December 29 celebrate

 Word for the day:  celebration: pleasure at an important event.   I have missed a week due to celebrating the birth of Jesus with my family and friends.  However, I continue to have my mornings of silent reflection.  Now the morning NPR has become a distraction.  Prayer, mindfulness and contemplation are becoming a daily routine.  

The Christmas 🎄 holiday was blessed and joyful.  The grandkids were happy with their “haul.”  And we all attended the Children’s Mass together. And extended family for the day!  

This was part of my disconnection from the group.  I was still trying to get over my cough and prepare for return to the walk on the 22, with the large group.  Today I am reminded to do all things, “for the greater glory of God.”  

This day of meditation offered us “the 2 standards”. We can choose to follow Jesus and a life of simplicity and love,  or we can choose the ways of the world.  

While the pilgrims walked from Bujaraloz to Alcarras; I walked a 12 km, up Montjuic.  So I felt somewhat prepared for rejoining the pilgrims for the walk on the 23rd.  

               A view of the Mediterranean from the      castle at Montjuic

A green parakeet in flight.  Aren’t we all in flight, going somewhere, but not always knowing where that where is.   I try to learn from nature and my sure
     Walking the castle Montjuic walls
         An entire village of parakeets
    A lovely building along my walk.  I believe it was the Agricultural Ministry 
A pilgrims’ prayer 🙏 along the journey 

Today, December 29, would be the 74th weddoy anniversary of my parents. They had 72 anniversaries that they shared.

        Here they are with granddaughter Lexi in on October 21, 2018. Cat ear muffs!

             Lexi and Zoey, granddaughters
     In 2021, we stopped in Rock Springs, Wyoming on return from our 7000 mile trip across country.  My grandpa Chadez came from Slovenia to work in the coal mines.  
 A memorial for all those killed in mining accidents

     The train station where many miners disembarked for their hard journey of descending thousands of feet to work in dusty, dangerous conditions 
My grandpa escaped the mines, and homesteader in Homedale, Idaho; along with several  other Slovenian families.  As Slovenia was part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire at the time; it was known as the “Austrian settlement.  Here are my parents outside their farm adjacent to Grandpa’s and Grandma’s homestead.

They certainly chose simplicity over worldly possessions.  And we 7 children benefitted greatly from their live and example. 

                     Jeez Louise!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vermouth in Barcelona

Image
Hola from Barcelona!  I arrived on Wednesday, September 28 with my daughter Eileen. I have been slowly adjusting to the big city. Walking, exploring Museu Nacional  D’Art de Catalunya, Barcelona. Like Don Quixote, (Ismael Smith, circa 1927), I will be tilting at windmills on this awesome journey.  Eileen and I joined some of her friends for a vermouth festival along the Mediterranean Shores.  It was complete with music, great vermouth, and quite the lightning show. I don’t think that’s a halo over my head!  But maybe at The end of my 30 day pilgrimage, it might be. So I was the only won who won a t-shirt by completing the Olympic bottle toss by lassoing 3 Bottles!   The night ended with my first  ride on an electric bike, and I didn’t crash.   Speaking of crashing; it’s 12:30 am,  Beyond time of my turning into a pumpkin. So I’m going to crash. Jeez Louise!
Read more

October 25, Day 20 Creation

Image
Word for the day: Creation:  the process of bringing something into existence.  So, no matter YOUR creation  story; you have to appreciate this one.  We stopped in a 12th century church in Tarrega, walking from Verdu.  Many of the churches were burned down or nearly lost during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930’s.    When this one was rebuilt, some artists painted the whole Bible stories.  So, here goes: And God made the world in 7 days! To the right  is the 🍎 tree, but the railing is blocking Adam and Eve. If you look closely to the right, you can see Cain being banished after killing Abel.  To the left is Noah’s Ark and notice the rainbow and the animals! To the right is Abraham’s sacrifice of his son, and lamb To the left, I believe, is the tribes of Israel wandering in the desert. Next is the burning bush (right), when Moses discovered the 10 commandments.  And the left is the parting of the Red Sea. And then the story turns to...
Read more

October 24, Day 19 EARTH

Image
   Word for the day: EARTH:  the world, the substance of the land, Yesterday, we walked through the farmlands of Spain.  It was a meditation on my days on our dairy farm in Homedale, Idaho.  The poignant smells of manure, silage, the harvest.  My parents were hard workers, who sacrificed their lives for their children.  My dad farmed until 96, and is still going strong.  My mom died last year at 92, and this walk is one to learn more about her abiding faith and commitment to the Catholic Church.   Mom loved butterflies and her ministry included sending magnet butterflies 🦋 to families when they lost a loved one.  Mom has been with me in spirit, and I receive her encouragement and love nearly every day when one or more butterflies walk beside me on my journey! (Except of course in winter).   Our espresso machine at the hotel yesterday, had 4 spigots. As the cafe con leche poured out, my first thought was of getting up in the morning...
Read more