Prayer

Saint Teresa has the words for how I feel about prayer:

Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love.

St. Teresa of Avila
The Way of Perfection

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Friday Five: Keeping Cool in the Texas Heat

Deb brings today's Friday Five to RevGalBlogPals:

Ahhhhh... Just a few short months ago, we were shoveling snow. Today, we're sweating buckets!

Highs in the 90s. Humidity in the "uncomfortable" range. And air quality in the "red" zone. It's summer here in the Washington, DC Metro area, and I'm not really a fan.

Recognizing that RevGalBlogPals are from around the world, your weather may be different. But play along and tell us how YOU beat the heat when it's in season with this week's Friday Five.

Tell us your favorite:
The HOT season has arrived in Corpus Christi, TX. Tomorrow and for the next week, high temperatures will be around 100 degrees F, with the heat index predicted to reach 110 degrees tomorrow.

1. Cool treat
Since I have been trying to be healthier lately, a cool treat is a cold and juicy plum!

When my kids were growing up, I would make juice popsickles and frozen pineapple rings. Frozen pineapple rings are two  (canned) pineapple rings on top of each other, with a popsickle stick stuck in the middle; lay them on a cookie sheet in the freezer and let freeze.

2. Cool drink
Ice water. I now carry around a big plastic cup with ice and water. With enough ice in the cup, I can leave it in the car and come back to cool water.

Plus, my addiction is still drinking an ice-cold can of TAB.

3. Cooling-off place
Air conditioned home! Plus, I can always go into our local supermarket (HEB) and need to bring along a sweater to wear because it is so cold in there!

4. Cool clothes
Sandals, crop pants (called "pedal pushers" in my youth), and a short-sleeved top. That's how I am dressed almost everyday here in TX.

5. Best alternative to air-conditioning
There isn't one in TX.


In other places, close off the house and keep it dark. Go to a library, a movie, or a store to get cool, but in those places, there would be air conditioning.

BONUS:
Share a photo of your favorite hot weather "chill out" spot.

Chapel of Adoration, Corpus Christi, TX

One Good Thing About Texas Heat

I'm Jan and I'm an Introvert

Friday Five: Silly Sentences

Revkjarla brings today's Friday Five to RevGalBlogPals:

Because I am feeling silly, or perhaps, just out there, our FF is dedicated to creating silly sentences.  We all need a little meaningless creativity and humor, right?

Use these five words (in any tense) in a sentence:

1. pulpit, puppy, wrench, word, mouse.
2. weep, love, prayer, bassoon, chair
3. heart, shutter, wish, turtle, walk
4. howl, worry, window, story, trust
5. garden, hat, shepherd, laugh, sigh.


1. Constructing a pulpit, the minister became frustrated when he tripped over a wrench while yelling certain words at his Lab puppy chasing a little gray mouse.


2. The flute club always began with a prayer, but the bassoon player was under her chair weeping for her departed lover.


3. As Dad walked around the house, he was wishing the shutters were painted as his son told him that he wanted a baby turtle with all of his heart.

4.  I awoke at 5 this morning, worrying about the dogs howling outside my window, making up a story about my husband putting them outside because he didn't trust our old cocker spaniel to remain continent. (TRUE!!)

5. I sigh in admiration while a friend describes with laughter and joy how she like to garden with a hat on in the heat of south TX and how she plans to put a statue of a shepherd in her backyard.

Hurry Up!! Readathon Challenge!

I just learned that a Mini-Readathon Challenge is going on at this very moment! It started at 12:01 AM TODAY!! Thanks to Bonnie at Bonnie's Books for this info.

And this is the announcement about this Once Upon a Read-A-Thon which is from Stephanie:


 
Hello Read-a-Thon-ers! Today I am delighted to be hosting a Mini Challege for the 2013 Once Upon a Read-a-Thon. The Hosts are awesome go say hello to them, Candace, Lori, Angela & Loretta, and join the Thon!

It runs from 12:01 am on July 8th to 11:59 on July 10th.

What is a Readathon?

A Readathon is where you set a goal for yourself to read more books that is beyond your average number of books you read. There is no minimum, it’s all up to you, and you can read any book that suits your fancy! Push yourself to get some of those books read that have been sitting on your shelves for awhile!

Mini Challenge

For my mini challenge I would like to know...

1. Which book you are most excited to read in the coming year? It can be already released or coming soon.

2. Which book would you re-read if you had the time and weren't so busy reading ALL of the other good thing?

3. and lastly, If you could meet any fictional character who would it be and why?

To Enter: On you Blog, Facebook or Twitter answer the questions and link me up on the link-up below. 

The Goodies: Why should you link-up? Because there are goodies to be had! One winner will receive a book of their choice from The Book Depository (up to $15)

Listening Is Loving

When someone deeply listens to you
it is like holding out a dented cup
you've had since childhood
and watching it fill up with
cold, fresh water.
When it balances on top of the brim,
you are understood.
When it overflows and touches your skin,
you are loved.

When someone deeply listens to you
the room where you stay
starts a new life
and the place where you wrote
your first poem
begins to glow in your mind's eye.
It is as if gold has been discovered!

When someone deeply listens to you
your bare feet are on the earth
and a beloved land that seemed distant
is now at home within you.

~~John Fox

Friday Five: Independence Day Edition

In honor of the 237th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, I invite you to participate in today's Independence Day edition of the Friday Five! We'll be looking at all kinds of "independence," so please join in!

1. How does one typically celebrate your native /adopted land's Big National Holiday?
Parades and fireworks in the evening. Many people put out American flags in front of their houses. Barbecues are popular.

2. How do you personally celebrate the holiday described in #1? Any unusual twists on the typical celebration? Is it something you enjoy or endure?
Even though I grew up on U. S. Navy and Marine bases, my family did not observed July the 4th in big ways. There were usually parades, but we didn't always attend. Bases (until this year with sequester financial cuts) usually have good fireworks displays.

The hottest and most typical of south Texas 4th of July's was 34 years ago. That was my first complete summer in TX (after moving here from the Pacific Northwest; I was extremely pregnant; and neighbors had a sparsely attended barbecue in the neighborhood park. I remember driving by in the heat, glad I wasn't there as our first child was a week "late." (He was born two days later.)


The best July 4 was spent at the beach at Port Hueneme Naval Base with my friend Nancy and her family to watch the fireworks there. Being a teenager with my best friend and her family was lots of fun.

3. What does the word "independence" mean to you, whether in a political or personal mood? How has that understanding changed throughout your life?
Independence denotes freedom. Perhaps at first was freedom from parents; much later having children leave home, there is a sort of freedom (or loss). 

I think we always find that we are dependent upon others for services, help, and affection. True independence would seem to be an isolated life, so independence must be looked upon as freedom from certain things.

4. When did you first feel that you, personally, had gained independence? Was there a 'rite of passage' you would like to share?
I am still pondering this.

5. Tell us about your favorite "indie" film, music label, book store...
I love independent bookstores and usually find special ones wherever I travel. In Austin, TX I like Book People; in Salt Lake City The King's English; in Seattle Elliott Bay Book Company. This summer on vacation in August, I'll get to go to the latter two, plus amazingly large Powell's in Portland, OR!

The only independent book store in Corpus Christi, TX is Rainbow Books, a lovely children's book store run by an elderly couple. It is quite near my house and has existed ever since I had small children. Now I buy books there for Avery!

Happy 4th of July!

Illustration by Bess Bruce Cleaveland (1925)

 

 

With thanks to Good Books for Young Souls. Go there to read about the young girls who helped to make the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD, which is the flag that Francis Scott Keyes saw and was inspired by to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Master's Degree in Theology??

When I went to the 2013 Summer Institute at Oblate School of Theology a few weeks ago, I felt very nostalgic walking the halls of the Theology Building. When I walked around the second floor, where many of my classes had been held, I found this wreath on an office door.

The wreath was to honor Father Heemrood, who had been a professor of Old Testament for decades. He was a knowledgeable and very kind man. Fr. Heemrood died several months ago.

I was greatly touched that this small seminary would honor one of their professors in this way. It fits with the Hispanic culture of San Antonio, TX.

Taking this picture with my new Iphone prompted me to show it to the Dean of Continuing Education at the dinner that night. She had been a fellow student with me when I first began attending Oblate in 2001.

I always hate to intrude upon people, especially those in charge of major events, at such busy times. But discussing Father Heemrood brought our discussion around to past professors and our families, plus all the additions to the OST campus.

Suddenly Rose asked me if I had ever graduated and whether I had had enough classes to do so. I replied that I had enough classes, but that too much time had passed, so I did not think I was eligible to finish my degree plan--for a Master's in Theology. However, she reassured me that it might be possible and tht she would broach the subject with the Dean.

All that happened this past week, so that I was scheduled to call the Academic Dean on Monday morning. When I did so, he was kind and attentive, asking some questions and commenting on my academic record. Then he offered an extension for me to finish the final papers (a thesis or three scholarly papers) by May 2014!

All this was totally unexpected and almost unbelievable (from my perspective)! Until this happened, I thought I had given up the idea of finishing this degree, being content to appreciate all I had learned in the process of attending those many classes where I drove to San Antonio from Corpus Christi once or twice a week. Out of the blue, this seemed to come about. I find it amazing.

So by the end of the month, I need to have topics to present to the Academic Dean. I've already been assured by RevGal friends that they are praying for me. I am also praying for assistance, even though I already have seen evidence of assistance towards this goal.

Galship With RevGalsBlogPals

Over at RevGalsBlogPals, the blogging community for women in ministry and those who support women in ministry, we're hosting a July Blog Carnival to celebrate some changes and expansion in the blog site!

From the site: This week's blog carnival topic is: What does Galship mean to you? The phrase was originally coined to refer to RevGal Fellowship--all the ways we build community, share our lives, support each other, and have fun. So blog about Galship--have you had an experience of galship in person or online? Has galshipping changed your life or ministry? what's your favorite part of our galship? Or whatever way you understand the question--there are no wrong answers! What does Galship mean to you?

"Galship" began for me when I started blogging in 2007, following the example of minister friend Katherine, whom I had met at the Two Year Spiritual Formation Academy. She had been in my covenant group all two years, and we had become good friends. Blogging with her at Meaning and Authenticity kept us in closer contact. Through her, I first learned about RevGalsBlogPals. I was pleased that I didn't have to be an ordained minister to become a member--just a blogger for three months! When that time went by, I applied and met wonderful people connected to this amazing group.

Meeting: 

I met Diane and her husband when I went to an Episcopal Relief and Development (2008) in cold Minneapolis, where her husband took a picture of us together.  I didn't get to meet Scout, but got Scout's hair all over my black winter coat!

I also met Serena near Seattle in 2007 and here is that picture. We got to visit relatives in Seattle and Bellingham, WA every summer, but I haven't gotten to see Serena since that one time. Good intentions conflict with the amount of time available, which is even less this summer.

It is wonderful; to meet blogging friends for the first time and feel like we already know each other. Being an introvert, that is helpful for me!

Camaraderie: 

Through visiting blogs and participating in such events as Friday Fives, I have gotten to know many RevGals and have found amazing connections. And I love finding recommendations for books to read, especially theological and mystery categories.

Ministry and Spirituality:

I've gained ideas for growth AND for blogging. Mompriest at Seeking Authentic Voice brought forth the wonderful idea of the ABC's of Gratitude, which enriched my life with posts for each letter of the alphabet. It was fun to find a different graphic for each letter.

I also appreciate the opportunities to have a special day to provide prayers and once a month to bring forth a Friday Five for RevGals.  

Support:

Problems shared and prayers requested always get responses. And I am ready to ask for more support and prayers, which I will more fully blog about tomorrow:

After some years of inactivity for completing my Master's Degree in Theology from the Oblate School of Theology, I have been granted an extension to write the final papers BY May 2014. What stumped me before was choosing topics (as everything seems to interest me). I ask you to pray for inspiration for the topics of three scholarly papers that I may declare them in the next month!

I last wrote about it and thought of it in 2010 and then decided not to ever pursue it, partly because my health declined around then until I was diagnosed with RA and eventually got on the two medicines that are controlling the pain and symptoms.