Cookies! it's what we do.....

When the wind is blowing and it's freezing outside, not fit to go out and play, we bake cookies. Sunday was just that kind of day. Thank you Blessed Mother for the snow. The girls bakes several dozen cookies for neighbors and self. We all had fun and feast.

Hmmmmm. Patrick has taken a liking to this cookie dough tasting.

We couldn't find all the cookie cutters, so Chloe improvised and cutout Christmas trees . Must be from my side of the family.

Ahhh! The finished product. I just want to hang them on the tree...do we really have to eat all that sugar and preservatives????

Cute....how could you eat them? They are sooo cute.

The CLEAN-UP CREW! One thing about Patrick, he likes to vaccum.

Hummmmmmmm

My God is an awesome God! Glory to God for the birds.

Ruby throated humming bird at the back porch. This was taken through the glass....not bad considering the distance and the dirt glass. The humming birds have been very active these last few weeks.

"Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much are you more valuable than they?" Luke 12:24

Glory to God!

A Reflection for everyday!

"Lord, your word is life for me. May I never shut the kingdom of heaven through disbelief, indifference, or disobedience. Help me to listen to your voice and to conform my life more fully to your word."

When I wake up each morning I pray a morning offering in hopes that this will be the day that I actually conform my will with that of God. I hope that this will be the day that I please God with my actions, words and deeds. I hope I am a good wife, mother, friend, neighbor, sister, and daughter. I hope this will be the day God smiles at me. Each night, when I don't totally fall asleep before doing so, I have a reflection if my day. I usually close my eyes and just think of how I failed and how I might have done things better and if I hurt anyone, how I can repair it. On occasion I find, I am doing better and perhaps am pleasing God in very small ways. My life is filled with opportunity and God showers me with His graces every day. I am undeserving, but He still sends me His mercy and gives me these great blessings.

I hope today is the day.....I conform my will with that of the Father. I hope today is your day also :)

Thank You God for my family and friends.

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

My mind and heart have been drawn closer to Saint Padre Pio lately. I learned about him a few years back when I was in conversion classes with Father Mooney. Over the last seven years or so I have been reading biographies of various saints, Padre Pio was one of them. It was not an "easy read" as it was very long and had been translated in English. Often times when a book is translated it does not read as smoothly. I am not an English scholar so it makes it more difficult for me. You can probably tell from my writing that I lack the grammatical structure of a scholar. Perhaps I will dedicate my teaching year to Saint Pio. If you have not readd his biography, take the time, you will be glad you did. Even if it takes you six months. I think I shall revisit a few chapters myself.

I digress....my post was about "The Padre". His biography was one of my favorite. I have not watched the movie as I have not read good review. His biography contained His Prayer After Communion. I have tried over the years to read some or all of it as often as my children will allow :). I have been in the season of "not on your life" will you get to read a prayer card after communion. So as it falls from the visor of my mini van on occasion I smile and read a few lines and remember to ask;

"Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and alway be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strenth, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen."

WOW! I feel sooo.....peaceful after typing and praying that. I hope it brings great joy and devotion also. Have a beautiful Sunday.

All Glory to God!

Beautiful cherry blossoms in the front of the house...amazing. The tree is about 15 feet tall and loaded with flowers.
Ahh sweet watermelon to cool you off.
Chloe and one of the new chicks....
Mary the chick whisperer.

Spring sprung here at Agape Acres. The place is singing with sounds of new life. Our once stray barn cat "Raincloud" had kittens right after Easter. We also were blessed by our neighbor with a hen and several chicks. We also bought a few extras at the feed store. No crowing or eggs yet....but we can't wait to hear that first cocka-doodle-do. I am sure we'll get used to it. It has been great fun so far.