Yesterday at our little church in our little village we celebrated.  We didn’t merely observe but celebrated, or maybe I should say CELEBRATED the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  After our 11:00 Mass the men of our little church left their pews and began a slow and solemn procession out of the church.  Along with a cadre of alter servers they bore on their shoulders a platform that held a statue of the Blessed Mother of God.  Behind them came the parishioners from the pews, followed by the young girls of Our Lady’s Sodality wearing their blue robes and their white chapel veils.   After the girls came the choir singing hymns of praise to the glory of God in the Blessed Sacrament.  Finally, behind the choir, preceded by another cadre of alter servers and the pungent smoke of incense rising up to God, was our beloved pastor bearing in his consecrated hands Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Down main street we walked, slowly and solemnly singing hymns of praise to Our Lord.  Along the street people in their homes and the members of the other churches watched as we bore witness to our faith in and our devotion to the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

When we returned to the little church, those in the town cannot be in any doubt that the Real Presence of Jesus resides there in that humble church and that the people who come and go from that  house of worship truly believe in Him. 

When Jesus said, “You must eat my body and drink my blood,” he was unequivocal.  He did not mean that we were to commemorate what he had done with representations but that he would provide for us a means of doing exactly what he said.  There is that little church in that small town, just as He is in any Catholic church no matter the size, he is present so that we can obey him.

“Eat my body and drink my blood so that you may have eternal life.”

Outside my window…the sun is shining and there is a slight breeze.  It is shaping up to be a lovely day.

I am thinking…Monday’s feel quite different when there is really no pressing responsibilities looming.  Not saying that I could come to like Monday or anything like that but I might learn to get used to them.

I am thankful for…life, love, my family, and my God.  I have more blessings than I can count.

From the schoolroom….nothing is happening.  I am done!!!! Free!!!!

From the kitchen…I am sure that there is something utterly delicious on the menu for tonight. Melissa is home and happy do cook something for Ian.

I am wearing…shorts and my Grinch tee shirt.

I am creating…a healing attitude and a peaceful environment for my husband.

I am going…nowhere for the rest of the day.  The last inside responsibility that I have is to prepare Matthew’s graduation paperwork for the recruiter then I will shut this thing down and go outside and play.

I am reading…something from the stack that has been waiting for just this week to begin.

I am hoping….that Doug’s leg continues to heal without incident.  He was a bad boy yesterday and spent too much time with it down which made it swell too much.  Since then he has been a very good boy, keeping it up in the air as he should.

I am hearing….Melissa and Alex talking together, Layn playing with his toys, and the birds chirping outside my window.

Around the house….everything is noisy, messy, and crowded again. Just the way that it should be.

One of my favorite things….looking down and seeing little fingers playing with the pulls on my desk drawers.

A few plans for the rest of the week…enjoying being at home, get stuff done, and be with my family.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you…

Guess who is home!!! Boy did I miss this little tornado.

My husband was injured yesterday in a farm accident.  I could have lost him.  That is the agony.

We have friends who love us and began immediately to offer prayers for him, especially prayers of thanksgiving that he was spared.  That is ecstasy.

We have children who are now grown.  A son who is a trained medic in the special forces with a head for his job and a heart for his parents.  That is the sheer ecstasy.  What would we do without such blessings.  One of Doug’s wounds wouldn’t stop bleeding and having to succumb to a trip to the ER was not something that I wanted to put him through.  Through the wonders of modern technology Ryan was able to help me get the bleeding stopped.  This morning the bandage was dry and my heart is so full of love and relief I cannot express it.

Thanks be to God for friends, family, my son, and the internet.

I could have become a widow today.  The words are hard to think of, harder still to write.  I went to the Y to pick Matthew up from work and told him that he was going to take me home instead of my staying with him through his karate class as we usually do.  MK had had trouble with the blazer so someone had to be around to pick Doug up from work and with all the rain this week he would very likely be done earlier than usual.  Prophetic words.

We pulled into the driveway and MK met us at the garage.  She couldn’t wait to tell us that Isabella had run away from home again.  She does that once in awhile so I was really not concerned.  The next bit of news was the kicker. Doug was already home from work, he’s upstairs in the bedroom.  Doug never comes into the house right away when he gets home.  You have to understand, my husband either makes grain mixes all day long or he works in the fields picking stone.  Either way he is beyond filthy when he comes home.  There is no way he would come into the house and he would have to be suffering severe memory loss to go up to our bedroom when he is that dirty.  MK was still talking and my heart was in my stomach.  He has slipped at work and had fallen against the mixer while it was still running was all I heard. 

The wife of every farmer that I know is aware of the inherant danger posed by the spinning parts of farm machinery.  I don’t think there is a farm family that hasn’t been had some member lost or maimed as the result of a farm accident that involves machinery.  My husband lost a cousin and nearly lost an uncle and we nearly lost our oldest son. That’s enough for me to be scared.  Safety isn’t just a word on this farm it is a way of life.

I went into the house and calmly put my bags down and went up to see what had brought my husband home early from work.  He was in the bathroom, having just taken a shower and, in spite of his modesty, I walked in to see what I could see.  The sight of blood running in two rivulets down his left leg was enough to mobilize me.  My heart skips a beat just writing about it.  The first aid kit, scissors, ice packs, towels, peroxide, and pillows were gathered up.  By the time I got back to the bedroom he was dressed and lying on the bed.  I cannot describe the wounds except to say that I trimmed a sizeable chunk of skin off his already bony knee.  The bruising and swelling are going to be epic and I have no doubt by tomorrow the stiffness and pain are not going to be a trifling matter.

He described what happened to me in detail, I think that is how men deal with that kind of thing. When I got done cleaning him up, bandaging his wounds and packing his leg in ice, I wanted to either lose my temper (how I deal with such things) or break down and cry. 

I shed a few tears but said more prayers.  Thanks be to God that once again he has spared our family.  He has the whole weekend to heal ’cause I know bright and early Monday morning he will be back to work whether I think he should or not.

The first time I knew, I did not learn, but I knew because I saw it.

     It stems, I think, from the realization of his sinfulness and also the realization and wonder at his blessings. This realization he renews daily, several times a day; I’ve seen it. Not to give himself a sense of guilt, not to dredge up old wounds and old hurts.  No, he does it to renew his sense of awe and wonder, “I am loved, I am forgiven.”

     How selfish, those who don’t know him might proclaim. How selfish and prideful to revel in your own blessings. You read him wrong, you don’t know the man. It is for your sake and mine that he keeps the wonder alive; ours and the glory of Him who bestows it.

 For he takes that awareness, that wonder and thankfulness and he gives it all away. He sees it in you and in me. Especially when we cannot see it in ourselves; but he sees it there because He put it there.

     I have seen him in action. Do you have a cross that is too much to bear? He will help. No, he cannot carry your cross for you. No one can, but he can help. He will let the fact that you are burdened be his cross and he will carry it in your name. Is he perfect? Certainly not! He can frustrate, annoy, and irritate with the best of them. What sets him apart is that he knows how to love better than any of them.

When I get overwhelmed by what is going on in my life.  When I let the business of the somewhat important to overshadow the really important I tend to forget what is really important.  Thanks be to God that I have a wonderful partner who is not only my friend but truly my better half.  I have a man who sees me coming unsewn and knows just the right stitches that will put my world back the way it should be.  He uses the thread of nature which is carefully waxed with fresh air and exercise so that the stitiches will lie smoothly on my heart.  After he has finished his stitching he carefully binds the seam up with the balm of kind words and soft kisses which he knows are ideal for healing.  Finally he lets time do its part.  He knows that there will always be scars but that the scars only add interest and charm to the whole.

Thank you my beloved for your care and understanding during this difficult time. 

My son has authored two books and has had them published.  Today boxes and boxes of books have arrived at my house and now my sewing room is dominated by his books.  I highly recommend his books not only because I am his mother and his biggest fan but because they are damn good.

If you check out this link http://themanwhowouldbeknight.com/home.html you can read all about the books and my son and order copies of them.

Outside my window…the sun is shining brightly and it is a lovely 63 degrees out there.  The forecast is for clear skys and a light breeze.  A nice day for the hay and laundry to get dry and to serve my family supper out at the picnic table. 

I am thinking…about the pleasures that can be taken in very simple activity.  A bike ride with those you love, sitting beside a spouse while the two of you read, fixing a favorite meal for one that is loved all of these activities may seem mundane but if they are done with true and genuine love they become the stuff of great and epic memory and importance in the lives of those who experience them.

I am thankful for….the man who works and loves beside me each and every day.

From the schoolroom…last week of this semester.

From the kitchen…leftovers from the sumptuous repast that was served in honor of father’s day yesterday.

I am wearing….shorts and a tee shirt.

I am creating…memories meant to provide comfort and joy for the future.

I am going…to stay home all the rest of the day.

I am reading…Where There is Love There is God  by Mother Teresa

I am hoping…to get a lot of writing done today.

I am hearing….the birds singing outside my window.

Around the house….it is far too quiet.  With Melissa and Layn gone to North Carolina this house is too quiet.  I miss that little huricane.

One of my favorite things…the knowing look in my husband’s eyes when he smiles at me.

A few plans for the rest of the week….try to get all the writing I can done as early as possible.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you….

Field of wheat ripening in the sun.