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Labor of Love

Posted by eph21920 on July 20, 2026 in Family, Home, Life, Trust

My family and I have spent the last few days working hard at clearing out the cabin. My brother has been staying at the house and working on it for a couple of months already. This weekend, my sister joined us as we had a big moving sale. Many of the people who came were neighbors who wanted to say hello and goodbye. All of the visitors were mountain people who have their own kind of culture. They were all super friendly and it was a joy talking to them. Almost everyone who stopped by bought something. And everyone commented on what a nice house it was with a beautiful view. Some asked why we would sell it, which led us to explain the circumstances. I described the cabin as my dad’s “labor of love” that the whole family was involved with. And, unfortunately, we are all now unable to care for it. Talking about it and hearing the comments stung a bit, but at the same time it kept me aware of the truth of the situation. People also noted that we were very lucky to sell, as the properties are just not moving up there. That helped me to feel more confident that, as hard as it is to sell, it is the right decision. I was glad that my brother, sister, and I were able to spend the time up there together. After selling what we could, my son and his wife came up with a pickup truck to help out. My brother and I were exhausted at this point and a little overwhelmed. I was grateful that my son was able to help make a plan of action. Then, when he became frustrated that things weren’t going as he thought they would, his wife stepped in and helped get us all back on track. It was a beautiful, working family dynamic. We brought loads to the local Goodwill, donated to others, and even after that had to hire a couple of guys to finish getting out the rest of the leftover construction materials and such. There was a lot accumulated over 50 years. We all did keep some pieces that were especially meaningful and that would bring happy memories of the place. Tomorrow we will finish cleaning and then have to leave for the last time. It has been difficult and emotional. But I am trying to keep my eyes on God, trusting that He has put this all in place, and knows what the future holds for me and my family.

I Found God today trusting Him in an emotional situation.

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Following His Lead

Posted by eph21920 on July 15, 2026 in Answer, Connected, Faith, Life

I got a phone call from my realtor yesterday and we agreed to move up the date for closing the sale of the cabin. I arrived at the cabin today and saw our friend on the way who had just arrived. We hugged it out and cried a bit. It is bound to be an emotional couple of days as we clean out the place. Good memories, sad memories. Right before I got the call, I was talking with my son and his wife. I said that I feel God putting everything into place and is just pushing us right along. I need to do the work on my part and hold on, trusting Him. Then I received the call and made the decision to agree to an earlier closing. I am now having to practice what I just said.

I Found God today following His lead.

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Inspirational Friend

Posted by eph21920 on July 13, 2026 in Friends, Joy, Life, Relationship

A friend turned 90 years old a couple of months ago. We have been trying to get together and found it ridiculous that it was so hard to come up with a date. She still lives in her house and has a pretty busy schedule. She goes to church, prayer groups, visits many people, and is a Stephen Minister. I seemed to have a lot going on as well. Also, I was traveling, and then she was traveling. We were both happy that we finally were able to connect today. I told her the details of my fabulous road trip and all the people I spent time with, the peaceful places I visited, and the wonderful things I saw. She told me about her birthday celebrations and her recent trip to Boston. While we traveled, we both stopped at many of the main tourist attractions, but we also were able to get off the beaten path and found unexpected hidden gems. I was truly one with nature when I took a dirt road and was greeted by several bison. On a rainy day in Boston, my friend went into a library, which ended up being as much a part of the beauty and history as the Freedom Trail was. I was amazed at all the places she went to. Her stamina is incredible. We talked about how you have to keep going and do the things you love to do while you can still do them. I think she will keep going for quite some time. She has always been a source of inspiration, and I am always grateful that we continue to get together.

I Found God today in an inspirational friend.

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Stress Relief

Posted by eph21920 on July 12, 2026 in Past, Present, Sacrifice, Struggles

A friend of mine has been struggling the past couple of months. She and her adult daughter have been living together for a few years and everything was going along pretty well – until the daughter met a new man. The more serious that relationship grew, the worse the mother/daughter relationship became. The couple even eloped and got married without my friend knowing about it. They said they were moving out and that the house needed to be sold. It actually belonged to both of them. My friend wasn’t in complete agreement, but went along with their plan. She has been struggling and sad about the whole thing. I saw her today and got caught up on the happenings. The house did sell and the closing was only a couple of weeks ago. She found an apartment in a complex that she had looked at before and was all moved in. Even though her relationship with her daughter has not improved, my friend was happy that the house sale and move are behind her. She was visibly more relaxed and I was happy for that.

I Found God today in some stress relief for a friend.

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Rosary at the Cemetery

Posted by eph21920 on July 11, 2026 in Faith, Friends, Prayer

The other day I was reading the local Diocese magazine and saw that the Knights of Columbus were praying the rosary in the military cemetery on the 2nd Saturday of the month. They were inviting others to join them. That sounded like a great idea to me. I called a friend who recently buried her mother along with her father there and asked if she wanted to go. She did, so I picked her up this morning. When we arrived at the cemetery, we saw a few cars that were in front of one of the gathering areas and assumed it was the group since there were no other vehicles anywhere. We parked and walked into the covered outdoor space and were greeted by one of the men. I asked if they were the praying group. He said they were. I asked if we could join them. He said we were most welcome. I told him I had read the article in the Diocese magazine. He and the other men were very happy that it had caught our attention, and it was their hope that more people would come to pray with them. After a few other men arrived, everyone introduced themselves and shared a prayer intention. They were all from different parishes, but part of the Knights of Columbus. Before praying the rosary, we were asked if we wanted to lead part of it. My friend quietly bowed out. How could I refuse. It was a beautiful morning to pray in that peaceful, sacred place. The air was crisp and clear and the cover kept us out of the sun. The only other sound I heard was the birds flying and chirping. After the prayers, my friend and I went to her mom and dad’s gravesite. She was elated to find that the new headstone had been put in place. It now included her mom’s name with a carved image of the Sacred Heart. She fell to her knees and cried. After a while, we went over to my parents’ gravesite where I placed the flowers I had prepared. We prayed a little more before we left. I was so glad that I decided to go and that my friend came too.

I Found God today praying with a friend at the cemetery.

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God’s Moving

Posted by eph21920 on July 10, 2026 in Connected, Creation, Faith, Family, Friends, Grateful, Life, Love, Peace, Prayer, Relationship, Travel

I got together with one of my neighbors today who I had not seen for a couple of months. They were away, then I was away, then things got a little hectic. It was good to visit with them. As I told them about my trip and everything that is happening since I returned, I was again made aware of how good God is to me. My son and his family are getting all settled safely in their new home. I had a wonderful time with all my different relatives, each in their own way, and they were all so gracious. As I traveled by myself, I went off the beaten path and came across the Indian School that my brother has been supporting, I experienced some very peaceful places that held some of the same items that my parents owned, and I saw lots of wildlife alone on gravel roads. A couple days after I got home, we received an offer to sell the family cabin and I signed the contract on the 2nd anniversary of my mom’s death. And less than 2 weeks after we close on that sale, my daughter in law and son will be having their first child. God is moving in my life. As my friend said, “buckle up”! I am also incredibly cognizant that I have done nothing special to deserve His blessings. But I am His child, just as you are. And I am grateful that I am learning how to be more aware of His Presence, His Love, and His Movements.

I Found God today reflecting on His Movement in my life.

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Kiss the Crucifix

Posted by eph21920 on July 9, 2026 in Connected, Faith, Jesus, Life, Sacrifice, Struggles

I watched a video today based on Padre Pio’s reasons for kissing a crucifix. It gave me some thoughts to ponder. Of course, a crucifix doesn’t have magical powers and we are not venerating wood or metal. We kiss the cross firstly to humble ourselves and acknowledge that Jesus is God and we are not. We purposefully make ourselves meek in the presence of Christ crucified. As we look at Jesus on the cross, we remember the sacrifice that He made for us, giving His life so that we can live forever with Him in Heaven. As God, He chose to enter into our humanity, another humbling thought. At the same time, we realize that He suffered tremendously. When we are going through hard times and suffering, it is necessary to remember that Jesus is walking our journey with us, and He understands our pain. As we hold and kiss the crucifix, we realize that we can unite our suffering with His for the benefit of others. Finally, the more time we spend with Jesus, the more our hearts can be changed from despair to hope, from anxiety to joy. I also found some quotes by Padre Pio that I found particularly fitting to the topic:

“You should rather humble yourself before God than be distressed if he reserves for you the sufferings of his Son, and makes you experience your weakness. You should offer up to him the prayer of resignation and hope, even when you fall through frailty, and thank him for all the benefits with which he continually enriches you.”

“The sublime degree of humility is not only to recognize one’s own abjection but to love it. I have chosen says the prophet to be abject in the house of God rather than to dwell in the houses of sinners.”

I Found God today in a reflection about kissing a crucifix.

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The Old Cabin Friend

Posted by eph21920 on July 8, 2026 in Friends, Grateful, Grief, Life, Past

Today my brother and I talked with an old friend from the cabin. He always called my dad his “Little Buddy”. They were good friends for over 40 years, helping one another with construction projects, just hanging out, and even connecting during vacation. Our families got to know each other and had some fun times together. We grieved when his wife got Alzheimer’s and passed away. He saw the signs in my dad and was so understanding and supportive. After my mom died, he had a large stone beautifully engraved with both my parents’ names and gave it to us as a memorial. When we talked today, we had to tell him the news that our cabin has likely sold. He moaned and groaned and was very unhappy. But he knew that’s what would probably happen. He said that everything changes. It was good talking with him even though it was bittersweet and I was sad when I hung up. We hope to see each other before everything is said and done. He has been a good friend and I am grateful for the relationship.

I Found God today talking with an old friend.

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Apartment Intervention

Posted by eph21920 on July 7, 2026 in Answer, Faith, Friends, Home, Opportunity, Trust

I met up with my prayer group and one of the ladies told us that she was moving. We were all surprised. We knew that the circumstances in her current apartment were not very good, but didn’t know she was looking for a new place. Evidently, she really wasn’t, but said that God planned the whole thing. A friend of hers told her about a new low income apartment complex that was just beginning to take applications. She had been through this process before, so my friend knew it could take years for them to have an opening. But as things worsened in her current apartment, she decided she might as well get started. She went to the office who gave her a tour, then asked if she wanted to complete an application. My friend filled out the paperwork while she was there. When she was finished, the manager congratulated her and said she had an apartment. She said she wished she would be able to have a mountain view. A few weeks later, she went in to sign the contract. There was evidently some confusion on the apartment she was supposed to be in and they offered her one that was over her budget. She told the person that it was a lot to pay – more than her current apartment. The person asked if she wanted it or not. My friend didn’t know how to respond and had been praying the whole time for God to let her know what she should do. Before she could answer, another office person came in with a folder and placed it on the desk. The gentleman looked at it and told my friend that another apartment had just opened up. It was the price she had been quoted previously and had a mountain view. My friend was elated and signed the paperwork. She is very much looking forward to moving into her new place. It is amazing how God shows up when you ask Him to.

I Found God today as he intervened for my friend.

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Baby Room

Posted by eph21920 on July 6, 2026 in Baby, Family, Life, Love

My son’s husky has been acting out recently if they leave her alone. She seems to be particularly attached to his wife, who is expecting soon. If they both leave the house, the dog is getting into things. It wasn’t a problem until recently, and she is well behaved as long as she is not left alone. I am pretty sure she knows there is a baby in the mix now and perhaps is being overly protective, or worried, or something. The last couple of days I have spent some time at the house with the dog while my son and his wife go on appointments and such. They have been setting up the baby room, getting it all ready. They have a new fancy bed for her and a nice rocking chair. The closet and dresser are full of clothes and toys and blankets and accessories. It was so fun looking at all the tiny headbands and socks and sleepers. We are all looking forward to having this new little girl come into our lives to hold and love.

I Found God today in anticipation of my newest granddaughter.

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