Pondered In My Heart

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Hello May Edition

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ Every Thursday, at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{pretty}

Pretty in pink are some lovely tulips blooming in the sun! Hooray for pink tulips.

We are having wonderful springy weather lately, (finally!) and it's so nice to see pretty blue sky, green grass and flowers. I like the pretty pink dogwood contrasted with the deep purple of the ajuga (don't look at that pesky little dandelion in there).

{happy}

Happy is a bunch of swinging girls singing at the top of their lungs! This is one of their favorite outdoor pastimes; Spanish Ladies, Marching Song, Colonial Boy, Hielan Laddie - they take turns calling out the next song to sing. I love it.

Bring the comb and play upon it!
Marching, here we come!
Willie cocks his highland bonnet,
Johnnie beats the drum.

Mary Jane commands the party,
Peter leads the rear;
Feet in time, alert and hearty,
Each a Grenadier!

{funny}

So the other night I took Kateri out to the store to pick up her new glasses and she was oh so excited to get them, especially as they were ready a few days earlier than expected. But being an old bear of little brain I forgot that the optical department closed early and we got there approximately two minutes too late to get them. We had to return home sans glasses and she was very sad and hid under a blanket moping.

Until Jo Jo came home.

There's nothing like hanging out on the counter with your big brother making funny faces to cheer you right up. Good job, Jo Jo.

{real}

It's not every day you get flat tires on two different cars! Yesterday Josiah had to ride with us to Mass in the morning as his car had a flat. And then on our way home, ka-pow!

As I drove down this narrow alley a car came along in the opposite direction, so I pulled over to the side a little bit - just enough to make contact with the metal edged curb. Who knew curbs can have sharp metal edges?!?

I definitely won the prize for the biggest blow out.

Such a jolly way to start the day!

Today I drove down the alley with everyone (myself included) telling me Don't hit the curb! Don't hit the curb! and Eliza yelling, Ma! Stay away from the curb!

I'll do my best.

(but I make no promises)

Visit Leila for more everyday contentment at Like Mother, Like Daughter.

Wordless Wednesday: "I'll never look like myself again."

Wordless Wednesday: Letter Home

(and oh how Nana loved invented spelling!)

His Divine Mercy

In your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of my dearly beloved mother-in-law Mary, who passed away early in the wee hours of Divine Mercy Sunday. She left this earth with her son at her side and holding her hand, as he prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet for her. Later that afternoon, with our Eliza Faustina clinging to her dear Daddy, we celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday at a Latin High Mass in a beautiful old Polish church, surrounded by so many images of saints gone before us, breathing in the lily scent of Eastertide. While filled with sadness over the loss of our very dear Nana, we remain astounded and overwhelmed with gratitude at the beauty of God's most impeccable timing.

O, give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His mercy endures forever.

Jesus, I trust in You

Wordless Wednesday: En Plein Air

This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us rejoice and be glad in it!

 

O God, who hast bestowed on the faithful the fire of Thy brightness by Thy Son, who is the corner-stone, hallow this new fire struck from a flint to help us when we use it: and grant that during this Paschal festival we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may join Thy feast of perpetual light. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Christ yesterday and today

Beginning and End

Alpha and Omega

All times are His

And all ages;

To Him be glory and dominion

Through all ages of eternity. Amen.

Through His wounds holy and glorious

Guard and preserve us

Christ the Lord. Amen.

Light of Christ, in glory rising,

Dispel dark night from heart and mind.

Lumen Christi!

Deo grátias!

-Blessing of the New Fire from the Solemn Easter Vigil service

"Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk: you won’t be disappointed. If following him seems difficult, don’t be afraid, trust him, be confident that he is close to you, he is with you and he will give you the peace you are looking for and the strength to live as he would have you do."- Easter Vigil Sermon of Pope Francis

May the Light of Our Risen Lord burn brightly in your hearts and in your families and homes throughout this glorious Eastertide! For His Light dispels all darkness and fills us with exceedingly great joy! Happy Easter, friends!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Wordless Wednesday: Paschal Full Moon

Wordless Wednesday: Habemus Papam!

O Lord, we are the millions of believers, humbly kneeling at Thy feet and begging Thee to preserve, defend and save the Sovereign Pontiff Francis for many years. He is the Father of the great fellowship of souls and our Father as well. On this day, as on every other day, he is praying for us also, and is offering unto Thee with holy fervor the sacred Victim of love and peace.

Wherefore, O Lord, turn Thyself toward us with eyes of pity; for we are now, as it were, forgetful of ourselves, and are praying above all for him. Do Thou unite our prayers with his and receive them into the bosom of Thine infinite mercy, as a sweet savor of active and fruitful charity, whereby the children are united in the Church to their Father. All that he asks of Thee this day, we too ask it of Thee in unison with him.

Whether he weeps or rejoices, whether he hopes or offers himself as a victim of charity for his people, we desire to be united with him; nay more, we desire that the cry of our hearts should be made one with his. Of Thy great mercy grant, O Lord, that not one of us may be far from his mind and his heart in the hour that he prays and offers unto Thee the Sacrifice of Thy blessed Son. At the moment when our venerable High Priest, holding in his hands the very Body of Jesus Christ, shall say to the people over the Chalice of benediction these words: "The peace of the Lord be with you always," grant, O Lord, that Thy sweet peace may come down upon our hearts and upon all the nations with new and manifest power. Amen.