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Family Bonds

Posted by eph21920 on May 6, 2026 in Connected, Family, Friends, Grateful, Home, Relationship

My friend who was visiting has done a tremendous amount of research into her and her husband’s family history. She was very passionate about the project and excited to tell me about the different people they have been in touch with. I thought about the genealogy work that my dad did and shared the albums that my parents and sister put together. My friend was amazed at all the photos and information that was captured in the books. She got teary eyed as she told me what a treasure it was to have this family history. I am very grateful that we have it for sure. Along the way, my friends have found some potential relatives who are very excited and open to meeting up and learning more about one another. There have also been some people who do not want to be in contact at all. This afternoon, we bid farewell as they travelled to the next city to enjoy time with the husband’s nephew who they have met only 1 other time. Tomorrow they will be going to another state to visit with his birth mother who he found and was able to connect with only a few years ago. I am so happy for him to have these newfound relationships with his blood relatives that he never knew before. As meaningful as family bonds are, my friends have also felt like family to me for many years. Having them stay with me in my house felt very natural. I was so grateful for the extended time we were able to spend together.

I Found God today in family and friendship bonds.

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Day Well Spent

Posted by eph21920 on May 5, 2026 in Family, Friends, Grateful

Today my friends and I went downtown for lunch. We enjoyed the meal and the colorful waiter who kept telling us that he worked in the kitchen. We weren’t really sure if they just pulled him out to work the floor today, or if it was now his regular job. He seemed a little – well a lot – confused and forgetful. But he was entertaining. Then we went to the mining museum, which is one of the fun places to take visitors. They had one of the rescue cages that they used to rescue miners in Chile in 2010. There were 33 miners trapped in a collapsed mine 2300 feet underground for 69 days. Miraculously they were all rescued. It was an amazing story. For dinner I made Mexican food and my sons and their families joined us. My friends got to meet my granddaughter for the first time. They were involved in youth ministry when my younger son was in high school, but had not seen him for over 10 years. My son proudly showed off his wife and her baby bump. The gentleman was part of the crew of men that helped teach my younger son how to be a loving, faithful, and respectful man in the world. I have always been grateful for that. It was a good day well spent.

I Found God today spending the time with good friends.

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My Friends Are Here

Posted by eph21920 on May 4, 2026 in Friends, Fun, Grateful, Home, Life, Travel

A couple months ago, some friends of mine said they would like to visit. I was elated and started thinking about setting up a room for them and what fun things we could do. I enjoyed getting things cleaned up and organized as the time for their visit got closer. Today was the day. When they arrived at the airport, they rented a car and drove to my place. We were all so happy to see each other. I gave them a tour of my house and pointed out all the interesting items in what still feels like a museum. But I enjoyed talking about my parent’s legacy. We swapped stories of family estates and health and diets and retirement. Unfortunately the weather doesn’t look great for the next couple of days, but I’m sure we’ll make the best of it. It was so fun for me to have my friends from across the country in my house and I look forward to spending a few days with them.

I Found God today in my friends at my house.

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Peace

Posted by eph21920 on May 3, 2026 in Answer, Connected, Death, Faith, Grateful, Peace

I visited the cemetery today and placed some flowers on my mom’s headstone to honor her birthday. It was so peaceful there. As I looked around at all the neatly aligned identical gravestones I thought about how each of them represented one person in the US Military. Each person at this cemetery did their part to keep our country and the people in it safe. Their lives were likely hectic, challenging, and potentially dangerous. And now, God willing, they were resting in peace. I wondered why it was so difficult to find true peace on earth. Perhaps it is our propensity to satisfy our own ego, or insist that our ideas and beliefs should be held by everyone. Leaders of countries can desire power at the expense of many lives. I believe that at the core of wars and conflicts is a lack of love. Since God is love, it is a lack of God. God is peace, and if people are living their lives without God, there will not be peace. I am grateful that God has shown us a way to find the true peace that we so desperately seek. And I pray for more and deeper conversion and peace.

I Found God today in His promised peace.

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Houseplants

Posted by eph21920 on May 2, 2026 in Creation, Family, Grateful, Joy

Today is my mom’s birthday and it has been almost 2 years since she died. I watered her plants as I usually do on Saturdays. Today I thought more about what that process has been like. I have never been very good at taking care of houseplants. But as I cared for my mother, when it was too difficult for her to take care of her plants by herself, she taught me all about how to do it. I have tried to continue the watering and fertilizing routine that she taught me. Almost 2 years later, they are all still alive and thriving. The orchids, which are the more tricky ones, are doing amazingly well. One has 2 flowering stems on it, another has a stem that is currently blooming, and the 3rd hasn’t bloomed in years, but now has a stem that will be flowering in the next month or so. I think it’s a miracle that any of the plants are even still alive. To have the orchids continue to produce more flowers than ever is incredible to me. I am grateful that my mom taught me how to care for them and feel like perhaps she is helping out just a bit. I always remember her with joy when I see the beautiful orchid flowers.

I Found God today in thriving houseplants.

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Older, Slower, but Sweet

Posted by eph21920 on April 29, 2026 in Uncategorized

My travelling brother came back to the state on Monday, leaving behind his warm winter place. It was actually getting too warm there and it was so mild here, he thought it was good timing. As usual, though, there is a big snowstorm approaching. He brought his trailer to the shop today, not wanting to leave it up in the snow. Then he came to stay with me until the storm is done. It was good to see him again after about 7 months and share a meal with him. It was good to see his dog too, who is even much slower and stiffer than she was the last time I saw her. But she still enjoys her pets and I enjoyed giving them to her. She is very sweet. I was grateful that my brother had safe travels and happy to be with them again.

I Found God today being with my brother and his dog.

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Worry and Release

Posted by eph21920 on April 28, 2026 in Grateful, Knowledge, Life, Peace, Problem

The over 50 group that I joined at the church hosted a scamming awareness event that I attended today. A police investigator came and spoke to the group about some of the most common scams and ways to avoid them. It was very informative and somewhat alarming. The statistics show that in 2024, people over 60 lodged almost 150,000 complaints and lost almost 5 billion dollars to some kind of scam. I think it is horrible that almost 1/2 of our population has lost money to another person taking advantage of them in some way. It is no wonder that people don’t trust each other. The officer said he did want us to be overly concerned as it is how we can become more aware of what to watch out for. We learned some concrete ways to keep ourselves safe, but of course, we can only do our best. After the presentation, I went to lunch with some of the group, which is always fun, even if a lot of discussion is about recent or prolonged health issues. Then I went to my daughter in law’s place of business and got a massage. I left all my worries at the door and just relaxed for an hour. That was the best part of my day.

I Found God today becoming more aware of scams and then allowing the worry to release.

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Rain

Posted by eph21920 on April 27, 2026 in Creation, Grateful, Weather

We have been in a drought here like so many states across our nation. It doesn’t take much for fires to start. Luckily, around us, they have been able to get them under control fairly quickly. Every time any kind of moisture is predicted, it evaporates in the air before it even reaches the ground. People have been watering their perennials for months already, when usually we don’t do any work on the gardens until Mother’s Day. The “grass” in our common area is a mat of tan that crunches under your feet. Today there was another “possible chance” of scattered showers. This evening I heard a strange noise coming from the sky – a rumbling. It was thunder. The dark clouds came closer and closer until they finally let loose their water in the form of rain and small hail. It was a good soaking rain that lasted more than a minute or 2. There was even water running down the roadways. The leftover small hail will be beneficial as it will slowly melt into the soil. I was elated to see the moisture and thanked God. I was quickly reminded of the terrible fires burning in Georgia and Florida and prayed that God send some rain their way as well.

I Found God today in much needed rain.

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Bride of Christ

Posted by eph21920 on April 26, 2026 in Children, Connected, Death, Eucharist, Faith, Relationship

When I arrived early to church today, the parking lot was almost full. I figured there was probably First Communions. I was right. There were little girls in their white dresses and veils and gloves and little boys in white suits or black suits. The children sat with their families in the church pews, but all lined up when it was time for Holy Communion so they could receive first. After they received, they went back to their seats and were greeted with hugs and tears. I was teary too on their behalf. After Mass, I visited my friend again. Her mother was again awake when I got there. I asked if she would like to pray and she said yes. I asked if she would like to do the Divine Mercy or the Rosary. She answered the rosary. I prayed out loud and she again closed her eyes, but moved her lips to the prayers. When I said “Amen” at the end, she opened her eyes and managed to make the sign of the cross. I told her about the First Communions at Mass with the little girls in their white dresses and veils and gloves. “And shoes”, she added. I agreed and remarked that they were like a little bride of Christ. It then occurred to me that so was the woman lying in the bed, waiting to go home and meet Jesus. It was a beautiful glimpse of what is to come. Neither of us spoke, but perhaps she was thinking the same thing.

I Found God today in the image of a bride of Christ.

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Still Knew Prayers

Posted by eph21920 on April 25, 2026 in Death, Faith, Friends, Grateful, Peace

A few years ago, I met a woman and her mom when I was attending a grief support program at the church after my dad died. The mother had been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I told them about the support group that my mother had been attending and we went all together a couple of times. Recently, it has become difficult for her to get out of the house, so I have been visiting and bringing them Communion every week. I touched base with the daughter today. She called and told me her mother had stopped eating and drinking. She wasn’t able to swallow any of her pills, so was only receiving comfort medication. I decided to go over this afternoon. I couldn’t bring Communion to her in that condition, but wanted to visit and pray with her. When I arrived, I was surprised that she was awake and mostly alert. I told her I wanted  to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet with her and asked it she knew it. She responded, “Not by heart”. I told her I would pray it out loud and she could join in, or pray in her heart. The Divine Mercy is a pray shared by St. Faustina. In her diary, she wrote this message from Jesus,

“Pray as much as you can for the dying. By your entreaties [that is, insistent prayers] obtain for them trust in My mercy, because they have most need of trust, and have it the least. Be assured that the grace of eternal salvation for certain souls in their final moment depends on your prayer. You know the whole abyss of My mercy, so draw upon it for yourself and especially for poor sinners. Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My mercy not embrace a trusting soul” (Diary, 1777).

I started the prayer, which uses the rosary beads, and the woman said the Our Father and Hail Mary with me. Be the time I finished the Apostles Creed, she had closed her eyes and was breathing deeply. Every now and again, she seemed to mouth the words to the prayers. At the end of the Chaplet, she looked pretty comfortable and asleep. When I said Amen, she opened her eyes and we made the sign of the Cross together. She still knew her prayers. During the rest of my time with her, she would sleep, then be wide awake and we would talk for a minute before she went back to sleep. It was truly a peaceful, blessed time and I was so grateful I was able to be there.

I Found God today spending time with a dying woman.

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