Tuesday Hit and Hurry

I spent some time yesterday trying to clean up the Sacred Heart/St Therese statue newly acquired from the neighbors.  With a little TLC, it took on a whole new appearance, but is still in need of substantial work.  I turned the base over and discovered it is dated 1928.  I wonder if my neighbors would want it back if they knew that?  

I made myself a hellacious birthday dinner, if I don't say so myself.  Chicken wings slow-cooked on the grill, tomato salad and corn on the cob from the Amish.  When we visited the farm on Saturday, they were using one of their huge drafts to haul more corn in from the field.  He was such a gentle giant.  There is a door in the little stand that looks out on a cow pasture.  It's like a glimpse of Heaven, especially when the sky is blue.  I wish there was some way I could be a Catholic Amish woman.

I also came to a somewhat difficult decision, to finally resign altogether as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.  I had long ago ceased to participate in this "ministry" at Mass, but I thought it was OK to continue to bring the Eucharist to the sick and shut-ins of the parish.  I truly feel sympathy for those who can no longer physically get  to Mass, but I'm not sure a manufactured sense of guilt is enough to warrant me, as a lay person, to take over a duty more appropriately handled by a priest or deacon.  I know that people feel altar girls are the biggest threat to the priesthood so far as women seeking ordination, but when you think about it, which "ministry" more closely mimics what a priest does?  An altar server NEVER handles the Body or Blood of Christ.  It seems incongruous to me that a person who can NEVER become a priest is deemed an appropriate substitute for one as a matter of convenience.  Whatever the thinking is, I'm finished with this and very comfortable with the decision.

The kids go back to school tomorrow. I think I am sadder about this than they are.  I am grateful that they don't have to go back until after Labor Day. I do not approve of the push to have them return earlier and earlier.  Kids should be allowed to be kids and they are entitled to some down time. In fact, they need it.  And so do I!

I may live to regret this, but I signed the "adoption" papers today for the rodents.  They arrive on September 17th.   God give me strength.

I saw a squirrel lying dead on the sidewalk .  Not sure what killed the little guy, but he was perfectly intact, and the sight of him was enough for me to say "aw" out loud.  Not a sparrow falls to the ground without the Heavenly Father's knowledge.  All of the hairs on our head our counted.  This is how much He loves us.  And still it's not enough for some of us to do His Will.

This is such a great time to be a baseball fan in Philadelphia.  We have pitchers who can not only shut down an offense, but generate some of their own.  There is nothing more entertaining than watching a batter fan at thin air as a Cliff Lee fastball goes whizzing by them.

In a less than 3 weeks, I'll be leaving for Italy  I can hardly believe it.