It is another beautiful day here and I have just been reading over several things from the cost of motorcycle tires to the steps I need to see about in order to start a "Welcome Home" ministry at our parish. I truly believe I have AADD or as I call it, the inability to stay focused. My mind wanders the far and wide. Sadly, I am not well versed in a great number of topics, I generally study a topic till I become bored or distracted by another topic.. and then I am off and running in another direction. Often, I do mentally return to the original topic but it may be a few minutes or years.
I think the internet has aided in my inability to pay attention or follow through on a course of action or study. It is far too easy to skip from one page to another and back. Following links from one site to another to another and yet more, can leave you questioning your own sanity. There have been numerous times that I have actually forgot where I started to end up where I find myself. Fortunately, I am able to follow the "breadcrumbs" back to the original train of thought. By then, though I have probably forgotten what the search was all about.
I have been trying to focus on saving money, cutting costs and expenses here and there. Now that Mike and I and mom are all pretty much on fixed incomes, keeping track of spending is vital. It is not like last year when I could just work a little extra and get a bit more on payday. Unless I go out and get some kind of job, I have to get a rein on the money. Mom has very little concept of money, she has always been very lax when it came to financial record keeping. We have expensive hobbies, Harley Davidson motorcycles and antique trucks. We have also been spending like drunk sailors when it comes to getting our property set up, the home, the garage, the shed, the driveway ect. There is a great deal done and lots more to do.
Today I will be going over utility bills and monthly expenses to see where I can save money. I am hoping that before too long we will as part of the exterior projects, get solar panels set up and tied into the grid. Our Electric Co-Op does have a buy back program for solar and wind generated power form individuals. Their program is such that you continue to pay your bill each month then at the end of the year, they calculate how much they have received from your end and pay that amount in one lump sum. I have talked to an old classmate that has a solar company in Albuquerque and think it will work out for us.
On to the day, clipping and snipping where I can. Soon we will be able to get ready to plant a garden. I hope we can grow plenty for our own use as well as some to sell at the farmers market in town this summer.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
What is wrong with my cat?
We have 2 former stray cats living with us, or ruling our household. They both made the move from Texas to New Mexico with us this past September. They have both been checked out by vets, both here and in Texas prior to our move. First, the male, a solid black that we found lost in our back yard when he was no more than a small handful in size. Next, the female, a grey that was also found in our back yard. She was a few months old when we found her and she had obviously been house trained and someones pet though she did not have any collar or tags. From the first day, she had no problem with entering the house and making herself at home.
At Christmas, we purchased a new living room set, all leather sofa and love seat recliners as well as sofa table, coffee table and 2 end tables. The first day in the house, the cats started trying to claw the furniture. Since they had already done quite a bit of damage to our other furniture, we decided to have them de-clawed. They seemed to recover fine from the process and since we have no intentions of ever letting them out, not having claws should not be an issue. Actually since moving here, they have made no attempt to even get close to an exterior door.
As an early riser, I often get up about 5:30 and sit in our breakfast room anticipating the day, reading, computering or just sitting. The cats consider this our time and often climb up to "give me sugar" and curl up close. Even to the point of climbing onto my computer and just laying there like I am not giving them enough attention.
In mid January, I started taking a computer class at our Community College. So now, I have homework to do and use that early morning quiet time to concentrate on lessons. The grey cat, Rat Cat is her name, has taken it personal that I do not allow her to interrupt my studies. Since the first time I prevented her from climbing up onto my laptop and taking all my attention, she has started becoming a paper shredder. She finds either newspaper, magazine or any other bunch of paper, places her front feet strategically and begins ripping small portions of the paper and spitting them out. I must be diligent about what sort of papers are left lying around.
I am at a loss as to if this new behavior is due to my not allowing her to get on the computer or the fact that she now has no claws. Perhaps it is just a phase and she will cut it out soon. I will not, however, be taking her to a cat psychologist or psychic or psycho or anything, she will just have to be content in what ever means I decide will be used to retrain her from this bad habit.
At Christmas, we purchased a new living room set, all leather sofa and love seat recliners as well as sofa table, coffee table and 2 end tables. The first day in the house, the cats started trying to claw the furniture. Since they had already done quite a bit of damage to our other furniture, we decided to have them de-clawed. They seemed to recover fine from the process and since we have no intentions of ever letting them out, not having claws should not be an issue. Actually since moving here, they have made no attempt to even get close to an exterior door.
As an early riser, I often get up about 5:30 and sit in our breakfast room anticipating the day, reading, computering or just sitting. The cats consider this our time and often climb up to "give me sugar" and curl up close. Even to the point of climbing onto my computer and just laying there like I am not giving them enough attention.
In mid January, I started taking a computer class at our Community College. So now, I have homework to do and use that early morning quiet time to concentrate on lessons. The grey cat, Rat Cat is her name, has taken it personal that I do not allow her to interrupt my studies. Since the first time I prevented her from climbing up onto my laptop and taking all my attention, she has started becoming a paper shredder. She finds either newspaper, magazine or any other bunch of paper, places her front feet strategically and begins ripping small portions of the paper and spitting them out. I must be diligent about what sort of papers are left lying around.
I am at a loss as to if this new behavior is due to my not allowing her to get on the computer or the fact that she now has no claws. Perhaps it is just a phase and she will cut it out soon. I will not, however, be taking her to a cat psychologist or psychic or psycho or anything, she will just have to be content in what ever means I decide will be used to retrain her from this bad habit.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Looking at how our parish works
I have recently become more involved with my church and more interested in the stewardship of being a good active member of the church. I have found that I need to study the history of the diocese here and see what is going on.
Last evening at "Little Rock Bible Study", the discussion turned to the role of each of us and each member of the clergy all the way up the "chain of command". Keep in mind that I have not lived here in many years and have not kept up with what has been going on in this diocese.
I find it sad that our priests are so overwhelmed with the mundane day to day operations and demands of the diocese that "tending their flock" is often pushed back. Ours is a small parish and our priest takes care of 2 churches in addition to serving at the diocesan level in the town 60 miles away. The Grants area has 4 churches in the same group and all are part of the diocese of Gallup. There are also 2 other priests that tend to the 4 churches and a school.
I am hopeful that our new Pope, Pope Francis, will have an affect on everyone down through the line from him to each parishioner. That he will institute programs that will focus on the building of the church on the faith needs of the communities wherever they are and not on the aspirations of a few who are search of the ever elusive next step up. Whether it is the political, social or financial desires of the average person or the intentions of a clergy to seek higher office in the church. The intent of the church should remain the needs of those seeking to find, build on, maintain and share the faith as Christ asked each of the apostles to do. That is what is asked of each of us, to follow or at least try to follow in Christ's footsteps, tending to the weak, the poor, the hungry and always remain faithful.
In this day and age, the church must continue to make amends for the actions of a few priests and the church leaders that failed the people. It must be also, ever searching for the financial means to carry out the work it must do.To help those in most need, it must ask for help from those most able. To maintain places of worship, it must have financial means to pay for building, utilities, literature and all those day to day things we often take for granted.
Last evening at "Little Rock Bible Study", the discussion turned to the role of each of us and each member of the clergy all the way up the "chain of command". Keep in mind that I have not lived here in many years and have not kept up with what has been going on in this diocese.
I find it sad that our priests are so overwhelmed with the mundane day to day operations and demands of the diocese that "tending their flock" is often pushed back. Ours is a small parish and our priest takes care of 2 churches in addition to serving at the diocesan level in the town 60 miles away. The Grants area has 4 churches in the same group and all are part of the diocese of Gallup. There are also 2 other priests that tend to the 4 churches and a school.
I am hopeful that our new Pope, Pope Francis, will have an affect on everyone down through the line from him to each parishioner. That he will institute programs that will focus on the building of the church on the faith needs of the communities wherever they are and not on the aspirations of a few who are search of the ever elusive next step up. Whether it is the political, social or financial desires of the average person or the intentions of a clergy to seek higher office in the church. The intent of the church should remain the needs of those seeking to find, build on, maintain and share the faith as Christ asked each of the apostles to do. That is what is asked of each of us, to follow or at least try to follow in Christ's footsteps, tending to the weak, the poor, the hungry and always remain faithful.
In this day and age, the church must continue to make amends for the actions of a few priests and the church leaders that failed the people. It must be also, ever searching for the financial means to carry out the work it must do.To help those in most need, it must ask for help from those most able. To maintain places of worship, it must have financial means to pay for building, utilities, literature and all those day to day things we often take for granted.
Monday, February 3, 2014
A passionate Catholic priest
I have not often discussed my religion, my feelings about the teachings of the church or for that matter, evangelized in any sort of manner. Today, I am changing that.
I am what is often referred to as a "Cradle Catholic", that is someone that was Baptized and perhaps even catechized and made First Communion and Confirmation. Some even went so far as to be married in the church. Then at some point fell away from the church. Myself, I was Baptized and made First Communion at St. Teresa of Avila in Grants, NM. I was Confirmed at St. Vivian's in Milan, NM and spent the last several years of my youth attending San Rafael Parish in San Rafael, NM. AS a working teenager, there came a point where I was working on the weekends and it just seemed "easier" to focus on work and not church. At first it was once in a while, then progressed to be more often and even got to the point where attending mass was the exception, not the rule. I am not altogether sure when it happened but one day I realized that I had not been to mass in several weeks. Then it was months and then years, about 30 or so.Yes, I had become a heathen.
In all those years, though I did not go to mass, confession or communion, I still referred to myself as being catholic whenever the topic of religion ever came up. I just always did consider myself as catholic, not really accepting what it meant to be catholic. I married a man that had been previously married, not once but 3 times. We were married by a protestant preacher of some kind. The preacher came as part of the package deal at a "Wedding Chapel" business in Irving, Texas. Never saw him prior to the wedding or afterwards. I took my vows with my now husband Mike as real and lasting as I believe he did as well.
About 2005, as a truck driver running between Dallas, And Laredo, Texas, I started listening to Catholic Radio on XM satellite radio. First just when I couldn't find much else that seem interesting or intriguing, then as time went on, I listened to more shows. I found it interesting how much I remembered about the church and how much more I had forgotten if I had ever learned. I also heard many words of encouragement, welcoming words, accepting words. After kicking around the idea of returning to the church on several occasions over several years, I finally did on January 18, 2009, my mom's birthday.
On that morning, I sat in my truck a little while contemplating going in or leaving. After all, I had been here a few times before and just left. This time was different. It was the 8 am mass at Holy Family of Nazareth in Irving, Texas. A woman, later found her name was Patricia, came over to me and greeted me as did the priest, Father Jerry. I nearly fell into Patricia's arms weeping, overcome with emotions. What a Blessing it was that she was there to receive me and comfort me. She held me as I wept through the entire mass, as best as I can recall. After mass, she took me to the cafeteria, the Parish has a school as well. They had coffee and doughnuts and visiting. Father Jerry, having seen me during mass, came over and also was a great comfort. He asked if I would like a private time to meet and discuss (confess?) anything, and I made an appointment. I truly believe that if it had not been for these two particular people, I may have went in, been anonymous and left, probably never returning again.
My faith journey seems to me to be unique, perhaps it is not, I don't know. It seems we Catholics don't often "tell our stories"or share our faith. I started attending church every week, even bidding on schedules that allowed me to either attend mass or attend meeting of a group referred to as "Re-Membering Church". A group, by the way led by Patricia, who became and still is a dear friend. Unfortunately my job was such that I could not make schedules that allowed for both. The Re-Membering Church class was a sort of refresher class for those that had been away for a long time. Similar to the RCIA program (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) it was geared for adults that may have been away for a short time or like me , a very long time.
In September of 2013, I retired and moved back "home" to New Mexico. I am only a mile from my old Parish of San Rafael (by the way, my birthday is on the Feast of San Rafael). I started attending either San Rafael or St. Vivian's or St. Teresa's, all within a few miles. Just depended on what was planned or what time it was. Now I am pretty much established in San Rafael and very happy. Our old church is an old Spanish mission style , beautiful architecture, stained glass windows and statuary. Some of the things I did miss while attending Holy Family, a newer building in the new style many churches are now.
Now, that is my history, on to the topic of this page, the passionate priest. I had always thought Father Alberto at St. Teresa's was zealous and very animated in his homilies. Then I saw Father Mike and his enthusiasm not only for the Word of God but for his flock, us. I have seen a change in his homilies of late and applaud this change. He has become more adamant about how we as Catholics need to "live our faith" not just give "lip service" on Sunday and forget the teaching of the church the rest of the week. Father Mike is unafraid to mention politics from the pulpit, to discuss how current laws and political views are almost to the point of trying to override our faith and our church. How we as parishioners must also stand up and let our voices be heard and vote, keeping our faith in mind as we do so. Father Mike's homily this past Sunday stirred me to the point I had to restrain myself from standing up and applauding his courage, his strength, his passion. Passion for the unborn child murdered in the womb, passion for the murdered child beaten at the hands of his parent, passion for the medical care that is going to be "determined" by a board, not a doctor and patient. Father Mike's homily made me realize that I, too am passionate about such topics, yet a follower, not a leader. Someone that is happy to sit in the background unnoticed. He also made me realize that I cannot in good conscience continue to be uninvolved.
In my opinion, Father Mike is what a flock like us needs, a leader, someone that is willing and able to nudge, no, push us in the direction we need to be going. Push us in the direction the Bible tells us we should be going. Push us in the direction we know in our hearts we should be going. I only hope that I can say and do more to help to not only push the issues that we need to in the presence of our politicians but to also push our beliefs through sharing with family and friends that are open to discussion.
Father Mike's flame of passion has ignited a spark in me to be nurtured and fanned to help spread that same passion. I hope that I have not overstepped any lines or bounds by posting this. I in fact hope that I may cause someone to rethink their passions and how they can share those with their family and friends.
I am what is often referred to as a "Cradle Catholic", that is someone that was Baptized and perhaps even catechized and made First Communion and Confirmation. Some even went so far as to be married in the church. Then at some point fell away from the church. Myself, I was Baptized and made First Communion at St. Teresa of Avila in Grants, NM. I was Confirmed at St. Vivian's in Milan, NM and spent the last several years of my youth attending San Rafael Parish in San Rafael, NM. AS a working teenager, there came a point where I was working on the weekends and it just seemed "easier" to focus on work and not church. At first it was once in a while, then progressed to be more often and even got to the point where attending mass was the exception, not the rule. I am not altogether sure when it happened but one day I realized that I had not been to mass in several weeks. Then it was months and then years, about 30 or so.Yes, I had become a heathen.
In all those years, though I did not go to mass, confession or communion, I still referred to myself as being catholic whenever the topic of religion ever came up. I just always did consider myself as catholic, not really accepting what it meant to be catholic. I married a man that had been previously married, not once but 3 times. We were married by a protestant preacher of some kind. The preacher came as part of the package deal at a "Wedding Chapel" business in Irving, Texas. Never saw him prior to the wedding or afterwards. I took my vows with my now husband Mike as real and lasting as I believe he did as well.
About 2005, as a truck driver running between Dallas, And Laredo, Texas, I started listening to Catholic Radio on XM satellite radio. First just when I couldn't find much else that seem interesting or intriguing, then as time went on, I listened to more shows. I found it interesting how much I remembered about the church and how much more I had forgotten if I had ever learned. I also heard many words of encouragement, welcoming words, accepting words. After kicking around the idea of returning to the church on several occasions over several years, I finally did on January 18, 2009, my mom's birthday.
On that morning, I sat in my truck a little while contemplating going in or leaving. After all, I had been here a few times before and just left. This time was different. It was the 8 am mass at Holy Family of Nazareth in Irving, Texas. A woman, later found her name was Patricia, came over to me and greeted me as did the priest, Father Jerry. I nearly fell into Patricia's arms weeping, overcome with emotions. What a Blessing it was that she was there to receive me and comfort me. She held me as I wept through the entire mass, as best as I can recall. After mass, she took me to the cafeteria, the Parish has a school as well. They had coffee and doughnuts and visiting. Father Jerry, having seen me during mass, came over and also was a great comfort. He asked if I would like a private time to meet and discuss (confess?) anything, and I made an appointment. I truly believe that if it had not been for these two particular people, I may have went in, been anonymous and left, probably never returning again.
My faith journey seems to me to be unique, perhaps it is not, I don't know. It seems we Catholics don't often "tell our stories"or share our faith. I started attending church every week, even bidding on schedules that allowed me to either attend mass or attend meeting of a group referred to as "Re-Membering Church". A group, by the way led by Patricia, who became and still is a dear friend. Unfortunately my job was such that I could not make schedules that allowed for both. The Re-Membering Church class was a sort of refresher class for those that had been away for a long time. Similar to the RCIA program (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) it was geared for adults that may have been away for a short time or like me , a very long time.
In September of 2013, I retired and moved back "home" to New Mexico. I am only a mile from my old Parish of San Rafael (by the way, my birthday is on the Feast of San Rafael). I started attending either San Rafael or St. Vivian's or St. Teresa's, all within a few miles. Just depended on what was planned or what time it was. Now I am pretty much established in San Rafael and very happy. Our old church is an old Spanish mission style , beautiful architecture, stained glass windows and statuary. Some of the things I did miss while attending Holy Family, a newer building in the new style many churches are now.
Now, that is my history, on to the topic of this page, the passionate priest. I had always thought Father Alberto at St. Teresa's was zealous and very animated in his homilies. Then I saw Father Mike and his enthusiasm not only for the Word of God but for his flock, us. I have seen a change in his homilies of late and applaud this change. He has become more adamant about how we as Catholics need to "live our faith" not just give "lip service" on Sunday and forget the teaching of the church the rest of the week. Father Mike is unafraid to mention politics from the pulpit, to discuss how current laws and political views are almost to the point of trying to override our faith and our church. How we as parishioners must also stand up and let our voices be heard and vote, keeping our faith in mind as we do so. Father Mike's homily this past Sunday stirred me to the point I had to restrain myself from standing up and applauding his courage, his strength, his passion. Passion for the unborn child murdered in the womb, passion for the murdered child beaten at the hands of his parent, passion for the medical care that is going to be "determined" by a board, not a doctor and patient. Father Mike's homily made me realize that I, too am passionate about such topics, yet a follower, not a leader. Someone that is happy to sit in the background unnoticed. He also made me realize that I cannot in good conscience continue to be uninvolved.
In my opinion, Father Mike is what a flock like us needs, a leader, someone that is willing and able to nudge, no, push us in the direction we need to be going. Push us in the direction the Bible tells us we should be going. Push us in the direction we know in our hearts we should be going. I only hope that I can say and do more to help to not only push the issues that we need to in the presence of our politicians but to also push our beliefs through sharing with family and friends that are open to discussion.
Father Mike's flame of passion has ignited a spark in me to be nurtured and fanned to help spread that same passion. I hope that I have not overstepped any lines or bounds by posting this. I in fact hope that I may cause someone to rethink their passions and how they can share those with their family and friends.
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