It's here again...Lent - Holy Saturday 2010

I can't believe it has been a whole year since I last posted here! Most of my free computer time has been just keeping up with emails and my Facebook page, I guess.

Reflecting on the past year, I realize there have been some significant moments of celebration as well as sadness. The days and months just come and go like the waves on the shore...each leaving its own little mark of change in the sands of my life. How I love to sit and watch the waves! That is one desire I have...to take my husband to see an ocean...to sit with him and listen to and watch the waves come to shore and back out again. As I sit here imagining it, I can almost smell/taste the salt air and hear the gulls soaring above. How I love the ocean!

These 40 days of Lent, I have devoted to personal reflection, study and growth. I miss the fact that Bob and I didn't do a Lenten "joint" effort this year, but we each did our own personal effort. Last night we did watch Mel Gibson's movie of "The Passion". I cried...I always do. I seemed to relate more to Mary's pain while watching the movie this time...her incredible love for her son and the pain of her obedience...such precious suffering. I guess our "joint" effort this Lent was working together with several other couples on the Lenten Fish Fries held at the Humphrey Community Building each Friday until this last weekend. It took a real joint effort from all...I didn't do nearly as much as others. It was a lot of work, but also fun, too.

Again, this year I gave up meat for Lent. It has been more difficult for me as I have had many very strong desires, cravings and temptations to eat it. It has been a reasonable suffering for me and one that often brought my attention to Christ's strength and my weakness. I am looking forward to a good steak or roast after tomorrow, though ;o)

I have also been drawn to a personal study of Mother Teresa during this Lent. It actually started before Lent with a book I checked out from the library. What an amazing woman! Her faith was soooo strong, yet so simple. Her faith was based simply on love...loving as God loves and seeing others as if they were Jesus himself in need. This is what she believed personally and this is what she instructed her Sisters and Brothers to do the same. What a blessing it has been to study her.

Along with my reading of Mother Teresa, I have used "The Word Among Us" and "Magnificat" reflections and devotions to assist me in my scripture focus and reading. Before I read, I pray and ask God to reveal to me what he wants me to learn each lesson. Everytime, without fail, I have received a good message and/or instruction from my time with Him. I have also kept a journal of these days of study where I write my personal reflections, struggles, and revelations to Jesus and lovingly thank Him. I want to continue this practice after Lent as my daily devotion. I see now how very important it is if I am to be the servant to Christ that I He needs me to be. how I struggle with serving Him well...I am so weak, but He is so strong and can help me in my weakness. I simply want to learn to love as God loves...but in my humanity it is so hard some times. I am thankful for the words of Mother Teresa when she says not to worry about doing great things, but to do small things with great love.

In one year, Bob and I have been given the gift of 3 new grandchildren!!! Braxton John Busselman, Harper James Preister and Londyn Claire Widhalm. That brings our combined total to 15 grandchildren! We are soooo blessed! Bob's mother, Lois, also married a wonderful man, Allen. Their marriage was blessed in the Catholic Church this past Advent Season. We have experienced loss in the death of a few friends, too. Some older and some much too young.

Grandpa and Grandma with Braxton John

Harper James


Londyn Claire

In the past year, I have lost nearly 30 extra pounds of weight through diet/lifestyle change and a little exercise. I still need to improve on the exercise part...but am getting better. I have learned that I can walk on my treadmill and say the Rosary at the same time! I am all for multi-tasking, and I think Mary understands this. I am finally feeling well and am determined to do my part to stay that way.

In the past year, I haven't done much with my writing, but I did finally finish the paintings I promised to my daughter of her children. One of them is going to be competing in the Spring Art Show at the Columbus Art Gallery. It is titled, "Lizzie and the Goats at the Fall Fair" (See it below)

In the past year I have made new connections with old friends and family through my Facebook page. My greatest gift was having my niece, Jody Lee, find me. She is my brother's step-daughter and so she was able to tell me that my brother is doing well and that she has a son, Robbie, who will be 2 in July. I have prayed for my brother and his family hoping they would make contact again. I haven't talked to him since Daddy died in 2006, nor have my other siblings.

In the past year Charli Ann, our granddaughter who had cancer at just 7 months of age, has remained cancer free! Praise God!

Tomorrow is Easter Day. We won't be going to my daughter, Melissa's, this year. I will miss that, but we will be going to mass with Bob's mom, Lois and her husband, Allen. They are my parents here on Earth. How I love them. We will then go out for dinner together and I will eat meat with much gratification and Bob will be able to finally have his Valentine's Day candy and Easter candy! But best of all we will celebrate the resurection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...the real reason for the season! God bless and Happy Easter!

Lent - Holy Saturday

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and today is always a time of reflection for me as to what I may have learned through these weeks of Lent. Lent is a time of confession, fasting, abstinence, additional prayer, Bible study, spiritual reading and participation in more corporal works of mercy. As a practicing Catholic I am to submit myself to some acts of penance and modest mortifications during the past 40 days of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday...but did I really take what I did as seriously as I should?

I chose to abstain from meat again this Lent. Not eating meat isn't that big of deal for me but the preparation of meals takes more effort and the strength to resist for the sake of simplicity is what I struggled with. My husband still ate meat at meals and I would prepare an alternative protien for my meal...usually fish, but sometimes eggs or beans. I have become quite used to my somewhat "vegan" meals and have even considered continuing this lifestyle. So I'm not sure that the absence of meat in my daily life was that great a sacrifice for me. It did bring a sense of awareness to me as to why I am abstaining and thus turning my focus to the Lord and his sacrifice for me.

During Lent my Bible Study group completed an awesome study on "God's Promises Fullfilled, A Scriptual Journey with Jesus the Messiah" by Jeanne Kun. It was very good and thought provoking and I enjoyed it very much. I also began study in an on-line class for Catholic Evangelism (which I need to get back to!) Our priest gave me an awesome CD, "The Passion of Christ in Light of the Holy Shroud of Turin" by Fr. Francis Peffley which was very inspriational and informative. I was able to share this CD with friends who were traveling to visit family out of state.Those same friends shared with me their audio book of "The Shack" by William P. Young...a fictional novel and somewhat theologically controversial but entertaining look at the Trinity (I have enjoyed it, however and look forward to discussing it with my daughter who is also reading the book) I attended Mass as often as I could and devoted an hour of adoration to the Lord at 3:00 on Wednesdays (although I forgot once. I felt terrible about that! And missed once but had another soul cover the hour for me) I am so human and prone to the busyness of life...but that hour was such an incredible time for me! I felt the love of God so near and would highly recommend taking an hour out of your busy life and spending it quitely with the Lord whenever you can.

Bob and I read "The Love Dare" for the 40 days of Lent which is a neat little book that goes along with the Christian Movie, "Fireproof" and challenges one to work harder at their marriage relationship. It contains a series of 40 "dares" to do for/with your mate. But was I so involved in wondering if Bob got anything out of it that I failed to participate fully? Did I make as much effort as I should have...could have? Probably not...but at least I do have an awareness of my failure to do so...I guess that is something! And I can continue working on the dares from now on! I was able to share my copy of "Fireproof" with my son and daughter-in-law who are also working on their "dares" in their marriage.

I have always desired the ability to pray openly and easily with my husband and this lent Bob and I have made an extra effort to remember to pray before meals. It may not sound like much, but it is a start to us...a start at praying together, which I hope will grow into more praying together.

Also during these weeks of Lent my future father-in-law ended up at the hospital with a ruptured appendix. I stayed with my mother-in-law for two nights and 3 days at the hospital so she could be by his side and have someone to pray with. He went through a very difficult surgery and is now in recovery. I thank God that everything went well considering the complications and that I was able to help in any small way. One week later, Bob ended up in the hospital and had his gall bladder removed. He did very well with the surgery and was back at work the next day. Since I had my gall bladder removed this last December, I was able to relate well to his discomfort and understand his pain. He is recovering well, too.

I suppose I participated in several acts of penance...but were they over and above what I would have done anyway? I gave to the poor, donated clothing to the needy, visited and prayed for the sick, and offered my help whenever I could. I tried to abstain from spending money selfishly and foolishly. I just always feel it is never enough, considering all the Lord has done for me...but that is why he did what he did...because what I do will never be enough :o) I suppose I will always feel I never do enough...which is better, I suppose, than feeling I have done all I can :o)

Tonight is the Easter Vigil which is a beautiful celebration that begins after sun-down. One of the new candidates joining the Church has asked me to be her sponsor and I am so honored to do so. I am so excited for her as I remember when I went though my confirmation with the Church just two years ago. I wonder if I am truly qualified to do such a task, but I love the Lord so much and desire to share that love in any way I can...so I guess I am qualified. Today I will pray for Angela as she anticipates the ceremony.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday! I would love to wake up before the sun and go somewhere quite to watch it come up and just take the time to praise and worship with thanksgiving. Maybe I will...maybe I won't...but I would like to. We will be going with Bob's mom and finace to my daughters house for Easter Dinner. My daughter has been preparing for weeks. It will be a good day of gathering and celebrating with the grandkids.

Have a blessed Easter, everyone...whatever you do and however you celebrate. I pray we all remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Lord, please help me to never, never take that for granted.


God Bless!