Emeralds, Ruby, Sapphire and it is The Hodgepodge

 

 

My husband and I enjoy visiting historic church buildings. Some are no longer churches but the beauty of all the workmanship in the building is still visible.

 

It is Wednesday and it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions. 

We answer the questions.

 

1. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? Will you be giving something up or adding something to your life in this Lenten season?  

 

Yes, we do mark this season, we will be starting a study .. Pray 40:The Return.

We add something to our life during the Lenten season. 

"Empty me, fill me, use me." 

 

 

 

 2. Pancakes...are you a fan? Syrup or no syrup? Plain, blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, or some other add in? Are pancakes on your menu this week? 

 I am a fan of pancakes.

 Oh yes to real Wisconsin maple syrup, that we make from our two maple trees.

 

Maple Syrup days are just in a few weeks. It will be time to tap the trees and get ready for Wisconsin's first crop.

 

I love blueberry pancakes.

No, pancakes are not on the menu for this week.

 

3. Tell us about a time recently when you felt 'spread too thin'.  

It usually happens when the calendar starts to get too full. I have tried to be more disciplined about not allowing this to happen, because it never turns out well for anyone.

 

 4. What's your favorite jewel or gemstone? In terms of your wardrobe would we find more gem tones, pastels, black and white, or primary colors? 

Emeralds are my favorite, my wedding ring is an emerald with two diamonds.

My wardrobe is a lot of blue, blue and more blue. I love the color blue.

 

5. What responsibility do you think is hardest about being in charge?  

 

I am going to go with financial. I am going to use my husband as the example here. He is the treasurer for our local sportsman's club. There is a lot to it. Taxes, gaming license (they have raffles) liquor license, insurance, bills and more bills. 

When the club has its pancake breakfast in the summer, more responsibility for the treasure with all the raffle ticket money, prizes and more.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 The Lent challenge our family is taking is going through the novel The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. 

I am looking forward to this Lenten season. 

 

  

 

Beautiful Landmarks

 

 

Hello Friends,

We recently took a trip to  Wausau, Wisconsin. The birthplace of my husband and where he lived for the early days of his childhood. He attended church and school at the above church.

 

 

 

My husband wanted to share with me Historic Wausau. I am so thankful that many of the beautiful churches have been preserved. 

I call this one the "Gingerbread Church".

 

When they came to the little house they saw that it was built of bread and covered with cakes with windows of clear sugar.

Hansel & Gretel 

 

The detail is in every nook and cranny.

 

If you want to find out more about Wausau, Wisconsin.

Click Here

 

Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.

Mary Oliver 

 

Durwards's Glen

 

 

 Hello Friends, today we are taking another  2021 trip. Durward's Glen is located in the heart of the Baraboo Hills of Wisconsin.  On a very warm, August, Saturday of 2021, our boys met us at Durward's Glen and we enjoyed the day exploring together.

 

Durward's Glen is Dedicated to its Catholic Heritage. 

When he and his family arrived in the Glen, Bernard carved a Maltese cross in pulpit rock at the opening of the glen and voiced sentiments that still ring true today: "We shall make our home on that shady slope, and I shall bridge the stream so our children may play in the valley. With the tranquility of solitude and the sweetness of growing life, we shall breath the pure air of the hills, drink the fresh water of the stream, eat the fruits of the valley and rejoice in the presence of God."

 

Log Chapel and Novitiate built in 1934 by St. Camillus Order.

 

I loved this moss growing from this pot and catching spent flower petals.

 

Cornerstone Hermitage

 

One of the great themes of Christianity is triumphant hope. Not just hope as in a distant dream but triumphant hope, the kind of home where all things end right. In the midst of the struggles and the storms and the suffering of life, we can advance our thoughts beyond today and see relief..triumph..victory.. because in the end, God does indeed win.

Charles R. Swindoll

 

I want zero reasons to cry.

I want the end of darkness.

I want the end of lies, hate and pain.

I want real unity between people of all colors, tribes and nations.

I want all that God promises in the new heaven and the new earth. We know what awaits us, but sometimes the terrain is unsure and the fog rolls in, so we strain to see and even wonder if we will ever complete the journey home.

Ruth Chou Simons

 

Spring Fountain

There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.

Seneca

Thank you for coming along with me today my friends. 

I know many of us have been dealing with many issues of late.. health concerns, busy schedules, family issues, financial issues, anxiety and so much more.

Let us build up one another.. life on life encouragement.

Love one another

Pray for one another

Forgive one another

Accept one another

Serve one another

Be at peace with one another

 

♥

Carla

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Hello Friends, today we are going on a road trip that we did last summer. Our son visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020. It was on my list of adventures for last summer.  We visited in mid September. It is about a two and half hour drive for us to LaCrosse, Wisconsin. We packed a picnic lunch and ate at the lovely picnic area.

The above and below photos are of the Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha .. with the help from the local Native American community, the sculpture depicts "The Lily of the Mohawks." in the authentic garb of her Turtle Clan. Her gaze conveys her thought: "Jesus, I love You."

Shrine Church ~ every detail has a special meaning. A prominent image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will direct your gaze toward her Divine Son, present in the tabernacle. The constellations in the dome match the constellations that illumined the night sky on December 12,1531 when Our Lady last appeared to Juan Diego.

The Memorial to the Unborn

Stations of the Cross ~ one of my favorite parts of the day. The Stations recall Jesus' final hours. In contemplation and prayer at each station, you are invited to walk with Jesus on His journey to Calvary.

As a Christian, Easter is thee biggest celebration. Even with the turmoil that surrounds us, and the dilemmas with ourselves, our families, an our world, we can confidently proclaim as Mary and the disciples did, The Lord is risen indeed!

The Shrine should be a place of pilgrimage, an extraordinary place to which the faithful might come at any time, but especially in times of special joy and of special need, to be renewed in faith and grace.  

Love ~ n ~ Sharing

Love ~n~ Sharing

In October I received a phone call  asking if I would like to help plan a Parenting Summit for February 11, 2017.

I discussed the idea with my husband. 

We listed the Pros and Cons...

Pros

I enjoy working with Julie, who was the head of the project.

I remember attending a parenting seminar when our boys were toddlers and how much it helped us.

 Cons

I already was working on a project. Do I really need another?

Too many hens in the hen house ... ever hear that term?

Several times when I have worked on committees we have plenty of bossy women. Who never like your NEW idea of doing something.

After talking over the Pros and Cons, I decided to do it. Under one condition, I would NOT BE IN CHARGE of anything, I would be a helper.

Come December, I somehow was the LEADER of the Children's portion of the summit. 

This was during the week of Christmas that the news was passed on to me. 

Ring, Ring, Ring the telephone goes.

Me, "Hello"

Julie, "Ah, Carla, I just do not think I will not name any names  is doing the job. I really would feel much better if you would be the leader of the Children's portion of the summit."

Me to my husband "How did I get myself into this?" 

 Love ~n~ Sharing

I began to plan the day for the children. We would be providing child care for the kids while the parents attended the summit.

9:00am to 4:30pm 

I planned a themed day called Love ~n~ Sharing.

I was blessed with many people coming up to me and asking if they could help.  

Snacks and lunches were made by some lovely women.

Liz who has a Therapy Dog offered to come in with her dog, Abby, and do a meet and greet. She also read a story to the kids.

Two friends offered to do face painting.

The outline of our day.

Meet and Greet

Decorate take home bags. I came up with this idea, because as kids do crafts or have snacks they can not finish, like a bag of goldfish crackers, they like to have a place to put stuff to go home with. 

Games

Story Time

Snack

More Games

Lunch

Crafts

Meet and Greet Abby the dog.

Face Painting

Scavenger Hunt

Movie and snack time

Homeward Bound

 Last week I worked on the finishing touches of the day. I am sharing a few photos of our day Saturday.

 

 Take Home Bags

 

 Games

 Scavenger Hunt

 Take Home Treats

Crafts

I was blessed with a great group of volunteers to help make the day. 

My husband and both boys helped me.

 Friends and others offered to help and share their special talents.

As the last kids left on Saturday. All of us were exhausted. We all looked at each other and yelled "We did it!" 

As we enter the second month of 2017 I am happy to report, I survived a New Challenge.

Agreeing to help with the summit, to being asked to lead the children's portion.

 

 How about you? Have you had this happen to you? You agreed to help with something, but some how you became the leader?

How do you decided what to volunteer for?

Do you ever have trouble saying "No" ?