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Real Hope

Posted by eph21920 on May 3, 2022 in Uncategorized

Today I received some mail from the church. It included the 2nd of 4 booklets on grief and a beautifully thoughtful card that read, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:31”. That reminded me of something my Bible school instructor said last night in class. Christian hope is not wishing for something or worrying that something will come true. It is holding fast to the promises God has made and knowing that what He has said will come to be. I looked up the definition in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and it said, “Hope being a combination of the desire for something and expectation of receiving it, the virtue is hoping for Divine union and so eternal happiness. While faith is a function of the intellect, hope is an act of the will.” My understanding is that when we hope, we are actively participating in God’s loving plan for our future. I think that is beautiful.

I Found God today in hope.

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Mom’s 90th Part 2

Posted by eph21920 on May 2, 2022 in Birthday, Family, Food, Friends, Fun, Life, Music, Uncategorized

This morning at breakfast, my mom thanked God for being on this earth for 90 years. My brother and I thanked Him as well. My mom’s friend came over as usual and they played the piano. We used to go out to lunch every week after the private concert, but COVID changed everything. Instead of going out to lunch, we would get take-out. But today, we all went out to lunch. Mom’s choice was Cracker Barrel where she was able to order her favorite chicken and dumplings. We talked to the waitress about mom’s birthday, and she said her birthday was in 3 more days. Suddenly, a voice at the next table started singing Happy Birthday. I looked over and realized it was a friend I hadn’t seen in quite a while. That was a very pleasant coincidence. After lunch, I packed up my mom’s friend a dessert box to go. My mom decided she was ready for more cake, so we enjoyed another piece. She received lots of Happy Birthday messages and a call from my brother who just made it back to the state after travelling. Mom was pretty tired tonight. It’s hard to turn 90, but what a blessing she is.

I Found God today celebrating my mom.

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Mom’s 90th

Posted by eph21920 on May 1, 2022 in Birthday, Family, Fun, Grateful, Happiness, Life

Today we started celebrating my mom’s 90th birthday! After we went to church, we met most of the family at Carrabba’s restaurant – my mom’s choice. She always looks forward to being with everyone and loves how the family is growing. We got a bottle of wine to toast her and she probably had a little more than her usual amount, but was thoroughly enjoying herself. When we got back home, she had to nap for a while. That gave us time to finish getting everything set up. When she got up, we all gathered around to watch her open her pampering gift bag full of smooth moisturizers, soaps, and super soft towels. That should all feel good to her. She donned the tiara and gave her best royal wave. Then she taught it to her great-granddaughter. My daughter in law made her first black forest cake. It was amazing and the whole table was quiet as we enjoyed the chocolatey cherry deliciousness. It was a very good day.

I Found God today celebrating my mom.

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Circuit Boards

Posted by eph21920 on April 29, 2022 in Answer, Connected, Family, Grateful, Knowledge, Music, Past, Teacher

My mom has a hard time listening to music. I feel bad that it just doesn’t sound good to her, especially since that has been such an important part of her life. Today my brother took apart the old receiver and cleaned it to help it get a better sound. I looked inside it and saw the old circuit boards. It reminded me that I actually soldered some together when I was a kid. My brother and I figured it was probably for the organ that my dad built. We remembered how my dad allowed us to have such great and interesting experiences. He was a true teacher at heart. After my brother was done putting the stereo system back together, my mom sat down and listened. It wasn’t a perfect sound for her, but it was better than it was. I hope she will be able to enjoy listening to music a little more now.

I Found God today in my brother’s help and good memories.

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Celebrating Dad’s Birthday

Posted by eph21920 on April 28, 2022 in Birthday, Death, Family, Food, Grief, Life, Past

Today my dad would have been 92 years old. My brother who is here visiting and I wanted to honor my dad today while helping my mom have a good day. We knew it would be difficult especially for my mom. We decided to go to the cemetery in the morning. I took my mom to the store where she picked out a beautiful bouquet and we headed out. The weather was perfect at the cemetery as we arranged the flowers and admired the newly placed headstone. We lingered there enjoying the sunshine, reminisced a while and said some prayers. Then we headed to mom and dad’s favorite German restaurant for lunch. They have gone there every year during their celebration weeks of birthdays and anniversary. We toasted my dad and shared a piece of his favorite black forest cake. My sister shared that it was national blueberry pie day. My dad loves blueberries, so it seemed fitting. I couldn’t find one at the grocery store, so I decided to make one in the afternoon. We enjoyed some this evening while watching dad’s favorite Star Trek episode, “The Trouble with Tribbles”. We were happy to celebrate my dad with all his favorite things and my mom really appreciated it as well.

I Found God today celebrating my dad’s birthday.

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Kindly Neighbors

Posted by eph21920 on April 27, 2022 in Creation, Friends, Generosity, Grateful, Home

This afternoon I saw some kindly neighbors working in the garden area of the house next door. I figured the neighbors perhaps had asked for some help. I went out and visited with them for a bit. We watched the hawks flying around and I pointed out the nest. A little later when I went out again, I saw that they had trimmed some of our bushes and fluffed up our mulch. I was so surprised, happy, and grateful. It is one thing that I won’t have to take care of.

I Found God today in kindly neighbors.

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First Program

Posted by eph21920 on April 26, 2022 in Children, Family, Grateful, Life, Music

Tonight my mom and I were super happy to go to my granddaughter’s very first school performance. It included the 3 first grade classes. They sang and told a story. My granddaughter wore her long Easter dress and her hair was done with a beautiful braid. My mom was teary eyed by the end. After the performance, there were hugs all around. My granddaughter was so proud and showed us how she could curtsy. On the way home my mom was still emotional and talked about how we forget all the things children learn and do when we’re not around them all the time. She really cherishes the time we spend with her great-grandchildren.

I Found God today seeing my granddaughter in her first school performance.

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Revelation 1

Posted by eph21920 on April 25, 2022 in Answer, Bible, Jesus

Finally, as I am in my last weeks of Bible class, we have come to the book of Revelation. I have been looking forward to it as I know it is a very misunderstood and misinterpreted book. In my small group, we discussed the study questions for chapter 1. One of the participants said she found the art of Albrecht Durer to be an amazing illustration of the scripture. I looked it up after class and it is pretty amazing. I only viewed the one of St. John’s vision of Jesus as that is what we read. It will definitely help me to remember the details of the description he gave.

I Found God today learning about the book of Revelation

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The Baby Shower

Posted by eph21920 on April 24, 2022 in Baby, Creation, Friends, Fun, Grateful, Joy, Life, Love

A few months ago, a friend announced that her daughter was expecting a baby. This would be her first grandchild. She has been keeping us up to date and we have seen photos of her the happy couple as time goes on as well as some of the 3D images of the growing baby. Those are amazing. I truly don’t know how we as humans have the technology to view and treat the life in the womb, and yet can be so committed to ending that life. Anyways, my mom and I were happy to be invited to the baby shower today. It was so beautiful to see that baby bump in real life and to see the love between the couple. They we’re surrounded by loving, supportive, and excited friends and family. We played games, met people, and ooohed and aaahed over the tiny clothes and accessories. One of the couples there brought their 6 day old infant. He was so precious. This afternoon was so joyful.

I Found God today in new life.

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We Were Loved First

Posted by eph21920 on April 23, 2022 in Connected, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus, Life, Love

I was working on my Bible class homework tonight and read 1 John 4:19-21, “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God* whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” I remembered a common thought that my instructor shared, “I would join a church if it wasn’t for all those people”. Indeed this thought process goes both ways. I can be judging those in a particular church because I don’t like this or that action. This isn’t loving. On the flip side, it is the responsibility of a Christian to do their best to love others. Truly we will all fall and fail. But if we say we follow Christ, we even take responsibility for those faults. We forgive and ask forgiveness. We are called to radically love one another. And that is only possible through the grace of God, because He first loved us.

I Found God today reminded of the challenge to radically love.

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