Ramble On

I love Led Zeppelin's song Ramble On.  I always have.  In fact, in my high school senior annual/yearbook, I quoted a portion of the song:  "I've been this way ten years to the day . . . Ramble On".

On the drive to my dermatology appointment yesterday, I was listening to Led Zeppelin and this song came on and got me to musing.  Truth be told, I hadn't a clue the song was about (or based on) The Lord of the Rings until after some years.  Here are the lyrics:

Leaves are falling all around, It's time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay.
But now it's time for me to go. The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it's headed my way.
Sometimes I grow so tired, but I know I've got one thing I got to do...

[Chorus]
Ramble On, And now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song.
I'm goin' 'round the world, I got to find my girl, on my way.
I've been this way ten years to the day, Ramble On,
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams.

Got no time to for spreadin' roots, The time has come to be gone.
And to' our health we drank a thousand times, it's time to Ramble On.

[Chorus]

Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear.
How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air.
T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair.
But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her....yeah.

[Chorus]

Gonna ramble on, sing my song. Gotta keep-a-searchin' for my baby...
Gonna work my way, round the world. I can't stop this feelin' in my heart
Gotta keep searchin' for my baby. I can't find my bluebird!



Crazy lyrics, honestly.  About Frodo's journey and yet, about Palmer's searching for the right girl?  Weird.  Anyway, I think it's funny that way back then (over twenty years ago) I had no clue this song was based on anything to do with Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit.  I rejected those books outright when suggested to me by a friend back then.  I did marry someone about 19 years ago, though, who is a huge fan of those books and pestered me for years to read them.  After we watched the first film I dug out his old tattered copies and read the series and found them to be delightful, witty, generous, and pleasing to this old gel's soul.  I was so grateful for my husband's pestering me about something so good and important.  (Yesterday, I was thankful for his pestering about that suspicious mole, yeah?).  He's also the reason I became Catholic.  He never pestered me about that, because he does believe in free will after all.  It was his example that brought me around, over time.

My husband has brought me fortune:  the True Church, a strong marriage, three beautiful children, and a life of good and necessary things where all my needs are being met.  And, God bless the man, because he is patient beyond reckoning.  He knows about me the way I know about myself:  I will usually put up a big stink about something (like those books, or becoming Catholic, or what-have-you) before I do a final weigh-in.  I'm slow to make decisions, I reckon.  I have to make everything quite difficult - but here's why:  I stand more firm when I do.  I've gone through hell to get there so I'm stayin'.

Ramble on.

Divine Mercy: He Works!

I know most of us are absolutely smitten with Britain's newest Royal Princess, however, it is time to switch gears on my blog.

I had a dermatology appointment this morning.  As you may or may not know, I had melanoma in-situ in 2007, which left a three-inch scar on the back of my right thigh.  I'll always be grateful that my husband noticed it and kept pestering me (for yonks! - when he got back from his year tour in Diego Garcia, back in 2001 - so yes, it was ages I put off going in about it) to go see a doctor.  I'm so thankful it was in-situ, therefore, localized and had not spread to my lymph nodes and/or other organs.

I am supposed to be screened annually.  Do you think I ever have?  No, of course not, because I am a blittering eejit, first class and certified!  No, I have not, because life has a funny way of shelving things that we seem to either not want to appear to worry about or that we just missed a bad thing by a hare and ignore the rest.  I was in the later group for a long while.  I did get a screening before moving here in 2009 so it isn't like I have totally goofed it.  However, I was not playing by the rules of safety.

So.  I went to my appointment with my tail (yes, didn't you know I'm a hybrid of some kind of dog?) tucked between my legs . . . ashamed to be honest about my lack of concern.  I was honest.  I laid it all out there.

I was so nervous my stomach was gurgling and my intestines were twisting to the point I was cold sweating.

I'll back up a bit here and "plug" the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  I've been praying it daily since my friend, Dawn, let me know she was pregnant with Christopher (he arrived March 18, btw).  I am praying the DM Novena this week, because, PRAISE GOD!, Pope John Paul II will be declared Blessed on Divine Mercy Sunday (this Sunday).  I want to be a part of this great happening!  I am a huge believer in the graces given via Divine Mercy.

So, wrapped in nothing but a thin cotton exam cloth, I'm stewing in my nerves and I start asking God to help me so I don't unload my innards in the clinic.  I was seriously getting close to putting my clothes back on and rushing for the nearest toilet, I was that fussy.  This is the prayer that came to me, totally inspired by Divine Mercy:

"Jesus, I trust in You.  I trust you with my whole body.  I trust you with my heart.  I trust you with my bowels.  I trust you with my stomach.  I trust you with my mind.  I trust you with my thoughts.  I trust you with my words.  I trust you with my works.  I trust you with my hands and feet.  I trust you with my very being.  I trust you, Jesus, with my husband and our marriage.  I trust you with our children:  Connor, Rachel, and Christian.  I trust you with our respective families and friends.  I trust you, Jesus, with the world.  I trust you with the weather.  I trust you with the Sun, Moon and stars.  I trust you with all that you have created.  I trust you, Jesus, with this very moment.  I trust you with who I was.  I trust you with who I am.  I trust you with who you want me to become.  Jesus, I trust you with your Church and Our Faith.  I trust you with our leaders.  I trust you in your Mother, Mary, and all the angels and Saints.  By Your Grace and with the help of Your Mother, grant that I may trust You more and more each and every moment.  Stay near me, Jesus, and help me to trust you even when I say that I do and there's that small doubt that I may fail in trusting you.  Amen."

My cramps instantly were gone.  I was filled with His peace.

That's no small feat, in my book.

Congratulations and God Bless!

(photo from ABC news)

It was incredibly well done, wasn't it? What a smashingly enjoyable couple! Long may they remain joyful, fruitful, and loyal to God, each other and their subjects. (my comment left over at Margaret of MN blog today . . . link up and read what she wrote.  You won't be sorry you visited her.  She wrote exactly what I wanted to write).

Checking In

Happy and blessed Easter to you all!

We have been very busy of late rounding up the last bits of the school year.  My kids are done 26 May this year . . . so we're pressing on to the finish!  Other than that, not much else is going on around here.  Here are some things I've done of late:

• Finished The Outlander series of books (until the next book is published - I'm getting a break)
• Said "farewell" to our priest at Pearl Harbor Memorial Chapel . . . he's been assigned a new duty station.  He will be missed.  Father K is a wonderful human being as well as priest.  Our chapel held a farewell party for him after Mass on Sunday . . . there was hula, singing (oh, both were out of this world beautiful), and dancing (wonderfully done) . . . then, he sang for us!  He sang "If I Were A Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof . . . and he did it dramatically (meaning, he acted it out as he sang).  Wow!  It was an amazing performance!
• I quit gaming on FB.  It was sucking all my good time I could be using to clean better, be better, be more present with real life.
• I read The Help . . . It was so good, I stayed up late the day I began it and got up early the next day to finish it.  It's that good.  I was prepared to flog those who recommended it if I had wasted my money (let alone my time) . . . so please accept my apology and I've rescinded the flogging threat.
• I'm about 3/4's finished with the hens cross-stitch.  I worked on it an hour yesterday.  With all the reading, I keep looking at the faceless chicks and thinking I best get on with them, but . . . I had to finish all those books first.  And . . . 
• Since I am reading Rendezvous With Destiny (about Ronald Reagan) . . . and it's one of those books that will enlighten me, however slowly (I have to read political stuff much slower to "get it") . .. I reckon them hens will be done before I realize what's happened!  Stitching them is a very happy alternative to a book that may or may not stump me from time to time as I stumble through it.  Did I mention that book is about 2000 pages?  Well, p'raps not that much, but it's thick.  And heavy.
• I want a Kindle. 

Good Friday . . . Walking With Mary and Her Son to the Cross

Oh, Mother of Sorrows,
I am wretched with sin.
I have lacked love
in my very complacency
that leadeth me from prayer,
from sacrifice,
from you.
You who loves Her Son,
The Son Who came to save us all,
Whom the world now rejects,
turns away from,
shuns,
denounces.
Oh, Mary, My Mother: I love you!
Help me in my decision
to always love,
to always act in charity,
to pray unceasingly for the world.
Help me sacrifice in union with Him.
Help me cling to all that is good and Holy.
Help me to love Him above all things.
Take this instrument of destruction from me
for with my will I have cut and beaten the Lord!
Move my heart with sorrow and pity!
Help me be faithful to the Father
in my love, as pitiable as it is, for the Son.
Help me be merciful
As He is merciful.

O, Blessed Mother, my Mother!
Ora pro nobis.

*written by me; posted on So . . . This is the Road I'm Traveling On blog in 2009*

Confirmation

Here's Rachel and Connor (standing in for Aunt Mary Ellen) before her Confirmation.  We did not bring our camera to the Confirmation Mass because a professional photographer was there and we had been told that picture taking wasn't allowed during the Mass. . . here, though, is the rub:  many ignored that "rule".  It was a beautiful Mass.  I love the Chrism smell of Teenies forehead. 

Introducing Rachel "Elizabeth" (of Hungary):

Her pretty outfit.

With Connor (being silly).

A bit better (though, not a terrific picture - which translates to:  mum stay back from operating the camera!)

We ate at Bucca da Beppo's (Big Joe's Basement); her choice, for lunch (hours before the Mass).

Gratuitous shot of handsome kids.

This one, ah, be still my wee mum's heart!

The Papal table.  I want to go back there and eat in this room.  I wonder if heathens would get indigestion in this restaurant.

My wee girl.  Sorry, but I think she's the bees knees.

There were nun pictures everywhere - this was my favourite.

The ceiling of one of the rooms.

The food was fantastic at that restaurant.  The atmosphere was fun.  Our server's name was Precious - and she was delightful!  There was so much Italy in there, but also so much Catholic . . . it was a hoot.  Great place for Papists to eat!

"Why I Love Jesus" meme

Those tagged will share 5 things they "love" about Jesus/ Or why they love Jesus.
Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers.
Those tagged will provide a link in the comments section here with their name so that others can read them.

Mahalo nui loa, LarryD for the tag!

1.  He gave me all good things - the best being Himself.

2.  He is constantly by my side with each and every cross I must carry, lightening my load and increasing my capacity to Love.

3.  When I see the trees swaying in the wind, hear the bird-songs, feel the arms of my children encompass me - I know these are His ways of continually blessing me.

4.  There is His Bride - She has captured my heart and my imagination!

5.  There is His Mother - for whom I have great respect and love - whom I wish to be so much like.

I tag:  Dawn, Christine, Maurisa, Jamie, and Suzanne.

He Is 17 Going On Adult . . . What Is This Mum To Do?

I would like to sit out here all day, but I have a chocolate cheesecake pudding dessert to make!

My, he has grown.  He finally has an adam's apple.

He loves this Nordic beanie, which I cannot understand.  I mean, it is cute, but isn't it a bit warm for Hawaii?

He doesn't like his picture being taken.

This is likely one of my favs of him at 16.  At the Byodo-In Temple.  He was so funny to squat down and turn his legs into pretzels . . . He's a kid after my own wacky sense of humour.  He's also inherited that being a bit of a pain in the arse, too.  From me, naturally! 

Hau'oli la Hanau, Connor Patrick!  I can hardly believe my first born is seventeen.  I pray you keep your wits about you, your sense of humour near, and your heart ever open to hope and love.  Stay close to the Faith.  And, always know your dad and I love you more than any words I can ever say.

14/52

52 weeks of daily life in pictures: trials and celebrations, 

the extraordinary and mundane -- 
whatever is unique to the week. 
Join me if you like.

Lovely view from the Benedictine Monastery.

Breath-taking views.

A spot I was lucky to snag after another gel left if for the grass down the hill . . . contemplation time at the retreat.

Weird angle, but eventually consumption of either can lead to weirdly viewed things. . . I don't drink as often as I would like, but that's a good thing.  I like one drink now and again:  like, now and then again!  LOL!

A little reminder that Easter is getting closer.  Lent is proving quite profitable for me.  I pray so for you.

This guy as been working double time for school.  The goal is to have quarter four done before his siblings are out of school for the summer.  By next Friday he will only concern himself with English, Algebra 1/2, and his book report. 



And, I shall concern myself with these here hens.  This is the stitchery for Dawn.  God bless her patience!  It's fun, but time consuming.  Books and crafting keep me out of the malls.



I can't believe another week has come and gone already, and yet, today I feel time was at a time-still.  I know nothing of that kind of science, but I do know the truth:  time keeps on ticking and I have so many things to do to get ready for this spa party I'm hosting here tomorrow.  I have a few gals coming, which will be nice for the consultant I'm trying to help.  If anything, this gives her a few more contacts, if not some sales.  I'm tired and cranky and feeling put out . . . but that is from FB and comments and my posts and . .. well, I think I'll avoid commenting and posting things that are controversial for a while.  People want what they want and act like eejits (both sides, rather) no matter what.  No one wants the truth unless they don't want to be lied to.  Put religion in the mix and most people get ugly.  Why?  I think I know why.  We live in an age where folks want it to be godless so they can forget they have a conscience.   

I need to go pray.

Oh, the winner of the blue knotted rosary is:  Allison!  (pst.  send me your address?)

Day Retreat At The Benedictine Monastery

Saturday morning the family and I went to a day Lenten retreat at the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii.  I loved the drive up.  When the road forks just after passing Schofield Barracks, you fork to the left.  I'd never been down that road, so it was new and exciting for me.  The monastery is tucked up in the hills and has breathtaking views of North Shore.  I will share pictures in my 19/52 post on Friday (week in photos), courtesy of Teenie.  There are two male and five female peacocks and dogs roaming the property.  Sr. Mary Jo invited us to come back and explore the trails (there are two; one leads to a grotto, the other is a  hike up the hill to a cross, which promises more spectacular picture taking opportunities; let's hope not lung popping opportunities).  My friend, Teresa (who made the knotted rosary in my previous post) was there and I asked her if I could have a rosary to give away on my blog - she gave me a beautiful cobalt blue one - even the cross is made of knots; no Damien medal, but if it's important to the winner of the give away to have a Damien medal on it, I will try and get one from the Cathedral store and add it on myself).  So, if you would like a shot at winning a knotted rosary, please leave a comment saying so!  I will announce the winner this coming Friday.

We sang some songs.  There were three talks.  There was time to sit and walk the property to reflect.  Lunch was Subway (brought in).  It was quiet, but also chatty with other parishioners who came (so wonderful!), but restorative.  You see, God speaks our language.  He speaks to you and you will hear Him, but you have to be receptive and ready and listening.  Active listening! 

There was a ceremony where we prayed to God, placing our hands in a bowl of water, saying we were dying to our old self.  When we gave Him whatever idol(s) we had in our old self/life, we would remove our hands, cross ourselves, and say that we were born to new life in Him.  The person before us would dry our hands, then we would dry the hands of the person behind us.  While I will not share the old self with you, I will share this:  I know God heard me, but He also spoke to me.  We were each handed a sheet of some writing . . . as I read it, I felt something familiar in the words . . . then the words reminded me of Romans 8:38-39, my Confirmation scripture quote (nothing separates us from the love of God) and at the end, I learned this writing was St. Louis deMontfort!  Of course, I cried.  Who wouldn't? 

Today, at Mass,  Father said (paraphrasing here), "I don't always know what God's Will is for me in this life, but I know that I must live out His Will."  Yes, Father, that is so true for all of us.  If we only trusted that more.  Amen.


I would like one of these:

Mother's Day is coming up . . . after all.  However, I decided to lower my expectations and whisper into my kids' ears:  I need more Girogio perfume and I spotted several bottles at the NEX.  Please, please, please, get me that for Mum's Day.  There's time, after all, to get dosh out of their father's hands to get me some.  I think I may ask for the Kindle for my birthday or Christmas.  That will only work if I stop spending on myself now and keep to it . . . so far, this Lenten journey I've been relatively good.  Really.  I certainly have bought two books (gasp!) but that's not terribly bad when you consider how many I've not bought when in their company!

52 Weeks

This is the catch up version . . . with very little to add . . . if you really want a better peak at last week, scroll down to my Moloka'i post where there are pictures (the post prior to that one has more commentary).  Okay, so this week was MUNDANE, but definitely not boring!

52 weeks of daily life in pictures: trials and celebrations, 

the extraordinary and mundane -- 
whatever is unique to the week. 
Join me if you like.

 

 

I cannot believe I didn't thoroughly kill this plant off yet.  Once in a while it will surprise me with beautiful blooms.  Much of the time, however, it is bereft and a bit weedy looking. 

Immensely enjoying written correspondence with a dear person who has a poets heart and loves God dearly.  I love my friends!



A rosary given to me by Christian's last year's CCD teacher, who I am beginning to become friends with.  She's a dear lady.  Yes, that is a St. Damien metal (on the reverse it's a commemoration of his ordination at Honolulu's Our Lady of Peace Cathedral.  It's more special because she made it.



I think when you make things with joy - they always bring joy to the maker as well!

In about 48 hours (because I had to set it aside for the mundane routine things, you understand) I had this finished.  Here it is w/out the back stitching.  I've made it for Regan before, but it got lost in the post so here is my second attempt! 

A goofy photo I took about three weeks ago.  This is Connor in his requested Nordic hat for Christmas (in HI?!?!) and Holly in her rabbit ears (which, she absolutely detests). 


Praying you all have a lovely and blessed weekend! 

 

Sharing From Another

I think this is poignant, so I'm sharing.  "Their" refers to children.  This is taken from Three To Get Married by Fulton Sheen.  God bless that man!

     "The fourth mystery is their contribution to the well-being of the nation.  Here, too, is the root of democracy, for it is in the family that a person is valued not for what he is worth, nor for what he can do, but primarily for what he is.  His status, his position, is guaranteed by the very fact of being alive.  The children who are dumb or blind, sons who were maimed in war, are all loved because of themselves and their intrinsic worth as gifts of God, and not because of what they know, or what they earn, or because of the class to which they belong.  This reverence of personality in the family is the social principle upon which the wider life of the community depends, for the State exists for the person, not he person for the State."

Let us (and all people and nations) not forget that!  Let us all remember this truth!