one icon difference....

The centre icon I switched. 

Today was OK. I talked with a friend which was great. I texted with some others. 

I created a care package for a dear friend. 

I had tea.  I got outside and took a walk. I finished my re-read of the L'Engle book.

I prepared fruit to be blessed tomorrow 🍓🍇😊 for the Feast of Transfiguration (part 2!)

May God have mercy on us 🙏

muffins make everything better

Yesterday we went to an evening prayer service for a sick child (leukemia, complications) ....

It was good to pray together. 🙏 ❤️

Today I went swimming 🏊‍♀️

Months back a long term mentor of mine told me she is moving. My last visit is next week. She helped me through a lot. So I just seem to be grieving a lot of changes and loss this year. 💔 

I think a lot of people are. 

I knew I needed my go to comfort food: fresh vegan cranberry orange muffins. Only half cup sugar for 12 muffins and 1/4 cup vegetable oil 👍🥰🤩🙃

And I needed one of my favourites Madeleine L'Engle books The Young Unicorns.  And really strong decaf tea (Barry's tea 🫖☕️from Ireland). I feel better than I have in hours.  

We are doing some reorganizing and the living room is a bit of a wreck. Slowly and surely it will get better....

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

6,439 steps after the Feast

Dormition Feast (part 1)

I walked around after getting brunch and then my new prescription swimming 🏊‍♀️ googles 🥸 so I can see and go under water. 

It was not as hot as before but still quite warm.  In the 80s.

I ran into a woman who used to come to church. 

I am saddened that many people do not wish to go church as they used to.  I miss them and feel that they are missing out on a place that can love and support them.

Well, we just do our best, seek not to condemn (judge) anyone and pray for all.

May God bless us all 🙏

The Beautiful Cross

remembering Peter

So many times I thought of Peter since I learned of his sickness over a year ago. 

And how he plunged so quickly. From fully walking to struggling to wheelchair to full-time hospitalization and now to death, burial. Entering the next life. 

I was deeply touched and consoled to realize that the Gospel for tomorrow is of St Peter walking on water to Jesus then sinking because he looked at the waves and then how Jesus rescued him.

The exact picture of the icon that I always thought of my suffering friend with.

He was a gentle man, loved his family. 

I love how St Peter is looking to Christ and how Christ is looking at St Peter with great compassion. 

🙏❤️🕯☦️🕯❤️🙏

13,081 Steps

And one ice cream 🍦 

NYC was good today. 

I had a fabulous salad...

And got anew Agatha Christie book to read 📚 from the library 🥰

I am all tuckered out now 😴 so I best get to bed.

God have mercy on us and save us 🙏 

Memory Eternal

To the sweet kind man and dear friend Peter ❤️ 🙏🕯☦️🕯❤️

More Beauty & Comments may work now

We went to church tonight; it was beautiful; for St Herman.  

People locally and also others I know are all sick, many with The Virus sadly.  It seems to be on the rise here, though I don't see it in the news much.  Yet I know various ones in different States, countries, cities who all have had it.  Thank God none that I knew were so bad as to need hospitalisation. 

So I've been in tears a bit off and on lately.  My friend with the Saint's name Peter is in his last day or hours.  I wrote over a year ago how he has ALS.  His wife, son and daughter are going to really miss him, to say the least.  They go to my Ottawa (Canada) church, where I lived before I married my beloved Husband nearly 10 years ago... 

I thought I would share more pretty pictures from our dinner; that was such a blessing. 

I worked on my writing project some more.  It's such a big project. I love it and just keep chipping away at it. 

Do you ever just want to give the whole world a hug? That's what I feel like sometimes, just saying 'Oh Honey' to everyone and giving a hug.  With proper boundries of course, but the idea of comfort, is what I am getting at here.  Don't worry, I don't really hug strangers :) ... but the world is hurting and I just wish I could bring comfort, at least to those who want it! 

SO: I finally looked up comments (see last picture above) and it seems that it got switched to 'google only' comments and I have moved it back.  So if you had tried to comment and it was not working, can you try again?  Sorry I did not look into this sooner, it's just been rather hectic and I did not realize it could be such an easy fix.  Let's hope it was that!  don't know why it got changed! 

Well, I pray you all are well; or; I pray that you all are comforted; I pray that God saves us and has mercy on us; I pray that we are able to find Christ and the repentance that gives life, true freedom, hope and that gives astonish beauty to our lives, our world, restoring what was broken and giving hope, beautiful, sunshine-filled, hope. 

a beautiful dinner

 

A beautiful dinner with newer friends 💕

Lamb lentil and rice 

Salad

Plum torte and ice cream 

So very thankful 💕🕯🙏

feast of transfiguration (pt 1)

Feast of Transfiguration 🙏🕯🙏

Eve of the Feast of Transfiguration (Pt 1)

A Holy Feast 🕯🙏🕯

progress of sorts

No pictures today!

Progress: we found a great handiman and now our livingroom and bedroom have nice white wide blade ceiling fans. They look great and provide a lot of air movement.  Great for when it's in the middle of a heatwave.  We have central air (love it) but keep it at 78F. 

Also progress: I did more research for my writing project. I may go to NYC tomorrow 🤔 if I sleep well I will probably go! It's been a busy week...

I did 12 laps (there and back being 1 lap) in our pool today! 

Well if I am going to NYC I need to prepare tonight for it so God bless and keep each of you 🙏 

Many steps in Manhattan

10,777 steps. I went to the dentist (routine all is fine).

I had plans to go to McNultys for tea but they are closed on Tuesday! So I went to one of my favourites Harney and Sons. 

I met my Husband for dinner. 

I had a huge salad. Later a bowl of cereal! 🙃

I did a lot of walking this afternoon... I didn't leave our home until about 1:40 in the afternoon.... I worked on my writing project in the morning! And got our groceries delivered. 

And later tonight I worked on my writing project again!

Tomorrow I am going to try to rest up a bit. Thursday I hope to go to NYC again for a research day.

I get to ponder a lot of things. 

May God have mercy on us. 

"This is the life"

My Ottawa Ukrainian Mother would say this about struggles: this is the life, as in this is how it is. 

Yesterday we took our new godson out to lunch after church. Then we visited our Candle Desk Man who is in a nursing home. 

It's so hard for him. He's lost his independence, the place is understaffed and he has physical suffering that he has is increasing. 

He told us he is learning to wait.

He also told us how years ago the Sisterhood would clean the chandeliers. Later he and the choir director cleaned it, bringing it down with a winch till it was maybe 5 feet from the ground....

Now it is a lost art....

And that he was the "dough boy" when the Sisterhood made perogies as a fundraiser....

Today I had lunch with a friend who is visiting and has a very difficult job. We too talked about patience and seeking to trust God.

I see so much suffering. 

My God save us in it and console us....

another beautiful moment

really like this

Saturday

Almost a week ago! Such a beautiful wedding 💒

I am working on a possible dinner party for the first half August!

I made my favourite muffins again!

I am so glad for the weekend! We are staying local for the next 2 weekends and I am looking forward to this! 

May God bless and protect us 🙏