the Non-Post

I've been trying to constructively develop a posting for the last few days -- you know, the awesome, witty, thought-provoking type of post that begins as a seed and writes itself once one starts at the keyboard.


Hasn't happened yet

Why??

For starters, I'm starting a new job in about two weeks. Closer to home, better hours and great career development. I've been with my current company for over five years and it has been a great experience, but it's time to move on. The excitement and craziness of the interviewing and decision process has been quite stressful and has taken quite a bit of energy in the One-of-three- Household.

And it's really just too darn hot to think anyway.

Go Italia!

I will completely be the first to admit that I don't follow soccer and I only caught the tail end of the World Cup game today. But I work with a good number of team members that are in Europe and Asia Pacific and I've gotten caught up in their excitement a bit. And I'm an Italian-American (American Italian?), so....

Go ITALIA !!!!! HOORAY!

Mommy Bread, Daddy Bread, John Microwave

A few posts down I posted a story of how singing the Peanut Butter song has evolved to each of us declaring to be the bread in a Mommy, Daddy, John "hug sandwich". Leave it to our little guy to shake things up - he now proclaims himself to be "microwave". I'm not quite sure where this has come from, maybe he wants a warmed-up sandwich !!!

Mush for Brains?

When I started this blog, it was more or less a kind of journal and a form of prayer. I had not really given the address to anyone but I was aware it was public. I liked the idea of putting my thoughts and ideas “out there” where it could be seen instead of trapped in a closed book where I may occasionally go to flip a few pages. Not that I imagined something would come of these posts but why not put them out there. What good is it for a seed to be sealed in a jar in the back left of my dresser drawer? Writing here seemed to present that seed to the light of day and possibly bring it to some fertile soil. Why not make it an offering? In the process of writing, I at times scribble random thoughts and words, but the thought of having to try to express myself with some degree of articulation would push me to ponder and meditate a bit more than I probably would have otherwise. Hopefully this puts me closer to understanding. Maybe the offering comes back to me as more than it was when I offered it.

I invited Counting_Blessings to be a part of this blog and I write about our lives. She is an amazing vehicle of grace that could not be excluded from oneofthreeandcounting. Same would have to be said for lil’daddy. Tonight, I look at the big animated smiley faces of the previous post and wonder where this is all going? By the lack of “spiritual” posts (at least on my part) it may seem that my mind hasn’t been in the right place but the truth is that it has been buzzing all over.

I’ve recently read a book called “The Holy Longing” by Ronald Rolheiser which I really identified with. I wouldn’t consider it a hard read. In fact I felt myself sometimes able to finish the sentences before I read them. (of course Rolheiser finished them a tad more eloquently than I did!) But within the text of this “easy read” was a lot to think about. Add in bits of weekly scripture readings and homilies, pepper with grace and glimpses of revelation from the oneofthreeandcounting domestic church and give a two year old the spoon to swirl it around with! It’s all a little overwhelming; at least for me. Lord help me to focus; to see, hear, feel… you…, out of this whirlwind I find myself in. You’ve got my attention.

Maybe a light tap on the shoulder and a head nod... ...how ever is your way? On your time, Help me to be ready to listen. Amen

Age limit???

Counting blessings just informed me that I was too old to put a smiley face at the end of an email to other "grown men" friends of mine! I didn't know there was an age requirement? All of a sudden I'm too old! What next AARP!

Personally, the smiley face emoticon was to make sure the recipients knew I was sending a kidding/joking reminder to them and not trying to nag them. (I've seen too many flaming threads on different forums due to someone taking something the wrong way - not that anyone I write to would be involved in such a thing!)

I don't think I over use them; emoticons, that is. At least not blatant overuse.

Happy Fourth

We happened to be going through some older pictures and came across these and they seemed too patriotic :)








Hope everyone has a safe one!

The Retreat Weekend

Big Daddy and I were invited to a retreat weekend that our dear Priest-friend is holding this weekend. The retreat will center on Lectio Divina, praying of the hours, contemplation and personal reflection. A small, very personal retreat with spiritial direction and Eucharistic Adoration as well. We attended a similar retreat three years ag (B.J. - before John) and it had a life-changing impact on us.

We were not able to attend this weekend's retreat. I'm actually quite a bit heart-broken that we are not there. Instead, I am trying to keep my prayers raised for the retreatants that are there, as they each walk with God this weekend. I pray for Father S. as he is leading the retreat, that the Holy Spirit will guide him and give him strength for this weekend.



"Lectio Divina", a Latin term, means "divine reading" and describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us.Lectio Divina is a traditional way of praying the Scriptures so that the Word of God may penetrate our hearts and that we may grow in an intimate relationship with the Lord. It is a very natural way of prayer and was developed and practiced by the early monks and thus came to the first Carmelite hermits.

For some centuries reading the Bible in one's own language was rather frowned upon and this led to a lessening of the practice of Lectio Divina. Thankfully in recent years, along with the whole Church, the Carmelite Order has rediscovered the importance of Lectio Divina as a privileged way of growing in the relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the practice of Lectio Divina, as individuals and as community, we leave space for God's Word to transform us so that we may begin to look upon our world as it were with the eyes of God and to love what we see with the heart of God.