Jeez Louise

 Word for the day:  reflection!  Week 2 of the spiritual exercises involves reflecting on Jesus works! I “lost a week in Spain due to illness!  I “lost” a week now due to the busyness of the advent season, and taking the time to reconnect with friends after the long Covid drought!  Last night we attended a Christmas 🎄 program with friends at the Coeur d’Alene resort.                       Always butterflies in my life!                   And a Merry Christmas indeed!   On this day, the pilgrims walked from Tudela to Zaragoza.    Reflection: “Are we walking with Jesus or are we following other leaders?”…”I ask for the grace to feel personally called to journey alongside Jesus as his companion and co-laborer.”…..”The road to justice and the road to faith in our world are inseparable.”  I took the train from Barcelona to Zaragoza and joined the gr...

 Word of the day:  chaos: complete disorder  So, like with all things, Christmas planning and events got in the way of my daily blog!  We left Spokane on December 7 and planned to stay at the Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, Oregon.  But again, God’s plan was different than mine. Our car broke down in Pasco and we had to rent a car.  But we did make it to our hotel, built in 1889 during the gold/silver rush.                       The holiday tree in the lobby We then drove to Ontario on the 8th and had breakfast with Dad and Charlie, as they had MD appts nearby.  From there, we drove to Boise to return the rental. That’s when the comma butterfly appeared in my sister’s window. She has been around for a bit.  But who would have thought they’d live in freezing weather. I guess they can hibernate, so the cocoon could have been in the house.  Or maybe just a small miracle!   On the...

 Word for the day: gather: bring together Last night, my dad, brother Charlie, Sister Susan, and myself; gathered around the dining room table for a discussion of evil, heaven, the 2nd coming of Christ.  We all had different views, but it was interesting to discuss evil and what that means for our world.  Atonement, is there really a hell?  Or does reincarnation kick in and we come back until we get it right! As the Indigo Girls say: How  long 'til my soul gets it right  ? Can any human   being ever reach that kind of light I call on the resting soul of Galileo king of night vision King of insight.   https://youtu.be/oCbjGH2gO6Y   And it was not unlike other discussions at the dinner table growing up.   Rita, Connie and Perry, the youngsters in the family A gathering with the George “girls” when Mom was still alive.  She never missed a meal and never stayed in bed all day during the 5 years she was cared for at home!  Home...

Word of the day: Family, those who are related! On this day, we lit a candle for our deceased grand nephew, Artemis, who died at the age of 2 due to complications from appendicitis and an overdose of Tylenol while hospitalized.  So sad!  His father, Carson asked us to join.  “ This Sunday, Dec 11th, The Compassionate Friends/USA will be conducting a worldwide candle lighting for all children who have been lost too soon.”  So, we lit candles for Artemis his family, and all children who died too soon!  A Sunday relaxing with family: Susan, dad, me, and Charlie! Sundays were always so special growing up.  Our only “day of semi-rest”; as cows had to be milked every day; twice a day! My cousin Chris with my dad and his new blanket             We helped unpack the bar room at my brother              Perry’s and wife Connie’s new digs! Nice cozy home!          Dad got a ...

Word of the day:  inspection: careful examination or scrutiny!  This day of reflection coincides with October 14, the day our house PASSED INSPECTION for full occupancy! After 4 years of building, success! The meditation of this day was to “look at the  evil in my own life…and keep a gloomy day.”  And again, “understanding the sin in me…so that I may feel shame.”  The Jesus I know, of love and compassion does not want me to feel shame; but rather HOPE.   It is important to examine carefully, inspect my faults and focus on doing better each day.  But I approach this with scrutiny, not shame; with a focus on the glory of God and grace, not guilt.  I turn to Jesus for support, not sinfulness.  So, my view of  examination and inspection, is with a total different approach than the meditations asked of us on this journey.  This day, the pilgrims continued their walk  from Navarette to Logrono. This was the desert part of the walk. I...