Engle
[non-fiction, autobiography]
{started on Wednesday, still reading as of Saturday night}

Chanukah

Chanakuh. A time of great memories for me.
I remember arranging and re-arranging the candles
in the Menorah, and trying for a different color pattern
every day.
Now, Mom and I (remember, I still live with her; I blogged
about that a few weeks ago) simply light electric Menorahs,
one for the front window, one for the back window.
I remember Baba grating potatoes for latkes; now Mom
and I get our latkes from a store. I don't think we even
HAVE a potato grater.
Oh, for one of Baba's latkes!
Did I say "one"?
Honestly, could I eat just ONE?

I'm not entirely sure what this means, but it made me chuckle

I'm not entirely sure what this means, but it made me chuckle

This, I just HAD to share!

Amusement Park

I grew up within walking distance of Coney Island, but even closer to my apartment building, just down the block and across the street, was a small, but to a child, wonderful, amusement park.
I can't count the times my grandpa and I would walk down
there.
The place was understaffed, with the workers going from ride
to ride. I can't remember a time when all of the rides were
running at once.  I remember waiting by, for example, the tilt-a-whirl (my all-time

favorite ride)... and waiting and waiting and waiting
There was one particular ride which I'd never been on, and really

wanted to try . It's funny, considering how I longed to ride that
ride, that I have forgotten which one it was.
I was sooooo disappointed when the operator told me that I was too young.
"You have to be in school to go on this ride."
I answered that I was in school, and the man scolded me for lying.
"But I am in school! I'm in NURSERY school!"
Grandpa told him off for calling me a liar, and then we walked  over to another ride.
As much as I loved going with my Grandpa, however, I longed for the time when
I would be old enough to go by myself. Like so many other little girls,
I wanted, oh HOW I wanted, to be thought of as a BIG girl.
But by the time I was old enough, the rides were gone.
"They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot."


Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Brooklyn Bees Producing Bright Red Honey - PSFK

Brooklyn Bees Producing Bright Red Honey - PSFK

Now, if those bees start singing "Sweet Cherry Wine", I
hope somebody records it!

Expanding this Blog

I've expanded this blog to include My First Word Was "READ!".
I'll be posting, every Saturday night or Sunday morning, a list of the books I've read
in the previous week, not counting the devotionals I read every day.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Advent

I've just prayed Evening Prayer 1 for the First Sunday in Advent.
And so begins another liturgical year, another cycle.
I love Advent. It's such a thoughtful, joyful time of preparation. I love that we
have different seasons, and ordinary time, too.

I'm including links to a couple of Advent calendars.

EWTN Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar from The Mary Page

Prayer Veil

Adapted, renamed, and greatly expanded from a short post in one of my old blogs.

I have a prayer veil, which I purchased from EWTN's online religious store.
I wear it at these times:
1: When I am able to get to Mass.
2: When I watch the live Mass on EWTN.
3: When I watch Benediction and Devotions, Sunday evenings on EWTN.
4: When I pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

I know that it isn't strictly necessary for me to wear this prayer veil, but I think it is a beautiful custom; it enhances the mitzvah.
(I love that Jewish word, mitzvah, and praying is definitely a mitzvah!)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

A Day Dedicated To.....

This morning I heard someone on the radio say that this is a day dedicated to eating.
Now, I have nothing against special foods on special days; I think they enhance the celebration,
but it's not the food, or even the gathering around the table, that matters most. What matters, what we should focus on, is the reason for the meal. And the reason for the meal is right there in the name of the holiday.
Thanksgiving.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Coffee

Yesterday morning, I knocked over a canister of coffee... a full canister! About half of it wound up in the kitchen sink. Aaarrrggghhhh!!!
Well, I had a choice. I could cry over spilt coffee, or I find something to be thankful for.
I found two, actually.
1: Thank God it went into the sink and not on the floor, because it
was easier to clean the sink.
2: Thank God only HALF of it got spilled.
But the coffee adventures weren't quite over.
I made a cup of coffee, poured it, let it cool a bit, and then took that first
sip. You may have seen some mushrooms described as edible, but not palatable. Change "edible" to
"drinkable", and you'll get a pretty good idea of how my coffee tasted. Pretty bad!
Time to clean the coffee maker! I like to use apple cider vinegar. (Thank God for that aroma of apples!)
Later, I dumped the vinegar, saying to myself, "Don't forget to run fresh water
through the coffee maker."
But, guess what! I forgot until this morning! Thank God I remembered before making my morning coffee.
So, I ran 3 cups of fresh water through the coffee maker. Then, I smelled the basket... and
ran 3 more cups through!
Then, I made my coffee (at last!)
One word...
Delicious!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Guess what I received in today's snail mail?
An invitation to join the most hypocritically named organization in the world...
Planned Parenthood!!
I responded, using their own business reply envelope, that I am 100% per cent
opposed to everything they stand for, and I told them not to ever contact me
again. Usually, if I don't wish any further mailings from anyone, I say,
"Please remove me from your mailing list. Thank you."
This time, I didn't bother with "please" and "thank you".
Oh, and I didn't put a stamp on the envelope. Let them lose a little
money, even if it's only a few cents.
I've decided that if they do contact me again, I will mark the envelope "Return
to Sender. I am 100% PRO=LIFE!"

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Relic

This is the perfect day to reprint this post from one of my old blogs.

I came across this story a few years ago. I'm not sure if it is true.
An elderly woman approached her priest and asked, "Father, is it true that anything touched by a Saint is considered a relic?" "Yes," said the priest, "anything definitely known to have been touched by a Saint would be considered a Third Class relic." And the old lady said, "Well! I was once spanked by Mother Cabrini!"
That's one relic I would not care to kiss!

















Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets
Many thanks to RAnn for hosting!
As you can see, I have only one post this week.

Semper Gaudete!: The Donut Man

Saturday, November 6, 2010

The Donut Man




Okay, I admit it...wait a minute! Why am I saying "I admit it?"You "admit it" when
you've done something wrong, or when you feel sort of embarrassed to say something publicly.
Okay, so this isn't an admission. It's a statement, an announcement.
I love watching "The Donut Man" on EWTN. I was watching this morning, and when he did "Cast Your Burden (Hiya, Hiya) with the Donut Repair Club, well, I was on my feet making all the motions with them, maybe not perfectly, but I was having a great time!
Rob Evans (The Donut Man) is a former non-denominational layminister who joined the Catholic Church several years ago. He shared the story of his conversion several years ago on
The Journey Home
Thank God for archived shows!
And ya gotta love Duncan!
















Saturday, October 30, 2010

When Things Go Wrong on the Computer


Some, but not all, of the following "computer oys" have happened to me.
Have you ever sent an e-mail, or posted something on a message board, in the heat of anger, and then, when it was too late, said to yourself, "What was I
thinking?"
When that happens, it is time for (cringe cringe cringe) Operation Apology. And crow is NOT the
most savory dish in the world.
Have you ever sent or posted something that was taken the wrong way because you didn't include a
smiley?
Have you ever corrected somebody's spelling on a message board, only to find that your own post contanes more than one glaring eror in speling?
Have you ever been in the middle of writing something absolutely brilliant, sparkling, your best work ever.... and the computer crashed?
Have you ever sent something meant for just one
person to everyone on your group's e-mail list? Nine out of ten times, it will be something extremely personal, something you did NOT want to share with
the whole group.
Sometimes, however, this can turn out to be a good thing, because it is then that you find out who your real on-line friends are.
Has your cat ever walked across the keyboard while you were looking at your shopping cart, thereby placing an order for you?
For multibloggers: Have you ever posted something to the wrong blog?
If you can answer "Yes" to any of these questions,
then all I can say is "Welcome to the club!"
Of course, the up side of these computer mishaps is....
they make great blog material!














Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Homily 10-26-2010 - Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM - Feria



I always watch Mass with the captions on, because of the
traffic on my block. It can get LOUD, and that is an understatement.
Today, though, there was no noisy traffic, no trucks, no horns honking, so I HEARD
Fr. Wade's homily, and it was well worth hearing! Fr. Wade spoke several times of Jesus
as "the One sent." The caption, however, read "1¢"!
Now that I think of it, there is some material for meditation here!
"1¢". Little things. The widow's mite. Faith the size of a mustard seed.
We can never measure how much God can do with our small, seemingly insignificant actions.
I touched on this several weeks ago.
Semper Gaudete!: Little Things



Saturday, October 23, 2010

Family News.... WOO HOO!!!!

My niece, Kristy Verdi, was pregnant; due to give birth any day.
A few minutes ago Mom and I were looking at some old photographs Mom had
recently found, and... this is so cool... just when I came across a picture of Kristy
{we called her Kristy Lynn back then} as a little girl.... the phone rang.
It's a girl, 6 pounds, 8 ounces.
I'm typing with a BIG smile on my face!
What wonderful news to end this week's blog posts with!

This Might Surprise You


This is adapted from at least one of my older blogs.
Time to reveal a bit more about myself. 

I am a middle-aged {I've never really liked that expression, because to me middle-aged is half as old as one is GOING to be} single woman. I still live with my mother due to a physical disability. We have separate apartments; mine is downstairs, and Mom's is upstairs. The computer is upstairs.
I have poor eye-hand-foot co-ordination, and a perceptual-motor problem, and am a non-dyslexic dysgraphic. I was reading at an early age, but I still can't write legibly. How many times was I scolded by my teachers who thought that since I read so well, my sloppy penmanship was due to carelessness and laziness? "She's just not trying!" {In fairness to them, I should point out that in those days, most people were unaware that my particular disability even existed.}

What does poor co-ordination mean? The best way I can explain it is this: (And remember, my medical training is non-existent!) My eyes work fine,  my hands work fine, and my feet work fine.
Now, imagine that my eyes, hands, and feet are students in a classroom. Individually, they are
excellent students (I suppose that, in the case of my eyes, I should say excellent pupils.) However,
put them together in a committee, and they do not work well together. 
My poor co-ordination also gives me a problem with my balance. I can walk quite well in my own home and my own yard, where I don't have to worry about people in a hurry pushing into me. So I only go out and about if I have someone to hold on to. I do use a walker from time to time, but I have to stay on my own block even then; the traffic is too dangerous. For one thing, some drivers go
BACKWARDS on our one-way street!
Another aspect of my perceptual problem is that I cannot see where things are in relationship to where I am. I can see WHAT it is, but I won't be able to point to it accurately, nor can I tell what other people are pointing to.
I remember being very confused, very puzzled many, many times because I saw the teacher pointing to me when, in reality, she was pointing to one of my classmates, and vice-versa. I can't remember how many times I was scolded for calling out, or for not paying attention.
Once I was diagnosed, however, I explained my problem, and requested that my teachers call on me by name.
I was also one of the kids some, though not all, of the other kids picked on and called "REE-tard!" Of course, I very well might have acted the same way, had our situations been reversed.
After I had become a Catholic, someone told me that Purgatory would be much worse than anything that happened to me in school.
I responded, "No, I think it will be better, because it will be FAIR. I won't suffer anything I don't DESERVE in Purgartory, and I won't be confused as to why I am there."
And as I type this, it occurs to me that Purgatory won't only be FAIR; it will be MERCIFUL, because God is merciful. I'll suffer in Purgatory much LESS than I deserve.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

The 2nd Luminous Mystery

I have seen it suggested that, when we meditate on this Mystery, we think of a Jewish wedding, with the music, and the dancing. Well, that makes my meditation on that Mystery a bit anachronistic. When I think of a Jewish wedding, the music, the dancing, I think "Hava Nagila"!







Well, Someone Was Paying Attention

{This post has appeared, in slightly different form, in at least two of my older, more or less defunct, blogs.}


This happened thirty-odd years ago in my parish Church, Guardian Angel, in Brooklyn, New York.
Back then I usually went to evening, rather than morning,  Mass,  (except on Sunday) so I didn't actually witness this.  I  did, however, hear about it from more than one person who was there.
 Fr. Kelly, who was the pastor at that time, had a beautiful black cat named Midnight, who frequently attended Mass. One morning when Midnight was there, Fr. Kelly said, "Bring a friend to Church."
 The next day, several members of the congregation almost fell over when Midnight walked in with another cat!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Thunderstorm

There was an absolutely gorgeous, spectacular thunderstorm just now. Thunderclaps, flashes of lightning... it's as if God gave a fireworks display... only much, much more majestic.
{But I have to admit I was thankful to be safe indoors}

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival


I've selected just two posts from this week's (not very large) output.



On this Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, I'd like to say a few things about this beautiful prayer.

There are some people who say that praying the Rosary is old-fashioned.
Well, so is eating!
There are, and have always been, some people who say that praying the Rosary
is only for the unlearned.  One way to respond is with this
story , which I've loved this story for years.
(I've posted this link before, in at least one of my other blogs.)


For years after my conversion to Catholicism (I am a Jewish convert) I felt that there
was too great a gap between the Fifth Joyful Mystery and the First Sorrowful Mystery.
I was therefore delighted, absolutely delighted, when Pope John Paul the Great added
the Luminous Mysterious.


I have time enough every day to pray the Rosary five times.  First, I pray the Mysteries
recommended for that day,  for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Later, I pray the Joyful Mysteries, for the protection of the unborn.   The next set,
the Luminous Mysteries, I offer for priests, living and deceased.
You may think that I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries for the Souls in Purgatory, but, no.
These Mysteries are for those who are suffering and struggling here on Earth.  It's a
long list, and I always add, "and those most in need." That way, nobody is left out.
And what about the Souls in Purgatory?  For them, I offer the Glorious Mysteries,
"that they may soon be among the Saints in glory."


There are so many ways to pray the Rosary.  
1: With a book or website of Rosary meditations.
2: With a Scriptural Rosary book or website, one verse for each bead.
3: By adding one or more words to the Hail Mary. For example,
"And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, born in poverty."
4: While watching one of the televised Rosary programs on EWTN.
(My personal favorite is The Holy Land Rosary with Fr. Mitch Pacwa. )
5: Before the Blessed Sacrament.
6: While doing the housework, thus uniting my housework to Our Lady's.
Believe me, she did housework, and she didn't have the modern appliances
we have nowadays.


Reasons for praying the Rosary:
It honors Mary, and Jesus is always pleased when we honor His Mother.
It helps us to focus on the lives of Jesus and Mary.
It helps us to increase in grace.
And don't forget, it drives Satan up the wall!













Every Catholic blogger should see this episode of "Life on the Rock".

Catholic bloggers, share your blog posts at

http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/Sunday Snippets-- A Catholic Carnival. I'm SO thankful I found this site!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Great News from Chile

Rescue workers have reached the chamber where 33 Chilean miners have been trapped since the 5th of August. It could take a few days, however, before the rescue workers will be able to free them. Precautions need to be taken.
And then, thank God, the miners will be home with their families.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

A Few Thoughts About The Rosary


On this Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, I'd like to say a few things about this beautiful prayer.

There are some people who say that praying the Rosary is old-fashioned.
Well, so is eating!
There are, and have always been, some people who say that praying the Rosary
is only for the unlearned.  One way to respond is with this
story , which I've loved this story for years.
(I've posted this link before, in at least one of my other blogs.)


For years after my conversion to Catholicism (I am a Jewish convert) I felt that there
was too great a gap between the Fifth Joyful Mystery and the First Sorrowful Mystery.
I was therefore delighted, absolutely delighted, when Pope John Paul the Great added
the Luminous Mysterious.


I have time enough every day to pray the Rosary five times.  First, I pray the Mysteries
recommended for that day,  for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Later, I pray the Joyful Mysteries, for the protection of the unborn.   The next set,
the Luminous Mysteries, I offer for priests, living and deceased.
You may think that I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries for the Souls in Purgatory, but, no.
These Mysteries are for those who are suffering and struggling here on Earth.  It's a
long list, and I always add, "and those most in need." That way, nobody is left out.
And what about the Souls in Purgatory?  For them, I offer the Glorious Mysteries,
"that they may soon be among the Saints in glory."


There are so many ways to pray the Rosary.  
1: With a book or website of Rosary meditations.
2: With a Scriptural Rosary book or website, one verse for each bead.
3: By adding one or more words to the Hail Mary. For example,
"And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, born in poverty."
4: While watching one of the televised Rosary programs on EWTN.
(My personal favorite is The Holy Land Rosary with Fr. Mitch Pacwa. )
5: Before the Blessed Sacrament.
6: While doing the housework, thus uniting my housework to Our Lady's.
Believe me, she did housework, and she didn't have the modern appliances
we have nowadays.


Reasons for praying the Rosary:
It honors Mary, and Jesus is always pleased when we honor His Mother.
It helps us to focus on the lives of Jesus and Mary.
It helps us to increase in grace.
And don't forget, it drives Satan up the wall!









Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Another Version of Pollyanna

I have two more things to be thankful for today.
I love to read plays, and I've discovered that there is a dramatized version of Pollyanna.
So that's the first thing I'm thankful for.
A little more research, and I found that this play is available online.
And that's the second thing I'm thankful for.
Click here
It will be fun to see how much of the original story the playwright, Catherine Chisholm Cushing, retains, and how much she changes.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Catholic bloggers, join us at
Sunday Snippets-- A Catholic Carnival

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2010
Little Things
I love this quote from my Patron Saint, Therese of Lisieux, whose feast we celebrate today:
"Pick up a pin for the love of God, and you may save a soul."
How right, how wise! We may not be called to do great things,but we can do the little, everyday tasks for the love of God, and then how great, how valuable those little tasks become.
No work is menial if it is done for the love of God.
Posted by Rochelle at 8:57 PM 0 comments Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Google Buzz Links to this post
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Jolly Book
In Pollyanna Grows Up, by Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna goes to Boston and meets a boy named Jamie. Jamie is in a wheelchair, and has a book he calls his "Jolly Book".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"But you haven't told me yet about-the Jolly Book," prompted Pollyanna, after a minute.
The boy stirred and laughed shamefacedly.
" Well, you see, it ain't much, after all, except to me. You wouldn't see much in it. I started it a year ago. I was feelin' 'specially bad that day. Nothin' was right. For a while I grumped it out, just thinkin'; and then I picked tip one of father's books and tried to read. And the first thing I see was this: I learned it afterwards, so I can say it now.

'Pleasures lie thickest where no pleasures seem;

There's not a leaf that falls upon the ground

But holds some joy, of silence or of sound."

"Well, I was mad. I wished I could put the guy that wrote that in my place, and see what kind of joy
he'd find in my 'leaves.' I was so mad I made up my mind I'd prove he didn't know what he was talkin' about, so I begun to hunt for 'em-the joys in my 'leaves,' you know. I took a little old empty notebook that Jerry had given me, and I said to myself that I'd write 'em down. Everythin' that had anythin' about it that I liked I'd put down in the book. Then I'd just show how many ' joys' I had."
" Yes, yes! " cried Pollyanna, absorbedly, as the boy paused for breath.
" Well, I didn't expect to get many, but-do you know?-I got a lot. There was somethin' about 'most everythin' that I liked a little, so in it had to go. The very first one was the book itself-that I'd got it, you know, to write in. Then somebody give me a flower in a pot, and Jerry found a dandy book in the subway. After that it was really fun to hunt 'em out-I'd find 'em in such queer places, sometimes. Then one day Jerry got hold of the little notebook, and found out what 'twas. Then he give it its name-the Jolly Book. And-and that's all."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pollyanna, of course, is delighted.
I've been thinking about getting a blank journal and keeping a book like that; writing
down all the good things that happen, all the little and not-so-little blessings, and
then sharing at least some of them in this blog.
One more thing: Thank God for books in the public domain that I can quote from at length
without having to be concerned about copyright infringements!

























Friday, October 1, 2010

Little Things

I love this quote from my Patron Saint, Therese of Lisieux, whose feast we celebrate today:
"Pick up a pin for the love of God, and you may save a soul."
How right, how wise! We may not be called to do great things,but we can do the little, everyday tasks for the love of God, and then how great, how valuable those little tasks become.
No work is menial if it is done for the love of God.

Jolly Book

In Pollyanna Grows Up, by Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna goes to Boston and meets a boy named Jamie. Jamie is in a wheelchair, and has a book he calls his "Jolly Book".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"But you haven't told me yet about-the Jolly Book," prompted Pollyanna, after a minute.
The boy stirred and laughed shamefacedly.
" Well, you see, it ain't much, after all, except to me. You wouldn't see much in it. I started it a year ago. I was feelin' 'specially bad that day. Nothin' was right. For a while I grumped it out, just thinkin'; and then I picked tip one of father's books and tried to read. And the first thing I see was this: I learned it afterwards, so I can say it now.

   'Pleasures lie thickest where no pleasures seem;
    There's not a leaf that falls upon the ground
    But holds some joy, of silence or of sound."

"Well, I was mad. I wished I could put the guy that wrote that in my place, and see what kind of joy
he'd find in my 'leaves.' I was so mad I made up my mind I'd prove he didn't know what he was talkin' about, so I begun to hunt for 'em-the joys in my 'leaves,' you know. I took a little old empty notebook that Jerry had given me, and I said to myself that I'd write 'em down. Everythin' that had anythin' about it that I liked I'd put down in the book. Then I'd just show how many ' joys' I had."
" Yes, yes! " cried Pollyanna, absorbedly, as the boy paused for breath.
" Well, I didn't expect to get many, but-do you know?-I got a lot. There was somethin' about 'most everythin' that I liked a little, so in it had to go. The very first one was the book itself-that I'd got it, you know, to write in. Then somebody give me a flower in a pot, and Jerry found a dandy book in the subway. After that it was really fun to hunt 'em out-I'd find 'em in such queer places, sometimes. Then one day Jerry got hold of the little notebook, and found out what 'twas. Then he give it its name-the Jolly Book. And-and that's all."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pollyanna, of course, is delighted.
I've been thinking about getting a blank journal and keeping a book like that; writing
down all the good things that happen, all the little and not-so-little blessings, and
then sharing at least some of them in this blog.
One more thing: Thank God for books in the public domain that I can quote from at length
without having to be concerned about copyright infringements!








Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Check out Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival. It's a great place to share your blog, and to read other bloggers' posts.SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
AWESOME!
This post is from another one of my old blogs.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed, blown away, by the thought that since Our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist, more than 2000 years ago, He has been received by more people than we could ever possibly imagine. More than that, He is present, fully, totally present, in the Blessed Sacrament in countless Tabernacles in countless Churches and Chapels all over the world right now and at every moment. AWESOME!!!! Moreover,
every day, at every Mass, the priest breaks the Consecrated Host. Every day, at every Mass, Communion is distributed to the faithful. And yet, Christ is not divided, not multiplied, not diminished, not increased.
Side note: More than once, people have said to me that all this is mathematically impossible. My usual, highly theological reply :) is:
"Mathematics, schmathematics!"
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010
Gov. Christie Veto Shuts Down Abortion Clinics in NJ
Gov. Christie Veto Shuts Down Abortion Clinics in NJ

This is wonderful news! Now, let's get ALL
the abortion clinics EVERYWHERE shut down!
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Classic Catholic Truth Society Pamphlets, Free Online
Classic Catholic Truth Society Pamphlets, Free Online

This is from Patrick Madrid's blog. I'm also sharing it on Twitter and Facebook.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010
The Yada Yada Prayer Group
I'm reading the "Yada Yada Prayer Group" series (again!) and I have to admit I have mixed feelings about the books. (Mostly, I love them.)
The author, Neta Jackson, is a Protestant, and I don't agree with everything she writes.
However, I love the way the women support each other with their prayers.
I like that the author uses several translations of the Bible.
I love the way Avis praises God BEFORE He answers a prayer.
I DEFINITELY like the way the Yada Yadas visit each others' churches, and
I wish someone would do a Catholic series along those lines, with Catholics
of different rites attending each others' liturgies

Published simultaneously in my secular blog, My First Word Was "Read".
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2010
Thankful for THAT??
Can I REALLY be thankful for a cut finger, a burn, a stubbed toe?
Believe it or not, the answer is YES! I can be thankful that I have something to offer up for the Souls in Purgatory. And come to think of it, that's really something to be thankful for, because every soul I help to get out of Purgatory is another SAINT in Heaven, praying for me.
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Labels: The "Gratitude Attitude" Game
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Pro-Abortion Children's Authors
There are children's authors who are pro-abortion. HELLO!!! How many of their books do these authors expect an aborted child to read?


Thank God I can smell the poop, because
that means I can also smell the roses.
And thank God for roses!
CHOOSE LIFE

PRIESTSFORLIFE

Saturday, September 25, 2010

AWESOME!

This post is from another one of my old blogs.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed, blown away, by the thought that since Our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist, more than 2000 years ago, He has been received by more people than we could ever possibly imagine. More than that, He is present, fully, totally present, in the Blessed Sacrament in countless Tabernacles in countless Churches and Chapels all over the world right now and at every moment. AWESOME!!!! Moreover,
every day, at every Mass, the priest breaks the Consecrated Host. Every day, at every Mass, Communion is distributed to the faithful. And yet, Christ is not divided, not multiplied, not diminished, not increased.
Side note: More than once, people have said to me that all this is mathematically impossible. My usual, highly theological reply :) is:
"Mathematics, schmathematics!"

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The Yada Yada Prayer Group

I'm reading the "Yada Yada Prayer Group" series (again!) and I have to admit I have mixed feelings about the books. (Mostly, I love them.)
The author, Neta Jackson, is a Protestant, and I don't agree with everything she writes.
However, I love the way the women support each other with their prayers.
I like that the author uses several translations of the Bible.
I love the way Avis praises God BEFORE He answers a prayer.
I DEFINITELY like the way the Yada Yadas visit each others' churches, and
I wish someone would do a Catholic series along those lines, with Catholics
of different rites attending each others' liturgies


Published simultaneously in my secular blog, My First Word Was "Read".

Monday, September 20, 2010

Thankful for THAT??

Can I REALLY be thankful for a cut finger, a burn, a stubbed toe?
Believe it or not, the answer is YES! I can be thankful that I have something to offer up for the Souls in Purgatory. And come to think of it, that's really something to be thankful for, because every soul I help to get out of Purgatory is another SAINT in Heaven, praying for me.

Pro-Abortion Children's Authors

There are children's authors who are pro-abortion. HELLO!!! How many of their books do these authors expect an aborted child to read?

Litterbox


Thank God I can smell the poop, because
that means I can also smell the roses.
And thank God for roses!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

This That and the Other Thing: Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

This That and the Other Thing: Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
EWTN Family Prayer - Prayer of Thanksgiving



Also in my "Gratitude Attitude Game" blog.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010
We Should Love Them!
We shouldn't hate those who promote abortion. We should, rather, love them and pray for them. Pray that they have a change of heart.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

We Should Love Them!

We shouldn't hate those who promote abortion. We should, rather, love them and pray for them. Pray that they have a change of heart.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

This That and the Other Thing: Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

This That and the Other Thing: Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

***************************************************************************
MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2010
Mercy, or Murder?
Is euthanasia mercy, or is it murder?
I say, it all depends.
If we are talking about a sick, suffering animal who cannot be helped in
any other way, then it is mercy. It is the last, and the hardest, loving
act we do for a cherished pet.
But when it comes to a human being, then it is murder. Yes, it is hard, very hard, to watch a loved one suffer. When my Baba was dying from stomach cancer, I prayed that God would take her, and when He did, I thanked Him for ending her suffering.
Yes, I thanked Him, but He was the only One Who had the RIGHT to end that suffering.
I would never have done anything to hasten Baba's death, even by an hour. Even by a minute. Even by a second.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

How NOT To Play This Game

If someone is going through a really rough time, or has suffered a great loss, that is not, most definitely NOT, the time to tell them what they can be thankful for.
You, yourself, can quietly thank God for the good you know He will bring out of it,
but the other person will not be ready to hear it.
I know when things have gone really wrong for me, the last thing I wanted was for someone to tell me what I should be glad, or grateful, for.
No, that is not the time to give them a sermon on thankfulness. That is the time to give them
something to be thankful for: the silent, listening sympathy of a friend.

Two Aspects to The Game

The more I play this game, the more I realize that I am not so much looking for things to be thankful for as I am noticing them. And since I've ben playing, I've been noticing more and more of the everyday blessings so many of us, myself very much included, tend to take for granted.
So I guess there are two parts to this game:
1: Noticing, and being thankful for, the good things, no matter how small they seem
2: Looking for, and finding, something to be thankful for in the bad things, no matter how large they seem.
Mostly, it is knowing that whether a thing seems good or bad to us, God uses it for our good.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Mercy, or Murder?

Is euthanasia mercy, or is it murder?
I say, it all depends.
If we are talking about a sick, suffering animal who cannot be helped in
any other way, then it is mercy. It is the last, and the hardest, loving
act we do for a cherished pet.
But when it comes to a human being, then it is murder. Yes, it is hard, very hard, to watch a loved one suffer. When my Baba was dying from stomach cancer, I prayed that God would take her, and when He did, I thanked Him for ending her suffering.
Yes, I thanked Him, but He was the only One Who had the RIGHT to end that suffering.
I would never have done anything to hasten Baba's death, even by an hour. Even by a minute. Even by a second.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

I've joined Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival How about if you join, too?

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2010
A Great Investment
One of the best investments I know of is to pray for the Souls in Purgatory. The way I see it, the more souls I help to get out of Purgatory, the less time I'll have to spend there {and the less time in Purgatory, the better!}.
Every soul I help to get out of Purgatory is another Saint in Heaven praying for me.
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One Of My Favorite Quotes
Slightly adapted from a post in "Random Things By Rochelle Theresa Brown"
"From silly devotions and sour-puss saints, good Lord, deliver us."
St. Teresa of Avila.
{Some translators have "sour-FACED saints.}
And now, my own deep, brilliant observations:
I know that there are times when Christians should be sober, but there are many more times when we should be joyful. I mean, what's the point of going around looking like we don't expect to go to Heaven?

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

A Great Investment

One of the best investments I know of is to pray for the Souls in Purgatory. The way I see it, the more souls I help to get out of Purgatory, the less time I'll have to spend there {and the less time in Purgatory, the better!}.
Every soul I help to get out of Purgatory is another Saint in Heaven praying for me.

One Of My Favorite Quotes

Slightly adapted from a post in "Random Things By Rochelle Theresa Brown"
"From silly devotions and sour-puss saints, good Lord, deliver us."
St. Teresa of Avila.
{Some translators have "sour-FACED saints.}
And now, my own deep, brilliant observations:
I know that there are times when Christians should be sober, but there are many more times when we should be joyful. I mean, what's the point of going around looking like we don't expect to go to Heaven?

Cast into Hell Satan

Whenever I say the Prayer to St. Michael, when I get to the words "cast into Hell Satan".. oh, the contempt and loathing with which I pronounce the name Satan!
Originally published in "Random Things By Rochelle Theresa Brown"

Prayer Times

I'm trying to work out a schedule for myself; to set aside certain fixed times for prayer. Update: I'm still working out my schedule, but I've figured out that, for the most part, I have to be more flexible than I would be if I were in a convent or monastery. Maybe I should set it within certain parameters, except for Mass, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and Benediction.
(Sunday at 6:00 PM)

This post is adapted from a post in "Random Things By Rochelle Theresa Brown"

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Death Sentence

The sentence of death was passed. When the appointed time came, they were torn limb from limb, and their heads were crushed.
Were they criminals being executed in a barbaric, primitive society?
No. They were babies being aborted in a {cough cough} civilized, enlightened country.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

This is Not an Anti-Panda Post

China is mourning the death of Quan Quan, a panda considered to be a hero for having given birth to seven baby pandas.
Let's pray that someday China will have the same attitude towards HUMAN mothers and babies!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Catholic 24/7

This is slightly, very slightly, modified from one of my other blogs.

I am a Catholic, 24/7, awake or asleep. Whatever I do, I do as a Catholic. Of course, not all activities are in themselves Catholic per se. Eating, for example, is not predominately Catholic; it is a universal, and universally necessary activity. :) Making the Sign of the Cross and saying the "Bless us, O Lord" prayer before eating, and the "We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits" prayer after is Catholic.
Reading, in itself, is not Catholic. Reading the Holy Bible [I prefer the Revised Standard Version], books by or about Saints, or any Catholic devotional and/or instructional book is Catholic. Watching TV is another activity not Catholic in and of itself, unless the programming is Catholic, for example, everything on EWTN. Saying a few Hail Mary's or some other prayer while I fast-forward through the commercials and/or scenes I don't care to watch on the secular programs [and thank God for tapes, DVRs, and fast-forward!]is Catholic.
Just one or two more examples. Being on my computer is not particularly Catholic; visiting Catholic websites is.
Singing, just plain singing, is not especially Catholic. Singing something like "Hail, Holy Queen", however.... aw, you know!
In other words, whatever I do, I do as a Catholic, but there are certain things I do specifically because I am a Catholic.
If I have to separate something in my life from the fact that I am a Catholic, then
that thing does not belong in my life.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Monday, July 12, 2010

I Also Read Comic Books

This post originally appeared in one of my old blogs.

I remember racing (okay, so not exactly racing, but it's a good cliche) to the corner candy store on Tuesdays and Thursdays to see which comic books had come in. Then, there was the ecstatic agony of deciding which ones to buy. Of course, I did have some favorites that I always bought, and my Aunt Lily (really my great-aunt, my Baba's sister) could usually be counted on to treat me to a comic or two every week.
My favorites were "Sugar and Spike", "Little Lulu","Dennis the Menace", "Little Audrey", "Little Dot", "Richie Rich", "Archie", "Betty and Veronica", and, as I grew older, "Superman", "Lois Lane", "Jimmy Olsen" and "Supergirl". I didn't start reading "Batman" until the TV show whet my appetite.
I should also admit that I liked "Tippy Teen". Anyone else remember her short-lived comics? In some ways, her universe resembled the "Archie" universe. Among Tippy's friends were a Moose-like boy called Animal, and a Dilton Doily type whose name escapes me at the moment.
No wonder the Tippy universe resembled, in some ways, the Archie universe. I've just found out, through a Google search, that Dan Decarlo, who worked on many of the "Archie" and "Betty and Veronica" comics, also worked on "Tippy Teen". LOL!
I am delighted, absolutely delighted, that so many comic stories from my childhood and earlier have been reprinted, either in digest form, or in hardcover. I'm even more delighted that some are available online.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

My VERY OWN Library Card

This post is expanded from a post on one of my older blogs.
Almost every day after school, my Baba and I would go to the rather small, but to my childish eyes quite big enough, Brighton Beach Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, then located on Ocean Parkway. We'd browse among the picture books, and then I would choose a few books (as hard a decision, for me, as deciding what to get at the corner candy store!) Baba would check the books out on her library card; I was too young to have my own.
We'd go over to one of the benches on Ocean Parkway, and read at least one of the
books together. Usually, we saved the rest of them to read at home. Not that I minded reading
the books again and again. Most, if not all, bookworms are great re-readers.
And then, finally, when I was in the second grade, I was old enough for my very
own library card.(thrill thrill thrill!) I felt so grown-up that day. My very own library card!
The first book I took out on my VERY OWN library card was "Betsy and Billy" by Carolyn Haywood. I chose for two reasons: I had already read and loved her first book, "B is For Betsy", and I wanted to be seen leaving the library with a thick, grown-up looking book.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Multi-blogging

I am a multi-blogger, working on several blogs at once.
Thank God we don't have to limit ourselves to just one blog!

Reading one of The "Pollyanna" Books

Eleanor H. Porter wrote only two "Pollyanna" books before her death, but these books, and Pollyanna herself, were so popular that the publisher commissioned other writers to continue the series. I'm now reading
"Pollyanna's Western Adventure", by Harriet Lummis Smith.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

This Makes NO Sense At All

First of all, I want to make it as clear as I can that I absolutely oppose the death penalty, and for the same reason I oppose abortion, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. I oppose these things because taking a human life is playing God.

However, the most vicious criminal can be executed by lethal injection; in other words, put to sleep like a beloved pet. Meanwhile, innocent babies are being torn limb from limb in their mothers'wombs.





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Friday, May 21, 2010

Euthanasia: Mercy, or Murder?

Is euthanasia mercy, or is it murder?
I say, it all depends.
If we are talking about a sick, suffering animal who cannot be helped
any other way, then it is mercy. It is the last, and the hardest, loving
act we do for a cherished pet.
But when it comes to a human being, then it is murder. Yes, it is hard, very hard, to watch a loved one suffer. When my Baba was dying from stomach cancer, I prayed that God would take her, and when He did, I thanked Him for ending her suffering.
Yes, I thanked Him, but He was the only One Who had the RIGHT to end that suffering.
I would never have done anything to hasten Baba's death, even by an hour. Even by a minute. Even by a second.


[Originally posted in my RandomThingsBy RochelleTheresaBrown blog.]

I Support A Woman's Right to Choose Not to Have Children

Yes, I support that right, as long as she
also chooses to remain unmarried and a virgin.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

A Post from My Old Blog

There are children's authors who are pro-abortion. HELLO!!! How many of their books do these authors expect an aborted child to read?

Encouraging news about EWTN's Fr. Anthony

Fr. Anthony hopes to be back on the air in the near future.  Oh, HOW I'm praying for that to happen! https://franciscanmissionaries.c...