Self-Control*

Do not walk after your own desires,
but restrain your appetites.
If you fill your soul with the desire for pleasure,
it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies.
Do not rejoice in great luxury,
Lest you become needy by its expense.
Do not become a beggar by feasting on borrowed money
When you have nothing in your purse.

Wisdom of Sirach 18:29-32

*The heading "Self-Control" actually appears in the Greek Text.

Demand 22 Weeks The Movie

The widget at the sidebar will allow you to request/demand the movie come to your neighborhood. If you want to watch the trailer go here, but come back and click the widget.

Bring it to your neighborhood.

Today's reading from the book of James

The whole reading for today was James 1:1-18, all of which is really good. But this piece (vs. 2-4) really stuck out to me, encouraging me.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

"A Mother's Rule of Life" revisited

It has been almost 3 years since I first read "A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul" by Holly Pierlot. I blogged about in February and March of 2006! Wow! Where on earth does the time go? When I read the book back then I REALLY needed it. I was looking for something to help me "bring order" to my home and life. It didn't stick. I raved about the book. I thought it was the "cure". Well, things didn't go the way I had hoped. But the I think the problem was that I was looking for a "cure", a quick fix, a magic pill. But really there is NEVER such a thing.

As life goes now I feel I never read the book. I'm back where I was 3 years ago. So I've dusted it off and I am starting over. This time I have a little bit more determination, a tiny bit more mature, maybe. It really is a little difficult to explain, but I feel that I've come to a place where I can see that this is really the only answer to what I am looking for. I feel that I've been searching for something over the years, something to "fix" my hurdles I face each day. Well, I'm finally seeing that what is going to "fix" it all is ME. It will take work, but I'm the only one who can change what needs to be different and only with God's help!! His Grace and His Mercy! His Guidance and Love!
So with a new determination, a new focus (GOD), I move forward to create my "Rule of Life" based on the vocation God has given me.

Feast of Theophany at St. Elizabeth Orthodox Mission

As we went down to the water today to bless it we had company, some reporters from the Kitsap Sun Newspaper, a local paper.
The article that is online, along with slide show and video, is VERY impressive!
Check it out!

If the main page no longer has the article front and center here is the direct link.

Glory to God!

James, I've a feeling we're not in Washington anymore.

Okay...so we have had snow on the ground in my yard for 21 days!!!! In my 15 years of living here in Western WA (if I'm still in WA) we have never had snow on the ground for more than MAYBE 4 days. On the 21st day that we've had snow, it did this...









It's amazing!!

Blessings on the Feast of Theophany!