Journey Through A New Lens~Taking Prayer Requests!

It's almost time to go!  

My Rome pilgrimage is just on the other side of this week…I can hardly believe it…So many emotions are stirring inside of me.

I'm beyond excited, yet never eager to leave the kids for any number of days.  There's always a bit of guilt lurking around but at the same time, I just can't ignore the way things fell in place at just the right time.  Though undeserving, I have to believe it was meant to be…It was definitely a plan that was not my own.  And besides, I know there will be all kinds of Daddy-fun going on while I'm gone so that definitely makes a happy {Mama} heart. 

Meanwhile, my soul is settling into the driver's seat as I set out on this journey, looking through a new lens...

Yesterday, we took a little family adventure to Yosemite National Park.  It was a great opportunity to practice using one kind of lens...my new point-and-shoot-camera!  Rod got me a Samsung with a great zoom for Christmas…A good ZOOM in hopes of a good Papa Francis paparazzi shot;)  I practiced quite a bit and found the zoom worked great for Half Dome!

I really liked the vignette setting (below)…

and the oil painting setting was an interesting effect.

It seemed to take pretty good people-photos too:)

I think the clarity can be practiced a little more by the operator;)

Overall, I was just really thrilled with the zoom.  After having my iPhone as my only camera for years, I have really missed having a good zoom.  Capturing wild life was super fun!

Hello there...Isn't he so cute?

Ultimately, it was a fabulous day to practice my New Year wonder through a new lens, that of my camera and that of a wondrous heart.  The glory and beauty of God's creation never ceases to amaze me.

That being said, I'm going to try really hard not to be stuck behind a camera lens during my pilgrimage…I want to take it all in and savor each blessed moment! I hope and pray it will be a journey seen through the lens of my soul.

"Pilgrims are not tourists. They have come, quietly and humbly, to seek the holy and enter more deeply into God's blessedness."

~Sr. Wendy Beckett~

Amen.  I am looking forward to being a pilgrim!  In thanksgiving for this great blessing, I would love to take the gift of prayer for anyone who wants or needs it.  If you have a special prayer intention or prayers of the heart that you would like me to take, I would be honored to do so.  If you have any special connection to the following places that contain remains and relics of the saints that are special to you, please let me know and I will bring your prayer intentions to that specific place.  

The title of our pilgrimage is Walking in the Footsteps of the Early Christians…It's going to be amazing!  Our pilgrimage leader is a theology professor and I think he said he holds 3 degrees in Theology.  Did I already say amazing?  My goodness, it most certainly will be a wonderful journey!  A few of the places we will be attending daily Mass will be St. Peters Basilica at The Vatican, the Basilica dedicated to St. Agnes on her feast day, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Clement, St. Mary Major, and the Catacombs of St. Sebastian.  I also hope to make it to the Basilica dedicated to St. Augustine that hold the remains of his mother, St. Monica and the church that holds the remains of St. Catherine of Siena.  We will also be making a day trip to Assisi to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi.  Wow, I can hardly believe it, myself!

+Please send me a private email with your prayer intention and I would love to take it with me+

*Can't wait to share fruits of the journey upon our return!*

Is It Possible To Age With Grace?

This topic is heavy on my mind and heart lately. As I inch closer to the half century mark, I see the physical changes and I feel them more than ever.  Aging is not for wimps.  Sometimes I catch a glimpse of myself in a passing mirror and I barely recognize the woman I see.  Who is that stranger in my reflection, being pulled down by gravity?  Then there's the aches and pains that markedly increase and good health is a consuming prayer. I certainly can't keep up with the myriad of activity that I used to.  I'm forgetful.  Now, where was I?  Need I say more?  Heaven help me, I don't want to be one of those who complains, I just want to learn how to age with grace...Is this possible?  How do I come to terms with myself and live in this strange skin that is quickly consuming me?  Lord, please teach me.

One of our family outings this summer was a beautiful hike to the resting place of some of the largest trees in the world, hence the name Big Trees State Park:) Visitors can't help but be fascinated by the majestic size of these ancient beasts.  These giant sequoias stand out, yes, because of their age.  They stretch up to lengths of 300 feet high and 25-30 feet around in diameter. They increase in beauty and character, all the more seasoned with age. They are said to be thousands of years old, by the way!

I want to be like that!  I know it might be silly to say that I want to age like a tree but what a good example that God gives us, right?  It reminds me not to conform but to be transformed...

Deeply rooted in the dignity of who we are, strengthening and stretching our souls for heaven, we can find peace among His wise wonders. The natural world reigns grace, unlike the media and the images that consume us in the unnatural world.
  We can learn so much from His marvelous works.

If trees can age gracefully, how can we not? We, who were made in His image and likeness...Were we not created to receive grace?  Bloom where we are planted?
You are God's handiwork and you are beautiful, especially the closer you get to Him a long the way,
with each passing day.

And so the journey continues and I'm reminded to keep my face to the Son.  The fresh air is the best aging serum I can find on the outside.  Together with the Eucharist, the bread of life that strengthens the inside, I am feeling hopeful, inspired, renewed in spirit, ready to age as God calls me to.

Yes, I do believe it's possible:)

"With God, all things are possible."
~Matthew 19:26~

The Forest IS Through The Trees

My fog is lifting and I am beginning to see the forest through the trees:)

We took a beautiful little hike last weekend and I was snapping photos like mad...the scenery was gorgeous!  The funny thing is... This little park and hike- by- the- river is very close to home and it's crazy-silly that we had never been there. It just proves that there's always unexpected beauty waiting to be discovered right under our noses! (Note to self)
Spring has definitely arrived in our neck of the woods.

God's glory, at it's finest, is all around us.

It's still Easter and I'm singing Alleluia="Praise the Lord!"

With God, we can always find our way.

Yet why do I resist moving forward sometimes?
Why do I get so locked up?

Is it because I know I will stumble? 
Maybe.

The road ahead is sure to be a little unsteady, bumpy, and even dark at times.

Springtime always arrives (eventually), this I know, so what's the problem?
I recently read a meditation passage in the Magnificat that really spoke to me.  (via Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C.) It said that when we are self-fixated, we tend to be static and obstinate, separating ourselves from Jesus because He is always on the move towards the will of the Father.  Fixing upon ourselves literally causes us to get stuck.  If we prayerfully (continually) shift our focus, fixing our eyes on the Father, we, too, will always be moving ad Patrem, towards the Father. We shall always be  in via, always on the way.  

I love that!  

I needed to hear that.
 I am eager to be constantly in via, always on the way.  Now this might seem Christianly commonsensical but I think we could always use the constant reminder.  

At least I do.

The follow up was a tangible hike...A"new foot path" towards being in via...
I get it.

New vistas opened out before me.

Eyes off me, myself and I.
Forward motion and surrender to God's will screamed
Get moving!
Mobility is good:)
I am free.
Dealing with the unknown, practicing patience...
Yes! I am on my way.
(At least until the next time I get stuck;)

Only His light shines through the darkness...Helping us see the forest through the trees.  
These images are helpful as we see the light of Christ triumphant (being the central image of the Easter season) that rescues us from the darkness of death.

(John 1:5)

These trees were absolutely majestic...
Reaching out,
Pushing forward,
Lifting up,
Watching and rustling,
Like a canopy of forest angels.

Would they reach down and catch the ball flying through the woods?
Nope.
They let boys be boys:)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 
on your own intelligence rely not; 
In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.~Proverbs 3:5-6

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.~Psalm 119:105

Moving forward must be a continual process...
There will always be bridges to cross...
 But in faith we know that a helping hand waits on the other side...Keep moving, keep moving!
I am inspired to keep moving.
In Via!

In his mind a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.~Proverbs 16:9

Alleluia!
I'm on the way, again, as
A new path awaits...
And the forest is definitely through the trees!

Resurrecting

I've been in a terrible funk since Holy Week...Soooo, needless to say, "resurrecting" is taking a little longer for me this year.  {sigh}

It's been awhile since I've been this down.  

Some of it was certainly triggered by Good Friday, death anniversary, and the tragic events in my past that swirl around my spirit like a hurricane this time of year.   However, the continuation of the angst must be connected to other (unrelated) life changes and stresses.

I could certainly use *prayers*.

On an up note, the beauty of being a Catholic Christian through life's painful circumstances and emotions is that there is still Easter rejoicing.  There will always be Easter rejoicing, no matter what.
The stone was rolled away and light became a truth-teller.

I know this... 

Pain, sorrow, wounds and all, only because

Christ showed us this, Himself. 

It's a good thing, too.  

Otherwise, I'm not sure how many of us could go on.
The Resurrection sustains me.

  More than ever, I am thankful that the Resurrection is not a fleeting feeling or an emotion. 
It's a more than a single event... 
It's more than a season or a time period... 
It's a sure thing, it's a constant, and it's forever.  

 Unlike the here and now that can be consuming at times, the resurrection is freedom.
We are reminded of this in the Acts of the Apostles (5:17-26) where the angel of the Lord leads Peter and the apostles out of the darkness and confines of the prison into the morning light and freedom of the temple area.

 Though I am not good at being patient with my trials. At. all. 
The resurrection serves to remind me that my struggles are not in vain.  Without a struggle to roll back the stone, we are tempted to retract, weakened by a door that is too heavy to open.  Longing for the light, gives us strength to bear the load. 
Resurrecting might take longer than 3 days for most of us.  In fact it just might take a lifetime.  I'm ok with that, as long as I get there eventually...One Easter at a time. 

Though every sun shall spend its fire
And galaxies shall dim to shade,
The Light by whom these lights were made
Shall never flicker, never fade.

In us arise, O Light of lights.
Burn brightly in the caverned heart.
Consume the shade that fear supplies, 
And peace and truth instead impart.

Hymn from Magnificat

Things That Fly

This little guy would certainly fly, if he could!

I was thrilled to capture such a fun photo:)

In fact, he flies around here most days...buzzing like a bee, not so much in a hurry to land any where...Or any time for that matter:)  Moving at a rapid speed of any kind of play is his game.  And that's the perfect life for an eight (soon to be nine) year old.

I'm trying to remember these things, appreciate these things, the simple things, that make me smile as I watch another thing fly by...

*TIME*

Where has my baby gone?

She'll be 5 soon.

How did we gain another teen so quickly?...

High School next year!

And my oldest child will be 20 this year (yikes)!

Which reminds me to cherish "oldest/youngest" moments like these:)

I know it sounds cliche but it's still worth repeating and reminding myself over and over again. Like the wind that blows, time flies...."Enjoy the moment, each moment," I tell myself.

Well, yes I did...for once!

We did it....

The weather beckoned and we went!

I'm not always good at this.  In fact, I'm terrible at being spontaneous, especially without my husband.  That being said, I always welcome help in this area:) College boy was home to encourage and prod so we did it...Dad was working so the rest of us packed up at the spur of the moment and headed out for a hike, not sure where we'd end up!

That's SO not-like-me the "master planner":)

After option A failed, we ended up here, a couple of hours from home, just outside of San Francisco at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge.  There's an old Army Fort to explore and some foot paths a long the Bay and up in the hills (headlands) that lend these amazing views on a clear day. 

I feel a little guilty showing off this glorious weather that we've been having. *wink*

Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been all that warm...Most mornings we are scraping the ice from our windshields before Mass.

Chilly and all, it sure has been stunningly, clear and bright around here.

I'm not a photographer, by any means, but I had fun capturing some interesting shots!

I sent this one (above) to my son and said "Your future looks bright!"

Love this one in the tunnel too...

Can I just say that I love being outdoors.

I am restless until I get there.

It draws me out of my rigid routine,

promising freedom as God draws me to Himself in His natural world.

All spirits renewed!

College boy is back to his Texas college now.

 We sure enjoyed having him home for a whole month!

Feeling blessed, I look toward the horizon with peace...Waiting for the next moment to seize, watching carefully for things that fly!