Happy Independence Day!
/We hope you enjoy the blessings of liberty and the joy of good friends with which to celebrate.
(Our neighborhood fireworks were last night. Convenient for posting today:-)
Lord, Hear Our Prayer
/Usually, I share the Sunday gospel reading here in this space on the weekend. This morning, though, I've opted for a different scripture choice--a short verse we could all commit to memory this week.
I have a sweet young friend who is getting married next weekend. Her parents' home is in Colorado Springs. They've been evacuated. Wedding is still on. Reception site still to be determined, last I heard. The picture above is from her big sister's Facebook page (taken from a local news page). I love this family and my prayers have been with Mary for a long time. Really, this week, I can think of little else.
A girl's wedding is the stuff of long held dreams. This Colorado wedding had all the makings of a fairy tale. God assures us that His plan is even better than fairy tales. So, I hope that you will pray with me for Mary and Paul in the days before their wedding.
And we reach out in prayer to everyone affected by the fires in the mountains.
{from big sister Megan--view from their evacuee home}
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;” 1 Peter 4:12
{Sally Clarkson, who has gathered evacuees into her Colorado heart and home, brings this wisdom and understanding to the week's verse.}
Finally, as we approach Independence Day and the end of the Fortnight for Freedom, as we absorb the reality that right now Catholics will be forced to choose between deeply held religious convictions and the law of this land, we pray for religious liberty.
O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
As always, please allow us the privilege to pray for your intentions, too, by leaving a quick note in the comments.
Not Really a Proper Daybook
/I don't have a proper daybook for you this morning--too much to which I need to attend here. All good, just the best kind of busy. I do have a few random things of some importance to share though:
I am thinking::
about menopause. I don't really want to think about menopause. Really, could we just call it something else? I don't even like the ring to that word. Midlife? No, that sounds like a balding man's red convertible. The Change? Um, sounds like a hot flash. We need a better word. In all seriousness, I am giving this {{insert word of choice here}} a great deal of thought. Many thanks to those of you who joined the conversation last week. You've moved this project forward by leaps and bounds. There is a book in the works. Just to let you know how earnest I am about doing this thoroughly, I ordered that offensive book I mentioned in last week's post because the editor who likes my book idea suggested that I read it. I bought it, flipped to the end--to the closing thoughts, the send off-- and discovered that after the author divorced her husband at midlife, she found great consolation cuddling her male cat and she learned a lot about femininity from her female cat.
Ladies, we can do better! I know it. Please share your thoughts with me. And if you're still too young to even give a passing thought to menopause, let me ask you to reconsider. Think about the women you know at midlife or beyond. What do you want to emulate there? What do you want to avoid? Consider how being intentional with certain things right now might change what midlife looks like for you. Tell me about the women you know who have the kind of life you'd like to have in your forties and fifties. Tell me details. Tell me anything, but that my future lies with a cat as my main squeeze. (No offense to cat lovers, please)
a way to get a jump on Christmas shopping::
In honor of the month of the Sacred Heart, St. Luke's Brush is offering a buy 4, get one deal. Buy any 4 dolls by June 30 and get a Sacred Heart doll for free. It's not too early to think of stocking stuffers. I can honestly tell you that these are the toys Sarah plays with most of all. They're timeless heirlooms. The Sacred Heart of Jesus doll is a one of a kind, 3.5 inch wooden peg doll hand painted with non-toxic acrylic paints and sealed to preserve this keepsake toy.
summer sponsor opportunities:: as the season changes, there are a few slots opening for sponsors here at In the Heart of My Home. Sponsors will also be onSerendipity and we are eager to bring some new plans to life there in the next couple months. Email me at intheheartofmyhome AT gmail DOT com for more information.
I told you they were random thoughts. Thanks for indulging my brain dump. Now, I'm off to do what needs to be done around here. Have a beautiful Monday:-).
Christmas in July! It's a Fabulous Fabric Giveaway
/It was around this time last year that a thought first ocurred to me. It began with fabric. I saw some fabric that just kept haunting me. In a good way:-) It begged me to make it into a quilt. I'd never sewn much of anything on my own. But the images of this fabric stuck with me.
I started playing with my sewing machine, greatly inspired and instructed by Deborah Moebes of Stitch by Stitch (go read that post; I'll wait). Then, Nicky said he really wanted to make a quilt.
And then, Deborah offered an online quilting class. That was the last nudge I needed.
It was a really busy time of year and I worried that I couldn't keep up, but I was hugely inspired by Deborah and carried along by her enthusiasm. Nicky (and company) made his quilt.
For my quilt, I made the squares and pieced all but the border. Deborah warned that the longer a quilter takes to finish a quilt, the less likely that she will finish. The Fabulous Fabric that Started it All?
You can't find much of it any more.
I hereby promise that I am going to finish this quilt in July. Of this year. I may take it to Charlottesville for moral support.
Here's where the news gets really great! Kate Spain has a brand new Christmas fabric. It's called Joy!
and the Fat Quarter Shop is offering a Jelly Roll of Joy to one of you. For FREE!
I've been trying to get you to tell me about your summer sewing projects. Think of a project. Go to Fat Quarter Shop and find some fabric for it. Leave me a comment below telling me about your project and your ideal fabric. You'll be entered to win the jelly roll.
How great is that?
Friday Giveaway Winners:-)
/The winner of her choice of one print from the Memoria Arts Etsy shop (which is filled with prints of hopes and prayers) is
Mary who said...
Her artwork is stunning. My favorite is the "unwavering HOPE" print. LOVE it!!
Mary, I'll pass along contact info to Joy. Congratulations!
~ ~ ~
The winner of the St. Luke's Brush Sacred Heart peg doll is Jodi. The Sacred Heart of Jesus doll is a one of a kind, 3.5 inch wooden peg doll hand painted with non-toxic acrylic paints and sealed to preserve this keepsake toy.
Jodi said...
The icons are breath taking. What a talented artist! I have been wanting one of these dolls for a long time. I would love to see one in person. My family has a special devotion to the Sacred Heart, so this would be perfect! Thank you!
Jodi, email me with your snail mail info and I'll pass it along to Garry.
From Loreto Rosaries, comes this beautiful pair of earrings to celebrate June, traditionally the month devoted to the Sacred heart of Jesus. The earwire is 14Kt gold filled, 15mm flat fishhook. They are available in many different color crystals, pearls or gemstones. The 1/2 inch long Sacred Heart Medals are solid bronze and are hand cast from antique pieces.
The winner is
Jodi, who said...
The rosaries are gorgeous. I can see owning one and passing it down as a family heirloom. And her jewelry? Works of art! They are so beautiful AND affordable! My favorite are these Sacred Heart earrings. :) I would be honored to show my love for Jesus by wearing these earrings. Thank you Loreto Rosaries and Elizabeth for having this giveaway!
Jodi, send me an email with your mailing information and I'll pass it along to Ruth.
Hooray!
