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Ice Packed

Posted by eph21920 on March 30, 2024 in Family, Grateful

The roofs in our housing complex were damaged in a hail storm last summer. After months of waiting, they are now being replaced. Last week, they worked on our neighbor’s roof. The noise was very disturbing for my mom. Today we got notified that they will be working on our roof in the next few days. I thought that we would be able to take my mom to the cabin for a few days. So, today I brought my son and grandson up there to see how much snow there was in the driveway and get it cleared. The area received almost 2 feet of snow in the latest snowstorm. When we arrived, we were pretty shocked. The roads were all plowed, which was great. However, there was about 3 feet of snow, ice, and gravel packed at the entrances to the driveway. On the driveway itself there were drifts of snow and ice to where you couldn’t even tell where the driveway was. It was way too much for us to clear. We did enjoy the drive and were glad that all was well with the house. And I was grateful we made the trip up and didn’t just assume we would be able to drive down the driveway. Now I just have to figure out how to best help my mom tolerate a couple days of roof work.

I Found God today enjoying time at the cabin with my son and grandson.

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Contemplative Lent

Posted by eph21920 on March 29, 2024 in Connected, Faith, Grateful, Lent, Prayer

I was feeling stressed this afternoon, so when a caregiver came to stay with my mom I went to church. The Good Friday celebration was beautiful. There were 3 priests, 2 deacons, and about 20 altar servers. The church was packed and people spilled out into the gathering space and even into the meeting room across the hall. With so many people, the congregation responses and singing were powerful. And yet, with all that going on, I still felt a very deep, personal connection with Jesus that left me in tears through the majority of the almost 2 hour celebration. I am grateful for the contemplative Lent that God has blessed me with and this Good Friday was a beautiful finish.

I Found God today in a solemn Lent.

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10 Commandments

Posted by eph21920 on March 28, 2024 in Bible, Faith, Movie

Tonight for our prayers, we read the readings for Holy Thursday Mass. One reading was about the Passover. This made us want to watch The 10 Commandments with Charlton Heston. Luckily my sister found it on one of the channels she subscribes to. We watched part of it tonight with my mom until she got too tired. We will have to go back to it a couple times to finish, but that’s ok. Watching that movie feels like an old Easter tradition. And while there’s so much I remember, there always seems to be something new as well. I love how it brings scripture to life – along with some creative liberty of course.

I Found God today in a familiar faith story.

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Easter Crafts

Posted by eph21920 on March 27, 2024 in Children, Family, Fun, Grateful, Home

It has been a long time since we had my grandchildren over for a visit. My mom’s anxiety seems to get the best of her when there is a lot of commotion. However, we have changed up some of her medication, which seems to be helping. Since it was school break, my son and his wife and two younger grandkids came over today. My sister bought some Easter crafts and shared them with us. They were easy enough for everyone to do, yet not too simplistic. We all had fun putting them together and just visiting. My mom enjoyed the time as well and was more peaceful than in the past. I was grateful for the good day.

I Found God today in a good visit with family.

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God Time

Posted by eph21920 on March 26, 2024 in Faith, Lent, Peace

Today as I was out and about running errands, I was about to drive by the church. It occurred to me that there was Eucharistic Adoration available. So I went in and spent some quiet, alone time with God. It was a refreshing and peaceful break.

I Found God today in Eucharistic Adoration.

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Her Hands

Posted by eph21920 on March 25, 2024 in Creation, Family, Grateful, Happiness, Home, Life, Music, Prayer, Service

Yesterday I took a picture of my mom’s praying hands and shared it. When I read the comments, it gave me reason to pause and contemplate. My mom’s hands did indeed reflect those of God’s servant. For most of her life, my mom played the organ for the local church. Even while they moved often, she managed to find a parish who needed an organist. Those hands played the piano forever, brought joy to so many and always kept our home full of music. Her hands have raised children and held the hands of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught us how to make the sign of the cross and pray. Her hands took care of the family by cooking, ironing, washing, bathing, wiping, and nurturing. Now, we do our best to care for those hands. We keep them warm and lotioned. My sister gives her a manicure. And my son’s girlfriend gives her a hand massage almost every week. We pray together and make sure she blesses herself with the Holy water. My mom’s hands held and cared for us, now we hold and care for her.

I Found God today in the beauty of my mom’s hands.

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Accept, Access, Action

Posted by eph21920 on March 24, 2024 in Answer, Faith, Hope, Jesus, Lent, Life, Opportunity, Priest, Sacrifice, Struggles

Today I listened to the Palm Sunday homily by Fr. Mike Schmitz. He did a great job of wrapping up the reflections of the past 5 weeks of Lent based on the book, “He Leadeth Me” by Fr. Walter Ciszek. The whole series is based on surrendering our lives to God. That includes acknowledging that every circumstance in our lives are from God and part of His Divine Plan. I have been trying to surrender and at the same time wondering exactly how to do that. Fr. Mike described 3 steps – Accept, Access, Action. First we must accept that our life right now is exactly as it should be and is part of God’s divine providence. In the reading of the Passion of Christ, Jesus asked God to take the suffering away that He knew He would face. He didn’t necessarily want to go through the upcoming pain and suffering. Yet, He surrendered to God, knowing that it would bring about salvation. We can enter into that story as we accept our circumstances and suffering. Next, we give God access to our lives, our souls, our hearts. When we surrender, we don’t give up, but we allow God to enter our pain, our sadness, our sorrow, our failures, so He can transform it. Then we have to take action. That is, making a conscious decision to unite our struggles to that of Jesus’ and join in carrying the cross. We are able to be a part of the story of salvation for ourselves and those around us. Deep thoughts and challenges, but encouraging at the same time as we enter Holy Week.

I Found God today in encouragement to unite my struggles with that of Jesus’.

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Bonus Laughter

Posted by eph21920 on March 23, 2024 in Family, Laughter, Life

Today a caregiver was here which is both helpful and somewhat stressful. She is really good with my mom and also likes to talk. We try to keep things calmer for my mom. But when we talk, the caregiver has lots of stories to tell and makes me laugh. That felt like a big bonus today as I was feeling a little low.

I Found God today in laughter.

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Previous Lives

Posted by eph21920 on March 22, 2024 in Answer, Grateful, Life, Past

We had a Hospice CNA come over today. She gave my mom a little pampering with lotion and oils. Then she got out a pack of question cards that she picked up. She had told me about them before and was very excited to use them. She told us about some of the questions and answers that she had heard so far. We talked about the importance of remembering that the people she visits have had full lives. They had parents and relatives, jobs and hobbies, schools and friends. And the lives of those much older than us were very different from what we experience now. The card that my mom picked was to describe her siblings. Unfortunately, she wasn’t in a very talkative mood, so the conversation was pretty short. But that was also ok. The young CNA was so thoughtful and compassionate. She was definitely a blessing to us and certainly for others as well.

I Found God today in a compassionate young woman.

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You Are My Sunshine

Posted by eph21920 on March 21, 2024 in Family, Grateful, Happiness, Music

Today after lunch, our new caregiver, me, and my mom were all in the kitchen. My mom was sitting in her wheelchair while we were cleaning up. Suddenly, I heard my mom singing, “You are my sunshine…” The caregiver and I joined in, “my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey, you never know dear, how much I love you, please don’t take my sunshine away.” Then we all clapped. I was grateful for the beautiful sing-along.

I Found God today singing along with my mom.

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