What can you do?

Hi all,

I hope your Wednesday, Hump Day, is going well.  Mine is just dandy!  Well, it's pretty much like any other day for me, but I'm not complaining.

I chose today's title because I'm sure that most of us wonder, from time to time, what we can do to make this world a better place for all people to live.  I know that on the big scale, there isn't much we, as individuals, can do, especially if you're a senior citizen like me.  But, there are many small things that we can accomplish to make life easier, or happier, or more loving, for other folks.

Firstly, putting a smile on our faces surely may just brighten up another persons day.  Also, when we see someone, we could smile and say, "Hello, how are you doing?"  In some cases, your words of kindness just may be the only kind words that person hears all day long. 

As I've shared with you all before, I am visiting, once a week, a friend who is in a nursing home.  I am happy to say that she is improving, emotionally, a little bit each week I visit her.  I'm not patting myself on the back, I just care about her and I want her to be as happy as she is capable of becoming.
She and I used to be very close, but circumstances with her changed, and she fell into a depression after the death of her husband.  I was only too happy to renew our friendship once again.  I missed talking to her so much.

I was reading my "Divine Mercy Helper Newsletter" for this month and there was a story in there, of an older gentleman, who's wife had passed away.  He is a Divine Mercy helper, also, and as I read all the little things he was doing to reach out to help others, I felt very inadequate.  I understand that his health is a  lot better than mine and that allows him to do all those little things for other folks. 

One thing we can all do, whether we are old, young, ill, healthy, busy or have a lot of time on our hands, is to pray for all the people in the world.  We can ask Jesus' mercy for each of them: for our families, our extended families, our friends, our neighbors, for everyone who is suffering from illness, and for everyone throughout the entire world. 

Jesus wants to grant His Divine Mercy and His graces to everyone, not just all those who go to church and believe in Him, but to everyone.  We are all His children and He loves us all the same. 

So the next time you sit down with a few minutes to spare, quietly ask God to grant His mercy to everyone.  After all, we all need mercy in our lives and it's so simple to ask for it. 

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday.  If you have the opportunity, tune in to EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) for the Celebration which takes place up in Stockbridge, MS.  It starts about 11:00 am and ends around 2:45pm.  You will not believe how many people travel there for this celebration.  There are thousands and thousands of them who gather, outside, for Divine Mercy Sunday.  The entire celebration is held outside and it's to be fairly cold this Sunday here in PA so I can imagine it will be colder up in MS. 

It is truly a humbling sight to see, I can promise you that.  Even if you don't watch the entire event, as least tune in for ten or fifteen minutes.  It will be worth it and you will feel humbled!

Have a wonderful and safe day and may God bless each of you.
Susan
                                                       This is the Divine Mercy Image!

Happy Easter!

Hi all,

Easter is just around the corner, so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a Happy Easter.  Easter is certainly a religious occasion first, but for all of you who have young children, it's also an occasion for a visit from the Easter Bunny! 

How well I remember those days, although they were many, many years ago, what with all three of my daughters in their forties now.  Of course, we also did the egg hunts and such, with the Grandsons, but even that was many years ago, as my youngest Grandson is almost 19 years old. 

In some ways, I miss those days, but at my age, I guess I'd rather just celebrate the religious side of Easter and not have to go to all the fuss with the Easter Bunny.  My husband and I are celebrating Sunday with my family, which is always very enjoyable to me.  How about you?  What are your plans for Easter day?  Whatever you do, please be safe and remember to celebrate Jesus' rising from the dead and entering into heaven.  You know He suffered and died on that cross so we could have eternal life with Him.  What better way could He have shown us His greatest mercy and love.

Well, have you been doing anything creative lately?  I'm finishing up my hand embroidery projects this evening and them I am going to start some crocheting.  I will be giving these creations for Christmas gifts.  I assume that I'll go back to the embroidery work in a month or so. 

I have to keep myself busy while I'm watching television, so I go from one project to another.  I can't tell you how much creating something for someone else, relaxes me and helps me to feel good about myself.  It's important that we all feel good about ourselves, in small ways, and creating something for another person will surely give you that feeling.

It's hard to believe that a week from today will be April 1.  It seems like we just started the new year and we're already almost three months through it.  Time goes by so quickly now that I'm older.  That seems weird because I was busier years ago than now.  Do you think time passes faster the older you get? 

I visited my friend today, who is in a nursing home.  Things appear to be going a bit better for her now, but it seems to change from week to week.  I'm doing what I can for her, but it seems like so little.  I took her some night shirts for sleeping and some other articles of clothes.  I also took her a pair of slippers and she loved them most of all.  It was so nice to see that smile on her face when I helped her to put them on.  I pray for her every day.

Have a good Saturday and a wonderful and peaceful Easter Sunday.  May God bless each of you and keep you and your families safe.  Happy Easter!
Susan

It's the start of another week...

Hi everyone,
How are all of you doing this evening?  I hope all is well with all of you.  It was a quiet weekend for me, which was okay with me.  I did enjoy attending Mass yesterday, since it was Palm Sunday.  It's hard for me to realize that next Sunday is Easter Sunday already. 

Of course, I don't have any little ones any longer, so I don't do the Easter baskets or new Easter outfits anymore.  When my three girls were young, I'd sew each of them a new dress and also one for myself.  Those days are long gone now.  I do a have a little gift for each of my Grandsons and their significant others, but no candy.  They can buy their own candy if they want some.

Just last evening, I was wandering if I'd live long enough to get to meet my first Great Grandchild.  I hope so, but I'm not rushing any of my Grandsons into fatherhood.  My husband has Great Grandchildren, but they live on the West Coast, so we aren't able to hold them or spoil them.  Oh well,  if I do, it's good and if I don't, I won't!

What are your plans for Easter Day?  I'm sure many of you with young kids will have an Easter egg hunt for them, or perhaps people don't do that anymore.  So many of the traditions we did when we were young,  aren't done any longer.  That makes me very sad.  We had Easter Egg hunts for my girls even into their teens.  Their boyfriends said they weren't going to hung eggs.  But, after they found out that the eggs were plastic and had money inside of them, they changed their minds.  Funny how when you introduce cash into the hunt, they suddenly like the idea!  I sometimes miss the old days.

I'm still working on my hand embroidered Christmas gift bags, but I'll soon have them completed.  Then it will be on to something else, but I'm not sure just what, yet.  I'll let you know as soon as I know.  I'm still considering starting another novel, but that's as far as I've gotten right now. 

Have you done anything creative for Easter?  I imagine that many of you will soon get started working in your flower beds and gardens.  You know that is a very good way to show your creativity.  So, give it a try and let your creativity soar, and then tell me about it.

I'm sure many of you have a short work week this week, so be thankful for that.  Enjoy yourself and your family this weekend.  Be safe and may God bless each of you.
Susan

Hello everyone out there...

How's everyone doing this evening?  As you all know, today is Hump Day and that's a good thing for all of you who work Monday through Friday.  So smile, tomorrow you're on the down side of the work week.

I feel a little confused at what project I want to start next.  Oh, I'm still doing my embroidery work while I sit and watch television.  I'm referring to my next big project.  I'm not sure if I want to start on a new novel or not.  Actually today I was considering a new children's book, but what would be the story line.  First I thought about a learning book for children, but then I considered a teaching book for children.  I'm not referring to teaching something they'd learn in school, but rather, teaching them about life in general. 

Children today seem so disrespectful to others, be it other children or adults.  Oh, I know that there are still a lot of parents who teach their children about respect for everyone.  It starts with the child learning to respect their parents and siblings and goes out from there.  Sometimes I wonder what is happening with so many children today. 

Don't parents punish their children for being disrespectful to them or to their grandparents?  When I was a child, I was taught respect for all adults, not just my parents or grandparents.  That's also how I raised my three daughters and how they, in turn, raised their six sons, my grandsons. 

I have to tell you that I have never just accepted disrespect from anyone in my family or any other child either.  I suppose they see how disrespectful their parents treat other people, of all ages, and they just do as they see.  How wrong is that?  Totally wrong, at least in my book it is!

I'm still visiting my friend, once a week, at the nursing home.  She doesn't seem to care much about anything anymore.  I've decided that this week, when I go to see her, I'm going to get her to sit up right away and maybe even go for a wheel chair ride.  Apparently, all she does is lay in the bed.  I realize that she's depressed about having to live there, but they do have activities she could go to.  At least a few of them a week. 

I'm not judging her, because I don't know how I'd be if I were in her shoes, but I hope and pray that I would just accept my life the way it was and try to go on living.  I do know all about how chronic illness changes one's life in so many ways.  We only have two choices when that happens to us:  one is to give up and wait to die; the second is to thank God for life and make the best of it.  Believe me, I know how illness changes a persons life and I also know it's not easy to go on with your life, but that is what I chose to do ten years ago. 

Yes my life changed drastically, but I still was alive to enjoy some pleasures in life.  I tried thanking God for all my blessings and accepting my life, and my illness, and move forward in life.  I've shared with all of you before, that Gratitude and Acceptance is the only way a person can live a good life after being struck with a chronic illness.  You must take one day at a time and put God first in your life.

Here's a photo of the money holders that I made for Easter for my Grandsons and their special others.  I remember when we used to have Easter Egg Hunts for them, but now they're too big for that.  Where does the time go?  Just yesterday they were little children and today they're young adult men!

Be happy and be safe.  God bless all of you.
Susan

Horrah! It's the weekend...

Hi everyone,
I guess a lot of you feel that way about the weekend, and I understand because I used to feel that way also.  Isn't it funny how quickly the weekends go by, but how slowly the weekdays drag. 

As for me, my days are all about the same and that's okay with me.  My husband drove me to the craft store this morning so I could pick up a few supplies.  They had yarn on sale, 4 for $10.00, so I stocked up so that I'd have it handy for crocheting Christmas gifts.

I just have to keep myself busy doing something creative.  What better way to use those abilities than to make hand-made Christmas gifts.  Right now, I'm working on my hand embroidered Christmas bags, made from felt.  I put a large design on the front of them using other pieces of felt, such as Santa Claus faces and other Christmas designs.  Then I attach either a ribbon or weave embroidery floss into the tops of the bags so they can be closed. 

What have all of you been up to lately?  I do hope you're working on something creative.  It surely makes a person feel good about themselves when they create something by hand, especially something to be used as gifts for family and friends.  So get started on something!

My husband and I are meeting some close friends for dinner this evening.  We don't go out very often and that's my fault.  I'd simply rather stay at home, especially during the colder months.  But, it is nice to go out once and awhile.  What are you up to today?

I visited my friend yesterday, Friday, at the rehabilitation center.  So doesn't seem like she's improving any to me.  She does cheer up a bit while I'm there, but she seems so depressed because she doesn't want to be in a nursing home for the rest of her life.  I can understand that, but that's the best place for her to be at this time in her life.  She finds that hard to accept and I understand that, but she has to try to put her faith in God, and put her life in His hands. 

Once again, we all need to practice Gratitude and Acceptance in our lives.  I'm not saying it's easy to do, but it is so very necessary.  As I've said before, my life is so content now since I live every day with gratitude and acceptance.  Gratitude to God for all the many blessings He's given e throughout my lifetime and acceptance for everything in my life, even my chronic illness. 

Please remember this friend of mine in your prayers.  I know there is nothing greater than the power of prayer.  So, I'll thank you now for your prayers.

I'm glad the weather has gotten a bit more normal for this time of year.  It's still warmer than it should be for March, but temperatures in the low 60's is better than temps in the high 70's.  Why don't we have a spring and fall anymore.  It seems we go directly from the furnace to the central air conditioning.  I have to tell you that I do not like that, not one bit! 

Well, whatever you have going for this weekend, I hope you are safe and remember to do something creative.  It will make you feel good! 
Susan

Happy Monday, everyone!

Hi folks,

I trust you all had a good weekend.  The weather here was fairly nice, especially on Sunday.  Here it is the first day of another work week for most of you out there.  Although I can't hold down a job anymore, I still do have my routines.  I find that I've always been a person of habit.  I also am a scheduled person, that means, that I don't fly well by the seat of my pants.  Yes, I will admit that I am a list person. I certainly do have to have "my ducks all in a row."  It just has always worked for me.  My Mom was a bit like that, also.  So, I guess I can say, "I got this way from my loving Mother, and I'm glad I did." 

I will say, though, that my Dad was also a scheduled person.  I suppose he had to be, as he worked a full time and a part time job when I was a child.  Money was tight and Dad did whatever he had to do to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and the bills paid.  He was a very hard worker and so was my Mom.  When my brother, Greg, started school, she took a full time job in a sewing factory, which wasn't too far away. 

Mom was quite the seamstress.  She could sew anything and it looked very professional.  Although she taught me to sew, I never became as good a seamstress as she was, but I did the best I could.  I am sorry to say that I don't really do much with a sewing machine these days.  All my sewing is done by hand, which is being creative, also.

What hobbies do you have?  Many times, they are also creative projects.  So there, you are a creative person.  Some folks love working in their flower beds and about now, are planning on what they will plant this year and what arrangement they will use for those beds.  Hey, that takes creative abilities, so give yourself credit. 

The thing about being creative is that the more you do something, the better you become at it.  Your creativity expands as you progress further along in your endeavors.  Trust me, when I started making hand made greeting cards, they weren't anything like they are now.  Good tools to work with also helps. 

So, whatever you like to do, try doing in a newly creative way.  Even arranging your closets, setting a beautiful table for a special dinner, or re-arranging the basement, takes creative abilities.  So, test yourself, you just may find out that you have many creative abilities.

I know that many of you are eagerly looking forward to the spring and summer seasons.  I am and I'm not.  I guess that doesn't make much sense to you, but for me, it does.  I love the spring time and the rebirth of all God's trees, grasses, bushes and flowers, and I don't mind the summer if it's not real hot and humid.  Oh, years ago, the heat and humidity didn't bother me too much, but for the past ten years, when it's very hot and humid, I'm stuck indoors; many times by  myself.  It's not so bad if I'm just at home, but if I'm away, I can't stay outdoors for very long.  So, that makes picnics and the such, difficult for me to attend.  I know I have to stay indoors all winter, but that doesn't bother me.  I suppose it's the fact that while others are out of doors, enjoying themselves, I'm inside alone.  After a while, it gets a bit depressing, to say the least. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  I am so grateful to God, that He allowed me to live ten years ago, when I was close to death.  I try to keep myself busy most of the time, so that allows little time for me to sit and feel sorry for myself.   I have been blessed too much for those feelings.

This is the Divine Mercy Image.

I am still working my retreats, "33 Days to Merciful Love" and "40 Days to Lent."  I am enjoying both retreats and I'm thankful that I purchased both booklets.  Are you doing anything special for Lent?  I decided not to give up anything for Lent, but rather to use the time for these two retreats and to try to praise God in song form and by praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day.  What have you been doing during Lent to celebrate His mercy, or perhaps you've gone the route of giving something up for Lent.  Let me know!

I hope your week goes well for you.  Be safe always and may God bless you and your family.
Susan

And it's here once again!

Hi all,

Well, it's Hump Day once again.  Perhaps you've figured out why I often write a new post on a Wednesday and if not, it has nothing to do with it being hump day.  It's just that early Wednesday evenings, I find myself with a quiet home and that gives me ample opportunity to sit quietly and write a new blog post.

I watched the weather report earlier and after having 50 and 60 degree temperatures over this last weekend and into Monday, we are in for another snow storm tomorrow evening.  Yippee, not!  I'm sitting here writing this blog and listening to the Solid Gold Oldies on Comcast TV.  They are playing the song, "Hey Paula" by Paul and Paula, from 1963.  I always loved that song.  It was a good slow number to dance to and you could also do The Stroll to it, if you weren't asked to dance slow. 

How much do you remember from 1963?  I was a Sophomore at  York Catholic High School during the '63/'64 school year.  I honestly don't remember what subjects I took in school, but I do know that I was real big into music and dancing.  I was a real fan of American Bandstand.  I'd been watching it every day after school, since I was about ten or eleven years old.  I loved the dances of the late 50's and all through the 60's and I basically knew how to do all of them.

That was so many, many years ago, but I still remember my love of music and dance.  I still listen to those tunes and once and a while, will get up and dance, but, only for about five minutes.  Since I became chronically ill, ten years ago, I don't have the strength or energy to dance much anymore.  Every once in a blue moon, I'll get my husband to slow dance with me, to one of my favorite, old songs.  I surely miss both the music and dancing.

How about you?  Were you into music and dancing when you were young?  I know my three daughters loved music and dancing also.  I suppose that's why I also loved the music from their era, which was the 80's. 

If you're in my age bracket, what do you miss most?  It was really a much simpler time back then.  Oh yes, we had killings and robberies, but they weren't as frequent as they are today.  We also had drugs, but they weren't anything like they are today.  I suppose the most shameful thing I remember that happened back then, was for a girl to get pregnant outside of marriage.  That, for teens, was a very shameful situation to find yourself in. 

What do you think?  Were you a teen during the fifties and sixties, like me?  I suppose some folks would say that the Hippies were a big problem back then, but I can't really say that I knew much about them or even cared much.  Of course, you might say that's because I attended  Catholic school for eleven of my twelve years of school.  But, honestly, I don't think that changed who I was or even who I am today.  I'm still that same person, only much, much older!  

Here's another song from 1963 by Lou Christie, "Two Faces Have I."  Do you remember that one?  I do remember the song very well, but his name doesn't really come to mind just now.    I don't recall him ever appearing on American Bandstand.  Do you?

Well, to get away from that subject...  how are you coming with doing something creative?  Oh, come on, you need to get something started.  I know how stressful life can be these days and doing something creative will help relax you.  I promise it will.  

I'm still working on Christmas stuff, but right now, I'm hand embroidering Easter table runners for my three daughters.  I made one for myself last year, so I thought I'd make them one for this year.  I don't really decorate for Easter anymore, but it is nice to have a seasonal table runner on my dining room table.  It makes me smile when I see it.

Well, whatever you  do, try something creative.  It will also help you to feel good about yourself.  It's such a shame that hand sewing has gone by the wayside these days.  Most young women don't even know how to sew a proper hem in an item, much less crochet, knit, embroider or use a sewing machine.  I truly think that's sad.

Well, I suppose I'll close for now.  Have a great evening and may God bless each one of you.

Susan