7 Quick Takes

— 1 — I'd like to take a second to thank all of those who commented on my last post. I truly appreciate all the kind thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. It has helped me during this transition more than you know. I wish I lived closer to all of you so I could give you real hugs, but an internet hug will have to do. -hugs-
— 2 —

This is my third year donating to Catholic Relief Service's Operation Rice Bowl. I have made it a family tradition to donate $40.00 every year in honor of the 40 days of lent. For more information please see a previous post of mine here.
— 3 — Staying at home has been an eyeopening experience. Well, other than when I'm not sleeping (which, when I'm not feeling well, I tend to do a lot of). I have been enjoying two things from my childhood lately: Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z. I've been playing Pokemon HeartGold and Pokemon White on my Nintendo DS, and watching Dragon Ball Z episodes online. If I start wearing bell bottoms I might convince myself I've traveled back to the mid 90s.
— 4 —

Novel's newest photograph, age 10. I have pictures of her from age 7 and up. She's getting tall!

I began sponsoring Novel Rosalin Prisilia Kandowangko in June 2010 through Compassion International, when she was 8. I cannot recommend this organization enough. Novel and I write letters to each other about once a month, she draws me pictures and sends me collages. For $38.00 a month I get to see a child grow up healthy and clothed, encourage her to do her best in school, and to love God. She calls Brian and I her "Mama and Papa in California," and that is priceless.
— 5 — I will be in Northwest Arkansas March 5-12, visiting my father's side of the family. I am SUPER excited. I'm a little nervous with all of these tornado warnings (though none have been in Arkansas), and I know my mother is super worried since I, my brother, and my Dad are going together. But other than fear of tornadoes, I am really looking forward to seeing my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. We are staying with my Great Uncle Jim out in the country. I'll be riding horses, shooting guns, and playing cards in just a few days!
— 6 — My brother has joined the Navy as a Submarine Machinest Mate. I am so proud of him and so happy that he has found a direction he wants to go in with his life. He leaves for boot camp August 15th. I am praying that everything works out for the best. Will you pray too?
— 7 —

Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day! This is usually the only day of the year that I get flowers, so I always look forward to it. And Brian always gets a fancy home cooked meal, so he's a happy camper. This year I made the following: Oven Roasted Red Potatoes (I used red and yellow Dutch, added Lawry's seasoning salt, sea salt & pepper), Garlic Green Beans (I used regular black peppercorns and added french fried onions), and Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze. I highly recommend all three, but especially loved the potatoes!
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Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Russell Kelfer

Operation Rice Bowl - Our Lenten Tradition

Thank you for your generous donation to the Operation Rice Bowl.

Your kind gift to CRS' Operation Rice Bowl will make a large difference in the lives of our neighbors around the world. It is through donations like your that we are able to continually support development projects in more than 40 countries. These projects bring clean water to communities, help farmers enhance their agriculture techniques to improve crop yields, provide credit training and encourage the growth of small businesses, teach families basic health and nutrition, and provide individuals with training and resources so that they can improve their livelihoods. Your actions today will assist our brothers and sisters overseas build a better and more sustainable life.

Sincerely,
Catholic Relief Services

Operation Rice Bowl

For Lent, in addition to praying more and reading scripture every night, I decided to donate $40 (a dollar a day!) to Operation Rice Bowl, run by Catholic Relief Services.



Since we are called to give up meat on Fridays, and gluttony as well during Lent, it helps us to remember those that aren't so fortunate and experience hunger constantly. 75% percent of the proceeds go to 40 different countries across the world, and the other 25% goes to your local community. It's a great way to help everyone!

You can learn more about it here.

Happy Lent!

Lent

Sorry this post is late; I came down with a cold about Monday night. I even missed Ash Wednesday because I was too sick to go anywhere. And Ash Wednesday is one of my favorites, even if I have to explain about 10 times to curious onlookers what that thing is on my forehead!

This year, for Lent, I decided to add something to my life instead of taking something away (besides meat on Fridays of course, which isn't really a huge trial for me since I probably only eat meat once or twice a week anyhow).

Anyway, every night before I go to bed I am reading from a daily missal. Unfortunately these cost about $50 on amazon, so I went for the next best thing - iMissal. That's right, my wonderful iPhone actually has an app that lets me read the Word every day of the week. Not only that, but it actually plays a recording of the readings as well! I highly recommend. Even Brian was impressed, and he hates my iPhone (jealousy!).

I've also been praying a lot more, formally anyway. Usually I just "talk" to God, but I've been using a more formal prayer to start off. I think it has helped me focus on what's good in my life.

So, what are YOU doing for Lent?