Note

NOTE: Commentary is made as a private citizen and not as Regional Coordinator for Silent No More or any other ministries.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

AND YOU WONDER WHY WRITERS GO CRAZY????

I received the following from a friend of mine ~ I don't know who wrote it but it's pure genius.  I'm sure it's been around the 'net before but well worth reading again!


You think English is easy?
 

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
 
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
 
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
 
4)  We must polish the Polish furniture..
 
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
 
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert..
 
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. 
 
8)  A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
 
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
 
10) I did not object to the object. 
 
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
 
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
 
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
 
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.  
 
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
 
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
 
17) The wind was too strong for me to wind the sail.
 
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear..
 
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
 
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
 
 
Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
 
And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
 
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?
 
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.
 
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
 
PS. - Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick'?
 
 AND THERE'S MORE!
  
 
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.'
 
It's easy to understand UPmeaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
 
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP?
 
Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?
 
We call UP our friends.
 
And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen.
 
We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
 
At other times the little word has real special meaning.
 
People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
 
To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.
 
A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.
 
We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.
 
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
 
To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UPlook the word UP in the dictionary.
 
In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.
 
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used.
 
It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UPyou may wind UP with a hundred or more.
 
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.
 
When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP.
 
When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.
 
When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.
 
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP,
 
for now my time is UP,
 
so.......it is time to shut UP!  

HOPE THIS MADE YOU CHUCKLE,

HAVE A BLESSED DAY

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Importance of "Us Time".




This past week Michael and I had the opportunity to attend a pro-life event in San Francisco so we decided to take a few extra days as a little vacation. Arrangements were made for everyone at home to be cared for and off we went.

On this get-away, I realized how much I missed my husband. While doing all the things tourists do in San Francisco, we found ourselves doing things we used to do while dating and as newlyweds .... holding hands while walking down the street, sharing our hopes and dreams over dinner, enjoying sunsets and sunrises ... and laughing.

Family obligations, ministries, my writing and his job are very important in our lives; however, I am determined not to put our marriage on the back-burner again. God blessed me with a wonderful husband - my rock and best friend - and I will no longer take that for granted.  We don't have to be away from home to reconnect ... we just need to make sure we set aside "Us Time"...even if it's just sitting on our porch looking out at the horizon.

 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18)

Have a Blessed Day!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Tools of the Trade



The second installment on the Blog Hop asks, "What writing tools do you use?"




It's as if my laptop is attached to me surgically. When I'm at home it's never more than an arms-length away -I never know when the Holy Spirit will deluge me with inspiration.  





We all have times when we just can't find that "perfect word" or have a block when it comes correct spelling. I either have the paperback versions of a dictionary and thesaurus or I open up the page on-line.  




If I'm not home and I see or hear something that is inspirational or profound, it's important that I have a notepad handy (with a pen!).  I've been seen jotting things down in a variety of places, especially at Mass.  The minute I get home, I place the notes in a file I have set up on my computer for "ideas and observations".





I have a headset and play classical or Christian music while I write.  I find it soothes my soul and and helps release my creative juices.  



My elderly parents and uncle live with me as I am their caregiver.  In order to be able to successfully focus on my writing, I write in the wee hours of the morning with candles lit.  The house is quiet, the candles are relaxing and the music is not overshadowed by conversations or television.  It also prevents interruptions via phone calls.



Last but definitely not least, I pray the words I write will provide hope, inspiration, and encouragement.  


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I just released a new book, "And God Still Loves Me - A Journey from the Dark Abyss of Sin to God's Mercy".  The link is on the left sidebar.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Remember the Little Ones

Today is my husband's birthday and he is joining me on today's Walk for Life. God blessed me with a man who loves me, "warts and all"... when he read the draft of "And God Still Loves Me", all he said was, "So do I". He is my biggest fan and I only hope he knows how much he means to me.....Michael:  The thought I have before I sleep, and each morning when I rise, is the hope to be the "me" I see, when I look into your eyes.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we prepare to Walk for Life, I wanted to share a poem I wrote to my little ones.....this is for you Sarah and Matthew and for all the lost little ones.




"Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven."
Henry Ward Beecher 


Saturday, January 18, 2014

A Beautiful Day

Got up before morning's light and had coffee with my husband on the porch.  Once sufficiently caffeinated, got ready and jammed my informational brochures, business cards and pins into my Seahawks (of course) tote.  The drive down was wonderful, the sun was rising over San Diego and we were expecting a sunny, 75 degree day.


This was the second Walk for Life San Diego and the turn-out was great!  The speakers were extraordinary and inspiring...sharing their love of God and love of life. While walking, cars would go by and honk with support ... something we won't see much of in San Francisco...we are usually faced with loud heckling from pro-choice groups on that route.  Hopefully our words reached some of those hecklers from last year and they will be joining us ... can only pray!  I also pray we touched and saved lives in San Diego.

It was a busy day but it's days like this that bring joy to my heart and soul.  I know God was there and was pleased.  

While there I was introduced to another wonderful organization - Red Bag.  They sell little red bags filled with nutritious items for the homeless.  If you want more information on this you can visit their website at http://red-bag.org/ . I'm sure they would appreciate the support!


But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16).

We're Ready for Walking!
(With Leslie Brunolli)
Booth is Ready!
(With Rosemary Benefield - left, and Leslie Brunolli - center)

The crowd



Thursday, January 16, 2014

Rescued Once Again


Now, I am willing to try new things but normally don't stray too far from my comfort zone. My zone as an author is writing devotionals based on personal experience.  I've never stretched my imagination, except for a short story on fantasy football and that was something quite familiar to me as well.  

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from my publisher regarding a fiction project.  Now, I don't drink so I wasn't under the influence and I wasn't sleep deprived.  I read the e-mail,  put my fingers on the keyboard and with no hesitation whatsoever, put my name in the hat and hit "send". Afterwards, I went on my merry way - finishing up devotionals and then I got the contract.  I read it through and thought to myself, "I think I can do that", signed it and sent it right back...but this time with a smidgen of  hesitation.  

Well, last night we had our first conference call for the project and after it was over I was faced with one question...WHAT IN THE HECK DID I DO?!!  I was immersed in fear, insecurity and apprehension. I didn't know what to do...I felt like I had gotten in way over my head...I tried to shake off the feelings but they just lingered. Tears welled up in my eyes....I knew I was going to fail miserably. I went in to the living room to discuss the call and share the turmoil with my husband then something miraculous happened...the more I talked about the project, the more comfortable and excited I became! 

Satan had come very close to destroying a wonderful opportunity by taking me back to the old days when negativity, not faith, defined me. The fear, insecurity and apprehension subsided because of my trust in God.  As I was unburdening my fears to my husband, in my heart I was also reaching out to God and He answered me.
  
Thank you Heavenly Father for coming to my rescue again!


Fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)


UPDATE....UPDATE...UPDATE... 5:07 A.M.

I was on Facebook checking out the news feed and fellow author, Kathleen L. Maher,
had the following quote posted.....now how did she know????





Saturday, January 11, 2014

Be Still

I was up all night watching mom as she was having a pretty tough time.  She finally fell asleep and as I watched her a feeling of calm came over me.  It felt like I was in the arms of Jesus and He was telling me, "All is well, I am with her".  

That got me thinking (oh no, thinking again and in a sleep-deprived state!) ... moments of pure calm are few and far between and I realized it's probably because I haven't given my brain a rest.  Normally my mind is a jumble of worries, thoughts, plans, ideas, etc.  While watching my sweet mom, I focused just on her, to savor the view of her resting peacefully and everything else just went by the wayside.  I was finally able to hear Him because I was QUIET.  




HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Friday, January 10, 2014

It's Not a Coincidence





I had a working lunch yesterday with my friend Leslie, who is the Director of Rachel's Hope - Escondido.  It was our 2014 brainstorming/goal-setting/scheduling session for our healing retreats.  We accomplished a great deal and are "ready to roll".  This year we are changing it up a little by using "Redeemed", the devotional I wrote for post-abortive women, as part of the program. What a wonderful endorsement!


While we were eating, shuffling papers and talking non-stop (now THAT is multi-tasking), I drifted back in time to when Leslie came into my life.  I wrote about it in "And God Still Loves Me", which will be released next week:

It wasn’t until I had sobered up and joined the Catholic Church that the true affects of the abortions were realized. I attended a Faith in the Spirit Seminar at my parish. There was no reason I would go to something like that, but on that weekend I walked into the seminar alone. One of the speakers was talking about her abortion and how it had such an impact on her emotionally. She spoke about Rachel’s Hope which does healing retreats for post-abortive women. The more she spoke, the more my tears flowed. She was talking directly to me! After the session, I walked up to Rosemary Benefield, Executive Director of Rachel’s Hope, who was also at the seminar, and said, “I need you”. She gave me a pamphlet that outlined her program and I signed up for her weekend retreat.


The woman speaking at the seminar was Leslie and I didn't even get the chance to meet her that day.  Rosemary invited me to a fund-raising dinner a few months after going through her retreat and Leslie was part of the group seated at our table.  After introductions, she asked me how I heard about Rachel's Hope. I told her about the seminar I attended and how the woman speaking inspired me to reach out for healing.  She looked at me and said, "I'm getting goosebumps, that was me!" The rest, they say, is history.  She invited me to co-lead one of her retreats in Escondido and I continue working with her to this day.

God spoke to me through Leslie at that seminar. I believe it was His plan for me to join her and Rosemary in sharing the healing touch of God's love and mercy to women who are living with the shame, regret and pain of abortion. I am blessed beyond measure.


For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11)


 Have a Blessed Day!