Sharing a post .....

Poverty's not just a state of mind; it's an openness of heart, a willingness to love those who do not love me or are incapable of loving because they are in so much pain. Poverty's more than a promise to be with others in their pain; it's a presence, a power to be make present God's love here and now in the midst of my own pain. Poverty's the power to consecrate through the power of God -- the nothingness, the void within, and to create community... friendship... peace. Poverty's an emptying of self and the experience of my own emptiness. "Though He was as one with God, He did not deign equality to God something to be grasped at. Rather He emptied Himself and put on the nature of a slave." Poverty's the freedom to be Christ for others as others are Christ Jesus for me. Poverty's acknowledging, yes, even embracing the limitations that I have so that God can fill them. So when I act, it is God moving and acting in me. A small part of a beautiful post over at .... I encourage you to take a moment to read these reflections on what it is to love. True grace here... Caritas Christi Urget Nos! Why Did I Enter the Convent?

Simple Love

 

 To love like a child. There's not much pure, vulnerable, childlike love in the world it seems. Yet maybe those that do open their hearts to love in this way, live in this way even, actually hold the broken pieces we do have together... We have so much to learn from children like Ashley's sister. Children don't over-complicate. They are simple, genuine, they are loyal, trusting and eager to reach out to both give and receive love. We try to find the origins to every word, turn ourselves inside out to distract ourselves from the real work of falling into Jesus's arms and loving others as he loves us. Loving when it's hard, loving when it's messy, loving when it hurts. Not giving up. Because He never gives up on us. It's not about who's wrong and who's right. It's about Jesus. And he keeps it simple, he says, it all begins and ends with love. That's the narrow road. Photo Credit florian.b

Which is the One spiritual habit that has changed your journey ? (Holy Experience) Walk with Him Wednesday...

Ann asks this question today over at Holy Experience...
What is the One Spiritual Habit that Has Changed Your Journey?

And the one phrase that keeps coming back to my heart is this... eat regularly!

But this is food of the soul kind! And it is delivered by..
Regular Prayer stops throughout the day.

Even though I can't always find the words to pray the words find me. They have been written somewhere deep in my heart, by The One who made me. Like a seed, they simply need the watering to grow from the darkness.
And like this little sycamore, I need the courage to fall from what I know, what I hold to, my materiel success or failure. Be opened by Love's wounding.
And trust, despite outward signs... that God alone sees the heart.

So, even when I can't locate those words myself. I find them reflected somehow. They speak for me, when words fail me. Prayer... Yes, it is more a practise of love than an active work.

And when this becomes the one priority all other priorities fall into place.

All work is useless and vain without the infusion, prompt and grace of His love anyway. For a plant to grow strong, the roots need feeding regularly.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." ...
And I have had to make the time. Make it!
Because I am so in need of it. I fail far too easily without it.
"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain."
And I wonder, how is it that so many things can seem important, uncompromising to the day, demands over spill before me and yet these times, just for Him and Him alone become, so very easily, secondary.

Yes I call out to Him like a child when I need Him knowingly. And I whisper praises in His ear when I am met with undeserved grace, beauty, love. But that is in the middle of my doing.
Sometimes I need to put all that aside and simply be with Him alone.
The desire to eat bread for the body comes before the desire to eat bread for the soul, so many times. I wait for restfulness, peace, quiet, my own pursuits, pleasures and leisure's, then Him. Then only. Him and I alone.

I know that my soul wastes away without sustenance. While it is emptiness and privation that motivates longing in the stomach! The longing grows in the soul only with sustained nourishment, or so it seems.

You see, a soul doesn't live to eat, it eats to live! How wonderful is that!
It doesn't take so that it can take again which is so often human nature isn't it.
No, it shares the broken bread of grace, so that it can give, and give out again.

I read again from the hours today... "Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes."

I stand upon this holy mountain of goodness and grace and look down upon my life.
How far below this beautiful ideal I am. How much I need these words to live in my own barren life. Give breath to my actions, my thoughts, my days. Turn my heart of stone to a heart of flesh.
And so someway, somehow. These hours are carved out of a day.

They bring my empty bowl to His alter each time. And each time He serves so that I may become a better servant. And learn to serve Him in those around me.

Pray the office today by clicking on the link below

For years the office of hours has sustained, nourished and
regularly fed souls throughout each day.
If read everyday for a month, 
The book of Psalms will have been completely
recited.
Complimentary readings from both OT and NT, feast days
along with spiritual writing and prayer have been the food
for many a hungry heart for centuries past.

Visit Ann today to read more reflections on the journey...

Invisible, Elemental

The soul, he said, is composed
Of the external world.

There are men of the East, he said,
Who are the East.
There are men of a province
Who are that province.

There are men of a valley
Who are that valley....

The Mandoline is the instrument
Of a place.

Are there mandolines of western mountains?
Are there mandolines of northern moonlight?

The dress of a woman of Lhasa,
In it's place,
Is an invisible element of that place
Made visible.

"Anecdote of Men by the Thousand" Wallace Stevens


Lingering thoughts shared here, from here.





Photo: miss604

John Bradburne.... "Vagabond of God"

"God's love within you is your native land.
So search none other, never more depart.
For you are homeless save God keeps your heart."
(JRB)

I learned a little about John Bradburne when a wonderful priest called father David who works with orphans in Zimbabwe, as part of an organisation called Mother of Peace, came to visit our church some time ago.
This Holy man has a truly humbling and inspiring story I would love to share.

John, who described himself as a Strange Vagabond of God, was a layman and a member of the Third Order of St Francis.
He lived a life of poverty that seemed almost directionless to many, until he found his true vocation, caring for lepers in Zimbabwe.

Many of his patients needed considerable care which John Bradburne gave them with unstinting devotion, until his murder in 1979 at the end of the war for Independence.
After Bradburne
was shot, the local people wanted to hide the body for fear of reprisals
from white security forces. As they were carrying it away, they heard a
choir singing, dropped the body, and ran. However, when they turned back
they saw a strange white bird, with three beams of light ascending
heavenward, hovering over the body. The villagers fled in fright.

Since his death there have been many signs of John's close friendship with Jesus.


Here is his story...

abandonment. God at every step....

*
*
*
"Everything is intended to guide, uphold and support you. Everything is the hand of God. God’s action is vaster and more present to you than the elements of earth"

Purchase the Joy of Full Surender.

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

I have watched this series of talks during this last week and I have been utterly moved, convicted, and shaken to my soul.

(Linked originally shared by Tonia and Seth)

Some great blogs I've discovered over the last couple of months :0)

A bowl of Moss and Pebbles Beautiful, peaceful blog authored by a very talented young Christian Artist

This and That Susanne's faith filled posts are very inspiring to me.

Urban Servant An incredible family is all I can say!

Journey Mama A Mama of four in India. Rae writes beautifully, movingly, with humor and grace.

A Catholic Calling Sharon shares her faith in such a great way. I always enjoy reading her thoughts.

Streams in the Desert Devotions

The Beehive Lots of colour, imaginative and insightful writing from a home school family.

The Rose Garden Beauty and Peace are the two words that come to mind when I think of the Rose Garden.

Ordinary Life Magic Great Homeschooling Unschooling magic found here!

Barefoot toward the light I'm always given lots to ponder on after a visit at Barefoot towards the light :0)
And I have found some great book recommendations through the wonderful treasure chest of quotes, interspersed throughout Barbara's articulate articles!

A Sowers Heart Gentle devotions.

Beneath the Surface

It’s amazing how even the smallest stones in the depths of the river effect the way the water moves at the surface.

The softly spoken reflections of the artist Andy Goldsworthy surveying the “Rivers and Tides” that are the living canvas of his own work.

Art always seeks to reveal the hidden. Find the cause behind the effect.
And although seemingly obscure, even the smallest particle of dust contains within it, the memory of a supernova. In the hidden depths of our heart, we also contain a memory. A memory that its stirred during advent in the way a seed stirs in the frozen, clay soil of winter.

Awoken slowly by a breath of warmth.

A breath of Hope amidst the barren effects of a cold season.

Along the embankments muddy reddened iron pebbles sunken into the riverbeds like red blood cells. Releasing unseen energy and nutrients that feed the life of the water. The small grey slates, plain and ordinary shifting placidly like miniture platlets in the cold depths.
All, in their way, choreographing the dance of currents and ripples that collide and tangle like silk ribbons along the river’s surface.

These unseen things effecting the seen.

• A prayer for the one we love.
• An unnoticed, sacrifice offered once again without hesitation.
• A father’s blessing for his grown child.
• A friendly welcome for a stranger
• The hope to keep forgiving.
• A place of communion carved out of chaos, Before the storms calm with words of faith that whisper “Peace be still”
• A heart that can yeild and remain still to hear that same whisper amongst the clatter of pots and pans and streaming tears.
• As well as in the singing of childish songs never forgotten.
• Sincerity offered, to a jaded ear.
• A joyful reminder returned gratefully to a weary heart.
• The bringing of hope’s candle in the dark corners of the world.
• A gift freely given,


• A Bread broken apart.
  And shared out.
  

Under the surface, unseen, hidden, waiting.
Preparing a course for the rising waters.
Digging deep in the times of drought.
Channelling, streams back to their source.
Each prayer, each sacrifice, each kind word, a gift.

Recieved and given back with in an open palm.

In Advent there is much happening beneath the surface of tinsel and trinkets and gift wrap and holly wreaths of commerciality.

A child is soon to be born in a poor stable in an out of the way town. A place hidden from obvious view.
His birth announced first to the poor, the lowly, the humble and childlike. The ones who are hidden, obscure, unknown, unassuming, unremembered.

Bearing “Beneath the surface” gifts for the babe in the manger. Gifts of the heart.

Each one a small shell that carries the song of the sea as a memory within, till once again the waves reclaim it as their own.
Rising and falling, rising and falling beneath hope's breath.

*

Blaise Pascal:
"The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble."

Thanking study in brown for the reccomendation of Rivers and Tides

Sharing a link

"There are two ways to live your life.

One as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Albert Einstien (1879 - 1955)

*

*

this Incredible Story posted over at Hinds Feet on High Places of high profile abortionist Stojan Adasevic's conversion to the pro life movement. It brought tears to my eyes. Tears of sorrow for all those lost little lives and Tears of amazement at how God tries, tries and tries again to reach into the darkest of places that humans can go. Warning ( it is not an easy read at times )

And a new blog I created called Choosing Life and Joy Created to share a little of my own story to hopefully touch someone elses life in someway for the good. Well that is the hope :0)
God's grace is everything :0)

Blessed be your Name

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.(Isaiah 35:10)

*
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.(Isaiah 55:12)

*

*

Sometimes I look at my life and I feel so overwhelmed. How did I get to be so blessed?
Everyday is filled with grace in some way or other. Yes, there are struggles and tears and trials amoungst the joys and wonders but there are gifts.... Hope, Faith and Love! Transforming and transfiguring all into a song of praise!

Praise that finds a voice to sing with even when the tears sting and the heart aches. Still and silent. A waiting praise where hope flickers once more from the dowsed embers. The ashes of all sorrow. A flame of Love brought to life by the oxygen of a faith in something greater, and more wonderful than we may ever behold. And there is beauty here.

For the whispers of clouds Bring grace and blessing in abundance. And behind them the sun still shines on and on.

All is written by His hand. All is planned " Every hair is numbered" and peace dwells in the sanctuary of His word, that formed the beautiful world, His breath that gives life to all, the children's smiles, the eucharist, the sun that rises in the morning.

There are times when life is really full and bursting at the seams... it seems! Yet droplets of joy sparkle across the whole picture, right to the frayed edges and muddy clots of running colour.
Droplets like Moments, intermissions, silences, pauses, undulations, cadences punctuating the movements of life.
And I think of this song : ( remember toturn off the blog music at the bottom of the sidebar to hear the clip :0)

For life is like a poem.

And my poem is a Poem of Praise. The hope, the mess, the crazziness, the tears, the fears, the wonder, the joy. Blessings. In. Abundance.

And I give Thanks.

Beautiful girls enjoying their books before getting ready for bed.

A new composition on a Sunday afternoon.

Trying so hard with her little wooden needles and ball of moss green wool :0)

These two are best friends :0)

And one funny little baby girl who keeps trying to take a ride on her toy cars, and trains and .... now it looks like it's this poor caterpillar's turn :0)

A few reflections before a break :0)

I am planning to take a break from blogging while so I thought I'd leave my dear lovely readers with a nice L.O..N....G ........! post to chew over lol ;0)
By the way the knitted bunny link didn't seem to work on my last post so here it is again in case you missed it! http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/bunny-pattern.shtm

Here's an extract from "Today's Catholic Family"

You are called to discover the Kingdom

The secret of adulthood.

Wordsworth once wrote:

Heaven lies about us in our infancy;

Shades of the prisonhouse begin to close

Upon the growing boy;

But he beholds the light, and whence it flows

He sees it in his joy.

The youth who daily farther from the East

Must travel, still is nature's priest,

And by the vision splendid

Is on his way attended.

At length the man perceives it die away

And fade into the light of common day.

The fading of the " Vision Splendid" into the light of common day is a loss that many adults experience. In his book How to meditate, psychologist Lawrence Leshan speaks of it as something of ourselves we once dimly and unknowingly had and have lost, without knowing what it was or where or how we lost it.

Many adults feel the loss. Once we enter the world of adult and family responsibility, life becomes work, work, work.

Life becomes the joyless burden of Adam and Eve banished from paradise.

Peace of mind and a sense of joy are what many of us really seek. We want to experience life and take pleasure in the simple things. We want to break down artificial barriers and be ourselves. We want to be real with each other. We want to live life in the vision splendid! Is there a way to regain that vision?

The vision regained

In his first letter to corinth, Paul wrote, " When I became a man I gave up childish ways." Paul was addressing a group of adults who were trying to upstage eachother by claiming they had various spiritual gifts. These Christians were so busy with their petty scheming and rivalries that they had lost sight of their original vision. They had fallen into the trap of playing games with each other - a characteristic of the adult world.

What Paul was telling them is that all this adult game playing is really "childish"

Opposed to " childish" is the radically mature vision Jesus revealed. He said: "Change and become like little children".

This strange advice sounds really foolish. And by our adult standards it is. That is the point.

The vision that is offered to us cuts through the adult foolishness that makes us unhappy.

Very simply, in Paul's words, the foolishness of God is wiser than men.

God's foolishness knows what adult wisdom does not know:

That we cannot make ourselves happy.

What the wise child in us wants is unattainable - but we can attain it by entering the world of Gospel simplicity. Kitaro Nishida a philosopher once wrote in his diary " If my heart could become pure and simple like a child. I think there can be no greater happiness than this." We can become like that. WE can experience what Saint Paul called " the glorious freedom of the children of God"

The proposal is utterly serious. Become like little children. Embrace Trust, Wonder, Innocence, Joy in it's fullest.

The family of the kingdom.

Jesus of Nazareth, the travelling preacher, had no property, no children, no steady job. You might not think such a person would be a great family man. But he was exactly that. The difference for him was that everybody was family who wanted to belong.

It all stemmed from the way Jesus saw reality. To him, home was the presence of God. He was aware of God the way you are aware of yourself - always and everywhere. In those days it was considered irreverent to speak the name of God in public. The name was too sacred. But Jesus went much further than saying God; he called God "Abba" - Beloved Father.

His relationship with God was so deep and natural that it was catching. Everyone he influenced was drawn into it.

Jesus was a rabbi, a religious teacher. But because of the way he saw reality he was not like other rabbis.

Jesus' awareness was that the father is preparing a great banquet for us in his kingdom. The strange thing about this banquet is it's time and place. The time of the banquet is now. Jesus was constantly telling people that the banquet has already begun. And the place for the banquet is not somewhere else. it is right here!

Jesus insisted that the kingdom of God is right in the midst of you.

This awareness was so deep and radical that even today people still do not grasp it very well, The banquet for the kingdom is here and now? What does this mean?

John the baptizer was a contemporary of Jesus, a visionary holy man if ever there was one. John was incredibly strict on himself, His clothing was made only of camel hair and his food was locusts and wild honey.

John told people that the kingdom is at hand and told them to repent.

Jesus said something similar, but his awareness of God was vastly different to John's. In Jesus' awareness the banquet had already begun: this was no time for strict fasting. So Jesus made the rounds eating and drinking with all kinds of people respectable and sinful.

The contrast between Jesus and John was so sharp that a saying about it appears in the gospel: " For John came neither eating and drinking and they say he has a demon; the son of man came eating and drinking , and they say Behold a glutton and a drunkard..."

Jesus was not a glutton or a drunkard, but he was very serious about the banquet. The time is now, he would say. The kingdom is in our midst and the banquet has already begun.

The Kingdom Here and Now.

No one can tell us what the banquet really is. It cannot be explained, it can only be discovered. But we do know this: God is involved in it. God is Beloved Father, and you are his Beloved Family. Your family is part of God's family. Every person in your family, respectable or otherwise, has a place in the kingdom.

No one can define the kingdom. It has no boundaries of time and place. But this much is known: for you, it is here and now in your family. The nature of the kingdom is such that you experience it through others - especially those who meant he most to you.

The kingdom is not something you can make happen. Only God can do that. It lies in your future with God. The kingdom appears in your midst to lead you forward into that future. You and your family are pilgrims traveling to a kingdom that is not of this world.

The banquet you are called to is not literally a meal.

As Paul wrote, " the kingdom of god does not mean food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"

You cannot create this peace and joy,

But you can discover it and experience in your spouse, your parents, your children, your brothers and sisters. Through obedience, kindness, compassion and giving of self and through all the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Whenever you make each other happy, the peace and joy of the banquet are a reality you actually experience.

Whenever you forgive each other or do something to heal a wound. God is at work within you.

When you look at each other and realize that the Father is calling this person to communion with himself, the kingdom is in your midst.

The person who called us to the kingdom is very family minded. To him, his Father mans everything. Bringing people together to experience the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit was the whole point of his life. His family is everybody who wants to belong to it and his invitation to the banquet is especially for you.

You must believe that.

Otherwise, it does not mean much to say: "

The kingdom of God is in the midst of you."

Family exercise.

1) The most kingdom like quality each member of our family possesses is ( Write each person's name and personal quality)

2)The thing about our family that means the most to me is...

( Describe how you feel, and how different your life would be without his reality.)

3)The last time I experienced the peace and joy of God's kingdom here at home was when.... ( Describe what happened and how you felt about it.)

4)The happiest memories I have experienced in our family.....

5)When has my family (or a family member) really supported me, forgiven me or helped me when I needed it most........

6)When I stop and think that the kingdom of God is right here in our family, I realize that ......

************************************************************************************

I have also been thinking about the transformative powers of praise, thankfulness and gratitude

recently. Since starting my own gift list many aspects of the everyday have been "transfigured" transformed.

The bible is strewn with thankfulness, praise and gratitude...

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,and to sing praises unto thy name, O most high:To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night— Psalms 92.1-2

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness there

of. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice— Psalms 96.11-12

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us,and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:be thankful unto him, and bless his name.For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;and his truth endureth to all generations.— Psalms 100.1-5

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of Lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.— Psalms 136.1-9

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God.— I. Thessalonians 5.16-18

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.— Hebrews 3.15 (65 AD)

Visit this link below for mte about the gratitude community :)

http://aholyexperience.com/2006/11/gift-list-thousand-things.html

"but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise." Isaiah 60:18

************************************************************************************

And here is a lovley prayer I found over at Christ's Rose

God, make me brave for life: oh, braver than this.

Let me straighten after pain, as a tree straightens after the rain,

Shining and lovely again.

God, make me brave for life; much braver than this.

As the blown grass lifts, let me rise

From sorrow with quiet eyes,

Knowing Thy way is wise.

God, make me brave, life brings

Such blinding things.

Help me to keep my sight;

Help me to see aright

That out of dark comes light.

~Author Unknown~

This is something I am embracing. The fact that I am broken and that is okay. So long as I hand all the pieces over to God, he can make me anew................................ :0)

*************************************************************

And to finish up..... some words from John Wooley

The almost instinctive speaking of My Name when life is dark and uncertain ...
the cry of a child for the One who can draw close; the cry of a child when reasoning ceases to function, when all is threatening, when human help is absent, when confidence is lost. The speaking of My Name brings into the foreground of your situation the one vital factor. My name can be said in helplessness... but said in joy and thankfulness only seconds later! Thankfulness at being brought through that state of helplessness.
The speaking of My Name ensures, immediately, the retreat of evil forces . . . acknowledging that they are defeated in their aim for your life.
My child, the whispering of My Name ... On waking ... On surrendering to sleep ... And very frequently during each day!

I will be with you when you go through deep waters.(Isaiah 43.2)

*

Everything can speak to you of My love, if only you will listen with the Spirit’s ear.
My presence with you, My love for you, are the things in which you rest…… they encircle your life. Think much of the indivisibility of the trusting child and its Maker. My gift to you is the sense of My nearness. This sense must touch every aspect of your life…..Always see, in Me, the One who has promised what no-one else could, able to convert those promises into a wonderful reality; they are not too good to be true! My promises are not lost by human failings, provided that, in sorrow over failure, My path is resolutely taken again, with a reaching-out to Me for renewal.
Tell Me at the start of each day of your intention to keep in the way which I have shown you. My way, applied to the details of that day, will then be increasingly clear to you. Make use of all that I have given you. Are you trusting My promises? It is that or nothing.

I will never forget you- your image Is on the palms of My hands

(Isaiah 49:16)

A few resolutions, ideas, links and random thoughts :0)

I love this picture. It seems to bring the overwhelming reality and truth of the time of Jesus's birth into such a simple scene of sheperds amoungst their flock at dusk.
I've been thinking about the manger and the simple stable that welcomed our saviour into the world all those years ago and how Christmas time reflects this most amzing, yet humble of births.

This Christmas ( and maybe even from now on Every Christmas)

We, as a family have decided to celebrate "Jesus's Birthday" as Bujana says ) a little differently. A way that will help us to better find the child in the manger in Bethlehem. Even though it may take us to a place far away from what may seem to be the Christmas we recognise. Far from the crowds on the high street and the TV movies and the turkey and trimmings of today. Too a simple stable in a small little unknown town amoungst sloping hillsides flanked with a the sheep belonging to the first visitors of the baby.

It all starts humbly enough with the idea that we'll pretty much make all our of our presents and cards.

It's actually been a really fun and creative experience this last few weeks, for the children and I think it will help them ( and us) really enjoy the true meaning of Christmas.

We hope to buy supplies for an orphange with the money we save so that the children can understand that children far away from us somewhere in the world will know that someone cares about them and is thinking of them on Christmas Day.

The only presents and cards we have agreed to buy will either be from the World Vision
Gift Catalog
Fair Trade Apparel stores or Charity Shops in our home town. There are some wonderful ideas in the World Vision Gift Catalog and the Fair Trade sites have some really one of a kind things here are a few more links :
Fair Trade Scarves
Fair Trade Bags & Purses
Fair Trade Gifts
Fair Trade Jewelry
Fair Trade Home
From Africa
From Burma
From Tibet
Save Darfur Products .

And of course I totally love Charity Shops too and have found some amazing bargains from them. Including some great clothes toys yarn for knitting and fabric for sewing!

I thought I might share with you some of the things we have already made and/ are thinking of making as Christmas presents this year.

Pink DAisy Knitted hair slides

Knitted shoe bunnyShoe BearShoe baby!Saint Therese of the Little Flower's "Good Deed Beads" How to Make Sacrifice Beads

Mini Art works made from recycled aliminium cans!!!Hand stiched scrap book for journalling, doodling sketching or writing epic romantic poetry in :0) Lil' Shortbread hearts ( a firm favourite in this house)Lavender and Rose soap cup cakes.

Sceanted Lavender bags made with lavender from our own garden.Handmade cards using recycled aliminium.Prints and photographs for framing, making into cards, and gift tags :0)green tomato chutney made with our own home grown tomatoes chillis and red onionsMy own favoutie Plum and Pear Jam yummy spread thickly with butter on warm Irish soad bread!And of course, homemade chocolate truffles mmmmmmm! Heres a link to a great recipe for these :http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/chocolatetruffles_1807.shtml

And for a really quick and super easy knitting pattern to make your own little knitted rabbits as presents click no further than this link http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/bunny-pattern.shtm ( the correct link this time sorry ) I have already knitted a Mama rabbit for my eldest and have finished the squares for three little baby rabbits for the ounger girls. The Mama Rabbit and her litter of babies only took me two evenings to complete! It's the easiest and cutest pattern!

Making things for eachother and thsoe we love is really a special experience. I want the girls to really experience the beauty of Christmas tide with simple but lovingly prepared food, candle light, singing and music, family friends, a sense of giving and wonderment, long walks in the woods, our church masses and a feeling of thankfulness pervading all.

This is a start! :0)

A lovely link

http://eyesofwonder.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/resting-in-his-love.html

This post from Eyes of Wonder is so beautiful.

Rest in His LOVE...

Some places I like to visit

Here are a couple of blogs I've come across lately that I really love...

Eyes of Wonder

Eyes of Wonder is such a special place in the blogosphere. If you haven't already heard of Eyes of Wonder, please pay Jewels and her beautiful family a visit sometime.
You will be inspired by their gentle, simple, grace filled way of life. Eye's of Wonder has just returned to Blogland after a year break, so there's lot's to catch up on :0)

http://prairieprologue.blogspot.com/

A new discovery. A lovely thoughtfully written, inspiring, blog. Please take a look!

http://livinglearningandlovingsimply.blogspot.com/

A beautiful, bright, upliftling blog from a Mom of four.


~Enjoy~

seeing

Said the fox. " This is my secret. It's very simple: we only really see with our hearts. What matters is invisible to the eyes."

"What matters is invisable to the eyes," repeated the little prince, so as not to forget.

The little Prince

Antoine de Saint - Exupery.

This reminded me of a beautiful series of posts over at Holy Experience entitled

The Ugly-Beautiful

Sometimes, I perceive on the frayed edges of myself.

I see with my eyes. I judge, find fault, see ugliness instead of beauty, chaos instead of grace.

I forget to stop, and count, each blessing. I forget to Praise in the rain I forget to be .
Thankful

When we first moved to our new rented house, in "not such a great neighbourhood" as I thought at the time, all I could see was dissatisfaction. I cleaned and tidied like mad in a desperate attempt to paper over what I thought were external cracks but were in truth internal ones.

Our garden was filled with rubble and weeds yes, and our floor was nothing but bare unvarnished boards, (not funny when you have a crawling wiggling 10 month old!

But we had some angels on our side and a few hard working helpful hands in tow and before we could blink we had turned the concrete rubble into green grass and the gutted house into a home.

Yet, as soon as we had finished I started to write a list about which furniture we would " have to" replace first, ( all our furniture came from a recycling centre,)

Even though it looked fine in reality, Some itching doubt inside me knew it wasn't new and I was seeing with my bad short viewed, narrow visioned eyesight, instead of with a grateful heart.

Things were not "perfect" in my view.

It's so funny to me now looking back.

Because now I am sitting here 4 and a half years on with two more children and a lot more dust, toys, mess and "imperfections" to look at than I ever had before. Yet, strangely, overwhelmingly, I don't see ugliness any more, I don't see imperfection.

I see joy.

I see the expectation of a new day, a new chance to build a memory, a connection. Sow a seed in a little heart.

I see quarrels at times, yes, but I see growing, independent souls behind them instead of disruption and failure.

I see sand speckled like spray paint over the lawn, where the dandelions seem to have gone crazy multiplying and dividing this year! But I don't see untidiness, I see children having fun with a bucket and spade on a Summer afternoon. I see a memory made in the sand. a footprint that was bigger than last year!

I see a memory made in the heart not the eyes. In love not judgement.

I see books piled up on the children's bedroom floor yes, but I don't see a lack of discipline ( well not to much anyway! I see creativity and children who love to read willingly and gladly!

My vision has shifted.

From my eyes to my heart.

And as I sit here I think of how many blind people Jesus cured. And I know that every time I "see" truthfully. Every time I see the beautiful in the "ugly" and the grace instead of the "chaos" I know it is Jesus who is wiping my eyes with his own hand, with his own truth.

And tears come to my own eyes as I realise that though "I was blind, now I see."

A few links

Well...
I have been so very busy these last few days. I haven't gotten around to writing a new post so I thought I'd share some amazing, touching, beautiful and inspiring words from other's that I have come across recently.
Blessings to all xxx
Suzy

"Would you kids be quiet! I'm trying to seek God's will here!" @ Et Tu?


The Divine Mercy - Meet Momma, This Woman Who Radiates Christ @ http://halfthekingdom.org/wordpress/


Lists from a successful day @ Seeking Faithfulness


http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/learn/fall2005.pdf


The Past and The Pitcher @ Bring The Rain


seeing god in work

Inspiring words for Mothers

I'm linking here to, two posts that,if you are a Mum, are a real must read.

The first is a really special post...
This is for every woman who ever chose a child over other options.
A poem called I chose you… From Holly @ Seeking Faithfulness
Is simply beautiful.

The second link is for an article by Ann Voscamp @ Holy Experience who also writes for CWO magazine. Click on the link below to read the article.

Click to read the rest of this post over at February's Christian Women Online

99 balloons

http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons

This is very special.
99 Balloons.
A truly humbling story.

A small prayer for Christmas

My child's tears can be dried with kisses.

My child's pain can be soothed with a song.

My child's sleep is found between warm blankets.

My child's saddness is softened with a smile,

My child does not know of a hunger that can hurt.

My child does not know of walking barefoot in the dirt,

When my child is afraid, I put a light on in the dark.

When my child falls, I open out my arms.

By the grace of God there goes my child.

Lord,

Awaken my spirit, to suffering I so often choose to close my eyes to.

Lord, Open my heart to give beyond what is easy for me to give.

Christmas belongs to you Jesus.

You live within the poor, the needy, the homeless, the hungry, the oppressed and the persecuted.

For you are all who are broken and alone in the world.

And every child belongs to you.

http://www.greatgifts.org/?adid=wvxmas08hom2

http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/index.asp

http://www.presentaid.org/page/home&source=A003837?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Paid%2BSearch&utm_term=Brand&utm_campaign=Present%2BAid%2BChristmas%2B07&gclid=COT4iPj0uY8CFQwdEgodz2YQcw

gOD bLESS THE LITTLE BOY AND HIS SISTER IN THE PICTURE

aND ALL THE OTHER CHILDREN IN THE WORLD