Some of the things I've seen since I last posted

Another one bites the dust

Well it really is summer time for the Gillespies. Linda is off for the VBS run and casting the nets deep for catechists and Jeff has no more teams left in the playoffs. Everything for him, high school sports wise is finished for the season. And that's a good thing he could use a little less stress.

Course don't feel to badly for him, as the new season will begin very soon.

Something new I learned today

My husband just informed me of the 6 P's of Vince Lombardi which sounded to me like the type A personalities credo** - "Proper preparation prevents {*} poor performance." Oh and apparently "If properly executed the 'Power Sweep' is unstoppable." -Vince Lombardi

I can't imagine how these didn't get into the list of "Ollie's Rules to Live By".

Call me for number 4.

Of course this has been added to my list of favorite credo's

Happy Valentine's Day! candy hearts

Enjoy and thank you to the Monkey Barn!
Candy Heart Generator

Dogs rule!

Cats drool!

I'm a dog person. Always have been. Those big noses and eyes full of adoration - I mean really!

And this is my favorite time of year - dog show season. Eukanuba Cup events, Westminster Kennel Club, Krupps...fabulous!

That beagle who's getting all the hype is pretty cute. Although I'm always hoping one of the herding or working dogs gets best in show. I know nerd alert. Can't help it. Catch the Sporting, Working and Toy groups tomorrow night.

NIGHT 2: Live Telecast: Tuesday, Feb 12 (8-11 PM Live ET / 8-11 PM PT) on USA Network

P. S. I'm not the only one who's got "puppyitus", we've been talking about a second dog for a while now and with each dog show, Jeff keeps changing his mind, really with each group that comes into view ; ) We could end up with anything from a Norfolk Terrier to a Great Dane - OH my!

I don't change my mind, I want a pack of three more and nothing that drools excessively. I now what a nutty nerd.

P.P.S. Passed all my pre assessment for surgery today. That means they take my blood and my money and after the insurance says so, they let me into the "pain pump" crowd. Good news. We don't have to arrive until 6:00am Thursday morning.

Originally thought it was 5:30am - I know, 6:00a doesn't sound a whole lot better, but for this caffeine deprived night person, it's a lot easier on the psyche. Jeff / Lainie are taking over the writing Thursday morning on, check out the linda report for more info.

"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."

Trust. What a small word with really big implications : ) I help other people with spiritual direction all the time to deal with this small word, but now the rubber hits the wall of my convictions. "The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."

They've found a mass on my ovary that has to be removed with the ovary. Yikes. Yep a blip on the routine of life radar. Everything is looking "to the good" I hear from my excellent medical team. At first I was rather freaked out because I was being tested for a whole other type of thing, which because I had very very few symptoms I thought would turn out to be nothing. But God is so good, all the time, the tests for one thing revealed another that if it had gone unfound could have had much worse complications in the future.

It took me a few days to process, but I know that God is all over this and He's got it. I just have to do what I'm told and do my best and it'll be fine. I'll have 6 weeks of convalesence to practice that.

Jeff is liking being on the other side of the operating table this time and promises to keep everyone up to date at this blog. He's planning head lines as I type. What a silly man. Pray for him, too, I recall what it feels like on that other side of the table. All his joking aside, it's hard.

I want to tell you thank you in advance for your prayers and keep them coming - I should know more by this Wednesday. I plan to get out information mostly in this format so if you want to give out my blog to other people that would be O.K. too.

"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."

O.K. this was very engaging.

Do you know your temperament? Using the Keirsey Temperament sorter , you can actually use the data to find your spiritual temperament as well as your personality temperament. These finding have been applied to learning to get along, manage a community, profession etc.

Give it a try then come back here to read the findings based on your type, suggestions for prayer etc... taken from a recent Life Night at SPX.

Generalities regarding the Temperaments

Ignatian Temperament - SJ

• Deep Sense of Obligation


• Givers Over Receivers
• Deeply Committed to Caring for those in Need


• Like Order - Ceremonies, Rituals, Tradition, and History


• Tend to be Pessimists


• Need to See Continuity Between What is Believed Today and What Was Believed.



• Project Themselves Back Into an Event of Scripture and become a Part of it.

- by Fr. James JandaArchdiocese of Salt Lake CityThis icon was commisssioned by the President of Creighton University, John Schlegel, S.J. on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the University in gratitude for the work of the Jesuit Community.

Thomistic Temperament - NT

• Very Logical
  
• Gravitate to things that are complicated and challenging to the mind.


• Want to master and control whatever they do, including their faith life.



• Can tend to be very hard on themselves - very disciplined, very demanding, etc.


• Prefers orderly, neat forms of prayer and spirituality


• Tremendous hunger for perfection


• Mystics and contemplatives have come from this temperament - St. Theresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross

Augustinian Temperament - NF

• Usually Creative, optimistic, Persuasive


• Tend to be good verbally - outspoken,good in writing and speaking


• Have a great need to communicate to others


• Do not do well with conflict


• They need acceptance and affirmation from others


• Always searching for meaning and self-identity


• Want to know that what they do makes a difference


• Keen Interest in the future


• Transposing Events of Scripture into Today's situations.

Franciscan - SP

• Have a need to be free


• Can be impulsive, don't like to be tied down


• Want to follow their spirit



• They are flexible, open minded


• Acts of loving service can be a most effective form of prayer


• Like to live and pray in the present moment - not too concerned with the past or the future


• Are capable of great heroic sacrifices

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preferred Prayer Formats and Experiences

Ignatian

Formal - Lectio Divina or Meditation or reflect on the Resurrection of Jesus.

Informal- Use your imagination to become part of the prayer of scripture. Write down references/scriptures that seem interesting and then look them up later.

If you found yourself an:

ISTJ - God, help me to begin relaxing about little details tomorrow at 11:41.32 a.m.

ESTJ - God, help me to not try to RUN everything, But if You need some help just ask!

ISFJ - Lord, help me to be more laid back, and help me to do it exactly RIGHT!

ESFJ - LORD, GIVE ME PATIENCE AND I MEAN RIGHT NOW!

Thomistic

Formal - Lectio Divina with focus on meditation

Informal - Study and consider every truth, virtue, thought from every possible angle until you grasp it. Apply What, With, When, Where, What and apply to the topic of reflection. Conclude your prayer with resolutions of how you are going to practice or live out your faith.

If you found yourself an:

ENTJ - God help me to slow downandnotrushthroughwhatIdoAmen.

INTJ - Lord, keep me open to other's ideas, WRONG though they may be!

INTP - Lord, help me be less independent, but let me do it my way.

ENTP - God, help me follow established procedures today. On second thought, I'll settle for a few minutes.

Augustinian

Formal - Lectio Divina with focus on the dialogue between God and oneself.

Informal - Transpose the words of scripture and apply them to your life/situation today. Use speaking and writing to reflect and meditate. Focus on a relationship with each person in the Holy Trinity. Take more time in prayer & quiet meditation.

If you found yourself an:

INFP - Lord, help me to finish everything I sta

INFJ - Lord help me no be a perfectionist. (Did I spell that correctly?)

ENFJ - God, help me to do only what I can, and trust you for the rest. Do you mind putting that in writing?

ENFP - God, help me keep my mind one thing-- LOOK! A Bird!

Franciscan

Formal - Acts of Service and Good Works

Informal - Relating life through Jesus' life and the parables. See God in the whole of creation, use a flower as a way to enter into meditation. Be open to free flowing informal communication with God.

If you found yourself an:

ESTP - God , help me to take RESPONSIBILITY for my own actions, even though they're not usually my fault!

ISTP - God help me to consider people's feelings even if most of them are hypersensitive!

ISFP - Lord, help me to stand up for my RIGHTS! (if you don't mind me asking)

ESFP - GOD, HELP ME TO TAKE THINGS MORE SERIOUSLY ESPECIALLY PARTIES & DANCING.

My friends - I hope you found your spiritual temperament and I pray that you see yourself with a good dose of humor and compassion. Never be too busy to explore ways to communicate with God.

Other 6

Was looking through the new Catechist magazine and came across this ad with light and dark blue bubbles curtaining these words "Where do you find God? " So I went to the website it listed to look www.Other6.com

Take a look and give it a try. Maybe for Lent?

Back in the land of the living

We've got two types of creeping crud around here at the moment, one stomach afflicting and the other respiratory. I was "touched" by the stomach version on Monday out of the blue and it was the weirdest thing. I've heard varying degrees of affliction, mine wasn't so severe by other reports, but I just couldn't seem to shake it.

Did the unthinkable and stayed on home on a Wednesday night! Have I said how wonderful my Faith Formation team is? Well if you haven't heard me go on and on - they are fabulous! They had things well in hand, but I must have missed out on a visit from my best friend. Today I found on my desk, a hand crafted card with a note made of the only materials at her disposal: glitter glue; buttons; sequins; crayons, and construction paper. She is the queen of field expedience! Because even with only those few paltry craft items she made me smile and feel loved. Thank you Begs.

* For those of you who get the stomach version of the crud, it lasts about three days, don't push it to go back to work in one or two, trust me, you'll be back at home. For those with the respiratory version, at least a week to get over the worst of it - if you're into home remedies, try some Whiskey, Honey and Lemon for the non-stop coughing, and sore throat, my grandmother's home remedy for such ailments. Mix equal parts of whiskey and honey, she usually started with 1/2 cups and with a few tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Shake together in a mason jar and sip. I repeat, SIP one shot glass of the concoction as needed about one every couple of hours. Let's just say I didn't understand the sip part of the instructions and "smooth" was not the word for it. My grandmother would make a batch with the first sniffle of the winter. I knew when respiratory ills where imminent because that mason jar with golden, pulp-filled liquid would appear. I recently made some for Deacon Bill when we were visiting in Alabama, and ask him - it really works.

** Of course you should check all medications you are taking to make sure you can consume alcohol without any adverse effects, I'm just say'n.

Sitting here drinking some decaf and munching on a Coach Button cookie

It's a Wednesday. If you know me and what I do on Wednesdays and Sundays nough said. My personal favorite for today was a discussion with two of older boys at the 7:30 pm session slot. They had decided they were thirsty so instead of using the water fountains, they proceeded to try to climb the doors to the kitchen in the Admin Hall. I hold my brains in my head.

Had the last class of 2007 today. Enjoyed the Christmas ham Family Dinner and collected the end of the year Christmas Catechetical leader booty - cookies, cupcakes, ornaments, religious art etc. Was able to take pictures of the classes in their revelries. I was heartened to see how each class shares it's bounty with the others and enjoys spending time together. And I thought how did the year pass so quickly? My grandmother used to say that it felt to her that a year passed when she was in her 40's she took a step, in her 60's when she turned her head, when she came to 80 when she blinked her eye. As I have watched "my SPX babies" grow up, oh man, I didn't even have time to blink!

Oh the Weather Outside

YES! The morning after Thanksgiving Day, I jumped out of bed because... Flurries in "the Burgh"!!! Love it, Love it, Love it!

Jungian Personality Quiz

Thanks to Laura for her time waster.
I love a good psychological quiz. And an update on a personality test is always fun. I know Geek city! I am what I am...and I still am an ENFJ was there any doubt? I think not.

Also thanks to the Binks for a great in advent of Turkey day feast ala la Madeline's. I'll have to do a 6 mile walk today, but it was worth it.

Night!

Jeff is snoozing contentedly in his new deluxe sleeping bag - thank you Michael for the technical assistance! While I work on my Longaberger business and download photos, write letters and sip tea ahhhhh. Chole is sleeping at the "mama's side. What a peaceful night.

You'll have to view the photos I intended for tonight's blog here . Blogger is not exactly cooperating with them tonight.

Selections at the linked site are from the last month including the sets : My attempt at Art; SPX events; and the Rite of Acceptance.

Good Night, Sleep Tight and Pleasant Dreams....

Waiting endless mind numbing waiting

We spend a lot of time waiting. I've been having to set up medical tests...all is fine no worries. And since I haven't had a stint with the hospital branch of the medical profession for a while, I forget it's all hurry up and wait - to schedule the procedure, to get the clearance from your insurance, to get a person on the phone to answer your questions yada yada yada. They've even made rooms for what has a become a fixture of the process! Some even come with beds and televisions ,they know we're going to be waiting so long. All the waiting... and it made me think of other things I 'm waiting for. So I'm waiting to loose the next 10 lbs. and the next and the next, for the batteries for my camera to charge, for my feet to thaw, for my "nieces" to come home for Thanksgiving break or for Christmas or Spring or Summer break as the case my be, for the water to heat for the shower, for the traffic light to turn green, in line at the supermarket... endless waiting.
I got annoyed, but then I thought that how I spend my time waiting should be my focus more than than the having to wait. It just occurred to me I should PRAY. Not like I don't when it occurs to me from time to time. But instead of praying only from time to time if it hits me as I find myself waiting, I need to consciously practice ACTS - Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication. As the season of advent approaches, literally the time of watching and waiting, I think that's how I'll try to prepare my heart, so I can be eager instead of annoyed with...Waiting.

(This epiphany provided by the Holy Spirit! Thank you.)

Truth of the Knights Templar Unveiled

Go to Zenit news from Rome Vatican Publishes Acts of 14th-Century Trials VATICAN CITY, OCT. 25, 2007 to find out more about a 400+ year condemnation being lifted...Or rather a clerical error being revealed. (Pun intended)

3 minute retreats

Greetings my fellow catechists - "echoers" of the Good News!

Go to www.FingGod.org/retreat they have short 3-minute prayer breaks you can take at your computer.

*If you enjoy the retreat and would like a new one e-mailed to you every morning, register as a member of Finding God.org by clicking on join at the top of the screen. Select the Daily 3-Minute Retreat as a free subscription service at the time of registration. Each day a link to the a new retreat will be emailed to you and each day you’ll have a chance to spend three quit, meaningful minutes in focused reflection.

I hope you find these few minutes to be meaningful and rejuvenating.

P.S. How is reading the Bible and Catechism going for you? For me it's slow. but I'm creating another blog with helps and ideas hopefully later tonight. We haven't had a forum to share or discuss and I think it's been harder at least for me, to stay on task with it.

A pirates life for me.

Did you know that Ocracoke Island was a favorite haunt of Edward Teach, the feared "Blackbeard" the Pirate?

Not hard to see why.

Today, the beaches are protected, all National Seashore, unspoiled beauty.

The sunsets and the stars are amazing.

Course so are the marsh mosquitoes.

If you bring or rent a 4x4 you can
get to some good shelling areas.




You don't need your car to get around. It's bicycle or the old "shoe leather express".







There are shops, nough said. and there are cats, cats and more cats...

Anywhere you have to take a ferry to get to somewhere else is cool, just say'n.

Everybody's Talkn' bout the New Kid in Town

"Everyone who is Anyone, Darling" was at SPX Wednesday night to welcome our new YM. It was a lovely meet and greet - thanks Miss Barb!

Member Mondays!

I love Member Monday's first I up-sized, then I downed! New fav drink, at the moment, at my fav hang out- Cappuccino.

Kaiteur Coffeehouse

Introducing our newest discovery

We did recently find a baby turtle in our back yard. Check her out.


I call her Myrtle.

Cuz she's a turtle : )